Tying loose ends [Katherine/Alan]

At first, Kosomon thought he had lost the boy. It seemed like the human was not going to pay any attention to him. In this kind of job, that happened. It happened a lot. That’s why when someone actually turned and asked for more information, it was a shot in the dark having something at least close to a positive result. This made the Kosomon show an even wider grin. Could it be that he had hooked this one?

The Veemon, however, seemed like the more skeptic of the duo, even to the point of whispering something into his partner ear. Maybe it could be a good idea to convince him first. But… what might attract this digimon to the idea?

“Oh! It’s very simple really.” He nodded, reaffirming his own words. “I just need you to deliver a package. I give you the package and take you to a city, you get into the city, deliver the package and you even get paid a small percentage!” The dark-coated digimon kept trying to make it sound as an impossible-to-miss deal.

“During that time, you can walk around the city, get to know it and do anything you want in there!” He continued. “It’s an amazing place, far away from here, almost unexplored by humans and digimon alike." While he spoke, the digimon gestured, waving his arms in excitement and trying to make this far away land sound like an amazing place. However, it was time for the revelation. "Which place is it, you ask? Well, the city is called Fragment Village and it’s inside the Dark area!” Hmm. That could be the part that ruined the whole thing. Kosomon was visibly sweating after saying this.

“C-Come on! You’re not afraid of an adventure, are you?”

Even if he tried to interrupt Alan’s speech (and interrogation) to slid some answers, Kosomon was rather unable to. Not only because of how the human was solidly elaborating but also because of his own amazement at the quality of his deductions.

“Just… who is this kid?” He thought.

The fact that this human was so perceptive could be a good thing for this job, or maybe he was too perceptive for the operation’s own good? Kosomon mused about this while he listened to him go.

Once he was done, Kosomon cleared his throat to start tackling all of the human’s comments one by one. He did skip the first part of his comment, considering it was highly inconvenient to tell him he was actually right about that.

“A-About this being an unguided trip, you would be right. I would only be accompanying you to the outsides of Fragment Village and give you the package with an address. You would be in charge of going in and delivering said package.” Now, about the time the receptor expected this package at... “I don’t think there’s much urgency to it, as long as you deliver it by today, that should be fine.” At least that was a point on his favor.

What was at stake for the human and the details about conveyance or accommodations could be answered in the same sentence. “Right now, Fragment Village is closed portal-wise. That means you can’t get in there by using portals, so I would take you to the outsides of the village, and you would have to walk in there. The trip back is only guaranteed if you complete the job.” The black-coated digimon’s voice had drifted away from his seller's voice and had acquired a more serious tone.

“The risk level is low but since neither I or my employer can go in there, you won’t have any protection. In all honesty, I wouldn't help much. I'm definitely not a fighter.” The mixture of adventurous and intelligent was even a bit confusing in this kid. “But, as I said, I doubt you’ll have any trouble. Your friend Levi here should be more than enough to keep you safe.” He added, taking a brief glance at the Veemon. It seemed thanks to the human’s perspicacity, Kosomon had decided to be sincerer of what this really was. He wasn’t confirming any of Alan's suspicions, but he wasn’t denying them either. So that should be more than enough for him.

“You don’t have to worry. If you’re attacked by a digimon, it won’t be because you’re a human” The digimon snickered, before starting to walk away from the stand and into an alley right behind him.

“I think you’re even better for this than I thought. At least I don’t have to go through all of that protocol with you.” Kosomon hissed, walking towards the poorly illuminated alley. “If you’re ready to go, please follow me.” He made an inviting gesture with his hand.

If one thing could be said was that, without a doubt, this was fairly easier than Kosomon had expected. With very little information and even being aware of the dangers it involved, this human had accepted the job and, in all honesty? It even seemed like he could even get it done.

As they walked into the alley which only turned darker as they went further, Kosomon decided to address one of the boy’s comments. “Well, it’s not like my life is at high stake anyway. They told me to just send anyone I could find and if they couldn’t make it or died trying I just had to find someone else.” Surprisingly, Alan had managed to make the black-coated digimon be a lot more honest about this whole thing.

“Let’s see…” The Kosomon took out a D-Terminal with a keyboard attached to the lower end of the screen, pressing some buttons. It seemed as if he was typing coordinates. “Here, take this.” Out of a tiny, metallic cube, the digimon took out a silver remote and handed it to Alan. “Once you’re done with the job and out of Fragment Village you just have to push that button and I’ll open a portal for you and bring you back here.” As a matter of fact, a portal was opening right behind Kosomon as he spoke.

It was an oval made of energy with data circling through it. A murky land could be seen on the other side. “This will take you to the outsides of Fragment Village. Let’s see… what else?” He raised his gaze, thinking. “Oh! Of course. The package.” Out of the same metallic cube, Kosomon took out a cardboard box, actually bigger than the cube itself. It should be clear by now that cube was an infini-store. Everything fitted in those things.

“There.” He handed the box to the duo. “The address should be in it.” Waving a chubby hand at the duo, the Kosomon said goodbye, waiting for them to get in the portal.

Once they did…

The duo would find themselves on a very deserted land. The ground was made of plain brown dirt with cracks and fissures pretty much everywhere. The most eye-catching feature of this place would be that dark, cloudy sky. It was not nighttime. However, daytime seemed to be plagued by some sort of obscurity.

Even as abandoned as this place might seem, to their back they would find a small town, the entrance being mere 50 meters away. From where they were standing, they could see the houses seemed to be made of junk or rotten materials.

Upon examination, either Alan or Levi would notice the box Kosomon had given to them was rather… interesting. It had a hole on a side of it! If they went to give it a better look, a moving red sphere would catch them by surprise. They would then notice, on the other side of the box, that what seemed to be part of the cardboard was a closed eyelid. How would they become aware of this? Because it was open now, and a red eye was staring at them.

Suddenly, from below the box another box deployed. Limbs made of cardboard also came out of the torso, actually making a creature, made of cardboard.



The digimon stared shyly at them for a second. Then, he used the adhesive tape roll he was holding on his right hand and shut the box that was now his head closed. 

“H-Hi…” He muttered, giving both of them a shy, inoffensive glance.

The package, who was actually a digimon, stared at Levi for a couple of seconds, before uttering an answer. “Oh.” He blinked his right eye repeatedly. “Yes. Of course. I’m supposed to guide you there, don’t worry.” His voice was soft and even a bit child-like. However, he seemed willing to reassure they shouldn’t have any trouble getting to their destination. At least regarding directions.

Now, the cardboard creature shifted his gaze towards the human, who was throwing some more questions. For these, however, he didn’t have a clear answer. “I’m sorry, I am not familiarized with how Tayichi’Tai’s technology works. I do know they have stolen some very interesting items from scientists all over the Dark Area, so I guess they have some very powerful objects on their hands. Ones that can do stuff that the normal versions can’t, I guess?” Things didn’t seem to be too clear on this matter for the creature. Yet still, his intentions on providing information to the pair seemed honest.

“You, however, should not put me in an infini-store yourself. The reasons being: one, I might die. And two, I won’t be able to guide you towards your destination while I’m in there.” He explained, still sounding equally shy and convinced on his own words.

Now that the human had introduced himself, the definitely smaller digimon (around 2/3s of Levi’s size) stared at Alan for a while. “So… you’re what they call… a human, right? I have seen very few in the past.” The digimon extended one of his cardboard limbs to his mouth and seemed to clear his throat with a very adorable cough.

“Nice to meet you, Alan.” He raised his gaze for a second, looking rather pensive. “I like that name. You can call me Alan.” He declared, introducing (?) himself. His right eye now went to the Veemon, who was giving his own share of introductions. He stared at him for a while too before answering.

“Actually… I like that name better. You can call me Levi.” He took some steps forward, making his way towards the village. He then stopped, turning his head back to address the duo. “We should get going. We can chat on the way there.” He stated before starting to walk again.

Now that introductions had been issued, the group started moving towards their destination. The digimon made of cardboard (who also contained the package they were supposed to deliver, according to that Kosomon back in Whitewater) led the way as they entered Fragment Village. Their first impressions would be that there weren’t many digimon around this main street. The whole place gave wild-west vibes, except not all of the houses and buildings were made of wood, but also metal and old pieces of junk.

Some few establishments were open and digimon could be seen inside. Even if it was hard to tell what kind of stores these were, it wasn’t hard to elucidate most of them were bars, while some others seemed to be inns and shops of some kind.

While they walked, their cardboard guide turned his head to Levi, as he heard the Veemon’s question. Again, a couple of seconds of silence until he uttered an answer.

“I like that name better, you should call me Alevai.”

Well, it seemed like this guy didn’t have much trouble changing his name. Every single time he heard another possible name for him.

Regarding Alan’s question…

“I assume you’re not from around here.” The Bacomon pointed out right off the bat. “Tayichi’Tai is a very important settlement around the Dark Area. They’ve gone through some difficulties lately, due to their very poor skills in doing diplomacy, but they still have a lot of influences. The guys are not too smart. That’s the reason why any technologic advancements they own have probably been stolen from other settlements. They are, however, very strong. Some around the Dark Area even know them as the ‘Lords of War’. If you ask me, the guys are brutes.” 

It wasn’t hard to see this particular digimon was not a fan of fighting. He took one of his hands to his mouth, raising his gaze and looking rather pensive. “Now that I think about it, I guess I work for them. After all, I’m the guy they use to deliver stuff.” The cardboard creature seemed to just have come to this realization. “But I'm very different from those guys. I really don't get them.” He added while he stopped at an intersection to carefully observe the layout of where they were at the moment.

As if he had made a decision, the digimon turned right. “This way.” He said.

“I’m not good at all at fighting. I am good at memorizing maps and following directions.” Alevai explained. “And since I can carry things inside my body, I guess I’m useful for being the delivery guy.” Once again, his eye went to Alan and Levi. “That’s why you guys are here, so I don’t have to do any fighting in case someone wants to take what’s inside.”

The group advanced through the streets of Fragment Village for some minutes. Honestly, the rest of town didn’t seem too different from the entrance. Old, rusty and abandoned.

“I think we’re almost there.” Alevai noted, before actually throwing a question to both the tamer and the digimon, while he kept walking.

“I take you’ve never been in the Dark Area before, right? Why did you take this job? Do you really need the money?”

For a second, both Alan and Levi could actually see a smile gracing the digimon's face after the latter mentioned them being 'adventuring types'. It was honest and pure, but it quickly faded away.

For someone who didn't see himself as a fighter, the Bacomon seemed pretty relaxed about walking around a dangerous village inside of the murkiest place inside the Digital World. Could it be that he trusted Alan and Levi that much? He let go an audible ‘Huh’ at Alan’s comment.

“Not surprised, honestly.” He noted. “Even if that guy is not an actual member of Tayichi’Tai, by now you should be able to tell they’re not very good at deceiving or lying. They are very straightforward. So that means they’re probably not good at hiring people who are good at deceiving. I don’t even know where did they get that guy from, really.” A paused ensued. “I heard that Kosomon was previously involved with another faction called the Kogoro Clan, they were…”

The cardboard digimon interrupted his own words and stopped. “Wait…” A pause. Then, a grin graced his face.

“We’re here.”

Apparently, they had arrived! The first thing the group would find was, actually... a lengthy line of digimon. Maybe around fifteen or twenty. They seemed to be waiting to enter a certain establishment. “This is the place.” Alevai noted, in case that wasn’t clear. If the group advanced through the line and to the entrance of the store, they would find a wooden door, with a sign on top. The sign was huge, and it was colorful and shiny! Very uncharacteristic, compared to how the rest of the town looked.

“Draco-Robot: Bar & Restaurant…” Alevai read the sign, his hand on his mouth, in a very adorable way. A pause ensued. During a few seconds, he just remained there, staring at the sign.

The cardboard digimon turned towards Alan and Levi to finally utter some words. “I like that name better. You can call me 'Draco-Robot: Bar & Restaurant'.”

“Hey you, over there!” One of the digimon formed in line was talking to them. It had a throaty voice and it didn’t sound too friendly.



“We all want to have lunch, but no cutting in line! Get yourself by the end!”

Draco-Robot: Bar & Restaurant (the package, not the establishment) turned towards the Veemon and his tamer. “This place looks pretty popular. What should we do? We’re not actually going to eat here, but…” His eye went to the line for a second. “… these people might get angry if we just go in.”