I do not own Digimon.

Eventually this is going to all tie around to the whole story of Digimon Adventure. It just took a while to get there. I hope you are starting to see the loose threads that are bringing this all together. It had to start somewhere.


Chapter Twenty-Two: Influence and Infiltration

It happened little by little. The ranks of Apotheoseia expanded. They started out underground in the sewers. Then, they overcame the gangs and their territories. Through connections they seeped into brothels where they held many of their meetings and seduced those of influence into the cult.

Fringe religions were also overtaken. Anyone who attempted to flee were cut down. Hikashi left quite a few mutilated corpses as warnings against those organizations who attempted to resist them.

They stayed in the shadows, but absorbed the outside into the shadows. Powerful men in politics and media were swayed to deny their existence. Even the police were told to stand down and make excuses for their heinous acts. Any fool who dared to defy them were warnings in the newspaper the next day.

Rei could only shake his head at his handy-work and how pathetic all of his followers truly were. Yet to them he was a god. And thus it hardly took any effort to manipulate them.


One day sitting in a high-rise building glass elevator Rei sat at a desk sipping some tea Rei staring out at the world beyond the glass. The warmth of the sun lay beyond him as did the true world he longed for. He placed his hands up over the smooth cold glass and scraped his fingers down the side.

Yes, he did not need to be reminded. He could never forget that feeling of being imprisoned by The Digital Creator, Homeostasis and the two angels he dismantled. Yet even now, until he could reclaim the power beyond his reach, he still could not shake the feeling of being imprisoned by the Digital Creator.

He looked up around him and started laughing. "Truly I must seem like a guppy in a fish bowl. And you are the kid on the outside playing tricks on me," he grinned. "But let's just see how long this lasts. Before long Digital Creator it will be I who will be the one toying with you until I torture you to death," he leered.

"I...cannot wait for that day," he said licking his lips.


As the Shadows Stretched further into society so did the clashes between the Watchers of the Periphery and the Cult of Apotheoseia. Rei himself intervened at times and through his puppet followers he began to spread a prophecy. He told them that the 'True' Rei Kurenada has been sealed and that the messenger is preparing for his seal to release. Once the seals completely break he will be free and usher in his followers into a golden land.

...That was how he worded it anyway. His ever willfully blind followers ate it up though. They strived to complete work for him in the promise of the vaccine that would make them like him immortal and powerful...but that was a boldfaced lie.

No, now that the organization had grown in size and numbers he now needed better leadership for it. Hikashi had served his role well, but he had grown complacent and stagnant as far as doing Rei's will. This also reflected on the newer members and caused division even within the ranks. He knew that Hikashi...needed to be replaced.

During a sit down between the two of them Rei observed Hikashi swishing a drink in his hand and drinking it down.

"So tell me," he said, "Is this little charade going to be coming to an end? Or are you just going to kill me first and set someone up in my place?"

Rei held up both hands as if telling him he did not know. "As the leader of Apotheoseia," he said, "You have proven your abilities. Congratulations Hikashi," he smiled. "You will now become as I am."

"Such a liar," Hikashi snickered. "Really what are you really after? I don't know what that vaccine will do to me, but I won't be some blind follower."

Rei walked over to him and placed both hands on his shoulders. "You seem to be misunderstand," he smiled. "I don't need any of you. You humans and the walking bags of flesh that you are can be such hindrances at times. But if you obey me," he said drawing the vaccine out of his coat pocket, "I can give you purpose."

"I won't be a mindless zombie!" Hikashi snapped pushing him off of him. "Then again you can do as you like to the others, but as for me, I'm beyond it. Anything I want to do I do it with impunity. No matter what it is my will be done."

"Then you should have read your little contract," Rei glared at him. "Your will is my will. Your hands are my hands. Your eyes are my eyes. I own your body, mind, and soul," he said. "But if you want to lose all of that I will just devour you on the spot. If you think you have what it takes to lead Apotheoseia just take it."

He then offered him the vaccine. Hikashi looked down at it and swallowed. "You said I will be like you right? Were you lying?"

"Not at all," Rei replied. "In fact you will be worshiped like myself," he said. "And only those who have reached our level will be as we are. We will lord over the organization. I will be worshiped as a god and you as a demigod; all of the benefits that comes with them," he smiled.

"Benefits huh?"

"Like how shall we say this? Endless praise from the masses. All the consorts you could ask for. Any pleasure no matter how perverse will be yours," he said eyeing him, Hikashis negativity practically oozing out of him.

"And all I will have to do then is take this for all that," he said to himself.

"That's about it," Rei said approvingly nodding his head as if patting himself on the back.

"Very well," he said. "I can't see why you would want to kill me anyway after all the work I've done for you. You would never steer me wrong would you?"

"Why would I steer you wrong?" he smiled innocently.

"Yes, you're right," Hikashi muttered. He then rolled up his arm holding up the vaccine perpendicular to it.

"So I just jab it in?"

"Like you're going spear fishing," Rei grinned.

With that Hikashi rolled up his white shirt sleeve holding the vaccine over it.

"You really backed me into a corner Rei Kurenada," he grimaced, "But I can't see a reason why you would want to harm me. I have been quite the asset to the organization. Their is no way you would get rid of me."

Rei hid his contempt for the eager Hikashi wanting to soul snatch the cocky bastard, but no he was right, but for all the wrong reasons.

Hikashi took a deep breath, pushed down, and instantly Rei noticed a change in the negativity that flowed outward from him.

His eyes started fading turning lack luster.

"Wait a second," Hikashi swallowed, "What is happening to me?"

His negativity started to break out of his skin as if he had gone under too much pressure.

"Your body is calcifying," Rei said. "It seems you won't be a demigod after all."

"You tricked me!" he rasped, his voice drying out.

"Now, now, I did no such thing," Rei said shaking his hand dismissing him. "You see what's in that vaccine is the same viral particles that make up my being," he said. "The viral data sways to my every thought. My every motion. Every beck. Every call. But," he said snickering, "It seems you don't think the same way."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh come off of it," he said seriously. "Did you really think I had not noticed you secretly planning some way to take my place? I know you even contemplated about shutting me in the Digital World. You are truly an evil man; most negative indeed!"

"Then why is this not making me stronger?" Hikashii grimaced, his hand having completely hardened. "I thought I would thrive from my negative energy. I truly thought I could become like you!"

"And truly you are," Rei said clapping his hands. "You are twisted, almost as much as myself. But you are still human and you have failed the test."

"Failed?" he rasped, Rei noticing it become harder and harder to move his body.

"Because your thoughts are against mine that data that is acting through you is treating your body like a poison. In other words it's seeping into your blood and instead of strengthening you it is freezing you to eliminate the threat. You only have another thirty seconds I'm afraid."

Hikashi fell in front of him as if his body had become lead. "Do you really think you can lead the organization without me Rei Kurenada? I made this organization what it was! Without my leadership it will ultimately fail."

Rei wickedly snickered back at him.

Hikashi's eyes filled with terror. "No!" he shouted stretching his hand out grabbing the hem of his coat.

"You...you wanted that all along?"

Rei smugly turned to the side, Hikashi's arm shattering as it thudded against the floor. He cried out in agony, Rei walking away hearing his last groans.

"Rei! Rei! Save me Rei!"

In an instant those words crept back to him, a desperation surging through Rei's data. He turned around noticing Hikashi's pitiful condition, but for an instant he saw his partner Skamon.

"Don't do this Rei!"

He bent down lowering his eyes to him grinning, his eyes open wide.

"It's already been done. Their is no forgiveness Skamon. Their is only the path that is forged out of this darkness," he said, Hikashi's eyes fading out and falling to pieces and black dust in front of him.

Rei then composed his thoughts, shook the dust off of his coat, and made way with haste away from the scene.


With the leader of Apotheoseia out of the way the organization had been reduced to shambles. Those in positions of power tried to elect a new leader, but Rei would not have it. It only took one of them to be absorbed into him, for the bickering to stop.

"Hikashi did not die," Rei said. "He has ascended to the new world. How has the progress been made from the infiltration?"

One of the representatives came over and whispered in his ear.

"Oh, well that makes this interesting," he said ignoring the others in the organization talking with him.

"And he is there now?"

The man nodded his head and bowed in deference backing away.

"Gentlemen," he said, "This meeting is over. I will lead the cult. All you need to do is foretell of my return and the merging of the two worlds. Just tell them some nonsense about the Savior Rei Kurenada one day returning to save his chosen for the new world. But, only those who have been injected with the blessing," he said taking out a syringe, "will be a part of it. Once I have prepared them when it's your turn one day all of you can take it, but it is not that time. You all have work to do."

Rei followed some of his most trusted idiots to the deepest levels of Apotheoseia hidden in the catacombs. There traitors, spies, and enemies were mutilated and tortured. One man had been so tough though it took Rei Kurenada absorbing him to get any information out of him.

They approached a thick iron door, Rei tapping on it. Two torches were on two wall sconces on the side.

"Hello in there," Rei said. "Looks like fortune is going your way. You have a visitor."

Usually Rei would let his servants open it, but he did not have the patience to wait for them. He kicked the door down almost effortlessly.

"Looks like the jail door's been jarred open," he smirked. "All you need to do to escape is get through me."

He glanced over at a man tied down into a chair, metal cuffs trapping him by his arms and legs. He did not look particularly strong, but he must have been really important to be down there.

He immediately scanned him for negativity and a swirling mass could be seen tormenting him full of regret.

"My Lord," one of his servants said. "What shall we do?"

"Wait outside," he grinned. "Me and this rascal from the Watchers of the Periphery are going to have a nice little chat."

They hurried away as he walked over to the scowling older man.

"It's your own fault you know," he said. "We would not have caught you had you not gone to the brothel."

"It was only one time," the man winced. "After everything that happened that was the last place I wanted to go."

"But you still went," Rei teased pressing his finger against his cheek. "The high and mighty Watchers of the Periphery are falling it seems. You don't seem like a lowly grunt either. What is your name?"

"I won't tell you."

"Then don't tell me," Rei said toying with him. With the man's distraught condition perhaps something horrible had happened to the Watchers of the Periphery. It had been awhile since had checked up on them.

"Now let me ask you something," the man said. "The Watchers of the Periphery were under the blessing of Rei Kurenada. You look just like the man," he said. "How could that be you from all those years ago? Fujiwara had talked about you often."

That word caught Rei a bit off guard. "Had?" he questioned.

"Forget it," the man said. "I won't say anymore."

"You don't have to," Rei scowled studying him. "You Self. Righteous. Prick." he said kicking the chair down. "I hate your kind more than the idiots here or the idiots there. You only cast judgment on others you look down on. What's more you look down on even me with those eyes of yours. I can say," he said grinning dangerously, "That I might just have you drawn and quartered."

The man closed his eyes as if trying to compose himself. "Do your worst. You'll never figure out the secret of the watchers. That's why you kidnapped me right? It's impossible."

Rei felt a prick within him instantly hating it. He grabbed the man by the shirt and held him up in front of him. "I've never heard about the secret of the watchers," he said glaring at him. "What is this secret they possess? You will tell me everything now, or else," he said holding out his hand in front of him, the man shouting as if it looked like his face had started to be torn off.

"All right!" he grimaced. "All right! Just put that thing down!" he begged, Rei instantly dropping him.

"But before I tell you how can you guarantee my safety?"

"By making you our informant," he said. "You will infiltrate the organization for us and set our people among the highest reaches of power. We will take over your organization from within."

The man quivered slightly staring at him. "Truly that would be a better alternative than whatever that hellish hand of yours had put me through," he winced as if hesitating to betray his people.

"Well, if you change your mind I'm sure my hand would love to chow down on you for dinner," he smiled holding up his hand, the man sweating bullets.

"Absolutely not," he shuddered. "But you have a deal. Spare me and I will get your men into the Watchers of the Periphery."

Rei brought his hand forward and shook his hand. You have a deal," he said, then squeezing it causing him pain.

"But, you know I can't be satisfied with just that. Tell me," he said suspiciously, "Has anything happened to the leader Fujiwara?"

"Yes," the man hesitated. "He died in his sleep just a few days ago."

Rei stared at him wide eyed. Surprisingly now both of the leaders of his organizations were gone.

"Has the Watchers of the Periphery elected a new leader?"

"Yes, his son Fumaro. And he is ever as straight laced as his father. He is even more determined to stand against you."

Rei kept squeezing, the man wincing even more. "If I squeeze any harder I will break your fingers," he noticed. "Now then, lastly what is the secret you were talking about?"

The man screamed out, his teeth gnashing towards him. "I'll never tell!" he spat. "I'll never-"

CRACK

Instantly Rei crushed all three bones of the guys hand, the man screaming out in terrible pain.

"I don't have time to deal with this nonsense," he said coldly. "What is the secret?"

"I'll...never tell!" he groaned.

"Really?" Rei said standing over him as if ready to banish him to the nether world. "That's such a shame."

"W-wait!" he exclaimed holding up his good hand in protest, but looking to the side. "Wait, I-"

"-Will you tell me or not? I don't have time to play with garbage," he said kicking him lightly, the man grimacing terribly.

"I-I can't!" he stammered. "I promised the Ethereal Enchantress! I-"

Instantly he closed his mouth.

"What did you just say?" Rei said dangerously. "Ethereal Enchantress?"

A million thoughts started forming in his mind taking the shape of the terrible one who had nearly annihilated him.

"I'm sorry Enchantress!" the man shouted crying. "He knows! He knows! But he won't ever figure out the code! It's impossible!"

"What code?!" Rei said desperately. "What are you talking about?"

"The code of all codes," he grinned. "You may kill me, but you'll never obtain it: The Code of the Watchers."

Rei was not amused.

"But let me tell you a little about it," the man said confidently. "Apparently it's a key that can open any door or any security system to the internet. It's the key of all keys!"

Rei stared at him a bit taken aback wondering about it.

"But why?" he said to himself aloud. "When? How?"

"If you want it you'll never get it," the man groaned. "It's impossible to obtain. Only the President of the Watchers can ever have it and the code always changes."

Rei glared at him more annoyed than ever. "You're telling me an awful lot of info," he said. "You're being too forthcoming," he noticed. "I'm afraid we can't make a deal after all. You betrayed them too easily."

"What?!" the man exclaimed. "No!"

"There's only one place for you to go that's worthy of your betrayal," he grinned holding up his hand. As Rei had thought the man hid behind his veil of self-righteousness a hoard of negative thoughts.

The man bellowed out into nothingness as Rei held his hand against his face and absorbed him into himself.

All he could think about was the bitter taste of his words:

"The Ethereal Enchantress," he said, the words on the tip of his tongue practically burning him like acid.

He then walked through the dungeon wall not even using the door frustrated beyond measure.

He could see the Ethereal Digital Entity staring at him as if pronouncing judgment like before. He could not get the look in her eyes out of his head, his hands shaking uncontrollably in rage, but also in slight apprehension.

"Not an Ethereal Enchantress..." he groaned thinking about her. "...Only an Emotionless, Infuriating, Judgmental Bitch!"