Old Ones Return (V)

E"Get away, I need to get to him!"

*In the ensuing struggle, Kylie is tossed easily aside & Crescemon is punched in the face. Thiera walks down the stairs to join him.*

Drasil<He will be fine.>

T"I actually agree with Azuma. Can you get us back to the real world?"

Drasil<I'm afraid not. Passage to the material world is different in this world than it was in the other Digital World. I have not yet mastered the skill.>

T"But then how did Kurata do it?"

Drasil<Kurata's method bores through time & space directly. It will function regardless of the dimension he inhabits. Only the destination changes.>

E"Who cares about any of that?!"
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*Tsune starts for the stairs, but notices a bunch of Hypnos agents coming down, so she runs for the tunnel, ignoring shouts from the ticket guy to stop, & for security.*

Taiyo: "Don't you want to go home?"

*Kylie slumps in a heap, and sniffles, trying not to cry. Crescemon just looks suprised*

Crescemon:<Agumon will be fine!>

E"All this techno mumbo jumbo doesn't mean anything!"

*Agumon walks up as Euryale forces herself free of Crescemon's grasp. She grabs him & hugs him tightly, closing her eyes to disguise the fact that they're watering. King Drasil tilts his head.*

A<Ow...really, it's okay.>

E"It's not okay! She almost got you, & I couldn't do a thing to stop her!"

*King Drasil walks up to Ornismon, who degenerates back to Biyomon & Cameron, now that the danger has passed.*

Drasil<Perhaps she could have, if she could do this. What do you call it? How does it work? It seems different from Kurata's abominations, or my own ability to transfer digisouls between bodies.>
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*As they try to run through the tunnel, they find their way once again barred by Hypnos agents. Attempting to retreat, they find that the others have caught up. Tsune takes off her backpack, but the agents level their guns & Kurata steps out from behind them, adjusting his glasses.*

Kurata<Don't bother. Even if you could get past us, we've shut down all of the stations ahead. You truly are predictable. I was planning to intercept you in your neighborhood, but then you got caught trying to make your escape.>

*Tsune glares at Monodramon. When Kurata folds his arms behind his back, she finally looks back at him.*

"Why are you doing this? We've never done anything to you."

Kurata<Those dirty beasts don't belong in this world, or any world for that matter. But if you surrender, then you won't be harmed.>

"...It's you, isn't it? You're the one who's sending people to the Digital World to kill all of the Digimon!"

Kurata<Yes. I am.>

*The Hypnos agents look at him, clearly surprised.*

Kurata<Don't act so surprised. You know as well as I do how dangerous these monsters are. They are the ones who dragged those young people into their battle. Hiring Senthose was just...a necessary evil. And, in any case, he's dead now.>

Biyomon:<It's called biomerge digivolution, and we're not that sure how it works, other than tamer and partner have to be united.>

Crescemon:<It's not your fault, you were tired out from before.>
===
<(Great, that idiot!)>

Monodramon flexes its knuckles, growling.

Monodramon: "We did nothing to you."

Kurata<Really, now. What about when the Devas attacked, completely unprovoked, injuring dozens & costing millions in property damage? Just like now, your disgusting Digimon dragged children into their fight, & what was their reward for helping? The Digimon infected us with the D-Reaper.>

*A murmur goes through the agents. Tsune points at Kurata.*

"Why are you listening to his excuses? He's broken the law, & it sounds like he killed people. That's not protecting Japan, it's declaring war on it!"

Kurata<And what would you know about this country, little girl?>

*He glances sideways at each of the agents in turn.*

Kurata<Face it, Yamaki went soft. He is a fool. But I can succeed where he failed. I can cure the Wild One infestation at its source. Permanently. All I ask is for you to destroy a few of them along the way. What's so wrong about that?>
=====================================
E"Tired...are there bedrooms in the castle?"

*She looks over to King Drasil.*

Drasil<Yes, of course.>

E"Then, if you can seal off that data stream, we can stay here for a while. At least one night. Figure out what to do next."

Drasil<That seems logical.>

E"Good. I'm sorry if I hurt anyone. By panicking, I only invited chaos. Again, I'm sorry."

*She bows her head. Agumon squirms, trying to get down.*

Azuma: "It's understandable."

Taiyo is weary to join Euryale, but does so.

===================================

Monodramon: "It is a fight you started."

*Kapurimon growls softly*
===
Crescemon:<It's quite alright.>

*She picks up the sniffing Kylie*

Kurata<There's no point in debating with the imaginary friends of children. It's showtime, gentlemen!>

*Most of the agents put their guns away, drawing tasers instead. At least 2 still have their weapons drawn, training them on Monodramon.*
==================================
*Euryale notices Taiyo's reluctance & frowns. Agumon slips from her grasp.*

Drasil<In fact, most of the rooms in the above ground levels of the castle are bedrooms. This castle was built to house many Digimon.>

*Kapurimon tries to wiggle out of the bag without hands*
---
Crescemon:<Good, because we all need the rest.>

Taiyo: "He's okay, right?"

===================================

Monodramon hisses and takes a swing at one of the agents.

*Euryale tries to grab Agumon again, so he quickly takes a few steps back.*

A<I'm fine, don't worry about me.>

E"Okay, well...."

*Euryale runs a hand through her hair while the wings, shield, & Aurora Force revert to data & return to Euryale's card pack.*

E"I guess we should all head in & pick out rooms, then."

D<Good, I'm probably going to sleep for at least a week.>

*Euryale points at her.*

E"You get 8 hours."

D<I was shot in the head!>

E"9 hours, then."

*DemiDevimon grumbles. Thiera smiles & scratches her behind the ears.*
=============================
*Before he can even get close enough, he's shot in the stomach. As he lays on the ground, his body alternates between solid & static. Kurata watches as the other Digimon emerge from Tsune's backpack.*

Kurata<Really, now. What are you going to do? Punch me?>

*A torrent of orange energy strikes Kurata dead on, causing Kurata to go flying back & onto the tracks. The agents at his side rush to look over the ledge. Tsune & the agents behind her turn, to see Leomon's fist smoking. The agents raise their weapons, but he casually knocks them out with a wave of his arm.*

Leomon<Yes.>

*He then grabs her & Monodramon & starts running back the way he came, ignoring the shots firing after him.*

Taiyo: "Everyone else is okay, right?"

===================================

Monodramon groans.

Monodramon: "Still too...weak."

*Kapurimon wiggles back into the backoack*
---
Crescemon:<We're all a little shaken up, but yeah.>

Drasil<...Why are you still Digivolved?>

E"Hey, Renamon, can I talk to you real quick? In private."
===================
Leomon<Try to use your D-Power to heal him.>

"Do I have to? He's stupid & kind of pisses me off."

*Leomon turns a corner, running towards a layer of thick fog that definitely wasn't there before.*

Crescemon:<To carry Kylie.>

*At that, Kylie wiggles out of her grasp*

<I'm fine.>

*Crescemon shrugs and regresses. Cameron turns to Thiera and DemiDevimon*

<I just wanted to say thanks for what you did today.>

Renamon: "Yes, of course."

D<What did I do?>

T"You incapacitated Kylie so that she didn't hurt herself, & shielded several of the others."

D<Oh yeah, that's how I got shot. Hell was I thinking?>

T"I think it was very brave."

*Agumon watches Euryale & Renamon leave, suspiciously.*
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*Meanwhile, Euryale leads Renamon slightly away from the others. Out of earshot, but still within view. She slashes the armor card, causing it to return to data, & then rubs her side.*

"All of this almost getting blown up has made me think...I pray every night that everyone will stay safe, but...if something does happen to me, I need to know that someone will be able to keep the group together."

*Cameron nods*

<I probably would be seriously injured or dead without you.>

Lunamon:<And we would still be Kurata's minions. So, thank you again.>

Renamon: "Do not think that way. Nothing will come to you that'll keep you from the rest of us."

*Euryale puts a hand on Renamon's shoulder.*

E"Please. I have to know that we're prepared for the worst. I know it's a lot of pressure, but I really think you're the best person for the job."
---------------------------------
D<Meh.>

T"Expressing gratitude is not a strength of hers."
==========================
*As they pass into the fog, they come out in a large valley between 2 black cliffs, a river running through the center. The ground is awash with grasses & flowers, with tropical trees closer to the river. Aside from the plants, there are Digimon everywhere. A herd of Mammothmon in the distance, a trio of Bokomon hopping nearby, & a Blue Coredramon flying overhead, just that they can see. As Leomon sets them down, Tsune looks around.*

"Wow...."

G<We must be in the Digital World.>

*Tsune looks up at the Coredramon.*

"Hey, there's no sky here!"

G<What are you talking about? There has to be-->

*As he looks up, sure enough, the "sky" is just a film of water, shifting & shimmering in the breeze, held back by some invisible force. The clouds appear to be fog that drifts off of the underside of this firmament when it's heated by the sunlight passing through it, which hits at a 45 degree angle, exposing shadows at the back of the valley.*

Leomon<There will be plenty of time for explanations. Please heal Monodramon, like I asked. I need to learn what became of the other Tamers.>

*So he sets off, fully intent on leaving them alone.*

*Kapurimon yells for the first time*

<Hypnos has them!>
---
*Cameron grins*

<Well, I guess we should all go get some rest.>

Renamon: "Me?"

===================================

Monodramon: "We're home...?"

E"Why are you so surprised? You're always keeping watch over everyone, & when Azuma wanted Senthose's corpse mutilated, you were the one who said it would be sinking to their level. Though you did also punch Agumon in the nose...."

*She pushes on her chin with her finger.*
-----------------------------------------
T"Certainly.*

*She heads for the castle. King Drasil walks off in the direction of the data stream.*
================================
"It certainly is something."

*A shadow passes overhead, the vague outline of a Whamon. Its fin can be seen breaking through the firmament briefly, spraying water down like a fine rain, before it ascends & continues on its way. Leomon glances back.*

Leomon<I wasn't actually referring to your Tamers.>

*Tsune takes out her D-Power & half-assedly points it at Monodramon without even bending over. It shoots a weak healing beam into him. After a few seconds, she gestures to Kapurimon.*

"Hey. Digivolve & come hold this, I don't want to do it anymore."