Malkavian Madness Network
Other Systems => Digimon: Digital Adventures => Topic started by: MrParaduo on August 04, 2023, 09:10:09 PM
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Dusk settled over Hilo as Alemana drove southwards. Where once the anxiety had been limited to only him and Renee, now, with Malie sitting in the backseats, it was ambient. The longhaired tamer had a smile plastered across her face, never once glancing over at Renee as the shapeshifter watched her, nor the many-eyed shadow underneath Vivi's seat.
"So," said Renee. "We were gone a long time. Is everything good at the clubhouse?"
"Yep," said Malie. "Totally. Ike and Gaz were real busy working on spider milf's data. Didn't wanna risk the distraction by having you guys come upstairs."
Al felt a pressure in the back of his head as Renee's attention fell on him through their psychic link.
-
“Oh yeah? It sounds like you guys were hard at work,” Al said conversationally as they drove .. though his eyes looked at Renamon in a sidelong glance.
(“What is it, Renamon—?”)
-
("Oh, nothing~") she thought, winking back to him. ("Just needed you to take the reins on this.")
"You know it," said Malie. "They're just all over it like fingerprints on a dead man."
"That's a weird way of phrasing that!" chuckled Eyesmon.
"It sure is!"
Vivi looked over her shoulder at the backseats. "You guys wanna go over the plan one more time?" she asked. "Once we get close enough, Eyes' gonna have to bail to get ahead of us. Otherwise, we're gonna risk getting caught on the zoo's cameras."
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(“… Right.”)
That was a weird way to describe it, and his ears reddened as he thought of particularly weird scenarios. Looking at Vivi he would then shrug
“It isn’t particularly complicated. Let Eyes put the cameras on loop, sneak in to the INAS, and hopefully rescue Kukuimon. Everything else we can call by ear and handle as we go.”
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Renee nodded. "If I'm remembering it right," she said. "The zoo's water garden has heavy foliage on the opposite end of a pond. Being right next to the fence, once we jump over, we stick to the greenery till we find the INAS."
"Exactly," said Vivi. "From there, it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to set up the program."
Through the rearview mirror, A glint of fading sunlight caught Al's eye. Malie was holding Kukuimon's lei in her hand, her thumb rubbing against its black and gold shells.
("We won't fail, Al,") thought Renee. ("No matter what, we'll bring him home.")
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“Sounds like a plan then,”Al said as he looked at Malie through the mirror “Abd when we bring him home we can make all his favorite foods.. it’ll be a party!”
(“We already failed once, Renamon. All we’re doing is making up for our mistake..”)
-
Darkness fell as dusk gave way to night. Eyesmon made good on the plan by disappearing halfway to the zoo, while keeping in radio contact via digivice.
The parking lot was near empty when the group arrived. Orange light fighting against the blackness of a clouded night sky. Renee took a moment to remove her disguise, not wanting the illusory flames to draw attention once they got close enough to main gate. Judging from the handful of vehicles nearby, however, there wouldn't be too many guards hanging around.
"++Hebi-chan to HQ++" came Eyesmon through Vivi's digivice. "++Hebi-chan to HQ, I've got eyes on the system, and the system is looped, over!++"
"HQ to Hebi-chan," said Vivi. "Hearing you loud and clear. The eagle has landed, and we're moving on in, over."
"Aw, you guys got callsigns?" asked Malie. "I want one!"
"You already have Lord Bucketmon," reasoned Vivi.
"Nooo-! That'd be a dead giveaway! Lord Bucketmon must be the essence of stealth!"
"Pig Mama?" offered Renamon.
Steely-eyed, Malie folded her arms as she glared up at the ceiling. "Hmm... Lord Bucketmon accepts your proposal."
-
Al couldn’t help but snicker as he then said: “We can be Fire Boy and Foxwife,”
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Renamon feigned a gasp. "Al," she said, paw to her chest. "Is this your idea of a wedding proposal?"
"Focus, people," said Vivi as she started leaving the car. "We got a job to do."
"Yeah!" said Malie, pumping her fists. "Let's go save a piggo!"
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Al smiled and nudged her with a shoulder “Let’s not drop any bombs like that on mom and dad- after their talk with Mach last night I don’t know if they could handle the idea that we’d want to get married —“ he said as he then sheepishly saluted Vivi
“Aye aye Kapitan!”
-
Winking to her partner, Renamon faded from view to the sound of a distant flute as everyone stepped outside. The humid air was loud with the din of insects, growing ever noisome the closer the group drew towards the zoo's high fence. Keeping low to the ground, everyone made their way as far from the main entrance as they could while straddling the fence line perimeter. First they awaited the all-clear from Eyesmon, then Renamon as the vulpine reappeared behind Alemana. She made short work of carrying the tamers over on her back, one by one. From there, the group crouched within the tall grass.
"Okay," said Vivi. "It's darker than last time, but we should still be able to find the INAS we found when we cased the place. Eyes--er, Hebi-chan, how're we doing on your end?"
"++Hebi-chan to HQ, we're still green to go. Security's busy on the animal exhibits and a game of craps outside the lobby, over++"
"Sounds like we've got this in the bag," said Renamon. "Let's find that distortion."
"Just watch out for the pond," said Vivi. "Faceplanting into it's bound to get someone's attention."
[Roll Perception with a -3 penalty]
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So far, so good. "Alright.. lets go girls!"
[Rolling: 5 2 5 +7 -3=16]
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The tamers took advantage of their digivices' map feature to evade the would-be water trap. Renamon, meanwhile, took off without making a sound.
("Good thing we didn't bring Gaz along,") she thought to Al. ("His pollen allergies would have kicked into overtime by now.")
Alemana was pulled from his thoughts when Vivi tapping him on the arm, the girl pointing at Malie. Indeed, Malie was crawling along the ground like a commando, the light from her digivice's screen revealing a pair of black stripes painted under her eyes. Despite crawling, she was well ahead of either Al or Vivi, and almost just as quiet as Renamon to boot.
Speaking of vulpines. ("Foxwife to Kitmon,") chimed Renamon. ("Foxwife to Kitmon, come in Kitmon. I've found the INAS due north-by-north-west of your location, over~")
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Now inside, Al mentally took stock of the situation. Things seemed to be going well enough, that was a relief.. now they just had to avoid, to avoid…
“When did she get eyeblack?” Al asked, utterly distracted when Vivi pointed out Ace Commando Pig Mama. His bewilderment was cut short by Renamon’s report. (“Roger. And it’s Fire Boy, over”) and he made a mental radio noise to go with it.
“Foxwife has found the INAS, everyone.”
-
The vulpine's signature chuckle echoed in Al's mind as the others changed course. With what little light they had, they navigated the brush of exotic plants, till at last they came upon their quarry. Within a small clearing, a small shed stood beside a water pump, surrounded by plastic barrels and wooden palettes. A lone camera sat perched atop a swivel, bolted into the wall above the door. At first, everybody froze, clenching their teeth as they waited for it to turn and spot them.
"++I seeeeee yoooou~++" said Eyesmon through Vivi's digivice. "++No sweat, you're still in the clear++"
Vivi sighed. "Thanks Hebi-chan," she said, clenching her fist. "Keep us posted."
"++Roger that!++"
Renamon appeared again from the cover of the water pump, gesturing the others over even as she surveyed her surroundings. Taking cover behind a nearby stack of wooden palettes, the group found their distortion. It bent the light that passed through, pressure mounting as one drew closer.
"Okay," said Vivi, pulling out her laptop. "Moment of truth. Al, help me get this set up. I wanna do one last check before we start this bad boy up."
[Roll me Computer]
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And once they got into position, he would gently rub his hand along Vivi’a back in a circular motion. “Remember to breathe, HQ. Everything is gonna be okay.” He reassured her as he knelt down and began to help her get her computer in order.
[Rolling= 2 6 3 + 9= 20]
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Despite his knack for computers, most of the coding was above anything Al had seen before. Some of which was written entirely in Digicode. That didn't stop him from noticing misplaced command orders and typos in the programming. He even managed to streamline some of it by cutting down on the more convoluted sections.
Vivi adjusted her glasses. "Wow, Al," she said. "I can't believe me and Eyes missed that part. It was staring me right in the face!"
-
Even though he didn’t understand the higher machine-language that made up bulk of the program, he couldn’t help but stare at it in awe for a few seconds. It had been some time since he properly got to admire a string of coding this complex, and it made the programmer in him elated before he got to work correcting the few mistakes he could find and streamlining where he could. When Vivi looked his work over and complimented him, he gave a bashful smile.
“You made it easy, so I can’t take too much credit. You’re definitely more talented at this stuff then I am by far. I’m just good at fixing hard to find bugs.”
-
Renamon kissed Al on the back of the forehead. "My lover, the programmer," she said. "Jumping hoops on and off the basketball court."
"Alright," said Vivi as she finished typing. "We're ready. Renamon, hold onto my laptop for me. Al, Malie, let's circle around the INAS and scan it without our digivices."
The group nodded as they followed through. With Renamon standing by, each of the tamers stood evenly apart around the distortion as they centered their screens on the anomaly.
"Renamon," said Vivi. "On my mark, press 'enter'. Everyone else? Start the scan app on your digivice!"
-
"Runs in the family. Like you said, my dad DOES teach this stuff." Al would then kiss her shiny black nose in retaliation.
He then took his place and held up his digivice, waiting for the signal. "Renamon will be able to go inside the INAS with us right?"
-
"Yeah, I just needed her to hold my--"
A metallic tine sounded, cutting Vivi off. A pulse rippled through the air, emanating from the distortion. And in its wake, the world stuttered, flickered and shifted. Holographic rings appeared over each of the digivices; reseda-green, ashen grey and deep violet.
"Rena!" said Vivi. "NOW!!"
The vulpine didn't hesitate, smashing a digit over the 'enter' key just as the ground started to shake. Suddenly, the glowing rings grew and expanded out of sight. Each of the digivices became affixed, as if their very molecules refused to let gravity sway them. In a replay of when the tamers had re-entered CatchMamemon's node, Al and co. were pulled into their digivices, their world vanishing as they were digitized! Now all Al could see was a space of gridlines and ever-changing pixels. Ahead of him, a featureless platform was forming from ribbons of binary, each pouring down like waterfalls onto it, and where they touched, color and dimensions changed. Pixels became blocks, which stacked over themselves or twisted into the familiar shapes of plants, rocks, and running water.
A purple-sleeved arm wrapped around Al's waist. Looking up, the teen found Renamon with Vivi and her laptop in the other arm, and Malie on her back as the vulpine aimed her legs at a tree rising to meet them. Without a word, she took the momentum as it bended the digital palm tree to jump to its neighbor, zigzagging all the way down till she reached the ground.
"Everyone alright?" she asked, gravel grinding beneath her feet as she stuck the landing.
-
Bracing for what was to happen next, Al nonetheless gave a shout of alarm as he got digitized and fell into the Network. Disoriented and tumbling, he let out a gush of breath as Renamon caught him. Gritting his teeth as she bounced from tree to tree.. he then let out a sigh of relief as they touched the ground. “Thanks Rena.”
He then looked around at their surroundings, whistling in a low tone. “Wow, this place isn’t too bad looking… If Kukuimon would be anywhere it would be here.” He said as he reached out to touch one of the digital trees. He then gave the gravel under their feet and grimaced, switching his attention to his partner. “Are your feet okay, Renamon?”
-
"A little rough," said Renamon, handing Vivi back her laptop. "But it's nothing they can't handle. What about you? Is everyone alright?"
Malie released her grip around the vulpine's neck. "I think I saw the access node being birthed," she said.
"Is THAT what it was?" asked Vivi. "Weird, I thought distortions meant there'd already be a space in the Network set up, kind've like with Catchy's theme park."
-
That made him frown "I'm sorry that you had to catch us like that Renamon." He then would blink in confusion. "So does that mean we are the ones who created this Node? How did Kukui get here then? If he's here." he said as he began looking about.. and then he turned on his Digivice's radar. With any luck, he would show up on the map.
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But as Alemana began scrutinizing the screen, shadows began to stretch across the ground. The sound of rumbling pulled the group from their circle to gaze upon the ever-rising canopy. Palm trees widened and coiled onto themselves, boulders sharped and shot towards the sky like spikes. But even quicker came segments of chain-linked fencing, flickering into existence to form walls and narrow corridors in every direction.
"Watch out!" said Renamon, putting herself between Al and the nearest of said-walls.
"Shit!" said Vivi. "Eyes! We need you here NOW!!"
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"Oh what the fuck now?" Al asked as the trees and the boulders began to change, and when the fencing manifested he would give a noise of alarm.
"Exhibits! That's what this must be! Fences are showing up because this is a zoo!" he said as he stayed close to Renamon
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The tamers stood with their backs against one another. The fence paneling, as if magnetized, slammed their frames together, arching over the group as if to cage them. Suddenly, a black shadow poured out from Vivi's digivice, falling to the ground before spiraling out and around them.
"Heeeeeere's EYESY--!" Eyesmon was interrupted. The moment her head surfaced from the gravel - the moment she made contact with the fence - was the moment her umbral form went rigid. Her many eyes bulging out, her body like a black thunderbolt as electricity danced across her features.
"EYES!!" cried Vivi, the tamer dropping to her knees as the dark dragon dropped to the ground, pulling her partner's head onto her lap.
"Uhhhhh--my teeth," mumbled Eyesmon.
"The walls've got a live current!" said Malie. "How're we going to move around without getting fried?"
("Looks like the fencing hasn't boxed us in completely,") thought Renamon. ("Whatever's setting all this up at least is giving us a corridor to walk through.")
And indeed, the vulpine was right. A passage led in two directions, and through the fencing Al saw gaps in the mesh that remained to be sealed. Though a new question echoed between tamer and digimon: was the fencing to keep them in? Or something else out?
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Al would gasp in shock as Eyes got- well- shocked. While he almost expected there to be something weird with the fences.. he didn't think they'd be electrified. "The zoo doesn't even have those types of fences, this is bull honky!" he said, scowling as he looked at the branching paths.
"Well there is only one thing we can do.. we take one path and see where it goes, and then come back when we can't go any further and take the next. We ain't splitting the part.. any more than we have." he then reached down to pet Eyes "Are you okay Hebi-chan?"
-
The thousand-eyed shadow hacked like a cat with a hairball, inching her way up off of Vivi as she shook her head clear. "Totally," she said, sniffing. "Never better!"
As Vivi sighed through a smile, Renamon turned to face the group. "Al's right," she said. "We need to keep moving. If we really are the first people here, there's a chance we have full admin privileges over the place."
"You'd think so," said Vivi. "Me and Eyes can try looking into it, but with how fast the node's growing, I dunno if it's safe to sit still and access it with my computer."
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“We will take it it one step at a time. Okay, let’s get going.” He booped Eyesmon as he then motioned to Renamon to walk with him. “We’re gonna be up front in case anything happens. “Renamon,” he then held up his digivice ”Digi Armor Energize.”
-
The command given, Al's digivice began to glow, his partner becoming wreathed in a digital cocoon. "Renamon Armor Digivolve to--Karamon: the Wheel of Balance!!" And from the light, the vulpine reappeared as her cyborg iteration, stepping forward as all systems came online. "I'm picking something up on sensors," said Karamon, the cyborg pressing the side of her helmet. "It's right on the periphery, but it could be a digimon."
"Kukuimon?!" said Malie.
"Can't say for sure."
"Pfft, weak," said Eyesmon, forgetting her injuries just to pop up out of the ground beside the fox. "All that armor and that's the best you got? Leave it to the pros, furball. I got this."
"Eyes, wait!" said Vivi. "We don't know what's out there. If you charge ahead, we won't be able to reach you if something bad happens!"
The dragon shrugged. "That's never stopped us before. Relax, Vi, I only got shocked 'cuz I didn't know about it. I'll stay full Scatter Mode for this!"
"Eyes-!"
Too late. Already, the living shadow was sinking back into the gravel, vanishing from view. Vivi hurried to open the map on her digivice, grimacing as she watched the black and purple arrowhead trailing away from all the others.
("Should we try to follow her?") thought Karamon. ("I can try blasting a hole in the fence.")
-
“Eyesmon wait—“ Al said as he then sighed as he looked at Karamon (“We have to, we can’t be separated..”)
-
The cyborg took a fighting stance. "Stand back," she said, her fists wreathed in sakura-pink foxfire. Shouting "KITSUNE KUMITE!!" she left an afterimage as she charged at the barrier. Sparks went flying with every jab and kick, only for the metal to be blasted away if not melted into slag. Nodding, the cyborg slung her leg over what remained of the wall. "Here," she said, offering her hand out to Al as she smiled. "Watch your step, now."
-
He watched and then smirked at her power, and he nodded, taking hold of her hand.
“C’mon girls, let’s follow her!!”
-
"Stupid furball with her stupid, sexy armor. Think she's so hot 'n perfect just cuz she didn't get zapped. Hmph."
Flowing between pure shadow and solid form, Eyesmon slithered and swam through air like a silent sea serpent. Even as the environment continued to grow and shift around her, she arched over obstacles without pause.
"I took care of zoo security, no contest," she muttered. "And now I look like a dummy because of an honest mistake! I don't see her juggling halve a jillion things at once. Gawd, why does she get on my nerves so bad? I've got a job to do! But all I'm thinking about is--"
A breeze whistled through the jungle, stopping the dark dragon dead in her tracks. Her body bristled with barbs, her violet eyes dilating.
"Hello?" she asked, under her breath. But she could smell it on the wind, just before it made to tear her apart.
There came a scream as Al and the others hurried through the node. From on high, Karamon watched the tamers, flying through shrinking gaps between branches and electrified skybridges.
"EYES!!" Vivi hollered out. "We're coming! Just hold on!"
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Running now as he heard the scream, he would look about, trying to find Eyes as he glanced up at Karamon as she rocketed ahead “Do you see her, Karamon?!”
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[Hmm... roll Perception for both Al and Karamon]
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[Rolling: 2 3 3 + 9 = 17 Al
4 1 6 + 8= 19 Karamon]
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For Alemana, the jungle floor was becoming strangled with vegetation, leaving too many blind spots in his vision. Yet for Karamon, the scene couldn't be clearer. Through her link with Al, she shared images of what she saw: pillars of living wood stretching to form the outlines of 'pockets' in the environment. Open air space overlooking the dense underbrush. Metal skyways bent at sharp angles like paths on a circuit board. It was between wood and metal that her visor locked onto movement. A serpentine shadow spiraling at breakneck speed. Mere seconds behind it, branches, leaves, and fence-lines began flying outwards with barely a sound to be heard!
"++Found her!++" said Karamon over the digivices. "++Something's chasing her, but I can't get a read on it!++"
Just then, a bus materialized behind Eyesmon, honking the horn before it was ripped to shreds.
-
“Aw crap.. give her a hand Karamon!”
-
Thrusters blasting off, Karamon sped towards her fellow champion. She didn't make it halfway before crossing her arms as a gust of wind threw her off course.
"Eyes, answer me!" said Vivi. "What's attacking you?!"
"++Fast!++" said the dark dragon. "++I can't get a bead of them! Air keeps messing with my eyeballs!++"
A sudden *CRACK* broke through the jungle. An overarching branch was falling from where both digimon had been mere moments ago.
"LOOK OUT!!" cried Malie, and without a second thought, Kara and Eyes dodged again.
("Al,") thought Karamon, the cyborg staring down at the massive branch. ("Whatever's attacking is cutting clean through everything, and not just once. I can make out a dozen cuts on that log.")
-
“Hold on!” And al would run onto the scene finally, bringing up his digivice to start scanning to try to find the damn thing
-
On screen, Alemana caught the flickering glint of something metallic as he followed the direction of the wind. Till suddenly, information popped up on his screen, showcasing a weasel-like creature with scythes for arms and sickles for whiskers. Its fur was pink with red tribal markings and a white underbelly, save for the blue, razor-like quills comprising its mane, and the tail, too, of same color. Long and coiling.
//Kyukimon
++//Level: Ultimate
++//Type: Bewitching Beast
++//Attribute: Virus
++//Family: Nature Spirits
++//Attacks: Blade Twister, Sanrensei, Wind-sickle Slash
("Al!") thought Karamon. ("Get to cover! I'm following the wind, but I still can't make anything out through the trees!")
-
“Kyukimon?”
He would then snap his attention forward as he then had an idea. Calling up Eyes he then said “Eyes! Make ten walls behind you! Maybe a get will slow it down enough that Karamon can give you backup!”
-
"I LIKE IT!!" cried Eyesmon. And like a trail of living ink, she flowed through the air, her head turning to face the wind. "DECEPTIVE ILLUSION!!" she proclaimed, eyes glowing violet-blue. With every yard, an immense wall of solid steel materialized in the style of a Japanese demon gate. Each more outrageous than the last in decoration. Alemana then noticed the image painted on each as they were destroyed by the invisible menace, and realized it was a slide reel with very familiar characters.
("I swear I'm going to pummel her when we get home,") thought Karamon, the cyborg having a front row seat to the show as she watched for Kyukimon. And as the last of the bawdy walls came crashing down, it did so only with a vehicle-sized indent before dissipating into pixelated blue cubes. In its place, both dragon and vixen gazed upon their foe: a spitting image of the one Al had on his screen.
[Roll Initiative.]
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Al would grimace as he watched this unfold, rubbing his face
(“It worked, that’s all that matters babe.”)
“Good job, Eyes!”
[Rolling: 2 4 5 + 11= 22]
-
*Rollz*
[Eyes: 5 3 1 + 11 = 20
Kyukimon: 6 3 3 + 14 = 26
Hokay, it's Kyukimon, then Karamon, then Eyesmon.]
Glaring, Kyukimon wasted no time in resuming its attack. Like an otter through water, the pink weasel arched its back and spun in and around the space it occupied, rotating faster and faster till its features became blurred and stretched. Wind began picking up again, only now in a vortex surrounding the undulating sphere of blades!
[Attack: 6 5 1, 5 2 5, 3 5 5, 2 2 2, 5 2 = 7 suxx]
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Al would grit his teeth as he then yelled “Take Cover!”
[ Rolling:6,6,3,6,6,1,5,6,2,2= 6 suxx]
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[Hits = (13+1) - (13 - 2 from Armor Piercing) = 3 DMG]
Were it not for her innate armor, Karamon would have been cut to ribbons as sure as the surrounding branches. A window appeared in the cyborg's UI, highlighting the many deep grooves left in her chrome-digizoid. It was lucky, then, that she was able to retain a visual on the culprit as it passed her by.
(I'm not letting this be a repeat of Pe'amon,)" she thought to Al, remembering how the bat fiend took advantage of hiding from view.
-
Al gave a soft hiss In sympathy as he felt tracing lines of heat cross along his body where Karamon had been hit, and he would glare at the Digimon “Karamon, let’s turn this noodle into a scarf!”
She would then blast forward, fists cocked back ”Kitsune Kumite!” as she then unleashed a flurry of punches!
[Rolling: 4,2,6,1,5,2,5,4,5,2,6,6= suxx]
-
[Dodge 15 +2 from Naturewalk Wind = 5 6
1 3 5 5, 2 6 6 2 6 6, 2 4 6 5 5 = 11, 3 4 1 3 = no additional = Miss]
Karamon clenched her teeth. Every strike she made was either at empty air or glanced off a bladed parry. How anything could move so fast - even by digimon standards - defied all belief.
"JANENGAN!!" cried Eyesmon. A thousand beams of crimson light fired from her namesake as she entered the fray. A crocodile grin stretched across the dragon's face. Yet just as fast as her attack had been, her smugness turned to shock as they bounced off the ever spinning Kyukimon's blades - flying in every direction!
"That's insane!" jeered Vivi. "It deflected everyone one of her eye beams?!"
"That's some ultra instinct bullshit right there!" said Malie.
"Grrr--DECEPTIVE ILLUSION!!" cried Eyesmon, this time dropping a building on top of the weasel. Karamon only had a moment to fire thrusters and dodge.
"Watch your aim!" she snapped, even as she watched Kyukimon vanish beneath the structure now plummeting to earth. She then bit back a curse as the illusion was sliced into countless wedges, leaving nothing behind save the monstrous weasel.
-
Al would frown as this happened, watching in disbelief. But when Karamon nearly got hit by the building, Al felt a sudden and uncharacteristic flash of anger “Don’t be dropping shit all carelessly like that, Eyes!” He shouted as he then held up his Digivice.
“This isn’t getting us anywhere.. Get ready to go into Kahunimon, babe!”
And Karamon would boost backwards a few feet, pink rings and flames surrounding her ” Karamon, Slide Evolution!” and the fire began to become Green-Pink. ”Kyubimon! she shouted, now in her natural champion form.
She would then spin slightly as Al’s Digivicd glowed- the sprite of Kumon’s Ki’i appearing on the screen. ”Kyubimon Super Digivolve to,” and that red-black fire erupted around her.
-
Halfway through the Karamon's transformation, the enemy slowed in its motions. Forgotten was the dragon that had dropped faux real-estate on it. Now, staring up like a stargazer to the beacon of light overhead, Kyukimon hissed. Crossing its scythe arms over its face, the weasel took aim, the diamond-shaped mark on its forehead glowing a pallid blue. By this point, Karamon had become her nine-tail incarnation, and was nearing her ultimate form. Too busy was the vulpine to notice her foe as it fired a stream of diamond-shaped plasma blasts at her. Even if Al and the others called out in warning, she wouldn't have time to register and dodge.
It all came down to the jet-black shadow that saw everything. Like black lightning, Eyesmon raced through the air, stretching herself as far and fast as ever before.
"--Kahunimon!"
"Deceptive--!!"
Clouds of umbral smoke burst forth. Kahunimon, resplendent in flame and water, gawked at what fell into her arms.
"EYES!!" cried out Vivi, the tamer running forward from cover.
-
Al had caught it too late, and he was shouting a warning to Kahunimon just as Eyesmon made her move. Gasping in surprise he ran up to her other side, eyes wide as saucers “Eyes! Is she okay Kahunimon?!”
-
"Everyone stay back!" said the dancer. Descending towards the ground from on high, she laid the dark dragon beside the tamers as they approached. "She's stunned and glitching out. We don't have much time before Kyukimon gets here."
Ignoring all warning to keep away, Vivi rushed to her partner's side. "Eyes, no," she said, dropping to her knees. "Please be okay!"
The sound of wind through the trees snapped Kahunimon to attention, the dancer taking up her battle stance as she looked towards where last she'd seen the enemy.
"Here they come," she said, only to switch over to telepathy. ("Al, we need to do something now, before it gets here. I can try to shield everyone in a bubble, but I'm not sure how effective it'll be against cutting strikes.")
-
Al would gently kneel, a hand on Eyesmon as he looked down in shame “ I yelled at you and you still shielded Kahunimon… you’re so brave Eyes.” He said as he then looked up at his partner.
(“Do it.. it’s better than nothing. Water might be a safe bet actually- could slow the attacks down.”)
-
Nodding, the vulpine kahuna got to work. She danced with fluid motion of limb and poise, guiding the water from her skirt and the air itself as if they were an extension of her own body. Just as she fully formed a bubble around her and the others, diamond-shaped blasts fired in a straight line from the underbrush!
[Attack: 4 3 3 5 4, 4 5 5 2 6, 3 4 1 5 = 5 suxx]
[Kahunimon is in defensive stance, so multiply Dodge by 1.5]
-
[Rolling: 4,4,5,6,6,4,4,5,1,2,2,2,5,2,1,2,3,1,6,5,4,5= 8 suxx= miss]
As it turned out this was the right call to make, as that water bubble around them not only protected the group, but seemed to be utterly impervious to Kyukimon attack. Sighting in relief he would then call out to the Digimon
“You’re not gonna win this fight Kyukimon! If you stop attacking us and surrender we will let you go home, no fuss, no muss! But you need to stop fighting right now!”
He was angry about the sneak attack.. but this was still a digimon- he had to at least try to convince it to stop fighting.
-
If Kyukimon heard Alemana, it didn't show. The group could see the pink weasel as it appeared above them, only to vanish as it fired another row of blasts. Kahunimon narrowed her eyes, so slight a gesture as the motion of her finger tips causing water to whorl and whelm where the attacks struck. Feeling the moisture in the air, and the sudden shifts in heat, she deflected another volley from behind, the from the side, and so on.
"We're being circle-strafed!" said Malie, watching the battle unfold.
"Sounds about right," said Kahunimon, deflecting yet another attack. "Must be checking the bubble for weak points."
"V-Vivi?" Eyesmon stirred, her violet-colored namesake cracking open. Parts of the dragon were flickering, the faintest wisps of binary code flowing out of her.
"I'm here, Eyes," said Vivian, sniffling as she brushed her hand along the dragon's snout. "I've got you..."
"I'm sor-"
"Stop, okay? Y-you've got nothing to be sorry about. You--you took one for the team. Renamon's too badass to get caught under a building, alright?"
-
"So that's that's what its gonna be huh? Fine... You asked for it!" he growled out as he looked at Kahunimon "Lets go on the offensive now, show that weasel just how fucked it is!"
But his attention was then turned to see Vivi and Eyes talking, and he would feel his anger wane slightly. "Hey.. hey its okay, mistakes happen Eyes."
-
Vivian motioned to speak, only for the words to die in her throat as she looked up from her partner. "Yeah," she said, staring at Al. "We... we make mistakes all the time. When we're in a rush. When we're scared of being blindsided. Sometimes even when we have all the facts," Blinking, the spectacled tamer dropped her gaze back onto her partner, smiling. "You can spend every second of every day analyzing, predicting what might happen, but, there'll always be a chance you'll miss something."
Slender tendrils of shadow climbed up from Eyesmon to rest on Vivi's shoulder, the dark dragon smiling back at her.
"Vivi," she rasped. "Don't sell yourself short. We got this far because of you. All that info that we collected? It beefed up our chances."
"Eyes..."
Grunting, the thousand-eyed shadow shifted herself upward, a coiling snake ready to strike. "I'm still in the fight," she said. "No way I'm letting furball have all the fun!"
-
Alemana would watch as a he two had their heart to heart, and he couldn’t help but smile as he then added his opinion: “You’re right Eyes, you and Vivi have been so awesome, you work harder than all of us put together and it’s helped us out so much that I can’t even begin to imagine where we’d be without your help. You freaking survived in the Digital World for an entire month before we even met you! There’s nothing you two can’t accomplish.”
-
Suddenly, an image flashed before Al's eyes as Kahunimon showed what was approaching. High, high above the bubble, a twister was beginning to form, spiraling towards them like a drill made of phantom blades.
"No more hiding in the background," said Vivi, her digivice bathed in violet-blue light. "We know what we're capable of! Let's show them who we are!"
Roaring, Eyesmon was suddenly enveloped in her own sphere of water as oceanic spray burst up from beneath her! All save she and Vivi gasped, backing away as the water turned the deepest blue. Yet, as if staring up at the sky from beneath the waves, the tamers saw a light of violet-hue shine like the sun. A siren call resonating from within the cocoon; defiant of the deathly gale that was fast approaching!
"Eyesmon, digivolve to--!"
Just before impact, the bladed twister was brushed aside, Kahunimon's bubble bursting as a shockwave was sent skyward! The dance spun around, heart in her throat as she reached out for the others. Instead, she found none of the tamers worse for wear, untouched by the blast even as the surrounding trees buckled under hurricane winds. But more than that, gone was Eyesmon's orb. In its place, there rose a new figure from a coiled mound of lustrous scales. At first it appeared as if an immense snake was devouring a woman, but chose to pause just below the naval, its fangs wrapped around it. The woman, meanwhile, was scantily clad, wearing a breastplate that left little to the imagination, her skin flawless but for the patches of scales that matched the snake making up her lower half. And atop her shoulders, eyes masked by a mirror-like visor, was a head with snakes for hair, some of which were made of chrome-digizoid.
"--Mmmmh, Medusamon!"
-
Al’s head would jerk upwards as he now saw what was approaching, and his dark face paled. “Oh shit, Kahunimon!” And he would move to shield Malie as it looked like Eyesmon was evolving?! “What?!” He would then clench his eyes shut as the water bubble burst.. and when he reopened them his jaw fell slightly as he looked at Eyesmon’s new form. “Medusa…mon?” He asked dumbly.. bringing up his digivice to scan her.
-
//Medusamon
++//Level: Ultimate
++//Type: Bewitching Beast
++//Attribute: Virus
++//Family: Nightmare Soldiers
++//Attacks: Coiling Death, Panoptic Gorgoneion, Stone Cold Glare, Venom Shot
"Careful, Aly-poo," said Medusa with a lurid smile, chin resting atop the back of her wrist. "Keep looking at me like that and I'll get distracted."
"Medusamon," said Vivi. "You're a gorgon! Can you do anything to slow that ferret down?"
"Ohohoh--I can't WAIT to find out!"
("Al,") thought Kahunimon. ("I think we managed a miracle with that explosion, but bubbling's not going to cut it anymore -- no pun intended.")
"Weasel-ferret at 12 o'clock!" warned Malie, the girl pointing up at still-airborne Kyukimon. It was already starting to regain momentum as it spun and spiraled in place.
-
Al would Avery his eyes and then would clear his throat. “Well if you can do gorgon stuff.. this might work out!”
And he would pat Kahunimon on her thigh (“Ready to turn this around?”)
-
The dancer winked as she glanced down at her lover. ("Always.")
"Ready or not," said Medusamon. "Here I come!" The gorgon rose up as her lower half pushed against the ground. In a mockery of Kyukimon's own weaving body, Medusamon arched and wrapped around the group, creating an ever moving dome with gaps big enough for Kahunimon to slip out. All the while, the ophidian's upper-half reveled like a sunbather, arms behind her head as she arched through the air. She curled a clawed finger at the oncoming Kyukimon, a smirk crossing her face. "Try this on for size," she said, tapping a claw against her visor. The mirror sheen faded, revealing a pair of violet, reptilian eyes. "Stone Cold Glare!" A shrill hiss rang out, as if the very air was screaming. Medusamon's bore into the approaching twister only to disperse - revealing the enemy! Where once there had always been motion, now Kyukimon moved not a single muscle, eyes staring wide at the gorgon. The pink of its fur was dulling over, and all knew what it signaled: petrification.
"It's not dead yet!" warned Vivi. "Quick! Hit it before it lands on us!"
-
Al would give a shout of surprised elation at this sudden display. "She's definitely different from the other Ultimates, don't you think?" he asked as he tentatively reached out to touch her scaled snake portion to brace himself... and when he watched her use that move his fingers dug into Medusamon's armor like hide with surprise. "That worked!" he exclaimed.. though he would then look at Kahunimon with a nod as Vivi pointed out that it was still alive.
"Go, now's your shot!"
Kahunimon would gracefully springboard through Medusamon's coils and rear her fist back, the glowing cracks blazing to life as she struck forward like a lava bomb "Pele Punch!"
[Rolling: 2,4,4,1,3,3,4,6,5,5,3,6,5,5= 6 suxx!]
-
[Dodge: 15 +2 - ah fuck it = 6: 4 6 3, 4
1 1 = 1 suxx, 1 1 = no additional = Hits = (13+1) - (Armor) = 7 DMG. Target suffers Burn.]
Like a meteor, the kahuna's fist crashed down on the falling statuary, sending fissures along the stone surface before firing Kyukimon like a bullet towards the nearest fence line! It burned alight with fire before arcs of electricity flashed all along its body.
"Wanna see a pro-gamer move?" asked Medusamon, rolling over onto her belly from atop her coils. Stretching out her arm, a serpent from her hair detached and wrapped itself around her forearm, mouth opening wide. "Venom Shot!" she cried, and from her snake fired a bolt of caustic green and yellow, slamming home against Kyukimon's chest. The weasel shuddered, glitching at impossible speeds. Then, just as fast, exploded into countless shards, ribbons of binary code cast to the wind...!
-
Al would grin as he heard that grimly satisfying crack when Kahunimon’s fist connected with their enemy, and he would shout in elation.
“That’s it, atta girl!” He said as he pumped his fist. When Medusamon attacked next, he would watch with curiosity.. what would she do next? When the snake detached from her head and coiled around her arm like a blaster, his eyes began glittering. “Whoa— a snake gun?!” He cried out.. and his expression grew even more surprised as the attack finished off Kyukimon with surprisingly little fanfare- not expecting those two attacks to delete it so easily. “That was so fast..!”
-
"Unusual, but effective," said Kahunimon.
"Hah! Is that all?" asked Medusamon. "Admit it, furball, I beat you to the punch."
"Oh? Was that before or after I literally punched Kyukimon into an electric fence?"
"Tch, smartass,"
Kahunimon chuckled as the gorgon smirked back at her. The moment was cut short however when Vivi leapt into Medusamon's arms.
"You guys were amazing!" she laughed. "And Medusamon! I never would've called it!"
And so it was proven that - as regal as she held herself - the gorgon was not immune to blushing as she held her tamer in her arms. "Ohhh, Vivi!" she said, her voice straining as her lip began to quiver.
-
“As much as things change the more they stay the same huh?” Al said with a chuckle as Vivi jumped into her partners arms, and he saw Medusamon’s reaction. “Especially for Medusa.” He said as he then would gently rest his shoulder against Malie
“So… let’s find Kukuimon and plug up this hole so nothing else tries to get out—“
-
Al didn't finish. So blissfully unaware was he of his surroundings, he didn't see the armored tip of Medusamon's tail sneak up behind him. No, before he knew it, he was spinning as the gorgon wrapped him in her coil, squeezing him like an anaconda... if said-anaconda had armor-plated breasts that were now suffocating him.
"Aly-poo~!" she chimed, wrapping her arms around him for good measure. "Don't hold back. I'm gorgeous, aren't I? I can tell just by the look on your face you love the new look!"
"Eyes," said Kahunimon, arms folded. "If you strangle my boyfriend, I'm wearing you like a boa all the way over to the fence-line."
Malie snickered. "First she'll break the man. Then she'll break the 'mon!"
-
“Ack—!” And he would wheeze.. his face turning darker as he then said “I mean you.. definitely look a lot more human..!”
-
Medusamon turned, feeling the tap on the elbow by Vivi. A second later, and Al had full circulation back in his limbs.
"Oh wow," said Vivi. "I just noticed the eye-patterns on your scales."
The gorgon laughed. "Right? Don't they fit me to a T?!"
("Not as much as my foot up her you-know-what,") thought Kahunimon, rolling her eyes as she caught Al mid-stumble. ("How're you feeling, hon?")
-
Al would give a sigh of relief as he then rubbed his arms.. and then looked at the patterns. “Heh… they remind me of those spots Lensmon has,” he said as he looked at Kahunimon (“Let her have her moment, babe… and yeah, I’m okay.”)
-
"You remembered!" said Medusamon. Yet no sooner had the words left her than did she turn incandescent, her shape shrinking down towards Vivian's knees. When at last the light faded away, there stood on all fours a digimon none present had seen in a long, long time. "Kek?" went the little salamander, sticking a camera-tipped, chameleon-like tongue out to one side of her mouth. Wide went her big eyes with glass coverings over them, with spot-patterns that resemble camera lenses. "W-what?! Already?! NO!! I was sexy and beautiful!!"
"Speak of the Lensmon, and she'll appear," mused Vivi as she picked up her partner.
"Strange," said Kahunimon, the dancer crouching down as she regarded the lizard. "She should have devolved back to her In-training form."
"Hey, that's right," said Malie. "Ultimates downgrade one extra step compared to Champions. Where's mah face hugger?!"
"Aly-poo! Don't look at me," sobbed Lensmon, the lizard burrowing her face into Vivi's chest. "I'm-I'm hideous!"
-
Al would blink, and then he began chuckling
“You’re not hideous Lens. You’re adorable.” And he would then give his theory.
“Well.. Renamon and Gazimon went one level below their normal forms.. Eyesmon is her base form- that would explain why she’s Lensmon..”
-
"Sounds good to me," chuckled Vivi. "See, Lens? You're still my special little girl."
The reptile continued to sob, only now resting her head atop Vivian's shoulder, crying her partner's name as they hugged each other all the tighter.
("It's going to get trickier to move around without Eyesmon's help,") thought Kahunimon. ("Even more so once I devolve back to Viximon. Good thing we've had plenty of practice.")
-
(“I’ve been thinking about that.. do you think you could Digivolve backwards into Kyubimon? Maybe that will conserve your energy so you don’t just poof back into a little fluff ball.”)
-
("Worth a shot.")
Standing up to her full height, Kahunimon closed her eyes as she stretched her arms forward. Forming an arrowhead gap with her claws, she took a deep breath, relaxing the muscles in her shoulders. Her mind centering on a single image. A white silhouette against a black void. The others looked up at her, calling her name as they watched her meditate. Suddenly, she, too, became incandescent, shrinking and morphing into old, familiar shape. When she opened her eyes again, she stood as the nine-tailed Kyubimon.
"It worked!" she said, blinking as looked down at her sacred-rope harness.
"HEY!!" said Lensmon. "No fair! How come YOU get to downgrade to champion and not me?!"
"Guess I'm just that good," said Kyubimon, smiling.
-
“Hey no need to cry Lena, it was your first time.” Al would then climb up onto his partners back.. and then he looked at the other two “Where do you guys wanna sit?”
-
"Can all even fit on top?" asked Vivi.
"Shot gun~" chimed Malie, the tamer wasting no time climbing aboard.
"It'll be fine," said Kyubi. "Al and I've been working on something that'll help." Subtle as it was to the naked eye, Al felt it as his partner shapeshifted, the sense of stretching as her torso lengthened. Judging from Vivi's quiet gasp, she had noticed it too.
"And I thought cats could stretch out," chuckled Vivi, ignoring Lensmon's grumbling as the reptile climbed around and onto her partner's back. Together, the pair climbed up behind Al, with Vivian wrapping an arm around his waist while she checked her digivice. "Okay. We can either try and get admin status over the node, or try our luck with finding Kukuimon's signal in the Net-space outside."
-
Al would chuckle as he pet Kyubimon’s side with a couple pats (“Still having to show off to Lens huh?”)
Gently wrapping an arm around Malie’s waist in a similar way that Vivi did with him as his other hand held onto a sacred rope. “Well… what would you think would be most efficient Vi?”
-
Kyubimon responded only with a smile as she started moving out, her steps light even with the extra passengers.
"I'm not sure," said Vivian. "At first, I thought it'd be easy to do both with Eyesmon, but the fight's made everything complicated. I don't know if I can work on gaining admin privileges if we get caught by another digimon attack. But I also don't know how dangerous it'll get once we leave the node behind, either."
-
"True... what do you think Malie?" he asked, gently giving her a squeeze as Kyubimon moved. "Ultimately its your call, this is your partner after all."
-
"The Net-space," said Malie, staring straight ahead. "That program we used to open up the node, it's sealed up the place, right? Then there's no reason to stay. Let's get out there and find Kukui!"
"In that case," said Lensmon. "We're gonna need to head straight for the edge of the node! If we hurry, it shouldn't be too far away!"
-
"Well you heard em Kyubi, lets go!" Al said, pointing ahead dramatically.
"Lets go find our piggo!"
-
[Alright, let's start out with 3 Navigation rolls, with a +1 from the others, and a +1 from map.]
-
[Rolling: 2 6 1 + 10= 19
4 2 6 + 10= 22
5 4 3 +10 = 22]
-
With a playful "Hold on" from Kyubimon, the nine-tails broke into a sprint, leaping over the undergrowth as she zigzagged between the trees. Al knew she was showing off when she leapt through the narrow spaces between fenced corridors, those hazard-lines forming convoluted loops the higher they climbed. Yet not once did Kyubi fail to evade or circumvent them, guided as she was by the tamers and Lensmon. The wind rolled over them all the scent of iron and vegetation, the snapping of twigs and rustling leaves--
"Something's up ahead," said the great fox. The others saw it too. Trees were growing fast alongside the ever expanding network of fence-lines... but beyond it, a stark white and black grid. Kyubimon continued to dash ahead, and with every step, the anomaly beyond grew clearer. Strange symbols of differing color orbited the space beyond the jungle. Circles spinning as rows of arrow-like markers formed outlines leading between them.
"That's it!" yelled Lensmon. "That's the outer Network!"
Eyes narrowed, Kyubimon launched herself, lunging into the breach. So fast and so strong did she kick off the ground, it was more jarring when she failed to land. No... failure would have implied missing the ground. Where the group was now, there was no ground, no sky, not even gravity. That they could still breathe was a godsend. That they floated forward was only discovered when they looked back to see an ever shrinking ball of green and brown.
"W-woah," said Malie. "What's happening? Did we break the node?"
-
Al would chuckle as she began to show off.. but when the anomaly began to come into view he would brace himself.. his hand again squeezing Malie as they started floating... it was like they were in space- minus the violent death and decompression of course.
"Woah.. what now? Where do we go?"
-
"Good question, Aly-poo!" said Lensmon, eyes clicking like the shutters on a camera as she blinked. "The only ways to get around on the Network is a) opening a hyperlink to someplace you wanna get to, or b) flying. Since we don't have a hyperlink for where Kukui is, we gotta do it the old fashion way."
"A little difficult if you don't have a way of steering," retorted Kyubimon.
"Relax, furball. Gravity here's different. All you gotta do is define which way is 'down,' and the Network'll handle the rest."
-
"It makes sense... hmm.. I guess the space where Kyubi's paws are right now are the 'ground' then!"
-
Kyubimon's eyes went wide as her tails shot up and she began falling. Cries from everyone else pierced the air, Lensmon holding onto Vivi's shirt by her foreclaws.
"FORWARD!! FORWARD!!" she screamed. And near to whiplash, the group ceased falling and sped forward, flying through the Network like a shooting star. "J-just hold on tight, and we'll ALL be counted as sharing the same gravity! Kinda like being in a bubble!"
"Wooh!" cheered Malie. "When we find Kukui, we're doing that again!"
-
Al felt his stomach fly into his throat as they plummeted.. and he then cries out as they then rocketed forward. Heart pounding in his ears, he would then give a long sigh
“Well that was special..!”
-
"You're fine!" chirped Lensmon. "It's fine! See? We're alllll--fine! Now, all furball's gotta do is steer us through the information highway. See those snazzy rings? Each one's like the start of a slide! You go in, the flow of info does the rest! Leading us towards the next access node or splitting into branching paths!"
"What happens if Kukuimon's not in a location with access to the internet?" asked Kyubimon.
The reptile snorted. "Chya, as if. Network doesn't follow normy rules. If it's got a digital presence, we'll find it. Just a matter of getting there."
Malie lifted her Kukuimon's lei, scanning it with her digivice.
"Got a signal!" she said, bumping her heels into Kyubimon's sides. "Hiho, foxxo! AWAY!!"
-
“Well, you heard the lady Kyubi- LETS GO!”
-
[Hokay, this time I'm gonna need a Computer check with a +2 from Vivi and Lens, a +1 from digivice, but a -5 from circumstance.]
-
[Rolling: 6 4 5 + 12 - 5= 21]
-
The nine-tails nodded, shifting course towards the nearest ring. On approach, the space within its confines opened up, revealing a tunnel that was like the inside of a segmented pipe laced whose walls were layered with pipes of their own. Overhead, signs written in neon digicode and English read like signboards on a highway, denoting distance and URLs for sites Al could only assume were related to the zoo. This turned out to be only half the truth. Flying through the series of tubes led to more tunnels, each deviating in topic, or otherwise rising and falling within the alphabet. And then there were some passageways that had no marker, instead having corrupted symbols or nonsensical words to their names.
And then there were those with automated turrets.
"Those look like Gatling guns," said Malie, the group floating at the center of the tube as they stared at a branching, hexagonal path. To either side of it, turrets floated atop metal spheres, a red light glowing on each of them.
"Metaphors of cyber security," said Lensmon. "Usually means there's something juicy on the other side."
"Heh, not sure Kukui'd like being called 'juicy'," chuckled Vivi.
Kyubimon turned her head to look back at the group. "If we destroy them," she said. "Are we at risk of drawing attention?"
"Duh," said Lensmon. "There's always risk of that happening. Depends on how good the security software is."
-
"Either way... we gotta do something. The longer we wait the longer Malie and Kukui are separated" Al pointed out.
-
"I can try distracting them with the foxwives," said Kyubimon. "It might trigger the alarm, but as long as they think they've shot us down, it shouldn't last long."
-
Thinking it over for a few seconds he would nod. “It’s a good idea. If things go south we know that you can handle it Kyubimon. Summon the girls.”
-
Kyubimons tensed her muscles, her nine tails straightening in a fan of fur and flame. And from the flame were borne the twin foxwives Kirsten and Jennifer, their motions swaying in the form of a helix as they flew towards their quarry. Not several yards away, the guns came to life, taking aim at the twins with laser-guided systems. The elements smiled, teasing at the weapons as they led their attention away from the group.
"Alright, it's working!" said Vivi, pumping a fist.
And, like the starting pistol being shot before a race, the moment the guns started firing was when Kyubimon dashed forward. Quick as blinking, she was through the checkpoint, making sure both Kirsten and Jennifer moved far enough away from the guns to avoid destroying them as they exploded. In that moment came Amy and Charlotte to escort the team, streaking through the access tunnel as fast as possible.
"Huh, that's weird," said Lensmon. "I can see turrets in the walls, but they're all busted."
Exchanging looks, the others glanced outwards, Kyubimon slowing in her charge. Sure enough, ruined machinery lined the walls and ceiling of the hexagonal corridor, littering the ground with springs, gears, and paneling.
-
Alemana would look at the ruined weapons, a look of puzzlement on his face. “You guys don’t think Kukuimon did all this .. do you?” He asked.. before spitting and sputtering as Malie’s hair hit his face when they slowed down.
-
"I dunno," said Malie. "Even digivolved, he would've been able to reach half the turrets."
"It does beg the question," said Kyubimon. "If all of these are destroyed, why were the ones outside left untouched?"
-
This didn’t make sense.. was there something else at play? Al didn’t like it. “Take it easy Kyubi.. who knows what we’re gonna find.”
-
Nodding, Kyubimon pressed onwards, her foxwives leading the way at a safe enough distance. Deeper and deeper the group went, the metallic stench of iron and oil clinging to the air. But soon the path was marred with blast doors. Or rather, what remained of them. Missing segments; bullet holes -- some of which were near the size of Lensmon; serrated claw marks. For each of these, Lensmon blinked, her camera-like eyes forming a literal photographic memory.
"No mistaking it," she said. "A digimon was here. Maybe multiple. Definitely something with high caliber firearms." As Kyubimon glided through another opening, Lensmon let out a gasp. "Hey look! I see a maintenance hatch! It's got an access terminal built in!"
"Think it'd be safer inside than out here?" asked Vivi.
"Not sure. I'm more interested in the computer! Maybe I can swipe some schematics off it!"
("Could be dangerous,") thought Kyubimon. ("Anti-virus software might still be active. That said, knowing what's up ahead could mean the difference between life and... the alternative.")
-
“This is getting weirder and weirder by the second..” and he would lean around Malie to get a good look at what Lens was talking about.. straining his eyes to see the hatch- though at their distance he could only barely tell that there was something was on the wall. (“You’re making a good point.. but I’m sure we can handle it. We know what we’re doing- kinda.”) he meant that last bit to lighten the mood, but it felt a little forced even to him. (“We’ve been through worse things and came out on top every - almost every time, minus a hiccup here or there. It will be okay.”)
“Well.. more information about this place would be helpful. Might help us find Kukui more easily.” Al tentatively offered.
-
"Let's make it fast," said Malie. "We're still on the clock, folks."
Foxwives standing guard, Kyubimon descended towards the hatch. It was little more than an alcove in the wall, marked by a square tile on the floor outlined in reflective yellow paint. The door itself was featureless, with the terminal built into the adjacent wall just as austere. Climbing off of Kyubi, Vivi approached the device with Lensmon, holding her partner up to it. And in that moment, Lensmon opened wide her mouth, her tongue launching -- jacking into the port.
"'ackin in!" slurred the reptile. A dozen windows opened up on the monitor, each streaming wall after wall of encryption. One by one they blinked out of existence, replaced by schematics and 3D models of buildings well beyond anything Al had seen around Hilo.
"This looks like something out of a science fiction military complex," said Vivi. "Are we accessing a US army base?!"
-
Al watched as Lens worked her Digi-magic and hacked in, and his eyes would look over the schematics with first surprise, then wonder at the complexity, and then a creeping sense of dread as Vivi voiced his now growing suspicion. “Army base.. like the base that we’ve been suspecting has ties to CODE for years before we even learned their name? Could this be THAT army base..?”
-
"If Kukui's there, what choice've we got?" asked Malie. "They could be doing horrible stuff to him right now!"
Kyubimon shook her head. "If we charge in blindly, we'll only end up getting captured too," she said.
"But why, then, is this place such a wreck?" asked Vivi. "If this is a CODE facility, wouldn't they have the best security against digimon?"
"Gyth," said Lensmon, tugging on her tongue. "Gyth, I think m'thung ith thuck."
"Who cares?!" said Malie. "Maybe they're the ones that scrapped it in the first place! If my partner's in there, I'm going after him!"
"All the more reason to try and understand what's happening," said Vivi. "This is way more dangerous than sneaking into a zoo, Mal!"
"Gyth?"
"I know it is! You think I haven't been inside a base before? My dad's national guard!"
-
Al would try to speak up several times, only to get talked over as the two girls argued. Then he noticed Lens and her growing distress
“Guys.. guys.. GUYS! Lens is stuck!”
-
Both tamers stared glanced at Al, then at Lensmon.
"Sorry Lens," said Vivi, the spectacled tamer unplugging her partner's tongue from the terminal.
Lensmon spat and hacked to the side. "What a nasty port," she said. "Crusted up like nobody's biz. Anyway, got the door open. Maintenance leads straight to the access node up ahead."
"Access node?" echoed Kyubimon. "You mean there's a distortion inside the military compound?"
"Could be. Didn't say. All I know is everything else. We're talking machine digimon, patrol routes, choke points and bulkheads. Not sure why a terminal near the front door has this kind of intel, but you won't catch me complaining."
-
That didn’t sound good. Frowning, Al would gently give Malie’s side a pat “You still want to go it, right? Even after hearing all that?” He asked. This wasn’t a question.. not really. He wanted to hear her resolve one more time, to make sure she wouldn’t regret or back down. “I’ll go where you go.”
-
Malie didn't wait for the athlete to finish. "I'm going," she said. "No more detours. Kukui's coming home."
But as the longhaired tamer set her terms, Al felt a twinge of pressure build up inside his head. White noise muffled just on the edge of his perception. Yet as quick as he sensed it, all trace of it vanished, replaced by the sound of the hatch sliding open as Malie approached it.
-
Al felt his temples throb as he then grimaced slightly from the sensation, but it passed quickly. Nonetheless he would gently run his fingers through Kyubimon’s fur as he nodded. “Then it’s settled. With any luck whatever happened here also has security inside just as disarrayed.. could use it to our advantage.”
-
The group shared in a collective nod. Into the side-passage they went, with Kyubimon reverting to Renamon and her foxwives fading into the ether. The hexagonal corridor was devoid of life. Small lights lit the space beneath the grated floor, timid in the face of the oppressive gloom.
"This is something out of a space opera," said Vivi, "Lens, how far does this go?"
"Shouldn't take us more than fifteen minutes. Unless there's more junk in the way."
"One step at a time," reasoned Renamon. "We'll improvise where we have to."
[Hmm... roll Perception for me.]
-
As Kyubimon reverted back to Renamon Al would put a hand on her shoulder. “Are you good?” He asked as he then looked around the tunnel.
[Rolling: 1 3 6 + 9= 18]
-
"Should be," she said, "Haven't had a good fight since the weasel."
The hall echoed with the group's footsteps as they traveled. Within its confines, the metallic stench from before only thickened, though Al saw no signs of broken pipes or crude oil. Instead, he found bullet casings left to either side of the passageway, clustered together in the dark. Al had seen enough action movies to know they were meant for a rifle. Too big for any kind of small-arm, at the very least.
-
That made him smile “Well don’t worry, there’s probably more to come.” And he would follow his friends as they traversed the passage. Wrinkling his nose at the smell, he was about to complain before his foot almost slipped on the shell casings.. and his grimace returned.
“I guess I was right about there being a commotion. Watch your step guys.. these things are easy to trip over!”
-
"Bullet shells?" said Malie, looking down. Pulling out her digivice, she scanned the nearest one. "Looks like they belong to something called a Commandramon."
The others looked over her shoulder. Onscreen, they saw a blue, bipedal reptile dressed in combat fatigues, helmet and a bulletproof vest, but what drew the most attention was the assault rifle it was carrying in its claws.
"Says it's rookie-level," noted Vivi. "Wonder how many of them are running around."
"Firearms inside a corridor like this one gives them an advantage," said Renamon, eyes narrowing. "Judging by how many casings are here, they were fighting something very durable, or jumping at their own shadows." Reaching out, she picked one of the shells off the floor, tilting her head to one side as she brought it in close. "That the casings are still here makes me think our Commandramon friend is still alive. Otherwise, they would have dissipated after being deleted."
-
Commandramon?
Observing the image he would rub his chin in thought. “Well if the one who left these lying around is still alive.. maybe we can get it to help us. After all.. Renamon and I know how to make lizards talk.” He said as he nodded sagely- with a glint in his eye.
-
The vulpine winked back at her tamer; her tail swishing to one side. Her attention changed, however, as her ears perked up. She turned her head to face down the corridor. Vivi began to speak, but the vulpine -- eyes fixed on the darkness ahead -- gestured for silence. Straining their own ears, the others began to hear something in the distance. A rattling noise, peppered with the briefest of pauses in between.
("Gunfire,") she thought between Al. ("Up ahead.")
-
Al would flinch as he heard the gunfire.. and he would look at Renamon “So there is still fighting going on— let’s see if they will play nice.”
-
("I'm not about to let anyone catch a stray bullet. Should I armor-digivolve or try going full stealth?")
-
(“I’d say we should risk it.. just in case.”) he then held up how digivice ”Digi-Armor Energize!”
-
Just as the others managed to put together what they were hearing, Renamon transformed. "Renamon armor digivolve to--Karamon: The Wheel of Balance!!" And in the gloom, the eyes of the cyborg's vulpine visor glowed neon pink as her systems came online. "Everyone stay behind me," she said. "Al and I'll take it from here."
"Yeah, sure," said Lensmon under her breath. "Go save the world or whatever."
Karamon said nothing. Already she was sending images into Al's mind of what was up ahead as she began to push forward. There was a room up ahead, Karamon's sensors catching the glint of bullets flying at something out of view. Data suggested two, maybe three gunners. But then a beam of red light crossed the room, followed by a guttural gasp.
-
“Don’t beat yourself up Lens, you’ve been my hero today.” He said as he pat her head before stepping behind Karamon. “Let’s go.”
And when they came across the apparent source of the fighting he would look at his partner with concern. “Okay .. go!”
-
Knees bending, Karamon broke into a sprint. Even without her afterburners, she left afterimages in her wake.
"Suppressive fire!" she heard someone say. Over the din of gunfire and ricochet, she relied on her implants to make out the voice as she approached the room. Three Commandramon were firing from cover made from scrap metal. Lasers shot at them from corridor on the opposite end, burning holes in the walls. A ring appeared on Karamon's UI as she saw a Commandramon pull a grenade out. "DCD Bomb!" it called aloud, pulling the pin with its teeth before tossing it forward. Karamon took a defensive stance, the bomb exploding as it landed outside the room. And through the cloud of smoke and the sounds of Commandramon chanting to reload, reload, Karamon saw what they were up against. From head to toe, their bodies were hidden in rubber-like suits. What went for a face was little more than a gasmask whose tubes wrapped around to the pack on their backs. Three-fingered hands carried assault rifles like the Commandramons' own, yet fired beams that pierced through the smoke.
And in all this time, only one word echoed between the link Karamon and Al shared. ("Troopmon...")
-
His memories of all the times with the Troopmon Deluxe came to mind.. and he felt a strange nostalgic twinge in his chest. He would look at Karamon and then pat her back. “Try to stop the Troopmon, I’ll try to talk some sense into the Commandramon. “Deal?”
-
The vulpine gave a thumbs-up. "Deal," she said, smiling.
"Wait!" said Vivi, grabbing Alemana by the shoulder. "Lensmon! Set up a wall facing the Commandramon!"
"You got it!" said the reptile. Hopping off her tamer, Lensmon rushed to the front of the group, her eyes spots glowing violet. "Optical Holo!" she cried. And suddenly, a brick wall appeared from nothing, bisecting the middle of the room.
"Nice!" said Malie. "A prototype Deceptive Illusion!"
Both Troopmon and Commandramon paused in their attacks, the latter group mumbling amongst themselves as they scanned the rest of the room. Seeing her chance, Karamon launched herself towards the Troopmon, kicking the gun out of the first of their number's hands as she went into melee.
-
“Heh, more things change huh?” He asked once again as he then would start running towards the Commandramon, hands up. “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot! We aren’t here to fight you guys!” He called out.
Was that true? Alemana actually didn’t have any idea.. but he was hoping that these small digimon were able to be reasoned with.
-
[Hmm... roll Persuasion with a -5 penalty]
-
[rolling: 3,5,6+8 -5= 17]
-
"Look out!" said one of the trio, "They're coming from the sides!"
"Hold your fire!" snapped another. "That's no digimon!"
"Humans?! Nobody said anything about backup!"
"Name and rank! Now!"
-
Al would then speak up “No time! What’s the status of the situation?’l
-
"We're the one asking questions here!" countered the rookies. Suddenly, the air rang out with laser fire as beams passed through the hologram-wall, forcing everyone to duck for cover. Through his link with Karamon, Al saw the cyborg reflecting shots off her armor as she utilized Kitsune Kumite to pacify her opponents. Rings in her UI marked at least five Troopmon, with another two hiding behind a pair of crates.
"ALRIGHT YOU PRIMITIVE SCREW HEADS, LISTEN UP!!"
Blinking, Al was pulled back to his surroundings as he turned towards the source of the yelling. Who else but Malie could stomp across a battlefield with fists balled tight and a glare to her eyes.
"I've seen Mo'omon more ballsy than you! You are all WEAK! You are all BLEEDERS!! The first and last word outta your pieholes will be MA'AM! DO YOU GET ME?!!"
The Commandramon gawked, the nearest of the trio stepping back from the approaching tamer. None daring to look away.
"I said DO YOU GET ME?!!" barked Malie.
"M-ma'am, yes ma'am!" stammered the rookies. As if by reflex, they stood at attention and saluted her, their legs shaking.
"BULLSHIT!! SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT!!"
"MA'AM YES MA'AM!!"
"Now answer the damn question!" she said as she towered over the trio, pointed to Al as she got in the face of the nearest rookie.
"M-ma'am! We've lost contact with TOC! Our position's been compromised and we're out numbered ten-to-one, ma'am!"
Malie narrowed her eyes. "Do you think I'm cute, private?"
"...Ma'am?"
"DO I LOOK CUTE TO YOU, MAGGOT?!!"
"Ma'am yes ma'am!" panicked the rookie. Immediately, his comrades shot wide-eyed looks at him, their camouflage-patterned hides shifting from navy blue to pallid white.
"Damn good answer, scumbag!" said Malie, lifting her chin high. "I'll be watching you!"
-
Al would watch go smacked for a second from his kneeling position on the floor.. but a wry smile crossed his face as he relayed what was happening to Karamon (“That’s our girl.”)
He would quickly snap up as he then looked at the trio of Commandramon, and he would then speak up. “You let us worry about that. What was your last orders private Commandramon?!” He added
-
At first, the rookie said nothing, as if having completely forgotten Alemana was there. But one withering glare from Malie was all it took to get him talking again. "Sir! Investigate the disturbance in Hotel-Alfa! Lost five from our squad in the past two days! Machine digimon've gone FUBAR, sir!"
-
“Alright, listen up! You three are gonna form up and protect this lady: we’re taking these tunnels back!”
-
Al felt a chuckle echo in his mind. ("If anything,") thought Karamon. ("They'll need protection from Malie.")
[Alright, roll initiative.]
-
(“Yeah well.. gotta give the boys something to fight for.”)
[Rolling: 2 3 5 + 12= 22]
-
*Rollz*
[Troopmon: 5 1 6 + 8 = 20
Commandramon: 2 2 6 + 8 = 18
Lensmon: 2 4 4 + 6 = 16]
[Karamon goes first.]
-
Al would then point at the Commandramon “Okay you little dinobabies, we’re gonna move! You get me grunts?!”
Karamon would launch towards one of the Troopmon, fists ready. ”Kitsune Kumite!”
[Rolling: 2,4,5,1,3,2,6,6,5,5,6,5= 7 suxx]
-
"SIR YESSIR!!"
[Dodge: 6 1 2 1, 5 6 4 6 = 4 suxx = Hits = [(11+3) - (Armor)] = 6 DMG]
Compared to the cyborg wizard, the Troopmon were as snails, her limbs a blur that veiled several strikes behind the first. Yet with every hit landed landed, a given Troopmon's body would swell and ungulate. Like a balloon, its proportions shifting outward from the point of impact before reverting back to its original shape. Karamon clenched her jaw. No matter which Troopmon she hit, it was the same story. None made even a gasp, nor flinched from her assault.
"SIR!" said a Commandramon. "Don't let them grab you! Troopmon're gasbags made from stolen energy! They'll suck you dry if they touch you!"
("That explains why I can't land a solid hit,") thought Karamon. ("They don't have a solid anatomy outside their suits!")
-
Al would frown at this, and he would then have an idea "Troopmon, focus fire on that first Troopmon! Lets poke em full of holes then!"
-
Like a well-oiled machine, the Commandramon trio lined their shots, peeking through the scopes of their rifles. Karamon spun out of the way in that exact moment, flowing as though a natural extension of her kumite.
"M16 Assassin!!" cried the Commandramon, pulling the trigger of their guns. Bullets whistled through the air, near deafening Alemana and Malie. Yet just as fast were the holes that popping into existence across the Troopmon Al had called out, each bullet undulating the digimon's body. No sooner had the Commandramon stopped firing than a glowing mass leaked upwards from the bullet holes, forming a cloud of light hung above the battlefield. But the Commandramon didn't wait, again they fired, this time at the cloud. Holes punctured through the glow, causing it to tremble and whirl in defiance of the corridor's air flow.
"Dammit!" said one of the rookie soldiers. "It's getting away!"
"Who cares?!" snapped Malie. "Clouds don't got guns! KEEP FIRING!!"
-
"Good work grunts! Go Karamon, light that douche balloon up!" Al shouted, fist raised. From what he was told a long time ago, Troopmon were filled with the data of multiple digimon trapped against their will.. destroying them was the best way to let them be at peace and eventually come back.
leaping backwards as if doing a handstand, Karamon aimed her foot thrusters at the cloud of data. "Foxfire Jet!" and launched a torrent of pink flames at the mass!
[Rolling: 5,3,6,5,6,6,2,3,5,2,3,3= five suxx]
-
[Dodge: 4 6 5 1, 5 5 3 4 = 4 suxx = Hits = [(11+1) - (Armor) = 12 DMG = ded]
The shrieking roar of jet engines blasted over the rattling of guns and bullets. At the touch of Karamon's flames, the cloud - exposed and off-guard - pixelated. The effect rippled from the point of contact, shifting between greens and neon pink as the cloud became frozen in midair, glitching, then dissipating into oblivion.
From the remaining Troopmon, laser rifles took aim. No moment of shock, no flashing of red in the eyes of their masks. As one they fired at Karamon or else marched towards her, their gloved, three-fingered hands reaching out to grab her.
[Ranged Attacks: 4 1 6 6 5, 3 6 3 2 6 = 5 suxx
1 4 2 6 4, 2 2 2 5 3 = 2 suxx
Grapple: not happening. Karamon's too stronk]
-
[Rolling dodge: 1,3,6,2,6,5,6,6,6,3= 5 suxx= miss
1,3,6,5,1,4,5,6,4,5= 5 suxx= miss]
"Sorry.. hopefully you come back better." Al whispered as he then would watch Karamon flit and practically dance around the Troopmon. "Fire again, next target!" And he looked at Karamon
"Get em!"
And she would summon her flames again "Dharma Flames!"
[Rolling: 1,3,2,2,5,5,6,2,5,4,6,5= six suxx]
-
With a steady supply of verbal abuse from Malie, the Commandramon hurried to reload in the time it took for Karamon to get into position.
"GET SOOOOME!!" cried Malie, launching her fist forward as the trio of rookies open fired. Again, they riddled their targets with holes, and again ephemeral vapor bled out and upwards.
[Dodge: 2 4 4 1, 3 1 3 4 = goddamn massacre]
Like candles in the dark, radiant pink flames came alight in a wheel behind Karamon. As one hand straightened as if in prayer, the cyborg's other hand formed a finger-gun as she took aim and fired. A flick of the wrist was all it took to send each fireball into the corridor, incinerating it and everything else that sheltered within its confines.
"Holy shit!" said a Commandramon. "Where can we got one of her?!"
-
Al smiled and gave Karamon a hug once the last of the Troopmon were defeated, and he couldn't help but laugh at Commandramon's comment "She is pretty amazing."
("Well aren't you popular, babe.")
-
("Mhmhm, never a time I wasn't,") thought the vulpine. Both she and Al turned as Lensmon's hologram wall vanished, but as the reptile and her tamer approached the others, one of the Commandramon saluted the group.
"Ma'am!" he said. "Permission to speak, ma'am!"
"Granted," said Malie, folding her arms.
"Ma'am, like was said before, we're down to just us three and whatever you're bringing to the table! If we abort now, we may survive, but Hotel-Alfa's only gonna get worse! What're your orders?"
-
Al would look at his friends before he then would sigh for a moment. "Retreat isn't an option for us: we have a man down who needs evac ASAP! Have any of you seen a Kukuimon recently?"
-
The Commandramon's salute slackened. "Kukuimon?" he said.
"The mission brief didn't mention any Kukuimon," said another of the trio.
"We got any deets on the VIP?" asked the third.
Malie stomped her foot. "You wanna ask that the RIGHT way, pud-thumpers?!"
"Ma'am yes ma'am!!" cried the trio, saluting as they stood up straight. "What's a Kukuimon look like, ma'am?!"
"Lil' green piglet with a mask shaped out of a giant, brown nut! Got leafy ears and big peepers!"
"Ma'am, no ma'am! No digimon in Hotel-Alfa matches that description, ma'am!"
"BULL shit! This is why you chuckle fucks need babysitting! Kukuimon's in there, and we ain't leaving no mon behind!"
"Ma'am yes ma'am!"
"I can't hear you!"
"MA'AM YES MA'AM!!"
"Did we just recruit a bunch of gun-toting digimon?" whispered Vivi, standing beside Al with Lensmon in her arms.
-
Al watched this unfold with thinly veiled amusement, and he would look at Vivi with a shrug "If it helps us find Kukui, I'll take anything."
-
"Game plan!" barked Malie. "What's our best route forward?!"
"I can answer that~" said Lensmon, smiling. "The maintenance hall splits in two, with both paths leading to an elevator and stairwell going down into the node. There's also a bridge that can connect directly with a monorail, but it needs someone on the other side to open up."
"Can confirm, ma'am!" said a Commandramon. "We boobytrapped one of the hallways to force the Troopmon to come at us from one direction! Giving us this bottleneck to shoot from!"
"Is one hallway better than the other?" asked Vivi. "Minus the boobytraps, that is."
"Ma'am, the one we rigged had a small supply cache and observation deck for the node. We took what we could, but had to duck out fast."
("Could be worth a look,") thought Karamon. ("If only to see what's up ahead. That said, time's a factor. Do we wanna risk a detour?")
-
(I don't know. Anything we could take could be potentially useful.. but we aren't here to sight see. As much as I want to.. we're here to find Kukuimon first and foremost.")
Looking at everyone, Al would then gently pat Malie's shoulder. "Its your call, we will do what you think is best."
-
"We don't have time to clear traps just to get stuff we don't need," said Malie, fingers wrapped tight around Kukui's lei. "We'll make for the elevator, and bull rush anything that gets in our way!"
"OORAH!!" cheered the Commandramon.
-
Smiling, he would look at Karamon expectantly. "Well you heard her, lets go."
-
"I'll light the way," said the vulpine, turning towards the corridor still flickering with cherry blossom flames. The Commandramon trio nodded amongst themselves, with two of them double timing after Karamon, and the third watching the groups flank as the tamers moved out.
"Not so fast," said Lensmon as the rear-guard Commandramon closed in from behind. The group paused as they heard the soldier protest, only to find Lensmon now nesting atop his helmed head. "I got better eyes than you," she said. "You walk, I'll watch."
The soldier groaned, but did nothing to push her off. Deeper into the complex, the group went. What Troopmon stragglers there were became easy pickings between Karamon and the reptiles. When at last they arrived at the promised elevator, they found it was the kind meant for cargo. Four walls surrounded by chain-links with yellow and black plating.
"Yo, jarhead," said Lensmon looking down. "Stand over there by that console. Gonna jack in."
"How far down does this go?" asked Vivi as everyone stepped inside.
"Ma'am, this'll take us straight to the bottom," said a Commandramon as he stood watching the corridor. "There's a warehouse that opens up to the streets, but we had to use a catwalk to avoid the patrols."
-
And as they walked, Al would consult his digivice, hoping that maybe, just maybe they were picking up Kukuimon's signal. But when the Commandramon mentioned streets, he looked up from his screen.
"Streets?"
-
The reptile looked over his shoulder at Alemana. "Uh, yeah," he said. "You didn't know? Hotel-Alfa's a military node and defense platform. Can't mobilize Tankmon if they're bogged down by terrain."
-
"Don't get lippy grunt! Of course thats common knowledge. I want to know where exactly you think we are going."
-
"Uh, w-well, uh--!"
"Sir!" said another Commandramon, saluting. "The command hub is the likely the best option on the table, sir! It is also THE most well defended point on the map!"
"What can you tell us about it?" asked Karamon.
"There're multiple gun emplacements ensuring a strict no-fly zone. Attempts to circumvent'll get you full of holes faster than a Troopmon. Not to mention stirrup the hornet's nest. As mentioned, Tankmon are present on site, and each linked into a shared targeting system to ensure maximum combat awareness. The more locked in on you, the harder your chances of dodging any of them, no matter how good you move."
-
Al would look at Malie and Vivi “What do you think ?” He asked, idly leaning on Karamon.
-
Karamon rested a hand on Alemana's shoulder, smiling down at him as Vivi spoke up.
"If what they're saying's true," said the spectacled tamer. "Then it's a good thing we didn't go through the front door getting here. Even if we managed getting past the Tankmon, it'd be hell trying to get out with Kukuimon."
"Agreed," said Karamon. "Keeping low to the ground will minimize exposure, assuming we can make it there on foot."
"Lens," said Vivi. "You got anything?"
"Tht'h 'ookin'," slurred the reptile. "'Immy thek!"
-
"So long as hes nearby.. thats all that matters."
And then he turned his attention back to the Commandramon. They didn't seem to be all that surprised to be interacting with humans.. were they working with CODE for some reason- like how Arukenimon apparently did? Or did they simply exist in the Network of the base, and simply watched the military personnel and their goings on?
"Hey, grunts. Are there any other humans ops on site right now?"
-
The trio exchanged looks. "Uh, wouldn't TOC have already mentioned that to you, sir? You being a tamer and all?"
"Don't get coy, marine!" said Malie, causing the offending soldier to snap to attention. "If you're asked a question, you answer! Do you GET me?!"
"Ma'am, yes ma'am! No humans were mentioned in the debrief! All non-digimon personnel are presumed offline prior to the incident!"
("Be careful,") thought Karamon. ("We can only push them so far. Too many questions, and they'll get suspicious.")
-
("I know, but we have to take risks.")
"At ease, grunts! Anyway, We're gonna move out soon so be ready!"
Non-digimon personnel..mention of tamers.. so CODE did have tamers in their organization. He expected that to be the case, but to get confirmation still made his jaw set in a uncomfortable way.
("If they did anything to Kukui...")
-
A *ping* sounded off from the nearby console, prompting the chain-link door to seal shut as the elevator stirred to life. Soon, the corridor disappeared, the walls shifting as the group descended through the shaft. All to the rumbling of motorized engines, the humming of electricity.
("We'll avenge him for sure,") thought Karamon. ("Till then, we have to make sure Malie doesn't do something rash. Losing Kukui's left her with tunnel vision.")
The overhead lights flickered, shifting from fluorescent white to pallid green. A quietude fell over the group. The Commandramon checking their weapons and ammo stores. Vivi watching Lensmon as the reptile unplugged herself from the console. Only Malie stood alone, her eyes narrow, glaring at the wall in front of her. Kukuimon's lei was still wrapped around her hand. The way she clenched at it, it wasn't difficult to imagine her using it like an extra pair of knuckles.
Suddenly, the elevator came to a halt. *Pa-ping!* went the console, and in so doing bade the chain-link door rattle away.
"Ground floor~!" said Lensmon. "Menswear, sporting goods, and weapons of mass destruction~!"
Vivian chuckled. "Let's not joke about that," she said. "Lead on, marines!"
Another "Oorah!" from the Commandramon and the trio led the way with the tips of their rifles. Karamon followed suit, standing at the center of the triangle the rookies had formed. The fact that she dropped into a crouch alongside them gave the others enough reason to do the same.
("We appear to be on top of a second-floor balcony,") she thought. ("Troopmon are all over the ground floor.")
Images entered Alemana's mind, showcasing a wide, wide open space. Troopmon were patrolling in groups of three around what appeared to be tanks. That is, if the upper portion of the tanks turned into armor for a cyborg with bulging biceps painted in jungle-stripe camouflage.
-
(“I don’t blame her in the slightest..I’d be the exact same, were I in her position. I think Ike and Vivi would be little different either..”) and as they rode to the floor, he would simply give Karamon’s hand a squeeze before she took point. Seeing what she saw, Al would relay what Karamon was seeing.
“That’s weird.. the Tankmon are being pretty chill with the Troopmon. I thought they worked with Commandramon?”
-
"Tankmon are machine digimon," said Lensmon. "If they were here when the others went berserk, it makes sense that they'd also be on the fritz."
"But they aren't attacking each other," said Vivi. "Which means they can still somehow recognize friendlies from hostiles. Even if those definitions've switched places."
("Whatever's going on, something or someone's puppetting the machines. It's not just a random glitch.")
-
“If that’s true.. we probably have another big fight on our hands. Fuck.. maybe we should’ve brought Ike along with us…” Al murmured.
(“We gotta play this smart babe. You’re really strong, but I dunno if we can take the brunt of them all by ourselves.”)
-
("Maybe we don't have to,") thought the vulpine. ("If we visualize the problem as an opponent, all we have to do is strike at its weak points. Remember: we're not here to clean sweep the node, we just need to find Kukuimon and bail.")
-
(“How will we avoid all of them? What idea is percolating in that big Brain beautiful?”)
-
("Mhmhm, the kind where we make out like bandits, of course.")
The lovers were interrupted as Malie nudged Alemana with her elbow. She pointed to one of the Commandramon, the soldier gesturing to the others in silence. He then hurried along the length of the balcony as his fellow soldiers watched the flank. And Alemana remembered the plan: a catwalk from the warehouse that'd bypass the streets below. Malie was already following close behind the lead Commandramon, not looking back for even a second.
-
Al would fall in line once the plan slid itself back into the DMs that were his memories. “Well.. hopefully those tank things are really stupid and don’t know how to look up.” He quietly said.
-
[Roll me Stealth.]
-
[Rolling: 6 2 3 + 7= 18]
-
Keeping low to the floor, Alemana and the others crept along the edges of the balcony. The clattering footsteps of Troopmon patrols against metal always betrayed the masked digimons' presence, giving the group ample time to freeze or adjust course. Indeed, the balcony was wide enough for crates and shelving units, giving enough cover against what few patrols were present on the second floor.
But it was only when everyone had slipped outside that they saw what they were up against. Passing through an automated door, Al gazed up to see the horizon dominated by a monolithic structure. A skyscraper lit from below like a looming pillar holding up the yawning abyss of a starless night sky. Search lights moved through plumes of smoke that rose from factory chimneys, each building almost squashed together, creating the illusion of an artificial mountain.
"Stay low!" whispered the lead Commandramon. The bridge they were standing on had rails whose interior lay obscured by tarp. Light from below, however, drew Al's attention to a hole in the fabric. Through it, he could see the lamp-lit streets, as well as a number of barricades blocking passage through alleyways.
-
And low he stayed, looking over the edge every so often before looking at everyone else “How much further pig mama?” He whispered
-
Malie held up her digivice. "That way!" she said pointing forward. "Towards the tower of doom!"
"Ma'am," whispered a Commandramon, trying not to look at his fellow marines as they shook their heads, sweating bullets. "That's the command hub."
"Tower of doom!" said Malie. "What's the fastest way over?!"
"U-unclear, ma'am!" said the reptilian soldier. "We didn't make it halfway in before we had to bail! This catwalk leads just over the barracks towards the industrial compound! We'd either have to crawl through the underpass or fight through the checkpoint!"
("That'll take too long,") thought Karamon. ("I think it'd be better to try climbing the nearby buildings and using the skybridges. If we have to jump, I can always carry people over.")
-
Command hub.. how the hell did Kukuimon get here? Al listened to what Malie and the Commandramon were saying, before nudging Karamon “She has an alternative idea, guys. Go ahead Karamon.”
She was right.. time was of the essence and they couldn’t afford to inch along for too long..
-
Nodding, the cyborg magician relayed the plan, earning nods from the Commandramon as the trio mumbled amongst themselves.
"That could work," said one of them. "We didn't have a digimon with a jetpack before!"
"I'm with Karamon," said Vivi. "If we keep to the rooftops, and avoid the search lights, we'll have a better view of the node than we would at street level."
[Alright, for this I'm gonna need three separate skill checks. First, roll Perception with a -5 penalty. Then, roll Navigation, with a +1 per level of success above 15. Then roll Stealth with a +1 from previous success.]
-
[Perception:6,5,6+4 = 21
Navigation:5,6,3= 17
Stealth: 6,4,4+ 8 = 22]
-
The trek through Hotel-Alfa demanded a keen eye from the group. Artificial light burnt the shadows a solid black, and only thanks to them could Alemana spot the dull glint of metal flying high above the skyline. Too far away to make out. More immediate were the Troopmon patrols, alongside Hagurumon that sparked more than the fencing units of the zoo's node. The living gears spun about or glided into walls or even each other, whilst Guardromon tore rebar and scrap metal, building barricades without a word to one another. Navigating around them required more than one optical-holo from Lensmon, but after locating a safe enough building to climb, Karamon began lifting the team up to the rooftops. Everyone raced their way across, hiding behind cover where they could, and leaping across when the danger was at least. Soon, there was little standing between them and the central hub.
"Record time!" said one of the Commandramon. Already, the trio were propped against the waist-high wall of the new roof. "Well, I'll be! We're actually doing this!"
"You sound surprised, rookie," said Karamon.
"Huh? N-no ma'am! Uh, just impressed is all, ma'am!"
-
All through the trek across Al kept an eye on the Digimon below, a faint scowl on his face. Whatever was going on.. it seemed bizarre that the day that they try to find Kukuimon was the exact same day that this place got attacked by- well whoever planned this attack.
“Stay focused everyone, we still got a job to do.” Al said firmly.. but he then gently pet one of Karamon’s “ears”
-
As Alemana did so, he felt a sharp pinch on his rear, the smirk on his lover's face all he needed to know.
"Look sharp!" said Malie, the tamer staring at the base of the tower. "Got us a bogie manning the front!"
Following her line of sight, the others saw a shadow standing in front of a pair of glass doors. The light from within giving the figure a centuar-like shape: the body of a four-legged beast whose head and neck were replaced by the upper body of a humanoid.
"Can't make out much detail from here," said Vivi. "Lens?"
"Already on it," said the reptile, her eyes whirring as they adjusted depth. "Wow, this mon's got machine guns for arms!"
("Can confirm,") thought Karamon.
"Ah hell," said a Commandramon, growling through their teeth. "I think I know what it is."
Malie raised a brow. "Gonna share with the class?" she asked. "Or we playin' twenty questions?"
"It's bad news, ma'am. You're looking at a walking armory. Twin-Gatling guns linked with precision targeting cannons on its protective gut-plate. Quadrupedal hydraulics base frame for maximum speed and steadying while firing. A built-in gasmask and environmental chassis to handle extreme environments and airborne hazards. Not to mention a state of the art tactical cloaking unit. Ma'am, we're dealing with an Assaultmon."
-
Al would curse under his breath. Great, just what they need. If it was an Ultimate level digimon they were boned: Lensmon was drained and he didn’t think Karamon had enough strength to shift to Kyubimon and then back up to Kahunimon.. wait. Drained..
Energy.
His frown turned into a bright, shit-eating grin as he looked at the two girls. “I think I have an idea on how to deal with this.” And he gave Vivi a wink “ a page from the old HQ playbook.” As he held up his Digivice.
“Could you help Lensmon, Pig Mama?”
-
A moment's pause, then a smile crossed Vivi's face as she sighed. "Guess we're going in hot after all," she said, pulling up her own digivice.
"YES!!" cheered Lensmon, the reptile hopping off of Vivi just to stand on her hind legs and throw her arms wide. "Everyone, give me your energy! I'll be a queen again!"
"Damn right!" said Malie. "These knuckle-draggers wanna war, then we'll give it to them!"
Brandishing their 'vices, then called aloud: "Emergency Transfer! Energize!" Light that poured out from their screens; violet, Reseda-green and coral-orange; but whereas Vivi's remained stable, both Alemana and Malie's only intensified. Their knees buckled, their limbs growing heavier. Yet the aura that enveloped Lens and Karamon pulse through the air like twin beating hearts!
[Alright, I wanna say to digivolve to Kyubimon and then Kahunimon will cost 5 Inspiration each.]
-
[Spent 10 Inspiration]
Al would give a surprise gasp as this happened , and he leaned so Malie could have a bit more support as he nodded at Karamon.
“Do it!”
Leaping away from everyone, Karamon did a quick twirl as the energy wove into her pink flames, enveloping her in a cocoon of energy. ”Karamon, Slide Evolution,” and the flames would blow away to reveal ”Kyubimon!”
And then Kumon’s Ki’i sprite appeared on Al’s Digivice, and he winced as he felt that drain happen once again. Kyubimon erupted into crimson flames, tearing backward as they became more opaque and surrounded her on a sphere of solid rings ”Kyubimon Super Digivolve to,” the flames intensified before bursting outward ”Kahunimon.”
-
In tandem with her fellow digimon, Lensmon rose up into the air as rings of violet-colored light enveloped her. "Lensmon, digivolve to--EYESMON!!" The sailing through the air in an orbit around Kyubimon, the dark dragon laughed. From Vivi's digivice, the blue icon of Kanaloamon's Ki'i pierced through the gloaming energy, like a spear through ocean waves. "Eyesmon, digivolve to--Medusamon!"
From the sidelines, the Commandramon all stared, their jaws hanging wide open. Both ultimates stood back-to-back, with Medusamon's claws and snake-hair tinged a metallic orange.
"Well there's no way they didn't notice that," said Vivi. "Let's move!"
Malie pushed her shoulder against Al's as she struggled to stand straight. The steel in her eyes unwavering. But then came a rhythmic sound high above. A helicopter?
("Al,") thought Kahunimon. ("Chances are we'll need to watch for enemy reinforcements. We can try to bull rush Assaultmon, but if he doesn't break, our flank'll be exposed.")
-
Al would grin as they fully evolved to their Ultimate forms, and he would take a moment to look up as he too heard the helicopter blades on the air. “Always something!” He said as he looked at the group. “Okay, from where I stand we have one objective, getting through Assaultmon and making it to our target! You three- he pointed at the Commandramon “keep protecting our VIP!” He then pointed to Malie.
“Let’s go!”
(“If we are really in trouble we have one more trump card, though I’d prefer if we didn’t use it where the wrong people might see it.”)
“HQ, Medusamon— can you handle crowd control of if we get too popular?”
-
"You got it!" said the duo.
"Wait," said one of the Commandramon. "I thought the Kukuimon was the VIP."
"Just roll with it," whispered another.
"I don't see much in the way of cover down there," said Kahunimon, peering over the ledge. "Al and I can lead the charge, but we're counting on you to keep gunfire off our backs."
Without another word, she hoisted Alemana onto her back. His arms secured around her neck, she pushed off the building. A rush of wind gave way to weightlessness. Drops of water swelled into view, bonding, ebbing, and flowing from the dancer's skirt to form a bubble around her and Al. Suddenly, a pair of bright lights from below lit the lovers.
("Here we go,") thought Kahunimon.
A muffled popping noise, then spikes in the skin of the bubble shot forward towards the dancer and her tamer. The glint of metal at their tips as they lost momentum. One and on they came, sometimes hitting the predecessors into an effort for an extra inch. More and more water gathered and whorled, Kahunimon and Al plummeting towards the tarmacked earth below. The dancer found the lull in gun fire, and saw her moment. Just as they were about to land, she motioned her arms forward, pulling the liquid barrier like moon would the tide. A cushion of water and air beneath her feet, she stomped down, and sent the water forth, freezing it into a wall of ice!
*RATATATATA!!* rang through the air, and already cracks into the wall began webbing outwards.
-
Al would sigh as he ignored the Commandramon as he hugged Kahunimon’s neck as she jumped down- stomach flying up to his throat if seemed as the momentum of their fall affected his body. Bullets hitting that water barrier made him flinch, but he then grinned and whooped as they then hit the ground. (“Alright baby, let’s do this.”) he said, tightening his grip as she then leaped forward, twisting mid air as her radiantly glowing tail whipped around towards Assaultmon.
”Sunfire Lei!” she called out as a flare of gold light surged towards the centaur-like creature.
[Rolling: 3,4,5,3,2,4,6,5,6,6,5,1,2,2= 6 suxx]
-
[Dodge: 4 4 4 3
1 5, 5 4 3 3 4 4, 2 6 3 6 = 4 suxx, 5 = 5 suxx total = Hits = [(13+1) - 12] = 2 DMG. Immune to Burn.]
As Kahunimon rose over the frozen barrier, her tail found its mark, wrapping around the cyborg digimon's waist. Steam hissed from the point of contact, yet Assaultmon neither grunted nor exclaimed. Kahunimon, clenching her jaw, pulled on the war-machine, crashing it into the ice wall as she hurried to land atop Assaultmon's back.
"Giddy up~" said Kahunimon, swatting the cyborg's flank. Rather than buck like a bronco, Assaultmon's upperbody turned a full 180, Gatling guns at the ready.
[Rolling: 6 1 1 3 4, 3 1 3 3 5, 1 1 4 4 = 2 suxx, 3 3 1 6 1 = 3 suxx total]
-
[Rolling dodge: 6,1,1,5,2,6,6,5,4,2,1,4,4= 5 suxx, miss]
Al would grunt as then landed, and seeing her cocky display he would chuckle a bit with her. When the top half of Assaultmon spun around he gave a surprised cry, while Kahunimon swayed to the side to avoid the incoming gunfire, losing none of her grace as she effortlessly eluded the deluge of bullets with a smirk on her short muzzle as she then crouched up on the balls of her feet and struck the mechanized digimon in its gas mask clad face.
”Pele Punch~”!
[initiating counter attack: 5,2,3,5,2,4,5,1,1,2,5,2,3,5= 5 suxx]
-
[Dodge = 1/2:
1 6 3 4, 4 6 2 5 = 3 suxx, 1 = no additional suxx = Hits = [(13+2) - 12] = 3 DMG. Immune to Burn.]
The crinkling of glass cut through the metallic thud that sounded on impact. Kahunimon's eyes narrowed. Like the Troopmon that had come before it, Assaultmon didn't flinch. The only proof of damage to it being the broken lens of its mask's left-socket as Kahunimon retracted her fist. The dancer's body tensed the moment the gunfire ceased, telegraphing her enemy's next move as the cyborg crossed its gun-arms and swiped them outwards! Al felt his partner's thoughts of leaping out of the way, but both she and him saw the shotguns on Assaultmon's back come to life, swerving out and onto its shoulders as they prepared to shoot her point blank!
[Rolling: 1 5 2 4 1 5, 6 2 4 5 6 3, 4 1 = 5 suxx, 5 5 1 2 5 = 8 suxx
2 6 1 5 1, 4 1 4 1 1, 3 4 6 3 = 3 suxx]
-
Al would gently pat her shoulder for a few moments, and his eyes widened as he saw what was coming, Kahunimon saw it too, and her hands flung in an upwards arc as she summoned another bubble of water around the two of them in preparation for the attack to come.
[Defensive Stance: 5,5,6,3,4,1,3,4,6,4,1,2,5,5,3,5,4,2,2,4,4,6,5,1= 9 suxx, miss
2nd: 6,5,5,3,6,1,2,4,1,3,5,4,3,6,3,6,1,1,3,6,5,5,6= 11 suxx, super miss LMFAO]
And this water barrier proved to be more than up for the task, the super data dense fluid acting as an almost impermeable shield that deflected both the blow and the shotgun blasts. Leaping backwards and spinning, she would strike back.
”Wave Crash Dance!” as the bubble then erupted into a wave of water, crashing towards her opponent!
[Rolling: 2,4,6,4,1,5,2,6,2,5= 4 suxx]
”If you are done simping over your new look, feel free to step in at any time Medusamon!” Kahunimon called out, her tone tense and sharp.
-
[Dodge: 3 6 5 5
1, 6 1 4 5 3, 3 5 5 1 = 7 suxx, 3 3 4 = no additional suxx = Miss]
"Don't sass me, furball!" hollered the gorgon, high above. The flickering of hot lead against the black sky drew Al's attention back to the roof, where both he and Kahunimon saw beams of red light arc from random directions. "Stone Cold Glare!" said Medusamon, and Kahunimon could something whistling down to earth.
Meanwhile, their legs already pointing in the right direction, Assaultmon broke into a gallop that outpaced the coming tide. It dodged and turned without break in its pace, even as small boulders crashed onto the tarmac streets. No. Not boulders... statues, in the shape of Troopmon. In that moment's distraction, Al almost missed the light bending around Assaultmon, the cyborg disappearing from view!
("The cloaking unit,") thought Kahunimon. ("He's going to reload while we guess where he is.")
-
[regular stance]
Al would sigh at the bickering.. and he then raised an eyebrow as Assaultmon cloaked itself and he would point at where it had been (“More water!”) and he would call up to Medusamon. “Get ready, Medusa!”
Dancing in place for a moment and twirling, Kahunimon’s skirt flaring around her. ”Wave Crash Dance!” she roared, sending out another wave.
[Rolling: 4,2,4,3,5,2,6,6,1,5,6,6,5,4= 7 suxx]
-
[Hmm... alright, rolling dodge, but at a -3 penalty from water: 5 3 3 6 4,
1 5 3 2 2, 4 = 3 suxx, 2 = no additional = Hits! = [(13+4) - 12] = 5 Damage]
The torrential blast came crashing down over the street, soaking the ground and nearby buildings. Even before she saw her quarry, a smirk crossed Kahunimon's face; for now rivulets of water were trickling down into the outline of a capsized cyborg. The splashing of mechanized claws as they stomped and pushed Assault back into standing up only further damned their position.
("Turns out after fighting invisible targets all week,") thought Kahunimon. ("You start to learn a thing or two about catching them.")
Suddenly, the air was alive again with the *RATATATA!!* as Assaultmon's weaponry came back online.
[Attack: 5 1 6 4 3, 6 4 1 5 1, 1 4 6 1 = 5 suxx, 5 5 3 6 2 = 8 suxx total]
-
[Rolling: 2,1,1,1,6,6,6,6,6,2,3,1,6,6,4= 7 suxx, hits]
-
[Damage = (13+1) - 11 = 3 Damage. Kahunimon suffers Exploit: -4 penalty to Armor and Dodge for the 4 turns.]
Kahunimon pulled what remained of her liquid skirt to bend between Alemana and the incoming gunfire. Again, the tamer saw the projectiles stretch the water's surface, slowing to a crawl long before they reached him. Suddenly, white hot pain cut at his ankle, forearm and left shoulder. Just as fast, it vanished without a trace.
"VENOM SHOT!!"
A bolt of caustic green and yellow sped towards the ground, splashing down on Assaultmon's back. A sputtering hiss--louder than the cyborg's armaments--filled the air, followed by the stench of battery acid. Electricity sparked across the metal surface of Assaultmon's body, the cyborg stuttering in place as it fired in random directions!
-
“Kahunimon-!”
Al’s warning was cut short from the searing pain from the gunshots; stunning him for a moment or two- the sudden shock frazzling him. As amazing as this bond between them could be, pain was one of the nastier sensations that was shared. Gritting his teeth, Al would give her shoulders a squeeze as the initial trauma of the attack passed.
“This is nothing, we’ve dealt with way worse things before.. that stupid gun toting pony is gonna have to try way harder than that to put us down!” He growled, his digivice glowing as she was filled with renewed determination!
[Using Special Order: Tough It Out to remove Exploit]
Seeing how Medusamons attack seemed to throw Assaultmon’s systems into disarray, Al would shout up at her “Hey, do that again!” And he then pat Kahunimon’s collarbone. “Clobber em!”
And as she rolled her shoulders, Kahunimon would bounce on the balls of her feet before lunging forward. ”Pele Punch!”
[Rolling: 6,2,1,6,5,1,6,5,2,6,2,4,5,6= 8 suxx]
-
[Dodge -4: 2 3 4
1 4, 5 4 4 4 3 = 1 suxx, 4 = no add = Hits = (13+8) - 8 = 13 Damage = Ded. Burn irrelevant]
The stench of sulfur flew with the wind as it chased after Kahunimon, suffocating beneath the heat of her fist. The force behind it as the dancer made impact with Assaultmon's torso shaped into a forming-fitting dent. Like volcanoes in miniature, the joints and cracks in the cyborg's armor erupted in flame. Making their way outwards till a violant belch of smoke blasted out the Assaultmon's back! Their head exploding into molten slag and shrapnel! Only when Kahunimon pulled her fist free of the chassis did the cyborg glitch out, body dissipating into ribbons of binary. With it's deletion, the battlefield glittered with the dissolution of bullet shells as they went to join their source code.
But the lovers had little time to spare in the moment. Already, Alemana's digivice was beeping. The screen IDing Vivi as the caller.
"++Al!++" said the tamer. "++We've got Tankmon inbound! Medusa's gonna try getting us all down but we gotta hurry! Can you guys check out the hub's main entrance?++"
-
Al would glare at Assaultmon as Kahunimon flew forward, shouting as ferociously as his vocal cords were able as her fist made contact, eyes never leaving the gas mask even as its head exploded. Taking a moment to breathe, he would glance at his Digivice as he answered. "Copy that HQ, we're on it!" he said as he then pat Kahunimon again. "You heard her, lets see if we can find our piggo!"
He would pray for Assaultmon later.. right now they had a job to do.
-
...
"Emergency Transfer! Energize!"
Kukuimon gave a start, his eyes snapping open. "Malie!" he said, the plant digimon lifting his head off the floor. His attention darted in every direction it could, the world around him devoid of any color other than black, white, and gray. The glow of the floating effigy was the sole exception, the faded-green of its crystal body so easy to overlook. Ears wilting, Kukui's eyes fell to the floor. "It wasn't a dream..." Behind his wooden mask, the piglet's brow grew furrowed. He gazed up at the effigy, scrutinizing it. "I think I know you," he said. "It's been years, but you... you're Lonomon's Ki'i."
The effigy gave no response. Beneath it, light continued to rise up, like the bottom half of an hourglass, vanishing inside the holy relic.
"They say the Guardian 'Akua can commune with digimon through their Ki'i. More than they would without... is that why I'm here? Is that you, Lonomon...?"
The Ki'i remained silent.
"Everyone is looking for you, kou hemolele. We've tried so hard to help bring peace, but without you, it's like it doesn't really matter... like we're only stalling for time." Kukuimon shook his head, eyes downcast once more. "Maybe you're not really there, though. Maybe it's all in my po'o, and you're someplace far, far away... maybe you--you're just as scared as me. Scared about losing everything, the ones you love, the place you call home. I miss Waihona. The big trees. The rivers. Getting to talk to new faces all the time, and sing. Now all I do is hide, even more so than before. I'm angry, I'm sick, and no matter what I do, I end up back where I started." Taking a deep breath, the plant digimon rose to his feet, a tenderness in his roots slowing him down. "But, I'm here for a reason, ʻae? You brought me here, which means you've gotta have a plan. If you can't speak, then please, give us a sign. Tell me what I need to do."
...
A near-deafening staccato of bullets. The stamping of feet against granite.
"Everybody fall in!" shouted a Commandramon. "Go! Go! Go!" Both Al and Kahunimon had just finished clearing the two-story entry hall when the others entered inside. "Watch the glass! It's bulletproof!"
"What about laser and cannon fire?!" asked Malie.
"No idea, ma'am!"
The group managed to hunker down behind the main reception desk when red energy streaked through the open doorway; a platoon of Troopmon with jetpacks landing just outside. Beams that hit the glass didn't pass through, but left an afterglow on the point of contact. Kahunimon wasted no time in forming a bubble over the group, only to part it like the red sea when Medusamon rose up from cover.
"Everybody cover your eyes!" said the gorgon. Tapping her visor, she unshielded her own as she cried aloud: "Stone Cold Glare!!" In an instant, the Troopmon ceased firing, their texture that of solid stone.
("I can hear the Tankmon,") thought Kahunimon. ("We need to move fast or risk getting bottled.")
-
Al would grit his teeth and flinch at the chaos around them, an arm protectively placed before Vivi once she was safely with the group. Averting his gaze as Medusamon petrified some of the advancing Troopmon.. he would mull over what Kahunimon told him before coming to a decision.
“Alright we can’t stay here, and we can’t let these guys box us in like this.. we will just get cornered. So here’s what we’re gonna do: HQ, you are gonna get Pig Mama to the VIP while we handle these chuckle fucks!” He shouted over the ever growing sound of tank trends approach. “It has to be you who gets to him PM, he needs you!”
-
Malie stared at him. "Al," she said, almost under her breath. Balling her fists, she nodded, the longhaired tamer hopping over the side of the reception desk. "C'mon! Before they start shooting again!"
"On it!" said Vivi, but before she followed suit, she put a hand on Alemana's shoulder. She glanced between him and Kahunimon, back to forming the barrier. Without a word, Vivi ran after Malie, shouting something as Medusamon devolved back into Eyesmon.
"Sir!" said the nearest Commandramon. "Permission to relocate to the second-floor balcony? We'll make sure nobody comes down the stairs or through the elevators to flank us!"
-
He wanted to reach out and gently pat her hand, reassure her that everything would be okay.. but there was no time. He had faith in her though, he knew she would be able to see things through. But more than that.. a part of him was afraid. Deep down he felt that if he was there when they found Kukuimon.. and he saw Al alongside Malie it might harm things.. the argument they had softly popping up in his subconscious. He wanted to apologize.. but he knew that now wasn’t the time or the place. He’d wait until they got back.
Watching everyone run off, he then turned his attention to the trio of Commandramon and gave a curt nod. “Do it, it will also keep you out of the line of fire. And besides,” he then gave a small grin. “You boys will have a perfect seat for the fireworks.”
-
"Oorah!" said the trio. Guns at the ready, they hurried in single file behind each other, climbing the same staircase that Malie's team went up mere moments ago. Benches were overturned. Weapons were cocked and reloaded. And as Kahunimon raised barricades of ice over the ground floor windows, Troopmon began marching into view, columns flanking either side of one, two, three Tankmon.
("Let's keep them off balance,") thought Kahunimon. ("Less time they have to get settled, the better.")
-
Al would nod climb back up Kahunimon’s back, and he would squint as he saw the Tankmon coming at them.. single file? His partner could feel a sense of aggressively mischievous glee come over Al even as the grin crossed his face. “I know what would shake some things up.” He said as he then whispered in her mind in an almost flirty manner (“You know how you like playing with dominoes when you’re viximon? Well I don’t know about you.. but I see three big dominoes down there~”)
-
Kahunimon gave a sidelong glance at Al. ("Hm?") she thought. No sooner had she than did everything click in her mind. "Oh~!" she said aloud, a wicked smirk crossing her face as she chuckled. Gathering water from her skirt, she then let fly in concert with her body as it danced. "Wave Crash Dance!!" she proclaimed, the water surging towards the doorway and onto the street beyond!
[Roll it.]
-
(“Wasn’t expecting that bit, but okay! Let’s hit em full power after this, forget what I said earlier. Let’s show em exactly who they’re fucking with!”)
[Rolling wave crash dance: 5,6,6,4,5,1,4,4,5,5,4,1,2,2,4,6,1= 7 suxx]
-
*Rollz*
The doors flew off their hinges, the water flooding the scene outside. Several Troopmon took cover behind their petrified kin, the others forced to halt or be swept away with the current. The water subsided, stretching across the asphalt, a massive puddle under which the Tankmon and their escort continued to march.
The glint in Kahunimon's eye was lost on the enemy forces. Bending her limbs, she will all motion cease within the water she commanded. Suddenly, the liquid froze over... and a new dance began. Like penguins drunk on absinth, the Troopmon began tumbling over, their rubber suits cushioning their fall just to slide them helpless across the sudden ice rink in their midst. That they dragged their clones down with them as they fell only created a domino effect that sent the Commandramon rolling in fits of laughter. But the Tankmon, their bulky lower halves supporting what few Troopmon lucky enough to grasp them in time, turned to face the hub. One left, one right, and one dead center.
-
Al was also laughing as he watched what was happening.. and he would then smirk. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
And a moment later, the air seemed to change, grow charged as Kahunimon began to dance again, an aggressive, energetic rhythm to her moves as her fur stood on end. This hasn’t been done in over five years, the temptation to do so had always sat in the back of both their minds .. the power that came from it something neither forgot- only tempered by the knowledge that the potential damage to the islands infrastructure far outweighed the benefit. But here? There was no hesitation. ”Kapua Aspect!”.
[Rolling: 2,6,5,5,3,4,3,3,6,6,4,1,6,5,1,4,3= 7 suxx, Kahunimon has Strengthen, Regenerate, and Swiftness 6 for six rounds]
Silver markings appeared on Kahunimon’s exposed fur, growing luminous like a full moon as her fur became wilder and a shade darker. But most of all.. that intense rush of power that both Digimon and Tamer felt coursing through the Ultimate… it caused a primal euphoria to wash over Al.
“Perfect… let’s fuck em up!”
-
The Tankmon raised their arms. Where fists or claws would be, rested three-barreled guns; each with a bullet chain hanging off to the side. So fresh from their fight with Assaultmon, Al and Kahunimon readied for a rapid-fire volley.
[Rolling: 3 6 4 2 3 1, 2 1 4 3 5 = 2 suxx, 4 5 6 5 = 5 suxx total
6 5 6 5 1, 3 2 5 4 5 5 = 7 suxx, 5 1 = 8 suxx total
2 2 4 6 6, 6 5 1 3 2 3 = 4 suxx, 3 6 6 1 = 6 suxx total]
-
[Rolling Dodge: 1,4,2,3,5,3,6,5,6,5,3,6,5,6,5,5,1,6,5,6,3,4,6,2= 14 suxx, miss
Roll 2: 2,1,5,5,5,2,3,3,2,1,5,6,1,5,1,5,5,5,3,1,5,1,1= 10 suxx, miss
Roll 3: 1,5,3,6,6,6,2,2,1,5,6,1,5,5,5,3,3,6,1,2,6,6= 12 suxx, miss]
The three Tankmon tried to resist, but it was futile. With effortless grace Kahunimon swayed to avoid one barrage, contemptuously spun on her heel like she was performing a pirouette to dodge the second.. and blocked the third with her volcanic gauntlet. Grinning and showing her sharp teeth she then gave a playful growl.
”My turn.”
And then juked to the right, now right beside the Tankmon. Cocking her fist back she then grinned again.. a grin shared on her tamers face. ”Pele Punch!”
[Rolling: 6,2,5,6,2,5,6,2,4,4,5,1,5,3,4,5,3,5,2,3,5,5,1 = 11 suxx]
-
[...That's more suxx than they have dice, they ain't dodging. 32 DMG? Too much. They're f*cking dead! x'D ]
The intensity of the blow was only matched by that of Tankmon's combustion, the cyborg digimon scattering molten scrap and faux-flesh in every direction. But its comrades made no effort to either mourn or reconsider the attack. Both remaining Tankmon and their Troopmon contingent open-fired on the demigod in their midst.
[Tankmon: Changing to Offensive Stance: 2 3 3 4 6 2, 2 3 5 3 1 3, 1 1 5 5 = 4 suxx, 1 6 4 4 6 4 = 6 suxx total
2 4 4 2 5 6, 6 2 4 1 2 6, 1 5 6 5 = 7 suxx, 4 4 1 3 4 1 = no additional sux]
[I'm just going to say the Troopmon cause Kahunimon to lose 1 health just because there're so many of them shooting at her right now.]
-
[Rolling Dodge: 3,3,1,1,1,2,2,5,4,5,5,2,6,4,2,4,1,5,5,6,3,6,2,5= 9 suxx, miss
Roll 2: 4,5,4,5,6,4,5,4,4,3,5,1,3,4,6,2,3,6,6,6,4,2,3= 9 suxx, miss ]
Dodging both Tankmon’s shots again, even with her agility there were enough Troopmon to tag her with a few lucky shots. Hissing from the sting of the various lasers hitting her, Al would mimic the sound in sympathy. It was nothing but the mildest of annoyances though, and she would glare at the other two Tankmon in a baleful, cocky manner. ”This is the best you can do?” she then lunged for the next Tankmon suddenly, Al tightening his grip ”Pele Punch.”
[Rolling: 5,2,5,5,2,1,2,4,6,6,1,6,4,5,4,2,1,6,6,4,6,3,5= 11 suxx]
-
[Dodge x0.5 = 6 4 1 1 2 = 1 suxx = Hits = [((13+8)+4)+4 - 29 = 29 DMG]
The strike hit true, this time decapitating the Tankmon, causing what remained to explode as its head flew across the frozen street, crashing into a Troopmon. Still the remaining tank fired on, it and the infantry lighting up Kahunimon without a second glance.
[3 1 3 6 1, 5 2 4 1 3, 6 2 6 1 6 4 = 5 suxx, 5 2 5 2 6 3 = 8 suxx total]
[Take another hit from the Troopmonz]
-
Rolling Dodge: 1,1,5,5,1,1,2,1,2,2,3,1,3,6,5,6,6,1,2,2,5,4,2,1= 7, well lookie there it hit xD]
Kahunimon ignored the inconsequential stings of the Troopmon’s attacks, swaying and dancing as if this was nothing more than a mildly engaging performance. Her eyes did widen as she caught sight of the Tankmon lining up a shot- with Alemana in the lane of fire. She then spun to get him out of harms way, but this time wasn’t quite fast enough to avoid the shot.
-
[DMG = (14+1)+4 from Armor Piercing - (13+4) = 2]
Snarling, Kahunimon turned about face just as the tank shell reached her, the dancer reaching out and blocking it with the palm of her hand. A plum of black smoke enveloped her upper body. Her clawed feet dug into the frozen tarmac, leaving streaks in the ice as long as Alemana was tall. Yet as the smoke cleared, Kahunimon's gaze remained fixed upon Tankmon.
"That. Was. A mistake," she said, her voice cold as death itself.
Just then, a ring came from Al's phone. Caller ID: Commandramon
"++Sir!++" said the marine. "++Enemy forces attacking from the balcony corridors! Permission to use grenades?++"
-
Al gasped in surprise , and then wring his hand as he felt his partner’s pain. “That was a fucking bad idea on his part.” But before he could continue he took out his digivice “What? Well yeah.. blow em up!”
He would then pat her shoulder “We gotta wrap this up and get rid of all these assholes… the big tank fuck first!”
Nodding she would crack her igneous knuckles and lunged forward like a flash of lightning. ”Pele Punch.”
[Rolling: 6,2,6,6,3,1,2,6,3,5,2,6,3,4,1,3,1,2,5,1,5,6,3,4= nine suxx]
-
[Dodge x0.5: 1 1 1 3 6 = 1 suxx = irrelevant = dead.]
"++DCD BOMB!!++" cried Commandramon, a loud *CRACK* from upstairs piercing through the sound of laser fire. It wasn't enough, however, to distract from Kahunimon's strike. Only through their shared link was Alemana able to make sense of what happened, the sheer speed of his lover's movements as she punched Tankmon in the chest! Spinning on the ball of her foot, slammed both her fists together, crushing her opponent's head. Slipping a foot underneath it, she kicked him skywards just to chased after and uppercut the exposed undercarriage! Nothing was left to land back to earth, just her, and the shadow she now cast over the battlefield.
But even with such a conflagration, Kahunimon could hear them: more treds; more marching feet. The power of her Kapua Aspect was already mending what few wounds the Troopmon had managed, the cracks in her palm from Tankmon growing thin.
("An endurance test,") thought the dancer. ("Unless they can pull infinite digimon out of thin air, I'll burn them all to ash.")
-
Al could only admire his lover as she made such short and dramatic work of the third Tankmon, and he would look at the various Troopmon that remained, frowning as he heard the trundling of more tanks. “It’s just as well.. we’re out here to make sure Malie and the others can make it to Kukuimon. Until that’s done, we have to keep buying them time. So let’s clear the table before our next guests arrive!”
And Kahunimon’s attention snapped to the various Troopmon that were still firing at her.. twirling on her feet as her skirt flared out. ”Wave Crash Dance!” she called out, sending a torrent of water crashing towards one group of the suited Digimon. While she did that, Al was shouting over the Digivice to the Commandramon
“Status Report!”
[Rolling: 1,5,6,6,4,6,1,2,5,6,6,1,4,2,6,5,3,5,1,4,1,5,4,5= 12 suxx holy shit]
-
"++Sir! Troopmon reinforcements are on the up! Spotted them gathering in the office space just beyond the hallways! Attempting to reinforce our position while they regroup, over!++"
The more time she had, the more Kahunimon went on the attack. Water froze over and warped into the shape of spikes, piercing through six of the Troopmon before she had them shatter, ripping apart the glowing clouds that escaped.
-
“Do not let them get even a boot strap past you, got it?! We’re here to show these pussies just how tough we really are! Are you tough?”
As Al gave his pep-yell over the Digivice, Kahunimon would keep twirling, her attention now on the other group. ”Wave Crash Dance!!”
[Rolling: 2,1,2,1,5,6,4,6,6,4,5,2,5,3,4,6,2,5,5,2,1,2,2,4= 9 suxx]
-
"++Sir yessir!++"
Once more, Kahunimon skewered, then blasted Troopmon, deleting four of their number. And as a Tankmon came into view, the siege weapon was upturned by a sudden geyser that then froze over! Trapping the treds at an angle.
-
"I can't fucking hear you grunt!!"
Well that was actually true, over the din of battle and the noise of tanks, the roar of rushing water he couldn't hear much. Kahunimon would sprint forward the trapped creature and leapt into the air, fist raised. "Pele Punch!"
[Rolling: 5,2,4,4,5,2,5,1,5,5,3,1,5,1,4,4,5,4,5,3,4,5,3,5= 10 suxx]
-
"SIR YESSI--OHH SHIT!!"
A meteoric impact landed upon ice already hissing into thickening vapor. The ground trembled, the fire roared. So bright was the flame that all else was black as night. Nothing, not even the street upon which the enemy had marched, remained; just a yawning crater stretching to the very edge of the road which Kahunimon faced.
The dancer huffed, her shoulders rising and falling with every breath. The silver markings of her aspect faded, her fur returning to normal.
-
Al would look about.. somewhat dazed from the explosion, but he would then clear his head as high from the Kapua Aspect faded. “Holy shit.” He softly said as he beheld what they had managed to do, and he softly stroked Kahunimon’s cheek.
“Oh fuck, the Commandramon!”
Al then got back on his digivice
“What’s the sitrep grunts?!”
-
"++What--did you hit a gas main or something?!++" asked the marine. "++We've got a glitch in here, it's blocking one of the elevators!++"
Glancing back towards the hub, Al and Kahunimon saw dim glow, an inversion of color framed within a pixelated stripe. Suddenly, the chirping of a dozen beams of light caught their attention, and Kahunimon willed a barrier of water between her and the opposite end of the street. The part that still existed.
("That can't be a coincidence,") thought the dancer. ("More over, why does it remind me of the helipad heiau...?") On mentioning it, memories of the heiau from the Codec River surfaced within Alemana's mind. The dark miasma that had risen from it during the battle against the twin digimon, Aikilomon and Hinalemon, was now seeping from the tear in reality, obstructing the one of the two elevators on the balcony floor...
-
“Not sure, we will try to come to you—“ and he paused as those memories came to him. He hadn’t thought of that day in years, but seeing this miasma start to rise from the ground and the strange pixelation.
“Move, Babe—“
-
And Alemana saw it. He heard it. A sonorous ring echo out in a ripple from the tear in reality. Ever expanding, it drained all color from the world as it passed over, inverting it, freezing it. Like flies trapped in amber, everyone became trapped in place, silenced. But then came an aura, one of red and black flame. It enveloped the two lovers, without pain or burning of their flesh. From Al's digivice three spheres of said-flame fired into the unreality. One bursted on contact with the only Commandramon Al could see. The others shifted course, arching over rails and through the haphazard barricades the marines had set up.
Kahunimon's eyes went wide. Alemana felt it too. They were moving, being pulled in. Not even the dancer, with all her strength, could move a muscle.
("Al,") thought Kahunimon. ("No matter what happens, I love you.")
Swept off her feet, the dancer took to the air alongside her tamer, falling forward towards the scar, and past its growing threshold.
...
All the world was as a nebula of black light - a gaping expanse of shadow given depth by the roiling shift of neon clouds. How long did Al and Kahunimon hang there? Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Time stretched without anything to measure it. Even if Alemana counted in his head, could he be sure his mind was fully aware? That all changed when white gridlines crystalized into being around the pair. Suddenly, there was weight, there was sound. The dimensions of a room large enough for Kahunimon formed, and she landed on knees gasping for breath.
"What's happening?" she said aloud, her voice straining through her clenched teeth. "I feel like my insides are crushing me...!"
Alemana felt no such pressure, the aura around him still as bright as it started. Kahunimon's meanwhile...
-
It all happened so fast: the expanding distortion, his Digivice releasing orbs is sacred fire seemingly in response to whatever the hell was now happening.. Kahunimon’s declaration of love just before they were consumed by the distortion- Al only had time to say one thing:
“Kahunimon—!”
And then everything was black.
But only for a moment.
Al would opt to crack his eyes open as they hung In the neon bathed void, the only thing he could hear being the hammering of his heart as the two of them hung within this strange limbo- space. Was this real? Or was this his mind trying to come to grips with something unknowable.. and this was the best he could come up with? It was quite psychedelic if that was the case, he had to admit. An undetermined time passed before the room then manifested and they collapsed to the floor, Al losing his grip and tumbling down his partners back as she fell to her hands and knees, panting and mentioning feeling crushed.
Al didn’t feel any different than what was normal- the onset of adrenaline crash was setting in as the well known jitters started creeping up on him and he felt short of breath, but he would get to his feet and hug her
“It.. it’s gonna be okay Kahunimon! I’m here.. you can beat it..!”
-
Static noise filtered through the psychic link. Growling, Kahunimon slammed a fist into the floor, screwing her eyes shut. In that moment, her body turned incandescent, shrinking in size.
"Kahunimon, s-slide-evolution--Karamon: The Wheel... of... Balance...!"
The noise was gone. Karamon struggled to her feet, using Al for support as she touched the side of her vulpine helmet.
"Th-the pain," she gasped. "It's gone...!"
-
Al would cover his eyes, and then gasp as she was.. Karamon?
“Are you okay?! Also.. how did you do that?”
-
The cyborg stared at her partner, shaking her head. "I don't know," she said. Before another word was said, more white noise started up again. Not in the mind like earlier. Instead, both Karamon and Alemana's attention shifted down towards the tamer's digivice. The screen was glitching with static. The pair could almost make out a voice coming through, but its timbre and depth were in constant flux.
"The others," said Karamon. "Do you think they got dragged in here, too?"
-
“I’m just glad you aren’t hurting anymore,” Al said as he softly hugged her, before wincing at the burst of static coming from his pocket.
“I don’t know… maybe the Commandramon- but don’t quote me on that..”
-
Karamon returned the embrace, stealing a kiss as strength returned to her legs. Breaking away, the two scanned their surroundings. The "walls" of the room they stood in showed only more of the strange nebula. At times, complex equations would write themselves into existence, only to shudder and shift into ones and zeroes. Karamon approached one such facet, brushing her hand against it as though it were solid stone. But the gridlines were not idle. An archway grew from the framework, a glyph appearing over it the color of faded green. Just as fast, the emblem winked out of existence, and with its passing, the gridlines expanded onwards.
"++M---day++" came a voice from Al's digivice. "++Ma--d-y! An--ne on t----cha--el?++"
-
Holding the kiss for a moment, he looked about in confusion as he then slung her arm over his shoulder to help support her. “What do you think this is?” As he pulled his Digivice from his pocket.
“Hello? Commandramon is that you?” He asked, confused “can you hear me?”
-
"++Mon dow--re---t--mon--own++"
"Signal sounds like it's getting stronger," said Karamon. "They might be close by."
-
“Well.. let’s go find them I guess,” Al said as he would then hold up his Digivice, starting to walk in the direction where it seemed to grow stronger.
-
Side by side, the two ventured forward, all the while more anomalies took shape around them. Spirals of code warping into the shape of orbs, texture glitches - like those from the cavern node against Pe'amon - cropping panels here and there. In the distance, parts of the nebula took shape, or was it all in Alemana's head? The image of a cloaked giant with something arching over its head from its back.
[Hmm... roll me Perception]
-
[Rolling: 2,4,5 + 9= 20]
-
Alemana resisted the urge to fixate on the strange formation, instead noticing the subtle patterns within the data spheres wandering the hall. The spirals of binary spun and spun, only for segments to break off, slow in their orbit, and form the silhouette of a human. The longer he stared, the larger a sphere became, till it warped into a fully-sized person. Some with lab-coats, others with suits and ties. Their faces obscured by shifting digicode, yet the echo of voices emanated from each as they walked, talked, or worked with invisible props.
("Al") thought Karamon. ("My headset's reading these as packets of corrupted data. I think we may be in the very bones of the access node.")
-
Looking about at the walls and the distortions.. he would then stop.. looking at the images, almost transfixed. Was this CODE? As he looked closer..he didn’t seem to hear her.
“What do you think they’re doing..?”
-
"Good question," she said. "These aren't your average video recordings. Either they were taken inside the node at one point, or at a specialized facility with 3D imaging."
As the two talked, the gridlines continued to spread, talking the shape of branching halls, alcoves and dead-ends. Never, though, did the lines travel backwards, always onward.
-
“All the more reason to find those chucklefucks and leave right?” Alemana said, finally taking his eyes off the recordings.
“Hey, grunts! Are you here?!”
-
As if in answer, a rumbling echoed in the distance, up ahead.
("That sounded like an explosion,") thought Karamon. She then darted her attention over her shoulder. ("I'm picking up strange readings from behind us as well. It's fragmented but growing.")
-
“…Aw crap.” He would begin trotting.. and then running. “Come on, we need to find those chucklefucks!”
-
Not a sound came from either Al or Karamon's footsteps as they raced through the strange locale. They found panels of wall or ceiling where ever-moving stripes of yellow and black webbed over the silhouettes of distant cogs. Ruined cables would hang loose through the gaps. Streams of binary would shift between glaring red and dull gray.
"DAMMIT ALL!!" said a booming voice. Rounding the corner, Al and Kara entered the largest room yet, cylindrical in shape with a pillar at its center. Another series of blasts proved the source was here, as clouds of black smoke rose from the high walls.
("Al, look!") thought Karamon, the cyborg pointing out a figure just to the side of the railed platform they were standing atop. Two Commandramon; one laying on their back and the other kneeling over them with a roll of bandages. Behind them both, however, stood a lumbering figure, twice as tall as the rookies. A reptile in riot gear, it had the same camo-decal as the Commandromon. Yet instead of a rifle, it carried a grenade launcher in one claw, and a tower shield. Its helmet was more metal mask, red save for the muzzle, from which sprung a single horn-like blade. Its tail, too, was far longer than the rookies', and thrashed against the ground as the creature fired RPGs into the opposite side of the room.
-
Al felt a sense of unease as they continued to run, the surreal nature of the corridor doing nothing to help his imagination as it conjure scenarios that he rather not have crowding his head pan at the moment.. but when they rounded the corner and saw what happened, his eyes would grow wide as tea cup dishes. "What the hell?" he said aloud, before then looking at the two Commandramon, then the larger creature.. but then he decided to take action.
"Hey hey! What are you doing!?"
-
The Commandramon-turned-medic shot his attention at Alemana. "Sir!" he said. "You made it! We thought you'd been KIA!"
"Status report!" said Karamon, her voice enough to draw the larger digimon's attention.
"Guys?" he said. "Y-you're alive!"
"Not for long if we don't get out've here," said the medic. "Hotel-Alfa's mainframe's been breached! Multiple Dark Area access points've been identified!"
"(Dark Area?)" thought Karamon.
-
Alemana would snap into action, looking at the medic “Where are the breaches?”
(“We have to try to close them off babe, we can’t let Malie down!”)
-
"Everywhere," said the shield-bearing digimon. "The entire node's been compromised. Only a full-system reboot'll save it now. All we can do is slow it down by finding whatever caused the initial break in." Shaking his head, the digimon looked down at his fallen comrade. "This ain't the way I was hoping to get promoted, but as a Hi-Commandramon, I've got clearance to intel we didn't have before. This room here, it's a replica for Hotel-Alfa's central powerplant. If we shut down the power from here, we kill the lights across the node. Troopmon production'll grind to a halt, maybe even force whatever punk's responsible to come out of hiding."
The wounded Commandramon cried out, flinching as his comrade finished making a sling for his arm.
"Can you walk?" asked the medic.
"I'll manage!"
-
Al would frown as he listened, nodding slightly. “Alright. Karamon, let’s help him out.”
-
Nodding Karamon tapped the side of her helmet as she surveyed the room.
[Roll Perception with -5 from difficulty but a +2 from the Commandramon.]
-
[Rolling: 6,3,5 + 6 = 20]
-
The group scrutinized whatever they could. The walls, digicode, even the air itself. Rings cropped up within Karamon's UI as she found distortions no smaller than her thumb. Through said-rings, her vision magnified, and through her, so did Alemana's.
"These distortions look like they connect to other layers of the node," said Karamon. "If we shoot at them, they might tear open like what happened with the one outside the elevator."
-
“So I guess we shoot them?”
-
"I think not," said a measured, monotone voice. In an instant – as if every bone, joint and muscle in his body were being pushed down on, Alemana’s body fell forward. A dull droning in his ears, he managed to glance at the others before flattening himself on the floor. The Commandramon, even Karamon were falling to their knees.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the tear, the upper levels of the command hub flashed red with the firing of laser rifles.
"This way!" shouted Malie, her digivice leading the charge as she, Vivi and Eyesmon ran. Heat flashed to one side of her face as a beam near singed her braid off; scorching the nearby wall on impact.
"Eyes!" said Vivi, looking over her shoulder.
The dark dragon spun around in the air, her namesake shifting from violet to crimson. "JANENGAN!!" she cried, freezing the oncoming Troopmon in mid-pursuit.
On instinct, Malie grabbed Vivi by the wrist, bolting around the corner with her into an adjacent hallway. Suddenly, a wall materialized between them and the way back, creating a seamless dead-end.
"That's should buy us a sec," said Eyesmon, the living shadow slithering under her latest illusion. "How much longer do we gotta go?"
Bent over and panting, both tamers were glued to their digivices.
"He's here!" said Malie between breaths. "Somewhere on this floor!"
Vivi leaned against the wall for support. "Al hasn't checked in," she said. "I can't get a signal!"
"What?!" said Eyesmon. "Since when?!"
"It must've something to do with that tremor, maybe we should go b—"
"No!" snapped Malie, the longhaired tamer near pouncing on her teammate. "Al and Rena know what they're doing! We came here to rescue Kukui! We can't give up now!"
Neither Eyes nor Vivi said a word, the two exchanging looks before nodded at the floor. Without the threat of being shot in the back, both tamers climbed atop the dark dragon, Eyesmon proving fast enough to follow Malie's directions as well as form fake walls to further confuse their pursuers. When they arrived at a pair of metal doors, they almost ignored it, thinking it another elevator. The number pad next to it, however, was all the invitation either Eyes or a fire ax-wielding Malie needed. Shifting to scatter-mode, Eyesmon managed to outrace the warrior's blood-rage, opening the way to the chime of a *be-bong!*
Malie didn't waste a moment. Brandishing her axe with one hand, her digivice in the other, she rushed inside. "KUKUIMOOON!!"
...
Alemana couldn't move, his head pinned to one side as he gazed at Karamon, the armored digimon struggling to stay on her knees. Through her eyes, however, Al saw the newcomer. It neither walked nor crawled, yet to say it flew suggested wings or some manner of propulsion. Instead, what the two saw was a figure that 'floated,' levitating, as though its very atoms held it aloft. It's attire was at once both bandaged like that of a mummy and a straightjacket, its chest shielded by plates of bolted metal and neck-guard. From its shoulders arched red wires all the way down to where its feet would be, and of its face, only the mouth was visible. The rest hidden behind a chrome visor with an 'x' carved over it, as well as wild mane of black hair.
"I think you have done far enough," said the stranger, hovering past Alemana's attack group. "You may have fooled these peons into delivering you here, but now? Now your interference is at an end."
-
Al would strain slightly as this happened, eyes moving this way and that until the voice revealed itself. Rather than be afraid, a bit of a defiant smirk crossed his face. “Is that what you think? Well I’m sorry to say this but, you don’t know anything buddy. In fact you showing up is actually exactly what we wanted!” And he began laughing “I’m feeling pretty merciful at the moment though.. so if you surrender and leave this place alone, and take ALL your little Troopmon with you… we won’t have to delete you.”
-
"Empty threats," said the stranger. Now floating between the group and the room's central pillar, it turned to face Alemana and co. "I can manipulate your center of gravity at will, intensifying it as I see fit. You're barely managing four-hundred pounds. Another two-hundred and your bones will snap, impaling your internal organs beyond recovery."
Hi-Commandramon twitched and growled, struggling to stare up at the newcomer. "G-Gravimon...!"
The figure continued. "I've been observing your progress through the node. Tell me which of your compatriots is responsible for siphoning data off the node, and I may hand you over to CODE."
"Siphoning data?" echoed Karamon, the wizard grinding her teeth as she fought against gravity. "What're you talking about?"
The dolorous drone grew louder, and through their link, Al felt Karamon being crushed downwards.
"Don't try my patience," said Gravimon. "Because of you and your co-conspirators, the entire system is collapsing. Production protocols, sub-routines, even basic, online communications have needed to be shutdown to avoid corrupting what's left."
-
Gravimon?
This didn’t intimidate him, and he would struggle to look him in the eyes “Like I said, you don’t know anything buddy! If you did you’d realize we’ve been helping your little guys stop the rampaging digimon! So maybe use your brain instead of your own empty threats abs maybe everyone will have a happy resolution.”
No way in Hell was he going to let this Chucklefuck take them to CODE, but he had to stall for time. “We’re doing your job for you as it is anyway, fixing shit that you guys clearly can’t!”
-
"And why is that?" asked Gravimon, still maintaining his measured tone. Holographic windows appeared in front of him, displaying encrypted text. "You're not agents. You have no reason to be here, or even know about this node's existence. Yet here you are, arriving not a week into the current crisis, just in time to rescue what remains of the Commandramon. There's coincidence, and then there's machination. To have access to such a powerful ultimate-level digimon -- one that has no entry in CODE's index -- is made all the more suspicious by you having an Eyesmon for a hacker."
-
Al would sigh as he then frowned at Gravimon “It’s not like we came to this place because we knew what it was, we were trying to do something else entirely unrelated to this node. But since we ended up here we decided to help these grunts out, you might not care what happens to them but we at least try to save digimon when we’re able.” He then decided to press on
“But the fact that you guys have the Digimon we were trying to find.. you should let us take them home so we can get out of your hair.. seeing as it looks like you totally have everything under control and everything. That comment about Kahunimon and Eyesmon made his tone grow a little more frosty.
“And why is that suspicious?”
-
"Non-sanctioned tamers with access to such powerful digimon are dangerous. Eyesmon in particular are capable of mass destruction, if not via the Network, then in their later evolutions as Orochimon and Nidhoggmon, the latter of which being on record as an extinction-level threat." The eight red wires arching from Gravimon's shoulders began to twitch. "As for your 'digimon', there is no such prisoner, nor would I hand them over to you even if there were. You are trespassers at best, and terrorists at worst."
-
“Non-sanctioned tamers? Buddy.. you really have no clue what you’re talking about. Maybe you’re right about how destructive we could be if we couldn’t control it.. but you saw with your own eyes that we know how to use this power and when not to use it. And with Eyes- yeah you’re definitely stereotyping her without knowing the first thing about her as a person! For starters, Medusamon is her Ultimate.. not whatever you just said.” He was now feeling a fair amount of irritation.
“Second..We wouldn’t even be here if our friend wasn’t somewhere in this node, so you’re either lying to my face- big mistake- or you’re not as all-seeing as you think you are. Trespassers — yeah you got us there I guess, even though there was literally no way for us to know what this place was until we got here. Terrorists? Hell no.”
-
"Were the turrets outside not warning enough to keep out?"
A rasp from the Commandramon stole away with everyone’s attention. "Gravimon," said the medic. "We've got an injured mon over here! Y-you're crushing us!"
"You've already seen to your comrade's injuries. I see no reason to risk letting you interfere."
"Wh-what?"
"Consider this recompense for divulging classified information."
"Bastard," snarled Hi-Commandramon, the grenadier still pushing against the magnified gravity. "We're on the s-same side!"
"Indeed, and since I outrank you, I will decide what's necessary."
As the CODE digimon argued, white noise began to fill Alemana's mind, overtaking the dull droning of Gravimon's power. He could feel it, too, heat radiating from Karamon as she growled through clenched teeth, her fists tightening as she glared up at Gravimon. Memories of Renamon as she tried to attack Keilani surfaced within the teen's mind; memories of when Magatsurimon as she came face to face with Varamon so many years ago...
-
Al would turn his attention to the Commandramon as they said that, and he felt an alarmed sense of outrage. They may have worked for CODE but these three had been willing to help them even though they had no real reason to believe three kids and their Digimon. Maybe it was self preservation, maybe they were just happy to have someone, anyone, give them a hand.. but they went along with Al and his friends.. and to see Gravimon treat them so callously caused his blood to start boiling.. memories of the Green Lady smacking Pua’amon away as if he were a piece of garbage rushing to the forethought.
“Hey..” Al started.. before then finding his voice “HEY! If you have a problem with us that’s one thing.. don’t take it out on them! They didn’t do anything wrong!!” He shouted. That was when the droning static filled his ears and he felt that psychic pain again.. followed by the growling.
“Karamon…!”
Oh fuck.. oh fuck fuck fuck.. what was happening? That familiar fear came back to him.. but more than that was the sensation of complete helplessness as he felt that sickening fury billow from her like a toxic bonfire.
-
As the mental static grew, so too did Karamon's resistance, the armored digimon rising back to her feet. Gravimon turned to face her, his eight wires pausing in their motions.
"Stop," he said, the droning of his power becoming louder as further pressure landed on Karamon's shoulders. "If you value your tamer's life, you will CEASE!!" Cracks webbed through the floor all around Karamon. An image flickered over the wizard's countenance, the shadow of something with nine tails and wicked eyes. Gravimon scowled, his tendrils bending to point their tips at the defiant vulpine. And then... everything trembled and shook. The walls, the floor, even Gravimon, who tore his attention from the group to looked up and over his shoulder towards the pillar. "What's happening?" he said, the holo-screens flashing yellow and red. "Cascade failure?! No! NO!! What did you do, human?! What have you done?!"
...
The minute that Malie had stepped through the threshold, the second she had made her way inside, her digivice went wild. Across the screen, window after window of binary and digicode popped up, dominated by green symbol in the foreground that faded in and out of focus. But her's was not the only screen going berserk. The room she had stepped into was filled with monitors that blinked to life, each a reflection of her digivice that lit the scene. It was a laboratory of some kind. Cylindrical pods built into the walls contained eggs suspended in water, plugged into the machine with black cables. Others contained Commandramon, devoid of riot gear. But out of all of the pods, one stood unique, for there, standing at the far wall of the lab, it dominated. Its contents a sphere comprised of green digicode. With every monitor that came alive, the sphere grew erratic, glitching out of shape as the energy within grew brighter and brighter.
There was no time to think. Sparks of electricity arced from screen to screen, setting fire to work stations and paneling. But Malie wouldn't turn back, not even as Eyesmon and Vivi chased after her. An echo rang inside of her, like the sonorous ring of a tuning fork. Fire-axe in hand, she readied her swing, took aim, and released.
...
"ANSWER ME!!" said Kukuimon. "TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!" All around him, the world rumbled and cracked. The piglet gazed up at Lonomon's Ki'i, his eyes reddening even as the sacred relic shifted from gray to olivine. "Kūamuamu! Y-you're just a coward! Everything's falling apart and it's because of YOU!! An-and you know what? I've had it! I'm sick of this place! I'm sick of you! If you won't help me, I'll-! I'll-!" Charging forward, Kukuimon leapt onto the floating Ki'i, biting it, crying out as sparks of emerald electricity stitched across his body. Pain burned as what counted for nerve endings blistered beneath green flesh. Kukuimon held on through the strength of his jaw, screwing his eyes shut. His mind bristled with memories shared between him and Malie, with Alemana, and every trial that had come their way. Through the pain, through the grief, he snarled and growled. He felt his heart thunder, his body swelling. With every beat he grew larger. With every memory he bit harder. And as his body became incandescent, he swallowed the Ki'i whole, and the world erupted with light.
...
A white flash of an explosion fired out from the pillar, deafening all present. At once, Alemana felt the pressure lift from him, though in truth Gravimon's power may have spared them all the brunt of the force. Where the wiry digimon had been levitating, a new tear like the one at the elevator was breaking. It tore through the ceiling, it tore through the floor, and as it split open wide, two planes of existence collided. No longer were Al and the others alone in the strange nebula. Now, there were entire buildings floating through the void, including half of the command hub tower. Islands of rock, concrete and serrated metal floated through space, unmoored from gravity. Alemana knew this because he was struggling to touch what remained of the ground.
-
“Karamon..!” Al tried to stagger to his partner, his lover, his everything .. but it felt like he was trying to walk through a chest deep pool of cement.. everything was so heavy. So he tried to call through the mental static (“Renamon! Baby girl! F-fight it, please! We don’t need her.. I just need you!”) he meant to say more, but the rumbling caused him to actually fall to his knees- and he nearly screamed as he felt like his bones would Damn near shatter from the force pushing down on him. Through hissing teeth he would call out:
“We didn’t.. do anything!” He rasped as a realization then came to him. Did they just now find Kukuimon?!
“Malie..?”
And suddenly the blast ripped through the room.
He yelped again.. but once the gravity wave pressing down on him fell away, he gasped before then shouted “Forward, forward!” As gravity again became subjective.. and he would rocket towards Karamon- arms out stretched.
“Karamon!”
-
A pulse called out through their shared link. The cyborg, her systems coming back online, twitched her hands as she fought off the shock, just in time to raise her arms and catch Alemana. "Al!" she breathed. "What happened? I blacked out, and--" Karamon was cut short, the cyborg hugging tighter to Alemana as random debris began flying in the same direction. There, it formed a misshapen ball of scrap metal, concrete and glass. Karamon narrowed her eyes, her UI flashing red as it noted the sphere's trajectory. At the last minute, she fired off her jets, eluding collision as pink fire trailed embers like the petals of falling cherry blossoms. Such victory was short lived, however, as rebar flew straight at her and Al, forcing her to barrel roll and near hit ruined scaffolding, the wizard diving through a hole in the structure.
-
“It’s okay, it’s okay babe! Let’s just find—“ and he gasped as he buried his face in her neck for a moment as she maneuvered about. He then reached into his pocket to get his digivice.. calling the girls!
“Guys.. guys are you okay?! Did you find Kukuimon?!”
-
Static interference was all Al could hear, the rest being filled in by the rush of air, the crushing of stone, and pipework.
"Terrorist scum!" sounded Gravimon, his voice booming all around. As Karamon continued to dodge debris left and right, she scanned the warzone, UI magnifying one section of the feed till it revealed the CODE digimon. "None of you are leaving here alive!"
"Kitsune Kumite!" cried Karamon, using her knees and feet to deflect spears of rusted rebar as they approached. ("Al,") she thought. ("If I let go, there's no telling how quick Gravimon'll try taking you out. We need to distract him somehow if we're going to make it out of this.")
-
Al would grit his teeth as he would decide to finally scan the Digimon.. trying to see what they were fully dealing with.
(“What could we do though!?)
-
//Gravimon
++//Level: Ultimate
++//Type: Unknown
++//Attribute: Virus
++//Family: Unknown
++//Attacks: Octogravity, High Gravity Grip, Gravity Bang, Darkness Mode
As the data came in, Alemana saw a new version of Gravimon. Far from the bandaged body he had seen up till now, his digivice showed the pointy-eared digimon with limbs longer, thinner than a man, his tiny feet and massive hands made out of folded fabric.
("An ultimate,") thought Karamon. ("Checks out with what we've seen. The fact that he hasn't directly influenced our gravity again suggests a limited range.")
Just then, a flash of red in the warped sky, like a comet. No... a flare. A second later, a boulder of trash flew straight at it.
"Don't think you can hide from me!" barked Gravimon.
-
Al read that, and then thought about what might be done to distract him.. and his eyes lingered on the debris all around them.
“I got an idea babe— we might get motion sick though!”
-
("Heh, don't worry, pretty sure neither of us have eaten in six hours.")
[Alright, take the wheel. Show me what got planned. ;) ]
-
(“That’s my girl!”) and he would look behind him, letting Karamon maneuver as he watched.. waiting for Gravimon to pass over several large pieces of debris
(“Get ready!”)
And with a grin he then shouted “Up!” And their center of gravity shifted.. sending all of those massive pieces rocketing upwards towards the digimon!
-
*Rollz*
And rocket they did, ascending faster and faster as terminal velocity kicked into high-gear. So distracted was Gravimon by the distant flare, he didn't realize the oncoming strike till it was upon him. Through Karamon, Alemana noticed a bending of light, the silhouette of a sphere surrounding the ultimate. Karamon's readings showed the sudden slowing of the debris after passing within it, yet the moment a ciderblock the size of his head hammered into Gravimon's shoulder, the light began bending harder. Hard enough for the naked eye to see. Gravimon's arms unfurled from him, zigzagging as he grabbed at his shoulder.
"This was your plan all along, wasn't it!" hissed the ultimate. "Tear the node apart so my powers went into flux in cyberspace!" Tendrils stretching outward, Gravimon opened the palms of his hands, forming points of total blackness within their confines. "So be it," he said. "You want to play with science? I'll show you just what the event horizon can really do!"
-
Al’s response as much less dramatic, but just as impactful.
“Down!”
The debris that hand hurtled up above the Ultimate came crashing back down atop of him as Karamon freely plummeted.. another cloud of concrete and rock coming up below them as she raced towards it.
(“Skirt around it so we can set up the next attack!”)
-
("Understood,") thought Karamon, the cyborg avoiding the use of her jets as she moved into position. Neither she nor Al could ignore the noise of metal and rock, however, as Gravimon arced his hand to meet the incoming debris.
"High Gravity Grip!" he cried, and on contact, the debris screeched and imploded till they were ingots the size of pebbles, pebbles which began to orbit Gravimon like a miniature asteroid belt. "I won't make the same mistake again," he said. "Having an accomplice distract me with flare shots, the cheek!"
-
“Backwards!”
And then they were flung back.. bringing more debris to smash into Gravimon as he was focused on the previous clumps.
“Yeah yeah, keep yapping on you big jerk!” Al taunted back as they soared away from him. It wasn’t about beating Gravimon at this point. No.. he was stalling for time. He didn’t know if the others were okay.. but if they were then his best bet was to keep this clown occupied and off balance until they found him and Karamon.
-
Gravimon made good on his promise, impounding the would-be back attack as he spun about-face and clawed at the debris. Perhaps sensing the direction of Alemana's voice, the ultimate launched himself in the same direction as the Al and Kara. Yet where the lovers flew like free-falling birds through the devastation, Gravimon swam like an octopus, his body bending and coiling around obstructions faster than even Eyesmon.
But as Gravimon chased after them, a separate trio peered from beneath a section of torn building.
"What happens now?" asked Commandramon, the medic still holding his wounded brother.
Hi-Commandramon lowered the barrel of his grenade launcher, turning to face his squad. "The way I see it, mission's complete," he told them, sighing. "Let's find a way out and call in the evac."
A series of distant popping noises drew the marines' to look upwards through what used to be a window. A cloud of red and orange was spreading like crude fireworks across the sundered sky.
...
Karamon dodged and weaved through the wreckage of factories and office buildings, laser fire shooting in every direction.
"If you won't stand and fight," said Gravimon, "I'll flush you out!" With a sweeping gesture of his massive hand, the ultimate sent Troopmon hurtling through cyberspace. The masked soldier were everywhere, floating helpless in the void but for their rifles. They fired at everything, Gravimon, Karamon, anything that wasn't a fellow Troopmon. But they weren't the worst of it.
("Scanner's picking up unidentified digimon,") thought Karamon. An image flashed inside Al's mind as Kara showed him what she saw. Metal balls covered in spikes, two red lenses creating the impression of a face as they used a spike for a nose. ("Hate to suggest it, but they remind of naval mines.")
Sure enough, the moment one of the strange digimon bounced off a neighbor, lights flicked behind the red lensed eyes as they gave off sonorous pings. Destruction followed soon after, miring the warzone in clouds of smoke and ash.
-
“… I think we have our next distraction. Go for them..” and he grinned as a laser shot wide
“And let’s see if he is actually smart.”
-
[Roll me Athletics with a -5 from difficulty.]
-
[Rolling: 5,4,4 + 4 = 17]
-
*Rollz*
Smiling, Karamon altered course, chuckling as she and Alemana made a game of tapping at the strange mines. On cue, each one disturbed began blinking, and as Gravimon gained on the lovers, the mines detonated, setting off a chain reaction with their neighbors. It was only then that either Al or Karamon realized the size of the minefield. The cyborg fired her jets at full throttle, aiming to outrace the fast-approaching firestorm.
-
“Well that will certainly leave a— oh shit move babe, go go go go!” Al yelped as the chain reaction explosion expanded around them!
“AAAAAAAAAAA-“
-
"AAAAAAAAAAA-"
The force of the rampaging blast sent tamer and partner crashing into a meteor, Karamon managing to shield Al as she broke their fall with her body. But adrenaline and cybernetics wouldn't let her rest. Not now. Rolling back onto her feet with Al in tow, she leapt behind the demolished remains of a tank, using it to shield them both as the fire reached them.
[Roll Endurance]
-
“Holy shit—!” And he would nearly bite through his lip as the blast wave hit them as he clung to his partner.. crying out as they hit the object.
[Rolling: 3,6,6 + 9 = 24]
-
While the heat threatened to burn at his skin, Alemana managed to resist fainting from it, Karamon's armor insulating him from the worst of it as she held him tight. Al could hear her breathing, panting as the fires dimmed, and the rumbling of mines faded off into the distance.
("Al,") thought Karamon. Even her thoughts betrayed exhaustion. ("We're running out of time. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up.")
-
Al would pant as well, and gently held onto the exposed cheeks of her face as he looked into her visor.. and pressed his forehead to hers as best he was able
(“You’ve done way more than I could ever ask of you baby, you’ve shown these assholes what they’re really up against. Hopefully we’ve done all we can for Malie and the others.”)
-
Karamon rested her hand over one of Al's, keeping it there as she closed her eyes. Funny. A moment later, and she wouldn't have noticed bits of rubble begin to float off in the same direction. Her heart sank as she blinked and watched, drawing Al's attention to the phenomenon. Suddenly, the tearing and crushing of metal broke the quietude, drawing Al and Kara's attention to the derelict tank they hid behind. The cyborg rushed to put herself between it and Alemana, watching as the war machine lifted off the ground.
And then they saw him. Clothes torn, burnt and blackened with soot; several fingers missing; a rivulet of crimson binary bleeding down from the side of his mouth; Gravimon loomed large with darkened visage.
"You destroyed my node," he said, tearing the tank in half with his mind. "You destroyed my laboratory," he said, hair flailing as though caught in a storm. "And now you presume to use my own armaments against me." Within what remained of his hands, micro singularities took shape, bending the light around them to form blackholes the size of his head. "I'm going to rip you apart now. I don't know when I'll stop."
The ultimate then clasped both hands together, combining his dread orbs into one. A rush of wind howled as streams of debris, water molecules, even light spiraled into the inky depths, surrounding the blackhole in a tattered nimbus of white.
Without looking back at the teen, Karamon wrapped her fingers around Alemana's hand, her body shaking as she fought with an iron will to do something -- anything -- to save them both. Static flickered within her mind, the temptation to lose control rising from the pit of her stomach. Then, her UI picked up a signature. So faint was it in the interference of the Event Horizon, no smaller than a pebble, yet it her caught her attention all the same.
("A candlenut...?")
The tiny thing flew towards Gravimon, camouflaged among the rocks, dust, and broken materials caught in his mounting attack. Then, shining brighter than the north star, it burst to life. Without thinking, Karamon spun around to use her body once more as a shield, but Alemana saw it; he saw the candlenut turn into a colossal tree whose branches slammed into Gravimon as its roots bore into the ruined asphalt of the meteor. The singularity collapsed, shrinking, taking a massive chunk of the tree with it, but still it grew, blossoming with the white petaled flowers.
Booming laughter echoed from on high. "WHO'S HIGH AND MIGHTY NOW, BABOOZ?!! BWAHAHAH!!"
-
Al would squeeze her hand as he looked continued the void between those hands (“I love you Karamon, I always will.”) he said.. about to embrace death. In the grand scheme of things, there were worse ways to die. If the girls could get Kukuimon and escape? Well that was good enough for him. He briefly felt a pang of grief as he realized that he had failed.. everyone.. but he had hope. Assuming the girls could get away, they still had a chance to save both worlds. Ike, Vivian, Malie.. these three were amazing and geniuses in their own ways. And they had help from Kei, who seemed to be even more powerful than him and Karamon— maybe — so.. if this was the end he was okay with dying.
But just as they saw the candlenut.. his eyes widened before he grinned. “That sounds fun Gravimon, but how are you going to deal with,” and he winced as the tree erupted atop of him. “That?”
And as he heard that booming voice he turned in its direction.. his smirk turning into a genuine, goofy ass grin. “I’m glad I’m not the kind of guy to mind getting rescued!”
-
The ground trembled as something heavy landed behind Kara and Al - and as the teen turned towards the voice, he saw its source. At first, Alemana could have sworn the figure was the largest Hawaiian he had ever seen, well over eight feet tall, with tribal tattoos all over a body swollen with muscle. Such thoughts diminished upon seeing the cowl that obscured the giant's face. Made from the pelt of a boar that was strapped in place by braids of plant-fiber that roped under his powerful arms. But the way the snout moved between two tusks -- the way the ears twitched as the giant stood up right -- was it still alive? Or more attached to the giant than first seemed? It almost distracted from the spines jutting out and down the figure's back, not bone, no... but like crystalized blades of grass.
"Aloha," he rumbled. Stepping forward, light danced across the boar mask's fur, revealing olivine sigils that spiraled towards the sides of its eyes. "We doing this or what?"
The sound of snapping branches snapped everyone's attention towards the tree. Gravimon floating within the center of a distorted sphere.
"You...!"
"The name's Kamapua'amon," snorted the boar. "And I wasn't talking to you."
-
Alemana was in awe for a few moments as he saw the newcomer. Kamapua’amon? And he was badass looking! Without skipping a beat though, he would help Kamamon to her feet.
“Don’t kill him.. there’s been too much of that already. You can beat his ass for us if he’s going to try to be a problem though, he deserves a spanking.”
-
Kamapua'amon smirked, brushing the teen aside with a hand twice the size of Alemana's own. "Fine by me," he said, "Feeling lokomaika'i."
Gravimon shook his head, holoscreens flashing into existence around him. "You! I'd know that signature anywhere! How is this possible?! You shouldn't even be functioning!"
"Dunno what you're talking about, poho. But I'm gonna enjoy beating the answers out of you."
-
Al stumbled as that happened, almost losing his grip on Karamon “Are you okay?” He asked.. not expecting that reaction. Actually no.. he did, but not from Kukuimon. But he would then look back at Gravimon curiously.
“So you DID know that you had our friend!” He accused, but he then looked around “Where are the girls, Kamapua’amon?”
-
The tribal warrior paused. Turning his head, he gave a side-long glance at the tamer. "Girls?" he echoed, the sharpness in his eyes laxing.
In that moment, Gravimon made his move, shunting his elastic hands towards the giant. "HIGH GRAVITY GRIP!!" he cried, causing a dome of distorted space to crash against the boar.
"Kukui!" said Karamon.
Kamapua'amon snarled, digging his heels in as he shouldered the oncoming attack. "I told you," he growled. "My name... is KAMAPUA'AMON!!" Like booming thunder, the air roared all around, gravity reverberated back as the boar diverted the orb's trajectory! "Pua'a Barrage!!" he bellowed, tackling Gravimon with a forehead to the gut before launching into a haymaker.
-
Al’s stomach dropped slightly when that was said.. but he quickly would quash the idea. If he was in Ultimate- and was this stable- Malie had to be okay. He was certainly much more cocky and self assured now, but all the Digimon changed in demeanor as they grew to stronger forms.. the first time always being the most dramatic.
He then would hold his partners shoulder “I think he’s going to be okay! Let’s try to find Vivi, Eyes, and Malie!” And he would call to Kamapua’amon “Keep him busy, we’ll find the others! You got this Kama!” He said as encouragingly as he was able as he brought up his Digivice’s radar to try to locate the girls.
-
[Hmm... roll Computer with a -5 penalty.]
-
[rolling: 2,6,6 + 4 = 18]
-
Switching back and forth between the map and scanner apps of his digivice, Alemana managed to make sense of the glitched-out readings. The tower. Malie, Vivi and Eyes were still in the command hub's tower. Karamon didn't waste time in launching off. Tired as she was, she still managed to maintain her balance. Both she and Al, however, could feel the shockwaves coming off the battle behind them.
Using the loose rules of cyberspace, the lovers managed to maneuver through the debris field at a steady pace, doing their damnedest to avoid minefields and laser fire as the scattered Troopmon continued to shoot at invisible foes. Like everything else, the command hub was a wreck of what it once was. Half of its mass collapsed and adrift, the structure was more akin to a derelict in a starship graveyard; flickering lights flashing from shattered windows, whilst scars in reality carved into the main body.
("I'm reading a power signature on the forty-ninth floor,") thought Karamon. ("With faint traces of Kamapua'amon. Think it could be Malie's digivice?")
-
Al would frown as they dodged and weaved around these obstacles, eyes still on the digivice as Karamon made that discovery.
(“It’s worth checking, if Kama came from here it stands to reason the girls are still close by!”)
-
("But if that's the case, why did he look so surprised when we mentioned them?")
-
(“I don’t know. But he’s Digivolved and he’s not crazed or feral.. so it’s likely Malie is somewhere around. I don’t think he found us by accident.”)
-
The armored wizard nodded. Using brief bursts from her jets, she fine-tuned her flight path as the duo approached the building. No sooner had they entered the interior did they find a malfunctioning Hagurumon floating through the corridor they were in. Passing it by, they found more of the strange, holograms of humans, trapped in activity loops. For whatever reason, one such hologram drew Alemana's attention. A woman in a lab coat. She, out of all her ephemeral colleagues, walked along the halls without resetting seconds later. Without needing to say a word, Karamon followed. After all, the hologram was going in the same direction as the signal. Deeper inside they went, passing through the ruined halls, meeting rooms, and office spaces.
The hologram stopped. She was standing in front of an open doorway, tapping on the number pad beside it. Again, she stopped. Glancing over at Alemana and Karamon. No... at a different hologram. Not a human one, but one in the vaguest shape of a Kamemon.
"Al?!" The sound of Malie's voice shook Kara and Al's attention away, and just as fast the holograms disappeared. "Al, is that you?!"
-
“What is this..is there a glitch happening again or something? Are we seeing into the real world?”
He didn’t know.. but it seemed to be leading them towards Malie’s signal. That was unusual, but he wasn’t going to question it at the moment. But when the hologram changed and he saw a kamemon- well his eyes shot wide. “Tutu.. she must be helping us out!” He said as he then wondered. That woman.. could that have been what she looked like as a human? He didn’t get to dwell on it for long, as he then suddenly heard Malie’s voice.
“Malie!”
Relief then flooded him, and he touched the doorframe as he peeked inside . “Are you guys okay?!”
-
Inside the room, Al saw a room missing its roof. A massive hole opened up to the twisted sky filled the chamber with light, in stark contrast to the ever shifting mass of shadow that hovered inches off the floor. Countless violet-colored eyes then blinked into existence across the dark blob, and in seconds the mass shifted into Eyesmon, revealing Vivi and Malie.
"Al!" said Vivi. "We're fine! Eyesmon cocooned us when Malie axed the power source!"
"Power source?" echoed Karamon.
"Yeah!" said Malie. "Except it wasn't a power source! My digivice said it was Kukuimon!"
"No it didn't!" said Vivi. "You barely looked at it before you threw the axe!"
"What else could it've been?! Kukuimon was in here, and that glowing thing was right in the middle of some freaky science lab!"
"Girls," rasped Eyes. "Maybe not so loud? Head feeling woozy..."
-
Al wouldn’t ask any questions, instead running to Malie and giving her a bear hug, head resting atop of hers “Thank god you guys are okay!”
-
Malie blinked, taken by surprise before returning the hug. Karamon and Eyesmon, for that matter, averted their gaze.
"Al," said Malie. "Did... did you find anything? What happened to the Commandramon?"
Karamon coughed. "The Commandramon are MIA. We got separated after whatever wrecked the node."
"We still gotta find Kukui!" said Malie. "I know he's here! My digivice's been acting all weird since the explosion, but--"
-
“I’m sure those chuckleheads are okay, probably trying to find us.” He said reassuringly as he slowly let go of her before turn trapping Vivi in a hug as well- albeit for a shorter time as he then pet Eyesmon’s snoot.
“But I know where he is. Whatever you did seems to have juiced him up big time! Come on, let’s go to him right now.”
-
...
Between Kara and Eyes, the group fled the tower's ruins in search of Kamapua'amon. Even from a distance, the battle was easy to make out. In the time it had taken for the group to return to him, a web of roots and tree branches stretched out and burled across cyberspace, breaking and regrowing as the boar-headed giant fought off Gravimon.
"Octogravity!" exclaimed Gravimon, his tendrils arching forward. The yellow metal lures that headed them swatted at ever-expanding branches, and where they hit, craters formed and splintered. Roaring, the ultimate gestured with his elastic hand, sending anything and everything at the boar.
Grunting, Kamapua'amon headbutted the first branch, thick as a tree. With his forearm he broke the next on in half, the giant leaping up a colossal root as he dodged a battle tank. A meteoric fist then came crashing down on Gravimon just for the the ultimate to redirect gravity and send Kamapua'a flying backwards.
"Kukuimon?" asked Malie, staring with a furrowed brow.
"KANAKA KABLAM!!" bellowed the giant, hands slamming together as an olivine aura enveloped the surrounding vegetation. Suddenly, everything green was growing faster than the eye could see, arching, bending to catch Kamapua'a. An improvised platform expanded as it rescued the boar, thrusting him forward like the hand of an arboreal titan. It was too much. Even with all his power, Gravimon couldn't form up a barrier in time. Alemana heard Malie flinch as the boar began hammering blow after blow into his foe. Shrill cries competed against the cracking of bone and branch, Gravimon's white suit streaked with flowing red binary.
"Mercy!" he asked between blows. "M-mercy!"
-
And once they returned , Al would watch in a bit of stunned silence for a moment before shouting at him “Kamapua’amon! We don’t want to kill him remember?!” He then turned to Malie “Go to him, he’ll listen to you more than me Mal.”
-
Nodding, Malie flew off from her perch atop Eyesmon. Vivi motioned to speak, reaching a hand out to the longhaired tamer, but resigned herself as Karamon laid a hand on her shoulder.
"I don't understand," said Eyes, watching as Malie rushed through the debris field. "Kukui's supposed to be a little sweetheart. I know it's his first time ulting, but..."
-
“Gazimon was really different when he Ult’d too.. but I am sure he will be okay. Malie is here for him now!” He said.. though his eyes never left her as she raced for her partner.
-
Malie landed several feet behind the giant, Kamapua'a still beating into Gravimon.
"Pua?" she said, taking one step forward. Again she called out to him.
The giant's ears twitched. Huffing, he slowed his strikes, shoulders rising and falling as he turned around.
"Malie?" he said, his voice softening. The moment of calm stood between the two, eyes fixed, unblinking. Then, startling the girl, the giant threw his arms wide open "MALIE!!" he cheered, laughing as he approached his tamer. "Hey! It's me! Like the new look?! HAH! Check out the guns on me~!" Malie stared, watching as Kamapua'amon began flexing for her, the boar winking as he got more suggestive with every pose. The amount of silence Malie gave him was only matched by her attention. Raising his brow, the boar chortled, "Ah, right," he said, shrugging it off. "Sorry about running away. Pretty lame, I know, but look! See? I took out a bad guy! And now I get to tell you about my feelings--"
"Kukui!" Malie raised her hand. "What... the hell? You ran away from home! From me! I thought you'd been kidnapped!"
The giant's ears folded back. "I was!" he said. "Kinda! It's hard to explain!"
"Hard to EXPLAIN?!! I've been worried sick! We almost died looking for you!"
Kamapua'amon balled his fists, glowering. "Well I wouldn't have run if Alemana hadn't stabbed me in the back!"
"Stabbed you in the back?! In what way?!"
"No! It's between ME and HIM!!"
As the arguing boiled over, Gravimon stirred where he lay, hand trembling as it tapped on a lone holoscreen.
"Emergency export," he rasped. "Code delta...!"
Kamapua'amon must have heard him, but by the time the giant turned around, Gravimon fell through a hole in reality, one that resealed itself a second later.
"Gahh--KUKAE!!" he swore. "Bastard got away!"
-
Al at first was somewhat embarrassed and mildly amused by the initial reaction from the Digimon- he had been so emotionally drained by this point that he couldn’t help it. But when Malie started to chastise him, demanding that he explain himself.. well that was when he began to get a little alarmed. “Hey, hey guys? Maybe this could wait until we got home? When we DONT have guys trying to shoot us—“
He then looked at him in shock when Kama accused Alemana of stabbing him the back “What?!”
He was so stupefied by what he heard that he almost missed that Gravimon escaped. That part he was okay with.. but he would then without thinking would shout
“I didn’t do anything like that to you! I was trying to help you feel better brah!”
-
"Feel better my okole!" scoffed the giant, turning towards the distant tamer. "What kinda brah steals the love of your life after you tell him you already called dibs!"
Malie darted her attention between the two. "You WHAT?!!" she said, jaw tightening by the second. Such was her aura that even the enraged boar flinched in her presence.
"M-Malie," he said. "Please, listen to me! I wanted to tell you--"
-
Al felt his cheeks redden to a cinnamon color “I didn’t know you felt that way! I thought.. I thought-“ he didn’t know what to think. That wasn’t true.. he just didn’t realize that was how he felt. It made sense.. Renamon and Eyesmon felt romantic attraction .. why couldn’t Kukuimon? Was it because he was such a benign form as a rookie that the thought never even crossed Al’s mind? A deep shame fell over him at that moment. Shame.. and anger at the realization that all this death today.. the hours of worry and fear over what happened to him.. was because Kukuimon couldn’t just tell Malie how he felt?
“I didn’t know that was you meant.. I really didn’t!” He then would find his voice growing stronger. “But even so.. do you have any idea what Malie went through? Never mind us— You’re her partner! You two are connected to each other.. she thinks the world of you! We practically gave away our existence to save you and bring you home safe.. and you tell us you ran away because you were jealous of me? You have nothing to be goddamn jealous of.. I’m a fucking dumbass! I love Malie as much as I love Ike or Renamon.. Eyes and Vivi..! but nobody can take your place Kama.. nobody!”
-
The boar-headed giant looked away, grumbling something under his breath as he folded his arms.
"Can we just go home already?" asked Vivi. "We got what we came for, let's get going while we're in the clear!"
Kama glanced at Malie, the girl still staring at him. Neither said a word, the boar bobbing his head as he stood up straight. Grabbing either side of his leather belt, Kama adjusted his loincloth before offering a hand out to his tamer. That she allowed him to sweep her off her feet did little to lift the frown on her face.
"How do we get out of here?" asked Karamon.
Eyesmon sighed. "Leave it to me. I'll show you the way."
With everyone partnered, the group took flight, following the dark dragon out and away from the heart of the ruined node.
CHAPTER COMPLETED
Black Ops Rescue! +3 EXP +2 DP
Death on the Wind! +1 EXP +1 DP +2 Inspiration
Command & Conquer! +2 EXP +1 Inspiration
Machines of War! +1 EXP +1 DP
Event Horizon! +1 EXP +1 DP
Hog Wild! +2 EXP +1 DP +3 Inspiration
Total: 10 EXP, +6 DP, + 6 Inspiration!