Animator vs Animation: The Dark Web

Chapter 5: The Codeborn

    Yellow's mind buzzed with more questions. Hoping not to come off as rude, he then wondered who the figures were—who Valhalla and Driftwood were, and the rest of the figures that they walked by. What role did they all play in this strange world?

    Driftwood's mind lingered off for a moment, as if trying to find the right words. Finally, she moved her hands to the figures they passed. All of them were a part of something larger—a so-called "organization" whose goal is to cleanse the flaws of the two worlds.

They called themselves the Codeborn.

They all believed The Outernet and The Dark Web were broken in their own ways, but they hoped to share the power of this world to create something better; a world where it will make them one.

Some members of the Codeborn, like herself, came from the Outernet. Driftwood gently tapped herself on the chest, which made Yellow realize she might've come across the Dark Web when she was younger. While the majority, like Valhalla, originated from The Dark Web. She pointed to him, both of them catching a glimpse of Valhalla waving at the other Codeborn. The figures nodded their heads at him, as if congratulating him. But what for?

    Yellow then pointed out the heart clips on her head; what did they mean? She touched her heart clips in response. The hearts are symbols of ranks in this said "organization," where you can rise the ranks to prove your worth.

One heart, just like Valhalla currently has, means they are Followers; believers of the cause but are yet to earn the privilege to act upon it. They mainly work inside the hideout for various inner tasks before they are tested to prove themselves in their first mission.

Two hearts, like Driftwood herself, means they are Hunters; field agents who are trusted to go into the outside world with the help of the second heart clip to do missions. Many times, they can be just from recruitment, or assisting Followers for their first mission, or handling more—dangerous tasks. She lifted the back of her cloak as they walked, revealing a huge burn scar twisting across her back.

Yellow was startled, wondering where she even got such a scar before stopping himself—was that too personal? With discomfort suddenly coming over Driftwood, she swiftly lowered her cloak, hiding the scar again. Driftwood didn't want to talk about it. As much as Yellow wanted to know more, he didn't want Driftwood to be more uncomfortable than she already was. With reassurance, he nodded his head.

There was a moment of silence between the two before Driftwood wanted to add one more thing; there was one more rank that was superior over Hunters and Followers; they were called Officials. They are the elite, honored with the leader's trust, and there are only five members with the rank. But they kept to the shadows, watching over the Codeborn as the leader's substitute, enforcing as much power. Their true reason for rising to power was unknown other than a so-called "final mission", which explains their distinction and scars, Driftwood presumed.

She even couldn't help but think; what if she were to rise the rank someday and become the Sixth? She beamed, knowing the leader would be proud.

Yellow tilted his head, curious about this said leader. But Driftwood left the question unanswered.

    The Color Gang stepped into a wide open cavern, and immediately they were breathtaken. It was a labyrinth of towering pillars from stone, a part of the cave itself, with stalactites hanging from the ceiling like sharp teeth. Red crystals gleamed in every corner, lighting up some shadowed spots of the cave. They walked into the central skylight, where the chill of the majestic place took hold of them.

    As moments passed, figures came out from the shadows, gathering near the platform where the throne stood. There were also some that watched from a distance, either away from the platform or from high caverns. Driftwood and Valhalla ran to the crowd, the Color Gang looking at each other in confusion before doing the same.