Electrocution was a bitch.

That was what comprised Eleanor’s first thoughts as she groaned, the after-effects of unconsciousness clouding her thoughts. She tossed and turned, pulled the non-existent covers over her head, before slowly pushing herself into a sitting position, her eyes still half-closed and her head pounding.

“I swear, if we’re in another cage I am going to start kicking people...”

She blinked a few times. Then a few more. And then she peered down, looking at the green and tan blob sitting at her feet, waiting expectantly with a sickly-sweet smile plastered over its face.

“What the fuck...”

The blob chuckled. “Now now, there’s no need for language like that. We run a clean ship here. Everything is completely spick and span and tickerty-boo, and that goes for everything that comes out of our mouths as well, miss human.

Eleanor blinked, and repeated, “What the actual fuck?”

Tanemon sighed, and scratched behind his leaf, flicking it back and forth. “Yeah, I guess nobody pays attention to that one anyway.” He smiled up at the girl. “Just try not to do that in front of the Impenetrable and you should be alright. He gets awfully embarrassed.”

Eleanor opened her mouth to repeat her phrase a third time, but decided against it, due to its apparent non-effectiveness. She resorted to looking around, and noted that they weren’t in a prison after all; rather they were in what seemed to be in the centre of a big outdoor bowl. She pushed herself up a little further, and took in the sight around her.

At first glance it seemed to be a primitive town, with a few stores, pathways and several dozen Digimon going about their everyday business. But things weren’t quite as simple as that. The streets were made of wooden planks, and lining the sky was a thin lattice of what looked like fishing net. The sky itself was one massive gradient; stretching from bright azure to a deep purple. And while she couldn’t see anything of it from within the pail, Eleanor could hear the distinct sound of the sea; the sea which they’d been plucked up from not too long ago.

The girl glared at Tanemon, who merely tilted his body a little. “Is something wrong?”

“Are we in trouble for something?”

The little plant blob puffed his chest(?) out. “I’ll have you know I saved you from a terrible fate at the hands of a vicious monster. It took two of us to prise you out of its hands, you know!”

Eleanor thought about questioning how a miniscule slimeball was able to release her from the turtle’s immense grip, but she settled for a more useful question. “Where is Terramon? Or...Chelydramon or...whatever she’s doing now...”

“She dissolved into a Rookie soon after we got you on board, and went below deck. Did you have a fight?

“Well, I probably owe her an apology.”

“I must admit, she didn’t seem very happy.”

“Nyaah...what to do. I guess we’ve found partners in so many different back streets and pits and all over the place, I suppose it was always bound to happen that we’d accidentally kidnap one.“ Eleanor sighed, and scratched behind her head. “It would be me, wouldn’t it...”

Tanemon shrugged. “I don’t care. She bit me several times. She should learn some manners. Actually, you both should.” He stuck his tongue out. “I’ll give you an hour. Hopefully the rest of you should be up and about by then. You’d better be; the Impenetrable wants to see you all up and moving and really energetic. Or so he said.”

Eleanor held her head with one hand. “Sorry, who the fuck is the Impenetrable?”

Tanemon took in a breath, before grinning inanely. “He is...power and life incarnate. He is indestructible in a way incomprehensible. He is a deity who walks among us.”

Eleanor forced a smile. “Awesome. I hate him already.”

“He also has a very good sense of humour, so you should count yourself lucky.” Tanemon tutted, before he hobbled back down the wooden walkway. “Though you might want to consider your demeanour just a teensy bit before you meet him.”

It took most of that hour just to get the group vaguely conscious. Eleanor had been spared most of the electric shock thanks to Chelydramon’s iron grip and tough hide, but most of them hadn’t been quite so lucky. It hadn’t been enough to cause injury, mind you, but most of the Digimon and all of the other kids were distinctly groggy and borderline hung-over on their coming-to. Only Polypmon was vaguely alright, although they kept bowing to Martin and apologising at a rate of approximately thirty words a second.

Eleanor tried to calm things down in her own way, but she couldn’t help feeling that – after recent events – her diplomatic skills had been rather diminished in the eyes of her colleagues. A sentiment which she couldn’t entirely disagree with. Swallowing, she felt for the device around her wrist, only to remember that that had been another casualty of the situation. Whoopee.

She had half a mind to demand to see Terramon and clear all this up, but she wasn’t entirely sure that would be the best course of action. For one of the few times in her life, she decided to stay quiet and watch what was going on around her.

The sky had shifted a good sixty-degrees to the right by the time they were finally approached again (day and night seemed to be a flexible affair around this point in the Digital World.) The group watched as Tanemon and a couple of other Digimon shuffled up the pathway. Tanemon gestured towards the pail with a stamp of his front foot.

“Presenting the harbinger of revolution and governor of the community of justice, I present to you, Motimon the Impenetrable!”

Martin couldn’t help but smirk a little, but as he held his mirth back he noticed that Empermon and Hinkymon were laughing even more, trying very hard not to burst out into fits of giggles. Aardmon, however, was looking particularly nervous. She just stared ahead at the new Digimon coming down the walkway, with a mighty and unmistakeable sashay. Martin followed her gaze, and, together with the rest of their group, they watched the Impenetrable shuffle down towards them.

He was almost as indescribable in his sheer confidence as he was in his lunacy; a tiny pink blob of sentient silly-putty, with two stubby arms in which he held a long ebony rod. He wore a crystal-studded skullcap atop his head, and around his midriff(?) he had a hook from which was tied a long, flowing cloak, which trickled along behind him as smoothly as water. The Digimon shuffled up right next to the pail, putting his hands as far behind his back as he could manage and staring at each one of them in turn. At this distance the group could see the bright sparks dancing in his eyes, as well as the paint-like markings which someone had felt the need to scrawl over his face.

Motimon the Impenetrable smiled, and hopped backwards a few feet, snapping the fingers on one stubby hand as he addressed Tanemon and Kapurimon, the other Digimon flanking him.

“Come on then, let them out, give them room, chop chop. Let them stretch their legs. We don’t want to be rude now, do we my darlings?”

The children looked amongst each other. They wanted to laugh. Every single one of them wanted to burst out laughing. But at this point, they were just tired. They shuffled forwards, standing in a line in front of the self-proclaimed ruler of whatever hellhole they’d ended up in now, all of them questioning every decision which had led them to this point. All the while Motimon kept smiling amiably and beckoning them along.

“Come on now, come on. Don’t be shy. I won’t bite, I promise. See?” He stuck a paw inside his mouth and stretched it outwards far further than was really appropriate. “See? No teeth. I’m friendly.”

Martin coughed a little, and clasped his hands in front of him. “You’ll forgive us if we’re a bit...wary. We’ve had a bit of a rough time with other Digimon, some of them far more adorable than you are.”

The others wrenched their necks around to stare at him in unison. The boy coughed. “No offense, of course.”

Motimon laughed in a manner far deeper than he really should have been able to, and beckoned the group to come with him. “And none ever to be taken, you most splendid young man. You’re part of the fleet now. Everyone’s honest with each other here.”

He paused, and bowed as low as he was able, namely a couple of inches. “That, I can promise, and if you ever feel otherwise you are welcome to challenge me at any time.”

He waddled off, using his vast staff as a walking stick as he whistled for them to come along. With nothing else they could really do, the group tagged along behind, trying not to step on the Impenetrable’s massive cape.

Callum leaned to one side, whispering to Empermon. “Is this guy for real?”

“I’m asking myself that.” The penguin tapped his shoulder with his saxophone. “Motimon in general are curious, and some are even quite clever. But they’re not exactly ruler material. Or anything like...” The penguin couldn’t find the words, so just flapped his flippers in front of him. “...this...any of this...”

Lorelie walked along beside them, tapping away on her keypad. “At least he seems nice?”

There was a snort from beside her, and Aardmon folded her arms. “I don’t like it. We should get out of here as quickly as we can.”

“Why?”

“In case you forgot, we were brought here by electrified fishing net. Against our will.”

Callum folded his arms. “Maybe he’s just a pirate or something. Or...thinks he’s a pirate.

“All the more reason for us to skedaddle.”

The boy waved her off. “Come on, he’s tiny. Even if he is a pirate or warlord or...whatever he’s pretending to be, he can’t be that influential. How big can this boat possibly be?”

He soon had his question answered, as Motimon hopped up one last ramp and stopped at the top, beckoning the others. They surfaced, and found themselves at the very top of the ship itself. Callum gawped.

“Okay, I take it back. That’s...actually awesome.”

From their vantage point they could see the entire ship, which seemed more like a small village. Thousands of In-Training levels hopped around, chatting and roughhousing and living their own lives. Interspersed amongst them were a few Rookies, and even a couple of Champions, although they seemed to be more focused on their own tasks, whatever they were. The outer halves of the ship were laid out like terraces, with quarters for seemingly everyone on board. The alleys and pathways all converged in the centre, where there stood a great elliptical plaza, surrounded by a ring of iron. Poles stood up around the edge of the ship, around which was tied more of the chain netting, making the whole thing seem like its own little community.

Or perhaps another cage, although it was certainly an aesthetically pleasing one. Even imprisonment can be made more tolerable by the correct interior design.

Beyond the netting, the group could see the rest of the fleet; dozens of tugboats and trawlers moving around, and a few other large fleet ships and battleships, although none as spectacular as the one they were already on. And beyond that, the vastness of the floating ocean, with the curve of the horizon clearly visible, as well as the jetstreams leading to the other islands. And further out still, the core, floating in the middle of digital space and decidedly not as accessible as it had seemed a few hours before.

Motimon took a moment to appreciate everybody’s awe, before clearing his throat. “This is the Omega Marina. It is the central hub from which I run this entire community. I take it you’re impressed?”

Ursula put her hands in her pockets. “You say community. Are they all like you? You know...um...” She held her palm down to the ground. “The small ones?”

Aardmon shot her a look, but she raised her arms. “I still don’t know how this world’s supposed to work, alright? There are small ones, big ones and oh-shit-run-away ones. That all I can remember.”

To be fair, Motimon didn’t seem too offended (though to be even fairer, he didn’t seem to be too offended by anything). He rubbed his non-existent nose, clearly enjoying the attention. “Most of us are, as you so delightfully put it, the small ones. In-Trainings, to be exact. The prime form in this fleeting life. Our kind certainly founded the fleet, although we don’t push people away. Those poor beasts who are older than us need somewhere to go, after all.”

Empermon folded his flippers, and tapped his foot. “What exactly is so poor about us?”

“If you’ll forgive my bluntness, you’re ungainly. Clumsy. A little unsanitary. There’s no need for evolution in this community.”

The penguin was about to object, but Motimon hobbled away, looking up at each of the humans in turn. “That said, I do find you five very interesting. You hear about humans all the time but you don’t exactly see them every day. I’m honoured.”

Eleanor huffed. “If you wanted to meet us so badly you didn’t need to literally drag us on board.”

“Yeah, I mean...” Callum breathed in through his teeth, choosing his words as carefully as he could, “...this is all rather special, but we do actually have something we need to do. I believe your world needs some...fixing.”

Motimon grinned. “Excellent! You too? That’s absolutely wonderful; I love when people have the right idea in mind!”

Callum blinked. “You...do?”

“That’s the reason I brought this whole fleet together. Why this community’s gathered so quickly.” Motimon the Impenetrable hopped up onto the barrier and leaned out, waving his staff at everything in view.

“The forces of imbalance are strong. They’re getting stronger every day. We need to step up; we can’t always rely on people like you, so it’s up to us to be the best that we can in your absence.” He turned around, smiling amiably. “But with you on our side as well, we could tackle the worst that this world has to offer.”

“You’d go up against the Funnyman?”

“The Funnyman? Is that what you call them?” Motimon scratched beneath his chin, muttering to himself for a moment. “You do have a glorious perspective outside of our own. I would truly love to work with you. And maybe you could even become stronger yourselves.” The pink blob grinned. “I don’t suppose I could convince you to stay?”

Aardmon looked amongst everyone, her expression a wary one. “I don’t know...”

“Please do think about it. If you have your own mission, then by all means continue.” Motimon stuck a paw in the air. “Although the weather is turning. I would recommend you wait for a day or so. And if you’re here, maybe you’d like to explore? Please. Just a day. Think it over. I insist.”

Callum sighed, and turned to the others. Nobody seemed willing to call it. He looked down at Empermon, who shrugged. “Don’t look at me.”

Lorelie pulled out her keypad, but she just held it, her thumbs hovering over the buttons. She tried to turn her screen away, but there was little she could do to hide the bright flashing ‘:/’ from the tiny blob. He tapped his base against the floor, patient as you like.

“Let’s stay.”

Aardmon turned to glare at Callum, but the boy nodded. “Just for a bit. We might just have gotten lucky here.”

“Excellent! Fantastic!” Motimon hopped down, and waved his staff towards the ramps down into the main square. “The plaza is free. If there’s anything you wish to know, just ask. As I said, we’re all as honest as can be.”

He left them to go their separate ways, shuffling down the ramp back towards the pail.

“Wait, Mr...The Impenetrable?”

Motimon turned, smiling up at Eleanor sincerely. “Please, call me Motimon. It’s what I am, and what I was always meant to become.”

“I...whatever.” Eleanor stuck her hands in her pockets. “Was there someone else who came with us? A big turtle thing? Or maybe a smaller turtle thing now.”

“Ah, yes...” Motimon tapped against the floor in thought. “She woke up before all of you. She seemed a little stressed so I let her borrow a room. As far as I know she hasn’t come out. Poor thing. Poor, broken thing.” He glanced up at Eleanor. “I can take you to her, but I can’t promise she will be accommodating. It was ever so upsetting. She seemed to be swearing about you a lot.”

“That sounds about right.” Eleanor exhaled, running her fingers through her hair. “Can you take me anyway? I think I need to clear up a few things.”

Motimon bowed, his forehead touching the deck.

“Of course. Anything you desire.”

It was hard to tell where the day ended and the night began, as the light made its slow march across the sky in repeating ribbons. Even if the sky above was the pitch black of night, the golden daylight still shone through from the other side of the ocean, bursting from the sea in golden shafts that rippled against the dark tapestry. And even then, at its darkest, there was still the constant pulsing of the digital core, now far away from reach.

Ursula sighed as she stared across the horizon, watching as the first glimmers of light poked their way over the azure landscape. There was a giggle from next to her, as Hinkymon waddled along the wooden rail with his arms outstretched, his little face creased up in concentration. He wobbled, and waved his arms frantically, very nearly overbalancing but not quite.

“Watch out!”

Hinkymon grinned, and sat down, dangling his legs over the rail. “I’m okay.”

“What am I going to do with you...?” said Ursula, shaking her head. “If you fall over and your lamp breaks you could set fire to the ship.”

“Not gonna happen.”

Hinkymon reached up and knocked against the glass of his lantern with a hollow clanging sound. “My light never goes out. I am the fire eternal. Bow before me.”

“Not likely.” Ursula sniggered, before looking thoughtfully up at him. “Really? It doesn’t ever go out? Not even when you swim?”

Hinkymon stopped mid-jeer, and folded himself up in a grumpy fashion. “I don’t swim.”

“Of course...” Ursula gestured a palm out towards the sea. “It might be helpful to learn. You never know if we’ll end up in another wet situation.”

“It’s alright. I’ll ride on your back next time.”

“I will tip you off next time.”

Hinkymon looked almost hurt, but Ursula stuck her tongue out. He grinned, and retorted in kind, backing it up with a good measure of finger waggling.

“Whatchya doing?”

Ursula leaned backwards as Martin walked over, seemingly out of breath. Polypmon was sprawled over one of his shoulders, moaning about hot sun and the fact that they hadn’t had a chance to recover properly after being beaten up by an angry turtle kaiju. Martin was keeping his diplomatic face on well, but it was clear that his partner’s constant tendency for being overdramatic had been testing his patience a little. He shrugged his shoulders aggressively. “Go on, go and play with Hinkymon or something.”

Polypmon moaned, but obliged, literally rolling off Martin’s shoulder and wobbling over to the rail, where they draped themselves over it like a pudding on a hot day, fanning themselves ineffectively with the ends of their tentacles.

Ever so helpful and considerate as he was, Hinkymon hopped over, and began cheekily poking them in the side. Polypmon was too hot and bothered to respond.

Martin leaned back against the rail and looked across the streets as Digimon of all kinds went about their lives. He smirked. “It almost looks normal, doesn’t it?”

“What is normal, really?”

Martin looked quizzically up at the girl next to him. Ursula turned round, staring out over the plaza. “I suppose if you think about it, we’re the ones who aren’t normal here. No wonder everybody is so hesitant to trust us.”

Martin leaned over next to her. “What, trusting us with this whole saving-the-world shtick? I struggle to believe that myself.” He shrugged. “Then again...you never know. We can all only try to do our best.”

Ursula smiled uncharacteristically. “I’m sure we all are. And hey, at least we haven’t died yet. I don’t think we are doing too badly at all.”

The girl squinted, and pointed a few blocks below. “Look, it’s Callum and Lorelie.”

“So it is.” Martin smiled, folding his arms. “I guess they’re touring the place as well.”

The girl didn’t answer. Martin waited for a few moments, before glancing to the side. Ursula was staring down, her head resting on one hand, and with a slightly distant expression on her face. She was smiling ever so slightly.

Martin looked down, then looked up at the taller girl again. His face stretched out into something that wasn’t quite a smile, and for a moment he held back what he wanted to say. But as he watched the girl beside him growing more and more distant, he decided to risk it. Turning around again, he cleared his throat. “So, I...couldn’t help but notice you seem to...you know...”

Ursula half-snapped out of her stupor, and glanced sideways, an irritated look in her eye. “What?”

“I mean, just what I’ve seen, which might be nothing, I suppose, but...I’ve just been wondering...are you...and I mean if it’s nothing like that then I don’t-”

The girl blinked. “Please think of your sentences before you talk to me. I still don’t understand your English mumbling.”

“Fine. I...fine.”

Ursula huffed, and went back to watching the two down below. There was a distant electronic ‘yeep’ as Lorelie stumbled over her own feet, just catching herself from falling over. She straightened up, and jogged ahead just a little to catch up with Callum. Ursula gave a little laugh, and shook her head. Martin sucked his cheeks in.

“Ursula, do you have a thing for Lorelie?”

Ursula’s face went scarlet, and she jolted upright with a yell, overbalancing and tumbling down to the floor with an immense clatter. Down below the other two tamers stared up, and gave a little wave. Martin replied in kind, before glancing down at Ursula. He tilted his head.

“You okay down there?”

“Ich werde einen großen Hammer in Ihr Arschloch stecken.”

“...pardon?”

Martin leant down and helped the girl up, and she sat back against the wall, staring directly ahead and refusing to make eye-contact. Her face was still going through all the popular shades of hot-pink. Martin rolled his fingers, the corners of his mouth turning up.

“So is that a yes?”

“That is none of your business.”

Martin raised his hands. “I know noooothing. I promise.”

Ursula folded her arms, shrugging her shoulders and looking in the opposite direction. “I just have a lot of respect for what she is doing. And I know she’s finding it difficult. And I...think that is very admirable.”

Martin couldn’t help but notice Ursula’s shoulders inching ever so slowly upwards.

“And she is always very nice and she was nice to me from the first day we met in class and she’s been nice to me during this whole thing and...I think it is a very nice and sweet thing to be and...I respect her...a lot...”

She trailed off, and Martin saw the edge of her mouth twitching again. He sniffed, and looked up to the sky.

“Ah, young love. So wonderful to see it blossom-“

“Martin, I will tie Polypmon around your face and throw you into the sea.”

Polypmon groaned behind them, and lifted a withered tentacle. “Don’t bring me into this! What are you even on about?”

Hinkymon waggled his toes of the edge of the rail. “Miss has a thing of the little miss’s? I think?”

“And that’s grounds for keelhauling?”

Martin stuck his lips out. “I mean nothing by it. I just think it’s really sweet-“

He didn’t finish his sentence, as a vice-like hand clamped itself around his shoulder and spun him around mechanically. The boy glanced up into Ursula’s face, noting her eyes spread apart in a strained, false smile and her eyes brimming with unbridled rage.

“Martin...I said...it was none...of your business.”

Carrying a surprising new awareness of his own safety, Martin laughed nervously, and backed away across the deck with the girl and the two Digimon watching him.

“I think it might be best if I...gave you a little space to figure things out. Though I am forever in support and I am always here if you need somebody to talk to and-“

Unable to see where he was going, his heel clicked over a dip in the wooden deck. He wobbled, before overbalancing dramatically, crashing down with a thud and rolling into the far corner. Polypmon threw themselves up, placing tentacles over their mouth. “Martin!”

The jellyfish flustered for a second, before rushing over to their fallen partner, already apologising at a rate of knots.

Hinkymon had his finger in his mouth, curiously watching the whole affair. He looked up at his partner, who was staring into the middle distance, an expression of serene calm over her face.

“Should we help him?”

“No.”

Hinkymon blinked. “He could be hurt.”

Ursula smiled.

“Then let him perish.”

Eleanor wheezed as she pulled herself up yet another flight of stairs, following the impenetrable emperor in front of her who seemed to be hopping along like nobody’s business.

“How in the ever-loving heck did you manage to build this place in a few days? It’s fucking huge!”

Motimon the Impenetrable turned on his gelatinous heels, and tapped the side of his snout. “Now child, there are some secrets I like to keep to myself.”

Eleanor looked exasperated. “I’ve only been here for...like...a day. Can’t you guys offer me anything to work with?”

The little slimeball hopped up again, tilting his staff in between hands. “I know, I know. It must be incredibly frustrating, having to adjust to such a different world. Particularly given your current condition, as well.”

He slid back down so abruptly that Eleanor nearly fell over him, but just managed to steady herself in time. Motimon held his paw out, and gently pressed against the screen of her D-Psyche. Eleanor pulled back.

“Please don’t.”

“My apologies. I’m merely curious. As you can see I have a little handle on advanced engineering myself. But this...” Motimon respectfully kept his distance, but he did peer down, examining the chunky device that passed for Eleanor’s foot.

The girl puffed out her cheeks. “Whatever. You wanna marry it so much you can take it if you want, I really don’t care.”

“Please, I couldn’t deprive you of this blessing that’s been bestowed upon you!”

“...you’re kidding right?”

Eleanor blinked. Motimon beamed back, and hopped up a few more steps. Eleanor held the bridge of her nose.

“Oh my god, you’re not kidding.”

Motimon grinned. “Of course. I do love a good jest, but I let it not be said that I’m dishonest.”

Eleanor tried to come back with another retort, but the stairs got the better of her and she collapsed into breathless wheezes. “You are fucking impossible.”

“Impenetrable, fine young miss.” Motimon hopped off, and went all coy for a moment. “And pardon my intrusion, but could you find it in your heart to refrain from such coarse language? It does make things a tad awkward for me.”

Eleanor glared at him for a split second, before exhaling. “I should be allowed to say what I gosh-danged like.”

“Thank you for the effort.” Motimon stopped beside the nearest door, and tapped it with his staff. “I think you’ll find your companion’s quite alright in here. Maybe a bit grumpy but...” He giggled. “I’ll let you get reacquainted.”

Eleanor was about to point out how she could probably punt him over the side if he didn’t shut up, but it came out as a series of wheezes. Still, Motimon seemed to get the point; he tutted as he shuffled past her, pausing a few inches from her feet.

“The youth of today...so obtuse and overly driven...” He smiled up at her. “Still, I sincerely hope you manage to make up. It would be absolutely tickerty-boo to have you standing alongside us.”

Eleanor watched as he hopped to the edge of the stairs, and raised out a hand. “Hey, uh...this may seem like a weird question, but...”

Motimon turned, spinning his staff absent-mindedly. Eleanor watched as the end spun rapidly through the air, looking very heavy and unwieldy. And yet it moved with such grace. Such...perfect finesse. She looked into the blob’s dark eyes, and smiled.

“If we need to carry on with our mission, we can...leave, can’t we? You know...I mean...”

“Purely business? I understand.” Motimon frowned. “Though I would implore you to stay for tonight. I can at least give you all a proper welcome then. It should only be a couple of hours.” He pointed upwards. “When day and night split the sky exactly. Come down to the plaza, and bring your friends. You won’t miss it.”

For a moment Eleanor saw a weird light in his eyes. Then it was gone.

“I’ll see you then.

“Tremendous. I’m sure you’ll love it.”

He bowed, and stepped backwards off the lip of the top stair, with Eleanor watching after him. The atmosphere up here felt almost thick after he’d left, like his presence was still around.

She shook her head, and focused on other things. Gingerly, she reached out and knocked at the wooden door of the quarters.

“Go away.”

“Figures.” Eleanor leant forwards and tried to peer through the small window, but it was dim inside, and even then she couldn’t see anything.

“Get away from the door or I’ll bite your nose off. I can do that, yaknow. And I will.”

Eleanor bit her lip, almost responding, but instead she took a couple of breaths and sat down on the other side of the door from where she imagined Terramon was bundled up.

“How are you doing?”

“Didn’t you hear me? Piss off! I know your game!”

“Well then, what is my game?”

“You want my head for something. That’s what it is. You’re scouting me, I know you are. Probably got my name off Gizamon. You’re holding her. This...this is all a massive scam. This whole bloody operation.”

“And I guess I built the boat as well?”

“Don’t you play dumb with me!” There was a bang on the wood from Terramon’s fist. “I saw that! I saw you zap me with that...weird...green...swamp magic! Hell, I felt it! What is this, false evolutions? Where did you learn that?”

Eleanor scratched behind her head. “Would...you believe me if I said that was an accident?”

“Yeah right.”

Eleanor groaned, and stuck her forehead between her knees. She counted to ten, then took in a breath.

“Okay I don’t do this very often so I’m not very good. One, I’m very sorry. Really. I didn’t mean to put you through that and I was just mad. Two, I’m not working for anyone; I’m just with the other humans trying to de-fuck-up this world. Three, frankly, I don’t really like your attitude, and fuck me there’s no way you’d like mine, but I think the fact that I made you evolve means we’re now supposed to work together. Because that’s how your world works apparently.”

Pause.

“That sounds really dumb.”

“You’re telling me. All of you guys have been really fucking irritating but we keep bumping into you and you keep following us. So...yeah. I’m just being honest.”

“So...you’re not part of a conspiracy?”

“If I said no, would you believe me?”

“Yes. I mean...no? Aren’t you...” The wood shook a little. “Aaargh, you’re all so tricky! Get out of my head!”

Eleanor grumbled under her breath. “Well done girl, you found yourself a paranoid turtle. Good job.”

Terramon shuffled, sniffing behind the door. “I can’t join you anyway. I need to find Gizamon.”

“Who is Gizamon? And what were you doing out there anyway, besides getting beaten up by Mr Flippy?”

She waited, listening only to the turtle’s shallow breathing. A few moments passed, and Terramon spoke.

“Gizamon’s a friend of mine. I do have more friends, but they got left behind in the marshlands when the world broke up; only Gizamon came with me. We agreed to stick together and find our way back, but we got stuck on...an island. I got lost, and one of the streams pulled me away. But something went after us beforehand. Something...I’m sure something got her.”

“An island? Like the floating ones?”

“Yeah. It’s near the top of the ocean here. Just a mile or so away from the digital core.”

“What?” Eleanor started, throwing her head back and banging it against the wood. “You can get to the core?”

“I’m not going there! I’m going back to the island! I was going back to the island before you...you stole me away...” She muttered. “Gizamon...she has to still be up there...”

There was another bang against the door. Eleanor leaned backwards. “I’m sorry for getting you caught up in this.”

Silence.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I’m the one who left her behind. I need to get her back.”

Eleanor shrugged. “Sounds fair.” She leaned backwards a little, pressing her ear to the wood.

“In that case, maybe we can work something out...”

“You know what, Lorelie?” said Callum, leaning his arms back against his head as the two of them wandered through the streets, “This place isn’t half bad. I’m betting this is the first proper break we’ve had since we got here.”

“Well there was the bit on the island. You know. Before we got captured.”

Callum looked sideways, and noted her screen showing an eyerolling emoticon.

“You have a point. But, then again everyone’s been nice so far. It makes a change, that’s all.”

Empermon folded his flippers. “Oh, so I’m not nice? Thanks for telling me.”

“You know what I mean, dude.”

He swerved to avoid a posse of In-Trainings who hopped past with an immense vigour, all staring up in awe at the arrivals. He grinned, and looked aside at Lorelie. “Who knows, maybe you’ll find your partner here.”

He marched ahead, but turned when he saw that the girl had stopped, staring down at the ground. Her screen flashed orange for a brief moment, and she typed angrily.

“That’s not funny.”

“What? I meant it! I mean we’ve all found them-“

Lorelie bleeped, a couple of sparks flying from the back of her D-Psyche as she continued.

“You don’t need to joke about it. It’s alright for you. Leave me out of it.”

Callum faltered, holding his free hand up. “But...I mean it...” He looked down at Aardmon, who jumped at the gesture.

“You tell her. She’ll listen to you.”

Aardmon went pink. “I told you, I don’t know how this works! Stop making me solve your problems!”

“I thought that was why you came along. To try and fix all this.”

Another indignant squeak from Lorelie. “Fix me? Oh thx. >:(“

“Oh please...” Callum stamped his foot, before taking a breath. “Look, we’ve come this far. Heck, we’re nearly at the core, and we’ve found four warriors willing to fight with us to right this world. Even Aardmon’s kept up with us. Don’t you see? This is a chance to be a hero and all we need to do is believe!”

There was a cheer from a gaggle of small Digimon nearby, clearly roused by Callum’s speech. Empermon pulled the rim of his bobble-hat down over his eyes.

“I think I’m gonna throw up...”

Lorelie wasn’t convinced either. She looked to the side, her arms dangling by her side. Aardmon nudged her, smiling.

“You never know. You might get lucky.”

Lorelie sighed, and typed one-thumbed, before holding her keypad up to Aardmon only.

“Thx, but you don’t need to lie. I can’t even hold onto a tiny flash drive. I couldn’t handle a partner. I don’t deserve one.”

Aardmon sniffed, and looked away, pawing at the dust. “Trust me, you’re doing fine compared to me...”

“Ow!”

The two looked up to see Callum backing into a passing Guardromon and falling over his foot, landing in the dust. The Guardromon in turn kicked the boy’s outstretched D-Psyche and also went flying, though with far more of an audible crunch into the wood of the ship.

The boy apologised profusely, and immediately went about making a nuisance of himself to try and right the three-ton hunk of copper and iron. It went about as well as could be predicted, and the group of In-Trainings began to cheer again, although in far more of a sarcastic manner.

Empermon was at this point sat on a nearby bench, his head in his flippers.

“Callum, I’m disowning you.”

Callum muttered to himself and looked up, having finally managed to get the poor passer-by on his feet again. “Sorry, I wasn’t watching.”

“No, please, it’s me! It was me. Please, oh god, please forgive me!” Guardramon nodded multiple times, and backed away, apologising profusely as he clattered off down the deck with surprising speed for a big mechanical man. Callum pushed himself to his feet and brushed himself off, staring in puzzlement at the retreating robot.

“Man...chill out already. It happens.”

He beckoned the others and they continued, admiring the plaza around them. All except for Aardmon, who was still staring back at where the robot had gone. Her gaze shifted a little; up, down and all around, at the crowds who were beginning to gather. As she did so, her breathing sped up a little.

Presently she hopped forwards and tapped Callum on the arm.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” she whispered, gesturing to one side into one of the stacked terraces at the side of the plaza. “You know...privately?”

The group shuffled sideways through the crowds, with Aardmon keeping an eye out, until they were tucked away in an alleyway frankly far too small for the four of them. Callum peered out at the steadily-growing throng of Digimon. “What is it? The Funnyman?”

“I don’t know. I’m just...” Aardmon turned to Empermon. “You should have noticed. Isn’t there something a little weird about this place?”

“No, really? Aside from the fact that it seems to be run by toddlers I’d say it’s pretty normal.”

“That’s it though.” Aardmon pointed at a large gaggle of Bukamon, flapping their way towards the centre of the ship. “How do they look?”

Callum frowned. “Happy, I guess? Isn’t that normal?”

“Now look at the Rookies. And the Champions.”

Trying hard to stay out of sight, Callum and Lorelie looked again. It was difficult to notice at first, but they could see a few tell-tale signs. The Champions veering far out of the way of any incoming groups. The nervous twitching. Speedwalking, heads down and arms tucked in. And one or two, travelling at an impossibly slow speed with their darkened, exhausted eyes pinned to the floor.

Empermon swallowed. “They look...scared.”

Aardmon nodded. “For something priding itself on battling the forces of imbalance, whatever they are, there sure do seem to be a lot of In-Training Digimon running the place.”

Lorelie typed rapidly on her keypad. “What does that mean? Just coz they’re small doesn’t mean they’re unimportant.”

Empermon folded his arms. “But it does mean they’re weak. Not weak-willed, but like...physically. It’s just biology. Not to say they can’t do grown-up stuff, but something on this scale?” He snorted. “Something is definitely amiss.”

There was a loud banging as a couple of Tokomon rushed past the alleyway opening, making a noise far louder than they should have been able to. Aardmon flattened herself against the wall. “Should we move somewhere else? I feel like this could end badly if someone sees us loitering.”

Callum shrugged. “We’ve been given the freedom of the ship apparently. It’s not like someone’s just gonna reach out from nowhere and kidnap us in broad daylight.”

That was completely true.

In actual fact, somebody reached out from nowhere and kidnapped them in half-daylight.

It was a neat manoeuvre. Two great fluffy arms burst out from the open window just above the four, reached down and plucked Callum and Lorelie from the ground, pulling them inside with a muffled clatter. Before Aardmon and Empermon could even register their disappearance, the same arms came out and grabbed them, one in each palm. Within five seconds, the four had vanished. Plucked from the decking like leaves from the ground, with only the sand from their feet and the fresh scent of irony left behind.

Aardmon tumbled in last and bounced off the top of the bundle, bashing her head on a table nearby. She groaned, groggily hopping to his feet and waving her arms around. “Where is it? I’ll brain it! I’ll-”

She trailed off, and looked up. Standing in front of him was a true brute of a creature; hunched over inside the dilapidated room, with broad shoulders and a ridged torso, which seemed to be covered in bony plates. Similar bone ran down the beast’s back, traipsing off into a tail that rattled as it scraped across the floor. The creature’s arms were huge, covered with a thick fur, which still did little to hide the vicious sickle-shaped claws which passed for fingers.

The creature turned, and huddled down further. A cloth mask covered the top half of its pointed, rodent-like face, and its eyes were small and bright. It sniffed, its whiskers twitching as it squinted in the dim light.

Empermon sighed, and reached behind him for his saxophone. “Right, okay. When are we doing this?”

“I knew I wasn’t the only one!”

The penguin was taken aback by the massive shrew’s sudden outburst. He was even more taken aback when she thrust her arms forwards and pumped his flipper up and down, her whiskers going haywire. He stood there, stunned, as the massive creature practically untangled the pile of humans and Digimon and lined them all up in a row, as if they were only so many action figures. She chattered as she did so, speaking too fast for any of them to process.

“I thought I was the only one who dared to stand up against this tyrannical dictatorship but everybody I went to talk to was too much of a coward to actually do anything useful apart from the guys who got taken and I swear I’m going to avenge them but that’s why you’re gonna help me oh my god I can’t believe you’ve finally come and-“

She ran out of breath, and spent a couple of seconds hyperventilating, before bursting into laughter. Lorelie stared down at Aardmon, who shrugged, lost for words.

The giant shrew got a hold of herself and leaned forwards, shaking each of their hands in turn. When she got to Lorelie’s she stopped, and stared down at the tiny hand in hers. Her eyes lit up.

“Oh my days, you’re humans!”

She practically wrenched Lorelie’s arm out of its socket as she thrust her paws up and down, before backing off and patting her feet on the floor. “Omigodomigodomigodomigod I knew my day would come I knew I didn’t suffer through all that for nothing!”

Without warning she pressed her torso flat against the ground in a chaotic begging position, nearly squashing her nose into the wood.

“Please! Take me with you! Give me your powers!”

Lorelie’s screen blinked white, and very slowly she typed on her keypad.

“Who the $@£# are you?”

The shrew raised a paw, then lowered it, then pushed herself up and sat down, looking thoughtful. “I don’t know how this works...do I need to, like, sign something or can I just go and start punch bad guys or...”

Callum coughed loudly. “Hi, yes, okay, we’re...sort of new here and we don’t really know the rules ourselves so...please can you give us your name first before anything else?”

The shrew blinked. Then she let out a laugh, and knocked herself on the head. “I am a dummy. Sorry, I get excited. My name is Scutimon. I’ve been stuck on this boat forever.”

Aardmon tilted her head. “The world hasn’t been messed up for that long.”

“Well it felt like forever.” The shrew shook her paws. “But it was worth it. I’ve heard of humans coming here and I always knew you’d come for me one day. You’re gonna make everything right.” She leaned forwards, beaming. “So which one is mine?”

There was no response. The shrew looked puzzled, before counting the figures before her. “Or...are you both taken...”

Aardmon started, and shook her hands in front of her. “No, please, I’m just a guide. Be my guest, we could use your help.”

Lorelie looked down at the aardvark, who winked up at her. “This is your chance. I did say you never know.”

The girl pulled her shoulders up as she suddenly found herself at the centre of attention. She shuffled forwards, looking up at Scutimon, who was tilting her head. “You don’t speak much, do you...”

The girl raised a finger and tapped on her own D-Psyche. The shrew frowned.

“Isn’t that just earth fashion?”

Callum put his hands in his pockets. “Not unless you’re an indie metal band.” He hummed, and scratched his chin. “Actually, when we get back that might be an idea...”

He shook his head, and looked up at Scutimon. “Wait, you said something about a tyrannical dictator and overthrowing...something...is this a dangerous place?”

Scutimon ground her teeth. “The tiny ones. They’re everywhere. This isn’t a revolution, it’s a purge.”

Empermon raised a flipper, his irritation showing. “Okay, how? They’re In-Training levels. Look at yourself; you could probably use them as shotputts.” He turned round, glaring at everyone else. “Are you sure we’re not just overreacting here? Are we so strung up from having everything trying to kill us so much?”

Scutimon pounded the ground. “They are evil, I tell you!”

“Miss, we just escaped a run-in with Dark Area escapees.”

Scutimon’s jaw dropped, and Lorelie typed on her device. “Tbf, those guys weren’t that bad.”

Empermon folded his arms. “I just don’t want to be looking for a fight we don’t need. We’re already preparing to take down the Funnyman; why do we keep putting ourselves in more danger?” He waved a flipper up at Scutimon. “I’m sure you have your issues but aren’t we all being paranoid? Aardmon? Callum?”

He looked up at the boy, who had his chin in his hands, deep in thought.

“...Callum?”

Callum looked down at Empermon, his eyes showing little emotion. “I don’t know. This world is tricky. The Funnyman will be trickier.” He smiled. “If there is something wrong, it can’t hurt to fix it, can it?”

HOOOOONK

The sound of a deep horn rocked the little dwelling. Lorelie yelped and stumbled forwards, right into Scutimon’s arms. The shrew looked up, and sniffed the air.

“Is it that time already?”

“What time...?” Callum started. “The others. Are they in danger?”

“I don’t know. Maybe not.” Scutimon peered down, her excitement faded by a lot, and replaced by something almost...solemn.

“They should be gathering now. Do you want to see Motimon’s blessing?”

“Blessing?”

“You still don’t believe me, do you...”

Scutimon grumbled, and shuffled to the door, practically kicking it open. “Come on. Let me show you what this ship is really for...”

The shrew didn’t half move at a pace. With two humans and two Rookies on her back she scampered between alleyways at a frightening pace, scuttling out of the sight of the crowds before they even noticed she was there.

Not that they were paying much attention. From Callum and Lorelie’s vantage point on the mad shrew’s back, they could clearly see that the crowds were gathering right in the centre of the ship, forming a ring around the plaza. Scutimon shuffled closer, clambering over the rooftops and keeping herself as flush as she possibly could.

Presently she stopped, her body poised on the final row of buildings. Callum hopped off, staring down at the throngs of Digimon below. Empermon got off next to him, tapping his shoulder with his instrument.

“It’s a bit creepy, isn’t it? Look how many there are...”

Of the crowds lining the circumference of the pail, over ninety percent of them seemed to be In-Training levels. Pink and white, often blobbish or amorphous, and even more often hellishly adorable. And yet, Callum had to admit, there was something off about them. They way they were cheering. Their smiles. Their wide eyes, and their bared teeth. Interspersed among them were Rookies and Champions, many of them trying and failing to look inconspicuous.

Callum got down to one knee, his eyes scanning the crowds. “There’s something very wrong here.”

“Callum, why are you on the roof?”

The boy looked down, and saw Ursula staring up at him with a bemused expression on her face, and Martin staring up with a strangely subdued one. Callum waved his hands to shush them, beckoning them closer. “Don’t you see there’s something up here?”

Ursula placed her hands on her hips. “Well yes. That’s why everyone’s gathering around. We’re just watching as well.”

The girl looked aside at Lorelie, who was knelt down and looking even more out of place than Callum. “Is he dragging you along on this? And who’s the giant mouse?”

Scutimon dismounted from the roof with her usual athletic prowess, and crouched down before the new arrivals. “Of course. I’m sorry. My name is Scutimon and I’m very excited to meet you all and hope we can work together very well in the battles to come.”

Ursula stared up at her, before looking down at Lorelie. “No, really, who is she?”

Lorelie timidly raised a keypad. “It was so sudden. I think she’s volunteering to be my partner.”

Polypmon hovered behind Martin, twisting their tentacles absent-mindedly. “Bit of a suck-up, isn’t she? Always somebody who wants to make the rest of us look bad.”

HOOOOONK

The great horn sounded again, and everybody was silenced in seconds. The humans regrouped, and stared at the dust bowl. There was a flash of pink atop the farthest pillar; a pedestal amongst the sand. As tiny as he was to make out, there was no mistaking him. Motimon the Impenetrable shuffled forwards, his cape flowing behind him as he did so. Straddling him were his two flunkies, Tanemon and Kapurimon, both wearing their own ridiculous garbs.

Motimon raised his stubby arms, holding his staff high as his cape billowed outwards. He said nothing, but his every movement caused ripples of excitement through the crowd. All the while the humans watched, all the more intrigued...and all the more concerned.

Ursula raised a finger. “What...exactly...are we here for?

Martin swallowed. “You know, something’s been bugging me for a little bit about that area.”

Polypmon squinted. “What, the plaza? You don’t like the decorations?”

“I’m serious. Look at it. From where we’re standing...doesn’t it look a bit like an arena?”

The group stared, the full image slowly sinking in. Martin looked up at Scutimon.

“Why does he call himself the Impenetrable anyway...?”

Scutimon opened her mouth, but she was silenced by another roar of the crowd. The group looked down, as, step by tiny step, Motimon the Impenetrable stepped forwards.

TO BE CONTINUED...