Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Digimon Tamers: The Next Level ❯ Episode 8: Operation Prodigal Son ( Chapter 8 )
"Prodigal Son," the guard who came up to the bars of Takato's cell said. "You are to come with me."
"Will you quit calling me that?" Takato sneered. "I have a name you know." Since his arrival, only his friends had called him by his name. Everybody only called him 'Prodigal Son,' whatever that meant.
The guard only snorted in derision and led Takato back up the hall and to a flight of stairs. Occasionally, the agent shoved Takato when he felt that the boy wasn't moving fast enough for him. Takato had to fight back the sudden urge to take the guy down, but eventually he was pushed into a small office. He paused when he saw that Shibumi was waiting for him.
"When I get free," Takato threatened, "I'm going to-" He didn't quite know what he would do, but Shibumi wasn't going to like it, that much he was sure of.
"What you are going to do is be quiet and listen," Shibumi snapped. He didn't have time for threats. "And I am going to tell you exactly what is going on here. I'm sure you'd like to hear that."
"I'm listening," Takato said, narrowing his eyes and slightly relaxing his guard. He might as well get something out of it. Shibumi waved him to a seat and he sat down warily, hands still cuffed behind his back.
"I thought as much," Shibumi nodded, sitting behind his desk. He spread his arms wide to take in the entire building. "Welcome to the headquarters of Operation Prodigal Son."
"I keep hearing that ridiculous name," Takato said. "What the hell does that mean, anyway?"
"As you know, you are what we call the Prodigal Son. You are the lynchpin to this entire fiasco. Nothing done so far was without a purpose. For nearly two years, this operation was in the planning stages, setting up a string of events that would work in the operation's favor. Sealing you into the Digital World was only the beginning of it."
"I thought I was sealed in the Digital World because I couldn't be separated from Guilmon without both of us eventually dying."
"And who was it who told you that?" Shibumi prompted, though he already knew the answer. Takato knew it too.
"You," Takato gasped as true realization of his situation began to sink in. The last four years... everything... him being separated from family, friends, loved ones... was it all a deception?
"Exactly. I'm just surprised that such a simple deception had worked. Heck, the temporary seal put in place following D-Reaper's defeat alone was enough to disprove that," Shibumi said out of hand.
"Wait, what? Are you trying to tell me that it wasn't just a side effect of using Juggernaut against D-Reaper? That it was a test?" Takato gaped.
"Yes, Operation Doodlebug became the predecessor to Prodigal Son. It proved that a seal between the worlds was not only possible, but also relatively simple. And that was when Operation Prodigal Son began to form. It was beautiful in its simplicity, but infinitely complex. Such as in a game of chess, everything was planned several moves in advance. The only thing we needed to do was sacrifice a pawn and you were the perfect choice."
"So I was just convenient?!" Takato raged. "I was sent away from my home, my family, my friends, everybody and everything I loved because I was the easiest to manipulate?!"
"I'm afraid so. You were shipped off to the Digital World and the permanent seal was put in place. As I said before, nothing was done without a reason. Even the back door I planted in the ice wall was intentional. It wasn't some act of sabotage on my part; it didn't involve me going behind everybody's back to help a friend. It was all just one more facet of the plan."
"But why? Why put up a barrier that's so easy to penetrate?"
"As far as the public and just about everybody else in the world knows, the seal was designed to keep the Digimon out of the Real World. But, its true purpose was to keep the rest of the world out, so only the people who knew the specifics of the back door could travel. The flaw was buried deep within millions of lines of code, so, offhand, it would take even the fastest computers in the world decades to discover it on their own, and even longer to find a way to exploit it."
"But," Takato broke in. "If somebody was determined enough, and knew the exact specifications of the flaw, the time would be cut drastically."
"Yes! And thus the flaw was 'leaked' to the rest of your friends because we knew they'd do everything in their power to get you and everybody else back in the Real World. Thanks to all of you, what would have taken forever took a mere four years. If we waited long enough, we knew that the Key would fall directly into our laps."
"Key?"
"The Key to travelling between the two worlds. The Key to bringing Digimon back to the Real World. Your D-Band."
"You plan to bring Digimon to the Real World? Why put up the barrier in the first place then?"
"What is the most powerful weapon in the world, Takato? Plainly and simply, it's the one that nobody else possesses. Only we will have the means of bringing Digimon over. Only we possess technology that can stop attacking Digimon. An army of digital monsters would be nigh on unstoppable. Controlling the entire world would be mere child's play."
"You're insane!" Takato boggled. "You actually intend to rule the planet?"
Shibumi shook his head. "Not me. You see, I am as much of a pawn as you are. The only reason I've taken part in this is because…" Here, Shibumi's voice wavered, but he managed to gather his strength and continue. "Because they've threatened the lives of my family if I didn't cooperate. But now, I have second thoughts. I'm honestly not sure which is worse; seeing my family die, or watching them crushed under the weight of oppression. I don't want to see anybody die over this."
"It's too late for that," Takato told him. The operation had already taken its toll, and Rika had paid the price for it. "Somebody has already died."
"You mean Renamon, don't you?" Shibumi said. He laughed out loud as if the very idea was ridiculous. "You forget, we've been watching all of you for years and we've got extensive files on every man, woman, child, and Digimon in your group. I know Renamon would never do something that reckless. She's a smarter warrior than that. She knows that attacking a large group of heavily armed men is just asking to get killed. I'm not sure how she accomplished it, but there is no doubt in my mind that Renamon is alive and well."
"Why should I believe you?" Takato hissed. "How do I know that telling me all this isn't just another goddamn facet of your precious operation? Why else would you do it?"
"Because," Shibumi responded, reaching into his desk. "I know that only you and your friends are capable of stopping this." Shibumi crossed over to where Takato was sitting and took a hold of his handcuffs. Takato tensed, but then he could hear the click of a lock as his handcuffs fell free. "I'm in too deep," Shibumi continued. "This is all that I can do for you. Two weeks is all I can give you! You must stop their plans before it is too late! Now, get out of here!" Shibumi stepped away as Takato rose to his feet, rubbing his wrists. Takato eyed Shibumi warily on the way to the door as the man picked up a package from his desk drawer and tossed it. "Take this too, and remember: it is not only the Key to the Digital World, it is the Key to your own evolution!"
Shibumi watched as Takato sprinted down the hallway back to the staircase. He gave the boy as much of a head start as was safe before, a minute later, he quickly pressed the PA button.
******
"I can't believe this!" Kazu shouted for the tenth time of the hour. "This has to be a dream! I mean, Renamon… Renamon's dead and we're in prison; who knows what's going to happen after this. This has to be the worst day of my life."
"I just wish I could figure out why Shibumi betrayed us," Henry shook his head. "I mean, he's the one who helped us develop everything, and he's the one who sneaked the back door into the ice wall. If it weren't for him, Takato wouldn't even be here. It doesn't make sense that he'd go through all that just to toss us all in prison."
"Nothing's been making sense lately," Kenta added. Hours before, his only thoughts had been of his upcoming date with Alice. There was just something about black that spoke to him. But, now was not the time for such thoughts.
Adding to the confusion, a klaxon sounded throughout the halls, drowning out any potential thoughts. Everybody listened as Shibumi's voice came out of the speakers. "Alert! The Prodigal Son has escaped! Bring him in unharmed!"
******
"The waiting is the hardest part," Rika grumbled, tapping her foot impatiently. "I mean, we've just been sitting here. Nobody's even come to question us."
"That's not a bad thing," Suzie put in. "I'm too young to be interrogated."
"It's not so bad once you get used to it," Jeri joked. "You know, if Takato comes out of this alive, I'm gonna kill him. I really will."
Rika shook her head. "I've taught you too well." Jeri was acting much like Rika had used to.
"Alert! The Prodigal Son has escaped! Bring him in unharmed!"
Finally, Rika thought, some action. "That's our cue, Renamon!" Rika said loudly, standing up straight. Renamon phased into the room, bowing slightly.
"The others are ready and waiting," she reported, flexing her muscles nervously.
"Good. Apparently, Takato's making his escape now, and we need to meet up with him," Rika directed. Shortly after Renamon nodded and faded from the room, Rika attempted to herd everybody to the front of the cell. "All right ladies, back against the bars."
Suzie and Jeri hesitated for a second before scrambling to their feet. They joined Rika in huddling against the bars, even though they didn't know why they were doing it.
******
"What the hell was that??" Kenta screamed as a loud explosion rocked the complex. The three boys got to their feet in shock as, outside, guards scrambled back and forth. Their shock only deepened as a familiar face appeared inside the cell, one they hadn't expected to see again.
"Renamon??" Henry said as the Digimon in question phased into the cell. He saw her die…
"No time to explain!" Renamon said, shoving the inhabitants against the wall. Three, two, one… "Don't move!"
With a tremendous roar, the bricks of the wall exploded into the room in a shower of dust and debris and a voice from outside the building called out, one that Kazu recognized instantly.
"I say! Did someone call for a rescue?" Guardromon said, the grenade ports in his wrists still open.
"Is that really you, buddy?" Kazu asked. His old partner was back!
"Kazu!" Guardromon cheered as the boy in question ran up to give him as much of a hug as he could. Before Kazu pulled away, rapid-fire pings of metal on metal rang out as the guards outside opened fire. None of the bullets were able to penetrate Guardromon's thick armor, so they weren't dangerous.
"Well, that's quite annoying," Guardromon said, sheltering Kazu behind his sturdy metal body. "Could you take care of that, please?"
"Don't worry!" a small voice called back. "I got it! Kahuna Waves!"
Kenta looked on as a massive blue heart surrounded a group of guards and lifted them into the air. They yelled and struggled, but the heart refused to burst. Kenta was pushed backwards as a small pink blur launched itself into his arms. "Marine Angemon!" the boy cheered. "You're back!"
"Kenta! I've missed you!" the petit Mega said happily, nuzzling Kenta's chest.
"Save the re-introductions for later!" Renamon commanded, shoving everybody through the brand new door in the cell opened by Guardromon. "Right now we have to get out of here!" The three boys quickly followed her lead and stepped outside.
They were greeted by a powerful searchlight, and they were all forced to turn their eyes to avoid being blinded.. "Kill that thing!" Renamon yelled, shielding her eyes.
"I'm on it! Gargo Laser!" A barrage of green blasts rang out and the light exploded, raining broken glass on the ground below. "Though it's not like me to give up the spotlight!" Gargomon blew an imaginary puff of smoke off the end of his guns, and cocked them for the next shot.
"Let's go," Renamon said, still leading everybody. "The girls are waiting for us on the other side."
"What about Takato?" Henry asked as Gargomon continued to keep the guards on their feet with his attacks. He was trying very carefully not to harm them, they were just doing their job, despite who they were working for.
A third explosion answered Henry's question, followed by half of the wall caving down. Growlmon let out a loud roar as his claws dug easily through brick and mortar. Takato was riding proudly on his partner's massive shoulder.
"Guess that answers that," Henry yelled as the battle continued behind them. "All that's left is to meet the girls on the other side and get the hell out of here."
"Just one second!" Takato called back, remembering another prisoner they had to rescue. He pointed to a section of the wall and Growlmon nodded, sending one massive clawed hand into the wall. When he brought it back out, Yamaki was held safely in his hand. "Okay, now we can get the girls!"
"No need for that!" Rika called. "We've got out own transportation!"
She came into sight around the corner along with Jeri and Suzie. All three of the girls were riding in the oversized hand of Antylamon who strode quickly over to join the group.
Their plan of escape hit another snag as a voice rang out over the loudspeakers. "Fire the anti-Digimon armaments!" This was quickly followed by the loud bang of a launcher firing. A projectile streaked into the group of Tamers and imbedded itself into the ground, several fins popping out from its surface. A loud, strange hum began to emerge from the machine.
"What the heck is that?" Kenta asked, backing away from the strange device. His question was answered when Growlmon began phasing towards it. Takato let out a squawk of dismay, trying to pull his partner away.
Henry gasped loudly as he remembered what had caused such an effect before. As improbable as it was, he shouted, "Look out! They're using Juggernaut!"