PROJECT IC 2

Tome 1. The Data Thief.

Arc 1. Mon in Black.

Chapter 2. The team.

IRQ started to walk in circles nervously, trying to collect his thoughts. Darkmoon leaders present in the room had no intention of interrupting him, so they stayed as quiet as he was. The boy decided to finally say something after a few minutes of thinking silently. This time however he was much calmer, his voice leaving no trace of anger or any other emotion.
- Yes… That would make a perfect sense. You want me to find him, don't you?
- You're right. We're sorry this happened, but…
- Just explain me one thing. Why me? I doubt there is not a single person in your group that would do better than a complete novice, who was here for a few hours some time ago and still treats said hours as his worst nightmare. Plus you gotta have one or two... You know, "species"… That are good hunters...
Julia sighed. IRQ thought of it as of a bad omen. He was proven right.
- There is only one problem that doesn't allow us to ask anybody from our city: bureaucracy.
- You just gotta be kidding… - The teenager was close to a breakdown. A world organized and run of computers with a human population of… how many? Few hundreds? Few thousands? He didn't know, but he doubted there were more - yet the rules still were able to disable it at ease.
- Unfortunately, we're not. Safety issues… You see, your brother is pretty famous around Sunshine. During his initial months he mastered his tamer class and he's gone far beyond since that day. Our calculation showed that his partner's gonna be strongest digimon of the city in a year if he keeps gaining strength so quickly. That's where the problem starts…
IRQ started to understand, yet he decided to interrupt the woman. He needed to be sure and he still was missing a few puzzles.
- You need somebody from your city, right? And since you can't expect stronger tamers to search for their potentially biggest rival…
- Exactly. We need someone genuinely interested in finding him. Or someone coming back to the human world after the mission and thus not caring about the ranks.
- Luckily you suit both the conditions made… - added ChaosGallantmon. His words made IRQ look at the case in a whole new light.
- You will send me back when I find him?
- Naturally. We can't keep you here against your will. And since we know your opinion, we expect you to choose to come back as fast as possible.
- Your expectations are surprisingly right. I don't really understand why I am in a different team. I'd expect rivalry at my own base, you know…
- I'm here to explain. The rules state that a rescue team shall consist of three members representing three cities. Members that weren't forced to participate. They have to volunteer. And so they did. Neutrum representative joined last week. We don't know, who he - or she - is. It's the only human facility outside Union. They protect their information and they protect it well. We got a Sunshine representative two days ago, but it's not an experienced person…
- So your man left. Nightmoon, am I right?
- Darkmoon. Precisely. So… do you agree to take part in this mission?
IRQ sighed. His idea of volunteering was pretty much different but he knew the choice was nonexistent. It was all about his brother after all…
- Alright. I agree then. I hope it won't last for too long.
- So do we. That leaves us with but one issue to solve…
Something moved behind the ChaosGallantmon's shield as he was saying these words. IRQ groaned quietly. He hoped to skip this due to his visit being too short. He had no intention of going everywhere with a freaky monster walking after him. The Darkmoon leaders, however, didn't think that way.
Thing that came out of ChaosGallantmon's protection - or „crawled out" due to lack of lower limbs - was a small creature with a pink, somewhat slimy skin. Digimon had smooth body and a big head joined with the trunk with no visible neck. In a place where that part of the body should be located there were just two short arms with three-clawed hands. The creature had big, round eyes and an upper lip with a little indentation in the middle, resembling a cat's one. To sum up it looked like a little girl's toy, not a warrior and life savior. What's more, ChaosGallantmon decided to make things even worse.
- Usually new members get to choose their partner from a wide range of digimon. However there seem to be a daycare malfunction today. The one presented to you is the only one amongst our eggs and digimon ready to fulfill his duty. Yet since you are going to part soon after, I guess lack of choice is not troublesome to you. IRQ, meet Motimon.
Julia looked at the boy, trying to guess his reaction. He however stayed with a perfect poker face, with no signs of emotions. But, after looking closer, one could see his left hand shaking stronger and stronger with each passing second. Julia looked at the ceiling, sighing quietly.
- Here we go again… - she thought - Three… Two… One…
- No. Heck no. What is this I ask. WHAT THE HELL'S THAT SUPPOSED TO BE?
Motimon, scared with the reaction, tried to hide behind the shield again. He got blocked by ChaosGallantmon though.
- No - he replied. Pink digimon looked into his eyes, put on much more serious face and turned towards his new tamer, busy with his lecture.
- You bring me here without asking me. More! Knowing I wouldn't allow that. I can understand this part, as it's all about finding my missing brother. As a complete newbie I get another novice to help me. That's the optimistic version because the third guy is known to exist and nothing more. Allrighty then. Of course rules make me take one of those freaks. So what is my weapon of doom against all those thirty - feet - high bugs, dragons and mutated trash cans? A LITTLE GODDAMN PINK BLOB! What am I supposed to do with that? Offer to the first monster I meet as a chewing gum? Trade it for a My Little Pony figurine? Or maybe…
Julia and ChaosGallantmon never learned about the third way. The reason was a small cloud of bubbled created by Motimon that hit the tamer's face blocking his mouth. When IRQ managed to get rid of it, the pink digimon was floating in front of his head. His body was twice as big as before and much more spherical. One could not help but think of a balloon. Motimon looked at his future partner angrily and said something for the first time. His voice was high and screech-like, yet strangely deep.
- Listen up boy, I'm not really into the fact I'm teamed up with an asshole pretending to be a tummy of the Universe, too. I don't like you and I doubt it'll change. But you said you're out after this one so let's just do our thing and then I'll be here waiting for a good tamer and you'll be home doing things humans do when they are home or whatever you do. Deal? - IRQ blinked, trying to convince himself he didn't just lose an argument with a talking pink balloon. He was right however and IRQ was well aware of that. But there was still one more point the teenager could make. He didn't hesitate for a second.
- Ok, right, just one important thing. They gave you to me. That means you're a low level one. And that means you're too weak to actually do anything.
- First of all, low level, but not the lowest. That makes me able to put up a fight, even if I'm still weak. And don't forget I've just knocked you down with bubbles. And you're five times bigger than me.
- And similar to digimon... how?
- Are you implying that getting blinded with a foam won't slow down any monster even for a while? - IRQ stopped. He really was outtalked by a balloon! He had nothing more to say while the creature in front of him hasn't even warmed up yet. He thought the safest thing would be to give up for some time.
- Enough. Talking's the thing you're good at, young one. So, we're all set or what?
- Not yet.
IRQ looked at Julia bringing him a small box. The woman gave him quite big device looking like a fusion of a mobile phone and a watch. She was wearing an identical one and so was the boy on the photo.
- You can't go without needed equipment. That's a digivice, Delta Plus model. - As if to prove her words right, a „Δ+" symbol appeared on the upper screen. The teenager took the device from Julia and put it on his right wrist. He thought he saw the housing shine and turn purple for a split second but he ignored it. He pressed a button on the outer side of the device. It opened, showing interior screen and a "qwerty" keyboard, as Julia's digivice did during a slideshow. It really looked like some smartphones. The one thing it lacked... was a guide.
- And what is that thing for? How does it work? Will it blend?
- Imagine a computer so miniaturized it can be worn as a watch. Add the limited ability of controlling the digimon linked to it. In given example - Motimon we linked with the device shortly before your arrival.
- What do you mean by controlling him? Can I make him shut up? - IRQ leered at the digimon. He repaid by trying to nail the tamer to the wall with his look.
- It's not that easy. - Boy's words seemingly amused Julia. - You can boost him with different kinds of support plugins, perform controlled evolution… Basically you can do anything that will make him more powerful in a fight and give him new abilities. Activating it is intuitional. When you wear it it's synchronized with both the digimon and you so no matter how you put the command, it will do exactly what you want. This device is moronproof.
- Good to hear I'm not gonna screw this one. Anything else?
- I don't think so. You can go now. - Julia turned away from IRQ and started to read a message displayed on her digivice. The boy looked at Motimon, but he just shrugged the things that were supposed to be his shoulders. ChaosGallantmon sighed, then started to talk in a loud voice.
- My beloved lady, pardon my persistence, yet I suppose you have forgotten about something.
The woman reacted immediately. She was far more embarrassed than she should.
- You are right, I'm sorry. I have been having too much work recently. I'm kinda getting lost. Behind the door - Julia gave sign to his partner. He pointed towards the exit, which caused the door to open - Take the ladder downstairs, go through the next room and another ladder down. You'll get to the entrance corridor. There is a teleporter at the end. The destination has been already programmed, it'll take you to the jump point. You will find the rest of your team there. Any additional information will be given to you by Sunshine representative. Thank you, meeting's over.

- Something's just not right… - said IRQ while walking with Motimon (or actually walking with Motimon slowly levitating) towards light green, shiny square on the floor, identified as the teleporter. - Don't you think Julia started to behave strange before letting us go?
- Maybe a little bit… But even if so, we shouldn't care. Whatever happens is not our thing. And it's for sure not yours since you're going anyway. Let's just do it and have a nice trip. - Digimon was skeptic and showing dislike towards the human accompanying him. IRQ didn't find it strange. He gave him reasons after all. Plus he didn't like the digimon either. And Motimon was right, he shouldn't care about something not related to him in any way. He would change his mind though if he heard the conversation held in the room he just left.

- Julia, are you sure this is a good idea?
- No. But I doubt we have a choice.
- Your doubt cannot be my assurance. You know well things do not always happen in a way we would like them to.
- So you think he can choose to stay?
- I do not know. In my humble opinion he will not. Yet it is better to be safe than sorry.
- Stop with the morals. Glare has one of these. Locked and with no tamer. Do you know what advantage he gains because of that?
- Yes, I am aware. But what if you happen to be wrong?
- We'll see about that. You know why he didn't want to come back. And the devices often choose this kind of people with similar past experience.
- That is not a rule.
- But the digimon is a rule. Don't you think it's an interesting coincidence it was the only species available?
- The coincidences as such do not exist.
- Do you believe in destiny then?
- My dear, you do not live in this world as long as I do. I shall answer you then. Here one do not have to believe. It exists and it is a stated fact.
- Exactly. We just have to bend it a little to get what we need… - Julia used her digivice to open the portal big enough for ChaosGallantmon to walk through. Then she entered it.
- We just have to be careful around Glare. He can't learn it. It could even start a war - she said waiting for her partner to follow her.
- I doubt. After such a big number of wars that brought Union to the edge of destabilization he would not start another one over making our influences equal.
- Maybe. Only one thing is sure though. After this mission ends, nothing will be the same again…

IRQ looked at the jump point he has just arrived at. The place was similar to any given train station - provided any given train station had been built on a flying platform two or three hundred feet above the ground. Speaking of "platforms", there were a little more than a dozen of them on the point and each consisted of around ten teleporters. Most of them was serviced by weird robots with glass bulbs on their heads - Out of curiosity IRQ pointed his digivice towards one and scanned it and discovered they're digimon named Datamon. He also learned they are ULT/MAC/VIR, whatever that was supposed to mean. Not that it was any important or interesting to him but he was really bored and the digivice stayed persistent in not allowing him to access the Internet and probably had no games installed. So he scanned everything on the platforms that moved, gathering data. He noticed moving the scanner in front of some weird beasts was much more fascinating than it should. He started to regret there is no such thing as a Pokedex for digimon, as he'd already have a whole bunch of entries.
- Motimon, ITR/MUT/VAC… Dinohumon, CHM/DRA/DAT… Matadormon, ULT/DRK/VIR… Babamon, MEG/HOL/VAC… Terriermon ROK/BST/VAC… TigerVespamon, MEG/INS/VIR… Gigimon… - he looked at the last entry. Digimon was similar to a headless lizard. It had smooth, cylindrical, dark red body with a short, thick tail covered in black scales. Under the body it had four regressed legs with no trace of toes or claws. Despite lacking a head it had a face located in front of its body. It consisted of big, yellow eyes not really reptilian in look, a small nose and a wide mouth with some sharp teeth visible. Exactly same digimon stood next to him, pulling the leg of his trousers.
- Hello there, little one. Are you lost? Looking for someone?
- Well, yes. - That certainly wasn't the lizard's voice. Motimon bumped his tamer's arm pointing at the human walking towards them. It was a boy two or three years younger than IRQ, wearing dark gray jeans and a shirt of similar color. On top of that he wore a bright yellow sleeveless jacket with a Sunshine logo. He also had a red cravat around the neck. IRQ looked at his face. He was as bored as him, seemingly waiting for anything to happen. He got a blue earring in his left ear and short blond hair boy probably wanted to grow into full-length spikes.
- Name's Raphael. Raph if you prefer and Develor if you want to use nickname. And this - he pointed at the lizard - is my partner, Gigimon, as you probably read. You must be… what was the name again… Weird nick in all caps starting with I…
- IRQ. Yep, that's me. And the pink blob over here - he dodged not to get hit with foam again - is my partner, Motimon. Don't pay attention to this, it's our normal behavior. Rescue mission?
- Rescue mission… - Raphael sighed as he started to search for something. „How about now?" he murmured to himself.
- Hmm… Weren't there supposed to be three of us?
- Exactly. I've heard about a neutral guy giving out our descriptions here some time ago. That's all I know. Now I can't find him anywhere.
- That's not important. I have found you. - Both tamers turned rapidly. There was a black - haired teenager, probably IRQ's peer, standing behind them. He was wearing a black T-shirt with some purple markings and navy blue trousers. The weird thing was that platform had been nearly completely empty few seconds before and there were no places to hide. The riddle however was solved when another digimon appeared alongside the newcomer. It could be described as the weirdest owl IRQ had ever seen - beginning of a height of more than three feet, then adding wings more similar to arms with three prehensile claws each, feather pattern resembling a pale purple vest or red mask worn around eyes. That and two shuriken the digimon held between the claws of his right wing
- Great, a ninja owl is everything we needed… - IRQ hissed, checking its data. - Falcomon, ROK/BRD/VAC.
- You're the Neutrum one? - Raph tried to be specific and straightforward.
- Yep. Thorin, but if you have to talk to me - just call me „boss". That clear?
- Nope. That wrong. Who made you the leader? As far as I know since it's all about MY teammate, I AM supposed to be one!
- Awesome. I can see that red plushie of yours defending us. You may be from the right team, but MY digimon is the only one strong enough to actually do anything. I'm taking up leadership because of practical reasons. Problem, officer?
- Yes, problem! You know what's Union going to do when they learn about that?
- Nah, nope. And what COULD they do to me? I'm not one of them, y'know. - Falcomon stood behind Thorin, seemingly unknowingly playing with his shuriken. Gigimon on the other hand jumped forward, hissing and showing his teeth. Both tamers looked at IRQ, waiting for him to react. They all remained silent for a long while. Then IRQ snapped.
- You know what? I could start fighting with you, too. After all it's MY brother and I am the one caring, not you. I could just stand here and watch you two jumping to each other's throat. But I won't. I don't give a crap about who's the leader, provided anyone is. If you can't decide - I'm going to become one and believe me, with my experience and my digimon's strength our estimated life length would be around fifteen minutes. If we were lucky. So decide together while I'll be waiting with Motimon near the teleport, okay?
The silence was the only reply. That meant he got to them. He didn't have any experience in leading rescue missions, but discussing was much different. He needed to learn if he wanted to coexist with his brother. So the only thing left was…
- Okay. I get it, you're right. Thorin's stronger and he knows what he's doing. Union doesn't have to know.
- Glad we understood each other.
- So what now? - asked IRQ - are we free to go or is there anything else that requires government's intervention? - He didn't have to add that. Yet he felt the journey would be long and his companions as tiring as his partner. He could allow himself to at least a little cynical sarcasm.
- We're one 'mon short. You know, Agumon. Your bro's partner.

IRQ got stunned. Agumon… Yes, that was how his brother's digimon, resembling a small orange - scaled dinosaur was named. That was probably the only resident of the Digital World IRQ could put up with for more than few minutes. Calm and curious, treating fights like a hobby, not a way of life - ideal complement of a impatient hothead and brilliant strategist he had for a partner. Were it not for the tactical abilities of the tamer and the digimon's personality they would be just like protagonists of one of these dumb anime series… Data Squad or something. He knew something was wrong the moment heard about it. Tamer is missing… and digimon not? Why didn't he know? Why didn't Julia tell him?
- What do you… Why… - the boy couldn't think of anything. Thing he just learned literally took him down. Even Motimon was sincerely scared.
- Everything alright? - he asked.
- NO! Nothing's alright! My brother's gone missing and I've just learned his guardian and caretaker came back here alone! And I know it because of a random conversation, not from a leader that should have told me! Do you realize what it could mean? And coming to think, why won't Agumon tell everybody what's going on instead of letting the leaders do a three - noob - show?
- The reason is simple.
IRQ turned back again to see digimon talking to him. He didn't have to though. He knew the voice.
- Hi, Agumon.
- Hello. Too bad we meet again under the circumstances like these but I hope you understand my reasons.
- I do… I just don't get why. What's the "simple reason" you mentioned?
- Somebody made sure I won't be leading anyone directly to my tamer. Part of my memory with all of the information regarding my last fight and the kidnapping has been deleted. Everything I remember is the last place we visited: Limit Valley. Or, to be precise, the cliffs surrounding it.
- Alrightey then. Off we go. Objections, anyone? - Nobody had one so Thorin gave the teleporter coordinates to one of the Datamon. After a while a team of three human beings and four digimon moved on to start searching. Nobody noticed a small, dark blue sphere with a diameter of just few inches following them…

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Well, might as well post the second chapter already. Still slow now. The action – and I mean it – starts the next chapter. Don't miss chapter 3: The identity. We're going to learn a bit about the rescue team members and some other interesting characters – including the Data Thief given in the tome's name. Nothing is as it seems and if it is – it will change immediately. And there is one Nick Cage reference.
But let's not give too much spoilers. About the text itself? What I want to explain now is the naming issue when it comes to digimon. Don't expect seeing only English versions of the names or only original ones. They're based on my opinion – which I find better is the one you see the most often. Thus we're gonna have, for example, MegaKabuterimon instead of AtlurKabuterimon, Salamon/Gatomon instead of Plotmon/Tailmon, Dagomon instead of Dragomon, etc. Of course some digimon will use both Japanese and English names interchangeably, for instance Omnimon/Omegamon or Gallantmon/Dukemon. Also, expect some variations – for example (minor spoiler alert) after writing a pretty lengthy part starring a Kyuubimon (and I mean few chapters and more than a hundred of pages) I realized there's no double "u" and it should be named "Kyubimon", yet I got used to this spelling and found it too hard to switch. So I left it unfixed. I sincerely hope that kind of spelling changes are acceptable.
I think I was supposed to comment on something else here, but I just can't remember what would that be. Oh well. I'll either modify this one or add a line or two to the next chapter's commentary.

Disclaimer: The "Digimon" franchise belongs to Bandai. I do not claim ownership. The text above is non-profit and written only for entertainment purposes.