Transformation: New Dawn
Chapter 12: A new mission
A/N: Hi! The last chapter saw some really dark material with Cindy, so let's see what happens now with our recently cured friends on Omega island…
Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Pokemon franchise, Nintendo does. I also do not won the Transformation universe created by TurtlesandMonkeys, I am only borrowing with permission. Swack16 owns John and Sarah, Lord Nalthren owns Omega and the Ryotos. I own Cindy. MEE-YAA!
-0-
John tossed and turned in his bed.
"No…no…" He murmured in his sleep.
The Eevee bit him…that girl…Miki…she was giggling at his pain...his body twisting and shifting...the fur…the rage…
He saw her in his dreams. No…stay back…I'm losing myself…
"John?" He knew that voice. Cindy…
She walked in and he felt his rage move his body against his will and he felt his teeth sink into her skin.
Cindy!
She began to scream as brown fur raced across her body and her ears began to lengthen, her screams of pain and agony reached his own Eevee ears. He heard himself growl while a part of him screamed.
Cindy!
NOOOOO!!!
-0-
John woke up in his bed sweating, is breaths short and rasp. He brought his hands to his face and took a deep breath. What a nightmare…
He looked to his hands again, his human hands, and he watched them tremble as he thought back to that dream. I attacked her...I couldn't control it…
He rubbed his black hair while he tried to erase that painful memory of her screams. He heard a knock on his door.
"John? It's Mikoto."
John nodded. "Come in."
Mikoto stepped in with a cup of water and a sandwich on a tray.
"I thought you might be hungry, seeing as you dozed off without eating."
John nodded. "Thanks." He took the tray and set it by his bed, taking the water and drinking it down in gulps. After he moved the cup from his mouth, the glass cup from his hands and clattered on the floor. Mikoto looked at it. "I figured your motor skills might still be a bit off so I'm glad we have these plastic cups." Mikoto sat by him.
John looked at him and then took the sandwich with both hands and took a bite, feeling the bread against his lips rather than a beak. John almost forgot what it was like to eat like this again.
Mikoto chuckled. "Your friends have an equally ravenous appetite as well, but I guess food must be hard to come by for a pokemon."
John put the empty tray aside and wiped the crumbs off of his face with a napkin and looked to Mikoto. "Thanks."
Mikoto nodded. "Anytime. How's that leg?"
John looked down at his leg, his own right leg this time, not the claw of a Doduo. He steadied himself of the bed and wobbled as he tried to maintain balance.
"It's still kinda sore.." John noted. Mikoto came by and gave him a hand.
"You arms are sore too, no?" John nodded. "Ah, you're friend Mary tells us the same thing. Can't imagine how you two felt sharing the same body with no arms."
John gave a nervous smile. "Actually, we don't remember much ourselves, but from what I can remember, it was pretty weird."
Mikoto pushed his glasses up. "I'm sure that cure was a wake up call for you two."
John blushed as he thought back. "You have no idea."
Mikoto got up. "Well, I just want to let you know, the pokemon that Akira sent that originally belonged to you are sort of back to normal. Though the virus hasn't been purged from their system, at least they are out of the rage portion of infection."
John got up fast and almost fell. "Really?"
Mikoto nodded and John walked up to him. "…can I see them?"
Mikoto put his hand to his chin. "well, we normally don't let guest in the lab…"
He saw the look in John's eyes.
"…but I guess I can make an exception in your case."
John hugged him suddenly and parted fast as we limped over to the dresser with the clothes he picked out.
"Let' me just get ready."
Mikoto nodded. "I'll be outside."
John pulled out a shirt and looked at it. Maybe seeing his pokemon safe again will take his mind off of the nightmare…
-0-
John got out of the room dressed in a black jacket over a silver gray shirt and black pants. Mikoto nodded. "Real sharp. Akira was one to look sharp all the time too…" he walked with a smile of nostalgia as he helped lead the limping teen down the metallic hall. John felt kind of embarrassed at needing help to walk to keep his balance, but he guessed it is necessary until he can walk regularly again. Maybe some of those kicking exercises Ryan taught me can help…
John looked to Mikoto. "Do you guys have a Videophone I can use in this place?'
Mikoto nodded. "Communications were restored recently. Got to sooth a worried family?"
John nodded. Mikoto smiled. "Well I'm sure they will be glad to know you are safe."
"It's been so strange…that whole time being a pokemon with no memory feels like there's this huge gap in my life. It's almost like being dead and suddenly being born again."
Mikoto chuckled. "The way you guys came out of being cured, you could say something like that." He began to laugh and John also began to chuckle. John looked around. "Where is Mary anyway?"
"In her quarters. She made a phone call earlier, a parent of hers I think. She also has the same muscle disorientation you have, but she's getting over it with some stretches."
They walked into an elevator. "You guys looked like you've gone through this before."
John looked at him. "Huh?"
"Being turned into a Pokemon. You guys seemed to know the process of being cured with human blood."
John nodded. "Yeah, I was turned into a shiny Eevee the first time, then I got cured for the first time, then the Doduo got us."
Mikoto looked at him fast. "Did you say…shiny Eevee?"
John nodded. "Yeah, so?"
Mikoto pushed his face against John fast. "Was the Eevee that bit you shiny?"
John was surprised. "Ah! No I don't think so!"
Mikoto gave John his personal space again and he fiddled with his glasses as they shone.
"So, the Eevee was regular but you were shiny…maybe something in your genes…or the virus…"
John looked at him with a strange glance. "…so?"
Mikoto chuckled. "oh I'm sorry, it's just that my specialty lies in the study of genetics in what makes a pokemon shiny. After Kitsune and Moro, I just devoted my life to figuring out what makes them shiny. Also. I specialize in the study of the stages of evolution of Eevee. A Glaceon that we had in the family for a while helps me in that stage too." He fiddles with his glasses as he gave John an odd look. "I wonder if you get turned into an Eevee again if you will still be shiny. If you do, then there might be something in your genes that made you so…" He looked at John with a magnifying glass.
John sweat dropped. "You're weird, you know that?"
-0-
The Elevator dinged and the doors opened. John was able to walk a little more b himself but Mikoto still aided him occasionally.
"Here we are." Mikoto said. John stared with wide eyes as he walked closer to the containment cells.
"…Kairi….Burn…"
In two cells were an Espeon and an Infernape , the Espeon meditating with its tail twitching and its eyes closed and the Infernape with his back resting against a corner as he sat cross-legged and stared at a spot on the floor. However, when he caught sight of John, he got up and stared through the glass with a look of disbelief and put his palm against the glass, toughing with johns as he touched the glass, tears approaching the boy's face.
"It's really them…"
Mikoto stepped behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. John then walked a little to Kairi's cell and put his hands against the glass as he watched her open her eyes and look at him with tears in her eyes. "Espy." She mewed, the sweet sound barely breaching the glass. He put a paw to touch against his hand on the glass. John looked to Mikoto.
"When can I have them back?"
Mikoto sighed. "I'm not sure, that's not my call."
John slowly turned toward him from the glass. "What do you mean?"
Mikoto put his hands in his lab coat. "Orders from above, the pokemon are to remain in containment until further notice."
Mikoto suddenly felt himself being pushed against the wall as several instruments and beakers clattered to the floor, John's eyes to the floor as he pushed against the scientist and then held him by his coat. "What do you mean?" he asked with a breaking voice.
Mikoto grabbed the boys arms, surprised y their sudden strength. "Mika's orders. The virus hasn't been fully expelled from their systems and we couldn't risk a perameter bre-"
John dropped him and trembled. "…where is Mika…"
Mikoto began to get up, raising an arm to John. "Now I understand your feelings in this but-"
"They are my family Mikoto…please...I have to talk with her…"
Mikoto saw the tears trickling down his amber eyes and to his trembling fist and he got up. "Look, I don't even know if she still forgives you for what happened to Akira. I know it wasn't your fault, but I don't think barging in there and demanding your pokemon back will settle her down any sooner."
John looked to him again. "Please, Mikoto…"
Mikoto looked down and nodded. "Follow me."
-0-
Mika sat behind her desk and watched the computer screen as the latest search teams placed motion sensors and surveillance equipment in several different areas across the region. Akira has to be out there and we'll have to run into him eventually. A dark thought entered her mind. Unless he's purposely avoiding us and doesn't want to be found…
She sighed deep as she tried to fight off the tears that were approaching.
Brother...I need you back…
She felt a hand on her shoulder and gasped to see Moro standing there.
"I sense your desperation child, and you are beginning to suspect the worst…"
Mika held her head in her hands. "Moro, please don't do that. Seeing you human is one thing, but I don't think I'll get used to you popping up like that all the time."
Moro walked in front of her desk. "At least your faith hasn't wavered, that belief that you will see your brother again. It helps drive you."
Mika looked down. "It begins to feel like an impossible dream with each passing day."
Moro put a hand on her chin. "Yes child, but even dreams come true."
Mika heard a buzz. "Yes?"
"It's Mikoto. John Kai Ping would like to speak with you." Her brother said from behind the door.
Mika got up and nodded. "Bring him in."
The door opened up and the boy and her brother walked in. Moro looked at John like if she was remembering something but shook the look away. Mika crossed her hands.
"If you will excuse us, my brother."
Mikoto nodded and began to walk out. "you to Moro." Mika said and Moro nodded and walked outside with Mikoto and closed the door.
John saw her seriousness in her face and a photo caught his eye with a young boy he recognized as Akira and a smiling girl hugging a little Vulpix. She seemed so happy.
When she still had her brother…
"Have a seat." She said with a stone cold face.
"Yes Ma'am." He said as he took a seat in front of the desk across from Mika, his amber brown eyes across from her blue ones.
"You look well. You seemed pretty rattled from coming back from being a Doduo." She said with her hands crossed in front of her chin. John nodded. "Yeah, I'm getting used to having my own body again." Mika closed her eyes. "Your friend Mary seems the same way. Your Skarmory friend was also cured, she doesn't seem to have much trouble adjusting, but seeing how she wasn't a merger, its understandable."
John raised an eyebrow. "Merger?"
"Mikoto came up with it, something to do with two or more people fusing into one pokemon."
John nodded. "makes sense."
She got up and began to walk toward the wide window. John cleared his throat. "Um, I probably know the answer already but I'll still ask…"
Mika didn't turn away from the glass as she stared outside. "about your pokemon?"
She stood up straight while maintaining her position from her window ,not looking at him. "You're pokemon will still be placed in R&D until further notice."
"Look, I'm sorry to hear about Akira and I know it's my fault it happened…"
"You're damn right it is!" She spun in fury with tears. "First that jerk Keys assigns him to that hell hole, then your infected pokemon bites Kitsune and she got him!" She trembled as the tears ran down her face.
John saw them and looked away before turning toward her to ask again.
"When can I have Kairi and Burn back?"
Mika furrowed her brows and took a breath and closed her eyes. "I hope you understand that they cannot leave this building."
John got up. "What?!"
"They still pose a very high threat level of passing infecti-"
"Don't give me that HDC crap!" John cut her off. Mika suddenly slapped him. "Have a seat! You're not getting them back because they're the reason my brother isn't coming back!" She yelled then sat in the chair and turned away from John.
John only stared at the ground and put a hand to where she slapped him. What do I do…what..
A thought crossed his mind and he looked up.
"…what if I can get him back?"
Mika looked at him with her angry tears but began to soften. "what?"
John stood up. "What if I can go out there and bring him back? Then will you change your mind?"
"What makes you think you can find him when so many of my search teams couldn't?" She asked.
John clenched his fist. "Because I won't give up. I'll find him for you , and I'll bring him back. I promise."
Mika looked down and she reached for her picture of her and Akira together when they where kids. Several tears fell on the picture.
"You will try your hardest to find him?" She asked.
John nodded. "I give you my word. Nothing will stop me in bringing him home. It's the least I can do after all the pain I caused you."
Mika looked up. "It will be tough."
"I know, but I can take it. I won't give up." His eyes burned with determination.
What do I have to lose? She nodded. "All right, you can go look for him."
John stepped forward. "I'm going to need some pokemon."
Mika closed her eyes. "…One. You can take only one."
John leaned against her desk. "But I'll need more."
Mika furrowed her eyebrows. "You can have only one. You can have the other one when you bring back my brother, just so you won't forget your promise."
John stared at her and did all he can to refrain from striking her, but then again he was a gentleman and wouldn't do such a thing. "All right, one." He nodded.
Mika turned her chair to face the window.
"Please…bring him home."
John nodded. "I will, I promise."
Mika clicked a button and the door slid open and John bowed before limping his way out the room, Mika biting her lip, wondering if she made the right decision.
-0-
John was in the lab, standing in front of Kairi's cell as the locks went off and the large grate door slid open with a whirring sound and the Espeon cried out with joy and ran up to John, jumping into his arms and nuzzling him. John hugged her tight and looked to his Infernape in the cell. "I'm sorry Burn, but I promise I will return for you." Burn nodded and gave him a thumbs up. John returned the sign and looked to Mikoto. "I need a Videophone with a transporter."
Mikoto nodded. "Right this way."
-0-
They were in the island Pokemon center that was usually used in the tournament season. John noticed that he could walk a little bit better now. He stepped inside and saw a Nurse Joy there. "May I help you?" She asked.
"Yes, can I use your phone?"
She nodded. Yes of course, right there to your left." She gestured to the phones. John nodded. "Thank you."
He walked to them and picked up the receiver and turned the video feed on. He looked at the numbers and paused before slowly typing each in.
The phone rang and John waited, an image of a Ninetales and its tails waving appearing with a "please wait" message.
The screen suddenly clicked onto the face of a woman with black hair and worried eyes. John felt tears enter his eyes. "Mom.."
"john…" she responded, leaning closer to the screens her eyes filled with tears of joy. If he could he would embrace his mother right now. "Hi mom, it's good to see you again."
"Are you ok? Oh you have no idea how long I've spent endless nights hoping to hear from you again since this virus nightmare began. I'm just glad you're safe."
John smiled. "Yeah mom, I'm ok…the virus got me, but I'm better now."
John mother touched the screen. "Oh if only I can hold you right here…when are you coming home?"
John looked to the side. "Actually mom, I'm not coming home just yet, there's still one more thing I have to do before I come back."
She looked down and closed her eyes. "oh…" she began to tear up.
John only hushed her softly and smiled. "I will come back, but there's something important I have to do. Some one needs me and I have to help them so everything can be right again."
She nodded with her eyes closed. "I understand…but then you were always like that, willing to offer yourself to help others…just like your father." She sniffed at the last part. John felt sadness pang through his body at that moment. "Yeah mom…but I'm going to need my team. Do you still have them?"
She nodded. "Still waiting in your room. Let me go get them." She walked away for a moment and John waited, looking down as he thought about how this must be affecting her. As if she didn't have enough to worry about…now this virus thing has her fearing for me every second...at least she's safe…
"I'll have to take these to professor Rowan's lab for transport…"
john nodded. "I understand."
She leaned close to the screen. " Wo ai ne, my Shou hai."
John nodded. "Wo Ai Ni, mama." He clicked off.
He then sighed as he sat against the phone, Mikoto looking at him with a smile. "That thing you said, what was it?"
John smiled. "It means "I love you" in my native tongue."
Mikoto nodded. "Ah."
The phone rang and John answered it again to see the gruff face of Professor Rowan.
"Ah, John my boy, it's been awhile." He said.
John nodded. "Hello professor."
"Your mother told me the situation and while I might call it a tad reckless, you are one brave boy, John." Rowan said. He then stepped aside for his mother to spear on screen. "here you go John, here's Riku." She placed a ball and John saw a light go off in the screen and saw the transporter ray glow and deposit a ball. He took it and opened it, releasing a Lucario. The Lucario looked to him and bowed, then it sat cross-legged while John rubbed its shoulder and smiled.
"And Sora…" she placed another ball. John received it and opened it to reveal a Staraptor that fluttered around and landed on his shoulder, John petting it while it flapped off and landed next to him.
"And little Ruby." She placed the last ball and the light fired up and the transporter deposited the ball.
John opened it and out came a little Vulpix, the fox batting its head and hoping at him while it nuzzled him. "Vulpix!" John noticed a little necklace in the pokemon's mouth. He took it and recognized it. It was a necklace his grandfather Shu Wei wanted him to have before he left on his journey but he forgot it by accident. It had a silver stone in the middle. He looked at it and looked to him mother who wore a proud smile. "Your grandfather wanted you to have that with you on your journeys, and I thought Ruby might lend me a hand getting it to you." John felt tears in his eyes and hugged the little fox and nodded to him mother. "thanks mom." He slipped the necklace over his neck and wore it proudly, his pokemon around him.
"Stay safe my Shou hai, and please come home." His mother said.
John nodded. "I promise mom. Wo Ai Ni."
"Wo Ai Ni." She said with a tearful smile. Rowan nodded and waved goodbye and John saluted back and clicked the signal off, hanging up.
John looked to his pokemon. "My friends, my family, welcome back. I've missed you." He hugged them in a group hug and stepped back. "But now we have to go on a mission, to save Mika Ryoto's brother Akira and bring him home." The pokemon nodded. John remembered something. "Also, Sarah and another friend of mine are still out there, maybe we can find them too in our quest for Akira."
"Then I hope you don't mind us coming with you." He turned and saw Mary there with another girl with orange hair covered in a gray-black bandana and wearing a sleeveless vest with a black tank top and black pants and brown boots. She smiled. "Hi, I'm Linda, I'm the Skarmory you guys rescued. I hope you don't mind us tagging along."
John looked to them. "It will be dangerous."
Mary laughed. "Well we've been in worse situations before, right John? Duo?"
John smiled. "Well I guess."
Mary nodded. "Thank you John."
Linda lifted a fist. "Well what are we waiting for? Let's do this!"
John chucked his fist in the air and Linda and Mary put theirs next to his.
An Omega officer walked in.
"The chopper back to Hoenn has been prepped and ready for lift off."
John nodded and recalled his pokemon.
"All right then let's do this!"
Akira, Sarah...Cindy, I'm coming...
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And there! Long chapter! XD! This was suggested by swack16 along time ago that John should be hired by Mika to find her brother. This will have some interesting correlations to Lord Nalthren's Chronicles of the beholder (Formerly Eyes of the beholder) story. The nightmare John had was actually lifted from an unpublished side story/AU story. I liked writing the part when John calls his mother to get the rest of his pokemon and I tried to capture certain emotions in this chap. This is also one of the few references to the mainstream pokemon game/anime verse with professor Rowan's appearance. We will certainly return to Cindy's crisis soon but I felt this chapter had to go up first before that. Well, please review! Jonseycat, out! MEE-YAA!