The Elusive Latios

I had forgotten how much I loved the nightlife. Maple let me ride his motorbike, and I couldn't have been more grateful. As I drove, I was completely mesmerized by the twinkling, city lights blazing past me. I was almost too enamoured I realized when I nearly hit a couple trying to cross the street. They yelled at me, I honked at them; no big deal. Very soon I was in criminal territory. The buildings were old, run down, and shabby looking. The air clung to the rotten stench of factories looming in the distance. Litter lined the decaying streets and sidewalks. Home sweet home.

I drove all the way to a section of the city where the stop lights hung shakily on wires threatening to snap, and the local thugs watched foreigners hazily from dark alleys and abandoned buildings. I stopped Maple's bike momentarily in the middle of an empty intersection to analyze the map one more time. As I read, I could feel the hungry glare of the hoodlums climbing my back. As uncomfortable as I was, I didn't show it. Living on the streets as long as I had, I learned more than a few techniques. I finished my refresher quickly, and I tucked the map away into my pocket again. Without hesitation, I floored the gas and was well on my way. If they were going to do something to me, they missed their chance.

The map lead me down many dark alleyways. During the traveling process I saw many sites.

Oh, it was nothing out of the ordinary. Just the typical ghetto activities. A hooker getting worked in the ass, an illegal drug exchange, and a break in were but a few of the eccentricities I witnessed. I paid them no heed though, for my help was needed elsewhere.

I arrived at the auction site sooner than I expected. The building honestly surprised me, and I didn't believe I was in the right location until I observed my guide once more. I was definitely in the correct spot. The building was dark and grey. There was a decent sized hole in the roof, and its shingles were noticeably disheveled. The body of the structure was very rickety in nature and looked as if the slightest gust of wind would annihilate it. The door hung slightly ajar begging anyone foolish enough to come inside...

"What a hot-damn awful shack." I whispered to myself. I was parked in the shadows of an alley, and I decided it would be a good time to, well, check the time. I pulled my right sleeve up a notch and checked out my jet black wristwatch. 11 o'clock pm, on the dot. That bastard, Wallis, would be there soon. I hopped off the bike so I'd be battle ready and sat down. Suddenly, a gargantuan light erupted from the shack, and the loud cheers of drunk and crazed men flooded my head. I stood up immediately and checked my watch once more. 11:02 pm. Was the event starting? Where the hell was Wallis? I had a feeling something wasn't right. Right when I began to move, the door to the shack slammed shut. Shit. No way in. I stood up and grimaced. I had a feeling we had been duped. I moved towards the facility and looked around. I saw several large trucks parked in and around a run-down shed. As I began to interpret the clues around me, a loud voice erupted over an intercom breaking my chain of thought.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S WEEKLY AUCTION. WE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF SURPRISES FOR YOU ALL TO BID ON! DON'T SPEND ALL YOUR MONEY IN ONE PLACE THOUGH, FOR RIGHT WHEN YOU THINK IT'S GOTTEN AS GOOD AS IT CAN GET, IT GETS BETTER!" The auction had began. Somebody fucked up with the information exchange down the line, and I placed all my bets on Wallis. I figured he had told Maple the incorrect time on purpose. I ran to the once open door and tried it, but as I feared, it was locked. I slowly backed away. What could I do? That Latios was counting me. Maple too... I shook my head slowly. There had to be a way. I looked around me once more for anything that might be of assistance to me. I scanned the scene for a moment before my eyes landed on the roof's opening once again.

"If I could somehow get up there, I could see everything..." I whispered aloud. I looked around again. The shed was relatively close to the shack, and the trucks around it could provide platforms for me to jump from. It sounded like a plan. I quickly moved into the darkness around the shed and proceeded to climb a shabby, blue tow-truck that was missing paint in several spots. When I reached the roof of the vehicle, I targeted a dented, silver truck that had at one time transported hay bales. Staring my target down with eyes of steel I inhaled deeply. I swung my arms back and forth for a moment as I bent down, and then I jumped for it. I landed neatly on the truck's roof with a considerably loud "BANG". The noise in the shack died down immediately, and all was quiet for a moment. I swallowed hard.

"THAAAAT MUST HAVE BEEN ONE OF YOUR MANY SURPRISES IN THE BACK. THEY'RE JUST AS EXCITED AS WE ARE!" The man on the intercom roared impressively, and the crowd screamed back at him. I sighed loudly and wiped my head with my hand. Close call. Thankfully, the silver truck was at such a convenient angle that I could step off of its roof and onto the shack. I

moved slowly and proceeded with caution. I patted the shack with my foot a few times to check its stability. When all seemed good to go, I climbed aboard.

"Rrrrrrrrrkkkhhhh" The roof cried out for mercy, but I wasn't having any of it. I tip-toed closer to the illuminated hole not too far from me. Right before I approached my destination, I got on my hands and knees. I crawled the rest of the distance, and when I arrived at the opening, I laid flat on my arms and stomach and peered through.

About a hundred men were gathered in a crowd around a makeshift stage. They roared and cried pumping their fists in the air and spitting on each other. A lone figure stood on the stage with a microphone in his hand. He was dressed as fine as a street punk could, and he looked to be about 30 years old or so. Lamps were everywhere of all different kinds in all sorts of places. As dumb as they all seemed, they sure knew how to put on a show. I looked around some more in search of any cages or traps or Pokemon. I couldn't find any, but I did notice a large sheet/curtain shielding the back of the building from the audience. Somehow, I had to get back there.

"WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, LET THE SHOW BEGIN!" The announcer grabbed the right side of the curtain with both hands and viciously pulled it all the way to the left side of the stage. My eyes were not prepared for what I saw next.

Three, steel cages were revealed to the audience. In the first two cages, two considerably young girls sat naked and gagged. They only looked about 14 years old, and they were identical twins. They squirmed and kicked uncontrollably as the crowd exploded into riotous cheer. In the third cage there was the legendary Pokemon, Latios. It laid motionless on the cold steel bars. On its right wing it had a terrible gash that was still slightly bloody and looked infected. Its fur was terribly matted with dirt, and its breathing seemed labored. My eyes were wide and my hands were over my mouth. I had never seen such atrocities before in my entire life. Things like that just weren't meant to happen.

"IN THESE FIRST TWO CAGES, WE HAVE THE ADORABLE, LOST TWINS BROUGHT IN BY OUR FELLOW BROTHER, MANSLAUGHTER MARCUS! THEY ARE UNTOUCHED, UNSCATHED, AND COMPLETELY VIRGIN. DON'T WORRY; HE CHECKED!" The announcer was sickeningly pleased with the idea of two minors being unwillingly auctioned off. I gritted my teeth angrily and clenched my fists. I felt absolutely helpless. There really seemed to be nothing I could do.

Unless...

"IN THE THIRD CAGE, WE HAVE THE VERY RARE AND EXTRAORDINARY POKEMON, LATIOS! IT MAY LOOK RATHER ROUGH, BUT ITS SCARS ARE FROM INTENSE BATTLES THAT IT PUSHED THROUGH SUCCESSFULLY. WITH A HARDWORKING POKEMON SUCH AS THIS, YOU COULD DOMINATE ANY ESTABLISHMENT!" The crowd blazed with excitement as the announcer babbled on. I quickly slid down the shack's roof and onto the silver truck I had utilized previously. I hopped off the truck's head and into it's rear compartment. From there, I climbed down onto the pavement and immediately bolted behind the auction house. If I could somehow get in from the back, maybe I would be able to do something. Just as I had suspected, there was a large door that lead to the inside. There was a huge, wooden bar held in place in front of it. I put for an enormous effort to lift it, but it was all in vain. I wasn't physically capable of pulling off such a task. I ignored my weakness and kept trying though. I could not let those filthy bastards have their way with those innocents.

"Ah!" I jumped back from the door when I felt something twitching against my hip. I looked down and noticed the Ultra ball attached to me was writhing as if it were possessed by a spirit. I slowly placed my hand on it, and the movement ceased. "What's all that about?" I was honestly confused. I was only the assistant to a Pokemon professor. I had no idea how to handle having a live Pokemon so close to me. I figured everything was alright, and I removed my hand from the Ultra ball. Immediately, it began rustling with a vengeance. It meant business. Perhaps it was time for me to discover just what kind of Pokemon gave Maple so much trouble in the past...

"150 FOR THE FIRST OF THE TWINS- 160! NO, NOW 180!" The announcer roared as the crowd shouted their bids at him. With each precious moment I wasted, the girls and Latios came closer to their demise. I carefully removed the Ultra ball from its holder, and I held it close to my face.

"AND THE FIRST TWIN IS SOLD TO THE FINE MAN IN THE BACK FOR $520!" The clock was ticking faster and faster. There was no room for hesitation. I pointed the capsule away from me and applied pressure. The Ultra ball opened and emitted a burst of energy revealing a creature I had never seen before.

"WE'RE STARTING THE BIDDING AT 160 THIS TIME FOR THE SECOND OF THE TWINS." The auction fell on deaf ears as I watched the monster before me blast into the door I had struggled with. The door fell upon impact, and the Pokemon charged through it with a blaze of glory. Frantic, I ran after it.

All was silent. The Pokemon and I stood there, in the auction house, in front of all the grimy men, seemingly defenseless. I slowly looked around at all the faces observing us; it was do or die.

I felt empowered with the ghastly Pokemon that stood beside me, and I pointed a finger of accusation at the abominable audience. With a glorious battle cry, I shouted at the accused.

"PAYBACK TIME, MOTHERFUCKERS."