Daybreak brought no news at all to the surface. As far as the digidestined and their partner digimon knew Tai was still missing.
As each of the groups woke up, ate breakfast, and prepared for the day they discussed their next phase of action.
"Groups 2 and 3 are nearing the area where the Digimon Emperor's base still lies in ruins." Izzy said, looking over the map "Intrestingly enough the base still seems to be transmitting a faint signal of some sort. It's possible that it could be attempting to contact other worlds. In any case we should look into this. Who knows? This could just lead us to Tai."
"So you want me, Ken, and Yolei to work alongside Kari, T.K., and Cody and investigate that place?" Davis asked.
"That's the idea." Izzy said "I'll probably stop by with my group later to see how things are coming along. But be careful, that base has not been touched for a very long.There's no telling what could've made that place its home in the time since our last visit."
"Gotcha Izzy. We'll be careful." Kari said.
"See that you do." Izzy said "Best of luck."
Kari quickly relayed the orders to T.K., Cody, Agumon, Patamon, Gatomon, and Armadillomon. T.K. and Cody weren't exactly thrilled with them.
"Do we really have to go back to that place?" T.K. asked.
"Yeah. I mean what if we get ambushed or something?" Patamon asked "What happens then?"
"We'll just have to keep our guard up." Kari said.
"For all the good that will do us. Besides that place is nothing but a reminder of what the forces of evil can do." Cody said "If you ask me I say we should just not bother with it and continue our search as it was."
"Well I'm sorry guys, but orders are orders." Kari said "And I can't do this alone. So are you with me?"
T.K. and Cody reluctantly decided, against their better judgement to say yes. Soon everyone had hopped aboard Angemon, and they set off for the base.
No one was surprised to see how run down the former base looked when they arrived. It had been sitting there, decaying for almost a year by now. But simply looking at it brought back painful memories of Ken's time as the Digimon Emperor.
"Well... here we are." Davis said reluctantly.
"Hey look, there's group 3!" Yolei cried out. She promptly waved them over to where she, Ken, and Davis were standing.
"So, who's going to take the lead here?" T.K. asked.
"I say we let Ken lead." Wormmon said "He probably knows this place inside and out."
"That's some sound logic there Wormmon." Agumon said.
"All in favor say 'aye'." Kari said. Everyone except for T.K., Cody, Yolei, and Ken himself, did so.
"Sorry Ken, but the 'ayes' have it." Gatomon said.
"I know." Ken said with a sigh "Well, the sooner we go inside the sooner we can leave." And with that he led Davis, Veemon, Yolei, Hawkmon, Wormmon, Agumon, Kari, Gatomon, T.K. Patamon, Cody, and Armadillomon into the base.
The inside wasn't much better then the outside. Broken and rusted machinery of all shapes and sizes littered the hallways, and were it not for the flashlight that Ken was using it would've been impossible to see anything. But everyone could still hear what sounded like the faint hum of a generator. Clearly someone, or something was still active in this place. And they were going to find out who, or what that was.
But as they rounded a corner they found their path suddenly blocked. A massive pile of debris made it impossible for them to go any further. But they could see a light in the distance. They could not afford to turn back now.
"I'll clear this rubble in no time flat!" Veemon said. He tried to digivolve, only to find that he couldn't. He didn't have the strength.
"Well this isn't good. Ex-Veemon is the most powerful lifter in our arsenal. Now what are we suppose to do?" Yolei asked.
"Maybe Ankylomon can help us." Armadillomon said.
"It's worth a shot." Cody said "Go for it!"
Armadillomon, digivolve to, Ankylomon!
(Digivolution complete)
"Stand back! Tail hammer!" Ankylomon shouted. He swung his tail hard at the rubble, but it refused to budge.
"This isn't working." Yolei said.
"We can't around it. We can't get rid of it. And we can't go over it." Ken said "That means there's only one option left. We'll have to go under it."
"How are we gonna do that?" T.K. asked "Ankylomon's not much of a digger. Heck none of our digimon are."
"If only we still had the digi eggs. I could armor digivolve into Digmon." Armadillomon said, changing back from Ankylomon.
"But we don't. We lost them in that mysterious dream world when we fought MaloMyotismon remember?" Kari said.
"I know." Cody said.
"Well this is just great. We're stuck!" Yolei said.
"Guess we'll just have to turn back and tell Izzy the bad news." Ken said.
"Don't give up just yet digidestined." an unfamiliar voice called out.
"Who said that?" T.K. asked.
"I did." the voice said. Everyone blinked as a mysterious white orb suddenly appeared before them.
"Who are you? And how do you who we are?" Cody asked "Are you with us? Or against us?"
"Relax." the voice said "I am a friend. I cannot show you my true form in this world, but I wish to help you in your quest."
"How so? And how do we know we can trust you?" Ken asked. He had the strangest senesation that this voice knew more then it was letting on.
"I shall restore your ability to armor digivolve. All I ask in return is that you restore this base completely." the voice said.
"And if we refuse?" Kari asked.
"Then you guys are on your own." the voice said "The choice is yours."
"I don't trust this voice. Something feels off about it." Gatomon said.
"No kidding." Patamon said.
"But this could be the only way to find Tai. We have to take the risk." Kari said "We accept your offer."
"Excellent." the voice said "You have chosen wisely." There was a blinding white flash. "You should have all of your digieggs back now. Don't forget our little deal. Take care, and best of luck."
"Well, only one way to find out if he kept his word." Cody said "Digiarmor energize!"
(Armor Digivolution)
Armadillomon, armor digivolve to, Digmon! The Drill of Knowledge!
(Armor Digivolution complete)
"Oh yeah! I'm back!" Digmon said.
"Indeed you are. Now how's about putting that drill of yours to good use?" Cody said.
"You betcha! Rock cracking!" Digimon said, and he began to tunnel underneath the rubble.
The digidestined didn't know this at the time, but their newly restored armor evolutions would come in handy in the near future. And in more ways then one.