Ajax had since returned to his MedievalGallantmon form, but he still felt the pain from his wounds. Of all the rebels involved in the botched assassination mission, he was perhaps the one least injured. Ajax wasn't sure how that had happened; he faced Imego the longest out of anyone.
He should be the one on the brink of death, not Jager and Tharor.
"We need to save them," Ajax said decisively. "They shouldn't have to suffer for the miscalculations of others." Apollo, Artemis, Arahon, and Braon all nodded their agreement.
"Their digi-cores have been irreparably damaged," the HiAndromon informed. "At present, we don't have the means to save either of them; whatever Imego's attack did to them, we just can't heal them."
"We need to delay their deletion," said Artemis.
"Yes," Apollo agreed. "But there's only one Digimon who can allow such a thing."
Arahon nodded. "Anubis Teth-Adam," he muttered. "The Great Anubismon of the 'Realm Between Life and Death.'"
"How can we reach him?" Ajax asked. "Tell me how and I'll go myself."
"One can't just go and demand something from Anubis Teth-Adam," Arahon answered sadly. "He's a proud being who won't be swayed from his ancient task easily. Getting to his realm is also quite difficult; it involves mastery over the knowledge of death and time."
"So how can we contact him?" Ajax demanded.
"I'll go," Arahon answered. "I can tap into the Alpha-Gain-Force and have it transport me to Teth-Adam's realm. But I don't think the Alpha-Gain-Force will be enough. I need someone who can navigate the 'Realm Between Life and Death.' I need Osiris. As an Anubismon himself, Osiris should be able to navigate the realm and bring us to Anubis Teth-Adam."
"Very well," said Artemis. "I will have someone alert Osiris to these developments. You may leave as soon as he has recuperated enough to navigate Teth-Adam's realm."
Arahon nodded and lifted into the air.
"We have other problems, don't we?" Braon asked.
"Yes, but I didn't want to worry Arahon at the moment," answered Apollo. "We have a traitor in our midst. I have already tasked Trajan the MirageGaogamon with routing out the traitor, but I want you both to keep your eyes open." Ajax and Braon nodded. "This brings us to our next point; we need to find a replacement for Goliath." Apollo turned to Ajax.
"He's dead not twelve hours and you already seek his replacement?" Ajax demanded angrily. "How can you even look yourself in the mirror?"
"Sit down, Ajax," Artemis ordered. "We know this is difficult for you, but consider our position. We need someone to lead in Goliath's stead. We would have chosen Oberon, but he was lost to us as well."
"You can't think that I could lead in his place, do you?" Ajax asked. "I can't. I won't lead."
"We know," said Artemis. "We've chosen his successor already, but we need you to lead regardless."
"What?" Ajax demanded.
"The unit Goliath led; the strike team," Apollo explained. "They need a leader. They were brought together as Goliath's final act, and in their mission a bond formed. I won't see that bond broken, Goliath wouldn't allow it." Ajax wanted to object. "You fear failure; you fear disappointing us. But you are a capable leader. You proved this when you devised the plan that routed Daehak's forces in the jungles. If you fear failure then--to put it simply--do not fail."
Ajax nodded somberly. He stood up, saluted the two Leaders and Commander Braon, and then walked away.
"Ajax," Apollo called out. "When you faced Imego, was he able to match the power of your Crimson Form?"
"Never got the chance to test it," Ajax replied bitterly. "By the time I realized I needed its power, I didn't have the energy left to activate it."
"Perhaps then, not all is lost," said Apollo. Ajax nodded and continued to walk away...
=====
Back in the great forge of the Dramon Empire, Imego stood with the Flamedramon who first crafted the Holy Ring on his arm. He removed the fractured digicore he had taken from Azulongmon and removed the ring as well.
"The problem is," the Flamedramon began. "The power of a single digicore can be depleted. I've adjusted the ring so that it can hold two digicores at the same time. This way, the cores power each other and repair one another if one gets damaged."
Imego took the holy ring back from the Flamedramon and placed it around his arm once again. He closed his eyes and reveled in the vast amount of power that flowed through his body. He held off his transformation for as long as he could, basking in the glow of his own potential.
"Mode Change...Paladin Mode!" Imego called out. He once again donned the white-armored form and grasped the mighty Omni Sword in his hands. "The Dramon Empire had a great victory today," he said out loud. "But I was humiliated; brought down by those insignificant rebels. I must redeem myself."
Imego made his way to the new, temporary palace of the Three Great Dramon.
"Imego," Bahamut the Goldramon greeted. "We are pleased to see you have once again attained your new power."
"Your deeds this day have brought untold glory to the Dramon Empire," said Tiamut the Magnadramon. "For such a glory, we the Three Great Dramon, bestow upon you a new title and station: that of Lord Protector of the Dramon Empire. From now on, you have no equal in the entire Empire, and answer only to us, the Three Great Dramon."
"I am but your humble servant," Imego said with a bow. "My only wish is to serve you and the Empire as best I can."
"And you have served us well," said Krateamut the Megidramon. "Now, Lord Protector Imego, what brings you before us?"
"First I must enquire as to who will take my place as leader of your Air Force," said Imego.
"We have chosen to change the nature of your previous station," said Bahamut. The Air Force shall be led by the Grand Marshal, a warrior of your choosing. The newly formed Navy will be led by the High Admiral, the GigaSeadramon Jormungand."
"I choose Gotungir, the UlforceVeedramon X, as the Grand Marshal of the Air Force," Imego announced.
"A wise decision," said Tiamut. "Bring him before us and we shall bestow upon him his title and a great power to aid him in his new station."
Imego bowed. "I must also make a request. I request to be allowed to redeem myself in the eyes of my Lords and my Empire."
"You have done nothing that warrants redeeming," said Krateamut. "You have served us, the Three Great Dramon, and your Empire well."
"I was humiliated by that small band of rebels," Imego said bitterly. "They brought me low: defeated me. In the eyes of the Empire this is the same as failure, and I must once again prove myself worthy."
"What do you propose to do?" Bahamut asked.
"We must attack the Kingdom of the Celestial Sphere," Imego stated bluntly. The Three Great Dramon stared at him warily, but allowed him to continue his proposal. "As the most powerful of the neutral kingdoms, they must be discouraged from joining with the Rebellion."
"Would an attack not send them on such a path?" asked Tiamut.
"Not if we deal them such a blow that they never recover," explained Imego. "We do not even need to defeat them; we just need to prove--or make them think--that we can. Then I have no doubt that Varodurumon will evacuate the Sphere from the regular plane of the Digital World."
"This is a bold proposition," said Krateamut. "One that we would not consider was anyone else to propose it. But you, Lord Protector Imego, are now our trusted paladin, so we shall take your words into higher consideration."
"Indeed," said Bahamut. "We shall grant you your request. You have our blessings: bring the Kingdom of the Celestial Sphere to its knees. You may bring Gotungir and the Air Force."
Imego bowed his head, smirking to himself as he did, and left the room.
"Is it wise to give Imego such power and rank?" asked Tiamut. "His power may soon come to rival our own. What if he wishes to overthrow us?"
"I doubt such a thing," said Krateamut. "Imego shows complete loyalty to the Dramon Empire and its ideals. We have nothing to worry about."
"Indeed," said Bahamut. "For even if he tries, he is but one, and we are three."
"My Lords," said Daehak as he thundered into their new throne room. "How can I be of service?"
"We have a task for you and the Army, mighty Daehak," said Krateamut. "You shall bring the Army to the lands of the Royal Hive. Decimate them. Bring their leader to his knees; humble him before our might. Make sure that they know what awaits them should they ally themselves with the Rebellion."
"As you will, it shall be done," said Daehak with a bow. He turned and left the room to prepare the Army...
=====
Ajax walked into the medical tent where the members of the strike force--minus Tharor and Jager--were recouperating. He stopped by each of them and made sure they were okay. They were his responsibility now.
"Apollo and Artemis have seen fit to keep this little group together," Ajax announced. "And they've appointed me as the unit's commander and leader. I'm...not to thrilled with this development, but we share a bond forged during battle, and I promise to do my best as your leader." He stood up and glanced over his soldiers. "I won't let you down."
"Neither will we," a voice said.
Two figures strode into the medical tent. One was a powerfully build, red-armored warrior of the Greymon family. The other was a lean, streamlined, blue-armored warrior of the Garurumon line. They were Onaga the EmperorGreymon and Valkur the MagnaGarurumon.
"Meet Onaga and Valkur," Ajax introduced. "They've been assigned to this unit to fill in for Jager and Tharor."
"Tharor was a close friend of mine," said Onaga. "We served together in the Greymon Corps for many years. I share you pain."
"Aye," said Valkur. "Jager and Tharor were among the first that found me after the Dramon Revolution; Onaga and I will not rest until justice has been delivered upon the one who did this to them."
"Fate has brought us together," said Ajax. "And the powers that be have declared for us to remain together until the Dramon Empire has fallen to ash."
"You'll need a name," said Braon as he appeared behind Onaga and Valkur. "All groups of heroes brought together by fate need a name that is theirs and theirs alone."
"We were brought together by vengeance," said Ajax. "Not just for Tharor and Jager, but for the entire Digital World."
"Then that shall be our name," said Onaga.
"What?" asked Ajax.
"The Avengers," Onaga answered.
"Avengers," Ajax whispered, testing how the word rolled off his tongue and echoed through the air. "I like it..."