Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. It is a licensed product, and I have no rights to it.
Author's Note: I need to apologize, especially to Ella and Sparrow9, for giving a misleading cliffhanger at the end of the last episode. On re-reading it was really a stupid thing to dodon't kill me? Hope you enjoy anyways.
-dA
Episode XXXVI
First Blood
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."
-Albert Pike
"A man who won't die for something is not fit to live."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Her name, the article said, was Estrella Rodriguez, born, January 22nd, 1991, died yesterday afternoon, April 20th, 2004. She was a native of Argentina, of the city of Buenos Aires, a young woman who wanted to grow up to become a veterinarian living in the countryside. She had received her digimon only a few weeks after the great battle with MaloMyotismon. She had been crushed to death beneath a shower of rubble as that selfsame digimon attempted to support a collapsing hospital, damaged in an attack by dark digimon. The digimon had not survived the attempt.
They had died heroes, the article said, its words reprinting in cold, unfeeling accuracy the suffering of a family for a lost daughter, the loss of a loved one. She had died giving those children and injured adults enough time to escape the hospital. She had saved dozens of lives with her efforts. But she had died nonetheless.
The digidestined stood around the computer terminal in a semi-circle, and mourned one of their own.
Michael called. He had thrown himself furiously into the business of being field commander of Team Eagle with a military frenzy that made even the most tolerant Eagle occasionally roll their eyes. Nobody was rolling their eyes now. All twenty current active members stood solidly at attention, the entire contingent of the New York digidestined squadron staring straight ahead and trying not to see. They had some traditions already, but they had never, in their heart of hearts, thought that they would need a tradition for this.
They stood in front of a wall that had previously been emptied, now holding only row after row of display cases. Michael fervently hoped that none of those cases would be required, but if they were...he let the thought trail off into nothing and continued with their improvised ceremony.
Present the image. He called out, inwardly cursing himself for his lack of imagination concerning his lack of imagination, but image described it adequately.
Willis marched forward, silently, solemnly, his two digimon following him, holding a plaque inscribed with the image of the Argentinean girl and her digimon, both with dates, and a brief description of how they had died.
Sound off. Michael ordered.
Willis began to speak, solemnly and quietly, but rising with every syllable, until the volume of his voice crashed like a great crescendo over the listening audience, about how young Estrella had died, sacrificing her life for many. By the time his monologue had ended there was no dry eye remaining among the listeners.
Michael ordered. Willis turned around mutely and held the plaque up until he fitted it into its slot in the wall. And there it stood, a constant reminder that they had already lost one of their own.
Michael barked, and they all turned and saluted the object on the rightmost wall, a copy of the flag of Argentina that Phil had obtained from his mother's clothing shop
Michael gave the final order, and the people in front of him came out of attention, but they did not leave the room, concerned, they clustered together.
The candle blew itself out. Rosa and the other digidestined with her rose to their feet, watching, waiting for the next candle to be lit.
In a dozen places around the world digidestined saluted one already fallen. Great events were already starting to move.
Willis, our organization sucks. Izzy noted over the phone.
Tell me about. Well, we have some at least. Anyway, I'll try and get on that right away. I'll let you get back to work.
You too. Willis could hear Izzy disconnect the internet videophone.
So what's up? Michael was standing right next to him, and next to him was Catherine, brought in specifically for the occasion by Michael's father on their personal airplane, along with Sonja from Moscow.
Where's Rosa? Lou asked, coming in the door, Gotsumon trailing behind. I thought she was coming too.
Not going to make it. Some problems down by Mexico City, she's a little busy. Willis responded.
So what's up? And why the special meeting session? Michael asked, looking dubiously around Willis' room in the top of the Aerie.
As Izzy has reminded me, I am the senior member of the Inderdimensional Expeditionary Force in this room, correct? Willis looked around. Michael and Lou looked completely mystified by that announcement, but both Catherine and Sonja nodded.
So, we're having a group meeting? Catherine surmised.
What are you guys talking about? Michael asked.
You mean you don't know? Sonja spoke up.
No they don't. Willis confirmed. We thought it best that they didn't know what was going on. But we've decided to tell them, because we've just had some bad news.
Michael asked again.
How bad? Lou interrupted.
Bad. Really bad. The reason you're all here is obvious. Sonja is field second for the Moscow team, the core members of which have already seen combat against several groups of marauding insect-class digimon in the western regions of Server, coming out of those blasted mountains. She also is the IDEF's coordination for Eastern Europe. Catherine is the coordination officer of the European Legion, as well as field leader of the Paris element. To our knowledge the Paris element has already overcome a rogue Drimogeomon on File Island, a team of Golemon near the Modem islands, and were the ones behind the unseating of the Lord Bakemon near the File Island end of Server. The Rome, London and Frankfurt teams are also combat capable, and the European Legion as a whole was actually deployed against MetalTyrannomon in the apocalypse back on Server.
Team Eagle I'm sure needs no introduction. We are the most experienced of all the digidestined teams with the exception of Odaiba's A team. Michael commands the first field element, a team which has seen combat throughout New York, as well as during the MaloMyostismon affair, and throughout the Digital World, culminating in our takedown of the Enigma on Server. With the exception of Odaiba we are the only group to have contact with a crest. We're large enough that we have two trained field elements. I serve as strategical advisor, and Lou here leads our second field element, known now as the Falcons. Willis grinned at that. We've been training as cadres to add other digidestined to our ranks, but it's time to start planning.
What are you all talking about? Michael demanded again.
Well old friend, let me tell you a story. Willis grinned and leaned back in his chair. A story about this crazy idea...
When he finished both Michael and Lou's jaws were hanging open.
So that's what you've been hiding. And no wonder. Lou muttered.
So now the question is, what are we going to do with Izzy's latest bombshell? Willis asked.
They were waiting. Izzy pointed out. Waiting for us. And they tagged us but good. All the details were kept away from us. I've analyzed the data that they gave us, and all it is is a demonstration of the methods they used to break people down and make them into the inhuman monsters they became. Despite my reluctance to trust Khartan's observations, we may indeed have a traitor in our midst.
So that's why we're meeting here? Davis gestured at the empty classroom.
Yep. I'm pretty sure that there might only be one, and I know that it isn't any of us. The digidestined are way beyond reproach in this. So the question is, which one of our allies is it? Izzy looked puzzled.
Suspecting our friends won't get us anywhere here. Kari interrupted, judging the faces and moods in the room, and especially the way her brother looked. What else can you tell us?
I don't think Utopia understood how dangerous it was to let me into their computer systems. Izzy pointed at his screen. I managed to tap into their email database.
Which one? Ken asked, looking interested.
Their common email base, the one they use for corporate information, nothing of interest to us.
Ken sunk back down, staring out the window again.
But I don't think they realize how thoroughly I had been surveying them over the past few days. It wasn't much, but I was able to match their emails with ones they had sent through their servers.
Yolei turned around from where she had been staring at Ken.
What does that mean? Palmon asked from a corner.
Something important. Tentomon replied flippantly.
It means that I got lucky. I managed to break their normal encryption system. That gave me enough information to crack their most secure cyphers, because they base them all on the same numbering system.
Really, what kind? Ken asked.
Well, the original is off a series of prime numbers and their products, but they managed to vary it by...
Gabumon coughed.
Oh right. Izzy cleared his throat and looked embarrassed. Sorry about that.
That's okay Izzy. Sora smiled at him.
Anyway, what I meant to show is that their email system indicates that something important is happening, something really big and important, and whatever it is, it's scheduled for the twenty-second.
The twenty-second as in the day after tomorrow? TK asked, shocked.
Yes. And whatever it is, it's big. They've become a mad hive of activity, sending out important emails all over the world. If I hadn't broken their codes I wouldn't even be able to tell you this much, but since I have, it's pretty obvious. Whatever it is, they're going to try and take us all unprepared. And whatever they're going to hit us with, is going to be big.
How big? Matt asked.
I don't know. Izzy responded. And I don't think we will until it flattens us.
What did you want me to see? Ken asked quietly after Izzy had gotten the two of them alone.
Izzy pointed at a diagram that had appeared. It was a huge room, and there was a twisting and hard to define something hanging in the middle of it.
What the hell is that? Ken looked confused.
That's what I wanted you to tell me. Izzy did not particularly sound happy. But it appears to be another one of those projects that Utopia has been working on for some time.
Any luck figuring out anything? Ken asked as he stared at it.
It's heavy. The object there could not seem to figure out whether it was a ring or a sphere and kept twisting and shimmering in the light.
How heavy? Ken inquired as he stared at it again. It was only about a meter in diameter, whatever it was.
They've apparently found a way of channeling human emotion into some sort of repulsion field, a hundred times more powerful than any jet we've ever been able to manufacture, but this is ridiculous. They must have banks of jarred humans keeping that thing from collapsing, because according to there own power figures, that thing's about a hundred thousand kilotons.
That much?! Ken exclaimed. In a structure that small, rotating that fast?
Izzy replied morosely.
I think I know what it is then. Ken replied after a while.
Izzy looked surprised.
If they blow away the outer mass, I bet they can compress about a hundredth of the mass inwards, collapsing it. Ken stared at the object in apprehension.
All right, you could force a collapse using the angular momentum and gravitational potential to your advantage or something like that. But thenit would cross the threshold, rotating faster and faster and Izzy's eyes got very wide. They also got very disturbed.
So what are they going to do with a black hole? Ken asked himself.
Are you all right Tai? That voice was unmistakable. Takeru Takaishi stood right behind the brunette as he stared listlessly at the ground.
No, of course you're not all right. TK answered his own question before Tai or anyone else could. The only other people there, Kari and Agumon, merely stared. You've just had to take a life. Yourself, with your bare hands. It's a new experience, isn't it, having killed something, having taken a life yourself, with your own power. It's not quite the same as seeing Agumon vanquish someone, is it? You've killed a digimon now, killed one yourself. And suddenly you're doubting yourself, whether or not you should have, whether or not you're still worthy to be leader. Whether or not everyone thinks you're a monster.
TK sat next to Tai and took Kari's hand tenderly in his own. He took Tai's shoulder in his other, squeezing carefully.
Do you know why you're the leader Tai? You're the leader because we trust in you, in your decisions, and even if you don't always make the right ones, you make the best ones you can. Nobody thinks ill of you because you had to kill someone who was threatening all of our lives, because your hands now have blood on them. Maybe it was a horrible thing you did, but it was the best option you had, to save us, to save us all.
You're upset about Sora too, aren't you? I mean, it's almost like you lost her, and Matt got her, even though he gets all the girls. It's upsetting, but that's not the real reason you're upset is it? You still don't know if you really wanted her, if you could have had her, and you don't know if you had her if she would be good for you, do you? You have to find yourself though before you can find anything else, right? I mean, after all, it's up to you to straighten out your own emotions before you can even think about straightening out the emotions of other people. And you haven't decided yet. So go out and find yourself. If you really are right for her, she will come to you.
But that's all you have to do, see? Find yourself. You're afraid because, as leader, you risk our lives on a daily basis, but we trust you. Why? Because in the end Tai, you are you. You can't be anyone else. We all know who you are and we trust you. All you have to do is trust yourself. And once you know who you are, you win.
TK stood up and calmly walked away, leaving the three others behind. Kari was suddenly alarmed to realize that her brother was crying again.
What is it Tai? She reached out to him, and he grasped her hand roughly.
That boy...that boy...I never thought I would say this. Tai gasped out through his tears, and his sudden laughter. But if you ever let him get away...I might strangle you myself.
Kari suddenly laughed and hugged her brother all at once, and, even if all was not right with the world, it was better.
Something's bugging me Izzy. Ken sat back and looked at the ceiling.
Izzy asked, barely paying attention.
Ken looked around to make sure that they were alone before replying. Do you remember what I said after the Enigma incident?
You said a lot of things. Half of them were swear words. You'll have to be more precise than that if you want a coherent answer.
The part about how the IDEF seemed overly complicated.
Oh. That. Yeah, as I recall you were pointing out that the core contingents seemed to be covering even the biggest emergencies fairly well. You didn't see the need for Gennai to impose the operating structure of the IDEF in such a complicated manner. Correct?
Yes. Well, I've come to an interesting conclusion.
Prodigious. Do tell.
This is the big one, right? The one we've been waiting for since Gennai gave us that speech. That means that the two years since then have been building up to this one moment. We've had two years to assemble digidestined, and that's the whole job of the IDEF. Right?
Okay. I'm following you so far. Izzy replied.
The kind of power we're dealing with right now is so great that we're talking about city-destroying level. If everything went even partially according to plan, we might be dealing with a force equal to that deployed by any nation. So what is Khartan planning that's this big? Ken looked so anxious that Izzy was half afraid he was going to have a fit.
I don't know. I don't think any of us will know until it's too late.
Who's forming the core contingents? Ken asked.
Izzy ticked numbers off on his fingers. Team Eagle of course, the European Legion, the Australian Avengers, the Moscow Blizzard, the Aztecs and the LA Thunderbirds probably. They're the premiere groups, but the truth is that besides us Team Eagle is the only other team that can field firepower to match an Ultimate. I have truly no idea what the IDEF is going to be dealing with out there. And without that, I can't really plan ahead.
All right. I don't like it, but I have to accept it. One last question. Do we tell Tai?
No. You saw him. He's unbalanced enough already. Besides, I still don't know how dangerous this is. We may not need this at all.
We'll find out, won't we?
Hey blockhead! Davis groaned as his sister's voice caught up with him. Where have you been?
Out saving the world. Davis stuck his tongue out in his sister's general direction, trying to avoid the question and answer session.
Fine then you little snot! Jun yelled as he disappeared into his room. Be that way then.
Davis shouted back as he slammed the door behind him and collapsed onto his bed. Veemon popped out of his backpack almost as soon as he set it down.
Your sister's starting to suspect something. Veemon noted as he attempted to extricate himself from the backpack.
I know. Hopefully we won't have to keep this hidden from her much longer. Davis moaned. All this is giving me a headache.
Maybe you should eat some chocolate ice cream. That's what Yolei always does. And if you do, you should get some for me.
Professor Takenouchi? Professor Takenouchi looked up as his name was called. Takei was standing at the door, looking extremely worried.
What is it Takei? The Professor pushed his chair back, temporarily ignoring the piles of paperwork on his desk.
We have new orders. You're too valuable to be endangered. We're getting you out of the city. Takei did not look comfortable with this at all.
I can't. All the work is here...all the equipment...I'm not going to be valuable at all if you don't let me do my job. Professor Takenouchi protested.
Right now, it might not matter. If it helps you to know, our orders are nearly universal. Every bloody Helios agent we have is either on their way out of the city, or getting there.
What about those in the police and the army?
They promised to stay and do their duty. Honestly, I don't know what we're going to be up against, but...well...you know how it is.
And my family? Professor Takenouchi asked.
We're getting your wife out. Your daughter...well...let's just say that it will be difficult at best. My orders were very specific. One digidestined in Tokyo may make all the difference. We're leaving her here.
Very well. I don't have to like it, but I certainly understand. Let me talk to Jim for a moment. Professor Takenouchi leaned outside his office to see Jim standing by the coffee pot, reading a thick report.
What's up Jim?
Well, we've pretty much run through all the data we can. We're still trying to analyze that disruption field effect though. The best guess we have right now is that the energy that the human mind imparts to them enhances some sort of Electromagnetic aura. Anyway this field, which has some sort of disruptive effect jams up all complicated electronics. I'm not really sure how it works though. Or what causes it.
Jim. It looks like I'm going away for a few days. Can you handle the lab?
Seeing as how we're getting no new samples, I'm sure we can. Activity is dying down around here anyway, so we're back to running standard tests on all the old samples. Nothing exciting is going to happen, so you've probably picked a good time to leave. So, where're you going anyway?
I think I'm going to take a nice trip to the country with my wife. See the rest of Japan. You know, that sort of thing. Anyway, it should just be for a few days, so make sure everything runs according to schedule, right?
No problem Prof. Jim responded, and walked away, still reading the paper in his hands.
Gee TK, maybe I should be suspicious. You usually aren't this generous when I tell you I'm going to be gone for a while. Nancy Takaishi looked very surprised.
Well, I guess I'm getting used to it. Inwardly TK winced at how lame the excuse sounded, even to him, but his mother did not seem that suspicious.
Now, I want you to promise. Absolutely no late night parties with your friends while I'm gone. You can take care of yourself, and cook your own dinner and such, so I have no problems there. Remember, I'll only be in Hokkaido for a week, so you better keep this house clean.
I understand Mom. TK bowed his head so she could not see his relieved look. When are you leaving?
Tomorrow morning. So I have to pack tonight.
I can help you. TK volunteered, something that almost caused Patamon to snort into the soda he was drinking on the counter.
That's very kind TK. Nancy looked suspicious again, and then shrugged.
The sooner you get our of Tokyo, the better, TK thought to himself.
What are you up to Izzy? The voice at his door nearly made Izzy's heart stop. Then he sighed and realized it was only his mother.
Nothing Mom. You can come in. He continued working on hacking the codes guarding Utopia's guarded email system. He could hear the door behind him crack open.
What are you doing? Oh, something illegal probably. His mother sat down next to him. Izzy, you've been behaving peculiarly for a while now, is there something you want to tell me.
Well, no, not really. You'd just panic, he thought silently.
Are you sure? Izzy's mother asked.
Well...you know that trip that you keep wanting to take, back to where you were born, near Osaka?
Yes Izzy?
Well, why don't you go. I'm sure that Dad could get time off from the university even at short notice. You could go there for a week. I''l be fine here.
Izzy, is something going to happen?
I don't know Mom. I just don't want you to be here if something does. I can take care of myself, but I don't know if I can take care of you at the same time. It's just...I really don't want you involved.
I trust you Izzy. A gentle hand was laid on his shoulder. I'll get myself and your father out of town tonight. I trust you, and I hope you do all right yourself.
Thanks Mom. Izzy's only outward expression of emotion was a solitary tear that trickled down one cheek.
So, what's happening next? Yolei asked urgently over the phone.
I don't know. Ken whispered back. We're still trying to figure out what they're going to do. None of us really has any sort of clue as to what's going on right now.
So I take it that our date's on indefinite hold.
I'm really sorry Yolei, but...
I understand. Don't worry, I'm sure that we'll have plenty of time later to deal with all of this. Anyway, can I come by and talk to you?
Yeah, actually, surprisingly enough I'm going over to Cody's right now. Why don't you come and join me?
Sure. I'd love to. Yolei hung up the phone. At that moment she became aware of her sister staring at her from directly behind her.
Yolei asked defensively, turning red.
Hah, I knew it! Her sister jumped away, singing. Yolei's got a boyfriend. Yolei's got a boyfriend!
Hey! Come back here!
So Mimi, what's your plan?
Well, my parents are out of town again anyway, as usual, so there's not much I can do. They're already as safe as their ever going to be. It's my friends in other parts of the world that I'm worried about. I mean, I know the New York crowd. What if they're involved in it to? Mimi turned to Sora and Matt, who were both standing beside her, keeping an eye on the city from the lofty vantage point of the Tokyo Tower, where Mimi and Sora had fought SkullMeramon so many years ago.
Unfortunately, it looks like they might be. That's probably what Izzy meant when he said that this could be worldwide. Sora shrugged helplessly. There's nothing we can really do, except for stand here and wait. And that's exactly what I plan to do. I'm going to be ready for them.
That's my Sora. Matt smiled.
Your Sora? Since when is that true? Sora turned around and squinted at him.
Sorry. Privileged information. Matt tried to look away, but Sora kept bringing his gaze back by the simple expedient of moving his head.
Privileged information is it?
Yep. And only I'm privileged enough to know it. Matt managed to back away successfully.
Oh you...
Mimi looked away and sighed, enjoying the feeling of contentment while it lasted.
You want to know about what? Adam looked mildly surprised, caught in the middle of eating the instant ramen that was the standard issue meal for college employees.
Black holes. Izzy sat down. Especially ring-shaped ones.
Ring shaped singularities are weird. Adam replied. I don't think that they're anything but a theoretical construct right now, and I don't expect them to see any soon. The basic theory is fairly simple, but the act of getting a quantum singularity to behave like a ring instead of a good, old-fashioned point is obscenely complicated. I don't think they have the math straightened out quite yet.
But they are possible. Izzy insisted.
Well, sort of. I guess.
Could you make one on Earth?
Adam laughed aloud at that, pointing his chopsticks up at the ceiling. Now that would be an interesting project. You can't do it normally, because of the mass involved.
How big does it need to be? Izzy kept pushing.
Well, I recall reading that the smallest black hole observed, or that they think they've observed was about four times the mass of the sunso figure about eight or nine times ten to the thirtieth kilograms. You could potentially make a smaller one, but the properties would be strange. As for on Earth, I don't know where we would get the mass necessary to start bending space. The process would violate about a thousand laws of Physics to do anything.
And if you could bend the laws of Physics? Izzy asked intently.
Adam's gaze sharpened. I hope this is a theoretical question.
Izzy was non-committal.
I'll have to think about that. Adam leaned back in his chair, his ramen temporarily forgotten. I'll have to think about that.
TK looked at the pictures again, a sense of unease growing. Every image was exactly as he had seen it, and he was wondering again why everything seemed to have conspired against them.
Hello Kari. He whispered without even turning around.
I still don't believe how easily you do that. Kari muttered as she drew up beside him, giving him a brief massage on his shoulders. So what are you so concerned about.
What Khartan said. I think that there may be a grain of truth to it after all. That there's a traitor in our midst. Or at least that he has some way of keeping tabs on us. It's beginning to look like that. We haven't seen any action with digimon attacks since that first battle in Shinjuku, so it seems that he has given up on trying to attack Tokyo, but we have not caught sight of him, or figured out, in any measure, what his plans are. I mean, face it, he's still as mysterious as he ever was, and despite the fact that we've uncovered an international conspiracy we have no idea what's going to happen in two days that has Izzy so upset.
Well, it doesn't mean that there is a traitor, or it doesn't mean that there's a conscious one. Kari responded, glancing briefly at the pictures TK had assembled of their actions as viewed through newspaper photographs. I mean, he could not know.
You mean that one of us might be keeping a diary and writing all this stuff down or something? I'm more inclined to believe that one of the adults is accidentally leaking information somewhere, but I'm not sure where. At the same time I have had the feeling from time to time that not all is as it should be. That something has been hidden. How about you?
OK, you've got me, I admit to feeling that. Kari pursed her lips thoughtfully, as if thinking heavily about something. But do you have any idea what it means.
Nope, and neither does anyone else. In fact, I suspect that we're the only ones who know them.
So what are you so worried about? Kari asked him.
I was thinking it over last night, and I cam up with a conclusion. The best way to slip something on us, to change us from a team to a dysfunctional mob would be to corrupt a digidestined, right?
All right. I'll give you that, by why would any of us go over to the Darkness. I know that we've been tempted before, but why now?
I checked my suspicion with Izzy last night. There is a way to corrupt a good person, and that person might not necessarily know that they were being corrupted. I checked with Izzy's records. We never found Oikawa's computer system after the MaloMyostismon affair. We have no idea what happened to his original records of the programming behind the dark spore.
Kari gasped. You're not saying...
No, I'm not, but it's a suspicion. What if Khartan managed to grow dark spores again? What if he managed to implant one in one of us. One of us could be a traitor then, and their corruption would have been very slow.
But the dark spore disrupts personalities, doesn't it? I mean, we would notice if someone started behaving differently, wouldn't we? Kari seemed to be seeking reassurance more than anything.
I would like to think so, but I'm not entirely sure whether or not we would catch subtle manipulations. It might be a lot more difficult than we think. After all, this may not be a fast process; it may be a slow one.
So what do you think we should do? Kari inquired.
Keep an eye on everyone. TK nodded. Absolutely everyone.
Whamon belched a huge jet of steam in the air as he rounded the point. His digidestined, Harrison, clutched onto the back of the whale with expert feet, searching the horizon with sharp eyes.
Derrick asked as they peered around.
No, it doesn't look like it. Everything here is secure. I can't actually see anything through this fog. How 'bout Crabby? He having any luck down there?
If he had he would have come up. All right, I think it's safe to say that nobody else is out here. How 'bout you Stace?
My digimon is just as smart as yours. If we haven't heard back, then the island is still empty and deserted.
Good. Someone get on the horn to Odaiba, and tell them that we still have control of all of our staging points.
How many people are needed to go to Phase Two? Joe asked as they rushed along.
Four senior digidestined. That means that I'd like us all to be from one team, and since Mimi couldn't get away from her dinner with her parents, I need to find one other who I think nobody will ever suspect knows. Or somebody who is too secure to be attacked.
Joe hazarded a guess as they threaded up to the Takaishi apartment.
It's a good thought. Izzy stepped up and knocked at the Takaishi door. There were a few coughs from inside, something that sounded like rustling, and then a voice quavered, Come in.
Izzy entered and frowned. Ken, who was following behind grinned, and Joe coughed into his fist. Kari and TK looked at them with wide eyes from where they were sitting on opposite ends of the couch.
It's all right TK, you don't have to pretend so hard for our sake. We aren't Tai. Izzy grinned at them suddenly, causing TK and Kari to blush.
So what're you doing here? TK asked, ignoring Ken's silent laughter.
Trying to figure stuff out. You?
I have some thoughts, about what Khartan was saying about having a traitor in our midst. It could be true. I'm worried. TK looked very serious, and Izzy could not help but notice how adult-like he suddenly was.
How true? Joe asked.
Well, both Kari and I have a feeling that something is not as it seems, that somebody is not quite what they appear to be. That kind of feeling usually comes from the Heart of the World, especially if both of us feel it at the same time. This could be divine guidance for all we know. All we really know for certain is that it spells trouble for us. What do you want to know?
I want you both to volunteer to hold a piece of information near to your heart. I don't want to let anybody else know, but I know that corrupting you is nearly impossible. I didn't tell you earlier because you were too obvious as targets went, but right now qualifies as an emergency, and someone has to do it. That, in case you hadn't noticed, is you. Can I trust you?
Of course. Kari responded at once for both of them.
Ken held out one hand. Welcome to the IDEF.
The what? TK asked.
Hold onto that thought, it will take me a minute to explain.
The brown-haired boy stuck his head into the room, after his knock had brought no response.
Oh, hello Taichi. Lieutenant Takaeda stuck his head up from behind the mound of paperwork he was filling out. Sorry, I didn't hear you enter.
You wanted to talk to me? Tai pulled himself into the opposite chair and waited for Takaeda's response.
Yes. It seems that reinforcing police units with digidestined has been an impressive move. Most opposing forces really can't handle being hit by digimon and police forces together. Attacks have dropped off almost completely. We haven't even had a hoax in a day. And the story is much the same worldwide. Attacks by hostile digimon are fading, primarily due to the efforts of digidestined worldwide.
It seems like it really was a good idea. Tai commented.
Yes, and that's worrying me. I saw these creatures attack with my own eyes. They seem like the monsters of the Apocalypse variety, not the quiting variety. And so the question is, why are the attacks lessening? You would think that they would throw everything they had at us instead of giving us time to strengthen our defenses. Instead, they're backing off. I'm a cop Tai. I think in terms of police activities. Most of that stuff that they show on TV is bunk, but for a tactical guy like me, we all have a sense that tells us the difference between the end and the calm before the storm. And now my instincts are telling me that something big's on the way. Care to comment?
Tai took a deep breath before responding. That's the same thing that we're starting to think, but we don't know what, only that it's coming in the next few days. We haven't a clue ourselves, but if I were you I would be prepared for anything.
So, call in the troops, strengthen the defenses, something like that? Takaeda looked around before lowering his voice. Or is this something way over our heads?
I don't know about that, but it could be something way over all of our heads. Tai responded quietly.
Great. Well, we'll try to keep Tokyo in one piece if it is. You guys take care of yourself.
We'll do our best. Tai replied.
We'll see about that. The darkened figure listening through the window whispered through clenched teeth. Then he was gone before anyone could have spotted him.
So it's really that easy to start? TK asked Izzy.
Yes. Seems odd doesn't it, that it would have to remain so secret. The question we should really ask is if we're ready for this ourselves. Izzy looked thoughtfully at the internet connection opened on the screen before him.
I think it is. Kari responded.
So do I. Ken agreed.
Well then, shall we do it? Joe asked.
Izzy pressed a key on his keyboard, coughed once, and then spoke into his top of the line microphone.
This is Koushiro Izumi of Odaiba One. Authroization code Two-Nine-One-Seven-Delta-Alpha-Four. Code Gallipoli. Authorize Phase Two.
This is Ken Ichijouji of Odaiba One. Authorization code is Four-Six-Three-One-Epsilon-Chi-Nine. Code Gallipoli. Authorize Phase Two.
This is Jyou Kido of Odaiba One. Authorization code is Five-Five-Two-Seven-Iota-Mu-Six. Code Gallipoli. Authorize Phase Two.
This is Takeru Takaishi of Odabia One. Authorization code Eight-Four-Five-Two-Delta-Gamma-Four. Code Gallipoli. Authorize Phase Two.
The computer blinked twice, the screen flashing in an odd pattern. A moment later it changed color to green.
So what does that mean? Joe whispered.
It means that we've started the ball rolling. I don't know if we can stop it now.
A computer program, so well designed and so well hidden that the owners of a hundred computers were barely aware of its existence woke up. It considered the orders given it, verified identification codes, and then, using email systems from other networks around the globe, broadcast a series of short messages before closing down and waiting for the next signal.
Author's Note: I need to apologize, especially to Ella and Sparrow9, for giving a misleading cliffhanger at the end of the last episode. On re-reading it was really a stupid thing to dodon't kill me? Hope you enjoy anyways.
-dA
First Blood
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."
-Albert Pike
"A man who won't die for something is not fit to live."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
They had died heroes, the article said, its words reprinting in cold, unfeeling accuracy the suffering of a family for a lost daughter, the loss of a loved one. She had died giving those children and injured adults enough time to escape the hospital. She had saved dozens of lives with her efforts. But she had died nonetheless.
The digidestined stood around the computer terminal in a semi-circle, and mourned one of their own.
Michael called. He had thrown himself furiously into the business of being field commander of Team Eagle with a military frenzy that made even the most tolerant Eagle occasionally roll their eyes. Nobody was rolling their eyes now. All twenty current active members stood solidly at attention, the entire contingent of the New York digidestined squadron staring straight ahead and trying not to see. They had some traditions already, but they had never, in their heart of hearts, thought that they would need a tradition for this.
They stood in front of a wall that had previously been emptied, now holding only row after row of display cases. Michael fervently hoped that none of those cases would be required, but if they were...he let the thought trail off into nothing and continued with their improvised ceremony.
Present the image. He called out, inwardly cursing himself for his lack of imagination concerning his lack of imagination, but image described it adequately.
Willis marched forward, silently, solemnly, his two digimon following him, holding a plaque inscribed with the image of the Argentinean girl and her digimon, both with dates, and a brief description of how they had died.
Sound off. Michael ordered.
Willis began to speak, solemnly and quietly, but rising with every syllable, until the volume of his voice crashed like a great crescendo over the listening audience, about how young Estrella had died, sacrificing her life for many. By the time his monologue had ended there was no dry eye remaining among the listeners.
Michael ordered. Willis turned around mutely and held the plaque up until he fitted it into its slot in the wall. And there it stood, a constant reminder that they had already lost one of their own.
Michael barked, and they all turned and saluted the object on the rightmost wall, a copy of the flag of Argentina that Phil had obtained from his mother's clothing shop
Michael gave the final order, and the people in front of him came out of attention, but they did not leave the room, concerned, they clustered together.
The candle blew itself out. Rosa and the other digidestined with her rose to their feet, watching, waiting for the next candle to be lit.
In a dozen places around the world digidestined saluted one already fallen. Great events were already starting to move.
Willis, our organization sucks. Izzy noted over the phone.
Tell me about. Well, we have some at least. Anyway, I'll try and get on that right away. I'll let you get back to work.
You too. Willis could hear Izzy disconnect the internet videophone.
So what's up? Michael was standing right next to him, and next to him was Catherine, brought in specifically for the occasion by Michael's father on their personal airplane, along with Sonja from Moscow.
Where's Rosa? Lou asked, coming in the door, Gotsumon trailing behind. I thought she was coming too.
Not going to make it. Some problems down by Mexico City, she's a little busy. Willis responded.
So what's up? And why the special meeting session? Michael asked, looking dubiously around Willis' room in the top of the Aerie.
As Izzy has reminded me, I am the senior member of the Inderdimensional Expeditionary Force in this room, correct? Willis looked around. Michael and Lou looked completely mystified by that announcement, but both Catherine and Sonja nodded.
So, we're having a group meeting? Catherine surmised.
What are you guys talking about? Michael asked.
You mean you don't know? Sonja spoke up.
No they don't. Willis confirmed. We thought it best that they didn't know what was going on. But we've decided to tell them, because we've just had some bad news.
Michael asked again.
How bad? Lou interrupted.
Bad. Really bad. The reason you're all here is obvious. Sonja is field second for the Moscow team, the core members of which have already seen combat against several groups of marauding insect-class digimon in the western regions of Server, coming out of those blasted mountains. She also is the IDEF's coordination for Eastern Europe. Catherine is the coordination officer of the European Legion, as well as field leader of the Paris element. To our knowledge the Paris element has already overcome a rogue Drimogeomon on File Island, a team of Golemon near the Modem islands, and were the ones behind the unseating of the Lord Bakemon near the File Island end of Server. The Rome, London and Frankfurt teams are also combat capable, and the European Legion as a whole was actually deployed against MetalTyrannomon in the apocalypse back on Server.
Team Eagle I'm sure needs no introduction. We are the most experienced of all the digidestined teams with the exception of Odaiba's A team. Michael commands the first field element, a team which has seen combat throughout New York, as well as during the MaloMyostismon affair, and throughout the Digital World, culminating in our takedown of the Enigma on Server. With the exception of Odaiba we are the only group to have contact with a crest. We're large enough that we have two trained field elements. I serve as strategical advisor, and Lou here leads our second field element, known now as the Falcons. Willis grinned at that. We've been training as cadres to add other digidestined to our ranks, but it's time to start planning.
What are you all talking about? Michael demanded again.
Well old friend, let me tell you a story. Willis grinned and leaned back in his chair. A story about this crazy idea...
When he finished both Michael and Lou's jaws were hanging open.
So that's what you've been hiding. And no wonder. Lou muttered.
So now the question is, what are we going to do with Izzy's latest bombshell? Willis asked.
They were waiting. Izzy pointed out. Waiting for us. And they tagged us but good. All the details were kept away from us. I've analyzed the data that they gave us, and all it is is a demonstration of the methods they used to break people down and make them into the inhuman monsters they became. Despite my reluctance to trust Khartan's observations, we may indeed have a traitor in our midst.
So that's why we're meeting here? Davis gestured at the empty classroom.
Yep. I'm pretty sure that there might only be one, and I know that it isn't any of us. The digidestined are way beyond reproach in this. So the question is, which one of our allies is it? Izzy looked puzzled.
Suspecting our friends won't get us anywhere here. Kari interrupted, judging the faces and moods in the room, and especially the way her brother looked. What else can you tell us?
I don't think Utopia understood how dangerous it was to let me into their computer systems. Izzy pointed at his screen. I managed to tap into their email database.
Which one? Ken asked, looking interested.
Their common email base, the one they use for corporate information, nothing of interest to us.
Ken sunk back down, staring out the window again.
But I don't think they realize how thoroughly I had been surveying them over the past few days. It wasn't much, but I was able to match their emails with ones they had sent through their servers.
Yolei turned around from where she had been staring at Ken.
What does that mean? Palmon asked from a corner.
Something important. Tentomon replied flippantly.
It means that I got lucky. I managed to break their normal encryption system. That gave me enough information to crack their most secure cyphers, because they base them all on the same numbering system.
Really, what kind? Ken asked.
Well, the original is off a series of prime numbers and their products, but they managed to vary it by...
Gabumon coughed.
Oh right. Izzy cleared his throat and looked embarrassed. Sorry about that.
That's okay Izzy. Sora smiled at him.
Anyway, what I meant to show is that their email system indicates that something important is happening, something really big and important, and whatever it is, it's scheduled for the twenty-second.
The twenty-second as in the day after tomorrow? TK asked, shocked.
Yes. And whatever it is, it's big. They've become a mad hive of activity, sending out important emails all over the world. If I hadn't broken their codes I wouldn't even be able to tell you this much, but since I have, it's pretty obvious. Whatever it is, they're going to try and take us all unprepared. And whatever they're going to hit us with, is going to be big.
How big? Matt asked.
I don't know. Izzy responded. And I don't think we will until it flattens us.
What did you want me to see? Ken asked quietly after Izzy had gotten the two of them alone.
Izzy pointed at a diagram that had appeared. It was a huge room, and there was a twisting and hard to define something hanging in the middle of it.
What the hell is that? Ken looked confused.
That's what I wanted you to tell me. Izzy did not particularly sound happy. But it appears to be another one of those projects that Utopia has been working on for some time.
Any luck figuring out anything? Ken asked as he stared at it.
It's heavy. The object there could not seem to figure out whether it was a ring or a sphere and kept twisting and shimmering in the light.
How heavy? Ken inquired as he stared at it again. It was only about a meter in diameter, whatever it was.
They've apparently found a way of channeling human emotion into some sort of repulsion field, a hundred times more powerful than any jet we've ever been able to manufacture, but this is ridiculous. They must have banks of jarred humans keeping that thing from collapsing, because according to there own power figures, that thing's about a hundred thousand kilotons.
That much?! Ken exclaimed. In a structure that small, rotating that fast?
Izzy replied morosely.
I think I know what it is then. Ken replied after a while.
Izzy looked surprised.
If they blow away the outer mass, I bet they can compress about a hundredth of the mass inwards, collapsing it. Ken stared at the object in apprehension.
All right, you could force a collapse using the angular momentum and gravitational potential to your advantage or something like that. But thenit would cross the threshold, rotating faster and faster and Izzy's eyes got very wide. They also got very disturbed.
So what are they going to do with a black hole? Ken asked himself.
Are you all right Tai? That voice was unmistakable. Takeru Takaishi stood right behind the brunette as he stared listlessly at the ground.
No, of course you're not all right. TK answered his own question before Tai or anyone else could. The only other people there, Kari and Agumon, merely stared. You've just had to take a life. Yourself, with your bare hands. It's a new experience, isn't it, having killed something, having taken a life yourself, with your own power. It's not quite the same as seeing Agumon vanquish someone, is it? You've killed a digimon now, killed one yourself. And suddenly you're doubting yourself, whether or not you should have, whether or not you're still worthy to be leader. Whether or not everyone thinks you're a monster.
TK sat next to Tai and took Kari's hand tenderly in his own. He took Tai's shoulder in his other, squeezing carefully.
Do you know why you're the leader Tai? You're the leader because we trust in you, in your decisions, and even if you don't always make the right ones, you make the best ones you can. Nobody thinks ill of you because you had to kill someone who was threatening all of our lives, because your hands now have blood on them. Maybe it was a horrible thing you did, but it was the best option you had, to save us, to save us all.
You're upset about Sora too, aren't you? I mean, it's almost like you lost her, and Matt got her, even though he gets all the girls. It's upsetting, but that's not the real reason you're upset is it? You still don't know if you really wanted her, if you could have had her, and you don't know if you had her if she would be good for you, do you? You have to find yourself though before you can find anything else, right? I mean, after all, it's up to you to straighten out your own emotions before you can even think about straightening out the emotions of other people. And you haven't decided yet. So go out and find yourself. If you really are right for her, she will come to you.
But that's all you have to do, see? Find yourself. You're afraid because, as leader, you risk our lives on a daily basis, but we trust you. Why? Because in the end Tai, you are you. You can't be anyone else. We all know who you are and we trust you. All you have to do is trust yourself. And once you know who you are, you win.
TK stood up and calmly walked away, leaving the three others behind. Kari was suddenly alarmed to realize that her brother was crying again.
What is it Tai? She reached out to him, and he grasped her hand roughly.
That boy...that boy...I never thought I would say this. Tai gasped out through his tears, and his sudden laughter. But if you ever let him get away...I might strangle you myself.
Kari suddenly laughed and hugged her brother all at once, and, even if all was not right with the world, it was better.
Something's bugging me Izzy. Ken sat back and looked at the ceiling.
Izzy asked, barely paying attention.
Ken looked around to make sure that they were alone before replying. Do you remember what I said after the Enigma incident?
You said a lot of things. Half of them were swear words. You'll have to be more precise than that if you want a coherent answer.
The part about how the IDEF seemed overly complicated.
Oh. That. Yeah, as I recall you were pointing out that the core contingents seemed to be covering even the biggest emergencies fairly well. You didn't see the need for Gennai to impose the operating structure of the IDEF in such a complicated manner. Correct?
Yes. Well, I've come to an interesting conclusion.
Prodigious. Do tell.
This is the big one, right? The one we've been waiting for since Gennai gave us that speech. That means that the two years since then have been building up to this one moment. We've had two years to assemble digidestined, and that's the whole job of the IDEF. Right?
Okay. I'm following you so far. Izzy replied.
The kind of power we're dealing with right now is so great that we're talking about city-destroying level. If everything went even partially according to plan, we might be dealing with a force equal to that deployed by any nation. So what is Khartan planning that's this big? Ken looked so anxious that Izzy was half afraid he was going to have a fit.
I don't know. I don't think any of us will know until it's too late.
Who's forming the core contingents? Ken asked.
Izzy ticked numbers off on his fingers. Team Eagle of course, the European Legion, the Australian Avengers, the Moscow Blizzard, the Aztecs and the LA Thunderbirds probably. They're the premiere groups, but the truth is that besides us Team Eagle is the only other team that can field firepower to match an Ultimate. I have truly no idea what the IDEF is going to be dealing with out there. And without that, I can't really plan ahead.
All right. I don't like it, but I have to accept it. One last question. Do we tell Tai?
No. You saw him. He's unbalanced enough already. Besides, I still don't know how dangerous this is. We may not need this at all.
We'll find out, won't we?
Hey blockhead! Davis groaned as his sister's voice caught up with him. Where have you been?
Out saving the world. Davis stuck his tongue out in his sister's general direction, trying to avoid the question and answer session.
Fine then you little snot! Jun yelled as he disappeared into his room. Be that way then.
Davis shouted back as he slammed the door behind him and collapsed onto his bed. Veemon popped out of his backpack almost as soon as he set it down.
Your sister's starting to suspect something. Veemon noted as he attempted to extricate himself from the backpack.
I know. Hopefully we won't have to keep this hidden from her much longer. Davis moaned. All this is giving me a headache.
Maybe you should eat some chocolate ice cream. That's what Yolei always does. And if you do, you should get some for me.
Professor Takenouchi? Professor Takenouchi looked up as his name was called. Takei was standing at the door, looking extremely worried.
What is it Takei? The Professor pushed his chair back, temporarily ignoring the piles of paperwork on his desk.
We have new orders. You're too valuable to be endangered. We're getting you out of the city. Takei did not look comfortable with this at all.
I can't. All the work is here...all the equipment...I'm not going to be valuable at all if you don't let me do my job. Professor Takenouchi protested.
Right now, it might not matter. If it helps you to know, our orders are nearly universal. Every bloody Helios agent we have is either on their way out of the city, or getting there.
What about those in the police and the army?
They promised to stay and do their duty. Honestly, I don't know what we're going to be up against, but...well...you know how it is.
And my family? Professor Takenouchi asked.
We're getting your wife out. Your daughter...well...let's just say that it will be difficult at best. My orders were very specific. One digidestined in Tokyo may make all the difference. We're leaving her here.
Very well. I don't have to like it, but I certainly understand. Let me talk to Jim for a moment. Professor Takenouchi leaned outside his office to see Jim standing by the coffee pot, reading a thick report.
What's up Jim?
Well, we've pretty much run through all the data we can. We're still trying to analyze that disruption field effect though. The best guess we have right now is that the energy that the human mind imparts to them enhances some sort of Electromagnetic aura. Anyway this field, which has some sort of disruptive effect jams up all complicated electronics. I'm not really sure how it works though. Or what causes it.
Jim. It looks like I'm going away for a few days. Can you handle the lab?
Seeing as how we're getting no new samples, I'm sure we can. Activity is dying down around here anyway, so we're back to running standard tests on all the old samples. Nothing exciting is going to happen, so you've probably picked a good time to leave. So, where're you going anyway?
I think I'm going to take a nice trip to the country with my wife. See the rest of Japan. You know, that sort of thing. Anyway, it should just be for a few days, so make sure everything runs according to schedule, right?
No problem Prof. Jim responded, and walked away, still reading the paper in his hands.
Gee TK, maybe I should be suspicious. You usually aren't this generous when I tell you I'm going to be gone for a while. Nancy Takaishi looked very surprised.
Well, I guess I'm getting used to it. Inwardly TK winced at how lame the excuse sounded, even to him, but his mother did not seem that suspicious.
Now, I want you to promise. Absolutely no late night parties with your friends while I'm gone. You can take care of yourself, and cook your own dinner and such, so I have no problems there. Remember, I'll only be in Hokkaido for a week, so you better keep this house clean.
I understand Mom. TK bowed his head so she could not see his relieved look. When are you leaving?
Tomorrow morning. So I have to pack tonight.
I can help you. TK volunteered, something that almost caused Patamon to snort into the soda he was drinking on the counter.
That's very kind TK. Nancy looked suspicious again, and then shrugged.
The sooner you get our of Tokyo, the better, TK thought to himself.
What are you up to Izzy? The voice at his door nearly made Izzy's heart stop. Then he sighed and realized it was only his mother.
Nothing Mom. You can come in. He continued working on hacking the codes guarding Utopia's guarded email system. He could hear the door behind him crack open.
What are you doing? Oh, something illegal probably. His mother sat down next to him. Izzy, you've been behaving peculiarly for a while now, is there something you want to tell me.
Well, no, not really. You'd just panic, he thought silently.
Are you sure? Izzy's mother asked.
Well...you know that trip that you keep wanting to take, back to where you were born, near Osaka?
Yes Izzy?
Well, why don't you go. I'm sure that Dad could get time off from the university even at short notice. You could go there for a week. I''l be fine here.
Izzy, is something going to happen?
I don't know Mom. I just don't want you to be here if something does. I can take care of myself, but I don't know if I can take care of you at the same time. It's just...I really don't want you involved.
I trust you Izzy. A gentle hand was laid on his shoulder. I'll get myself and your father out of town tonight. I trust you, and I hope you do all right yourself.
Thanks Mom. Izzy's only outward expression of emotion was a solitary tear that trickled down one cheek.
So, what's happening next? Yolei asked urgently over the phone.
I don't know. Ken whispered back. We're still trying to figure out what they're going to do. None of us really has any sort of clue as to what's going on right now.
So I take it that our date's on indefinite hold.
I'm really sorry Yolei, but...
I understand. Don't worry, I'm sure that we'll have plenty of time later to deal with all of this. Anyway, can I come by and talk to you?
Yeah, actually, surprisingly enough I'm going over to Cody's right now. Why don't you come and join me?
Sure. I'd love to. Yolei hung up the phone. At that moment she became aware of her sister staring at her from directly behind her.
Yolei asked defensively, turning red.
Hah, I knew it! Her sister jumped away, singing. Yolei's got a boyfriend. Yolei's got a boyfriend!
Hey! Come back here!
So Mimi, what's your plan?
Well, my parents are out of town again anyway, as usual, so there's not much I can do. They're already as safe as their ever going to be. It's my friends in other parts of the world that I'm worried about. I mean, I know the New York crowd. What if they're involved in it to? Mimi turned to Sora and Matt, who were both standing beside her, keeping an eye on the city from the lofty vantage point of the Tokyo Tower, where Mimi and Sora had fought SkullMeramon so many years ago.
Unfortunately, it looks like they might be. That's probably what Izzy meant when he said that this could be worldwide. Sora shrugged helplessly. There's nothing we can really do, except for stand here and wait. And that's exactly what I plan to do. I'm going to be ready for them.
That's my Sora. Matt smiled.
Your Sora? Since when is that true? Sora turned around and squinted at him.
Sorry. Privileged information. Matt tried to look away, but Sora kept bringing his gaze back by the simple expedient of moving his head.
Privileged information is it?
Yep. And only I'm privileged enough to know it. Matt managed to back away successfully.
Oh you...
Mimi looked away and sighed, enjoying the feeling of contentment while it lasted.
You want to know about what? Adam looked mildly surprised, caught in the middle of eating the instant ramen that was the standard issue meal for college employees.
Black holes. Izzy sat down. Especially ring-shaped ones.
Ring shaped singularities are weird. Adam replied. I don't think that they're anything but a theoretical construct right now, and I don't expect them to see any soon. The basic theory is fairly simple, but the act of getting a quantum singularity to behave like a ring instead of a good, old-fashioned point is obscenely complicated. I don't think they have the math straightened out quite yet.
But they are possible. Izzy insisted.
Well, sort of. I guess.
Could you make one on Earth?
Adam laughed aloud at that, pointing his chopsticks up at the ceiling. Now that would be an interesting project. You can't do it normally, because of the mass involved.
How big does it need to be? Izzy kept pushing.
Well, I recall reading that the smallest black hole observed, or that they think they've observed was about four times the mass of the sunso figure about eight or nine times ten to the thirtieth kilograms. You could potentially make a smaller one, but the properties would be strange. As for on Earth, I don't know where we would get the mass necessary to start bending space. The process would violate about a thousand laws of Physics to do anything.
And if you could bend the laws of Physics? Izzy asked intently.
Adam's gaze sharpened. I hope this is a theoretical question.
Izzy was non-committal.
I'll have to think about that. Adam leaned back in his chair, his ramen temporarily forgotten. I'll have to think about that.
TK looked at the pictures again, a sense of unease growing. Every image was exactly as he had seen it, and he was wondering again why everything seemed to have conspired against them.
Hello Kari. He whispered without even turning around.
I still don't believe how easily you do that. Kari muttered as she drew up beside him, giving him a brief massage on his shoulders. So what are you so concerned about.
What Khartan said. I think that there may be a grain of truth to it after all. That there's a traitor in our midst. Or at least that he has some way of keeping tabs on us. It's beginning to look like that. We haven't seen any action with digimon attacks since that first battle in Shinjuku, so it seems that he has given up on trying to attack Tokyo, but we have not caught sight of him, or figured out, in any measure, what his plans are. I mean, face it, he's still as mysterious as he ever was, and despite the fact that we've uncovered an international conspiracy we have no idea what's going to happen in two days that has Izzy so upset.
Well, it doesn't mean that there is a traitor, or it doesn't mean that there's a conscious one. Kari responded, glancing briefly at the pictures TK had assembled of their actions as viewed through newspaper photographs. I mean, he could not know.
You mean that one of us might be keeping a diary and writing all this stuff down or something? I'm more inclined to believe that one of the adults is accidentally leaking information somewhere, but I'm not sure where. At the same time I have had the feeling from time to time that not all is as it should be. That something has been hidden. How about you?
OK, you've got me, I admit to feeling that. Kari pursed her lips thoughtfully, as if thinking heavily about something. But do you have any idea what it means.
Nope, and neither does anyone else. In fact, I suspect that we're the only ones who know them.
So what are you so worried about? Kari asked him.
I was thinking it over last night, and I cam up with a conclusion. The best way to slip something on us, to change us from a team to a dysfunctional mob would be to corrupt a digidestined, right?
All right. I'll give you that, by why would any of us go over to the Darkness. I know that we've been tempted before, but why now?
I checked my suspicion with Izzy last night. There is a way to corrupt a good person, and that person might not necessarily know that they were being corrupted. I checked with Izzy's records. We never found Oikawa's computer system after the MaloMyostismon affair. We have no idea what happened to his original records of the programming behind the dark spore.
Kari gasped. You're not saying...
No, I'm not, but it's a suspicion. What if Khartan managed to grow dark spores again? What if he managed to implant one in one of us. One of us could be a traitor then, and their corruption would have been very slow.
But the dark spore disrupts personalities, doesn't it? I mean, we would notice if someone started behaving differently, wouldn't we? Kari seemed to be seeking reassurance more than anything.
I would like to think so, but I'm not entirely sure whether or not we would catch subtle manipulations. It might be a lot more difficult than we think. After all, this may not be a fast process; it may be a slow one.
So what do you think we should do? Kari inquired.
Keep an eye on everyone. TK nodded. Absolutely everyone.
Whamon belched a huge jet of steam in the air as he rounded the point. His digidestined, Harrison, clutched onto the back of the whale with expert feet, searching the horizon with sharp eyes.
Derrick asked as they peered around.
No, it doesn't look like it. Everything here is secure. I can't actually see anything through this fog. How 'bout Crabby? He having any luck down there?
If he had he would have come up. All right, I think it's safe to say that nobody else is out here. How 'bout you Stace?
My digimon is just as smart as yours. If we haven't heard back, then the island is still empty and deserted.
Good. Someone get on the horn to Odaiba, and tell them that we still have control of all of our staging points.
How many people are needed to go to Phase Two? Joe asked as they rushed along.
Four senior digidestined. That means that I'd like us all to be from one team, and since Mimi couldn't get away from her dinner with her parents, I need to find one other who I think nobody will ever suspect knows. Or somebody who is too secure to be attacked.
Joe hazarded a guess as they threaded up to the Takaishi apartment.
It's a good thought. Izzy stepped up and knocked at the Takaishi door. There were a few coughs from inside, something that sounded like rustling, and then a voice quavered, Come in.
Izzy entered and frowned. Ken, who was following behind grinned, and Joe coughed into his fist. Kari and TK looked at them with wide eyes from where they were sitting on opposite ends of the couch.
It's all right TK, you don't have to pretend so hard for our sake. We aren't Tai. Izzy grinned at them suddenly, causing TK and Kari to blush.
So what're you doing here? TK asked, ignoring Ken's silent laughter.
Trying to figure stuff out. You?
I have some thoughts, about what Khartan was saying about having a traitor in our midst. It could be true. I'm worried. TK looked very serious, and Izzy could not help but notice how adult-like he suddenly was.
How true? Joe asked.
Well, both Kari and I have a feeling that something is not as it seems, that somebody is not quite what they appear to be. That kind of feeling usually comes from the Heart of the World, especially if both of us feel it at the same time. This could be divine guidance for all we know. All we really know for certain is that it spells trouble for us. What do you want to know?
I want you both to volunteer to hold a piece of information near to your heart. I don't want to let anybody else know, but I know that corrupting you is nearly impossible. I didn't tell you earlier because you were too obvious as targets went, but right now qualifies as an emergency, and someone has to do it. That, in case you hadn't noticed, is you. Can I trust you?
Of course. Kari responded at once for both of them.
Ken held out one hand. Welcome to the IDEF.
The what? TK asked.
Hold onto that thought, it will take me a minute to explain.
The brown-haired boy stuck his head into the room, after his knock had brought no response.
Oh, hello Taichi. Lieutenant Takaeda stuck his head up from behind the mound of paperwork he was filling out. Sorry, I didn't hear you enter.
You wanted to talk to me? Tai pulled himself into the opposite chair and waited for Takaeda's response.
Yes. It seems that reinforcing police units with digidestined has been an impressive move. Most opposing forces really can't handle being hit by digimon and police forces together. Attacks have dropped off almost completely. We haven't even had a hoax in a day. And the story is much the same worldwide. Attacks by hostile digimon are fading, primarily due to the efforts of digidestined worldwide.
It seems like it really was a good idea. Tai commented.
Yes, and that's worrying me. I saw these creatures attack with my own eyes. They seem like the monsters of the Apocalypse variety, not the quiting variety. And so the question is, why are the attacks lessening? You would think that they would throw everything they had at us instead of giving us time to strengthen our defenses. Instead, they're backing off. I'm a cop Tai. I think in terms of police activities. Most of that stuff that they show on TV is bunk, but for a tactical guy like me, we all have a sense that tells us the difference between the end and the calm before the storm. And now my instincts are telling me that something big's on the way. Care to comment?
Tai took a deep breath before responding. That's the same thing that we're starting to think, but we don't know what, only that it's coming in the next few days. We haven't a clue ourselves, but if I were you I would be prepared for anything.
So, call in the troops, strengthen the defenses, something like that? Takaeda looked around before lowering his voice. Or is this something way over our heads?
I don't know about that, but it could be something way over all of our heads. Tai responded quietly.
Great. Well, we'll try to keep Tokyo in one piece if it is. You guys take care of yourself.
We'll do our best. Tai replied.
We'll see about that. The darkened figure listening through the window whispered through clenched teeth. Then he was gone before anyone could have spotted him.
So it's really that easy to start? TK asked Izzy.
Yes. Seems odd doesn't it, that it would have to remain so secret. The question we should really ask is if we're ready for this ourselves. Izzy looked thoughtfully at the internet connection opened on the screen before him.
I think it is. Kari responded.
So do I. Ken agreed.
Well then, shall we do it? Joe asked.
Izzy pressed a key on his keyboard, coughed once, and then spoke into his top of the line microphone.
This is Koushiro Izumi of Odaiba One. Authroization code Two-Nine-One-Seven-Delta-Alpha-Four. Code Gallipoli. Authorize Phase Two.
This is Ken Ichijouji of Odaiba One. Authorization code is Four-Six-Three-One-Epsilon-Chi-Nine. Code Gallipoli. Authorize Phase Two.
This is Jyou Kido of Odaiba One. Authorization code is Five-Five-Two-Seven-Iota-Mu-Six. Code Gallipoli. Authorize Phase Two.
This is Takeru Takaishi of Odabia One. Authorization code Eight-Four-Five-Two-Delta-Gamma-Four. Code Gallipoli. Authorize Phase Two.
The computer blinked twice, the screen flashing in an odd pattern. A moment later it changed color to green.
So what does that mean? Joe whispered.
It means that we've started the ball rolling. I don't know if we can stop it now.
A computer program, so well designed and so well hidden that the owners of a hundred computers were barely aware of its existence woke up. It considered the orders given it, verified identification codes, and then, using email systems from other networks around the globe, broadcast a series of short messages before closing down and waiting for the next signal.