Digital Souls Pt. 4

By Wanderer D
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The usual Disclaimers Apply.
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Things to take into account,
This is a possibility of the time Matt deserted the group after
talking to Cherrymon and the fight with Tai.
We are assuming that the Digiworld is not only linked with the
Digidestined world.
We are also assuming that time passes faster in X's universe.
(48 hours Digiworld = 302400 hours aprox. X's universe)
This was supposed to be a spamfic, however I think I'll make it a
oneshot.
We are *also* assuming that more than one generation of robots passes
between each of the Megaman X manga and games.
I don't know if that was the plan, but the Digidestined act way more
mature than they should at their age, so I'm taking advantage of that.
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End Rant
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Wily was having trouble breathing. It seemed that liquid fire burned
his lungs every time he tried.

Sparks flew and cables dangled from the ceiling of what used to be
his laboratory. That dragon Reploid had burst out shooting lightning
bolts all around, and burning itself in the process. He hadn't killed
him directly, but there was no way for him to walk out of this one.

And he didn't want to. An overhead speaker announced that only two
minutes remained for the launch, but Wily wasn't interested in that.

What had stricken him was the evident pain in the female Reploid's
voice as she tried to convince this one to go with her.

The voice from the speakers started the count back to cero.

It seemed that their creations had achieved a state far beyond what
he and Light had imagined. Somehow, they had given real life to these
beings. A soul.

"Light, if you could only see them now..." Wily whispered just as
the count reached cero.

***

Thirty kilometers away, the door to the Hunter's ship had just been
closed and the still frozen Afroman had been shoved into the back of
the storage room when they saw the explosion through the front window.

Gabumon shouted and closed his eyes tightly as the brilliant flash
hurt his eyes.

"Zero, will the ship survive the Electromagnetic wave?!" X asked
worriedly.

Peregrin did a quick check. "Yes! But we'll have to wait for it
to pass before activating anything!"

Gabumon looked up at Matt in confusion. "Electroma-what?"

Zero grabbed Gabumon's shoulder with one hand, and slipped the other
over Peregrin's shoulders as he braced himself. Peregrin looked in
surprise at him, but he only smiled.

"You'll find out what it is just about... now." Unexpectedly, the
ship shuddered and sparks flew out of the consoles. It lasted a few
seconds before finally dying down.

Zero let go of Gabumon. And looked over to X. "Let's go home, X."

Gabumon crawled onto a seat and curled up. "Yes... home..."

***

Gabumon was escorted to the computer room where his friends were
waiting for him. In the weeks after returning, Gabumon had become the
Maverick Hunters' official pet. Some reploids even going to the
extent of making a caricature of him on a few of the ships.

Between that, the disappearance of the last Mavericks, Zero's
harmonica and the apparent romance between Zero and Peregrin, and the
rumors of Zero's unit going out on an ultra secret mission, the group
had had their hands full.

But now, after finally recuperating, and after some research Dr. Cain
had done with the Digivice and the computer Gabumon had come out from,
they had found a way to send the group -minus Afroman who had been
transferred after his own soliciting- back to the Digiworld.

Dr. Cain had been horrified when he and Peregrin had heard the whole
story for the first time, and had agreed to send Matt and Gabumon back
to the Digiworld immediately. This had caused Peregrin to grab Zero
and kiss him, stopping only to tell him that she would not stay back
and let him go.

X had also insisted on going with them, causing Dr. Cain to panic.
Finally X had told him that he would stay with the Hunters for a few
years to ensure the future survival of their world. 

But X had also decided that Light's wish for his free choice would
have to be maintained too, and that when everything was over and a
cure for the Maverick virus discovered, he would follow his heart and
go wherever it took him. And he had a feeling that it was also where
his true friends were going.

A little calmer, Dr. Cain had apologized for his reaction and
acknowledged X's wish for a fresh start, thanking him for staying here
with them.

With that over, Dr. Cain had gathered two groups of scientists. One
to help him with the Digivice, and the other to design a way for Zero
and Peregrin to store their armors so that they would at least look
more human. -Dr. Cain had decided that a more human-looking image would
help Zero's parents (the idea still boggled him) to accept his new
state.-

The answer seemingly came with an innovative discovery a colleague of
Dr. Cain had done a few days before. He was able to create small
openings into dimensions with a strong electromagnetic inversed
pulse that could be adapted to just changing their clothes for armor
or vice versa. He had called it subspace or something like that.

The problem was that his machine weighed several metric tons and was
still on development.

Thus, the idea was dropped. And just when everyone was about to give
up, X had changed into his Axe Spin uniform to help the gardeners. He
had been quickly grabbed and analyzed. 

Although the system was complex, -it seemed that only Wily or Light
had the know how-, they had managed to enable them to substitute 
their armors with clothes and back into their armor. The only things
that they wouldn't be able to change were their hands, since they
were armored 'naturally'.

Now, after all those weeks, they were finally ready to go. The only 
ones there were Dr. Cain, X, Peregrin, Gabumon and Zero.

"I'll get to you guys as soon as all is over here." X assured them.
"Since it won't be much time for you, expect me at any moment!" he
added cheerfully.

Zero nodded and clasped X's hand, shaking it firmly. "I know we will
see you almost as soon as we get there."

Peregrin hugged X. "We'll be waiting."

Gabumon and X also shared a hug. "Thank you for everything, X. You've
been a true friend."

X smiled a little sadly. "You too Gabumon, although we've only known
each other for a short time and that I had to pay for that sandwich."

Gabumon chuckled, blushing slightly as he stepped back.

"Ok, Zero, you'll be able to go back by concentrating and touching
the computer's monitor. Peregrin hold on to him. You too Gabumon."
Dr. Cain instructed.

They followed instructions, Peregrin holding Zero's hand and Gabumon
hers.

"Ready?" Zero asked as he closed his eyes and touched the screen.

With a flash, only X and Cain remained in the room.

"Later, Zero." X whispered to the monitor.

***

Colors swirled, and in seconds the three were standing in the middle
of an old city.

"Well, I think it's time to change into our 'civilian' clothes,
Peregrin." Zero said, turning towards her, still holding her hand.

Peregrin took a moment to look around, noting the new surroundings of
the digiworld. She then nodded and activated the change. Soon, her
black armor disappeared, leaving a young teenager girl in jeans,
a white shirt, boots, tied ponytail of long lustrous brown hair
and her two metallic wings and gauntlets.

Zero had also changed into a pair of jeans, a green shirt not unlike
the one he used to use, a ponytail of blonde hair and his metallic
gauntlets.

"Too bad about the wings. Otherwise you would've looked just like a
beautiful young human girl, instead of a beautiful angel." Zero
commented, earning a blush from Peregrin.

"Oh, and one thing, you should call me Matt now. It's my real name,
after all." Peregrin nodded.

"Sure, Zer- Matt. How should I be called then?"

Matt looked down at Gabumon helpless. The Digimon shrugged.
"Why don't you stick with Peregrin? It's your real name, after all."

Peregrin thought for a moment. "Okay, but only until I find a more
suitable name."

"How about Jessie?" Matt asked.

"You like it?"

Matt blushed at the attention, but nodded.

"Then Jessie it is." Jessie said smiling.

Matt smiled back at her. "We'll have to capture that Pikachu!"

Jessie looked at him curiously. "Huh?"

Matt shook his head. "I'll tell you later." 
He turned towards a strange mountain in the distance. It seemed
that it was somehow hollow and pieces of it were missing.

"Well Gabumon, you know where T.K. and the others were going?"

Just then they heard explosions nearby. Without sparing so much
as a glance at each other the Matt, Gabumon and the newly
baptized Jessie started running in the general direction of the
explosions.

"And I thought this world would be a lot more peaceful!"
Jessie commented as they ran.

"It's not normally like this!" Gabumon answered, running on
behind her. "This is happening because of the influence of
the Dark Masters!"

They ran until a huge skyscraper went down after receiving one
of Machinedramon's Giga attacks. The Dark Master was covered by
a cloud of debris, and when it had finally settled, he had 
disappeared.

"Matt! I think I heard screams coming from inside the building!"
Gabumon said.

"Yes, I noticed too." Matt said worriedly. They ran up to the remains
of the building, noticing a huge hole in the center.

"We have to find a way to get down there." Matt said, facing his two
companions.

"I could fly you down, but we'll have to make two trips..." Jessie
said.

Matt shook his head. "Fly Gabumon down, I'll jump."

Gabumon looked at Matt worriedly. "Are you crazy? You could kill
yourself!"

Matt smiled, jumped up, and just as he was descending dashed up again,
then landed smoothly on the ground. "I'll just make an upwards dash
before hitting the ground. Don't worry about me."

Gabumon looked uncomfortable for a moment, but nodded. Jessie slid her
arms under his and picked him up easily. She then jumped into the hole,
opening her wings and spiraling down slowly. Matt took a running leap
and let himself fall down swooshing past his two companions.

As they saw Matt fall down, Jessie noticed Gabumon's discomfort.
"Hey, I'm not letting you fall, so relax, Gabumon!"

Gabumon looked up at her. "It's not that. I've just got the feeling
that Matt doesn't need me anymore."

Jessie blink blinked. "Why's that?"

"Well, living as Zero made him mature a lot faster, and now he's
much more capable of taking care of himself than I can."

Jessie smiled at Gabumon. "That's not true! Zero, I mean Matt, hasn't
been happier in all the time he's been with the Maverick Hunters than
when you arrived!"

"Really?"

Jessie nodded. "Yup. Maybe he's stronger now, but few people can boast
of having friends like you, and as for protection, Zero can't fight
everything alone. That's what you and I are for, champ!"

"Matt, not Zero." Gabumon corrected, smiling back.

"Matt." She acknowledged.

***

They finally made it down to where Matt was waiting for them, standing
next to a river.

"I've checked around here, and I didn't find anything. I think they
fell into the water and were dragged away by the current."

"Well, then we'll just walk along the side it until we find them."
Jessie reasoned.

Matt nodded and the three started walking.

They walked for a few hours, they had heard distant machines, but they
had stuck to the water since they thought it would be easier to find
the others that way. Suddenly they heard a loud explosion and shouts.
Running to the origin of the newest event, they found Andromon trying
to stand up again next to a hole in the wall.

"Andromon!" Matt and Gabumon yelled in stereo. They ran up to him to
help him stand as Jessie took a look at one of Zero's friends.

Andromon looked a lot like a very tall human or reploid, heavily
armored in a gray metal. A skull-like helm covered his head and face,
leaving his lower jaw uncovered. She noticed an over developed canine
sticking out of his mouth.

"Matt?" Andromon asked holding a hand to his head. He was obviously
in a bad condition. "You have to help the other Digidestined! They
are inside with Machinedramon!"

Matt nodded. "Will you be okay?"

"Yes. Go help them, I'll get to you as soon as I get my bearings
back."

Matt motioned to Jessie and Gabumon to follow him as he jumped into
the hole.

As soon as he was out he saw Machinedramon blowing the numemon into
digidust, Kari, T.K., Izzi, Tai and Sora were standing protectively
over their Digimon as the metallic tyrannosaur took a step towards
them.

***

Things were not looking good for the Digidestined. Their digivolved
friends had been no match for Machinedramon, who had just batted them
away like they were nothing. To make matters worse, the numemon had
tried to save Kari and had attacked the Dark Master only to be wiped
out without a second thought.

Now, Machinedramon was about to crush them.

Just as the gigantic Dark Master was about to take another step,
something slammed to his side. The evil Digimon flew to the other
side of the room, where he crashed against the wall.

"You leave my brother and friends alone, you bastard!"

Tai and the others stared in awe at Matt as he shook a gauntleted
hand at the recuperating Machinedramon.

"Another Digidestined. My work has been only made easier."
Machinedramon commented as he stood to his full height, towering
above everyone in the room.

"Brother!" T.K. shouted standing up.

"T.K.! Stay there! Tai, Izzi, Sora! Grab him!" Matt ordered.

Realizing that Matt wasn't kidding they grabbed T.K., who struggled
to get free.

"Calm down, T.K.! Matt must have a plan!" Tai said. This calmed down
T.K. a little.

"Gabumon, Jessie!" Matt called.

Jessie ran up to Matt, ignoring the surprised stares of the kids and
their Digimon at her metallic wings. Gabumon stopped next to them.

"We'll have to take down Machinedramon before he tries his Giga Blast."
Both his friends nodded, as they did a semi circle around Machinedramon.

Matt took his Digivice out and pointed it at Gabumon. "Metalgarurumon!"
Gabumon was surrounded in a white light as he digivolved.

"Gabumon digivolve..." the Digimon shouted, then his voice was replaced
by the menacing baritone of "Metalgarurumon!"

Tai and the others were very surprised. "Wow!" was all that Sora
could say.

Machinedramon was now in the middle of the three fighters, just as he
tried a sweep at Jessie, Metalgarurumon tackled him from behind,
sending him flying towards Matt.

The Digidestined cried in dismay as their friend was about to be
crushed by the gigantic Digimon.

But Matt moved incredibly fast towards the monster and did an uppercut,
sending the Dark Master into the air. Jessie jumped into the air too,
and flying over her enemy she blasted him to the ground, where he
impacted creating a large crater.

The others couldn't believe their eyes, those had been less than five
seconds. Just as they were about to cheer Machinedramon let out a roar
and fired his Giga Blast at Metalgarurumon, who took it fully.

Matt, Jessie and the present Digidestined ran towards their fallen
comrade as Machinedramon came out of his crater.

Metalgarurumon unevolved back to Gabumon. "I'm sorry Matt, I have no
energy left. I used it up to survive that Giga Blast."

"It's okay, my friend. I should've imagined that the Dark Masters
would be a little tougher than our other enemies. Peregrin and I will
take care of this."

Gabumon smiled. "Good luck then, Zero." he managed to say before
losing consciousness.

The kids looked from Gabumon back to Matt not understanding a word.
Matt looked up at Jessie and nodded, standing up.

"Looks like it's time to Digivolve, Jessie." Matt smiled sadly at
T.K.

Jessie nodded. "Right on, boyfriend."

The two jumped away from the Digidestined and to both sides of
Machinedramon, who had to look at them instead of the Digidestined,
since he had sensed them a greater threat.

"Did she say 'boyfriend'?" Sora asked a bewildered Biyomon.

Matt smiled at Jessie as he raised his arm into the air.
"Matt digivolve into... Zero!"

Gatomon developed a sweatdrop. "Just what does he think he's he doing?!
Humans can't digiv..." she stopped when a white energy ran through
Matt's body leaving a red armor behind its wake.

"Jessie digivolve into... Black Peregrin!" Jessie said, following
Matt's lead and raising her right arm.

Everyone stared in surprise as she was also surrounded by the white
energy. She was surrounded by her black armor and her right hand
replaced by her blaster. She breathed in relief. She liked her armor
better than her 'civilian' clothes.

"Or none at all," she thought to herself glancing at Zero.

The Digidestined looked at their Digimon in surprise. Everyone was
shocked. They couldn't believe what was happening.

For that matter, neither could Machinedramon. His scanners were
going wild as they analyzed his enemies. They didn't have as much
power individually as he or Piedmon did, but together...

Zero flashed out his sword. "I did warn you against harming my
friends!"

Peregrin started gathering energy until her body glowed with
contained power.

Sensing the attack, Machinedramon turned around and pointed his
arm gun at her.

"I don't think so!" Zero shouted as he jumped and dashed past
the Dark Master, his sword flashing.

Machinedramon could only stare as his gun slid into two parts,
cut clean by Zero's sword.

Peregrin shot the monster with her charged blaster, slamming him
against another wall in the room. The blast had dragged Machinedramon
across the room lifting a heavy cloud of dust.

Kari's tag suddenly started glowing. Zero and Peregrin felt themselves
refreshed suddenly, as did Gatomon, Agumon, Gabumon, Patamon, Biyomon
and the returning Andromon.

Tai looked at his Digimon. "Agumon! Digivolve!"

"Right!" Agumon nodded. "Agumon digivolve... War Greymon!" Peregrin
was able to witness yet another digivolution as the small velociraptor
like creature transformed into an armored reptile man. A metal helm
covered its head, and he had some sort of leather armor covering his
chest. Metallic boots covered his feet and he had some sort of spiked
gauntlets that reached from his forearm to his knees, giving him a
longer reach in combat.

War Greymon opened the shield on his back and flew into the dust 
cloud.
Everyone heard a few grinding noises and as the dust cleared they
were able to see War Greymon standing infront of Machinedramon.

As they looked in surprise, Machinedramon is slid in half, then
turns into digidust.

War Greymon unevolved into Agumon seconds later, dropping exhausted
to the ground.

***

Two groups stood facing each other. To the right, a young man with
blonde hair tied in a ponytail, red metallic gauntlets, blue jeans,
and a green shirt.

Standing next to him, a girl with black metallic wings and gauntlets,
wearing a white shirt, blue jeans and boots.
She had brown hair also tied in a ponytail.

Standing slightly infront of them was a strange creature that looked
like a small yellow dinosaur covered with a wolf pelt.

The other group was composed of five kids, and five strange creatures.
The first with unruly brown hair held back by a pair of goggles.
He had a blue shirt, shorts and white gloves.

Standing next to him was a small red velociraptor like creature. To
their right stood a girl with a pink T-shirt, a blue bicycle cap, and
blue jeans, next to her stood a chocobo-like pink bird with a bracelet
on its left leg. 

The second boy had his hair cut short, and was carrying a backpack
with a laptop inside.

A Ladybug-like creature stood on it's two legs next to him.

Infront of them stood two younger kids, a boy in a green shirt, pants
a cap and a small flying creature that looked like a hamster with
wings. And a girl in a pink dress with a catlike creature that stood
on its hind legs.

"Well, Matt..." The boy with the goggles started. "It's good to have
you back!" Tai finished smiling. He walked up to Matt and shook his
hand, noting the metallic gauntlet.

"Brother!" The little kid shouted jumping onto Matt's arms.
Matt hugged his younger brother carefully.

"Hello T.K.! How've you been?" He asked holding him at arms length
but still keeping him on eye level.

"Great! We managed to beat Puppetmon!" T.K. shouted happily.

Matt nodded, still smiling, he looked at his partner. "Jessie, this
is T.K., my younger brother."

Jessie smiled. "Hello, T.K.!" Matt let T.K. go as he was greeted by
Sora, Agumon and Biyomon with another hug.

"We were worried about you!" Sora said, stifling a tear. Matt patted
her back reassuringly.

"Hey, I'm alright!" Matt assured her.

Meanwhile T.K. was apparently assessing Jessie to see if she was good
enough for his brother. Thinking this, she tried to stifle a smile.

Finally stopping before her, he crossed his arms, pretending to be
serious. "Are you really Matt's girlfriend?" He asked her.

Jessie nodded smiling at him. T.K. smiled back and hugged her.
"Are you gonna get married?!" He asked looking at her straight in the
eye.

"Wha-" She stammered.

Sora looked smugly at Matt as he turned beet red.
"T.K.!"

"Oh, hit a spot there, Matt?" Sora asked poking him in the chest.

"N-no..."

"I think we should continue up Spiral Mountain and fight Piedmon."
Andromon interrupted them.

Tai looked at the big android in feigned disgust. "You're no fun,
Andromon!"

Andromon blinked at him and Tai shook his head. "Forget it, Andromon."

He turned and looked at the group. "Well, we have to go, guys."

Everyone nodded and Biyomon digivolved at Sora's request.

Jessie watched mesmerized Sora's Digimon evolve.

The small pink bird was surrounded by light and it started growing
as it was surrounded by fire, like a phoenix... only... with fangs?

As soon as Biyomon had finished her conversion into the gigantic
Birdramon the kids and smaller Digimon got on her.

Birdramon tried to pick up Matt, but had to give up after a second
try.

"I'm sorry Matt!" The big bird said after a moment. "You weigh as
much as Andromon!"

Everyone stared at Matt.

"It's okay!" Jessie said, stepping forward. "I'll fly the two of us
up."

"Are you sure you can?" Birdramon asked.

Matt slipped his arm around Jessie's waist, passing his other arm
on her back and grabbing her shoulder. They stared at each other
for a moment, before Jessie answered.

"Uh... yeah, no prob."

To make her point she jumped up and started beating her wings
slowly. To Birdramon's surprise she could handle Matt's weight
without a problem.

Shrugging it off, the Digimon also lifted up along with Andromon,
who used a jet pack on his back to shoot up alongside them.

Tentomon also digivolved into a giant humanoid-insect with horns
and wings. "Kabuterimon!"

Izzi straddled Kabuterimon's back.

"Let's go guys!" Izzi shouted.

"This is going to be a long flight." Matt muttered looking up at
Spiral Mountain.

"I'm not complaining..." Jessie said to his ear.

Matt became as red as his armor.

"Hey, you guys! Get a room!" Tai shouted from Birdramon's back.

"TAI! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

Tai leaned back and smiled at Sora, ignoring Matt's rants.

***

They had been flying up for ten minutes already, and by now
Sora was bored out of her mind. Tai had fallen asleep between
Gabumon and Agumon, but she had many things troubling her,
like Matt and his girlfriend's digivolution.

"Hey, Matt!" She called.

Jessie shared a look with Matt and approached the giant bird.

"Yeah?"

"You never explained how you digivolved. Is that a new power
we're going to get along the way?"

Gabumon opened his eye a slit and watched and heard silently.

"Uh," Matt looked nervously at T.K., who was looking at him
with interest. "No, it's... it's the gauntlets! They let me
Digivolve..."

"Cool!" T.K. exclaimed. "Can I borrow them and see what I digivolve
into?!"

"Uh, sorry, T.K., but I can't take these off." Matt answered.

Sora noticed that Jessie was looking at Matt with a hurt expression,
then she turned and looked in another direction, pressing her lips
together.

"There's more to those metallic gauntlets than meets the eye." She
thought to herself.
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End Part 4


Hey! I still need all the mails I can get! Bursts my ego! HA!
Anyway, thanks for all the responses I've got, an I hope to see them
multiply! Remember, write whatever you want as long as it's either
constructive or a 'great fic' kind of mail!

Thanks again!

Wanderer D