(Author's Notes: Chapter 4 is up! Enjoy!)
Chapter 4: Beneath the Surface
"Enter," a growling monotone accent boomed.
The voice echoed off of the huge, metallic walls of a vast throne room. They stood as tall as small buildings, and they were made of metal that was durable enough to withstand attacks and absorb sound.
Chaosdramon sat in an oversized, blocky, metal throne. The room itself was very minimalist, as it didn't consist of much else besides the throne. A giant, hybrid arc lamp that was powered by Facture's power plant shone an artificial light down onto his massive, draconic body. The cyborg's red digizoid armour shimmered with the hue of blood crimson. His similarly coloured eyes stoically watched as the massive throne room doors swung open.
Three Digimon strode into the throne room. One was green and svelte, one was gold and balanced, and one was red and bulky. The three Storm Commanders of the D-Brigade stepped forwards, walking along the long, red mat that led to the base of the throne.
Raijinmon stepped forwards first and bowed. The light reflected off of his gold armour and shoulder batteries. "Emperor Chaosdramon," he greeted with a lowered head.
Suijinmon walked behind Raijinmon with heavy footsteps from his four massive legs and long, robotic arms. He flicked his red tail behind his quadruped body and stepped up beside Raijinmon, lowering his head in a loyal bow. "Your Majesty," he said deeply.
Fujinmon was the last to approach. He leered at Chaosdramon with an unreadable expression. His long, green hair flowed behind him as he advanced. The green cyborg Digimon took his place to the left of Raijinmon and he crossed one of his sword arms in front of his chest as he quietly bowed. "Emperor."
Chaosdramon flexed the vice that made up his right hand. "Raijinmon, Suijinmon, Fujinmon," he greeted, looking at the gold, red, and green Commanders respectively. "You have had two days. I want a status report concerning our great matter."
Raijinmon stood up straight and clasped his hands behind his back, relaxing. "We have ruled out any rebellious action from JumboGamemon loyalists. We are certain that the attack was carried out by a team of three mercenaries. The D-Brigade's intelligence division suggests that they call themselves the Black Pincer Company. We haven't been able to figure out anything else about them."
Chaosdramon narrowed his cold eyes. "Mercenaries…? That's it? The guests were all laughing at us after the other night. They think that we are weak and rife with discontent."
"The good news is that we are not," Suijinmon spoke in his deep voice. "Mercenaries have no use for those blueprints. That means they were either hired by somebody who wants that technology for themselves or they want to sabotage us."
"Do we know who?" Chaosdramon questioned.
"Not until we get our hands on those mercenaries," Fujinmon answered. "We sent a task force after them."
"They'll get them to talk," Raijinmon added, glancing at his leaner, greener companion before looking back at Chaosdramon.
"Speculate regardless," Chaosdramon requested.
Suijinmon frowned with thought. He thought about the various options analytically. "The Mamemon Kingdom?"
"Possibly," Chaosdramon breathed. "PrinceMamemon… That jumped-up, empty-headed twit of a beach ball… He always wanted to be able to rival our empire with that puny plot of land of his. They could have hired those mercenaries to steal those blueprints to adapt the technology for themselves." He let out a soft, mechanical snarl. "Any other suggestions?"
"The Royal Knights?" Suijinmon put forth.
"The Royal Knights wouldn't do something so underhanded," Raijinmon countered, looking over at the Waterfall Commander. "If there's anything we can expect from them, it's consistency."
"We are in a state of quasi-cold warfare with them, Raijinmon," the large, red commander stoically told him. "They disapprove of the way we run our empire. And there is that other matter…"
"MetallifeKuwagamon," Chaosdramon spoke, narrowing his eyes.
Suijinmon nodded. "There is enough reason to believe that they are granting him asylum, even if we do not have hard evidence. He has likely told them our secrets."
"And what about the other thing?" Fujinmon spoke up, glancing at his two comrades.
"What other thing?" Chaosdramon asked, turning his head to the green cyborg with a leer.
"We detected a momentary breach of our cyber security," Fujinmon explained. "It was only for a split moment before the signal disappeared, but we were definitely being hacked. We traced the signal through the data streams to around the Royal Knights' headquarters, but then a data storm interfered with further connections. We're increasing our security as we speak."
"Damn them…" Chaosdramon droned, despite his anger not being clearly conveyed by his voice. "Damn that bunch of holier-than-thou tin gods. Damn that treacherous insect."
"Perhaps they were just being meddlesome," Raijinmon suggested diplomatically. "They do have a penchant for intervening in things that aren't their business. Didn't they try to go after those mercenaries the other day, Fujinmon?" he asked, turning to the skinnier Digimon to his left.
"They stuck their noses in. That's all," Fujinmon replied. "With all due respect, Raijinmon, but you seem to be making excuses for them. Maybe you should find another group to exercise your creativity on."
"I'm just being realistic," Raijinmon answered, folding his arms. "If they were behind this act of aggression, then, of course, we need to respond heavily."
"Keep investigating," Chaosdramon ordered them. "Send a missive to those who attended the party apologizing for what happened. Tell them that the matter is taken care of. And find those thieving mercenaries. I am not about to break our stance of neutrality without sufficient evidence."
"Break our neutrality?" Fujinmon asked with a modicum of surprise.
"So, war is an option, Your Majesty?" Suijinmon asked him.
"Our most precious values have been attacked by somebody: our dominance in industry. We must retaliate… We must be seen to retaliate. Our strong reputation depends on it," Chaosdramon answered. He opened and closed the vice of his right arm. "Whoever attempts to attack us shall be crushed thoroughly and completely, with the full weight of our martial capabilities..." He closed his eyes thoughtfully. "Find out who hired them…"
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode had gathered all of the Royal Knights into the council room. In addition to himself and the twelve were also Dorbickmon and Zero ARMS: Grani.
The twelve Royal Knights sat around the smooth, white, round table. They all looked at Imperialdramon with looks of curiosity and concern. Grani hovered behind Dukemon silently. Dorbickmon lingered near the closed doors of the council room awkwardly, unsure of what to do with himself. The air loomed heavy with uncertainty and bated breath at Imperialdramon's ominous words.
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode walked up the single step on the far side of the room, standing on the elevated floor as he gazed up at the stained glass window of himself. He turned around and walked back down to the Royal Knights, stretching his wings and running his blue fingers through his blond hair as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"That thing is still up there, Alphamon?" he asked with a slight grin, nodding over his shoulder to the stained glass window. "I told you I don't like it; it's embarrassing."
Alphamon managed a smile despite his trepidation. "You weren't around enough to complain about it," he responded to his friend's playful complaint. "Besides, it was expensive."
"Well, I am now," Imperialdramon Paladin Mode replied, casting a meaningful look to Omegamon, who sat on Alphamon's right.
Omegamon inwardly appreciated the action. "Not that we aren't glad to see you, but why are you back so early?" he asked.
"And why am I here?" Dorbickmon spoke up from across the room. "Should I be here during one of your secret meetings?" he asked with an ironic grin. "I'm an untrustworthy mercenary, after all."
"He brings up a good point," Duftmon concurred, either ignoring or completely missing the irony in Dorbickmon's voice. "If this meeting is important, then it should be only Royal Knights and Captains privy to the information."
Dorbickmon rolled his eyes at Duftmon's sentiments, although he knew enough about him by now to expect it from him.
Imperialdramon walked back to the table and placed his hand on the top of the back of Omegamon's seat. "This involves Dorbickmon," he stated, looking at all of the Royal Knights before looking at Dorbickmon.
"Great. What did I do now?" he muttered under his breath.
"You mentioned that it was about the Dark Area," Alphamon pointed out, looking over his shoulder and up at Imperialdramon Paladin Mode.
"That it was unstable," Duftmon bluntly added.
"I'm getting to that," Imperialdramon responded to them, still looking at Dorbickmon. "Dorbickmon, you freed DarkKnightmon."
Dorbickmon folded his arms and grunted. "Yeah, I know. I'm an idiot. How many times do I have to apologize for that?" he fired back with exasperation.
"Bear with me," the founder of the Order assured him. "How did you do it?"
"I went to this pit that was full of stone pillars," Dorbickmon began to explain, gesturing with his hand. "Some Digimon species like me can sense the dragon veins that run throughout the Digital World. At that place, there was a big pocket of energy in the ground that was particularly close to the surface, kinda like the ones that surround the World Tree. I stabbed my Tyrant Collbrande into the ground and used my Burning the Dragon ability to manipulate the ley lines." He shrugged nonchalantly. "It took a few days of exhausting work, but I was able to corrupt the barrier that surrounded the Dark Area."
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode nodded. "I thought so."
Dorbickmon blinked with a slowly dawning realization. "…Oh…" he said sheepishly. He then frowned and spoke up with protest. "Hey! Wait a second! I made sure to keep the thing stable so that only DarkKnightmon was able to escape! I closed the damn thing afterward!"
"You did, but you probably didn't realize that there was an unintended ripple effect," Imperialdramon Paladin Mode explained. "The barrier of the Dark Area is two-way. It's incredibly durable and it lies deep beneath the surface of the Digital World in a sort of pocket dimension where the Dark Area is. However, the barrier requires a lot of maintenance to its data. That's because it has the potential to become unstable if too much destructive pressure is applied to it. The reason for this is all the strain coming from both sides of the barrier. There are safeguards to prevent the prisoners from getting out and other Digimon from getting in, but you managed to do enough damage to bypass them."
"Simple terms, Imperialdramon," Dynasmon told him. "We're not all like Duftmon."
"More is the pity," Duftmon mumbled to himself.
Imperialdramon turned and grinned at Dynasmon. "Okay…" He turned around and pointed to the stained glass window of himself. "Imagine that I punched through that window there. I would break a hole straight through it and cause several cracks around the hole. I could take all of the pieces that fell out and glue them back into place to repair the hole, but all of the cracks would still remain. The fractures would look like a Dokugumon web, you see? That's what the Dark Area is like right now."
"There was that crack in Lupolford, right, Dorbickmon?" UlforceVeedramon said, looking over at the mercenary.
"The one in Dusk Forest too," Craniamon added, remember the one that he and Examon encountered.
"And others too," Dukemon said with a frown.
"I did my best to close them," Dorbickmon said with an irritated look.
"We isolated all of the ones that we found," Alphamon said to Imperialdramon, "but that isn't enough, is it?"
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode shook his head. "That's just bandaging the problem… We need to find a way to fix the problem at its core, but it's too dangerous to just try different options and see what works. It could end up making the rifts bigger if something goes wrong. The rest of the prisoners could end up escaping if we aren't careful. I don't need to tell you all how terrible that would be."
Gankoomon raised an eyebrow and reached his hand behind him to scratch the red hair on the back of his head. "Uh… Actually," he spoke up. "What kind of prisoners are we talking about here?"
Alphamon looked over at Gankoomon. "All Royal Knights should have clearance to access the database of Dark Area prisoners. Haven't you used the personal computer in your room?"
Gankoomon looked away sheepishly. "For a desk lamp," he muttered, slouching in his seat and stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets.
"Does it look like he knows how to use a computer, Alphamon?" Duftmon rhetorically asked with the usual air of haughtiness in his voice. "Gankoomon likely has the same technical competence that Dynasmon does."
UlforceVeedramon elbowed Examon playfully. "He managed to insult a quarter of the Royal Knights at once. Even I don't do that," he murmured with a large grin.
Examon smiled and muttered back. "I'm just happy the pressure is off of me now."
"Want to say that to my face, neko-chan?" Gankoomon snarled across the table at Duftmon.
"I thought I did," Duftmon responded matter-of-factly. "It seems as if you're lacking in the spatial-awareness department as well as the intellectual one."
Gankoomon became fired up and rose to his feet, gripping the edge of the council table. "That's it, pussy cat! CHABUDAI—"
"Oh no," Alphamon said with an exasperated sigh, palming his face. "Guys?"
"Dynasmon!" Dukemon exclaimed, leaping over and grabbing hold of Gankoomon's left arm.
"Gotcha," Dynasmon responded, going and gripping Gankoomon's right arm.
The two Royal Knights restrained the hotheaded Royal Knight and forced him to sit back down before he could flip the table over again.
Dorbickmon watched with a shit-eating grin. "Hey, these meetings aren't as boring as I thought."
Duftmon scoffed. "Why do these meetings keep becoming derailed from the topic at hand?" he asked.
"Because you keep insulting people, Duftmon," Alphamon said with an annoyed breath.
Duftmon blinked obliviously. "What? You aren't blaming me for these tangents, are you?" he asked incredulously.
Alphamon sighed and decided it would be better to just drop the issue and get back on point or else it would just make things worse. "Where were we again?" he asked. He then remembered and looked at Gankoomon. "You were wondering about other prisoners of the Dark Area?"
"Yeah," Gankoomon replied, settling down again and pulling his arms back from Dukemon and Dynasmon. He grunted and leaned back in his chair while placing his hands behind his head.
"We only keep the most dangerous Digimon locked away in there. We had to put DarkKnightmon in there, for example," Imperialdramon Paladin Mode explained. "There's GranDracmon and Lykamon too."
Alphamon frowned and nodded. "The Seven Great Demon Lords are also locked in there on different levels of the Dark Area."
"The fallen angels who rebelled during the Heavenly War?" Gankoomon inquired. "They were locked away in the Dark Area?"
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode nodded in confirmation. "That's what we, the Warrior Ten, and the Heavenly Choir all settled on."
"That was fifty years ago," Gankoomon said. "The Dark Area's strong enough to keep them for that long?"
"It's strong enough to keep them and more," Imperialdramon Paladin Mode stated. "But these dark rifts are cracks in the barrier of the Dark Area and that's pretty worrying. Fortunately, the Dark Area interior is in a pretty much constant state of anarchy. There are several different factions competing for power in there, so hopefully they're too focused on that to notice the weaknesses in the barrier to try to capitalize on it. Both Anubismon of the Ten and Plutomon keep vigil over the Dark Area, so I'm having a meeting with them in a week to discuss the issue."
"Here I thought it was a place that the data of deleted Digimon went before being reformatted," Gankoomon mentioned, balancing on the back legs of the chair.
"That's what it was originally, but Plutomon discovered that it had ideal conditions to create a prison zone for highly destructive Digimon," Imperialdramon explained. "Now it's both. Luckily, the two functions have nothing to do with each other."
Dorbickmon walked over and leaned his arms on the back of Examon's seat. "So, you pretty much just came here to say that it was my fault? Great."
"It's a pressing matter that's worth warning all of you about," Imperialdramon Paladin Mode responded. "Keep an eye on those isolated rifts. I know you staunched the flow of dark data, but they might still be unstable."
"We will, Imperialdramon," Dukemon told him.
"So… Now that the serious stuff is done, how are you all doing?" Imperialdramon Paladin Mode asked with a light-hearted grin.
"Right now? Scared crapless," UlforceVeedramon snarked. This prompted a laugh from Imperialdramon.
"We're investigating an incident that went on in the Metal Empire, among day to day training and routine," Alphamon explained.
"Oh, yeah. I heard about that," Imperialdramon Paladin Mode said, rubbing his chin. "Bold move by whoever did it. It's dangerous, though. Industrial espionage is on the same level as murder in the Metal Empire."
"Speakin' of that," Dorbickmon spoke up, beginning to make a move. "I've gotta get moving. It's a long walk to the Locomon Rail Station from here. If I want to make it to Shroud by tomorrow, I need to hoof it."
"Very well," Alphamon told him. "Thank you for doing this on short notice."
"Hey, that's what you're payin' me for," Dorbickmon responded dismissively.
Examon stood up in his seat and turned to face Dorbickmon. "Be careful, Dorbickmon," he told him.
Dorbickmon grinned and shrugged. "Yeah, yeah. No promises, though. Unlike you, it's not in my nature."
Examon lowered his gaze and folded his arms.
"I think he's pulling your leg, Examon," Dukemon informed the dragon Royal Knight with a grin.
"He does that a lot, apparently," Examon spoke dryly.
Dorbickmon chuckled. "Anyway, later, losers. I'll be back in just under a week or so."
"Goodbye," Examon said to him.
"Make sure you get something on them," Craniamon reminded him, leaning his arms on the table.
"Or at least get to them before the Metal Empire does," Dynasmon added.
"Uh huh," Dorbickmon responded with a nonchalant wave of the hand over his shoulder as he walked out of the council room.
As he disappeared down the great hall towards the exit, Alphamon looked back at Imperialdramon Paladin Mode. "Was there anything else?"
"I don't think I'm missing anything," Imperialdramon Paladin Mode responded. "You don't mind if I stay here until I have to go meet the two dark and dreary Digimon, do you?"
Alphamon grinned. "You don't have to ask to stay in your old castle," he insisted. "We'd all like to have you around. There's a guest room free that we can prepare."
Omegamon nodded in agreement at this.
"Thanks, Alphamon," Imperialdramon responded.
"In that case, let's adjourn this meeting," Alphamon stated, placing his hands on the face of the table and pushing himself up.
Dukemon nodded and stood up. "Examon, Sleipmon, Gankoomon. You three have military command lessons with me, don't you?"
Gankoomon smirked and got to his feet. "Yup. Time to bust some ass."
"I'm not sure that you're supposed to enjoy it so much, Gankoomon," Sleipmon said, grinning as he began to trot out of the council room.
"He's a natural at the 'command' part," Examon dryly added, walking ahead with Sleipmon.
Gankoomon placed his hands behind his head in a relaxed manner. "You two just need to assert yourselves more. I'll show you guys how a man does it."
"There's more to it than just shouting," Dukemon said as he speed-walked to catch up with them.
Magnamon, Craniamon, RhodoKnightmon, Dynasmon, Duftmon, UlforceVeedramon, and Alphamon all began to head out as well.
"Are you two coming?" Alphamon asked, looking over his shoulder and wing at Omegamon and Imperialdramon Paladin Mode, who were lingering behind.
"Yeah, I just want to catch up with Omegamon for a minute," Imperialdramon Paladin Mode responded with an easygoing smile.
"Alright," Alphamon answered, heading into the great hall with the rest of the Royal Knights.
"Be gentle with him, Imperialdramon. He's our second in command!" UlforceVeedramon's voice rang out from the group of knights.
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode chuckled and turned to Omegamon. "I see Ulforce still has his sense of humour."
Omegamon cast a look in UlforceVeedramon's direction. "That's debatable," he replied as he rose to his feet.
Another small laugh emerged from Imperialdramon's mouth. "You never did have much of a taste for humour."
Omegamon smiled at his teasing. "Given all of the jokes that you subjected me to, could you blame me?" he responded in turn.
The dragon knight smirked. "You know you love them." He reached out and placed his azure hand on Omegamon's shoulder. "But, seriously, how are you?"
"Good, thank you," Omegamon responded, raising his hand and placing it on Imperialdramon's arm.
Imperialdramon let go and lowered his arm. "No more dreams about Omegamon Zwart?" he asked him, his light-hearted expression morphing into a concerned one.
Omegamon shook his head. "Thankfully…" he murmured.
"Good…" Imperialdramon Paladin Mode replied. "Given that it was the negative energies from the Dark Area that caused that dark evolution, I don't need to tell you how dangerous this instability of the Dark Area is."
A grimace formed behind Omegamon's white helmet. "No… You're right; we need to find a way to fix it. If even a small rift can have an impact on me… though, I suppose it wasn't necessarily hard, given how I was feeling at the time."
"We can't be sure how much emotions played a part in that. Either way, it's dangerous to leave that kind of power unchecked," Imperialdramon insisted. "Not to mention those prisoners. I've been wracking my brain trying to think of a solution."
"What about the Omega Blade?" Omegamon asked him, looking over at the stained glass window of Imperialdramon holding the said blade in the air. "If you put enough energy into initializing the barrier, then maybe…"
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode frowned and shook his head in response. "No, it's too risky… It could reformat the whole barrier if I'm not careful. If it was on a small scale, then sure, but there're just too many variables on a large scale restructuring."
Omegamon sighed. "We'll think of something."
Imperialdramon Paladin Mode nodded and began to walk out of the council room, prompting Omegamon to walk beside him. "I sure hope so."
"I forgot to ask. How are you?" Omegamon wondered, looking over as he strode down the ostentatious hall beside Imperialdramon.
"I'm good. Busy though," Imperialdramon answered.
Omegamon managed a smile. "You act easygoing but you're always busy doing something, it seems," he pointed out.
Imperialdramon grinned at him. "If I didn't act that way, you'd probably worry about me."
"With good reason, but at least now I can check up on you more," the white Royal Knight replied.
"And? I'm in one piece, aren't I?"
Omegamon glanced at him. "As far as I can tell…"
The founder of the Royal Knights breathed a soft chuckle. "Come on. Let's catch up with the others. I want to see how they're doing."
The two white knights walked together and disappeared to the left upon reaching the end of the great hall of Imperialdramon's old castle.
"There it is…"
GrandisKuwagamon flew down from the air and landed in the middle of a wide, stone road. His feet touched down with a clack, and the droning of his rapidly beating wings came to a stop. He relaxed his upper body and glanced over his shoulder.
Blitzmon landed behind him gracefully. He lowered his elytra – the protective, armoured covering over his insectoid wings – and ceased the beating of his wings as well.
Bolgmon drove up the road on his mechanized tank treads. The metal clicking of his gradually slowed as he caught up to the two insects.
"Still looks as shitty as ever," Bolgmon remarked, looking past his two comrades and down the road.
The road led up to a huge gate that was large enough for the elephantine body of a Mammon to walk through with ease. In fact, a Mammon was one of the Digimon guarding the gate. He was a massive mammoth Digimon covered with thick fur and donning a long, muscular trunk and deadly tusks. Despite this, he was dwarfed by the broad, solid, forty foot, rock walls that surrounded the city behind him.
They had reached the city of Shroud.
Shroud was a free city in the northern hemisphere of the continent. It was protected on all sides by the tall, well-crafted wall. On top of the ramparts of the wall were regular patrols of city guards who would stop any Digimon that tried to fly over the walls. There were only two ways to get in the city. One road provided thoroughfare to the city; it went through one gate, proceeded straight through the city, and then exited through the opposite end. To enter the city, one had to go through the gates and pay the entrance toll. Officially, this toll was for merchants who wanted to enter the city or use the highway through the city, but unofficially, this toll was actually they payment required for criminals to take safe haven in the city.
The most striking feature of the city was the dim darkness that was cast across the city and its surrounding landscape. This was due to the data storm that raged over the city constantly. The sun was blocked out from the morning to the evening by this data storm. The storm was a mass of swirling, dark grey and violet clouds which only sometimes allowed beams of sunlight through. The clouds often exhibited the appearance of blocky, fragmented data and they constantly loomed over the city.
Data storms are weather phenomena characterized by concentrated clusters of roaming data in the air. They cause disruption in the data streams as well as general poor visibility and storm-like conditions such as lightning. However, they usually pass like a regular storm would. Nobody knows why the data storm above Shroud is permanent and it's still a subject of debate and investigation among curious Digimon scientists. However, due to this natural (or unnatural) landmark, it's hard to see the city from the air and it's too risky to fly through the data storm safely. This means even aerial Digimon need to pass through the gate, and those who do try to fly over the wall are taken down by guards.
"Don't knock it, Bolgmon," Blitzmon said to him, beginning to walk forwards. "It's a useful place for Digimon like us."
"Doesn't mean it isn't dreary," Bolgmon retorted, rolling after him.
"I kinda like it," GrandisKuwagamon mused, leading the way towards the gate.
Bolgmon glanced up at the dark, tumultuous clouds storming overhead as he treaded forward. "Weirdo."
The three members of Black Pincer Company approached the gate of Shroud. Standing on one side of the gate was the Mammon who had been eyeing them as they drew near. "You know the drill," he rumbled.
"We paid for the year plan," GrandisKuwagamon responded, walking up to the fortified gate house attached to the wall next to the gate. On that side of the gate was the demonic form of a Zanbamon, who also stood on guard.
Black Pincer Company stepped up to the window of the gatehouse where Digimon paid to enter. GrandisKuwagamon rang the bell a few times to get the gatekeeper's attention.
After a few seconds, a small, ugly, demon Digimon leapt up from out of view and landed on the desk. The Evilmon narrowed his squinting, beady eyes at whoever interrupted him. "What? What?! I'm here already!" he snapped irritably, stamping his foot on the desk.
"We want to get in, pipsqueak," GrandisKuwagamon replied, looking down at the small devil Digimon. "We've got a year pass. GrandisKuwagamon, Blitzmon, and Bolgmon."
"Then let's see your passes," the Evilmon responded, tapping his foot on the desk. "Wouldn't be the first time I heard that one." He then began muttering about the 'pipsqueak' crack under his breath.
GrandisKuwagamon rolled his eye and turned to Blitzmon. "Have 'em, Blitz?"
Blitzmon nodded and swung around his shoulder bag. He plunged his hand inside and rifled through its contents. After a few moments, he retracted his hand and pulled out three cards. They were photo IDs of the three Digimon with details about their official date of issue. He stepped up beside GrandisKuwagamon and placed them on the counter at the Evilmon's feet. "Here."
The Evilmon gatekeeper took all three of them and scanned them carefully with his red and blue eyes. "Lessee… Issued on the fourth day of the Month of Sandiramon…" He glanced up at the trio. "Okay, you guys check out. Just don't cause any trouble. Let 'em in, guys!"
With the gate now opened up to the three insectoid mercenaries, they passed through the wall and followed the road in. This main road, which went through the city, leading from one gate to the other, was the busiest one in all of Shroud. As the busiest thoroughfare in the area, the entire road was flanked by busy shops, restaurants, cafes, a few bars, markets, and countless merchant stalls. It was the commercial hub of the city. As a result, the road (as well as the streets branching off from the road) was bustling with Digimon. At around midday, there would be a sea of Digimon, big and small.
Many merchants flocked to Shroud. As Shroud was a free city built on a strategic road leading from the Republic of Node to the northern areas of the continent, it was popular with Digimon wanting to sell their wares and make money. There was a lot of Digimon traffic through the city, which made Shroud a popular place to set up shop. There was also the fact that there was a large population of seedy Digimon who used Shroud as a safe haven. Merchants took advantage of this to sell to them, where they might not be able to in other places. This made criminals and mercenaries an important part of Shroud's economy.
However, this didn't mean that criminals and mercenaries could do whatever they liked in the city. They were expected to abide by the laws in place. While bar fights and pickpocketing were common, there was generally not a lot of crime committed against Shroud and its local population. Since Shroud was a safe haven for outlaws, it was generally understood that they were not to "shit in their own backyard" as they would often say. This was because, if crime levels got too out of control, the mayor could decide that the cost of harbouring outlaws wasn't worth the price, and call in the Royal Knights or the Republic of Node's military to get rid of the unwanted elements. However, it never came to this, since nobody wanted to ruin a good thing. The local law enforcement only rarely made arrests and Digimon were generally fined for acting out of turn. They were mostly there to keep the peace when fights broke out and to keep situations contained so as to not attract too much attention.
Luckily for GrandisKuwagamon, Blitzmon, and Bolgmon, it was nearly the evening, so the main street was getting less crowded than it was in midday. The three broke off from the main road and headed down a side street.
"This is a pain in the ass," Bolgmon complained, as they turned down another, less crowded street. "How are we supposed to contact our client when we don't even know where he is?"
"He found us here last time," Blitzmon responded. "He'll be able to find us here again."
"Maybe he won't wear that hood this time when he does," Bolgmon added. "We never actually saw his face."
"I don't know why he didn't just let us find a place to make a dead drop," GrandisKuwagamon said, frowning. "I don't like walking around with hot blueprints and the D-Brigade on our asses."
Blitzmon shrugged as they walked down a dimly lit street. They headed towards a grotty-looking building at the corner of the street. It was a large, two-storey building made of stone. A wooden sign above the entrance read, "The Severed Arms" with an image of two bloody, separated arms on either sides of a coat of arms, in a sort of mock heraldry. The warm, orange glow of light could be seen through the building's paned windows as they approached.
As GrandisKuwagamon stepped forwards to push the large, wooden door open, it swung inwards and a drunken Diatrymon staggered out of the pub. "Moooove it!" the avian Digimon squawked, waving his colourful wing out to push the Digimon in his way aside.
GrandisKuwagamon sidestepped and allowed him to pass. "Easy, buddy," he told him, putting one hand on the bird's shoulder.
"Bug off," the Diatrymon retorted, pulling his wing away and strutting past them clumsily on his uncoordinated legs and talons.
GrandisKuwagamon grinned and shrugged, stepping forwards and pushing the closing door of the Severed Arms. "Come on, guys. I'll buy you two some drinks," he told the two insectoid Digimon behind him.
"You will?" Blitzmon asked suspiciously. "Your treat?"
"What's the occasion?" Bolgmon added, following the two inside.
"It's not my treat. It's that Diatrymon's," GrandisKuwagamon responded with a satisfied laugh, holding up a few coins that he pilfered from the avian Digimon's bag when they bumped into each other.
Blitzmon smirked and Bolgmon let out a chortle.
The trio of mercenaries stepped into the bar. The smell of food and alcohol was strong, and the sounds of boisterous laughter, slurred chatter, and curse words filled the air. The floor was stone and the tables, chairs and bar were all made out of wood, giving the place an unrefined, rustic feel. Many of the tables were chipped and stained, and the chairs were often wobbly and had broken legs taped back on. The bar was lit with small lamps around the walls and over the bar area, giving the pub a dim, orange glow in some areas and darker, more shadowed areas near the corners and the back area of the pub. All of the bar's occupants were a rough, mean-looking, or shady sort. The clientele matched the look of the pub.
GrandisKuwagamon, Blitzmon, and Bolgmon began walking towards the bar counter.
In the middle of the large room, opposite to the bar counter, was a worn out billiard table. It had scratches along the wooden frame and several scuffs and tears along the green cloth on top of the surface of the table. Surrounding it were three big, muscular, imposing Digimon: an Olegmon, a Minotaurmon, and an Octomon.
The biggest of the three patrons, Olegmon, was lining up a shot with the pool stick to strike the cue ball. Just as he was pulling his arm back to take the shot, GrandisKuwagamon was walking behind him. The black beetle Digimon accidentally nudged the Olegmon's arm as he was striking. The shot was thrown way off, with the stick clipping the side of the cue ball and sending it spinning wildly off the table and plummeting to the floor.
The Olegmon's two friends burst into laughter at the seemingly awful shot. Embarrassed and thinking that GrandisKuwagamon had done it deliberately, the burly, mega-level pirate Digimon swung around in a rage.
"What the hell was that?!" he demanded, glaring at GrandisKuwagamon and raising the pool stick over his head as if to hit him with it. "I was shooting, you ugly dumbass!"
GrandisKuwagamon stopped. Bolgmon and Blitzmon halted and turned to look between the Olegmon and their comrade.
The red-haired insect slowly turned around to stare at the Olegmon with his hardened, blood red eye. He glanced up at the poised pool stick and the back down to the pirate's face.
The Olegmon grew unsettled by GrandisKuwagamon's calm, fearless, yet foreboding gaze in the face of his threat.
"My bad," GrandisKuwagamon said coolly.
The muscle-bound pirate decided to lower the pool stick and slowly turn around, giving GrandisKuwagamon an annoyed, lingering look. "Whatever," he replied, turning his back to them and subtly tensing his shoulders up as he turned back to the game.
GrandisKuwagamon shrugged it off and continued his walk to the bar.
As the Octomon put the cue ball back on the table with one of his tentacles, the Minotaurmon leaned across it and whispered to Olegmon. "Olegmon, that was Black Pincer Company!" he whispered to him harshly.
"I know. Shut up and don't make eye contact," Olegmon muttered back as he prepared to take his shot again.
GrandisKuwagamon smirked and hopped on a bar stool, twitching his x-shaped wings slightly as he mounted the seat. Blitzmon sat to his right and Bolgmon rolled up on the other side of Blitzmon after moving a stool aside.
"Why didn't you tear him a new one, Grandis?" Bolgmon asked, looking down to GrandisKuwagamon.
"Uh, because we're supposed to be laying low? Don't exactly want to attract attention by starting a bar fight, do we?" the ebon insect queried rhetorically.
"I'm glad you showed restraint for once," Blitzmon spoke, eyeing him with a smirk.
GrandisKuwagamon elbowed his arm good-humouredly and hailed the barkeep. "Hey, Sagi!"
The Sagitarrimon bartender looked over his shoulder as he was filling a glass from the optics at the back. The centaur-shaped dragon man glanced over his shoulder. He took the glass over to the bar patron waiting for her drink and then walked up to the three. "Look who it is," he said with a jovial grin. "The Black Pincers."
"Any chance of us getting some drinks?" GrandisKuwagamon asked him, leaning on the counter.
"Comin' right up," Sagitarrimon replied, backing up on his four legs. "WarGreymon's Finest for the two handsome bugs and Requiem Oil for Bolgmon. Right?"
"That sounds right," GrandisKuwagamon said with a smirk.
"You don't want to a tip, do you?" Bolgmon asked with an annoyed glare at being singled out as not handsome.
Sagitarrimon laughed and started pouring them their drinks. "Don't be like that, Bolgie. I'll even put a little umbrella in your drink," he reassured him as he poured two pints from the beer taps. "It's been a few weeks since I've last seen you three. You guys back from a job?"
"Sorta," GrandisKuwagamon responded as he took his mug of ale. "We're laying low until we can meet our client."
"That reminds me, I need to go to the Spirits' Rest Inn to get us some rooms," Blitzmon stated.
"Just as long as you three drink here. You know they water down their drinks over there, right?" Sagitarrimon responded with a playful grin, leaning an elbow on the bar counter as he placed Bolgmon's drink in front of him.
GrandisKuwagamon took a gulp of the bubbly, bitter, dark gold liquid and sighed with contentment as it washed over his tongue and flushed down his throat. "And you'd never do that here, right, Sagi?" the black carapace-clad mercenary challenged with a playful grin.
"Not worth the risk," Sagitarrimon insisted. "Anyway, who's the client? Maybe I've seen him around."
"Dunno," Bolgmon said with a shrug as he drank. "Wouldn't give his name and he wore a full cloak – hood and all – when we met him."
"Seemed like he wanted to keep his identity a secret," Blitzmon added with a frown.
"And you guys took a job from him?" the large bartender asked as he began cutting a watermelon-sized lemon. "That's unusually risky for you guys. He sounds dodgy."
"It's not the first time we've taken jobs that clients didn't want linked back to them. Maybe he thought we'd get captured and interrogated. The tin cans of the Metal Empire might be neutral, but they can get pretty nasty if your cross 'em," GrandisKuwagamon replied with a shrug.
"Besides, he paid us a quarter of the payment upfront as an incentive," Blitzmon responded. "If we complete this job, it will be a massive reward."
"And if he tries to screw us, we'll just screw his thumbs," Bolgmon stated with a laugh like crackling electricity.
"Remind me not to get on your bad side, Bolgie," Sagitarrimon said.
"You'll be fine as long as you keep getting me drunk," Bolgmon assured him, putting his arms behind his head and leaning back with a relaxed grin.
"As long as you keep paying, I won't stop," the bartender answered before walking off to tend to a thirsty Digimon at the other end of the bar counter.
Blitzmon finished off his mug of beer and put it down on the counter, the frothy head still inching down the sides of the glass. "Okay," he announced, standing up from the seat. "I'll go book those rooms at the inn."
"Watch yourself, Blitz," GrandisKuwagamon warned him. "Wouldn't be surprised if some D-Brigade spec ops are already here. It doesn't take a genius to assume that we'd go to Shroud."
"I'll be careful," Blitzmon responded calmly. He headed towards the exit and disappeared behind the door.
Bolgmon watched as he went. He then glanced over at GrandisKuwagamon. "If that's the case, why don't we hide out in that cave network we found in the Dragon Mountains?"
"Hell of a long way. Don't want to use the Locomon Rail," the humanoid insect Digimon answered. "Besides, you hate caves."
"Then somewhere else," Bolgmon said.
"It's too risky travelling out in the open. Yeah, Shroud's obvious, but there're a lot of places to hide here," GrandisKuwagamon responded. "And we know this city better than they do."
"Guess so. We could probably ambush them if we're sharp," Bolgmon agreed.
"I'd rather not have to," GrandisKuwagamon told him. "Just hope that damn client shows up soon so we can get our cash."
Bolgmon turned his mechanical head and looked over at his comrade's satchel. "Wonder what's so special about those blueprints anyways…"
Many kilometers away, in the middle of the northern hemisphere of the continent was a small kingdom. A really small kingdom. In fact, it was so small that it needed special inset maps to be seen in most map collections like Atlur's Atlas. Otherwise, it would just be a speck on the paper.
This was the Mamemon Kingdom. It was a place that Digimon thought so little about that many don't even realize that it existed. However, the Digimon of the Mamemon Kingdom were industrious, eager go-getters. Despite the fact that they couldn't compete with the Metal Empire in terms of size, influence, military, economy, or many other things, really, the Mamemon Kingdom was highly inventive. They had a large manufacturing base in which they built mechanicals goods to sell for cheap, often improving on existing inventions.
The small kingdom wanted most to be recognized and taken seriously. They were tired of being ignored and underestimated, and they wanted to be able to contend with their (one-sided) rivals, The Metal Empire.
In the capital – and only city – of Haganemame City, rain washed down the sides of a giant, metal dome. It was one of the largest buildings in the city. All of the buildings in the city, from the houses to the factories, were in the shape of a dome, as well. Some differed in size and some had parts jutting out that to lead to other buildings.
The large dome in question was the palace of PrinceMamemon, the self-appointed leader of the Mamemon Kingdom.
Sitting in a lavish, comfortable throne at the back of the throne room was a big, yellow sphere with arms and legs. Larger in size and larger than life than most Mamemon, PrinceMamemon rested on the throne with one elbow on the arm of the chair and his white-gloved hand resting against his ample cheek. The face on his spherical body was bright with emotion and vibrancy. He had big, animated eyes and rosy cheeks, although his usually winning smile was downturned into a frown at that moment. His sleeves and pants were made of a fine, blue cloth of high quality. He raised one of his legs to rest his pointed, rubber boot on his other leg. On his shoulders he wore ceremonial epaulettes and over his back he was garbed in a red and white, fur-collared cape, both of which gave him a stately appearance. Finally, on top of his round head and body, he wore a regal crown which further perpetuated the image of royalty.
"Ho hum," he announced with an exaggerated sigh. "The doldrums of this rain are surely dampening my mood. I would normally be full of joie de vivre were it not for this treacherous weather! I was planning on going out to meet with my loyal subjects this afternoon."
"Indeed, your majesty. The weather is truly regrettable," said the Digimon in front of him. "But perhaps I have some news that could lift your spirits."
PrinceMamemon perked up at these words. He leaned forwards on the edge of his throne and looked at the Digimon excitedly.
The Digimon was a tall, skinny, humanoid Digimon glad in green metal from head to toe. This wasn't armour but his body, since his torso was nothing but a mirror. Like his midriff, his face was also a mirror. However, this smaller, circular mirror contained a pair of disembodied lips beneath the surface of the glass. These lips moved as real lips would, opening with every word. The Digimon's head was skinny and conical in shape, much like his shoulders. On each of his forearms were two shields whose faces also consisted of mirrors. They were known as the Shields of Irony and they could fittingly reflect attacks back. Around his waist, ankles, wrists, shields, and the apex of his head was a decorative red and yellow pattern. This, along with the shimmering of his resplendent body in the light of the windows behind the throne, gave Mercuremon an ostentatious appearance befitting of PrinceMamemon's royal advisor.
"Yes? What is it, Mercuremon?" PrinceMamemon wondered.
"It is about the Metal Empire," Mercuremon informed him.
"Ohhhh?" PrinceMamemon hummed enthusiastically. "Has their invitation finally come through the mail for that party a few days ago? I knew that they would never intentionally ignore us! It has to have been that slow mail courier again. Can we get him replaced? He simply won't do!"
"I'm afraid that isn't what I meant, your majesty," Mercuremon replied, bowing somewhat. "However, it is about something that went on during that party."
PrinceMamemon hopped off of his throne and landed on his feet. "Oh? And what might that be?"
"It… appears… that there was an incident in Facture while the party was in full swing," the aristocrat made of metal and mirrors explained, placing his hands on his hips. "I have it on very good authority that mercenaries attacked one of their factories and stole several blueprints from them."
"Well! It serves them right for being so bold as to snub me and the Mamemon Kingdom from partaking in their gala," the royal exclaimed, folding his arms indignantly. "They are obviously threatened by our technological capabilities. Mmm… No, no. The invitation must have gotten lost in the mail. Yes! I'm certain of it." PrinceMamemon frowned. "But why tell me this, Mercuremon?"
"We might be able to use this information to our advantage, don't you think?" the royal advisor suggested.
"Ah! That's a wonderful idea!" PrinceMamemon exclaimed with a beaming smile. "…How?"
"Perhaps we can use the opportunity to get some leverage over the Metal Empire?" Mercuremon hinted with a twinkle in his mirror and a soft, calculating smirk on his lips. "The mercenaries obviously didn't steal the blueprints to keep for themselves, so that begs the question of who they are working for."
PrinceMamemon frowned and began thinking hard to himself. "If only we had those blueprints. We would be able to make better use of them than anybody else," he mumbled.
"Indeed…"
After a few moments of introspection, PrinceMamemon's face lit up like the sun. "Mercuremon! I have the most splendid idea!" he exclaimed.
Mercuremon gave him a half smile. "Yes, your majesty?"
"We could pretend to have stolen those blueprints!" PrinceMamemon announced proudly.
Mercuremon went completely silent. After a few moments, he finally spoke up. "Er… I am afraid that your majesty will have to explain his superior logic to me, for I am having trouble keeping up with it…"
"It's simple, really!" PrinceMamemon explained, folding his arms and nodding with self-satisfaction. "If we say that we stole their blueprints, it would show the Metal Empire that we are not a force to be trifled with! They wouldn't be able to ignore us then, now would they? Additionally, there are many Digimon who don't have a very high opinion of the Metal Empire after that dreadful coup d'etat. For example, our loyal and capable subordinates, the Royal Knights. If we show our bottoms to the Metal Empire, in a manner of speaking, surely our reputation will catapult and we will be able to have more sway in diplomatic affairs. Yes! The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that this is a brilliant plan!"
A bead of sweat dropped down behind Mercuremon's facial mirror. "I agree, your majesty, but how do you think the Metal Empire would react to such a claim? Our military is a fraction of what theirs is…"
"They wouldn't attack us," the royal said certainly. "They are neutral isolationists. They only care about what happens inside their territory."
"Even in the face of such a provocation?" Mercuremon probed.
"No, no, the worst they can do is not invite us to their parties, which they have done already," PrinceMamemon responded. "Besides, if they even dared to consider attacking us, our faithful and powerful subjects would be at their king's side in but an instant!"
The royal advisor eyed PrinceMamemon. "The Royal Knights, your majesty?" he asked, his voice as dry as the Claw Desert.
"But of course!" the Mamemon king responded. "I would like you to prepare an announcement and then ready the travel arrangements. I want to visit the Royal Knights at my summer palace in person. A good monarch doesn't leave his subordinates in the dark, after all!"
"You can rely on me," Mercuremon answered with a formal bow and a smile.
"Of course I can. You are such a competent advisor, after all. I am so happy that I invited you to court," PrinceMamemon stated. "You are free to go, Mercuremon."
Mercuremon rose and turned around, walking gracefully out of the throne room.
PrinceMamemon smiled broadly and hopped back onto his throne, placing his hands behind his head in smug satisfaction. "Oh, yes! This is my best idea yet! This will be the thing that propels the Mamemon Kingdom and my royal self into gloryyy!"