Chapter 12
It had been three days since Kovin demonstrated digimon to the general public with Aeromon. Things were not going well for them. The seven that had been in the demonstration tried having their digimon out in the open but were immediately attacked. Children were rushed away and people crossed the street. Either they were avoided or people would gather together to accuse them of the monster attacks they had listed as battles.
TK and Ken were confronted outside Ken's apartment and a riot began escalating because of Wormmon and Patamon. Kelryn and Relaina were able to break it up and get them out in enough time to help Kovin, Kari and Yolei who were near the new base. They hung back for some time to allow no one to see them enter the building and were attacked. Ozlimon had been the favoured target because they knew what he could do; the public was weary of the other six not knowing their potential forms.
The seven Alpha's moved permanently into the new base where all seventy of the digimon now lived. Relaina was starting to show signs of cabin fever but the other six were still doing fine. When the hell are we getting out of here? Relaina asked.
We'll get out of here when we or the digimon aren't going to be attacked, Kovin said. They were all sitting around a table set up in the main room eating pizza. The computer hardware had been moved to the sides and all the access points were now in a larger room that Izzy, Joe and some of the watchers were decoding.
That will never happen. Why can't we just fight a few of them and show them what we can do? Relaina was already on her feet with one of Kovin's katanas that she had been carrying for a while.
Sit down, Kovin said.
You going to tell me what to do? She asked turning the blade on him. In nothing more than a flash of light Kovin brought out the remaining sword and swatted hers out of her hand. It clanked along the floor came to rest by the wall.
I'll tell you what to do by saying never point a sword at me,' Kovin said. As for leaving you're not a prisoner. But think about it. They know what you look like. Even if Wyrvenmon's not with you, you're still putting her life at risk. Relaina looked around at the other faces at the table hoping for support, but she found none.
How did you ever become the leader of the Guardians? She asked.
I got the job because I was oldest. I kept the job because I'm good at it. And I know that sixty-eight of the sixty-nine people under me trust me to keep them safe.
And what about me?
You just held a sword to me, Kovin said picking up another piece of the pizza. Get a grip. You're on a team now. Everything you do affects the other six people on it. He threw the slice back into the box and walked off down one of the corridors to their living quarters. He walked into his room and immediately punched the wall. Pulling his hand back to survey the damage he saw TK standing at the doorway. Wall got in the way.
Don't worry about it, TK said coming in. We all know you're right. TK sat in the chair at the desk. Kovin and Kelryn's room used to be an office, and although it was small, it was comfortable. Azuma had a permanent set of babysitters in the digimon's large room across the hall. I used to be an empty storeroom that was divided in half, so after it was made comfortable it was used to house the male and female digimon.
Problem is I agree with her. I want to be out there watching this city the way we've always done. I hate being cramped up in here, Kovin sat on the bed to calm down rather than punch the wall again. I guess that makes me a hypocrite.
Not at all, TK said. The point of being the guy in charge is to do what's best for the team, not what you want to do.
Sometimes I really hate this job. Worrying about all of you.
We'll be fine. Just stay here and keep the sixty-three guys out there moving. Use them as sixty-three sets of eyes and ears. Now that we have this place and all it's equipment, the seven of us can coordinate the others. Makes it much more effective.
Sounds like a plan, Kovin said lying back on the bed. Do we have enough radios?
Yeah, I checked. At least a hundred with optional headsets.
Good, we'll deploy those as soon as we can. Get a frequency for each group to monitor and our base frequency.
Already did.
This is all going to have to be different, Kovin said. We have to fight a different kind of battle every day. It's getting really stressful.
I know it must be hard on you, TK said. First Kelryn, then we get locked in here, and now Relaina starts loosing it.
What did you say? Kovin asked, TK looked like he just made a grave mistake. What did you say about Kelryn?
I didn't say anything about Kelryn, TK said standing. It was obvious he really wanted to leave.
Yes you did, you said first Kelryn, then we get locked in here', I heard you.
Sorry, I thought you knew. I wasn't supposed to say anything, TK said and was almost out the door.
Tell me what's going on TK, Kovin said. TK couldn't answer because he was already out the door. Kovin jumped off the bed and followed him back up the hall, not looking for TK, but rather for Kelryn to get this settled right now. When he got back to the main room he found Yolei and Kelryn gone, and Kari and Ken suiting up to go out. What's going on?
We got a call that some of our guys were found out by the general population and are under some major attack, Kari said. Kelryn and Yolei took Arcreumon and Aquilamon to ferry the rest of their own rookies to the scene. We're just getting ready to help. TK tossed her and Ken two radios each.
We'll be monitoring preset number one, okay? TK asked.
OK, we'll see what's going on and radio back before anything happens, Ken said. Ken and Kari grabbed their gear, now in the form of converted flight suits they all had ready for going out.
Everything is falling apart, guys, Kovin said. I want all of you back here alive. No tricks, nothing special. Just get back here in one piece. If you can keep the entrance from being seen, great. But don't worry about it. Ken and Kari nodded and ascended the stairs to the exit tunnel.
TK cleared the pizza from the table after taking a few quick bites of the remaining pieces. Izzy and Joe have the location screens working, he said.
I thought they couldn't be used? Kovin asked.
Someone had a good day, and a few good ideas and now we can use them. Izzy got some parts from a military plane and fixed it.
He didn't steal them, did he? Kovin asked. TK went into a room in one of the corridors with Kovin close behind.
He didn't say, and I didn't ask, TK said. They entered the room where most of the computers had been set up. TK accessed one of them and brought up a city map of Tokyo. There we four flashing indicators for Kelryn, Kari, Ken, and Yolei. Yolei and Ken's, as well as Kari and Kelryn's were grouped together. They're just leaving now, TK said as the flashing points of light moved away from the location of their building.
I assume I'm seeing Kelryn and Yolei there because Ken and Kari have their radios? Kovin asked.
TK said. Kovin turned to see Relaina come in, sit at another terminal and put on a headset.
Don't worry, she said before he could speak. I'm feeling better. I just had to blow off some steam. I'll monitor the radio for us. Kovin walked out and back to the other end of the complex where the digimon quarters were. He looked in to find almost every one asleep. Ozlimon and Wyrvenmon were playing chess since cards didn't work well with hi wings, but chess pieces did. They rest were all sleeping peacefully around Azuma's crib. Not all of them liked looking after him, and he didn't like all of them, but there were enough compatible digimon there to keep everyone happy. Kovin shook his head after looking at the zoo of creatures they had, and walked back to the control room.
So while you two are here what's going on with Kelryn? Kovin asked. Relaina and TK's faces went white and the exchanged nervous glances.
they said in unison.
Don't screw with me. You told me something was up on the plane, you told me just now. I want to know right now, Kovin said.
We can't, Relaina said. Believe me, it's not our place to say. And we promised not to tell you.
You both already broke that promise, Kovin said.
TK said. We didn't because you still don't know. Please, just drop it. We messed up letting you find out this little bit, but don't make us break our promise.
To who?
To Kelryn, Relaina said.
Alright, I can understand that. I'll just take it up with Kelryn, Kovin said. He was dying to know what was going on and was mad at them for not telling him. But he understood the honour and value of a promise. What's that? TK turned to his screen and saw five red dots moving in fast.
I don't know, TK said. That's a radar contact, though. Kovin was instantly out the door running up the stairs. He took them two at a time and lost no speed because of his adrenaline. He burst into the empty where house and climbed its ladder to the roof. He looked south, the direction the blips were coming from. He could only see faint points of light to start. TK and Relaina shortly followed him and stood on either side of him.
Is that the direction our guys went? Kovin asked.
No, they went the other way, TK said. The lights became brighter and brighter. Suddenly they heard the deafening blast of jet engines and saw the lights were from a formation of five fighter jets. They flew low overhead and in the direction the rest of the Guardians went. They watched in horror as the planes climbed a bit and all released a missile that flew at the ground resulting in a massive fiery blast.
