Ben10 & Digimon Tamers

Heroes and Humanity

Part 02: Humanity and Heroes

Presage – Chapter 68.1

Originally Written: Saturday, March 18, 2017 approx 800PM to 841PM, 842PM to approx. 11PM; Sunday, March 19, 2017 approx 11AM to 137PM

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A/N: -points to genres- Trigger warning.

"Heard you were here the other day."

Henry mentally groaned as he took a seat on the bed in one of Hypnos' offices, careful of the wires hooked up to him.

His father sat in front of a computer sitting on a desk behind him, typing quickly. The computer behind Henry hummed and beeped.

"Yea..." Henry examined all the wires going from his arm and body to the computer in the room next to this one. The computer needed to analyze Juggernaut was quite large despite the advances in technology provided by alien minds. Hypnos stored the computer in one room, and other computers hooked up to it when needed. Henry was almost certain they had a few computers capable of analyzing Juggernaut sitting around. How many he did not know.

The computer his father currently used was hooked up directly to one of these computers. Only the Monster Makers themselves, Yamaki, and Max Tennyson if he desired due to his position as Magistrate were allowed to access the higher administrative privileges on these computers.

One not only had to keep a lookout on Juggernaut's progress and evolution, so to speak, but also on whether or not Juggernaut was attempting to "escape" as his father called it. Anyone who knew was much more concerned with Juggernaut's rising ability to transfer itself to not just other computers, but other people.

Henry just knew heads and eyes would roll if they figured out the extent to which Juggernaut could transfer and store itself. The control it had. The program had its own agenda, just as Digimon and people and animals did. He didn't know exactly what it's agenda was and why, but he knew two things. The entity didn't seem to mind being contained, but deleting it was completely out of the question.

Lately, Henry had a hard time referring to Juggernaut as 'just a program'. Occasionally when he thought about the entity, an image of himself with dull blue eyes came to his mind. If this is what Juggernaut decided it looked like, then there wasn't any way Henry could go around considering Juggernaut just a program.

Henry wondered if they would try downgrading it or something, as they did with D-Reaper. He absentmindedly rubbed his head, reaching underneath strands of hair. Something told him Juggernaut wouldn't accept that.

"Henry?"

"Hm?" He turned around to look at his father. His usual doctor was off today, so his father was taking his place. Usually his doctors just recorded the data and handed it to other high ranking individuals to analyze while he took to the biological effects. Appointments spearheaded by his father took longer than usual. His father could analyze the data, but not the biological effects.

Somehow, it all worked in sync, just like how Juggernaut could easily synchronize events and memories with himself, Terriermon and Albedo. He'd be more impressed, if it wasn't about him, and it didn't freak him out.

"Be careful around him."

Henry blinked a few times. "That's it?"

"That's it." Janyuu smiled at him, "Unless you want an hour long lecture?"

Henry waved his hands, "N-no! This's fine."

"Results are slow going, but it doesn't look like Juggernaut is interested in him." His dad winked.

Henry looked at him wide eyed, "Th-that's-"

"Why are you hanging around Hypnos on day's he's scheduled to be here? I'm not even sure how you're figuring that out." The gray haired male turned back around, "I am more concerned with Albedo showing up, beating the daylights out of a few guards for letting you two even see each other and then going full alien on the guy than anything else."

Henry looked down at his arms. All sorts of wires connected to them. He wasn't even sure what half of them did, and they explained it to him. Twice! Albedo would understand it though. He was certain he would. "I-."

"-Sorry. When I do this, I sometimes forget it's a professional meeting."

Henry chuckled nervously. He sighed softly, "Thanks."

"Mhm."

The room fell silent for some time. Henry yawned, stretching his limbs. His head tingled and he reached his fingers up once more to rub at his scalp. He closed his eyes.

"Do you do that often?" His father asked.

"Huh?"

"That's twice now."

"Oh. The massage-y thing?" Henry wiggled his feet back and forth as he thought, "Not too often. Usually not more than once a week. It's particularly bad today."

"What is?"

"My head tingles. Like, inside my skull. Juggernaut is probably organizing stuff up there." He knocked against his head.

"Hmm...Does it happen during the appointments?"

"Uh uh. Usually Juggernaut's quiet during them." He looked around the room. "Like a kid who doesn't like visiting the doctor." He couldn't figure out what it was, but something felt off. He wasn't sure if it was something he was imagining or if it were so, but it was enough to make him pause.

"Henry?"

The male looked at his father, now standing in front of him, looking at one of the few medical machines in the room.

"M'brain's a'fussy." Something screamed at him that that was not at all what he wanted to say.

"Henry!"

His hands dropped from his head, falling to the bed with soft thuds with some force behind them. The room spun and he followed it, falling back on the bed. He looked up at the ceiling, a vague shape standing over him.

His eyelids felt heavy, so he did the next best thing. He closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes next, Henry noticed he was lying on a hard, uncomfortable surface. He sat up slowly. His vision swam, and he held his head, swallowing thickly.

When his vision steadied, he took a moment to look around. A cardboard stand of a foam cup full of something or other looked at him with cartoonishly wide black eyes.

He pushed himself to his feet with care, taking in the view of the utterly trashed diner around him. He assumed the building had a door, but it did not any longer. In fact, much of the building's outer wall facing the street was gone. Either missing completely, or turned into rubble sitting outside and inside the diner surrounding it.

He looked back further into the diner. Something told him he wouldn't find anything important there. Yet, he couldn't help but look at the utterly silent Gwen Tennyson and Kevin Levin sitting behind the counter.

Kevin ignored him mostly, preferring to ogle Gwen, but the girl looked at him as though attempting to read his mind.

"How fast do you think he can run?" Kevin spoke suddenly.

Henry narrowed his eyes, instincts making him slip into a stance he could easily use to either turn tail and run, or defend himself.

"The details don't matter. He wouldn't be fast enough."

He never saw Gwen Tennyson much, but the few times he did on TV she never once looked as bored as she did now.

"Neither fast, nor strong enough."

"What are you talking about?"

"We're waiting for Ben." Gwen shrugged. "He went to take care of some business."

Kevin snorted. "She means bug. A very annoying bug."

"He should be finished soon. Then we can get back home and get some sleep." Gwen stretched as she yawned.

"I still wanna see him run."

'Lost their minds.' Henry moved to leave the Diner, not once turning his back to them as he carefully stepped over rubble.

"You're too slow!" Gwen called to him, as though she were singing a taunt to him.

He shook his head, refraining from rolling his eyes. What did he need speed- "Oh. My. God." Henry's draw dropped. He couldn't see that in the building, even with its torn up wall. He blinked a few times just to be sure he was indeed seeing correctly.

A To'Kustar of the Waybig variety used a relatively tall building Henry didn't recognize as a chair. Henry immediately decided to move slowly, lest the thing turn around and look at him. For the time being the alien seemed preoccupied with something else, but Henry couldn't tell what. Was it waiting for something, or was it just resting?

Either way, if it turned its attention to him, he would not be fast enough. Not even hanging onto Rapidmon upgraded with a speed modifier card would he be fast enough.

What was a Waybig doing out here anyway? If Gwen was right, and Ben was out fighting someone, how could it be there? And why would it be sitting so casually as though it were watching TV? Just what was going on here?

A sharp pain of fear suddenly pulsed through him. He fell to his knees, hugging himself. His mind vaguely told him that it wasn't him feeling this, but he couldn't help but react. His skin felt hot and cold at the same time. Chills ran down his frame. An impending, unending sense of doom swallowed all his other senses, somehow enhancing and dulling them at the same time.

"Al..Albedo..." Henry fell forward. Somehow he caught himself on his hands instead of completely falling face first onto the destroyed and uneven sidewalk.

He took a long deep breath. He forced himself to stand as a rage overtook his person, mixing and dulling the fear. The lights around him, not already damaged, flickered. Some of them even exploded, increasing the darkness on the already silent streets.

He took off in a sharp sprint. The line of destruction and damaged buildings gave him a good idea of where to go.

Not a single person filled these streets, yet the ground seemed to rumble as though a herd of beasts were stampeding through it. He looked around as he ran, head turning this way and that. Adrenaline coursed through him as he held out his hands as though reaching for something every once in a while.

"Where are you?" He murmured. "Where?" He glanced up at Waybig, just sitting there, a silent threat of doom on his person.

His legs felt heavy as he ran, as though a weight were attached to them. He blinked back tears through narrowed eyes. "What is going on?!" He whispered out.

The fear overwhelmed everything. He could barely tell if he was upright or laying on the floor. Darkness filled around his vision, as though something in him were forcing him to not see what was around him. He breathed ragged breaths.

"Henry!" Someone whispered.

He looked around sharply.

"Over here!" Henry looked to his left. A tiny white body almost shone in the darkness of the space between two small businesses.

Henry smiled through the fear, "Terriermon." He rushed to his digimon friend as quietly as he could. He dropped to his knees and hugged him tightly.

"Huggles later Henry. We're in deep trouble." The Digimon spoke softly with a whine to his voice, though he returned the hug with both his arms and ears.

"Where are we?" He held Terriermon in his hands. He took note of the few marks of injury on his body. "What happened to you?" He spoke softly, walking through into the building.

"We're in Bellwood."

Henry took in his Digimon looking more behind than at him. "How? A short while ago I was in Japan." It took all his willpower to not shout out loud. It wouldn't help any with that Waybig sitting there.

Terriermon pointed an ear behind him.

He looked at where he pointed. He walked even further into the alley, taking slow steps. "Albedo..."

The male sat back pressed to the wall. He buried his face against his knees and legs, and held his hands and arms over his head. Shivers wracked the boy's body, and it took Henry more time than he was comfortable with to realize the boy was not having a mild seizure. The last time he saw Albedo shake so terribly...

He quickly turned around, and looked around. "That's what she meant." He scowled, eyes narrowed. Satisfied that he didn't see anything for now, he walked over to Albedo, and knelt next to the male.

"Albedo." He whispered.

The male just flinched in response to his voice. He quickly moved his hands to cover his mouth as he scrunched up his face. Not once did he look up.

"What is going on?" He whispered to Terriermon. "Are they the ones who-?"

"I wish. I can beat those two easily. Probably,"

"Albedo...?" Henry ducked down low.

Wide red eyes stared at him, unseeing.

"It's him, but not."

"What?"

"Like it's us, but not. It's still gonna hurt all the same."

He looked at his Digimon. Terriermon's voice was so soft, resigned to whatever was going on.

"I managed to convince him to circle around in a different direction for once, but I can't get him to move anymore. He's too scared. He won't fight or anything."

"Who's attacking you guys?"

The digmon jumped down from Henry's arms. He looked up at him, standing next to Albedo with his ears held out to his side. "Ben Tennyson."

Henry narrowed his eyes. "What the fuck? Why is he attacking you?"

"It's what he dreams." Terriermon frowned. "What he sees. I can't stop it, and he won't let me help him."

"W-we're in a nightmare?" The thought made no sense to him. He looked at Terriermon, "He dragged you here too?"

Terriermon nodded. He looked so tired.

He had thought sending Terriermon to the Digital World would help him rest up while he was helping Albedo, but it didn't look like it did anything good. Mentally at least. He frowned.

He placed a hand on Albedo's knee. He jumped and flinched so hard Henry was almost certain he'd given his Albedo a heart attack. He focused, looking back into those wide red eyes full of terror.

He had promised. He told him. He wouldn't let anything or anyone cause Albedo to display such an expression on his face ever again. Yet, here he sat, with that very look. That look that was always caused by Tennyson in Albedo's eyes. Always.

Henry squeezed his knee. "It's Henry, Albedo. Henry Wong. You're dreaming."

The male shook his head wildly, hair flying and flopping back and forth.

"Yes, you're just dreaming. You need to wake up."

Henry frowned, the male just looked at him. Muttering something behind his hands.

"Henry." Terriermon spoke slowly, "I need a mod, or to Digivolve."

"Terriermon?"

"He is going to kill us."

Henry sharply turned his head.

"I don't care if it's a dream. I am tired of being killed." The digimon looked at him with wide eyes. He hid his terror much better than Albedo, but looking at his friend this way, he could feel it all the same.

"He's one guy." Henry whispered. He never heard his Digimon speak this way. "He's just one-"

"I'm sick of him too."

Henry looked at Juggernaut, nearly a split image of himself, save for those dull, lifeless blue eyes. "Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight..."

"Nononononononono..." Albedo muttered, raising his voice ever so slightly.

"What's it counting?"

"Seconds." Terriermon looked around wildly. "Digivolve. Now. Please!?" The digimon pleaded, speaking softly, yet frantic.

Henry took out his D-Arc. The ground seemed to rumble underneath his feet. He flipped through a few cards. He had memorized this card's appearance ages ago. "Digivolution activate."

Terriermon grinned at him for a few moments. And then a look of utter horror crossed his face. "No! No! You gotta be kidding me! I could do it before!" The digimon shouted a loud whisper as he looked down at his tiny paws. "I don't want to die again!"

He looked at his D-Arc. The thing hadn't even lit up when he did it. Nothing had happened. He heard a short yet loud screech, like tires.

He looked at XLR8, standing in front of them, clearly in a battle stance. He looked at Albedo for a quick moment. Just long enough to notice the male inched back slowly, ready to bolt at a moment's notice.

'It's just one guy.' He thought to himself.

Then Fourarms jumped down from the building's roof. Henry grabbed Albedo and Terriermon and launched himself and them backwards. The alien landed on the ground right where they had been. The ground shook as the ground immediately surrounding Fourarms caved in.

"What? Another alien?"

Both aliens looked at Henry as though he were a new piece of meat to play with. Fourarms cracked all four of its knuckles. Two sets of green eyes glared at him, staring them down and watching their every move.

Juggernaut stood off to the side, silent and for all intents and purposes to Henry, useless.

"Of course." Henry murmured. Another alien joined XLR8. If he remembered right this was who Ben called Echo Echo.

"I hate that one." Terriermon muttered. Any hope that had been in his voice before was long gone now.

Henry turned to Albedo. "Do what you can, Terriermon."

"Yea. Sure." The Digimon's ears drooped.

"Look up." He spoke softly to Albedo. The man's wide eyes looked at him, still unfocused. "No, I need you to focus. Focus on me."

He shouted, and Albedo screamed. Terriermon passed them both, flying through the air. Terriermon's Bunny Blast attack sounded loud in his ears. His poor, strong, foolish, loyal and brave Digimon used that attack so much he would recognize it anywhere without even looking.

Echo Echo screamed a loud, warbling scream. Henry covered Albedo's ears with his hands long before Albedo's hands even reached chin height. Albedo stared at Henry wide eyed.

Henry fully knew blood was running out and down his ears. His head pounded, and his ears ached like nothing he ever felt before. For a few moments everything sounded dull, as though he were hearing it underwater. Then he heard nothing.

He looked at Albedo with a stern focused expression. He took a deep breath. 'Ignore the pain. It's just a dream. This isn't real.' A part of him inside disagreed with a passion so strong it reminded him of the time he was young enough that he hadn't realized the concept existed of there being a situation where one had no choice but to fight.

There were so many things he wanted to say to Albedo at this moment, but he knew the male wouldn't hear him. Even if Echo Echo hadn't screamed. 'Five,' He took in a deep breath as he looked at Albedo. He exhaled slowly. He smiled a pained smile.

The male followed his movement, breathing deeply, even though his eyes were even wider in terror if such a thing were possible.

'Four,' Something blue grabbed him. Before he had time to realize what it was, he crashed into a wall. He felt his throat rumble as he cried out. He felt bones shatter and muscle tear. He saw, but could not hear Albedo scream. He tried taking another deep breath even as XRL8 dragged him across the wall. 'T-three...'

'J-Jenrya!' Albedo mentally shouted at him.

"Terrier Tornado!"

He winced as he heard Albedo scream mentally. 'Y-you're dreaming,'

He watched something black pierce his torso faster than he could react to block it, 'Wake up!' Tears filled his vision, as a pain he simply could not ignore filled his person. XLR8 grinned at him. A power hungry mad grin that reminded him of Trang.

Terriermon smashed into the wall he crashed into a few moments ago. The digimon flopped to the ground, motionless. Fourarms towered over him, also grinning. Aliens surrounded them in all directions, watching and jeering.

'W-wake up...' He slid down the wall and slumped to the ground. His clothes felt sticky with blood. If it weren't for the pain he felt, he was certain he wouldn't be feeling anything at all.

A blast of dark pink hit Fourarms in his back. Albedo stumbled out the alley. He stared wide eyed, surprised that he could actually see the sound waves moving and rippling in the air as Echo Echo directed them. His Albedo's ears bled, and thick sloppy, vision blinding tears ran down his face. A look of furious, inconsolable, untamed rage filled Albedo's face.

'J-just w-wake up...'

Thick green vines wrapped around Albedo's neck just as the male lost his balance.

Henry wanted to shake his head in disbelief, but he couldn't find the strength to move. XLR8 grabbed his throat. He couldn't find the strength to struggle. He watched Fourarms grab Albedo's arms and pull forward, as the vines pulled him back.

'Albedo!' Henry shouted one more time. 'I-!'

Everything faded to black. Henry felt and saw himself falling. He fell into an endless pit of black.

"Henry!"

His eyes shot open. He blinked a few times, eyes slowly adjusting to the bright lights of this new area. Something beeped in the background. He heard frantic footsteps all around him. He felt wires tugging at his arms as he looked around. He couldn't move his arms and legs.

His father, Janyuu leaned over him, a hand pressed onto the bed. His father took his hand, a solemn, teary, smile on his face.

Henry looked at him, vision blurry. He closed his eyes, and cried, sobs wracking his frame.