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Chapter 2, digimon seekers

Digimon Seekers: Chapter 2-10: When Old Friends Fight

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I know these have been random as I try to catch up the the novel. I’ll be sure to be back on a set schedule once I do. Thanks again for your support! I put a lot into these translations, so I hope you’ve been enjoying it so far. Make sure you support the original story and leave me some love if you can. Don’t forget to share this with your friends!

Pulsemon zips through the sea of data, blurring through it in flashes of bright yellow light. Bellow him sit mounds of junked data stacked in messy, unorganized heaps reminiscent of a landfill. Occasionally, Pulsemon summons a small hologram map with marked-off coordinates. 

“It’s somewhere around here,” Pulsemon says as it compares the map with their surroundings. They had ventured out of the Walled Slums into an area past the Rusted Coast. They were looking for a hole in the firewall that separated the human world from the Digital world. Somewhere over these heaps of rotting wreckage was a vortex that could be a doorway to the other side.

“I’m not picking up any more readings,” Pulsemon says as it continues its flight. 

“Let’s head down there,” Leon says from his place in the mindlink. Pulsemon lowers itself toward the ground. Around it, pieces of the environment glitch, blurring or continually blinking in and out of existence.

Leon looks around at the empty baron wasteland. “So this is just a floating island of garbage.”

Leon looks out into the horizon towards the firewall. It appeared like a massive moon or planet as it towered over the highest peaks of garbage. Its scale is breathtaking, but the secrets it held within would be more. What lay beyond the firewall? A planet? A galaxy. Humanity has only achieved blurry glimpses beneath the veil, and here Leon stood at the precipice.

“You sure it’s not a bad tip?” Pulsemon interrupts. “This doesn’t look like a place Tartarus would hang out in.”

Leon wakes from his trance. “No, it’s a solid lead.”

“I don’t know…” Pulsemon’s words are shrouded in worry. “This feels like a trap. The Sons of Chaos are still pretty pissed about the whole Machinedramon thing.”

“You can handle a few Sons of Chaos goons, can’t you?”

“It just looks dangerous is all…” Pulsemon’s voice trails off.

“Just stay sharp Pulsemon.” An uneasy silence falls over them as they look over the landscape.

HOWLING FIRE

A fireball tears through the air. It’s heat searching for an unsuspecting target, but Pulsemon is quick to react. The fireball narrowly misses as it flips out of the way. The fire ball lands with an explosion, leaving behind a crater of burning data.

“That was close,” Pulsemon chips as he lands into his battle stance.

“Hey Pulsemon,” Loogamon says as it steps into view. Small embers lick around its maw as it gives a hungry smile.

“Eiji?” Leon lets out. There is a bit of shock in his tone before he forces composure. “So you’re one of leaders now?”

“Nope, just a rookie.”

“Sure you are…” Leon can’t hide the disappointment that clings to his words.

Minor Impulse

Pulsemon begins to glow a bright yellow as a bolt of lightning jumps from its body and lands with a crash as Loogamon leaps out of the way.

“That was almost impressive,” Pulsemon taunts.

“I wasn’t even trying.” Loogamon gives a mocking grin.

 “Whatever you say mutt.”

“Bring it on Sparkles.”

The two Digimon stare each other down.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised a code cracker is a criminal.”

“I was happy to see you Leon. It was nice catching up, but this is business. You messed up, now you have to deal with the consequences.”

“So you here to collect our bounty?”

“In a way, it depends on how our talk goes.”

“Get to the point Eiji.”

“If you promise not to interfere with the Sons of Chaos, we’ll let the… incident with the Machinedramon go.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“I knew it wouldn’t be that easy, but it was worth a shot.”

“Look, if you need money, I can help you. You don’t have to do this.”

“I am not your charity case,” Eiji barks.

“But I can help you…”

“I choose how I want to live my life. You come to me after all these years and expect me to betray my ideals… for money?”

“Ideals? I thought you became a code cracker because you needed money.”

“You don’t get it,” Eiji’s voice trembles with anger and frustration. “Why don’t you go back to your cushy life and focus on school and leave me to mine.”

Leon knew there was no getting through to Eiji. He is a code cracker now, and it was Leon’s duty to hunt them down. Leon gives out a sad sigh as he appears as a hologram next to Pulsemon.

“The professor is using you Eiji. I’ve seen too many code cracker pass through the professors doors. He uses them up and tosses them like the garbage around us. And, you’re no different than them…”

“What did you say?!”

Pulsemon vanishes.

Electric Rush!

Pulsemon appears above Loogamon and comes crashing down in a bolt of lightning. Loogamon barely jumps out of the way, only feeling the heat of Pulsemon’s electricity as it brushed past.

Loogamon lands on a wobbling piece of floating debris.

“Stay away from the professor!” Leon shouts. “He doesn’t need any more worthless code crackers.”

“So this is what it’s all about? That’s how you really feel? You just don’t want anyone else getting close to your precious professor.”

The two old friends stood on opposite ends. They weren’t the same kids they were back then. Time had torn them apart, and both had a job to do.

“You really want to lose to me so badly? Fine! Pulsemon, let’s get serious.”

“Right!”

Pulsemon glows as its silhouette grows. When the light fades, Boutmon stands where Pulsemon did. It cracks its knuckles and smiles as bolts of static run down its body.

Boutmon rushes Loogamon, letting out a series of electric punches and kicks. Loogamon is able to dodge them as its fur begins to stand, charged with static. One of the kicks crashes through the piece of debris holding them up, breaking it to pieces.

Loogamon lands, kicking up dust and dirt. Its gaze fixed on Boutmon.

“Loogamon, it’s our turn!”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Loogamon lets out an earth shaking howl as it digivolves into Loogarmon.

Its massive crimson claws dig into the earth as its body tenses. Flames lick from its iron muzzle. The large feathers down his arms and neck shake in the breeze.

The two champion Digimon stare each other down intensely.

“That’s a cute champion form, but it’s going to take more than that Eiji!” Leon taunts.

“Just like we practiced Loogarmon!”

“Hey sparkles, I don’t want to hear any crying when I beat you.” The fur down its back begins to stand as flames build inside its maw.

Howling Burner!

Loogarmon whips the flames around to form a large wall of fire. Loogarmon disappears behind the smoke and flames.

“Cute trick!” Boutmon shouts.

Lightning Heel

Boutmons leg builds with electrical energy as it raises its leg over its head. It lets down a sweeping explosive kick through the flames. The flames continue to burn, but for a brief moment, the flames part to reveal Loogarmon and its sinister smile.

“This is my domain!” Loogarmon growls.

Flame Blow

Before Boutmon has a chance to react, Loogarmon becomes covered in flames and lunges towards them. 

Fire Breath

Before the wolf can connect, flames fall onto Boutmon from three different directions.

“How?!?” Leon shouts as he searches for the source. Smoke and flames rise from Boutmon’s body. It staggers for a moment before falling to a defensive position. Three Tyrannomon step from the shadows and stares down from their place on top three separate peaks.

“What a dirty trick!” Leon grumbles.

“You didn’t pick up on them Boutmon?” Loogarmon taunts.

There was too much interference from the junk data around them. “They know Leon. This was a trap…” Boutmon’s voice trails off. 

Leon scrambles to think of a plan. “So you have to cheat to beat me?”

“I’ll beat you Leon, even if it takes every dirty trick in the book.”

The Tyrannomon retreat out of site. The two champion Digimon continue to stare each other down. Boutmon takes a breath as he changes his stance. Electricity starts to build in his palms. Loogarmon readies a Howling Burner as it watches Boutmon closely.

Buden Blast

Both Digimon release their stored energy. It creates a massive explosive on impact, blowing chunks of junk data and debris flying in every direction. The explosion releases a shockwave. Loogarmon jumps to dodge the impact, but Boutmoun appears below them.

Storm of Blows

Boutmon unleashes a flurry of punches and kicks, each landing hard on the unsuspecting wolf.

The Tyrannomon reappear, letting out torrents of flame that engulf Boutmon, giving Eiji and Loogarmon enough of a distraction to create distance between them.

“Dammit!” Leon lets out as Boutmon lands, its body still searing from the flames.

“Calm down Leon. Look. We’re wearing them down.” Leon looks over at Loogarmon. Its feathers are ruffled and matter. The large Digimon pants heavily.

“Alright, but it’s a little crowded. Let’s make some room Boutmon. Digivolve!”

“Understood.”

A massive bolt of lightning comes crashing down over Boutmon. The force of the impact explodes burning debris in every direction. Kazuchimon stands letting out a terrifying roar.

“The Tyrannomon are scared Eiji, call them back.” Eiji gathers the Tyrannomon back into the dock.

“Alright Loogarmon, be ready for anything.”

Kazuchimon takes a step forward. Its electric blade still points to the ground.

“You’re too week Eiji. You should have quit when I asked you. Kazuchimon!”

Shido Ittetsu

Kazuchimon lifts its hand. It begins to glow as storm clouds begin to gather overhead.

“What the?” Eiji exclaims as he watches the sky. Lightning builds, forming an unnatural cage around them. 

“It’s a digital barrier. They’re trying to trap us!” Loogarmon shouts. It leaps as it tries to escape, but it’s too late. An electromagnetic barrier comes crashing down, cutting off their escape.

Kazuchimon slices at debris as it closes in on Loogarmon.

Loogarmon uses its tail to throw a piece of debris at the barrier. It vaporizes on impact. “It’s no use, we’re trapped.”

“Don’t worry, we got this,” Eiji says in an attempt to stay positive.

Kazuchimon stands over them. It looks down at them grimly. They can feel the heat from the blade. Before Loogarmon has a chance to react, the blade slices through its body, leaving behind a searing pain. Eiji loses focus as the pain becomes too unbearable.

“I made a mistake,” Leon says.

“What?” Eiji manages through the pain.

“I shouldn’t have offered you money. I shouldn’t have offered you a way out. I should have knocked some sense into you from the beginning. Give up Eiji, it’s over.”

“No! I…”

“You can’t win Eiji.”

Kazuchimon crosses his blades as energy begins to build between them. Eiji could feel the heat building as he stares down the familiar attack.

Eiji is overcome with desperation. The pain makes it difficult to think straight. “I can’t lose.” Eiji thinks about the professor. About all the times Eiji made him proud. “I have to do better. I want to do something meaningful with my life.” Eiji thinks about his time with Loogamon. “I have to win….We have to win…”

Shinden Shouraiko

The light from the twin blades becomes blinding. They burst with energy. A familiar sensation builds up within Eiji. He feels large amounts of power begin coursing through Loogarmon.

“Loogarmon, Digivolve!”

Chapter 2, digimon seekers

Digimon Seekers: Chapter 2-9 – A Test of Loyalty

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Make sure you always support the original, but I appreciate your continued support on my translations. They take a bit of work, but I’ll do my best to catch up with the novel as soon as possible. If you like these translations, make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends.

Eiji finds the professor behind his desk. He is busy working on his lunch when the pair walk in. “Sorry. I’m running a bit behind” he manages to say between bites. He continues to scroll through the report on the screen in front of him.

“Oh, no worries. I can come back some other time.” Eiji understood that the professor was a busy man with important work.

“No no, I’m meeting with a student later. It has to be now.” He finishes off the last bite of his sandwich as he stands to greet the pair properly. “What news do you have for me?”

“Uh, well everything is in the report.”

The professor nods. “So they were after the Machinedramon, and they failed to get their hands on it.” The professor clasps his hands, “Not bad for your first night out.”

“But there’s more.” Eiji adds. “I think Tartarus is collecing Mega level Digimon. I don’ t know why, but it can’t be for anything good.”

“Yes, that’s a serious problem.”

“There was also this hacker…” Eiji watches the professor for a reaction.

“Hacker?”

“Yeah, he had a Mega Digimon. It took out the Machinedramon and one of the SOC leaders with little effort.”

“Next time, they won’t get away,” Loogamon growls. The hair down his back begins to stand.

The professor lets out a laugh. “You’ll need to be a Mega yourself if you want to stand a chance.”

“Mega form?” Loogamon’s ears perk up, and its tail wags excitedly behind him.

“What would Loogamon’s Mega even look like?”

The professor shrugs, “Who knows, but it’s going to be exciting!” The professor can’t hide his smile as he continues to theorize all the possible Digivolutions.

Loogamon’s fang glistens into a smile. “You have to get me to my Mega Eiji!”

“I got you!” Eiji says, returning a reassuring smile to his partner.

“It’s a shame about the Machinedramon,” the professor interrupts. “I would have loved to study it, even if it meant sifting through the scraps.”

“That hacker got in my way…” Eiji studies the professor for a reaction. But the professor doesn’t react.

“Hmmm.” The professor seems to study Eiji for the same.

“I know who the hacker is…”

“I know. The hacker is a former student of mine. Leon Alexander.” The professor says as he turns the monitor towards Eiji and Loogamon, showing them a picture of Kazuchimon.

Eiji lets out a sigh of relief. “Good. I didn’t want to be the one to tell you.”

“It’s all fine.”

“I’m not going to get fired am I?”

“Why would you be?”

“Well, I was just talking to Leon and he doesn’t think highly of my being a code cracker.” Eiji can’t shake the worry from his words.

Ryusenji smiles. “Whatever Leon thinks about this has no bearings on my judgement of you, and it never will.” He places his hand on Eiji’s shoulder. “I chose you for a reason Eiji. I run this place, not Leon.”

Eiji lets out a sigh of relief. “Good, kuz I love this job.”

“Now putting all that aside, I hear you’re the only one he showed Pulsemon to all those years ago. All of this seems sort of…fated.”

“Huh, it kind of does. But um…” Eiji struggles to find the words. “He also said he didn’t like me coming in and out of here. He said it might ruin your reputation working with a… code cracker.”

“Well Leon can be…a little too serious at times. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a wonderful quality, but I wouldn’t put too much mind to him. You’re meant to be here Eiji. Don’t worry.”

“I didn’t say anything about you hiring me to look into the Sons of Chaos, but I’m sure he’s got his suspicions.”

“Hmm,” The professor goes silent.

“So, um..”

“Ah! So you’re worried about how to handle Leon, him being an old friend and all.”

“Well no, it’s not about fighting him. I’m just worried he’ll leak that I am spying on the Son’s of Chaos.”

“I’ll think about how to handle Leon, you just…” the phone rings and cuts off the professor. His next appointment has arrived.

Eiji excuses himself as he returns Loogamon to his Digimon Linker. Before Eiji can walk out of the office, Eiji freezes and turns to the professor. “I forgot to tell you, I talked with Tartarus!”

The professor pushes the bridge of his glasses to his nose, “And is he well?”

“I only heard his voice over chat, but I know he’s looking for a Black Agumon.”

A woman appears at the doorway and knocks gently. The professor motions her to come in. A shiver runs down Eiji’s spine as he recognizes the woman. He ducks his head and hurries out the door.

“Thank you professor,” She says as Eiji rushes past her. She doesn’t pay much attention to him.

Character design/illustration illustrator: malo

Eiji walks through the security checkpoint and sees Hatsune behind reception. He makes his way through the lobby, “I thought you had some errands to run?”

“Are you free tonight? Let’s go grab a drink!” Loogamon adds, its voice rings from the Digimon Linker. Hatsune lets out a laugh.

“Shhhh, you’re not supposed to talk outside the checkpoint, remember?!” Eiji says he covers the watch face. His ears turn a bright red. A few people waiting in the lobby turn to look at him.

“Did Loogamon just ask me out?”

“I’m just saying what Eiji is thinking,” Loogamon says smugly.

“Shut up,” Eiji snaps as he mutes the Digimon Linker. “Anyways, um…That woman who just came to see the professor. She’s with the police isn’t she?”

“Yeah,” Hatsune says, lowering her voice. “She’s from the Digipolice.”

“I knew it…”

The professor has a lot of influence with the police, so she comes around every so often.”

“Do you know her name?”

“Shuu Yulin. Why? Are you into older women or something?”

Eiji hands the pass back to Hatsune. “So, about that drink?”

Hatsune looks over Eiji for a moment and smiles. “Sure, why not? You seem harmless enough, plus I have something I want to discuss with you. Here’s my Grimm handle.

Eiji’s phone dings as he reads the Hatsune’s name in disbelief. His heart pounds in his chest. “What do you need to talk about?” His voice shakes with nervous excitement.

“I’ll message you later. It’s something I can’t talk to anyone else about.”

Eiiji wakes to the sounds of his neighbors talking next door. He groans as he checks the time. “Loogamon, do I have any messages?”

“Check them yourself,” Loogamon snaps.

“Fine,” Eiji says as he lazily reaches for his phone nearby. He begins scrolling through his messages slowly. Eiji sits up from his place on the floor when he sees Hatsune’s name. “Why didn’t you wake me when I got this?”

“I’m not your secretary.”

Eiji opens the message and begins reading eagerly. “I think my boyfriend is cheating on me. I was wondering if you could do a bit of… code cracking on his account for me…”

Eiji stops reading. His heart sinks. “Of course, she has a boyfriend.”

“Sounds like Hatsune trusts you at least,” Loogamon chimes in.

“You think so?”

“Well if he is cheating, they’ll break up, right? Then she’s single.”

“I can’t believe I am taking dating advice from a Digimon…”

“Oh, you got a private message on the Sons of Chaos channel. It’s marked important.”

“What’s it say?” Eiji asks, trying to forget his disapointment.

“It’s from the Leader Tartar sauce.” Loogamon laughs.

Eiji pulls up the message and reads, “Eiji, Your performance during the attack on Nation X’s server was exemplary. Marvin and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We request your services for another mission. “

“Wow, a personal request from Tartarus already?”

Eiji continues to read, “We need you to help us get back at the Hacker Judge. We can’t let his transgressions against the Sons of Chaos go unpunished.”

Leon falls silent. This would be the ultimate test of loyalty. This would be the fastest way to earn Tartarus’ trust, but would be able to defeat Leon?

“So you’re gunna fight him?” Loogamon asks.

“Yeah, I am.”

“Isn’t he your friend?”

“Yeah…” Eiji’s voice trails off. “This is going to be a hard one.” Eiji grows silent.

“So what’s the plan?” Loogamon asks finally.

“We can’t beat Leon and Kazuchimon in our current state. We have to figure out a way to Digivolve.”

“I’ll never say no to getting stronger!” Loogamon perks up from his place on Eiji’s bed.

Eiji lays back and stares at the ceiling as he begins formulating a plan. “Get ready Leon, we’re coming for you!”

Chapter 2, digimon seekers

Digimon Seekers: Chapter 2-8 – Eiji’s Backstory

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Works been crazy so I haven’t had enough time to put into these translations. It’s calmed down finally to where I can start tackling my backlog. My posts will be a little irregular until I catch up, and I apologize in advanced. Once I catch up, I’ll work on getting a set schedule. Make sure you always support the original, but I would appreciate some love as well. If you enjoy these translations, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Thanks!

Eiji and Leon continue to catch up. Eiji orders more coffee, and the Digimon continues to bicker playfully. A few more people enter and exit the café as the two old friends grow more comfortable in their conversation.

Hatsune enters the café, neatly dressed in her receptionist’s uniform. The bronze name tag on her lapel glistens under the warm light. The cafe is busier than when the two boys arrived, but it isn’t the afternoon rush yet. Hatsune walks towards an empty seat to wait for her order but stops when she notices Leon and Eiji. She makes her way towards their table, her heels leaving a rhythmic echo with each step. “So you’re hanging out with degenerate code crackers now Leon?” she asks in a playful, mocking tone.

The two turn to Hastune. They were so caught up in their conversation, that they hadn’t noticed her approach.

Leon stands to greet her. “Someone’s got to keep these low-life code crackers in line.” He laughs as he gives her a friendly hug.

Eiji clutches his chest, miming pain. “You two hurt me.” Eiji goes for a hug, but Hatsune stops him with a handshake. Eiji takes it and smiles. “What’s so bad about Code Crackers?”

“They’re unethical immoral losers who think they can do whatever they want because they can,” Hatsune snipes.

“Aw? We’re not all bad. Let me prove it to you sometime?” Eiji asks, trying his best to sound suave and cool like the guys in the movies.

“No I’m okay, I’ll take your word for it.” She flashes Eiji a mocking smile.

Pulsemon teleports to the edge of the table closest to Eiji. It kicks its feet over the edge and smiles devilishly. A few sparks flash from his yellow skin. “Oooh! A swing and a miss! Better luck next time bud.” Leon starts laughing, his voice filling the Cafe. Hatsune does her best to hold back her laugh, but some leaks involuntarily. Eiji chuckles as he raises his middle finger towards Pulsemon. Pulsemon sticks its tongue out as it raises both middle fingers in response.

“Why don’t you join us Hatsune?” Leon says, pointing towards an empty chair.

“Thanks, but I have to go finish up some errands. I only came in for some coffee. Next time.”

“Promise?” Eiji asks enthusiastically.

“Bye Eiji. It was nice seeing you, Leon.” She walks to pick up her order and leaves the cafe.

Pulsemon appears on his shoulder. “That’s strike two buddy.” Eiji swipes at Pulsemon. His hand passes through Pulsemon’s hologram, distorting it for a moment.

“You’re just a hater,” Eiji says. “Did you not see those sparks between us? She likes me.” Eiji takes his seat and sips at water in front of him.

“You’re delusional,” Loogamon chimes in.

Eiji stops sipping and turns to his partner. “Oh Loogamon, I forgot you were here.”

“Ha. Ha.” Loogamon is not amused.

Eiji turns back to Leon. “Are code crackers really that unpopular?”

“I mean,” Leon starts as he tries to find the words. “Code crackers tend to be weirdos and loaners. The only difference between a code cracker and a hacker is how they use their skills.”

Eiji looks at Loogamon and Pulsemon who are making fun of Eiji. “Yeah, I’m starting to see that. But I think some of that is just ignorance.” He turns his attention back to Leon. His hands fiddle with the half-empty cup in front of him. “I’m starting to see there are lines I was crossing I didn’t know about. Digimon, the Digital World, The Sons of Chaos, it’s all a lot…bigger than I thought.”

Eiji pauses as Pulsemon makes a bad impression of Eiji. “Let me prove it to you sometime Hatsune. I love you!” It makes kissing noises as Loogamon howls with laughter.

“I used to think Digimon were just tools you used for hacking, but they have thoughts and lives. They can make friends and memories.” He turns to the two Digimon whose rivalry seems to have simmered away.

“So what is Loogamon to you now?” Leon asks.

“He’s my friend. Partner for life!” Eiji responds without hesitation.

“Good. You haven’t completely sold your soul to the Sons of Chaos.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look, there’s no easy way to say this. You need to quit code cracking and the Sons of Chaos. You gotta get out before it’s too late.”

Eiji wasn’t surprised by Leon’s remarks. He was expecting the topic to come up sooner or later. “It’s not gunna happen,” he replies bluntly. ” I can’t quit. I don’t have the same luxuries you do for it to be an option.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I only started code cracking because it was the only way I could make money. I’m 19 with a high school degree. If I quit now, I’ll be working a crappy job for crappy pay. I have responsibilities now, and that kind of job isn’t going to cut it.”

“Why don’t you go to college?”

“Where? Tokyo Electrical? I’ve thought about it.”

“Did…something happen?” Leons becomes concerned as he watches Eiji’s expression saden.

“Yeah…Flight 626.”

An awkward silence chokes the table.

“Is that..Is that how you lost your parents?”

Eiji nods as he fiddles with the cup in front of him. “In an act of Digimon terrorism…” His voice trails off as he looks down at his cup. “They were going to celebrate their anniversary in America. It was a big trip…” Eiji’s voice breaks as he tries to fight back tears. He clears his throat. “I was all alone. Everything was gone. I had no job. No money. I had to sell the house. College wasn’t an option anymore.”

“You could apply for scholarships.”

Eiji looks up at his old friend. “After my parents died, I couldn’t do much of anything. I was too devastated to function. The last thing on my mind was school. I needed money.”

“But how could you become a code cracker? How can you still be a code cracker after what they did to your parents?”

“I’m not the same as those monsters. I’m not here to kill innocent people or abuse Digimon.” Eiji’s voice is calm. “I was in it to make money. I am not proud of it, but I needed to eat. But Professor Ryusenji gave me purposes. A reason to be proud of the work I do. It’s been a while since I’ve felt much of anything.”

“What does the professor have you doing?”

There is a moment of silence as Eiji debates telling Leon everything. “I can’t say.”

“Well, I have my guesses. Eiji…”

“Look man. Let’s just keep our work lives separate. It was nice catching up, but I don’t want to ruin it with politics.”

“It’s time Eiji,” Loogamon interjects, perking up in his seat.

“Right. Sorry to leave it like this, but I have an appointment with the professor.” Eiji gets up from the table.

“With the professor?”

“Yeah. Code cracker stuff. Good luck with school or whatever. I’ll see you around. Let’s grab a drink next time, but maybe skip all the heavy stuff.” Eiji and Loogamon turn to leave.

“Wait!” Pulsemon says as he stands from his seat and suddenly appears in front of Loogamon. “Here, this is for you.” Pulsemon hands Loogamon a small digital cube.

“What is it?” Loogamon asks as it grabs the cube from Pulsemon’s hand.

“It’s a present!” Pulsemon smiles and flashes to its spot at the edge of the table. Its feet kick wildly below as it waves at the pair as they leave the café.

Chapter 2, digimon seekers

Digimon Seekers Chapter 2-7: When Old Friends Catch up

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Make sure you read read the original release, and I’ll do my best to get my version out on Monday. If you enjoy my work, please like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!

Eiji and Leon walk towards the Café. An awkward eagerness hangs over each step as they search for the right way to initiate conversation. Their footsteps echo off the empty corridor, and the news plays quietly somewhere behind them. The words have become unintelligible, but both knew it was about the attack on Nation X.

“It’s been a while,” Eiji finally says, breaking the silence.

“Since middle school,” Leon nods. They share a warm awkward smile between them. “It’s good to see you, man,”

“Yeah. You got a lot taller, and buff!” Eiji flexes his arm.

Leon chuckles, “Yeah, I grew up.”

Leon and Eiji swipe their IDs to get into the Café. The place is mostly empty, with only a couple patrons enjoying a small afternoon snack. The boys are hit with the rush of freshly ground coffee, but there is a faint hint of vanilla mixed somewhere in its composition. Soft jazz fill the space left behind the espresso machine and coffee grinder. The two friends find a seat in the most secluded part of the cafe.

“I can’t believe you found my information so quickly,” Eiji says as he takes a sip from his iced drink. “So you’re a big-shot hacker now?”

Leon smirks. “It wasn’t too difficult. But I was surprised to see you moved.”

Eiji is silent for a moment. There is a moment of sadness in his expression, but he shakes it off almost as quickly as it appears. He clears his throat. “Yeah…I live on my own now. Been living alone for a while now.”

“Me too. Since I got back to Japan actually. I have a place in Denrin.” Leon takes a sip of his coffee. “So you work for Professor Ryusenji now? How’s that going?”

“Oh, it’s great! The professor is a little odd, but he’s good people. He got me this steady job, with a decent paycheck!”

“And you’re also a famous Code Cracker!” Loen laughs.

“Not yet, but we will be!” Eiji winks playfully.

“Oh that’s right, you got a partner now too.” Leon pulls out a keychain with a small LCD screen on one side. The pixel sprite version of Pulsemon bounces in place. Leon dangles the keychain off his middle finger and holds it in front of Eiji. The keychain spins slowly from its chain. “You remember Pulsemon? He’s been with me since we were kids!”

Eiji bursts out laughing. “I always thought it was a fancy Tomagachi!”

Leon laughs as he scoops up the keychain and presses the hologram button. Pulsemon suddenly appears on the empty chair next to Leon. His body gives off a faint yellow glow to the furniture around him, and small sparks occasionally ark over its body. Pulsemon vibrates impatiently. His feet kick wildly over the edge of the seat.

“Oh right, we can do that here.” Eiji raises his wrist and begins scrolling through the settings of his digilinker. Loogamon’s hologram appears next to Eiji. The fur down his back stands angrily as he turns his attention to Pulsemon. He lets out a growl as his body tenses. Pulsemon smirks as he jumps up on his chair, readying himself.

“Enough!” Both Eiji and Leon say in unison.

“Loogamon, chill. That’s my friend.”

“Pulsemon, behave!”

Loogamon sits reluctantly and eyes the yellow Digimon suspiciously. Pulsemon sticks its tongue out the wolf.

“So the professor gave you a keychain dock?”

Leon nods. “He said I looked like someone who would be a good caretaker, and here we are.” He turns to Pulsemon and smiles.

“What’s that shiny rock on your head for? Does it come out?” Pulsemon asks mockingly as it reaches for the gem. Loogamon growls and snaps at Pulsemon’s hand. Pulsemon laughs, “Geez, someone’s touchy.”

“So you’re the Professor’s apprentice or something?” Eiji asks

“More of an assistant. The professor is a busy guy, and I grab his mail, set his appointments, stuff like that.”

“Ouch,” Eiji replies, feeling a bit fortunate. “But it’s kind of funny that we both met because of him.”

“Small world.” Leon stares at the watch around Eiji’s wrist, somewhat lost in a thought. “So how is it you came to have the latest version of the Digimon linker?”

“Isn’t it sweet?” Eiji raises his wrist to show it off. “I came to him for a job. He asked me to go catch him this rare Digimon… ModokiBatamon and gave it to me as a bonus.”

“He does like his Batamon…” Leon responds, still somewhat distracted.

Eiji nods. “He then told me about this job,” he says, motioning to Loogamon. “He wanted me to raise Loogamon for him. Pretty cool huh?”

Leon shakes his head. “It should have been me,” Leon snaps suddenly. “He should have asked me. I’m his actual student…” There is a undeniable hint of jealousy and resentment in his tone.

Shocked by his friends sudden outburst, Eiji is at a loss for words.

“We would have won if we fought you know,” Pulsemon says to Loogamon.

“What did you say you little…”

“You can barely keep your champion form! I’ve made it all the way to mega,” Pulsemon smiles as he flexes for Loogamon.

Loogamon snarls as he stands up angrily. Its tail waves furiously behind it.

“Enough Loogamon! Pulsemon has a point.” Eiji remembers their encounter with Kazuchimon. At this stage, they didn’t stand a chance against them, but both Eiji and Loogamon were determined to surpass their rivals.

“Don’t be annoying Pulsemon!” Leon regains his composure. He looks down at his drink as the soft jazz attempts to cover up the awkward silence. “Sorry, it’s just…” Leon begins. “This is a serious deal Eiji. This isn’t a game. Loogamon isn’t just some Code Cracker tool. This is a huge responsibility, and you need to be sure this is something you really want.””Eiji looks over at Loogamon. The two Digimon continue to bicker quietly. The sight puts a smile on his face. “I am taking this seriously. I took this job because I want to help Digimon. He may be a little grumpy, but Loogamon is my friend. I made him a promise, and I am going to work hard to make sure we become strong enough to protect the Digital World.”Eiji looks over at Loogamon. The two Digimon continue to bicker quietly. The sight puts a smile on his face. “I am taking this seriously. I took this job because I want to help Digimon. He may be a little grumpy, but Loogamon is my friend. I made him a promise, and I am going to work hard to make sure we become strong enough to protect the Digital World.”

Leon sits in silence for a moment as he takes in Eiji’s response. “Alright then” he extends his fist out in the familiar way they used to when they were kids, “It’s a promise!”

video game reviews

my impressions of the early access battle royal moba, Project Apidom

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I was sent Project Apidom as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review.

Project Apidom is a 3 team MOBA for PC. Teams battle it out on an open map, fighting mobs and each other until only one team is left standing. Instead of unique characters like you see in traditional MOBAs League of Legends, everyone starts with the same generic frame with customizable armor. Armor and weapons affect the stats and abilities of the character. Players have the ability to customize characters to fit their playstyle. Players can also buy stats as they play like in traditional RPGs. Project Apidom is a unique take on the MOBA, but one that needs a lot of work before it can earn a recommendation. 

The game is still in early access beta and clearly unfinished. It runs fine, but it feels empty and bare in its current stage. The biggest problem I had with Project Apidom is the matchmaking. I was never able to find a game. The matchmaking isn’t great, but I think the bigger issue is its small population. The community is steadily growing, but the growth is too slow for a game whose emphasis is on PvP. If you try this game, join with friends because playing alone isn’t fun. Make sure you join the official Discord to find people to play with and for information about events run by the devs.

As this game currently sits, I can’t recommend it. I found the gameplay boring, and there aren’t enough people to play with for it to be worth the trouble of booting it up. The game runs fine, but it’s empty and unimpressive. That said, I understand the experience might differ in a full game with real players. 

If you are looking for a new MOBA game, you should look into something like Eternal Return instead. The game has a similar concept, but it is finished and it is playable. But if you don’t mind the rough early access environment, it doesn’t hurt to try it for yourself. The community on their discord is growing daily, and the devs run tournaments from time to time. As of writing this review, you can get a free key if you type /givesteamkey in general chat on their Discord. 

Project Apidom is a neat concept for a MOBA, but it isn’t finished, and it isn’t impressive yet. You can check it out on Steam. 

Series Reviews

Mech Cadets: a surprising little animated series I ended up enjoying

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I am honestly surprised by the string of good luck I’ve been having with content I have been streaming on Netflix lately. After a season of terrible original series that nearly broke my spirit, I’ve found a few good animated series that made my Netflix subscription a bit more justifiable. Most of these discoveries were by accident, but I will not complain when I know how terrible the alternative can be.

I started watching Mech Cadet because it was the first thing to pop up when I opened up Netflix. I didn’t have high hopes for the series because it looked cheap and clunky, but was surprised when it turned out to be a solid series about Giant robots that wasn’t Gundam. The series isn’t perfect. Mech Cadets was made for a younger audience. There is a general cheesiness to the writing, and the animation is clunky. But if you can look past the flaws, the series is entertaining.

Stanford Woo is a janitor at Sky Corps Military Academy. The academy trains future Robo pilots. It has always been Stanford’s dream to become a pilot but didn’t get into the program. Only a selected few can join the academy, and even fewer become pilots. Stanford finds himself expelled from the academy, and his dreams crushed. But fate has other plans. When Stanford is at his lowest, a Robo falls from the sky and bonds with him, making him a pilot. But what should be a happy day is marred by danger. Deep in the vacuum of space, an ancient enemy inches closer to an unsuspecting Earth. Will Stanford and this new generation of pilots have what it takes to save the world?

I liked this series, flaws and all. It was a fun little sci-fi series with enough action, solid storylines, and decent character development. It is cheesy, but the cheesiness gives the series its charm. This series has a unique art style that grew on me the longer I watched. I like how everything looks like a painting. The animation is a bit clunky but does enough to tell its story. The voice acting is fantastic, even when the writing isn’t great. 

What I liked most about the series is that the stakes felt real. I knew who was going to survive and where the story was going, but it didn’t matter because it felt like there was a chance that I was wrong. There was enough suspense, tension, and build-up to make the story exciting. Mech Cadets may not be the best sci-fi story, but it is entertaining. 

If you have kids, throw this on. It is a solid cartoon, and you won’t hate having to sit through it. If you need some decent background noise, you might end up watching more of this than you think. Mech Cadets is a solid option if you have Netflix and are looking for something to watch.

Chapter 2, digimon seekers

Digimon Seekers: Chapter 2-5: when the demon wolf meets the god of thunder

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Sorry this weeks chapter is a little late. I was on vacation but will resume my usual schedule. Make sure you always read the original, but check out my version if you need something that isn’t google translate. If you’ve been enjoying this project, don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends!

Marvin’s Megadramon now lay motionless on the ground. Smoke rises from the freshly made wound. Bits of its metal armor have broken or melted away, leaving badly burnt tissue beneath it. Eiji and Loogamon freeze from the shock of seeing Megadramon felled so easily.

“…Um, Marvin?” Eiji calls in an attempt to shake off the initial shock. There is no answer. Eiji and Loogamon stand alone in the hangar, desperately searching for the source of the attack. The Machinedramon pulls at its weakened restraints.

“You there noob?” One of the SOC’s leaders calls over voice chat. “We’re heading back to the meeting point. What’s your status?”

“It’s bad. We don’t have Machinedramon and something took out Marvin. We need help.” Eiji doesn’t hide the fear in his voice. He knows they aren’t strong enough for whatever stalks them in the shadows.

“Machinedramon hasn’t been caught yet?” another voice replies.

“Hang tight, we’ll be right there.” Moments later two cloaked figures appear and rush towards Megadramon.

“What happened to Marvin?” asks one of the figures.

“I don’t know. Something attacked and I haven’t been able to reach him since.” Eiji’s voice shakes with panic. He continues his fruitless search. “I think they’re still out there.”

“I thought we got all the defense forces.”

“Maybe its the DigiPolice?” Eiji asks. He isn’t ready for another encounter.

“No, they wouldn’t risk an international incident. Whoever it is, they have a Mega. Stay alert.”

“What the…”

A bolt of lightning comes crashing down in the distance and lands with an explosion. The force of the blast knocks the group off their feet and sends them crashing into walls. A purple haze forms around the crash sight. Static sparks randomly around the cloud. A glowing figure steps out of the haze holding twin swords crackling with lightning.

“This is bad Eiji,” calls Loogamon. Eiji can feel the fear in Loogamon’s tone and the raw power emanating from Kazuchimon. They didn’t stand a chance against the mega.

“Dammit!” One of the cloaked figures curses, “Why is he here?”

“He? You know this guy?” Eiji asks.

“There’s only one person who can control that thing.” Replies the other cloaked figure.

“The Hacker Judge” both respond together, their voices choking with fear.

“Judge?!” Eiji asks. The handle seems familiar.

Kazuchimon slices his swords in the air, releasing slices of electrical energy through the air. They land, creating terrifying explosions that shake the hangar. A loud metallic roar follows. Eiji’s heart stops. He turns to find a newly freed Machinedramon shaking off the stiffness of its incarceration.

“What a pity,” Kazuchimon finally says. “You have no control over your actions but have committed multiple crimes. Final verdict? Guilty!”

Glowing orbs of electricity start to form around Kazuchimon as it charges an attack. When the orbs grow about a meter wide, they release blinding beams at the raging Machinedramon in rapid succession. Eiji and Loogamon stand far from the attack but can feel its oppressive heat. The Machinedramon lets out a blood-curdling screech as the beams tear through its body. Seconds go by before the attack stops. The Machinedramons lifeless body stands smoldering, full of holes, and its armor torn to shreds. The massive corpse falls apart, each piece creating small quakes throughout the hanger.

Character design/illustration illustrator: malo

Kazuchimon sheaths his swords and claps his hands together and prays. “May you find peace in your next life.”

Kazuchimon turns to the code crackers. They remain frozen with fear. “Thanks for the assist,” it says in a superior tone.

“You swooped our kill!” Eiji snaps. Eiji doesn’t appreciate Kazuchimon’s mocking tone or its self-righteous smirk.

“We have to get out of here! The missions done.” Loogamon’s warning comes abruptly, tearing Eiji away from his misguided trance.

It takes Eiji moments to remember the danger. “Yeah.” Loogamon takes a step before Eiji remembers the unconscious Megadramon lying nearby. “Wait! We have to help Marvin.”

“Leave him, we don’t have time,” Loogamon snarls as it takes another step away from the danger.

“I don’t care. Marvin’s a good guy, we have to try.” Eiji switches voice channels and calls the remaining SOC members. “We’ll distract Judge, you get Marvin and get out of here!”

“You can’t…” but Eiji doesn’t hear the rest. He switches channels. “Let’s go Loogamon!”

Loogamon and Eiji turn to Kazuchimon as the cloaked figures make their way to Magadramon

Kazuchimon crackles with electricity. It lets out a taunting smile. “I guess you guys aren’t as strong as everyone says.” Its body glows into a bright silhouette of light. The static in the room drops as the figure shrinks and leaves behind a new Digimon.

​Boutmon, Ultimate, Beast Man, Vaccine

“I’m not letting you get away that easy,” Boutmon shouts at the cloaked figures.

“Couldn’t keep your mega?” Eiji responds, slightly surprised by the sudden de-digivolution.

“I don’t need it. Without the Megadramon or Machinedramon, there really is no need for a mega. At least not against the likes of you.” Boutmon rushes towards the Sons of Chaos busy trying to move the Megadramon.

Judge’s dismissive tone angers Eiji. He doesn’t like being talked down to. The rage begins to bubble over.

“Calm down Eiji. He’s on a timer just like us.”

“But Loogamon…”

“He’s underestimating us. Let’s show him how it’s done!”

Eiji takes a calming breath. “You’re right.” A smile starts to creep across his face. “Let’s go! Digivolve!”

A surge of power flows through the pair as a familiar light engulfs them. Loogarmon lands in a heavy thud as the ground cracks under the sudden change in weight. Flames lick from between the wolf’s metallic muzzle as it lets out a menacing growl.

“Flame Blow!”

Loogarmon becomes engulfed in a ball of flames and flies toward the charging Boutmon. Boutmon manages to block the blow, but the impact sends it flying. Boutman stands its attention now towards the massive wolf. Its knees shake as the flames of the attack burn at the wounds.

“You…” Boutmon studies his new opponent.

Loogarmon stands ready. Flames spill from its maw. Its claws dig into the earth as its impressive plumage fan the embers that rain around its body. Eiji sees the members of the SOC make off with the Megadramon. An involuntary sense of relief washes over him.

“Howling Burner!”

Loogarmon roars, unleashing a torrent of fire. Boutmon raises its arms to block the attack, but the flames stick to them.

Judge grits his teeth as the searing pain bites at him and Boutmon. “This is annoying!”

Eiji and Loogarmon continue to kite Boutmon, keeping a healthy distance between them.

“You can’t keep this up forever,” Eiji taunts. “That’s why you de-digivolved isn’t it? You used up all your energy as the Mega.”

“Eiji, its time to go!” Marvin’s voice calls to him.

“Marvin is alive,” Eiji thinks with a sigh of relief.

“Eiji…?” Judge says softly. The name feels familiar, but he can’t remember why.

“You’ll pay for this Leon!” Marvin shouts at the unmoving Boutmon.

“Leon…?” Eiji tries to remember why the name sounds so familiar.

Boutmon growls in frustration as its body glows and it shrinks down to its rookie form.

Pulsemon, Rookie, Beast Man, Vaccine

Eiji recognizes Pulsemon before the computer pulls the data. He has seen it before…

It takes a moment for the memories to return. Eiji remembers his elementary school days when his friend showed him the same Digimon.

“Pulsemon…” Eiji mutters as he begins to piece it all together. “Leo? Is that you?” Eiji’s hologram suddenly appears next to the Loogarmon. Pulsemon’s expression softens a bit. Leo appears.

Eiji studies Leo and remembers the blond-haired and blue-eyed boy he was friends with all those years ago. He had grown a lot since, but he was undeniably the same kid. The same look of recognition washes over Leon’s face.

An alarm begins to screech. Nation X’s reinforcements begin to close in on the intruders. Eiji and Leo don’t move.

“Leo, its you!” Eiji repeats in disbelief.

“How could you become a code cracker?!” Leon asks, his voice filled with a mix of disappointment and resentment. Bullets begin to rain around them as Nation X’s forces close in.

Leo disappears back into Pulsemon. Pulsemon lingers for a moment before turning into lightning and vanishing into the digital sea. Eiji stands alone in the hangar, security inching closer by the moment.

“So you’re a hacker now…”

Chapter 2, digimon seekers

Digimon Seekers: Chapter 2-4: The Machinedramon in the Dungeon

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Loogamon tears through the Digital World at the speed of light. The data surrounding him blurs, forming a tunnel of bright light. Marvin and his partner Airdramon race ahead of him. The eight members participating in the raid were split into teams of two. Each team would attack Nation X’s server from a different angle.

“What do you think Tartartus will do with the Machinedramon?” Eiji asks.

“What do you mean?” Marvin replies. There was a hint of suspicion in his tone.

“The orders were to capture the Machinedramon, not destroy it. I just thought…”

“You seem a little too invested in our leader. What’s your deal anyways?”

Eiji tries to find the right words to extinguish any suspicion.

“Well?” Marvin asks. Airdramon begins to slow his pace.

“I’m just a little nervous. I ask a lot of questions when I’m nervous. This is the biggest job I’ve ever pulled, and I don’t want to mess it up.” Eiji tries to sound shaken to sell his point.

Marvin lets out an empathetic sigh. “No one knows why Tartarus does what he does, but I’m sure he’s got a good reason for going after this Machinedramon.”

“He must be after something.” Eiji continues to prie.

“Tartarus is taking on the Digital world and looking for…something.”

“Anything in particular?”

“Who knows? It’s not money or fame, I can tell you that much.”

“Spinning Needle!”

Airdramon flaps its wings, sending a sharp wave of force through a horde of Nation X’s defense. The attack cuts through the mass of guards without meeting much resistance.

Loogamon takes a deep breath. Flames begin to lick from the corners of his mouth. “Howling Fire!”

Fire pours from Loogamons mouth towards the mob of advancing guards. The flame repels their advance.

“Nice one!” Marvin shoots a compliment. “Stay in Rookie form. We need you to budget your mindlink in case we need to get out in a hurry. Use the timer I made for.” Marvin says as Airdramon takes out another group of guards.

Eiji turns his attention to the timer. It continues to tick down slowly. “I’ll be good. Don’t worry” Loogamon runs after Airdramon, taking down any security Digimon it comes across without much resistance.

Nation X’s servers were designed like an old-school dungeon crawler. It was a series of filthy stone tunnels that formed a seemingly endless maze, but Airdramon and Loogamon move confidently through its corridors. Loogamon stops on occasion to sniff for clues, Airdramon quickly snakes after him until they exit a tunnel and find themselves in a small corridor with a large ceiling.

“That’s huge!” Eiji reacts as they come to the base of a large door. It was about five stories tall and made of old sturdy iron.

“Decoding it is going to be a pain,” Marvin says as he begins running calculations.

“Nah” Loogamon says as he approaches the door.

“What are you doing?” Eiji asks frantically.

“Set your tool to decode,” Loogamon commands without slowing his stride.

“…Okay?”

The jewel on Loogamon’s head begins to glow.

“Are you serious?” Marvin yelps as he watches the decryption progress fill instantly. The massive door unlocks. The sounds of rotating gears fill the corridor as doors slide open.

“I guess I’m good at opening doors,” Loogamon says smugly.

“We should rob some bank next,” Marvin jokes.

The massive doors open, revealing a deep darkness. A low mechanical roar rises from somewhere in the shadows.

Character design/illustration illustrator: malo

Loogamon and Aidramon make their way toward the roars. They find themselves running toward a massive metallic dinosaur. Its body is made for a mismatched collection of cyborg Digimon parts with massive cannons strapped to its shoulders.

“This is too much!” Eiji shouts as they continue their approach. He is clearly shaken by the scale of the Mega.

“Calm down Eiji,” Loogamon responds, “you’re making us look bad. It’s all tied up.” Eiji notices the restraints holding the Digimon in place. It lets out another series of emotionless roars.

Loogamon looks toward Machinedramon with an unusual amount of sympathy. “What a sorry sight. It can’t hunt or live its life. I wouldn’t wish this fate on my worst enemy.”

“Eradication attack!” Marvin shouts, not wasting a second.

Megadramon lifts its arms towards the Machinedramon. The large metal claws open, letting out a barrage of missiles. The missiles break through the Machinedramon’s restraints. The room fills with smoke from the explosions.

“Careful! Don’t kill it!” Eiji yells. The Machindramon doesn’t move. It couldn’t without human direction.

“Relax, I’m only targeting the restraints,” Marvins says dismissively. “We gotta bust it out of its chains so we can use our capture tool on it.” Megadromon moves into position as Marvin finishes his explanation.

“Ultimate Slicer”

Megadramon crosses its arms releasing a slashing energy of the same shape. It flies through the air cutting away the last bit of data holding the Digimon in place.

Eiji and Loogamon suddenly find themselves surrounded by the hissing and popping of firework-like sparks.

“What the heck?” Eiji yells as he tries to make sense of the flashes. Loogamon’s vision becomes obscured by the sudden spectacle. Loogamon sniffs at the air trying to make up for his lost senses while Eiji looks through his monitors desperately. The words “Mega, Diety, Vaccine” appear on one of the screens. “Are you seeing this?” Eiji says as he tries to find the Digimon belonging to the description.

A bolt of lightning dances along the walls, finally leaping through the air of the hanger.

“Megadramon!”

Chapter 2, digimon seekers

Digimon Seekers: Chapter 2-3: Marvin’s Room

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Make sure to check out the official release. If you’ve been enjoying this project, make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. See you next week!

Only eight members of the Sons of Chaos attend the Operation Infinity briefing. Eiji stares nervously at the seven other avatars around him. He only recognizes Marvin. The rest are strangers who occasionally share idle chatter, but the room is mostly silent.

A large screen suddenly flashes above them and fills with maps, pictures, and charts.

“Our Target is the Nation of X,” Marvin begins. His voice is more stern and serious than it was the day before. “They are a small nation with an almost negligible GDP, but they are one of the world’s biggest sponsors of terrorism. Bombings, kidnappings, genocide, you name it, they’ve done it. Recently, they’ve moved their operations into digital world.” Marvin flips through the slides filled with related news clippings. “A large number of cyber-attacks originate Nation X. Their latest exploit? The digital exchange where they made off with billions of dollars in crypto…”

“That was them?” Eiji involuntarily blurts out, interrupting Marvin’s flow.

Marvin nods. “Yep, it is state sponsored Digimon crime, and it has to stop. Attacks like these will destabilize the market, but more importantly, it goes against the fundamental beliefs we were built on. Nation X threatens freedom in Digital World.”

Eiji takes a hard swallow as the scale of the operation hits him. This was bigger than any freelance job he had ever taken. His hands tremble slightly as Marvin continues his explanation. Most of it goes over his head. Eiji understands bits and pieces, but his nerves become a distraction. Eiji takes a deep breath and tries to remember why he’s there. His breath echos throughout the small dark apartment as he tries to calm himself and focus on Marvin’s words.

“Nation X is using a Machindramon to commit their crimes and pinning it on us.” Marvin throws an image of the metallic dinosaur on the screen. “I don’t think I need to explain why we can’t let that continue.” There aren’t many forces that can take down a Mega Digimon. This wasn’t mission wasn’t going to be easy.

Marvin finishes his explanation. The room remains silent as they look over one another.

“Good, we’re all here,” a mysterious voice says suddenly. “Since there are some fresh faces, allow me to introduce myself. I am Tartarus, and I’ll personally be running this operation.”

Tartarus is here?! Eiji thinks to himself. He tries to recover from the shock an stay professional. He wasn’t expecting to get this close to Tartarus so soon.

“This is a simple mission. We crash their servers and capture the Machinedramon.”

Eiji studies the image of Machinedramon. This Digimon has the power to penetrate the toughest national security. Such a tool has already proven catastrophic in the hands of a small country, Eiji couldn’t imagine what a group of skilled Code Crackers could do with it.

“It’s time we show this dictator his place,” Tartarus continues. “This is a fight for the freedom of the network.”

“For the freedom of the network!” Marvin echoes enthusiastically.

“For the Freedom of the network!” The others repeat loudly.

“No team of code crackers are as unified or powerful as the Sons of Chaos. Soon the world will see that we are a force to be reckoned with. They will see that we are a team that can topple nations!” Tartarus continues charismatically. His voice commanded respect, and those who gathered around him were ready to give it.

One by one, the SOC higher-ups start bringing out their Digimon. Most of them were Cyborg types. Eiji mutes his mic and looks down at his Digimon Linker. “This is it Loogamon. You Ready?” Eiji takes a deep breath as he looks down at his pixel art companion, “Here we go!”

Marvin’s room empties as one by one the members blink out of existence. Eiji scrolls through the options on his linker, stopping on the mindlink option. There was no going back now. Eiji is overwhelmed by a warm dizzying sensation that was growing more familiar.

They were now mindlinked. In the void of Loogamon’s Digicore, Eiji’s heart races. He goes over the mission directives in his head, repeating them like a mantra to calm himself.

Disable the servers, steal the Machinedramon, Eiji repeats to himself. This should be easy right? He takes a small breath to sooth his nerves.

“Loogamon, this is your conscious. You should let Eiji pet you,” Eiji manages in a playfully spooky voice.

“Shut up!” Loogamon retorts smugly. “Get serious Eiji.”

“I’m just trying to lighten up the mood. This can be our pregame ritual.” Eiji says, each word finding a more confident purchase.

“Pregame?”

“It’s something we do to pump ourselves up. Something to do before a big mission like this for good luck.”

“This isn’t a game. I need you to be serious for a moment and watch this.” Loogamon’s tone is stern as he pulls up a video on one of the screens.

Character design/illustration illustrator: malo

Eiji stares at a man strapped to a reclining chair. Wires run neatly from the man and connect to nearby monitors and machines. A neat overlay over the video records his vitals.

“Who is that?”

“He was a hacker that used to work at the DDL. He was one of the institutes most promising subjects. He’s logged more mindlink hours than anyone else, and I think his record still stands. Keep watching, you need to see this.”

The video speeds up. The time stamp makes its quick climb, and Eiji watches the man’s vitals closely. Before he could ask what he was supposed to look for, the man starts convulsing wildly. The man fights against the restraints holding him to the chair, but they keep him from falling to the ground. The medical staff rushes to the man. Eiji watches as their silent screams carry useless instructions. He watches as they attempt to hold the man down in their wasted efforts. After a few moments, the man stops moving. The video cuts as the staff begins unplugging him from the machine.

Eiji swallows hard. “What happened?”

“Their Digimon ran into trouble. We believe the encounter overloaded the mindlink.”

“Overloaded? How?”

“There are limits to mindlink. Those limits depend on the skill of the code cracker, their compatibility with their partner Digimon, and the level of their Digimon. The higher the disparity between these factors are, the shorter the window becomes. If you go above this limit, your consciousness becomes melded to the Digital World. You’ll become trapped here.”

“What do you mean by melded?”

“I don’t have an answer for that. Worst case, your consciousness is destroyed. Best case, you’ll float aimlessly through the vast networks, forever lost in the endless stream of data.

A shiver runs down Eiji’s spine. The answer disturbs him. The cold reality of the assignment hits him like a bullet train. He tries to find his nerve again.

“So what happens to the body?” Eiji asks, knowing the answer.

“It becomes an empty husk.”

For the first time since he took the assignment, Eiji thinks about the stakes involved. He thinks about his body sitting alone in his tiny apartment. How long would it take for someone to find his body? His rent was set up for automatic payments. It would be a few months before his account drained. Would his neighbors complain about the smell? Eiji imagines his corps, rotting away on his bed. Another computer junkie dead from too much gaming.

Eiji shakes off the dark thoughts. It’s too late to think about that. I just have to make sure I don’t pass the limit. Easy Peasy. The speach does little to settle his nerves.

“For your safety, I’ve set another limit to make sure you return to the real world,” Loogamon replies as if reading his mind.

“Aw! You do care!” Eiji teases in an attempt to find his nerve.

“Can’t risk having you melded to my Digicore,” Loogamon says snidely. “I can’t spend the rest of my life with your voice in my head. I’d rather be deleted.”

Eiji lets out a nervous laugh. “Come on, Loogamon. Get serious. Their waiting for us”

Series Reviews

Silo: The fantastically suspenseful sci-fi mystery you should be watching, or at the very least reading.

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Silo is a fantastic sci-fi mystery full of suspense, action, and conspiracy. If you have an Apple TV subscription or need a reason to start one, check out this series.

Earth has become a toxic and uninhabitable wasteland. The few remaining survivors live now live in an underground silo where life, for the most part, is peaceful. Everyone in the silo serves their purpose, settling into a routine that is decided for them. Most don’t questions the silo’s designs or the founders’ motives. Some get curious and ask the questions that peel at the veil of this carefully crafted façade, but they don’t last long. There is something wrong with the silo. A secret too big to keep hidden forever. 

Juliet is a gifted mechanic who spends her days keeping the silo running. She does her job passionately and has never been curious about anything that isn’t mechanical. This all changes when she finds herself wrapped in the silo’s biggest conspiracy. Now Juliet finds herself searching for answers that will destabilize the peace in the silo. Will Juliet finally be the one to uncover the truth, or will she be silenced like all the rest?

Silo is a fantastic thriller with a well-crafted mystery, terrific acting, and a beautiful rustic aesthetic. Some actors aren’t great, and there is a bit of filler I would skip next time around, but the series left me wanting more. I started reading Wool, the book the series is based on, because I couldn’t wait a week for the answers. Once you binge this series in one sitting, I recommend you read the book or at least listen to it on Audible. It is a fantastic piece of science fiction. I’ll link some free copies of the audiobook below for those interested.

I enjoyed both versions almost equally. I loved the TV series because the actors did a great job portraying their characters, I enjoyed the attention to detail in the world and mannerisms, and I liked that the series felt more like a thriller. There are some suspenseful moments in the series that kept me at the edge of my seat even though I knew what was going to happen. I enjoyed the book because it felt more like a mystery. I felt like Juliet got more answers in the book. There are also details in the book that were left out that I felt were done better. I can’t tell you which version I enjoyed more, but I do recommend you dive into them both. 

If you haven’t seen this series yet, it is a great time to start it. It is a fantastic mystery set in a fascinating world led by a great protagonist. My only complaint is that I’ll have to wait for season 2 for more answers, but I guess I can read the books in the mean time. 

this version of the audiobook isn’t finished, but it does cover everything that happens in the series. It is also the better of the free version

This version isn’t as good, but you have both parts: