[Video // Second Transformation]

[proveyourmetal]

[For all you night owls out there, Vanguard decides that now (just five minutes past midnight in an abandoned house at the edge of HospiTown) is the perfect time to voice his displeasure.:]

As you are all my witness, there is nothing here, there's no such things as ghosts, and if this rickety old house comes crashing down on our heads, it's Bumblebee's fault.

[Bumblebee shines his flashlight back at Vanguard and the D-terminal with an amused smile, Vanguard gives an indignant scoff.]

I'm not scared. I'm annoyed

[Bumblebee laughs silently, patting Vanguard as he moves past. Vanguard murmurs irately and paws his impeccably groomed mane back into place. Ghosts may not exist, but Digimon ghost types certainly exist. Even the small ones are a pain to deal with, dispatched with a good fireball. But the higher level ones? Best to stay away from those altogether.]

Can we just go now?

[Bee sighs. Fine, they can head home, if that's what he wants. Of course, that's when the camera catches a glimpse of something: moonlight pouring in from a window flickers on the wall behind him, like a shadow dashing across the light. Floorboards in the distance give off a terrible groan, wood creaking under something's weight. The orb of light from Bumblebee's flashlight creeps down the long, dark corridor. The beam hardly penetrates the stifling darkness to reveal a room at the end of the hallway, its door half fallen off its hinges.]

[The D-terminal's camera starts to shake from unsteady hands. And as camera focuses, two slivers of light stare back at them. Soft mumbling carries down the hallway as the D-terminal's shaking intensifies.]

[Bumblebee, stricken more with curiosity and wariness than fear, takes a tentative step forward. Bewildered, Vanguard snatches Bumblebee's sleeve]

What're you doing-!?

[As if in response to the noise, the two slivers of eyes disappear into the dark. A voice that is neither Bumblebee's nor Vanguard's hisses vehemently right next to the D-terminal:]

-can't take it from me!

[The inhuman noise that comes from Vanguard is so panicked and high pitched, it's practically comical. His flailing knocks the flashlight from Bee's hand, and the D-Terminal goes sailing with it. Both hit the ground with a clatter.]

[The last thing the feed picks up is the sound of rapid footsteps in the dark. The feed cuts.]

Comments

[heartdive]

We... We did, really. There was a Phantomon there. He had taken the journal and tried to take Sora from us.

[ which it is obvious that they didn't allow that to happen. ]

When we got him free, we just took a leap out of the window.

[proveyourmetal]

[That gets a bewildered look from Bee. One that eventually turns into stern disapproval. Though... it isn't necessarily at the trio.]

[He spares the kid a glance, if only to make sure again that he's uninjured. He can't see anything, aside from the sprained wrist that he knows Sora already has.

It was reckless to ask Sora to come there for some misguided 'adventure', let alone to go to the hospital. Despite the strong, capable partners that Sora had... Bee takes it seriously that he put someone as young as Sora at risk. He can think of more than one bot that'd probably be disappointed in him.]

[heartdive]

[ ah no. not having any of that. that look and the glances pretty much tell all. ]

Bee. Don't look like that. It's not your fault Sora got hurt. It's mine. I pulled him down when I took off. And you haven't put him in any more danger than he's either put himself in or has found him.

[ don't feel so bad. everything worked out, right? Vixie takes a look at Sora, still holding onto his crest. ]

And if he were awake, he'd tell you that it was all worth it anyway.

[proveyourmetal]

That does sound like something Sora would say.

[He doesn't blame Vixie at all for the risky behavior like she does herself. She's likely the reason Sora got out in one piece. Sora's a good kid, and his digimon take after him.]

[He starts to get up slowly. Vanguard rises to help but Bee just gives him a pat on the head once he's all the way up. No need. He's fine. Bee glances down at Sora and his partner.]

Think we should let them sleep a little longer?

[heartdive]

Nope. They only went to sleep waiting for you... So now that you're up...

[ Vixie grins, leaning over and...

SURPRISE TICKLE ATTACK. and it's super effective in getting Sora up, jumping and knocking into Ryu. shouting and giggling. but Vixie is merciless for all of one minute before letting go and pretending that nothing happened. ]

That's cheating!

[proveyourmetal]

[Well that's one way to get them up. Vanguard groggily places his hand over his ears like he's got a headache, but Bee will be watching the scene, hands on his hips. He's rather relaxed, laughing quietly at the trio.

All's fair in love and naptime, Sora.]</small.

[heartdive]

[ ...And Sora just looks at Bee with a bit of a pout. you aren't helping him. for shame. how could you allow for this to happen, Bee?

but that look fades as he stands up. Ryu grumps, clearly not amused by these kiddie antics. ]

Took you guys long enough to wake up.

[proveyourmetal]

Look at it this way. Least you got some beauty sleep in. I been out of it this entire time, and I feel like I haven't had a wink.

[Blip. Message from Bee] Sorry about that, Sora. We had a bit of an adventure of our own.

[heartdive]

I never feel like I get sleep. Not with these two.

[ Vixie sticks out her tongue at Ryu, handing over D-Terminal back to Sora. ]

Yeah, sounded like it. The big guy said he gave you some memories.

[proveyourmetal]

[Vanguard visibly droops, and Bee's gaze wanders a bit.]

He did. It all happened so fast. Mostly, it was just impressions. Feelings. Moments.

She was a lot like us, Sora. Before she disappeared.

[Vanguard chimes in.] She went home. She's been gone a long time.

[heartdive]

Yeah... We kinda figured that out. The journal that we got was hers.

[ it's a touching thing, really. ]

[proveyourmetal]

They wanted to do so much together before she left.

All three of them.

[heartdive]

Three?

[ this Chosen had a SCOPE too? had Sora known them. ]

[proveyourmetal]

Her. Her digimon [The one with the journal.] And the Phantomon. Things got complicated after she left, I guess.

[He takes a breath, something close to a sigh. Almost like they've seen enough adventure for the night.]

[heartdive]

[ so that's it, huh...

Sora grows silent. almost too silent. there are wheels and cogs working in that mind of his. be warned. ]

[proveyourmetal]

[Bee frowns, seeing that look. It doesn't take a genius to know what may be on his mind.

He'll give the kid a look.

Sora.

Vanguard's the one who says it out loud]

Sora, what're you stirring in that brainpan of yours.

[heartdive]

I have to go back.

[ you can try to stop him, Bee. Vanguard. but the chances of dissuading him on this are slim to none. ]

[proveyourmetal]

[Bee blinks in surprise.] Back where? To the Hospital?

You gotta be kidding me.

[heartdive]

He isn't joking and I'm inclined to agree.

[ with Ryu agreeing with him, Sora knows it's the RIGHT thing to do. getting back up on his feet, he and Ryu start to head for the door. Vixie gives a low whine, but follows after. SHE HATES SPOOKY THINGS. ]

[proveyourmetal]

[Bee looks at Sora for quite some time, crossing his arms as the gears turn in his head. He'd been about to insist his digimon take Sora home. Once he was safely out of the way, he'd intended to deal with this after but...]

There won't be any convincing you otherwise, am I right?

[heartdive]

No way. They're friends. Now they are all they have and instead of spending time together like they should be, they're being stupid and fighting like this.

It needs to stop. Now. She wouldn't want them to.

[proveyourmetal]

[Trust him, Sora. He's already on the same page.]

I'm coming with you.

[heartdive]

Now I feel ten times more safe. Thanks, Bee.

[proveyourmetal]

[He just gives Sora a small nod. He looks off into the dark hallway.]

Just do me one favor, would you?

[heartdive]

[ that has him stopping, fully turning to Bee. ]

What's that?