Episode Six: Absolute Territory

E"But are they still--y'know--themselves?"
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R"Grab him."

*Dorugreymon rushes forward, biting DarkKnightmon by the neck & holding him against the wall. Roatha walks up, not the slightest bit intimidated by that asshole.*

R"You know, she has a point. We don't have to kill you. So I think you'd better make damn sure we get there in time."

Taiyo: "I...don't know."

MetalTyrannomon X-Antibody turns to them showing no signs of hostility before seperating into Flamedramon & Raidramon who then revert to Guilmom & Renamon, the Digimentals returning to their owners.

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DarkKnightmon: "And you believe I'll reveal what I know if threatened? I am prepared to lay down my life for the Mistress. Whether I am alive or dead does not sway where my loyalties lie. Can you say the same? Are you prepared to lay down your life for the Child of Knowledge or any of your comrades?

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Angewomon strikes Cerberumon X-Antibody with Heaven's Charm at close range, MagnaAngemon stabbing it with Excalibur and forcing it off when it recoils.

Angewomon fires another arrow into the monster while MagnaAngemon stands up.

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LadyDevimon: "Oh my, no. It's merely for restraint. Everything else is meant for inflicting pain."

LadyDevimon pulls Kylie up and forces her against the cross, strapping her in.

LadyDevimon: "But it's not just inflicting pain on your body I find joy in. It's also inflicting pain on your heart and soul I find joy in."

LadyDevimon steps up to the mirror.

LadyDevimon: "Mirror mirror on the wall, show me the unreliable one."

LadyDevimon steps aside while the image in the mirror shows Cameron's predicament of being circled by Dobermon X-Antibody while he's on the ground.

LadyDevimon: "Better hope he can keep them entertained."

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S Gazimon: "Keep them entertained then. Stop lying there, playing dead or you will be dead."

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Azuma: "If you don't look forward to dying, then the answer should be simple."

Hitomi: "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to love forever."

Azuma: "You know who said that? Gandhi. So..."

Eve: "Do you fear the reaper?"

R"You're not listening. Maybe something's distracting you. Dorugreymon, take care of that."

*Dorugreymon whips its tail forward, stabbing into one of DarkKnightmon's eyes. Meanwhile, Aroma checks to see if she can find the signal of any of the missing people's Digivices.*
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*Guilmon walks towards Euryale, who takes a half step back & holds out her arm in a blocking gesture.*

E"...You're not evil now, are you?"

*Guilmon tilts his head.*

<What?>

*Guilmon starts rubbing his head against her arm.*

<I do not look forward to death, but I don't exactly fear it.>
---
*Cameron slowly stands up*

<Nice puppies...>

*Lunamon starts trying to break out of her cage*
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<No....>

Taiyo: "What was it like? When the two of you became one."

Renamon: "It was...strange. Being unified in both body and mind, knowing and feeling what the other felt while knowing and feeling what I do as an individual."

Taiyo looks at Euryale, blushing slightly.

Taiyo: "I think we can relate...kinda."

Renamon tilts her head, confused.

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Cameron's signal is near Azuma & Hitomi's while Kylie's and Eve's are further out, Kylie's being closest.

DarkKnightmon does not falter and instead stabs its lance into DoruGreymon's side, but makes no effort to try to free itself.

DarkKnightmon: "Your attempts at torture will be for naught. She should be waking up soon and a Digimon like her partner won't have an easy time against the Reaper."

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While the two archangels force the Watchdog back, Zarek approaches the cell.

Bastemon: "Zarek?"

Zarek: "Biyomon, where's your partner?"

Ceberumon X-Antibody fires a jet of flames at the two which breaks through their defenses in short order.

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LadyDevimon: "Enjoy the show."

LadyDevimon leaves, Dobermon following. Kylie is alone watching Cameron dancing with dogs.

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The cage holds.

The Dobermon get ready to pounce, one in front the either behind.

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Azuma: "So you don't. Was that so hard? But remember, it's easy to talk big. Especially when no one's around to hear it, but can you back it up?"

Eve wakes up in the laboratory she saw in the World of Darkness, in the position the other her was. Gargomon is strapped down on the other side of the room across from her, waking up in response to the Crest on her face glowing.

MetalPhantomon stares at her glowing Digivice, scythe in hand.

MetalPhantomon: "Incredible..."

A"She's a ways away, but Kylie's nearby."

R"Good. She can help. Kill it."

*Dorugreymon stabs DarkKnightmon in the face with its horn.*
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*Euryale smiles at Taiyo & takes her hand.*

"I know exactly what you mean. But I do hope it wasn't quite the same."

*Cameron dives out of the way*
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*Tears drip down Kylie's face*
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<LadyDevimon took him and Kylie.>
---
*Eve glares at MetalPhantomon*

<And who the hell are you?>

Taiyo gives Euryale's hand a squeeze.

Taiyo: "I don't think it works that way for them. Ho...We should go find the others."

Taiyo begins walking towards the castle, hopefully leading Euryale along.

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DarkKnightmon twists the lance inside DoruGreymon.

DarkKnightmon: "You can escape anything, even the punishing hand of the Inquisitor...but you can't escape yourself."

It dissolves into data, the lance remaining inside DoruGreymon dissolving only when DarkKnightmon's body is entirely dissolved.

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Zarek: "Where were they taken?"

Bastemon: "The throne room, most likely."

MagnaAngemon heals himself and Angewomon up, the latter firing an arrow at the monster.

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The Dobermon X-Antibody stand up and pursue Cameron.

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MetalPhantomon: "The physician. It's easy to talk big, but can you back it up?"

It should be noted Gargomon is in the process of Digivolving.

*Rapidmon emerges from a sphere on green light, presumably breaking though his bonds*

<Try me.>
---
*And so Cameron runs the fuck away*
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<I've got to go to him.>

A"Couldn't we have...talked to him more?"

R"Why bother? He was evil. Besides, you heard what he said about loyalty. You alright, Dorugreymon?"

D<Yeah. I'll live.>

R"Good. Aroma, you & Sunflowmon go get Kylie. We're going after Eve."

A"B-by ourselves?"

*He sighs angrily, then turns to smile at her.*

R"You'll be fine. Just believe in yourself, & all that gay shi--yeah, I should go now."

*And so they go their separate ways.*
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*Euryale & Guilmon are indeed following.*

In the front hall, they see the signs of a fairly recent battle.

Taiyo: "Hello?"

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Aroma's adventure takes her down a hallway with paintings of LadyDevimon in various poses against various backdrops. Kylie's signal is beyond the first door she comes up to.

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Roatha's adventure takes him deep into the castle. He passes a door where the small Gazimon is looking inside shouting for someone to get out. He can hear two dogs barking from within the room.

Inside, the Dobermon X-Antibody pursue Cameron, barking.

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Cerberumon X-Antibody howls, a gateway beginning to rise from the floor.

Angewomon creates a halo above Cerberumon X-Antibody, a light radiating from it causing the Watchdog pain.

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MetalPhantomon lets out a horrifying howl as it swings its scythe at Rapidmon.

*Rapidmon moves aside then shoots MetalPhantomon*

<Rapid Fire!>
---
*Cameron runs towards Roatha*

Lunamon:<We need help!>

*Euryale checks her Digivice & reports that Aroma & Roatha are going separate ways.*
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*Dorugreymon bowls over the Gazimon &, in a blur, skewers a Dobermon X-Antibody & hurls it into the roof.*
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*Aroma keeps going, casting the occasional nervous glance at LadyDevimon's figure.*

Taiyo: "Should we follow either of them?"

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Beyond the door is a large bedroom. Aside from her and presumably Lilamon it's empty, Kylie's signal coming from the Digivice that sits on a pet bed with her D-Terminal beside the bed.

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S Gazimon: "Watch where you're going!"

Dobermon X-Antibody writhes around on the floor, whimpering. The other one fires a beam at DoruGreymon, causing a lot of pain in his chest. Like having a heart attack kind of pain.

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The gate begins to sink back into the ground as Cerberumon X-Antibody slowly dissolves, its body breaking up and being pulled into the halo.

MagnaAngemon rushes forward, running it through with Excalibur.

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MetalPhantomon barrels through the attack. The room being so closed in, much of the equipment is damaged or destroyed as the room shakes about. For Eve this is unpleasant as she's still connected to some of it when it shorts out.

MetalPhantomon slashes Rapidmon.

A"Oh no."

*Aroma takes them.*

A"Where do we go from here?"
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E"Aroma's just stopped, so I don't think she found what she wanted to find."
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*From a crouch, Dorugreymon fires a sphere of about its size at its attacker.*

*Rapidmon dodges again, then uses Homing Blast*

Taiyo: "We should go help her."

And so Taiyo goes off in that direction.

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LadyDevimon: "Oh my, you really shouldn't barge into someone's quarters without permission."

LadyDevimon stabs Lilamon in the back and leans over her shoulder, eyeing up Aroma in the same predatory manner a caterpillar eyes a leaf.

LadyDevimon: "Trespassers will be killed on sight."

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The dying Dobermon X-Antibody fires a beam at DoruGreymon before dissolving into data while the other evades the meteor and blasts the Final Enemy with a laser.

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The keyring falls off of Cerberumon X-Antibody as its body dissolves into data. The Gazimon picks up the keys and unlocks the cell.

Zarek barges in and goes to Bastemon.

Zarek: "You look horrible. What was done to you?"

Bastemon: "DarkKnightmon put a spell on me so I could never sleep. And Biyomon looks like he was in quite a fight."

Zarek: "MagnaAngemon, tend to these two."

MagnaAngemon complies, using Holy Disinfectant on Bastemon and Heaven's Heal on Biyomon.

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MetalPhantomon backs up, almost like it's shielding Eve from the brunt of the attack, the shockwaves still take their toll on her as one of the few functioning machines indicate.

MetalPhantomon: "You're the perfect tool of destruction since Kimeramon & Machinedramon. Such wanton acts of destruction with such disregard for those around you."

The wires inside Eve vibrate as jolts of electricity are sent into her. It's most unpleasant, but they're the only thing keeping her conscious.

*Euryale starts to say something, but Taiyo's already jerking her around, so she just follows.*
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*Aroma eeks, putting her hands to her mouth.*

A"Please don't hurt her!"

*Meanwhile, Lilamon folds the petals on her hands around Lilac Daggers, & stabs them into either of LadyDevimon's sides, making sure to dig in up to her poisonous petals.*

L<I'm not some weak little bud anymore, I'm an Ultimate just like you, & you're going to pay for threatening Aroma!>
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*Dorugreymon fires another meteor, to protect itself & attack.*

*Cameron turns to Roatha*

<We need to get to Kylie. She's being totrured by LadyDevimon.>
---
*Eve screams, as the homing missiles somehow miss their intended target. Somehow*

Rapidmon:<Eve!>

*Rapidmon tries to approach*
---
Biyomon:<Thank you. Now we've got to help the others.>

*He runs out of the cage and heads over to Cameron's digivice and d-terminal*

<Lady Bastemon, what are you going to do?>

Taiyo looks at Euryale, wondering what she was going to say.

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LadyDevimon hisses and twists her bladed appendage.

LadyDevimon: "That means nothing if you lack experience. You should've been strong from the beginning. Or did you enjoy the scoldings of the Child of Courage?"

LadyDevimon rips the blade out of Lilamon and kicks her away, leaving a grody abdominal wound. Dobermon steps forward and growls, Lilamon's daggers regress to normal as Dobermon seals off her abilities.

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Dobermon X-Antibody dodges and takes off running towards Lunamon's cage.

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Bastemon: "I don't know..."

Bastemon yawns, ready to fall asleep right there.

Azuma: "Euryale & Taiyo are heading to Aroma & Kylie's position while Roatha is just standing in one spot. That's where we're going then."

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While Rapidmon is distracted, MetalPhantomon in all its burnt and smoking glory takes a swing at him.

*Euryale, not being a mind reader, says nothing, & just keeps walking.*
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*Lilamon holds her wound & stands, pointing at LadyDevimon with her free...petal. Aroma takes a step back & crosses her arms as though she's cold.*

A"I-I know I'm not as tough as Euryale...but...I think I can be brave in other ways."

L<Well, you're poisoned, so we're even! And if you think you're getting out of this, you're as stupid as you are tacky. DarkKnightmon is already dead, your minions are falling, & we outnumber you!>

A"B-before he was k...killed, I asked him if he would stop the senseless fighting. Won't you reconsider this?"
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*Dorugreymon darts ahead, using his wings to gain a burst of speed. He body checks Dobermon X in the side & slices at the cage door with his horn.*

*Lunamon moves to the back of the cage*
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Biyomon:<Gotcha.>
---
*Rapidmon shoots him in the face at close range*

LadyDevimon: "Unlike you, I don't regress based on injuries."

LadyDevimon holds up a hand and counts down from five. At zero Lilamon reverts back to Lalamon, feeling sore all over.

LadyDevimon: "The previous Chosen Children were twice as numerous and twice as strong as you. I survived my encounter with them and I'll survive my encounter with you. This is where violence and cruelty has gotten me and it will take me further."

Dobermon steps out into the hall, growling at Euryale & Taiyo as they approach.

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Dobermon skids and bounces across the floor. Standing up, it shakes its head and fires a laser at the gaping wound in DoruGreymon's side.

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And so they begin to head back the way they came, Zarek and Bastemon straggling behind.

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Eve recieves another jolt to keep her awake, the few functioning machines making many irritating noises as they're likely saying her life is in danger which she may have figured out going by the fullbody pain she's experiencing.

Through the smoke, MetalPhantomon's scythe scrapes against Rapidmon's armor, leaving a deep gash.

*Rapidmon punches Phantomon in the face before heading over to Eve*

Rapidmon:<What did you do to her?!>
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*Biyomon steadily walks along*
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*Lunamon tries to Tear Shot the Dobermon*

OOC: So many bollocks. That's like 18 bollocks. I counted.

*Dorugreymon spins, smacking the laser with his tail & slashing the cage with it in a fluid movement. He then opens his mouth & fires the biggest cannonball that he can reasonably manage at Dobermon.*
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*Growlmon Digivolves &, well, growls at it, breathing a stream of fire over it.*