Chapter Ten --- The Steelix
"Ugh…poor thing…"
"An obvious attempt to power advanced machinery through pokemon." Kouka reported as he went through his notes, skimming them to see if he had missed anything. Ryuu and Corey had just finished coaxing the large Steel pokemon to relax as Jasper attempted to use Full Restore.
"Eh, we ain't gonna harm ya buddy," Jasper said as he evaded a massive nudge from the steelix, the pokemon eyeing them with distaste.
"They didn't succeed thankfully, we destroyed the tracking device so they won't be searching for it around here." David noted, Corey growled.
"Not true, Team Rocket recklessly places any of their weapons for testing anywhere on the required medium, they could care less what gets in their way – innocent or not. And since the tracking dot must've vanished here, we're going to get some unwelcome visitors if they decide to carry out a search party." Corey explained, David looked away, murmuring to himself.
"That doesn't clear one thing up, where are they getting the new material for these machinery, that thing was loaded with stuff unknown to our database." Ryuu pointed out as he stroked the cold metal coat of the steelix. It snarled and lashed out, wincing greatly from the movement therefore its weak attack missed.
However, all of them knew a powerful blast wasn't needed to seriously harm them. Corey, Ryuu and Jasper eagerly jumped out of the pit and stared down at the hopeless case.
"We might as well put it out of its misery." Kouka stated grimly, fingering his pistol placed at his side; already loaded with bullets of death.
"No, let me try – please?" They rounded around, there stood Ivory, Ryuu's absol at her side, though Absol's expression was blank, Ivory's face was filled with determination and eyes harvesting a glint never before seen.
Since last night, where Corey carried Ivory back to the base with Absol on his heels, Ivory had been unconscious, he placed her in a room where she had never been, and by the looks of it, she had just woken up and had been running all over the place for them. Absol had finally taken the responsibility of guiding her through the maze to this underground lab.
Well, sort of like a Pokemon Center lab, with computers and monitors placed on two walls on either side of the entrance, however there was something of an observation deck with iron bars and a single door. Beyond those bars was a large pit with a hemispherical ceiling of steel. The ground was level, but large enough to give the steelix extra room as it attempted to curl up like a snake.
"Absolutely not-" Ryuu began but Kouka punched in.
"What are you doing up? Absol, I clearly ordered for her to stay in that room. Or were you with her?" Kouka asked, his fatherly tone making Ivory grimace somewhat, but she wasn't in the mood, Absol, instinctively took a step to the side, away from his watch.
"I am NOT staying in bed!" Ivory not only gave them a dirty look, but also one that said 'back off' in a lethal tone. She pounded up to Jasper and evidently grabbed the Full Restore before marching towards the door.
"This is why I can't," she growled out before going through the door, where her footsteps ultimately became softer and lighter, much to the amazement of the guys due to her earlier attitude, Absol walked up with them, to watch what she would do.
With an extra spring to her step, Ivory came to a halt before she went any closer to the dangerous breed. The steelix watched with unnerving vigilance, Ivory however, kept her face straight, the determination hadn't faded.
"Hey, you have some nasty wounds there." Ivory spoke softly, taking a step towards the head of the steelix, the group held their breath (excluding Absol). Ivory took in the steelix's long body, from what she had overheard (cough cough), the steelix was found in the sphere of the machine some of them went against yesterday.
To make a long story short, the steelix was lucky to be alive, it had been woven around a pipe inside and had been spinning so fast it began to wear down it spikes and the hard outer layer of steel. The friction (seeing as the spinning of the steelix's body provided power and from what David figured out, since steel conducts electricity, TR figured they could provide more electricity through the body of steel, so therefore this steelix was shocked unbearable times from brutal attacks of fellow pokemon of the lightning field and savage electronics) had burned out a good amount of the outer layer, but it will grow back in a number of months.
And because of this, this pokemon had defied all attempts to help it from any person or pokemon that got near it. Ivory was going to be of no exception.
"Here, you see this?" Ivory asked, lifting up the large spray bottle of Full Restore, the steelix eyed it angrily, as if expecting it to create more harm than good. "This is called a Full Restore, if you let me, I can spray this on your wounds and they'll heal faster and become stronger. Would you like that?"
"She'll be killed if she doesn't get out of there!" David warned as he clutched at the bars, peering down at the girl and pokemon.
"What's werse, she 'as no pokemon. Look!" Jasper growled, holding up Kameko, Panther, and Aldara's balls. The others felt their jaws drop.
"That's a hostile steelix! I'll send out-"
"ABSOL! Sol! Absol…" Absol barked in his deep voice, the others looked at him than at the two beyond the bars. Ryuu eyed his pokemon, besides being the omen of a tragedy soon to come, he could see beyond the superstition and place great trust in his comrade.
"All right then Absol, we'll wait and see." Ryuu finally stated, looking back at Ivory and the steelix, who was slowly edging towards the giant pokemon.
Take it slow Ivory…be careful.
"That's what we do, we're fighting against Team Rocket because of what they did to you, other pokemon…"
The venomoth was by far, the worst of the four. The wings had been slashed and seemed to have been eaten away at every edge. It's body brutally harmed, it was subconscious.
"To innocent men, women and children…"
Against their wishes, people were forced into service of Team Rocket. Forced to work and die for things they were against, and earning nothing and losing everything.
"To family and friends…"
"Yes, that's why he's no longer there. He's very powerful for a fifteen-year-old, intelligent at that. Also since he was the original rival of Ash Ketchum, Team Rocket thought he would be perfect for enhancing and wanted him on their side. Unfortunately for them he got wind of this and fled. Sadly, that's not really his style but his once arrogant self had somewhat transformed into wisdom and he thought it would be better leaving than fighting a whole crew of Rockets." Professor Oak explained.
"So please, accept me. I am not like Team Rocket. None of us here are and NEVER will be." Ivory begged quietly, the potion held in her hands tightly, memories whirling around in her head.
The steelix watched her, its gaze continued to watch her.
"I can understand that you might not still trust me, but believe me, I've felt the sting of betrayal too, by someone of my own kind." Ivory said, remembering Ryuu smacking her through their act as TR's agents, the mark wasn't there, but beneath her skin it still stung harshly. Even though it wasn't a true betrayal, it still burned her insides.
"A-And…for as long as you live," Ivory's voice was staggering, she shook her head and tried to continue as her eyes singed with tears. "I want you to experience kindness, more than you ever had, and if you died right here and right now, you might never get that. That's why there are so many people against Team Rocket, we're fighting for the good of us all, so will you l-let me help you and will you fight alongside us, to stop Team Rocket from ever doing things like they did to you to other pokemon?"
The steelix was still, the air was still, the group's lungs were demanding air and Ivory's shoulders were beginning to shake.
"P-Please let me help you, I don't w-want to see…another pokemon d-die…" Ivory's voice cracked and tears became a river down her cheeks, she went to wipe her cheeks but found something warm press against them before she could.
She jumped slightly, but swerved her eyes over to see the steelix's tip of its tail cutting into the tear trails.
It's so warm…but aren't steelix's made of cold-hard steel?
Ivory brought her free hand up to the tail and began stroking gently like she had witnessed Ryuu doing with the venemoth. The steelix closed its eyes, mesmerized by her touch.
With astonished faces, the group let loose their held breath (again, excluding Absol), David hurried over to the computer and began typing rapidly. Corey and Kouka's muscles relaxed, their grips on their poke'balls gone. Jasper gave a hearty chuckle and Ryuu watched on with his absol, his face dawned of amazement.
Good job…Ivory…
The girl he first met whom was oblivious towards the truth behinds the brutal attacks on Kanto and selfish goal and first priority of become a master had shifted into a strong trainer that would serve their ultimate goal even more.
"Sol…" It seemed, that Absol too had doubts that Ivory wouldn't make it as he inhaled and exhaled hardly noticeable deep breaths. By this time, Ivory was safe and was now finishing off spraying the whole head of steelix, its skin drying and melding back together as steel was welded by a torch.
"You knew, all along, you knew." Ryuu spoke towards his pokemon, Absol gave him a stoic glance.
"Absol." (And you didn't.) Absol said, knowing even without knowing the pokemon tongue, Ryuu had gotten the message and frowned as Ivory came through the door.
"The spray and that massive amount of wounds means we're going to have to place it one section at a time," Ivory said, speaking like an older woman in charge. Her eyes brutally boring a hole into each of their heads for some reason. Absol became quite amused as Ivory placed the Full Restore on a free spot on the paper-covered counters beside the monitors and computers.
"For now it's sleeping," Ivory continued as she traveled back and shut and locked the door, throwing the key ring that jingled because of the amount of keys to Jasper. Jasper caught it quickly then went back to looking at Ivory, wondering why she looked so deadly calm yet her voice tinted with suppressed anger.
"The doors are locked and David's looking into the machine," Ivory was hiding something and was dying to let it out, Absol alone had stood stock-still, eyes closed and smirking unbeknownst by the human males. Even David looked up from his typing. Kouka crossed his arms over his broad chest.
"Now, what's with that tude Ivory-chan?" Kouka questioned, Ivory froze, her eyes shadowed by her bangs, Corey watched her curiously, David's mind paced and eyes went from his readings back to the girl, Jasper played with the keys nervously and Ryuu raised a brow.
"What's with my tude you ask?" she started out dangerously low, and because this was the first time she showed any other emotion besides depression and odd happiness, she scared them into backing up several steps.
"Wha'z wrong little missy?" Jasper croaked out somewhat bravely, but when an eye split through her bangs, he held up the key ring in front of his face in meek defense.
"Oh…I'm just kind of wondering…" she growled, all of their ears focused on her. "Why…" they began to sweat.
…
…
…
She glanced up, eyes narrowed and glinting fiercely. She had adopted the look of outrage from the angered steelix a few moments ago. They gulped and Absol took another smart step back.
"WHY THE FRIGGIN' HELL AM I IN THIS!" Ivory roared, tugging at the large t-shirt, sporting a faded-out Pokemon league symbol. It went down to her knees and below that she found herself in only her undergarments, (which wasn't much, recall that she's only thirteen and a late bloomer apparently). Her feet and legs were bare, but her face began to burn so badly of livid red that it seems the rest of her skin color would fall to the angry hue.
"Um…well…" someone muttered, her outburst made them scatter towards different sides of the room. All of them, even Ryuu watched her with fear.
"WHO DRESSED ME!?! THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER GIRLS HERE! SO WHO THE HELL DRESSED ME!?" She continued to roar, as if expecting out of fear someone would drop to their knees and begin apologizing.
But instead, out of fear, everyone raised a finger and pointed. Following their direction, she saw that her privacy invader was no other than Ryuu, whom had the nerve to regain his cool composure and place his hands in his pockets, wistful to himself and oblivious of Ivory's growing hunger for his blood.
"Ryyyyyyyyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…" She whispered, this terrified the others into running out of the room, abandoning any other works they were doing inside. Absol, Ivory and Ryuu stayed behind. Ryuu himself, somewhat unnerved and dangerously close to running himself. Was this really the Ivory they all knew? Well, they never tried to get her mad before…upset maybe, but angry? With this, none of them will ever try.
"Well, it's not like you have anything anyway." Ryuu stated the arrogance Ivory saw before was flickering in Ryuu's eyes. She snarled.
"I'm thirteen! You-you-you-you-" a string of curses flowed from her lips quietly so that Ryuu didn't hear them, he however did have a feeling of what she was saying and decided not to ask.
"I suppose that guy is yours then?" Ryuu changed the subject not only on purpose, but to state the obvious. Ivory glanced at him then back at the sleeping steelix.
"Eh…no, no pokemon belongs to me, nor anyone for that matter." Ivory stated, Ryuu watched her closely, a girl out on a rampage had gone very calm very suddenly. Absol took notice but didn't show it, he continued to watch the slumbering steel giant.
"But it's like catching them is like a bond beginning huh? That's why most pokemon you catch are loyal to you instantly." Ivory explained. "They're not slaves, they don't belong to us just because they can go in and out of a ball."
Ryuu's eyes turned away from her, she wasn't naïve anymore he knew bitterly. She knew almost as much as he did of the harshness of the current state of their world. He didn't know why though, that her learning didn't bode with him well.
Was it because she would no longer need guidance from him as time wore on?
No, why would he care, he wanted her to learn so she could care for herself and he wouldn't have to be her bodyguard anymore.
Was that really any reason for why he felt this way though?
"You've…grown…" Ryuu said, looking back at her as she watched the steelix. Even though she still had the looks of a bedhead, her eyes were bright with a dull glint of misfortune and her hair was wild, like her personality and her mood swings.
"…" She didn't reply but turned towards him.
"Don't think you're going to get away with this." She said with a tug at the edges of lips, as if she were suppressing a smile before walking out of the room. As she walked, she passed Jasper, David, Kouka and Corey, pressed against the wall as if she would lash out at them.
"You can go back in now." She said as she stifled her giggles.
Men, they're weird sometimes.
Two days later, after Ivory emerged from the lab where the steelix was held (now officially nicknamed Diamondpelt), Jasper made it known the steel pokemon was recovering well and fast, that brought up her mood enough for her to travel to the weight room Kouka and Corey revealed to her the day before.
Here she saw that she was alone for once, usually Ryuu and friends were here working out, but not at this hour.
"All right, let's get some work done 'kay guys?" she asked as she released the three pokemon. Panther had grown visibly an inch since four days ago and fortunately gained weight, his growing was a good sign he wasn't letting his past torture catch up with him in the present.
Kameko and Aldara, however were as determined as their trainer to get as strong as can be. They were well past their evolving level Ivory took notice that day as she scanned Dex.
Squirtle Lv. 26 and Spearow Lv. 24 and Eevee Lv. 18, Kameko and Aldara hadn't evolved yet. It made the trainer wonder…
"Do pokemon choose to evolve?" she asked minutes later, Kameko gave her a baffled look and Aldara cocked her head. Panther squeaked and happily grinned, unaware of the question but certainly very bubbly.
"Squirtle squirt, squirt squirt." (We can, it's difficult to defy nature though.) Kameko rolled out a few words in her tongue with a nod, meeting her trainer's gaze. Ivory watched them, this was strange, she never knew pokemon even wished to remain in their pre-evolved forms.
"Why would you not want to evolve?" she asked, crouching down to her pokemon's eye levels. Aldara and Kameko exchanged looks of uncertainty, as if they were unsure of how to respond.
"Spearow! Spearow!" (We've always wanted to, but because of what's been going on we haven't had our minds into it!) Aldara crowed Ivory watched them, was it possible to automatically cancel an evolution because they weren't into it mentally? She never heard of that, but then again, if she can understand what her pokemon were saying because of the bond they shared, it could be very plausible they hadn't evolved because of a simple situation.
"Well, now our training is going to be serious! We have to get stronger to help others not to forget Pallet Town, they're counting on us to save Kanto! Let's do it!" Ivory cried out enthusiastically.
Turn me loose - it's now or never
Feel like I could run forever
A new day's come - a new moon's risin'
I take my chances on the blue horizon
A leap of faith - a shot of spirit
Freedom's callin' - I can hear it
The pounding and scraping of weights being dragged sounded unflaggingly throughout the hours, Kameko and Aldara assisting each other and Ivory powering up the treadmill and for the first time, Panther was forced to sweat.
"50 miles an hour, not bad boy." Ivory praised as she watched the monitor, Panther sprinting with a sheer face of determination. Kameko successfully lifted sixty pounds, something almost three times her weight as she cried out delightfully. Aldara was flying around the room, avoiding people under her with very heavy weights.
"Awesome guys!"
Hold on tight - we're gonna get there
It's time we're on our way
David pushed 'ENTER', readings popped up and the female automatic voice spoke –
"Diamondpelt - STEELIX – National Number: 208 – Species: Iron Snake – Female – Type: Steel/Ground – Habitat: Cave – Region: Johto – Height: 7' 38" – Weight: 931.4 lbs – Color: Gray"
A picture of the worn-down steelix appeared beneath the readings, David grinned.
"Update now complete." He spoke as he pulled up blueprints of the spherical machine. Notes and arrows pointing as spots, a small video camera shot was taking in the right, upper-hand corner. There was Kouka hammering away and pulling up tough metal.
"How's it going Kouka?"
It ain't over yet - you can lay your bet
Now nothin's in my way - you ain't seen nothin' yet
I have learned to fly - hold my head up high
Somethin' I don't want you to forget
It ain't over yet, it ain't over yet
Back with Kouka where he looked up at the camera, he grinned.
"Not much that I haven't seen yet, just a bunch of wires, I look into them later." He shouted back as put a gloved hand beneath a pulled-up sheet of steel and with a burst of strength, yanked the hunk of metal away, only to stare in at an incredibly difficult computer chip.
"Well, I'll be…these things are new." He spoke as he snapped it out and pulled it up to his face, eyeing it with great heed.
"What did you find?" David asked, the camera attempting to zoom in. Kouka looked up.
"You might want to see this." Kouka said with slight disbelief.
I was born to run - born to ramble
Any prize's a worth a gamble
Sometimes I get the urge to wonder
Cuz I'm a child of the wild blue yonder
Fill our hands - the sky's the limit
The race is on - we have to win it
"SANDSLASH! Sandstorm!" Corey shouted, getting irritated by Ryuu's smirk.
"ATTRACT!" Ryuu demanded, his sandslash (female) blowing heart kisses to Corey's sandslash (male). The sandstorm never came into being as Corey's pokemon was oblivious to the orders that would harm his beloved.
"SANDSLASH!" Corey shouted, his hands ruffling his hair. "C'mon! That was cheap Ryuu!"
"You shouldn't have called him out! You know they have the hots for each other!" Ryuu laughed as his sandslash giggled. Corey sighed with aggravation, recalling his pokemon.
"Fine then! Go-"
Hold on tight - we're gonna get there
It's time we're on our way
"You're doing great, keep it up." Ivory encouraged as she attempted to lift the bar (now without Ryuu) for the fifteenth time, just for it to come back down on its metal hooks. As she sat up, she noticed there were more pokemon in the room. Pokemon she hadn't seen before.
There was a couple of machamps, a machop, a hitmonlee, a few nidokings and queens, a jolteon even, three nidorinos and a golbat.
Wow…this is so cool! Ivory thought, her pokemon thinking the same thing as they rested for a moment to watch their fellow pokemon. A machamp came up to Kameko and greeted her.
"Machamp!" The machamp growled out with a friendly tone, Kameko smiled.
"Squirtle!"
It ain't over yet - you can lay your bet
Now nothin's in my way - you ain't seen nothin' yet
I have learned to fly - hold my head up high
Somethin' I don't want you to forget
It ain't over yet
"'Ere ya guys go," Jasper said as he poured soft pokemon food for the young nidorans, they all squealed, some tackling the old man and others gulping down food. Jasper laughed as he attempted to sit up.
"Ouch! Tha' wuz me back!" Jasper cried out with a smile twisted from wincing, the nidorans gave him a look of sympathy before squealing some more.
"Now – now! Hol' it! I'm old!" Jasper cried as more came to join in Jasper's dog pile, Phor watched with great interest, amusement dancing in his elderly orbs.
How ya gonna know if ya got what it takes
Can't be a winner if ya don't run a race
A roar blasted through Ivory's and the other pokemons' ears, but only Ivory and her pokemon grew curious. The others were obviously used to the noise.
Growing with curiosity, Ivory with her pokemon, scurried out of the weight room and walked down the hall, there another roar erupted from behind a closed door.
Ivory looked from her pokemons' worried faces to the door.
Ya know you're gettin nothin
If ya come second place
Cuz it ain't over until it's over
"There's nothing to worry about," Ivory tried to reassure herself as she clasped the doorknob, the pokemon bristled as she twisted it. "Here goes nothing…" she muttered as she pulled it open.
They were greeted with several elements, fire emitted massive heat and blew them down the hall, ice shards blew past and sent a chill, then pink petals blew wistfully into the hall, giving them a sweet scent.
"That was…different…" Ivory said as she got to her feet despite the attacks side-tracking out and into them.
Aow it ain't over yet - you can lay your bet
Now nothin's in my way - you ain't seen nothin' yet
I have learned to fly - hold my head up high
Somethin' I don't want you to forget
"RHYHORN! Horn Drill!" Ivory blinked before hurrying against the winds towards the door, she knew that voice.
"SANDSLASH! Hold that horn with Crush Claw!" She knew that one too, but she was highly distracted as she peered left and right past the door.
There were…pokemon everywhere! Charizards were duking it out against swamperts and gravellers against ivysaurs! Not only on the ground, but in the air and pools nearby too! Dewgongs, pidgeots, seadras, crobats, starmies, fearows, seakings and sparrows!
It was an incredible sight! They were all training!
It ain't over yet (it ain't over yet)
It ain't over yet (it ain't over yet)
Oh nothin's in my way - you ain't seen nothin' yet
I have learned to fly - hold my head up high
Somethin' I don't want you to forget
It ain't over yet
"Spearow…" Aldara croaked as she perched on Ivory's shoulder, amazed like her trainer. Kameko and Aldara pinned to her legs. Ivory looked past the pokemon and stared at the two trainers with fondness; it was Corey and Ryuu. Their pokemon on the last stand-off.
"SANDSTORM!" Ryuu cried, and with that, Sandslash got to her toes and spun quills out and a storm appeared from the walls and engulfed the entire gym-like area. Ivory and her pokemon leaped from the door and to their stomachs, covering their heads as the sand blew past them.
For a moment, all she could hear from sand burrowing into her hair and clothing. When she felt nothing more, she warily sat up. Aldara flapped her wings, spraying ground grain in every direction. Kameko had hidden in her shell where Panther was dragged in as well, his head poked up before strolling out, his eyes bright. Kameko peered out before completely emerging, shaking out sand from her home.
"Everyone okay?" Ivory asked, they all nodded. Then they soon hurried back to the door to see the entire gym like they were. But the pokemon were tired and had a hard time getting to their feet.
In the corner, Ryuu was brushing off sand, but jubilantly.
No!
It ain't over yet
Ryuu's pokemon pulled THAT off…amazing… Ivory thought as analyzed the damage, besides the pokemons' HP down enough for them to struggle to their feet, Corey returning Rhyhorn to her ball and Sandslash panting. Everyone seemed fine, just very exhausted.
It ain't over yet
"This place is so cool!" Ivory cried as she bounded in with her pokemon right behind her. The other pokemon glanced at her, staring at her, she didn't feel uncomfortable though, unlike their gazes, Diamondpelt's was far worse, and she got over it quickly because of that.
"Why didn't you guys tell me there were so many different pokemon here?" Ivory shouted as she looked around, the pokemon were still staring at her, but because Ryuu and Corey didn't attack, they found the stranger harmless.
"Because we thought you would be blown away by the elements!" Ryuu shouted back with a smirk, flattery over winning wouldn't do his head any better. Ivory shook her head, what an arrogant ass.
"Oh, right, hey guys! This is Ivory Koguu, she's a new recruit!" Corey shouted.
"Recruit? For what?" Ivory asked, pointing at herself, Ryuu was chuckling and the pokemon were looking at each other, chattering in their tongues like gossiping old people.
"You don't know, that's right, this is a gym for EO's pokemon, in fact, this entire base belongs to EO, so everyone in it is a member of the EO, so congratulations Ivory, you're now part of the Earth Organization!"
Ivory felt like beaming to no end, a member of the Earth Organization? She could hardly contain herself; she was now a full-fledged trainer against the ways of Team Rocket!
What took her by surprise though, was when Kameko and Aldara began to glow!
A/N:
It Ain't Over Yet (c) Bryan Adams
Lol, Kameko and Aldara are FINALLY gonna evolve! Yay! I have an idea for Panther, the name already says it, but whatever. And in case you're wondering, Diamondpelt might just become her ticket for beating Lt. Surge! But since it'll take a couple of months for her to fully heal, Ivory might have to skip this gym. But she needs to get another badge, it's driving me up a wall too.
Anyway, Happy 2007!