Disclaimer: I don't own digimon.
Episode XLV
Forward the Standard
Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking.
--Ferdinand Foch-- at the Battle of the Marne(probably apocraphyl)
General Alexander called, and suddenly he could see the boy with the familiar hat turn around and look in his direction. They were sitting in an abandoned farmhouse, fortunately still blessed with electricity of a sort, and TK was pouring over the latest reports that his scouts had brought. General Sergev was swearing in Russian over the phone at his soldiers still back in Paris. Apparently they too were having problems with the French General Staff. We got some more help!
TK replied shortly, setting another pair of maps down on the table. We've got some news as well. Despite what we've managed to do to them, they've started to move out, and in force.
I see. General Alexander stared at the sudden change on the map below. From what it looked like the horde was still advancing, but their faster units were moving out in front of them, sweeping the way. That would be a problem, because their fast units were probably still fresh. How fast are they moving?
Since they are freshly rested, and not encumbered by heavy equipment, and because they are being driven by a fate worse than death, well...I would say that they're going about twice our average speed.
New plan? Alexander asked.
I'm going to have to withdraw. Those units that are out there are horribly outnumbered. They can't hold off firepower of that magnitude. TK sucked thoughtfully on his pencil, and then turned to Cody, speaking in Japanese. The younger child bowed his head, and then quickly turned and walked off, disappearing from the kitchen that TK was using as his command center.
What's up? Sergev had finally finished his phone conversation and had turned back to the table just in time to witness that last burst of conversation.
I don't know. If I was them I would try and draw us off to one direction, and hit us from another. The problem is that those fast units are about to draw our scouts off the plains completely. I just asked Cody to send scouting parties down the Rhine area and out to the west to see if we're being flanked, but there's not much else I can do.
So what are your plans? General Alexander asked.
Apparently my invisible adversary intends to draw me into an open maneuver party. Logically, I intend to refuse his invitation. I dance badly enough as it is, without having to do it in open country. I think the best thing to do is to withdraw back to the area around Paris. There's enough urban growth around to slow them down before they hit the center of the city at least. I think that's where we draw the line.
All right. General Alexander reached over and, taking a black pen out of his pocket, drew a line along the southern border of Paris. Then that's where we stand.
Kari hung grimly on to Angewomon, taking no joy in the wind rushing through her hair. Angewomon herself remained as silent and enigmatic as ever. It would have taken a person well versed in her ways to realize that this was a grim silence, as opposed to her usual taciturn nature. Beside her she was being paced by Daniel Ollivander, Deltamon thundering along in the rush back to the city, the rest of the European Legion-London stretched out behind her, with half of IDEF Paris in their wake. Every one of the great land beasts was hauling what looked like a platoon of Russian airborne infantry on their backs.
Hi Sora! Kari called to one side as Garudamon swept down, carrying what looked like an entire company on her broad back. Did we get everybody?
Sure did. There's nothing between them and Paris but a bunch of empty fields and abandoned towns. We checked twice. Sora called back from Garudamon's hand.
Good. I'd hate to leave someone behind for them to attack. Kari replied.
We never had to worry about this in the old days. Sora yelled over the passing wind. It takes a lot of work to run this army.
I know. But it's better than doing it alone, isn't it? Kari asked.
All right, let's try this again. Cody knew that his Citadel-made sword was probably not intended for this purpose, but he was using it anyway. He moved the tip over so that it pointed at a picture.
The crowd of kids and digimon chanted back. The sword tip moved.
Monochromon. Meramon. Seadramon. Woodmon. RedVeggiemon. Divermon. Vilemon. Triceramon. Dokugamon. Mammothmon. The crowd chanted.
Good. And you already know what they can do, right?
The crowd chorused back confidently.
Good. So what happens when digimon fight?
We get out of the way. All the kids called back, and broke into chuckles and giggles that Cody's translator did not bother to translate.
Right. You guys can do it, because you're digidestined, and you never give up. Cody tried to forget about the maelstrom that they would shortly be facing.
Tai! You're killing me! Izzy howled just as soon as Tai found him and wrapped him in a giant bear hug.
Tell me how you figured this one out. Matt pointed at the sky, where the remainder of the airborne horde was falling back under the constant assaults of the remnant of the US Air Force.
It was really quite simple. You see, even with all the digidestined on Earth gathered together there was no way for us to defeat Khartan by ourselves, so I reasoned that there was another reason that we were important. It turns out that we can incorporate our digivices to interface with electronic comptuers. Once hooked into a digivice, somehow the digivice creates an equal and opposite field that allows those devices to work. Izzy brushed himself off as Tai let go. Once I was able to surmise how that happened, it was really quite simple.
For a genius maybe. Tai grinned affectionately at Izzy. So what did you bring us to play with?
Elements of two US Army divisions and a US Marine division. Anyone else we could get our hands on. And over a thousand digidestined. Izzy grinned infectiously.
So, now what? Mimi asked, coming up behind them, tired but grinning.
Are you kidding me? Yolei yelled enthusiastically. We attack!
As if to punctuate her words there was a thunderous cacaphony of explosions directly to their north. Tai turned around and grinned at the sight of Team Eagle's airborne digimon launching strike after strike at the earth. C'mon Agumon! We don't want to miss all the fun!
Some people never change. Izzy complained as Tai dashed off.
We're all used to it Izzy. Tentomon replied. So, shall we be going?
The gardens at Versailles were packed. Hundreds of soldiers, Russian, French, British and newly arrived Germans stood there, milling around, picking up the latest rumors. Hundreds of digidestined from a dozen countries stood there as well, some of them not even speaking languages that anybody else in the gardens knew. In that compact space worries and rumors were amplified as they waited for solid information. And then the doors to the palace opened and the command staff walked out, Generals Alexander and Sergev, Colonels MacLeod and Galvanay, and in the middle Takeru Takaishi and Hikari Kamiya, the looming form of Angemon standing impressively behind them.
Ladies and gentleman. TK began. We have a plan.
It is not a plan that is guaranteed to bring you success, or a plan that can miraculously save Paris. Plans like that do not exist. But we have a plan. It may not save us, but it will save Paris, and all those thousands of people who still have not been evacuated. It will cripple the dark army marching against it. And this plan is our only option.
Understand this, we will not retreat. I will not permit the darkness to roll forward another inch, not while life remains in my body. I will not allow thousands of civilians to die under their claws. Our only chance here is victory. And that is something that we can all do if we work together. We will hit the enemy as they reach Paris. We will attack whenever they give us an opportunity, and we will throw them back when they attack us. It's likely to be chaotic, so I trust each and every one of you to do your best. But remember this, we're the only ones who can save the world here, so we hold the line. Remember that. We Hold The Line!
It was not a great speech, but something about the way the boy with the blond hair and the rumpled hat stood made an impression on the audience he was speaking to. There was a muffled roar from the audience, and TK could see the children, from a dozen countries, from a hundred ways of life, began to form up behind his idea. Most of them had never faced battle before, but they were prepared to do it now, because he had asked them too. Some of the older soldiers were nodding, but it looked like others were having their doubts.
In other words, March or Die. General Alexander stated firmly.
The French soldiers all perked up as a British General recited the common motto of the French Foreign Legion. Colonel Galvanay brislted.
I will not have a bloody Englishman tell Frenchman how to fight. He yelled with clearly faked anger. We will show you tea drinking pigs how real men die!
There was a cheer from the French, responded to just as eagerly from the British side of things.
Well, if you Brits are going to show us how to march, and you Frenchmen are going to show us how to die, I guess it's up to our intrepid Russians to show you how real men drink. There was a cheer from the Russian crowd at General Sergev's words. And drinking is best done after you've won the battle gentlemen.
A question. A captain in French uniform raised a hand. How do we tell our digimon from theirs? They don't exactly come in different colors.
TK looked around for a moment, temporarily at a loss, before Catherine tentatively stepped onto the platform from below.
Well, I have a suggestion. You see, my mother owns a fabric store, and I was playing around with some designs. I thought it would be nice for the digidestined and the IDEF to have their own flag. So I made some plans and... She held up what she had been twisting nervously around her hands. It was a rectangular piece of midnight blue cloth, on which was emroidered in silver thread a pentagonal shield, over which had been placed a four pointed star. There was a murmur of approval from the crowd, and then TK stepped up wordlessly and took the flag from her and carefully and slowly tied it around Angemon like a sash. As he stepped back there was a muffled cheer from the watchers.
How many of these can we get? TK asked.
As many as you want. Catherine blushed.
Individual orders will be passed out after this. TK called to the crowd. And then, well, good luck all.
The enemy digimon did not have a chance. A boy and his Dobermon ran along the long streets of New York, now empty of anything but them and the enemy, his digimon sniffing anxiously, trying to find the last traces of enemy digimon, wherever they may have lain. Behind him came another group of kids with heavier digimon, powerful champions fresh to the fight led by a hulking Gorillamon. And behind them came the soldiers fresh off the helicopters, nervous but confident.
Dobermon suddenly stopped, adopting the position of a hunting dog on point, and the digimon squadron moved in. But before they could get all the way in, there was a screech of noise.
Woody Smasher! A blast of wooden splinters nearly took the front boy's head off, but Dobermon tackled him and brought him below their fire. The escorting digimon caught a brief glimpse of a pocket of Woodmon hidden in the ruins of a building, before someone else saw them too. A salvo of 2.75 rockets thundered by the advancing digimon, blasting the rubble into sand as a hovering Apache attack helicopter lent its salvo weight to the mission. As soon as the dust cleared the Woodmon only saw noise and fury as the escorting Champion-level digimon burst in upon the confused and injured dark digimon. A moment later all that was left of them was deleted data.
The Apache began to fire on another target in another part of the city, as the Dobermon began looking for his next target.
Split up! Joe yelled, pointing. You! Monzaemon, give me a hand with this slab, I think there's somebody under here. That's right, get one hand...er...paw under that corner and help me lift. Lift! There we go, medic, medic! Joe was a one man rescue army, ordering around his assistants like a general. Dozens of injured but alive bodies emerged from the rubble under his supervision, and more than one experienced combat doctor found themselves running under the lash of his will.
Spread out! Tai ordered in his own part. You, Lieutenant. And you guys with the Mojyamon, take that route there, we'll try to circle around and cut any who are still here off from the source.
Keep an eye out. WarGreymon bellowed behind him. Izzy had managed his usual genius, and had rewritten Gennai's translation program to allow them to speak English fluently. For once they had managed to break through the translation barrier more or less intact. Those Bakemon would rather run than fight, but I though I saw a few MetalMamemon somewhere over here, and those guys are much better at fighting. If you get in trouble, send up a flare and we'll start running.
We'll cover the west side! Matt yelled, as MetalGarurumon roared off in the other direction.
Good luck! Mimi yelled as she flew overhead with Lilymon.
We're missing something. TK reported solemnly. And I think that whatever it is will be big. He looked at Izzy, Ken and Kari straight on.
I would have to concur. TK could sense that Izzy was bursting with questions, such as how they could be having this conversation if he was in New York and the other two in Paris. And why the last thing he remembered was falling asleep in a cramped chair in a broken down office building. Khartan would not just launch an assault like this with all his planning. He would not have spent all that time maneuvering if all he wanted to do was launch a brute force attack.
I think TK scared him too much. Ken seemed to be thinking about something else at the moment, but it was difficult to tell what.
Hmmm...did I miss something? Izzy asked.
Well, TK's display in the battle against Reaver was rather impressive. He scared the pants off of me, and he wasn't even throwing lightning bolts at me. I think he scared Khartan into hiding.
Why would he do that? Kari asked. Khartan must know that TK alone could be handled, and that he was blocked from his powers afterwards.
True, but he must have studied the digidestined some. And here's a fact for you. Whenever we discover a new form of digivolving, a new or different level, TK is always the last one to do it. It would seem logical then that TK would be the last one to reveal the powers of his crest, wouldn't it?
But then why didn't anyone else reach out to stop Khartan before? Izzy countered, caught up in the argument.
Simple...think about it. Hope is the most powerful crest of all. And even more than that, Hope is designed it seems, to fight the powers of darkness. Light is no slouch either, Kari lights up like a small nova. So it would make more sense for the others to use their digimon until they got used to their crest. Ken stood up, realized that he was floating in limbo, and sat back down again.
That doesn't give us much to go on. Izzy murmured.
But it suggests something. TK stared at the ceiling. It means that Khartan has finally managed to either deduce that we lack the powers of the crest, or it means that he finally thinks that he has the means to defeat us despite them.
How powerful are the crests? Izzy asked.
I think they're too powerful to be measured. TK replied slowly.
I agree. So it may mean that Khartan has a bigger weapon than any of us previously believed possible. Kari responded. And it's going to be your job to find out what that weapon is Izzy.
My job? Izzy sat up straight. Why me?
Because you're the only one who can. Kari replied. TK and I know something about the powers of the crests, and knowledge is something that has special properties. You know everything Izzy, literally. The fact that the crest glows for you means that you are omniscient.
But there are so many things I don't know. Izzy protested.
You just don't know that you know them. TK corrected with a gentle smile. All you have to do is find them. And then we have to find ourselves, all of us, before we can win.
Izzy asked, pleadingly.
Inside you. Ken answered.
You know what is coming for you Ken? Kari asked.
I do. Ken answered, and Izzy saw, as the vision began to blur, that Ken had turned paler than usual, but was still calm.
Then good luck. Wake up now, and find the truth! TK raised a hand and the scene vanished in a blur.
Where's Izzy? Tai asked as the digidestined gathered in a burnt out building. We need him.
No you don't. Ken replied. He's meditating, and can't be disturbed.
We need him fighting, not thinking. Davis shot back.
Not this time. Ken stared at the diminished cloud of darkness hiding the horde. He would not add that much to the battle, nothing compared to the effort that he is expending now.
Where is he? Yolei asked curiously.
Ken suddenly assumed a distant expression as if he was seeing something only he could see. I think he's about halfway between Companion's Gate and the Gate of Stars, although I can't really see clearly. Kari and TK are still somewhere in the Silver City, which means that I can't see anything.
Question's tabled. Tai shot out before anyone could question what Ken meant.
Matt thrust his hand out urgently.
So what do we do with all these digimon? Yolei asked, shaking her head as if to clear it. We really don't want to be chasing them all over the countryside, do we?
We send them away. Ken replied clearly. Yolei looked at him again and nearly gasped. He had changed, become sallow and gaunt, as if he had experienced a major shock in his life.
Davis asked.
The Dark Ocean. Ken whispered, and he gripped his D3 so hard his fingers turned white.
But the only way to open up a portal is to...oh Ken, please don't. Yolei's eyes were suddenly wide with concern. She grasped his arm, but it felt cold and clammy to the touch.
How do you want to do this Ken? Tai asked quietly. He understood the depth of Ken's intended sacrifice, and accepted it mutely. Courage was found in many places it seemed, and the bearer of Courage gave Ken a silent salute.
This evening, when the powers of darkness begin to wax, that is when the dark ocean will draw close, but I will still retain enough of the light to resist the darkness. At that point I can open a portal to the dark ocean big enough to drive all those digimon back into. The problem is that it will only last a short while. They still outnumber us, but we've got them running. If we can keep up the momentum for a few more hours, we'll have a chance.
What are you going to do? Matt asked softly.
I'm going to meditate some myself. It's the only way to prepare myself. If you don't mind, I'd like Davis and Yolei with me as well, they can help anchor me to the real world, and they are my best friends here. Davis and Yolei blushed simultaneously at the simple no-nonsense tone in Ken's voice. Tai, you have the hard job. You've got to use every resource we've got and drive those digimon back all day long. At the end day I want every digidestined you can find to join up with me and help me to open the gate. Can you do it?
Consider it done. Tai clutched Ken's shoulder with a firm hand.
Very well. I'll be waiting for you I guess. Ken moved off slowly, each step shaky, but radiating his determination and courage to the world.
Are you sure you can? TK asked quietly.
Yes, but I'm not sure how long it might take. We're a bit confused right now. Adam tugged on an ear thoughtfully. It's just that I thought you should know.
We'll run for the hills only as a last resort. TK replied, smiling.
Well, if things keep up like this, we might be able to give you a hand after all. Gennai grinned.
I guess I can live with that. Kari replied gently.
Izzy walked through a world that was braced with light, and saw, for the first time, things that passed his understanding just as easily as his knowledge of computers might have passed the understanding of, say...an ant. He understood immediately what TK and Kari had meant. He knew everything. The beings that whispered past him, beings of light in the middle of shadow whispered in his ear, bringing him news that he had never even imagined.
He could know anything. No! He could know everything! And why not? How many grains of rice are there in China? How many fish in the sea? How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A being of brightness crossed beside him and whispered in his ear silently: We've gotten up to six million, seven hundred thirty one thousand, five hundred eleven before we gave up.
Izzy shuddered away from the implications of that.
Somewhere in this was the answer.
As if responding to his unspoken thoughts the room suddenly changed. Instead of a sea of light it changed into a library. The buiding was huge and ancient, the timbers that made up the structure, the walls and the beams that held up the massive ceiling looked older than the earth on which it must sit. Golden light came through huge glass windows placed high up on the walls, the light came down like a gentle waterfall, illuminating a central area filled with couches and soft chairs. And everywhere there were shelves of books, old wooden shelves, burnished with age, gleaming silently, waiting with untold promise.
Are you ready for the test? The voice from behind him was sharp, and cut like a knife. There was a blast of heat and, just as Izzy turned around, the world changed into a desert. The creature he was facing was a magnificent being out of legend, and fortunately, thanks to his knowledge of western mythology, Izzy knew exactly what legend it was from. He was facing the human headed, stern looking lion known as the Sphinx, and instinctively he knew that the riddle that was coming would be harder than the one in the story.
At the same time Izzy refused to hesitate. In some ways he thirsted for the challenge, and he knew that it might be one of the greatest moments in his life.
These are the rules. You must answer the question. You must explain the answer. You must understand the answer. You may ask me any question you choose. Are you ready for the question?
Izzy took in a deep breath and looked out at the vast desert. I am.
Then the question is this. What is the meaning of life?
Somehow I don't think the answer is forty-two. Izzy thought to himself.
The signal was going to have to be unique, they had all agreed. It would already be dark so there was no use in using semaphore or anything. But the signal would have to be heard by everyone. Even with the sudden modifications and connections that had made it possible to restore some of the military technology that they so desperately needed, the situation was growing vastly more complicated. There were now troops from Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Russia and even a small detachment from Poland sitting in the defense of Paris. More troops, small detachments from the Netherlands and Switzerland, larger units airlifted from Russia, Britain and Italy were already on their way. More German units were starting to move through the Rhine sector. There were so many different commands trying to talk to each other in the middle of Paris that nobody even knew where they were, let alone what was going on.
Fortunately Colonel MacLeod had managed to discover the perfect signal for use, something so unique that everybody in the city who could hear it would recognize it. And some of the arrivals from Britain had given him the opportunity to put it into place.
TK watched the view through live videocameras, positioned upon high-flying reconnaissance planes in the sky. The enemy had yet to attack planes flying high enough, and TK wondered absently if their experience with the US Air Force was making them cautious. Nevertheless he had no wish to engage in combat in the sky. Yet. But the images told the story very well.
It was night so they could not see, but the infrared cameras saw with great attention to detail. The horde showed up there as a massive blob out of a B movie, something that was alive, struggling against itself from the inside, a thousand thousand living components enmeshed in some sort of gelatinous shell. TK ignored the image. He was damned if he was going to scare from an image taken high above the earth. When they got close enough to see he was going to worry.
The blob meshed up against the farthest reaches of the city of Paris like the tide, sloshing around the buildings, unable to advance cleanly, and then beginning to split up. TK could watch outlying buildings slowly eaten away, sometimes destroyed purposefully, sometimes simply trampled underfoot. He watched the unified horde split into smaller and smaller tendrils, dissipating into the city. And then he turned to Kari who was standing next to him in the room in the middle of Versailles palace. He absently wondered as he turned how many kings and lords of ancient France had, from these very halls, launched operations that would leave thousands of men dead or wounded, and how many of them had done it for the best of reasons. At least he would be in similar company today, as the ghosts watched him quietly.
Well, it looks like they're doing what we thought. Catherine smiled grimly.
Excellent. We can go in with Leonidas One. Geneal Alexander sucked thoughtfully on the end of his pen. TK stared at the image a few moments longer, before he gathered the nerve to speak.
Miss Kamiya. Inform the troops. The InterDimensional Expeditionary Force will advance and engage the enemy. He spoke quietly, and suddenly his formal tone no longer seemed so ridiculous. It seemed proper, and it fit, and everybody in the room fell silent as his tone and words registered.
She bowed once, formally, and TK suddenly felt old and broken, and then she was gone out of the doorway to speak to a man standing outside, waiting for this moment.
There was a moment of whispered conversation, and then it ended and Kari entered the room and placed her hand around TK's in a reassuring gesture. There were a few moments of silence, and then a noise that no digimon had ever faced before began.
It was peculiar, TK had to admit that, even to the faces of the players, but they had just grinned and continued their music. But it was unique, and piped through a dozen loudspeakers at full volume it was enough to fill the city. All over he could picture hundreds and thousands of people looking up, that final moment of heart-stopping terror as the music began, and as the signal of death rang out. It was a strange noise for a Japanese team to fight under, but now it seemed fitting. The major in charge had explained, carefully, the tradition behind it, how many uncounted thousands had marched to their death under similar music, how many had fought under it. At the time TK had not understood, but now he did, and as the spirit of the musicians infused the world, as the honor that a hundred generations had fought for filled the air with the presence of the indomitable fighting spirit of mankind, his heart began to stir inside of him.
The screams, shouts and explosions began. As TK stepped to the window and watched, pride in those who were willing to fight, to lay their lives before those of others, filled him.
And the InterDimensional Expeditionary Force, together with an international army, marched into battle under the bright and bold sound of the bagpipers of the Royal Scots regiment, under the immortal swirl of Scotland the Brave.
When the pipes began their tune, Cody understood the message. His hand tightened about the object in his hand, and he took a split-second to view those others who were standing next to him, silently waiting. Children with wide open eyes, staring at him like he was their savior come to life. For a moment he closed his own eyes in recognition of the pain that was about to come, and then, when they opened again, they were clear.
Armadillomon digivolve to...Ankylomon!
Ankylomon digivolve to...Shakkuomon!
A hundred other digidestined hiding in the park with him suddenly let their digivices flare in salute, and a hundred other digimon rose out of the night, Champions beginning to charge their astounded enemy. Cody came over the embankment he had been hiding behind just in time to see a group of red eyed Monochromon before the attack was on them.
Kachina bombs! Razor sharp disks flew out and impaled a dozen different champion level digimon, who disintegrated under the hammering blows. Then Shakkuomon moved on, his Harmonious Spirit blasting unwary digimon who got to close. Within a few seconds they had completely annihilated the Monochromon patrol without a single casualty.
All right, let's get going! Cody shouted. We can cut them off if we try hard enough, and we can hit the main group from the flank!
He waved and a hundred digimon, followed by a hundred children and a battalion of German regulars charged the unseen enemy.
Sora heard the music begin to swirl through the night, the cutting sound of the pipes slicing through even the hoarse grunts of combat below. She waited for the sounds of combat to start all over the city before acting, just like she had been told to. It hurt in a way, staying out of the fight, especially one in which she was so desperately needed, just like this one. But she understood why she had to do it, and knew that it had to be done. Nevertheless it hurt to be taken out of the fight like this, and she could only respect the bravery of those fighting and dying in front of her.
She thought for a moment about the golden haired boy leading them, about what he had been once upon a time, about the crybaby that had once been Takeru Takaishi. She thought about the way he looked and acted like his brother, about his candid admission that when she was around he did not miss his mother so much, about the many other things he had been. And she thought about the confident man he had become at last, the boy who was leading them now. TK had certainly come a long way. So had Kari for that matter, and she was growing more mature every day. Both of them. That at least promised to be interesting to watch.
We've all changed. She smiled to herself. Privately she was a bit amazed that none of them ever seemed to realize how much, but it seemed that TK did at least. His eyes were already haunted just a little. But Sora was confident that Kari would straighten him out in the future.
Her crest began to glow. And then the pipers entered the second refrain, audible even above the crush of battle. In front she could see the wave as the flying digimon began to settle on the fighting like a flock of scavengers.
Biyomon...digivolve to...Birdramon!
Birdramon...digivolve to...Garudamon!
And Sora, riding Garudamon for all she was worth soared over the parapets of the modern office buildings to attack the flying digimon. All around her windows exploded outward, wooden barricades were knocked down all to reveal hiding places, and five hundred fresh flying digimon exploded into the teeth of the enemy. The flying digimon of the horde still outnumbered them heavily, but surprise was against them, and they were spread out. The attack drilled in behind a Wing Blade that wiped out an entire squadron of Vilemon, and then there were other attacks pressing them.
Out of the corner of an eye she could see a Unimon blast her way through two different Roachmon. In another quadrant she could watch Yuri and Anna drive a hole through a group of Flymon. She smiled as another shudder marked the destruction of another squadron of Vilemon, and then frowned as she watched the further elements of the enemy draw up in attack formation.
Raptor squadron, draw up on me. She spoke into her D3 after seeing who was nearby. "Crossbow squadron, you too. Longbow, punch a hole through those Roachmon above the flaming warehouse. Scimitar, see if you can draw off their heavies for us. Lion squadron, follow us in. All others, break and attack!
Someone spoke back.
Someone else shouted through the communications link as her formation of digidestined and digimon exploded like a firework, digimon arcing out in all directions, several of them saluting proudly as they shot by. Sora saluted back and then turned back to her D3.
TK, we've got them on the run.
All right. TK turned to General Alexander. That's as good as we're going to get. Launch the ground support strike.
Aye aye General Takaishi. Alexander snapped off a salute and almost laughed openly at the expression on TK's face. It had to be the most impressive one-day promotion in history, but Takeru Takaishi was now officially a general in the Queen's army. It had been done to make the bureaucracy easier, but that had not made it any easier on TK. Some obscure rule that Colonel MacLeod had possibly invented on the spot had given General Alexander the ability to recruit a new officer if the circumstances were grave enough. The promotion would not last after the crisis, but for the time being everyone acted as if Takeru Takaishi had been officially promoted to General, and had been given command of the operation personally.
Okay, and move the reserves up. They know when to commit themselves. TK ordered, and looked at Patamon on his shoulder. The small mammal nodded, and he left the room.
Daniel Ollivander of European Legion London charged around a corner on Deltamon, a hundred and fifty other digimon backing him up as he did so. They had annihilated almost a hundred Bakemon without even needing to strain themselves, but now they were running into the main force of the invasion. A group of what must have been fifty Tyrannomon surrounded by more floating Bakemon and bouncing Veggiemon lumbered their way out of the darkness to meet him, and he began to yell and try to form up his troops into a line, as the soldiers of the French Foreign Legion came up from behind.
Down and cover! A French lieutenant suddenly yelled, and Daniel ducked, placing his face against Delatmon's tough hide as the other digidestined did the same.
There was a roar that nearly split his eardrums, and twenty all-weather Tornado fighters configured for ground assault screamed over his head, jets laboring to keep them clear of the killing zone above their heads. Half of them were carrying canisters of bomblets, little explosives that scattered themselves all over the ground, exploding all over and maiming and destroying digimon all over the ground. The others were carrying Napalm.
Daniel could feel the wave of heat pass over his neck, and thought he could feel the hair on his head begin to singe. It felt like he had just jumped in a baker's oven. And it felt like forever before the heat began to recede, but, as the noise began to register in his ears again, he took a peek.
There was no sign of the enemy digimon. None whatsoever.
All right! He yelled, as Deltamon bucked and roared.
So, explain. Yolei demanded. Ken sighed for a moment while he looked for a slightly better way to explain this than the way he had been planning. After a few moments he grinned and begin to move things around in the dirt with his fingers.
All right, imagine the world as a pancake.
All right, pancakes! Davis exclaimed. ExVeemon and Silphymon were still out on the front lines, helping the others, but, as Ken had requested, Davis and Yolei were sitting here with him. Ken grinned.
Yes, so our universe is sort of a pancake. It's flat and it looks funny, right?
So you mean there are a bunch of other worlds also looking like pancakes. Yolei said thoughtfully, pulling at her lip with a finger. So we're on a stack of giant pancakes.
Yes and no. Ken replied. You see, this is all in many dimensional space, so its hard for us three dimensional beings to see it properly. In fact I can't see it, but I think I understand it. There are millions of worlds like pancakes, floating in a sea of maple syrup, in a million different stacks. Does that make any sense?
Davis looked hungry. Yolei's eyes began to cloud over. All right, go on.
Okay, I will. Each world is floating in a sea of syrup. Well, what the syrup actually is is the living entity we call the Digital World. Or the Digital Plane, or whatever. The problem is that the Digital World is not an accurate description, it's really a whole bunch of worlds meshed together, blended and mixed. It's really confusing, but everything in those in-between worlds is influenced or created by the thoughts of those people living in the pancakes. I don't understand it all, but that seems to be the way it works.
Okay, I can picture that. So we're all floating in the Digital Plane, and the only way to get to other worlds is through pieces of the Digital World!
Right, but the Digital World is divided into different worlds itself. But that's not important right now. What is important is the top of the stack.
What's on the top of the stack? Butter? Yolei asked.
Ken replied shortly.
Davis let his eyes widen.
Yes, and there's a connection, think of it as a pillar of light, that runs through each world, every world simultaneously, stretching from heaven all the way down to...the other place. Now it's spiritual, not physical, so there's no place where you can go to feel it, but every world, even the digital ones are connected with it. We call it the Heart of the World. There are a thousand thousand different gates into it, and whenever you need to and have the skill to you can enter a gate, and receive the power within. That's the important thing about the Heart of the World.
And that's where you're going. Whoa. How do you get there? Davis asked, impressed by Ken's explanation.
The road's inside of me. Ken leaned back and closed his eyes.
Well, I guess he's on his way. Davis rubbed his chin. He gave Ken a wink which Ken felt more then saw. Hey, Yolei! How about some pancakes?
Agghh...is all you ever think about food? Yolei slapped a hand to her forehead with mock drama. Can't you be serious for even a moment?
Ken listened for a moment to the voices of his friends, and then set his foot upon the path that lead only to himself.
Tai gulped down water passed to him by a shaking man with a heavily bandaged arm. He was dirty and worn, but he and WarGreymon had been helping push the enemy back for hours. Both of them were tired now, close to exhaustion, but they were fighting, buying time. They probably did not need to push the enemy this hard, but WarGreymon and Tai were a good team, and keeping them in the front lines was probably saving hundreds of lives that might otherwise be lost. Besides, the enemy would have to be really pushed to be forced back into the Dark Ocean.
Go get 'em kid. Someone he did not even know slapped him on the back as he took off again, back into the battle.
Ken paused at the crossroads and peered down both ways. In the darkness surrounding him the roads were barely visible, and both of questionable safety. One seemed to lead deeper in the forest that he was walking through, into the twisting bracken and brambles that surrounded the path. The other bubbled in the distance, as if the surface was nothing more than a patch of muddy water. Neither particularly appealed to him. He sat for a moment, at the crossroads, and thought. Then he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was no longer alone.
You can't walk forever, you know. The Kaizer reminded him nastily. Ken simply smiled up at the shade towering over him, and immediately the image fell to more human proportions.
I can walk long enough. Ken replied.
You can't walk far enough to escape me. The Kaizer had an edge in his voice that Ken would have sworn had never been in his own voice, but he was really in no position to judge. Wherever you run, when you're tired and exhausted, when you've reached the end of your rope, when you are panicked and sitting alone. That's when I'll find you and take you for my own.
I won't fall back into your ways. Ken responded calmly.
Yes you will Ken. I am the darkness inside of you. You cannot leave me behind so easily.
All of us are tortured by our demons. All of us have learned the meaning of doubt rather spectacularly. I am unimpressed by your claims.
As I am by yours. The Kaizer jumped down from above Ken to stand eye to eye with his alter-ego. Let's face it Ken. Why are you here? Because you need my strength, don't you? The strength of the darkness that you once allowed to run through you unchecked. That's what you need to defeat your enemies, isn't it? The power that I epitomize. That which I am and that which I become. You need me.
No I don't. Ken was unperturbed by the Kaizer's observations. All I know is that I need myself. That which I am. That which is me. I don't need you anymore.
There was a strange expression on the Kaizer's face. So you've come here to gloat? Entered the dark recesses of your own mind to prove to me that you're stronger.
Ken answered simply, as he recognized the truth. I came to see if I could do anything for you.
The Kaizer was so startled he almost fell down.
Because I bear the symbol of Kindness. It's what I am, remember? And I think that Kindness is stronger than evil of all stripes. More powerful than the hatred and anger that you represent. But I have to offer it to everyone. After all, and here Ken grinned, a task the Kaizer would have found impossible. who knows where a hero might be hiding? Kindness is for everyone. Especially your enemies. You must not give in to them, but you must not hate them. And when they are defeated, you must aid them, and draw them back into the Light. Kindness is mine, and I offer it to you.
The Kaizer looked on in blank astonishment, and then his image began to waver. For a moment he was a formless cloud of dark light, and then he solidified into a person.
Good-bye brother mine. Osamu Ichijouji, still looking like he had in Ken's mind the day he died, raised one hand in a gesture that Ken never could have mistaken. Be well...always. And then he was gone, back into the twisting regions of infinity.
Ken smiled and walked on down the suddenly visible path until he reached the door. He had already shed all his tears.
Forward the Standard
Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking.
--Ferdinand Foch-- at the Battle of the Marne(probably apocraphyl)
TK replied shortly, setting another pair of maps down on the table. We've got some news as well. Despite what we've managed to do to them, they've started to move out, and in force.
I see. General Alexander stared at the sudden change on the map below. From what it looked like the horde was still advancing, but their faster units were moving out in front of them, sweeping the way. That would be a problem, because their fast units were probably still fresh. How fast are they moving?
Since they are freshly rested, and not encumbered by heavy equipment, and because they are being driven by a fate worse than death, well...I would say that they're going about twice our average speed.
New plan? Alexander asked.
I'm going to have to withdraw. Those units that are out there are horribly outnumbered. They can't hold off firepower of that magnitude. TK sucked thoughtfully on his pencil, and then turned to Cody, speaking in Japanese. The younger child bowed his head, and then quickly turned and walked off, disappearing from the kitchen that TK was using as his command center.
What's up? Sergev had finally finished his phone conversation and had turned back to the table just in time to witness that last burst of conversation.
I don't know. If I was them I would try and draw us off to one direction, and hit us from another. The problem is that those fast units are about to draw our scouts off the plains completely. I just asked Cody to send scouting parties down the Rhine area and out to the west to see if we're being flanked, but there's not much else I can do.
So what are your plans? General Alexander asked.
Apparently my invisible adversary intends to draw me into an open maneuver party. Logically, I intend to refuse his invitation. I dance badly enough as it is, without having to do it in open country. I think the best thing to do is to withdraw back to the area around Paris. There's enough urban growth around to slow them down before they hit the center of the city at least. I think that's where we draw the line.
All right. General Alexander reached over and, taking a black pen out of his pocket, drew a line along the southern border of Paris. Then that's where we stand.
Kari hung grimly on to Angewomon, taking no joy in the wind rushing through her hair. Angewomon herself remained as silent and enigmatic as ever. It would have taken a person well versed in her ways to realize that this was a grim silence, as opposed to her usual taciturn nature. Beside her she was being paced by Daniel Ollivander, Deltamon thundering along in the rush back to the city, the rest of the European Legion-London stretched out behind her, with half of IDEF Paris in their wake. Every one of the great land beasts was hauling what looked like a platoon of Russian airborne infantry on their backs.
Hi Sora! Kari called to one side as Garudamon swept down, carrying what looked like an entire company on her broad back. Did we get everybody?
Sure did. There's nothing between them and Paris but a bunch of empty fields and abandoned towns. We checked twice. Sora called back from Garudamon's hand.
Good. I'd hate to leave someone behind for them to attack. Kari replied.
We never had to worry about this in the old days. Sora yelled over the passing wind. It takes a lot of work to run this army.
I know. But it's better than doing it alone, isn't it? Kari asked.
All right, let's try this again. Cody knew that his Citadel-made sword was probably not intended for this purpose, but he was using it anyway. He moved the tip over so that it pointed at a picture.
The crowd of kids and digimon chanted back. The sword tip moved.
Monochromon. Meramon. Seadramon. Woodmon. RedVeggiemon. Divermon. Vilemon. Triceramon. Dokugamon. Mammothmon. The crowd chanted.
Good. And you already know what they can do, right?
The crowd chorused back confidently.
Good. So what happens when digimon fight?
We get out of the way. All the kids called back, and broke into chuckles and giggles that Cody's translator did not bother to translate.
Right. You guys can do it, because you're digidestined, and you never give up. Cody tried to forget about the maelstrom that they would shortly be facing.
Tai! You're killing me! Izzy howled just as soon as Tai found him and wrapped him in a giant bear hug.
Tell me how you figured this one out. Matt pointed at the sky, where the remainder of the airborne horde was falling back under the constant assaults of the remnant of the US Air Force.
It was really quite simple. You see, even with all the digidestined on Earth gathered together there was no way for us to defeat Khartan by ourselves, so I reasoned that there was another reason that we were important. It turns out that we can incorporate our digivices to interface with electronic comptuers. Once hooked into a digivice, somehow the digivice creates an equal and opposite field that allows those devices to work. Izzy brushed himself off as Tai let go. Once I was able to surmise how that happened, it was really quite simple.
For a genius maybe. Tai grinned affectionately at Izzy. So what did you bring us to play with?
Elements of two US Army divisions and a US Marine division. Anyone else we could get our hands on. And over a thousand digidestined. Izzy grinned infectiously.
So, now what? Mimi asked, coming up behind them, tired but grinning.
Are you kidding me? Yolei yelled enthusiastically. We attack!
As if to punctuate her words there was a thunderous cacaphony of explosions directly to their north. Tai turned around and grinned at the sight of Team Eagle's airborne digimon launching strike after strike at the earth. C'mon Agumon! We don't want to miss all the fun!
Some people never change. Izzy complained as Tai dashed off.
We're all used to it Izzy. Tentomon replied. So, shall we be going?
The gardens at Versailles were packed. Hundreds of soldiers, Russian, French, British and newly arrived Germans stood there, milling around, picking up the latest rumors. Hundreds of digidestined from a dozen countries stood there as well, some of them not even speaking languages that anybody else in the gardens knew. In that compact space worries and rumors were amplified as they waited for solid information. And then the doors to the palace opened and the command staff walked out, Generals Alexander and Sergev, Colonels MacLeod and Galvanay, and in the middle Takeru Takaishi and Hikari Kamiya, the looming form of Angemon standing impressively behind them.
Ladies and gentleman. TK began. We have a plan.
It is not a plan that is guaranteed to bring you success, or a plan that can miraculously save Paris. Plans like that do not exist. But we have a plan. It may not save us, but it will save Paris, and all those thousands of people who still have not been evacuated. It will cripple the dark army marching against it. And this plan is our only option.
Understand this, we will not retreat. I will not permit the darkness to roll forward another inch, not while life remains in my body. I will not allow thousands of civilians to die under their claws. Our only chance here is victory. And that is something that we can all do if we work together. We will hit the enemy as they reach Paris. We will attack whenever they give us an opportunity, and we will throw them back when they attack us. It's likely to be chaotic, so I trust each and every one of you to do your best. But remember this, we're the only ones who can save the world here, so we hold the line. Remember that. We Hold The Line!
It was not a great speech, but something about the way the boy with the blond hair and the rumpled hat stood made an impression on the audience he was speaking to. There was a muffled roar from the audience, and TK could see the children, from a dozen countries, from a hundred ways of life, began to form up behind his idea. Most of them had never faced battle before, but they were prepared to do it now, because he had asked them too. Some of the older soldiers were nodding, but it looked like others were having their doubts.
In other words, March or Die. General Alexander stated firmly.
The French soldiers all perked up as a British General recited the common motto of the French Foreign Legion. Colonel Galvanay brislted.
I will not have a bloody Englishman tell Frenchman how to fight. He yelled with clearly faked anger. We will show you tea drinking pigs how real men die!
There was a cheer from the French, responded to just as eagerly from the British side of things.
Well, if you Brits are going to show us how to march, and you Frenchmen are going to show us how to die, I guess it's up to our intrepid Russians to show you how real men drink. There was a cheer from the Russian crowd at General Sergev's words. And drinking is best done after you've won the battle gentlemen.
A question. A captain in French uniform raised a hand. How do we tell our digimon from theirs? They don't exactly come in different colors.
TK looked around for a moment, temporarily at a loss, before Catherine tentatively stepped onto the platform from below.
Well, I have a suggestion. You see, my mother owns a fabric store, and I was playing around with some designs. I thought it would be nice for the digidestined and the IDEF to have their own flag. So I made some plans and... She held up what she had been twisting nervously around her hands. It was a rectangular piece of midnight blue cloth, on which was emroidered in silver thread a pentagonal shield, over which had been placed a four pointed star. There was a murmur of approval from the crowd, and then TK stepped up wordlessly and took the flag from her and carefully and slowly tied it around Angemon like a sash. As he stepped back there was a muffled cheer from the watchers.
How many of these can we get? TK asked.
As many as you want. Catherine blushed.
Individual orders will be passed out after this. TK called to the crowd. And then, well, good luck all.
The enemy digimon did not have a chance. A boy and his Dobermon ran along the long streets of New York, now empty of anything but them and the enemy, his digimon sniffing anxiously, trying to find the last traces of enemy digimon, wherever they may have lain. Behind him came another group of kids with heavier digimon, powerful champions fresh to the fight led by a hulking Gorillamon. And behind them came the soldiers fresh off the helicopters, nervous but confident.
Dobermon suddenly stopped, adopting the position of a hunting dog on point, and the digimon squadron moved in. But before they could get all the way in, there was a screech of noise.
Woody Smasher! A blast of wooden splinters nearly took the front boy's head off, but Dobermon tackled him and brought him below their fire. The escorting digimon caught a brief glimpse of a pocket of Woodmon hidden in the ruins of a building, before someone else saw them too. A salvo of 2.75 rockets thundered by the advancing digimon, blasting the rubble into sand as a hovering Apache attack helicopter lent its salvo weight to the mission. As soon as the dust cleared the Woodmon only saw noise and fury as the escorting Champion-level digimon burst in upon the confused and injured dark digimon. A moment later all that was left of them was deleted data.
The Apache began to fire on another target in another part of the city, as the Dobermon began looking for his next target.
Split up! Joe yelled, pointing. You! Monzaemon, give me a hand with this slab, I think there's somebody under here. That's right, get one hand...er...paw under that corner and help me lift. Lift! There we go, medic, medic! Joe was a one man rescue army, ordering around his assistants like a general. Dozens of injured but alive bodies emerged from the rubble under his supervision, and more than one experienced combat doctor found themselves running under the lash of his will.
Spread out! Tai ordered in his own part. You, Lieutenant. And you guys with the Mojyamon, take that route there, we'll try to circle around and cut any who are still here off from the source.
Keep an eye out. WarGreymon bellowed behind him. Izzy had managed his usual genius, and had rewritten Gennai's translation program to allow them to speak English fluently. For once they had managed to break through the translation barrier more or less intact. Those Bakemon would rather run than fight, but I though I saw a few MetalMamemon somewhere over here, and those guys are much better at fighting. If you get in trouble, send up a flare and we'll start running.
We'll cover the west side! Matt yelled, as MetalGarurumon roared off in the other direction.
Good luck! Mimi yelled as she flew overhead with Lilymon.
We're missing something. TK reported solemnly. And I think that whatever it is will be big. He looked at Izzy, Ken and Kari straight on.
I would have to concur. TK could sense that Izzy was bursting with questions, such as how they could be having this conversation if he was in New York and the other two in Paris. And why the last thing he remembered was falling asleep in a cramped chair in a broken down office building. Khartan would not just launch an assault like this with all his planning. He would not have spent all that time maneuvering if all he wanted to do was launch a brute force attack.
I think TK scared him too much. Ken seemed to be thinking about something else at the moment, but it was difficult to tell what.
Hmmm...did I miss something? Izzy asked.
Well, TK's display in the battle against Reaver was rather impressive. He scared the pants off of me, and he wasn't even throwing lightning bolts at me. I think he scared Khartan into hiding.
Why would he do that? Kari asked. Khartan must know that TK alone could be handled, and that he was blocked from his powers afterwards.
True, but he must have studied the digidestined some. And here's a fact for you. Whenever we discover a new form of digivolving, a new or different level, TK is always the last one to do it. It would seem logical then that TK would be the last one to reveal the powers of his crest, wouldn't it?
But then why didn't anyone else reach out to stop Khartan before? Izzy countered, caught up in the argument.
Simple...think about it. Hope is the most powerful crest of all. And even more than that, Hope is designed it seems, to fight the powers of darkness. Light is no slouch either, Kari lights up like a small nova. So it would make more sense for the others to use their digimon until they got used to their crest. Ken stood up, realized that he was floating in limbo, and sat back down again.
That doesn't give us much to go on. Izzy murmured.
But it suggests something. TK stared at the ceiling. It means that Khartan has finally managed to either deduce that we lack the powers of the crest, or it means that he finally thinks that he has the means to defeat us despite them.
How powerful are the crests? Izzy asked.
I think they're too powerful to be measured. TK replied slowly.
I agree. So it may mean that Khartan has a bigger weapon than any of us previously believed possible. Kari responded. And it's going to be your job to find out what that weapon is Izzy.
My job? Izzy sat up straight. Why me?
Because you're the only one who can. Kari replied. TK and I know something about the powers of the crests, and knowledge is something that has special properties. You know everything Izzy, literally. The fact that the crest glows for you means that you are omniscient.
But there are so many things I don't know. Izzy protested.
You just don't know that you know them. TK corrected with a gentle smile. All you have to do is find them. And then we have to find ourselves, all of us, before we can win.
Izzy asked, pleadingly.
Inside you. Ken answered.
You know what is coming for you Ken? Kari asked.
I do. Ken answered, and Izzy saw, as the vision began to blur, that Ken had turned paler than usual, but was still calm.
Then good luck. Wake up now, and find the truth! TK raised a hand and the scene vanished in a blur.
Where's Izzy? Tai asked as the digidestined gathered in a burnt out building. We need him.
No you don't. Ken replied. He's meditating, and can't be disturbed.
We need him fighting, not thinking. Davis shot back.
Not this time. Ken stared at the diminished cloud of darkness hiding the horde. He would not add that much to the battle, nothing compared to the effort that he is expending now.
Where is he? Yolei asked curiously.
Ken suddenly assumed a distant expression as if he was seeing something only he could see. I think he's about halfway between Companion's Gate and the Gate of Stars, although I can't really see clearly. Kari and TK are still somewhere in the Silver City, which means that I can't see anything.
Question's tabled. Tai shot out before anyone could question what Ken meant.
Matt thrust his hand out urgently.
So what do we do with all these digimon? Yolei asked, shaking her head as if to clear it. We really don't want to be chasing them all over the countryside, do we?
We send them away. Ken replied clearly. Yolei looked at him again and nearly gasped. He had changed, become sallow and gaunt, as if he had experienced a major shock in his life.
Davis asked.
The Dark Ocean. Ken whispered, and he gripped his D3 so hard his fingers turned white.
But the only way to open up a portal is to...oh Ken, please don't. Yolei's eyes were suddenly wide with concern. She grasped his arm, but it felt cold and clammy to the touch.
How do you want to do this Ken? Tai asked quietly. He understood the depth of Ken's intended sacrifice, and accepted it mutely. Courage was found in many places it seemed, and the bearer of Courage gave Ken a silent salute.
This evening, when the powers of darkness begin to wax, that is when the dark ocean will draw close, but I will still retain enough of the light to resist the darkness. At that point I can open a portal to the dark ocean big enough to drive all those digimon back into. The problem is that it will only last a short while. They still outnumber us, but we've got them running. If we can keep up the momentum for a few more hours, we'll have a chance.
What are you going to do? Matt asked softly.
I'm going to meditate some myself. It's the only way to prepare myself. If you don't mind, I'd like Davis and Yolei with me as well, they can help anchor me to the real world, and they are my best friends here. Davis and Yolei blushed simultaneously at the simple no-nonsense tone in Ken's voice. Tai, you have the hard job. You've got to use every resource we've got and drive those digimon back all day long. At the end day I want every digidestined you can find to join up with me and help me to open the gate. Can you do it?
Consider it done. Tai clutched Ken's shoulder with a firm hand.
Very well. I'll be waiting for you I guess. Ken moved off slowly, each step shaky, but radiating his determination and courage to the world.
Are you sure you can? TK asked quietly.
Yes, but I'm not sure how long it might take. We're a bit confused right now. Adam tugged on an ear thoughtfully. It's just that I thought you should know.
We'll run for the hills only as a last resort. TK replied, smiling.
Well, if things keep up like this, we might be able to give you a hand after all. Gennai grinned.
I guess I can live with that. Kari replied gently.
Izzy walked through a world that was braced with light, and saw, for the first time, things that passed his understanding just as easily as his knowledge of computers might have passed the understanding of, say...an ant. He understood immediately what TK and Kari had meant. He knew everything. The beings that whispered past him, beings of light in the middle of shadow whispered in his ear, bringing him news that he had never even imagined.
He could know anything. No! He could know everything! And why not? How many grains of rice are there in China? How many fish in the sea? How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
A being of brightness crossed beside him and whispered in his ear silently: We've gotten up to six million, seven hundred thirty one thousand, five hundred eleven before we gave up.
Izzy shuddered away from the implications of that.
Somewhere in this was the answer.
As if responding to his unspoken thoughts the room suddenly changed. Instead of a sea of light it changed into a library. The buiding was huge and ancient, the timbers that made up the structure, the walls and the beams that held up the massive ceiling looked older than the earth on which it must sit. Golden light came through huge glass windows placed high up on the walls, the light came down like a gentle waterfall, illuminating a central area filled with couches and soft chairs. And everywhere there were shelves of books, old wooden shelves, burnished with age, gleaming silently, waiting with untold promise.
Are you ready for the test? The voice from behind him was sharp, and cut like a knife. There was a blast of heat and, just as Izzy turned around, the world changed into a desert. The creature he was facing was a magnificent being out of legend, and fortunately, thanks to his knowledge of western mythology, Izzy knew exactly what legend it was from. He was facing the human headed, stern looking lion known as the Sphinx, and instinctively he knew that the riddle that was coming would be harder than the one in the story.
At the same time Izzy refused to hesitate. In some ways he thirsted for the challenge, and he knew that it might be one of the greatest moments in his life.
These are the rules. You must answer the question. You must explain the answer. You must understand the answer. You may ask me any question you choose. Are you ready for the question?
Izzy took in a deep breath and looked out at the vast desert. I am.
Then the question is this. What is the meaning of life?
Somehow I don't think the answer is forty-two. Izzy thought to himself.
The signal was going to have to be unique, they had all agreed. It would already be dark so there was no use in using semaphore or anything. But the signal would have to be heard by everyone. Even with the sudden modifications and connections that had made it possible to restore some of the military technology that they so desperately needed, the situation was growing vastly more complicated. There were now troops from Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Russia and even a small detachment from Poland sitting in the defense of Paris. More troops, small detachments from the Netherlands and Switzerland, larger units airlifted from Russia, Britain and Italy were already on their way. More German units were starting to move through the Rhine sector. There were so many different commands trying to talk to each other in the middle of Paris that nobody even knew where they were, let alone what was going on.
Fortunately Colonel MacLeod had managed to discover the perfect signal for use, something so unique that everybody in the city who could hear it would recognize it. And some of the arrivals from Britain had given him the opportunity to put it into place.
TK watched the view through live videocameras, positioned upon high-flying reconnaissance planes in the sky. The enemy had yet to attack planes flying high enough, and TK wondered absently if their experience with the US Air Force was making them cautious. Nevertheless he had no wish to engage in combat in the sky. Yet. But the images told the story very well.
It was night so they could not see, but the infrared cameras saw with great attention to detail. The horde showed up there as a massive blob out of a B movie, something that was alive, struggling against itself from the inside, a thousand thousand living components enmeshed in some sort of gelatinous shell. TK ignored the image. He was damned if he was going to scare from an image taken high above the earth. When they got close enough to see he was going to worry.
The blob meshed up against the farthest reaches of the city of Paris like the tide, sloshing around the buildings, unable to advance cleanly, and then beginning to split up. TK could watch outlying buildings slowly eaten away, sometimes destroyed purposefully, sometimes simply trampled underfoot. He watched the unified horde split into smaller and smaller tendrils, dissipating into the city. And then he turned to Kari who was standing next to him in the room in the middle of Versailles palace. He absently wondered as he turned how many kings and lords of ancient France had, from these very halls, launched operations that would leave thousands of men dead or wounded, and how many of them had done it for the best of reasons. At least he would be in similar company today, as the ghosts watched him quietly.
Well, it looks like they're doing what we thought. Catherine smiled grimly.
Excellent. We can go in with Leonidas One. Geneal Alexander sucked thoughtfully on the end of his pen. TK stared at the image a few moments longer, before he gathered the nerve to speak.
Miss Kamiya. Inform the troops. The InterDimensional Expeditionary Force will advance and engage the enemy. He spoke quietly, and suddenly his formal tone no longer seemed so ridiculous. It seemed proper, and it fit, and everybody in the room fell silent as his tone and words registered.
She bowed once, formally, and TK suddenly felt old and broken, and then she was gone out of the doorway to speak to a man standing outside, waiting for this moment.
There was a moment of whispered conversation, and then it ended and Kari entered the room and placed her hand around TK's in a reassuring gesture. There were a few moments of silence, and then a noise that no digimon had ever faced before began.
It was peculiar, TK had to admit that, even to the faces of the players, but they had just grinned and continued their music. But it was unique, and piped through a dozen loudspeakers at full volume it was enough to fill the city. All over he could picture hundreds and thousands of people looking up, that final moment of heart-stopping terror as the music began, and as the signal of death rang out. It was a strange noise for a Japanese team to fight under, but now it seemed fitting. The major in charge had explained, carefully, the tradition behind it, how many uncounted thousands had marched to their death under similar music, how many had fought under it. At the time TK had not understood, but now he did, and as the spirit of the musicians infused the world, as the honor that a hundred generations had fought for filled the air with the presence of the indomitable fighting spirit of mankind, his heart began to stir inside of him.
The screams, shouts and explosions began. As TK stepped to the window and watched, pride in those who were willing to fight, to lay their lives before those of others, filled him.
And the InterDimensional Expeditionary Force, together with an international army, marched into battle under the bright and bold sound of the bagpipers of the Royal Scots regiment, under the immortal swirl of Scotland the Brave.
When the pipes began their tune, Cody understood the message. His hand tightened about the object in his hand, and he took a split-second to view those others who were standing next to him, silently waiting. Children with wide open eyes, staring at him like he was their savior come to life. For a moment he closed his own eyes in recognition of the pain that was about to come, and then, when they opened again, they were clear.
Armadillomon digivolve to...Ankylomon!
Ankylomon digivolve to...Shakkuomon!
A hundred other digidestined hiding in the park with him suddenly let their digivices flare in salute, and a hundred other digimon rose out of the night, Champions beginning to charge their astounded enemy. Cody came over the embankment he had been hiding behind just in time to see a group of red eyed Monochromon before the attack was on them.
Kachina bombs! Razor sharp disks flew out and impaled a dozen different champion level digimon, who disintegrated under the hammering blows. Then Shakkuomon moved on, his Harmonious Spirit blasting unwary digimon who got to close. Within a few seconds they had completely annihilated the Monochromon patrol without a single casualty.
All right, let's get going! Cody shouted. We can cut them off if we try hard enough, and we can hit the main group from the flank!
He waved and a hundred digimon, followed by a hundred children and a battalion of German regulars charged the unseen enemy.
Sora heard the music begin to swirl through the night, the cutting sound of the pipes slicing through even the hoarse grunts of combat below. She waited for the sounds of combat to start all over the city before acting, just like she had been told to. It hurt in a way, staying out of the fight, especially one in which she was so desperately needed, just like this one. But she understood why she had to do it, and knew that it had to be done. Nevertheless it hurt to be taken out of the fight like this, and she could only respect the bravery of those fighting and dying in front of her.
She thought for a moment about the golden haired boy leading them, about what he had been once upon a time, about the crybaby that had once been Takeru Takaishi. She thought about the way he looked and acted like his brother, about his candid admission that when she was around he did not miss his mother so much, about the many other things he had been. And she thought about the confident man he had become at last, the boy who was leading them now. TK had certainly come a long way. So had Kari for that matter, and she was growing more mature every day. Both of them. That at least promised to be interesting to watch.
We've all changed. She smiled to herself. Privately she was a bit amazed that none of them ever seemed to realize how much, but it seemed that TK did at least. His eyes were already haunted just a little. But Sora was confident that Kari would straighten him out in the future.
Her crest began to glow. And then the pipers entered the second refrain, audible even above the crush of battle. In front she could see the wave as the flying digimon began to settle on the fighting like a flock of scavengers.
Biyomon...digivolve to...Birdramon!
Birdramon...digivolve to...Garudamon!
And Sora, riding Garudamon for all she was worth soared over the parapets of the modern office buildings to attack the flying digimon. All around her windows exploded outward, wooden barricades were knocked down all to reveal hiding places, and five hundred fresh flying digimon exploded into the teeth of the enemy. The flying digimon of the horde still outnumbered them heavily, but surprise was against them, and they were spread out. The attack drilled in behind a Wing Blade that wiped out an entire squadron of Vilemon, and then there were other attacks pressing them.
Out of the corner of an eye she could see a Unimon blast her way through two different Roachmon. In another quadrant she could watch Yuri and Anna drive a hole through a group of Flymon. She smiled as another shudder marked the destruction of another squadron of Vilemon, and then frowned as she watched the further elements of the enemy draw up in attack formation.
Raptor squadron, draw up on me. She spoke into her D3 after seeing who was nearby. "Crossbow squadron, you too. Longbow, punch a hole through those Roachmon above the flaming warehouse. Scimitar, see if you can draw off their heavies for us. Lion squadron, follow us in. All others, break and attack!
Someone spoke back.
Someone else shouted through the communications link as her formation of digidestined and digimon exploded like a firework, digimon arcing out in all directions, several of them saluting proudly as they shot by. Sora saluted back and then turned back to her D3.
TK, we've got them on the run.
All right. TK turned to General Alexander. That's as good as we're going to get. Launch the ground support strike.
Aye aye General Takaishi. Alexander snapped off a salute and almost laughed openly at the expression on TK's face. It had to be the most impressive one-day promotion in history, but Takeru Takaishi was now officially a general in the Queen's army. It had been done to make the bureaucracy easier, but that had not made it any easier on TK. Some obscure rule that Colonel MacLeod had possibly invented on the spot had given General Alexander the ability to recruit a new officer if the circumstances were grave enough. The promotion would not last after the crisis, but for the time being everyone acted as if Takeru Takaishi had been officially promoted to General, and had been given command of the operation personally.
Okay, and move the reserves up. They know when to commit themselves. TK ordered, and looked at Patamon on his shoulder. The small mammal nodded, and he left the room.
Daniel Ollivander of European Legion London charged around a corner on Deltamon, a hundred and fifty other digimon backing him up as he did so. They had annihilated almost a hundred Bakemon without even needing to strain themselves, but now they were running into the main force of the invasion. A group of what must have been fifty Tyrannomon surrounded by more floating Bakemon and bouncing Veggiemon lumbered their way out of the darkness to meet him, and he began to yell and try to form up his troops into a line, as the soldiers of the French Foreign Legion came up from behind.
Down and cover! A French lieutenant suddenly yelled, and Daniel ducked, placing his face against Delatmon's tough hide as the other digidestined did the same.
There was a roar that nearly split his eardrums, and twenty all-weather Tornado fighters configured for ground assault screamed over his head, jets laboring to keep them clear of the killing zone above their heads. Half of them were carrying canisters of bomblets, little explosives that scattered themselves all over the ground, exploding all over and maiming and destroying digimon all over the ground. The others were carrying Napalm.
Daniel could feel the wave of heat pass over his neck, and thought he could feel the hair on his head begin to singe. It felt like he had just jumped in a baker's oven. And it felt like forever before the heat began to recede, but, as the noise began to register in his ears again, he took a peek.
There was no sign of the enemy digimon. None whatsoever.
All right! He yelled, as Deltamon bucked and roared.
So, explain. Yolei demanded. Ken sighed for a moment while he looked for a slightly better way to explain this than the way he had been planning. After a few moments he grinned and begin to move things around in the dirt with his fingers.
All right, imagine the world as a pancake.
All right, pancakes! Davis exclaimed. ExVeemon and Silphymon were still out on the front lines, helping the others, but, as Ken had requested, Davis and Yolei were sitting here with him. Ken grinned.
Yes, so our universe is sort of a pancake. It's flat and it looks funny, right?
So you mean there are a bunch of other worlds also looking like pancakes. Yolei said thoughtfully, pulling at her lip with a finger. So we're on a stack of giant pancakes.
Yes and no. Ken replied. You see, this is all in many dimensional space, so its hard for us three dimensional beings to see it properly. In fact I can't see it, but I think I understand it. There are millions of worlds like pancakes, floating in a sea of maple syrup, in a million different stacks. Does that make any sense?
Davis looked hungry. Yolei's eyes began to cloud over. All right, go on.
Okay, I will. Each world is floating in a sea of syrup. Well, what the syrup actually is is the living entity we call the Digital World. Or the Digital Plane, or whatever. The problem is that the Digital World is not an accurate description, it's really a whole bunch of worlds meshed together, blended and mixed. It's really confusing, but everything in those in-between worlds is influenced or created by the thoughts of those people living in the pancakes. I don't understand it all, but that seems to be the way it works.
Okay, I can picture that. So we're all floating in the Digital Plane, and the only way to get to other worlds is through pieces of the Digital World!
Right, but the Digital World is divided into different worlds itself. But that's not important right now. What is important is the top of the stack.
What's on the top of the stack? Butter? Yolei asked.
Ken replied shortly.
Davis let his eyes widen.
Yes, and there's a connection, think of it as a pillar of light, that runs through each world, every world simultaneously, stretching from heaven all the way down to...the other place. Now it's spiritual, not physical, so there's no place where you can go to feel it, but every world, even the digital ones are connected with it. We call it the Heart of the World. There are a thousand thousand different gates into it, and whenever you need to and have the skill to you can enter a gate, and receive the power within. That's the important thing about the Heart of the World.
And that's where you're going. Whoa. How do you get there? Davis asked, impressed by Ken's explanation.
The road's inside of me. Ken leaned back and closed his eyes.
Well, I guess he's on his way. Davis rubbed his chin. He gave Ken a wink which Ken felt more then saw. Hey, Yolei! How about some pancakes?
Agghh...is all you ever think about food? Yolei slapped a hand to her forehead with mock drama. Can't you be serious for even a moment?
Ken listened for a moment to the voices of his friends, and then set his foot upon the path that lead only to himself.
Tai gulped down water passed to him by a shaking man with a heavily bandaged arm. He was dirty and worn, but he and WarGreymon had been helping push the enemy back for hours. Both of them were tired now, close to exhaustion, but they were fighting, buying time. They probably did not need to push the enemy this hard, but WarGreymon and Tai were a good team, and keeping them in the front lines was probably saving hundreds of lives that might otherwise be lost. Besides, the enemy would have to be really pushed to be forced back into the Dark Ocean.
Go get 'em kid. Someone he did not even know slapped him on the back as he took off again, back into the battle.
Ken paused at the crossroads and peered down both ways. In the darkness surrounding him the roads were barely visible, and both of questionable safety. One seemed to lead deeper in the forest that he was walking through, into the twisting bracken and brambles that surrounded the path. The other bubbled in the distance, as if the surface was nothing more than a patch of muddy water. Neither particularly appealed to him. He sat for a moment, at the crossroads, and thought. Then he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was no longer alone.
You can't walk forever, you know. The Kaizer reminded him nastily. Ken simply smiled up at the shade towering over him, and immediately the image fell to more human proportions.
I can walk long enough. Ken replied.
You can't walk far enough to escape me. The Kaizer had an edge in his voice that Ken would have sworn had never been in his own voice, but he was really in no position to judge. Wherever you run, when you're tired and exhausted, when you've reached the end of your rope, when you are panicked and sitting alone. That's when I'll find you and take you for my own.
I won't fall back into your ways. Ken responded calmly.
Yes you will Ken. I am the darkness inside of you. You cannot leave me behind so easily.
All of us are tortured by our demons. All of us have learned the meaning of doubt rather spectacularly. I am unimpressed by your claims.
As I am by yours. The Kaizer jumped down from above Ken to stand eye to eye with his alter-ego. Let's face it Ken. Why are you here? Because you need my strength, don't you? The strength of the darkness that you once allowed to run through you unchecked. That's what you need to defeat your enemies, isn't it? The power that I epitomize. That which I am and that which I become. You need me.
No I don't. Ken was unperturbed by the Kaizer's observations. All I know is that I need myself. That which I am. That which is me. I don't need you anymore.
There was a strange expression on the Kaizer's face. So you've come here to gloat? Entered the dark recesses of your own mind to prove to me that you're stronger.
Ken answered simply, as he recognized the truth. I came to see if I could do anything for you.
The Kaizer was so startled he almost fell down.
Because I bear the symbol of Kindness. It's what I am, remember? And I think that Kindness is stronger than evil of all stripes. More powerful than the hatred and anger that you represent. But I have to offer it to everyone. After all, and here Ken grinned, a task the Kaizer would have found impossible. who knows where a hero might be hiding? Kindness is for everyone. Especially your enemies. You must not give in to them, but you must not hate them. And when they are defeated, you must aid them, and draw them back into the Light. Kindness is mine, and I offer it to you.
The Kaizer looked on in blank astonishment, and then his image began to waver. For a moment he was a formless cloud of dark light, and then he solidified into a person.
Good-bye brother mine. Osamu Ichijouji, still looking like he had in Ken's mind the day he died, raised one hand in a gesture that Ken never could have mistaken. Be well...always. And then he was gone, back into the twisting regions of infinity.
Ken smiled and walked on down the suddenly visible path until he reached the door. He had already shed all his tears.