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"And speaking of him, we're going for a meeting tonight. Are there any precautions you can suggest? I've been wracking my brain, but I'll miss something for sure."
Doc puts a hand on his chin and thinks about it.
"I can't afford to send my little friends out. But you'll want to attend with all your encryption protocols on, blurred face, different outfit, everything that would hide you. Assume you're being recorded at all times. But something—or someone—tells me that an observer will always be able to identify you."
He motions to Phascomon as he speaks.
"But apart from that, do your homework. Here."
He pulls up a projection of the meeting location.
"Rooftops, escape routes, snipers, everything. Prepare for an ambush."
You nod and begin looking over it. You're experienced with this by now, so you're able to pick up on risky spots and potential paths in a manner of minutes.
<span class="mu-s">"And of course, if Brigadramon shows up..."</span>
"There might not be a point in running." You finish.
"That's right. Any idea what your meeting is about, girlie?"
"Not really. But whatever he needs help with, I hope it's not too far into the future."
"Why's that?"
You look at Phascomon. Wind's offer is a big bomb to drop on Doc all of a sudden, but it has to happen sooner or later.
Once you're done explaining, you realize that the three Kokuwamon and Solarmon have stopped to listen. They're hanging at the fringes of the room.
"... So you're leaving. At long last, you're ready to spread your wings."
"You don't sound happy about it."
"I am. Deep down. It's just- I'm going to miss my favorite customer. Not much of a customer nowadays, with all the freebies, actually."
"I thought we'd stop by today and keep you up to date. We'll probably need to visit again when we finalize our climb."
<span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-b">"LEAVING?"</span></span> A Kokuwamon asks.
<span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-b">"I wish you well. I've never had a chance to show my gratitude."</span></span> Solarmon says. It's one of the few things you've heard the Digimon say, you haven't spoken often.
<span class="mu-s">"Yeah. Off into the big portal in the sky for both of us."</span>
Doc leans back in his chair.
"It feels like just yesterday you were a little tyke. You remember that?"
You nod. You recall your first time meeting him at his old base. You fought long and hard to get a referral, and traded in tons of favors for access to a Code Cracker. You couldn't have been more than twelve. Maybe earlier? And you still had to content with his eccentric personality. One slipup and he would have cut you off as a customer.
"And now you're ready to leave. I've lived a good, long while here, but watching this will be a first for me. You're real lucky to have that opportunity, if whatever they're planning is as big as they say it is, then your biggest opponent is out of the equation."
