Chapter 2
All twelve digidestines crowded into "Izzy" Izumi's bedroom. Izzy was sitting limply in his swivel chair, eyes bloodshot, face drawn and pale. It had been a day since the younger ones had had a bitter glance into their own future, and like them, Izzy had not slept a wink since then.
"I wish we had never found out." Davis said wearily.
"Come on, Izzy, give us some good news." Tai coaxed.
"I found out something very interesting. On a closer look I found a function encoded in every command, every variable a fourth coordinate, time. I also found a series of suspicious functions with coordinates parallel to the digital world's equivelent of a summer solstice, year's high noon. I think that they're our culprits. The command requires six nodes of two variables to be present. If they aren't the digital world is set to undergo a total re-format and data deletion-"
"In English, Izzy."
Izzy looked hesitant. "Meaning if they aren't in place to fufill the prophecy the digital world will soon cease to exist."
"Well, can't you reprogram it?" Tai asked angrily.
"No, the sequence is totally encrypted. Plus, the variables are too intertwined to change. We risk serious repercussions." He said tiredly.
"Is there nothing? Can't we-"
"Don't you think I've tried everything? I've pulled in favours from some of the greatest programmers and hackers in Tokyo and Osaka. They're all stumped. I've run about 40 run-time simulations-" he snapped.
"I'm sorry, Izzy. It's just.." Tai trailed off.
T.K. smiled wanly. "Thanks, Izzy. You tried."
"It looks like we only have one choice." Ken said softly.
"What?" Yolie asked, even though they all knew the answer.
"Fulfill the prophecy." T.K. said.
There was silence in the room.
"One thing I don't understand.." Davis began tentatively.
Izzy looked up. "What?"
"I never believed in the whole predetermined life thing and I never knew it existed in the digital world until the prophecy, but I don't understand how prophecies from the digital world can apply here. Does this mean that this destiny doesn't originate from the digital world, but encompasses both the digital world and ours?"
Izzy looked surprised. "That's a great theory, Davis. I'm really going to have to explore that one."
Davis nodded, satisfied.
"Izzy."
"What, Tai?"
"Those variables, could they be replaced with others? I mean could we take their place?"
Izzy looked puzzled. "That's what I'm confused about. I've never seen a node holding data on a living being except in DNA digivolutions, where each variable held the data on each partner. The nodes are too unique to be replaced, but Davis and the others aren't in the correct format. Unless..." He trailed off.
"What?"
"I think that each will combine with their digimon to form these nodes. I'm not sure how, but that would mean that the digimon would die, too."
Chibimon opened one eye, "Of course, we can't survive without our partner anyways."
The digimon had taken all this information rather calmly. They didn't look forward to eventual reformatting, but they had security in their rebirth. However, they hadn't quite grasped the concept of permanent human death yet.
"Well, from what I can derive from the programming there's a variable missing. I'm not sure what it is, but it's instrumental to the plan. I'm sure that it's the job of Davis and the others to find this variable and use it to defeat this "darkness"."
Tai looked around to find most of the digidestined asleep, except for Davis and T.K., who hung on desperately to consciousness.
"Hey, Izzy, mind if we chill here tonight?"
Izzy nodded, then slumped over to where Cody had fallen asleep in Joe's lap.
The moonlight shined through the window, illuminating the deceptively peaceful faces on the sleeping children scattered around the room.
"I've got to get to work." Joe muttered reluctantly.
"There'll be plenty of time for work later."
"You're right." He nodded and smiled, placing a hand protectively over Cody's head.
T.K. had curled up besides Matt. "You used to be small enough to fit in my lap." Matt murmured. "Do you remember Mom used to bring you over every other Saturday and we'd rent a movie? Only you never could stay awake for the whole movie. And I used to stroke your hair while you were asleep."
T.K. smiled sleepily. "I remember."
Matt bit back tears as T.K. put his head on his lap, and ran his fingers through his golden tresses.
Tai tip-toed over Sora, curled up against a corner with Yolie against her shoulder, to where Kari slept against Davis's chest. He sat beside them watching the steady rise and fall of their chests. *As long as I can remember I've been your protector. I admit that sometimes I haven't been the best, but never have I felt so helpless to protect you. I don't know how to-*
For the first time in years tears welled in Tai's eyes. It felt good to cry.
All twelve digidestines crowded into "Izzy" Izumi's bedroom. Izzy was sitting limply in his swivel chair, eyes bloodshot, face drawn and pale. It had been a day since the younger ones had had a bitter glance into their own future, and like them, Izzy had not slept a wink since then.
"I wish we had never found out." Davis said wearily.
"Come on, Izzy, give us some good news." Tai coaxed.
"I found out something very interesting. On a closer look I found a function encoded in every command, every variable a fourth coordinate, time. I also found a series of suspicious functions with coordinates parallel to the digital world's equivelent of a summer solstice, year's high noon. I think that they're our culprits. The command requires six nodes of two variables to be present. If they aren't the digital world is set to undergo a total re-format and data deletion-"
"In English, Izzy."
Izzy looked hesitant. "Meaning if they aren't in place to fufill the prophecy the digital world will soon cease to exist."
"Well, can't you reprogram it?" Tai asked angrily.
"No, the sequence is totally encrypted. Plus, the variables are too intertwined to change. We risk serious repercussions." He said tiredly.
"Is there nothing? Can't we-"
"Don't you think I've tried everything? I've pulled in favours from some of the greatest programmers and hackers in Tokyo and Osaka. They're all stumped. I've run about 40 run-time simulations-" he snapped.
"I'm sorry, Izzy. It's just.." Tai trailed off.
T.K. smiled wanly. "Thanks, Izzy. You tried."
"It looks like we only have one choice." Ken said softly.
"What?" Yolie asked, even though they all knew the answer.
"Fulfill the prophecy." T.K. said.
There was silence in the room.
"One thing I don't understand.." Davis began tentatively.
Izzy looked up. "What?"
"I never believed in the whole predetermined life thing and I never knew it existed in the digital world until the prophecy, but I don't understand how prophecies from the digital world can apply here. Does this mean that this destiny doesn't originate from the digital world, but encompasses both the digital world and ours?"
Izzy looked surprised. "That's a great theory, Davis. I'm really going to have to explore that one."
Davis nodded, satisfied.
"Izzy."
"What, Tai?"
"Those variables, could they be replaced with others? I mean could we take their place?"
Izzy looked puzzled. "That's what I'm confused about. I've never seen a node holding data on a living being except in DNA digivolutions, where each variable held the data on each partner. The nodes are too unique to be replaced, but Davis and the others aren't in the correct format. Unless..." He trailed off.
"What?"
"I think that each will combine with their digimon to form these nodes. I'm not sure how, but that would mean that the digimon would die, too."
Chibimon opened one eye, "Of course, we can't survive without our partner anyways."
The digimon had taken all this information rather calmly. They didn't look forward to eventual reformatting, but they had security in their rebirth. However, they hadn't quite grasped the concept of permanent human death yet.
"Well, from what I can derive from the programming there's a variable missing. I'm not sure what it is, but it's instrumental to the plan. I'm sure that it's the job of Davis and the others to find this variable and use it to defeat this "darkness"."
Tai looked around to find most of the digidestined asleep, except for Davis and T.K., who hung on desperately to consciousness.
"Hey, Izzy, mind if we chill here tonight?"
Izzy nodded, then slumped over to where Cody had fallen asleep in Joe's lap.
The moonlight shined through the window, illuminating the deceptively peaceful faces on the sleeping children scattered around the room.
"I've got to get to work." Joe muttered reluctantly.
"There'll be plenty of time for work later."
"You're right." He nodded and smiled, placing a hand protectively over Cody's head.
T.K. had curled up besides Matt. "You used to be small enough to fit in my lap." Matt murmured. "Do you remember Mom used to bring you over every other Saturday and we'd rent a movie? Only you never could stay awake for the whole movie. And I used to stroke your hair while you were asleep."
T.K. smiled sleepily. "I remember."
Matt bit back tears as T.K. put his head on his lap, and ran his fingers through his golden tresses.
Tai tip-toed over Sora, curled up against a corner with Yolie against her shoulder, to where Kari slept against Davis's chest. He sat beside them watching the steady rise and fall of their chests. *As long as I can remember I've been your protector. I admit that sometimes I haven't been the best, but never have I felt so helpless to protect you. I don't know how to-*
For the first time in years tears welled in Tai's eyes. It felt good to cry.