DIGIMON TAMERS: AFTERMATH

BOOK 3

by Vashkoda

(Disclaimer: This work of fiction uses characters belonging to Toei and Saban without their permission. I am getting no profit from it. I only do it because I think Digimon is a great show, and I want to keep the story alive!)

*author's note: Unlike the first and second parts, I'll be separating this book into chapters. No doubt they'll vary in length, because I write and update sporadically. I'd rather just post the whole thing as one large 'chapter' when it's finished, but since my schedule is unpredictable, it could take several months before I post it. So please bear with the odd structure of these chapters. After all, it means more updates more often. =D Thanks for reading! Your feedback is appreciated.*

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Ruki rolled onto her back and gazed up at her home. Without a sun or moon to keep it company, it was the only object visible in the cloudless sky. Now and then the giant cybersphere would glow and shoot down beams of energy to a far off location. Each time, it meant that someone back on Earth was communicating with the Digital World, accessing or sending data.

I could never get used to this, she acknowledged silently. I could never make this my home.

It wasn't enough that day and night alternated regularly as they would back on Earth. She needed to see the sun, to feel its reassuring presence. Just as she needed to know that basic rules of physics and nature applied, trusting that as long as she understood how things worked, she was prepared to deal with whatever challenged her.

But this world made no sense. There were creatures here who by all means shouldn't have been able to exist, let alone speak or move naturally. Their ability to change into vastly different sizes and shapes was also hard to explain, not to mention powers that twisted reality or summoned mass quantities of energy out of thin air.

Being in such a land was exciting, sure enough. Not bound by the laws or limits of reason, anything was possible. Faith and hope were powerful forces that could literally change destiny.

But it was also frightening to be in a place where one had so little control over their fate. She was only a collection of data now, helpless to stop hostile digimon from loading her and ending her life. Not that she was afraid. No, of course not. But still…she would feel better having Renamon with her. An ally who understood the madness of this world and could fight it with her own fantastic powers.

More than an ally, she corrected herself. Over the years, she had come to rely more and more on Renamon's strength as she began tearing down the wall she had built around herself to keep others away. It left her more vulnerable, but she knew that Renamon would always be there to support and defend her.

Until now. Ruki shifted onto her side and curled into a ball. She wished she still had that wall to defend her. She maintained her tough exterior around the others, knowing they drew some modicum of comfort from her strength. But now she wondered if she still had the courage to back it up if she needed to.

Ruki frowned as her gaze fell on Juri, sleeping peacefully just across from her with Culumon tucked under one arm. Ruki used to think of Juri as a promising Tamer, full of potential. More so, Ruki admired her, for instead of being sheltered behind a wall, Juri left herself completely open—exposed to all the joys in life…but also to the pain.

That pain had finally grown too much for her, Ruki knew. Juri now hid herself behind a wall twice as thick as any Ruki had ever built. It was understandable, after losing Leomon and then being tormented by the D-Reaper. But to let the fear of pain control you to the point of making you deny your own partner? The thought of it made Ruki furious.

"Culu…" mumbled Culumon, finally rousing from sleep. He opened his large green eyes and stared at the bushes surrounding their campsite.

"Culu-culu-culuuuu!" he cried suddenly, startling Juri awake.

Kenta, who been slumbering nearby, cracked open an eye as Tsukaimon begun to translate in his own garbled tongue.

"Culumon says he sees someone in the bushes," relayed Kenta, sounding puzzled. They turned to look at where Culumon had been staring, but whatever it was had already disappeared.

"Hey guys, my dad wrote back!" called out Jenrya, drawing their attention as he pointed to Yamaki's communicator. They had sent out a message last night, asking the Wild Bunch how to get Juri home now that she had found Culumon.

"What's it say?" asked Takato, walking over to them. Jen frowned as he read the message, then passed the device over to Takato.

"Well?" drawled Ruki, wondering how long the rest of them had to wait to hear the news.

Takato grimaced. "I'm sorry, Juri, but we can't take you home just yet. It seems we need to find Guilmon, first."

"We need to use the Ark again," Jenrya explained, "but it was brought back as Grani. Only Dukemon can call Grani to him."

Juri nodded silently in reply. Ruki felt somewhat pleased by the news that Juri wasn't going to be allowed to just leave whenever it suited her. The girl had grown too used to running away whenever things became difficult. Maybe something would finally happen that would shake some sense back into her.

"Whoa, what was that?" asked Kenta. Ruki had heard it too—a fragmented staticy sound, like a broken up radio signal.

Culumon was struggling to escape Juri's grasp. They could now hear other sounds coming from the forest, of creatures crashing through the trees.

"Guys…RUN!" cried Takato, as the source of the disturbance finally materialized over the horizon. A large data stream was gathering speed and heading straight towards them.

No one needed to be told twice. But as Ruki followed the others, she realized that someone was missing. Looking back, she saw Leomon hobbling slowly towards them, still weak from the night before. Preoccupied with Culumon, Juri hadn't even noticed that her partner wasn't with them.

Ruki cursed under her breath. She had faced almost the same situation five years ago when Kenta and Kazu had run straight into the path of a data stream. She and her partner had taken the risk and jumped into the stream with them so that they wouldn't be stranded alone. There was no doubt in her mind that had she and Renamon not been with them, the two boys wouldn't have survived. The downside was that she was stuck babysitting them while the other Tamers went on their adventures.

Ruki considered her choices. Although Leomon was a powerful digimon in his own right, he was now injured and would be easy prey for anyone wanting his data. Ruki herself was only a human, at the moment partnerless, yet she figured his chances might be better if he had someone looking after him.

She made her decision. Ruki raced back towards the campsite and offered her shoulder as a crutch for Leomon to lean against. They slowly made their way forward, not daring to look back at the approaching stream. They were making progress, and Ruki began to consider the possibility that they were going to make it after all.

Then Takato looked back and spotted them. The look of horror on his face was the last thing Ruki saw before she was enveloped by the stream.

According to Ryo, they had emerged from the pit a few miles east of Baihumon's lair. They were now safely beyond the treacherous snow-covered mountains. Here the land was flat and barren, yet as they began traveling west, the cracks in the ground deepened into wide canyons. At the bottom, runoff from the melting snow merged to form a river.

Ai's mood seemed to lift a little as the beauty of their surroundings slowly became apparent. The river often split into small streams that ended in sparkling waterfalls. Here and there, the canyon walls glittered with crystals and gems. Even digi-gnomes could be heard warbling happily in the air around them.

But Kazu wouldn't be distracted. His mind was on the difficult task ahead of them.

"Do you really think those cards Shiuchon gave us will work?" he asked Ryo.

The other Tamer shrugged. "Shiuchon knows as much about card programs as anyone, except maybe Shibumi. I trust her. After all, you saw the digi-gnomes listening to her instructions. They couldn't have made the cards if they didn't think Shiuchon's idea would work."

Kazu wished he shared the other's optimism. They had been given two cards--one to momentarily freeze Baihumon so he couldn't attack them, and one to free Makato's mind so that he could assume control of the Sovereign. It was too easy. Something was bound to go wrong.

Suddenly Impmon's ears perked up and he hissed at them to take cover. But before he himself could get out of the way, he was knocked into the river by a large metal object speeding past them.

Impmon sputtered as he rose to the surface, coughing out water. "Hey! What's the big idea!?" he shouted.

The object slowed to a halt, and suddenly they all recognized it as Guardromon, who was looking terribly embarrassed.

"So sorry--big hurry." He seemed torn between helping Impmon out of the river and leaving them to continue on his way. He finally hovered over the water and fished out the smaller digimon.

Kazu looked down at his digivice hopefully, and cried out in excitement as it began to beep and point at Guardromon.

"Yes! I knew it! I knew you wouldn't have stayed at Rookie level! Wait 'til the others see this!"

Guardromon winced at the noise. "Shhh! Not so loud! The Chosen hear you!"

Impmon looked up at him in surprise. "Chosen? I've heard that name before. What is it, some new kind of Deva?"

The big metal digimon looked frantic. "It coming! Hide!" He fled to an alcove in the rock that was partially concealed from anyone approaching from the opposite side. The others exchanged looks and quickly decided to follow his example. There was barely enough room in the tight space for all of them, but Guardromon didn't risk the noise of a complaint.

They could hear the clanking sound of something big and metallic coming closer. Guardromon squeezed his eyes shut, but the others peered curiously around the edge of their hiding spot

It was a heavily armored four-legged creature with golden wings and a spiked tail and helmet. Apparently it hadn't see them, as it continued to stomp noisily down the canyon. Ryo pulled out his D-Arc.

"Maildramon--ultimate level," he said after the creature had disappeared around the bend. "Its attacks are iron press and tail lance."

Kazu frowned. "Ultimate? That's not right. I used to own that card. Maildramon should be champion level."

"Well apparently this one got an upgrade." Ryo winced and added, "It says here that she weighs 30 tons!"

Impmon turned to the still shaking Guardromon and snickered, "What did you do, tell her she's fat?"

"C'mon, Guardromon! I can digivolve you to Mega and together we can show that overgrown lizard who's boss!"

The digimon stared at Kazu like he was crazy. "No, digivolving wrong! That why Chosen after me!"

"You mean she was punishing you for digivolving? That's nuts!" spat Impmon. "I ought to go teach her a lesson. You with me, Ai?"

"No, we don't have time," argued Ryo. "If this 'Chosen' is out here looking for Guardromon, that means the Sovereign is left unprotected. C'mon!"

Ryo began racing down the canyon, leaving the others with little choice but to follow.

"You're coming with us, buddy," said Kazu, grabbing hold of Guardromon's arm and dragging him forward.

"What? Uh...oh, ok."

Ryo stopped in front of a large cave. The others caught up with him there and looked cautiously inside. Most of the cave was obscured by the gloom, but a set of marble stairs was clearly visible leading upwards.

"This must be it," said Ryo, walking towards the steps. The others followed gingerly, their courage dissipating as the light from the entrance faded behind them.

"Impmon?"

"Way ahead of ya, Ai. Bada Boom!"

Ryo let Impmon take the lead as the digimon lifted a ball of flame in each hand, lighting the passage ahead of them.

"Where we going?" asked Guardromon suddenly, the group's actions no doubt seeming highly suspicious.

"To see the Sovereign of course," answered Kazu simply.

Without a word, the digimon made an about-face and began going back down the steps.

"Hey, come back here, Guardromon!" Hirokazu caught up to his partner and hissed, "Stop making me look bad in front of the others!"

The digimon's eyes widened in fear. "Sovereign kill me! Load data! Die!"

"I won't let that happen," Kazu assured him. "I'm your Tamer. We look after each other. You'd remember all that if you just agree to digivolve-"

Guardromon shook his head again. Kazu sighed.

"Fine, no digivolving. But I can still help you. So just come along with us, okay? Please?"

Now it was the digimon's turn to sigh. Before he had a chance to answer, Kazu grabbed him by the arm and started dragging him forward again.

"I think we have a problem," said Ryo after he returned from scouting up ahead with Impmon.

"Mekanorimon, a whole bunch of 'em," nodded Impmon. "While I'd love to go head to head wit' em, I doubt I could do it quietly."

"There's no way to get around them. We'll need to lead them out with a distraction," advised Ryo.

"Hey, I got an idea!" Kazu exclaimed. "Those Sovereign probably visit each other all the time, right?"

Impmon shrugged. Ryo just stared at him.

"What if I made those guys think we were Xuanwumon?" He brought out the card Kenta had given him before they left. "We can hide in his Phantom Mist!"

Ryo scratched his head. "Well, I suppose it's worth a try, as long as you have Guardromon turn off the hallucinations so we don't go crazy in there."

"You already crazy," supplied Guardromon. Impmon smirked.

"All right pal, we're counting on you. Digimodifiy! Xuanwumon's Phantom Mist activate!"

A cloud of vapor surrounded them. Their hearts almost stopped as they began to experience horrifying visions, but Guardromon quickly turned off that particular aspect of the mists. They clung to Guardromon and the cover of the cloud as they approached the room with the Mekanorimon.

"Okay, here goes," said Kazu, clearing his throat. "TOP O' THE MORNING TO YE MY FRIENDS. I'VE COME TO PAY A VISIT TO MY FELLOW SOVEREIGN." He then changed to a more Scottish-sounding accent. "AYE, LADS. OUTTA DA WAY NOW, THAR WE GO."

They had almost cleared the room when one of the Mekanorimon grew suspicious. "You no talk like Sovereign!" he challenged, stepping in front of them.

"What does he mean? That was a pretty good likeness if I do say so myself," whispered Kazu, taking offense.

"Yeah, if we were pretending to be the old Xuanwumon. The new one probably talks like the rest of them do, with poor vocabulary and grammar," Ryo pointed out.

"Oh. UH-HMMM. I AM XUANWUMON STUPID MEKANORIMON. MOVE OR I KILL YOU."

The digimon looked at him suspiciously, still not entirely convinced. Kazu turned to his partner.

"All right, Guardromon, when I give the signal, I want you to take the cloud off us and spread it over the rest of them, and set it on full power this time--got it?" The digimon nodded. Kazu took a deep breath.

"OKAY THEN FOOLS, PREPARE TO DIE! PHANTOM MIST!"

The digimon cried out in fear as the mists fell upon them. No longer hidden by the cloud, the Tamers and their partners ran out of the room as quickly as possible.

"That was fun!" laughed Guardromon.

"See, what did I tell you?" grinned Hirokazu. "Easy as p-"

They stopped in their tracks. Baihumon was standing in the center of the room they had just entered, looking down at them in surprise.

Ryo wasted no time. He grabbed one of Shiuchon's cards and slashed it through his D-Arc.

"Digimodify target! Paralysis spell!"

The giant white tiger froze in place.

Ai tugged Ryo's arm. "Give me the other one." When the Tamer looked at her questioningly, she explained, "He's my brother."

Ryo passed her the second card. "Quickly, Ai. The spell won't hold him for very long."

The girl marched forward until she stood before Baihumon's giant armored claws, in sight of his four golden eyes.

Gathering up her courage, she cried out, "You...you selfish little BRAT! You're supposed to be sick at home! You made me come here instead, and I almost got killed! I'm not even counting the time you attacked us!"

"Uh...Ai?" said Ryo hesitantly. The girl ignored him.

"I admit I'm a horrible Tamer," she seethed. "But you know what? You're a hundred times worse! Do you know how much it hurt Impmon to see you pick another digimon over him? Oh, he wouldn't say anything of course, but when I biomerge with him I can read his thoughts and I know he's hurting!"

"Eh, Ai, it's okay, really," said Impmon nervously.

"No it's not!" she argued. "At first I thought you didn't have a choice, Mako, and that that goblin digimon loaded your data against you will. But then I figured it out when I saw how everybody's getting back together with their partners. You can't force a digimon to biomerge with a human; you both have to be willing to do it. And that digimon didn't just load your data, because if he had you'd be dead. He biomerged with you. And that means you wanted it to happen!"

The others were shocked, wondering if she could be right. Even Impmon had nothing to say.

"I've thought long and hard about this, Makato.... I don't care if you stay trapped inside that digimon forever. You don't deserve to be free."

She tore her card in half.

The Tamers and their digimon cried out in horror.

The paralysis spell suddenly wore off. Everyone expected that that would be the end of them, but Baihumon merely stared at the Tamers in curiosity.

"Human asleep, hear nothing," he told Ai, his tone sounding both amused and apologetic.

Ai fumed, angry that her speech had been for nothing. "Then make him hear me! Tell him yourself! I want him to realize what he's put me...put all of us through!"

Baihumon breathed a sigh of annoyance. "Too young, too small. No understand. Now leave, while still can."

"What did you think you'd accomplish, Ai?" asked Kazu, walking up to her slowly to rest a hand on her shoulder. "We already knew Mako was asleep in there."

"Yeah, haven't you been following along?" asked Impmon in a subdued voice.

"I...I thought he could at least hear us, even if he wasn't in control. I wanted him to understand the trouble he caused-" she looked up at the Sovereign and shouted, "I want you to tell him!"

"Lord Baihumon-" said one of the Mekanorimon as he entered the room, looking surprised at finding the Tamers there. Baihumon motioned for him to continue.

"Other Sovereign here."

Baihumon growled and looked down at the Tamers. "I told you leave. This your own fault."

Before anyone had a chance to do anything, he cried out, "IRON CLAW!"

--and pounced.