Episode Ten: Play Time

The group starts moving while remaining in place as the ground beneath them starts moving like a conveyer belt as spoken of by Panjyamon.

Taiyo's hold on Euryale tightens as if the sudden jolt spooked her.

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In a flash, something jumps from the trees and knocks Cameron over, jumping back into the trees.

Karatenmon has a similar experience only he gets cut this time. Once from behind and again from the front where he sees a pink blur from whatever is stalking them.

*Roatha types out, as best as he can, Yes, we're going after Puppetmon. And so they do.*
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*Despite still being in abject misery, Euryale uncovers her face & puts an arm around Taiyo, trying to wriggle the other one out of someone's grasp to push herself up. Guilmon also gets up, his ears still drooping, but clearly no one cares about him.*

*Eve sends a message back. Meanwhile, Lunamon gives Guilmon a hug*

We should meet up.

Eve:< Looks like Roatha and Aroma are going after Puppetmon.>
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*Karatenmon uses Feather Flare in the approximate direction that the attacker went. meanwhile, Cameron gets out his dterminal and sends eve&Kylie a message*

I'm alive. Can't talk now.

Azuma: "How do they plan on doing that?"

Taiyo moves to let Euryale up.

The forest floor passes by many of the gear growing trees until eventually there is not a single leaf on any of the surrounding trees as they've all be replaced with gears.

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I don't know which way they're going. There's plenty of normal trees and random street signs with arrows pointing in every which direction which will likely lead them nowhere if they try to follow.

Meanwhile, Roatha's hands are still itchy and rashy from the not poison ivy.

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With multiple attackers going in multiple directions, that's not entirely sound.

With some rustling above, a Kyukimon drops down and slashes Karatenmon across the back. Meanwhile, more rustling is heard from the left and right.

*They said that they were going to keep going in the direction that they entered the forest from. I wasn't posting just to see my characters talk, shit.*
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E"We have to separate!"

D<What?>

E"Otherwise, we'll just be turned against each other again! It's the only way!"

D<Uh, I don't think so. Even if we're all alone, we can still be made to hurt ourselves. But maybe there's a limit to how any of us can be controlled at once. Then those who AREN'T controlled can step in to help.>

*Karatenmon turns at slashes at Kyukimon with his own swords*
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Eve:<I have no idea. However, I do not believe splitting up would be the best option. Also, looks like Cameron is alright as well.>

*Kylie smiles in relief at Cameron's message*

Please come back soon.

Azuma: "That's not to say that even if we did split up there's the possibility we could be dropped on one another. No matter what we did, we're still in danger."

The belt begins to slow down until it eventually comes to a stop. It's hard to tell if they're anywhere different as all the trees look alike with their gears instead of leaves.

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Roatha had never really entered the forest as he was dropped in the middle of it leaving the Aroma to be the only one who actually entered from anywhere.

In a patch of tall grass, the ground beneath them begins to move like it did for the above group. Eventually they wind up in a less grassy section, the ground around their patch of grass being dried and dead leaves and fallen gears in different states of rust.

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It blocks while two others flank him, taking swings with their blades.

R"They must be trying to get us away from them."

<"Or take us into a trap.">

R"Can you fly? Maybe we're close enough that we could find them that way."

*And so Aroma tries to fly.*
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E"Then--then we should just leave the forest! Maybe this is the only place their ability can reach!"

D<You're saying we should run away? That's a little uncharacteristic of you.>

E"Better than the alternative! And maybe we could--maybe tell all of the good Digimon to leave, then just bomb the forest from the air?"

Eve:<That would be hard to do, especially with the continued threat of Puppetmon getting in the way.>
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*Karatenmon use Feather Flare on the first before turning to block the other two, slashing at them*

Azuma: "There are very few non-hostile Digimon. And we don't even know where they are."

The ground stops outside of some large house. Outside of the house is a row of green garbage cans.

Even stranger is a sign that says Watch Your Step.

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After watching some AMV's, it turns out Rosemon can fly even though that is something you should have known. Anywho, flying while possible is difficult due to the thick canopy.

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The two block and counter. The third recoils and jumps back into the trees above.

OOC: I was almost certain that she did, but it's been a while since I've seen Data Squad.

*So she picks up Roatha & flies into the trees.*

<"I don't know if this is helping.">

"Keeps us off of the ground, which apparently can move."

<"True enough. But maybe we should de-digivolve, to conserve energy. Lilamon can probably carry us both, & there might even be something in my first aid kit that I can use to treat your--uh--condition.>

"You make it sound like I have ED."

<"What's that?">

"Erectile dysfunction."

<"Oh--oh dear...do you?">

"No!"
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D<Should we go in?>

E"No. We should leave this terrible place & never come back."

*Guilmon puts his head on Euryale's shoulder, nodding. By this point, Euryale's arms are wrapped tightly around her stomach.*

Eve:<Could this be Puppetmon's lair?>
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*Karatenmon uses Feather Flare on the two currently attacking*

Salamon: "What else would it be?"

Azuma: "What Crest do you possess?"

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OOC: "I don't have ED. I have an erection right now, thank you very much."

Presumably still flying, they get leaves in their face and most annoyingly gears up in their grill. It probably really sucks.

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After recovering, they jump back into the trees. Above there's some rustling, but much more violently as if there's a struggle. A Kyukimon damn near falls on top of Karatenmon followed by a Karatenmon that stabs its swords into the fallen Kyukimon that writhes in agony followed by a pained whimper and a moan before dissolving into data.

OOC: If it were Angewomon, perhaps.

*Rosemon drifts closer to the ground, mostly so, if she can't hold on to the humans while degenerating into Sunflowmon, it won't be so bad.*

L<I can clear a path with SUNSHINE BEAM!>
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E"Me? If it means I might have to hurt Taiyo, I don't want it!"

Terriermon:<You have the crest of Hope, and you're a pessimist.>
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*Karatenmon stares at the newcomer*

<Thanks mate.>

Azuma: "And what if giving up is hurting her?"

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OOC: No love for a botanical dominatrix?

Probably not, but it's worth a shot.

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Karatenmon: "Ornismon put you up to this? The Ruler of the Skies that can't even protect their own followers let alone dominion."

The Kyukimon drop down behind each of them, swinging.

E"That doesn't even make sense!"
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OOC: Aroma. Dominatrix?

*She holds on to them & takes flight, clearing the way with SUNSHINE BEAM!*

L<SUNSHINE BEAM! SUNSHINE BEAM!>

*Block and counterattack*

Cameron:<Uh, yeah!>
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*Everyone is all awkward at this scene*

Azuma: "I can close my eyes and still see Taiyo is unhappy that you're in this state. Why can't you?"

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OOC: Lalamon will have to carry the burden.

Gears come falling down on them because some putz is blasting them and shit. It is very unpleasant and will result in lots of ouchies. Aroma's first aid kit best have something that can treat fallen gear ouchyitis.

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Karatenmon spins and blocks. It pushes the Kyukimon away and Feather Flare's it in the face.

Karatenmon: "Of course it did."

The Kyukimon PC Karatenmon is engaged with jumps back. It begims spinning around like a tornado about to show him a world of pain.

*Except they would be protected by Sunflowmon's girth, so there. Aroma treats Roatha's hands, I guess.*

<SUNSHINE BEAM!>
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"She was almost dead. And if not her, it could have been Renamon, which is just as bad. Are any of your snide remarks going to prevent that? If so, I'd love to hear them."

*Karatenmon holds out his swords in its path so it gets hit as it's running out him*

Azuma: "We've all come close to death at some point in this journey. One of us actually did die. Or do those incidents not matter because you're not close to anyone else?"

Taiyo: "Stop it, both of you!"

???: "Only one casualty? We'll just have to fix that."

The garbage cans open up to be Garbagemon which take aim with their garbage bazooka things.

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Sunflowmon makes it out of the trees and gets a nice view of the continent. It's fucking huge with very few landmarks. A mountain that is quite far off and a large clearing that forms a perfect circle that is not so far off.

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Kyukimon barrels into PC Karatenmon, spilling over him.

The other Karatenmon stabs the other Kyukimon and finishes it off by lopping its head off.

E"What are you talking about? Nobody died!"

*Fleeing!*
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*They look for buildings, caves, anything that might serve as an evil lair.*

*Karatenmon uses Feather Flare on the asshole*
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Kylie:<Yeah, Hibiki did!>

*Running, but Terriermon digivolves and starts shooting at Garbagemon*

While the humans find cover, the Digimon go Ultimate, Angewomon and Taomon putting up shields while MagnaAngemon takes flight and fires down on the Garbagemon.

The Garbagemon remain in place as they get picked off, firing on the fleeing humans.

Metal shutters on the house's windows open up as artillery comes into view, ready to fire upon the group.

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They see a big house and hear the sounds of weapon fire.

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It dies, although being in such close proximity to it, Karatenmon takes some damage too.

Karatenmon: "This is an example of the Digital World's heroes and its leaders?"