Chapter 5
The Golden Gundam Bar, Katoki Colony
The silence is eerie around the usually bustling Golden Gundam, the burning wreckage outside making the area seem like a war zone. Inside the bar itself, the two newcomers gawk at the destruction inside, while the others just stare back.
"Hey, Renee, who's the new kid?" asks Maxwell, trying to break the uneasy silence. She puts down the bottle of liquor and glances over at the door.
"Oh, that's just Matrix and Akira," she replies with a groan. Mega Raptor narrows his eyes at the mention of the Flamedramon's name, but shows no other outward emotion.
"And you guys are…?" says Pkmatrix, losing the confused look on his face.
"Lord Maxwell, this is my partner Bladed Edge," replies Maxwell, motioning towards Bladed, "Renee, MR, and I go back, I was just stopping by visit when…this happened."
"Ok…" says Akira, walking over to Renee, "You all right?"
"She's fine," replies Mega Raptor, somewhat annoyed.
"I wasn't asking you, was I?" says Akira.
"I think it's quite obvious whether or not she's ok, and really, it's none of your concern. Damn American Digimon…" mutters Mega Raptor, turning to walk away.
"Oh please, you act as if you were her FATHER! And so what that I'm American? We were ALL created by Datatech, so it doesn't really matter," he replies. Mega Raptor stops in mid-step and glares back at the Flamedramon icily.
"What do you mean 'we'? I'm no Digimon," he says, a vein above his right eye bulging as his temper rises.
"Not this again!" moans Akira, "Just accept that you were created by humans! Its not that hard, Mega Raptor!"
"How many times must I explain this, I am a UTAHRAPTOR, not a DIGIMON!" yells Mega Raptor, a growl in his voice. Akira seemingly ignores his increasing anger, and presses on.
"Just because it says that on your birth certificate doesn't mean its true!" he replies. Mega Raptor grits his teeth in an attempt to regain control of his anger before he does something he'd later regret.
"Unlike you, I am not entirely data created by a computer. My entire genetic structure is the fusion of Human and Saurian DNA, making my race more real than any Digimon, despite what Datatech says. I am not a Digimon," says Mega Raptor calmly, but the anger can still be seen in his eyes. Akira is about to respond when Pkmatrix puts a hand on his shoulder, silently urging him to stop.
"Ugh, I don't have time for this," mutters a voice, the all but forgotten Draco Starcloud, as he pushes past Bladed on his way to the door.
"Hey, where are you going?" he asks, but Draco doesn't respond, silently pulling the door open and heading outside.
--
Gundam Project Presidential Residence, Tomino Colony 2306 Hours, (11:06 PM EST)The Moderator DHD closes the door behind him and sighs, Mark had taken the news surprisingly well, but he was unsure whether or not that was because of the late hour.
Dammit, I can't believe Krakenhaus let them have Ookawara… he thinks, turning left and walking down the plush hallway towards the large staircase, leading towards the front hall of the mansion. He notices the light sound of footsteps behind him.
"How'd he take it?" asks Zetasphere, another Moderator, walking alongside him.
"Better than I would've if I had been in his place. Ookawara has been lost; our advance fleet is retreating to Katoki, and it's almost midnight. Just another wonderful day at Gundam Project…" replies DHD. The two walk down the staircase into the front hall, another ornately decorated room with a large chandelier at the top. DHD notices an attractive young woman approach them from a nearby doorway, one of the Assistant Moderators, Arion Hunter.
"Arion, did you call the others?" asks Zetasphere, taking a folder from her.
"Yes sir. Dr. Deng, Mr. Horikiri, and Republic should be here soon for the meeting," she replies, brushing some hair out of her eyes.
"Good, I'll be in the Conference room if anything comes up," says Zetasphere, walking off.
"I need some coffee…" mutters DHD, rubbing his temples.
--
Xeon Base of Operations, Katoki Colony"Just great, this is the last thing I need! We're so close now…your slip up better not cost us our victory!" yells Agent Fire angrily, turning away and looking out the window at the large underground hangar. Preventer stands silently behind him, on the other side of a large metal desk. Papers are scattered about and a laptop is on, Fire had been in the middle of writing something.
"I assure you, sir, that this will not happen again," replies Preventer, not looking directly at his commander's back. Agent Fire is one of the topmost ranking officers of their organization, only a few others are considered to be in as much control as him.
"Were you followed?" he asks, readjusting his shaded glasses.
"No," replies Preventer, looking up now as his commander faces him again. The look of rage in his face only moments before is gone; replaced by calm.
"Good, as long as the government doesn't find this base, we should be able to last until Agent Blackrock arrives," says Fire, sitting down in his chair, "Until then, I want you to oversee the completion of the remaining clones. Reg will assist you."
"Ugh, not that worthless piece of s-it," replies Preventer, disgusted, "Why is it even still alive? It has absolutely no value whatsoever."
"Reg is indeed quite important in the overall scheme of things, agent. He has strategic value that not even you can begin to fathom," says Agent Fire, a smirk on his face as he rests his chin on his hands. Preventer gives him an odd look, just as a door opens behind him.
"The fourth clone has been completed, my liege!" reports a man in his mid-twenties, wearing a similar outfit to Preventer's, only without the trenchcoat.
"Excellent, Assistant Deng," replies Agent Fire as the clone of Moderator Boya Deng salutes, "Has the second DNA sample arrived yet?"
"No, my liege, but it should be here shortly," replies Assistant Deng.
"Second sample?" asks Preventer.
"Yes, I decided it would be wise to not only clone the Moderators, but several of Gundam Project's best agents in order to ensure victory," replies Fire, "I will inform of which agents they are after the sample arrives. You are both dismissed."
"My liege!" yells the clone with a salute, before quickly leaving. Preventer silently gives a much more casual salute before following Boya out the door, only to run into the last thing he'd want to see.
"Hi Preventer!" says Reg cheerfully, prompting Preventer to wince at the sound of his voice. He looks to his right at the dinosaurian creature, standing about half his own height; it resembles a red Velociraptor with black stripes going down its back.
Why did I get stuck with you? thinks Preventer with a sigh, sticking his hands in his pants' pockets and walking past Reg.
"Preventer, Agent Fire asked me to help you finish the clones…" he continues, his claws tapping on the floor as he follows Preventer.
"Get away from me, Reg," replies Preventer coldly.
He frowns slightly and replies, "But…"
"I said get away from me, you damned lizard!" yells Preventer, stopping and yelling into the clone's face. Reg backs away slightly, his fin-like ears down like a dog, before turning and silently running away. For a moment, Preventer feels sorry for having yelled at him, but that feeling is quickly forced out of his mind as he turns and continues walking in the opposite direction of the fleeing dinosaur.
--
The Golden Gundam Bar, Katoki ColonyFlashes of red and blue light up the corner of 48th and 37th streets, as the Police seal off the intersection. Paramedics place several body bags in a row as Bladed Edge explains what happened to a pair of detectives. Nearby, Renee leans against a dark green BMW and stares into the shattered windows of her wrecked bar.
"You okay, Renee?" asks Lord Maxwell softly, walking up to her right. She nods slowly, and then turns to look into his eyes.
"Not exactly how I imagined the day you came back, but pretty close," she replies with a smile.
"That I'd come in and save the day, yet again?" he asks, flexing his arms like a body builder.
"No, that you'd wreck the bar! Ugh, you're ego is STILL huge," replies Renee, causing Maxwell to practically facefault.
"Well, you know my ego is very important…" says Maxwell, scratching the back of his head. Suddenly, the car window behind them opens and Pkmatrix sticks his head out.
"And why is that?" he asks, a goofy smile on his face.
"Because I might destroy it…" he replies ominously, but still with a smile on his face.
"And that would be a really bad thing," says Mega Raptor, walking up from Renee's left and putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Ah, I see…I think…" replies Pkmatrix, pulling his back in the car and rolling up the window. Bladed jogs up to the group and tosses a set of keys to Maxwell.
"I got everything cleared up with the cops, but I just a call from the field office. Something major happened over at Ookawara Colony, they need us back pronto. This time, you drive," he says, "Guys, it's been fun, but we got to go. See ya!"
"I'll catch up in a minute!" replies Maxwell as Bladed runs off towards the car, before turning back to Renee, "You've got a ride? I can drive you home…"
"Don't worry about, I'll take care of it," replies Mega Raptor, putting his arm around her shoulder as they walk away. Maxwell silently watches them for a moment, a look of a disappointment in his face, or is it…sadness?
"Good night, guys," he mumbles, just barely loud enough for them to hear, before turning and walking off towards the waiting car.