Chapter 4: Heroes Required!
"Darryl and I are heading on towards Footer Hill City like Samuel suggested Tommy. I just want to assure you your secret is safe with me and Darryl thinks you are staying behind just for training. I will keep in touch and I want you to do the same mister! I don't want to check the news and hear you've been kidnapped or something. I want to help you like the many people you've helped. Take care, talk soon. Melissa."
Tommy backed out of the email message he received from Melissa earlier this morning on his phone. Looks like she was good enough to get them moving again and leaving him to his own devices. Phanpy had her trunk beneath Aron and Torchic who was on Aron's back and was showing her strength being able to lift the both of them with ease. Tommy was packing the last of his things into his bag inside his hotel room before he made tracks to Forresta Town. As he packed he thought about whether or not to keep Phanpy with the group but decided not to given that although she was friendly with Torchic and Aron, it really loved a lot of attention from lots of Pokémon and she could only get that back home with Elm. Tommy rolled up his jersey and placed it on top before zipping the whole bag up and putting it up onto his shoulders.
"Right you three, we need to leave the room. Phanpy, say good bye now girl."
"Phannnnpy!" The little elephant Pokémon was happy to have met her new friends. Tommy recalled Torchic and Phanpy to their Pokeballs, Aron looked up and around at Tommy ready for his own but was surprised to be ushered out of the room and Tommy stepping into the corridor and closing the door behind them.
"You wanted an adventure right? You wouldn't see me walking alone would you?"
"Aron, Arron." (No, I guess not!)
Tommy left the Pokémon centre after having left Phanpy back with Professor Elm. He was a little annoyed at the Professor suggesting to him to call his mother since he was in a foreign region…
*.*.*
"Tommy all I'm saying is mum just worries about you from time to time, she wants to know you're doing alright."
"If that was true Cathy why have I went 7 years without a phone call from her?"
"…"
"Exactly. When she can swallow her pride to call me I'll talk to her."
Jordie and Tyler walked ahead of highly animated conversation Tommy and his sister Cathy where having. All of them bar Tommy got on with his mum fine, it just… didn't spill over to him it seemed.
"Do you know what it's like running away and living in a cave for 3 days before sneaking back into the house to steal all my hidden money and start my journey?"
"No I don't obviously."
"And she said you where the smart one. I don't regret a single thing and to be honest these 7 years of travelling have been what I needed to get away from everything. I do what I want when I want. Ok I'm not that good of a trainer, but you and Jordie have a long list of things to see before you're anywhere close to the stories and recollections I have!"
*.*.*
As Tommy walked along the path he looked into the distance and seen the huge Footer Hill Mountain Range on into the distance. On the other side of the Mountains and to the North of the Island lay his destination in Zelbusa City. He pondered the thought of perhaps not even bothering with the gym challenges anymore, he had no intention of dethroning a champion. His past luck showed that. On the other hand, should someone recognise him, and to be honest who wouldn't have after he knocked out one of Luna's agents… maybe flying low and making it out he was in New Belsota for the Gym Challenge rather than taking down the Luna empire. As he tried to think out the scenarios in his head he didn't notice the change in vegetation along the side of the path. It was only him stumbling on a tree root that he realised that what used to be long and lush plains of fields was now a forest of bushy vegetation.
"I really have to stop that." He said out loud as he shook his head. Aron looked up at him and then quickly panned his head to the left and took a long stare into the trees in front of him. Tommy had seen this before and grabbed Torchic's Pokeball at the ready.
"What's out there Aron?"
"Aron… Ron Ron Arrron" (I'm not sure. It wanted my attention that's for sure.) While Tommy couldn't understand the language they spoke he did share a deep bond. Having seen it before and by the tone of Aron's cry he knew it was worth looking into.
"Let's go take a look then. I'm right behind you."
Aron broke into a jog as it made its way through the thick trees and bushes with Tommy only a few footsteps behind. They ran for a short distance before Aron stopped and began to slowly walk to a large oak tree and stopped. Tommy stopped and it wasn't long before he seen and heard why.
"Sam, lift the girl and put her next to the Pokémon. We can't leave any witnesses to this." Said a woman, she sounded very serious.
"Veronica! I know what I'm doing, just because I'm the younger twin doesn't mean I…"
"Oh shut up and do it already!"
The other girl Sam that spoke had a somewhat softer voice.
"Aron, what you thinking?" Whispered Tommy who had knelt down to his Pokémon. Aron simply shook his head unsure of what was on the other side of the tree and nearby bushes.
"Sssh. Veronica, you hear that?"
"I did. Who's out there!? Show yourself?" Tommy looked down to Aron, Tommy motioned his head towards where the voices where coming from to which Aron nodded ready to go with him.
"That would be me!" Said Tommy as he stood up and walked around the oak tree and he saw in the opening in the forest where everything was taking place. There was a several cages set up and they all contained several Pokémon from the forest, lots of bug and grass types and a few Heracross and Pinsir's and a fresh and young Scyther where the big eye catchers for Tommy. Standing nearby where two pink haired twins. They both wore black long sleeve shirts with the 'L' on the front and the black jacket with the hood up. They both wore long black trousers as well. Team Luna agents. The one on the right seemed to have a Pokémon belt with a few Pokeballs attached in her hand.
"Looks like we have another witness to shut up Sam." The twin on the left in front of Tommy spoke to the other who nodded. And lying slumped next to her was what looked like a grey thatched bag with what Tommy assumed was the girl they spoke about earlier.
"What are Luna doing out in a forest? Ain't you got citizens to terrorise?"
"Humph. The cheek. We are out here on a stock take. Team Luna needs Pokémon that are more than capable of battle and some of the strongest Pokémon are found in the forest. Hench the cages cutie pie." Said Sam in a patronising tone.
"Call me what you want, but I'm not letting you out of here with these cages." Tommy adjusted his stance, he didn't know what he was in too, but he wouldn't back down.
"I don't think you have a choice sexy. Not unless that Aron is more experienced than all of us combined." Veronica took her turn in mocking Tommy and his lack of offense.
"I don't give a shit ladies. Whatever I have to do when I say you're not leaving here with these cages I will." Aron lowered its front a little readying itself.
"Be such a shame we have to kill you and whatever Pokémon you have, you'd be a much nicer looking member of Luna than some of the grunts we have to cope with."
"Bla bla bla, still don't give a Pidgeot's fuck about what you're on about."
"So be it, Manetric! Let's go!" Shouted Sam as she threw the Pokeball towards Tommy.
"Houndoom, Get in on it!" Veronica threw her Pokeball containing Houndoom and both the dog like Pokémon stood side by side trying their best to intimidate Aron. Tommy wished he hadn't of got rid of Phanpy now…
"Torchic give us a hand!" Tommy took the ball out again and let it unhinge in his hand to let the tiny fire bird out. The four Pokémon stared each other down and Tommy knew he was highly out classed.
"Houndoom, Flamethrower on Aron!"
"Manetric! Charge Beam Torchic now!"
"Hound…DOOM!" The Houndoom charged then let rip an intense stream of fire towards Aron while Manetric charged its own beam and launched it at Torchic.
"Aron Iron Defense! Torchic, take cover by Aron!" Torchic dived and avoided the Charge Beam narrowly as Aron quickly hardened its steel and took the brunt of the Flamethrower from Houndoom. Torchic was unharmed but Aron wasn't too hot.
"Aron Flash Cannon on Houndoom! Torchic, Fire Spin on Manetric!"
"Take it."
"Don't move Manetric." This surprised Tommy as the silver orb blasted into the side of Houndoom and the small fire vortex created from Torchic seemed to get a clean hit on Manetric. When the chaos from the moves calmed down, they were both still standing. Hardly a scratch on either of them. Tommy tried to tell his face not to look surprised but what the hell was it going to take?
"Manetric, Spark on Torchic!"
"Houndoom, Fire Fang on Aron, end this now!"
Both the dog Pokémon charged at their targets with teeth bearing. Manetric launched its electrically charged body into Torchic who didn't stand a chance. Houndoom was able to lock its jaw in on Aron and the fire injured the steel on the Pokémon's back. As Houndoom let off and backed away Aron collapsed to its stomach unable to go on.
"Ahh. For such a nice looking man you're not very good are you?" Mocked Veronica. Tommy didn't think twice before feeding both his arms through his straps of his bag and letting it fall down to the ground behind him with a thump. He took a few paces forward so his partners where lying behind him. He extended his left hand and arm out and held his right fist close to his fist. The very poise he'd taken when he was dropping the goals with another fighter on the ice.
"You can't be serious?" Asked Sam.
"I'll let you know when I'm only fucking about."
"Yeah you defiantly don't have the brains to match your looks. Oh well. Hopefully the boss will see this as a service. Houndoom!"
"Manetric use…" Before Sam could finish there was the sound of a tree snapping to the vegetation to Tommy's right and the twins left. Then another broke, then another and another… Something… Something big was headed their way. Until.
"Chesssnaught!" The large green and cream coloured Pokémon burst from the tree line and kept going for the two Pokémon left. It destroyed Manetric in one swing of its arm with what Tommy assumed was a Hammer Arm. Manetric was thrown from its feet and batted into the side of one of the cages where it struggled to get back to its feet and ultimately failed. Chesnaught chased after it as Houndoom readied another Flamethrower before it was struck on the side by an orange Hyper Beam! The move sent the fire dog sliding for a small distance on the forest floor to the shock and horror of Sam and Veronica. They both looked into the opening where the Hyper Beam and Chesnaught came from and watched as a young man a lot younger than Tommy emerged from the tree line with a Charizard on his flank.
"Who the hell are you!?" Both the twins cried out in unison.
"I'm Jordie, and this time cousin I'm saving your ass!" Tommy smiled and gave a thumbs up to his cousin, who gave a cheeky grin back.
"Now's your chance to get out of here before I start sending more Pokémon out you two!"
The twins didn't need to hear more than that, they high tailed it quickly recalling their respective and injured Pokémon to their balls and running through the forest away from Jordie and Tommy.
"Where you really going to fight them you dick?" Jordie walked over to Tommy with his trademark brushed over long dark brown hair. He wore a long black sleeve t shirt with a white t shirt on top with a Charizard on the front. His old tatty blue jeans had seen better days but he still claimed they were lucky.
"I had no choice! They were well trained man, I'm glad you showed up!" The two clapping their right hands together wrapping their fingers and thumbs around the others hand.
"I heard you made it here and Elm told me you had Aron, so we were flying about looking for you and we swopped in to see what all the noise was about."
"Shit! The girl!" Tommy quickly let go and ran from Jordie and practically threw his body on the ground to get to a stop next to the grey bag. There was a hole in the top which he was able to get both hands in and rip the bag open from either side. He kept going further and further until he stopped and covered it back up again. The girl in the bag was completely naked. He put his finger on the side of the girl's neck and pressed. There was a pulse but it was very faint.
"Jordie! Grab my bag, and heal up Aron and Torchic if you can!"
"Is she alright?!"
"She is but we need to move fast mate!"
Jordie ran to Tommy's bag and lifted it in one hand. "Chesnaught, I need you to use Synthesis on Aron and Torchic here!" The shielded Pokémon obliged and made its way over to Aron and Torchic who were lying close to each other. With a hand on each of them it began absorbing sunlight threw the dense forest and past on its healing ability through to Aron and Torchic. Jordie ran to Tommy as Charizard busted open the cages and freed the Pokémon with its Dragon Claw.
"So what do we do T?"
"She's naked dude…"
"Get outta here!" Tommy shook his head and rummaged through his bag, the only spare clothes he had was another pair of jeans and his hockey jersey. Jordie hadn't a bag with him.
"I don't know this region, can you and Charizard go ahead to Forresta and see if they have a hospital... I'd ask you to fly her there but how will you hold on."
"Yeah we don't plan for passengers. Chesnaught! Stick with Tommy and do as he says alright. Lift Aron and Torchic we need to move here in a hurry."
"Ches!" Agreed the large grass type. It scooped Aron and Torchic carefully in both hands and came over to its trainer who was climbing onto Charizard.
"Tommy and you have to run to the other edge of the forest. Tommy may need you to cover him in case of attack alright? See you soon, Charizard, Let's Fly!"
Charizard roared as it flapped its massive wings a few times and lifted into the air before taking off and heading east toward the next town on past the forest.
"Alright Chesnaught. I just need to get some clothes on her or people will think I've kidnapped her if she shows up in this bag!" Tommy peeled the bag back again, as much as he tried not to he had to see what he was doing and he lifted her legs and lower back to slide his spare jeans onto her. They were massive on the skinny girl. But they would have to do. He lifted her up torso up and held it with one arm and hand as he pulled the hockey jersey on over the top half of her body. He was glad he aired it in the Pokémon Centre as it was a little smelly but was alright now!
"I owe you and Jordie one big guy, let's go… that way!"
Chesnaught agreed as it ran through the forest, it shielded the tired Pokémon as it ran through the trees breaking off branches and smaller trees. Tommy lifted the girl with both his arms he too ran after Chesnaught and its small war path.
…
"Hey Doc, Excuse me! Listen, my cousin is in coming from the forest. Some members of that new gang must have attacked a girl or something and left her for dead. We chased them off but she's not doing too well." Jordie explained his point to a male doctor outside of the hospital in Forresta Town.
"Oh dear, right ok… Listen, get back to the gate and direct him here if he isn't sure where we are and get them both inside and I'll have a trolley ready for her!" The male doctor ran back inside the fancy white multi storey hospital as Jordie climbed back onto Charizard again. "Get us to the edge of the forest and we'll wait on Chesnaught and Tommy buddy!"
"Zarrrrd!" Roared the dragon like Pokémon again as it ran with Jordie on its back and took flight again rushing at a low level through the town to the forest.
…
Tommy and Chesnaught where onto the path through the forest again. The last time Tommy had seen Chesnaught and Jordie was when Jordie got a Chespin who was bred by his brother Tyler. They continued running through what seemed to be an never ending boulevard of trees and shrubs. But eventually, there was a small glimmer of light in front of them showing through the trees. As they ran towards it grew larger and larger until they could see a Charizard and a man standing. They'd made it.
"Tommy! Come on I'll run with you to the hospital!" Charizard took flight and slowly flew above the two trainers and the Pokémon running to the Hospital. On lookers gazed in amazement at the two trainers running with a girl in the arms of one. They ran a few blocks and eventually Tommy spotted the white hospital and the Pokémon centre on down a few buildings.
"Jordie, take Chesnaught, and my two to the Pokémon Centre. I'll take this lady over and make sure she's alright and I'll meet up with you soon alright!"
"No worries Cuz, I'll call you if we need you and vice versa right?"
"Right!" Jordie, Charizard and Chesnaught split off from Tommy and the girl as he slowed down as he made it to the automatic doors of the hospital. Members of the public broke away from his path as he ran through the hospital reception.
"Hey you! Over here, set her on here!"
Tommy turned and was never so happy to see a doctor and a hospital trolley in all his days. He ran over and gently set the girl down. As the doctor moved the trolley through the maze like corridors of the cream interior to the hospital he couldn't help but notice the clothing choice of the girl.
"She's not dressed to go out."
"She's better now… than when I found her…" Tommy panted as he tried to keep up to the doctor, more doctors and nurses entered from the corridors and doors along the way and took the corners of the trolley so it could get where it needed to fast.
"What do you mean by better?"
"She was naked and in a body bag!"
"My word. And was it Luna behind it?"
"Yeah… I bounced in but was no match; if it wasn't for my cousin I was going to be a chew toy for a Houndoom and a Manetric."
…
Tommy sat by the bed side of the girl as she lay now in a hospital gown. He felt so sorry for her; she probably didn't deserve what had happened to her. And what an awful thing to have to do next to wake up alone and afraid in a hospital with no one but the dude that found her naked body pretty much. The girl had already been in and had been checked up. While she had no broken bones or internal injures there was an injection point on her arm and she had been knocked out physically rather than with a Pokémon move.
The door to the room opened and Tommy stood up and walked around the bed to the doctor who walked in holding a clip board in one hand and was holding his glasses slightly off his nose in the other.
"Ah, are you a friend or relative."
"Eh. Neither, I found her."
"Oh. I hoped that wouldn't be the case… No offense. Was there, any belongings of hers nearby?"
"Not that I seen, I've already gave my statement to the police." They were more than happy with what Tommy said and his further back up of the International Police badge.
"That's alright; sadly… it makes this case a little more difficult."
"And why's that doc?"
"You see, these instances have actually been on the rise… sir."
"Please, it's Tommy. Go on…"
"Ah alright Tommy. So yes, more and more often the hospitals around the region are receiving calls of trainers waking up nude and no belongings around them. Their Pokémon stolen and a serum injected into them and nothing else left."
"Really? So what's in the serum?"
"Believe it or not we only cracked it before your cousin arrived telling us another had been found and this dear lady has been injected with the same. We don't have a name for it but it is a temporary brain retardant if you will. The brain no longer remembers quite as well and recalling memories are somewhat difficult. But so far, everyone injected makes a full recovery after a few days. The problem is this time… this girl has a rare blood type and one we do not have a record for."
"So… what does that mean?"
"We don't know her name; we can guess she is 20 years old and healthy enough. But I'm afraid that's it, we have no record of who her parents even might be."
"You're kidding me."
"I wish I was Tommy. I really do."
"And the only way to fix it is to go about a sheltered life for a few days and it should wear off?"
"Mmhhmm, quite. She should be ok after a week or so at worst. But for now she needs to rest the head wound."
"Your right. Ok doctor thank you for that, I need to get to my cousin down the way. But I'll come back later to her."
"You're a good Samaritan I see. Good man. No problem, ask for myself later. Tony Maloy, should you have any questions. Good day son!"
Tommy and the Doctor quickly shook hands before leaving the girls room. Tommy had his jeans and jersey back as he walked out of the building and headed down the way to the Pokémon Centre. He went inside and a quick scan of the building he found Jordie sitting on a bench seat with Aron and Torchic messing about with his new baby Joltik. It was a tiny yellow and blue spider like Pokémon but with four legs! It was a unique blend of Electric and Bug types! Aron and Torchic became aware of Tommy and made their way over to Tommy who got down and greeted the two. He walked over as the three Pokémon began playing about again and say down next to Jordie who was drinking from a bottle of SuperCola.
"Hey J. Thanks for getting them sorted, must have had the worst sorted with Chesnaught. He's class!"
"No problem man, yeah he's so handy to have in terrain like that. So how's the girl then?"
"Team Luna has injected her with a…" Tommy went on to explain what the doctor had told him. He paused at the shock on Jordie's face and continued on with how long she would be like this and the fact that as of right now she doesn't have a name.
"So what do we do then man?"
"Well you can't stay, the Kanto League is in two weeks and you need to win it this year. I met a girl earlier on, I'll give her a call and see if her and I can chip in and buy her some clothes. Another guy, I used to play Hockey against him actually is with her, we can keep her looked after well enough mate."
"As long as you got a wakeup call is all I'm saying."
"Damn right, bitches be crazy and I need some fire power."
"You know it!" Tommy and Jordie gave each other a high five as they sat back in the bench seat. If two twins in the Luna organisation wiped the floor with him with a Manetric and a Houndoom just how strong was this organisation?
…
"The loss was humiliating sir, we can't say sorry enough for it. We just went under prepared." Pleaded Veronica to General Grievance. The two twins where in his office again after their failed capture of the Pokémon.
"Ladies, calm down. I'm not angry. I'm upset at the organisation frankly. We anticipated Tommy and his family coming here and we didn't act. You were wrong place wrong time." Grievance spoke calmly as he faced the two in his chair with his hands interlocked.
"Sir, Tommy surprised us with his recklessness. He literally dropped his bags and was ready to fight our Pokémon himself!" Said Sam with an upset tone in her voice. The twins hated losing.
"Between us, I said to the boss that he may be an issue… Alas, we will send you two out again ladies. We'll make sure you are properly guarded and try and capture as many of those Pokémon species as possible. We need as many as possible for Mega Evolutions Experiment."
"Yes sir!" The twins said in unison.
"Good, now please, I need to address the situation with the master once again."
"Sir!" Both the twins stood to a salute before turning and leaving through the black automatic door. When it closed Grievance turned in his chair to the screen behind him. Like he did a few days before he tried to contact the Head of Luna…
"General Grievance, I don't like when I'm pestered." Spoke the dark and creepy man from inside his lovely furnished building.
"Master Hart, now, we have a problem."
"What is it?" Hart almost hissed the words to Grievance.
"Master, Tommy and his cousin Jordie attacked the Twins today. They were close to calling in the extraction of the Pokémon Cages from Forresta today when they came under attack."
"Do you feel they were incompetent to complete set orders Grievance." That struck a nerve with Grievance.
"My hand picked operatives are of the best quality. They were attacked when we had our defences down Master and it caught us out. I warned you about…"
"SILENCE"
"…"
"Excuses cannot be made General. But if you wish for us to prepare we will. But I do not want a single delay in our normal plan. If we aren't ready by the dead line…"
"We will. You've had my word from day one Master."
"Good. Now please, be gone. I need to gather my thoughts." The video transmission ended and Grievance stood and walked to his drinks cabinet. He twisted and uncorked a bottle of whiskey and poured a small amount into a fancy looking glass. He set the bottle back and took the glass back with him to his chair where he sat and took a small sip. While he did not want to defy his Master, he still wanted to take Tommy and his family down at their strongest. He planned how he could try and avoid future run ins so that Tommy would once again find his battling ability and show Grievance what he was truly capable off. If Grievance liked it, he'd take him alive and have him as the ultimate trump card in his already prized collection of battlers and trainers mind washed to their regime.
…
…
"Man, I'd hope to spend more time with you today but I guess we did our good turn."
"Too right Jordie, I'll try and come across to see you battle but I can't make any promises. And hey, if you need anyone from the team don't be afraid to ask me."
"Haha, Tommy, you know Charizard is better than Typhlosion!"
"I… That doesn't… fuck off! Hahaha"
"Haha, I'll be in touch T. Going to fly back home and see Tyler and Cathy. We're going to train together to ready ourselves for the championship."
"Sounds good cousin." With that Tommy and Jordie shook hands before breaking into a quick hug and a pat on the back each.
"Take care Tommy, anything happens you call me right?"
"Will do Jordie! See ya Charizard!" Jordie waved as he walked over to Charizard who two waved goodbye to Tommy. He climbed up again and they took flight headed back to Foglore before flying home by plane in the morning. Tommy watched the large orange Pokémon and Jordie become a little spec in the darkening sky before turning and walking inside the hospital building again. He walked to an elevator and pushed the button for the third floor. The elevator jolted to life and ascended and stopped. The doors open and Tommy walked out and went straight to the door where he left earlier. He opened it carefully, but the girl inside was still sleeping. He walked on in took a seat again at her bed side. He looked at her carefully, she had a slightly round face but it was hidden away by her blonde hair that lay either side. She was skinny but well-built for her size. Tommy wondered how on earth she'd react when she figured out he seen her naked and didn't know her name. And alcohol wasn't involved.
…
A/N: So, we have a new female character introduced in some pretty unspectacular fashion. Not to mention two new faces of Team Luna and Tommy's best ally reappears for a short while to help.
What is the Mega Evolution Experiment Grievance spoke of? And can that Master Hart dude get any weirder?
I previously said I wouldn't need an original characters, but if you could actually give me a few Gym Leader ideas? Would be much appreciated yo! :D
SST