Chapter 9: Beehive
Back at Base
Taikei, Mamoru, and Akira were standing there, Director Moriymoto stood there, in-person, Taikei and Mamoru were obviously frightened by his sudden arrival but Akira couldn't care less, she was still snuggling Nyajinmon who was confused but was enjoying the attention "I'm far beyond the threshold of disappointment with all three of you, leaving Base for...burgers! Destroying DATS Property! And leaving me with a mountain of paperwork because of your actions!" Moriymoto calmed down "your actions have consequences and that will be no missions for the three of you, starting now!" Taikei and Mamoru hung their heads "initially my visit was supposed to be about a mission so I might aswell get on to it, I'll need to brief all of you on the subject" Moriymoto then spoke into his Digivice "All agents for briefing" Keiko, Aiko, and Daichi arrived and were shocked to see the others "you guys were supposed to be getting burgers" Daichi said with Keiko frowning at Taikei "I need to buy a leash for you, getting into trouble all the time!" Moriymoto then directed everyone's attention to the giant monitor in the room "we've been getting reports of a strange energy reading in the sewers of Singapore, these readings match those of when Agent Nakamura was attacked by that Greymon and when Agent Gilmer escaped" everyone froze, did they hear that right? Mamoru then questioned the Director "Peter got free?! After all that work we did to bring him in..." Moriymoto continued "I am personally going to investigate and I'm bringing a few of you with me, I have chosen Agents Vertanen and Kamui to join me" Aiko and Daichi stepped forward and soluted "now then, a transport is waiting for us in the hangar, let's go" Daichi and Aiko followed the Director while the others watched, Keiko turned to the remaining agents "alright you three, as punishment all of you are going to clean this base until it's spotless".
The Director sat nearly motionless on the transport as Daichi watched and Aiko fiddled with her Datapad, Daichi then leaned toward Aiko and whispered "what do you think he's thinking about?" Aiko then answered while not looking up from her pad "do not waste energy thinking about such things, all that should matter is the mission" Daichi sighed "I guess you're right, the Director is probably thinking three steps ahead of what's planned" Aiko responded "that is most likely what is happening, Director Moriymoto is a seasoned Agent of DATS with a 98% Mission Completion rating during his entire career, the only failings he had was when he was a rookie so yes, I do believe he is thinking of strategies for the mission" Daichi smirked "you said not to think about stuff like that" Aiko finally looked up from her pad "you were thinking about how he was thinking, I know how he's thinking, you have doubt about the Director's abilities" Daichi sucked in his lips and began to sweat "n-no! I just...don't like having gaps in my info" Aiko kept typing "well then you'll be upset to learn this, where this mission takes place is completely dark, no light for miles, so most of this misson will be pitch black" Daichi shook a bit imagining being in total darkness "n-no problem about that here!" The Director suddenly moved and looked at the two "we've arrived" the Director then stretched and yawned...he was napping.
The shuttle landed infront of a facility that was essentially a hole in the ground with a staircase leading down it, the team stepped out "Tentomon, survey the area" Tentomon the saluted "on it Agent Vertanen" then flew up above, Tentomon's antennae pointed forward and vibrated while they spun around" Tentomon then lowered down "there are no humans within 5 miles of the facility" Aiko nodded with Moriymoto walking down into the facility followed by the others, as they made their way down Tentomon and Betamon lit the way the way, Betamon was being held by Daichi while his fin pulsed with light "wow, this place stinks!" Betamon exclaimed with Daichi nodding "yeah, and it's dark too" Moriymoto put up his hand and everyone stopped, he then turned to look into a tunnel, he then lifted up his Digivice and turned on the flashlight, it illuminated the tunnel but not very far "hm, Patamon Realise!" Patamon popped out of the Digivice in a very good mood "yay! Sousuke! Mission time again!" Moriymoto adjusted his sunglasses "Patamon, Sonar Function" Patamon gave him a big smile "okay!" Patamon flew up to the entrance of the tunnel "Boom Bubble!" Patamon then shot out a puff of air into the tunnel. Patamon landed, a serious expression appeared on their face "there's Digimon in this tunnel..." Moriymoto nodded and turned to the others "Agents, we do this quick and efficient, find out the source of these energy readings and report back, differ from engaging with hostiles, no need to alert whatever's down there, we do this in low light" Daichi swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded and Betamon shook with fear "D-Daichi...it's too dark" Daichi petted Betamon "it's okay buddy, just dim yourself". The team entered the tunnel "turn on your cloak" Moriymoto responded with the others obliging tapping a button on their vests, their vests shimmered and darkened, the only noise that was present was the telltale dripping sound coming from above and the skittering from the dark corners of the tunnel, each sub tunnel held darkness, and that darkness was deafening in its silence, Daichi's eyes darted from one tunnel to another while the other two were marching along as if they were walking through daylight, a shadow passed overhead and Daichi almost screamed but Betamon covered his mouth, Aiko shot him a glare and Tentomon looked at them with concern, Daichi looked to see Moriymoto staring at him through his sunglassed eyes, Moriymoto tapped Aiko on the shoulder "Agent Vertanen, walk ahead of us and provide a scan of the tunnel further down, Patamon's sonar signal ends here" Aiko nodded and walked forward, Moriymoto walked backwards and put his hand on Daichi's shoulder whispering to him "swallow your fear, I know how you feel Daichi, I'm just as scared as you are" Daichi looked at the Director, he could see his eyes through his sunglasses, they were wide with fear "t-then how are you-" Moriymoto answered "because I walk through it, to not feel fear is not bravery, it's foolishness, it's the ability to push through that fear, to wear it while still moving forward that's important" Moriymoto joined back up with Aiko and so did Daichi.
Aiko held up her closed fist signalling everyone to stop, they did so and Aiko lifted her Digivice turning the flashlight on only to be met with a large Digimon who roared in pain by the light "it's a Cyclonemon!" The Digimon was yellow in coloration and reptillian, the top of its head was covered in brown armor and one of its arms was bigger than the other, Moriymoto then sprang into action "dispatch it quick!" Patamon inflated then shot out an air bullet that knocked Cyclonemon back, Betamon jumped up and illuminated their fin "Electric Shock!" a bolt of lightning shot out from its fin and struck Cyclonemon, Tentomon followed up by grabbing Cyclonemon by the face "Dynamo Spin!" Cyclonemon was shocked further and fell to the ground releasing a small blue spark that flew down the cave, it chuckled before dematerializing, the spark then blew up, it was a warning flare, illuminating a room at the end of the tunnel, it was a large opening, at the center was a massive hole and other tunnels converged into it, at the center was a massive bulb made of wrinkled flesh, the group could barely see what was inside the bulb, it was a thin figure with a massive head and beady yellow eyes, it pointed at the group and the horde attacked "into the tunnels!" Moriymoto yelled "I'll hold them off" DNA then flared out of his hand "DNA Charge!" Patamon then glowed "Patamon Digivolve to...Pegasusmon!" Pegasusmon landed and flapped his wings launching numerous star projectiles launched at the horde. Aiko, Daichi, Betamon, and Tentomon rushed into one of the entrances hearing the battle getting farther and farther, they stopped after about a minute of running "looks like we're far enough away" Tentomon said before pointing their antennae down a tunnel and vibrating them "this tunnel will lead us further into the sewer system but it will circle back to that main chamber" Aiko nodded before heading down the tunnel "w-wait! What about the Director?" Aiko turned back to him while running "he is capable without us!" Daichi looked back then swallowed before following Aiko and Tentomon as did Betamon.
Aiko followed her Datapad sprinting down the tunnel "Aiko, slow down, we might-" something suddenly struck Daichi knocking him into the wall of the tunnel "Daichi!" Betamon screamed, Aiko turned around to see another Cyclonemon standing above Daichi, Betamon shocked the Cyclonemon but it was barely affected, Cyclonemon smashed Betamon into the ground "Tentomon, Plan E6" Tentomon then flew below Cyclonemon creating a dome of electricity making Cyclonemon flinched but smacked Tentomon into a wall causing their wings to be crushed, Cyclonemon then spotted Aiko and approached her, its teeth were dripping with saliva as it lunged at her, Aiko jumped over it kicking the monster in the side of the head, Cyclonemon retaliated by grabbing Aiko while she was still in the air and slammed her against the wall, Tentomon the yelled at the beast "LEAVE MY PARTNER ALONE!!" Tentomon then tackled Cyclonemon into the wall smashing it sending both of them plummeting down into an abyss. Aiko rushed over looking down the hole with her flashlight frantically but she couldn't see the bottom of the hole, she breathed heavily but then steadied herself and ran over to Daichi who was regaining conciousness "ugh, what was I hit by?" Aiko explained to him what happened "wait what!? Is Tentomon okay?!" Aiko looked back at the broken wall "most likely no but what matters is us getting to that opening and stopping that Digimon" Daichi also looked at the opening "but...your partner" Aiko then responded "Tentomon knew the risk just as much as you and Betamon...now let's go" Daichi then let out an anguished groan "I can't move very well right now, just go on without me" Aiko nodded and picked up her Datapad, she saw that it had cracks in it but it still worked, she took one quick glance at the hole and then kept moving while Daichi hugged Betamon.
Aiko weaved through the tunnels before coming up on the giant space with the bulb at the center, it was swarming with Digimon, Aiko typed on her pad "Flymon, Champion-level Insect Digimon". A voice rang out from the bulb "ah...a fellow scholar" Aiko's attention was grabbed by the voice, the bulb suddenly opened up and a peculiar looking Digimon emerged, it was thin and alien-like, similar to ones that were popular in the 60s, it's brain was so massive it was exposed and had a sickly purple hue and it had tentacles instead of legs "I am Vademon" Aiko nodded "Ultimate-level Alien Digimon, known for its intelligence" Vademon studied Aiko "you certainly are knowledgeable, but that knowledge is surface level, allow me to add some depth to your data" Vademon waved its hand and the Flymon circled around the bulb "mind control...the database says nothing about that" Vademon the responded "use some critical thinking, a being of a psychic persuation using those powers to instill their will upon lesser lifeforms? Child's play really" Vademon then pointed a finger at Aiko and several Flymon darted towards her, Aiko dove out of the way barely evading them, Aiko quickly typed on her Datapad and then attached her Digivice to it "I need to get close" Aiko then turned "Tentomon, Plan-" she stopped, Tentomon wasn't there, but, Tentomon was always there, she froze, she was never without Tentomon. Her state was interrupted by a voice, it was Daichi who was riding Seadramon "sorry we're late" Seadramon the roared before blasting a couple of the Flymon out of the sky with its Icy Breath "that is bothersome" Vademon muttered before snapping its fingers, a Flymon flew right to it and Vademon saddled it riding it toward Seadramon. Seadramonnwas being swarmed by Flymon now "okay Aiko, we need a plan, we-" Daichi glanced at Aiko but then had to do a double take as he saw Aiko hesitating "Aiko? What's wrong?" Aiko looked at him "my plan, it involved Tentomon but...they're not here" Daichi looked down and then looked at her "Tentomon made a sacrifice for you! We have to finish this mission for Tentomon, if not then Tentomon's death means nothing!" Aiko looked at her Datapad with her Digivice attached to it.
Vademon made sure to be outside the swarm observing the battle, Aiko then spoke up "Daichi, Digivolve Seadramon, I need to get close to Vademon" Daichi nodded and pulled out his Digivice, Vademon saw this and lifted its blaster steadying its aim right at Daichi's head, Daichi then let his DNA flare up "DNA, Full-" he didn't get to finish when Vademon quickly flicked its aim and pulled the trigger hitting Daichi's Digivice causing him to drop it "no!" Daichi yelled, Aiko had to think of something quickly, she then noticed that the Flymon were flying with a certain pattern, one was always circling back to Vademon to get infront of it, like a rotating guard, Aiko recognised the pattern and jumped onto the Flymon she knew would circle to Vademon, she then flicked a few settings on her Datapad, she transferred all the power from the pad to her Digivice flashlight function, as soon as she got near Vademon she jumped off Flymon and pointed her Digivice at Vademon before clicking a button. Vademon then grabbed a Flymon with its psychic powers and put it infront of Aiko who blasted the unsuspecting Flymon, the force of the impact sent Aiko tumbling down, straight into the massive hole at the center of the opening "NO!!" Daichi screamed seeing Aiko plummet down, as Aiko fell she didn't make a sound, the wind rushing past her stung her eyes, she then began to tear up as she exclaimed one word "TENTOMON!" before hitting a current of rushing water.
Aiko resurfaced gasping for air as she thrashed against the current, it was pitch black so she couldn't see anything to ground herself, she was just moving, she then smacked into something that knocked the wind out of her which then caused her momentum to shift and she hit something else, she quickly grabbed onto whatever she hit and pulled herself up, it was a ledge, a piece of dry land, she lifted herself onto the piece of land and coughed heavily, she looked around to see something shining in the water, she reached for it almost getting pulled back into the current but she fought against it managing to fish up her Digivice, she looked at it, the Datapad was smashed to pieces and fell off her Digivice and into the current. Aiko fell to her hands and knees, the reality of what had happened had finally set in on her, she felt true hopelessness, she had been outsmarted, overpowered, and worst of all, she lost her Partner, she had never understood how Akira felt after losing Gatomon, Digimon, much like Human Agents know that being an Agent is dangerous...but now that her partner isn't by her side, she understands, but its too late now isn't it? Aiko can't appreciate the one person that has been by her side since she joined DATS, and this revelation has broken her, the once stoic Aiko reduced to a crying mess "I-I'm sorry Tentomon" Aiko sobbed before digging her fingers into the soft earth in anger "now...Daichi is going to die, so is Seadramon, and the Director is going to have to tell everyone back at base how we failed and how we lost four Agents on one stupid mission!" Aiko slammed the ground with her fist "I have to make this right...even if it costs me my life, I have to save Daichi and Seadramon, it's the least I can do..." A voice rang out from the darkness, it was like a warm blanket finally draping itself over Aiko on this cold dark place "Aiko? Is that you? Crying?" Aiko flashed her Digivice to see the familiar and comforting face of Tentomon.
Aiko's tears started back up again seeing Tentomon's face "Agent Aiko...is something causing you to produce tears?" Aiko lunged forward hugging Tentomon "Tentomon! Oh Tentomon I'm sorry! I'm sorry for not appreciating you, I'm so sorry, I won't let anything happen to you again!" Tentomon was very confused but returned the embrace "you have no reason to be sorry Aiko, I already feel appreciated" Aiko lifted Tentomon up smiling at them "just being on missions with you is all I need to feel appreciated, getting to see you proud of our work is more than enough for me" Aiko smiled even bigger and hugged Tentomon again. Suddenly a roar from the darkness broke their moment "ah, yes, much like I survived the fall...so did Cyclonemon" Aiko then put Tentomon behind her and stood up to face Cyclonemon, she shined her flashlight to reveal the beast who roared at her, she then yelled back "YOU DON'T TOUCH MY PARTNER!!!" Tentomon looked up at Aiko, she was defending them, but that didn't make any logical sense, a Digimon is far more capable of combat than a human, but here Aiko was, protecting her partner out of...love. Tentomon then roared before letting loose a powerful Super Shocker that made Cyclonemon stumble "we will fight as a team!" Aiko clenched her fist and DNA surged from it before her entire body was engulfed in it "we will protect eachother, as partners, and as Agents of DATS!" the text on her Digivice changed to "Perfect Evolution" Aiko then raised her hand to the sky while saying "DNA Full Charge!" She then slammed her hand onto her Digivice, a beam shot out of it hitting Tentomon filling them with power "Tentomon Warp Digivolve to...MegaKabuterimon!" MegaKabuterimon emerged from the energy, their shell was a dark red and far more bulky, on the nape of its neck was a large smooth gemstone where it's shell meets, the horn on their head was largeand forked at the end of it, they had large musculature at the base of their four arms which all were tipped by three finger hands casted in a purple chitin, a skeletal ribcage was visible on their torso aswell and their physique was very robust in comparison to Kabuterimon. Mega towered over Cyclonemon, Mega then stabbed Cyclonemon with their horn and blasted the creature with a pulse of elecricity disintegrating it "Amazing, you've reached the Ultimate level!" Aiko exclaimed, MegaKabuterimon then picked Aiko up and put her on their shoulder "Plan D3" MegaKabuterimon nodded and opened their wings taking flight out of the tunnel and back to the battlefield.
Vademon stood over Daichi and Seadramon who was pinned down by a number of Flymon, Vademon pointed its blaster at Daichi "I do so despise making a mess of things but, there is an enjoyment to be had in victory" a voice fron behind Vademon broke its concentration "I wouldn't celebratr just yet" Vademon turned around to see MegaKabuterimon hovering above it with Aiko standing proud atop their head "what?! How?!" Aiko then jumped onto the Flymon Vademon was on "you can never calculate the unexpected" Aiko rushed at Vademon who attempted to shoot her but she dodged every bolt, she then ducked down infront of Vademon who instinctively fired a shot but Aiko dove out of the way causing the bolt to hit Flymon, Vademon was shaken off its steed and fell to the ground. Vademon barely had time to reckver before being struck with a left hook courtesy of Aiko which sent Vademon sprawling across the ground, MegaKabuterimon then channeled electricity into the tip of their horn and shot out bolts of it causing the Flymon to dissipate freeing Seadramon and Daichi. Aiko noticed Daichi's Digivice on the ground, she grabbed it and tossed it to him, he then caught it and flared his DNA "DNA Full Charge!" He then made Seadramon Digivolve into WaruSeadramon. Vademon got up but was then grabbed by MegaKabuterimon, Vademon fought against their grip but it was useless, Mega then channeled electricity into their hand shocking Vademon, MegaKabuterimon then tossed Vademon to Waru who smacked Vademon away with his tail, Mega then charged a large amount of electricity at the top of their horn "Horn Buster!" Mega then blasted Vademon vaporizing it returning it to a Digi-Egg.
Aiko smiled at their victory, she then looked at the bulb "I must get up there" MegaKabuterimon looked at her and nodded before picking her up and lifting her to the bulb's entrance left by Vademon, Aiko stepped into the bulb to see the walls of flesh were lined with screens "interesting, strange how these monitors are affixed onto seemingly...muscle tissue" Aiko then saw at the other end of the bulb, it was a very old fashioned computer "that's...peculiar" Aiko approached and and the entire system sprang to life, the monitors were displaying a red "X" symbol, Aiko backed away from the computer but approached it again, Vademon hadn't logged out, she clicked around before finding the files tab, she clicked it seeing multiple documents pop up, she scrolled, most of it was video files...she then saw a nams pop up "Taikei" she clicked it, a video of Taikei and Veedramon of them fighting a Greymon, she then looked at a video of their fight with Blossomon...then she saw a live feed, of the base, someone was watching Taikei and Veemon right now. Aiko backed away "we have to warn Taikei" Aiko then searched further, she then saw a file marked "Ulforce" she opened it to see a laboratory, it was in ruins, a large lance was stuck in the ground as was a rapier and the arm of a Digimon she had only read about on file "the arm of an Omnimon?" Suddenly a foot stepped onscreen, the perspective looked up to see a large blue Digimon with wings and a golden "V" on its chest, it was holding a canister of a green fluid, it looked beaten up, it was breathing heavily, it then took off as a large weapon slammed into the ground where it was standing, Aiko took out her Digivice and was about to download the videos but she stopped "no...there might be a virus linked to this" just as she said this massive tendrils erupted from the computer destroying it, Aiko dove back narrowly avoiding them, they stopped before reaching her, one of them picked up the broken monitor and it sprang to life, a chilling voice came from it "I must say, I'm impressed by you, you are quite clever young lady" the monitors around Aiko began to speak in the same voice "I hope you know, you will not stop us, but you and your team will throw yourselves at us, but like poreclain against the mighty wall you will shatter against us" all the monitors then closed in on Aiko all shouting "YOU WILL FAIL" Aiko then ran out of the bulb jumping onto MegaKabuterimon "destroy the bulb" she ordered with Mega nodding "as you wish Agent Vertanen...Horn Buster!" MegaKabuterimon then blasted the bulb incinerating it.
Aiko met with Daichi "what was in there?" Daichi asked with Aiko responding quickly "we have to contact the others, Taikei and Veemon are in danger!" Just as she said that Pegasusmon emerged from one of the tunnels battling another flying Digimon, they were locked in combat before kicking eachother back and landing, Moriymoto emerged from the tunnel a second later, Aiko then shouted to Moriymoto "Director, we have to contact the others, there's an intruder in the base!" Moriymoto looked shocked but composed himself "we will do that in time, for now focus on this Digimon, its powerful" Aiko and Daichi looked at the mysterious Digimon, it was beastial with dark purple fur and lighter purple accents, it had wings with white fur covering them and a tail with a white tip, it had four limbs each having large red claws, it had piercing yellow eyes with a red gemstone on its forehead and it had a neck mane of white fur, it growled at Pegasusmon who neighed as a challenge "that's a Dorugamon! Champion-level, be careful Director, it's powerful" Moriymoto steeled himself as did Pegasus, Pegasus and Dorugamon charged at one another meeting in the air and slamming against one another, Pegasus shot a volley of stars at Dorugamon but the barrage was dodged, a lump in Dorugamon's throat appeared "Power Metal!" It spoke before launching a metallic sphere from its mouth hitting Pegasus, Pegasus quickly recovered and charged in "Pegas Drop" Pegasus then headbutted Dorugamon. Daichi watched the battle unfold "this is insane, rumor has it that the Director's Pegasusmon is as strong as an Ultimate, and here's a Champion Digimon matching it!" Aiko made a hand signal and MegaKabuterimon joined Pegasusmon in the sky to confront Dorugamon, Dorugamon saw that it was outnumbered, it then screeched creating a portal and flying through it, MegaKabuterimon the degenerated into Tentomon flying to Aiko "let's radio the others"
Meanwhile back at base
Taikei furiously scrubbed the floor with his sponge while Veemon stood on a ladder dusting, suddenly Taikei's Digivice roared with a call, judging by yhe ring it was an Urgent Call, Taikei picked it up "Agent Taikei here" Aiko's voice came from the other side "Taikei you have to run, you're being watched!" Taikei stood up before whirling around "there's no one here" Aiko then responded "from the video feed I saw you should be...staring at it" Taikei stopped his vision to see something shimmering, Taikei squinted before the Digimon who was watching him revealed itself.