A/N: Well! I have returned after, what, how many years? God it's been such a long time I don't even remember. But I have come back to my roots. As stated in my note on QDT2 my own writing on my site hasn't taken off. It took me a long time to put anything close to a story down and when I did it flopped hard, harder than a game by EA. Yeah, ouch right?
Anyway, QDT2 is on hold for now, I will return to it but I first want to come back to this site, this writing universe, with a fresh start so to speak. So a fresh start means a new story, and a new story means a new way of writing. I hope I end up coming back here with a better understanding of writing and word flow, plus with new skills to do my thing in a better way. QDT2 started to become a bit of a slog but I think that's down to the Naruto stuff not really being to my tastes. My bad I guess, but I will finish it and allow the series to move on to more familiar ground.
So this story, it's gonna be a little different to the others I wrote in the past - years ago.. - and I hope it's at least as enjoyable as they were. Preferably it will be more so, but I'm not going to start getting confident until I get some feedback. I've been shaken before with self expectations so I'll let the audience speak for me on this one.
This chapter is a prologue, as it states below, so it's a short chapter. Yes it won't have like a ton of details in it and that's intentional, things will be explained in the following chapters when it's time for them to pop up. I do hope you all enjoy this, the next chapter is partly written at the time of posting this and I am enjoying writing it. I feel I know where I am going with this more than I did with my own stuff elsewhere.
So without further ado I present Reboot. The name is partly because of the theme of the story but also partly because it's my personal reboot to fan fiction. Cheezy? Yes. Much needed? Also yes. Don't judge me, yet. You may do so after reading heh. Please enjoy, more will be on the way.
Reboot
Chapter 0 - Prologue
/DATA LOCK INITIALIZING...
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/DATA LOCK COMPLETE.
/COMMENCING EXTRAPOLATION…
Deep in the heart of an off the grid black ops site, half a dozen miles underground surrounded in concrete, sat a metal cylindrical pod. Heavy cables snaked across the floor and hung from ceilings, all connecting the pod to various machines and computers. Scientists in white coats and masks manned each station, furiously typing or operating equipment as the procedures were executed. Years of planning had led to this point, along with the millions spent to fund the secret operation. At long last the threat that assailed the world could be contained and then defeated once and for all.
/EXTRAPOLATION COMPLETE.
/SYSTEM CHECKS VERIFIED.
Eyes were cast to the overlooking viewing window where the project leaders stood watching, waiting. Their vigilance had guided the scientists below on their path to a successful operation and now they looked up for authorization. Through the window a single nod was given. Fingers tapped on keys before the next message was heard throughout the room and displayed on readouts.
/INITIALIZING FINAL PHASE...
/FABRICATION SEQUENCE ACTIVE...
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/TRANSFER SEQUENCE ACTIVE…
"Make no mistake ladies and gentlemen, our world is under seige. We are under imminent threat of invasion, subjugation and annihilation. Earth is on the brink, and we are the only defence there is against this menace."
There were mixed reactions within the boardroom ranging from agreement from the project leaders, to confusion from the heads of security, military leaders and even political figures. They were sat around a large table each with their own set of documents outlining the work of the project and the evidence of why it existed in the first place. At the head of the table stood the founder, behind him a screen showing images and readouts of what he was explaining.
"You're thinking I'm mad, that I'm about to say I was abducted by aliens and probed and no one believes me. But no, I can assure you this threat isn't extra-terrestrial, nor where there were any probes involved. This threat is serious, and much closer. And honestly, it's of our own making." Heads turned at that, further confusion as well as questions that the founder simply answered by holding up his hand for silence. "Hard to believe isn't it? It took me a long time to accept it too. But what I learned made sense, hopefully it'll make sense to you after this meeting."
He moved to one side to better show the screen to his audience of officials and his own staff, not that they needed to be informed of the meaning behind their work but they could answer some questions better than he could.
"Five years ago Japan was attacked by beings of a digital nature, beings from a place known as the Digital World. This world exists as a direct consequence of our world's digital nature, our internet and networks have expanded so much and become so powerful that they have created a new plane of existence, if you will." He adjusted the display to show a few different types of Digimon as well as rough statistics on each one. "And within this world are these digital beings, what have been called Digimon, or digital monsters. Don't let the name sound pretentious as these definitely are monsters, even if some don't look the part."
He clicked his remote and the screen adjusted to show a city, plumes of smoke rising from the skyline. Buildings damaged and ablaze as people ran for safety. "The damage to Japan was substantial although luckily no one was hurt, but that could have been a very different story. Public exposure has been contained by editing the security footage into a children's television show so if anyone mentions it they will believe it's the program rather than a real event. The last thing we need is public panic."
"And that's why Rubicon was founded. We are here as our world's last line of defence against an imminent full scale invasion. They've been here before, they will be here again unless we stop them first."
The screen changed again to show progress on the current work being performed below them, readouts and statistics for the officials to read.
"This is agent four twenty one, the tip of our spear against this threat. We believe our best defence is to use their own against them, fight them with themselves. All we will need to do is oversee the operation and let our work unfold by itself." Whispered discontent echoed around the room from the officials. The staff were already convinced, it was the leaders and representatives that needed to believe this was serious and worth funding. "We believe another attack is coming soon, and we believe Japan will be hit again. Their technology is more widespreadly advanced than the rest of the world, they are the prime target for these beings. They are coming for us, burying our heads in the sand and pretending like it's not real will not stop them. Only Rubicon can."
More murmurs of agreement came from both sides of the room until one government official spoke up, reaching into his jacket for a small book. "How much do you need? Name your price."
The overseer just smiled and took his seat, seeing the rest of them finally coming on board with the project. They needed no further convincing.
/TRANSFER SEQUENCE COMPLETE.
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/FABRICATION COMPLETE.
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/OPERATIONAL STATUS: FINAL PHASE COMPLETE.
/FINAL CHECKLIST VERIFIED.
/SYSTEM READY.
The system was ready. As one the scientist team looked up to the window for the final time, the final approval. One last nod was given, one last command was entered and the pod whirred into life.
/BOOT SEQUENCE INITIATED.
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/STANDBY...
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Eyes watched with intense hope and longing. All their work boiled down to this singular moment, the last stage in the years long plan. They couldn't fail, not now.
/STANDBY
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/STATUS: ONLINE.
/AGENT 421 ACTIVE.