Chapter Twelve
Team Aqua
Before even thinking about what she was doing, Steph was off in a hurry, not waiting for Brendan or Dewdano. Her feet carried her quickly, as if she were light as a feather. She didn't seem to be controlling herself; her feet were. Intuition told her that something very bad was going to happen if she didn't do something.
She couldn't hear footsteps behind her and stopped abruptly. She snapped her ahead around and realized that Brendan and Dewdano were following at a much slower pace. "Pick it up, you two!" Steph shouted as she turned back around and dashed off. Brendan sighed and Dewdano hopped along behind him. Steph was nearing the building already and the figures in blue became clearer to her. Each one of them wore an outfit identical to the man she had faced before. A few more footsteps and she would be there. Steph was at the threshold of the building when the people in blue suddenly disappeared inside the building.
"Huh? Oh, no," Steph murmured as she glared at the fancy blue building. "Oceanic Museum" was printed in large white letters on the front of the building. What would they do with a museum? Steph thought as Brendan and Dewdano stopped besides her, panting with exhaustion, more so Brendan than Dewdano.
Brendan caught his breath and turned to Steph. "We should go in before they do anything." Steph nodded in agreement and the two made their way to the museum. Two beautiful glass doors slid open to reveal a grand museum with many rare sea artifacts. At a glance, Steph could see ship models, sand samples, and many pictures depicting life in the sea. The numerous thieves in blue clouded her vision, however, and she couldn't get a good look at what they were trying to do.
"Miss," a female voice said to Steph's side. Steph turned around in shock and faced a lady behind a yellow counter. Her eyes were stretched in helpless fear, but she wore a dainty, delicate smile on her face. "You need to pay to get in." She pointed to a sign that was sitting adjacent to her. Brendan squinted his eyes to read the sign and began to dig around in his backpack for money.
"No, Brendan, I'll pay," Steph said, quickly reaching into her pack and drawing out a few coins. The lady took them with caution and nodded to Steph, who turned around, drawing Dewdano closer to her side. Brendan looked slightly confused and he was blushing slightly, but Steph didn't notice. She was occupied with scooping out the criminals. Some glared at her with despise and hatred, but none dared to move forward to confront the girl. Steph stood defiantly in front of their view and Brendan stood stock still, not even daring to breathe.
Finally one person, a tall, skinny man with sinister blue eyes, piped up, "Quit your staring, kid, and get outta here!" Steph slowly began to clench her gloved hand into a fist. Dewdano let out a low growl, and Brendan's heart began to beat quicker. He was afraid that Steph could hear it and think that he was a wimp. However, Steph made no move toward him, and he said nothing as he sized up the band of criminals. There were seven of them.
"Make me, then!" Steph yelled so loudly that everyone present turned and focused his or her eyes on her, Brendan included. All was silent as moments passed. Her heart thumped wildly, but if she was even the slightest bit afraid, she didn't show it. Her eyes blazed with fury and temper, but she said nothing as she waited for a reply, any reply. It was at that moment that Brendan noticed a stairway and he nudged Steph gently with his elbow.
"What? Do you want to get yourself killed?" Steph hissed harshly through clenched teeth. Brendan flinched at his neighbor's tone but kept her gaze. Dewdano jumped slightly and growled again. The criminals had lost interest in the two pesky kids and, thinking that they were of no threat, resumed what they were doing before.
"There's a stairway," Brendan whispered, pointy to it inconspicuously with his index finger. Steph followed his gaze and sure enough, she noticed the stairway, plain and unnoticeable. She nodded slowly and turned to face him.
"And…what's your point?" Steph answered, her hands still rolled into fists. Brendan shrank back a little in fear. I'm more afraid of my own friend than those stupid, half-brained criminals who don't think we're a threat, Brendan thought, although he didn't like to admit it, even to himself. It was true that Steph's temper was short and she was known for hitting, but she'd done it once and surely she'd learned her lesson. At least I think so, Brendan added silently.
"We could sneak upstairs and see if there's anything going on," Brendan said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Before he could argue any more, Steph shook her head and glared at him with a look that seemed to say, "I'm smarter, so we'll do as I say."
"Don't be dumb, Brendan," Steph said adamantly, putting her hands on her hips. Brendan stared blankly at her. "They'd murder us without another word." Steph pretended to slit her throat for further exaggeration. Her neighbor narrowed his eyes and huffed.
Brendan said nothing as Steph stood there, tapping her foot, waiting for a better plan. She's too stubborn. How will I convince her? he thought. For a few moments he stood there silently, contemplating his choices. He and Steph could leave and forget about it, or they could always sneak upstairs if they were quick enough…
"You're sneaky and agile, right? We could sneak up those stairs!" Brendan exclaimed in a low whisper. Dewdano was now standing between them in case Steph decided to unleash her temper.
Steph glared at Brendan with disapproval. "Yeah, but what about you? You're too tall to go unnoticed. And your eyes are the first thing people see when they look around!" Steph shook her head sadly and petted Dewdano's now rough skin. Brendan snorted and turned to glance at the criminals. All of them had taken to ignoring the trio and they seemed to be engrossed with gaining information about ancient sea artifacts.
"None of them are paying attention, Steph," he murmured finally, after making sure none of them were looking. "If we go now, it'll be over quicker than a heartbeat." He nodded arrogantly and Steph couldn't help but roll her eyes. Dewdano still stood between them, looking at the supercilious boy and then at the obstinate girl.
"Fine, then. Don't blame me if we get our throats slit," Steph growled in reply. Before Brendan could gloat of his victory, Steph grabbed his wrist and yanked him ferociously behind a glass case display that held a model of a spacious white ship. She then crouched down and he did, too, after a moment, along with Dewdano.
"What the…" Brendan started to say but stopped when his neighbor abruptly pulled him behind a seawater sample display that was right next to the stairwell. Dewdano followed, quicker than a bolt of lightning. It was only a few feet away and he could hear someone humming upstairs.
Steph then, after a pause, dashed quickly to the stairwell, Brendan being tugged behind her submissively. She let go of his wrist, which was now crimson red and aching, and she turned to her companion, who was nursing his arm. Dewdano had been behind them the whole time and was now standing beside his trainer.
"Stop being such a baby and race upstairs after me," she whispered insensitively. Brendan immediately put his injured arm down and nodded meekly. After a few heartbeats, Steph dashed up the stairs without another word. Brendan followed suit. The stairway opened up into another room. Only one person was in the room. He was a middle-aged man and he was wearing a white coat and thick black-framed glasses. The man was standing over a display of a submarine and he was humming to himself, taking notes all the while. He looked up when he heard Steph, Brendan, and Dewdano racing upstairs.
The three of them stood at the doorway and looked on at the man, who was looking back at them. He shoved his glasses up the bridge of his nose and smiled slightly at the newcomers. "Hi, there, children. Enjoying your time here?"
Steph shook her head rapidly and declared, "No, there are thieves downstairs. You better leave in case they try to rob you." Brendan nodded his head in agreement and Dewdano let out a low, fierce growl. Then Steph paused and she though for a minute. He's interested in this submarine and looks like he works at a lab or something. Maybe he's Captain Stern?
Steph cleared her throat before continuing, "Do you, by any chance, happen to know a Captain Stern?" The man began to laugh, a deep hearty laugh, and Brendan and Steph slid glances at each other.
Once the man had stopped laughing, he bent over the submarine model to inspect it again. "Children, I am Captain Stern!" Then he laughed again and Steph and Brendan glanced at each other again, this time with excitement.
Brendan took initiative and stepped forward a few paces. "We have a—" He was cutoff by the sound of heavy, pounding footsteps. He turned quickly around, as did Steph, and they saw two criminals rushing up the stairs.
The taller one, the one who denounced them before, smirked. "You thought you could sneak, but you didn't did you? You see, we Team Aqua members ain't as dumb as you think." Steph glared at the two men with intensity. Brendan shuffled nervously from foot to foot and Dewdano was crouched in an attacking position, growling deeply. Captain Stern stood still where he was and clutched his paper to his chest.
"You're dumb for messing with us!" Steph yelled viciously, indicating to Dewdano and Brendan. The two Team Aqua men just laughed and glanced at each other with amusement. Steph snarled and clenched her hands into tight fists. Brendan couldn't help thinking that she was being a little too bold by challenging these tough men, but said nothing.
"Move aside, little girl! We have business to do with that man," the shorter, stockier one said, roughly shoving Steph to the side. Steph narrowed her eyes and looked at Brendan. Help me, she mouthed. Brendan registered this with understanding, nodded, and immediately drew a Pokéball from his belt loop. Steph signaled to Dewdano, who tensed himself readily.
"No, don't hurt him!" Steph yelled, springing herself at the taller man, who was advancing on Captain Stern. Fortunately for her, the man was skinny and she pummeled him to the ground, his head smacking on the tiled flooring. Brendan flung himself at the shorter man and did likewise, knocking him over on the floor. The two men became simultaneously angry and struggled to get up, flailing their arms pathetically, but Steph and Brendan forced them to stay down. Brendan glanced at his neighbor and revered her strength. She noticed her friend looking at her and she blushed slightly, but recovered after a moment and her eyes blazed with fury at the Team Aqua members.
"We settle this with a Pokémon battle, and if we win, you leave this place," Steph challenged, practically spitting in her hostage's stubbly face. The man tried to laugh, but Steph's right hand lay on his throat and all he could muster was a gurgling sound. Steph flinched in revulsion and signaled to Dewdano to come over to her. He did so eagerly and snarled at the Team Aqua member.
"What do you say?" Steph asked, pulling her hand from the man's throat to allow him to talk.
"Fine, then, child! But if we win, you're not getting any mercy for us," the tall, lanky man replied. Steph released him and he, without any further hesitation, stood up quickly. Brendan did the same, and the short man threw himself upward. Both the Team Aqua members drew Pokéballs from their waists and flung them into the air. The short stocky man sent out a Zubat, an ugly blue bat with pointy fangs, and the tall man sent out a Carvanha, a red and blue piranha-like fish with extremely rough skin that hurt just to touch.
"Go, Dewdano!" Steph called, watching her Grovyle hopping in front of her. Brendan chucked his Pokéball and his Combusken came after an explosion of light. Steph smirked conceitedly at her opponent's weak Pokémon.
Steph was quickest at commanding and therefore got the first blow in. "Dewdano, use Absorb on the Carvanha!" Dewdano scurried over to the Carvanha and a green light glowed over the fish Pokémon. Dewdano, after a minute, sprang backwards, landing at Steph's feet. Not even a few moments had passed before the Carvanha lay on the floor by the man. The Team Aqua member gnashed his teeth in frustration and recalled his Pokémon furiously.
Brendan was next with his Combusken, who easily took down the Zubat with a fiery flame that engulfed it whole, scorching its filmy body. The Zubat stopped beating its wings and fell to the ground, as if gravity was helping to eliminate it. Brendan then recalled his Combusken and stashed it away with a small smile. Its trainer recalled it with anger and glared at the two children with vehemence.
Steph smiled knowingly. "Thanks for playing. Now…" Steph paused, looking at Brendan for backup. He flashed her a small smile and they both turned to the Team Aqua members, who were grumbling in defeat.
"Get out of here!" they both yelled in unison. The two men scowled, but they didn't fight the two trainers as they forced them out the doorway into the stairway. The members said nothing in reproach as they made their way to the bottom of the stairwell. Steph turned to Brendan and smiled victoriously at him.
"Well, Brendan, we did it!" Steph exclaimed, throwing her arms open around her neighbor and hugging him. Brendan blushed incredulously and Steph drew back in embarrassment, also blushing slightly. She laughed softly and Brendan smiled back at her. Dewdano stared at them with amazement. Captain Stern chuckled to himself as he watched the two friends.
"Young love," he murmured to himself. "I remember it." Steph heard this and made her way to the Captain, slightly annoyed.
"I'm not in love with him," Steph said when she reached him, her cheeks still rosy with humiliation. Captain Stern laughed and turned back to the submarine he was studying.
"That's what you say," he replied, drawing out a pen from his coat pocket and resumed taking notes. Steph began to clench her hands again, but stopped when she realized he meant no harm. Captain Stern sighed as turned to the girl. "Anyway, what do you need me for?"
Steph began to dig around in her pack for the package the Chairman had given her. She felt the cardboard and drew it out, extending her hand to offer it to the Captain. Captain Stern lowered his glasses and examined it, as if it might contain poison or explosives. After a minute, he reached out and grasped it cautiously.
"It's from the Devon Chairman," Steph explained while Captain Stern rolled it around in his hands. Captain Stern nodded in understanding and set it down on the top of the glass display case.
"Thanks, these must be those parts I ordered," the Captain replied, smiling at Steph. "And thanks for saving my life. I owe you one."
Steph shook her head and closed her pack. "No, no, it was no problem. Anyway, Brendan and I have to go." She then bade farewell to Captain Stern and proceeded to where Brendan and Dewdano were standing.
Brendan smiled sheepishly and Steph's heart began to race. "Let's go, Brendan and Dewdano!" And with that, the three of them made their way to the empty stairway.
