(Author's Notes: Sorry this took awhile. Trying to get a few chapters written in advance. That might cause a longer-than-usual release for Chapter 3 as well. Anyways, here it is. Enjoy!)
Chapter 2: A New Threat
In a dark room that was dimly lit by a candle, the sounds of heavy breaths and the wet sucking of lips filled the air. Dynasmon and Rosemon were in a guest bedroom tailored for Digimon of their size. Their arms were wrapped around the other and they kissed passionately while gripping each other's clothed bodies.
"Mm, Councillor…" Dynasmon said with a deep, husky groan as he pulled away from her face somewhat.
"You may call me Rosemon," she told him with a smirk, raising her hand and gently rubbing his broad neck. "Unless you'd rather call me Councillor."
"Good to know, Rosemon," Dynasmon responded with a cheeky grin.
"So, the rumour about the Royal Knights taking vows of celibacy was false after all..." Rosemon said in a playful voice, rubbing his shoulders through his tuxedo.
"Most definitely," Dynasmon answered, winking. "Nothing would get me out of the Order faster than that."
"Good. Just as long as we both understand that what goes on here is strictly for pleasure, not business," Councillor Rosemon said, unknotting Dynasmon's tie as she forced him to sit down on the bed behind him.
"That suits me just fine," Dynasmon assured her, placing his hands on her hips.
"Speak of suits…" Rosemon spoke, slowly starting to unbutton Dynasmon's tuxedo suit from the collar down.
Dynasmon grinned broadly and relaxed, getting himself comfortable.
That is, until he heard the sound of an explosion in the distance. "What was that?" Dynasmon asked, sitting up somewhat.
"Probably just another firework or males having a silly competition outside," Rosemon said dismissively, continuing to unbutton his shirt.
Dynasmon frowned and moved his head, looking over the Councillor's shoulder, past her, to the window opposite to him. He looked out into the night and saw another fiery explosion ripple upwards from a building across the river. "An explosion…" he spoke, his eyes widening. He frowned and began to move, taken out of the mood. "Damn it. Sorry. I have to see to this."
Rosemon continued to unbutton his undershirt. "Let the D-Brigade take care of it. It's the Metal Empire's problem," she insisted. "It's probably just a guerilla attack from the JumboGamemon loyalists. You don't have to deal with that do you?"
"We're the Royal Knights. We don't know borders when it comes to helping the world," Dynasmon replied, gently lifting her off of his lap and over onto the bed. He stood up and headed towards the windows. "I'll make it up to you. I promise."
"D-Dynasmon!" Rosemon protested. When she saw Dynasmon get onto the balcony and flap his wings to lift off, she released a sigh of annoyance. "Insufferable Royal Knights…" she murmured, flatly looking out the window.
Dynasmon flew away from the palace, buttoning his suit up as he glided across the river.
"Haahahaha!" a voice cackled maniacally.
Bolgmon stood in the loading bay of the factory, hunched over with his cannon arms on the ground to brace himself. Before him was the manufactory – the entire building was ablaze and the wall in front of him had a massive hole in it. The end of his cannon leaked residual energy and smoke. The flames and cinders in front of him highlighted the wild, unhinged expression painted on his metal face.
As part of the factory collapsed, HiAndromon staggered towards the hole, surrounded by flames. He was missing most of his right arm, the stump of which sparked and spurted out oil. "Damn you…" he hissed, glaring through the collapsed wall at Bolgmon.
Bolgmon's grinned widely as the targeting display that emerged from his back put HiAndromon in his sights. "We're the Black Pincer Company! We've been damned for awhile!" he explained with a sharp cackle. "Field Destroyer!"
The end of his cannon horn suddenly glowed and surged with power once again. A massive beam ripped from the muzzle and expanded. The positron laser shot straight through the factory and consumed HiAndromon, disintegrating him immediately. The beam ripped another explosion out of the center of the factory and continued through to the building behind it, causing another series of explosions.
"Heh," Bolgmon grunted, straightening himself upwards and admiring the destruction he caused.
GrandisKuwagamon and Blitzmon flew around the burning factory, towards him. The sound of warning sirens began blaring across the city of Facture.
"What the hell, Bolgmon?!" GrandisKuwagamon shouted at him. "What part of 'stealth op' don't you understand?! Why'd you start blasting?!"
"You boneheads were spotted! I saw you fighting! I decided I'd save your asses again!" Bolgmon countered.
"Hey, great job! Thanks! Now the whole friggin' D-Brigade knows we're here!" GrandisKuwagamon sarcastically rebuked him.
"So, let's get out of here!" Bolgmon told him. "You got the blueprints, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I managed to get them before you could torch them along with everything else. Dumbass," GrandisKuwagamon answered with a sneer, gesturing to the papers under his arm.
"He's right, Grandis," Blitzmon said, looking over at the black insect Digimon. "We need to leave."
"No shit!" GrandisKuwagamon responded, flapping his wings. "Come on, let's exfil this place. Try not to leave a trail of destruction that'll lead them straight to us, Bolgie."
"Tch," Bolgmon scoffed, turning his treads to full gear and steaming out of there.
"What's the escape plan, Bolgmon?" Blitzmon asked him, as he was always in charge of logistics.
"Let's head to the bridge south of here," Bolgmon told them, blasting through the fence with an Ultimate Thunder blast. "We'll make a break for the gates."
"The D-Brigade's base is to the south west," GrandisKuwagamon protested. "The D-Brigade'll cut right across us on an interception course!"
"Not if we're faster!" Bolgmon countered.
"You're just looking for an excuse to fight them," GrandisKuwagamon growled. "Well, sorry, but I'm not risking this job or my life for that. I've got a better idea!"
Bolgmon raced down the street and looked over his shoulder to glare at GrandisKuwagamon.
"What's that?" Blitzmon asked GrandisKuwagamon, flying beside him.
"It's—damn it." GrandisKuwagamon interrupted himself when he looked past Blitzmon and saw Commander Fujinmon as well as Dynasmon heading towards them from over the river. "We've got company. It ain't the D-Brigade, but it's something."
"Keep going; we can't afford to slow down!" Bolgmon told them.
"Blitzmon, keep 'em away!" GrandisKuwagamon told him.
Blitzmon nodded and built up intense electrical energy in his horn. "Lightning Blitz!"
As he flew across the river, Dynasmon watched as a stream of electricity shot up towards Fujinmon, who soared a ways ahead of him. Fujinmon gracefully dodged the lightning bolt. The two swords on his arms immediately ignited, allowing the glowing red and yellow beams to emerge.
Fujinmon spun around in the air, whipping up a contained cyclone of wind with his body. "Marut Cyclone!" he spoke, unleashing the funnel of extreme winds towards Blitzmon, who lingered behind Bolgmon and GrandisKuwagamon slightly.
The wind swept down but Blitzmon swiftly swerved away. He managed to deftly avoid the blast as it slammed into the metal road beside him, hard enough to create a huge dent in the ground. Blitzmon briefly flipped onto his back in the air and sent another torrent of electricity towards Fujinmon from his horn.
Fujinmon narrowed his eyes but easily avoided the attack. "Impossible," he murmured as lightning shot by him. He couldn't believe that the Blitzmon could move so fast.
Dynasmon watched the fight unfold while trying to catch up to the faster flying Digimon. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Karatenmon swoop down beside him.
"Dynasmon," he greeted. "I don't think these fireworks were planned."
"Me neither," Dynasmon said to the Captain.
"I'll head over to what's left of that factory to see if I can find out what's going on before the D-Brigade shows up," Karatenmon told him.
"Sounds good. Just don't get seen or they might get the wrong idea," Dynasmon replied. "I'll try to stop these firebugs and find out who they are."
Karatenmon nodded and flapped his broad, black wings strongly before veering away and heading towards the blazing factory.
Dynasmon watched as Karatenmon flew away before turning back to the green cyborg Digimon far ahead of him. Fujinmon was still exchanging ranged attacks with Blitzmon, but neither could land a hit due to the other's speed.
The Royal Knight soon felt a presence behind him and turned to see UlforceVeedramon and Examon swoop over to him.
"Ulforce, Examon," Dynasmon greeted, looking at them before looking forwards again.
"What's going on here?" Examon asked him calmly, loading a shell into the chamber of the Ambrosius as he flew.
"Alphamon asked Ex-sama and I to check out those explosions," UlforceVeedramon explained, floating on the night breeze. "The green guy up there is Commander Fujinmon, isn't it?"
Dynasmon nodded. "The Hurricane Commander. And I have no idea. I'd say it was the JumboGamemon loyalists, but I'm pretty sure that that's a GrandisKuwagamon along with the Blitzmon and Bolgmon," he explained. "Maybe they hired a merc?"
UlforceVeedramon blinked with surprise, watching as Blitzmon continued sending streams of electricity towards. "That's a Blitzmon?! Damn, he's fast. Almost as fast as Fujinmon," UlforceVeedramon observed.
"Loyalists?" Examon asked the other two. "They're the ones who sided with Emperor JumboGamemon when Chaosdramon took over in a military coup d'état a few decades ago, right?"
"Yeah," Dynasmon responded. "Which begs the question: which side do we help?"
UlforceVeedramon smirked lightly. "Hmm… The side that's blowing up factories or the side that rules with a literal iron fist?" he added.
"In that case, maybe we should stay out of it," Examon suggested.
"Innocent Digimon could be caught in the crossfire," Dynasmon replied. "We should get both sides to stop and talk it out."
"Yeah, not much chance of that happening," Ulforce pointed out, speeding up considerably towards the skirmish as Fujinmon began to dive down.
"Do you think that I'll let you get away?" Fujinmon demanded with a calm but angry tone, leering at Blitzmon. He began to manipulate the wind so that it blasted at his own back, speeding up his flying considerably.
Blitzmon narrowed his eyes when he saw their pursuer's sudden burst in velocity. He turned forwards. "Grandis!" he called out to GrandisKuwagamon.
"Got it! Slow down, Bolgmon! We're doing things my way!" GrandisKuwagamon said, speeding forwards in front of the cyborg Digimon.
Bolgmon grunted but conceded. "Fine! Do it, already!" he called up to him as steam and dust was expelled from his zooming treads.
"Slide Evolution!" GrandisKuwagamon yelled out, his body becoming encased in light. His form began to grow in size. "…GranKuwagamon!"
GranKuwagamon emerged from the grey light and shot in front of Bolgmon as power began to build up in his pincers. "Zone Black Hole!"
A spatial rift ripped open in front of him like a gaping wound in the fabric of space. GranKuwagamon flew into the black abyss. Once inside, he stopped and turned around, waiting for his two comrades before closing it. Bolgmon skidded to a stop in front of the rend, stalling as he gazed into the darkness.
"Get a move on, Bolg!" Blitzmon yelled to him from behind.
Bolgmon hissed. "Okay, okay!" he responded, moving his treads again and steaming inside the void.
"Oh no you don't!" Fujinmon shouted, closing in on Blitzmon and raising his right arm up to slash the laser sword down on him.
As Blitzmon neared the rend, he spun around and unleashed a blast of electricity from his horn into Fujinmon. The Hurricane Commander seized up momentarily as the electricity ran through his metal body. This gave Blitzmon the opportunity that he needed to tumble into the Zone Black Hole. As soon as his body was in the abyss, the portal snapped shut and disappeared as if it had never been there.
Fujinmon released a shout of frustration and angrily slashed the air with his Critical Arm. "No!"
After fifteen seconds, UlforceVeedramon caught up to him and flapped his wings strongly so that he came to a stop.
"Who were those three?" UlforceVeedramon asked him.
"Intruders," Fujinmon spoke bitterly, glaring at the area in front of him.
"Informative," the cobalt knight dryly responded.
Fujinmon turned to face him with a look of frustration and annoyance on his face. "I. Don't. Know," he admitted. "Now, please, would you kindly go back to the party and let the D-Brigade take care of this?"
"We could help," Dynasmon spoke, flying up to UlforceVeedramon alongside Examon.
"Thank you, but we have an orderly way of dealing with crises. Your help would likely be a disorganizing factor," Fujinmon spoke as politely as possible, although, by the tone of his voice, he was all but telling them to bug off.
Dynasmon frowned and looked at both UlforceVeedramon and Examon.
"Let's go back," Examon advised them. "We can explain to the other knights what we saw."
UlforceVeedramon nodded. "We'll leave you to it, Commander."
Fujinmon grunted. "Thank you for your kind support," he told them before wordlessly flying off to meet the D-Brigade force that scrambled from their base.
Dynasmon sighed and turned around, beginning to fly back towards the palace. He looked over at the two Royal Knights beside him. "Just what was that about…?" he wondered.
The three Royal Knights had returned to the palace. Most of the guests had come outside to see what the commotion was about. Those of who that didn't were being politely forced out of the party, which had been formally ended soon after the explosions across the river erupted.
"Tch," King Spinomon scoffed, walking away from the palace, up the middle of the street, as he began heading out of the city. "I knew Chaosdramon was putting on airs. This is what happens when you don't assert yourself as a strong, capable leader. Dissension is a sign of a weakness. For all his talk about having a unified, peaceful, orderly society, he can't even keep violence from breaking out in his city when he's showing off to guests. Strength, capability, and respect; that's what makes a good leader."
Sinduramon flew beside King Spinomon's head. "You should have seen the look on Chaosdramon's face when he saw the explosions. He looked like his circuits were going to overload!"
King Spinomon let out a laugh. "Well, at least it made a boring party more exciting. These things never have enough action!"
Meanwhile, the Royal Knights walked out of the palace gates alongside Captain Karatenmon.
"I could only see a GrandisKuwagamon, a Blitzmon, and a Bolgmon," Dynasmon explained to the others.
"Ditto," UlforceVeedramon said.
"That's a pretty small group for such a brazen attack," Alphamon said.
Duftmon nodded in agreement. "Right in the industrial heart of the capital city when Chaosdramon was hosting a party for prominent Digimon… It can't simply be a coincidence. They must have wanted to make Chaosdramon look foolish."
"I don't know…" Karatenmon spoke up, rubbing his feathery chin. "I don't think it was the old loyalist faction. My sources say they've either been killed, exiled, or forced to give their loyalty to Chaosdramon. It's really unlikely that they could have conspired to attack in a city as secure as Facture," he explained.
"And there's the fact that they're bugs," Gankoomon added. "Yeah, two of them are technically cyborgs, but the GrandisKuwagamon isn't, and the other two are pretty buggy too."
"If they're an external party, then what motive would they have to attack the Metal Empire?" Duftmon asked. "The Empire is neutral. They aren't at war with anyone, and they have a substantial army, so who would be foolish enough to agitate a sleeping giant?"
"I don't know," Karatenmon replied, shrugging. "I'll have to do my own investigation."
"Just be careful," Alphamon advised him. "If you get caught, they'll think you had something to do with it."
Karatenmon smiled. "I won't get caught."
Dukemon walked and thought to himself. "GrandisKuwagamon, Blitzmon, and Bolgmon, huh?" he asked aloud. "Why does that sound familiar?"
"I was thinking that too, actually," Magnamon spoke. "I can't place where…"
"We'll check the databases when we get back home," Alphamon told them. "This might be worth looking into."
"I'll say. Something about this doesn't seem to fit," Dynasmon mused as the group of Royal Knights turned the corner down a large street.
Alphamon nodded and looked at Dynasmon. "…Oh, and Dynasmon?" he said glancing down a bit.
"Yeah?" Dynasmon wondered.
"Your zipper is down," Alphamon mentioned, giving him a small, coy glance before turning around.
Dynasmon quickly tried to zip himself up, tinting red with embarrassment. Gankoomon let out a laugh as he passed him, slapping his shoulder. "Y'should have stayed outside with me after all, bull-face."
"I'll take a pretty lady instead of you any day, moustache," Dynasmon muttered, rubbing the back of his neck and walking after the group.
The twelve Royal Knights returned to their headquarters after a long travel. By the time they returned, all they wanted to do was shower, get changed, and get some rest.
The castle had undergone some renovations over the two and a half years. The walls had been reinforced, and extensions had been made to the side of the main building, adding several extra areas. Most of the smaller hallways inside the castle itself had also been widened for ease of access. Along with that, there had been changes to the Royal Knights' forces too. Many new recruits had been accepted into the Order, and the Republic of Node had donated a company of handpicked soldiers to incorporate into the Order's military as well. This resulted in many new faces in the Order. Because of this, several new barracks and private sleeping quarters had been constructed as well.
Two of these new recruits walked into the marble foyer together, talking. One of whom was a medium-sized, quadrupedal white dinosaur. His body were hard, sharp, and metallic. His hind feet were blades which clacked with every step against the marble floor, and his long, bladed tail whipped behind him contently. Over his back was a red cape that was attached to a red hood that had on it a pair of goggles and a row of decorative, metal teeth on the hem of the hood. On the reptile's head was a large V-shaped head crest and a long, bladed, nose horn. His striking yellow eyes looked over to the larger dragon beside him.
Beside him was a blue dragon in black and gold armour who was over twice his companion's size. Despite the Imperialdramon Dragon Mode's large, fearsome appearance, it was clear from his eyes and his complexion that he was the same age as the smaller Digimon beside him.
"You should really wear those rubber things over those feet, BaoHackmon," Imperialdramon Dragon Mode advised the dinosaur beside him with a deep but teenaged voice, eyeing the blades on his hind legs. "You'll get in trouble for scuffing the marble again."
"I hate wearing those damn things, Peri," BaoHackmon responded, calling Imperialdramon by the nickname that he was commonly known by, partially due to his comparative youth and so that he wouldn't be confused for Imperialdramon Paladin Mode. "They're awkward to wear."
"Still, you don't want your heroes getting mad at you, do you?" Imperialdramon asked, looking down at him with a grin.
"Didn't you go wild in your hometown when you evolved and attacked RhodoKnightmon and Sleipmon?" BaoHackmon countered with a grin. "I at least never tried to blast my heroes to smithereens."
Imperialdramon Dragon Mode grimaced a bit and flushed. "That was an accident!" he exclaimed defensively. "Besides, that's why I'm not taking advantage of their generosity. They were nice enough to accept me into the Recon Forces, so the least I can do is not scratch up their floors with my claws."
BaoHackmon sighed. "Yeah. I guess you have a point, Peri…" he conceded, beginning to walk out of the foyer and towards the building's exit. "Come on. Let's go practice our moves at the attack range."
"Okay," Imperialdramon replied, walking down the stairs with heavy footsteps.
As the two reptile Digimon headed down the entrance hall, the front doors at the end of the hall suddenly opened. The giant, wooden doors swung open and the twelve Royal Knights entered in an orderly fashion. Imperialdramon Dragon Mode and BaoHackmon saw them and quickly moved to the sides of the hall to allow them to pass.
"Welcome home, Sirs," Peri spoke, raising his forefoot to his head to salute.
"Thank you," Alphamon responded, saluting as he walked past him.
As Gankoomon passed, he knocked BaoHackmon on the forehead with his knuckles. "You're scuffing up the floors again, BaoHackmon…" he told him with a mildly annoyed voice.
"Ow! Sensei!" BaoHackmon complained, rubbing his forehead.
Dukemon chuckled. "Don't worry about it, kid," the crimson knight assured him, patting his head. "Floors are made to be walked on."
BaoHackmon blushed. "Y-Yes, Sir."
"Don't listen to Dukemon," Duftmon spoke. "He's a bad influence."
"Yes sir," BaoHackmon obeyed.
"Duftmon!" Dukemon protested.
"Well, it's true," the leopard knight responded. "You have a disregard for rules, you're tardy, and—"
"Okay, Duftmon. We've heard all your opinions before," Dukemon told him, walking up to the foyer.
Gankoomon looked over his shoulder. "I expect you back here in one hour for your studies, BaoHackmon. Don't. Be. Late."
BaoHackmon sighed. "Yeah, yeah…" he responded half-heartedly. When the Royal Knights were all in the foyer and heading into the great hall, he walked back to Imperialdramon and they both headed outside.
The Royal Knights walked down the long, wide, marble hall towards the council room at the very end. Upon reaching the end of the ostentatious great hall, Alphamon pushed the door open and stepped inside, heading to his symbolic seat around the round table. The eleven other Royal Knights followed him in and took their seats around the white, stone table.
Gankoomon let out a sigh of relief at being able to give his legs a rest. "So… This is about what happened in Facture, right?" he asked, looking over at Alphamon.
Alphamon nodded. "Indeed. It's worth discussing what went on."
"What did go on?" RhodoKnightmon asked them. "We can't really know for sure. The Metal Empire will try to sweep the incident under the carpet in an attempt to save face. They will likely blame the explosions on an industrial malfunction or something."
"I definitely saw those three Digimon fleeing the area though. Commander Fujinmon gave chase but they escaped through some portal the GranKuwagamon made," Dynasmon informed them.
"I'm still trying to place why those Digimon sound familiar," Dukemon mused. "GrandisKuwagamon, Blitzmon, and Bolgmon…"
"We should get MetallifeKuwagamon to check our databases," Dynasmon suggested aloud.
"Do you still not know how to use a computer, Dynasmon?" UlforceVeedramon teased him.
Dynasmon muttered and looked away. "They're complicated…"
"Karatenmon went ahead to meet with him and explain the situation," Alphamon explained.
"I was thinking that we should get Metallife in here anyways," Magnamon spoke up. "He is originally from Facture, after all."
"He's on his way," a voice said from behind Dynasmon's chair.
Dynasmon let out a surprised yelp and looked over his shoulder abruptly. Behind him was Captain Karatenmon, standing with arms folded. "Stop doing that, damn it!" Dynasmon complained, flushing at his surprised reaction. "How do you keep sneaking up so quietly?"
Karatenmon smiled mysteriously. "A ninja never gives away his tricks."
"I thought that was magicians," Dynasmon muttered blandly.
"Karatenmon," Alphamon greeted. "How did it go?"
Instead of answering, Karatenmon looked over to the door of the council room and watched as, five seconds later, MetallifeKuwagamon stepped inside.
The head of the Royal Knights' Technical Division stepped in, holding an electronic tablet-like device in his mechanical hands. The small, book-sized flat screen has a small glowing chip jutting out of its side. The metallic, humanoid insect walked over to Karatenmon's side and nodded at the Royal Knights. "Welcome – um - home," he greeted. "How was the party?"
"Fine, thanks, Metallife," Magnamon told him.
"Were you able to find anything in our database on those three Digimon?" Alphamon asked, looking at the two.
"Yes," MetallifeKuwagamon responded, stepping forwards and placing the screen on the table in front of Alphamon. On the screen was a depiction of a GrandisKuwagamon along with some cursory information about him. Alphamon pressed his finger against the screen and pressed a button on it, switching to Blitzmon's file next. After scanning the page, he went to Bolgmon's file before passing the electronic tablet to Omegamon.
"So they were in our database," Alphamon spoke. "Who are they?"
"They're called Black Pincer Company," Karatenmon responded, folding his arms. "They're a tiny mercenary company consisting solely of GrandisKuwagamon, Blitzmon, and Bolgmon."
"Is this all we have on them?" Omegamon asked, looking at the screen in his hands before passing it to Dukemon.
"Afraid so," the spymaster told them. "They survive by keeping a low profile and letting bigger mercenary companies like Kowloon or dangerous freelancers take all of the attention. They live in the shadows. They're nobodies… and that's the way they like to keep it, I think."
"Everybody comes from somewhere," Craniamon spoke, frowning. "Do we really have nothing?"
"We don't even know where they come from," Karatenmon admitted. He looked over to Gankoomon, one of the more well-travelled knights. "I don't suppose you know them, Gankoomon?"
"'Fraid not. Never heard of 'em," Gankoomon said, frowning to himself.
"Me neither," Dynasmon admitted. "I've heard the name before, but that's it." He scratched his scaly chin. "They must have screwed up in Facture. It sounds like they wouldn't have wanted a lot of attention, especially when a party full of people like us were in full view of the explosions."
"So, you don't believe they were politically motivated?" Duftmon asked. "Given their species, they could have been from the Metal Empire originally. Blitzmon and Bolgmon are both cyborg types, and GrandisKuwagamon could be divergent from the Kokuwamon line. Not all mercenaries are totally pragmatic. Perhaps they opposed the coup d'état that Chaosdramon dealt against JumboGamemon."
"Or maybe they were there on a job and they were hired precisely because they could pass for Metal Empire citizens," Karatenmon proposed as a counter argument. He then shrugged. "But both of these theories are just speculation at this point."
Magnamon looked over at MetallifeKuwagamon. "What do you think, Metallife? You're the expert on the Metal Empire," he asked him gently.
"Well…" MetallifeKuwagamon spoke, rubbing the back of his head shyly. "I don't think that it's politically motivated. There's next to zero resistance movement in the Metal Empire after the Corrosion Purge."
"The what-now?" Dynasmon asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"It was the purge of dissidents and JumboGamemon loyalists by Chaosdramon and his supporters following the coup d'état," Duftmon explained. "Try to keep up, Dynasmon…"
"Fear of resistance was part of the reason why the Metal Empire is so rigid and secure now. That and the protection of their industries," MetallifeKuwagamon explained with a soft frown. "That's why they're so intent on finding me. I dared to defy them and I know an incredible amount about their technologies and how they operate…"
Magnamon stood up and walked over to his friend, placing his hand on the insect Digimon's shoulder.
MetallifeKuwagamon had hatched in the Metal Empire and grown up there. Eventually, he became one of their foremost inventors and technicians. He created incredible achievements in the Metal Empire's technology and he was rewarded for his service.
However, he got tired of the way the overbearing, domineering, oppressive government acted, as well as their constant demands of him. Feeling stifled, he escaped the Metal Empire one night and travelled to south. This was against the rules, as the Metal Empire went to great lengths to protect the secrecy of their projects, and MetallifeKuwagamon, being the genius inventor that he was, knew far too much.
It wasn't long until the government branded him a spy and a traitor, saying that he had been secretly working for somebody else. They sent an elite task force from the D-Brigade after him to drag him back. They soon caught up to MetallifeKuwagamon and attacked him, but Magnamon, who had been out on patrol, saw his plight and defended him. The Royal Knight was able to destroy the task force after a hard fought battle. Magnamon took the wounded defector back to the headquarters, and the Royal Knights decided that it would be safer for him to stay under their protection. Out of gratitude for being saved and given asylum, MetallifeKuwagamon offered to put his skills to use for the Royal Knights.
"So, what was their goal?" Sleipmon wondered.
"Um, actually," MetallifeKuwagamon spoke up. "I was able to hack into the D-Brigade's communication system. The factory in question was a smaller assembly factory for the state's primary heavy industries manufactory. The D-Brigade investigated the scene and saw that a safe had been broken into in the factory director's office and several blueprints inside had been taken. I can try to find out the nature of the blueprints, but even in private communications they're vague."
"It sounds like they were hired to steal them," Alphamon deduced.
"Or maybe they're going to sell them to the highest bidder," Dynasmon suggested. "Some mercenaries resort to underhanded tactics when there's a dry patch in commissions."
"It'd be better if we knew more about this Black Pincer Company," Dukemon said.
Karatenmon took a step forwards. "Why don't we use a contact who's well in tune with the mercenary lifestyle?" he proposed, looking over at Examon specifically. He gave him a light grin. "A friend of yours, maybe?"
Examon looked at Karatenmon. "Dorbickmon…"
"Exactly," Karatenmon replied.
"That's not a bad idea," Dukemon agreed. "His info has led to us cracking down on a bunch of those criminal mercenary groups."
Duftmon folded his arms. "I'm sure we could have accumulated that information without the mercenary's help," he put forth, not liking the fact that they're relying on a mercenary.
"As the spymaster, I find it's really helpful to have somebody on the inside," Karatenmon responded. "It's better for the contact to genuinely have their profession rather than just sending one of my spies in there undercover. They'll know the trade inside and out already, and have a pre-existing network of relations. Plus, they won't have to act as much."
"I suppose that's true…" Duftmon conceded, although with a slight frown.
"Great," Dynasmon replied. "So, let's get Dorbickmon on the thingie."
"Do you mean the LRAC?" Magnamon asked him.
"The what?" Dynasmon replied, raising an eyebrow.
"LRAC," MetallifeKuwagamon responded, taking a mechanical wrist bracelet out of his bag. The bracelet looked like a watch, but instead of a clock, it had a small audio receiver on the top. He handed the device to Examon, who put it around his wrist. "Long Range Audio Communicator."
"Yeah, the thing," Dynasmon said, folding his arms.
Examon used the tip of his claws to turn the LRAC on and set the frequency. He held the watch-like device up to his face. "Hello, Dorbickmon?" he spoke into the receiver.
"Ssssssssssssssk," the LRAC fizzled between the fluctuating, electronic sound of frequency signals.
"Hello? Dorbickmon? Can you hear me?" Examon spoke. He received no reply. The dragon knight frowned with disappointment. "It's no good. There's too much interference on the data streams so communications aren't very good."
"Oh, that's right. There's a data storm to the north west, isn't there?" Karatenmon mused. "Looks like we'll have to do it the old fashioned way."
"Allow me," a voice said from the door.
The Royal Knights and others turned to see the red, bird-like form of Zero ARMS: Grani float in.
"Oh, Grani. Hey," Dukemon greeted with a smile.
"Hello, Grani," Karatenmon said, glancing over at him.
"Karatenmon," Grani replied swiftly, hovering over to Dukemon's side. "Everyone."
"What do you suggest?" Alphamon asked the red, metallic dragon.
"My scouts will find him in no time at all," Grani assured them.
"No need. My spies can handle it," Karatenmon responded with a slight, competitive smile below his beak.
Grani shot him a restrained look. "That isn't necessary, Karatenmon," he explained. "After all, my scouts are the swiftest, sharpest, and the most adroit around. This job requires locating someone, not sneaking around in the shadows."
Karatenmon gave him a nonchalant shrug. "If you think you and your scouts can handle it, go ahead," he told him. "No feathers off of my back."
"Very well, then," Grani replied closing his eyes. "Thank you for your flexibility. That has always been one of your most prominent features."
Karatenmon chuckled a little. "I could say the opposite for you, Grani."
"Well then," Alphamon spoke, placing his hands on the table and standing up before the passive aggressiveness between them could continue. "That's settled. Grani, have your scouts locate Dorbickmon and have them bring him here, if you'd please."
"Of course," Grani responded dutifully. "It shouldn't take more than several hours."
"Enough time for me to continue writing my story," Karatenmon mused. He looked at the Royal Knights. "My services are no longer needed?"
"You're free to go, Captain," Alphamon told him.
Karatenmon nodded and began to walk out of the room. "Good luck with your hunt, Grani," he told him with a smile, looking over at the Zero ARMS.
"Why, thank you," Grani responded. "And good luck with your fiction."
"Thanks," Karatenmon answered, stepping out of the council room and turning to the nearest side door in the great hall.
"I'll get to work," Grani responded. "Goodbye, Dukemon, everyone." With those words, the Zero ARMS floated away from the table and flew down the length of the great hall to contact his Recon Squadron.
Dynasmon cleared his throat gruffly and stood up as well. "If we're done here, I'm going to go have a shower. Any of you coming with me?" he exclaimed.
"Yeah, I'm coming," Gankoomon agreed, standing up as well.
"Me too," Dukemon spoke.
"I'll… come with you, Dukemon," Omegamon said.
"And me!" RhodoKnightmon announced.
UlforceVeedramon chuckled. "Fine, but no touching, no staring, and no flirting," he told him.
RhodoKnightmon huffed and folded his arms. "Then what is the point, Ulforce?" he complained.
Hours passed until it was the late afternoon. The clouds began to glow a warm orange as the sun began to set. A mild autumn breeze swept across the landscape blowing the rippling grasslands around the Royal Knights' impressive castle and headquarters.
Two guards stood on duty outside the entrance to the main building that sat at the exact center of the walled community. One was a bulky knight Digimon in heavy plate armour. The other was a caped warrior mage Digimon in majestic armour and clothing. The Knightmon and Mystimon flanked the giant doors on each side.
"So," the Knightmon guard began, looking over at his Mystimon companion. "If you were a girl, which Royal Knight would you want to date?"
The Mystimon guard turned and looked at him with a flat expression. "…Seriously? We've exhausted all other topics of conversation?" he asked him.
"Have any better ones?" the Knightmon countered.
The Mystimon paused and thought. He soon sighed. "…Fine. And don't say, 'if I was a girl'. That automatically precludes RhodoKnightmon since he – you know – likes men."
"Ooooh, so you're a Rhodo man, are you?" the Knightmon asked with a smirk.
The guard pondered. "Well, I'd want someone who can cook good food…" the Mystimon replied. "But—please, never call me a 'Rhodo man' in public again…" He palmed his face with embarrassment and exasperation.
The Knightmon laughed heartily. "So, is that your answer?"
"I don't know," the Mystimon replied quickly, not wanting to commit to an answer. "I need to think about it more. What about you?"
"Oh, Dynasmon, definitely," the Knightmon responded decisively. "He seems like a generous lover."
"Have you thought about this ahead of time?" the Mystimon said to him incredulously. "Never mind. I don't want to know."
"However, Magnamon also—"
"Shut up," the Mystimon said abruptly upon spotting something ahead of them. "People are coming. I don't want our barracks hearing about this."
The Knightmon turned and looked down the stone road that led up from the front gate towards the main building and the main street and courtyard. There, he saw the muscular, crimson, draconic body of Dorbickmon striding towards them. Dorbickmon looked around the castle grounds as he carried himself with a relaxed confidence.
Hovering beside him was a Sparrowmon scout, whose lightweight, golden, metal, jet-like form floated on the soft breeze. The Sparrowmon had folded arms and an annoyed, indignant expression.
"Great… It's him again," the Mystimon muttered, glaring at Dorbickmon as he continued up the street towards them
"Who? Sparrowmon? Sparrowmon's a guy?" the Knightmon asked.
"No, the other one. Dorbickmon…" he responded with a roll of his eyes.
"Oh, Examon's friend?" the larger guard questioned.
"And the mercenary who attacked us in the Battle of the World Tree," the smaller one replied. "I don't trust him."
The Knightmon frowned. "Yeah, but Examon does. And so does Alphamon and Dukemon, and I'm sure the others do too. Otherwise, they wouldn't have him spying for them."
"I know, but…" the Mystimon trailed off and looked annoyed.
"You trust the Royal Knights, don't you? I do," the Knightmon guard said to him.
"I do, but… well, you didn't take one of that guy's stone pillars in the chest. He nearly broke my bloody ribs, so I don't have to like him."
"Suit yourself," the Knightmon spoke as Dorbickmon and Sparrowmon approached.
"Halt. Who goes there?" the Mystimon guard said, holding his sword horizontally in front of the door.
"It's me, Mystimon," Sparrowmon responded with a look of impatient exasperation. "Just let us through; I'm not in the mood for this."
"Does he have authorization?" the Mystimon guard asked, looking at Dorbickmon.
Dorbickmon rolled his eyes and folded his arms. "Yeah. I do. The Royal Knights sent for me," he responded as if this wasn't the first time he's been through this. "Like the last thirty times I showed up here."
The Mystimon shot him a quick glare before turning to Sparrowmon. "Did they?"
"Yes…" Sparrowmon replied. "Can ya move now? Please?"
The Mystimon scoffed and sheathed his sword, wordlessly letting them pass.
"Hey, Sparrowmon," the Knightmon guard spoke up. "I have a question."
"Can you make it quick, Knightmon? I want to get this guy off my hands," the yellow jet Digimon responded.
"I can feel the love," Dorbickmon sarcastically muttered.
The Knightmon guard nodded. "Are you a guy or a girl?"
The Sparrowmon scout merely stared at him. The avian Digimon suddenly clenched its small fists and glared with offence. "Y-YOU BIG, STUPID JERK!" the Sparrowmon yelled before smacking the Knightmon across the face, putting its jet engines into overdrive, and speeding off in near tears.
Dorbickmon released a sly grin. "…Yeah, that's a sensitive topic with that Digimon. I know from experience."
"Ow…" the Knightmon murmured, rubbing his cheek. "…Hey, was that a punch or a slap?"
"I'll just go inside myself," the dragon man said, walking past the two guards and pushing the huge, reinforced doors open.
Dorbickmon walked up the long, stone entrance hall, and up the few steps near the end. He reached the door that led to the foyer and opened it. He looked around as he stepped inside the octagonal, marble foyer, seeing the two halls and two staircases that branched off from the side walls.
The mercenary decided that the Royal Knights were probably waiting for him inside the council room, so he walked forwards, across the foyer. As he neared the doorway to the great hall, he knocked his knuckles on one of the several marble pillars in the foyer. Dorbickmon went on into the great hall and walked down the vast, ostentatious room. He noted that this display of pomp was one of the reasons why he couldn't join the headquarters like Examon suggested.
Dorbickmon reached the end of the great hall and walked into the doorway at the end. He stepped into the council room and saw all twelve of the Royal Knights sitting there. They all turned or looked up when he stepped into the room.
"Finally," Craniamon muttered, leaning back in his chair boredly.
Examon saw Dorbickmon and stood up from the table. "Dorbickmon," he greeted with a small smile.
"Yo, Examon," Dorbickmon responded, giving him a quick look. "You guys summoned me?"
"My idea," a voice said from behind Dorbickmon.
Dorbickmon tensed up with surprise and spun around on sheer instinct, swinging his arm to punch the presence behind him.
Karatenmon raised his hand and nonchalantly caught Dorbickmon's fist in his talons before it could hit him.
The dragon mercenary slackened and sighed, retracting his hand from Karatenmon's palm. "Cripes. Don't sneak up on me like that. I could have roasted you," Dorbickmon told him with a sideways leer.
"Sorry; habit," Karatenmon responded with a half smile. "We want your professional opinion on something."
"Yeah?" Dorbickmon asked, walking over to the table. "What's that, exactly?"
"I'll fill you in," Alphamon told him.
Dorbickmon listened as Alphamon explained to him what had happened during their visit to the Metal Empire. The dragon man nodded and followed along.
"Okay… So, a GrandisKuwagamon, Blitzmon and Bolgmon took some blueprints and destroyed a factory," Dorbickmon summarized.
"Do you know them?" Karatenmon asked him. "They call themselves Black Pincer Company."
Dorbickmon folded his arms and thought to himself for a moment. "Black Pincer Company… Yeah, I know them," he responded.
"You do?" Examon asked, looking at him.
"Well, I guess I should say I know of them; I don't know 'em personally," Dorbickmon clarified. "I've never worked with them on any jobs. We have different skill sets and ways of operating, so we have very different clientele."
"How do you know them?" Dynasmon asked. "If it's through the rumour-mill, it's not exactly helpful."
"We frequent the same bar, actually," Dorbickmon explained with a grin.
"Of course you do," Duftmon muttered.
"Which bar?" Dukemon asked him.
"It's called The Severed Arms," the mercenary answered. Dorbickmon let his arms rest at his sides. "It's a grotty little place in Shroud, but the beer and entertainment is pretty good."
"You've been to Shroud?" Magnamon asked him.
"Well, duh. I don't think it's any secret here that my past isn't exactly sunshine and rainbows. I've needed a place to lay low a few times," Dorbickmon explained.
Examon rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry… but what's Shroud?" he sheepishly asked.
Dorbickmon turned and stared at Examon incredulously. "…You seriously don't know what Shroud is?" he questioned. He walked up to Examon and flicked his nose horn with his claws playfully. "I know you lived in the United Dramonic Coalition forever, but come on; how dense are you? Aren't you Royal Knights supposed to be informed about stuff?"
UlforceVeedramon chuckled. "Gankoomon's supposed to be the naïve fresh meat now, Examon. You're off the hook," he joked.
"I'm probably more well-travelled than most of you," Gankoomon insisted.
Examon flushed and scratched his cheek with embarrassment. "I haven't seen Shroud on any maps."
"You have been looking at the wrong maps," Duftmon told him. "It is definitely in 'Atlur's Atlas', although I find his pun name for the collection extremely trite," he explained, referring to AtlurKabuterimon, who was better known as AncientBeatmon of the Warrior Ten. In addition to that, AtlurKabuterimon was an explorer and a cartographer – one of the most respected ones, at that.
"Shroud's a large town in the north area of the continent," Gankoomon explained. "The people in charge are pretty corrupt, so they rent the city out as a safe haven for outlaws, mercs and criminals in exchange for money. It's not really well known because there's a perpetual data storm raging over the place, which means communications don't work and it's hard to see from the air."
Dorbickmon grinned a bit. "I'm a little surprised you knights haven't tried to take the town by storm if you know that much."
"Refuges for outlaws are beneficial to us as well, Dorbick-kun," Karatenmon explained to him with a teasing smile. "Why wipe out a gathering ground for criminals and a great source of information?"
Dorbickmon turned and looked at the avian spymaster with a look of confusion on his scaly face. "Dorbick-what?" he asked, unfamiliar with some of the terminology that originated from the eastern continent.
"Dorbick-kun and Ex-sama," UlforceVeedramon laughed. "I like it."
"So do I…" RhodoKnightmon said with a mischievous glint in his helmet.
"Can we please get back on topic?" Duftmon asked with a tired sigh. "I do hate tangents…"
"I'm not a huge fan of cosines, myself," UlforceVeedramon spoke up with a smile.
Duftmon shot him a glare. "Mathematics are not a joking matter."
Dorbickmon rolled his eyes. "So, was that all you guys wanted from me? Info on those low-rent mercenaries?"
"Well, we could use more information," Alphamon explained. "What else can you tell us about them?"
The dragon mercenary folded his arms and thought to himself. "Let's see… They've been a small but established mercenary group for many years now. It's been GrandisKuwagamon, Bolgmon, and Blitzmon from the start, and they don't hire any new members. I dunno why not, but my guess is that it's because they're pretty close knit and more members would mean less reward money for each cut."
"What sort of mercenary work do they do?" Alphamon asked him.
"Covert ops," Dorbickmon answered. "Since they're a small group and pretty low key, it works for them. They're usually pretty good at it too."
"What kind of covert ops?" UlforceVeedramon questioned.
"Infiltration, theft, extortion, sabotage, espionage, kidnapping, assassinations, blowing stuff up…" Dorbickmon explained. "Pretty messy stuff. They'll take any job they can handle with three guys; doesn't matter who their client is."
"So, they're unscrupulous," Dukemon said.
Dorbickmon nodded.
"Hmm…" Captain Karatenmon hummed, thinking to himself. "Are they a part of a ninja clan? Or have they ever been? That shopping list of activities you just mentioned has the hallmark of a ninja," he mentioned, being a ninja himself.
"I got no idea," Dorbickmon responded with a shrug. "Their past is a big blank. I don't even know where they're from. I heard a rumour that they used to be petty thieves and street rats before they started their own merc team, but who knows if that's true?"
"So, the Metal Empire was outsmarted by a handful of insect guttersnipes?" Duftmon asked rhetorically.
"Hey, if it's true, that means they're pretty street smart," Dorbickmon responded to Duftmon's derision. "You have to be to begin with, if you want to survive in the mercenary business."
Gankoomon nodded. "True enough."
"Dorbickmon, can you find out more about Black Pincer Company?" Alphamon asked him. "You wouldn't be opposed to that, would you?"
"That can be arranged," Dorbickmon responded, folding his arms confidently. "I'll have to be careful though."
"Don't do anything that would put yourself at risk," Examon told him with a soft frown.
"I won't. I can handle myself, Examon," Dorbickmon told him with a grin. "Cripes. You worry as much as my mom."
Examon narrowed his eyes and folded his winged arms.
"Examon has a point," Alphamon said. "Don't be obvious."
"I've been doing this for a couple years now, haven't I?" Dorbickmon told them. "I know it's hard, but trust me. I'll find out what I can about the bugs."
"See if you can find out what the blueprints they stole were," Duftmon told him. He looked at Karatenmon. "You, as well, Captain. It might give us a clue as to who their client might be and what they want."
"Gotcha," Dorbickmon spoke.
"Leave it to me," Karatenmon agreed.
"Thank you," Alphamon told them.
Dorbickmon placed his hands on his hips. "So, is that all?"
Examon paused and looked at the other Royal Knights. After a few moments, he looked back at Examon. Why don't you stay the night? You came all this way, after all."
Dorbickmon raised an eyebrow and looked uncertain and leery at the prospect. "Stay the night…? I don't know…" he looked at the other Royal Knights, half-hoping that there would be enough protest at the idea. While he didn't really want to walk all the way back to the inn where he had been staying which was hours away, he didn't entirely feel comfortable sleeping at a place like this. He was also well aware that he wasn't liked or trusted by a lot of the Order.
"You don't have to, of course…" Examon responded, wondering if he made another social gaff. "I just thought that it would be a waste for you to come all the way here just for a few minutes."
"I certainly don't mind," Alphamon suggested. "We have several free guest rooms."
The other Royal Knights gave nods of tacit approval or shrugs of indifference.
"Yes, stay the night!" RhodoKnightmon exclaimed, looking between Dorbickmon and Examon.
Dorbickmon stalled. He gave a quick glance over at Examon. Examon looked at Dorbickmon, waiting for his reply. The mercenary wasn't sure if it was him, but he thought he saw a hint of expectation in Examon's otherwise neutral expression. Dorbickmon sighed and shrugged. "Yeah, okay. Curious to see how good you knights have it here, anyways," he replied. When he saw Examon begin to smile, he punctuated, "But just for one night."
"Very well," Examon spoke calmly.
"Then I think we're done here," Alphamon said, "Unless anybody has anything else they want to bring up…?"
The Royal Knights shook their heads.
"Then the meeting is adjourned"
Examon nodded. "I'll show you around, Dorbickmon."
"Yes," RhodoKnightmon thought to himself. "Show him to your big, comfortable bed… Do it, Examon! For the sake of love!"