Chapter 4: Bargain on Chorus
Planet Chorus had quite the rough history. First, it had been abandoned by the UNSC Government after the war against the aliens had ended. Then, when the colonists on Chorus just tried to govern themselves, they ended up with a corrupt bureaucracy. Fast forward five years and a massive civil war had begun between the Federal Army of Chorus and a group of Rebels calling themselves the New Republic. An unspecified amount of time later Charon Industries headed up by UNSC Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Malcolm Hargrove targeted the people on Chorus with an objective to take possession of alien temples and artifacts on Chorus. This action led to the mercenaries: Locus and Felix playing both sides for fools and keeping the war ongoing in an effort to get the colonists to eventually kill each other. Everything changed when the Reds and Blues crash landed on Chorus on what was supposed to be a flight back home. The Reds and Blues were seperated and eventually found out about the plot against the people of Chorus. Together the New Republic and the Federal Army along with the Reds and Blues, defeated Charon and the world was saved. But the peace and quiet didn't last, naturally the people of Chorus wanted to maintain their independence from the UNSC after the latter learned of the situation. The UNSC didn't like the idea of an independent Chorus and now, due to the fake Reds and Blues launching insurgent strikes, the UNSC was gearing up to invade Chorus now that it was blockaded from orbit. This is Chorus, and this is where Dylan, Jax, Oculus, and Gatomon are now located. Their interview with President Kimball was denied. But things had gotten worse for Jax who had gotten shot in Chorus' capitol city. Now Dylan is with police officials (the Reds and Blues lieutenants during the war against Charon) with Gatomon and Oculus besides her masquerading as pets.
"Just a few more inquiries ma'am" Smith began "uh, did you attempt to witness any other particular individuals in the general vicinity of the area in which the crime scene was alleged?"
"Ugh, what he means is did you see anybody?" Bitters simplified with a groan.
"No, I just found him lying hear and called the police. Is-is he okay? Did they take him to General?" Dylan asked
"Were asking the questions if you so please." Smith continued "Does the alleged victim have any enemies, arch-enemies, nemesis, or particular people of an interesting nature to which the crime might be motivated by whom?"
"Uh, no. Who's the attending doctor?" Dylan replied
"Just a few more inquiries, if you so please, to be of grateful assistance to law enforcement investigators."
"Just stop dude" Bitters cut-in "You don't even sound like a cop!"
"I'm just doing my job Bitters, it's called going by the book." Smith replied
"Which book?"
"Law and Order"
"Ugh, gross, CSI Miami for life."
"Is he gonna be okay? Where is he?" Dylan asked
"Do you have any knowledge of his next of kin?" Smith asked
"Is he dead?!"
"No, no no, he's not dead" Bitters quickly replied
"The alleged victim was admitted with an alleged bullet in his posterior." Smith said as the other two Lieutenants walked up to the crime scene.
"He means his butt" Palomo said matter-of-factly
"Hey, were supposed to be establishing a perimeter." Jensen said
"I just want to be included"
"So he's fine?" Dylan asked
"He should be" Bitters said "But if you ask me something about this case feels a little… cheeky." As Bitters finished speaking, the digimon could've sworn they heard opera music blast for a few seconds almost as if it was parodying something. Dylan and the digimon were taken to General Doyle General Hospital where Jax was being treated. They were looking through a window to see him lying on a bed. After a few minutes a certain eccentric doctor came out to speak with them.
"I can see the headlines already" she began in a passive aggressive tone "Journalists assaulted on Chorus! Peace talks: abandoned!"
"Dr. Grey" Dylan began with a start as the Digimon began acting like pets again. "I was hoping to speak with you-"
"Off the record, I'm not an official representative of Chorus Ms. Andrews"
"You know me?"
"I recognize you by your bylines. You wrote a fantastic piece about the Stewart Insurrection!"
"That was ten years ago" Dylan replied
"And now you're here!" Dr. Grey continued with a cheer "Funny, the vultures usually show up after the slaughter." Gatomon thought she was too happy as she said this and turned to Oculus to find him thinking along similar lines.
"I'm not here about the UNSC or the rising tensions between them and Chorus. I'm here about the Reds and Blues. You've read about their attacks in the papers?"
"Of course, those criminals have caused substantial damage to our planet"
"Well, what if I told you those criminals aren't the Reds and Blues you know?"
"Oh, I know that! When I said criminals, I was referring to you Ms. Andrews."
"What?" Dylan asked
"What?" Gatomon asked in confusion before remembering she was supposed to be a pet right now.
"Oh, wow you're cat can talk!" Dr. Grey noted "Anyway, yes Ms. Andrews, I mean you, by insinuating that these attacks are being carried out in our name, which by the way a baseless accusation that the UNSC was quick to overreact to. But, I'm sure invasions make for a great news day!"
"We don't want an invasion" Gatomon said dropping the 'pet' pretense entirely
"She's right" Oculus said
"You can talk too? I need to know more about you creatures" Dr. Grey said in fascination
"To put it simply, they're digimon from the year 1999 and they need the Reds and Blues help to save the past and our present as an extension of that." Dylan said
"Just when you think you've seen it all"
"And they're both right" Dylan continued "We don't want an invasion, but if we can find the Reds and Blues we can help Chorus. But we can't get within a mile of Kimball."
"The President refuses to be interviewed" Dr. Grey mused "So you decide to shoot your cameraman."
"Uh, well, he was shot, but-"
"The clotting present in the patient's posterior places the time of attack to approximately five minutes after your call to the police, that's some fast reporting Ms. Andrews."
"Look, I need to talk with you. Please, help us get to Kimball"
"At first, I thought you attacked your cameraman to stir up trouble, but instead, you and your digi-friends flatter me. You're a little bit crazy, aren't you?"
"Will you help us" Gatomon asked
"Afraid not, kitty" Dr. Grey replied "I won't trouble the President with this, not while she's fighting to reopen peace talks with the UNSC."
"Can you at least tell us who they're diplomat is?" Dylan asked
"Ooh, are you gonna shoot them too?!" Dr. Grey asked
"No more shooting, I'll make sure of it" Oculus said
"I have connections I can use" Dylan said
"Very well, his name is Alfred Packard." Dr. Grey said
"Thanks"
"Don't thank me, just keep me off the record."
"And not just for the tip, but for helping my partner too."
"Huh, if you think he'll still be your partner after this then you are crazy!"
"I'm prepared to accept the consequences of my actions"
"Funny, consequences never take the shape we think they will, do they?"
"No Doctor, I guess not."
Japan 1999
Locus led his squad and Terriermon into Kyoto under the cover of night, all of them were using active camouflage that Locus was able to engineer after a raid on one of Myotismon's armories. Their mission was simple, find the rebel cell in Kyoto and negotiate an alliance with them. The sooner they had allies, the sooner they could plan an assault on Myotismon's archive. They made their way to the center of the city where a man in his late 20's was sitting, with his back against a wall. Locus dropped his active camouflage and approached the man with Terriermon right behind him. The man saw them both and nodded before pointing to a sewer entrance in the alleyway to his right. Locus signaled to his men to remain where they were while he and Terriermon went inside of the sewer.
Chorus 2552
Dylan and the digimon had returned to the ship they had used to get there. Once they had arrived, dylan began researching Alfred Packard, which didn't take long seeing as to how there was next to no information other than the fact that he existed available. With a sigh, she made a call to a contact back at Interstellar Daily. His name being James Adler.
"Hello, you've reached Interstellar Daily, James Adler speaking." he began
"It's me" Dylan said
"Dylan! What a relief, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm still on the story."
"Carlos is gonna be livid" he chuckled "he's already talking about criminal charges, you need to get back here."
"Not yet, I need some information"
"Oh" he said with a more subdued tone "That's why your calling."
"Yeah"
"No 'hi honey how are the cats?'"
"I'm sorry, this is urgent"
"Are we even still married?"
"Can we not talk about that right now?"
"What am I supposed to think? You just left so quickly"
"I don't know, everything is just a mess and I needed time to think and now, I really need that favor."
"You're killing me, Dylan" he said with a sigh "What is it?"
"Alfred Packard: the UNSC's diplomat assigned to Chorus. I need everything about him from the papers file. I think I saw his name on that leak last year so throw that in too."
"Fine" he said in an empty voice "I'll send you what I can find"
"Thanks, and I promise we'll talk when I get back"
"Yeah sure" James said before hanging up. Dylan just looked at the floor in guilt, Gatomon wanted to say something, but what could she even say in this situation?
Japan 1999
Locus and Terriermon were led by a man who awaited them deeper into the sewers. Surprisingly, they left the sewers twenty minutes later. After walking down several more back alleys, the three of them entered a building where a middle-aged woman was waiting for them. She wore an emerald green dress with black high-heels contrasting strongly from her pale skin and blonde hair which reached down past her shoulders.
"So you're Locus" she said with interest "I am Madame Lime, and we are the Kyoto resistance cell. I understand you wish to speak with me?"
"Yes" Locus replied
"Well" Madame Lime said leading them to a small table "You have piqued my interest, let's talk."
"Our group in Tokyo knows where Myotismon keeps his records stored. If we can get to them, we can start making plans to free the digidestined kids, we'll need them to stop Myotismon and his forces."
"Sounds good, why haven't you done it though?"
"Well, like I said, we know where the archives are, but we don't have the numbers to launch a successful strike, we need allies."
"If I were to help you, it would leave Kyoto without a resistance, the people would see it as us abandoning them."
"A necessary risk"
"Explain yourself, Locus"
"We all need the digidestined to be freed, once that has been done, our victory becomes a real possibility. I'd say that's worth losing a little bit of public support."
"You're right, we can't afford to pick and choose our actions like a buffet. We need to make a move, we can always re-earn the support." she replied with a smile extending her hand "We're in, but we should get more allies before moving."
"Agreed" Locus said accepting her hand and shaking it.
Chorus 2552
Dylan and the digimon walked into the office of President Kimball on Chorus. After convincing Alfred Packard to reopen negotiations, Kimball had agreed to an interview with Dylan. Once they entered the office, they saw Kimball looking out of a window behind her desk.
"President Kimball" Dylan greeted "Thanks for agreeing to speak with us, we have questions"
"I'm sure you and your friends from the past do. But I'm afraid you'll need to answer mine first. How did you get Packard to reopen negotiations?" Kimball replied
"Packards corrupt, he's smart enough to pay off the right people, but not smart enough to know you should never short change a drug dealer. I threatened an expose, he decided it was in his best interest to reopen negotiations with Chorus instead, it's temporary."
"I see, well the slight respite has brought us hope nonetheless."
"Your hope is with the Reds and Blues, if they're proven innocent, Chorus is saved."
"You didn't come here to advise me Ms. Andrews. You want something"
"We want them"
"Well as I've said before, I don't know where they are."
"With all due respect, we don't buy that" Oculus spoke up
"With all due respect, I don't care" Kimball shot back "You want the Reds and Blues, I want to know why, so all three of you are going to explain your intentions to me before this conversation continues. But believe me when I say, I'll know if you're lying."
"If Myotismon has his way, this timeline will not turn out as it is" Gatomon began "He needs to be stopped, and the Reds and Blues have proven to be capable, even if they are rather unorthodox."
"Carolina is a digidestined, the one who is supposed to be my partner." Oculus said after Gatomon was finished "I need to help her and stand by her in anyway that I can. Helping protect your present is the second step, the first is finding her and the others.
"I see" Kimball said looking between the digimon before returning her view to Dylan. "And you, Ms. Andrews?"
"I want to talk to them" Dylan said
"Why?" Kimball challenged
"To get the facts"
"That's not good enough, be specific."
"People are quick to jump to conclusions. They see or hear something and are quick to judge because of it. The Reds and Blues are terrorists, that's why I want to find them. To learn the truth, because truth and facts are the currency of the galaxy, they're how wars are fought and invasions are justified and leaders are elected. I want facts, facts are found at the source, that's one reason." Dylan walked closer to Kimball before continuing "The other is that I know from the crisis in the past alone that they're story isn't over yet, and I want to see how it ends."
"Santa?" Kimball asked
"What?" Dylan and the digimon responded as a red A.I. in the shape of an alien materialized to their right.
"Their intentions are as they say" Santa replied
"Anything they haven't told me?" Kimball inquired
"Nothing of note, do you want to know what Ms. Andrews is afraid of? I can't read the digimon's emotions for some reason"
"No Santa, I don't want to know what Ms. Andrews is afraid of." Kimball answered with a chuckle.
"It's currently me"
"An alien A.I. construct" Dylan said in awe
"So, I'll tell you where they are" Kimball said to Dylan
"You do know then" Oculus said
"The Reds and Blues saved us, we owe them everything, so when they said that they were done, that they just wanted to be left alone I did everything I could to make sure we repaid the favor." Kimball said turning to her three guests "Please, don't make me regret what I'm about to tell you." About an hour later, the group met up with Jax at the shipyards.
"So, you can catch a ride back to Earth here" Dylan told Jax "Tell Carlos what happened, he'll make sure your compensated."
"That's it?" Jax asked "Your firing me? I can't come?"
"How can you say that?" Oculus asked
"Yeah, she shot you!" Gatomon exclaimed
"Oh, I know, awesome Dylan!" he said in approval
"What?!" Dylan yelled
"That was some Kubrick level determination, partner"
"Well" Oculus began "You have grit, I'll give you that"
"Well, yeah, and as soon as I get home, my student loans start to kick in, so I'm in no hurry." Jax said
"Jax" Dylan said "I'm glad you still want to come but you have to know, we're rouge from this point forward. No backup, no aid, no college credit, no pay, no nothing."
"I'm ready when you guys are"
"Let's go then" Dylan said as the four of them boarded the ship and took off. As they left Dr. Grey, Bitters, Smith, Palomo, Jensen, and President Kimball watched.
"Well" Dr. Grey began "I guess that cameraman is as crazy as she is"
"And those digimon are amazing creatures" Jensen observed "If a little strange in their own respects."
"Then they'll be in good company" President Kimball said
"Wait!" Bitters exclaimed "What about that message?"
"Oh" Kimball realized "You know, with the whole digimon thing I completely forgot about it. Hopefully it wasn't too important" with that, they all returned to their duties. It took two days for them to reach the location Kimball had given them, when they did, they found a solitary island surrounded by a vast ocean. They disembarked, Jax stayed behind briefly to lock down the ship while Dylan and the digimon went up to a peak where they found Caboose looking over the ocean. Caboose turned around to see them as Dylan held up a microphone ready for an interview. However, in a rather un-surprising twist (to Red vs. Blue fans anyway) Caboose freaked out after he saw them.
"Ah!" he yelled "who are you?" he asked as he accidentally slipped and fell off the cliff with a scream. Dylan and the digimon were quite shocked at this and dylan was the first of them to recollect themselves.
"****" She said
The Reds and Blues have been found, the next chapter will be entirely dedicated to the Red and Blue side of things. Will the Reds and Blues be willing to come out of retirement to help? Find out in Chapter 5: Info Exchange.