Mind in a Program (Spirit Hunt)

Is she okay?

After what felt like an eternity, Isaac's thoughts popped back into the fusion's head. Elliot tried to ignore them, but ignoring someone is a lot harder when they're buried deep into your head. Eventually, he relented, if only because the thought was echoing in his head far too much for comfort. VictoryImpmon seemed to sigh inside the bubble, as if relenting to the idea. No. She's been quiet since you were gone. And when you got eaten, she was furious, Elliot admitted. I have no idea how I'm supposed to face her. I think she's still mad at me . . .

Well, we just have to fix it, don't we? Isaac asked. If we can just-

"No!"

The outburst was so sudden, VictoryImpmon actually shouted it. No more trying to fix this. No more trying to push yourself. You can barely hold yourself together! And you're trying to jump back into the fight, again? I already had to lose you once. I don't want to have to do it again . . .

And do you have have a better idea? Because last I checked? We're trapped in a bubble surrounded b the D-Reaper, and the second it goes away we're toast. Do you think he's gonna take pity on us if we just sit there and beg for mercy?

I've been inside that thing's brain. I know what it wants. The second we're out of this shield, we're gonna be next on the list for analysis. And its already gotten everything it wants out of me. You know what that means? I'm nothing but spare parts. But I'd rather take that over knowing what it would try to do, to analyze you . . .

The others might be able to beat it back before anything will happen to us. Maybe it'll be okay. Please, you need to trust them. You need to trust me!

Elliot. I do. I always have, and I always will. Do you think I would have let you come with me if I didn't? If I didn't, I'd break this fusion and make you promise to log on out without me.

And why don't you log out? Then we can both escape, right?

If I could keep conscious on my own, that wouldn't be a problem. But we're fused. One consciousness, two brains. Do you think the machine's gonna have any idea what to do with us? It's like when we were first stuck in this form, remember? Our Digivice just wouldn't let us turn back until we could split.

If we split, though, I think I'll pass out again. Kinda relying on your energy here, bro. But hey, at least one of us can make it, right?

I'm not leaving you. Elliot's thoughts came almost instantaneously.

Why? Don't you trust the others?

How the hell can you take this so lightly? Everyone's out there, fighting for their lives. No, they're fighting for your life! And you're just joking around about it? How can you do this?

A weary laugh echoed through the fusion's head. Because it's the only thing stopping me from going nuts, Isaac admitted, an utterly defeated tone in his voice. I don't think you know how it feels, either. Knowing that me being here just made everything worse. Or that I'm too weak to protect the people I love. And that now, thanks to me, they could be dying. At least if you made it this far, you've been accomplishing something. Me? I've just been running for my life. And now thanks to me, we're trapped here, dead no matter what we do.

I . . . Isaac, that's- come on . . .

It's true. And I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself for it. I just wish we had one chance, you know? One way to set things right?

And so, in a beautiful emotional moment, the brothers established how deeply they cared for each other even in the darkest of circumstances. Unfortunately, this did absolutely nothing to change the fact that they were currently trapped in a bubble and sharing just enough energy to remain conscious. Right now they were all talk, no action, and judging by the defeated sigh escaping VictoryImpmon as it sat down with a huff both brothers knew that.

Alright, so now what?

I dunno. We die by each others' sides?

Isaac!

Okay, okay, fine, that's the last one for today. Anyway, here's what I've got about the D-Reaper. It seems to be using a Digimon as a host. This big, armored, alien looking Mega named Ebemon. Its currently using Ebemon to help it process, and the guy's loving it. I tried appealing to his sense of of experimentation and curiosity to buy me more time, but after trying it a few times the D-Reaper got sick of my shit and tried to have my head. So we might be seeing that guy sometime soon.

And I know his plan is to absorb all of this. Not just Digimon, everything. What looks like a big sea of goo down there? Its actually more like a single layer. But beneath that is all of the land. Its spreading through like roots, feeding off of everything. It wants to absorb its capabilities. It wants to learn what everything's capable of. It wants to improve on it. Perfect it. And then, once its done, it'll take it apart for spare data. If this thing had its way, the whole planet'd be red and gooey, and who knows how the hell it'd react to learning about our world?

In other words, this thing's bad.

I'm glad at least you were able to learn something while you were gone. How does that help us, though?

It gives us even more reason to stop this damn thing.

I've already wanted to stop it! Its not the spirit, its the body. And if it isn't obvious right now, we're not exactly in a great one for fighting right now.

How much gas do you think you have left in the tank? I'm eager and raring to go, but way too in shock to keep conscious. You're pretty beat up on the inside, but at least stable. And I'm pretty sure neither of us have crippling injuries in the same spots. I'm sure between the two of us, we'd be able to piece together at least most of Dualdramon.

This thing's got a Mega under its thumb . . . pseudopod . . . whatever! And you think "most of" Dualdramon's gonna cut it?

We don't have a choice! One way or another, we're going to die here. And if I'm going to die here, I at least want die fighting. I want to die looking Maia in the eye, as someone she can be proud of. I don't want to die curled-up and terrified in some . . . hamster ball!

No. That was more determination than Isaac had ever heard coming from his brother before. It cut through the atmosphere of the room like a linoleum knife, leaving VictoryImpmon blinking in shock.

What? Elliot, come on, this isn't funny. I thought you already agreed we were going to-

You're not going to die here. Because I already had to watch you die once before. And I am not going to let that happen again. Even if I have to tear the D-Reaper, Ebemon, and everything it touches apart with my bare hands, I refuse to lose you. We are going to get through this, together. We are going to live!

There was a stirring in VictoryImpmon's core. The fusion felt warm all over, gingerly lifting its good hand to try and touch its chest.

Heh. That's my bro. And you're right. What the hell kind of boyfriend would I be if I just rolled over and died like this? I'm gonna fight my hardest and live for Maia. I still need to support her at the art show, after all. And see how she likes those Christmas presents I got her. And take her on a date to the nicest beach in either world. If this D-Reaper thinks I'm gonna break her heart by dying so soon, it's got another thing coming!

Yeah! And what about Kuu, too? Even when Scout got all distant, even when Maia got all pissed at me, Kuu always believed. He always told me to keep being the hero, and to keep fighting on. Even now, I just know he's cheering me on. I can't let him down! I'm gonna be the hero he knows I can be, and a hero's always gotta overcome the odds!

A small crack appeared in the Daimyo Defender, just as a small crack spread across VictoryImpmon's form.

And what about Alicia? Man, do you know how pissed she'd be if we got killed without warning her first? She'd find a way to storm into the afterlife and slap us upside the head for being such idiots. Sure, she'll pissed at us if we come back alive, but at least we'll get a nice hug out of it. And once she's done screaming, I know she'll be so proud of us.

What about Mom? I'd hate to see how she'd feel if we were gone, knowing the only two people she could call family were killed in some alternate dimension. I . . . I don't think I can hide all of this from her anymore, honestly. I'm scared of how she'll react, but I also think she needs to know before anything worse happens to us. And I won't die until I can tell her.

Light spilled from the crack in VictoryImpmon's chest. It seemed to float into the air as its vision grew fuzzy.

There's also Iko, and Luke. I still owe them another training session. And man, they'd think I was a total idiot if they found out about the situation I was in right now. I can't let them learn that in an obituary.

And I was supposed to log on for raid night tomorrow. Aurie knows I never miss a night, and she's gonna find it really weird if I do. She'd know something bad happened. And man, Charlotte . . . she'd be worried sick about me . . .

Behind VictoryImpmon, the gleaming white silhouette of Dualdramon formed. Its twisting, serpentine body wrapped around the fusion, both heads looking down at it and roaring. However, despite now being completely bathed in white light, the bros' form had yet to change.

Scout's risking his life out there for us. We don't even know the guy that well, and yet he and Black still pushed on to save us. We can't forget that.

Yoshi thinks we're like heroes. We're almost mentors to him. And as long as he thinks that about us, I'm not going to let him down!

Mana's counting on us. We were gonna let her crash at our place, remember? What kind of hosts would we be if we left her to an empty house?

And Asher. You told me that we were, like, the only two people he opens up to these days. How can we just abandon him like this?

Before the silhouette of Dualdramon, another silhouette appeared. It was the inky black ArmedCommandermon, landing in a perfect three point stance and glaring daggers up at the dragon. The two seemed in an uneasy standoff, ArmedCommandermon rising to its feet and cracking all four sets of knuckles.

Shi.

Susu.

Karin.

Kouhei.

Ikki.

All those people we helped.

The whole Digital World.

They're all kind of counting on us here, aren't they?

Not just that. I have work in the morning. People are finally starting to request me and everything. How can I just leave them hanging like that?

And I have a group project at school. What am I supposed to tell them? I died fighting the forces of evil? That's no excuse!

By now, ArmedCommandermon had pounced at Dualdramon. The two wrestled all around the bubble, their fight fading in and out of the bros' field of vision. At one moment ArmedCommandermon was pinned under a crushing talon from Dualdramon, the great beast roaring in its face. In another moment ArmedCommandermon had grappled one of Dualdramon's necks, splitting the Devidramon head open at the jaw like King Kong on Skull Island. In yet another moment the two were tied up in an even grapple, each shoving for dominance yet gaining no ground.

It was at that moment that the silhouettes started to come together. White and black swirled into each other, losing any sense of distinct form as the shield flooded with light and darkness.

There were many downsides to order. Dependency, to people and causes alike. The need for emotional sacrifice. The fear that arises when a routine is broken. And yet, order could also be a shining example to others in times of fear and confusion. It could ensure nobody had to slip through the cracks. It could ensure one would always uphold their word, no matter how devastating to cost. Today, Elliot had lived through order's most beastly and inspiring aspects in but single night. He had feared the former severely. There was nowhere he would rather be than away from Gargoylemon's cold, steel chains. Now, however, he stood prepared to don them once more, just to ensure justice could be done for those important to him.

As Elliot peered into the darkness, Gargoylemon thrust a claw forward and Strikedramon sprung forward in a leaping punch. As the two slid past each other, their forms blurred. Somewhere in the middle, Elliot could see an inspiring, paladin-like figure. Wearing the build of a knight and the ferocity of a wyvern, it spread its wings far. A roar echoed through the bubble like the horn of a cavalry charge. Elliot blinked, and floating before him was a small statue like that of any other spirit. Dynasmon, the A-Spirit of Order, had emerged. Strikedramon and Gargolyemon were no longer anywhere to be seen.

There were just as many downsides to chaos. Impulsiveness, no matter how poor an idea was. Inability to defer to others. A lack of foresight until it was far too late. At the same time, chaos could also make one a master of improvisation. It could ensure justice was dealt out no matter what anyone had to say about it. It could take the impossible and make it into the faintest chance of possibility. Today, Isaac had been chaos at its most monstrous and its most noble. He had always indulged in the beast within a bit too much, loving how nobody could tell him what to do when he was Devidramon. Now, however, he was prepared to take his stubborn refusal to kowtow and use it for the greater good, not his own pride.

As Isaac squinted into the light, Devidramon dove with its tail extended and Yasyamon hefted its bokken to parry. As the two collapsed into each other, their forms erupted in an inky splatter. Through the splatter, Isaac could see the red highlights of an intimidating looking samurai. It uncrossed the blades Yasaymon once held crossed, each as jagged as a lightningbolt. As it rose to its full height it pointed one blade at Isaac, nodding stoically. Isaac squinted further, and its form faded like that of a mirage. In its place was a small statue. Samudramon, the A-Spirit of Chaos, had risen. No longer were Yasyamon and Devidramon's presences needed.

Another crack spread across the bubble. Another spread across VictoryImpmon. The fusion looked at its hands, noticing data chipping off and slowly leaving it as a wire frame. Every instinct the brothers had told them to be scared, and yet instead they were at peace.

Something great was coming. And it wasn't Dualdramon.