The sky rumbled as the rain poured down in buckets, collecting on the street corners and running down the kerbs and into drains. Most people were locked away in their own houses and safe places, staying far away from the worst of the weather. But not everybody. Some people were still out, even in this.

Sara Malhotra sat beneath a bus shelter, holding her hands around the handle of her bag as water dripped from her hood. She slowed her breathing, trying her best to warm up. There was a splashing from either side of her as a group of people ran up; Lonnie and Grace from one side, and Owen and Kevin from the other. They all stood, drained from the rain as they looked sadly at one another. Owen held his palm over his mouth.

“Any luck?”

He knew it was a fruitless question. But even so, the expressions on Lonnie and Grace’s faces hurt him more than he thought. He looked down at Sara, who shook her head. “I’ve looked around where I can. There’s no sign of her. I’m sorry.”

Owen’s shoulders slumped, and he leant back against the shelter, water running down his face. Kevin leant forwards, and held his hand, leaning his head on Owen’s shoulder.

“We’ll find her. I promise.”

Owen closed his eyes, not able to bring himself to answer.

“It’s my fault. It’s all my fault.”

Sara closed her fingers. “Blaming yourself isn’t going to help.”

“How am I supposed to deal with this, then?” Owen gritted his teeth. “I hurt her. I knew I was hurting her and I just didn’t stop...”

He trailed off, his voice barely audible over the rain on the shelter. Lonnie was about to pipe up with something, when there was another bout of splashing, and Mark ran in, soaked to the skin through his heavy jacket. He looked around, his gaze as steely as normal.

“I suppose we’ve had no success.”

A round of shaking heads greeted him, and he pulled his hands close to his chest. “Damn.”

Lonnie squeezed her nose, and sniffed. “Maybe we need to call it for now.”

“We don’t have time for that.”

“Mark, I don’t see-“

“We don’t have any time for this. You remember the message? Don’t you?”

Mark’s voice was raised, but when he held his head up the fatigue on his face was showing. He rolled his head towards Owen, locking eyes with the older boy. “How could you let this happen?”

“Mark, stop it-“

“No, Lonnie, I want an explanation. Why this keeps happening. Why we keep losing people when we need to be sticking together. I want a goddamn answer-“

“Hey.”

Kevin stepped forwards, balling his fists as he looked at Mark in the eye. “Whatever you’re saying, whatever you’re throwing round; he knows, alright? Just leave it.”

“Just leave it?”

Mark looked back and forth, before throwing his arms wide. “I’ve just left it for too long. I left it when Inez abandoned us. I notice Eloise and Kai are never here when we need them. And now we’ve lost one of our own partners. Right now, right at the wrong time; the world’s about the end in a Digimon war and nobody else seems to care!”

“MARK!”

Lonnie’s voice made everyone jump, as she stepped forwards, staring into the boy’s eyes.

“We know, alright. Don’t think we don’t. Don’t think you’re the only one who cares what’s going on. We’re doing everything we can under tough circumstances. Except you. All you’re doing is shouting and throwing blame and making everyone feel worse. That’s not helping. That’s just hurting us more.”

Mark stood tall, teeth bared, breathing audibly. But the girl didn’t back down. Her pigtails glistened from the rain as they hung down over her shoulders.

“If you’re willing to help us, then help. If not, then just go home already.”

Mark opened his mouth. Then closed it again. Looking around, he took in everybody’s accusing glares. He buttoned up his jacket, and walked away.

“Fine...”

“I did say you shouldn’t have gone...”

Mark glanced over his shoulder, drying off the old crockery and placing it in the rack as his father put away the leftovers in the fridge. Dinner had been a largely silent affair. It usually was nowadays. But he could feel his father’s animosity more frequently nowadays, even through the lack of words. Mark placed another plate down, where it gave a heavy click.

“Careful!”

“I am being careful.” Mark reached inside the sink, pulling out the plug. “I didn’t manage to help in any way whatsoever, but...I felt I had to try. They’re all finding it hard.”

“I’m sure they are. They always are.”

The conversation trailed off again, as the two cleared away in silence. Chromon sat in the corner of the kitchen, staying as out of the way as he could as his tail rolled gently back and forth. Eventually he couldn’t take the background noise anymore and spoke up.

“I c-couldn’t even imagine that. A Digimon running away from her human partner. I don’t know where that would leave them...”

Joshua shut a cupboard door with a bang, talking under his breath. “Better off is where it would leave them.”

“Dad!”

“What?”

Chromon lowered his head. “Oh c-crap...”

Father and son turned to face each other, as Mark placed the tea-towel down. “Back off, alright? Leave Chromon out of this; he’s been nothing but respectful towards you.”

“Yes, I know. He has. Trilomon was as well. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with any of this. Any of...them.”

“I was chosen, dad. I have a duty.”

Joshua slammed a palm down on the counter. “Why? Were you ever asked? Did anybody ever give you a choice?”

Mark ground his teeth. “I’m eighteen. I’m allowed to make my own choices.”

“You don’t know what any of those choices mean, Mark!”

“I know as much as Kent did. And...Taylor.”

Joshua bristled. He took a step back, holding a palm over his mouth as he looked between the dinosaur and his son.

“I don’t get it...why are you all running away from me...I’ve tried to do everything I can...”

“Dad, please...leave it-“

“I tried not to let what your mother did hurt you. I tried so, so hard. Is this what I get?”

Mark’s eye twitched. “What, so I belong to you now? Is that it?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Taylor and Kent did their own thing, so I’m not allowed to make my own choices?”

“Are they your own choices?”

Mark froze, as his father looked into his eyes with a tired expression.

“Please think about it, Mark, before you run off into more danger and I never see you again. Are you really doing this because you want to?”

He looked down, swallowing as he tried to get the right words out.

“Or is it just because your brother did the same?”

Mark’s eyes narrowed. He took in a deep breath. Then released it. He hung up the tea towel, and walked towards the hallway.

“Thanks for the meal.”

“Mark, wait, I’m sorry-“

“Come on Chromon.”

The dinosaur looked between the two with a worried expression, before scrabbling forwards, joining his partner. Joshua stood alone in the kitchen, listening as the bedroom door closed. He leant back, and buried his head in his hands.

“Fuck.”

Mark marched forwards to the centre of his room, glaring around on his shelves. “I need a goddamn ibuprofen.”

He scouted out the appropriate box and pulled out a couple of tablets, before reaching for his water glass. Chromon padded along beside him, sitting down in the little nest of blankets which he’d been reserved in the corner of the room.

“I’m s-s-sorry. I should never have said anything.”

“It’s not your problem. It’s his. He’s always been like that; overthinking everything that’s out of his control. He can’t deal with change very well. And well...that includes having you and Trilomon around.”

“Should I g-go?”

“You’re not going anywhere. You’re with me.”

“Well...I...I just...”

“What? What’s wrong? What have I done now?”

Chromon’s frill flashed as he closed his eyes, blurting out, “P-p-please stand up for me, then!”

Mark stood stock still, the water glass still in his hand as he watched the dinosaur curl up again, his voice still stuttering.

“I w-wish I could be more helpful. I’m t-trying my best. But I’m not just here to make you f-feel like you have a purpose. We have a job to do. I need you to t-t-trust me...and see me as I am...p-please...”

The dinosaur’s words trailed off, as Mark stayed still, listening to every one. When it was clear Chromon had finished, the boy sighed, holding a palm against his own head.

“I’m sorry. For the way I am, I mean.”

“Mark...”

The boy sat on the edge of his bed. “It’s been a long and crappy day. I think we both need a break.”

He lay down, staring outwards at nothing. Chromon rested his head on his front legs, looking uncertainly down at the carpet. The two didn’t exchange any further words until the moon had risen outside and they had both given way to a fitful sleep.

“Are you s-sure this is a good idea?”

Mark snorted, clomping ahead in a more determined fashion than he usually did as he stepped onto the gravel driveway. “I’m just going to see a friend. I didn’t realise that had become controversial.”

“I’m not arguing that; that’s fine. But, well, it’s Inez and she’s had a rough time. And well, y-you’re...” Chromon cleared his throat. “You.”

The dinosaur winced, not looking his partner in the eye. But Mark just rolled his eyes.

“I’m very well aware what I’m like. But the others did tell me to help. So I will. I’m gonna drag us all back together and back into line by the skin of our teeth if I have to.”

Chromon winced again. “See, t-that’s the kind of helping that I’m a little worried about.”

“At least I’m being proactive.”

Mark sped up, even as the dinosaur bounced behind him, still protesting. The young man eventually slowed as they approached the house. They walked past the garage where a couple of cars sat in tandem, one being the squat red hatchback that belonged to Inez. Mark and Chromon shivered in unison as they looked at it. That whole thing wasn’t really an experience they wanted to revisit.

Mark shrugged it off, and walked up to the front door, waving at Chromon as he did so.

“Find somewhere to lay low for a bit. I’m not sure what Inez’s Digimon situation is where her parents are concerned.”

“So we’re still g-going ahead with this?”

Mark gave the dinosaur a tired look, which prompted Chromon to waddle away, aiming for a couple of low-cut bushes. “Okay then...”

Mark straightened his collar, and firmly pressed the doorbell. It chimed melodically inside, and presently the door opened, revealing the large form of Leandro Garcia Clemente looking down upon him. His mouth was firm behind his moustache.

“Can I help you, sir?”

Mark wasn’t usually one to get nervous under pressure. But it was about this point that he realised that it was probably a mixture of blind determination and spite which had gotten him to this point, and that in the process he had neglected to actually come up with a plan for her parents. He didn’t know her parents. Come to think of it, he barely knew Inez.

He decided to plough ahead with respectable charm. “Hello, is Inez around? I’m a friend of hers.”

Leandro blinked. Mark swallowed and held out a hand. “Sorry, my name’s Mark...”

Again no response. Mark held his right hand out, giving a slightly forced smile as he tried to complete the gesture. Leandro eventually moved, bringing his short right arm up and resting it against the doorframe, showing Mark the futility of his handshake efforts. The young man hurriedly pulled his hand back, trying to avoid the mental alarm bells from showing on his face.

“I am so sorry-“

“I don’t recognise you. How do you know Inez? What do you do?”

“What do I...do...I don’t...it’s...a secret.”

...on reflection, probably not the most subtle answer.

“Sir, if you were truly concerned would you not have visited earlier? My daughter has been crying out in pain and suffering, and you feel it is below your place to comfort her in this time of need? You should feel ashamed, sir.”

Mark held his mouth slightly ajar as Leandro carried on with a vague and poetic and slightly sinister tirade, until he was interrupted by Inez walking past behind him, carrying a coffee mug and rubbing her eyes.

“Dad, are you threatening the postman again?”

“I don’t threaten anybody. I just give them life lessons.”

Inez rolled her eyes, before she spotted the bemused youth standing on the doorstep. “Mark? Hello?”

Leandro stepped back, looking between the two. “So you do know him?”

“Yes, he’s a friend.”

“And he didn’t visit you or comfort you or give you presents during your hard time, as a young man should when his angel is suffering?”

“What? No, I don’t...”

Mark’s eyes widened, and he thrust his hands back and forth. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry, when I said friend I mean-“

“He means an actual friend, dad! We deal with the Digimon things together.”

“Digimon?”

Leandro clicked his fingers, and whistled. “Oh, of course, my mistake, I do come to conclusions far too quickly.” He turned back to Mark, beaming. “Please, do come in, I apologise for any confusion.”

Inez shot her father a look, and he walked back into the kitchen, leaving his daughter on the doorstep. She held the doorframe, sipping her coffee. “Don’t feel too put out. He does this all the time. He’s not bad, just...”

“...enthusiastic?”

“Yeah, we’ll go with that.”

Mark let out a little huff of air from his mouth, trying to put his mental state back together like so many building blocks. Chromon waddled out, looking sheepish. “S-sorry about that. I did tell him this was a b-bad idea.”

Inez smiled hesitantly at the dinosaur, before looking at Mark. “Did you come here for me?”

“Yes. We need your help. Badly.”

Mark bit his lip, watching as Inez just blinked at him. The boy shuffled. Chromon snorted and jostled sideways, knocking Mark in the shin as a gentle reminder.

“And...I wanted to see how you were. We haven’t spoken for a while.”

“No. We haven’t.” The girl sighed, and gestured upwards. “Up to my bedroom? We’ll have a bit of privacy.”

Mark nodded, but Chromon raised a paw. “They’re not wooden, are they? I don’t do so w-well with stairs...”

“We’ll help if you want. Or you can head around to the front garden. Syngnamon’s out there.”

Mark raised an eyebrow. “He’s not with you?”

Inez pulled her lips in, and took another sip of coffee, avoiding the boy’s gaze. Mark rubbed his chin, before gesturing at Chromon. “You’d better go.”

The dinosaur nodded solemnly, and walked off as Inez pulled the door open. “Shall we?”

“Sorry it’s not as presentable as it could be. I wasn’t expecting anyone to come around.”

Mark tiptoed in, looking around the room as Inez planted herself down on her chair. The curtains were still drawn, and her computer screen was flickering, showing a series of forum threads. Mark bit his lip, not sure where exactly to go. He wondered whether it would have been good form of him to bring something. But then again, he was the one who’d come to Inez for help.

“What did you need?”

The girl leant back, adjusting her glasses. Mark held his left wrist, looking around the room, and catching sight of the fish tank.

“Is that where Syngnamon stays?”

Inez nodded.

“Are you still not speaking to him?”

“He’s not coming in. He said he doesn’t want to hurt me. It’s not right him being with me.”

“Isn’t that your responsibility?”

A flash of guilt shot over Inez’s face, before vanishing. She looked away. “What are you doing here, Mark?”

“As I said. I need help. We all do. Do you know what’s been happening?”

Inez looked down at the carpet, but Mark kept going.

“We’re running out of time, Inez. Something’s coming. They’re threatening a war between humans and Digimon, and we need to be there to try and stop it and instead we’re all breaking apart-“

“...I’m sorry...”

Mark clenched his fists, the words coming out faster than he could stop them. “First you. Then Owen. Everything’s going wrong, and I need to stop it before it’s too late-“

“I said I was sorry!” yelled Inez suddenly, as she rolled backwards, clutching her head. She sat there, tense for a second, as Mark froze mid-yell. He took a step back, watching as she slowly unfurled herself.

“I’m s...I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me. I tried. I really did. But I...I just...every time...all I could feel was the...the...the water...”

She trailed off, holding her head in her hands. Mark let out a breath. Then, very slowly, he got to one knee, holding his head down.

“Don’t apologise. I’m sorry. That was out of line; I’ve...been...completely out of line lately. To you...to everyone.” He sighed. “None of it’s your fault. I was just...I just felt that I could talk to you more than the others right now, but I didn’t see any of...I didn’t know just how much you were...”

Inez gave a half-smile. “Sorry to disappoint.”

“You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Sor-I mean...yeah.” Inez rubbed her temples. “Would you believe me if I told you there was a lot more to all this than any of you know?”

Mark nodded, but said nothing more. Inez sat back, the sunlight dotting her face through the lace curtains.

“I really did want to join you. I was desperate to. But every time I looked at my D-SEND, or looked at him, I felt like I was going to choke. I can’t fight with you. I’m just going to let you all down like I usually do.”

She sniffed, looking down at the carpet. “I’m sorry if that’s not the answer you need.”

Mark closed his eyes, straightening up again. He gently held out a hand, resting it against the painted wood of the wardrobe.

“How long’s it been since you’ve been outside?”

The girl pulled her shoulders in, her shirt bunching around her neck. “A few days...”

“It’s been over a week, hasn’t it?”

“I, uh...” Inez scratched her cheek. “I didn’t get up for a few days. I lost track of time.”

Mark clicked his fingers. “Do you want to go for a walk?”

Inez blinked, and Mark shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what to say really, but I just thought it might be a chance for us both to clear our heads.” He swallowed. “I won’t force you. It’s just an idea.”

Inez looked down at her hands, fiddling with her sleeves in the dim light. She rolled her fingers up, and pressed her teeth together.

“No, I...I think it’s a good idea.” She cleared her throat. “I just need a little while to get dressed properly first. I’m not really in a fit state to go outside yet.”

Mark blinked, unsure what she meant. Then he realised that the girl was in fact still wearing her nightshirt. He pulled at his collar, and opened the door, his face darkening a little. “I...uh...I’ll be waiting outside.”

Inez didn’t take too long, joining Mark outside her front door wearing a thin jacket over an old music festival T-shirt. She winced as she stepped out, pulling the jacket closed. “It’s gotten a bit chilly of late, hasn’t it?”

“That’s what winter will do.”

Inez laughed. “Mark, has anybody ever told you that you’re really quite sarcastic?”

The young man counted on his fingers, while Chromon just nodded. “He has it down to an art form.”

Inez grinned at the dinosaur, before her smile faded. “Did you talk to Syngnamon? Is he coming?”

Chromon looked sideways, his eyelids falling. “He...said he d...didn’t think it was appropriate.”

Inez followed the dinosaur’s gaze towards the back garden. Just behind a plant pot she could see the beady little eyes of her partner poking out, keeping an eye on the three of them. He noticed her looking, and darted back out of sight. Inez just held her hands to the side.

“Maybe it’s for the best.”

Mark and Chromon looked at one another, not sure what to say. The boy gestured. “Shall we go?”

The three slowly made their way down the gravel path towards the rest of the seaside town, with Inez glancing over her shoulder on occasion, almost in a hopeful manner. Mark kept his hands in his pockets, breathing out and watching the clouds of condensation in front of him. The sun poked out from behind a cloud for a few seconds, illuminating everything in a golden light. Then it retreated, and the pale grey haze returned.

“Is the world really about to end?”

Mark looked down at Inez, who rolled her shoulders forwards, sniffing. “It sure doesn’t feel like it. It’s all too quiet. They haven’t cancelled Christmas yet.”

Mark sighed. “I know what you mean.” He stared ahead as they stepped from the gravel drive onto the rough tarmac, making their way onto the empty streets. “I don’t know what to expect, really. The message from the Digital World says they’re coming, but...who are they? What can we do?”

Inez laughed. “Hold out, I guess. Be here to meet whoever’s at the door.”

“The saviour...”

Chromon padded just behind his tamer, keeping his head down as his tail bobbed along behind him. He cleared his throat. “It might not be that b-bad.”

“Do you know anything about them? Or what’s going on the Digital World?”

Chromon bit his lip. Then he shook his head. “I...I wish. I used to. I used to know s-so much more. Or at least I thought I did. But things have changed there as well.” He exhaled. “I made a p-promise, after the world nearly ended the last time, that this time I would f-fight on the front line. I c-can’t just watch anymore.”

Inez slowed down a bit, edging back. “Pardon me if this is a personal question, but...well...did you guys have a choice in joining us?”

Chromon’s eyes widened. He looked away. Then, becoming aware that both Mark and Inez were walking either side of him, he nodded his head from side to side.

“I d-d-don’t know. Yggdrasil works in strange ways. It’s more like...a feeling. We didn’t know you, but we...we knew all about you. It was a calling that we needed to make a difference. Whether to the world, or to...your lives.”

Inez pressed her lips out. “Seems like Yggdrasil has a bit of a sick sense of humour when it came to me then...” “What...what do you mean?”

“...nothing.” The girl held her chin, changing the subject. “So that’s when you got the D-SENDs. To come to this world and to...try and find us.”

“Not for me.” Mark shook his head. “I found mine beforehand, just in my room one night. Chromon had to fight a giant mole to take ownership of me.”

The dinosaur smiled sheepishly. “I always was a s-slightly awkward one.”

Chromon’s tail swung gently as he looked ahead, as Mark continued alongside him. “I don’t know what I thought when I found it. Maybe...maybe I thought that it would all suddenly click into place. That I knew what I was supposed to do. That I’d be good at it, even.” Mark laughed humourlessly. “That hasn’t happened.”

The two reached a break in the street, and Mark carried on towards the right, heading towards the old park on the seafront. Inez nudged him, pressing her cheeks out. “You are good, Mark. You’re damn good. A bit abrasive, maybe, but no-one’s saying you’re not a worthwhile part of the team.”

“You sure about that?”

Inez slowed, hands grasping at her jacket as she watched the young man walk ahead. “What do you mean by that?”

Mark kept going for a few more steps, before stopping completely. He didn’t turn around, so Inez walked slowly up to him.

“You obviously feel you have something holding you back. And...well...I’m here right now. You know that, right? If you want to get something out, then do.”

Mark let out a long, low breath. Then he turned around, slowly, looking at the young woman and his partner, watching him with concerned eyes. Mark’s expression was drawn out, and he looked far older than his years.

“It just feels like I’m second choice. Like there’s someone out there who could fix all this in an instant, but instead they...you...all have to do with me. And I want to fix it. But I don’t know how.”

Chromon swallowed, and stepped forwards. “Is this about Kent?”

“...it’s always about Kent...”

Mark kept walking again, staying just a few steps ahead of the other two as he continued, his words tripping out one after the other in a steady stream.

“He was always the best. In school, in college, the way the family saw him; he was always the one who finished first, and finished better, and got all the praise. I’ve tried to match up with him and it doesn’t come easily to me. It never has. But I thought I could get there, just about...and then he went to another world.”

The young man’s hands curled up into small fists, shaking just a little.

“I thought it would be better, when he came back. He seemed to have changed. He went out of his way to help me. But I...he...he just didn’t stop. And I was still left behind. He was always the better one. Now he’s in Colorado and it should be down to me, but...I...I still feel like all I am is the backup.”

“Mark...”

“I’m never going to be the same as him. I’m never even going to stand at the same level, whether as a tamer or as a son or a normal damn person. I’ll never be at the point where I can look at him and not feel...just...so much worse...”

“Mark, that’s enough. It’s okay.”

The boy stumbled, and Inez rushed forwards, placing a hand on his shoulder. He was breathing heavily, staring ahead into the middle distance. Inez nudged him, and he looked down, a cold expression in his eyes.

“Do you see why I get so frustrated?”

“A bit. Probably not. I’ve never had any brothers or sisters, so I don’t know what it’s like.”

Mark looked away, but Inez reached out, turning his head towards her. “But I do know that you’re not worthless. Whatever your brother’s done, you’re not any less than him. You’re here with us, fighting with us, because someone...something out there...trusts you to do so. Trusts you to fight with the rest of us.”

She stumbled over her words a little, before letting off a little laugh, her own gaze shifting around. Mark pulled his cheeks in.

“It would be nice to see something go right for once...”

“You won’t save the world on your own, Mark.” The girl stepped back, straightening her glasses. “But nobody’s asking you to. We’re all here with you. Not ahead, not behind, but alongside.”

Mark looked down at the pavement. Then he smiled, just a little.

“Thanks. For listening, I mean.”

“Always.”

Inez beamed, before pulling her arms in, looking around. “Did we have to come this way? It’s really cold.”

“The fence is making a wind tunnel.” Mark ran a hand along the barrier, which was still all laden up with several warning and danger of death signs. “I miss there being a park here.”

“Well...it’s understandable why they blocked it all off.” Inez grinned down at Chromon. “Can’t just have everybody wandering into the other world now, can we? That’ll cause the same issues over there that we’re seeing now.”

Chromon groaned. “Don’t bring it up, p-please...”

“The digital world, huh?” Mark leant forwards, placing a hand against the cold polycarbonate. “You ever wonder what’s actually going on behind here? What Alasdair’s working on?”

Inez shuffled. “He must be doing something to try and help stop all these incursions. Or stop whatever’s coming.”

Mark’s mouth twisted upwards. “How do you go about doing that? This is another world we’re talking about.” He sighed. “We can’t just block this all off forever. The worlds are coming together whether we like it or not. At some point we’ve got to come up with a solution. Don’t you think?”

There was no answer. Mark looked over at Inez, but the young woman had her face twisted, sniffing at the air with a grimace.

“Is it me, or can you smell something?”

“Like what? We are near the sea. Probably seagulls.”

“No, I mean...”

Inez’s face paled slightly as she looked over at the blue barrier.

“Something burning...”

BOOM

The explosion was deafening, like the sound of a million marbles rattling within the rush of a jet engine. The impact made the panels of the barrier rattle and groan, and the noise and sudden rush of warm air caused Mark and Inez to duck wildly, throwing their hands up to their heads as their eyes widened.

“What the hell was that?”

Chromon’s eyes widened, and he rushed forwards without warning. Mark ran after him, with Inez barely bringing up the rear, looking all around and holding her hands to her chest. Mark held out his hands as Chromon turned a corner, hissing under his breath. “Wait! We don’t know what it is!”

“Oh dear...oh d-d-dear...this isn’t good...”

Chromon skidded to a halt, reaching a row of panels within the wall that had been torn apart, and some of which lay smouldering on the road. Mark held the nearest side of wall and peered round, watching the scene in the concrete covered courtyard inside. The damage within was even worse; vast craters already peppering the area, with two very small figures standing to one side.

One was Reynarimon, holding a can of energy drink in each hand and gesturing in a variety of directions. The other was far smaller; a tiny red orb that floated a few feet off the ground, with ninety percent of its body covered in mechanised contraptions, including claws over one hand, a massive bugger-off cannon strapped to the other, and a skull-like helmet over its crimson face. It hung still, but even from this distance Mark could see its cannon smouldering, betraying far more power than its appearance alone let on.

All of a sudden it reared up, holding both arms out and letting off a rasping, metallic sigh.

“The day is coming. The saviour approaches. Through blood and iron I pledge the pathway shall be cleared for thee!”

He swung around, raising the vast cannon again and pointing it at one of the far buildings, the outer rings spinning viciously.

“Energy Bomb!”

There was the sound like a speaker imploding, before a blazing orange ball shot out, spiralling towards one of the distant sheds. It exploded on impact, sending the whole site erupting into alarm and causing chunks of rubble and concrete to spin all around. MetalMamemon didn’t hesitate; with a vicious roar it cannoned forwards, almost seeming to swim through the air on white-hot jets. Mark stood up, the distant flames reflecting in his eyes, as Inez crept forwards behind him.

“I don’t get it...why here? Why now?”

Chromon looked up at her, his expression grave. “Don’t you see? He’s one of them. One of the c-c-crusaders.”

Mark clenched his fist. “He’s here to open the gate.”

“But...aren’t Alasdair’s people inside?”

BOOM

Another explosion sent a plume of smoke billowing upwards, and there was a horrifying creaking noise as one of the warehouses slanted to the right, a supporting wall decimated. Mark held his breath, and took a step forwards, before he turned his head and noticed Reynarimon to one side, staring directly at him. The fox man held his arms low, one of them dripping energy drink onto the rubble below. The other lifted up, as the Digimon scanned his smartwatch.

“It hasn’t even been five goddamn minutes? Are you kidding me-“

For a moment the fox man’s voice raised to unheard of decibels. Then he held both hands out, and promptly tipped the remaining contents of both cans directly into the end of his mask, before throwing the remnants behind him.

“You know what? Fuck this. Fuck it. Fuck you people in particular; you can do what you like, I don’t care anymore, I don’t get paid anywhere near enough for this...”

He turned round, and skipped away, with a cloud of smoke billowing around him as he disappeared behind the barrier. Mark watched in confusion, before more sounds of destruction rumbled across the courtyard. Mark and Chromon rushed forwards, watching the plumes of smoke rise, and the tiny glint of metal swinging through them as MetalMamemon burst through layers of steel and rebar like a cannonball, proclaiming the glory of the saviour with every blow.

“We have to do something...”

Mark held his breath, and turned around to look at Inez. “You don’t have to stay here. It’s going to be dangerous. You have your own-“

“Shut up, Mark, now’s not the time to think about me.” Inez rolled up her sleeves, and began clawing her way through the rubble, aiming for the door on one of the furthest buildings. “Whoever’s in there, I’m going to get them out. Can you stop that little monster?”

Mark held out a hand, but the young woman was already running, keeping her body low so as not to attract attention, not that MetalMamemon was paying any. Mark sighed. “She’s taken after Lonnie after all.”

“Mark?” Chromon stood in front of him, tail swinging from side to side. “What about us?”

The boy didn’t hesitate; he pulled his D-SEND out from his jacket pocket, purple lights already dancing over his arm.

“I suppose we’re all the same, really.”

He began to run, with Chromon charging ahead of him, the sound of a whistle in his ears as he felt his body already swelling with energy.

“Chromon, Soul Accelerate! Evolution Activate!”

“Ceratomon!”

In a violet blaze, Ceratomon burst forwards and rushed up the increasing pile of rubble, letting out an echoing roar into the sky. MetalMamemon stopped mid-flight, flecks of dust falling from his helmet as he looked down at the dinosaur. He narrowed his eyes. Then carried on where he was going, crashing through yet another room of the facility.

“Raze the false temple to the ground and open the way for the blessed one!”

Mark stopped behind his partner, scanning the ruined facility before he pointed. “There! He’s coming straight through!”

Ceratomon’s eyes focused as he saw the blaze of energy behind the corrugated steel, and rushed forwards with his hand raised. MetalMamemon burst out with a war cry, molten metal billowing from his tiny form.

“I will clear the gateway!”

“Piston Punch!”

The orb’s eyes flicked to the right and he swivelled, holding up both hands as the fist connected dead-on with his tiny body. He flew backwards a few feet, but Ceratomon came off the worse; it was like trying to punch a cliff side, and the impact made the bolts in his hand rattle. But he planted the creaking appendage on the ground and powered forwards again, bringing his other limb back for a sweeping hook.

“You’re not opening the gate today or any other day, you maniac!”

MetalMamemon dodged upwards, and swung sideways again as Ceratomon’s tail struck him a glancing blow. For something so small he seemed nigh-on indestructible, as well as ridiculously hard to hit. With a huff, he raised his right hand, the claws splaying out as he retaliated against an incoming punch with an energised slash, leaving claw marks over the dinosaur’s iron arm.

“Thou art just a pawn in a world that despises you.”

“This world’s better than someone like you could ever know,” yelled Ceratomon, sliding backwards from another impact and digging his front hands into the ground, the entirety of his body glowing with a silvery sheen.

MetalMamemon straightened up, raising his cannon arm as the rings spun. “Then be saved. Energy Bomb!”

“Silver Siege!”

Syngnamon started upright, feeling the bristles on the back of his neck prick up. He was still in the front garden, hidden beneath the coniferous hedge, but even so he could still feel the horrendous feeling pounding through his head and chest, and the faint ringing of alarm bells.

“No...”

Another jolt, and a pang of fear. The seahorse scrabbled to his feet and climbed up the hedge with the agility of a squirrel, looking out over the top. The view from the seaside house was always spectacular, giving a picturesque view of the town, the river, and unfortunately the ugly digital facility that hung on the old seaside green.

The facility which was currently emitting plumes of purple smoke, and engulfed in flashing lights. Possibly alarm beacons, or possibly flames.

“Inez...you haven’t...”

The feeling struck him a third time, and he clutched his chest, coiling up as the panic welled within him; the same panic that he had felt many times before. His tail lashed back and forth as he felt tears welling in his eyes.

“Don’t...you can’t...what are you doing?”

“Is something wrong?”

Syngnamon looked up as Leandro stepped forwards, his shirt blowing in the breeze. He leant forwards, his face grave as he surveyed the destruction below.

“My daughter’s down there, isn’t she...”

Syngnamon tensed, his claws digging into the hard leaves of the hedge. “I don’t know what’s going on there. I didn’t know this would happen.”

Leandro closed his eyes. Then he turned, his gaze boring into Syngnamon’s.

“Why aren’t you with her? You promised.”

“I...I couldn’t...I didn’t want-“

“You promised you’d keep her safe. To her,” Leandro placed a palm on his chest, “and to me. Why are you still here, feeling sorry for yourself?”

Syngnamon’s face fell, and he stared down, his hands fully shaking.

“I’m...I’m sorry...you didn’t see her face back then.”

He raised a palm, holding it over his muzzle as he looked downwards. “I hurt her. I didn’t mean to. But she was terrified of me. Of being around me. I couldn’t risk that again. I’m sorry, I’ve tried, but she deserves someone better than me. I’ve...I’ve broken my promise...I couldn’t be who she needed me to be-“

“Enough.”

The seahorse flinched as Leandro reached out with a hand, but the blow never came. Instead it held the Digimon’s chin, lifting his head up and looking into the man’s deep, wounded eyes.

“My daughter would never hate anyone who loves her truly. You have to take my word.”

Syngnamon gritted his teeth. “What I’ve done is...unforgiveable...”

“Are you sure she hasn’t forgiven you?” Leandro breathed out. “Or have you just not forgiven yourself?”

Syngnamon’s eyes opened, feeling the jolt through his body again. He could still feel his hands shaking, but he pressed downwards, quelling it deep within.

“I...I made a promise to be her knight.”

Leandro stood up tall, running a thumb over his nose. “Right now, she needs that knight by her side, little friend. What are you still doing here?”

Syngnamon’s mane perked up, and he leapt from the top of the hedge, scrambling down the gravel path as Leandro watched him go. Gentle footsteps sounded as Clara walked out to join him, holding her hand around his wrist. He leant in towards her, and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

“This time...he has to be the one.”

Inez shivered as she felt the impacts even through the corrugated walls, and carried on, trying to keep as far away from any potential intrusions as she could. The alarms were louder in here; an electronic rasp pounding in her head. She figured that it probably wasn’t doing her mental state the best of good, and as she turned a corner and found a slew of rubble through a dimly-lit kitchen area, she felt the same panic rising within her. Her hand went to her pocket, feeling the bulge where her D-SEND was kept safely. Though it was less comforting when she realised that there was nobody around to use it with.

She slapped her cheeks, looking ahead and filtering out the noise.

“You’ve made your choice, girl. Let’s make the most of it.”

Inez looked around, trying to find some sort of map or sign or anything which might give her a clue as to what was lying where, but having been built in somewhat of a hurry the facility wasn’t as well equipped as it could have been. Even the vending machine was empty.

BANG

Inez squealed as there was a ruckus from above her, most likely MetalMamemon crashing through the corridor just above her. The entire room shook, and tiles fell from the ceiling, landing with a whump on the carpeted floor and sending white dust everywhere. Inez took off, aiming for one of the doors as an entire light fitting swung loose.

She dove through the door as the glass shattered on the counter behind her, and caught her breath, trying not to hyperventilate. This room was also in a rough state, although the walls were still fairly intact at least. Looking around, Inez figured it would probably have been some sort of file storeroom at some point; albeit one slightly worse for wear now as half its contents were strewn all over the floor in varying states of ruination. She moved her foot, and picked up the file she’d been standing on, flicking through pages of wordy technical documents.

“What kind of stuff do you all get up to here, Mr. Ali?”

She turned the page, and an image caught her eye; one she recognised. Long, electrified legs, bladed beak; it was BladeKuwagamon, for sure. It was stapled to a form on which were written several fields in illegible handwriting, as well as a few numbers that she didn’t recognise. But one caught her eye; a little stamp in the corner of the picture. Most of it was just address and serial identification. But the location field gave her pause. D_SEND_SN_05.

She flicked through again, until she came across another Digimon; a Kabukimon. One she didn’t recognise, but again the same information, only with D_SEND_SN_03 in the field. She tiptoed forwards, keeping going through the scraps in the folder. Not all of the Digimon she had seen, but many she knew about. And a few were very familiar. Comediemon. Rhyncomon. Gerridamon.

She shivered, and placed the file on the nearest shelf to her, facing away. It made sense, she supposed. If they were watching the digital world, surely they had to try and keep track of the incursions. But to see this level of information on the subject...

Her gaze edged downwards, where a small filing cabinet lay on its side, drawers wrenched open from the impact of falling. A few dividers hung out, many surrounded by their contents. Inez bit her lip, before her curiosity got the better of her and she crouched down, pulling the divider back. D_SEND_SN_05. She pulled at it, but it caught on the divider in front of it, pulling them both out. She held the small paper folders in front of her, gently peering inside. A lot of documents again. Stapled forms, newspapers, what looked like nautical charts of somewhere very familiar. A lot of scraps and unorganised mess.

But she could definitely see her name.

“What...what am I in here for...?”

BANG

“Aaaaaiiii!”

Inez jolted upright, her mind snapping back to the issue at hand. She fumbled with the paper in front of her, managing to lose several parts in the mess on the floor. But as she heard sounds of distress down the corridor, Inez shook her head, cramming whatever she still held beneath her jumper and running towards the fire exit. She could hear voices. She knew she was close. And as she rushed forwards and powered into the labyrinthine corridor beyond, the incessant alarms and ominous rumbling around her purged her mind of all doubtful thoughts.

She was here to save people.

Dominic squeaked as there was a horrific tearing sound to his left, and he flailed wildly, very nearly knocking the monitor off the table in the process. Perez rushed by him, holding a series of interlock keys in her hands as she rushed between different stations.

“Please tell me you’re getting that all to the right place!”

“I’m working on it, I’m working on it!” yelled Dominic, his feet tapping incessantly as he shook the mouse. “It’s about three-quarters copied to the hard drive.”

“I hope you’re not arguing,” said Salma, poking her head over the case as her hands whirred over something within. “I was promised you two worked together well when we’re under pressure.”

Perez clicked a key into the panel in front of her, causing the lights in the gateway chamber to switch to orange and the cubicles to shut down. She turned back, brushing a wisp of hair from her head. “We do work well under pressure. We’ve just never been trained when it comes to actual Digimon attacks.”

“Nobody is. Catch.”

Salma closed the case and threw a short metal pole over towards Perez, who stumbled to catch it, managing to clock herself on the head. She turned the device in her hand, noticing a small control panel and a blunt copper prong on the end. Her brow furrowed as she watched Salma Naseer pull out a similar device for herself.

“This looks awfully similar to what Vex’s crew use.”

“Same concept. Although I think you’ll find this is made properly.” Salma pulled the prod’s strap over her back, running her hands over the buttons. “Strong electromagnetic fields are the best bet against digital life forms. Especially in our world. It disrupts their makeup.”

Perez swallowed. “And you have things like this sitting in your desk drawer because...?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, did you want to ask this fellow nicely? We have a job. Save everything we can, and do not let that thing open the gate no matter what.”

Perez still looked deeply concerned, so Salma sighed. “It’s just for self-defense. And don’t expect too much from it. Unfortunately we’re the only ones here. We have to do what we can.”

There was another tearing sound, closer this time. Dominic skittered back, watching as the PC in front of him beeped up several warnings.

“Hey, uh, what about me?”

He looked hopefully at Salma, but she shook her head. “I only have two. And you have no upper body strength.”

“Hey! I mean I know, but hey!”

The computer beeped, finally indicating the complete transfer of everything they’d managed to input into the system. The man quickly ejected and unplugged it, before a loud clattering sound made the three scientists jump. They turned to the rear fire exit, and Salma raised her prod with a grim expression.

“Nobody gets through. Nobody. Got it?”

Perez grimly raised her own device, while Dominic, at a bit of a loss, reached behind him and held up a desk lamp, holding it like a baseball bat. The three edged towards the polycarbonate window, keeping an eye on the fire exit as the gate facility glowed behind them.

The door flew open, and Salma raised her prod with a shout, before pulling herself back. “What? Inez? What are you doing here?”

The girl let out a breath, before smiling sheepishly. “This place is really hard to get around.” She looked at the motley trio in front of her, and started. “Auntie Bella?”

“Inez?”

Perez dropped her prod, walking forwards. “You, uh...you really shouldn’t be here.”

“You’re working for Ali? I thought you were still in Wales?”

“I thought you were still at home.”

Inez rubbed the back of her head. “I was passing by. I needed to do something.”

“Where’s your partner?”

“...he is still at home.”

Dominic and Salma looked between themselves with disparate looks, as Inez shook her hands out. “I’m here to get you out. Is there anyone else here? Is Alasdair around?”

Salma shook her head. “It’s just us. And we can’t leave. We have to make sure the gate stays shut.”

Inez looked to one side, her eyes widening as she saw the full breadth of the facility. Several cubicles and actuators held around a large, metal vessel, with a few lights blinking slowly. The gate was as failsafe as it could possibly be, with an uninterruptible supply keeping the movements of the unseen vortex behind to a minimum, suppressing the constant flow of energy.

But of course, they had no full control over it. And having seen the utter chaos MetalMamemon had wrought outside, Inez couldn’t help but think it looked a little fragile. She stepped forwards, feeling the D-SEND in her pocket.

“It’s not safe here. I’m sure Alasdair needs you to be okay more than the gate...”

The three looked among one another nervously, but they didn’t move. Salma stepped forwards, holding the prod towards the ground as she looked down at the young woman.

“If this opens, we’re going to have much bigger problems than a destroyed lab. We’re running out of time until this saviour comes; we can’t lose our only protection now.” She straightened up, her voice calm in spite of the blazing sirens. “Can you get hold of any of the others? Is there someone who can stop this Digimon?”

Inez placed a finger to her cheek. “I mean...Mark was with me...he’s trying to keep it at bay.”

“Do you know how he’s doing?”

CRASH

Dominic and Perez screamed in unison as the western wall caved in, sending splinters of metal and shards of concrete everywhere as Ceratomon rolled forwards in a large chrome heap, rolling on the ground. MetalMamemon hovered behind him, staying nearly completely level in the air. His eyes widened, and he flew forwards, taking a deep, juddering breath.

“The promised pathway...you dare to hide it away? It is inevitable. This world shalt belong to those who have walked through fire and steel.”

He raised both arms, glaring at the group of humans before him as the rings on his cannon spun wildly.

“The blessed one awaits. Metal Claw!”

“Piston Punch!”

Ceratomon rose, thrusting out an armoured fist that sent the tiny orb careering to one side. It caused no damage, but it slowed MetalMamemon down just for a second, enough for Ceratomon to push himself to his feet and leap forwards, grabbing the orb in his hands. MetalMamemon blasted back, slashing at Ceratomon’s armoured face and buckling one of his horns, but Ceratomon kept driving forwards, trying desperately to push the monster away even as his fists strained and wheezed under the pressure.

“Shaft Spike!”

MetalMamemon’s blaster arm inverted, and he slammed it towards the beast’s shoulder, releasing a long, reinforced spike that dug into the dinosaur’s metallic shoulder. Ceratomon grunted, trying to hold on, but the blow weakened the mechanism of his left hand and MetalMamemon thrust it away. He powered forwards, hooking his claws beneath the dinosaur’s neck and hoisting him off the ground, before letting loose a brutal punt to the chest with his cannon arm.

Ceratomon went back, but didn’t go down, holding himself up with one creaking arm. Inez watched as he took a step, his rear legs shaking just slightly. There were burns and dents all over his body, one of his eyes couldn’t focus right, and his mechanical arms looked like they had been battling an industrial grinder. Despite the size difference, it was clear who was on top in this battle.

“All of you! Get out of there while you still can!”

Inez turned to see Mark standing in the opening in the wall, clearly out of breath after trying to keep up with his partner. He reached out a hand, but before any of the others could move MetalMamemon rushed forwards again, eyes wide and wild.

“I can hear it calling me...purpose...destiny!”

“No you...DON’T!”

Ceratomon rushed forwards, his arm raised on high as he threatened to pulverise MetalMamemon into the ground. But his feet stumbled, and his attack flew wide, his momentum making him lurch sideways. It was too late before he saw the glint of metal beneath his chin, followed by a brutal blow from the cannon to the side of his head. The dinosaur’s legs buckled, and he went down with a crash.

MetalMamemon didn’t even look back; he just kept going forwards; calculated and unstoppable, heading towards the polycarbonate shield. Salma alone stood in front of him, holding up the electromagnetic prod as it hummed in her hand.

“You’re not going any further.”

MetalMamemon twitched, and accelerated slightly, his cannon arm spinning.

“Impure scum.”

Salma reached forwards, lunging with the weapon. MetalMamemon ducked to one side, but Salma was faster than she let on, swinging the pole and driving the end into the centre of the orb’s face. It jerked, twisting away as smoke poured from the scorch mark between its eyes. Salma held the weapon with both hands, barely faltering, as MetalMamemon brought up a shaking hand, clutching his helmet.

“You...you...will pay...you will all pay for your hubris...”

MetalMamemon backed off, and raised his cannon arm, the rings spinning at a dangerous level as the orange glow accelerated within.

“ENERGY BOMB!”

Salma held up her arms, staring down the orb of energy growing before her, when suddenly Inez crashed into her from one side, throwing her to the ground.

But the attack hadn’t been meant for them.

The two felt the heat crackle over their skin as the pellet barely flew over their heads, spiralling towards the polycarbonate shell that housed the digital gate. The first gate, and the greatest protection against the saviour.

The pellet struck true, the energy warping the barrier.

And the control room was torn up in an orange blaze as the vast explosion pierced through the bullet-proof glass, shattering it into a million pieces.

TO BE CONTINUED...