Chapter 10
Kovin awoke in the night still on the plane. He knew he had to get back to sleep, because Kelryn was flying now and he would have to take them in and land. The light from a laptop Relaina was using drew his attention. She was sitting away from where they were all sleeping probably to keep the light off them. He sat beside her looking at the screen.
More of the rouge watcher's files? Kovin asked whispered.
she said. I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd try and get the exact position of the place in Tokyo. Maybe some information on any security systems too.
Find anything?
I have a street address that I think is the entrance, but nothing on what we're supposed to expect down there.
We can handle plenty. Is there a floor plan?
A rough one, she said.
A few of our digimon are small enough in their champion form to go in, plus the seven of us we'll do fine, he said. Kovin tapped a few keys looking through the files she had open, and looked at her when she didn't say anything. He felt her right hand on his cheek and her lips softly on his. His sleep-fogged mind and memories of being with Relaina in the past overwhelmed him and he was kissing her back. They pulled apart to see each other's eyes. Relaina moved in again but Kovin stopped her. Sorry, I can't, he said.
Because of Kelryn? Why do you put up with her? She treats you really bad.
She may do things I don't like, but it's not my place to change her. Relaina sat back in her seat trying to calm down.
You know I've had a pretty lonely life since you and I parted. I still love you and I want it back.
I'm sorry, but I love Kelryn. Kovin stood to go back to his chair for some more sleep.
Do you know how much I love you?
I can guess, but it doesn't matter.
Do you know how well Kelryn can keep a secret from you? Kovin turned back to her.
Relaina turned off her laptop and went to sleep, declining to answer. Kovin walked back over to where she had curled up. What do you mean?
Open your eyes, and ask a few questions. I'm not the only one who knows.
The only one who knows what?
Go to sleep. Worry about it tomorrow. I shouldn't have even told you. But I can understand why she's getting really emotional. Kovin decided to worry about it later, but getting back to sleep proved harder than he thought with Kelryn and Relaina on his mind.
* * *
Kari stood beside Kelryn, both of them gripping their throwing stars. Gatomon and Demireumon stood in front of them uneasily. They were standing on the top level of a staircase in a warehouse that led into the cement floor. To any passer-by it looked like the steps led to a cellar or the like, but it actually contained the rouge watcher laboratory Relaina located. Kari and Kelryn were to stay out for backup and catch any escapers. Kari leaned against the rough wood wall.
How long has it been? Kari asked.
Twenty-five minutes, Kelryn said looking at her watch.
Let's go in now, Kari said and started descending.
We wait for thirty. When people start changing plans things go wrong. We wait, Kelryn said. Kari looked over at the two digimon who had pulled a deck of cards out, from where she didn't know. Quietly at first, and then louder, they heard running footsteps coming up from the doorway at the bottom of the stairs. Both girls got their stars ready to fly, but stopped when they saw TK. He was really out of breath and Patamon wasn't with him.
he said between breaths. It's all done, wasn't much but Ken is really hurt, we need Kelryn down here. The girls followed TK through the winding halls of the place and down another flight of stairs. The walls were all bright stainless steel and everything was very clean despite the building above them. Three times they passed a dead body and had to skirt a small pool of blood. One even had the shattered remains of a digivice with her. They came around the last corner and found Yolei trying to staunch the flow of blood from a wound on Ken's leg. Relaina and Kovin, with all five digimon were holding six people in the corner with a katana each.
OK that's it. Move! Kovin yelled. They began filing out slowly into a small room they could lock. Kelryn set to work on Ken's leg patching it with a ripped piece of his own jeans. Kari looked around the huge room. It was five stories high with catwalks around the edges of the circular room. There were none on the level above them, just going further down. At each of the cardinal points on each level a hallway extended out into the silver walls. In the centre floor of the room were several computer terminals, but mostly mainframe storage computers.
What is this place? Kari asked.
It's a really big lab, TK said. From what these guys said it was evacuated because of a radiation leak a few weeks ago. They were getting the place ready for everyone to come back tomorrow.
Is it dangerous? Kari asked.
said Kovin coming back. We found the machine that did it and cut off it's power. We just have to keep the place secure.
Easier said than done, Yolei said. We've cut off their main base and lab. They are going to want them back. The base is a loss, but this place is still salvageable.
Let's get Izzy, Joe and the watchers in here to find out what this place was used for exactly, Kovin said. Kari, can you also get your brother and Sora here to set up a base of operations? This place has the hardware we need to fight back.
Isn't this dangerous using this place for a base? Kelryn asked. They know where we are and it's weaknesses.
It's a great base, Kovin said. It's underground with all the probing equipment to tell if someone is tunnelling, only one door, lots of supplies and lots of room. Also, we don't have to go looking for them. We just prepare for them to attack us.
* * *
Kovin stood under a light in the middle of the park in Tokyo. It was the dead of night and no one was around to see him. Ozlimon was back at home with Kelryn, Demireumon and Azuma. He looked around at the faces in front of him and realised it had been almost six months since he'd seen them. With Demitri, Marcus, Owen, Quentin, Martin, Tristan, Ethan, Gabriel and Sara, it made the first Guardian council meeting with leaders from all ten groups present.
So why are we here? And why did you call the meeting? Quentin asked. I thought all the Alphas were gone.
That was temporary. We needed some time to sort a few things out, Kovin said. I've called you all here to ask if we can reinstate the Alpha Guardians under my command again. Among other things.
What are these other things? Martin asked.
We've destroyed the rouge watcher's main base, I told you all about them in the e-mail. And last night we secured their main lab. I have people working on it right now to make it a base of operations of us.
What does that mean? Marcus asked.
Every bit of research they ever did, and over half of their supplies, weapons and equipment are in there. The fight to get it back will decide the outcome of the entire war, Kovin said. All of their forces are already moving in on Japan. We don't have much time before they attack Tokyo. I want all seventy Guardians here and ready to fight.
Did you find someone to take Allura's place? Martin asked.
Yes we did. Her name is Relaina and she has a very powerful dragon digimon. Kovin heard several of them start murmuring about a dragon digimon and a strange girl at a previous meeting.
Sara asked. Are you sure it's OK for us to have all seventy of us in one place? And some of my guys are really scared.
This will most-likely be the final battle, so yes it's ok for us all to be here. Everyone see how many digidestined you can recruit as well. As for being scared, it means they're smart. I wouldn't trust anyone who doesn't get scared. But I know they're brave, which means we'll be fine. Some people nodded in agreement.
So will the Alphas be back in command of all the Guardians? Martin asked. Everyone there unanimously agreed to the motion.
There is one more thing, Kovin said. How do we protect the civilian population from this war? No one had any ideas on how to protect an entire city from a digimon war without letting anyone see the digimon. I think I have an idea that will work. Everyone, leave now and get your entire groups here as soon as possible. Forty-eight hours, at this same spot.
