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Phascomon nods. You both finish your ice cream and scan the last of the district, before examining the complete map. The buildings ebb and flow in aberrant patterns, with no real trend to them. After all, their heights are measured on disconnected wavelengths. Nothing these folk do will affect their peers. The light fixers have zero impact on the traffic controllers, because both are controlled by the system anyway. The virus-busting guy doesn't actually get troubled by the gearsmiths failing in their duties, because he's not really purguing the sewers. All of it is solitary, with camaraderie limited to the bounds of one's own building.
The sole exception is the tower in the center of the circular district. It's not an actual office, it's the central core that determines the growth and shrinkage of buildings. All the data flows to it, and it sends data back to each building, coiling around them like roots and modifying their parameters. It's like a heart. Hi-Commandramon described the job district as working like an organism, and you can see what he means here.
"Let's go see Doc."
Phascomon tosses his cup aside, and you hit the button to sweep his enclosure clean. Then the both of you leave the peaceful little square. You know you'll probably never come back.
==
When you return to Doc's neighborhood, you notice that the searches have stopped. They're back to having zero bot presence, just the way the people there like it. Despite that the people on the street are uneasy, and you see a few graffiti artists scurrying away when they hear your footsteps. It'll take a while till they feel normal again. A lot of them are running off the impression that the servitors don't <span class="mu-i">dare</span> infringe on their territory, and their rebellious attitudes are responsible for keeping them away.
That's dead wrong. The districts only exist because the system allows it. And as they've recently proved, they can change their minds whenever things go too far. The Digimon threat was enough to have them bothering and arresting numerous people, so the streets are still sparse despite the storm passing. After spending all day in the financial center, this area feels even emptier.
You climb upwards and enter the apartment, eager to get started. You would have had more time to ask Doc questions if you came earlier, but you've traded that in for knowledge of your environment. You'll just have to stick to the things you planned on asking him.
