| Chapter Twelve: Primary Jeopardy |
| Kerri opened her eyes and sat up sharply. She must have been knocked out or sedated by Dracomon, as she now found herself in a dark jail cell. Looking around, she found Sam, who was asleep. She shook him awake. �Sam, wake up!� Kerri shouted. �Wake up, Sam!� �Huh?� Sam said. He looked at Kerri. �Kez, what�s up? Where are we?� �We were captured by Dracomon!� Kerri exclaimed. Hearing this, Sam stood and approached the bars. �Damn!� He turned back to Kerri. �Who else is here?� �I dunno�� Kerri looked around her; they were the only ones in the cell. �Wait, where are our Digimon?� Sam asked. Kerri looked shocked. �Eaglemon!� She screamed, running to the bars. �Dracomon, what have you done with Eaglemon?� There was no reply. �He can�t hear us.� Sam said. �We�re in the dungeon. Why would he come here?� �Wait!� Kerri said. �He must have captured Khalid too! And Slipmon!� �That�s right!� Sam agreed. �But, wouldn�t he be here with us?� �Dammit!� Kerri exclaimed. �Where are they?� |
| �You surprised me, Slipmon.� A voice spoke. �I never thought I�d encounter this problem. Who would have thought a virus attribute would side with the Digidestined?� �You can�t decide who I side with, Dracomon!� Another voice, obviously Slipmon, replied. �Vaccine, data, virus, does it really matter?� �I used to think it did�� The first voice, Dracomon�s, informed. �But now I know it does not. You are not the rule, however; you are the exception. Though I cannot control virus attributes, they still work for me loyally. Do you know why?� �No, I don�t know!� Slipmon shouted. �Then I�ll tell you. Because virus attributes are naturally evil!� Dracomon claimed. �I can feel it in my soul. I can feel the desperate need to destroy welling up within me! Don�t tell me you don�t feel it too!� �No! No, I don�t!� �You lie, Slipmon! Your bloodlust is as great as mine, perhaps greater, but your need to protect Khalid overshadows it, doesn�t it? You feel too overwhelmed by your duty to indulge in your most natural desire of all! The one indulgence that makes a virus attribute a virus attribute!� �No!� �Destruction�� �No!� ��Torture�� �No!� �Death!� �No, no, no!� Slipmon exclaimed, finally. �You�re wrong, Dracomon! I�m a Digidestined Digimon! We�re different! We have a job to do!� �Is that the truth�, Dracomon challenged, �or are you just trying to fool yourself? Because you are certainly not fooling me!� Khalid stirred and opened his eyes a little. �Ah, it seems that our little friend is awake!� Dracomon declared as Khalid opened his eyes. He sat up sharply, or at least tried to, as his arms and legs were shackled to a chair. He looked around; he was in a very small room, at the other side of which, in a small cage, stood Slipmon, and Dracomon was stood between Slipmon and Khalid. The room was very dark, and Khalid was still groggy from his sleep, so he couldn�t make out very well any other details. �Yes, Khalid, the one person you are struggling to protect, Slipmon.� Dracomon sneered, approaching Khalid. Dracomon quickly grabbed Khalid�s hair in his claws and pulled his head back, inciting a shriek of terror from the young man. Khalid stopped screaming and only breathed heavily, however, as he felt the tip of some sort of blade travel across his neck. It was obviously Dracomon�s claw. �Suppose I kill him right now.� Dracomon calmly spoke, looking up at Slipmon. �Oh shit�� Khalid whispered, fearing for his life. �Khalid, no!� Slipmon called, holding on to the bars of his cage. Dracomon laughed. �What are you going to do, Digivolve? My powers may not be effective against viruses, but I am more than a match for your champion form, Hereticmon!� With these words, Dracomon withdrew his claw and pushed Khalid�s head forward again. �Besides�, Dracomon continued, �you don�t really care if he dies, do you?� �Of course I do!� Slipmon ejaculated. �I was born to protect him!� �Liar!� Dracomon declared. �You want him to die! In fact, you want that as much as I do! You want nothing more than to make your father proud of you!� �What does my father have to do with this?� Slipmon asked. �Hmm? Don�t you know that your father was once in my army?� Dracomon said. �In fact, he was one of my best officers, until he deflected!� �That�s a lie!� Slipmon interjected. �Believe what you will!� Dracomon shouted. �If you are too stubborn to accept the truth, so be it.� Slipmon sat down in his cage and folded his arms, staring at Dracomon with a confused and angry expression. �You know, he was very disappointed when he discovered you were going to help these brats.� Dracomon said. �In fact, that�s one of the reasons he left.� �What is?� Slipmon asked. �Oh, but you don�t believe that I�m telling the truth, so why bother telling you�� �Tell me!� Slipmon shouted, jumping to his feet and grabbing the bars of his cage. Dracomon looked at him and smiled. �He knew that you wouldn�t be ready.� Dracomon explained. �He left my forces because he didn�t want to have to fight you�at least, not like this.� �Like what?� �Weak. Pathetic. A mere shadow of the great, powerful Digimon that he is.� Dracomon said. �Oh no, he wanted to wait until you could become more powerful� So I knew you�d need this.� With these words, Dracomon held up Khalid�s tag, and inside it laid a dark blue crest. The pattern on the crest showed a circle with a dot in the middle, above three arrows pointing down, each to another dot. �That�s�� �Khalid�s crest. The Crest of Loyalty.� Dracomon spoke. �You know, I hate you Digidestined, but I must admire your crests. They are truly beautiful.� �Hey, you have my crest!� Khalid shouted. �Give that back!� �It�s the only one out of the eight that I have found.� Dracomon said, ignoring Khalid�s interjection. �And Slipmon�s father himself gave it to me.� �Slipmon�s father?� Khalid repeated. �Yes.� Dracomon continued, approaching Khalid. �Unfortunately, he was the only one of my forces that was bright enough to find any of the crests. But he gave it to me on one condition.� �What�s that?� Khalid asked. �That I give it to you.� Dracomon said, slipping the tag around Khalid�s neck. �What?� Khalid and Slipmon exclaimed in unison, as he had just done the one thing that neither of them expected him to do. �Don�t get me wrong, you two.� Dracomon said. �I may be an evil Digimon, but I keep my word. Especially to my best officers.� �You see!� Slipmon exclaimed. �You just did something good! So virus types can do good things!� �That�s because, despite getting his crest, there�s nothing Khalid can do to stop me.� Dracomon taunted. �And there�s nothing that you or the rest of the Digidestined can do either. I will win this battle. I�ve already killed two of you pathetic brats.� �What the fuck!� Khalid screamed, sitting up as best he could. �Who?� �That American girl and that Chinese boy.� Dracomon informed. �I must say, the fear on their faces as I knocked them over that ravine was quite delightful. I also have that girl with the bird Digimon and that boy with the trident wielding Digimon here. It�s only a matter of time before I kill them too. And you.� �Kerri and Sam� Oh shit�� �Kerri and Sam?� Dracomon repeated. �Really, you humans have such odd names. But then, what�s a name, once you�re dead?� With these words, Dracomon walked out of the door, laughing, as some Bakemon entered the room. �Okay, it�s over, come on, let�s go.� One of the Bakemon said, and the locks on Khalid�s shackles and Slipmon�s cage were released. The two were swiftly handcuffed and escorted out of the room. |
| Darren, Tim and their Digimon continued walking until they reached a green plain. The two boys looked around in wonder at the scenery around them. Surrounded by trees, they had stumbled across what appeared to be some sort of nursery, with colourful building blocks and other decorations making up the centrepiece of the area, and scattered randomly around the landscape were dozens of multi-coloured eggs. Tim and Darren approached the eggs. �Wow, what are these eggs doing here?� Darren asked. �They�re digi-eggs!� Moosemon informed. �They�re what Digimon are born from!� �Hey, does that mean you two were once digi-eggs?� Tim asked. �Of course!� Shocamon replied. �But I can�t remember back that far�� �Hey Shocamon, do you think this is Primary Village?� Moosemon asked. �Yeah, it must be!� Shocamon replied. �Where else would you find this many digi-eggs?� �But, where�s Elecmon?� Moosemon queried. �I don�t know.� Shocamon said, looking around. �I don�t see him anywhere.� �What�s Primary Village?� Tim asked, intrigued. �Primary Village is where all the baby Digimon are sent before they hatch from their eggs.� Shocamon explained. �Once they hatch, Elecmon looks after them until they can protect themselves.� �Who�s Elecmon?� Darren asked, picking up one of the eggs. �He�s the guardian of Primary Village.� Moosemon said. �It�s his job to look after the digi-eggs here, and he looks after newborn baby Digimon too.� �Hey, what are you doing?� A voice called. Darren immediately dropped the egg and turned to the source of the voice. The quartet saw a little mammal Digimon approaching them. He was very small, about the height of a small dog, with red fur that had blue stripes running through it. �Don�t touch those eggs!� �Hey, it�s Elecmon!� Moosemon said. �Hey, Elecmon!� Darren called. Elecmon jumped up into Darren and head butted him in the chest, knocking the young man over. �Don�t touch my Digi-eggs!� Elecmon warned, looking down into Darren�s face. �What are you all doing here, anyway?� �We got lost�� Darren explained. �Yeah, we were separated from the others.� Tim added. �Others?� Elecmon repeated. �Oh, I see. You must be the Digidestined!� �Yeah!� Darren exclaimed. �Oh, well in that case, sorry to have attacked you.� Elecmon apologised, jumping off of Darren. �My name is Elecmon, and this is Primary Village.� �Yeah, we know.� Tim replied. �Shocamon and Moosemon�� Elecmon observed, looking over the two Digimon. �So you two boys must be Tim and Darren!� �Hey, how did you know that?� Darren asked. �Because Gennai gave me specific instructions telling me what species of Digimon to give to each of you.� Elecmon explained. �But Elecmon, I don�t remember ever being in Primary Village�� Shocamon said. �Yeah, same here.� Moosemon agreed. �That�s because I gave you to him when you were still in your digi-eggs.� Elecmon informed. �You didn�t hatch here.� �Then, where did we hatch?� Shocamon asked. �In Gennai�s lab.� Elecmon answered. �You see, normally when a digi-egg is born, it is automatically teleported here. I hatch the egg and look after it. Then when the Digimon is old enough, I set it free. The same goes for a Digimon that�s died. You see, a Digimon never truly dies. It�s deleted, and its data is reconfigured, and then sent here. That data becomes a new digi-egg, and the new Digimon hatches in a day or two. �But you two are different.� Elecmon continued. �So are the other six Digidestined Digimon. You hatched in Gennai�s lab, and Gennai took care of you. Then he released you when your humans came.� �What was that you were saying about Digimon that die?� Darren asked. �They�re reborn here?� �Does that mean Davimon�s gonna come back?� Tim quizzed. �Well, yes and no.� Elecmon answered. �You see, with evil Digimon like Davimon, we just alter his digital information to make sure that when he�s reborn, he�s a good Digimon.� |
| �Slipmon, are you alright?� Eaglemon asked. �Yeah, I�m fine.� Slipmon said, as Tridemon and Eaglemon approached him. �What happened?� Tridemon asked. �Nothing�� Slipmon said. �The Bakemon just locked me in this cage and locked Khalid in a chair, then Dracomon asked us a few questions, then we left.� Eaglemon checked Slipmon for any bruises or cuts, as Tridemon looked down thoughtfully. �Did the Bakemon hurt you?� Eaglemon questioned. �No.� �Slipmon�� Tridemon began. �Yeah Tridemon?� �Did you say the Bakemon had the keys to that chair?� Tridemon asked. �Yeah.� Slipmon confirmed. �And the keys to the chair and the cage, are they different colours?� Tridemon asked. �Yeah, why?� �I have a plan.� �Okay, next one!� A familiar voice called. The jail cell opened and the Bakemon seized Eaglemon, carrying him off. Eaglemon remained totally calm about the ordeal. Slipmon turned to Tridemon. �So, what�s your plan?� |
| Kerri struggled against the Bakemon, to no avail. They were surprisingly strong for ghosts. Upon reaching the interrogation room, The Bakemon strapped Kerri to her chair. Then some more Bakemon carried Eaglemon in. �Eaglemon!� Kerri shouted, sitting up. �Relax, Kerri.� Dracomon said. �Eaglemon is fine. We wouldn�t hurt such an important guest� for a while.� Eaglemon looked at Kerri as the Bakemon escorted him in and winked. Kerri looked surprised. She figured that either he or one of the other Digimon had formulated an escape plan. She swallowed, and looked up at Dracomon. �Now, my dear, let�s get on with the interrogation, shall we?� Dracomon said. �Interrogation?� Kerri repeated. �What are you trying to find out?� �Crests, Kerri.� Dracomon said, leaning over her chair. �Where are they?� �I don�t know!� Kerri exclaimed, cowering back in fear. �Do you?� �The only one I�ve found is Khalid�s Crest of Loyalty.� Dracomon told her. �I can see that you have not yet acquired yours, neither has Sam. But who else has found theirs?� �I don�t know!� Kerri announced. �That�s a lie�which reminds me�� Dracomon said, approaching Eaglemon�s cage and grabbing the bird Digimon by the neck. Eaglemon began to gag as Dracomon pulled him to the bars. �It�s been a long time since I had roast Eaglemon!� �No! Stop!� Kerri begged. �Who has their crests, Kerri?� Dracomon screamed, slightly tightening his grip on the girl�s Digimon partner. There was a pause, the sound of Eaglemon being choked the only sound in the room. ��Adrian got his.� Kerri reluctantly admitted. Dracomon smiled and released Eaglemon, who panted for air. �Thank you Kerri, but that does not matter.� Dracomon said. �You see, Adrian is dead.� �What? No!� Kerri shouted, fruitlessly struggling against her shackles. �And that American girl, what�s her name?� �Audrey!� �That�s it.� Dracomon stated. �Forgive me, but I can�t be expected to remember the names of all those that oppose me. It has been a long list so far.� �Huh?� Kerri grunted. �Who else has opposed you?� �Well, that Elecmon has opposed my rule for quite some time now.� Dracomon said. �I�m sending one of my forces to wipe out Primary Village today. It will be glorious.� �Not Primary Village!� Eaglemon shouted. �How can you attack Primary Village? There�s nothing there but innocent digi-eggs!� �And a waste of such good potential omelettes, too, just to wipe out Elecmon.� Dracomon calmly replied. �You�re going to slaughter dozens of defenceless digi-eggs just to get to Elecmon? What kind of monster are you?� Eaglemon exclaimed. �A busy one.� Dracomon answered him, opening the door for the Bakemon to come in. �So if you two don�t mind, you�ll be returning to your cells now.� |
| �Khalid, Sam!� Kerri shouted, re-entering the cell. She motioned for the boys to come close and then whispered in their ears. �I think one of our Digimon has an escape plan.� �Tridemon�� Sam trailed off. �You!� One of the Bakemon said, pointing at Sam. �Come on, quit yapping and come!� |
| �Guys, we have to hurry!� Eaglemon exclaimed, returning to the Digimon jail cell. �Dracomon says he�s going to wipe out Primary Village!� �What!� Tridemon screamed. �Shit man, that�s bad�� Slipmon trailed off. �We need to E-S-C-A-P-E now!� Eaglemon said, knowing the Bakemon guards were too dim-witted to spell. �Come on, hurry up!� A Bakemon said. �Leave it to me.� Tridemon said, walking out of the cell. |
| �When will these digi-eggs hatch, Elecmon?� Moosemon asked, approaching one of the eggs. �Well, they�re expected at all different times.� Elecmon explained. �Usually they take about three weeks to hatch, and about six weeks after that, the baby Digimon is strong enough to leave Primary Village.� �Elecmon, how do you protect these eggs?� Tim asked. �What do you mean?� The rookie Digimon replied. �Well, no offence, but you�re a pretty small Digimon.� Tim continued. �How can you protect Primary Village by yourself?� �Well, I don�t usually have to worry about it.� Elecmon replied. �I mean, not many Digimon would attack Primary Village. Even evil Digimon aren�t evil enough to attack defenceless digi-eggs! And besides, there�s not much here for evil Digimon to take interest in. So we�re pretty safe.� �Think again�� A female voice said. The group looked down at its source and found Gatomon standing at their feet. �Gatomon!� Tim exclaimed. �Where�s Andrea?� �She�s safe.� Gatomon said. �But we have a problem. Dracomon has sent one of his minions to attack Primary Village. Andrea sent me to help you fight it.� �What!� Elecmon exclaimed. �We can�t fight here, you might harm the digi-eggs!� �Elecmon!� A voice called. The group looked up as the trees parted and a humanoid Digimon made of fire stepped out. It looked at the group menacingly. �Dracomon has sent me to kill you!� �It�s Meramon!� Moosemon said. �He�s normally a nice Digimon that lives in volcanoes and other hot places. Looks like this one�s under Dracomon�s control!� �Hurry up and Digivolve guys, I�ll distract it!� Gatomon suggested, running at the enemy. �Shocamon Digivolve to�Fusemon!� �Moosemon Digivolve to�Wumon!� �Lightning Claw!� Gatomon cried, scratching at Meramon. The fire Digimon swept Gatomon out of the way. Fusemon turned to Wumon. �Which one of us should go first?� Fusemon asked. �Does it matter?� Wumon replied, leaning forward. �Antler Shot!� The deer shot his antlers at Meramon, but the tall Digimon held up his hands to protect himself. �Super Thunder Strike!� Elecmon cried, shooting electricity from his body at Meramon. The champion Digimon was stunned for a second, but soon regained his senses. Fusemon turned to Elecmon. �Hey, Elecmon, I have an idea!� Fusemon said. �Fireball!� Meramon said, throwing a ball of fire at Wumon. �Lightning Claw!� Gatomon said, knocking the fireball out of the way with her claws. �Thanks Gatomon! Antler Shot!� Wumon declared, firing his antlers again. This time, they hit, and Meramon was knocked over. �Now, Elecmon!� Fusemon said. �Super Thunder Strike!� Elecmon shouted, firing electricity at Fusemon�s cannons. The extra electricity charged Fusemon�s cannons even more than usual. Fusemon smiled and aimed. �Shockcannon!� Fusemon declared, firing a huge ball of electricity that pushed him back a little with recoil. The electricity hit Meramon just as he was returning to his feet, and the foe instantly turned to dust. Wumon and Fusemon glowed white and returned to their rookie forms. Everyone present turned to Gatomon, who ran off towards the forest. There, Andrea was standing and smiling, watching Gatomon. The cat Digimon leaped into her arms and De-Digivolved to Salamon. �Andrea!� Tim called. Andrea looked up, as if just noticing that the boys were there, and her smile faded. With Salamon still in her arms, she turned and walked into the forest. �Andrea, wait up!� Darren shouted, and the two boys pursued her. �Hey, wait!� Elecmon said, but they ignored him. Tim and Darren ran after Andrea, eventually coming to a clearing. �Andrea!� Darren shouted. �Andrea!� Tim also called. He turned to Darren. �Forget it. She�s obviously not gonna come back.� �Why not?� Darren queried. �I don�t know.� Tim replied, a troubled expression creeping over his face. �Let�s just get back to Primary Village.� The two boys left, not knowing that Andrea was crouched behind a rock in the area. She looked down at Salamon, who simply stared back, and then she looked down at her crest. She bit her lip and shook her head. |