Old Ones Return (II)

"I've got one."

*Euryale digs it out. Soon afterwards, a group of 20 Digimon, half Toy Agumon, half Geckomon, emerge. Most of them are carrying an egg. Euryale's face droops. Few could be mistaken as uninjured, & more than one is missing a limb. They have apparently already guessed that they shouldn't take weapons, as the ToyAgumon have all abandoned their bows & arrows.*

"Is...is this all...?"

TA<Yep! You've saved all our lives, Friends!>

*Lunamon and Biyomon grin*

Lunamon:<Glad to be of service!>

Azuma: "Oh, God... Let it rip."

*Euryale looks for a button to press, or something. Then she just drops it on the ground. They all fall through a tunnel like that of the Digital Gate, & out of the ceiling of the Digital Gate chamber. The tunnel closes shortly afterwards. Kurata sneezes, & adjusts his glasses.*

Kurata<This is most unorthodox...why did you not check your D-Powers for further orders?>

Azuma: "We were in over our heads. And now we have a number of wounded that need tending to."

*Kylie stands up, still holding Lunamon*

Kylie:<Lunamon needs help.>

Lunamon:<The village digimon need it more.>

Kurata<Yes, well, the most advanced technology to heal Digimon remains the simple D-Power. So there's not much I can do beyond ordering some interns to heal them. You can keep doing what you're doing.>

*A bunch of Digimon crowd around Kurata to thank him, but back off when he sneezes on them several times.*

Azuma: "Which way to the infirmary?"

Kylie:<Thank you. Everyone injured should come with us.>

*Kurata directs them to the infirmary, then pushes a button to an intercom, & orders every available intern to pick up a D-Power & head there.*

Azuma leads Hitomi to the infirmary.

Taiyo stands by Euryale.

Taiyo: "Should we take you there too?"

*Kylie and Cameron start healing Lunamon with their D-Powers*

"I guess...."

*She & Agumon follow. The gaggle of Digimon follow her. Those who have used their D-Powers can see that the last message sent was "Don't bring them here."*

*Cameron glares at Kurata when he reads the message, but quickly looks away*

Taiyo follows Euryale out.

On the way to the infirmary or at the infirmary, Patamon flies beside Salamon who's walking for once.

Patamon: "How's the mouth?"

She stares at him, mouth wide open like she might try to swallow him whole.

"You know, I didn't ask Kurata about limb regrowth."

*The infirmary is packed with nurses trying to navigate through interns, using D-Powers to heal Digimon on beds & tables. The nurses look quite pissed off any time they pass someone using a counter as a chair. In the corner of the room, the Digi-Eggs have all been stuffed in a bunch of wadded up blankets. The ToyAgumon that seems to be acting as a spokesperson looks at Euryale.*

TA<We can do it, with enough data. But it takes a lot. None of us will probably ever manage it.>

*When she gets to Euryale's leg, the nurse examines it.*

Nurse<Not too severe an injury. Still, you must be tough to ignore it like you are. But you've got a lot of dirt in it, so we'll need to disinfect it & get you on antibiotics.>

*She pulls over a cart with a needle, stitching materials, cotton balls, & peroxide on it. Euryale grimaces.*

And the mystery of Salamon's tounge goes unsolved.

Azuma: "Oh, dear. This might take awhile."

Hitomi: "It's fine."

She speaks through clenched teeth.

Lunamon:<(We could leave her like this.)>

*Kylie glares at her, prompting Lunamon to quick add:"

<(Joking, of course)>.

*Euryale winces & gasps as the nurse disinfects her leg. Then said nurse takes the needle & jabs her in the knee.*

<Her leg will be numb for a while, so someone will need to help her home.>

"And how am I going to explain this to my parents?"

<Good point. We'll cover the stitches with prosthetic skin.>

Taiyo: "I'll help you home."

Kylie:<We all can.>

"Thanks, guys."

*She arrives home with an arm around each of them. They're in luck, & no one is home to ask questions, a letter left behind by her mother saying that she went out to eat. Between the mission running late & helping Euryale home, everyone is sure to get home 2 hours later than anticipated.*

Hitomi, her wrist presumably in a splint arrives home, accompanied by Azuma and Patamon.

Hitomi: "...Thank you."

Salamon: "Yeah...thanks."

Azuma: "No worries. Have a good night."

Hitomi: "You too."

Azuma leaves down the hall while Hitomi is about to enter her apartment when Taiyo's mom steps out of her own apartment.

Loren: "Hitomi, ha- oh my, what happened?"

Hitomi: "I...fell. It'll be fine."

Loren looks at her like she doesn't quite believer her, but doesn't pursue it any further.

Loren: "Have you seen Taiyo?"

Hitomi: "Yes, she was with a few others. She should be on her way."

Loren: "I'd certainly hope so. Evan went out looking for her an hour ago."

Hitomi: "I'm sure she'll be fine."

Loren: "I'm sure she will be too, but...well, I just worry that's all. Have a good night, Hitomi."

Hitomi: "You too, Mrs. Shikasu."

===================================

Taiyo: "You're welcome."

*Cameron and Kylie enter, carrying their partners, to find Mr. Sorenson glaring at them*

Mr. Sorenson:<Where have you been?>

Kylie:<A friend's. She invited us to stay and eat, and I texted you.>

Mr. Sorenson:<I never got this text.>

Kylie:<Your phone must have eaten it.>

*The next day, they find Thiera & DemiDevimon in the lab with Kurata. Thiera looks sullen, & upon seeing Azuma & Salamon, becomes angry, & turns away. DemiDevimon just opens wide & wriggles its tongue. Through repeated healings, Salamon has regenerated a little stump in the back of her throat, but it's still not enough to speak yet.*