[tri OOM] Barry, Cisco, and File Island

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato brings Barry and Cisco out through the same hilltop telephone booth he used to bring Autor through a few weeks back, out onto a cliff with a pretty good view of the island.

The island's central point is a mountain that looks more like a sheer spike of rock, and radiating outwards from it are a lot of very different places: Closest to the mountain, there's a pastel-coloured village of some kind that looks like it might be made of cushions; a tropical jungle with a ruined temple of black and brown stone jutting out of it; and a desert with gear markings carved into the ground and a single, leafy mountain in the centre.

Spreading out further than that, there are forests; some kind of icy tundra; a large town with a glittering white castle; a small village covered by a dark cloud; some kind of factory belching smoke into the air; and a plain covered in railroad tracks and ruined trains. Just down from the cliff, there's a lake with a camp set up next to it.

"All right, File Island," Yamato says, shutting the door. "Oldest part of the Digital World."

Comments

[run_barry]

"Interesting is a good way to put it," he says, returning that chuckle.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Was that even a reference or are you just making noises, now?" Yamato asks, flicking the hologram off and returning to flicking through the notepad.

"I actually got that reference!" Jyou says, raising an arm.

Sora smiles a little, shaking her head. "They certainly make things livelier around here."

As they talk, they reach the edge of the Misty Woods and the start of the rainforest: The fog and coniferous trees abruptly end, replaced with the densely packed broadleaf evergreens typical of a tropical rainforest. The heat and humidity rise sharply as soon as they step over the boundary.

Fairly distantly, there are the sounds of dinosaurs roaring, although closely listening makes it sound like there are two dinosaurs roaring "Brooooo," back and forth at each other.

[makes_the_toys]

"Jyou knows what's up," Cisco says, pointing at the boy.

As they walk along and the temperature rises and things get muggier, Cisco begins to lag behind. The distance calls make him hustle up a bit and he's quick to ask, "What the heck is that?"

[run_barry]

"From what I've heard and scene, 'lively' doesn't really seem to be a problem in this place," Barry points out wryly.

Marveling at yet another sharp scenery change, Barry turns his head, listening to the calls."

"Feels like we've wandered into Jurassic Park."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Jyou is a fool," Yamato mutters, a little sulkily.

"I'm going to remember that the next time you show up bleeding on my doorstep," Jyou chirps.

Sora chuckles a little at the remark about Jurassic Park. "Luckily, I don't think any of the dinosaur Digimon will chase us," she says -- to Barry, but somewhat for Cisco's benefit. "They're sapient, after all. And it's not like any of us have any data they can eat to strengthen themselves."

[makes_the_toys]

"Ooo, never annoy the medic you think may have to patch you up later," Cisco warns knowingly.

As for the dinosaurs, he isn't so afraid, but also isn't 100% convinced.

"Right, because those velociraptors were all about eating everyone they murdered that one night."

[run_barry]

"What sorts of dinosaurs are they?" he asks, definitely more curious than worried about it. "Are they giant, like Monzaemon?"

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Is this personal experience talking? How many times have the two of you got on Caitlin's nerves?" Yamato asks. In his experience, after all, medics are -- long-suffering even on a good day.

"There's good odds that they're based on predatory theropods -- most Dinosaur Digimon are T-rexes or similar," Sora says, thoughtfully. "Probably about the same size of Monzaemon. Likely fire-breathing."

"We're only passing through, though, we might not even run into one!" Jyou adds.

[makes_the_toys]

"Observed experience," Cisco says, pointing at Barry.

His amusement turns into concern, and he looks up and around at the trees towering of them.

"Fire-breathing dinosaurs. That's greeeaaat."

[run_barry]

"Right, and how many times has Caitlin threatened you with a lobotomy?" Barry returns.

Obviously not running into any giant fire-breathing dinosaurs would be the best thing, but Barry is still hoping for at least a glimpse.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Caitlin's life seems like suffering," Yamato notes.

"I can relate," Jyou says, slyly.

"You can be quiet, Kido."

Sora gives Barry and Cisco a quick smile, settling her hands behind her back as she walks. "I'm sure it'll be fine. Even non-dinosaur Digimon are more than capable of killing a human in a single shot, after all, but they usually don't try."

"Besides," Yamato says. "Taichi's partner is -- was -- a fire-breathing dinosaur, and he's great. I'd take him over Taichi any day."

[run_barry]

"It is not," Barry replies to Yamato, shaking his head. He definitely does his best to do right by Caitlin!

[makes_the_toys]

"Caitlin is the real boss and we all know it," he replies unabashedly.

Considering the situation with the dinomons, Cisco has a thought.

"As much as I don't want to be set on fire or kill-shotted, getting readings of a Digimon attack could be helpful," he notes.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"That doesn't surprise me," Yamato says, a little wryly.

He pauses at Cisco's next remark, thinking about it. "-- Yeah, should be safe enough," he decides, changing direction slightly. "We can head towards those dinosaurs, get them to fire off some attacks."

[run_barry]

"Caitlin's not-- " Barry starts, then pauses to consider that. In the end, he relents, "She does have a lot of input on things."

Triggering a dinosaur attack doesn't seem like the best idea, but it does make sense along the lines of research.

"Let's just not go full Jurassic Park, okay?"

[makes_the_toys]

"Just calling dibs right now on the first to be rescued if it comes to that," Cisco says, reading his scanning equipment again as they walk.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"We'll just ask them to breathe fire at a specific spot," Yamato says, pulling a pen out to scribble something on the notepad, then handing it back to Sora. "A specific spot that isn't us. And if they have to breathe fire on somebody, we'll draw straws and then volunteer Cisco."

"Yamato," Sora says, chidingly. Yamato gives her a quick, wry glance in response.

"What's the science-y purpose of this, anyway?" Jyou asks.

[run_barry]

"Yamato... " Barry says in the same tone and at the same time as Sora.

For Jyou's question, Barry directs him to Cisco for an answer.

[makes_the_toys]

"HEY!" Cisco exclaims, wounded.

Throwing Yamato a Look, he shifts attention to answering Jyou.

"Digi-deterrent tech," he answers. "Since you guys are going to be adventuring in the great wilds of the Digital World with a tag-team of puffballs, Yamato asked me to put together some weapons to help keep you guys safe."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"I'm kiddin', don't worry," Yamato says, lifting a hand to poke his knuckles against the side of Cisco's face affectionately. "I promise I won't let you get roasted by a dinosaur."

Jyou rubs his chin, thinking. "The Bureau was trying to do something similar, right? Not with, er, a lot of success."

"I've got a lot more faith in these two than I do in the Bureau," Yamato says, shrugging one shoulder. "Both in terms of competency and trustworthiness."

[makes_the_toys]

"You're just saying that so I don't shrink you," Cisco says, turning his cheek with the poking; acting indifferent, but really rather pleased.

[run_barry]

"If anyone can do it it's definitely Cisco," Barry informs the group. It's not a brag, but a statement of full confidence and assurance.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Someone needs to take that shrink gun away from you," Yamato mutters, shaking his head. "Before you become Barry's archnemesis."

Sora inclines her head. "I didn't know exactly who Yamato had commissioned for it, but he'd discussed with me the need for ways to defend ourselves, since there's no reason to believe right now that our Crests will start functioning again," she says, with a quick smile. "I look forward to seeing what you make."

Jyou nods solemnly, adjusting his glasses. "And beating the Bureau at their own game is definitely an added bonus."

As they walk, those dinosaur calls are becoming gradually louder, and a little more audible. Through the trees, there is the distant, rumbling call of:

"Bro, I might be a dinosaur, but you're a ... fine-osaur."

"B-bro ..."

[makes_the_toys]

"Ha! I'd like to see you try. I shrunk it, and now it's stashed away for safe keeping," he says proudly.

The praise and confidence in his abilities has Cisco puffing up a bit with pride.

"It'll be awesome. For sure."

[run_barry]

As they get closer and he starts to hear the chatter, Barry's brow furrows in confusion.

"Are these... bro-dinos?"