Doctor's Orders [Cas/Mikemon]

Of all my rotten luck...

For the third time, Dr. Mikemon found himself in this neck in the woods - and unfortunately, it was for the exact same reason as before. Just a few months back, some very 'economical' folk thought it would be alright to try and grow a particular breed of mushroom out here. On the surface, it seemed fine: the soil was nice and loamy, the mushrooms sold for a tidy profit, and they were even in high demand in the medical field. What wasn't to like?

Well. this wasn't to like. All the feline wanted to do was get a few samples and head back out to the lab for testing. But now, he was running, a visible nick in his left ear as he sprinted through the woods. In fact, the doctor wouldn't even notice Cassandra on his way by: breaking through the foliage on the way by, Dr. Cross would note the appearance of the rather strange-looking, two legged cat. In addition to his normal gloves, the cat wore a white band around his upper arm with the symbol of a green cross - the universal uniform of a 'field medic' in the Digital World. Across his shoulder was a strap, a brown bag tightly wrapped around his back. Shooting one glance over his shoulder, the feline swore audibly, and pounced off the other edge of the path.

Just why was he - oh.

Yeah, that would do it: the armored beetle buzzed through, each of the drills on its hands spinning ferociously - so much, that the 'joints' near its nose and hands were already burnt red, a similar tired color around its eyes. It stood in the path for a brief moment, giving a fierce hiss, as it drove its claw straight through the next brush, tearing through it - as well as a medium size tree - before continuing to pursue its target!

Alright... alright, keep your cool, Doc. The Mikemon, sprinting on all fours at this point, tried to keep a level field to think. His ear twitched as those drills screeched from behind - sheesh, just how persistent was this thing going to be? It had been a good four or five minutes up to this point! He was starting to feel the burn in his muscles from this extended chase, but if he could just find something out here to work with, he could...

... He... could...

Looking once more over his shoulder, to make sure that he wasn't seeing things, the cat called back: "The heck? When did you even get dragged up in... gah, doesn't matter!" Clearly frustrated and out of patience, the cat turned away from the human and the gold-bladed Digimon scooped up in her arms. Suddenly, that medic symbol around his arm held a lot more weight, as that Digmon started once more to charge from behind!

"Quick version, that thing is rabid and is going to try and drill through anything that moves. Bug already got the jump on me and almost took my ear clean off!" That damaged ear gave a flick, just as that Digimon picked itself into the air, the grinding drill picking up in tempo.

"Split left!" The cat's words were on point, as the feline gave a wide pivot, splitting off to the right. The Digmon had picked up speed, and, airborne, twisted its body along with the turn of the drill, attempting to drive through the lot of them...

... But it seemed like he couldn't turn that well while he was doing it! Should they manage to give it enough distance, the Digmon's drill would stick itself into a thicker tree!

Thank goodness that tree was sturdier than the other ones the Digmon simply snapped in twain!

With both Mikemon and Cassandra safely out of the way, the crazed Digimon carried forward, smashing into the tree's trunk with a hefty slam! Something more aware of itself might have been dazed by the impact, but this beetle-like Digimon didn't even lose a beat. The back of its drill claws pressed against the bark, trying to pull his stuck drill free of the bark. They only had a few seconds to -

Oh, Cassandra had something handy! It was a starting card - one that the doctor would easily recognize - but one that proved effective nonetheless. The suddenly gnarled state of the woods dragged its vines around the Digmon's ankles, tangling it up further against the tree. The beetle didn't exactly know what was going on, but feeling itself further restricted from going back, it did the only other thing it could:

Try and burrow straight through the tree. Once more, all five of its drills were on, full power!

"... Take what I can get!" The Mikemon had one ranged attack up its sleeve: staring down the insect from the back, he parted his fangs, a glowing orange bullet of energy propelling forth, heavily hitting the insect's back! It left a scorch, even singing one of the Digimon's wings, but it seemed to proceed undisturbed! "Can't even feel pain anymore, can it?"

The cat growled, already charging a second blast. Who knew how long this bind was going to hold?

Really?

I mean, Mikemon wasn't going to say 'no' to the help, but the feline looked slightly aghast when the two, mere, in-training Digimon stood at the tamer's attention, attempting to slow down the Digmon! Cassandra had a good sense of where to aim, but the exposed parts of Digmon's wings were just the tips. Unless it opened the beetle-like shell on its back, it was unlikely that those two would put even more than a scratch on him.

What they did do, however, was push Mikemon right into gear! Biting hard around that built-up energy, the feline changed gears, quickly sprinting forward himself to cut the distance. His right arm tensed, and with a small jump, he crashed a heavy claw down against the Digmon's back. Despite his smaller stature, it was enough to crack the back of that insect's metallic shell - one that reverberated even more with Cloak's sound-based blast. They seemed to have the upper hand!

... Well, they would, if the insect remained trapped! Its drills practically smoked at this point, but the insect had somehow managed to get its momentum back, and punched through the tree, a hole bored right through the trunk! The tree started to creak, just as the Digimon stared back from the other end!

"Trust me, miss, I'm looking to not get cut up just as much as you are." The cat swore under his breath, quickly thinking through his options. Thankfully, it didn't take long for Cassandra to get a read on the thing:

Digmon
Champion
Vaccine
Nature Spirit Family
Specializes in underground burrowing and combat. Generally docile herbivores, they will aggressively attack from burrows to defend their nests.

That last part of the description really didn't fit the bill here!

Damn it, just what was the Mikemon supposed to do now? With the addition of this wild brush, now free of the tree, the Digmon quickly became the most mobile Digimon in the fight! The feline grit his fangs - he was a Champion in his own right. He could fight the Digmon himself, and try and buy time for this tamer and her two young Digimon, but what if something else came out of the woodwork?

He didn't have time to think it all the way through, so he hedged his bets: "Get to cover, I'll try and handle this myself - ah!" Damn it, the tree of all things? Burrowed through by the Digmon, the Mikemon's eyes looked on in horror as it snapped, pivoting on the spot to try and divert it. He intended to simply try and slam it away with his shoulder, but could he even get there in time?

Thankfully, with that flash of light, he didn't need to: briefly blinded by the light, and halted halfway, the medic's eyes peeled open just a moment later, to see those two bladed rookies split that tree into two flaming halves! The fragments quickly started to dissipate into red data, and with the Kotemon stepping into line, the Mikemon simply fell into position, in front of the group.

He wasn't just about to let that noble act slip by: as the Digmon locked sights on them again, and started his dash forward, the Mikemon held his position. "It won't slow down just because you threaten it. That Digmon's pretty much a zombie as it is." The cat muttered, staring eye-to-eye with that crazed beast. Staring away from the other three, the cat's eyes gave a fierce yellow glow - causing the Digmon's eyes to instinctively snap shut! With a leap, the cat took to the air, a single kick given to the top of the armor beetle's head. With perhaps surprising strength, it was grounded, front drill spinning in the mud!

"Back of its head! Don't hold back!"

Even if Cassandra wanted to, the Digmon was likely beyond help as it was. Even with that medical symbol worn tight around the feline's arm, Mikemon didn't hesitate to show no mercy to the armored Digmon - one that would have normally been able to dig underground with ease, but instead floundered, frustratingly trying to dig itself free with its drills. They had to be quick and decisive - this larger Digimon definitely had the advantage in an extended fight.

Fortunately, it didn't take long for Cassandra to get the point! The feline stepped back, once more charing a 'blazing fire' between his fangs, just to disorient the Digmon should it manage to raise its head. Cloak and Dagger quickly proved it unnecessary, as Cloak found himself empowered by both his twin and his tamer. That one slash struck the back of the Digmon's head - and with the aid of both the flame and the 'Berserker' card, the pair would manage to swipe right through the metallic armor of the insect!

The Digmon blindly writhed in place for a second or two, before collapsing once more on its front side. A moment later, red dust began rising from its body, the fallen Digmon's data starting to strip away.

"... Oh thank Sovereign, its f---ing over..." Muttering, audibly enough for Cassandra to hear, the Mikemon bit down on that energy once more, the 'blazing fire' dissipating with a pop. The cat fell on his left knee, resting one paw on his right as he bent over, trying to catch his breath. Just how long had that insect been chasing him for?

"Sorry... about dragging... you into... that..." It looked like he needed a minute, but this probably worked out. After all, Cassandra probably had more than a few questions.

And some might be related to the Digmon!

Right, right - let these new Rookies have their moment. As Kotemon struck a pose, and as Zubamon broke out in jubilation, Mikemon couldn't help but give a smile of his own. It took a little help, but the two had done well - both to defend their tamer, and to take down the rabid Digimon in front of them. Well, so long as those 'pointy' Digimon weren't bouncing over in his direction, he'd just take the moment to catch his breath.

"Heh. Energetic ones, aren't they?" The Mikemon couldn't help but quip that one remark, as Cassandra laughed alongside her Digimon. His good ear gave a twitch, though, as that particular question hit his ear: would the Digmon be okay?

"Hm... you haven't been in our world for long, have you?" The question was more rhetorical in tone, but the Mikemon was more than willing to answer: "Its not that we can't die, but our data returns to the world when we do. Those that turn back into data are born anew in Primary Village - sometimes as an entirely different Digimon. But that beetle was already on death's door as it was."

How did he mean? "I'll explain that once we get out of the open. Now are you three alright?" Just as he said that, the cat gave a wince, his paw quickly moving up to cover that newly-split ear. "I've set up camp a little east of here. Don't worry, over there, another one of those bugs isn't going to jump us."

He seemed confident enough in his tone, at least!