Chapter 2 – Part 2
The three men looked over at him, and then began to laugh even harder. Steven shot the closest one. The others stopped laughing instantly as their comrade fell to the ground, unconscious, with a dart sticking out of neck. They looked down at their friend, up at Steven, back at their friend, and then finally back up at Steven.
"Take care of that kid – I'll take care of this one," One ordered the other men.
The remaining two men adopted street-fighting stances and slowly advanced toward Steven. He never gave them a chance – they fell to the ground unconscious, darts sticking out of their necks. He raised his gun to point at One, but he moved the boy in front of him, as a shield. Steven advanced toward him, but he just backed up. Steven kept pressing forward, though, until One finally couldn't back up anymore – he had backed into a wall, with nowhere to run or hide.
"Don't get any closer!" One shouted. "Or else, the kid gets hurt."
"No you won't," Steven replied calmly, ten feet away.
"And why's that?" One sneered.
"Because –" Steven answered.
In a split second, Steven holstered his pistol and rushed forward. He slid on his butt across the ground for the last few feet and kicked One from underneath, in the groin. One gasped. In his surprise and pain, he dropped both the boy and the bag, clutching where Steven had just kicked him. Steven swiftly twisted onto his side and swing-kicked One in his right knee, on the inner-facing part of the leg. Steven heard the snap-crack of bones breaking and quickly rolled out of harm's way as One came crashing down where Steven had been less than a second before.
"–you never had a chance to begin with," Steven finished, getting back onto his feet.
He walked over to the boy and reached out, offering his hand to help him up. The boy took his hand and Steven started pulling him up, but the boy cried out and let go of Steven's hand, falling on his butt.
"Are you okay?" Steven asked. The boy shook his head, tears pouring down his face.
"What is it?"
The boy pointed to his left ankle. Steven crouched down and gently rolled up his pant leg. He softly stroked the area, causing the boy to flinch. The area was warm to the touch, red, and obviously swelling. It's either sprained or broken, Steven thought. He reached into his bag and withdrew an emergency medical package and a couple of splints. Steven quickly applied his minimal first-aid knowledge. The boy soon had a splint for his ankle, and Steven then helped him onto his feet.
After picking up the boy's metal bag and slinging it across his back, Steven helped the boy walk out of the alley, supporting him by wrapping his right arm around the boy. When they finally made it out, Steven called Growlithe to him, and together, they made their way slowly to the city's human hospital. When they got there, Steven took the boy immediately to the urgent care center inside.
As he waited for someone to tell him the results, Steven took his bag off and opened it. He removed one of the mysterious cases and hesitated on opening it. It was probably more poacher-junk that was going to be practically useless to him. He steeled himself, though, and opened it. It was like nothing he thought it would be.
Inside were four premium quality fire-stones, valued at some $50,000 each. They shined with a fiery-red glow that came from inside the stones themselves. He stared at them for some time, then closed that case and put it back, withdrawing another. The contents were exactly the same. Steven checked another, and another, each time with the same results. He put the containers away and closed his bag, pondering what the poachers were doing with them.
About two hours later, and Steven was allowed to visit the boy. The doctors had finally finished their work, and had determined that it was indeed broken. As he pushed the privacy curtain aside to enter, Growlithe following closely, the boy looked up from a book that he had cradled in his arms.
"Hi," Steven said as he approached.
"Hello," the boy smiled.
"You're looking better," Steven said. The boy nodded. "You like reading?" he asked, gesturing to the book.
"Yes," the boy replied. "It's the only thing I really have that I enjoy doing."
"That's good," Steven said. "I do need to ask though – what is your name?"
"Evan," Evan answered.
"That's a wonderful name!" Steven grinned. "Do you have any family that may be worried about you?"
"Yes – my father," Evan sighed. "He works in the mines of Oreburgh City. He is going to be so worried – oh, how will I explain this to him?"
"Is there a problem?"
"Yes – not only did I fail to deliver the tools and supplies because of this –"
"You mean this?" Steven asked holding up the metal backpack.
"Yes!" Evan exclaimed. "Oh my gosh! How can I thank you?"
"Get better, and don't get hurt again, that's how!" They laughed for a little while at that. Then – "You had another problem you were going to mention?" Steven asked.
"Yes – my father is going to be so worried about how we are going to be able to pay the hospital bill –"
Steven produced one of the cases and removed one of the fire stones.
"Here – this should suffice," Steven said. He handed it to Evan. Evan stared at it for a long while before looking up at Steven, wide-eyed, as he realized what it was. Evan began trying to put it back in Steven's hand, a worried look on his face, but Steven shook his head, laughing.
"No," Steven said. "Keep it. It's yours. I have more." Evan stopped trying to give it back, now looking deeply at it instead. "That should be enough to pay the hospital for their services, and maybe even have some money left over for you and your father." Evan looked up at Steven.
"I really shouldn't, but I want to ask you one last favor," he said to Steven.
"It would be my honor," Steven replied. "Just tell me what I need to do."
"Can you take my bag to my father and the other miners in Oreburgh?" he asked.
"Sure!" Steven answered. "Anything else I should know or take?"
"Here," Evan said, taking a necklace off. He handed it to Steven. "Show this to my father – he'll know that I sent you and that you're one of us."
"Okay," Steven said, tying the necklace around his neck so he wouldn't lose it. "Anything you want me to tell him?"
"Just that I'm doing alright here in the hospital now," Evan said.
"Got it – I'll make sure to mention that when I see him."
"Thank you," Evan whispered, lying back down.
"Don't mention it," Steven whispered back, exiting the room.
He made his way out of the hospital and headed for the nearest bus stop…