Chapter 4: The Machinations of NeverSoftware

Concordia yawns- a small sound as a gloved hand gently shakes her shoulder. Her teal eye blinks open- but promptly falls back closed.

"Mmm… Five more… minutes…" She mumbles. The cloaked entity attempting to wake her sighs, and the hand retracts, moving to adjust the wide-brimmed hat above its head.

Wizardmon sighs- "... Fine. But you need to get up soon." It mutters, as the young girl turns around on her bed. The room itself is empty, covered in black tile, with a bed in its center, and three doors on separate walls.

The door careens open, and a man enters- his gaze cold. "Is she awake?" He asks- an inquiry that sounded less concerned and more like an order.

"10BIT…" Wizardmon frowns- turning between the girl and the man. "I tried to wake her, but… She's stubborn."

The so-called 10BIT gives a derisive chuckle. "There's always an alternative." He hums- approaching the bed and kicking the side. Dia's quick to flinch awake and upright, and 10BIT turns to Wizardmon with a smirk. "See?"

Dia frowns- bringing her arms across her chest. "Do you need something of me?" She asks- and the man nods.

"I was just told to come get you." 10BIT replies- that same smile on his face. "I'll be waiting for you outside. Don't keep our leader waiting."

He walks out of the room with that, the door clicking shut behind him. Dia sighs, turning to her partner with an almost annoyed look on her face.

"Zed… Could you grab my toothbrush?" She asks, turning to Wizardmon as she approaches a door- this one leading to a closet. Wizardmon nods, and wordlessly approaches the final door, as Dia closes the closet door to change.

It's a few moments before Wizardmon knocks again, a prepared toothbrush in one hand. She emerges from the closet, now in a white gown.

"You look wonderful today." Wizardmon says, handing the brush over to her. Dia nods her thanks, walking to the ajar bathroom to finish her preparations. "Let's not keep 10BIT waiting."

As Dia finishes, Wizardmon leads her to her door, and pulls it open. 10BIT waits, stood against the wall and scrolling through his phone. "You did keep me waiting, actually." He huffs, pocketing his phone. "Come. We're headed downstairs."

10BIT doesn't offer her another word, as the three walk down the hallway, and into the elevator. As the door closes in front of them, he reaches into his pocket, and presses his digivice against the elevator panel. The doors click shut, and the lift begins a slow descend down the building, to deep underground.

When the doors click and hiss open once again, 10BIT glances to his phone and sighs. This would probably put him off schedule. He sighs, and the smaller two follow after him- to a dimly lit laboratory, scuttering about with scientists.

"I hope you weren't waiting long." 10BIT mutters, glancing to the pair of men standing around a table. The elder of the two adjusts the glasses covering his eyes, obscuring his tired expression.

"It's fine." Zephyros mutters- turning to the other man, who was fiddling with a lighter. "The others can't come today. But that's fine as well." He presses a button beneath the table, and the table comes to life, forming an LCD display. On this display was a map of Marigold Valley, with certain spots marked, dotted across the town.

"As you are all aware- we called for two portals to open." He explains with a callous voice. As he speaks, a new pair of dots appear on the map- these marked red. "Typically, those portals tend to last for at least a few hours. However… Both of them were shut within minutes."

Dia blinks- surprised. "Do you know how, sir?" Zephyros shakes his head.

The man aside him snorts- "Must've been a weak one."

"Even those took at least an hour before closing, HY3NA." Mutters 10BIT. "Since we have no leads on why they closed, the only option is to-"

"Supply security, right?" Grins HY3NA. "It makes it much easier to monitor."

10BIT sighs- but there's still a smirk on his face. "No, I intended to suggest we run more data discreetly. We can't afford to draw so much attention so early in our operation."

"I think I know an easy way to solve this is to snip it in the bud." HY3NA's arms cross, and he smirks- confident.

"Right, because you're all about simplicity." 10BIT sneers- and his coworker is quick to growl.

"If a fight's what you want-" HY3NA begins to bark back, but the sound of a throat clearing quickly stops him in his tracks.

"Please be silent." His voice is cold. Although his words were polite, there was a threat like a concealed knife. HY3NA sighs and glances away, while 10BIT lets out a small hum.

"Your inputs are appreciated." Zephyros glances back down to the map. The two new dots fade- turning gray and shrinking back down. "But, I have a plan. In order to know if this was an isolated incident- or if something's amiss."

"And when's the girl coming into this?" Asks HY3NA, dully. Zephyros smiles- and glances to Dia.

"Concordia." His voice and tone is still even, almost gentle, and he walks to a strange chair. It was made of some sort of metal alloy, and covered in straps and wires. "Would you please sit here?"

She nods, placing herself into the chair. "Is this satisfactory, sir?"

Zephyros nods- "Yes. Just like that. Thank you." He smiles- ever so slightly, before turning to a pair of scientists.

"Hook her up." He commands, and the gentle tone fades.

Dia's eyes widen, and she begins to nervously shiver. Wizardmon- silent throughout the meeting, quickly rushes in front of her, staff raised and crackling with electricity.

"Don't touch her." the mage growls, glaring at Zephyros. The man merely adjusts his glasses again.

"I would advise you to not be difficult, Zed." Zephyros leans down to Wizardmon's height, and whispers into its ear- "Otherwise I'll make it painful. And neither of us want that."

Wizardmon's grip trembles, and it grunts, staff dissappearing from his hand. As the scientists strap her down, Zephyros turns to Dia. "I promise this won't hurt. Just close your eyes, and it'll be over before you know it."

Dia nods, slowly, as her partner squeezes her open palm. It seems to put her at ease. With one last look, she closes her eyes- just as the needle plunges into her arm.