The Digimon Army Makes Its Move

"Why have you come?" Merukimon asked the golden lion.

"Don't you know?" Saberleomon inquired, crushing some ice as he approached. "I've come to discipline you."

"Have you now?" Merukimon challenged.

"Right now, the Digital World is facing the most dangerous time in its entire history." Saberleomon told him. "If you continue to let these humans walk all over you, then it'll lead to our ultimate destruction. Merukimon, I am here to tell you I will never let that happen."

"And how do you plan to overthrow me all by yourself?" Merukimon challenged.

"I represent many, many Digimon who happen to agree with me." Saberleomon remarked. "We don't want to remove you by force, we want you to wipe out the humans, or else."

"What?" Merukimon dared.

"Merukimon." Saberleomon added. "Don't make this hard on yourself. Join me."

"I will deal with the humans my way and I will deal with you and your traitorous friends." Merukimon informed the golden lion.

"In other words, you refuse to join me." Saberleomon concluded.

"If you have a problem with my methods, do something about it." Merukimon told the golden lion.

"You're a fool!" Saberleomon hollered. "Your methods are unacceptable and won't protect the Digital World!"

"Farewell. I shall not be back again. You're too stubborn to listen to reason." He turned to go. "But still, please. I ask that you do not get in my way. Otherwise, I'd be forced to put aside our friendship and battle you for control of the Digimon Army."

Merukimon growled.

In the Human World…

Keenan and Falcomon were escaping from Hashima's men.

"Where did he run off to?" One of the guards asked.

"Split up and look." Another instructed. "We have to find him."

"It's okay, Keenan." Falcomon told his partner as the owl poked his head out from a tree. "Come on out. The coast is clear."

Jumping off the tree, the duo fled.

"Here they are!" One of the guards informed his companions, as he chased after the two.

"We got them!" Another remarked as they closed in, forcing Keenan to speed up.

The third guard appeared in front of the boy, blocking his path.

"You have nowhere else to run." He told the child.

"Hu-mon." Keenan hissed.

"Keenan, hop in!" Marcus instructed as Yoshi drove the patrol car into the forest. "We're here to rescue you!"

"Quick, get in!" Lalamon squealed as Agumon pulled the child into the car.

"Punch it, Yoshi!" Marcus told the older girl after Keenan and Falcomon stumbled into the vehicle.

"Okay." Yoshi replied and stepped on the accelerator. "Hang on everyone!"

"Men, the Data Squad has turned against us!" one of the three guards cursed as the group drove off.

Back in the Digital World…

"SaberLeomon!" Gotsumon called out to the golden lion. "Sir! Please, wait up!"

"What do you want, Gotsumon?" Saberleomon asked the rock Digimon who had fallen off Yanmamon.

"I appreciate your stance on the Human World." Gotsumon replied. "Please sir, listen. I feel the same way that you do. I too think Merukimon hasn't done enough to destroy the humans. He needs to crush them, show no mercy!"

"Will you get to your point?" Saberleomon ordered.

"I want to fight alongside you." Gotsumon offered.

"What?" Saberleomon frowned.

"I've been to the Human World many times, sir." Gotsumon informed him. "I know their layout more than any Digimon in the Digital World. If you were to use my expertise, sir, our victory will be guaranteed."

"Interesting." Saberleomon noted.

"All you have to do is give me some troops." Gotsumon replied. "And I'll hit those humans at their weak point. They'll never see it coming! I'll be your most reliable tool. Just give me a chance, I'll prove my loyalty to you."

"Intriguing." Saberleomon noted.

Gotsumon chuckled, knowing he had the lion's consent.

Back in DATS headquarters…

"So, you ignored everything Director Hashima has told you and you brought him here." Sampson noted as Keenan moped on a seat.

"Ignore is such a strong word." Yoshi objected. "Can't we say misunderstanding instead?"

"Keenan is innocent." Marcus insisted. "He was protecting his folks."

Agumon nodded in agreement.

"There's bound to be an inquiry." Thomas pointed out. "I can't imagine the Director would let this action go unpunished."

"But I'm telling you if you were there, you would have done exactly the same." Marcus retorted.

"You tell him Boss." Agumon concurred.

"Well, it doesn't matter if we were right or wrong." Yoshi voiced out.

"The fact still remains, we were the ones who went against protocol." Lalamon pointed out.

"It's only a matter of time before the Director and his men come for him." Kudamon noted.

"Keenan!" Falcomon hissed as his partner got off the seat.

"Either way, it's not a good idea to keep Keenan here." Kudamon added. "He needs to be moved."

Sampson nodded, "Find him a safe place and take him there until I give you further instructions."

"Let's take him to my house so that I can keep an eye on him." Marcus offered. "Right Agumon?"

"Right Boss." Agumon agreed.

"All in favor say aye." Marcus remarked.

"Aye Boss!" Agumon chirped. "It's unanimous!"

"Alright kid, you can stay in my room." Marcus told the now empty seat.

"Where did-" Charlie started.

"Huh? Keenan?" He blinked. "He's gone!"

An 'Oof' was heard outside the command room as something fell to the ground.

"Keenan!" Marcus ran out of the commander center.

"Falcomon!" Agumon called out as the rest of the team ran out.

"Lock down the building immediately." Cyclops ordered.

"Secure every level." Thomas added.

"I'll see if I can pick up his thoughts." Yoshi continued, telepathically scanning for the young boy.

"He has to be somewhere close by." Sampson concluded. "Find him."

"Roger." The teens chorused.

Back with Keenan and Falcomon…

The two had exited from DATS headquarters and were wandering about in the city.

"Keenan." Falcomon looked at his partner. "This doesn't feel safe."

"Keenan!" he gasped as the boy walked off. "Where are you going?"

"Quiet!" Keenan retorted. "Falcomon, go back."

"Go back to where, Keenan?" Falcomon asked.

"Digital World." Keenan replied. "You can still go back."

"But I don't want to go back without you." Falcomon protested.

"Falcomon no argue." Keenan insisted. "You go. Me no belong there."

"Keenan…. Falcomon muttered.

"No follow me." Keenan instructed.

"Keenan!" Falcomon called out, flying after his partner. "Keenan!"

"Keenan, how could you just leave me here alone?" he whined, after turning into a corner and finding his partner missing. "Not like this. Keenan!"

"Keenan!" Marcus called out as he ran into the park. "Where are you?"

"You try to save a guy and he runs away from ya." He muttered.

"Stop running Boss, I'm getting motion sickness." Agumon complained in the Digivice.

"How can we not spot a guy wearing feathers and a cape?" Yoshi asked as she drove.

"Someone's bound to see him sooner or later." Lalamon noted.

"Doesn't he know we're trying to help him?" Yoshi inquired.

"Yoshi." Sampson called over the communicator. "Update your search progress."

"Nothing new to report sir. We can't find him anywhere." Yoshi replied.

"I've come up empty too, sir. No sign of Keenan anywhere." Thomas added.

"He should be traveling with Falcomon." Yoshi noted. "Any detection of his Digimon signature?"

"Still looking. I haven't locked on to anything yet." Miki replied. "I'm afraid we lost them."

Meanwhile, Falcomon was still searching the skies for his missing partner who was hiding under a train bridge. Keenan sighed and sat under the bridge as Falcomon flew past the bridge overhead, searching for him.

"My legs are killing me." Marcus complained as night fell. "I'm going to let that little squirt have it if I ever catch him."

As he took a drink from the water cooler, Marcus stepped back when Agumon cut in.

"Agumon, what are you doing out of the Digivice?" Marcus demanded.

"Stop it! That stuff is cold!" He shouted as Agumon started spraying him with the water.

"Hey, maybe Keenan got lost while he was hiding." Agumon suggested.

"This is Marcus." Marcus answered his communicator. "A Digimon signal?"

"What happened? They found Keenan and Falcomon?" Agumon asked.

"No." Marcus replied. "A different signal altogether. What? Look up?"

Back in headquarters…

"I'm registering an alarming number of Digimon signals!" Megumi exclaimed.

"Me too." Miki added. "There are signatures all over the city. And their numbers are increasing rapidly."

"Not good." Cyclops noted grimly. "I'm going to assist the others."

In the park…

"Look Agumon!" Marcus gasped.

"There's so many of them!" Agumon gaped at the horde of Digimon heading their way.

In the city, the normal humans panicked as the Pteramon flew overhead.

In headquarters…

"We've confirmed. Some of the Digimon are Pteramon." Miki reported. "Armored-leveled Digimon. Their specialty weapon is 'Sharp Wing' and they can attack as easily from the sky or the ground."

"Then what are those things?" Yoshi asked as she skidded the patrol car to a stop.

"Boarmon, another Armor-level Digimon that is unstoppable after it begins its charge. Its special attack mode is 'Nose Blaster' where its tusks blow out high heat gas." She noted.

"Sir." Gaomon remarked as the two watched the Pteramon flew across the night sky. "I've never seen anything like this before."

Keenan ran out of the subway station upon seeing the horde of Pteramon flying into the city.

Back in headquarters…

"The Digimon signatures are still increasing!" Megumi panicked.

"Seven hundred and counting." Miki reported. "Eight hundred, nine hundred, twelve hundred, thirty-six hundred. My system can't keep track of so many at once."

"All available agents respond immediately!" Cyclops shouted. Ash, Charlie, Greg and Yusei ran out to join Marcus, Thomas and Yoshi.

"Roger." The remaining three replied.

"Thomas." Marcus looked at the blond, running towards him.

"Marcus." Thomas noted as Yoshi pulled in. "Yoshi."

"This time, it really is the worst." Yoshi complained.

"I'm not just going to sit back and watch them attack us." Marcus cursed.

"But there are so many of them." Yoshi pointed out. "Too many."

"It doesn't matter how many there are." Marcus told her. "Just hurl them together and blast away!"

"How very Marcus of you." Thomas chuckled.

"Doesn't matter if it's one or a thousand." Marcus retorted. "Or a million. I'll show you how 'King of Ultimate Fighting' does things!"

"Finally, it's payback time for what the humans did." Gotsumon grinned as he came into the battle with Yanmamon. "I'll make them wish they never came into the Digital World in the first place. Show them no mercy! Attack! Destroy everything!"

At his order, the Pteramon released their missiles at the buildings. As the panicky citizens tried to escape, their paths were blocked by the Boarmon. A little girl fell to the ground as she tried to run, screaming in fear as a Boarmon proceeded to crush her under its feet.

"Heaven's Knuckle!" Angewomon's attack knocked the mammal Digimon off his feet as Yoshi came in to take the girl to safety.

"Take her away. Run for cover." Yoshi instructed the mother who then took off.

"Angewomon, look out!" She shouted. The angel turned around.

"Nose Blaster!" The Boarmon fired his attack. A telekinetic barrier formed around Angewomon.

"Uhh." Yoshi strained to stop the attack to protect her partner which eventually enveloped the Ultimate level Digimon.

"No, Angewomon!" Yoshi exclaimed in horror.

Boarmon was then sent flying by a red energy blast.

"Where did that come from?" Angewomon asked her partner in surprise. Yoshi scanned for the source and spotted Scott and Veemon running up.

"You two alright?" He asked the pair.

"We are thanks to you." Yoshi said with a smile.

"D.N.A Full Charge!" Scott exclaimed.

"Veemon warp digivolve to MagnaAngemon!"

With a war cry, Marcus landed a punch on the Boarmon.

"D.N.A Full Charge!" He called forth Agumon's Ultimate form.

"Agumon warp digivolve to MetalGreymon!"

Grabbing one of the Boarmon by its neck, MetalGreymon tossed the mammal to the ground. In the sky, the Pteramon fired their missiles, the shock wave knocking Marcus off his feet.

In headquarters…

"They're overwhelming us." Kudamon realized. "We can't hold them back much longer."

Just then, Director Hashima entered command center.

"Director." Sampson blinked. "You're here."

Back in the battle…

MetalGreymon, AeroVeedramon, MachGaogamon and Garudamon took to the skies firing their attacks at the incoming Pteramon.

"MetalGreymon!" Marcus gasped as the Pteramon's missiles hit the dinosaur. "Don't back down!"

"Heaven's Knuckle!" Angewomon fired her attack at the Boarmon charging at them.

"Angewomon, no!" Yoshi gasped, as Angewomon was knocked back by the third Boarmon, ducking as the angel Digimon slammed into the wall.

"There's too many." She noted.

Machgaogamon entered the scene, kicking the two Boarmon off.

"They don't stop." Thomas added. "No matter how many we get rid of, they just keep coming at us in bigger numbers. We need more help."

"Get a grip, would ya?" Marcus retorted. "The battle just begun."

The three teens gasped when a couple of Pteramon fired their missiles that them.

"Yoshi!" Angewomon gaped.

"Thomas!" Machgaogamon called out as the missiles hit the group.

"Pawnchessmon." Yoshi gasped when the smoke died down, the two Digimon forming a shield to guard them.

"Hi!" Megumi and Miki greeted the teens.

"We want in on the action." Megumi told them.

"So we come to your rescue." Miki beamed, the two flashing their Digivices.

"D.N.A Charge!" the two women called forth Pawnchessmon's Champion forms.

"Pawnchessmon digivolve to Knightchessmon." Miki announced as the two Digimon evolved.

"Now, let's attack at full strength." Marcus remarked after the three snapped out of their reverie and the other two teens nodded.

"Attention humans." Gotsumon called. "We will now stop our attack for exactly one of your human hours."

"Gotsumon." Ash growled in anger.

"What did he mean?" Marcus demanded.

"I think he's calling for a cease-fire." Thomas replied.

"This will give you time to think of the offer we're about to make you." Gotsumon added. "If you accept our conditions, we will return to the Digital World. There are two simulations: First, you must destroy any and all equipment that connects the Human World and the Digital World. Second, you have to hand over the human that started this whole problem. You must surrender Keenan Crier."

"Shut up!" Charlie demanded.

"Forget it." Thomas retorted.

"We'll give you our answer, right now." Marcus added. "No way!"

"Those conditions are completely unacceptable." Yoshi agreed.

"No, tell him we accept." Hashima intervened.

"Director Hashima?" Yoshi blinked as Ami and her surrogate family growled at the mere mention of the Director's name.

"You will immediately resume your search for Keenan Crier and you will capture him as soon as possible." Hashima told them. "You will then turn the prisoner over to the Digimon known as Gotsumon."

"What?" Marcus demanded. "How can you just give in to them like that?"

"Would you rather I risk the fate of many to protect just this one boy?" Hashima challenged. "Now let me think of a minute. No, I don't really think so."

"Why you…" Marcus hissed.

"Stand down, Marcus." Sampson ordered. "This is a government decision and we can't overrule it; whether or not we agree with it." as Hashima chuckled.

"Look, coming towards us." Thomas turned.

"Keenan!" Marcus gasped at the child as the four teens ran towards him.

"Gotsumon, you stop attack!" Keenan shouted. "Here I am! Come get me!"

"Well, what a brave young man." Gotsumon mocked as he closed in. "Tell me, what made you surrender?"

"Never mind. Just hurry and take me back to Digital World." Keenan retorted.

"Fine then." Gotsumon remarked. "Away we go!"

"Keenan, you don't have to surrender if you don't want to go. You can stay here with us!" Marcus told the child.

"Stay back!" Keenan warned. "Me bring much trouble. Me no belong to either world."

"You belong here." Marcus told him. "You don't have a place, you make one. Don't go back to the Digital World with them. Stay here with people who are like you. You're human, like us."

"No…" Keenan hissed. "No one needs Keenan. Leave alone!"

"You heard him." Gotsumon retorted. "He's my prisoner!"

Just as the rock Digimon closed in, Falcomon intervened.

"What? Falco-?" Gotsumon exclaimed as the owl knocked him off Yanmamon. Gotsumon was then forced to flee.

"Falcomon, why you come back?" Keenan asked.

"Why did you even ask that question?" Falcomon replied. "You're my best friend, Keenan. Now I don't have a world I can go back home to either., just like you Keenan."

"Falcomon…" Keenan muttered.

"Don't push me away." Falcomon requested. "You need me. And well, I really need you too. In fact, we don't need anyone else, except each other. As long as I'm with you, I don't care if you're a human or a Digimon. To me, you'll always just be my best friend, Keenan."

"Falcomon." Keenan blinked away his tears.

"Don't surrender." Falcomon advised. "Let's stay here and fight together."

Keenan smiled and nodded, summoning his D.N.A charge.

"Falcomon digivolve to Peckmon!" Falcomon declared as he evolved.

"Looks like you made your final decision." Gotsumon noted. "Fine then! Resume the attack! Turn everything you see into dust!"

At his order, the Boarmon charged.

"Celestial Arrow!" Angewomon fired her attack.

"Kunai Wing!" Peckmon unleashed his attack.

"Nose Blaster!" A Boarmon fired his attack at Yoshi, who flew away with Angewomon.

"Ophanimon!" Ami called out.

"Marineangemon!" Duke told his Digimon.

"Metalgarurumon!" Dare looked at his Digimon.

Duncan nodded at Goldramon.

"Seraphimon!" Angel turned to her Digimon.

"MaloMyotismon!" Demon growled.

"End this." the six hissed.

The six Mega level Digimon nodded at their partners and fired their attacks, decimating half of Gotsumon's army.

"Well, well." Kurata noted as he watch the battle. "It looks like the Digimon Data Squad is locked in a bitter battle. All of this destruction is such a pity. I really should end it. After all, I started it."

Pressing the remote control in his hand, Kurata opened a Digital Gate in the sky.

"What?" Gotsumon demanded, noting the large gate above him. "A Digital Gate?"

Then he screamed as he was sucked into the portal along with Yanmamon.

"Where did that come from?" Marcus inquired.

"Find something to hang on to!" Thomas advised. "Hurry up!"

The Pteramon squealed as they were taken back to their world.

Peckmon held onto Keenan to prevent either one from being taken away.

The Boarmon cried out as they were sucked back into the Digital World.

Back in headquarters, Hashima and Sampson watched in shock as the Digital Gate slowly shut.

Duncan scowled, knowing who was behind the opening of the Digital Gate.

"That jerk again?" Ami asked knowingly as the other five adults nodded.