Hello once again, my fellow readers. Last chapter was pretty long, so here's one that's not as long.
Now, to recap, SkullSatamon had sent three Digimon to attack Lowee, Leanbox, and Lastation in order to steal the Sharicite from each nation. But the CPUs of Lowee and Leanbox and their Digimon fought back and soon sent Gururumon and Saberdramon packing. Meanwhile, in Lastation, SkullSatamon was hunting down Noire, Linda, the Candidates, and their Digimon allies throughout the Basilicom in an attempt to eliminate Linda. But then Neptune and her group arrived in time to fend off the skull faced creep before he hurts someone, while everyone else worked together to defeat Cyclomon. When he knew his plan had failed, SkullSatamon had decided to steal Lastation's Sharicite himself, and then later waste his own goons as a result of their failure. Sometimes it just doesn't pay to be an evil henchman.
Now, we're getting close to the end of the SkullSatamon arc everyone. After that, the real journey will start to begin for our heroes. But for now, let us watch as the plot starts to thicken. Now, on with the chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or the Hyperdimension Neptunia series. Both franchises belong to their respective companies.
Chapter 22: Truths And Schemes
Inside a dark room, a hand was holding the Sharicite crystal that came from Lastation. The figure that was holding the crystal smiled as his yellow eyes looked at SkullSatamon, who was kneeling before him.
"Excellent work on getting the Sharicite in Lastation, SkullSatamon", the figure said.
"Thank you, my master", said the skeletal Digimon. "It's a shame that my minions had failed miserably, but at least their data won't go to waste."
"Indeed. Although, I would like to remind you of your blunder as well", said the figure.
SkullSatamon looked up towards his master and gulped.
"If you really think that obtaining the Lastation Sharicite will make up for your failure to eliminate that Underling, then you are a fool", the figure continued.
Then the figure raised his other hand and a stream of dark energy shot out, hitting SkullSatamon in his head and causing him endless pain. The skeletal Digimon yelled in agony as the dark stream invaded his mind.
"Please, master! I only saw the opportunity and I took it! Aggghhh!", he begged.
The figure squinted his yellow eyes before lowering his hand, the dark stream fading. The skeletal Digimon clutched his head and knelt down again. He panted as he tried to regain his composure.
"If you had come back empty handed, I would've destroyed you were you stood without a second thought. Be thankful that you yet live", said the figure.
"Yes, my master...", said SkullSatamon as he bowed his head in respect.
"Even though we now have two of the crystals, the turn of events that have transpired are now cause for concern. We must to accelerate our plans at once", the yellow-eyed individual said ominously.
"And may I ask how we shall do that, my master?", SkullSatamon inquired.
"Our associate will take care of that soon enough. I am most certain that he'll persuade the CPUs into giving us what we want", said the figure.
"And what of you, my master? Will you be entering this world along with that army?", asked the skeletal Digimon.
"I'm afraid not. Even if I wanted to, my data is far too immense for this plan. And besides, my master has other plans for me at the moment", said the yellow-eyed figure.
"Then I suppose I'll just have to rely on 'Mr. A.' for the time being, am I correct?", said SkullSatamon.
"Indeed. I must go now. My master beckons me", said the figure.
As he turned away from SkullSatamon, he paused for a moment before looking back at his servant one last time.
"Do not underestimate the CPUs or their Digimon. Their bond with one another is stronger than you might think", he said.
His yellow eyes disappeared, along with his body, in a dark flash of shadow. SkullSatamon stood up, frowning at what his master just said to him.
"The next time we battle, I'll show them no mercy", he said.
It was night time at Planetune. At the Basilicom, Histoire was surprised to find that the CPUs and their Digimon come back so late, along with a few added guests. Blanc, Vert and their Digimon arrived a little later after receiving a call from the group to meet with them at the Planetune Basilicom. Afterwards, their Digimon, all except FanBeemon, would take a good rest, while the rest of the group would all explain what had happened.
They explained to the Oracle about how they were each attacked by a nasty Digimon in their own nation, and that they were attempting to steal the Sharicite from their lands. Then they informed her of what transpired in Lastation, ranging from Nepgear getting her own Digivice, to capturing Linda, and from SkullSatamon attacking them in an attempt at eliminating the former ASIC agent, to the skeletal Digimon stealing Lastation's Sharicite crystal and rendering Noire and Uni powerless. All of this news was both intriguing and shocking to her.
The CPUs also informed her of how they came across a girl named Peashy. According to Neptune and her sister, the blonde haired girl was a friend of theirs in another dimension similar to their own. And apparently she was the friend that FanBeemon mentioned. Histoire was just as surprised as everyone else was when they found out. They wondered why she didn't tell them before when she said before in Lastation that "she never met a Digimon." This question would not go unanswered for long.
"So, P-ko! I got to ask-", said Neptune before getting interrupted by Peashy.
"Wait, time out... Who's 'P-ko?'", she asked.
"Well, that's you, ya know?", said Neptune.
"No, I don't know. What are you talking about?", Peashy inquired.
"Ohhh, right. I forgot that you're this dimension's Peashy. You see, I always refered the other Peashy as 'P-ko' as a cute little nickname and stuff", Neptune explained.
"I'm not really sure I like that nickname", said the blonde haired girl.
"I don't know. I seem to like it", said FanBeemon.
"See? You can't argue with that, can you? So, it's decided. From now on, I deem thee 'P-ko'", the lilac haired CPU stated.
"Nothing's been decided yet! And don't I get a say in this?", said P-ko.
"Too late. Even the author made the decision unanimous", said Neptune cheekily, breaking the 4th wall.
"Ugh! What are you even saying?! This going to make my head hurt!", exclaimed the blonde haired girl.
"You'll get used to my sister's antics eventually", said Nepgear sheepishly.
"Are you sure that you're not the older sibling?", Peashy asked.
"Sometimes I wish I were...", the lilac haired Candidate said.
"Aw, you know you love my whimsical charms and witty humor, Nep Jr.", said Neptune.
Histoire cleared her throat, gathering the attention of the three girls.
"Um, Neptune. Weren't you about to ask her something?", she inquired.
"Oh, right! So, how do you know our little bug friend here?", Neptune asked.
"I have to ask, too. Why didn't you say you knew what Digimon were in the first place?", added Nepgear.
Peashy and FanBeemon looked at each other worriedly, not sure what to say to them. The group looked concerned.
"Is something wrong?", asked Noire inquisitively.
"Whatever it is, you can tell us", added Blanc.
"It's just that... we didn't want to get involved", said Peashy.
"Involved in what exactly?", asked Vert.
FanBeemon tried to move up in front of Peashy, but the blonde haired girl raised her hand out to stop him, shaking her head. The insect Digimon nodded and hovered back beside her. Then the girl reached into her pocket for something. What everyone saw shocked them. They saw a yellow and black rectangular device in her hand. It was a Digivice!
"No way! So you and FanBeemon...", said Nepgear.
"That's right. We're partners. Or, at least we're supposed to be", stated Peashy.
"I see. That would explain why FanBeemon is very fond of you", said Histoire.
"So why didn't you jump in to help us?", asked Uni.
"I figured you lot had it covered. And besides, I'm not exactly a fighter... In fact, I don't ever want to fight...", said Peashy before pausing.
"What do you mean?", asked Uzume.
The blonde haired girl then walked over to a seat and sat down, sighing as she tried to find her words. She sat there in silence for a moment before explaining. Everyone gathered around to hear what she had to say.
"Before I met FanBeemon, I was just a normal person, trying to live a normal life. I wandered the world for a while when I became old enough to travel on my own. But then, one day, I came across my partner as you see him now.", said Peashy, referring to the insect Digimon.
FanBeemon nodded his head at everyone, smiling a bit in his own way.
"I never seen something like him before. He's pretty friendly once you get to know him. We talked with each other a lot. He told me all about where he came from, what he was, and how he got here. Something about a vortex or whatever taking him from his world and ending up here. Anyway, along the line we became very good friends and traveled a lot. That's when things went a bit south..."
"We went to a mountain range one day and stumbled on to a nest of nasty monsters", said FanBeemon. "We had no idea it was there until it was too late."
"They managed to surround us when we tried to get away. There were so many monsters I thought we were done for", said Peashy.
The blonde haired girl paused for a moment as she looked at her Digivice.
"And then, this appeared in my hands", Peashy continued. "Before I could even figure out what it was, it suddenly turned on, and then FanBeemon turned into a bigger monster. Then he wiped out all the monsters. I never saw anything like it. I thought that was the end of it, but I was so wrong..."
She looked at FanBeemon with a sad expression, who looked back at her the same way.
"When he became bigger, he just went out of control. He started attacking everything, even me. I was so afraid when he turned to attack me. But when he looked at me for a moment, he just stopped. He came back to his senses, then turned back into FanBeemon. Although we were glad that we made it in one piece, we were too scared of what would happen if he turned big again. In the end, we decided not to get involved in any fights with monsters. And that's the way it went ever since."
Everyone looked at each other and then back at Peashy and the insect Digimon. They felt sorry for the two of them. They never knew that a Digimon could potentially go out of control if it Digivolves. The CPUs thought of their Digimon partners and wondered what would happen if they could not control them when they Digivolve, especially if they finally achieve their Ultimate levels.
"Oh dear...", said Histoire.
"I don't blame you for what happened. If Dracomon turned crazy like that, I'd be concerned too", stated Noire.
"So it seems that not all Digivolutions are guaranteed to not come with some side effects", Blanc pondered aloud.
"I never imagined that something like that could happen", said Vert.
"Well, Dorumon hasn't had that kind of problem yet, so I wouldn't be a worry wort about it", said Neptune.
"That may be fine for you. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm not letting FanBeemon fight again. I don't want to put anyone in harms way...", said Peashy.
"Hey, don't worry about it. If you want, we'll fight the bad guys for you", said Ram.
"We'll protect you", added Rom.
Peashy and FanBeemon looked at them all, surprised to hear that they would go out of their way to help the pair.
"You'll really do that for us", Peashy asked hopefully.
"Of course! We're friends now, after all! You can count on us!", Neptune said cheerfully.
The blonde haired girl looked at her and the other CPUs, all of them smiling at her, and then she started smiling herself, confident that they would help her in times of need and that she could somehow help them in return.
"Thanks, everyone", said Peashy happily.
Everyone giggled a bit, making even Peashy and FanBeemon giggle too. When they stopped, they noticed someone absent from the room.
"Does anyone know where Linda is?", asked Noire.
"She said something about getting some fresh air at the balcony", Histoire explained.
Everyone looked at her as if she had just bluescreened on them, but she just wave at them reassuringly.
"Don't worry. I've been keeping an eye on her. I don't believe she has any intention of escaping", said the Oracle.
The group sighed in relief. Then Nepgear stepped forward.
"Has she said anything more about what SkullSatamon's plan is?", she asked.
"I'm afraid not. She's been quiet since you've brought her here", Histoire replied.
"Yeah. We even had trouble trying to get her to talk back in Lastation", sated Noire.
"Mayhaps what we need is a little of the ol' Planetune charm. C'mon, Nep Jr.", said Neptune as she started to walk out of the room.
"Huh? Hey, wait up!", Nepgear called out, running after her sister.
The rest of the group looked at them as they walked off, wondering what they would do.
When the lilac haired girls reached the balcony, they could see Linda leaning on the ledge and looking out towards the city. When she looked behind her to the Planetune CPUs, she frowned a bit before looking back at the city.
"What do you want?", the pale skinned girl asked.
"Do we need a reason to come by and cheer someone up?", asked Neptune.
Linda groaned at the lilac haired CPU's comment. Sighing in response to her sister, Nepgear moved right next to the former ASIC member.
"So... how are you feeling?", she asked.
The pale skinned girl looked at her for a moment before saying something.
"Uh... fine? What's this about...?", Linda asked.
"We just want to know if you're alright. After that fight today...", said the lilac haired Candidate.
"In case you haven't noticed, we aren't exactly friends. So don't think about getting all chummy with me, got it?", Linda stated.
"Hey, lighten up, will ya? What hit you with the ugly stick?". said Neptune.
"What was that, punk?!", the pale skinned girl exclaimed.
Linda was about ready to punch the Planetune CPU, but Nepgear got between the two. Linda scoffed as she crossed her arms. Then she looked back out towards the city once more.
"I still don't get it, though", she said all of a sudden.
"Hm? What do you mean?", asked Nepgear.
"How am I not locked behind a cell yet? How can you lot be so calm around me? After everything I've done to you all in the past?", Linda inquired.
The Planetune sisters looked at each other and smiled a little.
"Well, you know that Nume-nume or whatever that seems to hang around with you now?", asked Neptune.
"He told us that you saved him twice in two days, even saying that you're a 'nice person'", said Nepgear.
Linda started turning red in the face when she heard that sentence.
"W-What are you saying?! I'm not n-n-nice!", she stuttered.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we found Lonely Heart 2.0", said Neptune jokingly.
Somewhere in the Basilicom, a certain raven haired girl suddenly sneezed loudly, confusing everyone else.
"Well, let's look at it this way. You might be having a change of heart, in a good way", said Nepgear.
"Me? Good? Hah! Don't be ridiculous!", said Linda.
"Everyone has a chance to change their ways. And if you ask me, it sounds like you're beginning to turn over a new leaf", the lilac haired Candidate said.
"Yeah, so stop being a sour-puss and and help us out", said Neptune.
Linda just stared at the two CPUs for a while before looking up at the night sky, the far away stars twinkling and shining endlessly. She pondered for a moment, trying to find the words in her voice.
"...I gotta admit... the thought of changing did come to mind once or twice..." the former ASIC agent said.
She continued to stare upwards at the night sky before turning back to the CPUs.
"But why should I help you? I've been nothing but trouble", Linda continued. "Heck, my life's been nothing but trouble."
"Think of it like one of those restart buttons. You can start over from scratch, start a new life, make new friends, yadda yadda", said Neptune.
"And you can start that new life by helping us. Please, don't throw that chance away", said her sister.
Linda just continued to stare at them. Never has anyone offered her a chance for redemption before. She could not comprehend how the very people that she fought against in the past would be willing to forgive her for her past crimes when no one else would at all.
And the thought of starting a new life peaked her curiosity. She wondered what would it had been like had she not joined ASIC and instead have a normal life as an average citizen. But would that kind of life really work out for her? And how would she be able to live an actual normal life to begin with?
Linda thought long and hard, weighing the options that were given to her. She didn't know what to say to them, nor did she know what to make of their offer. The Planetune sisters could see that the pale skinned girl was having a bit of trouble on what to say, but they still smiled.
"You don't have to answer immediately. Just take your time", said Nepgear.
"Yeah, so just chillax, grab a snack, or whatever. We'll wait for ya forever if we have to", added Neptune.
"Uhhh, sure. Thanks..", said Linda.
The two girls walked back inside the Basilicom, leaving her alone at the balcony once more. She stared out into the night, her mind now lost in thought.
"Is this really okay? Can I really turn my life around?", she thought.
The grey skinned girl thought long and hard for a while as she leaned on the balcony's edge. It would be some time before she makes her decision.
Almost an hour had passed after the Planetune sisters had talked with Linda. They didn't know if Linda would actually help them or not. They waited and waited until at last, the former ASIC agent walked into the room. Everyone could tell that by the look on her face, she had reached her decision.
"Thought about it for a bit, and I believe I made up my mind", said Linda before pausing for a moment. "I'll help you all out. All I ask is that I be given another chance at life."
Everyone stared at her with looks of both surprise and suspicion. Some were skeptical about her choice, wondering if what she said was true or if it was just a mask hiding her true motives. Others were glad that Linda might be finally doing something good for once but they still remained a bit cautious.
Even Blanc and Uzume were not sure on whether to believe her or not. The grey skinned girl had managed to capture both Uzume and Nepgear before, and the experience was still a bit fresh in the red haired CPU's mind. Blanc also could not forgive Linda for kidnapping and brainwashing her twin sisters once years ago when ASIC was still around. All in all, both girls weren't exactly keen on trusting her former kidnapper.
"Are you sure we can trust her?", she said.
"I gotta agree with Uzume on this. I don't know about this", added Uni.
"I don't like it either, but it's not like we have a choice in the matter", said Noire.
"I believe we should give her a chance, even if she did try to do us harm in the past", stated Vert.
The rest of the CPUs nodded in agreement begrudgingly. Blanc, however, just glared at their former enemy.
"If you try any funny business with any of us, I won't hesitate to beat you down. Got it?", said the brown haired girl.
Linda looked at her nervously, but nodded silently. She sat down in an empty seat, while Histoire moved up to her, clearing her throat.
"So, what do you know about SkullSatamon?", she asked.
"From what I've seen since working with him, he's the kind of guy who doesn't care who you are or where you're from, he'll waste you like a paper plate", said Linda.
"Is that why you were so hesitant to say anything? And why he decided to come after you?", the Oracle asked.
"Yeah. But I think why he really wanted to get rid of me is because I knew a little bit about his plan", stated Linda.
"Which lead's us to question part deux", said Neptune. "Why does he keep stealing our Share crystals?"
"Yeah. And if you ask me, it doesn't seem like he wants to simply just strip us of our powers", added Noire.
"You'd be right", said Linda. "He even tried sending me to steal the Sharicite in Lastation. He's got something big planned."
"So what's he really up to?", Uni inquired.
"He and his own boss didn't really tell me all the details, and I don't think they were willing to share any at all", said the grey skinned girl.
"Is there anything you do know, though?", asked Nepgear.
"I did overhear that skull-faced creepazoid once. Said something about a portal or something?" Linda replied.
"Well, that's not really enough to go on", said Uzume.
"Yes. We need more information if we ever hope to stop SkullSatamon, and soon", said Vert.
"Perhaps I can help with that", said a voice.
Everyone turned to look at an open doorway to see another person entering the room. A woman with purple hair, black and white drees, and a purple laptop in her hands had suddenly appeared in the Basilicom. It was a familiar sight to most of the group.
"Mirei Mikagura?!" Histore and the CPUs exclaimed.
On the rooftop of the Basilicom, Ryudamon was staring out at the stars, gazing at the night sky. Rather than resting up, he instead was thinking to himself about something.
"All my life I grew stronger on my own. And ever since I met that Dorumon and his human friend, I'm beginning to doubt if I can become stronger alone. Hmmm...", the armored Digimon thought.
As he thought to himself, he felt that he wasn't alone on the rooftop. Someone else was approaching. When he looked back, he could see that it was Dorumon coming up to him.
"I thought I'd find you up here", said the purple Digimon.
"Leave me be. I prefer to be alone", said Ryudamon.
"Somehow I don't think that's the case", said Dorumon as he sat down next to Ryudamon.
The armored Digimon grumbled, but decided to just tolerate Dorumon's presence. They both looked at the night sky in silence for a couple of minutes before Ryudamon spoke up.
"So, why are you here?", he said.
"I just thought you needed some company is all", Dorumon replied.
Ryudamon sighed at this, but he didn't object. He looked back at his rival with a questioning face.
"Do you ever wonder if we're really connected somehow?", he asked.
"I did think about it a few times. Is this about that vision we had during our fight?", Dorumon inquired.
"Yes. Ever since I had that vision, I keep thinking if you and I had met long ago before", said the armored Digimon. "At first, I thought it was just mere coincidence. But as I pondered on it more and more, I get the sense of familiarity. As if we known each other in a previous life."
"Is that so? Well, I never met you until that day when you showed up out of nowhere when me and Neptune were fighting BlackGrowlmon", said Dorumon.
"That's another thing. You and that girl share a power that is... new to me", said Ryudamon.
"What, you mean Digivolution?", asked Dorumon.
"Yes, that's it. I spent my whole existence training on my own, without the need of some evolutionary trait from a device", said Ryudamon.
He then paused for a moment as he gazed up at the stars, pondering on the day he achieved his first Digivolution.
"And the you and her showed up and accidentally turned me into something else entirely different", he continued.
"Well isn't it a good thing to become a new Digimon?", said Dorumon.
"That's not the point", said the armored Digimon. "That power... it was something that I did not achieve on my own. It did not feel like I truly earned it."
"To be fair, it was originally intended to be mean for me", stated Dorumon.
"Yes, but still... Now that I had a taste of that new power, I feel like I want more. But I want to gain it on my own accord" said Ryudamon.
He paused again as his attention turned towards the city and the outskirts beyond.
"After you and I fought, I trained for countless hours, thinking I could reach that level of strength again, only this time on my own", he continued. "But no matter what I did, no matter how much I trained, I could not become Ginryumon. I don't know if I was doing something wrong or if it was just impossible for me."
Dorumon thought about it for a moment before speaking up.
"Maybe it's because you didn't have a friend to help you out", the purple Digimon said.
Ryudamon looked at him, a puzzling expression shown on his face.
"A friend?", he asked.
Yeah! What you need is some friend to help you", said Dorumon. "Neptune wasn't afraid to help me when I needed it the most, and I'd do the same thing for her."
"I never really had a friend to rely on, though. I only ever relied on myself and my own skill to see me through", said Ryudamon.
"It's no shame to have someone help you out every once in a while. And that's what friends are for", said the purple Digimon.
He then raised his one of his claws out towards the armored Digimon, a smile forming on his face.
"And I'm willing to be a friend to you, if you want", he said cheerfully.
Ryudamon just stared at him, surprised by Dorumon's offer. This Digimon was willing to be his friend and lend him his assistance in any way, and he could not understand why. It was very puzzling to him. Still, it was intriguing. He never really had a friend before, and he never had to count on anyone else until the day he accidentally Digivolved. If there was better strength to be gained, then perhaps he could find it with the purple Digimon by his side.
He reached out with his claw and touched Dorumon's outstretched paw, both tips now touching one another. Just then, as soon as they both held each other's claws, the red gem stones on their heads suddenly started to glow in a bright light. They looked at each other's head gems in shock. This had happened before when they had fought each other in the Virtua Forest. It seemed to them now that the red glow would initiate the moment they made physical contact with one another.
"Do you know why this keeps happening?", Ryudamon asked.
"I don't either. It's strange", said Dorumon.
Then, the two Digimon started to see a flash of light appeared in their eyes. They thought that they were having another vision, and it seemed to them that it was the case. They could see two silhouetted figures in their conjoined vision. One was a humanoid-like figure that looked like it had wings on his back, glowing eyes, and a cape. The other figure looked like it had the body of a slender dragon with blade-like wings and two swords in its hands. His eyes were also glowing.
Then the two figures face each other and outstretch their hands to one another, another glow of light forming in between their palms. The light grew larger and brighter until at last, the light faded, along with this vision. The two Digimon's eyes returned to normal, and their head gems stopped glowing as well. Both Dorumon and Ryudamon stared at each other in confusion.
"You saw that two, right?", asked the purple Digimon.
"Yes. I did... What does it mean?", Ryudamon inquired.
"I guess that's something we'll find out together, now won't we?", said Dorumon.
Ryudamon looked at him and nodded before smiling.
"We most certainly will. Friend", said the armored Digimon.
Both him and Dorumon then shook claws and laughed a bit. From that moment on, a bond would start to form between the two Digimon. However, none could foresee that the history of the two would one day become one...
When Mirei had arrived inside the Basilicom, Histoire had introduced her to those who haven't met her yet. The purple haired woman greeted the Candidates, Peashy and Linda. She and Histoire then explained to them how they had met and that she was the one who sent them their Digivices when they met their Digimon.
When Peashy heard this, she was a little uneasy, as when she had used her Digivice for the first time, FanBeemon turned into an out of control monster. She wasn't sure if she should be thanking the woman or cursing her. Still, whatever thoughts she had about her, the blonde haired girl kept them to herself. After the introductions and explanations were over, Histoire turned to Mirei to ask her something.
"So, what brings you here? I thought you were busy in your Digi-Lab?", the Oracle inquired.
"That's partially what I'm here to talk about", said Mirei as she took a seat.
Nepgear came by with a glass of tea and offered it to the purple haired woman. Mirei thanked the Planetune Candidate as she accepted the drink.
"Under normal circumstances I would contact you via your Digivices", she continued. "However, certain events have forced me to come to you instead."
"What do you mean?", asked Histoire.
"I received a call from a... very old colleague of mine. Apparently SkullSatamon isn't the only threat to worry about now", said Mirei.
"Who's this old colleague? And what do you mean by SkullSatamon not being the only threat?", Noire inquired.
Mirei adjusted her glasses ominously before explaining.
"Someone who even I thought was long since gone. He goes by a few names, but we'll call him 'Mr. A.'", she said. "Somehow he found the location of my Digi-Lab and hacked into it, affectively sending my little pocket space into a system crash."
"Oh no! Is your lab okay? It didn't suffer any permanent damage, did it?", Nepgear inquired worriedly.
"Yes, my place is fine. Thankfully, I had kept a back-up of my work before Mr. A. deleted my progress", Mirei reassured. "Unfortunately, my Digi-Lab will be out of commission for a bit while it's under maintenance."
This made everyone feel a little better. They were, however, still concerned that someone managed to hack into Mirei's Digi-Lab, which was in its own pocket dimension.
"So who is this Mr A. guy anyway?", asked Uzume.
"A very dangerous individual...", the purple haired woman began. "A long time ago, he and a few others had accidentally discovered the Digital World after an experiment with converting physical matter into digital form. When they saw the unlimited potential that the Digital World offered, they decided to try and take it for themselves. The Digimon, however, did not like the idea of humans invading their home and trying to take it by force. They waged a long battle until finally, the Digimon drove the humans back. All except one..."
She paused for a moment, thinking back to her former colleague.
"Mr. A. went into hiding within the Digital World. Years later, a boy had been summoned into the Digital World by the Digimon in hopes of saving them and their home. Mr. A. had caused most of the Digimon to turn wild or lose their memory, and even went as far as brainwashing them to make them do his bidding. Eventually, though, the boy gathered the Digimon together and fought against Mr. A. in one last battle. Mr. A. tried to escape back into his own world, but a system malfunction had occurred during his escape. In the end, his body was destroyed, and his mind was lost in cyber space."
Everyone was shocked by what this Mr. A. had done in the past. They never thought there could someone cruel enough to enslave a sentient species from another world, let alone try to take over said world.
"That Mr. A. guy just sounds awful! In a way, I'm glad he was beaten", said Nepgear.
"Yeah. Enslaving creatures who done him no wrong is just cruel! How could anyone do such a thing?", added Uni.
"This Mr. A. dude sounds like he gives the word 'monster' a really bad name", stated Neptune.
"But that wouldn't be the end of his influence", Mirei continued. "Years had passed, and the Digital World came under attack again. Apparently his grudge was so strong that it took control of a young min and planned to corrupt Digimon with a viral program. But a new tamer, who had the gift of two Digimon partners, along with their friends, managed to destroy the program and end Mr. A.'s influence."
The CPUs were impressed. They had no idea that there were other people who had their own Digimon partners. They were also amazed at how said tamers could manage to stop a man like Mr. A. and save the Digital World.
"One thing that puzzles me. You said that Mr. A.'s mind was lost to cyber space, right?", asked Histoire.
"Yes. We all thought that he was gone for good. Unfortunately, I fear that he somehow survived, considering that he managed to hack my Digi-Lab", said Mirei.
"Do you have any idea as to what he wants now?", Blanc inquired.
"I assumed it is the same thing that he tried in the past, but I feel like it's more than just enslaving Digimon this time", stated Mirei.
"Well, we'll worry about him later. Right now there are more important things to attend to", stated Vert.
"Right. I assume you all wish to know more about why SkullSatamon wants to steal your Sharicite?",the purple haired woman asked.
"Yeah. What's his deal anyway? I mean, if he wanted a piece of me, the least he could do is ask me out or something", said Neptune.
"Neptune, I can't tell if you're joking or not", deadpanned Noire.
"Who's joking? But then again, I don't really date creepy creepers who steal my Shares", the lilac haired CPU replied.
"Hey, don't forget that he stole my Share crystal too ya know", stated Noire.
"Well, that explains it, then. He wants your hot bod. You just seem to attract the weirdos sometimes, don't ya?", Neptune teased.
"S-Shut up! Don't word it like that! People will get the wrong idea!", the raven haired girl sputtered.
Mirei then cleared her throat, wanting to get everyone's attention back to her.
"As much as I'm curious to see how long this joke will go on, I think it's imperative that we stay on topic", she stated.
The group nodded as Mirei opened up her laptop, a program activating seconds later. It showed various diagrams, simulations, and other programs of interest.
"I've done a lot of research on the barriers between the Digital World and Gameindustri. And based off of what your former enemy said, combined with the investigation on how that Machinedramon appeared, I can confirm what SkullSatamon intends to do", she said.
"Well don't keep us guessing! Spit it out already!", said Ram anxiously.
"Tell us, tell us!", Rom repeated.
"Your Share crystals have immense energy stored within them, based on how much faith they have within them by your people, correct?', asked Mirei.
"Yes. But Share energy should only work on a CPU. A Sharicite crystal would be useless as an actual power source", said Histoire.
"Not unless it is focused in a different way", said Mirei.
She opened up another program, showing what looked like four Share crystals, and a virtual vortex in the center.
"Given enough Share energy, and with all four crystals together, they could offer enough power to even create a portal to different dimensions", the purple haired woman continued.
"Interesting. We used a similar strategy when Neptune was sent to an alternate Gameindustri", said Histoire.
"I see. This, however, is a different phenomenon. Because the barrier between the Digital World and Gameindustri is growing thinner day by day, even if the Sharicite doesn't have a lot of power, if the crystals are in close proximity with one another, they should create a powerful enough doorway that would connect both worlds with one another", said Mirei.
"I see! Now it all makes sense!", exclaimed the Oracle.
"Uhhh... sorry, I don't exactly follow anything sciencey. What makes sense now?", asked Neptune.
"Neptune, are you really that dense? SkullSatamon is stealing our Share crystals so he can open a gate to the Digital World", said Blanc.
"Ohhh! Yeah, that makes sense! But, uh, why go through all of that?", the lilac haired girl inquired.
"My guess is that he plans to bring an army through to invade your world", said Mirei.
"Uh, are you sure its not going to be just a friendly parade or something? Cause my Nep Senses do not like that idea one bit", said Neptune.
"If this is true, then we can't let him have the other two Share crystals! Otherwise he'll be unstoppable!", exclaimed Noire.
"Somehow I'm not sure we have that option", said Mirei ominously.
"What do you mean? We got to at least try!", said Uzume.
"And besides, even if we don't have our own Ultimates, we can't let SkullSatamon win!", added Nepgear.
"What I mean is that, while we were having our conversation, I just received a voice mail from an unknown source", said Mirei.
She then held up a cellphone to show everyone an unknown set of letters and numbers, giving the group some nervous vibes.
"I can hazard a guess as to who it is...", said Mirei.
Then the purple haired woman set her phone to a loud speaker setting and started playing the recording. Soon a voice spoke out of it.
"Greetings, Mirei, and who I assume are the CPUs of Gameindustri. I believe you all already know who I am, but for those who don't know, allow me to introduce myself. I am Mr. A., Mirei Mikagura's former mentor and colleague", he said.
Everyone tensed up as they listened on to the recording.
"I'm sure that Mirei has told you about me by now, and has informed you of what she found about your Share crystals. I want to inform you all that even if you found out the plan by now, you will not be able to succeed. And I intend to make sure of it."
Then, as if on cue, the lights around the Basilicom started to flicker, and the electronics started to turn on and off by themselves. Everyone was shocked by this turn of events. As if that weren't enough, they looked out the windows and saw that the city of Planetune was experiencing the same power fluctuations. From street lamps to building lights, everything electrical in the entire city was going haywire. This went on for a few more seconds until suddenly, the lights then continously started to glow brighter and brighter until they started exploding in most areas, causing havoc for some of the citizens who were nearby.
The CPUs were horrified by the sight. They knew that Mr. A. was capable of hacking into Mirei's Digi-Lab, but they didn't think he could penetrate an entire nation's power grid. They were unsure on what to do. Then, it stopped. All the electronics, lights, and other electrical outputs started to return to normal. Although they were relieved to see the power stop going crazy, they remained on high alert. The CPUs were not sure what would happen next.
"As you can see, I had managed to cripple your power supply momentarily. And that was just a single demonstration of what I can do to you. I can singlehandedly dismantle all of your nations in one fell swoop if I want. However, I can be merciful. I'm giving you twenty-four hours to bring the last two Sharicite crystals to my associate SkullSatamon. I will send coordinates to the location that you will bring the crystals. You will come unarmed and you will not bring your Digimon with you. If you fail to meet these conditions, then your nations of Gameindustri will suffer beyond imagination. Oh, and in case you you believe that I'm bluffing..."
Just then, a series of explosions suddenly went off out in the city. The CPUs looked out to see that at various points where powerlines were, multiple transformer units had blown out, some even catching fire. They looked on in shock, unable to grasp the situation they were in.
"A difficult choice, is it not? Remember: last two Share crystals, no weapons and Digimon, twenty-four hours. I would meet you at the location myself, but I have other things to do. Still, I do look forward to the day I get to meet you all in person when the time comes. Goodbye for now."
As soon as Mr. A. finished his last sentence, the voice mail ended. Everyone looked at each other nervously, unsure of what to do. Mr. A. had made a serious threat, and he showed just how far he would be willing to take it. They didn't want to think what else he could do. And now the question comes to mind:
What are they going to do to stop SkullSatamon?
Hey everyone. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
Things are really heating up here. While Dorumon and Ryudamon form a new friendship, the CPUs are now in a tough bind. They'll need a plan if they ever hope to keep their Sharicite and their world safe and stop SkullSatamon. Will they suffer defeat... or will a new evolution rise up?
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a review and follow for more.
Until then, stay tuned for the next chapter!
