Chapter 3
A few days later, we find the gang on a boat heading to the mainland. One of Morris' contacts finally managed to come through, but it wasn't easy. The man now processed what little cash they had left plus he seemed paranoid about everything. Even though the virus had long since dissipated he still insisted on wearing a gas mask. He also had an insane nervous twitch as if on caffeine overload.
Finally the boat pulled
up to a beach just on the outside of a LilyCove City. The nervous
guy said,
"This is as far as I can go man. We're not even
suppose to be out on the water. Are you sure this is all your
money?"
Morris looked at him and said, "Yes for the twentieth time. And take off that gas mask. The virus is gone."
Instead the man just ran to the boats bridge and gunned the motor and took off at a dangerous speed.
Max said, "Well that was sure interesting."
"Interesting?" said May. "That guy was crazy. He said if we came within three feet of him he would blow our heads off."
Morris replied, "Josh has always been a conspiracy nut. Something like this I can imagine would snap his mind."
They began walking south towards the city. Everyone was being unnaturally quiet. The attack on Ash a few days ago was still fresh in their heads. When they arrived in the city about 30 minutes later the city was almost surreal. Through the darkness they could see that power was to only half the city. The streets normally bustling with night life were empty.
Ash said, "This place is giving me the creeps."
Brock stated, "Where is everyone?"
Morris replied, "Probably scared to death of Green Earth." He then pointed to a billboard post, it was covered with both Green Earth and Opposition Posters posted over each other. Suddenly a vehicle pulled up out of the darkness. Out stepped two figures: A military M.P. and a Ninetails hybrid in a police uniform.
The hybrid shouted, "Hey, what are you doing out, you know there is a curfew?"
Max replied, "Curfew? What do you mean?"
The M.P. stated, "Due to increased activities by Green Earth and their supporters, LilyCove City has a curfew that lasts from sundown to sunup." He then held out his hand. "Pay Up." This certainly got everyone's attention.
Brock asked, "What is this a fine?"
The Ninetails police officer nodded his head, "Yep, five hundred from each of you now."
May said, "Uhhh--I think that's going to be a problem. We kind of spent the last of our money securing transport to your city and we're just passing through. Could you--ahh--like let us off the hook just this once?"
The M.P. and the Ninetails officer shot them all an extremely dirty look. The officer stated, "So where exactly are you going."
Ash replied, "Petalburg City."
The officers relaxed a little bit, but not much "You might want to take the national transit train then. I wouldn't recommend passing though Fortree right now. You know how those people are supersticous about dark types?"
Ash remembered when he visited Fortree for a gym battle. Because he had a Crawdaunt, which was both a water and a dark type, everyone kept avoiding him and he even received several death threats. As replied, "Yes, I remember that place, Why?"
The M.P. stated, "The place has gone crazy, some of the citizens became dark type hybrids and the other citizens began killing them. Military had to evacuate all remaining dark types. And the citizens actually fought us at every turn. We lost several units during the evacuation to fanatics hiding on roofs with hunting rifles."
Brock replied astonished, "Your kidding me--didn't the police help you at all?"
The M.P. replied, "No, they're just as supersticous as their citizens. They even tried a blockade to try to stop the evacuation. It was like that Salem Witch Hunt."
Max replied, "Then I'd better stay as far away from Fortree as possible."
The Ninetails officer nodded and simply stated, "Agreed. One of my relatives who resided there became a Dark type hybrid and he was shot clear through the head by one of Fortrees police. Just a few blocks south is the train terminal. If you aren't familiar with it, the line connects Lily Cove to Fortree, Melville, Petalburg, and finally Rustboro which is the end the line. Due to a government intervention, the trains are now charging normal fees again Do any of you live in Petalburg?"
May answered, "Me and my little brother do."
The M.P. stated, "Since that is your place of origin, I think I will be able to get you passage at no charge. However, when passing through Fortree I recommend that you lock your brother in the bathroom. You don't want at lynch mob on board do you?"
Max palled as much as possible under his black fur.
Ash questioned, "So when does this train leave anyway?"
The Ninetails hybrid glanced at his cheap digital watch and said, "Thirty minutes--last train today. Take it and you will get to Petalburg by noon tomorrow. That's if the tracks are clear."
A few minutes later, the group was on the train after saying goodbye to the M.P. and officer. The train started out of the station slowly and then began to pick up speed. An old speaker blurted out in a scratchy voice: "Welcome aboard the NTS--the time is 7:30 p.m.--estimated time of arrivals are: Fortree 11 p.m., Melville/National Capitol 3:30 a.m., Petalburg 8:05 a.m., and Rustboro end of line 10:15 a.m. Thank you for using the NTS, have a same and pleasant journey."
The group glanced around the car realizing that they were the only passengers. Probably the only ones on the train due to the current curfew.
Morris sat on the couch like bench and immediately passed out from exhaustion. May did the same.
Ash said to Brock, "Is that such a good idea? We're going to be passing through Fortree in a few hours, and if they see Max we are royally screwed."
Brock said, "I don't think we need to worry about that, as soon as we got on the train he locked himself in the bathroom. He said to tell him when we pass Fortree so he can come out. We'd better stay awake until then."
Ash nodded as he sat down to watch the landscape roll by outside his window.
Meanwhile, half way across the globe, a single person was sitting in a dark office atop a skyscraper belonging to American Stars. A company that specialized in every type of electrically equipment imaginable from their first successful computer operating system that managed to eclipse Windows in popularity to military and medical equipment. Anything powered by electricity, American Stars made it. However there was a dark side to this company, it was the legal front for Team Tech, and anyone who ever made this connection vanished very quickly.
A Manectric hybrid in a business suit walked into the office. The man turned around and looked at him and said, "Report."
"Our forces have finally wiped out the last of Team Flora's resistance in Europe. The continent is ours. We also managed to almost destroy Team Aqua and Magma. Once they are gone, we will have control of Hoenn and our foothold in Asia that you requested."
The man turned around, ice blue eyes and molten copper color hair were his most distinguishing features.
"Good, it's only a matter of time now. Once our biggest rival Team Rocket is gone, we'll have complete control. Tell our men to take their time. Make sure that every bit of Aqua and Magma resistance is squashed. I've waited two decades for this, I can wait a little longer."
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Next: Petalburg and a dark tech encounter
Rave Drifter
