Chapter 5. That is all.
At precisely 1:34 pm, Takato jerked awake. He had woken up in a cold sweat and was breathing heavily, but couldn't remember why.
Whatever, he decided, musta been a weird dream or something.
But he found it extremely difficult to fall back asleep. He thought it might have been a combination of his nerves and the snores of Terriermon and Guilmon.
He groaned and rolled over in his bed. He pulled his pillow over his head in a vain attempt to shut the rumbling of their snores out, but it was impossible.
He attempted to just fall asleep naturally, but the rhythmic sound of their snores seemed to slowly wake him up instead of sending him off into a comma.
After trying to fall asleep in the company of the two digimon's snores for a half an hour, he gave up and swung his legs out of his bed. As he dropped to the floor, he noticed Henry's bed was empty.
To tired to care much, Takato grabbed his guitar. Who knows, maybe crankin' out some tunes will help me go to sleep.
As he pushed open his door he was surprised to find Henry, Kazu, and Kenta all awake and looking at him as if they expected him to show up.
"Couldn't sleep?" Kazu asked. Takato nodded.
"You would not believe how annoying and loud Guardromon's electric snoring is!" Kenta said wiping his glasses casually. Kazu nodded, before getting the 'Kazu glint' in his eyes.
"Let's get 'em back for wakin' us up! We can all play real loud and annoy the shit out of 'em." Kenta fist bumped Kazu, and to Takato's surprise Henry nodded and moved over to his keyboard.
Kazu looked over to Takato, taking in his taken aback expression. "So Chumley," he asked with his Kazu look, "you gonna sing for us or is one of us gonna make everyone's ear drums bleed? We want to wake everyone up, not make them deaf from hearing our voices.'"
Takato smiled and swung the shoulder strap on his guitar over his shoulder. "Thanks Kazu."
Kazu shrugged. "Don't thank me yet. Thank me if Rika doesn't pound us all into a bloody pulp." They all laughed at Kazu's comment.
Henry looked to Tkato, and asked, "Now, what should we play?"
They sat in silence before an idea struck Takato. "Guys, what about Imagine Dragons Radioactive? Plenty of guitar and keyboard stuff in there. Plus, Kenta can slam his drums really hard in this one, and can make this whole complex hear these lyrics."
They all nodded. Takato and Kazu tuned their guitars and plugged them into the amp while Kenta got out his lucky drumsticks. Henry was setting his keyboard to right settings and volume.
In a few moments, they where ready to make some noise. Kazu counted a starting beat.
1 and a 2 and 1, 2, 3!
The Takato began to hum the beginning of the song and then took.
I'm wakin' up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and sweat my rust
I'm breathin' in the chemicals
I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out of the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Woah
Then, Henry, Kazu, and Kenta joined Takato for the chorus, all singing as loud as they could while still smashing out the song.
I'm wakin' up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Woah, oh, oh, oh oh, Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive!
Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh, Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive!
As Takato began to go solo again, the others and him all concentrated on making their song as loud as possible.
I raise my flag, don my clothes
It's a revolution I suppose
We're painted red, to fit right in
Woah
I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out of the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
Woah
The others then jumped into singing again.
I'm wakin' up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Woah, oh, oh, oh oh, Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive!
Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh, Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive!
All systems go, the sun hasn't died
Deep in my bones, straight from inside
I'm wakin' up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my system blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Woah, oh, oh, oh oh, Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive!
Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh, Woah, oh, oh, oh, oh, I'm radioactive, radioactive!
As Takato finished the last lyric, he slumped onto the couch, dropping his guitar to the ground. Kenta simply fell off the seat next to his drums onto the ground. Henry relaxed back into his seat while Kazu hid behind the couch.
"Whoo! Good job guys that was excellent." Takato said looking around with a gleaming smile. His face fell as he noticed the looks of his friends.
They were all staring at him, eyes wide as dinner plates. Their faces turned white, as if they'd seen a ghost.
"Guys, why you all stari-MRPH!" He yelped as hand with a vice like grip clamped around his mouth, followed quickly by an arm wrapping around his neck in a choke hold.
He was then pinned against a wall with tremendous force, causing him to smack his head into the wall with a heavy thud.
His cry of pain was muffled by the hand covering his mouth. He reopened his eyes to see his "captor," and was highly unsurprised to see an extremely dangerous looking Rika.
Saying that he was unsurprised per say did not mean that Rika's stare of venom was any less frightening. Her amethyst eyes seemed to burn holes straight through head.
Takato's heart rate was now beating faster than he had ever thought possible. He had seen angry Rika before, but he had never had to deal with flames she saved just Kazu, Kenta, and Ryo.
Just then, he noticed that Ryo, Jeri, and Suzie had come out as well. Ryo had Kenta and Kazu's faces smashed onto the countertop while Jeri and Suzie had gotten Henry pinned on the ground.
As Rika began to speak, Takato's attention swung back to her. "So," she began in a voice even more deadly than her face let up, "you morons decided to play that garbage at 1 in the frickin' morning! What in the name of hell was that all about! You know Gogglehead, I haven't slept for almost 3 days because of you and you decided that even though you were better that you would extend my no sleep streak!"
She then turned to the others, not relinquishing her hold on him for a second, "I'll admit I was surprised that Gogglehead here would do something this stupid, but it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that the dimwit duo over here roped him into this. But seriously, Henry? How did they get you get into this? I thought you had more sense."
Henry grunted from the floor and she glared over at him to silence him.
She then turned back to Takato's terrified face, and got uncomfortably close to emphasize. "Listen here goggles, I'll let this one go, but try stunt like that again," she drew a finger across her throat, "well, let's just say you won't like it much."
She threw him onto the ground a marched back to her room.
Ryo, Jeri, and Suzie watched as she marched away, and as soon as the door slammed shut, they all burst into apologies.
"Sorry guys, but she made us." Ryo explained. Kazu and Kenta got off the tabletops with round red marks on their cheeks. The girls got off Henry and gave him a hand up.
"Jesus Jeri I never thought you had it in you." Henry remarked as brushed off his vest. Jeri giggled and blushed slightly.
"Hey Henry what about me?" Suzie asked with an expectant look.
Henry laughed and rumpled her hair, smiling, "Yeah, you too. Takin' down your big bro that's five years older!" Suzie smiled and hugged him.
Takato smiled at the cute sight, but he turned to door to Rika, Jeri, and Suzie's room. He started toward it, but a he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Ryo with a nervous expression.
"I wouldn't dude. I know Wildcat and what to do and what not to do when she's pissed. Best let her cool off and then apologize…. or just make fun of her, whatever you want." He added the last bit with a smile a chuckle.
Takato smiled but shook his head. "Thanks Ryo, but I know what I'm doing here. At least I hope I am."
Ryo laughed. "Well, I'll be over here diggin' your grave."
Takato chuckled and turned back to the door, heart starting to increase in rate again. He was walking into the lion's den, and that lion was pissed.
He took a few deep breaths and inched his hand towards the door handle. He closed his eyes as his sweating hand gripped the door handle. At that moment, he realized how tired he actually was, and how inviting sleep seemed. Just the thought of his soft, warm bed, completely devoid of crazy pissed off girls out for his blood….
No! Stop making excuses! Man up, and just go apologize! Its not like she'll do anything too horrible, right? Right?
He shuddered as gruesome images floated across his mind.
Well, my mom always said my imagination can be a curse.
He summoned up his courage, turned the knob and opened the door. He flung himself through the door, and slammed it shut behind him.
He was beginning to hyperventilate, so he took a couple of deep calming breaths before looking around.
The girls' room was similar in shape to his and Henry's, but it was slightly larger. It also had a large window, which was a surprise. The way Alex had explained the building, he expected it to be completely underground. But apparently not because Rika was staring out a large window across the room.
He stood stock still simply watching her stare out of the window. He slowly crept up to her turned back to see what she was looking at. As he was a couple feet behind he, he tried to hide a gasp as he saw the view of the window.
It was a view of a sleepy Kyoto. It was a collage of colorful lights and dark buildings. After taking in the breath taking view, he actually realized Rika wasn't looking at the view. She had her head leaned up against the glass, head down, looking at something in her hand.
He moved closer to the point where the points of Rika's spiky hair was tickling his face in order to see what she was holding.
His chest was practically rubbing up against Rika's shoulder as he peered over it.
His eyes widened as he saw what it was. He realized he was intruding on a very sensitive subject for Rika, and that was exactly what he didn't need when he had just woken her up at one in the morning.
He finally walked up next to her and stared out the window, trying to keep his eyes off the picture in her hand.
Suddenly Rika spoke, but quietly, and in a more soft voice then her usual, "Sorry about back there goggles."
Takato was astounded Rika had actually apologized to him for something, especially for something was his fault. "It wasn't your fault Rika, it was just a dumb plan Kazu dreamt up to get back at Guardromon, Guilmon, Terriermon for snoring so loud and waking us up."
"I know! It's your fault, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry." She said with her usual sharpness in her voice.
She looked back down to her picture. Takato couldn't help it, and looked back over at it.
It showed a tall, handsome man with a short dark brown hair. He was standing behind a little girl, no more than maybe seven or eight, with very recognizable spikey red hair. There were many similarities to young and present day Rika, except her younger self wore a bedazzling smile.
Takato felt a wave of sadness and pity for Rika wash over him as he stared at the picture. Only about a year and a half ago, Rika received word that her father had been shot and died on the way to the hospital. The killer was still unknown, but everyone knew it wasn't the killer that mattered to Rika.
She never talked about her dad much, and when she did, it was always in anger about how he had left her. But Takato knew the truth.
She resented her father yes, but at the news of his death, she was completely devastated. She stopped going to school, and shut every one of the tamers out.
All but one.
Takato had come to her house one night to comfort her. In a rare display of emotion, she cried into his chest until he was forced to go home.
They both vividly remembered Takato's parting words that night:
You know if you need me, I'll always be around.
"You know, I think your dad really did love you Rika, and it wasn't his fault he left." Takato remarked.
Rika continued to stare at the picture with a stone cold stare. "I couldn't give a damn if he loved me, but I do know I miss him more than anything. It's the most painful thing imaginable goggles. Imagine for a second dino boy was killed in a battle, how would that feel?"
Takato nodded, "Horrible. I know you miss your dad cause you loved him a lot, even if you deny it. And I stand by what I said last time, and that I'll be here if ever you need someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on."
As Rika tucked the picture away, she chuckled and lightly punched him in the side. She turned to look up at her goggleheaded friend and gave him one of her rare, genuine smiles.
"Thanks Takato. You're a good friend." She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. Takato was beyond astounded as his face lit up like a Christmas tree. Not just that she was hugging him, but that she used his real name!
Rika grinned as she could feel Takato's quick heart rate in his chest. She gave him a light shove towards the door and said, "Thanks again goggles. Who knows, I may actually take you up on that offer Mr. Psychologist."
He laughed before walking out the door.
The others looked up in shock. "You're alive!" Kazu shouted as he saw Takato.
"Damn it! We just finished with your grave!" Kenta complained. Takato scowled as he saw said 'grave' that Kenat was indicating. It was a soda can on the couch with a piece paper stuck on in. It read:
Rest in peace Takato Matsuki. May the chum that is now you rest in the absence of crazy girls like Rika Nonaka. We all hope you will never experience a pummeling like that again up (or down) to wherever it is you go.
RIP Takato Matsuki
He looked up at Kazu, Kenta, and Ryo with a highly miffed expression. "You serious?"
Kazu, Kenta, and Ryo all looked at each other like they were trying quite hard not to laugh, and after a few awkward seconds, they bust into hysterical laughter.
Takato simply rolled his eyes and shoved past them as he walked back to his room.
Before he climbed into his bed, his eyes drifted toward the sleeping forms of Guilmon and Terriermon. He looked around, and gently lifted one of terriermon's ears an placed it in Guilmon's wide mouth. He then shut it lightly on top of it, drowning out his snores somewhat.
He chuckled, climbed into bed.
He difted off to sleep with the memory of a smile. The smile of Rika Nonaka.
Yet again, in the strange dark room, three men stood around the table, and another sitting down in a chair at the head of the table.
This man looked to the youngest of the group and spoke in his deep voice, "Alex, we're running out of time. That two week time table I gave you is now down to a couple days. Our window on the Tyrael is closing fast. The triplets are going to be viewing the ship in three days. We need the redhead, the blue haired one, and our aw, well, casualty from a few days ago prepped in infiltration, stealth, recon, and moderate accuracy with a weapon in the days to come. Those three already are pretty similar in appearance to the triplets, but the blue and redhead must have their hair fixed to be brown."
Alex slowly nodded. "Yes sir. You must understand how hard this going to be, and that their skills will still be very basic."
"That's were I come." Halt cut in. "I plan to plan to teach them some skills in the field of sweet talking. It will come easiest for Ms. Nonaka because people will easily fall for her looks. Mr. Wong may have an easy time because of his calm persona, but Mr. Matsuki I'll have to work on. The others will need as much halo-jump experience as possible in the time we have as we are halo jumping them into the base once our three teens give us the green light."
The man in the shadows leaned forward, but his head was still swathed in darkness, "Halt, you better not compromise this mission. I trust you, but if this plan is even slightly derailed, then it will take us months or even years to find out the source of all this."
Alex gasped, "Sir! That's what we're doing on that ship? I thought it was for the ship! Like, stealing it and stuff."
Yamaki leaned forward and laughed. "I see they didn't teach you much in the way of stealing hardware like that battleship over in America did they Alex?" Alex shook his head.
"I'm afraid not sir. But may I ask, what is the actual plan, start to finish." Alex, Yamaki, and Halt all looked expectantly up at the man in the chair. The man sighed, and began to explain.
"There are a group of triplets who are the sponsors of the ship. These triplets will be touring the ship in a few days, but we need some of the info on that ship's data frame. We plan to sneak the tamers and some of our most experienced soldiers down there. The ship is being launched in a secret military port a few miles north of Kyoto. We plan to capture the triplets on the way to the ship, and replace them with our tamer friends disguised as them. They do look rather similar other than hair color." He then paused, waiting for an objection.
When none came however, he continued, "They will infiltrate the ship, clearing out a few guards and then give the all clear. The rest of the team will be halo-jumped in via C-130, and our team will capture the data I need. But's not all about the source of these attacks, but also an experimental weapon that I believe could be highly useful to our tamer friends.
"It's called Project Excalibur. I have reason to believe that could be highly useful to our tamer friends."
He stood up and faced Halt and Alex. "You two need to get those kids prepped in the time we have. Start them tomorrow morning at 0500."
"Yes sir!" They chanted, and left the room.
Yamaki, now alone with the man, looked over at the shadow that was his face.
"Sir, Excalibur will almost certainly kill those kids. The amount of energy within-"
"It's either we get it, or they do."
Finally this chapter is done. This was pretty much still a fluff chapter, but we are getting out of that zone soon friends! OmnimonAllDelete, signing off for now!