Check in, Check out [Sci]

'Well, why don't we just make a core?'

It was a simple enough thing to think in the moment, and it was the project that Dr. Mikemon had set himself upon over the last several days. What had started out with hopeful research, mountains of source material, and recreating simple lab tests, however, had turned into quite the ordeal - and this was after finding an impressive breakthrough that could solve a data-flickering problem in the year or two to come!

But that was about where his efforts dried up. Just how could one make a shell of life for someone to use - not to mention, one that would be compatible with K's wishes? Unfortunately, he had to shelve the idea just two days ago, and keep going along with his normal series of patients...

... Which was why Mikemon was not at the door to greet K. Across the clerk's desk, the Stingmon looked up as the Renamon cleared her throat, giving a simple nod. "He's currently with a patient, but he should be wrapping up soon. Please, take a seat-"

Just as soon as the insect gestured his hand, the door to the back opened, a Deputymon tipping his hat as he made his way out the door. Behind, the Mikemon gave a small "You be sure to keep an eye on that wizard, alright? See you again in a month."

With a wordless nod, the metal Digimon slipped by, quickly stepping around the Renamon without a second glance. That brought Mikemon's eyes right to the fox: "Ah, welcome back, K. Stingmon, how's my schedule?"

"That should have been the last for the day, so..." The Stingmon shrugged, and Mikemon nodded. "Well, I take it you've been to Guru... how'd all that go?"

Mikemon would have liked to say that he'd just been through a long string of patients, but aside from the Deputymon and a few wayward stragglers from the beach, the Doctor didn't have much in the way of patients today. It was concerning in one way, but it left the feline quite a bit of time for research, and for surprise cases like this. Hearing her answer, Mikemon gave a nod. "Well, we might as well... Stingmon? Get a fresh pot of coffee on. We'll have quite a bit to discuss."

---

And boy, was there a lot for the Renamon to discuss! The two had set up to talk in Mikemon's office, at a small meeting table away from the desk. K's story would be winding down, explaining her travel to Whitewater, those noticing her mark, and more importantly, the particular meeting with Guru. Mikemon wasn't surprised at the mental landscape itself, but for her to actually meet the Knights of the fourth age inside her mind?

There was definitely a lot to process. Taking the last of his coffee, the doctor mulled over the thoughts in his head, and gave a nod. "So you went with data, Jesmon? That might be why the crest decided to stay around. Still, just to hear the two of them stand against GraceNovamon is quite something..." He sighed. "Honestly, if you went with Vaccine, I might have been able to figure something out with the Rapidmon's core. As for my end?"

The doctor gave a sigh, followed by a chuckle: "It turns out creating life is not as easy as it sounds. With what I knew about data analysis, I drew up a few theories and ran the math, and accidentally found a treatment for 'Procedural Core Static'. Great news, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't help your case here..."

With that, he mulled over the information at hand. "If I could ask again, if you had to use another core, would you? I wouldn't ask for one from another Digimon, obviously, but in regards to using already loaded cores, or even those inside 'spirit totems'... would that work?"

Well, Vaccine was off the table. From K's experience in just barely missing GraceNovamon in her own mind, the Mikemon couldn't blame her. Hearing about the other two cores, the cat gave a small chuckle. "Well, sounds like you've taken somewhat of a liking to the two of them." It was convenient that Jesmon and Examon would accept either result.

Honestly, it sounded like K had made a lot more progress on this than the cat managed to! But what the doctor heard next made his ear twitch, his whiskers flickering in the dry hospital air. K would be willing to take another Digimon's data for this? "Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Its not like such a Data type would be easy to come across, much less overcome, but..."

Right. Just what did the cat have in mind? "Yes, the totems are the items spirit users use to evolve. They're also ancient relics of powerful Digimon, usually each with a history of their own. Its uncommon to find one without a device, and if you're looking for a specific type and level, that lowers the field a lot more."

But then why bring it up? The cat sighed. "But I know where one is. As the story goes, there was once a powerful spirit that set fire to a good part of the region, before he was finally sealed away. I don't know a lot about the particular details, but..."

He sighed. "It's in the Empyrean Skies, on 'Island 8-C'. It's, well..." He closed his eyes.

"... An Empyrean prison."

Well, with overcoming a Super Mega out of the question and with processing a core out of scrap data being nothing more than a pipe dream, the pair's ideas quickly dwindled down to one. To the Renamon's remark on the challenge, the Mikemon chuckled. "Except in this case, it would be down to blind luck if I didn't already have something in mind."

That 'something in mind' did seem to perk K's interest, though! At that first question, the doctor's ear gave a twitch. "I'm fairly sure it was Lucemon?" Mikemon wasn't entirely sure on the species, but that was hardly the most important thing about it. Any inert core of the data element would do, after all.

The location? Well, it couldn't be helped: "Its definitely a load of trouble. The totem itself is held in an ancient ruin with its own defenses, but the entire island is a prison in itself, and not the minimum security sort. If the guards found someone trying to sneak around there, well, let's just say you won't be worrying about who wins inside your mind."

That much was enough, but as the Renamon asked for a map to the place, the cat blinked. "I can certainly draw one up, but that means you're going for it? Sheesh..." The cat scratched his head. "Well, if you do, I might as well tag along. Its definitely not something one 'mon can do, and even two is dicey..."

Really, it sounded like it would take a team effort, intel, and careful planning! Just where would they find all that, though?

Ah, right: details about the prison would have been helpful. To that end, the Mikemon gave a shrug: "There's more details available about the temple than the island itself. As far as I know, its a stone temple with traps and animated guards bent on going after any intruder. That works a little to our advantage, as that means that Empyrean guards won't enter the place unnecessarily - hm?" It was about then that the Doctor heard K's hushed tone, Mikemon giving a chuckle.

"You can relax. Empyrean law is not recognized on the surface level, and its not like Whitewater is teeming with holy zealots." With their rather ridiculous laws and long imprisonment times, the relation between the holy lands and Whitewater, or even Terminus, were quite strained. As for a virus core? "Well, I mean, in that case we would just fish in the Dark Area until we pluck one up. Of the three, its probably the easiest to find."

That aside, the issue was figuring out how to get onto this island in the first place. Seeing that frown, the Doctor bit his lips: "I would think four. Too many would just be a hassle to keep track of. Don't worry about compensation, either: I've got enough to make this sort of request. Honestly, its more a matter of who'd be willing to try out something this insane."

He had definite caution in his voice, the cat scratching his ear. "Whoever is imprisoned there, and whoever they catch, Luminas encases in crystal. That's not something that can be broken from the inside." And besides... "And then there's the risk of Lucemon itself. Spirit totems can have a habit of possessing whoever touches it first."

The Dark Area, if Jesmon was still K's primary goal, was at least a decent back-up - at least, in the very rare case where they both failed to secure the totem and didn't get caught. Dr. Mikemon coughed at that thought, knowing just how unlikely that would be, but he kept that thought to himself.

It didn't take them long to decide on a four person team, and as for her next point, the cat sighed. "Though true, K, those who would be willing to break into a prison aren't consistently a good sort. We'd have to be careful to watch our backs even from our own teammates if we end up picking poorly." Sighing at that thought, the feline stretched out his arms in a light yawn. "We'll have to be calling it by ear the whole time, too. Lucemon's temple aside, I imagine getting sighted at all would result in us being overwhelmed by the prison's forces. This is definitely not my area of expertise, either."

As for the Lucemon? "You can't just load the data right there. I'd need the totem in-tact to extract and modify the core properly. If it is encased in crystal, perhaps we can just steal the whole thing, depending on the size. It would avoid us touching the artifact, anyway." At least Mikemon could think of that much, the cat giving a small smile.

"If you want, I can try and tie together some strings to get this out to the mission guild in proper... and try and make it so only those that have proven themselves before, missions or otherwise, can even look at the document. I'm not exactly liking our chances, but if it's what we have to do..."

"Unfortunately, selecting such people isn't quite that easy. We'll have to make the risks known, and trust that those at the mission guild know what they're signing up for. Thankfully, that's just a little easier than it sounds." Did they have time to personally review each applicant? Heck, did either of them even have expertise in what they were doing? If all went well, K and Mikemon would be in the back-seat as two experienced mission-goers led the charge to the temple.

But the mission itself could be described as simply as K put it. "It shouldn't be hard to commandeer a Blimpmon, or even rent a portal. Granted, portals wouldn't work inside the prison itself, but..." They had a plan, at the very least? Even now, the Mikemon sounded a touch unsure, but maybe with a few more heads around it, they could figure something out.

"That's about all I can do on that front, though. So, did you have anything else to bring up? Has that sigil, or anything else, been bothering you at all?" The Doctor's professional tone returned, as he asked about K's condition. After all, with how much she had 'progressed' in the last month, it was important to look for any more sudden changes!