Taking it to Zhuqiaomon
"Where's Renamon?", Ruki asked.
"She went off with Juri", Kazu explained. "Didn't say why".
After Zhuqioamon took over, and in the confusion of deposing his colleagues, Guilmon was able to get Renamon to a safe house on File Island. This being a quiet, distant, resort island that looked like it wouldn't be paid much attention - a nearly ideal get-away. For quite awhile, it was. Renamon laid low and the biggest problem was the boredom of waiting until Ruki and her friends found out and came for her.
That turned out to be bad figuring: the safe house was compromised and the agents of Imperial Security came after her. Being on an island meant there was nowhere to hide, no escape. She got away, but tragically some of the No Confidence Party members guarding her lost their lives. How many, she didn't know. There was one avenue of escape: swim for it. That's what Renamon did: swam for open ocean while hoping she could get far enough away to not be seen.
Thanks to a sympathetic whamon, Renamon made land fall, wandered into the port city of Slimbdamon and recognized it for the den of thieves, cut-throats, and villains it was. Virtually no law at all, city cops few and far between, and no Zhuqiaomon's agents made this look like a good place to hide. But what to do? How to get word out to Ruki? She could do nothing but hope the members on File Island would get word to the others. As for what to do, there was Ganemon's club. Renamon was dangerously naive as to the nature of this club.
Renamon presented herself at the front door claiming to be a performer looking for a new gig. She was escorted to Ganemon's office. Renamon was quite unaware that this seldom happened. Ganemon concealed his disbelief that Renamon was actually applying for a job as a performer. He usually acquired his "performers" from trafficers. There wasn't a single girl in his stable who volunteered.
":Nice... very nice. I can definitely use you", he said after giving her a look over.
"Then I'm hired?", she asked.
"Definitely", Ganemon said as he retrieved something from a cabinet.
"Take off your gloves and hold out your right hand.
Ganemon clamped a featureless, black "bracelet" around her right wrist.
Before she could ask: "This makes you my property..."
"Property?!", She said, horrified. "I applied for an exotic dancer position... not under your terms... Take it off now..."
"You're not going anywhere, Renamon. That bracelet not only declares you belong to me, it also suppresses evolution and makes your attacks ineffective. It's also a tracking device so don't even think about running away, I'll know. If you make that mistake, I guarantee you won't make it a second time. I suggest you not make it your first".
Ganemon buzzed a Goblimon from the outer office. When he arrived: "Escort our new girl to the Green Room. Make sure she understands the consequences of disobedience".
"This way, Blondie".
"Wait", Ganemon called out. "This one has defiance in her eyes. Extra softening up, I think"
"Right this way", Goblimon led the way down to the dungeon-like "Green Room".
The renamon were a warrior species, and Renamon was a warrior who once admitted to Ruki that she'd only thought about how to defeat opponents and she didn't learn the importance of empathy before becoming Sakuyamon. It was too ingrained into her character to be turned off. Ganemon was perceptive enough to read her.
Renamon was desperate, not stupid. She realized the magnitude of the mistake she just made. It was common knowledge that a renamon was involved in the D-Reaper battle, and the No Confidence Party. All it would take was one notification of the security agents and she'd be burning in Zhuqiaomon's Hall of Divine Justice. She knew she would have to make certain he had no reason to make that call until Ruki and her companions came. This time, there would be no escape.
She was led past the cages holding the girls, who looked away, knowing what the new girl was in for. At the front of the room, the punishment rack awaited, a wooden A-frame with a curved cradle. One goblimon unlatched the stocks, and opened them.
"OK, Blondie", he called out.
Renamon stepped forward and placed her ankles in the semicircles. The other half closed and latched.
"Bend over", he ordered and Renamon complied. Another goblimon held her down while another held her tail up. Another goblimon stepped up, ran a hand over her fully exposed ass. He had a stiff, heavy leather strap with holes drilled in it. He struck her across the ass with a loud crack that put stars behind her eyes. Then another swat. Renamon decided to set aside her pride and by the fourth, she was screaming and crying. She was released after more hard swats. She stood, rubbing her burning butt.
"Listen up good, Blondie", she was lectured. "That's a small sample of what you get if you screw up, and I'll shave your ass first. Screw up again, and your ass will be caned bloody. Do it again, and you go on the BDSM list, and, believe me, you will regret it. You understand?"
"Yes"
"OK then, put her in here", as she was assigned a cage and a room mate, a sciurimon: a squirrel digimon. "Tomorrow, Ganemon'll explain your duties and you'll pay attention if you know what's good for you".
Sciurimon, whose stage name was Peanut, told Renamon all about these "break in fucks" all the new girls endured. Renamon would be assigned a stage name under which she would perform. She offered sympathy, and promised to be there for her after it was done.
The early evening of the next day, Goblimon came for her.
"Time to get your pussy broken in right, Blondie", he announced. "Don't try anything, Peanut, if you know what's good for you". All she could do was give Renamon a sympathetic look, and an unspoken promise of sympathy after the ordeal was over.
Renamon stepped from the cage: "You're in luck", Goblimon explained, "tonight's raffle night", he explained as he led her to a spiral stairs that led to the stage. That meant she wouldn't be fucking one of these goblimon, so that was a stroke of luck.
Renamon considered her options, and resolved to enjoy it. Goblimon led her across the stage, towards a chair upholstered in padded black vinyl. She saw the chair had leather straps hanging from arm rests, leg rests jutted out at about a 45 degree angle, padded half circles to support her calves and ankle shackles. The seat had a U shaped cut out and a gap between the seat and back for tails..
"Up you go", one of the goblimon said. The seat was high, so she gave a backwards jump into the seat. The goblimon standing behind the chair guided her tail through the gap. She placed her arms on the rests, and her wrists and forearms restrained with leather straps. She sat quietly while being restrained. A wider strap brought up from behind as one goblimon held it in place while the one behind the chair tightened it across her chest. One goblimon was reaching for her leg as she was sitting knees together.
"I like to give 'em a chance", he addressed his companion.
"Put your legs in the restraints", he told her.
Renamon hesitated a couple of seconds, then spread and lifted her legs into the leg rests. Adjustments for her height were made as she'd been measured. The channels began at her knees, and her ankles were already in the shackles that clamped around her ankles. Her legs spread wide enough to stretch her fuzzy white labs, expose her entire genital region, the lower insides of her buttocks and butt gap. Fully exposed to the audience.
"Let's see who tonight's lucky winner is!", the emcee announced.
Next, the goblimon spun a drum containing raffle tickets. One pulled out a ticket stub to call out the number.
"That's me!", Prariemon called out. He trotted up the aisle and onto the stage. He handed over his raffle ticket. Not a creepy digimon.
"Claim your prize!", the emcee called out.
Prariemon stepped over to Renamon with a lascivious look in his eyes. She met his gaze as he approached. He stepped up hand on her chest and planted a kiss on her lips. Renamon resolved to enjoy this and returned his kisses. He ran a hand through her soft white fur. She gave in to arrousal; her labs twitching. He offered her his stiffening shaft, and she wrapped her lips around it without being told. He fingered her labs, searching for her clit. When he was good and hard he stepped between her thighs.
"You're my first", she said quietly enough so only he heard. After materializing in front of Ruki, she acquired the "equipment" and sexual awareness, but never had the opportunity to do anything about it as she was living with all females.
"For serious?"
"Quite", as she nodded her head.
His back was to the audience, but an overhead viewer showed the penetrations and the expression on Renamon's face from a bird's eye view.
He spread her labs so he could lick the inner labs, her clit red and swelling.
Prariemon ran his shaft up and down her labs to restiffen himself. He noticed the deeper breathing.
"You ready for this?", he asked.
"Yeah", she replied.
"You want it?"
"Oh Yeah"
Renamon watched him slip his dick into her warm, welcoming wetness.
"Ooooo... Yyyyeahhhh..."
He began penetrating her, slowly at first. Renamon was making bird like sounds with every thrust. He picked up the pace, to responses like fox mating calls: "Yiff!, Yerf!, Yarf!" Renamon arched her back as her vagina and uterus began contracting in orgasm. Prariemon felt is too, made one final thrust, and delivered his payload. Renamon's pussy felt slick between the labs and dripped with a mixture of girl cum and Prariemon's overflowing semen.
What he did next surprised her. He stepped around, hands on her cheeks, as he gave her a gentle kiss: "Thank you", he whispered in her ear.
"Well done you two!", the emcee congratulated Prairemon and Renamon. "Let's give them a big round of applause!"
After the standing ovation: "Let's extend a big hand to the newest member of our cast...", dramatic pause... "Goldilocks!"
There was a post performance dinner. Renamon gave her usual, "Thanks for the meal", before being served. The conversation turned to Prariemon's post coital actions.
"When you sex a girl", he explained, "it's best to spend some time with her instead of running off. They like that, and it shows you value them for more than their pussies".
"Interesting", the overseer of the girls remarked, as if this were a totally foreign concept. "Would you like to spend the night with Goldilocks?"
"Hellyeah!"
"How about you?"
"I would be honoured", she replied.
Spending the night in one of the salon's bedrooms was better than spending it in that cage. Prariemon wasn't all that bad for company, another young randy male who couldn't resist a chance to wet his wick, but not one of those "find her, fuck her, forget her" types; she'd resolved to be very careful in what she said during the inevitable pillow talk, not trusting she wasn't being monitored. She wanted Ganemon to receive a good report about her so's she'd become too valuable to lose.
Then there were Ganemon's "guests" she was called on to "entertain", that was a whole different story. Renamon, being tall, blond, and curvaceous was in high demand for big Credits (just ahead of Lunamon) and when required to "entertain" influential politicians and to persuade law enforcement to look the other way when they paid too much attention to Ganemon's operation. Renamon was expected to "enjoy" fucking these strangers she'd never met before. She made certain to put on a convincing show as though her life depended on it, which it did. Renamon brought in enough Credits to silence Ganemon's questions.
"Juri", Renamon began, "Please accept my apology. If I'd've known, I'd prefer staying at Ganemon's club".
"You can't mean that!", Juri said with incredulity. "What Lunamon and the others had to live with, what that sadistic bastard made them do…"
"I was hoping you could have avoided what the other girls were subjected to, what they called 'break-in fucks'. We should have found some other way".
"It was my idea Renamon. I asked Shadowkitsumon to do it for real. Look at how we made them drop their guard. We all got out in one piece. I'm not sure if we would have if he tried attacking those goblimon sooner".
"Juri?"
"Yes, I'd've preferred a more romantic setting: a nice room in one of the upscale hotels, or my bedroom back home for my first time with Shadowkitsumon or my first time period. It is what it is, and I've been wanting to do that ever since Leomon. He always refused, and for the longest time, so did Shadowkitsumon. So you see, there is nothing that requires an apology. We got you out, and I got to make love with my partner. It's a win, win as far as I'm concerned".
"Oh Juri…"
"How about you?"
"It wasn't any where near how I imagined my first time would be either. That's all I have to say, I won't unload on you. I'll deal with what I had to do in my own way and in my own good time".
The only one who figured it out and understood was Jen. He knew what Juri was intending ever since she chased the reluctant Leomon all over the parking lot, and through the woods at Chou Park. The reason why Leomon was never 100% comfortable around Juri.
Material World: Palo Alto University
"Aren't you going to open that?", Professor McCoy's secretary remarked as Rob threw aside the thick package marked "URGENT". He'd seen enough in his day.
"Probably the latest stock market scam, some IPO that's a sure fire guarantee of instant millions if I buy in right away..."
"It's a Japanese return address and postage".
Now that was unusual, and he retrieved the package, pulled off the zip strip. As he read, he could feel his blood turning to ice water.
"What is it?", he wasn't the only one to notice.
"When does it end?", he asked no one in particular.
"Professor?"
"If I'd never gotten involved..."
"Sir?"
"That old project to create virtual life... I thought this digimon business was behind us after the D-Reaper, but it looks like it's starting all over again. Book me on the next flight out to Tokyo".
"Right away, Professor".
Aishwarya Rai had received the same message across the campus. She, too, never expected that the Wild Bunch would be reunited again so soon, for the same reason, to rescue the same children.
Digital World: Outside Slimbdamon
Ruki, Juri, and Shiuchon approached Takato and Ryo.
"We've been thinking", Juri explained, "about Rhythm. We can't let anything like that happen again".
"I don't know about you guys, but this time he's gone way too far", Ruki added.
"There was no honour in Rhythm's death. It went against everything the Digimon Code of Honour stands for. We can give her death meaning", Renamon said.
"He has to be stopped. There's no one else who can do it but us. If we don't, then why did we come?", Shiuchon asked.
"I agree. "Time we stop being so reactive and got more proactive. We've always known a fight with Zhuqiaomon is coming. Let's just get it on".
"Guilmon and the others...", Takato began.
"They can wait a little longer", Juri said. "Besides, we still don't know how to get to him.
"Otherwise, all we can do is sit on our asses while Yamaki figures this out".
"How?"
"First, we need intel. We're still near the city, someone must know something".
"We'll go", Shadowkitsumon and Mikemon volunteered.
"I can hang around the docks", Ikkakumon said. "There are sailors from all over the Digital World all around the docks, and ship board. Given that her execution should still be fresh on their minds, I'm sure they'll be talking about it"
"But, Shadowkitsumon, Mikemon you might be recognized", Takato objected.
"Doesn't matter, no one knows anything. Not really. Besides, I highly doubt Ganemon had the kinds of friends who'd seek revenge for his demise. Ikkakumon's right: intel does have a definite shelf life. They'll be a lot more eager to talk about Rhythm now than later. Look less suspicious to be bringing it up now".
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Shadowkitsumon walked into one of the waterfront bars. Didn't matter which one. He could see that the interior was very dark, so that the patrons would see him before he could see them. Even though it was still early, there were plenty of patrons there, getting their early morning drink on, or the hair of the dog that bit them last night.
There was also a noisy game of Digital World Hazard being played at a dice table in the back of the bar. With loaded dice, no doubt.
(C'mon! C'mon! Five!... Five! Deuce-Trey!... Fuck!... Six, six main is six. Missed chance, new caster comin' out)
He squeezed himself into a gap and slapped a high denomination credit note on the bar.
"What'll it be?", the bar keep asked.
"Gekomon Moonshine, and keep 'em comin'"
He brought him a shot on the clear liquid, and Shadowkitsumon downed it in one gulp. It burned all the way down. He couldn't help but make a face.
"You don't look like a merchant marine?", the barkeep asked suspiciously. "Don't drink like one either".
"Me? Oh hell no!", he agreed. "Just lookin' for some kinky action".
"Yerr too lay", the drinker next to him said. "Dintcherr hear? Sex club burned terr thuh groun' day beferr yestiddy".
"First I heard about it. Just got into town".
"Thass thuh chance yerr take. Pissed off fathuh wiff Mega connections, I heard. Guess he emplerred thuh wrong gurl".
Shadowkitsumon sipped at his second shot: "Tragic", he said.
"How's that?", the barkeep asked.
"Rhythm. You seen her execution?"
"Yeah, I seen it. She brought it on herself.. You aren't one of those sympathizers...", he eyed him with increasing suspicion.
"I liked how His Holiness made her undress before he fried her ass. Waste of good pussy, though. Should'a had the living daylights fucked out of her first. Then it would be a fucksecution".
The barkeep chuckled at that.
"Fucksecution", his companion chuckled into his shot glass. "Yerr doan haffteh juss watch 'em burn on thuh visi-vox, yannow", his drinking buddy said. "Yerr kin see 'em live. If'n yeh get dere early 'nough, you just might get a front row seat. Close nuff to smell 'em fry".
"How so? Must be expensive..."
"Doan coss nuttin'. His Holiness ain't int'rested in credits, juss demonstratin' His Holy judgments. Fuck'em traitors. Ain't none too ferr. We was finkin' 'boud a day trip teh see Rhythm get wuss comin terher, but we was'n shurr we'd make it back in time b'ferr we sail".
"Thanks. If I'd known..."
"Fink nuttin uvit. If'n yer ain got nowheres terr be, stick aroun. Dell be anudder traiterr fryan soon".
Shadowkitsumon got up: "No, you keep the change for yourself", he said to the barkeep. "You know what they say? Unlucky in love...", as he nodded towards the dice game. "Maybe I'll have better luck there".
It was a substantial tip: "You're OK. Need anything, I'll take care of you".
"New caster comin' out"
Shadowkitsumon placed a small bet as the dice passed to him. So far, the dice seemed OK.
"Five", Shadowkitsumon called out.
"Five, five, main is five: mark it"
He threw the dice.
"Crap three! Line away!
"Dammit! Gimme a five"
"Five, five, main is five: mark it"
"Six, deuce-four, mark the chance"
He rolled some more, hitting neither number.
"Six, six, pair a'treys. Pay the winner"
"Let it ride", Shadowkitsumon said, and pulled out more credits. "A hundred on top"
"You're takin' quite a flyer", the dealer said.
"I'm feeling pretty lucky. Gimme a five"
"Five, five, main is five: mark it"
"Seven, seven, chance is seven"
Two tolls later: "Ace-boxcar, pay the winner"
"Let it ride, and gimme a five"
"Say, don't you ever bet anything but five?"
"That's my lucky number"
"Five, five, main is five: mark it"
"Nine, nine, chance is nine"
"Dammit!", Shadowkitsumon thought to himself. That meant he had four ways to win, and four ways to lose: break even.
Five minutes later, he hit his nine, and scooped his credits off the layout. He peeled off a few and dropped them on the layout: "For the crew"
"You quittin' already?"
"Don't want to try Lady Luck's patience too much".
Shadowkitsumon made a mental note: he'd actually found an honest game, probably one of the few in the whole damn town. He also knew he was making positive expectation bets, and didn't want to call too much attention to himself. He could come back and play for some serious credits after this business with Zhuqiaomon was finished, and he didn't want to be recognized as a high roller just yet.
He watched as the next caster placed his bet: "Seven"
"Dumb fucks", he thought to himself. That was the absolutely the worst possible bet anyone could ever make. On the plus side, bettors like that kept the game going.
He asked around, seeking details on where the executions were taking place, the security, the best times to arrive, how much scrutiny the guests were subjected to. All seemingly naive questions from one who never attended in person.
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"So what have we learned?', Takato asked.
"We know Shadowkitsumon was right about one thing", Mikemon was explaining. "Zhuqiaomon does recruit ringers to fill the seats of his arena. He has some who come willingly in support, but we figured that already'.
"Gekomon Moonshine loosens a lot of tongues", Shadowkitsumon said. "He holds his executions in what used to be the Art Zone before he took it over as his own personal playground with the forced evacuations of the original inhabitants. It's a small zone, maybe a couple days' walk from here.
"Met a merchant marine who was thinking of going, but he decided not to rather than miss his ship", Shadowkitsumon told them. "Others did, and they were eager to discuss everything.
"We have a problem: there's a dark tower right next to his stadium that produces a suppression field. We won't be able to digivolve. Zhuqiaomon's sky box has a defensive shield. I don't know how we get by that".
"I have some good news and some bad news", Impmon said. "Which first?"
"OK, let's hear the bad news", Shiuchon said.
"That pimp ring? So far as figuring out how Zhuqiaomon's stasis field works, I'm afraid it's a dead end".
"What's the good news?", Ryo asked.
"I can modify it. Make it do the opposite of what it was designed to do so that its wearer can evolve despite the dark tower. He's such an arrogant prick, he's using a very old technology from the earliest days of our history".
(The Holy Office has today announced the apprehension of yet another traitor to all digimon. Irbimon had confessed her sin of selling her soul to a good and loyal citizen who reported the transgression against our God's Holy Law...
"We are grateful for the reward, but we didn't report what we knew for any reward other than knowing we are serving God's Holy Laws", the neighbor who betrayed her was saying during an interview. "Irbimon went so far as to actually say she loved the Outworlder into whose servitude she sold her very soul. A truly misguided and delusional digimon indeed".
God's Holy Judgement will take place in three day's time at the Hall of Divine Judgement...)
Irbimon was an animal digimon, an anthro snow leopard.
"Three days. If we get going right now, we should be able to make it in one, if we stay on the move day and night without a break", Impmon announced.
"Then let's do this", Takato agreed.
This was possible since there were no bio-necessities in the Digital World, no real need for sleep, food, water, or rest.
"The only question is how close can we get?", Ryo was asking. "sounds like there should be a whole bunch of security".
"Now that I don't know", Impmon said. "We'll need someone on the inside, and getting in shouldn't be a problem unless there aren't any more seats left. As for everything else, Zhuqiaomon is so arrogant he broadcasts his executions live and in real time. Keep your eye on the comm, and you'll know what to do and when to do it".
"Almost sounds like he's making it too easy", Ruki said.
"It would seem so, and I wouldn't count out the possibility completely, but he is also crazy enough, and arrogant enough, to truly believe he is universally loved. It wouldn't necessarily occur to him that Irbimon would actually have friends and supporters who'd make an escape attempt. Let's not forget that too".
Art Zone
They'd arrived within one Digital World day. They found shelter in a forest, and Ruki, Renamon, Shadowkitsumon, and Mikemon were surveying the area around the arena through Ruki's field glasses. The preparations were underway, mostly grounds keepers sweeping litter, making sure the foliage was trimmed, lawn mowed.
The Imperial News Network were also here, setting up live feeds that would be seen all over the Digital World. Security, however, seemed on the light side.
"How's it goin?", Juri asked.
"This is delicate work under the best of conditions", Impmon told her.
She could see he had pried off a cover from the inside of the pimp ring to expose the chip. He was making connections with hair-like wire so that he could connect to Yamaki's comm, and reprogram it.
"Sorry, I'll leave you to it".
"Not a prob", he said.
"This sitting around and waiting... so boring", Shiuchon was complaining.
"Yeah, tell me about it", Kazu agreed. "Better get used to it, going in with guns blazing, that only happens in movies".
For most of the Tamers and their partners, there was little else to do but wait, and watch, in case their presence was discovered.
"Here's how we figure it", Ryo was describing the plan. "When the crowds start gathering, that's when Kyukimon will join in, early enough to be sure he gets a seat. That could mean a long wait, I'm afraid. No tellin' how many will decide to show up, but it'll be more than enough to fill every seat".
"You'll go in with this", Impmon showed him the modified pimp ring. "Hopefully, it'll be taken as a normal fashion accessory or jewelry. Still, I'd keep it out of sight, but don't be too obvious about it".
"You got it done?",
"Yep, it's all reprogrammed allowing you to evolve".
"When do I strike?"
"Wait until they bring Irbimon out. Let them get away from the gate where they'll be bringing her in. Let them get maybe half way, then take out the guards".
"The rest of us?"
"Unless there's a drastic change of plans, they'll be showing everything live. You see Kyukimon make his move. The rest of us will digivolve to Mega, and attack. The flighted digimon: Cherubimon, Sakuyamon, Saint Galgomon: you hit Zhuqiaomon's skybox. The ground based fighters: you're the ground support. Take out Zhuqiaomon's guards..."
"Aren't you forgetting someone?", Juri objected. "What about Irbimon? How do we get her out?"
"Get her out in the resulting chaos and confusion?"
"I'll get her out", Kapurimon said.
"How? You're just a…"
"I came along to help out. At least allow me to try".
"If you think you can".
"I know I can!"
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
"OK, let's put this on", Impmon said.
"You sure this'll work?", Kyukimon asked.
"Yeah, though without a field test... Yes, I'm sure it will work", as he snapped the pimp ring around his wrist.
"I wish you could sound a bit more sure"
"It'll work".
As Kyukimon approached, he saw that the barricades were in place, forming a long, snaking line that began far back. This was going to take hours...
"Public access this way. Public access this way", there was a guide who directed the arriving traffic into the appropriate queues.
He fell in line. Ahead, the VIP entrance awaited those who wouldn't have to wait for seats. The line behind him was growing longer. There was also another entrance that was more heavily guarded. This one for the forced viewers who would make sure the stadium was filled to capacity.
For the next four hours, the lines zig-zagged their way farther and farther. The line finally began to move towards the ID scanner. As he passed through it, he was waved onward. Inside, ushers were directing the arrivals towards their assigned sections and seats. Kyukimon was pleased to see that everything looked the same as for Rhythm's execution, that he was seated towards the upper tier of seats of a mid level section. That gave him room to operate.
"Your first time?", a kotemon seated next to him asked.
"Yeah, just got off the ship. Decided to come here when I found out something happened to Max Ass. Figured this'll be as good a way as any to kill some time. Better than getting all messed up with cheap water front lush, or getting taken in the crooked games they run back there".
"Aren't you forgetting something?", Kotemon asked with suspicion.
"And to see God in person, should I really have to explain what an honour it is?", he asked with just as much suspicion as he was asked.
"MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION! MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION!", there was an announcement over the PA.
"When His Holiness arrives, you are to stand salute and remain standing until bid to sit. I call your attention to the monitors over head, these will instruct you when to stand, sit, and put on demonstrations. This will be going out live to the Digital World, and how you behave reflects on all of you.
"When the sinner receives her judgment, any show of sympathy will be taken as evidence of equal guilt that will merit further investigation".
(The Imperial News Network is taking you live to the Hall of Divine Judgment where His Holiness will mete out his divine justice. Will it be mercy or retribution? Only his divine wisdom knows, and our God sees the true heart of each and every digimon...)
Next followed interviews of those waiting outside to watch on a Jumbotron set up for the late arrivals, or who couldn't wait in the queues for a seat inside. This was interrupted.
(All hail our God)
Zhuqiaomon was arriving with his Demon Lords. They were having a pleasant chat as they took their places in the skybox. The audience stood as one to greet their god.
"Everyone: get ready", Jen said.
"Matrix evolution bio-merge activate!"
Terriermon evolve! ...
... SAINT GALGOMON!
Lopmon evolve! ...
... CHERUBIMON!
Renamon evolve! ...
... SAKUYAMON!
Impmon evolve! ...
... CUCHULIAMON!
Shadowkitsumon evolve! …
… RHIHIMON!
"Shadowkitsumon?", Juri asked as she found herself naked inside a charcoal gray shpere around which whirled strange symbols in red.
"It's a little disorienting until you've done it a few times", he explained.
Kapurimon concentrated intensely, face all scrunched up.
Kapurimon evolve! …
… GUARDROMON!
Zhuqiaomon stood to receive the adulation, his four wings outspread. Next, he brought them forward, and lowered them. The audience took their seats.
"Bring forth the sinner", he called out.
A gate opposite from where Kyukimon sat opened. Irbimon was being led from the gate by the arms by two of Zhuqiaomon's cardboardboxmon guards. Four more stood by the gate, waiting to spring into action to subdue Irbimon if that was necessary. Even more were scattered around the arena floor.
Cardboardboxmon were leading her across the floor. Kyukimon thought they were even more disgusting live than on the visi-vox.
Irbimon was whimpering as the two guards turned her to face Zhuqiaomon.
"Irbimon, there is no question of your guilt as you have confessed your sins on more than one occasion. You sold your soul to a devil..."
"Heisn'tadevil! Why... why... is it... so bad... to have human friends? I didn't do anything to die for".
"Even now you persist in your unrepentant and reprobate nature. It is not I who condemn you, but you who condemn yourself".
The cardboardboxmon began leading her. She walked to her death, tail dragging along the ground
"I WANT TO LIVE!"
Kyukimon startled the two digimon seated next to him as he suddenly stood and leaped
Kyukimon evolve! …
… SLASH ANGEMON!
He put his sword-like arms and wings together and began to spin. He buzz sawed through the cardboardboxmon who were leading Irbimon.
"Holy Espada!" He cleared the arena floor of cardboardboxmon before they had a chance to defend themselves.
At first, there was mass confusion, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. About a minute later, the stampede for the exits began.
"Gotcha!", Guardromonmon said as he grabbed Irbimon and fired his rocket packs at full thrust.
"YOU!", Zhuqiaomon called out as soon as he saw who was arriving.
"Lightening Spear!" Cherubimon threw his spear, his second most powerful attack.
"Amethyst Mandala!" Sakuyamon hit him with the overlapping pink rings of light as what looked like pink rose pedals floated to the ground before sparkling and disappearing.
"Hero's Light!" Cuchuliamon fired off his most devastating attack.
"Giant Bazooka!", Saint Galgomon fired the two missiles with warheads decorated with cute kitty faces that smiled as the warhead armed itself.
"Darkness Bluster!", Rhihimon launched his main attack.
The attacks struck Zhuqiaomon's skybox at once, collapsing the defensive shield, deleting the Demon Lords who accompanied him, and blowing Zhuqiaomon right out of the box. He hit the ground a hundred meters away. Their surprise attack had been successful, and not even Zhuqiaomon was expecting this, nor did he have the time to counter attack.
"This one's for Rhythm!", Shiuchon called from inside her Data Sphere. "Storm of Judgment!", as his attack struck where he'd fallen.
Saint Galgomon and Sakuyamon took off to engage Zhuqiaomon's corrupt dorugremon.
"Burst Shot!", Saint Galgomon opened up with all gun ports.
"Spirit Foxes!", Sakuyamon released the red, green and blue spirit foxes that attacked with a ghostly yipping.
"Amethyst Mandala!"
"Burst Shot!"
Cherubimon and Cuchuliamon took care of the ground forces. These being an army of pencilmon. These digimon looked like an anthropomorphic common yellow pencil.
"Thousand Arrows!", Cherubimon fired, taking out almost half.
"Darkness Bluster!', Rhihimon fired at the enemy forces.
"Hero's Light!", Cuchuliamon cleaned up the rest, but for a few stragglers that ran off.
"We get him?", Shiuchon asked from her Data Sphere.
"I'm afraid not", Lopmon replied. "They attacked him before, and we thought him destroyed, but he regenerates", he explained.
"I say we bring down this whole stadium while we can", Cuchuliamon said, as soon as Sakuyamon and Saint Galgomon joined them.
"Hero's Light!"
"Giant Bazooka!"
"Amethyst Mandala!"
"Storm of Judgment!"
"Darkness Bluster!"
They watched as the Hall of Divine Judgment collapsed completely into a mountain of rubble.
"Let's get the hell out of here before he revives!", Cherubimon announced.
0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Takato, Ryo, and the others knew the attack had begun. They saw Kyukimon digivolve, then the screen was filled with colour bars, then an advisory: "Technical difficulties".
Guardromon landed with Irbimon in his arms.
She looked over the unlikely gathering: "Who... are you?"
"Takato Matsuda", pleased to meet you. He stuck out his hand. Irbimon understood the custom of hand shaking.
"And this here is Harpymon. And Mikemon", he continued the introductions.
"Glad to see you made it out in one piece"
"And Ikkakumon... and Lutramon...".
"We are the ones who disapprove of our God's methods", Ikkakumon said.
"Not just his methods", Mikemon said, "We intend to see him in hell".
"Jenyra Lee", at your service.
"You're Outworlders?"
"Some of us", Kenta said. "Our other friends ought to be along momentarily".
Cherubimon, Sakuyamon, Cuchuliamon, Saint Galgomon, and Rhihimon landed and devolved. More introductions.
There was an explosion coming from the direction of the stadium, and an ominous red glow in the sky. A fiery figure was beginning to appear.
"Perception Filter!", Calumon called, as a force field appeared around them. "No one can see us now, culu?", he told them. This was another residual side effect of his having been the Bearer of the Light.
Zhuqiaomon circled the whole area, cursing, screaming threats. Calumon was right: he couldn't detect their presence. He was at it for over the rest of the day and well into the night.
On the comm, Irbimon watched herself being "executed", burned alive just like Rhythm. Once the "technical difficulties" were "fixed", the whole scene was absolutely faked, with quite convincing CGI. Anyone missing the beginning of the live broadcast wouldn't have any reason to suspect that Irbimon's execution hadn't worked out as planned. The "news" wouldn't mention a word of it.
"We really did it this time", Ryo announced. "If Zhuqiaomon was pissed off before..."
He didn't need to complete that thought: they all knew the opening shot had been fired.