Chapter 18: Seven Nation Army
It was easily the darkest day in digidestined history. Tears flew freely and anger raged against the walls of the shelter. Izzy and Tai had been the ones to deliver the news of Matt's death. Everybody's emotions ran out into the open air of the high school gym, leaking over to other refugees. They were in a shelter in Tokyo, made for survivors of the Odaiba attack. There was little noise other than crying from inside. TK and Gabumon took it the hardest, as would be expected. TK lost all sense of his surroundings and Gabumon devolved until he could no longer comprehend anything as a baby, but he wasn't able to stay in that form for very long—his age simply wouldn't permit it. Chris tried his best to pull the digidestined together, but it was useless.
"So what do we do now?" Kristen looked gloomily around. Only Izzy seemed to be paying any attention, but even it was half-hearted.
"I don't know. You saw what he was able to do." Izzy referred to me. "Nobody, not even the most evil of digimon has ever done such a thing." Izzy stared at the gym floor, speaking shakily.
"Maybe he'll just be like Kouichi! Maybe he'll just turn up in a hospital and be okay!" Joey came up with various ideas. "Remember? Lucemon killed him but he was okay in the hospital!"
"Joey, Kouichi was always in the hospital. It's complicated, but there is no way that Matt could be there." Izzy balled up his fists, hating himself for what he was saying. "We... just have to accept that Matt is dead and... move on." Izzy shook with anger. They spoke no more, restoring the silence, broken only by sudden sobs from the people in the room.
An old man wearing thick glasses, a black suit, and a tie, walked into the large room carrying a black, leather briefcase. Another man followed him, dressed almost identically. One might mistake the second man to be a mere carbon copy of the first, however, he carried no briefcase. Behind these two, was a woman, only half composed. She walked slowly behind the two men in shock, not looking around and the hundreds of varying faces from around the world. The two Japanese men sat down at their desk and guided the woman to a third chair, given up by a neighboring ambassador from Australia. Kofi Annan stood up and looked at the two Japanese ambassadors.
"I am sorry to break usual procedure, but I feel that recent events call for the introduction of personal feelings." Murmurs made their way about. The Secretary-General spoke louder. "What is the situation in Odaiba, Japan, ambassador?"
"Sir," The ambassador cleared his throat and opened his briefcase. He pulled out a few papers and moved it out of the way so it wouldn't obscure his sight, "As of May 12, 2004, we have met forces previously unknown to mankind." The ambassador spoke in his strongest voice into the microphone. "We as a species have strove to discover intelligent life in the far reaches of the universe, hoping to make peace and begin a new age of brilliance. However, it seems that this 'intelligent life' has found us first, and does not wish for peace." Looks were exchanged around the room, particularly between American and British ambassadors, already thinking of how to prepare their response, understanding completely what the situation was. The Japanese ambassador cleared his throat again. "These species have laid siege to the city of Odaiba, Japan. In their attack, they have killed ninety-five percent of the population of the city, which was caught completely unawares." More murmurs and glances. "Not only this, but according to witnesses, the style of attack brought on by these creatures allowed them break down their victims to the atomic level and absorb the remnants."
"How... many witnesses are there?" Annan shakily spoke to the ambassador.
"A small handful of civilian refugees have been relocated to shelters in Tokyo. Armed police maintained a defense against the forces at their headquarters long enough for an airlift to be brought in and evacuate some of them; however those not taken in the first airlift are now presumed dead. Contact with the station has since been lost and reconnaissance informs us that it has been overrun. All refugees are currently being held in a high school in Tokyo. Most of these survivors were too shaken in order to speak, but we were able to locate one who was willing to come. Permission to allow her to speak?"
"Granted. Speak into the microphone ma'am and please state your name." The woman told the General Assembly her name and forced herself to calm down.
"Ma'am, could you please explain what happened in Odaiba?"
"Well, I was working downtown at my office. I had just stepped out for lunch when I could hear screams coming from the east side of town." The woman took a deep breath. "A few moments later, hundreds of green... things came running down the streets, killing and 'absorbing' every living thing they came too. Over them flew what looked like ghosts. I turned around to run, but behind us, another group of monsters appeared, along with a bunch of kids. The creatures changed and got bigger and began to fight the green things and ghosts. I thought I heard them call each other something, but I'm not sure. The monsters with the kids killed the other monsters the way the other monsters had killed the people." The woman began to talk faster and in circles, trying to explain to the official looking people what had happened.
"Ma'am, calm down." The woman did as Annan said, took a few deep breaths, and drank from a glass of water that all the ambassadors, speakers, and guests had. "What else happened? Can you remember what they called each other?"
"I don't remember what they called each other, but I remember what the kids called each other. I remember hearing names like 'Chris' and 'Tai'." Annon looked at the Japanese ambassador to ask him, but he was already ahead of him. The ambassador gave orders to find any survivors with the names in question.
"Were there any others?"
"Yes, but I don't remember them." The woman looked down in disappointment.
"Where were you while this was happening?"
"I was inside a store on the corner behind where they fought. I looked outside from behind the blinds. I wanted to know whether I was safe."
"Were you?" The woman gulped and began to continue her story.
"Eventually the kids split up as well as the monsters with them to fight in more than one place. After a while, the monsters stopped attacking the kids I was near, the ones who had started fighting initially. Instead, a very tall man, he may have been a monster, and a teenager stood talking with the kids for a moment. The tall man walked off down the street and the teenager attacked. He defeated the monsters with the kids and began to attack them. One young man came up and fought the teen so that the others could escape. They ran inside a building a few stories tall and flew off the roof."
"Flew?"
"One of the monsters with them could fly, he was just large enough to carry most of the kids. After a while, the flying monster came back to get the kids still fighting the teenager, but..." The woman took a deep breath. "...the teenager killed the young man who had come to save the kids before the flying monster could pick him up. The remaining kids flew off while the teenager absorbed the young man. After that, the green things and ghosts just went everywhere. There were thousands.
"How did you escape?" Annon asked his final question.
"I got on the roof and was able to flag down a helicopter that was flying from the police headquarters. It got low enough for me to get in and flew off. The police in the helicopter shot down the ghosts that followed us with their pistols. It didn't kill the ghosts, but deterred them long enough for us to get away."
"Thank you ma'am, you may be excused." The second Japanese ambassador led her out of the room. When she was gone, Annon spoke again.
"We have heard the situation and must make a decision. I suggest that we send troops to stop this threat before it claims anymore lives. According to the witness you just heard, as well as from statistical data that the Japanese ambassador has been kind enough to share, we know that our weapons are effective against these... creatures. Are there any nations willing to volunteer to this cause?"
"The United States ambassador to the United Nations General Assembly volunteers the American armed forces for this task." Before the Secretary-General could thank the ambassador, others stood up.
"As does Great Britain."
"China is ready to help our Asian neighbors in need."
"Germany will help fight this cause to ensure the peace and safety of the world."
"Russia will muster whatever force it can to combat this newfound evil."
"Canada will bring what it can to fight in any way it can."
"France will be more than willing to stop this evil before it can do more harm." The ambassadors from the seven nations stood tall and Annon looked around before speaking.
"Thank you ambassadors, however I believe that we should find and make contact with the children that the witness has identified before making any sudden moves. When they are found, the Security Council will meet and make our plans for attack." The Secretary-General began to open his mouth again but the British ambassador cut him off, sending another round of murmurs into full swing.
"Sir, from the accounts heard today, I do not believe that our current time frame will allow any waiting. We must move now in order to ensure that Tokyo does not fall to the same fate as Odaiba." The other six nations nodded. "I highly suggest that this coalition moves into position and attacks now. The advice of children will be of little use in a war operation of this magnitude." Annon breathed heavily, worn from the events of the day.
"So be it. The Security Council is to meet now and make plans for the attack. Adjourned."
I sat in the middle of the large room, computers circled around me. Myotismon and a dozen or so Bakemon floated around the computers watching. I had my eyes closed with my hand on the monitor of one computer. After a few moments Myotismon began to become impatient.
"Well? Is there anything?"
"Shhh... wait a moment. There are a lot of security features to break through." A few moments passed and I opened my eyes. "They are planning to attack."
"How big will it be?" Myotismon panicked slightly. He had brought more than enough forces to annihilate the digidestined, but he wasn't prepared quite yet for all out war.
"It is a coalition of seven nations." Myotismon began to breathe slightly faster. Only I noticed. I had begun to pay very close attention to Myotismon's movements. "Chinese, German, Russian, and French forces will attack from the west, coming from the mainland; American, British, and Canadian forces from the sea to the east." I waited another moment and opened my eyes a little wider. "It's a... pretty big force... already en route."
"How big? Tell me! How much time do we have!?" Myotismon slammed his fist on the monitor of one computer, accidentally sending a wave of energy through it and shocking me.
"Hold on! And don't hit the computers!" I took a deep breath. "Get me a data projector or something." A couple of Bakemon flew off and brought one in and aimed it at the wall. I hooked it up to the computer I was using and turned it on. I displayed satellite photos on the wall. "As you can see the land force from the west will be slightly larger than ours, however the force from the east may not even send land troops unless the western forces call for them."
"Why?" I focused a little and brought up a picture of the fleet, speeding through the Pacific.
"Because they will be busily launching missiles, bombs, artillery; the whole works at us from the waters. If they do land, it won't be until late in the attack."
"What do we do?" Myotismon stared at the photo of the fleet without blinking.
"Send our entire force to combat troops from the west. I can take care of the fleet." Myotismon looked at me like I had lost my mind.
"Excuse me?" I took a deep breath and brought up a video.
"As you can see the current leader of the United States is a little trigger happy when it comes to cruise missiles." A picture of a missile slamming into a palace in Baghdad appeared. "All of these are what you call "Smart Weapons", weapons controlled by computers and satellites in order for pinpoint accuracy. They could hit a hair dead center from a thousand miles away. However, that is the flaw that I plan to use against them. Those ships will never come close to Japan." Myotismon realized what I was talking about and laughed uneasily.
"Do you believe that we can take the western force?"
"Absolutely. Lure them into Odaiba and ambush them, simple as that. Keep the Bakemon ready for air-to-air engagements and unleash unholy hell."
"What about your 'friends'?" Myotismon taunted me.
"They won't come."
"What makes you so sure?"
"There have been transmissions between Tokyo and New York asking for them, by name. They won't be in Japan when it all goes down. And besides, even if they were, I think they are still in shock from the last battle." I laughed and stood up. "That's it; we have forty-eight hours. Get the forces out of sight now so that we won't have to worry about aircraft from the enemy bombarding the buildings we fortify." Myotismon smiled sinisterly and motioned to the Bakemon. They left the building and went to the captains of the Ogremon, leaving me in the tall office building; my headquarters. Myotismon was becoming more and more reliant on me, something I would have to remember to exploit later on...
"Taichi Kamiya!" The soldier called out Tai's name. "Chris Rennebaum!" He looked up from a piece of paper and looked around, seeing the kids and their digimon. "You, which one of you goes by Tai!?" The soldier shouted at the still mourning digidestined, inconsiderate of what how they felt. Chris got up and stretched for a moment, just waking up from catching a few much needed Z's..
"He's Tai and I'm Chris. What do you need them for?" Chris stood between the soldier and the others.
"You are all coming with me." The solider looked over the digimon, who were crying just as hard as their partners. The soldier shifted about uneasily. "It is a matter of urgent international security."
"International security? What do you mean?"
"You have been summoned to speak with the United Nations Security Council in New York." The soldier began to ease up. "I am sorry for any losses you may have had in Odaiba, but you must understand the importance of your coming with me. Please gather your things and follow me." Chris enlisted Jennifer, Cody, and Agumon; the four went around helping everybody get their things and they left the shelter, to a convoy of SUV's sitting outside the high school.
"We're going back to New York?" Mimi spoke through a sniffle. "What about Izzy and Kristen?"
"We're right here." Kristen walked slowly with Izzy leaning on her, a complete emotional mess. Kristen simply looked at the concrete sidewalk with her eyes half open. "We have some bad news."
"What?" Mimi turned to Kristen as she walked, half-carrying Izzy. "What's wrong with him!? Izzy? Are you okay?"
"Careful, he's nauseous. There aren't any survivors." Kristen spoke quickly and looked away, suppressing her own emotions for the sake of everybody else, now piling into the SUVs.
"What do you mean 'no survivors'?" Mimi whispered to Kristen and she whispered back.
"I mean that everybody who made it out of Odaiba alive is inside that high school. So if their parents aren't in there then..." Mimi gasped and shook a little.
"Oh no. Are you sure?" Mimi watched Kristen nod slowly. "How... how do we tell them? Is that why Izzy is...?" Mimi didn't have to finish the sentence, Kristen nodded. The soldier at the door of a third SUV called to them.
"We need to go, now!" The soldier shouted and stood straight up; more emotionless than the first soldier had been. Mimi and Kristen ran to the SUV and got inside. The soldier closed the door and got in the front passenger seat, another soldier at the wheel. They pulled off towards the airport.
Twenty-Four Hours Later
"That is all we know." Normally, they would have been laughed at, but since the digimon were in the real world, the Security Council was willing to believe anything. Each digidestined had been interrogated by the council individually, forced to give their entire story. Finally, the entire group had been asked various questions about the digital world, digimon, and Myotismon. News of my 'treason', as the Security Council had called it, also leaked out. Chris sat front and center of the long table, with the digidestined lined up in seats. Their digimon partners stood in the center of the room as if they were on display.
"Thank you, you are excused." The head of the Security Council spoke to the digidestined while he shuffled through some papers. The digidestined began to file slowly out of the room, except for Kristen.
"Is that all sir?" The man looked up at her and looked back down.
"Yes, that is all." He paid her little attention.
"Wait a minute!" She sat back down and leaned into the microphone and shouted, hurting the ears of everybody in the room. Now with the man's attention she continued. "What do you plan to do? We need to get back to Japan!"
"Young lady, calm down. I am sorry, but you can not go back to Japan. We admire your valiant efforts to stop this on your own, but this business is out of your league." Every digidestined forgot about their last fight, Matt, what they were up against, and turned towards the man. Kristen spoke everybody's thoughts.
"Sir, I don't think you know what kind of business this is."
"Now listen here..."
"No you listen!" Kristen jumped up out of the chair and shouted. "I may not have fought against something like this yet but they have!" Kristen motioned to the original digidestined. "They have been through more than you could possibly imagine! This 'business' is out of your league sir! Now what is it you are planning to do!?" A few moments passed and the man took off his glasses and wiped them. He put them back on and looked at Kristen.
"A coalition force of seven nations, not including Japanese defense forces stationed in Tokyo, is currently heading to intervene." Kristen's jaw dropped.
"Call them back."
"What?"
"Call them back! They'll all be killed! You have no idea what you are up against!"
"These men are trained for combat much more vicious than what you all have explained to me. They are the best on this planet and are more than capable of dealing with the task at hand." The digidestined stared at the man for a moment. Simultaneously, like it had been rehearsed, the group all turned and ran out of the room. The Security Council shouted after them, bringing guards to them. The digimon followed their partners out of the room.
"Come back here! Where are you going?"
"Where are we going?" Joey looked up at Kristen as she shot a deadly glance at two guards who had planned to stop her. They moved out of the way and let her by.
"I don't care how many troops or how well trained they are, they will be massacred if they attack." Kristen wasn't really speaking back to Joey, but to the entire crew. "We have to get back to Japan and stop them, or at least help if we can!"
"But how are we going to get to Japan? We have no money, no passports, and I don't think our digimon can fly that far!" Izzy caught up with Kristen. Jennifer retorted, somewhat insulted.
"If I can carry Sora across to the other side of the world, then I'm sure that Birdramon can do that and then some." Jennifer looked up at Biyomon, who was flying in front of her, over Sora's head. Sora looked up at her partner.
"Are you up to it?" Biyomon nodded and flew faster.
"I'll have us there in no time!"
"Then it's settled. Let's go." Everybody burst out of the front glass doors of the UN building and pulled out their digivices. A wave of energy and light flew about the front of the building as the digimon digivolved. A moment later, Birdramon, Kabuterimon, Aquilamon, Angemon, Angewomon, Kazemon, and Stingmon took off, with their partners as well as the others on their backs, limbs, and in any other way they could carry them. People looked, pointed, and took photos as they shot into the horizon with a hurry they had never had before. They had just a few hours to get across the world to Japan, or it would be too late for thousands of soldiers.
"Sir, five minutes until target acquisition." The seaman looked at the numbers on his screen.
"Excellent." The general walked around the room, looking over the shoulders of his men.
"Sir, we're in... what the? Sir, come here quick!" The seaman pushed himself back from the screen. The numbers began to become distorted, the picture on the monitor breaking and rolling.
"What is it? A technical difficulty?" The general looked around at the other screens, all facing the same problem.
"Sir... there is a message." The general looked back at the screen.
"How is this happening!? What is going on!? What is that?"
"Read sir: 'Attention Coalition Forces...'"
I sat on the beach with the laptop in my lap, focusing intensely as I typed. I could see the ships now, specs on the horizon. I spoke along as I typed.
"Attention Coalition Forces, this will be your only warning. This world is hereby claimed by me, James Walls, in the name of the Demon Corps. Stand down now and perhaps I will show you leniency. You have one minute to comply and turn your ships around." I looked up and waited. Instead of turning around, an ultimatum shot fired into the sky. If they wanted to die, it was their choice. I looked back down and began to type again. "So be it. I hope you enjoy being data." I focused as hard as I could and closed my eyes. My consciousness went with the charge. The ships weren't connected to the rest of the world's computers or to the internet; however they still relied on data. This data could be accessed through the digital world, no matter whether it was being used or not. I could see them: missiles, bombs, nuclear weapons, everything. The ships were loaded to bear. "Boom." I spoke and focused for just an instant, setting them off.
The explosion was huge. Clouds of fire and smoke ricocheted off of each other as every explosive on the ships went off simultaneously. I laughed hysterically and stared at the distorted mushroom cloud. Normally I would have become blind and deaf, but being evil has its perks. I focused harder and drew the data towards me. Thousands upon thousands of people, all killed instantly, only to become part of me and add to my power. The ships had been vaporized into pieces smaller than the data that made up the men. I held out my hands and accepted it gladly. It took about fifteen minutes to absorb it all, I mean one aircraft carrier holds many thousands of men and there had been three in the fleet. Not to mention the various AGEIS cruisers, destroyers, and battleships. When I was done, I took a deep breath and laughed. I felt a little dizzy, like I was about to float away. Power surged through me along with pain. Now that the fleet was taken care of, it was time for the other side of the island. Before I had left, I had destroyed a Devidramon, just for this occasion. I reconfigured it and it crouched down to me, allowing me to climb aboard.
"Let's go." With a beat of his wings he took off towards Odaiba. We didn't get far though before I felt something. I turned around and looked behind us. In the distance were seven objects, moving at high speeds towards me. I looked harder and realized who it was: the digidestined.
"Stop, wait here." I looked and chuckled to myself. "They're dumber than I thought. Well then boy, let's give them a dogfight. Sound good to you?" I looked down at the head of the Devidramon as he growled and roared in agreement. "Calm now, let them come to us. They will meet doom soon enough."