Infinite Possibilities
Phase 1: Bridge
Chapter 7
Hikari followed Eimi down hallways in the Toyosu Bureau office, fighting the constant urge to glance over her shoulder. Tailmon usually snoozed or lounged in her transport tote bag, but today, she stood inside it, sharp eyes scanning. Each security door they entered was another barrier between them and the outside world, a step deeper into the belly of the Bureau.
But Eimi seemed at ease, and the Chosen and the Yagamis knew where Hikari was. The odds of the Bureau pulling something were low, she knew. Still, her history with the organization was not easy to forget, nor to set aside.
At last, Eimi stopped at another secured door. "Finally here."
Hikari forced a grin. "You must get a lot of steps." And how did Eimi get around? This was Hikari's second visit to the playroom, but she didn't recognize the door or her surroundings. Everything was identical bland office spaces, save for the security checkpoints.
Eimi sighed. "It's for the best, I guess, since I don't go out much. Anyway, welcome." She badged them in and entered. "Hey, everyone!"
Most of the digimon called a greeting and remained at play, but some came bouncing over, as if Eimi had been gone for hours instead of twenty minutes. The large room was clean, but not tidy. Toys littered the floor and every surface. The long window wall was a minefield of sleeping babies, basking in the morning sun.
Tailmon leaped from the tote bag, and the babies gathered around her. Hikari noticed during their previous visit that their partner digimon calmed and encouraged the babies, almost like the presence of an older sibling. "Hello, Tailmon!" they chorused. "Hello, Chosen!"
Hikari knelt and extended a hand. Some of the babies approached for pats, but most remained outside of arm's reach. "It's good to see you again. Has Eimi-san told you why I'm here?"
"Yes! For a call!" A Koromon approached Hikari. She smiled, reminded of Taichi's Koromon, although this one was blue-eyed and had wounds in the beginning stages of healing on her face. Her name was Koro-chi, which Hikari knew because she told her several times last visit, with ceaseless reminders that Eimi named her personally. Eimi named all the babies, so Hikari wasn't sure why that was a point of pride. Still, she made sure to use Koro-chi's name as much as possible.
"And how are you, Koro-chi?"
Koro-chi bounced in place, clearly delighted. "Great! We were playing hide and seek!"
Hikari smiled as she rubbed Koro-chi's head. "You can get back to it, if you'd like. I'm here to help the Pyocomon from Meramon's village talk to their friends."
"Okay," Koro-chi replied. "And then, my village!"
"That's right," Eimi agreed. "Tomorrow, Takeru-kun and Patamon will help you talk to your village."
Hikari nodded. Over the next few days, there would be a parade of Chosen here to facilitate the virtual meetings- and to keep a stream of visitors coming to Eimi, introducing new faces over time. But this first meeting was important, especially since Meramon was in contact with other village guardians, who weren't happy that their villagers would not be immediately returned. The Chosen wanted to keep their relationships with the villages positive- and avoid potential conflicts with guardians.
Remaining visibly at ease was difficult with so much riding on this video call, and the awful sensation of being watched did not help. Hikari straightened and glanced about the room, searching for the source. Flickering light caught her eye, and she spotted a PetiMeramon hovering atop a book case in a far corner. She smiled and waved, but PetiMeramon didn't blink, let alone respond.
"Hello, PetiMeramon," Eimi called, noticing Hikari's wave. "He's a quiet sort."
"Hello," Hikari added. There was nothing to be done about the staring, so she tried to shrug off her discomfort. "Could all the Pyocomon from Meramon's village come here?"
There was shuffling from the cat trees and hiding areas towards the back of the room. Pink, bulb-shaped forms emerged, most with exaggerated caution. Hikari smiled, hoping to encourage, but the Pyocomon avoided her gaze. Not so long ago, they were happily hopping with their friends in the village. Now, they skulked low to the ground, leaves and vines torn, faces marred.
The babies' injuries and fearful behavior disturbed Hikari. Just being here generated a low grade nausea, but Eimi seemed calm enough, likely due to exposure. Eimi approached a computer on a desk against a wall, a new addition since Hikari last visited. She booted up and pointed to the television on a console, also new. "The computer is hooked up to the TV, and there is a camera mounted on top of it. Koushiro-san visited and took care of the software side of things. I'm contacting him for two factor authentication, and then we'll have video and audio feeds of the gate nearest the Pyocomon village."
To avoid being overheard by the babies, Hikari stood beside Eimi. She was probably being overly cautious, since the babies who weren't from Meramon's village had either returned to playing or hiding. But she knew without looking that PetiMeramon was watching; the hairs on the back of her neck were still raised.
She murmured, "I'm surprised the Bureau allowed Koushiro-san to install anything on their devices."
Eimi flashed an apologetic grin. "Yeah, I hear you. But I guess Koushiro-san is Koushiro-san. And the Bureau seems to share the goal of maintaining human/digimon relations. What surprises me most is that they are allowing video and audio feeds from their building, but they don't want to move the digimon. So... This was all we could do."
Hikari nodded. "Thanks for convincing them to go along with this."
"It was easier than I thought it would be. There are topics that I'm not allowed to discuss, though. As a compromise, Koushiro-san agreed to add a kill switch. If I press Fn and End on the keyboard while the call is running, the video and audio feeds will go silent without ending the call. Sorry in advance if I have to do that, and it's interpreted as rude. Koushiro-san and I decided to do what we could to convince the Bureau to keep this communication channel open between my babies and the villages."
Tailmon strolled to the desk. "The Bureau will be watching, though, right? Since it's their computer."
Eimi rubbed the back of her neck, looking uncomfortable. "Koushiro-san could prevent that, but there are listening devices in this room, regardless, so he opted not to push the Bureau by restricting their computer. So yes, you should assume that the Bureau hears everything, if not over the computer, then via their surveillance devices. No one can use this program without two factor authentication from Koushiro-san, though."
"Meaning the Bureau can't initiate any calls." Hikari released a tiny breath of relief.
"Right. They also can't accept calls, access logs, or replay conversations. Koushiro-san has you covered, except for the Bureau security devices."
"Got it," Hikari replied. "Okay, is everyone here?"
She turned to the Pyocomon and tried not to react when some of them scurried back. Seeing the scuffle, Koro-chi bounced to Hikari's feet, then turned to face the room. "Meramon's village!" she cried, her voice loud and carrying. "Everyone come here for your call! And mine is tomorrow! But yours is now, so come help Eimi!"
The corner of Eimi's mouth nudged up, a reluctant little grin. "Koro-chi, I can tell them apart... They're all here. Thank you for helping."
Koro-chi grinned, clearly pleased as punch. "You're welcome! I'll stay here in case you need me!"
Tailmon openly sighed, but Koro-chi's attention was on Eimi. "Wouldn't you rather play?" she gently suggested. "I'll need your help tomorrow."
"You might need it now!"
Hikari smiled, charmed. The bond between Eimi and Koro-chi was wonderful to see, especially given everything they had been through. But a sting of worry punctuated that thought. The goal of the playroom was to provide a safe place for the babies to heal before they went home. Was Eimi prepared for all her new friends, whom she fought so hard for, to leave? And without a digivice, she can't even visit them…
Eimi's hand jerked up and eased back down. Hikari suspected she wanted to rub her forehead, but caught herself. "Okay, but remember, this call is for the Pyocomon. Everyone, are you ready?"
One of the few Pyocomon that seemed physically unharmed shyly came forward. "We're ready."
"Thank you, Piyo. Ready, Tailmon, Hikari-chan?"
When they nodded, Eimi entered the two factor authentication code and hit enter. A few seconds later, a grassy landscape populated onscreen on the computer monitor and the television, dotted pink with gathered Pyocomon.
"Hello?" Tailmon called. "It's Hikari, Tailmon, and Eimi."
The feed went pink as Pyocomon rushed forward, and the villagers in the playroom crowded the TV. Eimi flinched in response to the excited squealing. "The camera is on top of the TV, if you want Meramon and the Pyocos to see you," Eimi said to Hikari, nearly shouting to be heard. "I need to stay at the keyboard in case I need the kill switch."
Hikari and Tailmon relocated to the television, carefully navigating around hopping Pyocomon. "Is Meramon there?" Hikari asked.
Two flaming legs appeared in the Digital Gate camera's range. "Chosen, I am here."
"Could you sit?" Tailmon asked as she and Hikari made themselves comfortable on the floor. "We can't see your face."
Meramon obeyed, making room in the moving carpet of Pyocomon. "Meramon!" Piyo cried. Her friends took up the call, their voices bouncing in the playroom like a chaotic choir of piccolos. Hikari and Tailmon watched, silent, as the Pyocomon chattered. Many of them cried, both here and in the Digital World. Additional Pyocomon abandoned their games and hidings spots and inched towards the TV, drawn to their fellows. And suddenly, Hikari's eyes prickled. She rubbed them, and Tailmon patted her shin.
After allowing time for greetings and talk, Meramon said, "I am glad you are together. What happened to you?"
Piyo glanced at the others, but the Pyocomon went quiet. "Well," she began, looking unsure. "Um. We went to bed in our homes with all of you. Then, when we woke up..." Hikari inched closer. Would the Pyocomon be more open with their friends? "We were in cages. It was dark."
"Were other digimon there, too?" Tailmon asked. Piyo jumped, as if she had forgotten her.
"Yes. Lots of digimon. I don't know if they are all here. We waited a long time, and we were hungry and weak. Then, humans came, and..." Piyo swallowed hard. "They took us to the lab."
After some distressed squeaking, a Pyocomon on the Digital World side asked, "What's a lab?"
When Piyo hesitated, Hikari supplied, "A lab is a place where researchers run experiments. Digimon research is important, so we can know how to help you. But those researchers hurt you. That's wrong, and that's what Eimi-san and the Chosen want to stop."
With relief, Hikari noted that Meramon's scowl was far easier to endure from the safety of another world. "How can you experiment on digimon without hurting them?" he demanded.
"We're still working that out," Eimi called. "The most important things are to make sure that the digimon volunteer on their own, to ask their consent at every step, to fairly compensate them, and to never do something frightening or painful to them. Or something untested."
"Who speaks?" Meramon asked. Eimi hesitated, staring at her keyboard and its kill switch.
"It's Eimi-san," Hikari explained. "The person who saved the digimon. Tailmon, could you help her?"
Tailmon crossed the space between the television and the desk in a few easy strides, then leaped atop it. Eimi showed her which keys would silence the feeds, then approached the television and its camera. She bowed to Meramon and the Pyocomon. "Good morning. I'm Anami Eimi. The Bureau appointed me to care for the baby digimon until they are well enough to go home."
Hikari hoped this would put Meramon's mind at ease, but his gaze hardened. "I thank you for watching over my villagers, but I ask that you send them home." Internally, Hikari groaned. They already went over this!
Eimi hesitated. "I want to," she said at last. "But... The Bureau is in charge. They want everyone to be fully healed before returning them."
"Healed from damage done by humans," Mermamon pointed out. "You can see why I want them here."
"I understand. I just... That isn't in my power. All I can do is watch over them. It frustrates me, but... I'm sorry. I wish I had a better response."
"How can I trust humans to take care of my own after seeing what humans have done to them?"
Eimi shifted uncomfortably. Before she could answer, Koro-chi bounced into the camera's view, causing a titter among the gathered Pyocomon. "You can trust Eimi! She is our friend! She is so nice to us! If she wanted to hurt us or keep us from you, then she wouldn't be having this meeting."
Hikari blinked. Why hadn't such a simple argument occurred to her? The villages had no idea where the kidnapped babies were before the Chosen told them. If the Chosen didn't want to return them, then they simply would not have disclosed their location.
Meramon stared back, equally shocked. "Sharing their location with no intention to return them would be a declaration of war," he admitted at last.
"Right! Right!" Koro-chi leaped with each word. "So! Let's all keep meeting like this. You can get to know us and Eimi! And you'll see that we are friends! And someday, we will heal and come home!"
Meramon drew a few breaths. The oxygen seemed to expand his form, making him grow before their eyes. "Here is my proposal. There will be peace between us so long as we meet this way regularly. I will expect to see all of our villagers each time, and to see improvements to their health. I'll talk to the other village guardians to determine meeting frequencies and ensure that we are in agreement."
Hikari stared at Eimi's back, tense, but hoping. Meramon was in no position to make demands. If she wanted to, or if the Bureau forced her to, Eimi could ignore his wishes. After all, she and most humans were unlikely to ever visit the Digital World. What did it matter if a few digimon hated them? That was a short-sighted view point, of course, but humans often were short-sighted.
Eimi bowed deeply. "I will facilitate that to the best of my ability. Since the Bureau agreed to this meeting, and the following ones with other villages, I'm hopeful that they will accept your proposal. I want what's best for the digimon, and that means making sure they are healthy and sending them home."
Thank goodness. Hikari allowed a relieved smile as the digimon chattered their approval. After some coaxing from Koro-chi, Eimi sat on the floor with the Pyocomon. They chatted with the villagers, mostly Eimi's babies talking about their life in the playroom, until the meeting ended.
Eimi stood and bowed once more. "Please send info on what the village guardians decide via the Chosen. I'll take it to the Bureau and give the Chosen their response."
"Thank you," Meramon replied. "We'll speak again soon, I trust. Please take care of my villagers."
"Of course, but... We take care of each other." Eimi grinned at the gathered babies. "Right, guys?"
"Right! All together, now!" Piyo turned to the Pyocomon, who stood at sudden attention.
"Thank you, Meramon!" they chorused. "Thank you Eimi! Thank you Hikari and Tailmon and everyone!" They bowed, first to the camera, then to everyone in the playroom. The call cut off at its appointed time, and the television went dark.
"Pyocos… You are all so very welcome. Thank you for being here with me." Though she looked exhausted, slightly sagging forward, a smile spread across Eimi's face. The Chosen had thanked Eimi for helping the digimon, but babies weren't always cognizant of manners, or that others were doing things for them. Was this the first time they thanked her?
Hikari's curiosity went unanswered. Eimi rolled her shoulders to ease the strain and said, "Oof. Did that go okay?"
"It was great," Hikari replied. "Koro-chi, thank you so much. You were able to convince Meramon that we're friends."
"Because we are!" Koro-chi replied. "So it's easy."
Hikari and Eimi locked gazes. Baby digimon had a simplistic way of looking at the world. Sometimes, their perspective was so bereft of nuance and understanding that someone more experienced had to step in to help. But sometimes...
Sometimes, stripping things down to their core was stunningly effective and true.
With tenderness in her face and voice, Eimi picked up Koro-chi, nuzzled her, and said, "You're right. Everyone, great job. Did you enjoy talking to your friends?"
This set off a volley of squeaky, overlapping replies. Tailmon leaped off the desk and made herself comfortable on a cushion while Hikari and Eimi listened to the baby digimon.
And, for the first time, Hikari felt hopeful about this difficult situation.
XXX
"Higher, higher!"
Eimi reached up and stood on her tip-toes, holding a pastel-colored block. The tower she and the digimon were building was already taller than her, which she felt was good enough for all regular purposes. But her cute little despots had other ideas.
Eimi trembled, struggling for balance. "You shouldn't stand so close to the tower. If I knock this over by accident, you might get hit by a block."
"Just don't knock it over!" Eimi knew without looking that this was Pooka, a Pukamon. Her voice was unique, a medium register among the squeaky chorus. The mischief in her tone and her sing-song delivery were even better tells.
"Not that simple," Eimi replied. "It has to fall over soon."
"Oh noooo!" That sounded like one of the Pyocomon.
"I mean it!" Eimi leaned into Pyocomon's fretting, hoping to avoid a mass bonking. "It's definitely going to fall soon."
Then the playroom door beeped, the warning sound of a card touching the scanner. Eimi didn't see the exodus of babies, as she was looking at the door, but the scramble of nails and claws against tile painted a vivid image of chaotic diaspora. Someone bumped the tower, and it collapsed at last, leaving Eimi straining on her toes with a block in hand as the door opened.
Sayuri entered, holding a tablet PC. As always, she looked polished, wearing a skirt suit and heels, her short hair sleek, her face subtly made up. "Excuse me," she said, with a quick bow. Eimi lowered her arm, bowed back, and dropped the block with its discarded fellows on the floor. Only Koro-chi remained with her. Eimi suppressed a sigh. She had requested that guests message her before visiting, so she could warn the babies. If she told them a friend was coming, they were much less stressed when someone showed up.
The clack of Sayuri's heels changed depending on what was underfoot: sometimes tile, sometimes fuzzy rugs, sometimes foamy play mats. She stopped about a yard away from Eimi, Koro-chi, and the sad block rubble. Eimi hoped she didn't look tense or guarded. Ever since the video calls with the villages began about two weeks ago, she half expected the improving situation to sour.
"Good morning, Anami-san. I'm here to tell you that more digimon will be joining you this afternoon."
Eimi blinked. She needed a word beyond flabbergasted to describe how she felt, but naturally, she couldn't think of one while she was so shocked. "I- Pardon? Was there..."
Sayuri sharply shook her head. "If you'll kindly step outside with me, I'll explain."
Meaning she doesn't want to discuss this in front of the digimon. Why not email her, then, or set up a meeting? Aloud, Eimi said, "Alright. I'll be right back, everyone."
Koro-chi bounced after her. "I'll go with you!"
Eimi didn't need to glance at Sayuri to know that this wouldn't fly. Still, she would never be dismissive of Koro-chi if she could help it. "Thank you, but I need to do this myself. Can you help me by keeping an eye on things here?"
Koro-chi hesitated. If Eimi had to guess, she was torn between the desire to stay with her and the pleasure of being given a task- particularly one that suited her bossy personality. The appeal of being in charge, however briefly, won out. "Okay! I'll take care of everything!"
Eimi smiled. She sometimes wondered if Koro-chi was perceived as a teacher's pet by the other digimon, or something along those lines. Thankfully, from what she could tell, the babies trusted Koro-chi and took comfort in the fact that she was unafraid of humans and this strange situation. True, being less bossy would likely improve her relationships, but Koro-chi placed herself between the babies and the humans and spoke for the group. They seemed to look to her as a leader.
And so, Eimi patted her head and said, "Thank you. I won't be long, everyone."
She followed Sayuri into the hallway. "Apologies for being abrupt," Sayuri began. "I only just received this intel, and was asked to inform you right away."
"Was there another raid?" Eimi asked, finally voicing her earlier question.
Sayuri shook her head. "These additional digimon were recovered during the original raids a month ago. They were too injured to be in your care until recently. Using tech recovered from the same raids, our scientists worked out how to heal the damage done to them."
Eimi wasn't doing much, just standing in a plain, empty hallway, but suddenly, her ears were ringing. Her head was hollow, empty save for that harsh, penetrative peal. "P-pardon?"
Sayuri's eyes briefly shut, and Eimi had the impression she was searching for patience. "The digimon were too damaged to be among the others. It would have frightened everyone, and they might have taken more damage by accident. We managed to help them. Physically, they are fine now, but they're frightened of humans. We thought having them among your digimon might help them understand that they're safe now, and that we're here to help."
"But- but how-"
"Using tech recovered from the raids." Keep up, Sayuri's tone implied. "I was also asked to disclose that we can help any damaged digimon in your care. For example, we can remove the welts and scar tissue from the gag mounts and rebuild the torn leaves and vines on Tanemon and Pyocomon. Please ask your digimon if they would like that."
This was an absolute system shock. Eimi clawed for focus; speaking each word was as intentional as stringing a tiny bead on a string. "The digimon are skittish. I think they'd rather keep their injuries than go to a lab. And I don't know how I'd pitch it to them with so few details."
"Fair enough," Sayuri agreed. "Then I'll do the asking after the healed digimon are among them. That way, they'll know the process is safe and painless."
Eimi itched to asked questions, but she knew that Sayuri had said as much as she intended to. Further intel would have to come from the new babies- if they agreed to talk to her. That seemed unlikely, given what they had been through. And even if she could convince them to agree to this healing procedure, would she? What if something strange was going on? What if something went wrong, and a baby was hurt? Trust was a precious commodity, not easily repaired.
And this new information introduced further concerns. This whole time, Eimi thought all the rescued digimon were in the playroom. Housing individuals in need of medical help elsewhere made sense, at least with disclosure. But from now on, Eimi would wonder if the Bureau was keeping more digimon hidden- and why. And what about the shell digimon?
The passing thought made her ask, "Can this healing method help the shells?"
"So far, no. That's all I can say, other than that the scientists are working hard to help them. I'll send the new digimon along in the afternoon. Thank you for your time."
With that, Sayuri bowed, then clacked away. Eimi hovered, alone in a hallway so featureless that it felt like an unsettling liminal space at the best of times. Head buzzing with thoughts and anxiety, she returned to the playroom to await the next shock.
XXX
"And so, the brave little Koromon saved the day."
Eimi turned the book towards the gathered babies, so they could see the art. She wrote, drew, and bound it during craft time. Crafts with babies were a risky business. They had an alarming tendency to eat everything, including toxic substances like paint and glue. Hell, she caught a Tokomon trying his luck with a pair of scissors! And more often than not, the time spent bathing digimon afterwards eclipsed the time spent creating. Still, the chaos wasn't so bad… So long as the room had a tile floor and a drain for cleanup, like the playroom and its attached bathroom. And so long as she had noise canceling headphones or earplugs.
"More story!" Pooka demanded. She smacked the floor with her fins, an impromptu drum roll. "Story! Story! About Pukamon!"
"It's nap time now," Eimi gently replied. The babies snoozed all day, but rarely during nap time, as if the concept of scheduled sleep was offensive. But if Eimi made a cozy nest on the floor, digimon would pile up with her. With their shifting, grunting, and cuddling, Eimi rarely slept either. Still, a paid lie down was not to be scoffed at.
But as she stood amid a chorus of complaints and requests for more stories, she received a text on her Bureau-issued cell phone announcing that the new baby digimon were en route. Soon, they were delivered in carts with hinged doors pushed by Bureau workers. Eimi wondered if the staff had trouble convincing the babies to enter them. At least they didn't use cages...
While the others scattered, Koro-chi stood beside Eimi, cheerfully welcoming the newcomers. The digimon cautiously exiting the carts were mostly Koromon and Pyocomon, although other types were sprinkled in. Unlike her current group, none bore physical damage, but it was clear that they had been through a lot. The moment they were free of the carts, they darted beneath the closest cover, causing collisions and squeaky arguments over hiding spots. They slunk close to the ground, eyes wide and scanning, squishy bodies trembling.
In the face of their fear, Eimi's planned welcoming words felt hollow, maybe even mocking. She scrapped them and bowed to the Bureau staff, then in the various directions the babies had dispersed. After the Bureau workers left with their carts, Eimi improvised a new, simpler introduction.
"Welcome, everyone. My name is Anami Eimi, and I'm here to take care of you. The other digimon have been in my care for about a month, now. I was told you've been through a lot, and I'm so sorry to hear that. But, um..."
When her hesitation lagged on, Koro-chi leaped into the air. "But you're safe now! Here, we play and eat and sleep together. It's like our home villages, except we also have Eimi! And the food is really good, and we don't even have to find it! That makes more time to play!" Koro-chi's ears wiggled as she considered. "Eimi, can the new digimon talk to their villages too?"
A Koromon inched forward. Though it approached Koro-chi, its eyes were on Eimi. Sensing that it might bolt if she so much as twitched, she tried to remain still. "What do you mean?"
Koro-chi launched into narration, enjoying attention from the newcomers. "The Chosen visit us a lot! You know them, right? When they come, tell them what village you're from. Then, you'll see your friends on the TV. You can talk to them! Everyone talks to their village once per week!"
The Koromon folded its ears over, and Eimi wondered if Koro-chi's volume was too much stimulus for it. Weakly, it echoed, "TV? Week?"
Koro-chi splayed an ear over its forehead, a perfect imitation of Eimi doing the same with her hand. "Right! You don't know TV yet! It's amazing! Let's watch it!"
And before the Koromon could argue, Koro-chi bounced to the TV, calling for the rest to follow with infectious excitement. The newcomers glanced at each other, then scurried after, likely reluctant to be left with the human.
"You'll need names!" Koro-chi's soliloquy continued. "Eimi will help you later! Other humans can't tell us apart, but Eimi can! Eimi, help with the TV!"
"Oh- Sure!" Eimi hurried to obey, giving the new digimon a wide berth. Koro-chi requested a family movie that was popular with the digimon, and Eimi loaded the DVD into the computer.
And as the movie played, even the hiding digimon emerged from the shadows to watch. The group in front of the screen grew, and Eimi released a relieved little sigh. Maybe a little bossiness wasn't so bad, at least when paired with friendliness and a genuine desire to help.
XXX
Towards the end of Eimi's work day, when the playroom was tinted sunset orange, Sayuri sent warning that she was visiting. By now, the new digimon had either settled into hidey holes, started exploring human entertainments under the guidance of the others, or joined games like tag and hide-and-seek. Their excitement made her wonder how long it had been since they last played, or how long they spent in cages, injured and possibly alone. Thinking about it was heart breaking, but she was grateful to her digimon for making a welcoming environment for their new friends. In just a few hours, the new digimon were showing a level of comfort that took over a week to achieve when the playroom first opened.
Eimi rose from the computer desk, where she was doing homework before receiving Sayuri's text. "We're going to have a visitor from the Bureau," she said, raising her voice. "Don't worry. She's a safe person." Despite Eimi's promise of safety, many digimon took the chance to hide. Can't blame them. Wish I could fit under something right now.
Soon, the door beeped, and Sayuri entered, saying, "Excuse me. Hello, everyone. I'm here to ask if any of you want to be healed by our scientists."
Eimi found herself standing between Sayuri and the digimon, with Koro-chi beside her. The flicker of PetiMeramon's flames danced in her periphery, but she didn't look away from Sayuri, even as embarrassed heat tinted her cheeks. She tried to model cooperation with the Bureau, since she and the babies had no choice but to deal with them. But whenever something unusual happened, her guard rose, and protecting the babies came first. "Can you explain what that means to the babies?" Realizing that she was being challenging, she bowed and added, "Please."
Sayuri nodded curtly. "Certainly. The digimon who joined you today spent the last month with digimon researchers. For most of that time, the researchers kept the digimon comfortable while they struggled to find a way to safely heal the damage done to them in the labs. Recently, those researchers had a break through in understanding the technologies we removed from those labs. The healing process is fast and painless."
Piyoko, a Pyocomon missing one leaf and the chunk of another, peeked out from behind a bookshelf. "No pain?"
"None," Sayuri confirmed. "Using this new technology, we can rebuild your leaves and remove the wounds and scarring from the gag mounts. We are happy to do this for anyone who is interested."
Though Piyoko quivered from the tips of her vines to her many toes, she managed, "Eimi come too?"
"Piyoko," Eimi murmured. "Of course-"
"No." Eimi's mouth snapped shut as she jerked towards Sayuri. "The technology is classified. Only the injured digimon is permitted, and they will be blindfolded during the procedure."
Eimi had to pry her clenched jaws apart. "I want to support the digimon. I can wear a blindfold too."
"I can't grant that permission." Sayuri's tone was cool, professional. Eimi believed that Sayuri's hands were tied- that was life in the Bureau, after all- but she sure didn't like it. "No one has to decide today. Ask your new friends about the process to confirm that it's safe. We're happy to help at any time. Good evening."
With that, Sayuri bowed and left. The door beeped as it locked behind her. Eimi stared at the barrier, dazed and suddenly frightened. Over and over, the situation changed, and her world and perspective were upended with it. Even her sense of normalcy was shifting, or maybe eroding. Was everything as crazy as it felt, or was she failing to adapt? Why hire her to help the babies, but keep such important intel from her? Why deny the digimon her support if they wanted it?
"Eimi?" Koro-chi rubbed her shin. Eimi shook her head to clear it and forced a smile.
"I'm sorry. I wish... I wish I could help you more."
Feeling eyes on her, she turned and found PetiMeramon, hovering far closer to her than they had ever ventured before. Wanting to encourage interaction, Eimi asked, "You okay, PetiMeramon?" Save for the new additions, PetiMeramon was the only baby with no individualized name, since they never responded to her suggestions.
Those large blue eyes blinked once, twice. PetiMeramon nodded, or maybe just bobbed in the air, then floated to the top of a bookshelf to keep vigil. Eimi had no idea how to interpret that behavior, so she returned her attention to the problem at hand.
"I know you've all been through a lot, but can any of the newcomers tell us what they know about this healing process?"
Dozens of big, round eyes stared at her, but no one came forward. "Okay," Eimi replied, hoping she didn't sound as hysterical as she felt. "Please, tell me right away if you remember anything."
"Hmm..." Koro-chi's eyes glanced to the side as she considered. "I'm fine with my scars. I understand wanting them gone, but this is how I met Eimi and everyone. This is part of me now."
Eimi stared, dumbfounded, at Koro-chi's upturned face. The wounds on her cheeks were mostly healed, but scars remained- and always would, unless Koro-chi had the Bureau remove them with this mysterious new technology.
This is part of me now.
Eimi knew that unethical labs and Digital World relationships were a concern, but she primarily focused on supporting the babies. Suddenly, it occurred to her that this wasn't just a motley group of refugees in need of help. This was the first baby village on earth, and she… Eimi nearly swayed. She was their Meramon, albeit with far less strength. And like Meramon, who could do precious little to help his Pyocomon in the playroom from the Digital World, Eimi was beholden to the Bureau, and whatever mercies or cruelty they bestowed.
Still, this is big. Way bigger than me and the babies! I'm involved in something I don't understand- something that is shaping these digimon, and maybe the Digital World. They come from villages all over their world. What will happen when they talk about everything they went through in the labs, and with me and their new friends here?
This is part of me now. Permanent scar, permanent mark. Permanent impact.
But despite everything she had endured, Koro-chi was happy to have met Eimi and the other babies. That alone made Eimi's situation and effort worthwhile, made her heart swell with pride and a fierce desire to protect. Still, the wildly exploding list of questions and abrupt changes catapulted her into the depths of confusion and anxiety. Surely, the Bureau knew that this situation was unique, and was trying to skew it to their advantage. But what did they consider an advantage, and what might the cost be to Eimi's village?
Piyo nuzzled Piyoko. "We don't have to go if we don't want to. Right?"
Tears watered in Eimi's eyes. "I'll do whatever I can to make sure what you want is respected."
"But the Bureau does what they want in the end, right?" Koro-chi asked. Eimi swallowed hard. She avoided framing the Bureau as an opposing force, since the digimon were stuck here, regardless. But as she witnessed each day, the babies were smart, and Koro-chi paid attention to what Eimi did.
Eimi tried to choose her words with care. "They have more authority than me. But I'll do my best."
"Um, Eimi..." Pooka tapped her ankle with both flippers. "It's almost time for you to go home, but... Can you stay?"
Technically, Eimi was supposed to be with the digimon from 9 to 6, with an hour for lunch. She was welcome to take her online classes from the playroom computer and work on her assignments, and to play with, feed, and tend to the babies in between. They were fairly self sufficient, as they lived on their own in communities in the Digital World, so continuing her degree while making sure they didn't set anything on fire was doable. But she often stayed with them until they fell asleep in the early evening and visited on weekends.
Allowing her caretaking role to overrun her life was surely detrimental to her mental health. But what could she do? She was the only one the babies trusted, and even that was a stretch for some of them. And she didn't trust the Bureau, either. If the babies asked for her, she'd be here.
"Alright," Eimi gently replied. "Let's feed you, and then I'll leave for my dinner and come back. Do you want to wind down with a movie? You can pick that while I eat."
Thus, she cleverly avoided the movie argument, where digimon demanded her opinion, all hoping she would promote their choice. The meal she ordered from the Bureau cafeteria earlier today would be delivered to her apartment soon, but it would have to wait.
She had a phone call to make.
XXX
Eimi sat at the table in her apartment, stationed between the kitchen and the living area. She frowned at her Izumi Corp phone. Although she carried it always, she stowed it in an interior zipped pocket of a backpack or purse. She was probably always on film in the Bureau building, save for her apartment (which she scanned daily for intelligence devices). If she wanted to securely contact someone, it had to be from here.
At this hour, Koushiro was likely wrapping up his workday, extending it, or commuting home. Eimi had his permission to text any time with digimon news, so with a twinge of guilt, she ignored the inconvenient hour.
Can you call me when you're free? I have digimon news. It's not urgent, but you should know as soon as it's convenient.
Of course, he replied, and her phone rang soon after.
"Hey, Koushiro-san, Tentomon."
Koushiro relayed her greeting to Tentomon. "Tentomon wishes you a good evening. You have news?"
Eimi exhaled roughly. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. Ikeda-san brought more digimon to the playroom today."
The faint background noise of typing came to an abrupt halt. "What? From where?"
"The original raids," Eimi quickly clarified, aware that the news was unsettling. "According to Ikeda-san, some of the recovered lab digimon were found injured. The Bureau kept them separate from the healthier rescued babies until today."
There was a stiff pause as Koushiro digested. "More injured than the ones already in your care?"
"That's my assumption. But the new digimon were visually healthy."
In the next silence, Eimi pictured Koushiro, eyebrows crowding and forehead lining as his brain churned. "Then… Ikeda-san is claiming that the Bureau healed these digimon."
"Right, using technology they removed from labs during the original raids." Knowing he would ask, Eimi hurried to regurgitate everything she knew.
When she finished, Koushiro said, "What kind of tech could it be? I hate to say this, but I wonder if there is an ulterior motive here, especially since they won't allow you to accompany digimon to a healing. Did the new digimon offer info?"
Eimi grimaced. "No. They definitely carry themselves like the most injured digimon in my care. Skittish, wanting to hide. Koro-chi made them feel safer, but… Well, I can believe that they were injured at some point."
Koushiro's long, exhausted sigh caused another twinge of guilt. Eimi wished she wasn't always dropping bad- or at least perplexing- news at his feet. She couldn't imagine how much he was already dealing with. "Alright. Thank you for informing me. I know you'll be good to them regardless, but please try to make the newcomers comfortable. The sooner we get information from them, the better. At the risk of being rude, I need to go. A digital gate near a baby village has opened, and I need to contact the Chosen and the digimon who volunteered to help."
"Oh!" Eimi sat ramrod straight and smacked a hand to her forehead. "Oh. Oh, no. This is the first time that's happened since the raids, right?"
"Correct. We need to send Chosen there to guard against poachers."
"Right…" Eimi wasn't sure what would be better: a quiet night with no mishaps, or apprehending a poacher. Were the Chosen ready to face whoever might be involved? A sick sensation wriggled in her guts. "Um, Koushiro-san… Can people take weapons into the Digital World? Will the Chosen be safe?"
Koushiro's calm, measured voice went grim. "We've tested it with kitchen knives and replica guns. In general, whatever a Chosen is carrying on their person makes the jump to the Digital World. We won't send anyone in alone."
"Koushiro-san… I'm worried." Frankly, to a degree that surprised her. By inclination, Eimi didn't have many friends, as socialization drained her. She had only known the Chosen for a month, but their kindness and the effort they poured into defending digimon endeared them to her. They were good people with a lot on their shoulders. Like her, they should be spending this part of their lives learning and having fun before launching their careers (although clearly, Koushiro had skipped some steps). Instead, they were trying to take care of things that most people couldn't even imagine. The thought of them getting hurt, in addition to taking on so many responsibilities, was horrifying.
Koushiro's tone softened. "I know. Thank you. But please focus on the baby digimon, and leave this part to us. I really have to go. Good night, Eimi-san."
"Oh- Yes- Good night. Please be careful, all of you."
He agreed, and the call cut off. Sighing, Eimi placed the phone on her table and gazed at her untouched bento. Suddenly, she didn't feel like eating. But how could she keep up with the babies if she didn't?
Reluctantly, she opened the bento and ate what she could. Right now, what she wanted most was to be among a pile of baby digimon, watching a low-stakes, family-friendly movie. But she'd like it even more if the Chosen were going about a typical evening, instead of leaping into potential danger.
They have their digimon partners. I have to trust them to do their job, and go do mine. That decided, Eimi stored her leftovers, filled her water bottle, and returned to the playroom.
Author's Notes: Even if their goals totally aligned with Eimi's, I feel like the Bureau would do everything in the sketchiest way possible, only disclosing anything when they absolutely had to. What a pain!
As you can guess, things will take off next chapter as the Chosen deal with the mysterious baby digimon poachers. I added this chapter to give a sense of what Eimi's day-to-day in the playroom is like before things take off. I hope it wasn't too slow or, like… Banal. But baby digimon are cute, right?
Thanks so much for reading, please review! Big hug!
