Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
Author's Note: According to my calculations April 22nd, 2004 will be a Thursday. Therefore most of this takes place on Wednesday.
Episode XXXVII
Phase Two
No coward soul is mine,
No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere:
I see Heaven's gloried shine,
And faith shines equal, arming me from fear.
Emily Bronte, Last Lines
Willis nearly fell out of his chair as the printer in the corner started printing. Team Eagle had three printers, but one was not connected up to the network. It was a simple straight connection, printer three was connected directly to another computer, serving as a personal printer. The problem was, Willis thought as he brushed himself off, who the computer belonged to. The only person who could access computer three was Koushiro Izumi in Odaiba. And he never used it unless the situation was dire.
Willis walked over to the printer and looked down at the page. There was no intelligible writing coming out of the printer. Instead it was simply repeating itself, printing line after line of numbers. Line after line of twos.
Willis said just before he sprinted out the door.
Fifteen minutes later the natives of New York were faced with a disturbingly familiar image: a Gulfstream V corporate jet bearing an Eagle logo roaring down the runway of La Guardia, escorted by a huge flying dragon-like digimon. While tourists gawked, experienced New Yorkers understood and turned away, hurrying home. Team Eagle was in the air, and big doings were underway.
Fifty minutes later an ordinary sedan pulled up in front of a regular looking home in a regular London suburb. Two teenagers got out, each clutching a different suspicious bundle to their chests, and carrying the necessary equipment for a regular teenaged sleepover. They entered the house very calmly and placed their stuff up the floor, greeting the hosting adults with courtesy, restraining themselves until they were able to rush up to the top floor without being questioned.
Hey you two. Daniel Oleander glanced up from his computer as the boy and girl rushed into his room.
What's happening? We came as soon as we got the word. The girl, Brandi, asked, panting from her run up the stairs.
I don't know. We got traffic from Odaiba declaring Phase Two, but almost no followup. It looks like they don't even know what's happening. All they say is that something big is supposed to happen tomorrow, and they don't know what. Daniel jerked around in his chair.
So where are the others? The boy, Kyle, asked.
Right here for one. The window opened and an athletic looking girl squeezed through.
Hey Cassie, I thought you were going to be later. Daniel did not look the least surprised at the girl's method of entry.
Well, let's just say that Unimon helped me to cheat.
Good because we're going to need you.
So what do we do? Kyle asked.
Well, it seems that we have a quorum of the European Legion London Division here. So we can figure out what our next plan of action is.
Have you talked to Catherine? Brandi asked quietly.
Yes, but it's not like we have an overall plan. I don't think we ever were prepared for Phase Two. But whether we were ready or not, the European Legion is going to be there anyway.
Any luck? Anna yelled at Sonja.
Yes and no! Sonja yelled back as Snimon touched the earth, claws reaching out, extending to grab onto the surface. They were all buffeted by intense winds. I made contact with some of the Siberian groups, but I'm sure a whole bunch are still missing. Fortunately it looks like this weather will break, so we have no problems getting across Russia.
Good, I guess. Yuri called. He managed to reach the St. Petersburg contingent, but he was having problems in Minsk. I don't know why. Anna reached out and helped Sonja dismount.
Makes sense. Minsk is notorious for being paranoid and hard to contact. So, any word from Japan? Sonja tried to warm up after several hours at high speeds in the upper atmosphere.
No. Izumi has been silent since the first transmission. We got an update from Team Eagle saying that they were proceeding as planned, and the Australian Avengers gave a similar report, but no details. Anna consulted a clipboard she had brought with her as another blast of wind ruffled their jackets.
Good, we shouldn't get any details. What about our European cousins? Sonja had to yell above this blast of wind.
We have confirmation from the London and Paris divisions of the European Legion, but nothing from Frankfurt or Rome or Madrid or Berlin or Bordeaux or...
I get the point. They're taking too long. How long did Izzy say we had, day after tomorrow?
Yes, which, if they wait until morning gives us thirty hours. Give or take a few depending on the time zone.
I hate this time zone stuff. Sonja yelled.
Get some sleep. Anna recommended. You might need it.
There was a screech of tires on tarmac and the Gulfstream V hit the grounds of a small airport near the outskirts of Chicago. The door opened and a ladder descended almost before the ground crew could turn around to watch the unusual plane.
Lou spilled out, with Gotsumon hanging onto him and Maria right behind him.
We'll see you in a few hours! Lou called up the ladder to someone inside the plane.
Right. See you then! Michael's voice floated back then. A moment later he was back in the cockpit as the plane taxied around for takeoff once again.
So Lanis, can we make Houston on time? He asked the pilot.
Should be able to. You sure the LA crew will meet us there? Lanis replied as the plane taxied back toward the runway.
They better. The Thunderbirds have always been fairly reliable. With Amy and Willis in Washington, Lou and Maria coordinating in New York and us meeting with the Thunderbirds in Houston, I think that we may actually have a chance of pulling this off.
Well, regardless, go buckle yourself in. Let's see if your father's latest modifications mean that we actually have a chance of breaking Mach 0.95 on this baby.
I thought the manufacturers told us not to do that. Michael commented as he hurriedly fastened the straps on his seat.
Yeah, but were you listening? 'cause I sure wasn't. Lanis slammed the throttle forward and the jet roared back off the ground.
Hello Bane. Khartan did not even turn around in his impenetrable cloak of darkness. He did not have to. Both parties present understood perfectly what was going on. I trust that your bearing indicates you have bad newsas usual.
Bane gave a half smile, half glimmer of something dark and evil lurking behind his shadow. Our agents tracking known digidestined indicate that they are up to something, and have begun planning. It is possible that they have received advanced information regarding our plans.
Our plans were made with them in mindwere they not? Khartan fixed Bane with an iron glare.
Bane remained unphased by both the glare and the comment. Yes, however it does alter our contingencies. Our possibility of failure is increasing.
Do you suggest we withdraw? Khartan leveled a glare at Bane.
Bane smiled blandly. There was no humor in his expression. Not at all. You know what your masters would say to that. But I am just saying that we should be more careful.
Then I will be more careful my spy. And you will accelerate your mission to destroy the primary digidestined. You may now duly report to your overseers that I said that. Now go away and leave me in peace. The cloak of darkness settled heavily over the monarch's shoulders.
Chuckling to himself silently, Bane walked away.
Hell of a time to wake me up. Adam grumbled as he stirred something into his tea. The sun had barely crept over the horizon, and its rays were shining high into the room, not low enough for Adam to actually see the brilliant orb in the sky.
Sorry about that. Hideo Ishiguro did not sound sorry at all. But we finally managed to figure out where all that money that Utopia's been spending is going.
We did? Adam blinked sleepily, but his mind came fully awake, the gears turning and the synapses firing.
Yes, they've been bribing members of the Diet.
To what end? Adam looked around concerned.
It appears that the Diet has pressured the Defense Ministry into having the JSDF conduct maneuvers on the far edges of Japanese territory. To put it plainly, there are no forces that are technically loyal to the Japanese government within striking range of the Japanese heartland.
Now that's an ominous development. Adam noted.
Plus some other problems. Agents in both Switzerland and strangely enough, New England, have been reporting sightings of strange creatures.
Any details?
Nothing. They have not seen the like of these creatures beforewhatever they are. Master Ishiguro sighed and stared at the ceiling for a moment. But the way they behave suggests that they might be digimon. And if they arethey're hiding and they're doing it well.
Those are interesting places for sightings. Adam commented.
Indeed. I've ordered our agents in the areas to full alert, and I've had our associates and allies in both Britain and Washington D.C. take precautions. Additionally, we've put the Seventh Fleet to sea. I didn't think having them in their bases in Japan would be the smartest thing if all hell really does break loose here.
Probably a wise idea. Adam yawned. Have you talked to Professor Takenouchi?
No, he should already be on his way to a safe house.
Oddly enough, in Tokyo. We told everyone else that he was leaving the country, or at least going into the wilderness, so it ought to be safe.
Did he say anything about those neutrino emissions?
Not to me certainly. Hideo raised an eyebrow.
Well, well. Adam murmured quietly. I think I better check up on Koushiro's hypothesis, or whatever you call his theory. I guess we both better be on alert after this.
Morning Tai. Kari poked her brother in the shoulder. He had been sleeping for a long time, having been so tired that he had fallen asleep in his clothes, and Kari had been to concerned about him to wake him. After his talk with TK he had cried for a while, and then sat listlessly on his bed for hours. Sometimes he had spoken to himself, in a voice that altered between a rising storm, and a quiet whisper. He had spoken to himself of Sora and what they had once shared, of Matt, of the contemptuous man that Matt had once been, and the man he had become. In the end he had sometimes spoken of himself, of the man he was now, of the changes he had wrought.
He had worried Kari to no end. Sometimes he had held Kari's hand as a drowning man might grasp feebly at the rope that led back to shore. In those times his nails, shaking, had driven into Kari's palm almost like cruel spikes, and the urgency in his voice, as he spoke to himself, was beyond compare. He spoke in those times, eyes sightless and unseeing, or his most private doubts, of those times when he had failed, had lied to those who trusted him, when he had cheated, or when he had failed in the trust that the others all had in him. He spoke of the times he had lost, of different nightmares that still haunted him. Sometimes he seemed almost on the verge of screaming, and he writhed with some inner torment as he revealed his secrets. Incident after incident, some innocent and childlike, some not, came out, and Kari was surprised and shocked at the number of things that her brother remembered, at how many of them there truly were, of how many regrets he had. She began to understand the inner demons that tormented his soul.
Then, when Kari had been on the verge of running away, of hiding her head in her hands to shield her from these torments he would relent and his voice would change. Still he would stare, sightless, at nothing, but he would talk of beautiful places seen in the Digital World, memories of times when there was teamwork and when everyone had worked together, and used their abilities to win against their enemies. He would speak of rests and naps taken in verdant meadows under the shadows of far away mountains, standing as silent sentinels against the elements. He talked of hours spent wandering through flower-encrusted paths, sometimes just talking, sometimes singing, sometimes just sitting and watching. He relaxed like this until he was almost asleep.
Then, just when Kari was prepared to tuck him in, he would change yet again. His voice would rise, louder and strident, and he would talk of battles fought and won, of enemies overcome. He would describe their victories, sorrow for their losses, and proclaim the true stories of their ongoing struggle against the forces of darkness. Sometimes he would sound like he was going to war right now, sometimes as if these were events that had taken place long ago.
At any other time Kari might have called for help. But she understood now that Tai really needed to find himself, to learn who he was. So instead of interfering she had sat there silently until he had exhausted himself and fallen into a deep sleep.
Tai remembered none of this as such. What he did remember was himself walking, always walking higher and higher, struggling against the muddy ground of a great slope, covered in darkened earth and filth. Sometimes images from his past would appear. Sometimes they appeared as visions, leading him on through the more treacherous patches of ground as he wandered his way up through the undergrowth. Sometimes they threw themselves at him like demons, screaming until he fell, toppling down, the mud covering his bare legs.
Then, with tremendous effort, he reached the top, and found only a bare field where they were waiting. The enemies he had once had, the enemies he had failed to stop, the ones that were waiting for him still. They stood there, above the corpses of his friends and family, calmly surveying him.
Too late. Too late. You came too late. The voices began to whisper to him, but he ignored them. He felt something different moving him, something that had changed him both inside and outside, and he could feel a new sensation moving through him.
On his chest his crest burst into orange fire and blasted through the suddenly hazy battlefield. When it was done there was nothing there save an empty field, and another looming slope beyond that, as long as the one that he had just struggled up. But this mountain was not composed of filthy and treacherous mud, but of grass and trees, beautiful to look at and, even if long, a pleasant climb.
Tai took a deep breath and started to climb.
Yamato Ishida also had an unpleasant night. He had also seen the depths to which Tai had fallen, and felt an amount of guilt. After all he could have also dispatched KingEtemon, but in his heart of hearts he worried that his relationship with Sora was about to cost him his best friend. Alone, his father off at work, he had cried until his pillow was wet, and then fallen asleep with only his cold tears as comfort.
In his dream he was once again holding the harmonica he had used to play, that still rested alone in his drawer. Around him he was tormented by a storm of music, different tunes played to torture him. Each of them would have been beautiful, but together they became dissonant, clashing with each other like battering rams, screaming their octaves and notes at their competitors. Trapped in the center was like being trapped in a maelstrom, being battered by all sides, powers ripping at them like tides, transforming into screaming banshees who sought nothing more than to deafen and tear at him.
He raised the harmonica uncertainly to his lips and began to blow into it, the sound coming out thin and reedy instead of deep and resonant. It hung in the air like the lightest of the whiffs of wind before being blown away in the dissonant storm. But Matt refused to be disenheartened. In turn he started to blow carefully, following one tune and then another, always keeping in pace. He could match the other songs perfectly, his music abilities at least remained unphased by the passage of time, and by recent events. But every time he got close, every time he managed to copy another song a driving gale approached him, the scorned songs rising in volume against him, until the tatters of what he had been playing were forever lost to him.
He reeled, battered, until suddenly, out of instinct born in the sacred core that was actually him he raised the harmonica to his lips and played the song that he had invented so many years ago to play to TK. It was his song, the first he had ever written. And this song sprang up as if backed by an orchestra instead of a harmonica, rising, wailing ever higher and higher in pitch, rising towards the stars. He was aware that he was sounding like the trumpets of Armageddon, blowing his horn toward the end of the world, and that for him the whole world was resonating with his song. At the same time he became aware that the other songs that had been competing with him had slowed down. No longer did they strive against him and each other so passionately. They were not fighting any more, but aiding each other in finding a new harmony. As he played they ceased their endless struggle, ceased to scream at each other, and instead joined each other, becoming as close to a single perfect song as they could get without being perfect themselves. For a moment they all stood together in perfect harmony. And then they blanked out and Matt walked on, the lesson well learned.
Tai walked into the ruined building from the north just as Matt walked in from the south. They looked at each other and understood, no words being necessary to explain the sudden feeling of camaraderie. They both understood quickly that the other had been through a terrible trial as well, and had learned a very important lesson. Quickly they came together and embraced.
Well, you boys certainly took your time. Gennai spoke up from behind them, sending both boys spinning around, having been completely unaware that he had been there.
Gennai, what are you doing here? Tai asked.
A silly question. Waiting for you of course, what did you expect me to be doing here? Gennai responded. He was young again, wearing the familiar brown robes and looked as if he was waiting for them to do something.
Waiting for us to why? Tai asked again.
Oh I knew that the two of you would come here sooner or later. It's one of those things that's predestined, or whatever they call it these days. I mean, I know that it's usually not kosher to describe it as such, but the truth is that it was almost a certainty from the first time that you decided to be friends. That you would come here together that is... Gennai trailed off thoughtfully.
So, where are we anyway? Matt asked, looking around at the faceless walls.
The Companions's Gate. Gennai replied.
The Companions's Gate to what? Tai responded quickly.
Well, the Heart of the World of course. The source of the powers of your crest. This is where they come from. The place where everything is Light and Light is everything.
What kind of a Gate is it? Matt asked. I don't see anything that looks like a Gate.
Behind you. Gennai pointed and they turned and gasped.
Behind them was a huge structure, easily as tall as a skyscraper, where seconds ago they could both have sworn that there was nothing there. It was a giant gate, made out of polished, gleaming steel. Except for a single crack in the middle where the gates split apart it was seamless, nearly perfect itself. Two huge statues flanked it, one a male in armor, one a female in much the same armor. Both raised swords that crossed directly over the center of the gate, forming an additional arch under which anyone who wished to enter must pass. In the middle of the gate stood a single silent figure, this one like a giant stone statue, a knight on horseback, mutely awaiting the coming of some battle that would decide his existence.
So this is the way to the center of our powers? Tai asked, breathlessly.
Should we go in? Matt raised an eyebrow.
Gennai answered, softly but firmly. You must have the need to enter here, and you do not. You just recently have found the ability to come here, through finding yourselves and your meaning in life. Both of you, being warriors, have fought the uphill battle to come here.
Taichi has fought against his own despair and his own failures to arise purified, cleansed of past sins. He is now the bearer of Courage more than ever, having won that position yet again. His doubts are part of him, but now he knows that they are not the most valuable part, nor are they the most important. He now knows that he can struggle against the enemy that has always been his greatest, himself. The man who lead you all across your many battles has found new conviction, new strength.
Yamato has, in his turn, discovered his role in the group. He cannot be someone else, cannot be a different person, cannot change what he is. He is the spirit of friendship. Without his aid you may descend into petty bickering, and sometimes it may seem that the song he weaves may be more dissonant than harmonious with the rest of you. But his being himself helps all of you become a team, work together, and remain friends no matter the obstacle. He is now ready to assume his role to unite the group once more.
For too long have you held suspicions against each other, for too long have you silently struggled, contested with each other. Now, here, you must understand that the girl you were fighting over is going to be your friend for life no matter what happens. And you understand that you both feel genuinely, and you both have the power to change your own destiny. Here you must understand that there was no reason to fight over her, for she has the power to choose, and you must learn whether your own feelings were genuine.
Now, at last you can unite against your common foes. Gennai smiled at them.
You ready? Tai held out his hand. An offer of truce.
You bet. Matt grasped his, and there was new steel and new energy in his grip. Tai returned it in kind and felt an electronic surge run through him.
A voice intruded on Tai's thoughts and he grinned. Sorry guys, but I think Kari's trying to wake me up. I guess I'll see you soon.
You can count on that. Matt returned the grin.
Be prepared. The end is coming. Gennai raised a hand in warning.
See you in a bit. Tai waved and disappeared.
What time is it? Tai mumbled.
Eight thirty. You're late. Kari complained. We have a meeting at TK's in half an hour, remember? She tried not to look too worried.
Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Tai yawned and sat up. But I'm going to have to hurry if I don't want to be late.
Kari trailed off as her brother shot up and ran off to the bathroom. What's gotten into him?
Cody's Grandfather sat down on a bench next to the newspaper-perusing Hideo Ishiguro.
They've started moving. Here and abroad. People are appearing in strange places. He began without preamble.
Greentree and Rowan caught some people last night mapping out the military command centers in Moscow, and I have a report that somebody was doing the same thing in Germany. Whatever the opposition is up to, it's going to be big. We've alerted everyone we canit's out of our hands now. Master Ishiguro gripped his newspaper so hard that his knuckles whitened.
Any further orders?
Get yourself and your family out of the line of fire. Ishiguro's eyes were as hard as agates. Because from here on out, God will have to have mercy on all of us.
Tai arrived just in time for the meeting, sitting down next to Izzy at the front of the room with the others spread out behind him. Some few were still missing, but a moment or so later Yolei and Ken walked in, blushing, followed by the ever-present grinning Davis. About ten seconds after that Joe ran in, panicking over being late. And then, two minutes later Matt ran in.
What took so long? Sora asked.
I overslept. He replied with a straight face and a wink at Tai, who grinned at him.
So what's on the agenda? Cody asked, fidgeting. The tension was beginning to get to him, Tai suspected.
Well first off, let me ask a few questions. Tai stood up before anyone else could say anything. Izzy, how many installations does Utopia have in the area?
Actually, I can answer that. TK stood up, smiling at something that only he seemed to be able to see. My Dad did some snooping around while Matt was playing sleeping beauty, and he found another one, so we're up to five directly owned corporate offices, and two subsidiary installations. So that gives us seven.
What are the biggest ones? Tai asked thoughtfully.
Well, the main complex of course, the Troubador Investment Headquarters near Shinbashi, and a huge factory complex in Yokohama. That does it for their large installations, by which I suspect you mean installations big enough to actually hold an army. That gives them a whole bunch of resources.
Are we watching all of them? Tai asked sharply.
Izzy suddenly appeared a bit flustered. Well, no, we've been busy.
Then we get unbusy. TK, what are you doing right now?
Now, nothing really. You need something? He was grinning openly and Tai made a mental note to ask him about that later.
Yes. How many people and digimon pairs would you need to keep those three places staked out?
Hmmm....I presume you mean about twenty-four hours a day. So, if we only watch the three big ones it will mean that we'll need at minimum nine pairs, but that's doing eight hour shifts with no company. I think it would be a lot better if we could have shorter shifts and partners, but that changes it from nine pairs to probably close to eighteen. And that also means that we have to get people to work at night.
All right then, that would stretch our manpower really far, so what if we just kept the Shinjuku facility under surveillance? Would that give us any advance warning of what they're planning to do? Tai looked back at Izzy, but this time Izzy had an answer.
Well, not really I think. We did a whole lot of damage to it, but since they let us I'm assuming that it isn't really that critical. We would probably have a better time watching the big plant at Yokohama, but I don't know what we're watching for. Izzy closed his eyes for a moment as if visualizing something.
And you said the disruption would be worldwide? Tai asked.
Well, it should be. They're e-mailing facilities all over the world. The problem is that they're mostly saying get ready to commence the operation, without actually specifying what the operation is. I really don't know what they're up to.
Well then, we might be needed overseas. TK, I want you to talk to Noriko, because she's the default leader of the other Tokyo digidestined. I want you to arrange some system by which they can keep constant surveillance over the Yokohama site. I want to know the moment that anything goes strange over there, but I also want us to be ready to face international emergencies. That means that you should probably alert your father to keep an eye on international news, and to contact us the moment something goes wrong.
Will do. TK responded.
Ken, Izzy, I assume that you guys are doing some sort of computer stuff over here. I want you to keep on that, because it might be important.
Yes sir! Ken snapped off a salute that no longer seemed out of place.
That means that...Davis, you are not to leave Ken's side, you got that?
Davis blinked as if he had been slapped in the forehead. But why?
Because if everything goes wrong we're going to need ImperialDramon to transport us. That's our weakest link, because if they cut off Ken and Davis we're not only minus one Mega, we've lost our best transportation. You guys stick together.
Next order of business. I don't want digidestined operating alone. You go anywhere you go in pairs. I mean this seriously. And don't get out of sight of your partners, the time for playing around is over. The other guys are playing for keeps. Just in case I think I'd better place some extra security around here. Our most valuable players may very well be TK and Kari, so wherever they go, someone else goes with them. And I'm not, he began as he met two slightly resentful glances. doing this just because I'm being a paranoid big brother watching some guy date his sister. I'm doing this because I'm just paranoid in general. If you want you can take Mimi or Sora along. I'm sure they wouldn't protest at anything you usually do in private.
TK and Kari turned bright red while everybody else snickered.
So, next order of business. We need a functioning chain of command. I guess I'm still the leader, but if anything happens to me I guess the field leadership of the team descends to Matt first, by benefit of seniority, and then to Davis. You know what's expected of a leader, and they better remember how to provide it. At the same time our coordination is usually handed by Izzy, so if he's telling you what you have to do, accept it, because he has a lot of connections that the rest of us don't. But if we lose contact with Izzy for any reason, everyone better turn to Ken instead, because he's one of the people who also has a lot of experience at running a show like this. One exception. If TK and Kari go all mystic on you and tell you to do something, do it! They've been the victims of divine intervention several times too often for us to ignore it.
Next, I assume that Izzy is coordinating with the international digidestined fairly well?
Yes. We have some plans in place that we've already set in motion. Izzy looked like he was going to say something else for a moment, and then stopped.
Good. I won't ask what they are if you're confident that you can handle them. I assume that they'll respond to you if something happens. If that happens I assume that you'll have some way to contact the rest of us near at hand. Remember that. Now, as I recall some of us still have to go to school, even with Adam's excellent excuses. So the younger crowd better get going while the older kids here focus on our 'project'. There were grins all around. Now scoot.
What happened to Tai? Tai heard Joe whisper to Izzy in an undertone.
I don't know. Izzy confessed. Tai smiled at that.
So Tai. TK tapped Tai on the shoulder as he left. You're going to have to tell me what the Companions' Gate really looks like.
As TK left Tai and Matt just shook their heads. That kid knows way too much. Tai stated.
Kari whispered halfway to class.
What is it? TK whispered back, hiding his voice and any possible response in the general noise of the crowded hallway.
I've been having that disturbed feeling againlike I had before I was dragged off to the Dark Ocean. Somebody is watching me across the boundaries between worlds.
I've been feeling things too, but I didn't want to say anything. TK looked around to see if any of his classmates suddenly looked more suspicious than they had a few moments ago. Do you think that you're in danger.
Not immediately. Whatever it isespecially if it's HIM is content to watch, but content or not, he is definitely interested in me. Kari looked only a little nervous and TK smiled. Apparently embracing her powers had increased her self confidence.
Anything particularly worrisome? TK squeezed Kari's shoulder.
I wonder what caught his interest. If it is HIM why is he interested now after all these years? He never was before, so why right now? It's a bit of an odd coincidence if you think about it.
If you think about it, it doesn't seem like a coincidence at all. Especially not now. TK shook his head as if to clear it and smiled at Kari. But we may have bigger things to worry about soon after all.
Man, I hate Wednesday. Davis muttered as they struggled through Alegbra class. And I really hate this Wednesday.
At least you're halfway through the week. A friend whispered back to him from the next desk over.
Davis grunted. He was having the strangest school day of his life. Usually he was used to watching the clock move with near glacial slowness, each tick of the minute and hour hand seeming to take weeks to pass by. He was used to having so much spare time on his hands that he had to invent soccer games on his desk to keep himself from passing out due to boredom. He had never understood how people could say that school did not pass slow.
Now he understood. Every time the clock moved he was just a little closer to Doomsday, the day in which disaster and death would break lose. All that was keeping him from complete destruction, the world from death and despair, were those intervening wedges of space on the clock. Now, today, time seemed to melt away from under him, the clock seemed to be running so fast that Davis was afraid that it would catch on fire from the friction.
Tick. Another second closer to Doomsday. Tick. Another second closer to Doomsday.
Tick.
Found it. Izzy reported.
Jim, who had been sitting around in the ghostbuster's meeting room sipping some coffee, looked surprised. Found what?
Those equations I was looking for. I don't know enough to derive them myself, but I found a simplified version that I can apply to this situation in a book on General Relativity. Izzy sat back satisfied.
I never touched the stuff anyways. What did you need that? Jim looked curious.
To figure out what they were doing. It looks like our opposition has come up with a way to make a temporary singularity, but it's not ring shaped. It's going to be a hollow sphere, taking anything inside of it out of reality and into some other universe.
You mean they have something that will randomly shoot them into another universe? Jim asked.
Not randomly. I'm positive that they can adjust their path by using different harmonics or somethingalthough I definitely don't know enough physics to figure that out, but this thing could very possibly be a self-contained gate. Izzy looked worried.
Well, at least you know what it is. Jim relaxed and picked up a magazine from a corner table.
But that's not the best way to open a gate. Why are they doing that? Izzy wondered to himself.
This meeting will come to order. Catherine banged on the table hard, Daniel and Johann standing to either side, giving the small French girl an imposing presence. This meeting of the European Legion is now in session.
Only about a dozen other people were in the room, but they had all traveled hard from a variety of cities across Europe to get here. Behind those people, their elected leaders, stood digidestined from a variety of different contingents. From the small core of the London team to the numerically superior, but more inexperienced Frankfurt division, to the representatives of the fledgling Copenhagen branch this marked the first time since the Enigma affair that the European Legion had actually met in a full formal session.
Our latest updates from Odaiba claim that whatever big is going on is going down tomorrow. Daniel took over the meeting, speaking in English while Catherine translated into French, and Johann into German. That means that it's going to take all of us just when we're not quite ready. We've begun to distribute forms to tell us when and where we are meeting to oragnize ourselves in case of invasion, but the truth is that I really don't know what to expect. As a result we've had to make our plans sort of vague.
What we need from you. Catherine continued. Is lists. We need active duty rosters. We need to know how much transportation you have, how much you can provide. We need to know how many veterans you have. We're going to start organizing our people into air defense teams, and then again into ground defense teams. Plus we need to know how many contacts we have with government officials, how much support we can count on.
Plus it would be really nice to arrange some more contact plans. We have no idea what happens if we flip Phase Two over to its more active stage. We simply don't have contingency plans for that. Daniel remarked. And we won't know how much of a response we'll get until that day dawns, so its up to us to prepare for the unexpected.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the European Legion is back.
Rosa looked around and smiled. She had turned recently into a much more serious minded individual, and was now understanding the stakes for which the game was played. The Aztecs were a young team, and mostly an inexperienced team, but they were her team, and, among all of the teams, they were the one she wanted to be with. Now they clustered around inside their clubhouse waiting for her to speak.
We've already promised our support to the Odaiba squadron. So now it's our turn to save the world. We might have to do it as early as tomorrow. So it's time for us to be ready. Are you with me?
Came the enthusiastic response.
Then let's get busy.
Joe's finger slipped off of his pencil for the third time that day, and he swore with uncharacteristic vehemence at the offending object. Then he put down the pad of paper he had been holding, on which he had not written a single thing.
Don't be so tense Joe. Gomamon murmured out of the bushes next to the bench. The two of them were sitting at a bench at seaside park, keeping a careful eye on the calm ocean for any signs of trouble. Mimi was sitting on a beach towel out in front of them, half-dozing off, but Joe's attention had wandered off of her.
I'm trying not to be. Joe sighed. But it's never been like this. Surewe've had to wait for big confrontations before, but never when we didn't even know what was coming. It's just hard on me.
I agree that it's worse than knowing what you have to deal with. Gomamon admitted, which was enough to startle Joe out of his stupor. Gomamon normally never admitted things like that, especially on the eve of battle. Gomamon must have caught Joe's startled expression, I think you should get used to it. Life isn't perfect.
Joe took a deep breath and than sighed. I'm worried. It's obvious from their behavior that TK and Kari suspect something, and that they aren't passing it on. Tai and Matt have new purpose or something, but that only makes it seem like they know something else too. Izzy's worried about something that he found at Utopia, and everyone's worried that we don't actually know what their purpose was. As if that wasn't enough, the older adults seem to know all sorts of stuff that they aren't passing on, as if they weren't trying to worry us. I think we may be in over our heads.
Or they are. Gomamon tried to cheer his partner up, but he did not sound so confident either.
TK sat on his chair and barely paid attention to his math teacher talking. They were supposed to be doing geometry, which was what he was doing on his paper to amuse himself and give the impression that he was working. What he really was doing was drawing lines through all the coincidences, all the times when Khartan had seemed to be able to plan strikes that they could not counter, and the people who had known that they were about to attack Utopia. He still had too many names.
He started working his way around. The feeling of unease was still there, something was dreadfully wrong somewhere, and he knew that one of their friends and allies was not quite what he seemed to be.
At the same time he was trying to put together a plan that Noriko would appreciate, something that would keep the Tokyo digidestined occupied, but not completely sure about this plan. He had to admit that Tai's plan made the most logical sense, but something was tugging at him, slowly disturbing him into wondering if perhaps whatever was going to happen was going to happen through a different mechanism. He thought that he had covered everything, but his senses were subtly telling him that something was wrong.
Now class, please turn to page three-seventeen. His teacher intoned. TK did so, finding on the page a new diagram there. A circle, traced out perfectly. TK frowned and touched the circle, ancient and buried instincts stirring as he did. He leaned forward until he was almost falling into the image.
TK, what does the diagram on the left hand side mean? The teacher asked.
TK floated as if in a trance. The circle is the symbol of awareness. Senses are stretched out, filling every crack, forming an impenetrable barrier around you, becoming the limits of the seeker's perceptions. They then expand that circle until it encompasses the world to them.
There were a few chuckles from students who clearly thought that TK had lost it. The teacher frowned at him. Kari looked at him worriedly.
Mr. Takaishi... The teacher began.
But the circle also symbolizes the seeker's oneness, the seeker's commitment, for in expanding his perception, the seeker connects themself with all life there to raise arms in its defense. Darkness hides in shadow, but within the circle, there are no shadows in which they can hide. In the circle they are exposed in the Light, visible to all who have eyes with which to see. TK raised one hand and was unsurprised to find it holding his staff, even though he had left it at home since returning from the digital world. There was a crackle of lightning and the ends began to glow with a golden nimbus. I can see you.
The windows blew in with an almighty clash.
Reviewplease?
Author's Note: According to my calculations April 22nd, 2004 will be a Thursday. Therefore most of this takes place on Wednesday.
Phase Two
No coward soul is mine,
No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere:
I see Heaven's gloried shine,
And faith shines equal, arming me from fear.
Emily Bronte, Last Lines
Willis walked over to the printer and looked down at the page. There was no intelligible writing coming out of the printer. Instead it was simply repeating itself, printing line after line of numbers. Line after line of twos.
Willis said just before he sprinted out the door.
Fifteen minutes later the natives of New York were faced with a disturbingly familiar image: a Gulfstream V corporate jet bearing an Eagle logo roaring down the runway of La Guardia, escorted by a huge flying dragon-like digimon. While tourists gawked, experienced New Yorkers understood and turned away, hurrying home. Team Eagle was in the air, and big doings were underway.
Fifty minutes later an ordinary sedan pulled up in front of a regular looking home in a regular London suburb. Two teenagers got out, each clutching a different suspicious bundle to their chests, and carrying the necessary equipment for a regular teenaged sleepover. They entered the house very calmly and placed their stuff up the floor, greeting the hosting adults with courtesy, restraining themselves until they were able to rush up to the top floor without being questioned.
Hey you two. Daniel Oleander glanced up from his computer as the boy and girl rushed into his room.
What's happening? We came as soon as we got the word. The girl, Brandi, asked, panting from her run up the stairs.
I don't know. We got traffic from Odaiba declaring Phase Two, but almost no followup. It looks like they don't even know what's happening. All they say is that something big is supposed to happen tomorrow, and they don't know what. Daniel jerked around in his chair.
So where are the others? The boy, Kyle, asked.
Right here for one. The window opened and an athletic looking girl squeezed through.
Hey Cassie, I thought you were going to be later. Daniel did not look the least surprised at the girl's method of entry.
Well, let's just say that Unimon helped me to cheat.
Good because we're going to need you.
So what do we do? Kyle asked.
Well, it seems that we have a quorum of the European Legion London Division here. So we can figure out what our next plan of action is.
Have you talked to Catherine? Brandi asked quietly.
Yes, but it's not like we have an overall plan. I don't think we ever were prepared for Phase Two. But whether we were ready or not, the European Legion is going to be there anyway.
Any luck? Anna yelled at Sonja.
Yes and no! Sonja yelled back as Snimon touched the earth, claws reaching out, extending to grab onto the surface. They were all buffeted by intense winds. I made contact with some of the Siberian groups, but I'm sure a whole bunch are still missing. Fortunately it looks like this weather will break, so we have no problems getting across Russia.
Good, I guess. Yuri called. He managed to reach the St. Petersburg contingent, but he was having problems in Minsk. I don't know why. Anna reached out and helped Sonja dismount.
Makes sense. Minsk is notorious for being paranoid and hard to contact. So, any word from Japan? Sonja tried to warm up after several hours at high speeds in the upper atmosphere.
No. Izumi has been silent since the first transmission. We got an update from Team Eagle saying that they were proceeding as planned, and the Australian Avengers gave a similar report, but no details. Anna consulted a clipboard she had brought with her as another blast of wind ruffled their jackets.
Good, we shouldn't get any details. What about our European cousins? Sonja had to yell above this blast of wind.
We have confirmation from the London and Paris divisions of the European Legion, but nothing from Frankfurt or Rome or Madrid or Berlin or Bordeaux or...
I get the point. They're taking too long. How long did Izzy say we had, day after tomorrow?
Yes, which, if they wait until morning gives us thirty hours. Give or take a few depending on the time zone.
I hate this time zone stuff. Sonja yelled.
Get some sleep. Anna recommended. You might need it.
There was a screech of tires on tarmac and the Gulfstream V hit the grounds of a small airport near the outskirts of Chicago. The door opened and a ladder descended almost before the ground crew could turn around to watch the unusual plane.
Lou spilled out, with Gotsumon hanging onto him and Maria right behind him.
We'll see you in a few hours! Lou called up the ladder to someone inside the plane.
Right. See you then! Michael's voice floated back then. A moment later he was back in the cockpit as the plane taxied around for takeoff once again.
So Lanis, can we make Houston on time? He asked the pilot.
Should be able to. You sure the LA crew will meet us there? Lanis replied as the plane taxied back toward the runway.
They better. The Thunderbirds have always been fairly reliable. With Amy and Willis in Washington, Lou and Maria coordinating in New York and us meeting with the Thunderbirds in Houston, I think that we may actually have a chance of pulling this off.
Well, regardless, go buckle yourself in. Let's see if your father's latest modifications mean that we actually have a chance of breaking Mach 0.95 on this baby.
I thought the manufacturers told us not to do that. Michael commented as he hurriedly fastened the straps on his seat.
Yeah, but were you listening? 'cause I sure wasn't. Lanis slammed the throttle forward and the jet roared back off the ground.
Hello Bane. Khartan did not even turn around in his impenetrable cloak of darkness. He did not have to. Both parties present understood perfectly what was going on. I trust that your bearing indicates you have bad newsas usual.
Bane gave a half smile, half glimmer of something dark and evil lurking behind his shadow. Our agents tracking known digidestined indicate that they are up to something, and have begun planning. It is possible that they have received advanced information regarding our plans.
Our plans were made with them in mindwere they not? Khartan fixed Bane with an iron glare.
Bane remained unphased by both the glare and the comment. Yes, however it does alter our contingencies. Our possibility of failure is increasing.
Do you suggest we withdraw? Khartan leveled a glare at Bane.
Bane smiled blandly. There was no humor in his expression. Not at all. You know what your masters would say to that. But I am just saying that we should be more careful.
Then I will be more careful my spy. And you will accelerate your mission to destroy the primary digidestined. You may now duly report to your overseers that I said that. Now go away and leave me in peace. The cloak of darkness settled heavily over the monarch's shoulders.
Chuckling to himself silently, Bane walked away.
Hell of a time to wake me up. Adam grumbled as he stirred something into his tea. The sun had barely crept over the horizon, and its rays were shining high into the room, not low enough for Adam to actually see the brilliant orb in the sky.
Sorry about that. Hideo Ishiguro did not sound sorry at all. But we finally managed to figure out where all that money that Utopia's been spending is going.
We did? Adam blinked sleepily, but his mind came fully awake, the gears turning and the synapses firing.
Yes, they've been bribing members of the Diet.
To what end? Adam looked around concerned.
It appears that the Diet has pressured the Defense Ministry into having the JSDF conduct maneuvers on the far edges of Japanese territory. To put it plainly, there are no forces that are technically loyal to the Japanese government within striking range of the Japanese heartland.
Now that's an ominous development. Adam noted.
Plus some other problems. Agents in both Switzerland and strangely enough, New England, have been reporting sightings of strange creatures.
Any details?
Nothing. They have not seen the like of these creatures beforewhatever they are. Master Ishiguro sighed and stared at the ceiling for a moment. But the way they behave suggests that they might be digimon. And if they arethey're hiding and they're doing it well.
Those are interesting places for sightings. Adam commented.
Indeed. I've ordered our agents in the areas to full alert, and I've had our associates and allies in both Britain and Washington D.C. take precautions. Additionally, we've put the Seventh Fleet to sea. I didn't think having them in their bases in Japan would be the smartest thing if all hell really does break loose here.
Probably a wise idea. Adam yawned. Have you talked to Professor Takenouchi?
No, he should already be on his way to a safe house.
Oddly enough, in Tokyo. We told everyone else that he was leaving the country, or at least going into the wilderness, so it ought to be safe.
Did he say anything about those neutrino emissions?
Not to me certainly. Hideo raised an eyebrow.
Well, well. Adam murmured quietly. I think I better check up on Koushiro's hypothesis, or whatever you call his theory. I guess we both better be on alert after this.
Morning Tai. Kari poked her brother in the shoulder. He had been sleeping for a long time, having been so tired that he had fallen asleep in his clothes, and Kari had been to concerned about him to wake him. After his talk with TK he had cried for a while, and then sat listlessly on his bed for hours. Sometimes he had spoken to himself, in a voice that altered between a rising storm, and a quiet whisper. He had spoken to himself of Sora and what they had once shared, of Matt, of the contemptuous man that Matt had once been, and the man he had become. In the end he had sometimes spoken of himself, of the man he was now, of the changes he had wrought.
He had worried Kari to no end. Sometimes he had held Kari's hand as a drowning man might grasp feebly at the rope that led back to shore. In those times his nails, shaking, had driven into Kari's palm almost like cruel spikes, and the urgency in his voice, as he spoke to himself, was beyond compare. He spoke in those times, eyes sightless and unseeing, or his most private doubts, of those times when he had failed, had lied to those who trusted him, when he had cheated, or when he had failed in the trust that the others all had in him. He spoke of the times he had lost, of different nightmares that still haunted him. Sometimes he seemed almost on the verge of screaming, and he writhed with some inner torment as he revealed his secrets. Incident after incident, some innocent and childlike, some not, came out, and Kari was surprised and shocked at the number of things that her brother remembered, at how many of them there truly were, of how many regrets he had. She began to understand the inner demons that tormented his soul.
Then, when Kari had been on the verge of running away, of hiding her head in her hands to shield her from these torments he would relent and his voice would change. Still he would stare, sightless, at nothing, but he would talk of beautiful places seen in the Digital World, memories of times when there was teamwork and when everyone had worked together, and used their abilities to win against their enemies. He would speak of rests and naps taken in verdant meadows under the shadows of far away mountains, standing as silent sentinels against the elements. He talked of hours spent wandering through flower-encrusted paths, sometimes just talking, sometimes singing, sometimes just sitting and watching. He relaxed like this until he was almost asleep.
Then, just when Kari was prepared to tuck him in, he would change yet again. His voice would rise, louder and strident, and he would talk of battles fought and won, of enemies overcome. He would describe their victories, sorrow for their losses, and proclaim the true stories of their ongoing struggle against the forces of darkness. Sometimes he would sound like he was going to war right now, sometimes as if these were events that had taken place long ago.
At any other time Kari might have called for help. But she understood now that Tai really needed to find himself, to learn who he was. So instead of interfering she had sat there silently until he had exhausted himself and fallen into a deep sleep.
Tai remembered none of this as such. What he did remember was himself walking, always walking higher and higher, struggling against the muddy ground of a great slope, covered in darkened earth and filth. Sometimes images from his past would appear. Sometimes they appeared as visions, leading him on through the more treacherous patches of ground as he wandered his way up through the undergrowth. Sometimes they threw themselves at him like demons, screaming until he fell, toppling down, the mud covering his bare legs.
Then, with tremendous effort, he reached the top, and found only a bare field where they were waiting. The enemies he had once had, the enemies he had failed to stop, the ones that were waiting for him still. They stood there, above the corpses of his friends and family, calmly surveying him.
Too late. Too late. You came too late. The voices began to whisper to him, but he ignored them. He felt something different moving him, something that had changed him both inside and outside, and he could feel a new sensation moving through him.
On his chest his crest burst into orange fire and blasted through the suddenly hazy battlefield. When it was done there was nothing there save an empty field, and another looming slope beyond that, as long as the one that he had just struggled up. But this mountain was not composed of filthy and treacherous mud, but of grass and trees, beautiful to look at and, even if long, a pleasant climb.
Tai took a deep breath and started to climb.
Yamato Ishida also had an unpleasant night. He had also seen the depths to which Tai had fallen, and felt an amount of guilt. After all he could have also dispatched KingEtemon, but in his heart of hearts he worried that his relationship with Sora was about to cost him his best friend. Alone, his father off at work, he had cried until his pillow was wet, and then fallen asleep with only his cold tears as comfort.
In his dream he was once again holding the harmonica he had used to play, that still rested alone in his drawer. Around him he was tormented by a storm of music, different tunes played to torture him. Each of them would have been beautiful, but together they became dissonant, clashing with each other like battering rams, screaming their octaves and notes at their competitors. Trapped in the center was like being trapped in a maelstrom, being battered by all sides, powers ripping at them like tides, transforming into screaming banshees who sought nothing more than to deafen and tear at him.
He raised the harmonica uncertainly to his lips and began to blow into it, the sound coming out thin and reedy instead of deep and resonant. It hung in the air like the lightest of the whiffs of wind before being blown away in the dissonant storm. But Matt refused to be disenheartened. In turn he started to blow carefully, following one tune and then another, always keeping in pace. He could match the other songs perfectly, his music abilities at least remained unphased by the passage of time, and by recent events. But every time he got close, every time he managed to copy another song a driving gale approached him, the scorned songs rising in volume against him, until the tatters of what he had been playing were forever lost to him.
He reeled, battered, until suddenly, out of instinct born in the sacred core that was actually him he raised the harmonica to his lips and played the song that he had invented so many years ago to play to TK. It was his song, the first he had ever written. And this song sprang up as if backed by an orchestra instead of a harmonica, rising, wailing ever higher and higher in pitch, rising towards the stars. He was aware that he was sounding like the trumpets of Armageddon, blowing his horn toward the end of the world, and that for him the whole world was resonating with his song. At the same time he became aware that the other songs that had been competing with him had slowed down. No longer did they strive against him and each other so passionately. They were not fighting any more, but aiding each other in finding a new harmony. As he played they ceased their endless struggle, ceased to scream at each other, and instead joined each other, becoming as close to a single perfect song as they could get without being perfect themselves. For a moment they all stood together in perfect harmony. And then they blanked out and Matt walked on, the lesson well learned.
Tai walked into the ruined building from the north just as Matt walked in from the south. They looked at each other and understood, no words being necessary to explain the sudden feeling of camaraderie. They both understood quickly that the other had been through a terrible trial as well, and had learned a very important lesson. Quickly they came together and embraced.
Well, you boys certainly took your time. Gennai spoke up from behind them, sending both boys spinning around, having been completely unaware that he had been there.
Gennai, what are you doing here? Tai asked.
A silly question. Waiting for you of course, what did you expect me to be doing here? Gennai responded. He was young again, wearing the familiar brown robes and looked as if he was waiting for them to do something.
Waiting for us to why? Tai asked again.
Oh I knew that the two of you would come here sooner or later. It's one of those things that's predestined, or whatever they call it these days. I mean, I know that it's usually not kosher to describe it as such, but the truth is that it was almost a certainty from the first time that you decided to be friends. That you would come here together that is... Gennai trailed off thoughtfully.
So, where are we anyway? Matt asked, looking around at the faceless walls.
The Companions's Gate. Gennai replied.
The Companions's Gate to what? Tai responded quickly.
Well, the Heart of the World of course. The source of the powers of your crest. This is where they come from. The place where everything is Light and Light is everything.
What kind of a Gate is it? Matt asked. I don't see anything that looks like a Gate.
Behind you. Gennai pointed and they turned and gasped.
Behind them was a huge structure, easily as tall as a skyscraper, where seconds ago they could both have sworn that there was nothing there. It was a giant gate, made out of polished, gleaming steel. Except for a single crack in the middle where the gates split apart it was seamless, nearly perfect itself. Two huge statues flanked it, one a male in armor, one a female in much the same armor. Both raised swords that crossed directly over the center of the gate, forming an additional arch under which anyone who wished to enter must pass. In the middle of the gate stood a single silent figure, this one like a giant stone statue, a knight on horseback, mutely awaiting the coming of some battle that would decide his existence.
So this is the way to the center of our powers? Tai asked, breathlessly.
Should we go in? Matt raised an eyebrow.
Gennai answered, softly but firmly. You must have the need to enter here, and you do not. You just recently have found the ability to come here, through finding yourselves and your meaning in life. Both of you, being warriors, have fought the uphill battle to come here.
Taichi has fought against his own despair and his own failures to arise purified, cleansed of past sins. He is now the bearer of Courage more than ever, having won that position yet again. His doubts are part of him, but now he knows that they are not the most valuable part, nor are they the most important. He now knows that he can struggle against the enemy that has always been his greatest, himself. The man who lead you all across your many battles has found new conviction, new strength.
Yamato has, in his turn, discovered his role in the group. He cannot be someone else, cannot be a different person, cannot change what he is. He is the spirit of friendship. Without his aid you may descend into petty bickering, and sometimes it may seem that the song he weaves may be more dissonant than harmonious with the rest of you. But his being himself helps all of you become a team, work together, and remain friends no matter the obstacle. He is now ready to assume his role to unite the group once more.
For too long have you held suspicions against each other, for too long have you silently struggled, contested with each other. Now, here, you must understand that the girl you were fighting over is going to be your friend for life no matter what happens. And you understand that you both feel genuinely, and you both have the power to change your own destiny. Here you must understand that there was no reason to fight over her, for she has the power to choose, and you must learn whether your own feelings were genuine.
Now, at last you can unite against your common foes. Gennai smiled at them.
You ready? Tai held out his hand. An offer of truce.
You bet. Matt grasped his, and there was new steel and new energy in his grip. Tai returned it in kind and felt an electronic surge run through him.
A voice intruded on Tai's thoughts and he grinned. Sorry guys, but I think Kari's trying to wake me up. I guess I'll see you soon.
You can count on that. Matt returned the grin.
Be prepared. The end is coming. Gennai raised a hand in warning.
See you in a bit. Tai waved and disappeared.
What time is it? Tai mumbled.
Eight thirty. You're late. Kari complained. We have a meeting at TK's in half an hour, remember? She tried not to look too worried.
Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Tai yawned and sat up. But I'm going to have to hurry if I don't want to be late.
Kari trailed off as her brother shot up and ran off to the bathroom. What's gotten into him?
Cody's Grandfather sat down on a bench next to the newspaper-perusing Hideo Ishiguro.
They've started moving. Here and abroad. People are appearing in strange places. He began without preamble.
Greentree and Rowan caught some people last night mapping out the military command centers in Moscow, and I have a report that somebody was doing the same thing in Germany. Whatever the opposition is up to, it's going to be big. We've alerted everyone we canit's out of our hands now. Master Ishiguro gripped his newspaper so hard that his knuckles whitened.
Any further orders?
Get yourself and your family out of the line of fire. Ishiguro's eyes were as hard as agates. Because from here on out, God will have to have mercy on all of us.
Tai arrived just in time for the meeting, sitting down next to Izzy at the front of the room with the others spread out behind him. Some few were still missing, but a moment or so later Yolei and Ken walked in, blushing, followed by the ever-present grinning Davis. About ten seconds after that Joe ran in, panicking over being late. And then, two minutes later Matt ran in.
What took so long? Sora asked.
I overslept. He replied with a straight face and a wink at Tai, who grinned at him.
So what's on the agenda? Cody asked, fidgeting. The tension was beginning to get to him, Tai suspected.
Well first off, let me ask a few questions. Tai stood up before anyone else could say anything. Izzy, how many installations does Utopia have in the area?
Actually, I can answer that. TK stood up, smiling at something that only he seemed to be able to see. My Dad did some snooping around while Matt was playing sleeping beauty, and he found another one, so we're up to five directly owned corporate offices, and two subsidiary installations. So that gives us seven.
What are the biggest ones? Tai asked thoughtfully.
Well, the main complex of course, the Troubador Investment Headquarters near Shinbashi, and a huge factory complex in Yokohama. That does it for their large installations, by which I suspect you mean installations big enough to actually hold an army. That gives them a whole bunch of resources.
Are we watching all of them? Tai asked sharply.
Izzy suddenly appeared a bit flustered. Well, no, we've been busy.
Then we get unbusy. TK, what are you doing right now?
Now, nothing really. You need something? He was grinning openly and Tai made a mental note to ask him about that later.
Yes. How many people and digimon pairs would you need to keep those three places staked out?
Hmmm....I presume you mean about twenty-four hours a day. So, if we only watch the three big ones it will mean that we'll need at minimum nine pairs, but that's doing eight hour shifts with no company. I think it would be a lot better if we could have shorter shifts and partners, but that changes it from nine pairs to probably close to eighteen. And that also means that we have to get people to work at night.
All right then, that would stretch our manpower really far, so what if we just kept the Shinjuku facility under surveillance? Would that give us any advance warning of what they're planning to do? Tai looked back at Izzy, but this time Izzy had an answer.
Well, not really I think. We did a whole lot of damage to it, but since they let us I'm assuming that it isn't really that critical. We would probably have a better time watching the big plant at Yokohama, but I don't know what we're watching for. Izzy closed his eyes for a moment as if visualizing something.
And you said the disruption would be worldwide? Tai asked.
Well, it should be. They're e-mailing facilities all over the world. The problem is that they're mostly saying get ready to commence the operation, without actually specifying what the operation is. I really don't know what they're up to.
Well then, we might be needed overseas. TK, I want you to talk to Noriko, because she's the default leader of the other Tokyo digidestined. I want you to arrange some system by which they can keep constant surveillance over the Yokohama site. I want to know the moment that anything goes strange over there, but I also want us to be ready to face international emergencies. That means that you should probably alert your father to keep an eye on international news, and to contact us the moment something goes wrong.
Will do. TK responded.
Ken, Izzy, I assume that you guys are doing some sort of computer stuff over here. I want you to keep on that, because it might be important.
Yes sir! Ken snapped off a salute that no longer seemed out of place.
That means that...Davis, you are not to leave Ken's side, you got that?
Davis blinked as if he had been slapped in the forehead. But why?
Because if everything goes wrong we're going to need ImperialDramon to transport us. That's our weakest link, because if they cut off Ken and Davis we're not only minus one Mega, we've lost our best transportation. You guys stick together.
Next order of business. I don't want digidestined operating alone. You go anywhere you go in pairs. I mean this seriously. And don't get out of sight of your partners, the time for playing around is over. The other guys are playing for keeps. Just in case I think I'd better place some extra security around here. Our most valuable players may very well be TK and Kari, so wherever they go, someone else goes with them. And I'm not, he began as he met two slightly resentful glances. doing this just because I'm being a paranoid big brother watching some guy date his sister. I'm doing this because I'm just paranoid in general. If you want you can take Mimi or Sora along. I'm sure they wouldn't protest at anything you usually do in private.
TK and Kari turned bright red while everybody else snickered.
So, next order of business. We need a functioning chain of command. I guess I'm still the leader, but if anything happens to me I guess the field leadership of the team descends to Matt first, by benefit of seniority, and then to Davis. You know what's expected of a leader, and they better remember how to provide it. At the same time our coordination is usually handed by Izzy, so if he's telling you what you have to do, accept it, because he has a lot of connections that the rest of us don't. But if we lose contact with Izzy for any reason, everyone better turn to Ken instead, because he's one of the people who also has a lot of experience at running a show like this. One exception. If TK and Kari go all mystic on you and tell you to do something, do it! They've been the victims of divine intervention several times too often for us to ignore it.
Next, I assume that Izzy is coordinating with the international digidestined fairly well?
Yes. We have some plans in place that we've already set in motion. Izzy looked like he was going to say something else for a moment, and then stopped.
Good. I won't ask what they are if you're confident that you can handle them. I assume that they'll respond to you if something happens. If that happens I assume that you'll have some way to contact the rest of us near at hand. Remember that. Now, as I recall some of us still have to go to school, even with Adam's excellent excuses. So the younger crowd better get going while the older kids here focus on our 'project'. There were grins all around. Now scoot.
What happened to Tai? Tai heard Joe whisper to Izzy in an undertone.
I don't know. Izzy confessed. Tai smiled at that.
So Tai. TK tapped Tai on the shoulder as he left. You're going to have to tell me what the Companions' Gate really looks like.
As TK left Tai and Matt just shook their heads. That kid knows way too much. Tai stated.
Kari whispered halfway to class.
What is it? TK whispered back, hiding his voice and any possible response in the general noise of the crowded hallway.
I've been having that disturbed feeling againlike I had before I was dragged off to the Dark Ocean. Somebody is watching me across the boundaries between worlds.
I've been feeling things too, but I didn't want to say anything. TK looked around to see if any of his classmates suddenly looked more suspicious than they had a few moments ago. Do you think that you're in danger.
Not immediately. Whatever it isespecially if it's HIM is content to watch, but content or not, he is definitely interested in me. Kari looked only a little nervous and TK smiled. Apparently embracing her powers had increased her self confidence.
Anything particularly worrisome? TK squeezed Kari's shoulder.
I wonder what caught his interest. If it is HIM why is he interested now after all these years? He never was before, so why right now? It's a bit of an odd coincidence if you think about it.
If you think about it, it doesn't seem like a coincidence at all. Especially not now. TK shook his head as if to clear it and smiled at Kari. But we may have bigger things to worry about soon after all.
Man, I hate Wednesday. Davis muttered as they struggled through Alegbra class. And I really hate this Wednesday.
At least you're halfway through the week. A friend whispered back to him from the next desk over.
Davis grunted. He was having the strangest school day of his life. Usually he was used to watching the clock move with near glacial slowness, each tick of the minute and hour hand seeming to take weeks to pass by. He was used to having so much spare time on his hands that he had to invent soccer games on his desk to keep himself from passing out due to boredom. He had never understood how people could say that school did not pass slow.
Now he understood. Every time the clock moved he was just a little closer to Doomsday, the day in which disaster and death would break lose. All that was keeping him from complete destruction, the world from death and despair, were those intervening wedges of space on the clock. Now, today, time seemed to melt away from under him, the clock seemed to be running so fast that Davis was afraid that it would catch on fire from the friction.
Tick. Another second closer to Doomsday. Tick. Another second closer to Doomsday.
Tick.
Found it. Izzy reported.
Jim, who had been sitting around in the ghostbuster's meeting room sipping some coffee, looked surprised. Found what?
Those equations I was looking for. I don't know enough to derive them myself, but I found a simplified version that I can apply to this situation in a book on General Relativity. Izzy sat back satisfied.
I never touched the stuff anyways. What did you need that? Jim looked curious.
To figure out what they were doing. It looks like our opposition has come up with a way to make a temporary singularity, but it's not ring shaped. It's going to be a hollow sphere, taking anything inside of it out of reality and into some other universe.
You mean they have something that will randomly shoot them into another universe? Jim asked.
Not randomly. I'm positive that they can adjust their path by using different harmonics or somethingalthough I definitely don't know enough physics to figure that out, but this thing could very possibly be a self-contained gate. Izzy looked worried.
Well, at least you know what it is. Jim relaxed and picked up a magazine from a corner table.
But that's not the best way to open a gate. Why are they doing that? Izzy wondered to himself.
This meeting will come to order. Catherine banged on the table hard, Daniel and Johann standing to either side, giving the small French girl an imposing presence. This meeting of the European Legion is now in session.
Only about a dozen other people were in the room, but they had all traveled hard from a variety of cities across Europe to get here. Behind those people, their elected leaders, stood digidestined from a variety of different contingents. From the small core of the London team to the numerically superior, but more inexperienced Frankfurt division, to the representatives of the fledgling Copenhagen branch this marked the first time since the Enigma affair that the European Legion had actually met in a full formal session.
Our latest updates from Odaiba claim that whatever big is going on is going down tomorrow. Daniel took over the meeting, speaking in English while Catherine translated into French, and Johann into German. That means that it's going to take all of us just when we're not quite ready. We've begun to distribute forms to tell us when and where we are meeting to oragnize ourselves in case of invasion, but the truth is that I really don't know what to expect. As a result we've had to make our plans sort of vague.
What we need from you. Catherine continued. Is lists. We need active duty rosters. We need to know how much transportation you have, how much you can provide. We need to know how many veterans you have. We're going to start organizing our people into air defense teams, and then again into ground defense teams. Plus we need to know how many contacts we have with government officials, how much support we can count on.
Plus it would be really nice to arrange some more contact plans. We have no idea what happens if we flip Phase Two over to its more active stage. We simply don't have contingency plans for that. Daniel remarked. And we won't know how much of a response we'll get until that day dawns, so its up to us to prepare for the unexpected.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the European Legion is back.
Rosa looked around and smiled. She had turned recently into a much more serious minded individual, and was now understanding the stakes for which the game was played. The Aztecs were a young team, and mostly an inexperienced team, but they were her team, and, among all of the teams, they were the one she wanted to be with. Now they clustered around inside their clubhouse waiting for her to speak.
We've already promised our support to the Odaiba squadron. So now it's our turn to save the world. We might have to do it as early as tomorrow. So it's time for us to be ready. Are you with me?
Came the enthusiastic response.
Then let's get busy.
Joe's finger slipped off of his pencil for the third time that day, and he swore with uncharacteristic vehemence at the offending object. Then he put down the pad of paper he had been holding, on which he had not written a single thing.
Don't be so tense Joe. Gomamon murmured out of the bushes next to the bench. The two of them were sitting at a bench at seaside park, keeping a careful eye on the calm ocean for any signs of trouble. Mimi was sitting on a beach towel out in front of them, half-dozing off, but Joe's attention had wandered off of her.
I'm trying not to be. Joe sighed. But it's never been like this. Surewe've had to wait for big confrontations before, but never when we didn't even know what was coming. It's just hard on me.
I agree that it's worse than knowing what you have to deal with. Gomamon admitted, which was enough to startle Joe out of his stupor. Gomamon normally never admitted things like that, especially on the eve of battle. Gomamon must have caught Joe's startled expression, I think you should get used to it. Life isn't perfect.
Joe took a deep breath and than sighed. I'm worried. It's obvious from their behavior that TK and Kari suspect something, and that they aren't passing it on. Tai and Matt have new purpose or something, but that only makes it seem like they know something else too. Izzy's worried about something that he found at Utopia, and everyone's worried that we don't actually know what their purpose was. As if that wasn't enough, the older adults seem to know all sorts of stuff that they aren't passing on, as if they weren't trying to worry us. I think we may be in over our heads.
Or they are. Gomamon tried to cheer his partner up, but he did not sound so confident either.
TK sat on his chair and barely paid attention to his math teacher talking. They were supposed to be doing geometry, which was what he was doing on his paper to amuse himself and give the impression that he was working. What he really was doing was drawing lines through all the coincidences, all the times when Khartan had seemed to be able to plan strikes that they could not counter, and the people who had known that they were about to attack Utopia. He still had too many names.
He started working his way around. The feeling of unease was still there, something was dreadfully wrong somewhere, and he knew that one of their friends and allies was not quite what he seemed to be.
At the same time he was trying to put together a plan that Noriko would appreciate, something that would keep the Tokyo digidestined occupied, but not completely sure about this plan. He had to admit that Tai's plan made the most logical sense, but something was tugging at him, slowly disturbing him into wondering if perhaps whatever was going to happen was going to happen through a different mechanism. He thought that he had covered everything, but his senses were subtly telling him that something was wrong.
Now class, please turn to page three-seventeen. His teacher intoned. TK did so, finding on the page a new diagram there. A circle, traced out perfectly. TK frowned and touched the circle, ancient and buried instincts stirring as he did. He leaned forward until he was almost falling into the image.
TK, what does the diagram on the left hand side mean? The teacher asked.
TK floated as if in a trance. The circle is the symbol of awareness. Senses are stretched out, filling every crack, forming an impenetrable barrier around you, becoming the limits of the seeker's perceptions. They then expand that circle until it encompasses the world to them.
There were a few chuckles from students who clearly thought that TK had lost it. The teacher frowned at him. Kari looked at him worriedly.
Mr. Takaishi... The teacher began.
But the circle also symbolizes the seeker's oneness, the seeker's commitment, for in expanding his perception, the seeker connects themself with all life there to raise arms in its defense. Darkness hides in shadow, but within the circle, there are no shadows in which they can hide. In the circle they are exposed in the Light, visible to all who have eyes with which to see. TK raised one hand and was unsurprised to find it holding his staff, even though he had left it at home since returning from the digital world. There was a crackle of lightning and the ends began to glow with a golden nimbus. I can see you.
The windows blew in with an almighty clash.
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