Old Ones Return (VI)

Taiyo: "What's happening?"

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

Hideki swipes the Darkness Wave card, Cyberdramon blasting the Musyamon.

*Crusdermon fires on the approaching Musyamon*
===
Biyomon:<We might be able to cripple him if we hit an important base.>
===
Kylie:<Uh, ok, thank you very much!>

*What Musyamon haven't been destroyed are routed. Zanbamon charges through the blasts using Mystic Flame, & when he gets near enough, he tries to bisect them all with Focal Blade. To make matters worse, MaloMyotismon swoops down behind them, flattening the trees he descends through.*
============================
Ts"No."

G<Maybe we should just focus on finding the others.>

Ts"Which brings us right back to the point of how do we avoid getting shot at."

Agent<We patched the signal through Renamon, so I guess it will weaken if she fatigues. (It is a she, right?)>

IL<I don't know.>
==============================
E"(You know, I'd hate to say it, but we're probably in no condition to march across the world. We COULD use food & drink before we set out.)"

Bacchus<WHAT'RE YA WHISPERIN' ABOOT?!>

A<(Let's just stop at a stream along the way. Please.)>

Bacchus<C'MON, YOU CAN--hic--TELL ME!>

*He pats them both on the back, knocking them over again.*

Renamon: "There's no time to discuss technicalities."

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

Cyberdramon flies about, probably not getting a lot done other than not dying.

*Crusadermon flies up and attacks MaloMyotismon with Fist of Fury*
===
Cameron:<We shoot them first!>

*Biyomon punches him in the side*
===
Kylie:<My lord, do you have some food we could take with us?>

*MaloMyotismon is caught by surprise & knocked down, however he quickly retaliates by generating 2 spheres of darkness in his hands. He blasts a ray of darkness at Crusadermon from his right as he rises to his feet. Lady Devimon grabs Thiera & hits the deck, turning & retaliating with laser vision. Minervamon blocks & stabs at Zanbamon, who is able to parry both attacks. Beelzemon keeps firing at the Musyamon.*

Beelzemon<Gimme a sec to get rid o' these goons, & I'll be right with ya!>
===============================
Bacchus<SURE, SURE! *Hic.* BRING ME SOME FOOD!>

*A group of Gomamon scamper forward, balancing a plate that has a bunch of lamb chops & grapes on it.*
===============================
G<If they wanted to get to Jupitermon, they would have avoided the base too. Let's just go up the coast. It'd be even better if we dove under the water.>

*Bastemon turns her upper body around, flattening her ears, whipping her tails, & hissing at him.*

Cameron:<Can you digivolve and carry us?>
===
Kylie:<Thank you!>

*She and Lunamon start eating*
===
*Crusadermon flies around him and uses Spiral Masquerade on MaloMyotismon*

Azuma: "Underwater? What of--"

He tries to mimic Bastemon's hiss.

Azuma: "Did you misunderstand?"

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

Cyberdramon flies around MaloMyotismon and Darkness Waves it in the back.

Ts"We may have to force her down there."

*She takes a swipe at Tsune, who moves out of the way.*

G<Kurata might not know that humans can breathe underwater here, so it's where his defenses are likely to be lowest. Zudomon would probably be best for the job, don't you think?>

Ts"Plesiomon is a lot faster."

G<But Zudomon can hold on to you.>
=====================================
*He expected being attacked, which is what the other dark sphere was for. He now blasts it at Crusadermon & also makes blasts of darkness rain down from the ray he shot into the sky. The only sign that he even notices Cyberdramon is whipping his tail at it. Zanbamon just bowls right over Minervamon & parries the Darkness Wave from Lady Devimon back at her. She ducks to avoid it, shielding herself & Thiera with her wings.*

T"Should we Biomerge?"

D<Maybe.>

*Having routed the remaining Musyamon, Beelzemon weaves through the dark orbs, shooting at both opponents.*
==============================
*They can kind of tell that it's been cooked in wine, I guess.*

E"We'll take it to go, if you don't mind."

Bacchus<'COURSE I DO! THAT'S NO WAY TO PARTY!>

A<Oh well.>

*They each take a handful of food & run off. Bacchusmon just kind of rolls over.*

Please delete.

*Kylie and Lunamon bow and grab their food*

<Thank you!>

*They run off after the rest*
===
*Crusadermon uses Fist of Fear to avoid the shot, then kicks him in the head*

Cyberdramon flies to avoid the tail, firing another Darkness Wave.

*He grabs the kick, hurling Crusadermon at Cyberdramon. He also emits a red gas from the Sodom & a white gas from the Gomora, both of which form a thick cloud that coils around him.*

Malo<So you threw off my illusion, but what makes you think you can defeat me? I know all of your methods, your weaknesses, your doubts, & your fears.>

*A ghostly image of Senthose appears between Thiera & Lady Devimon. Thiera stumbles back & LadyDevimon claws at him, but it just goes right through.*

Senthose<I know about all of the humans that you've killed, & all of the Digimon that you've absorbed.>

T"Y--you're not real! And we don't absorb data!"

Senthose<Apparently, I know even more than you.>

*When she grabs her D-Power to use a card, she sees a hazy image of the battle outside of Jupitermon's city.*

Senthose<At least their data is not condemned to wander, neither alive nor dead, aware nor unconscious.>

T"...Euryale? No--no, you can't expect me to believe this actually happened!"

Beelzemon<'EY! Don't let 'em psych you out, we've got too much to worry about!>

*He fires at Zanbamon, who guards with his larger sword & retaliates with shockwaves from his smaller one, which he strafes to avoid, but which catch Lady Devimon as she's growling at Ghosthose, cutting off one of her wings.*
=====================================
*As promised, they stop by a stream, but as Agumon is bending down to drink & Euryale is cupping water in her hands, search lights approach from the distance, including lights from helicopters.*

E"Looks like Kurata's started looking for us."
=====================================
*As they approach the main land, a concrete fort starts to come into view, partially illuminated by the search lights it's casting over the sea & sky.*

G<Alright, I'm going to do it. Everyone, stand back & be ready to grab on!>

*Bastemon growls at him.*

G<Sorry, but it's for your own good.>

*So he becomes consumed in a blue barrier, which rapidly expands outwards. His increasing weight destroys the raft, leaving Bastemon to thrash about & howl after entering the water. Zudomon reaches out to grab Tsune, keeping an eye out for the others & treading water with his legs & weird flipper claw.*

*Cameron and Biyomon get on Zudomon*
===
Kylie:<I think we can stay out of sight for long enough.>
===
*Crusadermon flies backward and lands on the ground, then rises. A maroon aura covers them, revealing Crusadermon Burst Mode*

<Oh, just shut up already!>

*Crusadermon uses Spiral Masquerade on MaloMyotismon with their glowing blades*

Exhausted and not liking water is a horrid combination for Renamon. Taiyo and Azuma trying to carry her to Zudomon.

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

Cyberdramon flies down to let go of Hideki, so it can actually tear into MaloMyotismon.

E"Not if they come over here. We need to keep moving."

*Agumon heads for some bushes & starts breaking off branches.*

E"What are you doing?"

A<Camouflage.>

E"Good idea, but uproot the whole thing. If they see a mutilated bush, they'll know someone came this way. Dianamon, can you fool an infrared sensor?"

A<How is she going to know the background temperature?>

E"I don't know. It feels about 50 degrees."
============================
*Lady Devimon holds her wounded shoulder.*

D<Fine, but we're not getting anywhere at this rate. How 'bout if Minervamon & I each grab a sword & you fire up the middle?>

Zanbamon<As if I will just let you destroy me!>

*He rears up, kicking, & slashing at Minvermon. She rolls out of the way & slashes down, pinning his sword to the ground & also getting it stuck IN the ground. Zanbamon lets go, using his other sword to fire shockwaves at Lady Devimon. Lady Devimon seemingly bursts into data, which is absorbed by Bagramon, but Wizardmon jumps over the blasts, courtesy of Thiera's Alias card. She also takes this opportunity to release a light from the D-Power, which evaporates Ghosthose. Wizardmon then teleports his sword away, but is forced to resort to Demi Devimon, so Zanbamon charges her ass.*

Beelzemon<This plan's not gonna work if someone doesn't hold him down!>
------------------------------------------
*Meanwhile, not appreciating being sliced into, MaloMyotismon flaps his wings, directing the mist towards Crusadermon. A glow on his right wrist also generates a barrier around himself.*

Malo<If you heeded my words, you would know that I still possess the power of human technology. I am Darkness Itself, the Father of Deceit! All that I gaze upon bends to my will! You are just another pawn, waiting to have your defiance beaten out of you!>
==================================
*Because of this, the audio-video feed from Taiyo's D-Power shuts off. The prediction was not entirely accurate, as a D-MegaSeadramon spots them & fires a lightning javelin. Unable to hold his hammer right now, Zudomon takes it on the shell, blasting off one of his spikes. In its light, they can see other guards turn & approach.*

G<What do we do now?!>
--------------------------------------------
Ryota<What happened? Are they okay, were they attacked?!>

Agent<I'm not sure, but I think the signal was just dropped. In any case, we're about to hit land. Mr. Yamaki has some contacts in South Korea, so it should be possible to grant you asylum.>

Mr. Psyche<But will this man--Kurata, wasn't it--will he really be satisfied with just Japan?>

Agent<No. He's already petitioned for control over the UN forces. If his request isn't granted soon, I imagine he'll send in his manufactured Digimon to attack, then make a big show of "defeating" them.>

*Mrs. Sorenson laughs quietly*

Mrs. Sorenson:<The UN...peace keeping forces?>
===
*Crusadermon flies around and tries using Fist of Fear on the barrier near the glow*

<Will you just shut up?!>
===
Lunamon:<Well, we'll give it a try!>

*Kylie and Lunamon biomerge, then Dianamon begins lowering the temperature to about the surroundings*
===
Cameron:<Maybe we should run?!>

Patamon Digivolves to MagnaAngemon and blasts the MegaSeadramon with Soul Banisher.

Azuma: "Decide quickly!"

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

Cyberdramon roars and aerial dashes towards MaloMyotismon's wrist where the light came from. If they were King Shark, ripping the hand off would be the end goal.

*The barrier wobbles a bit, but other than that, nothing happens.*

Malo<What did I say about not heeding my words being your downfall?>

*Cyberdramon's vision blurs & he actually strikes Crusadermon instead. Granted, it doesn't do much. Also, his wings & claws are starting to dissolve.*

Th"Stay away from the mist! He'll have to drop the barrier to attack, that's when he'll be vulnerable!"

*Sure enough, a hole emerges near MaloMyotismon's left cannon as it opens & the inside glows red. Meanwhile, DemiDevimon flies away, leading Zanbamon to some tight trees. The trap fails, because he just knocks them over. Minervamon uses her fissure move, but he expects that as well, jumping over it. DemiDevimon abruptly turns & headbutts him as hard as she can, which is enough to knock him into the fissure. Beelzemon generates his large laser cannon & traces an upside-down pentagram with it.*

Beelzemon<Nice job! And now, CORONA DESTROYER!>

*By the time he finally wrenches himself free, he's struck by an enormous blast of purple energy.*

Zanbamon<Long live Lord Bagramoooon!>

*The Corona Destroyer blows him all the way through the forest &, in the distance, they can see Bagramon's tower falling over. Second later, they hear the "crack" of the tower being struck & the rumbling of its descent.*
==================================
*Zudomon dives down as the Mega Seadramon is wounded & knocked back.*

Z<They'll have a harder time finding us down here!>
==================================
*Euryale swipes the Gorgon Armor card & starts hacking away at another bush. After Agumon is finished tying plants to himself, he moves to the next person. Euryale tosses him some branches.*
==================================
Agent<It doesn't sound like much, but it'll put Kurata in a position to request more & more power from the nations.>

*Crusadermon fires through the opening*
===
*Hanging on for dear life*
===
*Dianamon helps collect branches until it is her turn*

MagnaAngemon follows them, hanging back enough in the event it follows.

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

Cyberdramon growls and readies to take flight again until Hideki comes running out and grabs it.

*Still confused, Cyberdramon sees Hideki as another Cyberdramon, reaching out with electrified claws. The cannon on Malo Myotismon dissolves. Minervamon jumps up, stabbing into him & holding his barrier open. Grimacing in desperation, he drives his left claws through her & pulls the sword out with his left. As Minervamon squeals & falls to the ground, Beelzemon dismisses his Corona Blaster, withdraws his gun, & starts firing. Thiera rushes forward, using her D-Power's healing energy on Minervamon.*

Minerva<No...go help Sis...he's here....>

*She points to the sky, where Bagramon is descending from his portal. He spreads his arms, emulating crucifixion like a douchebag.*

Bagramon<I give thanks to the souls of my enemies & comrades. With your sacrifices shall I forge the new order.>

Minerva<Hey--do you think she'd be proud?>

*DemiDevimon perches on Thiera's head, as usual.*

D<You're not dying, quit being so melodramatic.>
================================
*Of course it comes after them, along with a pair of Whamon, a Dagomon, & a MarineDevimon. Zudomon stops to spit out some ice, creating an iceberg between them.*

<Hey, I know you're trying to be all heroic, but you're just making us easier to follow!>
================================
*As they keep going, they see something in the horizon, dropping what is presumably giant balls of hail. A search light sweeps towards them.*

"Okay, stop, then make a beeline for that storm when it passes over us."

*She does her best to pose like a tree. Agumon curls up, like a bush.*

Those things would follow anyways such as the Whamon if they're anything like real whales and use ecolocation, so nothing they do means a damn.

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

Cyberdramon prepares to strike Hideki who raises his D-Power as he has something to prove to no one about being able to control his partner.

Hideki: "Cyberdramon, yield!"

He deploys the lasso to restrain Cyberdramon.

*Now that the barrier is open, Crusadermon dashes forward and uses Spiral Masquerade*
===
*Dianamon attacks as a tree as well*
===
*Still trying not to fly off*

*It isn't really open far enough for Crusadermon to fit through, but all the same, MaloMyotismon still begins dissolving into data.*

Malo<RRRRRAAAGH! You think this changes anything?! You were used by Kurata, you fell prey to my illusions, all you ever do is throw off your shackles in exchange for new ones! With or without me, you will always be puppets & victims! You had best get started bowing down to your Lord Bagramon, now that you've eliminated your best shot for killing him!>

*His anger changes into laughter as Bagramon lands on top of his dissolving body, crushing what's left of him & absorbing the data. With the mist gone, Cyberdramon's head clears, & not a moment too soon.*

Zanbamon<Bagramon, you traitor!>

Beelzemon<How are you still alive?>

*He turns to look at Zanbamon, who manages to pull himself up the hill. The answer to Beelzemon's question is "with great difficulty," as he's been basically reduced to his upper body, without even his armor or cape, & as such, he's leaking data & his outlines keep blurring.*

Bagramon<Please excuse me for just a moment, Digidestined. The Master cannot be a traitor by definition. The only traitor I see here is you, Zanbamon. And I see everything.>

Zanbamon<I dedicated my life to you!>

Bagramon<And I appreciate it! Without you, none of this would be possible.>

Zanbamon<What is this I hear about you sacrificing my troops?!>

Bagramon<As I said, without you, none of this would be possible. But I do have a slight correction: They are not your troops, but mine. Including you.>

*With all of his strength, Zanbamon wrenches his sword out of the ground with both hands. He throws it at Bagramon, but it doesn't matter--Bagramon holds out his artificial hand & Zanbamon dissolves, sword & all, absorbed into Bagramon, whose ruby eye glows.*

Bagramon<I thank you for your patience, Digidestined. To show my gratitude, I would be glad to answer any questions that you have before I call forth the Great Darkness.>
============================
*Looking up at brighter waters, they can see objects falling towards them.*
============================
*Assuming Dianamon is acting like a tree, the search lights eventually pass. When they get closer to the "storm," they can see that the "hail" are actually enormous falling boulders, which blast large chunks of land out of the way when they strike the ground, producing small quakes. Because of this, the plains have been turned into a field of overlapping, desolate craters. Hearing a rumble of thunder, Euryale & Agumon look up, seeing that the "cloud" looks awfully birdlike, & though it's only illuminated by the moon (human world) & stars (likely clusters of data), it looks rather solid, with a brown underside & green above.*

Agu<Is that...a giant bird?>

E"I don't know, but we can't get under it, or we'll be crushed in a heartbeat."