Ami leaned herself against a wall next to a door. She could hear buzzing sounds from the inside as well as screaming. "What's going on in there?" Kuzuhamon asked.

"Shh." Ami leaned her ear closer to the door.

"Hmmm… as I thought you would taking damage to the chest area worse than anywhere else. You may be a Digimon, but given your strong resemblance to humans I thought you might have that weak point since you are also female."

Ami cringed recognizing the voice on the other side of the door. "Oh great, it's that pervert Vademon."

"Now then, are you going to surrender Zhuqiamon's DigiCore? The king needs it form Project Nexus and I would very much love the chance to study it."

Ami gasped. "Can it be…?"

"You will… never take it from me…"

Ami recognized the other voice. "Darcmon!"

"We gotta save her!" Rosemon Burst Mode said.

"We need to do this carefully." Ami said. "Otherwise, the jerk will use her as a hostage against us. Okay, listen up…"

Inside the room Darcmon was crucified to a metal cross. A black collar with a red light that suppressed her powers was around her neck. Vademon was a few feet away in front of a terminal. Between them hanging from the ceiling was a turret-like device with three glowing points pointing at Darcmon. "So stubborn." Vademon sighed. "Well, let's see if injecting you with the energy waves I created to emulate Sovereign energy will draw it out." He started typing. "Configuration complete… aiming for weak point… charging…"

The device glowed blue and blue beams that flew straight into Darcmon's breastplate. "AAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

Vademon looked at the screen showing Darcmon's status and that of the DigiCore. "Still nothing! Curses!" He deactivated the machine and Darcmon went limp. "Is there no way to extract it after all?!" The door exploded behind him, and he turned around. "What the hell?!"

Rosemon Burst Mode, Ophanimon, and Kuzuhamon stormed into the room. "Look who it is. The pervert who subjected poor Ami to so much pain and humiliation." Kuzuhamon stared.

"Wait… oh, I remember now." Vademon said. "You three were with one of the human subjects when she was brought in."

"That "subject" was our partner!" Ophanimon declared. "And I don't appreciate how you treated her or Darcmon! Release her!"

"You are in no position to make demands to me." Vademon said holding up his pistol.

"You think you can defeat us?" Rosemon Burst Mode said. "You're only and Ultimate Level Digimon. And a weak one at that."

"I need not defeat you." Vademon said before taking aim at Darcmon. "Surrender or Darcmon suffers for your insolence."

"You're bluffing!" Kuzuhamon declared. "If you kill her, you lose your precious Sovereign DigiCore!"

'That's right…' Ami thought to herself as she sneaked across the room with her Stealth Hide on. 'Just keep him occupied…' She snuck behind Vademon and got up to the terminal he had. 'Okay… this one looks like the off button.' She slowly moved her hand to a red button and just as her fingers touched it… "KYAAAAAA!" Ami's body was shocked with electricity as a loud buzz filled the room.

"Huh?!" Vademon turned around. The jolt deactivated Ami's Stealth Hide. "You!" He pointed his weapon at her. "Abduction Ray!" A pink beam fired into Ami that buzzed a pink aura around her before it formed multiple pink rings squeezing her just under her shoulders, at her stomach, her hips, her thighs, her calves and her ankles binding her arms and legs. The ray gun made strange noises as it sent waves to Ami's binds, and they levitated her off her feet and over to him. "Nice try. But that terminal is rigged so only I can operate it."

"Ami!" the girl's Digimon shouted.

Vademon turned to them. "Maybe you're right. I can't risk Darcmon. But what of this human?"

"You cur." Kazuhamon growled.

"Now then, stay perfectly still…" Vademon kept his gun trailed on the grunting and struggling Cyber Sleuth as he pressed more buttons on his control panel. The turret on the ceiling turned around and the three points split each pointing at each of Ami's Digimon. Rosemon Burst Mode and Kazuhamon held their arms up in a defensive stance and Ophanimon brandished her shield. But when the red lasers fired instead of striking them, they coiled around their bodies binding them in the same manner as Ami.

"No!" Ami yelled.

"I'll let Crusadermon decide what to do with them." Vademon turned to Ami. "You on the other hand are a valuable specimen to my research. If I tell the Next Order you were terminated, they'll never suspect I've taken you to my laboratory for experimentation."

"Drop dead you pedophile." Ami scowled.

"I would advise against resisting." Vademon said pressing his pistol against Ami's chest to her embarrassment and disgust. "I know your weak points."

"It's not a weak point you bozo! Let me go!"

"Not a chance." Vademon turned to Darcmon. "Anyway, back to you." Just as it started charging a golden burst blew the device up. The red trails holding Ami's Digimon vanished. "What?!" Diaboromon jumped into the room and as he was overhead Arata jumped off him slamming his fist into Vademon knocking him down. The moment his gun hit the floor Ami was released. "AAAAAH! Why am I always getting hit in the face!?"

"I can think of a few reasons." Arata glared.

"Arata!" Ami stood up. "We gotta help Darcmon!"

Arata looked at the metal restraining device that held Darcmon then at the terminal. "Don't waste your time." Vademon scoffed. "Like I said the device is rigged so that only I can use it."

"That won't be a problem." the hacker replied.

"Oh yeah? And just how do you plan on- Vademon's sentence Arata lifted his arm and pressed the red button with Vademon's finger. The clamps of Darcmon's wrists and ankles opened up and she dropped to the floor. "…Oh."

"You haven't removed the Sovereign DigiCore from her yet, have you?" Arata asked dropping Vademon.

"Sadly no." the Digimon replied dusting himself off. "I have tried everything. I even targeted her chest since I figured it was a weak point due to her strong resemblance to human females. But alas my efforts and knowledge were not enough."

Ami squinted at Vademon. "You really are an idiot you know that?"

"Excuse me?!"

"The chest isn't a weakness to woman it's just inappropriate to touch it! And besides, it's not like Darcmon is fragile because she looks like a human! She's still a Digimon. Did you seriously think her resemblance to humans makes her the exact same as us?"

"In my defense, I have had plenty of time to study you and that other human as well as Darcmon so the more similarities I saw the more solid my theory was. Such as the color and feel of your skin, or the texture of your hair, the shape of your eyes, the concentrations of fat in your chests and hindquarters-

"It's *not* fat!" Ami yelled.

"And speaking of the lower area I noticed you and Darcmon wear those strange, small garments under the cloth you wear around your waistlines and loins. At first, I thought it was some sort of armor to protect a sensitive area, but it's far too soft and thin."

Ami blinked. "Under our...?" She looked at her skirt. The moment it clicked to her, she shrieked blushing like mad and put her hands over her skirt. "Were you looking up my skirt you pervert?!"

"Is that what that black thing you're wearing is called?" Vademon asked. "Well to answer your question I needed to see what you looked like under that clothing of yours. All of it. I decided to do it while you were asleep so you wouldn't make a fuss. Frankly I don't know how you could sleep over that other girl's shouting. I had no choice but to do it while she weas awake since she doesn't sleep."

"You did WHAT?! DO YOU HAVE ANY SHAME?!"

"I will have you know that research has requires a thorough examination." Vademon replied. "You were examined for the future of Digimon knowledge on humans. You're welcome." Vademon didn't notice Ami's Digimon right behind him.

"Good Night Moon!" Dianamon put three Triceramon to sleep.

"Judgment of the Blade!" Jesmon cut a Titamon down. "We've made it past the outer walls."

Koh looked at the giant structure in front of them. "Now we can get inside and begin our assault. Mirei said Arata and the others took out the signal jammer when they opened the gates for us, so let's go help them rescue the prisoners."

"Let's do this." Agunimon said pounding his fists together.

The group stepped towards the doors but stopped when they saw something burst through the walls screaming as they flew far, far out into the distance and out of sight. "...What the hell was that?" Leomon asked.

"Sounds like the party's already started." MetalEtemon said. "If we don't hustle, we'll be missing out on the main event!"

"We can't have that." Koh grinned stretching his fingers. "Let's roll people!"

Rosemon Burst Mode glared at the hole she, Ophanimon, and Kazuhamon sent Vademon out of. "Stupid perv."

Arata was looking at the blushing Ami next to him. "...You okay?"

"Not a word of this to anyone." Ami glared.

"Relax, I'm going to dedicate the rest of my life to forgetting everything that assclown said."

"Good. Oh, and thanks for saving me… again. Now let's get Darcmon and-

"Ngh..." Their attention turned to Darcmon as she sat up on the floor shaking her head. "What just...?"

"Darcmon!"

The Digimon gasped looking forward. "Ami...? Arata...?"

"Ami, hold on." Arata put a hand on the young detective's shoulder and whispered. "We can't make the same mistake twice, we need to make sure she's the real-

Before Arata's sentence could conclude, Ami found herself in a surprise hug from Darcmon who was instantly back on her feet with her arms around her. The girl yelped at first. "...Darcmon?"

"Oh, Ami..." The Digimon's hand gently went through the human's red hair. Darcmon backed away slightly to look at the girl while still holding her in her arms. A bright smile was on the Digimon's face. "Look at you... you're all grown up... but you still have such a bright innocent look in your eyes... just like your brother."

"Darcmon..."

"That's more of the reaction I was expecting for them meeting again." Arata said. "I guess that is the real Darcmon."

The Digimon stared at Arata in confusion. "Real" Darcmon?"

"Is it?" Diaboromon asked. "How can we be certain this is really her?"

Darcmon smiled. "I can prove it. Back when you were a Tsumemon, you were running around too close to a lake when you tripped and-

"STOP." Diaboromon scowled. "Yup. It's her alright." Arata smirked at him.

"Darcmon!" Ami smiled returning the embrace.

Darcmon patted Ami's back. "Takumi and the others told me you were kidnapped by the Next Order. Did they hurt you? Are you okay?"

"I feel like I should be asking you that. Did that pervert do anything to you?"

Darcmon closed her eyes blushing. "Yes. A lot of things. Some of which I'd rather not talk about."

Rosemon went over and put her whip into the lock on Darcmon's collar and it opened up slamming to the floor. With her powers returning she summoned her sheathed swords to her hips. "Ready to get a little payback on the Next Order?" Rosemon smirked.

"As appalling as that sounds right now I'm more worried about the other prisoners here."

"Oh yeah, that's the Darcmon we know and love." Ami smiled. "And she's right. We still need to find Takumi, Yuuko, and BelleStarmon."

"Takumi and Yuuko?" Darcmon asked. "What happened to them?!"

"We'll talk about what you immediately need to know along the way." Arata said. "The full update is going to have to wait until we get back to the city. Let's go!"

BlackWarGreymon was blown back, and his claws scratched into the floor as he stopped himself. He roared as he gathered green energy in his hands. "War Blaster!" He fired energy bullets towards BlitzGreymon.

"Defend and retaliate!" Kiryu ordered.

"Elect Guard!" BlitzGreymon blocked the attack with a yellow screen. He then held his gun hands forward. "Plasma Stake!" He fired golden pellets towards BlackWarGreymon.

"Watch out!" Takumi shouted. BlackWarGreymon took out his Brave Sheild and blocked the hits. He then charged towards BlitzGreymon still holding his shield out as BlitzGreymon continued to fire.

Dorugoramon roared as he threw fireballs from his hands. CresGarurumon deflected them by spinning his spear. He then held his free hand forward and a dagger of ice formed in front of it before it flew at Dorugoramon who smashed it with his tail then charged. "Brave Metal!"

"Beast Cyclone!"

Rapidmon Armor and Creepymon clashed repeatedly in the air. Sparks flew with each collision.

"Open fire!" Takumi ordered.

"Shinning Lasser!" Rapidmon Armor shot golden pellets forward.

"Exterminate them!" Kiryu shouted.

"Hell Crusher!" Creepymom responded by shooting violet bullets from his hands.

Takumi and Kiryu stared at each other in the light of the explosions. Takumi's expression showed conflict and sadness. Kiryu's held anger and fury. "You WILL understand my suffering! Freeze Frame!"

With the snap of Kiryu's fingers Rapidmon Armor froze in place. Creepymon's Hell Crusher proceeded to pelt him with blows. Creepymon then flew into him. "Slash Nail!" He relentlessly clawed Rapidmon and then threw him to the ground.
BlackWarGreymon grabbed BlitzGreymon by the leg and threw him towards the ground. "Dark Terra Force!" He gathered red light in his hands and threw it towards the red Greymon.

Kiryu turned to BlitzGreymon who stood in the path of the defending ball of doom and snapped his fingers again. "Skip Frame!"

BlackWarGreymon watched the ball impact and explode. He stared at the red glow under him looking for signs of his target. "Thunder Vernier!" The Digimon he sought was behind him firing golden energy waves into his back.

CresGarurumon was thrusting his spear repeatedly at Dorugoramon who did his best to dodge or block with his claws. He then grabbed the spear in one hand and pulled CresGarurumon in before throwing a punch. Brother Sorrow activated a Def Boost and CresGarurumon caught the punch then tossed Dorugoramon upward. "Fury: Ice Moon Fang!" He slashed at Dorugoramon with an icey blade that knocked him backwards.

Takumi's Digimon were panting. "Oh? You're still standing." BlitzGreymon said. "But the battle is clearly starting to take its toll. I can tell."

"Hmph. Look who's talking." Dorugoramon replied noticing the signs of exhaustion on Kiryu's Digimon.

"I can see now how you defeated Yuuko, Takuto, K, the Royal Knights, the Deadly Digimon, and every other obstacle thrown at you." Kiryu said.

"Indeed. If it was just me, Creepymom, and BlitzGreymon, we would stand no chance." CresGarurumon admitted. "But you stand against more than us three. For we have our partner. Kiryu."

"And I have the Digimon that I trust more than any human." Kiryu said. "I am not like those fools in Zaxon. I never saw Digimon as "programs" or "pawns". I see them for what they are. My companions. My friends. Beings with free will that through it chose to fight by my side."

"And as long as we have our faith in one another, nothing can stop us!" BlitzGreymon said. "Not even you Cyber Sleuth!"

"Takumi, Brother Sorrow is stronger than any Hacker we've faced thus far." Rapidmon Armor said. "We'll need more power if we're going to take him down."

Takumi just stared at Kiryu. "He cares for his family... and he sees Digimon as living beings... he's just... like me..."

"TAKUMI!" Dorugoramon yelled.

The teen jumped. "Huh?!"

"Pull yourself together!" BlackWarGreymon barked. "We can't afford to lose!"

"Right." Takumi put his goggles on. "Listen. Try to pay attention to not just his Digimon but what he is about to do. Overclock!"

His three Digimon glowed red. Rapidmon Armor flew ahead. The moment Creepymom swiped at him he instantly got behind the Deadly Digimon. "Saint Knuckle!" He uppercutted Creepymon into the air. "Shinning Lasser!" He then let loss a hail of golden rays.

BlackWarGreymon started spinning. "Black Tornado!"

BlitzGreymon prepared another shield as the other WarGreymon flew at him. "Elect Guard!" BlackWarGreymon grinded against the barrier then shattered it ramming into the red Greymon.

"Commet Hammer!" Dorugoramon rushed at CresGarurumon.

Kiryu snapped his fingers. "Skip Frame!"

CresGarurumon appeared above Dorugoramon with his spear pointed downward. "Take this!"

As CresGarurumon descended, Dorugoramon caught the spear above him. He then leapt up and started spinning, swinging CresGarurumon with his weapon before he slammed him into the ground. "Doru Djinn Wave!" He clapped his hands together unleashing a burst of fire.

"Skip- Kiryu was about to snap his fingers towards Rapidmon but he vanished. "Argh! This is what Keisuke and Takuto used back at the tower! I forgot Takumi had it too!"

"Keep applying pressure!" Takumi ordered. "Keep moving fast and we can work around his strange programs!"

Creepymom roared. "Hell Crusher!"

Rapidmon Armor flew around all the projectiles. Once they stopped, he took aim. "Golden Triangle!" He fired right into the Deadly Digimon blowing him away.

"Plasma Stake!" BlitzGreymon fired at BlackWarGreymon who dodged the storm of energy bullets while proceeding towards his target.

Once he was close, BlackWarGreymon's fist glowed. "Wolkenapalm!" He knocked BlitzGreymon away with one punch.

Dorugoramon caught CresGarurumon's spear. "Here!" The dragon ripped it out of the wolf's grip as he elbowed it. "You dropped this!" Dorugoramon shoved the spear right through CresGarurumon.

"CresGarurumon!" Kiryu shouted. The armored wolf stumbled backwards. He grunted and pulled his spear out of his chest before he started panting. Creepymon and BlitzGreymon backed up as well. "Tch… I can't make use of Freeze Frame or Skip Frame like this…" Kiryu growled.

Takumi deactivated Overclock to stop the strain it was putting on his Digimon. "I'll have to be careful. I need to activate Overclock in intervals when it's needed so I won't drain my Digimon too quickly like what happened after my fight with Takuto."

Kiryu took out his Digivice. "It seems the time has come. I have no other option."

Takumi watched Kiryu make inputs. "What's he doing now?"

Kiryu's three Digimon felt weight lifting off of them. They roared as white sparks flew out of them. "What the...?!" Rapidmon Armor stared. "What's happening?"

CresGarurumon looked at his hand. "Ha... I was so used to fighting with the training program I forgot what it felt like having it off."

"Training program?" Takumi asked.

BlitzGreymon pounded his fists together. "Let's see what difference it makes." He vanished with incredible speed and rammed into Dorugoramon. Takumi's Digimon gasped as the wind was knocked out of him. He then threw a punch at BlitzGreymon who dodged it then shot the ground Dorugoramon stood on blowing him into the air. BlitzGreymon flew up above him. "Thunder Vernier!"

Takumi gasped as Dorugoramon was blasted by more force with more speed than he previously saw from BlitzGreymon. "When did he...?!"

BlackWarGreymon flew towards BlitzGreymon. "I'm your opponent!"

He felt a grip on his ankle and gasped looking down to see Creepymom. "Says who?" He slammed BlitzGreymon to the ground then lifted him up by the foot and punched his torso repeatedly and threw him into the air then flew up to him. "Flame... Inferno!" He exploded in fire violently.

Rapidmon Armor took aim at Creepymon before he noticed CresGarurumon's spear coming at him and narrowly avoided it. The wolf himself howled and started slashing Rapidmon Armor repeatedly with his claws before giving a roundhouse kick that sent Rapidmon flying over the spear. CresGarurumon pulled his weapon out of the ground and spun it as he leapt into the air. "Fury: Ice Moon Fang!" He stabbed the floor and ice came out of the ground in a trail that soon incased Rapidmon Armor from the neck down. CresGarurumon roared charging at him with his spear forward.

"Overclock!" Takumi activated his program again. Rapidmon Armor burst free from the ice and tried to block the charging thrust, but the impact sent him crashing into a wall.

Dorugoramon grabbed BlitzGreymon's arms and grappled with him until BlitzGreymon headbutted him making him shout in pain. "Heaven's Thunder!" Lightning blasted him to the ground.

BlackWarGreymon swiped at Creepymon with his claws, but the Deadly Digimon laughed as he dodged every swing. He pushed one of BlackWarGreymon's arms away to punch him in the face. "Burst Flame!" He spat fire into his face.

"W-what's going on?!" Takumi asked. "They're faster... stronger..."

"When the Next Order recruited me, his majesty warned me of how powerful our enemies are." Kiryu explained. "So, I decided to take every opportunity for us to become stronger. I installed a special program that restricts my Digimon's stats and in turn increases the rate of their growth as they fight!"

"What?!" Takuni gasped. "All this time you were fighting with a handicap?!"

Creepymon laughed clenching his fists. "I thought this idea was foolish at first. But now my strength is skyrocketing! I am invincible! Now..." He flew straight into BlackWarGreymon and started punching and kicking while circling around him repeatedly. "Die! Die! Die, die, die, die, die, die!" He finished with an uppercut that knocked BlackWarGreymon into the ceiling. On his way down Creepymon reeled back his fist. "Double Dust!" His double punch sent BlackWarGreymon into the wall.

"Hold on!" Takumi used an HP Capsule A.

"You merely delay the inevitable!" CresGarurumon shouted as he rushed towards Rapidmon Armor.

"Golden Triangle!" Rapidmon fired his signature attack. CresGarurumon leapt over it and slammed his spear into him pinning him to the ground. CresGarurumon keeps running while holding Rapidmon down making a painful screeching noise as Rapidmon's Armor grinded against the floor before CresGarurumon swatted him like a golf ball. "Grand Rock!" He stabbed the floor and a giant stalagmite rose up hitting Rapidmon Armor.

BlitzGreymon was effortlessly dodging Dorugoramon's Meteor Fall. "You made Kiryu and Subaru suffer!" He shoulder charged Dorugoramon then spun upwards kicking him sky high and then rammed into him repeatedly while coated in electricity. "And you will pay for it all with your lives!" He punched Dorugoramon catering him into the floor before taking aim. "Plasma Stake!"

"No...!" Takumi grimaced as Dorugoramon was pelted with sparks.

"This will herald your end Cyber Sleuth!" Kiryu coldly stated. "All the suffering you brought upon both humans and Digimon... I will make you pay for it all in blood! Your victims will have their revenge!"

Nokia, Omegamon, MagnaKidmon, and Gundramon hurried down a hall and came face to face with a large steel door. "Wow, that there's one heavily fortified door." MagnaKidmon said.

"No doubt they're trying to keep prisoners from escaping." Gundramon examined the console nearby. "Let's see here… it's not password protected, but rather it requires a Digimon date Scan… I might be able to hack into the database this thing accesses and add our data to the list, so it'll accept a scan from us. Give me ten minutes and I'll see-

"Ten minutes my ass, we need to get in there now!" Nokia said. "Omegamon, let's tear this thing open!"

"Understood!" Omegamon took out his cannon. "Stand back!"

MagnaKidmon stared at him. "Maybe that's not such a good idea."

"Supreme Cannon!" He fired straight into the door. It slowly started to melt where he struck before the laser burst through.

Nokia walked over to the hole. "Alright, we're in! See, wasn't this faster?"

As MagnaKidmon shook his head with a hand over his face, Gundramon sighed. "That is was, but it was still not the smartest move."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"For two reasons. One, you're lucky that laser didn't hit any prisoners inside."

"Oh… I did not think of that. Whoops."

"And two, forceful entry tends to lead- Suddenly an alarm started blaring and red lights filled their area. "…to sounding the alarm."

"…Oh… double whoops."

Omegamon looked down. "Nokia… perhaps we were a little rash."

"Yeah… just a little though."

MagnaKidmon chuckled. "Well, I'd rather save the dynamics for when we secured the prisoners and made our exit. But I suppose I can try to spice it up every now and then. Come on. Let's find BelleStarmon before the guards show up."

"A bit too late for that I think." Gundramon said as Knightmon started running out of the hole.

Fei watched two Knightmon walk away from a cell before she and her Digimon snuck over. She looked inside and saw a bunch Gaomon sitting in the corner. "Psst! Over here!"

One by one they looked up. "Huh? Who are you?"

"Wait… ain't that a human? What are you doing here?"

"Keep your voices down." TigerVespamon said. "We are with the Resistance. We're here to rescue you."

"Really? Thanks, but I don't know how you're going to get this open. It's ID locked."

"No need." Fei smirked looking through her Digivice. "I'm gonna send you boys straight back to the city. Stay still." She held it towards them and it scanned the Digimon. Then one by one they glowed and vanished. "Alright, let's move on to- Fei gasped when she heard an alarm and looked around. "Crap! How'd they find us?!"

"Attention all units!" the speakers announced. "Security door to cell block C has been breached! Send backup immediately!"

"Sounds like one of the others blew their cover." Sakuyamon said.

Fei folded her arms groaning. "And I think I can guess who the blockhead is..."

Keisuke was just sending a Hi-VisionMontiamon back to the city when the alarm went off. "Uh, oh."

"We better hurry to cell block C." MetalSeadramon said. "One of the others could be in danger."

"Right. We freed everyone here, let's go!"

Arata groaned listening to the alarm. "Goddammit Nokia, can you just for once not by the pinheaded, noisy idiot and do *something* with discretion?!"

"You can lecture her all you want once we find her!" Ami said. "Come on!"

Yuugo looked up after hearing the alarm. "Oh, no." He looked back at the cell holding a bunch of Airdamon. "Come on, we need to get the Digimon here out now and head over there!"

"Understood." HiAndromon replied. "Hopefully Sayo and Koh can still force some attention onto them."

Nokia and her group ran into the cell block once they cleared out all the enemies. "Is anyone in here?!" Nokia shouted. "Helooooo?!"

A Knightmon jumped at her making her yelp. MagnaKidmon snipped it in mid-air with a green blast. He blew at his weapon before lowering it. "Might not wanna alert the baddies of your location lassy. Just a thought."

"Right…"

Gundramon stopped and pulled up a monitor. "Wait… I'm picking up the transmitter… BelleStarmon is close!"

"Really?!" Nokia asked.

"Up ahead!"

"Let's go!" Nokia ran on ahead.

"Nokia, wait!" Omegamon's warnings fell on deaf ears.

Nokia kept running through the halls. She looked around her to see cells full of Digimon. "No way… the Next Order captured so many… hold on everyone we're getting you out of here!"

"Oh my." Nokia looked to the end of the hall at the sound of a familiar voice. "This time I'm the one being rescued. By a human no less. Wounders never cease."

Nokia gapped. "BelleStarmon!" The gunslinging Digimon was bound to a metal cross with her wrists and ankles forcing her into a t pose.

"BelleStarmon!" Gundramon ran over to where Nokia stood with MagnaKidmon and Omegamon.

"Boys? What are you doing here?"

"What's it look like, bustin' ya out partner." MagnaKidmon replied. "Looks like ya earned yerself special treatment compared to the other prisoners. You started a few brawls and got thrown into solitary?"

"Part of it was that." BelleStarmon sighed. "The other part was some perverted "scientist" wanting to do some "experiments" on my body because he thought I look like a human."

"Well… you kind of do." Nokia said. "But never mind that, let's get you out of- A red ball of string flew into her from behind and burst open. Next thing Nokia knew she was trussed up in a mess of red strings. "Hey! What the hell?!"

"Nokia!" Omegamon shouted.

"Ha, ha! Gotchya!" From the left side of the block, three Puppetmon run up to Nokia. "Let's take out the Digimon and bring the human to Crusadermon! Maybe she'll give us a big reward!"

"Let her go!" Omegamon drew his sword.

"Get off me!" Nokia screamed and squirmed as one of the Puppetmon put her over his shoulder. The three Puppetmon started firing bullets at the Digimon from their hammers. Omegamon crossed his arms blocking the bullets, as did the tanky Gundramon.

MagnaKidmon hid behind his heavily armored companion before he glanced at his three targets and was ready to return fire. He rolled out into the open. "Happy Bullet Showering!" He fired a swarm of bullets through the room.

BelleStarmon flinched as one of them banged close to her left ankle. In fact, she noticed the shackle clamping over her ankle was damaged. She started tugging her leg.

Two of the Puppetmon were instantly destroyed. The last one holding Nokia yelped. As the three towering Digimon approached he held his hammer at Nokia. "D-don't come any closer or I'll-

"Hurricane Screw Shot!" Bullets fired into Puppetmon's back. He cried in pain before disappearing.

"Oof!" Nokia dropped to the floor then looked up to see BelleStarmon holding her free left leg forward with her heel smoking from where the bullet came out. "Wow… stylish and functional." Nokia said.

BeelStarmon smirked. "We Three Musketeers aren't satisfied with just kicking ass. It needs to look good." She lifted her leg up and fired more bullets that bounced around her repeatedly and then knocked off the clamps around her right ankle, her neck, her left wrist, her right wrist and finally the one around her hips letting her off the device holding her upright and she landed on her feet and dusted herself off. She then took out one of her handguns and fired a bullet that just grazed the string around Nokia making her shriek. She then noticed the tear in her bindings and after some struggling managed to rip them off her. "Thanks for coming to pick me up."

"Glad you're still alive." Gundramon said.

"Nokia!" Ami ran inside the room with Arata and Darcmon.

"Oh, hey guys, you're late." Nokia stood up and looked at them. "Darcmon!"

"Nokia!" Darcmon ran over to them. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm good. What about you? Wait, you're the real Darcmon, this time, right?"

"We confirmed it." Arata smiled.

"Yay!" Nokia hugged her friend. "Welcome back Darcmon!"

Darcmon laughed returning the embrace. "Thank you, Nokia."

Keisuke, Fei, and Yuugo hurried into the room next. "Looks like everything's going well here." Keisuke said.

"You found Darcmon!" Yuugo gleamed.

"Yup! And BelleStarmon here!" Nokia cheered. "All in a day's work for the leader of the Rebels!"

"Yeah, I had a feeling it was you the moment I heard the alarm go off." Arata scoffed. "Way to be stealthy Wild One."

"Whatever Geekta!"

"Alright, you two, that's enough." Darcmon said.

"You guys… all of you came to help us?" BelleStarmon asked.

"Yeah. MagnaKidmon and Gundramon told us what happened." Ami said. "They used your transmitter to track you down here."

"I see… I wasn't expecting you to go out of your way to help us… thank you."

Ami smiled. "Don't sweat it, we had other reasons to come here too."

"With Darcmon and BelleStarmon found we just need to locate Takumi and Yuuko now." Rosemon Burst Mode said.

"What about the rest of the Digimon here?" Nokia said. "We can't just leave them!"

"Nokia, use your head." Fei exclaimed. "We're lucky we got this far, and now that you made it clear to the Next Order we're here, it's only a matter of time before they bring out the big guns on us. If we all get captured, then this will all be for nothing."

"But we're the only ones who can help them! Besides, we can handle a few bad guys!"

"Nokia, don't be niave." Yuugo said. "This is there most secure prison, there's no telling what this place can be hiding."

"You can say that again!" As soon as the voice spoke a shadow flew by and snatched up Nokia.

"EEEEK!"

"NOKIA!" Everyone panicked.

A Digimon laughed as he held Nokia's arms together over her head in one giant skeleton hand and her legs together with another. "BoltBoutamon!" Ami shouted.

The Malevolent Fist looked up as Nokia struggled to pull her limbs free from the grip of his extra hands. "You sure are quick to let emotions get the better of you. Made you the easiest to snatch up."

"Let her go!" Omegamon aimed his Garuru Cannon at him.

In a flash BoltBoutamon rushed over to BelleStarmon and with his normal hands used one to grab her wrists behind her back and pull her towards him then used his other hand to hold a sword at the throat. "Carful where you're aiming that thing big guy! You might startle me into dicing this poor lady up!"

"You cowardly cur!" HiAndromon growled.

"Now then, what say you humans have your Digimon stand down and I'll let these two live. Of course, you will have to surrender to me. I could use more humans partnered with Digimon to get more juice with the Dark Bond."

"What are you planning to do with the Bond Power you took from us and Shiki's Digimon?" Ophanimon asked.

"You'll have to ask the king. The farmer doesn't decide what happens to the crops after he's sold them. But I'm sure he'd appreciate having your Digimon to contribute. Or you can decline, and I'll make BelleStarmon suffer for it and hand Nokia over for Vademon's human research. So, what's it going to be?"

"What?!" Nokia shouted. "Guys if you leave me with that pervert, I'm totally going to haunt you!"

None of the group knew what to do. "Come on, I'm gonna and answer here. You've got ten seconds on the clock. Ten… nine… eight… seven… six… five… four…" BoltBoutamon drew the blade closer to BelleStarmon's neck. "Three… two… one!"

"Wait!" Ami shouted. "…I…"

Gunshots were heard but nobody could react to the bullets hitting BoltBoutamon in the masked face. He dropped Nokia to the floor behind him and let BelleStarmon go. "Get down!" a voice shouted as a motorcycle blazed into the room. BeelStarmon dropped as the ridder flew into the air with his bike and backflipped off it, making it crash into BoltBoutamon knocking him a safe distance from his hostages.

Keisuke gasped as the ridder landed in front of him. "Beelzemon?!"

The Deadly Digimon took his guns out and pointed them at the masked Digimon. BelleStarmon gasped at the sight. "Brother…?"

"Oh, look at that." MagnaKidmon scoffed. "The prodigal edgelord returns."

"Sorry to burst your bubble but I'm just passing by." Beelzemon replied. "Saving you lot was a happy accident."

"Sure, it was." BelleStarmon said getting up.

"Nokia, are you alright?!" Omegamon asked hurrying to his Tamer.

"Yeah. That was scarry though…"

BoltBoutamon got up. "Oh, lookie here. Turns out the Beelzemon of this world is just as much of a party crasher as the one I know."

"Don't move scumbag." Fei growled. "We're finishing this."

"Well, I'd love to stay and dance, but I know my limits. This crew might be just a liiiiitle more than I can deal with on my own right now. So, I'll be taking my leave."

"Think we're just going to let you run away after everything you've done?!" Ami asked.

"I imagine you have a real beef with me Ami dear, but for now… I think you should be a little more concerned about your poor, poor brother."

"Takumi? What'd you do to him!?"

BoltBoutamon held his hands up. "Sheesh, just gonna blame me right off the bat? How cold! It's not a matter of me, a pink, royal little birdie told Brother Sorrow a little secret involving Takumi and let's just say the man's not in one of his better moods because of it."

"Wait!" Fei stepped in front of the group. "Brother Sorrow… is he really Kiryu Tenjo?"

Everyone looked at her. "Huh?" Keisuke blinked. "Who?"

"Oh, you know him?" BoltBoutamon asked. "Well, I suggest you hurry and find him before there's nothing left of your precious Takumi to salvage. Ta, ta!" He waved.

"Double Impact!" Beelzemon fired a storm of bullets just as his target teleported. "Damn. He escaped."

"Can't be helped." Yuugo replied. "More importantly… Fei… do you know who Brother Sorrow is?"

The girl looked down as all eyes were on her. "…Zero called me and shared his theory."

"Zero knows him too?" Ami asked. "Who is he?"

"I'll tell you later. Right now, we need to get moving."

"Come on! Don't leave us hanging like that!" Nokia groaned. "You're so annoying!"

Beelzemon scoffed. "You're one to talk brat."

"HUH?! Excuse me?!"

"You really threw us all under the bus on this one. Here I was trying to make this a matter of slipping in and out unnoticed, but thanks to you setting off the alarm and screaming your head off shooting the place up, I'm gonna have to make a break for it. Seriously, do you have any idea of the gravity of your choices? Or do you just do whatever you want without thinking?"

"I know what I'm doing thank you!" Nokia scowled. "I'm gonna save the Digimon here and my friends and beat the hell out of the Next Order!"

"Ha!" Beelzemon turned away. "Black and white fools like you are all the same. Spewing self-righteous crap, doing whatever they please, not thinking of the trouble they cause in the process or reflecting on their mistakes, only to get bitten in the ass when things go sour because of their ignorance and stupidity."

"You're one to talk." BelleStarmon put a hand on her hip. "Ever since you left us to go join the Deadly Digimon, all you've ever done was prance around doing whatever the mood told you to."

"At least I ain't dragging other people down with me." Beelzemon said as he walked away. "You people do whatever you want. Just leave me out of it."

Everyone watched as he disappeared into the doorway he came from. "Sheesh, what an asshole." Phoenixmon scowled.

"He's always been like that." Gundramon said. "Even when we were the Four Musketeers."

"Beelzemon was one of you guys?" Keisuke asked.

"He was." BelleStarmon closed her eyes. "A long time ago." There was some awkward silence after that. "Well, enough about that idiot. We should get moving."

"Right." Keisuke nodded. "From what BoltBoutamon said Takumi's in trouble. We need to find him before it's too late!"

"But what about the Digimon here?!" Nokia asked.

"Again with this?" Fei groaned.

"Leave the Digimon in this block to me and my team." BelleStarmon said. "After all, since we're here anyway, I'm game for another jailbreak."

"Sounds good to me!" MagnaKidmon said. "You guys just hurry and find your little friend."

"I'll help." Darcmon volunteered. "The rest of you look for Yuuko and Takumi. We're counting on you."

Ami nodded. "Leave it to us. Come on guys!" She, Arata, Keisuke, Nokia, Yuugo and Fei ran for the doorway as Darmon and the Three Musketeers split up and hurried to the cells.

Darcmon is back! For real this time! And we get an awkward family quarl with Beelzemon and the Musketeers. But what will be the conclusion of the battle between Takumi and Kiryu? Stay tuned.