Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. This is a work by a fan, purely for the enjoyment of other fans. Digimon is a licensed product of Toei animation, Saban Corporation and Fox.
A/N: I warned you that there would be a lot of violence in this part of the saga. More of it is on the way.
Episode XLVII
A Marshalling of Hosts
Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less.
Robert E. Lee
What is to give light must endure the burning.
Eleanor Roosevelt
T minus Ninety hours
The Freedom Express came rumbling over Rome in the early hours of the morning, an endless cacophony of sound and noise and roaring fury. Some rushed outside, to look up in the sky as it passed overhead, an unstoppable expression of might. Children would later tell to their grandchildren how they had come outside and watched and seen that great expression of the indomitable will of humankind, of their great spirit, rumble overhead on their rendezvous with destiny. Most of them saw nothing, but many were lucky enough to see the unbroken chains of lights, stretching from horizon to horizon, a shining beacon in the night. And it brought hope in its wake.
The command squad was hushed. Generals Alexander, Hayes and Sergev as well as Colonels Galvanay and MacLeod sat in hushed consultation. On the other side were the IDEF officers; Tai, who had already been assigned an elite unit to lead into battle, much to his dismay; Matt as calm as ever; Izzy, promoted to intelligence officer; Sora, who had reluctantly accepted command of the airborne units; Joe, who was running the digimon support units; Davis and Ken, inseparable and valuable for their leadership skills; Willis and Catherine organizers of a dozen nations each; and of TK and Kari, the co-commanders of this particular invasion. They had forgone the usual task of riding their digimon. In fact, nobody was riding their digimon, there was not a single human out there with their flying digimon partners. Every digidestined was crammed into the huge body of airplanes that had been requisitioned from de Gaulle airport, from Heathrow and from Frankfurt and everywhere else that planes could be found.
Tai had never appreciated until this point, had never even thought about, the tremendous amount of munitions needed to make modern war. As General Alexander explained, there was a reason why armies did not travel to the battlefield in airplanes, why they rode on ships still. No plane in existence could have hauled the massive amount of supplies needed to let an army fight for even a single day. Every day a soldier who faced combat and the ten or so support troops behind them required food, medicine, clothing supplies as their own was torn beyond simple repair. Guns and tanks required parts to repair them, complicated electronics required complicated tools, vehicles required fuel and motor oil and a million other small necessities.
But the planners who had discovered this had not counted on having something bigger and more powerful than modern airplanes. The barges on which they had loaded two storehouses of NATO munitions and field supplies were being towed along at a speed approaching the speed of sound, towed jointly by MegaKabuterimon, Garudamon and ImperialDramon. Behind them smaller loads, but still greater than any pair of giant trucks could carry were being hauled by Silphymon, WarGreymon, MetalGarurumon, and Lilymon. Alongside them crates were hauled through the air in a cloud of pink and purple energies as Angewomon and MagnaAngemon exerted their considerable mental powers. Other digimon from the IDEF hauled their own share.
Airspaces opened up ahead of them. They were escorted by every fighter that could still take to the air, every plane that could still totter into the sky. Countries that might have objected to their passage previously were unwilling to challenge these ready soldiers as they joined the long route to battle. Nobody was willing to start another war, with the chaos of the day still hovering overhead. And all night, the convoy continued onward.
Where are we headed? Tai asked, shivering. He was tired and hungry and cold because the air conditioning was on full blast, but he did not dare turn it off, because it was all that was keeping him awake. That and three glasses of Coke that he had downed all at once. It might have all been empty calories, but he needed anything he could get.
From here we cross the Mediterranean, and let those planes that need to refuel do so at Cairo. It's a good stopping point. Then we cross the Middle East, with another stopover at our forward air bases in Saudi Arabia. General Hayes pointed at various points across the maps. From there we fly straight to India and see if we can refuel at New Delhi before cutting across southern China.
Will they let us through? General Alexander asked quietly.
They should. We just heard from Egypt. They'll even give us free fuel. Colonel MacLeod shrugged.
What about Libya? Hayes asked worriedly.
Not a problem. Sergev smiled. They might risk war with your country, but they will not do so with this much headed toward them. Nor will they risk simultaneous conflict with my country. They will let us pass.
The Middle East is quiet? Hayes asked disbelievingly.
We threatened to blow them all apart if they started interfering and they shut up pretty quickly. Besides, the Earth is under attack by foreign beings from another dimension. It kind of made them shut up out of pure shock. MacLeod grinned.
I never thought I would live to see that. Izzy replied.
Sheesh. They've been fighting for what, forever? Davis scratched his head. Ken slipped a little on his side. The black-haired digidestined had been drifting in and out of sleep all through the flight, and the way the other cabin lights were off only added to that effect. They had appropriated a first class segment of a 747-400 that was currently screaming its way southward, and were clustered around a set of maps, trying to stay awake.
So where are we headed in the end? TK asked.
We have three choices really. We either use Taiwan, Korea, or we use China's coastline next to Japan. The problem is that neither of those countries has decided to play ball with us yet, so we're a little stuck until they agree to help us. Alexander pointed out both spots on the map.
Will they help us? Matt asked.
They should. It's in their own self-interest. A hostile Japan can benefit neither party involved. I just hope that they're satisfied with a cessation in the hostilities in the area. The last thing we need is for this to kick off an invasion of Taiwan.
How many times are we going to go back and forth? Izzy asked after a moment.
Given our best window of opportunity, a lot. I think that we can fit in three more flights to our assembly point from Europe. The next flight will carry those soldiers who came late from Germany and Italy and Spain, as well as reinforcements for the French and British expeditions. The next flights will carry mostly supplies I think. The Russians are already setting up to stage anything they've got out of Vladisvostok and their bases in Kamchatka. They've ordered their Pacific Fleet to sea, so we'll get support there.
How did that happen so fast? Izzy asked General Sergev.
The Russian General coughed into one hand. We made things simpler. We didn't mention this to the government.
That's going to make your life interesting in the future. Hayes laughed.
Izzy asked suddenly.
A wild card. Chances are that North Korea will go with China on this one. South Korea will be a bit more difficult to call. They won't help us with anything if they feel that they can avoid conflict altogether. They really don't want to put their armed forces in danger.
And our governments are letting us get away with this? Willis shook his head.
They're still trying to put themselves back together. It hasn't been an easy few days for them either, and they're still shocked. The problem is that if we wait long enough for them to put themselves back together, our enemies will be dug in, big time. And, if what your psychic friends suspect is true, we're going to be up to our necks in bad guys by them. Hayes shook his head again and sighed a weary sigh.
Well, we're not getting anything done here, it's time to get some sleep anyway. We all need it. We'll reconvene later. Sergev checked his watch.
T minus Eighty-One Hours
You might want to wake up for this commander. Someone prodded TK a few times and he rose unsteadily, stretching as he climbed his way out of the depths of unconsciousness.
Wha' is it? He asked, taking a moment even in this state to thank Izzy and Gennai's instant translation program. General Alexander was hovering over him grinning.
You've got friends in high places chief. He handed a piece of paper to TK which felt like it was still hot from the plane's improvised fax machine. It had a single message:
China will cooperate. Expect fighter escort from Indian border to Coastal Regions. Full military support to follow. Assistance from Taiwan and Korea also expected to be confirmed directly. Message Ends.
Where'd we get this? TK blinked, now fully awake.
From an organization I had barely heard of called Helios Ascendant. Apparently, they've decided to come in on our side.
Thanks Adam. TK smiled. You came through for us in the end.
You know something about this? General Alexander asked, raising an eyebrow.
Let's just say that I know something about the organization, and they're definitely on our side. I just never imagined that they would have the pull to do something like this. TK stared at the piece of paper for a moment and grinned. So, what does this do to us?
We got another message from a General Liu Biao, who apparently had a run-in with your girlfriend on the Indian border back in the last crisis. Somehow he's been given command of the People's Liberation Army forces that are going to be assisting us.
That is good news. Do we know what they're sending out way? TK felt the strength entering his limbs again. He was about to get into another hopeless battle, but this time he would have a lot more help.
Only that Admiral Wu and the People's Liberation Army Navy has already put to sea. The PLAN doesn't really have a lot of heavy firepower, but at least they're solid. They're steaming as hard as they can toward Japan.
Any word on the rest of Trafalgar? TK asked.
Not yet, but have patience. It will come. Eventually.
T minus Eighty Hours and Forty Minutes
Admiral David Kelliam, United States Navy and current Commander, United States Seventh Fleet, slammed one hand down on the paper lying on the desk. What it claimed was preposterous, it was so impossible that it could hardly be believed. But at the same thing, so was everything else. For days now the crews of the ships of the 7th Fleet had stood, paralyzed, while their allies and brethren faced death and destruction on two continents. Unable to do anything, they had waited with baited breath, knowing that they were too far away to assist. When the seizure of Japan had happened they thanked their lucky stars that their last orders had sent them out of port, and out of the reaches of whatever political chaos was occurring on the mainland.
They had known that things were bad, and not what they seemed. Air patrols had reported instrument failure close to the Japanese coast, and what was even worse was that they had seen dark non-human and non-airplane shapes flying alongside fighter planes, patrolling the now shadowed Japanese coast. Several times American pilots had been forced to flee at the approach of giant flying monsters.
Now this telegram did not make a lot of sense anyway. It was not even an order, and Admiral Kelliam could rightfully protest sending his force into battle just on the suggestion of a fellow officer. But he truly had no superior officers at this moment and he knew it. Efforts to contact his commanding officers in Washington had left him with no response, and he wanted to do something to effect the world. If the army and the air force, or whatever was left of them, was going to pull some stupid, inane stunt like this, well, he might as well join in.
What do you think? Admiral Ben Haverson was his second, and he was looking decidedly dour as he surveyed the message, but even he had grim determination etched into his face.
I think it's about time we got to kick some ass around here. Kelliam threw down the message. Let's turn this bucket around.
Moments later there was a shiver. CVN-74, USS John C. Stennis, followed by CV-63, USS Kitty Hawk, was headed north. Around her ships shifted formation, and, led by the recently re-commissioned USS Missouri, followed suit.
T minus Seventy-Five Hours
After fifteen hours cooped up in planes, after fifteen hours of digimon constantly shifting through traffic patterns, they finally hit the ground running. Their numbers had swelled as soldiers and children from all nations joined up, sometimes swelling the ranks by hundreds at a time. And it all arrived with a bump. On the cold, hard tarmac near Pusan, in Korea, a steady stream of airplanes hit the ground. Five thousand digidestined and thousand of accompanying soldiers hit the ground in wave after wave.
C'mon, move it, will you! Yolei was yelling as Silphymon helped her direct the dozens of Champion level digimon and digidestined who were being employed to unload the train that had just rolled in. It was probably the oddest train convoy in history, passing through what was still technically a war zone. In fact in just one day they had laid tracks connecting China, North Korea and South Korea in one continuous chain of unbroken rail. Crate after crate of Chinese ammunition and arms came off of the trains, along with another division of Chinese soldiers to unload it. They in turn were trooping off with their division's gear towards waiting ships of the Republic of Korea's Navy, a Navy that had been preparing to fight China for fifty years.
Ken reflected with increasing optimism on the proceedings. Helios Ascendant had managed to put a miracle together in record time. In the face of annihilation at the hands of an army from another world, old differences had been set aside almost at once with some gentle prodding. New alliances had been formed. Pilots from the Israeli Air Force gingerly shook hands with their Egyptian adversaries. Indians and Pakistanis combined to move the troops faster and smoother.
Two banners fluttered above the grounds. One was the blue and white of the United Nations, whose nations were all represented here. The other was the silver and blue of the IDEF, who was planning to do the bulk of the fighting.
TK was sitting inside the auxiliary control room of the airfield, staring at a map of Japan. Around it the other generals were gathered. Despite his nominal command of the operation, TK was leaving the planning up to others, especially General Alexander who had turned out to have a gift for it. He and Kari and Tai and Davis mostly sat there and answered questions about the capabilities of their digimon, about what they could do to the enemy and what the enemy could do to them. Around them the battle plan was coming together.
It's still bothering you, isn't it? Kari asked Ken.
Ken nodded, standing and staring as if he was trying to look through a huge stack of crates. He had been slightly spaced out all day, and it was not simply the stress of the operation. He had been this way ever since opening the gate to the Dark Ocean.
You can't feel that it's that bad, do you? Kari asked. I mean, it's not like you've been consumed by darkness or anything, is it?
Ken shook his head. It's worse. A lot worse.
Tell me. Kari ordered, uncharacteristically decisive.
The last time, I think the Monarch of the Dark Ocean tried to blunt my advance, tried to keep me from going in there. This time he didn't. Ken looked nervous.
You think he was happy to get all those digimon? Kari suggested.
Nothing so easy. Ken replied negatively. He's up to something. He's planning something, and it's taken his interest away from his own realm. Even my penetrating the barrier did not seem to phase him. He's up to something big, whatever it is.
Could you get any hints? Kari asked, concerned.
All I know is that he wishes to combine the power of the Light with that of the Darkness. You may be the key to that. Whatever he's up to involves us, I'm sure of it. What else it involves, I don't know.
Just what we need. Kari murmured. Something else to worry about.
Sixty-Five Hours Until Operation Normandy
Something's coming through. Jim reported suddenly, holding the earpiece to his head. I think it's from the others.
Hiroaki Ishida looked up from the book he had been reading. They were hiding out in one of the Helios safehouses that Hideo Ishiguro was reasonably certain their enemies did not know anything about. It had been dull and grating, the constant tension of possibly being discovered warring with the possibility of living out the rest of their life in dull, constrictive boredom. They were crammed into the tiny quarters already, and snapping contests had ensured any number of times, but the families of the digidestined that had still been in Tokyo were safe.
Chikara Hida looked up from where had been re-reading Five Rings on the other side of the narrow living room. Are they all right?
People immediately began to gather around. Nobody had heard anything since the reports of massive battles being fought on two other continents except for occasional reports of continuing chaos. Now tense parents erupted in a storm around the radio set.
Jim shouted after a moment. All of our kids are safe!
There was a collective sigh of relief, and not a few adults broke out into tears at the news, shedding built-up tension in a storm. Jun let out an impromptu cheer, and then covered her mouth in embarrassment.
A lot of other kids lost their lives though. Jim's next announcement cast a pall over the sudden optimism. And a lot of good people with them.
What are they doing now? Ken's mother asked nervously, twisting at a scarf with both hands.
They need our help. Jim announced after a few moments.
To do what? Chikara asked, eyes narrow.
Invade Japan.
Sixty Hours Until Operation Normandy
It's really coming together this time. Willis nodded and checked another box off on his portable clipboard. I think I've actually figured out where everybody is.
Mimi asked, sounding annoyed. I've only found half of my people. Where are they hiding? They both were carrying clipboards around, listing the number of digidestined that they had already assigned to units.
I think the key is to ask your digimon. Terriermon and Lopmon play with anyone...and anything...that they find. So they know everybody. Digimon are good at finding other digimon.
That's a good idea. Mimi took the pen out of her mouth and began to look around for Lilymon, darting off when she caught sight of the familiar wings helping hoist a tank off of a flatbed train car.
So, how's it going? Cody had walked up silently from the other direction, carrying his sword across one shoulder.
Crazy, insane, you know the drill. Willis sighed. We're trying to put five thousand digidestined together into one unit. It's going to have a few bumps.
I suppose the army guys are having the same problem. Cody shrugged.
Yeah, but we all know that it's the digidestined who are going to be doing most of the fighting. I don't even know how many of them are going to end up dying on the shores of Japan. Wilis stared at the corner of his clipboard and tried not to think about the horrid carnage that had covered the ground in New York.
In the command bunker, things were not proceeding any more smoothly.
How many? Tai asked.
That's just a guess. TK shrugged uncomfortably. I really don't know for sure. But I think that we're talking about another hundred thousand enemy digimon waiting on the other side of any gate they manage to open. Which is damn bad news for us. Plus these are going to be combat veterans, not the losers that Khartan has been throwing at us so far. Worse, we'll probably run into the TITAN units on the island of Japan. I think we now know what they were being saved up for. And why they were being moved to Japan."
A hundred thousand. Add to that all those megas that Khartan has been saving up. Izzy shook his head. Well, that explains why we really didn't see all that many of them overseas. They were all waiting here for the right moment to strike.
Well, they're not getting away with it. Tai promised grimly.
They will unless we get moving. We need a way to tip the balance back into our favor. Matt pointed out.
And fast. Davis added. You know, we still have a trump card.
We do? Tai asked. One that we haven't used yet.
Well I have a trump card. Davis replied. TK, remember that crystal that Kari found in the ruins on Parsifal? It's an essence crystal right? Doesn't it have a lot of power? Couldn't we use that?
TK frowned. I had forgotten about that. But it's probably a one use only sort of thing. We'll hold it in reserve.
Davis nodded. Last ditch trick, right? I'll keep it close to hand.
There was a quiet click as the door opened, and then Kari stuck her head into the room. I found him TK.
You did? Good. TK smiled. I'm glad he made it.
Sora.
The man who stepped in was a middle aged balding man of generic Asian origins. Just by looking at him Izzy could distinguish nothing about him. The only thing unusual about him was the fact that he was wearing flowing black clothing that looked strangely out of place in the middle of this high-tech arsenal of mayhem.
Who are you? Tai asked.
The man made a long, formal bow in Tai's direction. I have long since foresworn my name, I am now known simply as the Ancient.
The Ancient. You mean as in the story Adam and Master Ishiguro told us. Matt's attention snapped around immediately.
I am. I am also young for this position. I will not see my hundredth birthday for another two years. Nevertheless, I am here to offer you my aid. The Ancient bowed again.
You came to help us? Sora asked.
I can help you little. I am the opener of the way. There is little else I can do. The old man bowed again, almost apologetically this time.
How long will it take? TK asked before anyone could ask what was going on.
A day. That is traditional. More than that I cannot say. The Ancient extended his serious gaze to both TK and Kari. More than that is up to you.
I guess you better talk to the Generals Tai. TK shook his head. We're not going to be around much tomorrow.
Is this important? Matt asked, already knowing the answer.
You have no idea. Kari answered steadily. No idea at all.
Forty-Nine Hours until Operation Normandy
I am known as the Ancient. The old man had seated himself on the corner of a desk, legs crossed beneath him. For the here and now I will serve as the opener of the way. Six of you have traveled this way before. Six of you have not. For all of you, this will be a journey of exploration. I do not know where it will lead you.
Where are we going? Davis asked. None of the digidestined had been told much about what was going on, and they were all confused.
You'll see when you get there. The ancient smiled. Now I want you to close your eyes and relax. The digidestined, twelve of them, reclined back on the comfortable beds that they had dragged up here.
Davis shrugged and closed his eyes. The others followed suit.
Davis opened his eyes and gasped. They were standing on a platform surrounded by a hazy white fog that was glowing so brightly that it almost hurt his eyes. Strangely enough there were doors in the fog, six of them, huge constructs of polished oak, with the grain outlined sharply enough that they could see every curve in it. Twelve digidestined and twelve digimon stood on the platform, staring at each other owlishly.
So what do we do? Tai asked after a moment.
I guess we each go in a door. In pairs apparently. TK shrugged after a moment.
What's on the other side? Mimi asked, her voice trembling just a little.
I don't know. Kari shrugged. It's different for everyone. But I suspect that we'll find out.
Well, I guess we'll split up. I'll go in this door. Tai opened a door but there was nothing but blackness inside. For a moment he stared at it and then walked in, only to be totally swallowed up in the darkness. Matt shrugged, trying to give the others the impression that this was something that he did every day, and followed with Agumon and Gabumon.
I guess this is my door. Ken walked in the nearest one with Wormmon on his shoulder, disappearing into similar blackness. Yolei and Hawkmon rushed afterward.
Here I go. Joe held his breath as if he was about to plunge underwater and charged into another door with Gomamon cheering him on from his shoulder. Mimi shook her head and resolutely followed with Palmon trailing behind.
Cody, Izzy, Armadillomon and Tentomon entered yet another door together.
Davis looked around and rushed through another open door with Veemon behind him. Sora looked around at the two other digidestined, winked at them cheerily, and then strode through with Biyomon.
See you on the other side? TK asked as he eyed the last door.
Probably not. Kari replied.
Let's go. Gatomon charged ahead. The others followed.
Cody stared around. He was standing in the middle of a forest. Actually, it was more of a jungle, a huge mass of trees stretching away as far as the eye could see, towering above him like massive sentinels, watching the stars. Armadillomon was nowhere around.
Hello? Is anybody out there? Cody clapped his hands around his mouth and called.
Lonely place, isn't it? Ken dropped down out of a nearby tree branch.
Cody exclaimed, jumping backward in shock.
I didn't know you would end up here, although I probably would have if I had thought about it. Ken looked around.
Where are we, and where's Armadillomon? Cody looked around again.
I don't know. And I couldn't tell you if I did know. Ken shrugged.
What do you mean? What are you hiding? Cody demanded.
I'm not really here. Ken reached out to touch Cody, and Cody almost shrieked as Ken's hand passed right through him. I've already passed the first test. I have my own trial, but first I have to serve as the guide.
What does that mean? Cody demanded.
I have to guide you through your own problems. Through your own difficulties, through this forest.
So how do we get out? Cody asked. I can't see any way out.
You're looking in the wrong place. I think I know why you're here. You're afraid of being alone. Or of being ignored. One of the two. It's mostly the same here anyway. Ken looked around at the trees that roped them in. I guess that I can understand why. You do seem to be the youngest digidestined, as well as being one of the least experienced. Of course, looks are deceiving, aren't they?
I just want to go home! Cody suddenly screamed to the uncaring trees. I'm eleven years old, but I just fought in the largest battle since World War II. And it wasn't fun. I watched people...people...people die... His voice trailed off in near hysteria. And ...nobody seems to listen...nobody seems to care...
But everybody does care, you understand that, don't you?
I guess so. But I don't understand why it has to be this way. Why I have to be alone here, and why we have to keep fighting and fighting and fighting. I'm tired of always trying to do what's right without anyone caring about me!
But everybody does care about you. You have to realize that.
I know. Deep inside I know. And I know that you're all there for me, it's just that life always seems to be so lonely. After all, I hardly have any friends my age, I hang out with you guys all the time. It just seems to be so endless, this fighting for justice and truth. I'm lost. I don't know where I'm going.
Ken smiled at that, smiled gently at the younger child. Well, how would your grandfather handle this?
Cody smiled at that too. He would tell me to start walking in the direction that I know is right.
And he's usually correct. Ken shrugged.
But how do I tell which way is right? Nobody's helping me. Cody complained.
What am I, chopped liver?
Cody apologized. But you know what I mean.
In more ways than one. This is part of growing up. Even your grandfather isn't infallible you know. As an adult you will have to make your own choices, decide which way is right for yourself. It's part of the task that everybody goes through. There is no clear guide for people like us. Nobody comes up to us and tells us what is right and what is wrong. That's just the way things are.
But I don't know how to make my own choices on this. Nobody tells me. Someone has to know...don't they?
Ken greeted that only with silence.
No, I guess they don't. Cody's voice was quiet, more contemplative. I guess we learn what's right and wrong by doing, and the more we pay attention to what we're doing, the more we learn. That's why my grandfather is so good at discovering what's right and wrong, because he paid attention during his life. And now I've gotten so used to his judgment, that I'm afraid of doing it by myself. After all, when I judged you I got it wrong. So I'm worried that there's a better way to fight this war, and I'm so worried that I can't take the right path.
Do you know which path to take? Ken asked.
No, but I can learn. And I think that this direction looks like a good place to start. Cody pointed forward.
Might as well. Ken shrugged and followed. The two of them disappeared into the darkness.
Is anybody out there? Davis shifted uncomfortably in the muck. His feet were touching something solid beneath him, but he was up to his waist in a deep bog, and completely clueless as to what he was supposed to do next. He could reach the nearest object, a slippery root, but he lacked the strength to pull himself along it. Everywhere around him the sight of dead and rotting trees dominated his vision, shrouded in mist and fog.
I guess you could say that. Tai's head appeared in Davis' vision, followed by Tai himself, standing on solid ground near the nearest tree.
Help me out of here! Davis reached out with his nearest hand.
Sorry. No can do. Tai waved his hand and it passed straight through Davis's without even leaving a trace. I'm just here to give moral advice.
Where am I? Davis looked around.
Well, from what I understand, you're standing in the middle of a swamp.
Davis asked sarcastically. I'm glad you noticed.
Actually, I think you're standing in a landscape that reflects your inner fears, or something that you need to conquer in order to succeed. Any idea how you got into this place?
I think I charged off into it. Davis admitted somewhat shamefaced.
I know that feeling. Which is probably why I was sent to help you. You went charging off again and manage to get yourself stuck. Which you probably think is fortunate, because you didn't manage to get your teammates stuck at the same time. Right?
Well, I guess I have been thinking like that lately. After all, I haven't been doing much leading, but we seem to get into less trouble. Davis attempted a shrug, a difficult maneuver while entrenched in the muck.
That's nonsense. You've been leading less because you haven't really been in a position to lead, right? First you were in the wrong country, and then you were under me, and I'm not giving up my job for anything, am I?
I guess not. Davis admitted. It's just that, well, I know that when I charge off into something I usually get all of us into trouble, and I was just trying to stay out of trouble. So I've been staying out of the way more and more. I guess it's just added up. I don't know if I'm a good leader, so I get more and more uncertain.
That's the way it usually works. Tai sighed. It's probably why we change leaders so much. Whenever someone knows what to do, they take charge. You have one of the most important qualities, you make decisions fast, but you're learning to make them more carefully. In the heat of battle, you need to know what to do, and you need to know it now. But sometimes you have to think a bit more.
Davis responded. And when I started to learn that, I guess I lost confidence in myself. It's hard to keep confident when you have to keep thinking about if what you're doing is wrong. Man, I'm just tired of that.
So, you're afraid that if you have too much confidence, you'll be a bad leader. But if you have too little confidence, you're also a bad leader. Sounds like you need to find a good balancing point.
Yeah. Like you. How do you do that? Davis asked plaintively.
By getting it wrong a lot. You have to start somewhere and get moving to do it. Then you have to keep from shooting yourself in the foot while you do it. Basically, it's trial and error. Tai shrugged. I did my own share of screwing up, and of being too afraid of danger to advance. I'm afraid it might be up to you to figure out where your balance point lies.
How do I do that?
Well, you might start by pulling yourself out of that muck.
That's what I've been trying to do. Davis complained.
No, what you've been doing is sitting around because you screwed up and were now too busy feeling worried and sorry for yourself to do anything. Tai snapped. Everyone does it, but everyone has to get there way out of it themself. The important thing isn't falling down. It's getting back up. And it's time you learned how to do it for yourself.
Davis took a deep breath and then reached up, barely managing to grab onto a branch, and began to pull himself up.
It took Kari a few moments to find Yolei, even though she knew the place well. She finally found the lavender haired girl curled up under the stairway in their Middle School, trying her best to stay out of sight. Through the hazy, almost radiant vision of her spiritual form, Yolei looked miserable. The girl was curled up in a fetal position with her arms wrapped around her knees, and the sound of soft tear permeated the air.
There you are. Kari announced finally, staring down at the girl.
Yolei's head jerked up. Shhh! Stay quiet, they'll hear you.....you're...glowing.
Am I? Kari asked, shaking her head. She snapped her fingers and was consciously aware of the light around her dimming, and something more like normal vision returning. I hate it when that happens.
Yolei stared at her for a moment.
I guess I should tell you what's going on. I'm here to guide you through your trials. I'm supposed to help you on your way. I'm not here so I can't physically help you, but I can certainly give you advice.
Yolei stared at her in incomprehension. Kari smiled just a little.
So what are you doing hiding behind the stairs? She asked.
Some sudden urgency returned to Yolei's face. Shhh!!! Quiet, they'll hear you.
Who's they? Kari asked curiously.
You know...them.
Oh, you mean everybody? What's wrong if they hear you?
I don't want them to find me. I want to fit in. I don't want to stand out. Yolei closed her eyes. I never fit in.
Not even with us? Kari asked.
Not even with you. Yolei confirmed.
Why not? Kari sat down next to the girl.
Because I'm loud, and I don't always pay attention, and I just don't want to fight when we need to and...and...everything!
But everyone else fits in? Kari persisted.
Yolei screamed.
But no matter how loud you get, you can never get as loud as Matt and Tai fighting. And there are days when Izzy doesn't even pay attention to whether or not he's wearing clothes. And Joe will walk an extra mile to avoid a fight. I don't think you can claim that anything there separates you from the rest of the group.
But that's just who they are! Yolei protested. But it's not the same with me...with me it's...
Who you are. Kari inserted into the brief gap in Yolei's conversation. We've gotten used to it. If you stopped, we would wonder what was wrong with you.
And at school, I'm always so loud... Yolei tried to switch tracks.
But at home, everyone is loud, so you fit in there. People really don't care about what you do half as much as you think they do.. Lots of people at school are loud, and you happen to be one of them. It's nothing bad. Besides, what's the big deal?
People won't like me if I'm loud. Yolei's voice was starting to change, starting to become more thoughtful.
But the kind of people who will hate you if you're loud don't strike me as the kind of people you want as friends anyway. And there are plenty of people who are willing to put up with you, even if you're loud. And who are willing to be your friends too. So you stand out just a bit. It's who you are.
It's who I am. Yolei repeated.
Do you know who you are? Kari asked.
Yolei smiled suddenly and stood up. I am me! She screamed.
And everything dissolved into whiteness.
I hope this doesn't mean that you're frightened of missing a sale or something. Matt remarked looking around. It appeared to him that he was in the middle of the largest mall on earth, a never-ending morass of stores and displays and bargains that continued on as far as the eye could see.
No, it's just that...well...I don't think I can get out. Mimi looked around.
Can't you just use the door? Matt asked.
Do you see one? Mimi retorted sharply.
Matt looked around for a moment, and then had to admit that he saw nothing that even looked remotely like a door. In fact, it just appeared that this department store that they were in continued on forever in a cascade of pastel colors.
I just can't get out. Mimi slammed a frustrated fist down on a nearby countertop, nearly breaking it.
Why not? Matt realized belatedly that he was probably not doing a good job of being an advisor, but he was pretty new to this stuff himself. It probably would have helped if someone had bothered to give him a manual on all of this, but it appeared that he was having to improvise. Well, improvisation was what he did best.
Because this is my life, and there's not much of a way out of it.
What do you mean?
Everything I've ever built in my life, everything I've built my life around has no meaning. I mean...look at this! Mimi grabbed a handful of designer blouses and held them up, shaking them in Matt's face. It's all just garbage when you come down to it, made by slave labor in some strange country. It has no value. And every time that something of value has come along, I've ignored it. I'm trapped in a garbage dump here, and there's no way out.
Don't believe it for a second. Matt responded promptly.
That brought up Mimi short, as if he had slapped her.
I said I don't believe it. Matt yawned. He carefully measured his indifference, realizing that it might be better than trying to remonstrate the emotional girl.
Why not? Mimi asked, curiously.
Because you spent half a year in the digital world when you were ten. Matt replied. I don't see a shred of evidence in this store of that. Let's face it Mimi, even though I'm dense sometimes, I can see that you changed during that time, and I don't believe that, if this is your life, there's nothing about that here. It must have made a big difference in your life, so why isn't it recorded here. Easy answer...this, Matt casually upended fifty thousand yen worth of dresses Isn't your life. You've done some good things. Some great things. And yet I don't see any evidence of that here. You've helped save the world how many times? And I'm supposed to believe that the only thing in your life is dresses and bargain sales. Give me a break.
But, then what is this? Mimi looked around, now truly lost.
It's what you're afraid your life is. It's just sort of a symbol of what your deepest fears are. You're afraid that all those times when you've ignored things of real value have made your life meaningless. In doing so you overlook all the good things you have done. Matt ran a hand across his eyes. I know that I'm not so good at this, but I think that you should realize that you've done a lot more in your life than go to bargain sales.
Mimi smiled crookedly. Maybe I have. I think I need to think a bit about that.
Matt shrugged. Sure thing.
One question though.
Mimi smiled mischievously and held up a skirt that had fallen on the floor. Do you think this matches my eyes?
Oh for the love of God Scotty, beam me out of here. Matt hid his face in his hands as Mimi's laughter rang out in the cavernous building.
Well, either you're a closet masochist, or you have what we would call issues. TK's voice intruded on Sora's frantic struggles with a calmness that only seemed to be at odds with the panic in her movements. She wrenched around in the chains that held her tight to the iron frame to look at TK, who was standing almost carelessly behind her, examining what appeared to be a coiled whip made partially out of barbed wire.
Get me out of here! She snapped at him.
TK shrugged and waved his hand absently so that it passed straight through a steel chain. Can't help you there.
What happened to you? Sora asked frantically.
I'm a spiritual manifestation. Think of me as your very own advice column, except without all the newsprint. I'm supposed to guide you out of this mess, although I'm really not sure how you got into it.
Where am I? For some reason the matter-of-fact way that TK was treating everything did more to calm her down than reassurance or empty platitudes.
You are currently in the representation of something that appears to be one of your greatest fears. You are figuratively swimming in the middle of an ocean of doubt. Other than that, I really can't tell you much. TK shrugged again. For some reason you created this place, and I can't tell you why. You have to say it.
But I don't know. Sora complained fearfully.
You do. You just don't understand. TK walked calmly over to her. Ingenious device this. From the look of it, and the heat rising from that shaft, there's a steady stream of liquid, hot liquid, rising, that will eventually roast you alive here. You've put quite a lot of effort into this, so it must be important.
But I don't know why. Sora replied again.
TK shrugged. Then let me guess. You're afraid that your indecision and general lack of strong abilities, coupled with the jealousy you create in both Tai and Matt have led to general pain and suffering. It's a misconception, but apparently you feel that you should be punished for it.
Something invisible tore at Sora's chest. But I did make Matt and Tai miserable and I didn't do any...I'm doing it again aren't I?
Doing what? TK asked.
Something like that. TK smiled. The temperature in the background began to rise slowly and steadily, but Sora ignored it for the moment.
I thought I had gotten over that.
We all wish that we had, but I guess that it's turned out that we never did. TK looked at the ceiling again. Anyway, I don't really know of anybody who is so confident that they can avoid their own doubts.
I guess that's true. Sora replied. She remembered the twisting doubt that had echoed in her stomach before she got her crest to glow, and then, with the ease of long years of practice, began to put it behind her. So how do I get out of here?
I would suggest breaking the chains. TK eyes the warming metal carefully.
How do I do that?
Overcoming your doubts. TK replied.
Young man, if you don't give me a better answer than that, I'm going to smack you when I get out of here. Sora threatened.
That's the point. When you get out of there. Not if. We all know you're going to do it. You know you're going to do it, so will you please just do it, because it's starting to get a little warm in here.
Sora rolled her eyes at his attitude, snapped a finger, and carried them both away.
Now this I don't recognize. Izzy peered around curiously. This was a rocky outcropping on the edge of a forest, peaceful in a gentle spring breeze. Sunshine came down from the sky in a torrent, illuminating everything in view, the soft leaves in the forest below them ruffled gently. Dappled in sunlight, flowers shone up at him in a dazzling array of colors that told him that he was looking at the Digital World.
Oh hi Izzy. Joe dropped down next to him, out of the branches of a nearby tree. I wondered if you would be coming along.
I think I'm supposed to be guiding you, but I think you may have already found your way. Izzy looked around. Although, if this is the darkest fear you have, I think you have it pretty good.
No. This is different. Joe looked around and sighed. Look down there.
Izzy peered down off the edge of the cliff. Just as he did that, twenty-four figures ran underneath, several of them practically dancing. Twelve humans and twelve digimon passed under them and vanished, laughing, back into the trunks of the trees. Izzy blinked, as the image of himself only younger disappeared along with them. What is this?
This is the best day of my life. Joe leaned back against the tree and looked up at the sky. It's right after we defeated MaloMyostismon, remember? We had a school holiday and we spent the whole day exploring the new Digital World. It was wonderful, wasn't it?
I remember. Izzy replied, remembering that Joe had been quiet through most of it.
It was the most wonderful feeling I'll ever have. Joe reached up and brushed a tear away from his eye with one hand. I knew then that everything was as good that day as it was going to get. Evil had been defeated. I had not a care in the world, and all the adventures of the future stretched out in front of me. For the first time, there seemed to be no boundaries. I could do whatever I wanted. I could hike up mountains just to see what was on the other side. I could drink from far-off streams just to see what they tasted like. Me and my friends, real friends who accepted me for who I was, could run off and have adventures for the rest of our life.
Joe turned away from the scene and stared at the grass at his feet. And then, suddenly, it was over. And we came back home. Back to school and chores and our responsibilities. I hated it sometimes, I hated our responsibilities most of all. All I wanted was to be bored. To have a day, a week, a year where I could go off and do anything I wished to.
Izzy did not say anything. He had the feeling that he should not ruin the moment.
I thought that would be something I would be able to do later, when I was more free. But that time never came. He sighed. Izzy, can you tell me the truth?
Izzy replied instantly.
Part of me knows that I could stay here forever on this magical day, with nothing happening. Part of me knows that I could leave here, put down my arms and wander the world, both worlds or many worlds, with Gomamon forever, dropping in on friends, exploring, and seeing things that nobody has ever seen before. The powers of Light owe me that much for the work I've done for them, don't they?
Izzy replied.
But if I go out there, through the door I can pass, it will never be the same. I will never have those opportunities, because the responsibilities will wear me down, won't they? If I choose to go onward, I won't even truly be human when this is all over, will I? I'll be condemned to helping save all worlds forever. Joe blinked, but it did not clear the water out of his eyes.
Izzy answered very softly. He paused for a moment. I'm sorry Joe.
Joe did not respond, almost as if he had not heard. Then he stood up. So am I. I guess what I wanted more than anything else in the world was a boring life, free of my responsibilities, but they drag down on me, more than ever. And now they cost me my freedom.
Slowly he began to walk away from the scene, a wry smile on his face. Good ol' reliable Joe, eh? It's what I do best. Now let's get going, shall we.
Where are we headed? Izzy asked.
Into the forest. Soon I'll find my door. Than you'll have to find yours. Do you think there'll be traps and mud pits? I hate mud.
The two of them disappeared from the golden fields of paradise, into the gloom of a certain and predestined future.
Joe staggered into the whitewashed room and sat down on the plush chair nearest to him before noticing the others. There were five other people here, Yolei, Cody, Davis, Sora and Mimi. There were also six digimon, including a now quiet Gomamon, who simply crept onto Joe's lap and closed his eyes like he was going to sleep.
So how did you do Joe? Sora asked quietly.
If that was a test, I think I passed. Joe sank back in the chair and let his hand drape over Gomamon. I just hope I never have to pass it again.
Davis gave him a tired smile.
Then another door opened and Matt walked in. His hair was wild, sticking out in every direction. His eyes were vacant. He collapsed into a heap.
Before anyone could move Tai entered through another door. He also had apparently had a tough time, and his hair was frazzled. A few wisps were actually smoking. He tripped over a chair and lay comatose for a few moments.
Let's never do that again. Matt groaned.
Another door opened into the middle of space an ejected Izzy forcefully into a lump on the ground. Tentomon staggered over to him and stared at him in concern until Izzy demonstrated that he could move, albeit in a constrained manner.
I will never enjoy another test again. I promise. Izzy swore, before collapsing.
What happened? Yolei yelled as Ken staggered through yet another door.
Never ask that. Ken's eyes appeared to be about ready to roll up into his head. Never ask that, and pray that you never have to find out.
So what do we do now?
Get our breath back, and walk out. Ken pointed at the door at the end of the room, a door that appeared even as he pointed at it.
What about TK and Kari?
If they were coming, they would be here by now. Ken shrugged. Let's get going here.
TK sighed and stared at Gennai again, who was ignoring the two of them and watching the sun very carefully.
Is that the only way? Kari asked.
It's the best we could come up with on short notice. Gennai shrugged.
It should give us a chance. TK replied.
Well, are you two lovebirds recovered from your test? Gennai turned his gaze back down to them.
No we aren't. But we're as ready as we're ever going to be. Kari gave him a scathing look.
That will have to do. Gennai replied. Let's go get you back.
T minus Twenty-Four Hours
Wake up lazy. Gatomon flicked her tail across Kari's nose several times before her human partner finally managed to stir from the depths of sleep. You've got to wake up if you want any part in the fun.
Wha' fun? Kari sounded groggy as he managed to pry herself from the bed.
It's the day before the big one. Tai's face loomed suddenly in her vision. The day before it all goes to hell. Are you ready?
Funny question. Do I have a choice? Kari smiled and sat up, and then realized that the room was far from empty. All twelve of the Odaiba digidestined were there, as well as representatives from the other main teams. Willis winked at her, Catherine shrugged, other digidestined gave her nods of greeting. So what is everybody doing here?
We're putting the last points together for the master plan. TK sat up in the bed next to her, shaking his golden hair out. There's been a slight modification.
What is it? Willis asked, checking a timetable with a concerned look on his face. We don't have much slack built into the schedule.
We couldn't do this before, because we didn't have the strength, but with the other ten digidestined aiding us, and with our connections clearer, we finally do. We're going to raise the Kamikaze to aide us. TK smiled grimly.
Weren't those suicide missions? Michael's eyebrows rose.
Not exactly. Izzy turned toward the American. It's from Japanese history, relating to how unusually strong storms wrecked the only two attempts to invade old Imperial Japan from the sea. The suicide bombers from World War II were named after them, after the 'Divine Wind'.
So what's going to happen? Davis turned toward the two on the beds. Are we going to whip up a monster storm? Because that will probably wreck our little invasion as well.
Not really. What we're going to do is try and raise a monster storm that will hide us from the enemy. Really it's just going to be a lot of wind and fog, but the important thing is that, if we do it right, we'll be able to saturate the city without getting ourselves wet. At least not that much. TK smiled. I just hope that this will work.
A storm doesn't seem that important. Willis pointed out, going over the list of enemy assets that their intelligence network in Japan pegged them as having.
They key is not what happens to Tokyo during the storm. TK smiled grimly. We're going to be fixing your timetables for you. We'll create a fog bank off the coast of Korea. You sail into it, and when it blows away, you'll be outside Tokyo.
Michael shouted.
We're going to teleport the entire invasion fleet to right outside Tokyo harbor. The storm is just to keep them from guessing what we're up to. You won't even notice it when it happens, but we'll drop you right on our front door. TK gave them all a savage smile. And then, we'll drop everything we've got on Khartan.
T minus Eighteen Hours
What are they doing? General Hayes asked, staring at the group of twelve children and twelve digimon standing in a circle around the pinnacle of rock where the land met the sea. Light waves broke across the rock, occasionally showering them in water droplets, but they never moved.
You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Willis shook his head. How's the weather shaping up?
You wouldn't believe that if I told you. Trust me, I don't believe it myself. Hayes looked at the frustrated heavens, now shining with the rays of the sun.
Let me guess. There's a storm building up that's starting to pound the Japanese coastline, but the seas are still as calm as a glass mirror.
How the hell did you know that? Hayes demanded. There's a hell of a pressure system building up, but all it seems to be doing is pounding the hell out of the Japanese coast and interior, and leaving a lot of fog behind. Our meteorologists are so confused that they're practically shiting their pants.
Let's just say that we're getting a little divine aid. Willis stared at the circle of unmoving figures.
It's hard to surprise me anymore. Hayes turned back to Willis. How's the logistics side holding up?
Do you know how many plane trips are required to carry an American Mechanized Infantry Division? Willis demanded.
One-thousand three hundred flights. General Hayes responded almost immediately. That gives us ninety days of supplies added on.
Do you know how many flights we've had to do it in? Willis asked acidly.
Five hundred, was it?
Yes. Even with cramming five hundred soldiers and their personal gear inside each one of those Boeing 747s, it took thirty-plus flights to bring the men. The equipment took up the rest. We've ditched everything we thought was unnecessary, but still, we're still shipping stuff as fast as we can.
What about transport via digimon? Hayes asked.
It's helped, but I can't guarantee more than two weeks of combat ability once you get to Tokyo. We've got thousands of digimon working around the clock to do this, but we're still a little behind on the schedule.
What about Operation Trafalgar?
We're in position and ready to go. Willis reported. Eighteen hours on the clock.
T minus Four Hours
That still gives me the creeps. Admiral Kelliam watched the storm front from the deck of the USS John C. Stennis, the small waves not even shifting his position. I can't believe the seas are still so calm around here.
Believe it. I've seen stranger. General Alexander watched carefully as the last of the boats that they had commandeered floated past them. Are you ready?
As ready as we'll ever be. The Russians are ready too. Shall we move into final command mode?
Let's do it.
TK shrugged at Kari from where he was sitting at the head of Harrison's Whamon, watching the wisps of fog build. Several hundred marine digimon had been drafted for this duty, those large enough like Whamon were carrying huge masses of armored vehicles. Beside them drifted barges borrowed from Korean fishermen and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. The PLAN was out in full force today, and elements of the US 7th Fleet were following as fast as they could.
TK tightened his grasp on the metal of the M1A2 Abrams tank he was grasping and forced himself to breathe slower. Generals Alexander and Hayes were going to be responsible for the running of most of the operation. He was just around to give it some inspiring field command. Besides, everyone had agreed that his abilities were too essential to leave in the rear.
Beside him crouched other digidestined, hundreds of them among the tanks, conserving their strength, waiting for their moment to strike. Thousands of human beings crouched, prepared for battle. Some were definitely handling it better than others, and there was a fair share of seasickness among the volunteers in the first wave, but most of them seemed to be quiet, alone with their own dark thoughts. They rode into battle to the tunes of a hymn of introspective silence, like so many others had before them.
TK relaxed and smiled a little at the irony. In the modern age, an age of cynicism and bitterness, it had been assumed that there would never be an end to the conflict, never exist anything that might unify the races of man. Strange that another war seemed to have accomplished exactly that. Soldiers drafted from every country were part of this, troops flown in from Israel and Arab nations, Chinese and Taiwanese and Koreans, French and British and Germans, Japanese and Americans. Historical adversaries and unfriendly associates had come together to launch the greatest battle in history in the hopes of saving their future. Now they huddled, tense and waiting, as the future rushed toward them.
T minus Ten Minutes
The silence had become oppressive. The fog was so thick that you could cut it with a knife, but the rays of the sun were finally breaking through the storm ahead. They could even hear the sound of waves crashing against the artificial shores surrounding Tokyo bay. Everyone was staying quiet, as if the barest sound might give the invasion away.
In the distance he could hear some kid he did not know begin a heartfelt prayer. Beside him he could feel others join in, silently if not vocally.
Tai watched the timer on his watch slowly count down to eight in the morning, and silently wondered if he had known what was coming, if he still would have gone to summer camp all those years ago. His thoughts were echoed by those around him, in different forms and different images, but the content remained the same.
8:00
Time.
And Deliverance exploded overhead as, with a roar that needed no voice, the IDEF charged valiantly into battle.
The price of victory is hard fighting.
Reuben Jenkins, military analyst.
A/N: I warned you that there would be a lot of violence in this part of the saga. More of it is on the way.
A Marshalling of Hosts
Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less.
Robert E. Lee
What is to give light must endure the burning.
Eleanor Roosevelt
T minus Ninety hours
The command squad was hushed. Generals Alexander, Hayes and Sergev as well as Colonels Galvanay and MacLeod sat in hushed consultation. On the other side were the IDEF officers; Tai, who had already been assigned an elite unit to lead into battle, much to his dismay; Matt as calm as ever; Izzy, promoted to intelligence officer; Sora, who had reluctantly accepted command of the airborne units; Joe, who was running the digimon support units; Davis and Ken, inseparable and valuable for their leadership skills; Willis and Catherine organizers of a dozen nations each; and of TK and Kari, the co-commanders of this particular invasion. They had forgone the usual task of riding their digimon. In fact, nobody was riding their digimon, there was not a single human out there with their flying digimon partners. Every digidestined was crammed into the huge body of airplanes that had been requisitioned from de Gaulle airport, from Heathrow and from Frankfurt and everywhere else that planes could be found.
Tai had never appreciated until this point, had never even thought about, the tremendous amount of munitions needed to make modern war. As General Alexander explained, there was a reason why armies did not travel to the battlefield in airplanes, why they rode on ships still. No plane in existence could have hauled the massive amount of supplies needed to let an army fight for even a single day. Every day a soldier who faced combat and the ten or so support troops behind them required food, medicine, clothing supplies as their own was torn beyond simple repair. Guns and tanks required parts to repair them, complicated electronics required complicated tools, vehicles required fuel and motor oil and a million other small necessities.
But the planners who had discovered this had not counted on having something bigger and more powerful than modern airplanes. The barges on which they had loaded two storehouses of NATO munitions and field supplies were being towed along at a speed approaching the speed of sound, towed jointly by MegaKabuterimon, Garudamon and ImperialDramon. Behind them smaller loads, but still greater than any pair of giant trucks could carry were being hauled by Silphymon, WarGreymon, MetalGarurumon, and Lilymon. Alongside them crates were hauled through the air in a cloud of pink and purple energies as Angewomon and MagnaAngemon exerted their considerable mental powers. Other digimon from the IDEF hauled their own share.
Airspaces opened up ahead of them. They were escorted by every fighter that could still take to the air, every plane that could still totter into the sky. Countries that might have objected to their passage previously were unwilling to challenge these ready soldiers as they joined the long route to battle. Nobody was willing to start another war, with the chaos of the day still hovering overhead. And all night, the convoy continued onward.
Where are we headed? Tai asked, shivering. He was tired and hungry and cold because the air conditioning was on full blast, but he did not dare turn it off, because it was all that was keeping him awake. That and three glasses of Coke that he had downed all at once. It might have all been empty calories, but he needed anything he could get.
From here we cross the Mediterranean, and let those planes that need to refuel do so at Cairo. It's a good stopping point. Then we cross the Middle East, with another stopover at our forward air bases in Saudi Arabia. General Hayes pointed at various points across the maps. From there we fly straight to India and see if we can refuel at New Delhi before cutting across southern China.
Will they let us through? General Alexander asked quietly.
They should. We just heard from Egypt. They'll even give us free fuel. Colonel MacLeod shrugged.
What about Libya? Hayes asked worriedly.
Not a problem. Sergev smiled. They might risk war with your country, but they will not do so with this much headed toward them. Nor will they risk simultaneous conflict with my country. They will let us pass.
The Middle East is quiet? Hayes asked disbelievingly.
We threatened to blow them all apart if they started interfering and they shut up pretty quickly. Besides, the Earth is under attack by foreign beings from another dimension. It kind of made them shut up out of pure shock. MacLeod grinned.
I never thought I would live to see that. Izzy replied.
Sheesh. They've been fighting for what, forever? Davis scratched his head. Ken slipped a little on his side. The black-haired digidestined had been drifting in and out of sleep all through the flight, and the way the other cabin lights were off only added to that effect. They had appropriated a first class segment of a 747-400 that was currently screaming its way southward, and were clustered around a set of maps, trying to stay awake.
So where are we headed in the end? TK asked.
We have three choices really. We either use Taiwan, Korea, or we use China's coastline next to Japan. The problem is that neither of those countries has decided to play ball with us yet, so we're a little stuck until they agree to help us. Alexander pointed out both spots on the map.
Will they help us? Matt asked.
They should. It's in their own self-interest. A hostile Japan can benefit neither party involved. I just hope that they're satisfied with a cessation in the hostilities in the area. The last thing we need is for this to kick off an invasion of Taiwan.
How many times are we going to go back and forth? Izzy asked after a moment.
Given our best window of opportunity, a lot. I think that we can fit in three more flights to our assembly point from Europe. The next flight will carry those soldiers who came late from Germany and Italy and Spain, as well as reinforcements for the French and British expeditions. The next flights will carry mostly supplies I think. The Russians are already setting up to stage anything they've got out of Vladisvostok and their bases in Kamchatka. They've ordered their Pacific Fleet to sea, so we'll get support there.
How did that happen so fast? Izzy asked General Sergev.
The Russian General coughed into one hand. We made things simpler. We didn't mention this to the government.
That's going to make your life interesting in the future. Hayes laughed.
Izzy asked suddenly.
A wild card. Chances are that North Korea will go with China on this one. South Korea will be a bit more difficult to call. They won't help us with anything if they feel that they can avoid conflict altogether. They really don't want to put their armed forces in danger.
And our governments are letting us get away with this? Willis shook his head.
They're still trying to put themselves back together. It hasn't been an easy few days for them either, and they're still shocked. The problem is that if we wait long enough for them to put themselves back together, our enemies will be dug in, big time. And, if what your psychic friends suspect is true, we're going to be up to our necks in bad guys by them. Hayes shook his head again and sighed a weary sigh.
Well, we're not getting anything done here, it's time to get some sleep anyway. We all need it. We'll reconvene later. Sergev checked his watch.
Wha' is it? He asked, taking a moment even in this state to thank Izzy and Gennai's instant translation program. General Alexander was hovering over him grinning.
You've got friends in high places chief. He handed a piece of paper to TK which felt like it was still hot from the plane's improvised fax machine. It had a single message:
China will cooperate. Expect fighter escort from Indian border to Coastal Regions. Full military support to follow. Assistance from Taiwan and Korea also expected to be confirmed directly. Message Ends.
Where'd we get this? TK blinked, now fully awake.
From an organization I had barely heard of called Helios Ascendant. Apparently, they've decided to come in on our side.
Thanks Adam. TK smiled. You came through for us in the end.
You know something about this? General Alexander asked, raising an eyebrow.
Let's just say that I know something about the organization, and they're definitely on our side. I just never imagined that they would have the pull to do something like this. TK stared at the piece of paper for a moment and grinned. So, what does this do to us?
We got another message from a General Liu Biao, who apparently had a run-in with your girlfriend on the Indian border back in the last crisis. Somehow he's been given command of the People's Liberation Army forces that are going to be assisting us.
That is good news. Do we know what they're sending out way? TK felt the strength entering his limbs again. He was about to get into another hopeless battle, but this time he would have a lot more help.
Only that Admiral Wu and the People's Liberation Army Navy has already put to sea. The PLAN doesn't really have a lot of heavy firepower, but at least they're solid. They're steaming as hard as they can toward Japan.
Any word on the rest of Trafalgar? TK asked.
Not yet, but have patience. It will come. Eventually.
They had known that things were bad, and not what they seemed. Air patrols had reported instrument failure close to the Japanese coast, and what was even worse was that they had seen dark non-human and non-airplane shapes flying alongside fighter planes, patrolling the now shadowed Japanese coast. Several times American pilots had been forced to flee at the approach of giant flying monsters.
Now this telegram did not make a lot of sense anyway. It was not even an order, and Admiral Kelliam could rightfully protest sending his force into battle just on the suggestion of a fellow officer. But he truly had no superior officers at this moment and he knew it. Efforts to contact his commanding officers in Washington had left him with no response, and he wanted to do something to effect the world. If the army and the air force, or whatever was left of them, was going to pull some stupid, inane stunt like this, well, he might as well join in.
What do you think? Admiral Ben Haverson was his second, and he was looking decidedly dour as he surveyed the message, but even he had grim determination etched into his face.
I think it's about time we got to kick some ass around here. Kelliam threw down the message. Let's turn this bucket around.
Moments later there was a shiver. CVN-74, USS John C. Stennis, followed by CV-63, USS Kitty Hawk, was headed north. Around her ships shifted formation, and, led by the recently re-commissioned USS Missouri, followed suit.
C'mon, move it, will you! Yolei was yelling as Silphymon helped her direct the dozens of Champion level digimon and digidestined who were being employed to unload the train that had just rolled in. It was probably the oddest train convoy in history, passing through what was still technically a war zone. In fact in just one day they had laid tracks connecting China, North Korea and South Korea in one continuous chain of unbroken rail. Crate after crate of Chinese ammunition and arms came off of the trains, along with another division of Chinese soldiers to unload it. They in turn were trooping off with their division's gear towards waiting ships of the Republic of Korea's Navy, a Navy that had been preparing to fight China for fifty years.
Ken reflected with increasing optimism on the proceedings. Helios Ascendant had managed to put a miracle together in record time. In the face of annihilation at the hands of an army from another world, old differences had been set aside almost at once with some gentle prodding. New alliances had been formed. Pilots from the Israeli Air Force gingerly shook hands with their Egyptian adversaries. Indians and Pakistanis combined to move the troops faster and smoother.
Two banners fluttered above the grounds. One was the blue and white of the United Nations, whose nations were all represented here. The other was the silver and blue of the IDEF, who was planning to do the bulk of the fighting.
TK was sitting inside the auxiliary control room of the airfield, staring at a map of Japan. Around it the other generals were gathered. Despite his nominal command of the operation, TK was leaving the planning up to others, especially General Alexander who had turned out to have a gift for it. He and Kari and Tai and Davis mostly sat there and answered questions about the capabilities of their digimon, about what they could do to the enemy and what the enemy could do to them. Around them the battle plan was coming together.
It's still bothering you, isn't it? Kari asked Ken.
Ken nodded, standing and staring as if he was trying to look through a huge stack of crates. He had been slightly spaced out all day, and it was not simply the stress of the operation. He had been this way ever since opening the gate to the Dark Ocean.
You can't feel that it's that bad, do you? Kari asked. I mean, it's not like you've been consumed by darkness or anything, is it?
Ken shook his head. It's worse. A lot worse.
Tell me. Kari ordered, uncharacteristically decisive.
The last time, I think the Monarch of the Dark Ocean tried to blunt my advance, tried to keep me from going in there. This time he didn't. Ken looked nervous.
You think he was happy to get all those digimon? Kari suggested.
Nothing so easy. Ken replied negatively. He's up to something. He's planning something, and it's taken his interest away from his own realm. Even my penetrating the barrier did not seem to phase him. He's up to something big, whatever it is.
Could you get any hints? Kari asked, concerned.
All I know is that he wishes to combine the power of the Light with that of the Darkness. You may be the key to that. Whatever he's up to involves us, I'm sure of it. What else it involves, I don't know.
Just what we need. Kari murmured. Something else to worry about.
Hiroaki Ishida looked up from the book he had been reading. They were hiding out in one of the Helios safehouses that Hideo Ishiguro was reasonably certain their enemies did not know anything about. It had been dull and grating, the constant tension of possibly being discovered warring with the possibility of living out the rest of their life in dull, constrictive boredom. They were crammed into the tiny quarters already, and snapping contests had ensured any number of times, but the families of the digidestined that had still been in Tokyo were safe.
Chikara Hida looked up from where had been re-reading Five Rings on the other side of the narrow living room. Are they all right?
People immediately began to gather around. Nobody had heard anything since the reports of massive battles being fought on two other continents except for occasional reports of continuing chaos. Now tense parents erupted in a storm around the radio set.
Jim shouted after a moment. All of our kids are safe!
There was a collective sigh of relief, and not a few adults broke out into tears at the news, shedding built-up tension in a storm. Jun let out an impromptu cheer, and then covered her mouth in embarrassment.
A lot of other kids lost their lives though. Jim's next announcement cast a pall over the sudden optimism. And a lot of good people with them.
What are they doing now? Ken's mother asked nervously, twisting at a scarf with both hands.
They need our help. Jim announced after a few moments.
To do what? Chikara asked, eyes narrow.
Invade Japan.
Mimi asked, sounding annoyed. I've only found half of my people. Where are they hiding? They both were carrying clipboards around, listing the number of digidestined that they had already assigned to units.
I think the key is to ask your digimon. Terriermon and Lopmon play with anyone...and anything...that they find. So they know everybody. Digimon are good at finding other digimon.
That's a good idea. Mimi took the pen out of her mouth and began to look around for Lilymon, darting off when she caught sight of the familiar wings helping hoist a tank off of a flatbed train car.
So, how's it going? Cody had walked up silently from the other direction, carrying his sword across one shoulder.
Crazy, insane, you know the drill. Willis sighed. We're trying to put five thousand digidestined together into one unit. It's going to have a few bumps.
I suppose the army guys are having the same problem. Cody shrugged.
Yeah, but we all know that it's the digidestined who are going to be doing most of the fighting. I don't even know how many of them are going to end up dying on the shores of Japan. Wilis stared at the corner of his clipboard and tried not to think about the horrid carnage that had covered the ground in New York.
In the command bunker, things were not proceeding any more smoothly.
How many? Tai asked.
That's just a guess. TK shrugged uncomfortably. I really don't know for sure. But I think that we're talking about another hundred thousand enemy digimon waiting on the other side of any gate they manage to open. Which is damn bad news for us. Plus these are going to be combat veterans, not the losers that Khartan has been throwing at us so far. Worse, we'll probably run into the TITAN units on the island of Japan. I think we now know what they were being saved up for. And why they were being moved to Japan."
A hundred thousand. Add to that all those megas that Khartan has been saving up. Izzy shook his head. Well, that explains why we really didn't see all that many of them overseas. They were all waiting here for the right moment to strike.
Well, they're not getting away with it. Tai promised grimly.
They will unless we get moving. We need a way to tip the balance back into our favor. Matt pointed out.
And fast. Davis added. You know, we still have a trump card.
We do? Tai asked. One that we haven't used yet.
Well I have a trump card. Davis replied. TK, remember that crystal that Kari found in the ruins on Parsifal? It's an essence crystal right? Doesn't it have a lot of power? Couldn't we use that?
TK frowned. I had forgotten about that. But it's probably a one use only sort of thing. We'll hold it in reserve.
Davis nodded. Last ditch trick, right? I'll keep it close to hand.
There was a quiet click as the door opened, and then Kari stuck her head into the room. I found him TK.
You did? Good. TK smiled. I'm glad he made it.
Sora.
The man who stepped in was a middle aged balding man of generic Asian origins. Just by looking at him Izzy could distinguish nothing about him. The only thing unusual about him was the fact that he was wearing flowing black clothing that looked strangely out of place in the middle of this high-tech arsenal of mayhem.
Who are you? Tai asked.
The man made a long, formal bow in Tai's direction. I have long since foresworn my name, I am now known simply as the Ancient.
The Ancient. You mean as in the story Adam and Master Ishiguro told us. Matt's attention snapped around immediately.
I am. I am also young for this position. I will not see my hundredth birthday for another two years. Nevertheless, I am here to offer you my aid. The Ancient bowed again.
You came to help us? Sora asked.
I can help you little. I am the opener of the way. There is little else I can do. The old man bowed again, almost apologetically this time.
How long will it take? TK asked before anyone could ask what was going on.
A day. That is traditional. More than that I cannot say. The Ancient extended his serious gaze to both TK and Kari. More than that is up to you.
I guess you better talk to the Generals Tai. TK shook his head. We're not going to be around much tomorrow.
Is this important? Matt asked, already knowing the answer.
You have no idea. Kari answered steadily. No idea at all.
Forty-Nine Hours until Operation Normandy
I am known as the Ancient. The old man had seated himself on the corner of a desk, legs crossed beneath him. For the here and now I will serve as the opener of the way. Six of you have traveled this way before. Six of you have not. For all of you, this will be a journey of exploration. I do not know where it will lead you.
Where are we going? Davis asked. None of the digidestined had been told much about what was going on, and they were all confused.
You'll see when you get there. The ancient smiled. Now I want you to close your eyes and relax. The digidestined, twelve of them, reclined back on the comfortable beds that they had dragged up here.
Davis shrugged and closed his eyes. The others followed suit.
Davis opened his eyes and gasped. They were standing on a platform surrounded by a hazy white fog that was glowing so brightly that it almost hurt his eyes. Strangely enough there were doors in the fog, six of them, huge constructs of polished oak, with the grain outlined sharply enough that they could see every curve in it. Twelve digidestined and twelve digimon stood on the platform, staring at each other owlishly.
So what do we do? Tai asked after a moment.
I guess we each go in a door. In pairs apparently. TK shrugged after a moment.
What's on the other side? Mimi asked, her voice trembling just a little.
I don't know. Kari shrugged. It's different for everyone. But I suspect that we'll find out.
Well, I guess we'll split up. I'll go in this door. Tai opened a door but there was nothing but blackness inside. For a moment he stared at it and then walked in, only to be totally swallowed up in the darkness. Matt shrugged, trying to give the others the impression that this was something that he did every day, and followed with Agumon and Gabumon.
I guess this is my door. Ken walked in the nearest one with Wormmon on his shoulder, disappearing into similar blackness. Yolei and Hawkmon rushed afterward.
Here I go. Joe held his breath as if he was about to plunge underwater and charged into another door with Gomamon cheering him on from his shoulder. Mimi shook her head and resolutely followed with Palmon trailing behind.
Cody, Izzy, Armadillomon and Tentomon entered yet another door together.
Davis looked around and rushed through another open door with Veemon behind him. Sora looked around at the two other digidestined, winked at them cheerily, and then strode through with Biyomon.
See you on the other side? TK asked as he eyed the last door.
Probably not. Kari replied.
Let's go. Gatomon charged ahead. The others followed.
Cody stared around. He was standing in the middle of a forest. Actually, it was more of a jungle, a huge mass of trees stretching away as far as the eye could see, towering above him like massive sentinels, watching the stars. Armadillomon was nowhere around.
Hello? Is anybody out there? Cody clapped his hands around his mouth and called.
Lonely place, isn't it? Ken dropped down out of a nearby tree branch.
Cody exclaimed, jumping backward in shock.
I didn't know you would end up here, although I probably would have if I had thought about it. Ken looked around.
Where are we, and where's Armadillomon? Cody looked around again.
I don't know. And I couldn't tell you if I did know. Ken shrugged.
What do you mean? What are you hiding? Cody demanded.
I'm not really here. Ken reached out to touch Cody, and Cody almost shrieked as Ken's hand passed right through him. I've already passed the first test. I have my own trial, but first I have to serve as the guide.
What does that mean? Cody demanded.
I have to guide you through your own problems. Through your own difficulties, through this forest.
So how do we get out? Cody asked. I can't see any way out.
You're looking in the wrong place. I think I know why you're here. You're afraid of being alone. Or of being ignored. One of the two. It's mostly the same here anyway. Ken looked around at the trees that roped them in. I guess that I can understand why. You do seem to be the youngest digidestined, as well as being one of the least experienced. Of course, looks are deceiving, aren't they?
I just want to go home! Cody suddenly screamed to the uncaring trees. I'm eleven years old, but I just fought in the largest battle since World War II. And it wasn't fun. I watched people...people...people die... His voice trailed off in near hysteria. And ...nobody seems to listen...nobody seems to care...
But everybody does care, you understand that, don't you?
I guess so. But I don't understand why it has to be this way. Why I have to be alone here, and why we have to keep fighting and fighting and fighting. I'm tired of always trying to do what's right without anyone caring about me!
But everybody does care about you. You have to realize that.
I know. Deep inside I know. And I know that you're all there for me, it's just that life always seems to be so lonely. After all, I hardly have any friends my age, I hang out with you guys all the time. It just seems to be so endless, this fighting for justice and truth. I'm lost. I don't know where I'm going.
Ken smiled at that, smiled gently at the younger child. Well, how would your grandfather handle this?
Cody smiled at that too. He would tell me to start walking in the direction that I know is right.
And he's usually correct. Ken shrugged.
But how do I tell which way is right? Nobody's helping me. Cody complained.
What am I, chopped liver?
Cody apologized. But you know what I mean.
In more ways than one. This is part of growing up. Even your grandfather isn't infallible you know. As an adult you will have to make your own choices, decide which way is right for yourself. It's part of the task that everybody goes through. There is no clear guide for people like us. Nobody comes up to us and tells us what is right and what is wrong. That's just the way things are.
But I don't know how to make my own choices on this. Nobody tells me. Someone has to know...don't they?
Ken greeted that only with silence.
No, I guess they don't. Cody's voice was quiet, more contemplative. I guess we learn what's right and wrong by doing, and the more we pay attention to what we're doing, the more we learn. That's why my grandfather is so good at discovering what's right and wrong, because he paid attention during his life. And now I've gotten so used to his judgment, that I'm afraid of doing it by myself. After all, when I judged you I got it wrong. So I'm worried that there's a better way to fight this war, and I'm so worried that I can't take the right path.
Do you know which path to take? Ken asked.
No, but I can learn. And I think that this direction looks like a good place to start. Cody pointed forward.
Might as well. Ken shrugged and followed. The two of them disappeared into the darkness.
Is anybody out there? Davis shifted uncomfortably in the muck. His feet were touching something solid beneath him, but he was up to his waist in a deep bog, and completely clueless as to what he was supposed to do next. He could reach the nearest object, a slippery root, but he lacked the strength to pull himself along it. Everywhere around him the sight of dead and rotting trees dominated his vision, shrouded in mist and fog.
I guess you could say that. Tai's head appeared in Davis' vision, followed by Tai himself, standing on solid ground near the nearest tree.
Help me out of here! Davis reached out with his nearest hand.
Sorry. No can do. Tai waved his hand and it passed straight through Davis's without even leaving a trace. I'm just here to give moral advice.
Where am I? Davis looked around.
Well, from what I understand, you're standing in the middle of a swamp.
Davis asked sarcastically. I'm glad you noticed.
Actually, I think you're standing in a landscape that reflects your inner fears, or something that you need to conquer in order to succeed. Any idea how you got into this place?
I think I charged off into it. Davis admitted somewhat shamefaced.
I know that feeling. Which is probably why I was sent to help you. You went charging off again and manage to get yourself stuck. Which you probably think is fortunate, because you didn't manage to get your teammates stuck at the same time. Right?
Well, I guess I have been thinking like that lately. After all, I haven't been doing much leading, but we seem to get into less trouble. Davis attempted a shrug, a difficult maneuver while entrenched in the muck.
That's nonsense. You've been leading less because you haven't really been in a position to lead, right? First you were in the wrong country, and then you were under me, and I'm not giving up my job for anything, am I?
I guess not. Davis admitted. It's just that, well, I know that when I charge off into something I usually get all of us into trouble, and I was just trying to stay out of trouble. So I've been staying out of the way more and more. I guess it's just added up. I don't know if I'm a good leader, so I get more and more uncertain.
That's the way it usually works. Tai sighed. It's probably why we change leaders so much. Whenever someone knows what to do, they take charge. You have one of the most important qualities, you make decisions fast, but you're learning to make them more carefully. In the heat of battle, you need to know what to do, and you need to know it now. But sometimes you have to think a bit more.
Davis responded. And when I started to learn that, I guess I lost confidence in myself. It's hard to keep confident when you have to keep thinking about if what you're doing is wrong. Man, I'm just tired of that.
So, you're afraid that if you have too much confidence, you'll be a bad leader. But if you have too little confidence, you're also a bad leader. Sounds like you need to find a good balancing point.
Yeah. Like you. How do you do that? Davis asked plaintively.
By getting it wrong a lot. You have to start somewhere and get moving to do it. Then you have to keep from shooting yourself in the foot while you do it. Basically, it's trial and error. Tai shrugged. I did my own share of screwing up, and of being too afraid of danger to advance. I'm afraid it might be up to you to figure out where your balance point lies.
How do I do that?
Well, you might start by pulling yourself out of that muck.
That's what I've been trying to do. Davis complained.
No, what you've been doing is sitting around because you screwed up and were now too busy feeling worried and sorry for yourself to do anything. Tai snapped. Everyone does it, but everyone has to get there way out of it themself. The important thing isn't falling down. It's getting back up. And it's time you learned how to do it for yourself.
Davis took a deep breath and then reached up, barely managing to grab onto a branch, and began to pull himself up.
It took Kari a few moments to find Yolei, even though she knew the place well. She finally found the lavender haired girl curled up under the stairway in their Middle School, trying her best to stay out of sight. Through the hazy, almost radiant vision of her spiritual form, Yolei looked miserable. The girl was curled up in a fetal position with her arms wrapped around her knees, and the sound of soft tear permeated the air.
There you are. Kari announced finally, staring down at the girl.
Yolei's head jerked up. Shhh! Stay quiet, they'll hear you.....you're...glowing.
Am I? Kari asked, shaking her head. She snapped her fingers and was consciously aware of the light around her dimming, and something more like normal vision returning. I hate it when that happens.
Yolei stared at her for a moment.
I guess I should tell you what's going on. I'm here to guide you through your trials. I'm supposed to help you on your way. I'm not here so I can't physically help you, but I can certainly give you advice.
Yolei stared at her in incomprehension. Kari smiled just a little.
So what are you doing hiding behind the stairs? She asked.
Some sudden urgency returned to Yolei's face. Shhh!!! Quiet, they'll hear you.
Who's they? Kari asked curiously.
You know...them.
Oh, you mean everybody? What's wrong if they hear you?
I don't want them to find me. I want to fit in. I don't want to stand out. Yolei closed her eyes. I never fit in.
Not even with us? Kari asked.
Not even with you. Yolei confirmed.
Why not? Kari sat down next to the girl.
Because I'm loud, and I don't always pay attention, and I just don't want to fight when we need to and...and...everything!
But everyone else fits in? Kari persisted.
Yolei screamed.
But no matter how loud you get, you can never get as loud as Matt and Tai fighting. And there are days when Izzy doesn't even pay attention to whether or not he's wearing clothes. And Joe will walk an extra mile to avoid a fight. I don't think you can claim that anything there separates you from the rest of the group.
But that's just who they are! Yolei protested. But it's not the same with me...with me it's...
Who you are. Kari inserted into the brief gap in Yolei's conversation. We've gotten used to it. If you stopped, we would wonder what was wrong with you.
And at school, I'm always so loud... Yolei tried to switch tracks.
But at home, everyone is loud, so you fit in there. People really don't care about what you do half as much as you think they do.. Lots of people at school are loud, and you happen to be one of them. It's nothing bad. Besides, what's the big deal?
People won't like me if I'm loud. Yolei's voice was starting to change, starting to become more thoughtful.
But the kind of people who will hate you if you're loud don't strike me as the kind of people you want as friends anyway. And there are plenty of people who are willing to put up with you, even if you're loud. And who are willing to be your friends too. So you stand out just a bit. It's who you are.
It's who I am. Yolei repeated.
Do you know who you are? Kari asked.
Yolei smiled suddenly and stood up. I am me! She screamed.
And everything dissolved into whiteness.
I hope this doesn't mean that you're frightened of missing a sale or something. Matt remarked looking around. It appeared to him that he was in the middle of the largest mall on earth, a never-ending morass of stores and displays and bargains that continued on as far as the eye could see.
No, it's just that...well...I don't think I can get out. Mimi looked around.
Can't you just use the door? Matt asked.
Do you see one? Mimi retorted sharply.
Matt looked around for a moment, and then had to admit that he saw nothing that even looked remotely like a door. In fact, it just appeared that this department store that they were in continued on forever in a cascade of pastel colors.
I just can't get out. Mimi slammed a frustrated fist down on a nearby countertop, nearly breaking it.
Why not? Matt realized belatedly that he was probably not doing a good job of being an advisor, but he was pretty new to this stuff himself. It probably would have helped if someone had bothered to give him a manual on all of this, but it appeared that he was having to improvise. Well, improvisation was what he did best.
Because this is my life, and there's not much of a way out of it.
What do you mean?
Everything I've ever built in my life, everything I've built my life around has no meaning. I mean...look at this! Mimi grabbed a handful of designer blouses and held them up, shaking them in Matt's face. It's all just garbage when you come down to it, made by slave labor in some strange country. It has no value. And every time that something of value has come along, I've ignored it. I'm trapped in a garbage dump here, and there's no way out.
Don't believe it for a second. Matt responded promptly.
That brought up Mimi short, as if he had slapped her.
I said I don't believe it. Matt yawned. He carefully measured his indifference, realizing that it might be better than trying to remonstrate the emotional girl.
Why not? Mimi asked, curiously.
Because you spent half a year in the digital world when you were ten. Matt replied. I don't see a shred of evidence in this store of that. Let's face it Mimi, even though I'm dense sometimes, I can see that you changed during that time, and I don't believe that, if this is your life, there's nothing about that here. It must have made a big difference in your life, so why isn't it recorded here. Easy answer...this, Matt casually upended fifty thousand yen worth of dresses Isn't your life. You've done some good things. Some great things. And yet I don't see any evidence of that here. You've helped save the world how many times? And I'm supposed to believe that the only thing in your life is dresses and bargain sales. Give me a break.
But, then what is this? Mimi looked around, now truly lost.
It's what you're afraid your life is. It's just sort of a symbol of what your deepest fears are. You're afraid that all those times when you've ignored things of real value have made your life meaningless. In doing so you overlook all the good things you have done. Matt ran a hand across his eyes. I know that I'm not so good at this, but I think that you should realize that you've done a lot more in your life than go to bargain sales.
Mimi smiled crookedly. Maybe I have. I think I need to think a bit about that.
Matt shrugged. Sure thing.
One question though.
Mimi smiled mischievously and held up a skirt that had fallen on the floor. Do you think this matches my eyes?
Oh for the love of God Scotty, beam me out of here. Matt hid his face in his hands as Mimi's laughter rang out in the cavernous building.
Well, either you're a closet masochist, or you have what we would call issues. TK's voice intruded on Sora's frantic struggles with a calmness that only seemed to be at odds with the panic in her movements. She wrenched around in the chains that held her tight to the iron frame to look at TK, who was standing almost carelessly behind her, examining what appeared to be a coiled whip made partially out of barbed wire.
Get me out of here! She snapped at him.
TK shrugged and waved his hand absently so that it passed straight through a steel chain. Can't help you there.
What happened to you? Sora asked frantically.
I'm a spiritual manifestation. Think of me as your very own advice column, except without all the newsprint. I'm supposed to guide you out of this mess, although I'm really not sure how you got into it.
Where am I? For some reason the matter-of-fact way that TK was treating everything did more to calm her down than reassurance or empty platitudes.
You are currently in the representation of something that appears to be one of your greatest fears. You are figuratively swimming in the middle of an ocean of doubt. Other than that, I really can't tell you much. TK shrugged again. For some reason you created this place, and I can't tell you why. You have to say it.
But I don't know. Sora complained fearfully.
You do. You just don't understand. TK walked calmly over to her. Ingenious device this. From the look of it, and the heat rising from that shaft, there's a steady stream of liquid, hot liquid, rising, that will eventually roast you alive here. You've put quite a lot of effort into this, so it must be important.
But I don't know why. Sora replied again.
TK shrugged. Then let me guess. You're afraid that your indecision and general lack of strong abilities, coupled with the jealousy you create in both Tai and Matt have led to general pain and suffering. It's a misconception, but apparently you feel that you should be punished for it.
Something invisible tore at Sora's chest. But I did make Matt and Tai miserable and I didn't do any...I'm doing it again aren't I?
Doing what? TK asked.
Something like that. TK smiled. The temperature in the background began to rise slowly and steadily, but Sora ignored it for the moment.
I thought I had gotten over that.
We all wish that we had, but I guess that it's turned out that we never did. TK looked at the ceiling again. Anyway, I don't really know of anybody who is so confident that they can avoid their own doubts.
I guess that's true. Sora replied. She remembered the twisting doubt that had echoed in her stomach before she got her crest to glow, and then, with the ease of long years of practice, began to put it behind her. So how do I get out of here?
I would suggest breaking the chains. TK eyes the warming metal carefully.
How do I do that?
Overcoming your doubts. TK replied.
Young man, if you don't give me a better answer than that, I'm going to smack you when I get out of here. Sora threatened.
That's the point. When you get out of there. Not if. We all know you're going to do it. You know you're going to do it, so will you please just do it, because it's starting to get a little warm in here.
Sora rolled her eyes at his attitude, snapped a finger, and carried them both away.
Now this I don't recognize. Izzy peered around curiously. This was a rocky outcropping on the edge of a forest, peaceful in a gentle spring breeze. Sunshine came down from the sky in a torrent, illuminating everything in view, the soft leaves in the forest below them ruffled gently. Dappled in sunlight, flowers shone up at him in a dazzling array of colors that told him that he was looking at the Digital World.
Oh hi Izzy. Joe dropped down next to him, out of the branches of a nearby tree. I wondered if you would be coming along.
I think I'm supposed to be guiding you, but I think you may have already found your way. Izzy looked around. Although, if this is the darkest fear you have, I think you have it pretty good.
No. This is different. Joe looked around and sighed. Look down there.
Izzy peered down off the edge of the cliff. Just as he did that, twenty-four figures ran underneath, several of them practically dancing. Twelve humans and twelve digimon passed under them and vanished, laughing, back into the trunks of the trees. Izzy blinked, as the image of himself only younger disappeared along with them. What is this?
This is the best day of my life. Joe leaned back against the tree and looked up at the sky. It's right after we defeated MaloMyostismon, remember? We had a school holiday and we spent the whole day exploring the new Digital World. It was wonderful, wasn't it?
I remember. Izzy replied, remembering that Joe had been quiet through most of it.
It was the most wonderful feeling I'll ever have. Joe reached up and brushed a tear away from his eye with one hand. I knew then that everything was as good that day as it was going to get. Evil had been defeated. I had not a care in the world, and all the adventures of the future stretched out in front of me. For the first time, there seemed to be no boundaries. I could do whatever I wanted. I could hike up mountains just to see what was on the other side. I could drink from far-off streams just to see what they tasted like. Me and my friends, real friends who accepted me for who I was, could run off and have adventures for the rest of our life.
Joe turned away from the scene and stared at the grass at his feet. And then, suddenly, it was over. And we came back home. Back to school and chores and our responsibilities. I hated it sometimes, I hated our responsibilities most of all. All I wanted was to be bored. To have a day, a week, a year where I could go off and do anything I wished to.
Izzy did not say anything. He had the feeling that he should not ruin the moment.
I thought that would be something I would be able to do later, when I was more free. But that time never came. He sighed. Izzy, can you tell me the truth?
Izzy replied instantly.
Part of me knows that I could stay here forever on this magical day, with nothing happening. Part of me knows that I could leave here, put down my arms and wander the world, both worlds or many worlds, with Gomamon forever, dropping in on friends, exploring, and seeing things that nobody has ever seen before. The powers of Light owe me that much for the work I've done for them, don't they?
Izzy replied.
But if I go out there, through the door I can pass, it will never be the same. I will never have those opportunities, because the responsibilities will wear me down, won't they? If I choose to go onward, I won't even truly be human when this is all over, will I? I'll be condemned to helping save all worlds forever. Joe blinked, but it did not clear the water out of his eyes.
Izzy answered very softly. He paused for a moment. I'm sorry Joe.
Joe did not respond, almost as if he had not heard. Then he stood up. So am I. I guess what I wanted more than anything else in the world was a boring life, free of my responsibilities, but they drag down on me, more than ever. And now they cost me my freedom.
Slowly he began to walk away from the scene, a wry smile on his face. Good ol' reliable Joe, eh? It's what I do best. Now let's get going, shall we.
Where are we headed? Izzy asked.
Into the forest. Soon I'll find my door. Than you'll have to find yours. Do you think there'll be traps and mud pits? I hate mud.
The two of them disappeared from the golden fields of paradise, into the gloom of a certain and predestined future.
Joe staggered into the whitewashed room and sat down on the plush chair nearest to him before noticing the others. There were five other people here, Yolei, Cody, Davis, Sora and Mimi. There were also six digimon, including a now quiet Gomamon, who simply crept onto Joe's lap and closed his eyes like he was going to sleep.
So how did you do Joe? Sora asked quietly.
If that was a test, I think I passed. Joe sank back in the chair and let his hand drape over Gomamon. I just hope I never have to pass it again.
Davis gave him a tired smile.
Then another door opened and Matt walked in. His hair was wild, sticking out in every direction. His eyes were vacant. He collapsed into a heap.
Before anyone could move Tai entered through another door. He also had apparently had a tough time, and his hair was frazzled. A few wisps were actually smoking. He tripped over a chair and lay comatose for a few moments.
Let's never do that again. Matt groaned.
Another door opened into the middle of space an ejected Izzy forcefully into a lump on the ground. Tentomon staggered over to him and stared at him in concern until Izzy demonstrated that he could move, albeit in a constrained manner.
I will never enjoy another test again. I promise. Izzy swore, before collapsing.
What happened? Yolei yelled as Ken staggered through yet another door.
Never ask that. Ken's eyes appeared to be about ready to roll up into his head. Never ask that, and pray that you never have to find out.
So what do we do now?
Get our breath back, and walk out. Ken pointed at the door at the end of the room, a door that appeared even as he pointed at it.
What about TK and Kari?
If they were coming, they would be here by now. Ken shrugged. Let's get going here.
TK sighed and stared at Gennai again, who was ignoring the two of them and watching the sun very carefully.
Is that the only way? Kari asked.
It's the best we could come up with on short notice. Gennai shrugged.
It should give us a chance. TK replied.
Well, are you two lovebirds recovered from your test? Gennai turned his gaze back down to them.
No we aren't. But we're as ready as we're ever going to be. Kari gave him a scathing look.
That will have to do. Gennai replied. Let's go get you back.
Wha' fun? Kari sounded groggy as he managed to pry herself from the bed.
It's the day before the big one. Tai's face loomed suddenly in her vision. The day before it all goes to hell. Are you ready?
Funny question. Do I have a choice? Kari smiled and sat up, and then realized that the room was far from empty. All twelve of the Odaiba digidestined were there, as well as representatives from the other main teams. Willis winked at her, Catherine shrugged, other digidestined gave her nods of greeting. So what is everybody doing here?
We're putting the last points together for the master plan. TK sat up in the bed next to her, shaking his golden hair out. There's been a slight modification.
What is it? Willis asked, checking a timetable with a concerned look on his face. We don't have much slack built into the schedule.
We couldn't do this before, because we didn't have the strength, but with the other ten digidestined aiding us, and with our connections clearer, we finally do. We're going to raise the Kamikaze to aide us. TK smiled grimly.
Weren't those suicide missions? Michael's eyebrows rose.
Not exactly. Izzy turned toward the American. It's from Japanese history, relating to how unusually strong storms wrecked the only two attempts to invade old Imperial Japan from the sea. The suicide bombers from World War II were named after them, after the 'Divine Wind'.
So what's going to happen? Davis turned toward the two on the beds. Are we going to whip up a monster storm? Because that will probably wreck our little invasion as well.
Not really. What we're going to do is try and raise a monster storm that will hide us from the enemy. Really it's just going to be a lot of wind and fog, but the important thing is that, if we do it right, we'll be able to saturate the city without getting ourselves wet. At least not that much. TK smiled. I just hope that this will work.
A storm doesn't seem that important. Willis pointed out, going over the list of enemy assets that their intelligence network in Japan pegged them as having.
They key is not what happens to Tokyo during the storm. TK smiled grimly. We're going to be fixing your timetables for you. We'll create a fog bank off the coast of Korea. You sail into it, and when it blows away, you'll be outside Tokyo.
Michael shouted.
We're going to teleport the entire invasion fleet to right outside Tokyo harbor. The storm is just to keep them from guessing what we're up to. You won't even notice it when it happens, but we'll drop you right on our front door. TK gave them all a savage smile. And then, we'll drop everything we've got on Khartan.
You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Willis shook his head. How's the weather shaping up?
You wouldn't believe that if I told you. Trust me, I don't believe it myself. Hayes looked at the frustrated heavens, now shining with the rays of the sun.
Let me guess. There's a storm building up that's starting to pound the Japanese coastline, but the seas are still as calm as a glass mirror.
How the hell did you know that? Hayes demanded. There's a hell of a pressure system building up, but all it seems to be doing is pounding the hell out of the Japanese coast and interior, and leaving a lot of fog behind. Our meteorologists are so confused that they're practically shiting their pants.
Let's just say that we're getting a little divine aid. Willis stared at the circle of unmoving figures.
It's hard to surprise me anymore. Hayes turned back to Willis. How's the logistics side holding up?
Do you know how many plane trips are required to carry an American Mechanized Infantry Division? Willis demanded.
One-thousand three hundred flights. General Hayes responded almost immediately. That gives us ninety days of supplies added on.
Do you know how many flights we've had to do it in? Willis asked acidly.
Five hundred, was it?
Yes. Even with cramming five hundred soldiers and their personal gear inside each one of those Boeing 747s, it took thirty-plus flights to bring the men. The equipment took up the rest. We've ditched everything we thought was unnecessary, but still, we're still shipping stuff as fast as we can.
What about transport via digimon? Hayes asked.
It's helped, but I can't guarantee more than two weeks of combat ability once you get to Tokyo. We've got thousands of digimon working around the clock to do this, but we're still a little behind on the schedule.
What about Operation Trafalgar?
We're in position and ready to go. Willis reported. Eighteen hours on the clock.
Believe it. I've seen stranger. General Alexander watched carefully as the last of the boats that they had commandeered floated past them. Are you ready?
As ready as we'll ever be. The Russians are ready too. Shall we move into final command mode?
Let's do it.
TK shrugged at Kari from where he was sitting at the head of Harrison's Whamon, watching the wisps of fog build. Several hundred marine digimon had been drafted for this duty, those large enough like Whamon were carrying huge masses of armored vehicles. Beside them drifted barges borrowed from Korean fishermen and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy. The PLAN was out in full force today, and elements of the US 7th Fleet were following as fast as they could.
TK tightened his grasp on the metal of the M1A2 Abrams tank he was grasping and forced himself to breathe slower. Generals Alexander and Hayes were going to be responsible for the running of most of the operation. He was just around to give it some inspiring field command. Besides, everyone had agreed that his abilities were too essential to leave in the rear.
Beside him crouched other digidestined, hundreds of them among the tanks, conserving their strength, waiting for their moment to strike. Thousands of human beings crouched, prepared for battle. Some were definitely handling it better than others, and there was a fair share of seasickness among the volunteers in the first wave, but most of them seemed to be quiet, alone with their own dark thoughts. They rode into battle to the tunes of a hymn of introspective silence, like so many others had before them.
TK relaxed and smiled a little at the irony. In the modern age, an age of cynicism and bitterness, it had been assumed that there would never be an end to the conflict, never exist anything that might unify the races of man. Strange that another war seemed to have accomplished exactly that. Soldiers drafted from every country were part of this, troops flown in from Israel and Arab nations, Chinese and Taiwanese and Koreans, French and British and Germans, Japanese and Americans. Historical adversaries and unfriendly associates had come together to launch the greatest battle in history in the hopes of saving their future. Now they huddled, tense and waiting, as the future rushed toward them.
In the distance he could hear some kid he did not know begin a heartfelt prayer. Beside him he could feel others join in, silently if not vocally.
Tai watched the timer on his watch slowly count down to eight in the morning, and silently wondered if he had known what was coming, if he still would have gone to summer camp all those years ago. His thoughts were echoed by those around him, in different forms and different images, but the content remained the same.
8:00
Time.
And Deliverance exploded overhead as, with a roar that needed no voice, the IDEF charged valiantly into battle.
Reuben Jenkins, military analyst.