Old Ones Return (VI)

Mr. Rakshashi<So...when they turn into Digimon, it's not the same as what you do?>

E"No. What we do is called Biomerging. That's when--"

ML<Datamon already explained. At length.>

*Euryale sighs heavily.*

E"Okay. Some of Kurata's soldiers are what's called 'Bio-Hybrids.' This is when a deleted Digimon's data is downloaded into a person, allowing them to transform into it. The Digimon is supposed to be dead, but sometimes they can come back."

Mrs. Rakshashi<That's terrible!>

E"If it makes you feel better, the Digimon are just as evil as their hosts."

Mrs. Psyche<That still seems uncouth.>

Mr. Psyche<I get the feeling that's not the worst thing that he's done. But where did he get these people? How many of them are there?>

*Euryale scratches her head.*

E"I'm not sure, exactly. A lot of them are mercenaries that he hired. The most Bio-Hybrids we saw in 1 spot was around 10."

T"There--there probably aren't that many. Since the Bio-Hybrids aren't mindless slaves, he needs to be able to rely on them. They're like his generals."

Mr. Aqua<Is that...an "and" symbol?>

*He points at a & amidst a field of letters, punctuation marks, & other symbols floating through the tunnel.*

Mrs. Psyche<It looks that way. The technical name is ampersand.>

Mrs. Aqua<Is it safe?>

Data<Affirmative. The anomaly anterior to ourselves is a mass of digital information shifting between 2 or more points.>

ML<Leads to Baihumon's valley.>
=======================================
*Eventually, there's a bright flash of light. Sakuyamon finds herself back in the space between worlds, but looking around, she can see that Kurata's forces are many miles away. She also sees that she is standing on a root of an enormous tree which inexplicably rises out of nothingness. The tree extends so far that Sakuyamon can only vaguely see the lowest branches.*

Azuma: "So I assume we'll largely be safe there, right?"

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

Taiyo: What is this place?

Renamon: I don't know.

Having not much else to go on Sakuyamon begins to look around the area of what is presumably Yggdrasil.

*Lyra goes over to pat Hideki on the back, while I guess the others move towards the anomaly*

ML<Hasn't been pierced yet. But they were trying.>

Mrs. Aqua<What changed?>

Ts"I guess they returned to our world to kidnap you guys."

*They move through & suddenly everyone finds themselves floating at odd angles, but they are upright once again whenever they pass through the anomaly. Instead of being in a tunnel, they're in a cave looking out upon a valley not dissimilar to the one they left behind. In the valley is clustered a group of Digimon, including a quartet of MarineAngemon, a Skull Greymon, a Devimon, a trio of Meramon, a Mammothmon, a Gabumon & a Psychemon, each carrying a Bokomon, a Tsunemon, a Sorcerymon holding a Candlemon, a ToyAgumon, & more.*

Various<Glad you could make it! But when will Lady Venusmon be here?>
=======================================
*When she turns back around, she sees her good old friend King Drasil emerging from the bark in his human form.*

King Drasil<In answer to your unspoken question, this is the Server Tree that I have set up to link & monitor various worlds. I used it to retrieve your data from that void, in spite of the deplorable & uncivilized way that you left our last encounter. Not that I hold any grudge against your lot, mind you.>

*His biting, passive-aggressive criticism & death glare says otherwise.*

*Kylie steps forward, face still red and eyes damp*

<She sacri-ficed herself so we could all get away.>

Hideki os unresponsive to Lyra's advances, his parents unsure of what to make of what they saw.

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

Sakuyamon's own death glare is obscured by the visor, Renamon's voice overtaking Taiyo's.

Sakuyamon: "You attacked us, even going so far as to remove Taiyo & Hitomi's souls."

Devimon<Impossible. Lady Venusmon could not be defeated so easily.>

Various<YEAH!>

ML<Afraid it's true. One second.>

*Once everyone is out, he turns & fires Fists of the Fallen Beast King into the cave to collapse it. The Rakshashis, Aquas, & Psyches marvel at the valley.*

Mr. Aqua<Wait--am I crazy, or is that a whale?!>

Data<I can only speculate on your mental state, but I believe you have simply confused a Whamon for an earth whale.>

Mr. Psyche<So...Digimon whales swim in the sky?>

Data<Negative. Though they have several notable distinctions from earth whales, a quality which they share is that they are both aquatic mammals.>
=====================================
<To inspire your friends to reach their potential. Unfortunately, they were inadequate. Particularly that crimson haired human, who succeeded only in changing the attribute of her so-called partner's penultimate digivolution.>

*Kylie slowly nods her head*

Mrs Kornel:<I can't believe this is real.>

Mr. Sorenson:<It's like how Biyomon's a bird and Agumon's a dinosaur, right?>

Sakuyamon: "You've done nothing to help us or the Digital World as a whole. Euryale & Agumon achieved Mega-level without your supposed assistance."

*King Drasil folds his arms behind his back.*

King Drasil<Gallantmon also reported that, but I informed him that he must have been mistaken. And I suppose it's simply coincidence that you appeared at my Server Tree before that Apocalymon could devour you, even though there was no portal in sight?>
======================================
*Venusmon's followers continue to stand by, grinning dumbly at them. They wave whenever someone looks over at them, prompting the Rakshashis & the Psyches to wave back, & the Aquas to recoil & pull their daughter back. Seeing this, Ikkakumon degenerates to Gomamon. Staring up at the sky, Mrs. Psyche puts her hand to her chin.*

Mrs. Psyche<So, this entire valley is actually under the ocean? Are we under some clear stone?>

ML<No. Energy field.>

*Her husband & the Rakshashis join her in the sky gazing, while the Aquas look pointedly at the ground.*

Mrs. Psyche<I see. And how do you get adequate lighting?>

ML<Mirrors.>

*That makes Kylie cry more. Lunamon hugs her leg, while Lyra is sad and fucks off to a corner*

Sakuyamon: "And do you believe that makes up for you're doing nothing while the world falls apart around you?"

<The Royal Knights that I have gathered have been most effective in routing any enemy forces that they come across. You would know this if you hadn't abandoned your post. I was also protecting the secrets of high-level Digivolution from them, though your violent friend & her SkullGreymon saw that this mission was a failure by hurling me from the castle. Speaking of which, I've yet to hear any reports of your lot successfully utilizing the Burst Digivolution that I had given you.>
==================================
E"Mr. Psyche. Not to put too fine a point on this, but you look a great deal like an older Netzach. How are you related to him?"

T"Hey, what are you trying to say?!"

Mr. Psyche<Netzach has no relatives. I'm not surprised you haven't heard, the accident took place when you were all just kids. But how would you know that name if you hadn't been told about it?>

Mrs. Psyche<Honey, I think he's one of the Bio-Hybrids.>

Mr. Psyche<I see. He does have a motive.>

Sakuyamon: "Your followers must be as observant as you are. One of them has used this "Burst Digivolution.""

Taiyo: Are you sure you should be talking to it so harshly?

Renamon: I will not act friendly towards someone that has acted so indifferent and hostile towards us previously.

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

Because standing in a cave is boring, a redheaded male in relatively casual attire steps up followed by a meek brunette glasses wearing female in more formal yet still casual attire.

Kentaro: "Say uh, I'm assuming this is that valley the lion spoke of, but how safe is it to be standing here for so long?"

Cameron:<Wait, what accident? Do you know him?>

ML<Safest place in Digital World.>

IL<Which isn't good. We're losing a lot of ground.>

*They are rejoined by IceLeomon & Regulumon, who apparently entered the valley from elsewhere.*

Mr. Psyche<Not personally. He was a government employee several years ago, when giant Digimon attacked Shinjuku. He had a wife & daughter, but they weren't evacuated in time.>

Mr. Rakshashi<There was also a radiation leak, & he developed severe brain cancer. I don't know how he isn't dead by now.>

T"Maybe he was made a BioHybrid back then. They can survive all sorts of things."

D<Is that what those pills that he's always going on about are for?>

Mrs. Psyche<Are you my daughter's partner, Miss Bat Digimon?>

D<Yeah, what of it?>
=====================================
<I assume that you have confused 1st & 3rd person plural due to your uncouth grammar & actually meant to say that one of you has achieved the Burst Mode. I further suspect that you are simply telling me things which you believe will improve your reputation.>

Biyomon:<That's DemiDevimon. Doesn't look much like an angel, on the outside anyway!>

Mrs Sorenson:<That would explain why he wants to destroy the digital world.>

Cameron:<That means Kurata must have come to this world at about that point.>

Sakuyamon: "It's enough to say you're wrong about us."

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

Kentaro: "Yikes, they're just coming out of the woodworks."

He says this yet looks almost terrified of the giant that is Regulumon. MadLeomon being undead doesn't help either.

Taiyo's father, Iori holds Loren who'd been crying since it became apparent Taiyo is missing and possibly dead. Although given Taiyo's situation death would be much less torturous.

E"I hate to be a downer, but at the rate we're going, this place won't remain untouched for long. We need to do something about our families. Send them somewhere safe."

Mr. Rakshashi<That's not necessary. We'll stay with you, & make sure you're safe.>

*She turns away from them.*

E"No. You can't."
===================================
<Unlikely. Now leave. You are not welcome here.>

Not needing to be told twice let alone once, Sakuyamon does just that.

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

Kentaro: "Afraid I gotta agree with her. As long as it's been since I've had to rescue my brother, we can't help them here. We couldn't stop ourselves from being captured. We'd be a big mass of liabilities."

Azuma: "Think Yamaki could give us a hand?"

Cameron:<The human world is probably safer at this point.>

E"I agree, but Yamaki can barely protect himself. We need to get them out of the country. IceLeomon, can you make that happen?"

IL<The weakest point between the worlds is in Shinjuku, but we can probably manage something. We'll have a division of the resistance protect them in transit, & if anything goes wrong, we'll come back here to regroup. Kurata will not get to them unless he deletes every single one of us first.>

*She nods.*

E"Good, thank you."

*Mr. Rakshashi looks like he's about to yell something, but then just closes his mouth & steps back with a nod, not that Euryale can see it.*

<If that is what you think is best.>

Mr. Aqua<Now, hold on! How could you all leave your children with these--these things?!>

Mrs. Aqua<Tsune, honey, you should come with us.>

*The Aquas squeeze closer together & reach out to Tsune, but she backs away from them awkwardly, rubbing her neck.*

Ts"I--don't really think that I should...."

*Meanwhile, the Psyches hug their daughter.*

Mrs. Psyche<We'll miss you.>

T"Me too."

Mr. Psyche<If there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask.>

T"I won't, thank you."

*Mrs. Psyche then backs off & gives a little bow to DemiDevimon. Mr. Psyche follows her lead, a few steps behind.*

Mrs. Psyche<It was nice to meet you, Miss DemiDevimon. We look forward to having more time to get to know you.>

D<Meh.>

T"Don't mind her, she just likes to act cool & aloof."

D<Meh!>

*Mr Sorenson pulls both his kids and their digimon into a bear hug*

Mr Sorenson:<Think you can get us back to the United States?>

*Mrs Sorenson goes over to the Aquas, looking a mixture of worried and annoyed*

<We don't have a choice in this matter. Our kids are determined to fight to save this world, you need to accept this.>

*The Kornels look at Lyra, who looks at Kotemon*

Kotemon:<I won't let anything happen to your daughter!>

Kentaro: "I don't want to be rude, but how do you think we could help even if we could stay? Morale support won't stop a killer robot."

Loren: "What about Taiyo? Does anyone know where she is?"

Azuma: "Afraid not. But I guarantee she's okay. I'm certain Renamon will see to that."

Mr. Aqua<We don't intend to let Tsune go with these monsters at all! It's far too dangerous!>

Mrs. Aqua<How could you people let your children go with monsters! Are you crazy?!>

Mr. Rakshashi<How dare you!>

E"Oh, ENOUGH, we don't have time for this!"

*So Euryale & Tsune pull their respective parents away from each other.*

Ts"Mom, Dad, I know this is confusing, but I'll message you with the details whenever I can. For right now, I need you to understand that this is something that I need to do. Can you do that?"

Aquas<<Out of the question!>>

Ts"Fine, have it your way. MadLeomon, take them with you whether they want to go or not."

*So MadLeomon lopes by & picks them up by their waists, dragging them off, despite their loud protests & futile attempts to attack him.*

Ts"But don't hurt them!"

E"I'm sorry. I know that must have been difficult."

*She glances briefly at Taiyo's parents before turning to Regulumon. Her voice is quite hoarse.*

E"I owe you an apology as well. Regulumon, where are we needed?"

Reg<Funny you should ask. We need to check in with Baihumon, see what's been going on while we were away.>

IL<Time in the Digital World is related to the increase of information online. As such, it can often move faster than in the human world.>

*With that, he draws his staff & begins using it like he's a shepherd.*

IL<Human adults, please follow me!>