Jungle run [mireil]

[[NPC]admin]

- He's ... dead? - the sealsdramon sounded shocked, as he dropped the scissors he used to cut bandages with. It took him some time to retrieve them, as they had fallen under the bunk. Once they were found, he continued laying patches on the angel, though it was possible to feel his hands were shaking a bit after the news. And the mood dropped considerably.

- Well, can't say he didn't have it coming. Someone would have done it sooner or later... - the doctor continue, laying patches on automatism, though it was possible to tell the rate hastened a bit, as if he wanted to get this over with quicker and make her leave. Or something like that. Unfortunately for him, there were still many patches to go around, as well as a slashed shoulder.

- Well, if you fought the enemy leader, you'll know how ours looks like. Exactly the same. Only fights a lot better. They were brothers ... sort of... - the sealsdramon replied with a sigh, and put yet another patch on the angel's body...

[Ciel]

"So they were brothers, if your commander wanted to spare his life that explains why the defense forces showed many flaws in their strategy"

Truly, after witnessing the capability of this medic and taking into account how tough dinosaur digimon were, it was strange that they were in a stalemate situation against an enemy whose army was mostly composed of weak goblimons her tylomon companions easily dispatched with missiles.

"The paildramon I fought against was a tough opponent but only because no matter how bad he were, he still was an ultimate level digimon. I am wrong to assume his attack on this settlement was somehow related with his brother living here and maybe he was trying to prove himself in the eyes of his brother?"

The nervous expression in the sealsdramon face indicated that the paildramon leading this settlement wanted his brother to live, and that he would be extremely angry once the news regarding his sibling's death arrived. Maybe she and Tylo were better leaving this place as soon as possible, but she still had some business in this area and she wouldn't leave until she obtained what she came for

[[NPC]admin]

- No, they wanted to kill each other. They hated each other for as long as I could remember them... - the sealsdramon replied distantly, as he finally finished with the patches on one side of the body. Now he had to make work on that slashed shoulder of hers, sterilizing the wound again and getting the needle and thread again. The wound wasn't too deep, and the bone was intact, fortunately.

- And the attack was made to conquer this place. It wasn't the first attack he attempted, but it is the first time he managed to assemble such a large force. Never the less, the gaps in tactics were not the result of some "honorable blah blah". Both were equally stupid. They never listen to advice. They never consider someone to be smarter than they are. But they are strong, and here strength > intelligence... - the sealsdramon stopped stitching after finding out that he accidentally ran out of thread mid-way. The subject certainly hindered his attention span.

- Sorry about that, my bad... - the sealsdramon picked a longer thread and tried again. This time it was enough to mend the entire wound together.

- Do not worry, the leader won't go ape-poopon you. He'd probably give you a medal for your successful kill... - the sealsdramon sounded somewhat remorseful for the demise of the paildramon for some reason. His mending was done, however, and he went on to wash his hands after the procedure, staring at the water for a bit too long, before saying:

- I am finished. You're free to go...

[Ciel]

"It seems like I overestimated the leadership ability of this commander of yours"

She completely overestimated the inhabitants of this place. It was indeed true that dinosaurs valued strength on everything else, but even them would know better not to let an idiot to run the place, and to make it even funner BOTH idiot brothers somehow managed to obtain positions of leadership. Maybe they were part of a family that always dominated the region and let their relatives reign through nepotism or simply there was no one stronger than him to take control of the settlement, whatever it was the cause it was more than clear that stupidity reigned in this place and sealsdramon should've been the leader as he said due his smarts.

"Good job, medic. If you somehow find a bit of free time could you tell me about the situation in this region? I considered looking for information inside the settlement, but you seem to be better informed than any other of the dinosaurs in this area"

She could go to the local bar or the library ... if they had one looking for information, but this sealsdramon seemed to know well how thinks worked in the region and could be way more useful as source of information than any other digimon.

[[NPC]admin]

- Sure, I have free time... They seem not to be in much of a hurry to bring more patients to me at the moment... Must be too happy from their unexpected victory... - the sealsdramon moved across the narrow corridor between bunk rows, stopping in front of the greymon, which was "asleep" after the operation, most likely because of that bump on the head the doctor used as a "painkiller". A big bulb appeared on the fore-head, and the sealsdramon put an icebag on it to make it smaller. The greymon snorted in sleep a bit.

- This region is a small part of a greater dinosaur-dominated domain. There are many like it, each has a ruler, which oversees his territory. All regions are responsible to the area lord, though he rarely entangles in their affairs, so feuds are rather common. This one once was ruled by a better lord, but he died, and since then there was a feud between his heirs... - the sealsdramon did not turn to face who he was talking to. Indeed, he knew much about stuff. Too much for a mere doctor.

- Now that the other brother is ... uh, killed, mayhaps this land will know some notion of peace. Or maybe our ruler will start having dreams of grandeur, and will think himself a great conqueror. And will declare a war on a neighbor region. In that case ... nothing changes really... But that is in general. Is there anything specific you want to know?

[Ciel]

"A warring states period ... an endless source of conflict that will see no end until a greater power decides to unite the entire dinosaur population under a single banner ..."

She once heard about something like that in other universes: There was an "emperor" who was nothing but a symbolic leader of the entire region which was actually split into various areas leaded by different warlords waging into war for supremacy and unification of the country if you could call it like that. This world surely loved conflict if all the regions were like the dinosaur one ... thought, at least that guaranteed that in the case parallelmon attempted to destroy the dinosaur clan, they would give him a lot of troubles .. if they managed to unite against a common enemy, otherwise they would end up killing each other while the foul foe enjoyed the show.

"I go where conflict exists, I want to know about where to find strong opponents to fight against; surely a proud warrior clan like the dinosaur one would have plenty of warriors who wouldn't refuse to have a good fight."

She never meant to kill the paildramon, she only wanted to hurt him enough to live for another battle, that was the path she choose for herself and respected anyone who fought the good battle. The other warriors had to die fighting for their ideals, not facing a third party who only seeked more power for selfish reasons foreign to the enemy's battle

"We seek nothing but to improve our combat abilities and have no interest in the affairs of the region. However, I would not mind working as mercenary for your commander ... or YOU if you desire as long my companion and I can find opponents to fight against"

This wouldn't be the first time she worked as mercenary during her journeys, sometimes she worked for complete jerks, sometimes for people who loved love justice on all things, it didn't really matter who hired her as long she found worthy opponents. She had to get stronger, for the sake of her revenge she had to do it.

"If I can find no opponents in this area, we shall depart to look somewhere else. We came not to help but because the enemy paildramon looked like the stronger warrior between all the ones in the field, nothing else. Although I wouldn't have minded facing the other brother had I know there was a stronger paildramon in the field."

[[NPC]admin]

- Ah, so you're a war-monger? A rare trait in ... an angel. I thought most of them are guardians of peace. Those who stray become demons eventually. Or so I heard... - the sealsdramon replied thoughtfully as he stroke his chin. He went on towards the exit, and looked in the gap that acted as a "window". Outside Tylomon was having fun, giving a ride to the commandramon and a whole bunch of other smaller dinos, who sat on his big armored body like troops on an APC. That one sure didn't look like a merc who lived only for battle.

When the word about looking for a fight and a merc job came around, the dramon only smirked - why would he want to hire a merc? He was a doctor now, after all, and during his life he never earned a penny for whatever services he offered to the country - he was a fighter for ideal, always, and did not crave power for sake of power. And now that the ideal died - he found himself nothing to keep fighting for. The doctor then approached Ciel and pointed at her arm.

- Were I you, I'd wait for that to heal before I would even think of fighting again. And ... I would not advice challenging our paildramon to a fight. For starters, he's much better fighter than the one you took down, I can attest to that. And second - he's ... a coward. Sure, he will accept your challenge, but if you lose - you'll be destroyed, and if you win - you'll never leave the place alive, for word of defeat might undermine his authority... - from the intonation, the sealsdramon detested the ruler greatly, which wasn't a big secret by now.

- If you seek a challenge however, I guess I could ... offer myself as an adversary. I was not always a medic you know. Other dinos often hate us commando types, they fear us, because we use to do thing ... our way. It is not pretty... But only after your limb is fully healed.

[Ciel]

"I used to be a guardian of peace, but circumstances pushed me into betraying the ideals of my own clan for the sake of revenge."

The sealsdramon seemed to be a wise digimon who understood well how the world often was unfair and how dreams shattered and only pain and disappointment remained. He clearly looked like a born warrior, yet he spent his days as a mere medic when his true call was to serve in the vanguard as a soldier.

"To be frank with you, I seek revenge against somebody who wronged me, but at my current level I'm no match for him. That's the reason why I seek battle everywhere I go, to become a much stronger digimon capable of defeating my sworn enemy. Compared with him, not even the strongest paildramon in the world nor the toughest dinosaurs can instill the same pain he instilled on me, that is why I fear not retribution were I to humiliate such foolish digimon ... although for the sake of my apprentice I might be more careful with my actions, I dragged him into a battle that wasn't his and he deserves a better life than mine, probably you already noticed how he's still green and is unaware of how cruel the world can be"

Originally her plan when she arrived to this universe was to find a digimon who inherited her hatred for parallelmon and become a tool for her revenge in the case she fell in battle, but the tylomon's innocence and purity reminded her a little of the light and hope she had lost. Yes, she was using him since the first day, but his devotion for her and the way he called her ... boss and teacher ... somehow he rekindled her embittered and battle hardened heart and she was starting to regret dragging him into a world where he might die. There was still time to go back, but first she had to make sure he become experienced enough to survive on his own before abandoning him and continue walking alone this new world.

"I can see that your real home is in the battlefield. I do not understand why you left the battlefield but I can see in your eyes the burning passion of a warrior. I will gladly fight against you once my arm gets better, and I shall return for paildramon once my companion tylomon become a digimon capable of handling himself alone and I become strong enough to fight against the remaining paildramon brother evenly"

[[NPC]admin]

- I have known people who betrayed ideals of a clan, but stayed true to themselves. I also is worse. Though, if you die by the hands of paildramon's guards, your revenge shall never be completed, and your whole quest will be rendered ... useless. - the sealsdramon shrugged as he approached the window again. "Children" outside were still playing, although it started to seem a bit less than mere play though. The Tylomon with the digimon on him was moving at cruising speed, before suddenly taking a rough 90 degree turn and stopping. The smalled digimon quickly jumped off a side, using the tylomon as a sort of a cover, and shot their attacks, whether by rifle or fire at the trees on the other side. This was more like a drill now. Not just a game.

- Green he may be, but it looks like he feels pretty comfortable in a team... When you will decide to part ways, I'd want you to let him know he'd be very welcome here. Even a sea-dweller, he is still one of us. - he said, watching them. It would have been a cute game, if it wasn't a small-scale training run of how one should kill people. But it was dino land, here you fight or you die.

- I hope you were speaking metaphorically about burning passion in my eyes. - the sealsdramon replied with a chuckle. - Otherwise it might mean my visors are malfunctioning... - and that was true, sealsdramon was a cyborg, his eyes were electronic visors, they never showed emotion. So any spark one might see in them meant a lose wire. Or something like that.

- And this job ... it is an exile of sorts. I was a general loyal to the former lord of this region. When he died and his children started the feud, I refused to join anyone's side. So I was strapped of all my honors, and sent here, as a punishment... - he said, sitting on a chair, arms crossed on his chest. A bit of a nostalgia came over the doctor, it seemed. He probably would have said anything else, but then suddenly the commandramon rushed into the tent again, looking somewhat excited.

- Dad! Dad! News! Our leader is forming squads to pursue the defeated enemy into the jungle! Can I go? Please? Can I? - he asked, excitement being over the top, so not casual among the commandramon, who usually were grizzled soldiers. This one was obviously very young. It was possible to hear that behind the door there was a small crowd whispering, waiting for an answer, his friends probably.

Sealsdramon looked wearily at the child. On one hand, he should have let him go, get some fighting experience, but on the other ... his heard felt something would go terribly wrong. Call it a parental intuition, if you will. After that he looked at the angel with a questioning glare, studying for a second, before asking:

- The enemy force was utterly defeated, right?

[Ciel]

"I'm a nature born survivor, not even death itself would bring my end until I have my revenge"

She had survived many situations in which other digimon would've ended up dead and no matter how bad things become, she always managed to live to see another day. Maybe she was blessed ... or cursed by destiny, but so far nothing managed to kill her despite how often she danced with death and the many times she should've died, yet survived.

"It is such a shame a wise warrior like you ended like this. However, it was your choice to end up like this instead of taking arms and obtaining control for yourself ... and at the same time I can understand why one would accept such kind of punishment, you have young digimon to take care of, and they would end up in danger were you to rebel"

She then saw one of the sealsdramon's children coming, more than eager to participate into battle, but his inexperience would cost him dearly were he to face soldiers that were defeated but not crushed. The retreating troops might be composed of weakened and demoralized digimon, but they say that a beast is the most dangerous when cornered, and attempting to play the hunter against them could spell dead on the child digimon.

"I came only for a duel and a duel was what I got. I paid little attention to what happened next, but I'm sure whoever reorganized the enemy troops for an strategic retreat was the true brains behind that paildramon's army. The new leader must have a cunning intellect for he brought order to the chaos and in the middle of absolute defeat he managed to create a strategy that guaranteed the survival of as many of his troops as possible. If I were the commander of group at charge of cleaning the remnants of the enemy paildramon army, I would send only experienced trackers and hunters after them because one cannot underestimate a cornered enemy, especially one who has proved to be smart."