Author's Notes: Additional parts of this story are still being worked on.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Various. Mainly Ken/Davis.
Written: 2003
Cold, dark, and damp. That was the best way to describe the caverns winding their way beneath the Imperial City. The air held the bone gnawing cold of deep earth, a chill that took hours in the sun to fully dispel. The darkness was such that it swallowed the light of the lanterns not in a gloom of gray or black, but eerie blue. The damp dripped from above, creating small ripples in the black water of the lake.
None of the occupants of the small wooden boat were happy to be there. Davis poled the boat, walking from front to back with the pole in the water. Then he'd remove the pole walk back to the front, and repeat the gesture. Back to front, front to back, forcing the small craft ever closer to their destination.
Matt sat near the back, checking the water with a small lantern. Mud wraiths were common even this far under the city. All it would take was a well-placed tail slap and even a flat-bottomed boat like this one would capsize.
"You don't have to look so worried, Tai. It's not like I haven't done this before," Kari said from her place near the front. Her brother sat beside her, running a nervous hand through his hair.
"I know. But that was over three years ago. He," Tai turned the word into a bitter expletive with his emphasis, "has remodeled the main temple since then."
"The floor is slicker for one thing. The dais steps are steeper as well." This came from Davis, as he poled the boat forward a few more feet. "I talked to Yolei earlier. She was telling me what Kari could expect." The last was said with a smile, a quick flash of white teeth in the darkness as he walked back to the stern.
"How is Yolei doing?" Matt asked, never taking his eyes from the water. It was flat except for the wake of the boat. Which was as it should be.
"Pissed," Davis replied. "She hates having the cast on her leg. Says it interferes with everything. Cody thinks Yolei's going to kill something if she has to spend one more... SHIT!"
With a quick movement, Davis shoved the boat hard to the left. Inches from the boat a piece of rock splashed into the water. Water sprayed the boat's occupants in icy cold droplets. Kari grabbed onto one side, Tai another as the boat bobbed and rocked on suddenly turbulent water. Matt barely managed to hold onto the back lantern. The front lantern swung violently on its mooring, throwing wild shadows.
"Sorry about that," Davis said. His chagrined tone of voice made it seem like Davis thought he was personally responsible for the falling ceiling. "That's been happening more and more often lately. The foundations of the city are falling down around our ears and the people and digimon above don't even realize it."
"Do you think... He knows?" Kari asked. Davis gave a short bark of laughter.
"I don't know. I'd say he has no clue, but this is the Emperor were talking about. Sam seems to have this uncanny ability to know everything whether we want him to or not."
"Davis!" Tai's voice was disapproving. Davis looked sheepish. "Don't just say His name like that. Not now. Not when we're on a run like this."
"Sorry, sorry. I know, it's bad luck and everything." Davis moved up the boat again before continuing. "I just think it's funny. I mean, he's just a kid like you or me. It's not like he is a powerful mage or can read minds."
"He might as well be able to, as many times as he's foiled our plans," Matt replied. "Landings up ahead. Tai, you want to get the ropes ready? I wanna keep an eye on the water."
"I'm on it. Davis, you were down here earlier. The dock still in good shape?" Tai asked as he began to unwind the rope from the bottom of the boat. Kari moved to help him, but was waved back to her seat. "I got it."
"It's in pretty good shape." Davis laid the pole in the bottom of the boat. They would drift the last stretch to the dock. "Might get Sora down here to replace a few of the boards sometime next month. Shouldn't have any problem today. Rot's not that bad yet."
"Here it is." They had slowed to crawl. Tai stood as they drew even with the dock, throwing a loop of rope around one of the posts before tying it securely to the front of the boat. Davis was the first to step onto the dock. Wood creaked and protested under his weight.
"A hand, my lady?" he said with a bow. Kari smiled and took his offered hand. Davis helped her to the more secure dock. Tai made the transition from moving boat to stable wood on his own. Matt remained in the boat.
"So, which one of us is going to stay with the boat?" Davis asked.
"I will," Matt stated. "You go on Davis and be Tai's back-up."
"Sir, yes sir!" Davis saluted as he said it. Kari laughed, Tai smiled, and Matt was not amused.
They climbed over the rough fall of stone on hands and knees, fingers finding well worn holds. Above them was a rusty metal grate. A small landing stood directly below the grate, careful hewn from the rock with hammers and axes. It was barely big enough to hold the three children.
"Right. Here's the stuff Jenai made up for us." Tai handed Kari two flasks full of green liquid. "You'll have to get both bottles into the bowl in order to put all the watchdragons to sleep. You'll have from the time Wormmon leaves the room to pull the gate switch till the time the gate opens. It's less than a minute. You'll have to cross the room at a dead run."
"Tai, you keep forgetting I've done this before. I know what to do," Kari said with all the exasperation a little sister can have for an older brother. Tai looked unimpressed.
"I know you've done it before. I'm just worried. Those things may not be as vicious towards girls as they are guys, but they still have fangs and claws. I don't want you getting hurt."
"I will be fine," Kari said. Above they could hear the screech of metal gears. Wormmon had entered the room above.
"Time to get ready Kari. Hand me your shawl. It might get caught on something." Kari complied, handing Davis the shawl she had used to keep the chill of the cavern from tightening muscles. She was about to hand Davis her crest, but Tai stopped her.
"No, keep it. I don't think it'll get caught on anything."
While Davis hung the shawl up on a jagged piece of rock as Tai made a step with his hands. Kari put her foot in it and was lifted up the grate. It gave with very little effort, well-oiled screws preventing much of the noise. One small push moved it over and out of the way. She slid belly first along the stone floor. The bottom of a massive stone chest was just inches above her head.
"Don't look at the gate." This advice came as Wormmon finished checking the bowl. One of the watchdragons howled with hunger. "Focus on the bowl. Don't look at the gate." Tai voice was steady and reassuring as Kari slithered out from under the stone chest. She crouched right beside it, her heart racing. "Focus on the bowl. Focus." They heard Wormmon muttering to himself until it faded.
"Now!" Kari stumbled at the first step, hesitating for a brief second. "NOW! GO!"
She was across the room at a dead run. Davis had been right, the floor was slicker than she remembered, but her sneakers gripped it well. The steps up to communal food bowl were taken in one leap. A wrong landing nearly sent her sprawling, but she managed to regain her feet. There was a panicky moment where she couldn't get the cork out of the first bottle. It finally came free with a small pop. Once the green liquid was dumped in, Kari opened the second bottle. It was easier and faster than the first. She jammed the two empty bottles in her belt and turned to run back.
"Come on Kari... come one. Run. Run," Davis whispered the words as he watched Kari stumble down the stairs. Tai could barely hold him up, but he did well enough that Davis could stick his head through the hole and watch. Five steps away. Then four. Then three. She was close enough that Davis could see the sweat on her forehead. Behind her two watchdragons raced towards the food dish, intent on filling their bellies before any of the others.
Then a single clawed blue-black foot blocked his view.
"Fuck!" Davis said as Kari skidded to a halt, falling backwards on her butt to keep herself from plowing head first into the creature. The watchdragon roared trying to claw his way under the heavy stone chest to get at the boys below. Another watchdragon joined the first, and the air was filled with their roars as Kari tried to figure out a way to get to the hole without getting ripped to shreds.
It was then that one the watchdragon's noticed her. It hissed, low and menacing at Kari, as it advanced forward. Kari slowly backed on feet and elbows, trying not to make any sudden moves. She was well and truly caught. And if Wormmon didn't come back in to see what the commotion with the watchdragons was about, she was also well and truly dead.
Davis was never one to sit idly by. He tried to throw himself forward, onto the floor and towards his friend. Tai prevented it, instead yanking downward on the other boy’s legs. The grate clattered against stone as Davis clawed at it, trying to prevent himself from being yanked away from Kari. He was unsuccessful and Tai managed to drag him back down into the cavern.
"What the Hell do you think you're doing? Kari is in trouble!" Davis yelled as he landed awkwardly on his knees. Tai stood over him, breath laboring.
"Do you think I don't know that? We can't help her, not if we're dead. She's on her own. Kari's smart, she'll be okay," Tai said. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself as well as Davis. The younger boy didn't notice.
"She's your fucking sister. How can you just leave her?"
"I can't, but there nothing we can do."
Wormmon's voice cut through the snarls above. Both boys looked upward at the sound. Kari was safe from the watchdragon's fury, but she also had been captured by the Emperor's digimon. Davis and Tai glared at each other for one more moment. Then Tai started back down the rock face.
"Come on. Let's go. We need to tell Jenai about this."
Davis made a rude gesture at the older boy. He picked up Kari's shawl from where it still hung. By pressing his face into it he could feel her warmth, smell her scent. Then he was scrambling down the rock face, shawl securely wedged in his pocket.