Chapter 3: Chapter 2 – Digital World

Chapter 2 - Digital World

 

Achara. “Are you comfortable in there?”

Drona. “No one said there would be injections inside the DDPs.”

Achara. “We modified these five pods so that they could take care of your bodies when you enter a coma for three hours.”

Drona. “I get that, but what's with all the straps? I feel like it's cutting off my blood circulation.”

Achara. “Oh, I will loosen it a bit. Bernard’s body kept thrashing around like a fish out of water. Those restraints will prevent you from damaging your DDP. It should take several minutes to complete a full diagnostic before it's ready to send your mind to Eden. So if you have any questions, ask them now.”

Drona. “Won’t the people in Eden find it odd if they see us using the portal?”

Achara. “We announced a three-hour maintenance notice, so no one should be there when you go through and come back. That is also the reason why we are on a tight schedule.”

Drona. “I can’t wait to see those talking monsters.”

Achara. “Don’t get too attached to them.”

Drona. “Why?”

Achara. “Bernard almost chose to stay in that world instead of returning when the portal cooldown was completed.”

Drona. “I think I would have stayed. It sounds like a fantasy come true for me.”

Achara. “That’s why I am warning you. Several of those monsters became close friends during his time there. Some of them died, turned into eggs when they were killed by other monsters, and when they were reborn, none had any memories of him.”

Drona. “He didn’t mention that part.”

Achara. “Bernard wanted to spare you all from that episode of his time there. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Don’t tell the others unless he tells them or they find out for themselves.”

Drona. “I understand… it sounds depressing.”

Achara. “It certainly was for Bernard. The purpose of this mission is to find a way to unlock the portals for all. So don’t get distracted by the local life and their interest in you.”

Drona. “Bernard said the Digimon spoke about a God with the power to unseal the portals. Do you think such a being exists?”

Achara. “I worked for years for a solution without any success. This might feel like a wild goose chase, but it will only cost a few hours to see if there is a way to unseal it from the other side. If you don’t find any, at least the recording feature I installed into your DDPs will let us see the Digital world through your eyes and learn more about that world instead of just relying on his words.”

Drona. “Documenting first contact with an alien race in another world isn’t enough of a prize for you and TT?”

Achara. “They aren’t exactly alien. According to Bernard, Digimon share a remarkable resemblance to species on Earth. Some are humanoid or look like humans in cosplay. With regards to our motivation to send you all there for exploration. TT and I have almost used up all the funds left behind by the Founder of Eden. This seems to be an inexpensive way to unlock those portals and revive Eden for the masses.”

Drona. “It would be pretty cool to be the first to find a way to connect Earth with the Digital World.”

Achara. “Now, let your mind relax and try to fall asleep.”

Drona. “Why?”

Achara. “How else do you think you can enter Eden?”

Drona. “Ah, right! Emptying my head now.”

Achara. “Shouldn’t be too hard for you.”

Drona. “Shut up! I am trying to concentrate here.”

Achara’s voice stopped speaking through the comms system within the DDP. Drona closed his eyes and concentrated on a list of characters from his favorite novels until he fell asleep. Drona woke up inside the DDP and thought he didn’t manage to fall asleep. But then he noticed the absence of the needles and straps over his body. His right hand pressed the button to allow him to exit the DDP.  Drona found himself inside Nexus City in Eden. Towering futuristic structures were all around him, none having any sign of life inside. 

Nearby, Bernard and the other three relatives of Achara’s colleagues exited their DDPs which had materialized near to his before disappearing altogether. Drona noticed that none of them looked impressed by the structures inside Nexus city or their avatar bodies. Most likely, they had visited Eden multiple times before since they looked at Drona as if he was from the remote countryside.

Drona. “How far are the portals from here?”

Bernard. “We don’t have to walk far. You see that glowing blue circle over there? If we stand on it, we can order it to teleport us anywhere in Eden if you have the address.”

Drona. “If you don’t mind me asking. How many times have you visited Eden?”

Bernard. “Almost every day since I started my internship. Been testing the firewalls of this place ever since and beefed it up when my hacks bypassed it.”

Drona. “The others?” Drona pointed to the other three, who were out of earshot and heading towards the teleportation platform.

Bernard. “Ah, I guess we can get a basic introduction out of the way now that we are here. The mature-looking girl with glasses and violet hair is Vivienne Chelsea Mikagura. She is seventeen, and her mother ‘Merei Mikagura’ is the one who helped the founder find the portals within Eden. The Twelve-year-old boy to her right is Edgard Syrup. His uncle Don Syrup is in charge of security.”

Drona. “I met Don on the way in.”

Bernard. “The man served in three civil wars as a mercenary. I don’t know much about his nephew, but the dude gives me the creeps.”

Drona. “Why?’

Bernard. “Just look at the way he is staring at us.”

Drona noticed Edgar’s eyes were studying Drona and Bernard like a serial killer.

Drona. “I agree. He is creepy.”

Bernard. “The last one with the Raven hair is Lynn Hastings. She is sixteen like you, and her mother ‘Rose Hastings’ keeps the government out of our business so far.”

Drona. “So far?”

Bernard. “In exchange for not interfering, your sister and the others create virtual spaces for the military to train. But they will eventually take over Eden if we can’t pay the bills through campaign donations.”

Drona. “The news articles said they had no clue where the servers are or how to change the codes.”

Bernard. “I did say military training… it's the stuff they don’t want the other nations to know about.”

Drona. “Oh… gotcha.”

Bernard. “Anyways, that’s all I know about the others. Let’s get to the portals before TT nags us for dawdling.”

Drona. “TT’s avatar lives in Eden?”

Bernard. “You could say that… though he uses different avatars to stay anonymous. If you see another avatar, then it is most likely TT.”

Vivienne. “Can you two hurry it up?” 

Bernard. “I was just informing Drona about you lot.”

Edgar. “Only good things, I hope.”

Lynn. “Who cares what he thinks about us? Let's just get on with it.”

Drona and Bernard joined the other three on the teleportation platform. A robotic voice spoke as soon as he stepped on it.

[Destination?]

Bernard. “Send all of us to the Tower of Portals.”

[Transferring…]

Drona and the rest saw their avatars dematerialize, and their sight blinded. Within several seconds they regained their vision and saw their bodies rematerialize at the base of a tower located at the center of Nexus City. It is the tallest structure in the city, and its architecture resembles the leaning tower of Pisa. This one is three times its size and straight.

Drona took in the sight of the structure while the others walked ahead and into the building. Bernard stayed behind to admire the building with Drona. 

Drona. “The portals to the Digital World are in there?”

Bernard. “Each floor has one portal. The one on the first floor leads to the Nursery of the Digital World.”

Drona. “The others lead to different areas?”

Bernard. “There are a few continents which are divided into different zones. Each one is unique in its own way.”

Drona. “Like how the animals of the Earth are different on each continent?”

Bernard. “Hmm… maybe an example will help. Imagine a zone where you find Digimon that look like Plants and Insects. But then you go to another, Birds and Dinos.”

Drona. “There are Dinos? Talking Dinos?”

Bernard. “I have seen some that look like a T-Rex. Some talked while others just roared and tried to eat me.”

Drona. “Thought you said they were all friendly.”

Bernard. “Most are… some were born with low intelligence. Sometimes they grow smarter when they evolve, or they don’t and behave like wild animals. You must be careful to pick out the ones you can reason with and avoid those that see you as food.”

Drona. “Wait… they can kill us?”

Bernard. “I didn’t tell TT and your sister about that. Otherwise, they would never have allowed an expedition back there.”

Drona. “But… Did you tell the others that we could die in there?”

Bernard. “No, I didn’t, nor should you if you want a chance to go there.”

Drona. “Why did you tell me this secret then?”

Bernard. “Because we have been friends for quite some time.”

Drona. “Friends? I just met you less than half an hour ago.”

Bernard. “We were supposed to meet up in Cherry Beach today for the Barbeque.”

Drona. “Wait… you are Cpt.Doomsday?”

Bernard. “In the flesh Radion!”

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Drona. “How… how did you know I am Radion?”

Bernard. “Your sister asked me to join the online guilds you played in. I had to snitch to her about how much time you were online instead of studying.”

Drona. “Damn! Achara had a spy in the games too?”

Bernard. “I told her that it might be pushing it.”

Drona. “Then why did you agree to do it?”

Bernard. “Hey! Getting an assignment that involved playing VR games as part of an internship is not something I could pass up. I admit, I snitched a bit until we became friends, after which I just shared the bare minimum with her. Anyways, don’t hold it against me because I supported your invitation to the expedition.”

Drona. “I guess I can forgive you for that. It’s nice to finally meet you in person, Cpt.Doomsday.”

Bernard. “Let's stick with our real names. It feels weird now.”

Drona. “I agree.”

“Hey, are you two going inside or not?”

Drona turned around and found the avatar of Eden’s founder staring at him with an annoyed look. TT’s avatar was Takeshi Tanaka at sixty years old. He is wearing a slick business suit and the pearl white hair adorned his head is in the fashion of a ‘Bald Fade’.

Bernard. “Sorry, we lost track.”

TT. “You can talk to your heart’s content in the Digital World!”

Drona and Bernard rushed into the Tower of Portals and climbed up to the first floor. There they found Vivienne and Edgar standing in front of the Portal to the Nursery. The two were staring at the portal with horror on their faces and mouths hanging open. TT came in behind Drona and looked around the room before noticing the looks on their faces.

TT. “What’s wrong with the two of you? And where is Lynn?”

Vivienne. “Lynn… she went through the portal.”

“WHAT!” both TT and Bernard yelled at the same time in shock.

Edgar. “We tried to stop her, but she didn’t listen.”

Bernard. “Why was she so impatient? She knows there is a time dilation between the two worlds.”

Vivienne. “She saw something through the portal and said it was calling out to her.”

Edgar. “When Lynn got close to the portal, something grabbed her and puller her in.”

Drona. “Was it a Digimon?”

Vivienne. “It was a human hand covered in black armor. Except it looked like it belonged to a giant.”

Edgar. “The hand was big enough to wrap around her. You walked in just a second after she disappeared.”

Drona stared at the portal, which is a twelve-foot-tall stone arch. ‘Doorway to the Nursery’ is written on the stone with black spray paint. A liquid screen in the middle showed the world it is connected to. There is no sign of any life in the images it displayed.

Drona. “Are we still going through the portal?”

Bernard. “Why is that a question? We can’t just leave her there with whatever took her.”

Edgar. “Do we tell her mother?”

Vivienne. “That woman will freak out and sell this place to the government if we say her daughter was abducted by a giant.”

Edgar. “Maybe she woke up in the real world?”

TT. “ENOUGH!”

TT stared at everyone with anger in his eyes. He waved his hand towards the nearest wall. It transformed into a window that displayed Achara monitoring the DDPs. 

TT. “Achara! What is the status of Lynn’s DDP?”

Achara. “She entered a comma a minute ago. Why haven’t the others?”

TT. “She… went in first by accident. I am sending the others now.”

Achara. “How did she manage to get through first?”

TT. “That doesn’t matter right now. I need you to stop Rose from entering this level until the three hours are up.”

Achara. “What aren’t you telling me?”

TT. “I will go with them to the Digital World to find Lynn.”

Achara. “You? Why?”

TT. “Let’s just say these kids need a grown-up with them. Plus, I want to make sure Lynn gets back safe.”

Drona. “But you are too old for the portal. It only accepts kids and teenagers.”

TT. “Then I shall become one.”

TT’s avatar of Takeshi Tanaka regressed into a teen of sixteen. He still wore an expensive suit, had white hair, and had the eyes of an old man. Drona remembered that TT is only an AI, so there was no way to determine his age.

TT. “Bernard, will this work? Or do I have to look childish to fool it?”

Bernard. “Only one way to find out, boss!”

TT. “All of you, hold onto me!”

TT stretched out both his arms. Drona and Bernard grabbed his right, while Vivienne and Edger grabbed his left. Then all of them followed TT through the portal and disappeared through it. Drona’s sight was filled with vibrant colors, screams filled his ears, and his nose smelt ozone. It went on for a minute before he was deprived of all his senses. It felt like hours had passed before Drona regained feeling in his body.

Drona. “Why do I feel like puking?”

Drona slowly opened his eyes and found Bernard offering him a hand to lift him up. They are in a forest, its floor covered in dead leaves and rock outcrops. Bernard. “Don’t worry! It happened to me the last time I came through.”

Drona grabbed Bernard’s hand and used it to get back on his feet. He looked around and found Vivienne massaging her forehead with one hand and using the other to feel everything around her.

Vivienne. “I can feel, smell, and taste. Our avatar bodies aren’t supposed to have those.”

Bernard. “In this world, your bodies are the same as the ones we left behind in the DDPs in the real world.”

Edgar. “I can confirm that we are made of blood and flesh because I am bleeding.”

Drona turned around and found Edgar lying on the ground bleeding with his right leg impaled on a stick. It looked like he had fallen on top of a dead tree branch when he came through the portal. Drona rushed over to Edgar’s side and examined the wound.

Drona. “On a scale of 1 to 10, how much does it hurt?”

Edgar. “11! Pull it out!”

Vivienne. “Don’t! He will bleed out if you don’t remove it properly and put pressure on it.”

Drona. “Bernard, what about you? Do you know anything that can help Edgar?”

Drona noticed that Bernard was still calm and without care for Edgar.

Bernard. “We just need to find some Bandages. They should be hidden all over the place.”

Vivienne. “A bandage? This wound needs more than a simple bandage.”

Bernard. “Relax! I know what I am doing. Ah! I found one.”

Bernard lifted a small log, and underneath he pulled out an extra-large patch bandage that had no business there.

Drona. “Did you leave it there the last time you were here?”

Bernard. “Nah! If you look hard enough, you will find plenty of meat, mushrooms, fruits, nuts, berries, medicine, and bandages. Drona, pull out the stick as quick as you can.”

Vivienne couldn’t believe her ears, and Edgar shivered in fear. Drona hesitated, but he resolved himself to trust Bernard and ignored Edgar’s scream. He managed to pull the stick out, but blood started flowing like a fountain. Bernard rushed over and slapped the bandage on Edgar’s legs, and suddenly the bleeding stopped.

Edgar. “Huh? It doesn’t hurt anymore. But why do I feel so dizzy.”

Vivienne. “It’s because you lost a lot of blood! A bandage can’t fix that!”

Bernard. “Medicine might. Drona, help me look around for a white bottle with pills.”

Drona was about to question where to look, but something caught his eye inside the hollow trunk of a tree. He walked over to inspect it and found an Orange egg the size of an Ostrich egg with flame patterns. Next to it is a white bottle with pills in it. 

Drona. “Think I found it along with a weird egg.”

Bernard. “That’s a Digi-Egg! You found yourself a Digimon.”

Bernard grabbed the medicine from Drona’s hand and took out a pill. He kneeled next to Edgar and presented it to the boy.

Bernard. “We don’t have water with us, so you will have to swallow it dry.”

Edgar. “Will it stop my head from spinning?”

Bernard. “You will feel like a new man… or boy.”

Edgar forced his mouth to salivate and swallowed the pill. Within several seconds, color returned to his face. He was able to move his body and slowly get up.

Vivienne. “Your wound… it's completely healed!”

Edgar. “This is amazing! I don’t feel like I got injured at all.”

Bernard. “Welcome to the Digital World!”

To be continued…

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