Episode 17: Soul Control (Page 2)

In the dim light of the moon, two small Digimon sat upon the roof of an old building, staring up at the sky. One of them shifted slightly, sighing at the hollow beauty of the wastegrounds at night.

He then shifted back, because his helmet had slipped again. Lagomon giggled as Gosmon fiddled with his massive headpiece, but her laughter faded just as quickly. They couldn't think of much to say, even though they were both thinking the same thing.

The somber atmosphere was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps from behind them. The bird and fox pup turned round to see Jack and Grace walking towards them.

"What are you doing out here?" Gosmon folded his stubby wings. "It's late; you should be sleeping."

"I could say the same for you two." Grace coughed again, before tapping her foot in a way she remembered her mother doing, some time ago. "What are you doing?"

Lagomon smiled a half-smile. "Thinking, I guess. That's all."

Grace sat down, her brother doing the same. "Is this about Cephalomon again?"

Gosmon and Lagomon nodded in tandem, their eyes pointed to the floor. "We're sorry. Truly we are. We should have been able to protect you better."

Grace shook her head. "What are you sorry for? You did everything you could."

"Yeah," Jack leaned forward, nodding furiously. "You were awesome out there. Especially you, Perimon. Cyclomon, a massive sky-dragon coming out of nowhere. That squid never knew what hit him."

Gosmon scratched his head. "Strictly speaking, he grabbed me by the face and dunked me in the lake. I don't think that's much to be proud of."

Jack frowned. "Well he was cheating. And very strong. And you helped to take him down."

"That was all Kai, Ladomon and Colchimon." Lagomon rolled backwards slightly, her eyes closed and her icicle horn glowing gently. "Let's face it; us two aren't doing very well as guardians."

Jack and Grace shared a look. Gosmon waved at them. "You should probably be heading back. It's cold out here."

"Are you staying out here?"

"Yeah." Gosmon dragged his feet along the rock, as a fine shower of dust passed over the four, blown by the wind. Grace smirked, and planted herself down next to the two.

"If you're staying, then so will I. You look like you could use the company."

Jack nodded. "Me too."

"Jack…" Gosmon was about to send away his partner, but the boy's face was adamant.

So the four sat together, watching the shooting stars fly by, far away from Kent's exploits. Grace sat cross-legged on the roof, Lagomon snuggled in her lap. Jack perched on the edge of the building, wiggling his feet over the edge.

"Do you think Kent's managed it yet?"

Grace shrugged. Jack made a popping sound with his mouth, before returning his attention to his feet.

"If any of us can figure it out, I'm sure he can. He's smart."

Lagomon averted her gaze. "Just because that boy's smart doesn't necessarily make him wise. Still, I'm sure Arthmon's keeping him in order."

Gosmon was laid out with his wings behind his head, looking up at the clouded sky. He looked up at his colleague, who was snuggled in Grace's arms. "What one wouldn't give for wisdom. Would you say I was wise, Lagomon?"

Lagomon sniggered. "You have about as much wisdom as the majestic turkey, my good friend."

"Hey!" Lagomon giggled as Gosmon closed his eyes, ignoring her. "Typical princess. You just don't appreciate the wiles of the working bird."

"You do aerobatics. That's it."

"They are no laughing matter. Those are highly classified specialised attack and evasion moves that I perfected during my time in the military."

"Don't make me laugh. The first time you tried those moves in the army, you flew into a tree." Lagomon considered. "Although, I suppose that has been your main tactic over the years. You managed to fly into Cephalomon multiple times."

Gosmon couldn't think up a response, so instead he stuck his tongue out. Jack laughed. "I think you fly really well."

Gosmon looked smug as he rubbed his portly tummy. "Thank you. Glad to know somebody appreciates my talent."

Jack stared out into the distance, trying to see any sign of Kent. "I wish I could fly like you. Then I wouldn't have to worry about walking and my knee breaking all the time." He sighed. "I hope Kent manages to control it."

Grace leaned back, a stern look on her face. "Don't even think about it. It's not your place to battle."

Jack turned round, shuffling up next to her. "But think about it! If we could evolve, we'd be stronger. We could help everyone. It'd be really cool."

Grace shook her head. Noticing her brother shivering, she held out her arm and hugged him close. "It might be cool. But it's not worth it."

"We'd be stronger. You wouldn't have to worry about me all the time. Me and you could fight together"

"What about mum and dad?" Grace's eyes were sullen as another memory of home sprang up. She shook her head; now wasn't the time. "They'd hate it if we were putting ourselves in danger. Both of us, we're only kids."

Jack's bottom lip wobbled slightly. "I guess so."

Gosmon waddled over, joining the little posse. "What are you moping about? Isn't a giant metal battlebird good enough for you?" Gosmon laughed. "Seriously, you don't need to worry about us. Don't feel you have to fight in our place."

Lagomon nodded in Grace's arms. "Just be yourselves. That's what'll give us strength. We will find a way to protect you, no matter what."

She yawned, before snuggling down further into Grace's sweatshirt. Gosmon climbed into Jack's arms, and the boy hugged him close. It wasn't long before both In-training Digimon were asleep.

Grace nodded at Jack, and they gently slid off the pillar and tiptoed back into the cave. There they lay down, huddled in one corner. For a few minutes they still shivered from the cold, and from the worry of future battles.

Then tiredness overtook them, and both children slid into troubled sleep.

Meanwhile, Kent was currently sat on the plateau; cross-legged, eyes closed and breathing deeply. He'd been doing so for the past fifteen minutes, all the while with Trilomon lying down next to him. Kent's D-Nexus was laid on the rock in front of him, and it hadn't so much as twitched.

Kent opened one eye, looking rather irritated. "Can you feel anything yet?"

"Severe boredom?"

"I meant regarding evolution, snarky."

Trilomon shook his head. "You haven't been concentrating for that long. You need to remain calm. Stop trying, just do. Just let the energy come to you."

Kent's brow furrowed with irritation. "I would if it would just show any signs of moving!"

"No shouting!"

"Ah, I can't do this anymore!" Kent stood up, leaning against the rock and causing his drawings to smudge. He turned round, pointing at his partner. "It's alright for you; all you need to do is run up and wait for me to press a button."

Trilomon started. "You are aware that I'm risking my life out there, aren't you?"

"Why do you think I'm trying to evolve? We have incredible power at our fingertips here; it just keeps turning round and biting us at every opportunity."

Trilomon muttered, "Or in your case, falling asleep."

Kent ran his hands through his hair. "Gah! If only there was some way to simulate a battle. Things trying to kill me. Life threatening stuff, the kind that triggers remarkable power." He tutted as he looked around. "Too bad that all we've got around here are dust and rocks."

He paused. "Rocks…"

Trilomon stepped back as his partner gained that look in his eye. "Kent, maybe we should-"

"Trilomon, stand back." Without warning Kent took a jump and started clambering up the large rock, showing surprisingly agility. In a few seconds he was stood up on the top; a good two metres off the ground. He spread his arms wide, feeling the wind as it passed over him.

"Kent, what are you doing up there?"

"Adrenaline."

"Huh?"

"Adrenaline. Drive. Physical exhilaration; I don't know what it is, but it happens whenever we enter the battle. That's what made the other two evolve."

"You're not going to-"

"I'm going to jump." Kent readied himself, bracing for impact. Despite himself, he swallowed. This was higher up than it looked. He began to mutter to himself, increasing the tension.

"I'm in danger. This is bad. I'm going to die here. There's only one option…"

"Kent, don't!"

"SOUL CONTROL!"

Kent leapt from the rock and braced for impact, the ground coming up hard and fast. He closed his eyes.

For a moment he looked quite graceful. Then he landed. Very badly. There was a mighty bang as his shoes made contact with the rock, and, unsuitable for outdoor use that they were, they slipped from under him, sending him toppling backwards. He ended up flat out on his back, his arms high above his head. For a moment he lay there, before gritting his teeth.

"Damn it, it's not enough! I need more!"

"You maniac, stop it!" Trilomon marched over, staring Kent straight in the eye. "You're going to hurt yourself. Face it, this isn't working. This isn't something you can just logic your way through, so stop trying. It's obviously not going to happen."

Kent sat up, hair dangling down in front of his face. "But I don't understand why. I have to solve this."

"Tough." Trilomon sat down, his gaze drilling into Kent's. "I'm not going to let you hurt yourself. Just leave it."

Kent looked down, dejected. Trilomon softened, and shuffled a bit closer. "You can't solve everything with numbers, you know that?"

Kent sighed. "I know."

"Perhaps we should head back."

"No, not yet." Kent shuffled backwards and leaned against the rock, resting his head back. "I just want to stay out here for a moment."

"But…" Kent looked away before Trilomon could finish. Instead, the insect walked over, and rolled up beside him. The moons were blocked by clouds, casting further darkness over the two.

Kent sighed. "I give up. I don't know what I'm missing but I obviously can't do this."

Trilomon shrugged. "Maybe you guys aren't supposed to fight for us. Maybe this was just a fluke."

"Maybe." Kent thought back to Martyaxmon and Cephalomon, and shivered. "Things sure took a turn when Aaron evolved." He smiled. "It would be him, wouldn't it. Always on the right track."

"What do you mean? You realize he did mess it up, big time."

"Well…" Kent scratched the back of his neck, slightly ashamed. "Yeah, I suppose so. But he was showing incredible power back there. I'm just saying, he seems to be getting everything right at the moment."

Trilomon stared at him. "Are you…jealous of him?"

"What?"

Kent smiled awkwardly, but the insect's eyes bore into him. Finally he slumped. "Maybe a little. Well, not jealous, just…it's hard to explain."

"Well we've got all night." Trilomon lay down, tilting his head slightly. "Something's been bothering you. You wouldn't be this determined to evolve if it wasn't; you'd be as terrified as everyone else. Tell me, why are you doing this?"

He rested his head on the ground. "Please?"

"Nothing gets past you, does it." Kent chuckled, folding his arms and staring up to the sky.

"Aaron is an incredible person. From the moment he and Velocimon beat Mandrimon he's taken everything in his stride. Despite everything, he's never given up. But it's more than that. He's…normal."

"Normal? He's no more normal than you are, given that you're both stuck in a parallel dimension with weird talking monsters."

"That's not what I meant." Kent fidgeted awkwardly, opening his mouth to speak a couple of times, but not quite getting words out. Trilomon waited patiently. "I'm sorry. I've never actually sat down and talked to anybody about this. Always thought it'd be silly. Unnecessary."

"It's obviously bothering you."

"Well…can I start from the beginning?"

"Start where you want."

"Alright." Kent shuffled slightly, staring at the ground.

"I've never been normal. At least I never thought I was normal. I was always the smart one in the class; hands up for every question, sitting reading during breaktime, over ninety-percent on every test, you know the sort of thing."

Kent squirmed a little, perhaps from embarrassment. Trilomon nodded, even though he didn't know what half of those things meant. He just stayed quiet and allowed Kent to continue.

"Of course, some other kids would bully me. Told me I was a nerd and stuff. I just ignored them, and kept myself to myself. I had a couple of friends who I talked to, but mainly I'd just sit around, reading or something. I thought I didn't need anything else. Sure, some people thought I was weird, but what did it matter? I was doing better than they were."

"I grew more and more independent as I moved through primary school and into secondary. I even stopped answering questions in class; just worked through the book on my own. I'd do all the work for group projects; it was fine. It felt better that way. Even at home I'd spend most of my time in my room. All the while I was getting better and better marks. My teachers said I might even make Oxbridge if I kept it up."

Kent smiled a half-smile. Oxbridge; a dream from a faraway place. He seemed to be talking more to himself than to the insect beside him

"I was so oblivious…I should have seen it coming. In my own family. My brother. I remember now; of course I do. Those times when he'd barge into my room, looking for someone to talk to. I must've just ignored him. I seriously didn't know anything was going on. I probably still don't know the full story. I was only thirteen..."

He paused, obviously searching for the phrase. Trilomon tapped his leg, gently. "Just say it. What happened?"

Kent blinked. "He left one night. Just…one more argument and that was it. Our dad barely shouted at anyone, but he was raging that night. When I woke up, Taylor wasn't there anymore. He'd already packed and gone to live with friends. I didn't know where they were."

"It must've been hard."

Kent shook his head. "That's the worst thing; I didn't care. Everyone around me was telling me everything was going to be okay. My own little brother would nearly burst into tears every night and I just sat there."

"I didn't even realize what was wrong until that day, a couple of years later…"

Rain.

Kent didn't remember where I was going. He'd had first laptop back then; perhaps going to Computer Club or something. Luckily the bag was waterproof, but he was still running.

Then, all of a sudden, somebody turned a corner. He was texting somebody, but it was definitely him. Kent hadn't seen him for so long. He stopped, and called out his name.

"Taylor?"

Taylor looked up, the water splashing down from his hood. At first his eyes glimmered with joy, but the moment he smiled his eyes lost their excitement. He didn't want to be there.

"Hi Kent. How are you keeping?"

"Fine." Kent ducked under a veranda, and Taylor did the same, nodding briefly, before going back to texting.

"So how are you?"

Taylor swayed his head from side to side. "Good, I guess."

"Where…" Kent swallowed. "Where are you staying now?"

Taylor held his phone for a minute, before snapping it shut. "Places."

"Yes, but where?"

"I don't want to tell you." Taylor hunched his shoulders, and looked away. "I don't want Dad to know."

"Taylor, I…I haven't spoken to you for two years. I haven't even seen you." The other boy looked away in silence as Kent shuffled nervously. "You walked away without even saying goodbye."

"I don't want to talk about that."

"Taylor, I missed you-"

Taylor spun round, causing Kent to flinch. "I said I DON'T want to talk about that."

Kent held his position, shocked. Taylor leaned back. "Besides, you don't really mean that."

"What do you mean? Of course I-"

"Then where were you?"

Kent blinked, holding the strap of his rucksack with his left hand. He could feel his heart beating fast. This was the reunion he'd been planning for months now, where he confronted his brother for everything he'd been through. This wasn't a turn he expected.

Taylor stared at him, waiting for an answer. "Where were you?"

Raindrops thrashed against the shop window, before running down the windowsill and into the gutter below.

"I needed you. Why didn't you help me? Why didn't you talk to me then?"

"I didn't know...I didn't know what was going on…"

"No, of course not. You never know."

The light from the street lamp above flickered and dimmed slightly.

"You never cared about anyone. We were just too different, weren't we."

"No..."

"It's not your fault. As you said, you didn't know. You were only focused on yourself. Nothing need interfere with your life. Your perfect life. You don't even need me. You won't even run after me if I walked away right now."

Water splashed up from Taylor's footsteps as he turned.

"Sorry we can't all be perfect like you. The rest of us are only human. Maybe one day you'll drop us a visit."

The footsteps died down as Taylor walked back down the darkened alleyway...

Trilomon stared in shock. "Geez, that's…awful…"

Kent nodded. "He was right. That was when I realized it. I was alone. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't bring myself to care about anyone. Not even my own brother." He stared angrily at the ground, wishing it would swallow him up right then and there.

"I haven't spoken to him since, aside from the occasional birthday text."

He sighed. "And I've tried. I've tried so hard since then to get to know people. Learn how to have a social life. I went to house parties as I got older, only to find I hated them. Trying to speak to people at school and college, but nothing worked. In fact I've gotten worse."

"You're not that bad. You can talk to people just fine."

"That's only what I show you. You see this?" Here Kent gestured at his face; completely expressionless, save for wild eyes that betrayed his true frustrations. "This is a mask. I can only pretend to give a damn now. I can't fit in with people. I can't have fun with people. I've never had a girlfriend, and I don't even care. Three months ago, our family dog died. I'm so bloody heartless now that I didn't even cry! It's all my fault, for Christ's sake, what's wrong with me?"

The pressure finally got to Kent and he put his head in his hands. He remained in that position, but showed no sign of crying. Trilomon nudged him again, causing Kent to straighten up.

"I'm sorry. That wasn't your problem. You didn't need to hear that." He slumped back, knocking his head against the rock. "Martyaxmon was right when he spoke to me that day. I thought, in this world, I'd be able to make a difference to my life. Help out and become an incredible guy, like Aaron. But no, all the while, I was only thinking of myself."

Trilomon waited, before standing up and nuzzling against his partner. "Thank you for telling me that, Kent."

Kent looked puzzled. "Why? It wasn't important?"

"It's important to you." Trilomon nodded. "You don't need to fight every battle alone. You don't need to rely on your own skills for every problem you come across. You can always talk to me, or Aaron, or Eloise or…anyone."

"Thanks."

"Kent?"

"Yeah?"

Trilomon sat on his haunches, looking for all the world like a dog, looking up at its master. Kent smiled at the memory.

"I'm happy you considered me enough of a friend to tell me all this."

Kent looked surprised for a moment, before his surprise turned into relief, then genuine happiness. He reached out a hand, and rubbed his partner's head.

"Thanks, Trilomon."

Trilomon glanced around, almost sneakily. "You know, we could always just try it one more time."

"Try what?" Kent raised his eyebrows. "Soul evolution? I thought you wanted to give up?"

"I have a plan." If Trilomon had had a mouth, he would have grinned. As it was he got up and walked to the other side of the rock, turning to face his partner.

"You're right about soul evolution being the transfer of energy. But it's also something else. Something more."

Trilomon tapped his chest, as Kent brought his hand to his own.

"We've got a bond, Kent. An elemental link between us. And as much as you provide me energy, so I provide you the same. It's all give-and-take. That's how we grow in power. Together."

Kent thought about it. Then he smiled, and his smile was genuine. "I think I get it. I think I get where I've been going wrong here."

"Then do you want to give it a go?"

Kent reached down and picked up his D-Nexus. "Shall we?"

Trilomon nodded. Kent held out his arms wide, letting the wind blow over him once again. He felt it, cool and alive on his skin. He could feel himself shivering from the cold, and hear it rushing past his ears. This was more than just numbers. This was life itself. He listened. He welcomed.

From deep within his body, he felt the rising power of the element; the element that Trilomon had given him when they'd first arrived. He knew Trilomon could feel it too, and he let it go, an invisible energy swirling between them. Everything they'd shared together during the short time they'd known one another. And beyond. Trilomon could feel Kent's darkest memories, and his brightest moments. Everything was shared. Everything was balanced. Two became one; the stability and the strength of the Earth itself.

Silently, a single tear welled up in Kent's eye, rolling down his cheek.

It wasn't much. But it was a start. And that was enough.

Kent brought his arm forward, and with a gentle voice he spoke.

"Soul Control."

"Evolution Activate."

Trilomon watched in astonishment, feeling the energy coursing through him, as Kent was enveloped by waves of green. At first they moved slowly, almost reluctantly, but as the glow increased they grow bolder, lapping at his feet and travelling up over his torso and head. They swirled and pulsed in time with the insect's heartbeat, and the two began to resonate, causing the glowing figure to grow.

As before, lines of light traced over his body, etching out primal patterns. The light withdrew, and the figure behind was reveal. He was even taller than Dokkamon had been; at least nine-feet tall. His body was covered in strange green crystal, which shimmered even in the dim light of the moon. Covering the crystal were bands of bone and rock; some simple rings around his limbs, and some forming shin and forearm pads. The armour splayed out at the shoulders, the fingers were clawed and the feet carried two wicked looking talons. On his right arm, the Digimon wielded the strangest blade Trilomon had ever seen; made entirely of bone, pronged at both ends, with a single sharp edge running from front to back.

The face was obscured by a bone mask, with crimson crystal in place of eyes. Sharp spines and mandibles protruded out from behind, and Kent's hair had extended, forming a long black ponytail, sealed at the end with two bony rings.

The Digimon breathed in, then out, before calmly speaking.

"Cratomon."

Slowly, the goliath raised his hand, looking down at himself. Inside, Kent could feel the weight of the great body, as he swung his arms and took a few tentative steps.

"Are you okay?" Trilomon's eyes were wide with awe. "Can you control it?"

"Yeah, I…" Cratomon nodded, not quite believing it himself. "This is me. I'm one with the Earth."

Without warning, he took a leap, his muscular legs propelling him into the sky. He landed atop the rock, causing it to violently shake. Cratomon reached up to the sky and let out a great booming laugh.

"I feel INCREDIBLE!"

His laughter was cut short as the rock, obviously sick of all the abuse it had been getting over the past few hours, split down the middle, sending Cratomon tumbling backwards. There was a mini earthquake as he hit the ground, and he sat up rather awkwardly.

"Sorry. Guess I don't know my own strength."

Trilomon rolled his eyes. "Welcome to my world."

Cratomon slowly got to his feet once again. "Still, this is pretty damn fantastic. Hold on, just let me try something."

Trilomon stood back as Cratomon slid his great sabre backward, as the blade began to glow green. He took a step back, holding the position as he aimed into the distance.

"Silurian Sabre!"

In one movement he stepped forward, swinging his sabre round. It slid forward, releasing the green energy in an arc that shot off…into the ground a few metres away. There was an almighty bang and both Cratomon and Trilomon were knocked off their feet. Cratomon began to laugh again as Trilomon inspected the damage.

"Not bad. Not bad at all. Although you could do to work on your aim just a little."

Cratomon got up, and brushed himself down. "I know. But one step at a time. Let's go and show the others."

As the two began to walk back, the sun began to peak over the dusty horizon, illuminating the tiny particles like glitter. It was the beginning of a new day.

Perimon winced as the sunlight hit his face, and he rolled over. When the metal on his helmet began to heat up, he rolled again, groaning, before thinking, "To hell with it." and getting up out of his corner.

He yawned, stretched, and clicked his beak. He could taste dust yet again.

Something felt different, he could feel it.

He looked down at himself. Then he spread his wings, looking at them. "I'm…I'm…Perimon again?"

"I'm Perimon again! Yes!"

With a victory cry he leapt into the air and took flight, for the first time in what felt like a decade. He laughed as he spiraled around the empty cave, before promptly crashing into a wall, sending dust everywhere.

"Okay, so I'm a little out of practice." Perimon brushed himself down, before looking around the cave. "Where is everyone?"

He heard voices coming from outside, and he promptly ran towards the entrance. Everyone seemed to be gathered in agroup, looking at something in the distance.

"Hey guys! Jack! I evolved! I can fly again!"

Next to Grace, Vulpimon turned to look at him. "That's wonderful. Glad to see you're awake."

Perimon humphed. "Well excuse me, princess." He barged in next to his partner, "What's everyone looking at, anyway?"

He took a closer look, and his beak dropped. "Oh…"

Slowly and deliberately, Cratomon was walking towards them. His footsteps were now making only the tiniest tremble in the ground, and Trilomon, trotting along beside him, couldn't help but feel the tiniest bit proud of his partner.

Cratomon stopped just in front of the group, all of whom were still trying to believe it.

"So, um…hi guys. Nice morning, isn't it."

There was silence, before Eloise folded her arms and looked the other way.

"Kent, you are a jammy git!"

Everybody burst out laughing, including Cratomon himself. Eloise stepped forward, Ladomon wrapped around her like a scarf. She reached out a tentative hand, and he took it, being careful not to scratch her. She blushed, looking down at the floor.

"You're in complete control, aren't you. You actually managed to do it."

Cratomon shrugged. "More or less. It takes some getting used to."

"I can imagine." Eloise looked away, embarrassed. "Sorry for, you know, shouting at you. I guess you really did know what you were doing."

She looked up at his mask, unable to tell what he was thinking. Inside, Kent smiled. "On the contrary, you were right the whole time."

She looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Cratomon stood up straight, and looked down at his partner. "I wasn't able to do this on my own, after all."

Trilomon nodded. Eloise held her arm awkwardly, mumbling to herself. "Maybe this is something we're supposed to do. Maybe that's why we're here after all."

Cratomon looked up into the sky. "Wait just a minute, I feel something…"

Everyone stopped talking and listened. Aaron looked concerned. "Is it trouble?"

"I don't know…" Cratomon put his foot flat against the ground, staying quiet for a couple of seconds.

"It's footsteps. Lots of them."

Trilomon bent down and flattened himself against the ground. "He's right. They're coming from the north."

"Let me see!" Before anyone could stop him, Perimon rocketed up into the sky, passing the dust cloud. Grace put a hand on her hip and sighed. "He's such a pain."

Jack grinned. "Yeah, but I like him that way."

The group waited anxiously for a couple of minutes, before Perimon's figure cannoned back down towards them. Grace yelped and leapt to one side as the bird crashed into the bedrock. Vulpimon winced, and Perimon stood up hurriedly. "I'm okay, I'm okay. But I really do need to figure this out again."

"What did you see?" said Aaron, stifling a laugh.

"Um…" Perimon rapped his helmet, before piping up. "Oh yeah! It's a massive crowd of Digimon; they seem to be headed towards something. I think we need to take a look."

"What, Fire Forces?"

"No, they looked more like refugees…"

The group looked at each other briefly, before running off in the direction Perimon had flown. It wasn't long before they saw what he was talking about. There, marching across the wastegrounds, was a mighty crowd of various Digimon. They were moving slowly, but deliberately, heading for what looked like a massive engraving in the rock. Two vast, concentric arcs of steel, that seemed to go on forever.

Ladomon's eyes widened. "We've made it…that's-"

She was cut off before she could finish as a great rumbling started up. The refugees down below mingled around nervously as, impossibly, the arc began to rise. It wasn't an arc. It was a great circular wall, rising up out of the ground as what had looked like solid ground began to open up. There was a grinding of gears as the group saw buildings, stretching up into the sky. The walls grew higher, obscuring the city, but the circle in the centre kept rising, showing itself to be an almighty clocktower, etched with Digicode. The rumbling ceased, and the tamers gaped at the marvel of engineering before them. A vast civilization, hidden under the ground.

Ladomon unwrapped herself from Eloise and proudly stretched out a wing towards the megalith.

"Friends, welcome to Silicon City."