The Saga: Surfacing
By: Linkmaste
Chapter 7: Jaguramon
Ian Haruki
Erika Rose's Mansion
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Being a half-human, I remembered Lindy teaching me how some things are. First rule, you get to sleep in..a lot. Second, if Lindy wanted to watch The O.C while eating a tub of ice cream instead of one of my shows, I would let her watch whatever she wants or else she won't talk to me for a week. Finally, all parties have to have drinking red cups and it is not a true house party unless you see the red cups.
I honestly thought she was crazy as usual, but when I stepped into the party, I saw kids our age...drinking...with god damn red cups. They were stacked up everywhere, lying around, filled with all kinds of alcohol. The sounds and smells reminded me of the bars I visited in the digital world but louder and with more random shrieks from girls. I wasn't too happy about going, but to get a edge on the Meadows place-I was willing to put up with it.
Takato however, took one look into the party, paled, and shook his head.
"No way. I'm sitting this one out." he almost thought he got away, save for me grabbing the back of his shirt.
"Sorry goggle head, you ain't goin' anywhere. We need to gain access to Erika's office."
"Isn't it a little strange a bunch of kids could hijack a supposed rich tyrant's house?" Takato asked uneasy. I shrugged my shoulders.
"Hey, I ain't complaining. Let's go-no runnin' off."
We saw the Canadian Tamers team split up. The two short ones: Ally and PJ were talking to people they knew, Katrina and Bowmon were hanging behind Cam who with Agumon was saying hello to some chicks. Marianna and Luke were off somewhere and I was not too keen on following them. Tiguramon stayed outside, and Bakemon nudged me.
"Hey, think we can scare this whole group?"
"Why don't you try huh?" I asked, pushing the ghost Digimon into another room, which happened to be a room full of party girls. There, that should keep him busy.
"Hello, ladies!" The ghost called out.
Moving on, I was about to enter the kitchen when I noticed something. Tables were set up everywhere with red cups lined up in odd positions. The people on each side of the table were trying to throw the ball into the cup and whenever it did happen, the other folks would drink. I wanted to hurl. Out of all the stupid things...
"Ian, there looks like a way up those stairs there." The brown haired Tamer nudged me and we started to make our way up but someone blocked us. A girl with short pink hair and too many tattoos to count opened her mouth.
"Um, where are your beads?"
"Beads?" Takato repeated in English. I told the chick to move and she shook her head.
"Dude, you gotta earn your beads to move up. Beer pong party."
"What!?" I cried, narrowing my eyes. "This is getting stupid, move bitch."
"You call me bitch again and I get you thrown out, asshole." She narrowed her eyes back at me. "My boyfriend would totally kick your ass out of here."
I took a breath and looked around. Looked like if you played the game, and won, you moved on to the next level. If this was the only way up there...
"Fine. We'll play." I growled. The tattoo girl grinned.
"Well, boys hope you are ready to get wasted because you are never going to get upstairs without defeating my boyfriend." She called over some jacked guy who honestly-I can't say that was a teenager. It looked like a freakin' body builder. I wanted to guess he's stupid as hell too.
"Dude, ya forget leg day or somethin?" I asked laughing. The guy grunted and pointed to a table where a game was all set up. I sighed and turned to Takato.
"We're gunna have to play."
"What?!" Takato cried looking at the table and back at me. "I have no freaking clue how to play." I slug an arm around him, grinning.
"It's simple kid. We get some stupid balls in a cup. Easy stuff."
Twenty Minutes Later...
Easy stuff my ass.
Okay first, you couldn't bounce the stupid ball in a cup which would have been easy. Second, Takato was a horrible shot and kept missing the table completely, which for some dumb reason took away my turn to shoot. Finally, we were about to lose with only one cup left on our side and eight on the body builder's team. He was paired up with his clone who reminded me of a caveman from those cartoons Ai and Mako watched.
The music was pounding into my ears and I was getting sick of the smell of beer. However, if we wanted upstairs, we had to win this match. I frowned concentrating on my shot. Easy stuff, I killed digimon, saved the world. I threw it...and missed. Fuck.
The next throw the two guys both got our last cup. I groaned. This was horrible. However, apparently we had a 'redemption shot' if we got both of our balls in their one cup, game was back on.
"Takato, we need to get this one in. Not only can I not withstand a lost to Mr. No Brains and his neanderthal friend over there,' I jerked a thumb over to the guy who was attempting to dance. "But, we gotta get upstairs and it's part of our mission. You don't want Henry and the bunny to think we can't handle this do ya?"
I must have struck some kind of chord because Takato frowned and with some kind of magic, threw his ball into a cup. Shocked, the other team stopped dancing and looked at us. I threw mine into the same cup and smirked.
"Look's like we're back on the board boys!" I called out. Takato and I high-fived. Now we're talkin!
The game certainty changed after that. We took out the rest of the red cups with ease and won the game. Disappointed, the body builder boyfriend and his buddy gave us their 'beads' (which were two silver bracelets).
We scooted upstairs past the tattoo girl after showing our bracelets and I gave her the finger behind her back. Upstairs was more intense as people were dancing everywhere and the music was louder. More tables were set up with beer pong and another person guarded the next set of stairs. I looked at Takato in disbelief. There was ANOTHER floor we have to go up?
The second match was easier. It was a bunch of girls who were wasted out of their minds and barely wearing anything. Takato was distracted but I smacked him good enough to get him back in the game. We won and proceeded to go up to the third floor. Finally, it was quieter here and only a few people were up here...making out. Okay, grossed out. Goggle head said the same thing and stumbled a little. I think the alcohol was getting to him. I however, felt fine. Maybe that was because I told him that because he kept missing the ball he had to drink my beer.
I dragged Takato past a few rooms and we came to the office. It was pretty clean. A few book shelves filled with books, a open bay window showing the neighborhood, and a computer desk with some drawers and a laptop. I proceeded to search the desk for anything.
"I don't feel so good." Takato groaned stumbling into the office. Looked like the alcohol was finally taking effect on him. Figures. He had about twenty beers in the last hour. I'm surprised I'm not hurling. I let him find a trash can while I search the room.
There was a black recorder in the top drawer with a tape inside. Curious, I pressed play.
"-And you still think Lindy is that freak of nature!"
"Lindy is still a child-"
I stopped the tape immediately. This was not any recording. It was a recording of that night. The horrible Christmas where toots told her whole family what happened to her. I rewind the tape and unsteady, sat in the chair at the desk.
I gulped and hit play.
"Alright, now to talk about what happened." Erika voice spoke. "Are we really going to believe that is Lindy? Our Lindy?"
"That is her." A man spoke. It sounded like Marcus Rose. "She isn't attacking us Erika-"
"Sooner or later she will. She's a digimon now-the same kind that killed children. Eleanor, James, I urge you to leave with us. It isn't safe with that thing running around. Especially, she has that purple demon with her!"
"I'm not sure..." a female voice trailed off. Marcus took over,
"Erika stop it. That is your niece!"
"No," Erika spoke. "That is a monster! The same monster that hurt everyone back home!"
Silence.
"Everyone is leaving tonight. I will make some phone calls and I can get her 'treatment'. I met with this woman here in Japan called Omoto. She is sharing the same views that digimon monsters need to be stopped. We are creating a new program to help children affected by those things-"
"Are you actually serious?" Marcus asked in disbelief. "This is-"
"-You're crazy." a new woman's voice called out. "That is insane, Lindy is our niece Erika, you dumb bitch."
"Shut up Mel." Erika demanded and a slap was heard. Several people gasp including a sob from another girl. "Now, we are leaving. Anyone objects will regret it. Got it?"
"We have to agree with Erika," Spoke Eleanor. "Our Lindy is gone...whatever is left is...simply a monster."
"The least we can do is tell her to get help, and pray she does." the one man James finished.
Click.
I sat back in disbelief. Looking at the recorder, it was labelled Marcus Rose. That was Lindy's uncle who was killed a few months back that started the whole Deciliousmon fiasco. Was this his recorder?
"Hey, you look like you've seen a ghost." Takato groaned coming to the desk. I showed him the recorder.
"This-this is a recording of that night when Lindy tried to tell her family she was a hybrid. It belonged to her uncle. What is it doing here with Erika?"
"The same uncle who was killed?" Takato asked uneasy. I nodded. "I'm not sure...is there anything else?" Looking deeper, I produced some badges for Rolling Meadows. They looked official and had security cards attached to them. I showed them to Takato.
"This makes it worth the 'beer pong'." The Tamer pocket both IDs and watched me change into my digimon form. The sun had set fully and it was night time. I looked at myself and told Takato we should get out of here. However, he did not pay attention to what I said and stared out the window. Takato grabbed my red banana and twisted me to glance at what he was looking at. Outside seemed to be some kind of commotion. Vans were pulling up and men were getting out, all decked out in black with some kind of guns. Teens outside were running away and in the distance I could see police lights flashing.
"Son of a -" I started but Takato finished it for me.
"Bitch!"
We had to get out now. We both ran out to the second floor ignoring the people, who had no idea what was going on. I stopped for a second and saw Marianna making out with Luke. Those two were completely clueless. I threw a flame to interrupt them. They looked at me annoyed.
"Uh, digimon? Go find your Tamer and leave us alone-"
"IT'S ME YOU MORONS!" I screamed over the music. They were a little surprised to see me like this, but I had no time for them to say anything. "Those ADA guys are HERE!"
I had not seen the two move so fast before. They told me to get Takato out while they were working on rounding up the digimon and their friends. They told us to meet them a few blocks away. Grabbing Takato, we raced down to the first floor but head a loud bang and several screams. They were already here!
Smoke filled some rooms and I lead Takato in the back hallway towards the garage. Maybe if we were lucky, they hadn't thought about that exit. I hoped to catch some kind of break and to my delight, the garage was empty and there was a door waiting for us-all in tact.
"Thank God." I breathed in relief. We sprinted towards the door but Takato was knocked to the wall by an ADA guard. He pointed a gun at us and told us to halt. I had different plans.
"Summon Flame!" I cried and the guard was caught in a ring of fire that appeared to my whim underneath him. He was stuck and I grinned impishly. Takato was a little dazed and I helped him back up.
"Let's move!"
However, the guard shot his weapon at Takato. Those weren't guns, they were tranquilizers! It hit Takato in the neck and in seconds I could see him losing conscious. Crap! This was not supposed to happen. How the hell was I gunna carry him!?
Digivolve.
I hated that option. I had no idea if I could even do it! Seeing, I had little choice, I closed my eyes concentrating. You see, Digivolving took a lot of energy to even start. Especially, you're a Rookie and going straight to Mega. Kind of like trying to run from zero to a hundred. I felt myself change and to my relief I was Beelzemon again-minus the wings. Oh well, I could pick up Takato now.
The guard gasped at what I had become and pointed his gun at me. I responded by doing the same.
"This has actual bullets, bub. Ya feeling lucky, punk?" I spoke, surprised by my voice. It had been awhile since I was this form. I was taller, stronger, and packing heat like no body's business.
The ADA guard said nothing and put down his weapon, careful not to burn himself with the ring of fire I trapped him in. I smirked, leering at him with my blood red eyes.
"Good boy. Stay."
I heaved Takato over my shoulder and we went outside. Avoiding the front yard, I jumped a few fences until I came a block away. I felt off all of a sudden as I looked at my claws, they flickered back to my rookie form. Oh no, not this stupid thing again. My body flickered back to my rookie form and the weight of Takato was overpowering me. I lost the power and I avoided Takato's body as Impmon. Cursing, I slammed the pavement. I couldn't get back to my mega form!
I stood over Takato unsure of what to do. A few blocks away was the ADA and police looking for me or any Digimon within sight. I couldn't Digivolve, and I was not going to get far by dragging him everywhere.
Maybe, I don't have to.
Desperate, I dragged Takato by some bushes in the neighborhood. Leaving him there, I started to make my way back to the party to make sure one of those teens made it out of the party. They were going to help me get Takato out of this mess.
Marianna Sanchez
Erika's Mansion
The music was blasting in the party controlling the flow of the teenagers. I felt a little giddy from the weed I smoked before I met up with Luke upstairs on the third floor. With a beer in my hand, I easily bypassed some bitch with pink hair when I told her who I was. See? It pays to be me and have the confidence of a diva.
I eventually saw Luke chatting with a few guys on the third floor and placed myself on his lap. With a grin, Luke wrapped an arm around me.
"Speaking of sexy stuff-"
I scoffed and pushed Luke playfully. I said hey to Colin who was one of the guys who took over the house. He seemed pretty drunk and happy tonight. I asked him how he pulled off the stunt and he slurred,
"Stupid bitch never locked the front door."
I laughed at his drunk speech and told him to go find his girlfriend who was playing beer pong on the second floor. She was pretty wasted too about to take off her bra when I came up here. When Colin left, I wrapped my arms around Luke. He sniffed.
"You were smoking?"
"Babe, just a little." I replied lowering my voice. He shook his head.
"And I thought Bakemon was a bad influence. Speaking of which, where is he? Or the others?"
I told him Bakemon discovered a group of girls who were feeding him chips by hand, Tiguramon was patrolling the area, Cam and Agumon were dominating the first floor pong table, and I had no clue where the rest were.
"Ian and the Asian were here a moment ago, they were trying to find Erika's office. I'm pretty sure one of them was drunk." His deep blue eyes gazed into my brown ones. "You look good tonight."
"I always look good." I replied arching my eyebrow. Luke chuckled pulling me closer.
"You are always my goddess."
We kissed and I felt perfect. We were popular, Tamers, and together. I know nothing could stop us. He bit my lower lip and I laughed a little. Luke always enjoyed me reacting to that.
A fireball separated us and I gasped. What the hell? I turned to see some purple imp giving us a dirty look and having another fireball ready to go. What a jerk! I told him to leave us alone but as soon as he opened his mouth and screamed I jolted from recognizing Ian-or Impmon as he was now.
When we learned that Impmon saw ADA patrol here I felt annoyed. They could not come at a worse time and totally crash this party. Jumping quickly off Luke, I went down to find the others. Katrina, Bowmon, Cam and Agumon were easy as they just won another round of beer pong. I had to set aside a drunk Cam and explain to him very clearly what was going on. Agumon clearly had some beers and was yelling he wanted to set something on fire.
By the time I got down to the first floor, the door busted open and police swooped inside. Screaming and the announcement of the police was the only thing I heard. The police were grabbing people like wolves did to sheep, and digimon were getting zapped by ADA men dressed in riot gear. Freaked, I ducked into a side room where Bakemon was dismayed to see his 'lady' friends fleeing.
"Aw, ladies! I can protect you! Come back!" he whined floating around, disappointed. I grabbed him violently.
"Go to Luke! He needs you!" I commanded "And where is Tiguramon?" Bakemon gave me a blank look.
"I thought she was with you?"
I felt ice grip my heart. Nervously, I checked my D-Arc for some kind of sign she was alright. It glowed red and I knew something was deeply wrong. In a panic like state, I ran outside, avoiding the police.
There was Tiguramon caught in rope trying to claw at a ADA man dressed in a padded riot outfit. Her growls were both vicious and frightened. I ignored everything and ran towards her.
"LET HER GO!" I screamed and felt myself grabbed violently by a man. He spun me around and planted my body into the ground hard. I felt my head make contact and I felt dizzy like the world was spinning. It was unclear what I was hearing or seeing after that for a minute. It was like I took a whole bunch of shots of vodka, spun around a few times, and had something loud scream into my ears. I was completely imperceptive to all senses. A few sensations drifted into my mind like me screaming, swearing, and I think I spat into the face of a cop. I felt cuffs sink into my wrists, and I was being brought on to my knees beside another teenager from the party. We were being lined up somehow and I couldn't see Tiguramon anymore. I felt my D-Arc vibrating in my pocket violently.
"Get that tiger under control!" screamed a man.
"Tiguramon..." I moaned, whipping my head around. "Girl, I need you."
I heard some sort of crash and several men in the black ops outfits run down the street. Curious, I peaked my head but someone dragged me backwards into the bushes outside Erika's house. I didn't have enough time to scream as a gloved hand covered my face. In seconds I flopped on my back and I could see a purple imp's face.
"Sh, I got ya. The others are makin' a distraction while I'm getting you and Tiguramon out of here. Bowmon is grabbing the key. Stay put."
I didn't get enough time to make a response. Dammit girl, you could have asked where your partner was I thought criticizing myself. I rolled on my front and poked my head out of the bushes.
It was all hell breaking loose. Cam and Agumon must have caused a fire down the street because a car was bursting into flames and a few trees were crackling with the embers. A group of teenagers were kneeling down where I was-being guarded by some police officers. Digimon were being rounded up and I could see Impmon sneaking by with ease. Why hasn't he changed? Remembering his scary biker form with wings, he could take out those guys much easier. He dodged a ADA guard by rolling under a large truck. I lost view of him after that but I knew he was working on breaking my girl free.
I turned my head to see Katrina crawling towards me with a key. Bowmon must have nicked it off a ADA guard. Grateful to see her, I gave her a hug after the key unlocked my cuffs. I asked Katrina where Luke and Bakemon was.
"He's with Cam working on the distraction. Bakemon has this ability where he can control people. It's working pretty well right now. I'm just glad you are safe. Is Ian getting Tiguramon?"
"As we speak chica." I replied frowning. "I just hope she's okay. This must have been a trap."
"Kat..." whispered Bowmon softly tugging on the girl's raven hair. I looked where Bowmon was pointing and a police officer was patrolling around the bushes. They must have noticed I went missing. Gaining my vision back now and some clarity, I carefully brought Katrina and Bowmon around a fence where we would avoid the man's gaze.
"HEY! THERE'S A DIGIMON LOOSE! GET IT!" Someone hollered. I turned my head and peaked over the tall, wooden fence. Impmon was dodging bodies like no body's business-and being a little too cocky about it. I gasped when someone grabbed his bandana.
"Impmon, NO!" I screamed, jumping out. Shit. That was stupid I thought and saw some officers sprinting our way with weapons raised. I was about to put up my hands when I heard a terrible roar. The kind of roar that would send shivers up anyone's spine and make people tremble in fear.
Tiguramon jumped on several ADA men and let out another roar. The sound blast attack sent many men flying and knocked a few out from hitting cars, or lamp posts. Jumping with grace, she knocked out the guard that had Impmon and caught him. Impmon jumped on Tiguramon's back and they sprinted towards us. However, the guard that spotted us-it looked like a veteran police officer-grabbed me and held a gun near my face. I screamed.
"Shut up you stupid brat!" He snarled and held me tight in a choke hold. I saw dots fill my vision and clawed at his arm. This el cabrón was choking me! The vibrating on my D-Arc changed dramatically as now a blue glow emitted from my pocket. Tiguramon was acting strange all of a sudden and I could only hope someone was going to save me.
DIGIVOULTION
Tiguramon Digivolve to...
In a flash, there stood what I could barely recognize as Tiguramon. I was thrown down by the pig and coughed violently on the grass. I heard gun shots and I covered my ears. I guessed Katrina and Bowmon did the same because I saw them on the grass beside me.
What I could tell, Tiguramon used some kind of star point objects to knock the gun out of the cop's hands. With incredible speed, she round house kicked the man into the fence and I was sure he was knocked out...or worse. Finishing my coughing fit, she assisted in helping me up, with a paw. I felt a little shocked looking at her.
She was taller, on her two back legs and still had her blue and white fur. She was wearing some kind of ninja outfit that was completely black. On her front paws was gloves that were blue but padded really well with some kind of metal on her knuckles. A cloth was tied around her head and her face became a little more fiercer. Weapons were buckled around her pants including a katana. On her feet were some kind of sandals that samurai wore. Tiguramon looked badass!
"Girl? Is that still you?" I asked touching her face. She chuckled.
"Of course it is Marianna. I Digivolved to save you. I couldn't let you get hurt. Look at the D-Arc."
The device read Jaguramon, Champion level, Black Darts, and Night Slash were her attacks. A hologram picture of her popped up with the data.
"That's so sick." I breathed. Impmon cut into our moment.
"Look, we gotta get out of here and I need help getting goggle head safe."
"Goggle head...Takato? Where the hell is Takato?" I cried looking around. There was no sign of the Asian boy anywhere. Impmon looked a little guilty but told me where he put him temporarily. I shook my head at him.
"Stupidio! You ever think about him being found? Tigura-I mean Jaguramon, let's go find Takato and meet up with the boys."
"Right."
The next hour was crazy. I told Katrina and Bowmon to free the rest of the teens and to make it to my place with PJ and Ally. Those two made it out before shit hit the fan. We found Bakemon and Luke controlling the ADA guys to their whim and we had to persuade him that they could not "be sacrificed to the terrible dark lord of Bakemon". Luke convinced Bakemon to just make them fall unconscious. Gathering a drunk Cam and Agumon, who was a little too content with setting things on fire and pleasing his Tamer, we picked up Takato and made our way back to my place in once piece. Not without a few moments of arguing.
"No, like seriously. You are totally the kind of digimon who would chomp to change into Beelzemon. Why didn't you change?" I pressed the problem into Impmon who was considering to set me on fire. I stood my ground and with my bossy attitude, would not take a shrug as an answer. It got worse when Takato woke up. He said a few things to Impmon who responded in Japanese, and in seconds the argument blew up. A few words were tossed, including Lindy and Jeri. Impmon must have been really losing his patience because he set a bush on fire. Luckily, it wasn't too large and we put it out by kicking dirt on it. He walked separate from the group from then on.
We got into the house and after distracting my mom by arguing with her, I got everyone into my bedroom. It was cramped, especially with Jaguramon but it will have to do. At this point, Takato and Impmon were not talking at all. I told everyone we would have to stay here tonight and try to get some kind of rest.
"Marianna, what if we are on the news?" Katrina asked worried. PJ nodded.
"That's a good point, if they have your pictures, you are all done for! Those pigs are going to bust in here with a warrant!"
"Those monsters are not going to. Not if we can help it." I replied icily. Narrowing my brown eyes at Impmon I told him we needed to talk. He looked pissed. I had a feeling he was losing his temper. We went into my papas office (it's now just a spare room, my papa left us a few months ago.). I shut the door and with Jaguramon I knelt down by the purple imp. Now that I got a little closer look, he had a few bruises on his body and a cut. I softened my expression. The poor guy was hurt.
"You need someone to take a look at that..." I reached out a hand but he recoiled.
"Nah, I'm good...I heal." I rolled my eyes.
"Look, you obviously don't want to talk about why you refuse to change into...Beelzemon. Is it because of us? Or maybe someone else you don't want to talk about?" I carefully danced around the idea of Lindy. Saying her name could probably trip him off.
Impmon gazed his green eyes at me and sighed. It seemed like he was letting some of defence down.
"I...I can't. I can't digivolve. I don't really know why, but every time I try it's like I'm losin' my power. I put Takato in danger and I should have told him-but it's not my nature to say stuff like that. I ain't weak!" While he was slowly explaining himself, I got my little first aid kit out from a drawer and I started to work on him. I carefully applied a salve to prevent the cut from getting bigger, and I wrapped a bandage on his arm. I softly spoke,
"Cariño," I began. "It's okay to admit you can't do something; It takes strength to admit that. Denying it just make's it worse. Did you think D-Reaper could be taken out by just you?" He chucked wrapping his tail around him.
"Nah, toots did all that." I looked at Impmon.
"No, we all did. Lindy-," I bit my lip unsure of how to continue. "-Lindy did something amazing for us. You would have done the same if you and Lindy changed positions right?"
"In a heart beat." Impmon replied flatly. I tied the bandage gently and made a little knot at the end. "I miss her." he mumbled.
"We all do. But we have to remember all the good memories of her before she died. Ignoring her isn't doing any justice to her memory-no matter how painful it feels."
"It hurts like a bitch, I mean-I didn't know how somethin' so good can just turn into something so nasty, ya know? I really loved her and I thought she-"
"-She loved you," I put a hand on his shoulder and hugged him. For a second he tensed, but then relaxed. "Trust me, I knew Lindy since we were little niñas and I could tell she was crazy about you. Even though you are a little twisted." I giggled and stood up.
"Impmon, you should also apologize to Takato. I think you two arguing about this is unnecessary. If you want to save Jeri you two need to work together." Jaguramon pointed crossing her arms. Impmon looked at her strangely.
"You kinda remind me of a old friend. She was all wise and proper like ya. Whatever," Impmon muttered leaving. "I'll make nice with stupid goggle head."
I looked at Jaguramon bewildered. She hardly gave advice to anyone like that. When I asked her about it, she shrugged.
"I think those two care about each other in their own way. Impmon would do anything to protect Takato much like I would do anything to protect you." I hugged Jaguramon.
"Of course sweetie, and I would do anything for you...but we still have a problem." I looked at her. She twisted her face into a confused one.
"What is it?"
"Where the hell is everyone going to sleep?"
Authors Note: I could imagine Takato never wanting to drink beer after this. Next chapter, we are tackling the facility. Maybe we can find out some of the stuff going on at Rolling Meadows?
