Old Ones Return (VI)

*Her hand is cold & clammy, but she squeezes back. Now they return to where the others are clustered around Malkuth. Euryale looks away from him, not seeing his satisfied smirk when she does so.*

E"...DemiDevimon went to get Thiera. Once she's here, we can leave."

Malkuth<It won't matter. You're still going to lose. And then you'll all be eaten by the very Digimon you failed to protect. How ironic.>

*The Monitamon buzzes.*

Azulongmon<I believe that I have been very patient so far, but I can't just wait on hold all day while the inhabitants of the Digital World are fighting for their lives. Do you have a plan or not?>

Malkuth<Of course they don't.>

OOC: And to think Lyra had weirdo fantasies about Hideki.

He goes silent as no one is going to explain anything.

Cameron:<We know you can't wait all day, but we should really get rid of him first.>

*He gestures at Malkuth*

Azulongmon<Then I shall use this time to commune with the other Sovereign.>

*The screen blinks & he disappears, showing the messages from Hypnos, Etemon's van, & AncientMermaimon.*

Lopmon<I should be able to Digivolve to Mega again. If I could fly up there, I might be able to get help.>

G<What? How can you Digivolve already?>

Lopmon<Data packets collect in the stream nearby on their way to the Digital Sea.>

G<Oh really? Did anyone bring any?>

Cameron:<I did. Who wants some?>

*He holds them out for people to take*

Taking data packets or something.

*Gomamon chows down on a few, but they are already running out.*

G<I don't think this is enough to return us to full.>

Ts"We could try to get more."

Th"No time for that. We are leaving, & we will seize the Angemon along the way."

*After striding angrily back onto the scene with DemiDevimon on her head as usual, Thiera assists with loading Ceresmon, beginning with the Monitamon.*

Th"Once we have achieved maximum altitude, then Lopmon can Digivolve & return to Earth. Monitamon, message Azulongmon & Hypnos. Tell them that Lopmon will need protection on the way through."

Elecmon<I need to take some seeds in case this village gets destroyed too. I won't be long.>

*Monitamon beeps a couple of times & Elecmon hops off towards one of the toy trees.*

Th"Euryale, I need you to get up with Monitamon. Answer any messages we haven't answered & ask if they can send help."

E"Uh, okay."

*Thiera watches her carefully as she heads up, then turns to Patamon once she's sure that Euryale is out of earshot.*

Th"Can you become MagnaAngemon? I am not sure how well Wizardmon's healing is."

*Everyone else spreads the remaining data packets among themselves*

Cameron:<Do you have anything you want us to do?>

Patamon nods, however something with no visible neck can nod.

Flying from Azuma's arms, Patamon Digivolves and Warp Digivolves.

Azuma: "You're not going to try healing Euryale, are you? Don't think he can fix something mental."

*Thiera grimaces as though focusing hard on something.*

Th"PTSD can be treated with medication. Hopefully this should have some effect. But it likely will not cure her."

*She turns to Cameron.*

Th"For now, there is not much else to do. I thought it best if Euryale was distracted & didn't know what I was planning."

D<Lies? Schemes? I am so proud of you.>

Th"...Does that shouting sound familiar to anyone?"

*Thiera looks around towards the Monitamon. DemiDevimon's wings & feathers droop, her eyes wider & skin paler than usual, mischievous grin wiped from her face.*

D<...Oh God, why?>
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*Meanwhile, Euryale's finger hovers over the Monitamon. With a scowl, she jabs "DELETE" on the message from AncientMermaimon, but it just pops back up. This happens a few more times until eventually the message just opens of its own accord, revealing a transformed Vademon; His tentacles have been replaced with metal & his body appears to be covered with some kind of white armor, save for his arms & a portion of his head. He is positioned at a work bench, surrounded by a bunch of computers, & appears to be attaching a huge barrel extension to his laser gun when he looks over at the screen. As the inside of the Mermaimon ship is filled with water, his image is oddly wavy.*

Vademon<Ah, yes, so good of you to FINALLY grace us with your response. Wait there. I shall summon a slave to show you to the captain.>

*He turns back to his work bench, pressing a button. Soon after, something falls down the staircase in slow motion. When it floats up, they lock gazes with a familiar foe, his eyes bulging with rage.*

Phascomon<...YOU BODGY BUSHRANGERS! I OUGHTA KNOCK YER BLOOMIN' BLOCKS OFF FOR STICKIN' ME WITH THESE SEA SCRAGS! I HOPE YOU CHOOKS TURN INTO EMUS & KICK YOUR DUNNY DOWN!>

E"...Taiyo, do you have any idea who this is?"

Phascomon<Less of a dog than you sheilas! Or your dog-sheila!>

*Cameron looks at DemiDevimon slightly confused*

<Uhh...?>

Taiyo shakes her head.

Taiyo: "Some ill mannered rodent."

That isn't DemiDevimon.

Phascomon<And YOU! Yoooooou! You're the big-norked bogan that did me in in the 1st place! Why, I'm gonna--!>

*Phascomon lets out a grunt when Vademon blasts him in the backside.*

Vademon<Enough. You are here to take that machine to the Captain. If I hear 1 more word out of you, I'll be sure to have you caned.>

*So Phascomon grabs whatever device they're communicating from & takes it up to the top deck, grumbling all the way. They can see various Mermaimon attending to their tasks, but of course Phascomon heads straight for the Captain's wheel. A Mermaimon standing beside the captain takes the device without awaiting an explanation.*

First Mate<Captain, deck hand Taiyo & cabin girl Euryale request permission to speak with you.>

Phascomon<Just a couple of bogans is what they-->

*Captain Mermaimon slaps him with her tail, sending him flying off to parts unknown. She does not avert her gaze from her task of steering the ship.*

Captain<It is good to speak with you girls again, though I wish it were under better circumstances. Baihumon sent word to us of your SOS. Barring overriding orders from Queen AncientMermaimon, we will come to the rescue of our crew mates no matter where they are. Her Majesty's 2nd Commissioned Mermaimon Privateering Fleet is on course for the Village of Beginnings as we speak.>
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Th"Is that...Phascomon?"

D<Annoying little Aussie stereotype we thought we were rid of for good. He's mad 'cause we killed him back when he used to work for MaloMyotismon, & now he has to suck eucalyptus for all eternity.>

Th"But whom is he working for now?"

D<Let's not find out. Maybe if we just ignore him, he'll go away.>

*Thiera ignores DemiDevimon & climbs aboard. To highlight her point, DemiDevimon begins to fly away until Thiera, realizing what she's up to, grabs her leg. By this point, all of the infants & refugees have been loaded. Heading up the rear is Elecmon, now armed with a fully-stuffed rubber gardening belt.*

Lunamon:<No wonder he hates you then.>

Taiyo: "Okay?"

Th"Technically, WarGreymon is the one who killed him."

Captain<How does the coast look?>

E"Uh, not good."

Captain<How many foes?>

E"Uh, I dunno. A lot?"

*She looks at Taiyo as the Captain slaps the deck with her tail impatiently.*

Th"I don't think you'll be able to fight your way through without help. Perhaps the Sovereign can assist?"

Captain<Perhaps.>

Lunamon:<We better ask him then!>

Taiyo doesn't say anything as she spent some time not the others when most everything went to Hell.

*Presumably, everyone but Malkuth & his hostage are on board, so they climb on now & Ceresmon begins to take off, emitting loud cracking noises as she shakes free of the soil.*

Captain<I will see to it that word is sent to Zhuqaiomon & Azulongmon.>

E"Okay. In the mean time, we have other calls waiting."

Captain<That is no way to request leave of your Captain.>

*Meanwhile, Thiera nudges MagnaAngemon & points to the back of Euryale's head.*

*Everyone watches to see what MagnaAngemon is going to do*

MagnaAngemon attempts to work his magic, totally under pressure.

E"Uh, okay, uh--permission to...leave? Captain?"

Captain<Granted.>

*As she switches the signal to the Gazimon, Euryale feels her head tingling & looks back.*

E"What are you doing?"

*Lunamon looks at Kylie, then back at Euryale*

Lunamon:<Do you feel any different?>

Azuma: "Helping."

E"Yeah, I feel like a freak on display."

*She tilts her head.*

E"You all think I'm crazy, don't you?"

Th"PTSD is nothing to be ashamed of."

*Thiera nudges Lopmon & points to the sky. She reluctantly Digivolves to Antylamon, leaping into the air & then Digivolving again to Cherubimon to begin her journey.*

E"And yet, none of you seem to have it."

Malkuth<You can just drop me off right here.>