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Digimon Zero Two
Digital Agent
Chapter 2
Underground
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England, countryside, 6.09p.m., Saturday
"Hey, Harman. Whatcha doing?"
"Nothing, really. Nice evening. So how come you're not with the others, Sally?"
"I've had enough to eat. So, just lazing around watching the stars as usual, eh?"
"Better than sitting around in that grotty old flat all day."
"C'mon. I've seen your place. It isn't that bad."
"Guess I'm just not the kind of person who can stay put in a confined space for long."
"claustrophobia?"
"I guess you could say that."
"Hey, look at that Jeep over there."
"So?"
"You don't see that everyday. I wonder why they're using that."
"Probably for rough terrain."
"Hmm..."
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Actually, rough terrain was a part of the trip. Gatomon and Patamon were not aware of it, though. So a few minutes later...
"Whoa! What happened?" Gatomon felt a bump, and a few things fell on her. She and Patamon were under a blanket, so they couldn't be seen. They couldn't see much, for that matter.
"Just a bump in the road, Gatomon. We're going onto a small hill. Hold on to something." Kari answered.
"Oh, okay."
-
The path was quite rough, with plenty of twigs and pebbles. They could tell that the path was not used often. It was unusual, the dense forest. Even during the day, not many were there, if any at all. As for after dark, well, deserted. Only woodland animals stalked the night.
"We're going into a cave." John kept his eyes on the road. An entrance came up, lit only by the headlights of the vehicle. They entered it. Kari lit a torch.
They went deeper into the underground cavern. Kari, T.K. and the rest saw a few bats and a small stream. Nothing out of the ordinary.
"What was that?" T.K.'s eyes darted around the cave "I heard something."
"Security..." John replied. "They normally don't move the cameras."
John stopped the vehicle near a waterfall. The crystal clear water was flowing from the top of a cliff about ten feet. It ran all the way down and out of sight.
"Okay, people. We get out here."
Joe helped Kari and T.K. by removing the straps. Kari and T.K. checked their bags to make sure that Gatomon and Patamon were inside.
"It's alright, you can come out. No one's here." Joe told them. Kari helped Gatomon out. Same with T.K.
T.K. took their suitcase and put it down. Joe got back into the driver's seat.
"So what here? Move a branch, rock or something?" T.K. walked over to John, who was examining the wall behind the falling water.
"That cliche? It'd be too obvious."
John looked at a small crack in the wall. T.K. examined it. Looked normal. John then put his thumb inside the hole. T.K. saw that he flattened it against something.
A few seconds passed. Then suddenly the water stopped flowing in the center. It split in two sides that continued flowing. The layer of rock moved to one side to reveal a 'car park'. Besides the cars, there were also a few motorbikes, a couple of Armoured Personnel Carriers, a few tanks, and a bus. Joe brought the Jeep into an empty space.
"Hiya Ed. Got the package here safely, I see." a security guard patrolling the area greeted Joe.
"Hello, Stu. And it's Joe and John."
"Excuse me, hi. Sorry, but I don't approve of being referred to as a package." Kari said to the guard.
"Well, that's how the guards refer to everything, and everyone we're taking care of."
"Well, if it's okay, I'd prefer Kari."
"Sure thing. So Joe, Unity's waiting for you in the Observatory. Try not to keep the scientists waiting. Especially her."
"So the lead scientist is waiting. Wait a minute, her? There's a woman in this organisation?" T.K. asked.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying girls can't do things like this?" Kari felt a little insulted.
"Oh no, I didn't mean that. It's just that, well..." T.K. was having a hard time making up an excuse.
"So you're saying I suck then?" Kari really told him off.
"Hell, no. Sorry, it's just that I think I'm a bit better sometimes, you know?" T.K. tried to lower his head.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Good Evening. So you are the Digidestined children, and these are Digimon?"
Kari and T.K. looked up. They were so busy talking that they didn't realise that they had already reached the Observatory.
"Interesting, very interesting." A group of scientists gathered around Kari, T.K., Gatomon and Patamon. A few of them were probing T.K. and Kari, the others were examining Patamon and Gatomon, either with their hands or metal instruments.
"Ha ha ha, that tickles!" Patamon laughed as the scientists reached his sensitive spots.
"Hey, c'mon! Enough. Please, no touching." Gatomon wasn't as ticklish as Patamon.
"Okay, break it up, you guys." A female scientist in a white uniform walked towards them. The other scientists parted for her.
"Sorry about that. The researchers are very intrigued by you all. I'm Unity, lead scientist and researcher for the DIT. Nice to meet you all." She shook their hands. "We'll be studying you to learn more. Tomorrow. For the time being, why don't you look around, get used to the place. I'm sure Edward and Dan here would show you around."
"Thanks." Kari acceded. "We'll do that."
"Shall we?" Joe walked towards another one of those automatic doors that go whoosh.
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Underground Headquarters, Sector C, security level 4, 7.45p.m.
"So you're really Edward and Daniel? Not Joe and John?" T.K. queried.
"Yep. We didn't give names at first, because, you know, just a bit of security protocol, that's all." Joe answered.
"...And this is the weapons research lab. Next to that is the testing area." John pointed at the door and the sign."
An explosion went off in the test area. A scientist came out with his clothes black and his hair standing up.
"Damn it. Happened again. I tell you, the crazy ideas that nutter Hunter comes up with are just too much."
"Hey, Brentan. Another... miscalculation?" John asked.
"Yes, Dan. And who're you? Another American? Dan's associate, then?" he questioned.
"No, we're the Digidestined they brought in from Japan." Kari replied, pointing at Edward and Daniel.
"Ah, I see. And these are your Digimon." he examined Patamon and Gatomon. His gloves were still clean, so he touched them.
"Remarkable! Simple remarkable. Hmm..." he marvelled at them, as he took out a meter of some sort.
"A 0.052. Hmm..."
"Okay Brentan, enough. You'll have plenty of time to study them tomorrow. We must continue our 'tour'." Edward grinned.
"Okay, okay." he conformed.
"He hasn't seen Digimon before, has he?" Gatomon asked.
"Nope. He just works in the weapons department. Gets a little boring sometimes." Dan responded.
"Ah. Uh, let's just continue." Patamon flew by T.K.'s shoulder.
"Alright. So this is the 'training area', it consists of a practice area, a gym, a shooting gallery, a combat arena, and a drink bar. I'll break it down for you. Practice area, just some open space, for anything. I don't know who came up with that idea. Oh well. Gym, you won't find anything in any other gym that isn't here. Shooting gallery, quite an advanced system, actually. Targets stay still or move, are based on actual things. Hard to explain. Say you hit the head on a human shaped target, right? It'll go down instantly. But if you only manage to hit the legs or arms, it'll take a few shots, but that's pretty basic. There's the real life sniper simulation, with impressive AI. Oh sorry, got carried away. Combat arena, it's a room for close quarters combat practice, like judo, karate, swordfighting etc.. You get the picture. The drink bar is pretty much the same as on the plane." Dan kept on going.
"Okay, okay, we get the message!" Gatomon was in Kari's arms. "Man, he can really talk." she whispered to Kari.
"Let's move on. This is the firearms department. We aren't given standard issue weapons ourselves in this agency, instead we 'purchase'" he did the two fingers gesture "weapons, armour, field equipment, medical items and so on. In this base, we get all our weapons here. The currency that we earn by completing tasks, missions or just exchanging for money is called AP, and there's a reason for that. So anyway, we just get our weapons here, from machines or the quartermasters." Edward apprised.
"Why the system?" T.K. raised an eyebrow.
"It's becau... what does it matter? It's just the way we do things, right?" he replied.
"Uh, right..." Kari raised her eyebrow "So they buy their guns? Weird..." she murmured.
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Underground Headquarters, Sector F, security level 2, 8.32p.m.
"This sector is the living quarters. Rooms. You'll be staying upstairs, on the 1st floor. Follow me." Edward instructed.
He brought them to a lift. He pressed the button. They heard a few sounds. They waited a quarter of a minute, but nothing happened.
"Damn it. Elevator's busted again." Dan swore.
"We'll just have to use the ladder. Remind me to call the repair division and tell them it's still broken." Edward instructed. He pointed to a metal ladder next to the lift.
"So you... buy... guns?" Patamon asked Dan, while hovering next to him.
"Yeah, so?" Dan grunted.
"That's just weird."
"Shut your yap before I beat your face in." he grunted, then went through the hole.
"Uhh..." Patamon stiffened.
"Hehe. Don't worry, just playing with you." he chuckled.
"Yeah, haha..."
"Haven't seen one of these for a while." Kari grasped a rung, and, with Gatomon on her head, began to climb the ladder. T.K. followed behind.
Edward went last, as he had to bring the suitcase up.
"You'll be staying here." Dan showed them the way to the suite.
"Whoa!" T.K exclaimed. The rooms were even better than the plane.
"Now, just have to show you the switches." Edward gave them each a remote control. "Should you need more information on the remote, there's a booklet in the drawers, otherwise just turn it on or off manually. Need anything else, use the intercom. If you need a phone, there's one in the room, but make sure the signal is relayed. Somewhere like Poland, Spain, Hong Kong, maybe. But it's safer to just use the computer to send e-mails, chat or, maybe IM. Anyway, enjoy yourselves. I'll send someone over with a meal soon. What else, oh yeah!" he gave them each a ring. "These rings act as a sort of PAN card. Personal Area Network. Instead of cards, these rings are given to you. If they come within a ten centimetre range of the card reader next to a door here, the door will automatically open. Your security clearance is level five. It'll open any security level five door. Here, might as well take the cards too." he tossed four LV5 security cards onto the bed. "Just swipe them through the card reader. Well, see you all tomorrow. You can reach us, just send a message to our PDAs." he pointed at the drawer with the booklet.
"Well, cheerio." Edward left.
"Yeah, uh, cherry-o. Or whatever. C'ya." Dan closed the door behind him.
"Sweet!" Gatomon checked out her remote. "I could get used to this."
"Well, don't. We won't always be here." Kari sniggered.
"I'm quite versatile, y'know?"
"Yeah... come here you." Kari called.
"Yes, Kari?" Gatomon walked to her.
"Big hug!" Kari suddenly moved forward and clasped Gatomon. Gatomon had quite a shock at first, but soon relaxed, as with most times Kari gave her a surprise hug.
"Ahh... Kari?"
Kari let her go her after a while.
"Now about the room. Let's see, computer. Anyone for a LAN party?"
"Uh, no offence, but aren't you're a bit too small to operate the keyboard and mouse at the same time?" T.K. asked.
"Yeah, but I'm a Digimon, remember?" she reminded him.
"Oh, yeah, you can control computers without using any input devices, or... something like that, right?"
"Yep."
"Hey, check out the computers. Got all the bells and whistles, eh? 1GB RAM, 3.5 Ghz, a 256MB video card, 20 games are already installed. 1mbps internet connection. How much memory, let's see, properties, whoa! 200 gigabytes. Man, these guys sure know how to live. Well, shall we?" Kari invited them.
"You play computer games?" T.K. asked.
"You got a problem with that?" the look on her face reminded T.K. of their conversation earlier.
"No, no, just a bit surprised. That's all. Quick game, then?" he quickly sat down.
"You're on."
-
"Mmm, that was delicious!" Patamon licked his lips "I want some more!"
"You do?" T.K. enquired.
"Nah, it's just my way of saying that was really tasty. I'm full." Patamon giggled.
"Right. Pie?" Kari offered.
"No thank you." T.K. declined.
"Mm, I'm stuffed." Gatomon was lying on the couch.
"And I can see it too." T.K. chuckled.
"Hey!"
The group laughed.
"I'm gonna go send a message Tai. See how he's doing." Kari stacked up the dishes. She set them down on the table and walked over to the computer.
"Better get these cleaned up." T.K. took the dishes and headed for the door. He opened it, went out and closed it. He looked left and right and realised he didn't know where to wash the dishes. He turned around and was about to head back into the room when...
"Master Takaishi?" T.K. heard a voice. He looked around. There was no one there.
"Who's that?"
"Your ring."
T.K. looked at his ring. The voice was coming from it.
"It's me. Dan. How are ya? Don't worry about the dishes. Just wait a few. Someone'll pick them up."
"Okay. But please, call me T.K.. Master Takaishi doesn't sound right."
And a few minutes later, someone came and picked the dishes up.
"Good evening. Let me take those." the person was wearing a blue uniform "Are there any other things you would like washed? Any clothes, maybe? Perhaps you'd like some caviar?" T.K.'s eyes traced over to the name tag which bore the name 'Lawrence'.
"Uh, no thanks." T.K. replied.
"Ah, the Colt SAA. Quite a good weapon, really."
T.K. then remembered that he kept one of Tai's revolvers in his pocket.
"You don't want to load it?"
T.K. then realised that Tai didn't give him any ammo.
"I guess I forgot to get ammunition." T.K. apprised.
"I'll be headed towards the kitchen. Why don't you follow me and get some from the armaments shop? They'll give you some."
"Okay."
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Firearms Department, Sector C, security level 3, 9.24p.m.
"So this is the firearms department."
T.K. looked around. Hung on the walls were all different types of weapons, ranging from handguns to shotguns, sub-machine guns to assault rifles, heavy machine guns to sniper rifles. Vending machines sold small firearms, silencers, ammunition, lasersights and parts like slides, frames and so on.
"Good evening. How are you?" a woman behind the counter greeted him.
"I'm fine, thank you. You must be the salesperson Lawrence was talking about." T.K answered.
"I'm Hope, firearms expert and the person in charge of this place." she smiled. "You must be that Digidestined kid they brought in."
"Yeah."
"Can I interest you in anything?"
"What is AP?"
"AP is the acronym for Agent Points. It is what our agents and staff earn and use in this department to buy guns, parts, armour etc., besides real money. AP is earned by completing tasks, missions and things like that. Besides that, money can be exchanged for AP. And there are a few other ways as well. So, wanna buy anything?"
"Do you have bullets for this?" T.K. brought out his revolvers.
"Of course. This is the Single Action Army, so you'll need .44 magnum rounds. Or maybe you'd like to try our brand new .44 Toxin rounds."
"No no. No toxins. Just... do you have anything that doesn't kill?" T.K. enquired.
"For a revolver? No, afraid not. But I can give you blanks." Hope chuckled.
"I'll take it."
"You're not serious?"
"I can use it as a threat."
"Good idea. But surely you want real ammo?"
"How much?"
"Free, of course. You're... let's just say you're special."
"What's that supposed to mean?" T.K. questioned.
"You're the Digidestined, right?"
"Oh, yeah. So... special discounts?"
"You get it free, silly." Hope giggled.
"Yeah! Can I have this?" T.K. took a rocket launcher from the wall.
"Whoa! Let's not get carried away. You can have the ammo for free. But my job is to manage this joint. Meaning I can't just give you anything for free." she apprised.
"Oh..."
"Cheer up, you. I can give you some things, considering the circumstances." she took one revolver. "Hmm, not easy, but..." she took out a few pieces of metal, put in a lasersight, and on top of it, a metal cover. She inserted another piece of metal, pulled out a wire of it, put it into a cover with a button with a hook and eye, twisted a part of it and removed it. Of course, they weren't just pieces of metal, but that was what T.K. saw.
"Here."
T.K. took the gun, and tested the lasersight. A clear red dot appeared on the wall. He aimed it at the target on the wall.
"Give it a try." she gave him a bullet.
T.K. inserted it into the chamber. He took aim and fired the shot at the target.
"Bullseye."
"You'll do fine." she gave him the other two revolvers. "Already attached the sights."
"Thanks."
"Here's a packet of ammo. There's 96 bullets in there. One more thing..."
She handed him three more pieces of metal.
"Here." she put bullets into the slots. "For quick loads. Put it in and remove the metal cover. That's my last three, you hear? Don't use it just yet."
"Thanks again."
"Well, see you around, then."
"Yeah, c'ya."
-
Back in the room, 10.03p.m.
"Hi, T.K.." Patamon and Gatomon greeted him simultaneously.
"Hi, guys." he replied.
Gatomon and Patamon were playing cards on the bed. The computer was still on, and there was a message screen still on it, but T.K. didn't bother reading it.
"Twenty." Patamon displayed his eight, seven and five.
"Really? Twenty one." Gatomon smirked. In her hand was a King and an Ace.
"Aww, man. You won again."
"Yay, more for me." Gatomon purred. She took something that T.K. didn't pay attention to.
"Kawaii." T.K. smiled.
T.K. put his revolvers away. He let out a sigh of relief, fetched a change of clothes and went into the bathroom.
"Did T.K. just go into the loo?" Patamon asked.
"Yeah. Something I forgot... never mind." Gatomon took another two cards.
T.K. saw the towels on the rack and put his clothes down next to them. He got undressed and proceeded to the bathtub. He then drew the shower curtains...
"AAAHHHHHH! What are you doing?"
"AAHHHH! Sorry, sorry, sorry..." T.K. kept repeating the same words while shielding his eyes. Kari drew the curtains back.
T.K. quickly got dressed and hurried out of the bathroom.
"Hey, T.K.. You were pretty quick." Gatomon murmured, before remembering what she forgot.
"Oh yeah. You shouldn't go in there T.K." Patamon murmured.
"Too late, Pata."
"Oh."
Patamon and Gatomon started laughing hysterically as T.K. blushed.
"Hey, stop it! It's not funny." T.K. got redder.
"Sorry, hahaha, okay, enough. It's not funny... Hahaha!" Patamon obviously couldn't stop.
"Aww, c'mon!" T.K. then realised he left his hat in the bathroom.
"Ooh, you're so naughty, T.K., hahaha!" Gatomon kept on.
"It was an honest mistake! I didn't se... wait... I did..." T.K.'s temperature rose to break the 40 centigrade line.
"Sorry, T.K., haha, it's just, heh heh hahaha, too much..." Patamon was talking in between giggles.
"Didn't ya hear the shower, hehehe..." Gatomon asked.
"You know... I didn't. She was having a bath..." T.K. answered.
"Yeah, sure. He he..." Patamon giggled.
"Just forget about it. I didn't know she was there, okay?" T.K. informed.
"Okay, ha ha..." Gatomon smirked.
-
Later, when Kari got out of the bath...
Kari was silent, Patamon and Gatomon stifled chuckles.
"This is yours, I think." Kari tossed the hat to T.K..
"Heh heh heh." Patamon let it out.
"Sorry about that, Kari. I didn't know..." T.K. had that apologetic look on his face, and that was enough for Kari.
"It's okay. Don't worry about it."
"Thanks." T.K. did the same.
"We'd better get some sleep. It's almost midnight." Kari murmured.
"It's about ten thirty. But you're right." Patamon started towards the bed.
"I'll be right back." T.K. took out his pyjamas and headed for the bathroom.
Later, when T.K. was done with his shower at about ten forty, he quietly padded into the room. Kari was already in bed with Gatomon and Patamon. Kari smiled at him.
"You know..." she whispered "you're gonna have to pay for seeing me like that." she smirked.
"Really? How much?"
"Let's see... how about a French kiss?" Kari asked with an innocent look.
"Glad to oblige." T.K. acceded. Unbeknownst to her, Gatomon and Patamon weren't really sleeping.
"Shh..." Gatomon whispered to Patamon, who was about to giggle.
"Mmm." T.K.'s tongue touched Kari's, tracing further down, gently caressing the bottom, then the top, pressing the bottom and...
"Aww, how sweet." Gatomon whispered.
"Aah! W-What, h-h-how?" Kari stammered.
"How what?" Patamon smirked.
"What what?" Gatomon grinned.
"I thought you two were asleep?" T.K. questioned.
"Asleep? No, we can't sleep now. This is too interesting for us to miss." Patamon grinned.
"Hey!" Kari was blushing again.
"Why're ya being so secretive about it anyway?" Gatomon queried.
"Well, it's just... I don't know..." Kari cuddled T.K. closer.
"Oh well..." Gatomon sighed.
"Geez, I'm tired..." Patamon yawned. "We'd better get some sleep."
"You're right..." T.K. yawned.
"G'night, Kari..." Gatomon lay down next to Kari's head.
"Good night, Gato..." Kari stroked her soft fur.
"Rowr..." Gatomon purred with delight.
"Good night, Patamon." T.K. rubbed the area between his ears, his favourite spot.
"Night, T.K.." Patamon closed his eyes and fell asleep.
-
Well, well. So how was it? Not too bad, or too corny, I hope. R&R, and what else... oh yeah! Some of you sent me e-mails rather than just reviewing, that's fine too. Special thanks to Trixy for your help, I'm really grateful. Lord Pata, thanks for the reviews, I haven't managed to find the time, but I'll try to read some of your fics, 'kay? NKC, haven't heard from you for a while, are you on holiday or something? Just a little worried. Well, if you haven't noticed yet, it's a Takari. Pretty obvious. Anyway, I'll start a Renaki fic soon, yes, I'm also a Renamon fan, but don't worry, I will continue this, no matter what. I might be busy the next few days, but I'll try to write more than I normally do to make up for it. And please don't just say great story etc., it's makes me feel uneasy. But do so if you must. Gonna go to now. Well, that's it, R&R, and Merry (almost) Christmas, everybody!