(Author's Notes: Here's Chapter 50! The first of Act III. This is a limited POV chapter that acts as kind of a contrast to Chapter 28 in style and themes.
I hope you enjoy it and let me know your thoughts!)
Chapter 50: Absolution
Fifteen familiar bars stood before him. They were made of solid, chrome digizoid and welded securely to a digizoid frame. The durable, cylindrical poles reached from the floor all the way to the ceiling, about four meters high, he wagered. He had been told by the smug guard that red digizoid alloy was also incorporated into the metal, but he wasn't sure he believed her. He knew that the electrified barrier was active around the door, so it wasn't like he could test their durability anyways.
GrandisKuwagamon sat on the cold floor of the dungeon cell – the same cell that he had been in last time. He sat cross-legged with his arms resting on his knees. His crimson eye was dull and his mind was at ease. Having finished the book that he had been given, he decided to meditate. He wasn't sure why; he didn't need to anymore, now that he had allowed the X-antibody to totally alter his digicore. It was out of habit, he supposed. It helped him to relax. He hated to admit that he needed it right now.
It had been about five days since he had left New Terminal, and it had been three days since he arrived here in the dungeons. Warden Reapermon – or Skullface, as GrandisKuwagamon had affectionately called him – had marched him in chains fairly quickly. He tried his best to forget the humiliating trip, but he had at least taken pride in causing Reapermon to lose his temper with him multiple times. However, his victory was short-lived when Reapermon's patience finally broke and the Warden proceeded to shut his mouth.
While the rest of the Order was still in New Terminal, the castle had been occupied by just the Castle Guard corps of the Defence Forces, as well as the headquarters staff. GrandisKuwagamon remembered Reapermon telling the Guard Leftenant to put a double complement of guards on dungeon security now that he was here. He took that as a compliment.
Still, he hated the waiting. He felt the slightest bit of relief at hearing that the Royal Knights had finally returned with the rest of the Order that day. Although there was the lingering knowledge that that meant that his judgment would be coming soon, at least he would be out of purgatory.
He took a slow, centering breath. The dungeon air was musty and dry. It had the same stuffy, subterranean aroma as his old hideout, except without the pungent scent of damp stone. He felt the thick, impenetrable floor beneath him. The only sounds that he heard was the gentle whirr of flickering torches and the metallic shuffling of armoured guards.
The back of his neck itched and ached from where Reapermon had ungracefully injected him with an inhibitor virus. He supposed he should be lucky that the proximal restraint system hadn't been added as well.
His meditation faltered and his thoughts began to invade his placid mind. The restraint system caused images of Paildramon to flash within his mind's eye. He couldn't help but think about her. The memory of her becoming a dragon of darkness and carnage was still fresh in his mind. He remembered having to fight her. He still felt twinges in his chest. He could still feel the warmth of her blood running down his fingers.
GrandisKuwagamon's eye tightened and he looked up from the ground. He remembered the explosions tearing through the city, the flames engulfing the buildings, the blood running through the streets. He remembered that part of that was down to him. That was why he was there, back behind bars.
He could feel a twisting sensation in his stomach. It had been with him since he had agreed to help Bagramon but he hadn't recognised it at the time. He now knew that it was guilt.
It had been so long since he had felt guilt. He hadn't felt it since he was young. It had been an emotion that he had shut off. After the attack, it was just something that got in the way. He had been fighting just to survive, so he couldn't afford to feel guilty. It was steal or starve – kill or be killed. Eventually, turning it off became like second nature. It wasn't until recently that the feeling came back with a vengeance.
When he had been with Black Pincer Company, they had always looked out for themselves and done what they needed to do. They had done some pretty bad stuff, but even they had standards. There were black claw jobs that they wouldn't touch – mass destruction kind of stuff and anything that involved children. That was their line. It was both for their personal, moral reasons, and for pragmatic ones. They knew that if they were depraved monsters like those MetalTyrannomon X-Antibodies, they'd soon find yourself isolated, imprisoned, or dead. Even in the darkest reaches of the seediest cities, there were still boundaries.
Still, there was a lot of other shady stuff that he and his team were open to. They rarely did anything so bad that they felt guilty… at least, until recently. He supposed it was nice to know that he still had a moral compass in there somewhere, even if it too busted to find magnetic north sometimes.
Suddenly, GrandisKuwagamon was drawn out of his thoughts. The sound of echoing voices down at the dungeon entrance, as well as the sounds of heavy locks being opened, caught his attention.
The sounds of bolts unlatching were followed by the sounds of two, heavy doors opening up. He heard low voices speaking with the dungeon guards. After a few sentences, the talking stopped, and two pairs of footsteps started echoing down the hallway. They were familiar footsteps: the heavy thud of metal boots, accompanied by graceful, barely audible footfalls.
GrandisKuwagamon uncrossed his legs and rose to his feet. He stretched his stiff muscles and arched his winged back with a soft hiss. After he was done, he brushed his fingers through his messy, red hair and waited for the Digimon to approach. The ebony mercenary folded his arms, stripped off his Gran Killers, and gazed through the imprisoning bars of his cell.
He grinned triumphantly, proud of himself for guessing correctly: Alphamon and Karatenmon emerged in his view. The pair of black Digimon stopped in front of his cell, looking inside to investigate.
"Boss knight. Crow," he greeted them with a curt nod. "Yo."
"GrandisKuwagamon. Greetings…" Alphamon answered, nodding politely in response.
"Hello again," Karatenmon acknowledged with a seemingly friendly smile on his black, raven-like face.
GrandisKuwagamon stepped closer to the digizoid bars and looked around, trying to see down the flame-lit hallway. "Isn't Warden Skullface with you?" he nonchalantly questioned.
"Not at the moment, no," Alphamon replied. "Did Reapermon treat you alright on the journey back?"
"He's as humourless as usual. Kinkier than I expected though," GrandisKuwagamon dryly informed him.
Alphamon smiled sheepishly and scratched his cheek. "Apologies. Reapermon can be… overzealous when it comes to security. Given the circumstances, you can't really blame him."
"Debatable," GrandisKuwagamon answered flippantly. "So… What's the deal? I've been waiting here for days. Is there gonna be some sort of trial? Or is it a straight, one way ticket to Havelock?"
Alphamon looked over at the corvid spymaster. "Would you like to explain, Karatenmon? It is your idea after all," he suggested.
The usual enigmatic smile crawled onto Karatenmon's face and he stepped up to the bars. "I'd be happy to," he stated amicably.
GrandisKuwagamon unfolded his arms and placed his ebony hands on his hips, eyeing Karatenmon suspiciously. "Well, don't keep me in suspense."
"After you and your team first appeared on our radar, I started doing a bit of research on you. I had some of my agents ask other mercenaries about you, and I looked into some of your past jobs," Karatenmon explained with a coy grin. "You're a highly skilled Digimon. Alphamon told me you even lasted over five minutes against five Royal Knights in Saversburg."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, crow," GrandisKuwagamon responded, smirking a little. "What's your point?"
"Frankly, it would be a waste of your talents for you to rot away in prison," Karatenmon explained, carefully studying GrandisKuwagamon's face as he spoke.
The imprisoned scarab warrior immediately frowned with confusion. He couldn't help but be taken aback at the generous idea. His kneejerk scepticism kicked in and he folded his arms. "…What?" he charily questioned. He refused to allow himself to get his hopes up. "I mean, yeah, sure, but that could be said about the Demon Lords too."
"However, you deeply regret your actions, don't you?" Alphamon asked the insect Digimon. He glanced over at Karatenmon before looking back at the black bug. "Do you sincerely wish to repent for your actions?"
A reflexively sarcastic comeback had already formed in GrandisKuwagamon's mouth. However, he held his tongue and reflected on Alphamon's questions. The memory of the burning city and his claws embedded in Paildramon's chest permeated his mind. GrandisKuwagamon looked up at Alphamon with a serious expression. "…You know I do," he sincerely answered. He turned his pincer-clad face towards Karatenmon. "If you need proof, just use your weird heart-ninja technique."
Karatenmon brought his hands up and created a ninjutsu seal with his talons. He gazed into GrandisKuwagamon's eye, but he was really staring straight into his heart. After ten silent seconds, the black feathered ninja looked at Alphamon and nodded.
"Well, then. You should have a desire to make up for your mistakes," Alphamon spoke. "That is how you differ from the Demon Lords."
GrandisKuwagamon frowned pensively, but he kept eye contact with the Royal Knight. "…How do I do that?" he asked.
"As I said, you're highly skilled in covert operations," Karatenmon explained with a sly smile. "I was impressed by what I learned, and also by the way you and your team handled the Dark Point operation. Now, this isn't public knowledge, but I'm the spymaster of the Order. I handle a network of spies across the Digital World for the purposes of information gathering and, sometimes, sabotage. In addition to my web of spies, I'm also in charge of the Rooks. The Rooks are a team of covert operatives. They operate in the shadows, performing the jobs that can be dirty but necessary. We sometimes have to toe the line in order to protect Network Security."
GrandisKuwagamon smirked with amusement. "So… black operations," he said, fully intent on calling a spade a spade. "Look at the Royal Knights. For all your talk about honour and justice, you'll still get your hands dirty."
"If it saves Digimon and protects the Network, yes, I suppose we will," Alphamon admitted with a frown. "I'm sure you think it's very hypocritical, but we don't allow the Rooks to do anything that we wouldn't do ourselves if it meant protecting the Digital World. It's just that, this way, we don't create a political stir."
"And it lets the average Digimon believe that you guys are squeaky clean heroes," GrandisKuwagamon pointed out.
"We do our best to be heroes in a world that can be cynical at times, GrandisKuwagamon," Alphamon told him. "We each have our own sense of honour that we hold dearly. Contrary to what you are thinking, we don't take our morals lightly, nor do we cast them aside when it is convenient for us. Sometimes we have to do what we must. We try to spare these measures only for when they are completely necessary."
"It's just nice to hear you admit it, Alphamon," GrandisKuwagamon replied with a grin. "Even if you do try to talk around it."
"It isn't quite as bad as it sounds," Karatenmon explained with a light-hearted chuckle. "We don't exactly go around poisoning peoples' coffee all the time." He looked at Alphamon with a wink. "Well, I can't speak for Alphamon…"
Alphamon blinked. "Pardon?"
GrandisKuwagamon eyed him sceptically. "Then what exactly is your idea of covert ops? Throwing tomatoes at peoples' houses and running away?"
Karatenmon laughed. "Our main operations are usually sabotage, infiltration, forgery, surveillance, subversion, rescues, and sometimes covert attacks to aid our main military – all working in small teams."
"Okay, so, the usual suspects," GrandisKuwagamon noted. "Yeah, that all sounds in my wheelhouse." He frowned. "But… are you seriously asking me to join the Rooks? Am I getting that right?"
"That's about right, yes," the raven spymaster explained.
Alphamon looked through the bars at GrandisKuwagamon. "I should clarify… this is merely an alternative to prison. You are not being 'released'. You will be working for the Royal Knights for an indeterminate amount of time. You will have to do whatever we say," he firmly informed the mercenary.
GrandisKuwagamon turned his head to the side. "…I don't feel good about working for the Royal Knights. It's too… structured and moralistic. I don't even believe in Yggdrasil."
Alphamon folded his arms. "I'm afraid that we aren't bargaining anymore, GrandisKuwagamon," the black and gold armoured knight explained. "You have made your decisions and my leniency only goes so far. What you have before you is a very generous offer, one that will be hard for me to sell to some of my colleagues. You can either agree to our terms or, if you can't get over your pride, then you can stay in Havelock Prison."
GrandisKuwagamon sighed. When put like that, he didn't really feel like there was much of a decision. "…I'll do it," he answered, looking Alphamon in the eyes.
Karatenmon smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that."
The scarab swordsman folded his arms. "You said an 'indeterminate amount of time'. What does that mean, exactly?"
"It means that you will be working to regain our trust," Alphamon explained. "Once we feel like we can trust you and you have demonstrably changed your ways, then we will consider your permanent release. However, if you abuse this leniency and attempt to escape again, we will find you and, this time, there will be no mercy."
GrandisKuwagamon stared into Alphamon's eyes. He could tell that the Royal Knight meant it. After a few moments, he shifted his gaze away. "Yeah, well, I'm not that stupid. I don't make the same mistake twice."
Karatenmon grinned. "Think of this as a chance to make amends. You'll be putting your abilities to good use."
The black insect reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. "And are you gonna put a shock collar in me again? What about the inhibitor that Reapermon gave me?" he asked.
"We'll remove the power inhibitor, but you'll have the proximal restraint system for the first month," Alphamon explained. "If all goes well, it will be removed.
"Great…" GrandisKuwagamon murmured, reliving the several times that he had been shocked by that thing. "So, who will it be connected to?"
"Undecided," Karatenmon replied. "Somebody within the Rooks. It won't be Paildramon this time, for obvious reasons."
GrandisKuwagamon glanced away. "Got it."
"Do you have any other questions?" Alphamon inquired.
"Working with you guys in my line of work is still a big risk," GrandisKuwagamon explained. "None of this info will be public, right?"
"Right. Knowledge of our existence is confined to the Order," Karatenmon responded. "The only way anybody will find out is if you tell them."
"Guess I won't tell them then," the beetle wryly stated. "Where am I gonna stay?"
"Here, for awhile," Alphamon told him. "If things go well, maybe we'll upgrade you to staying in the Rook's floor of Barracks Delta."
"That's something to look forward to," GrandisKuwagamon sarcastically muttered. He walked over to the wall and leaned against it to take some of the weight off of his stiff legs. "Is there anything else?"
Alphamon folded his hands behind his caped back and carefully eyed the mercenary. "Paildramon requested to see you," he informed him.
At this, GrandisKuwagamon went quiet. His eye drifted towards the floor and he found himself becoming enveloped in his thoughts.
He wondered why she wanted to see him. The last time they were together, she was doing everything in her power to kill him. She nearly succeeded. He had nearly done the same to her. Did she still hate him? Did she still blame him for her brother's death? …Was that something he caused when he opened up those gates?
As much as it made him uneasy to know, he had to find out. He wanted to see her too. He had things that he needed to say…
"…Okay. I'll see her," GrandisKuwagamon replied.
"Very well," Alphamon replied, beginning to turn away from him and the cell.
"Thanks," GrandisKuwagamon spoke up, stopping the Royal Knight before he walked out of view. He looked over at Alphamon and Karatenmon, trying not to appear uncomfortable. "For this chance."
Alphamon turned back towards him. He pensively rubbed his chin and gave GrandisKuwagamon a sly smile. "Don't disappoint me," he told him.
GrandisKuwagamon watched as the black knight and the raven spymaster continued walking out of the glow of the flames. They disappeared down the corridor, out of his cell's field of vision, until he could only hear their footsteps getting farther away.
He sat down on the edge of his bed and waited. His shoulders tightened and he drummed his index finger on his knee, tapping it against the firm surface.
He supposed he just had to wait.
It wasn't long until the herald of someone's arrival came.
The familiar sound of locks clicking and metal shifting echoed down from the dungeon entrance. A new set of footsteps, notable by the clicking of claws against the stone, began to draw near. The strides were methodical and purposeful. They became louder as the Digimon approached his cell on the left hand wall.
From his sitting position, GrandisKuwagamon glanced over as familiar colours appeared in his wide degree of vision.
Paildramon stopped in front of his cell. She wore her usual combination of black and forest green armour over her chest and torso. She turned her crimson helmet towards him.
She didn't speak immediately. He wasn't sure if she was quiet because she was angry, or if she was allowing him to adjust to her presence.
GrandisKuwagamon's muscles tightened. A sense of nervousness and unease began to permeate inside of him. He wasn't sure why. All he knew was that he had some trouble getting himself to look at her.
However, he wouldn't let himself be a coward. He turned his head and looked at her, starting with her feet. His vision made his way up her body until he pushed himself to look at her face. He expected to see anger, or, at least her usual unruffled gaze. It was then that he noticed that rather than her usual calm confidence, there seemed to be hesitation in her eyes.
Their respective ruby eyes met and there was an awkward beat between them. Neither of them knew what to say, each waiting for the other to begin.
The uneasy pause seemed to draw out to excruciating lengths. Each second felt like ten, and the longer that the silence dragged on, the more GrandisKuwagamon felt the need to smash the ice with words.
"Are you just—" he began to quip.
"Grandis—" she started, right at the same time that he did.
Their clumsy convergence of words stopped each of them mid-sentence. It managed to make the atmosphere even more awkward between him, something that Grandis was starting to think wasn't possible. They paused sheepishly and looked away uneasily.
"You go first," she told him, venturing a glance back towards him.
"Uh…" GrandisKuwagamon hesitated. He had the wind taken out of his sails after his nonchalant quip was pre-empted, so now he wasn't sure what to say. He took a breath to calm himself and stood to his feet. "…Hey," he told her, braving a glance at the dragon woman.
As he did, his eye ventured down to her chest. He could see that there were white bandages wrapped around her chest where he had stabbed her.
"…Hello," she responded reticently. Her eyes drifted down towards his midsection.
He noticed her gazing at his chest and he saw an opportunity to try and lighten the tension. "You know, P, my face is up here," he lamely joked in an attempt to inject some humour.
Paildramon's concerned eyes then flattened and she stared him in the eye. "I was going to ask if you were alright, but you obviously seem fine…" she noted.
"Couldn't help myself," GrandisKuwagamon answered with a half smirk. However, the smile was fleeting as the sense of guilt and unease began to overtake the room again like a rolling mist.
He glanced down at her chest again. "…Are you okay?"
Paildramon rubbed her neck sheepishly, but she nodded. "…Yes, I'm fine… The New Terminal physicians are some of the best. There was no serious damage to my digicore, and the organ and bone damage was healed in time," she hesitantly explained, clearly trying to play down the wounds. Paildramon looked back at him and frowned quizzically. "…And you?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine," GrandisKuwagamon dismissed, smoothly folding his arms. "Good as new."
"…But how?" Paildramon inquired. Her eyes tightened. "I… I remember shooting you. That sort of wound was…"
GrandisKuwagamon turned so that his shoulder was facing Paildramon. "…fatal. Or it probably should have been," he responded, subconsciously rubbing the front of his carapace. He glanced towards the dragon out of the corner of his compound eye. "I'm only alive because I activated the X-Antibody. It rewrote my data at the particle level or something." He smiled ironically. "And I thought that getting my guts blown out by you was the worst pain of my life."
Paildramon grimaced. "…I'm sorry," she remorsefully answered.
GrandisKuwagamon shook his head and turned back towards her. "I don't blame you. I mean… I know it wasn't you. Or… it was, but…" He sighed and irritably scratched the back of his head. "Look, I mean, I get it."
Paildramon nodded and looked down with furrowed eyes. She was silent for a few moments.
"So…" GrandisKuwagamon uneasily said.
"Do you mind if I get something off of my chest?" Paildramon asked, looking him in the eye.
"Seems like a good idea," GrandisKuwagamon agreed.
She let out a sigh and nodded. She took a step closer to the cell bars, just out of reach of the invisible barrier between them.
"…When I saw you in New Terminal, I hated you so much," Paildramon explained, not breaking their gaze. "When I heard that you were helping the Demon Lords and that you let them into the city… I wanted to kill you." Although her words were hard and firm, they were laced with the lingering breath of guilt. "Even now, looking at you, there's still a part of me that feels angry and frustrated."
GrandisKuwagamon nodded quietly and listened. He didn't dare to make light of it. He knew he didn't have the right.
Paildramon gently tightened the fingers of her fist before release their tension. "I haven't known you for very long, so maybe it's naïve of me to think that we have any loyalty to each other. …Still, I think that you and I have come to understand each other, if just a little…"
GrandisKuwagamon looked down slightly. "Yeah… I'd say that sounds about right…" he sheepishly admitted.
"So… I need to ask why, GrandisKuwagamon. Why did you betray us? Why did you join the Demon Lords?" Her ruby eyes hardened a little. "And, most of all, why did you open the gates to my city?"
As GrandisKuwagamon shuffled and began to open his mouth, Paildramon continued.
"And, please. Answer me honestly. I deserve—" As the words left her mouth, Paildramon caught herself and winced. "…I don't deserve anything, but I hope you respect me enough to tell me the truth..."
The muscles around GrandisKuwagamon's compound eye tightened at her words. His pincers twitched and he looked her in the eyes. "…Yeah, okay," he responded. "I do…"
GrandisKuwagamon sighed and raised his hand to scratch the back of his head, running his dark fingers through his orange hair.
"To be completely honest? I was scared," he explained, glancing away with shame. "I told myself it was about being in control of my life, but, really, I was just scared of being helpless. I thought that, if I could be the one making the calls, no matter how shitty, I'd be fine. If I could make enough money to stand on my own, I could just about handle living as a fugitive."
He sighed and stepped back to lean against the side wall of the cell. "I told myself if I didn't care about anybody else, and only thought about myself, that was all that mattered." He raised his head and looked at her. "I think it's pretty clear I was a huge idiot. Once I saw what was happening to New Terminal, I realised that I made a huge mistake."
Paildramon kept her eyes fixed on his, quietly reading his emotions. After a few moments, the hardness in her eyes softened. "…I see," she calmly replied. "Thank you, for being honest."
"Least I can do," the dark scarab muttered.
The dragon woman frowned contemplatively. "I guess it's my turn…" she said with a soft breath. "About what I did…"
"You don't have to explain, Paildramon," he told her. "I don't blame you for wanting to kill me. I've been there myself… Getting pulled into the darkness so fast that you can't stop yourself… You lost control. You were furious and devastated because…"
GrandisKuwagamon winced and stalled. He felt the painful sensation of guilt tightening around his insides like a vice. He felt pain in his heart as he thought about Paildramon's brother. He knew that sense of loss. He tightened his fists and dared to look her in the eyes.
"Paildramon… I'm… I'm sorry."
Paildramon eyed him uncertainly. "For what?"
"For everything," he replied bitterly. "For escaping… for helping the Demon Lords… for letting the attack on New Terminal happen." He let out an uneven breath. "…For your brother."
Paildramon closed her eyes.
"…I tried my damndest to kill you," GrandisKuwagamon apologised, looking up at her with a pained wince. His words were heavy and emotional; he didn't realise it, but his remorse was clear to her in his words and face. "I thought it was the only way."
Paildramon shook her head gently. "…I'm glad that you did."
The words hit GrandisKuwagamon like an electric shock. He had expected to be accused or yelled at or something. He didn't expect Paildramon to be… grateful?
He just stared at her with perplexity. "…What?" he asked. His initial confusion gave way to a morose thought. He winced darkly and stared at her. "You mean… you wanted to die?"
Paildramon frowned at the suggestion. "No… but, I tried to kill you too. I tried to kill VictoryGreymon," she explained. "I couldn't control myself anymore. The power of the Fighter Mode and my own wrath and hatred had taken over. I was unstoppable. Who knows how much more damage I would have done if you hadn't stopped me? If I had killed even one ally…"
A soft wince flickered on her face. "I'm thankful to both you and VictoryGreymon for doing your best to stop me. I… appreciate that you did what you needed to do to stop me from hurting anybody else. It's not that I wanted to die, it's that I wanted to be stopped." She bowed her head and gazed down at the sharp claws on her hand. "I hate that I hurt you both…"
GrandisKuwagamon's brow dipped and his expression morphed into a mixture of guilt and confusion. "…How can you say that you care that you hurt me? You said it yourself: if it weren't for me, your brother would still be alive…"
Paildramon turned from him slightly. "…That's just it, GrandisKuwagamon. I didn't find out until after, but… my brother's alive. He was missing and I assumed that he…" She sighed. "You see, all that destruction I caused was for nothing."
"He's… alive?"
The mercenary stared at her quietly for a few moments. A mixture of emotions raced through him. First of all, he was surprised. He had taken it for granted that he was dead, after everything that she had said. He hated to admit it, but there was a small part of him that was frustrated and maybe a little jealous. But, far outweighing those selfish emotions was GrandisKuwagamon's pure relief.
He didn't mean to, but GrandisKuwagamon let out an alleviated sigh. He was aware that a large part of his relief was selfishness; he had been convinced that he had been the cause of Paildramon's brother's death. However, he knew that she must feel very conflicted about the situation she was in, having caused all that destruction on a pretext that turned out to be false. Still, he knew the pain of losing a brother, and he had hated that he had indirectly inflicted that on her.
"But…" he tentatively said. "He's alive... So, that's good, right?"
Paildramon smiled sincerely. "Yes... You can't imagine how relieved I was. I thought he was dead for all that time, and to be able to see him again…" Although her smile remained, her eyes softened sadly. "Of course I wouldn't change that for anything. But… still. I can't help but blame myself for being so rash and emotional. …I just assumed the worst, particularly of my father. I thought that he sent ExVeemon out to fight, and I let my fears get carried away."
"Can't be worse than what I did… I let the Demon Lords into New Terminal. I pretended not to know, but I still knew that they would burn the whole place to the ground. …I found out I'm no better than the monsters who attacked my village," GrandisKuwagamon explained bitterly. "It took VictoryGreymon bashing me on the head to make me see what a fucking idiot I've been. I know I can't really make up for all the bad stuff that I've done. All my life, I've been nothing but a common criminal. …I'm still a criminal. But… I want the chance to try."
"…I'm glad that you do, Grandis," Paildramon gently told him. "After the chaos I caused, I want to make amends as well."
"You don't need to do anything for me, Paildramon," GrandisKuwagamon assured her. "Let's call it even between us."
"…Alright. We'll call it even, then," she agreed. "I'm sorry for blasting a hole in you."
GrandisKuwagamon sheepishly glanced at her. "It's cool. Sorry for impaling you."
"It's alright."
"…So, is the meat-headed dino back too?" he wondered, unable to help but smirk.
Paildramon smiled a little as well. "VictoryGreymon? Yes, he is. Though, he isn't allowed in the dungeons after what happened last time. …He really is something else, isn't he?" she mused.
"…That's for sure," GrandisKuwagamon replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh…"
The azure dragon warrior looked at him. "Yes?"
After a moment, GrandisKuwagamon simply grinned and shrugged. "…Nothing. I guess we're both idiots, huh?"
She smiled. "I suppose so…" Though, the smile seemed to fade as she looked at him through the bars. "…So, what does this mean for you? Did Alphamon say?"
"Yeah…" GrandisKuwagamon replied, scratching the base of his pincer with a finger. "We've come to an arrangement. Looks like I'll be joining the Rooks and working for Karatenmon," he explained, trying to play it off as coolly as he could. "Trying to make up for what I've done and all that."
"Good," Paildramon said.
"So, it's not a problem for you? Us working for the same guys?" he asked, glancing over at the dragon.
"While I could do without your smart-alecky remarks…" She grinned a little and placed a hand on the right cannon that was attached to her hip. "This saves me from having to chase after you and drag you back here again."
GrandisKuwagamon half-chuckled. "Whatever, dragon. And what do you mean, 'again'? You never managed it the first time," he teased in response.
"This technically counts," she playfully contended, gesturing to the bars and folding her arms. "So, how long are you going to be locked up here for?"
GrandisKuwagamon shrugged and scoffed. "Beats me. Probably a month or so. They want to make me sweat," he grunted with distaste. "Still, this is better than life in Havelock, especially the food, so I guess I'm not allowed to complain."
"As if the rules would ever stop you from complaining," Paildramon calmly replied, seeming to speak more easily now that they had cleared the air between them. She turned her head and looked down the dungeon corridor towards the exit. "…Speaking of punishments…"
"…I like where this is going," he playfully teased.
"I have to get going," she told him, ignoring his last comment. "I have to help VictoryGreymon and SaviorHackmon clean the basement floor of the castle."
GrandisKuwagamon couldn't help but laugh at the thought. "Heh. Y'know, I can't picture you cleaning. Maybe overseeing those two boneheads, but…"
Paildramon smirked. "My family may have a butler, but I'm not afraid of getting my hands dirty," she insisted. "Anyways, I have to get to work. And I'll start by giving you your lunch."
"…You didn't make it, right? That's something I know you can't do,"
The draconic soldier gave him a flat look. "It's from the kitchens…"
Remembering how good the food usually was, GrandisKuwagamon tried to look through the bars. He hadn't really been thinking about it, but it suddenly dawned on him how hungry he was after not having eaten the past two days. His stomach began to contract and ache from hunger, the organ suddenly growling.
"What is it…?"
"They're spiced meat shanks with a demi-glace sauce, pureed parsnips, and vegetables from the garden," Paildramon described, holding the tray of food in one hand. She began typing the pass code into the console next to the cell door in order to deactivate the barrier so that she could slip the food in through the slot.
GrandisKuwagamon could feel himself salivating already as the hearty aroma began filling his nose. "I don't know that fancy stuff is, but I want it," he couldn't help but admit.
Paildramon smiled and began to slip the tray of food through the rectangular slot in the cell door. However, once it was halfway through, she stopped. "Oh, and… I got you something as well. Think of it as an apology gift," she explained.
GrandisKuwagamon watched as she placed something on the corner of the platter. It weighed the other side down, so he carefully took the platter and pulled it inside his cell. Once he had the metal tray of food inside the cell, he was able to clearly see what she had added.
It was a small, glass jar of honey. The sticky liquid was a bright amber colour with a sweet, floral scent. The golden nectar shimmered enticingly and deliciously against the dungeon flames. He noticed that, attached to the side of the jar was a note. Curious, the beetle leaned down and read the Digimoji that was elegantly written on the paper.
'For your hidden sweet spot.'
GrandisKuwagamon looked up from the jar, and was about to say something to Paildramon, but she was already gone. He was just barely able to see her sapphire tail disappearing down the dark hallway. The mercenary watched as the dragon disappeared from view and exited the dungeons to the sound of fading footsteps and creaking metal doors.
He looked down at the jar of honey with a fond smile.
He walked over to his bed, sat down, and placed the tray on his lap. The beetle dipped his finger into the jar and scooped out an amber bead on his finger tip. After admiring it for a moment, he brought it up to his mouth and licked the drop of golden nectar from his finger.
The complex sweetness flooded over dry tongue and caused something in him to melt. He released a content sigh and savoured the lingering floral notes in his mouth.
"…Thanks, Paildramon."
A couple hours had passed.
GrandisKuwagamon hated to admit it, but the food that was served at the Order was delicious. It was like going out to eat at a semi-fancy restaurant, but with larger portions. He had finished off his serving of food within minutes.
Now, he sat on his bed, reading a new book that he convinced one of the guards to get from the library. On the nearby table was the jar of honey that Paildramon had gotten him. One-fifth of the liquid was gone, but he fully intended on conserving the rest. He wanted to make it last a long time and savour it, as he didn't know when he'd next be able to get more. It helped that the dungeon was cool and dry, perfect for storing.
GrandisKuwagamon thought that the choice in book was questionable. It was a penny dreadful crime novel, and a laughably inaccurate one at that. He wasn't sure what it was doing in the Royal Knights' library, since the previous books that he had read were all fairly sophisticated. He was at least able to laugh at how bad it was and the author's unrealistic perception of what the criminal underworld was like.
"Hey, prisoner!" one of the guards shouted from down the corridor. "You have another visitor!"
GrandisKuwagamon lowered the book and tossed it aside. He was half annoyed and half curious. Who was it this time? VictoryGreymon? SaviorHackmon? He thought that they weren't allowed to see him. Was it Dorbickmon to rub his face in it again? If it was, he planned to throw it right back in the dragon's face, along with what was left of the parsnips.
The prisoner stood up from his bed and folded his arms, waiting for the Digimon to approach. He listened for the footsteps to try to gauge what sort of Digimon it was. The sound of metal boots hitting the stone floor became audible, but they were gentle footsteps, like they were barely touching the floor at all.
GrandisKuwagamon arched his brow curiously, and looked through the bars of his cell. The Digimon who appeared in his vision was nobody that he expected.
The lithe, graceful body of a golden insect appeared in front of his cell. He – Grandis was pretty sure it was a he – had the form of a humanoid hornet. The wasp had a long, crimson scarf that flowed behind him like a flame. GrandisKuwagamon was pretty sure that the species was a TigerVespamon, but as far as he knew, they were hardly ever seen outside of the Royal Base. He had no clue who this Digimon was or what he wanted with him.
The TigerVespamon stopped in front of his cell and gazed inside at him. The way that he moved was weird. It wasn't like that of any insect Digimon that he knew. The movements were soft, graceful, and precise, like silk. His disposition was calm and composed. GrandisKuwagamon knew discipline when he saw it, but it was a different sort; it wasn't martial discipline, but inner serenity and control. He almost acted similar to the way he had seen angel Digimon act.
GrandisKuwagamon's crimson, insect eye locked with TigerVespamon's own. He stared at him quizzically, trying to determine who this Digimon was and what he wanted. At the same time, he was confused. TigerVespamon stood there, staring at him. His compound eyes were unreadable. TigerVespamon was stoic, but there was obviously something giving him pause.
A weird silence began to form in between them. It was awkward, but a different sort of awkward from the one that he had shared with Paildramon. GrandisKuwagamon began to feel uncomfortable, like he was being gawked at by a stranger.
He stared back at TigerVespamon dryly. "…Can I help you or something?" he sardonically inquired.
TigerVespamon continued to calmly gaze at him. "You do not know who I am, do you?" he asked him. His voice was eerily tranquil – almost ethereal. GrandisKuwagamon felt irritated by TigerVespamon's tone of voice. It was sounded both aloof and superior, like he was some transcendent being deigning to speak to the prisoner.
"…Oh! Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're…" He paused and made it think like he was thinking about it. "No, I don't. Should I?"
"…I suppose not," TigerVespamon steadily acknowledged. "My name is TigerVespamon."
"You're a little far from the Royal Base, aren't you?"
TigerVespamon's muscles tightened up ever-so-slightly. GrandisKuwagamon was only just able to detect the shift in demeanour.
"I am not of the Royal Base," TigerVespamon calmly explained. "I am an assistant to High Physician Duskmon. I saw to your… 'wounds' in New Terminal."
"Oh. Great. Do you want a medal or something?" GrandisKuwagamon standoffishly wondered. "The X-Antibody was what did most of the work. But, I mean, yeah, you sure tied those bandages nice and tight."
"…I am merely stating the facts," TigerVespamon coolly replied. "I am certainly not here looking for your gratitude. Although, it is interesting that the X-Antibody was able to cure such grievous wounds. I, too, possess the X-Antibody. My rate of healing is no different from any ordinary Digimon's."
"That's nice," the darker of the insects dismissively said. "It might be because I prevented the X-Antibody from changing my digicore until I was nearly dead. Call it survival instincts." GrandisKuwagamon leered at the lighter bug. "What's your deal? Are you here to examine me or something? Or are you here to study my digicore? I don't really want to be cracked open again, thanks."
"I am not a centrologist," TigerVespamon responded. The hornet Digimon continued staring at GrandisKuwagamon. There was something cold about his ruby eyes. Although it was sometimes harder to determine emotion with compound eyes, TigerVespamon stood before GrandisKuwagamon as if he were some sort of judge. "…You still don't recognise me, do you?"
GrandisKuwagamon frowned. Why did he keep asking that, like he should be able to recognise him?
"Why don't you just tell me? You obviously can't wait to."
The mercenary looked the scarf-clad hornet up and down. He focused on his bee-like face, pouring over the golden carapace, the red eyes, and the black crest on his forehead. Now that he mentioned it, there was something familiar about him. There was a likeness that he couldn't quite place.
And then a flash of memory ignited in his mind. "Wait, I recognise you," GrandisKuwagamon remarked triumphantly. "You're that weird guy who was with Dukemon and Dynasmon in Vernal Springs!" He grinned. "Heh. You weren't so calm then."
TigerVespamon ignored the ribbing. His demeanour remained icy, and his stance solid. "You are correct. That was indeed I," he confirmed. "I remember that you threatened to start firing indiscriminately into Vernal Springs if we did not stand down."
"Hey, I just told them how messy fighting in a city would be," GrandisKuwagamon defended. "It's called a bluff, goldy. We weren't in the mood for a fight, and it got you guys off our backs."
"So, you claim that you were bluffing."
GrandisKuwagamon bristled at pointed comments and he sneered at TigerVespamon. "Maybe. Since when do I have to answer to you?"
TigerVespamon calmly folded his hands behind his back, gazing at the black insect with detached serenity. "You are a member of Black Pincer Company. You have perpetrated manifold crimes, including theft, assault, arson, kidnapping, extortion, blackmailing, and murder. Just recently, you escaped from custody, attacked your friends, and then you proceeded to aid the Demon Lords in their assault of New Terminal."
A cross between a grimace and a scowl formed on GrandisKuwagamon's face. "I know all that!" he fired back angrily. "What the hell is it to you?"
TigerVespamon took a single, gentle stride towards the bars of the cell. He stared unwaveringly into GrandisKuwagamon's eye.
"I was a coward who ran from you in the past," he explained, his words like a frigid mountain breeze. "I will not run from you any longer."
GrandisKuwagamon's eye narrowed and his muscles tensed up. He instinctively placed one foot behind him and got into a defensive stance. The hornet's ominous words made him feel vaguely threatened. He was at the Digimon's mercy, locked in his cell. He didn't think the Royal Knights would allow a prisoner to be killed in their own home, but if one of the guards chose to look the other way… He couldn't discount the possibility.
"…Who are you?" GrandisKuwagamon demanded. "Are you an assassin?"
TigerVespamon gently shook his head. "No... Unlike you, I abhor killing," he explained. "I am merely a spectre of your past."
The golden bee took a step away from the bars, though his gaze didn't leave GrandisKuwagamon. "I know who you are, GrandisKuwagamon," he told him, his ruby eyes firm and judgmental. "This Digimon that you have become… It is revolting. You are a lawless criminal who brings nothing but pain and suffering wherever you go. Do you ever consider the lives that you have ruined while pursuing your own selfish desires?"
GrandisKuwagamon snarled. Who was this Digimon? Who the hell did he think he was? This smug wasp only just met him. And yet, he thinks he can judge him without knowing anything about him? He had his circumstances, and he felt remorse for what he did. He didn't need some holier-than-thou doctor's assistant treating him like crap when he didn't ask or care about his opinion. The former mercenary bristled and he glared through the metal barrier at TigerVespamon.
"What gives you the right to judge me?" GrandisKuwagamon demanded in a withering growl.
"When we encountered each other in Vernal Springs, I recognised you immediately. I tried to tell myself that I was imagining things, but… I knew. I recognised your face. I remembered your tone of voice," TigerVespamon explained, his calm demeanour suddenly fracturing. The muscles around TigerVespamon's eyes tightened into a pained wince, and he found himself looking down at the dungeon floor. "I tried to tell myself that it wasn't you. It couldn't be you. You were supposed to have been… I had accepted that you were… gone."
GrandisKuwagamon's anger morphed back into confusion. Again, this Digimon acted as if he knew him. It almost sounded as if he had known him from way back before…
TigerVespamon clenched his black fists. "…You were from the village of Manu, correct?" he asked.
The question stopped him his tracks. As he thought about it, GrandisKuwagamon's stomach suddenly sunk deep into his abdomen. His scowl vanished and his eye widened. "Yeah, I…" He trailed off and went quiet for a moment. "Who… Who are you…?"
TigerVespamon raised his head and stared GrandisKuwagamon in the eye. His cool, calm disposition returned and he seemed to steel himself.
"I am your brother, Tentomon"
GrandisKuwagamon felt his body freeze. It felt as though his heart had stopped. The words had struck him as if somebody had taken a chrome digizoid hammer to his still sensitive abdomen. They cut through his heart and filled his body with an icy chill.
He was completely stunned. His black jaw fell open and his tense mandibles twitched and slackened. His arms fell to his sides and he simply gaped at TigerVespamon incredulously.
It wasn't possible. His brother was dead. He had seen him disappear in the flames. He had looked all over the rubble with Blitzmon and Bolgmon. It… wasn't possible. This Digimon obviously didn't like him. He was just saying this to get to him, right?
Yet… why did he find himself believing him?
For once, he felt himself at a loss for words. He didn't have some ready comeback. Gone were his bravado and his aloof detachment. He stared at TigerVespamon desperately. He needed an answer. He needed some sort of confirmation.
"Your time's up, TigerVespamon," one of the guards called down the corridor. The words ignited GrandisKuwagamon's unease and frustration.
TigerVespamon grimaced uneasily. He retreated a step and looked away. "I must go," he told him.
"No! Wait!" GrandisKuwagamon pleaded. He hurried over to the bars and tried to reach through them, but the invisible barrier activated and sent electric shocks up his arms.
He cried out and recoiled as his muscles ached and spasmed. However, he forced himself to remain standing. He angled his pincers outwards and moved as close as he could to the bars without electrocuting himself again. To his distress, he saw TigerVespamon already walking away. "Wait! Come back, damn it!" he begged him.
TigerVespamon didn't reply. All he saw was the insect's head duck and his shoulders tighten. He watched as the Digimon who claimed to be his dead brother disappeared into the shade of the dungeons.
GrandisKuwagamon was left full of unsatiated questions and emotions. His mind was swirling, teeming with things that he needed to know. His heart felt like it was hemorrhaging with a flood of emotions. He felt hope, but on the opposite side of that coin was pure fear. Was it a lie? Was this Digimon messing with his head and getting his hopes up?
But… What if he was telling the truth? What if his brother was alive? What if it hadn't just been him, Blitzmon, and Bolgmon who survived? What if he was actually able to see his brother again, after being convinced that he was dead?
But how was he able to survive? Why was he just finding out now? How could he have been alive and not known about it?
He had to know. He had to be sure.
But, right now, he was trapped in this cell. He was stuck, full of unanswered questions and long-dormant emotions. He was left to mull over this bombshell that shook him to his core. He found himself having to confront the painful past that he had thought he moved on from.
GrandisKuwagamon stared desperately out of the cell and towards the dimly lit darkness. His heart ached, and his expression was a pained and desolate wince.
"…Ko…" he whispered shakily.
"It can't be you… Can it?"