Prologue/Epilogue
Hello readers! As promised here is a prologue/epilogue connecting the first and second parts of this story. I plan to use these each time I conclude a section of the story. Look forward to the next chapter and as always - please leave comment! I always appreciate feedback!
Disclaimer - I do not own any copyright material used here. Any copyright property belongs to their owners. This story is not made for any profit.
It was almost sunset before Erwin had finished his work at the shop. He placed the last of the restock items on their shelves before hauling empty boxes to the back area for recycling to pick up the next day. It had been surprisingly busy - a couple of amateur hiking groups and a few lone customers had come through looking for various pieces of equipment. He'd made some good money today which meant he could keep the doors open at least. Truth be told, his pension from the military was enough for his needs. He only did this line of work so that he wouldn't be bored out of his mind in retirement.
With the last of the boxes stacked, Erwin paused to take in the setting sun. Its light cast an amber glow on everything it touched, long shadows stretching everywhere. The sudden calm caused an urge for a cigarette - a "bad" habit he'd never bothered to get rid of.
Well hell, he thought as he lit one from his pocket, We all have our guilty pleasures. He took a long puff, the tip glowing and breaking off as he inhaled the familiar, warm aroma. He exhaled, and a small cloud of acrid smoke filled the space in front of him.
"So," he said aloud to the empty courtyard, "Are you going to come out this time?"
She had gotten better at her teleportation - he almost didn't notice her appear in the shadow of a nearby tree. The Gardevoir - Galatea - floated out into the open. She held her hands clasped in front of her white dress in an elegant fashion. The way she composed herself was nothing short of graceful and confident. The change from when he had met her as a Kirlia was dramatic, to say the least.
"So you noticed me?" she asked in a voice that seemed to echo around them. Erwin had to admit - she had the voice of an angel.
"Yeah I did - I noticed you digging through my head every once in a while too for the last few days- grabbing anything you could find that relates to Phillip,"he said taking another puff from his cigarette, keeping his eyes on her.
"Interesting" she muttered, "Humans shouldn't have that kind of awareness."
"Uh-uh. You're talking to someone with special training. I worked with Psychic Pokemon all the time and there were things that I knew that I couldn't share with anyone. So I learned how to at least tell when someone is probing in here," he pointed to his forehead. "or even block them out entirely. But I didn't mind you searching for answers - so long as you left certain things alone." He took one last whiff from the cigarette before throwing to the ground and crushing it under foot. "So - what can I do for you?"
"Why are you all getting Phillip involved in this?" Galatea demanded. "Why can't you find some other way to prosecute these people?"
"Ah - right to the point," said Erwin "Basically - you want us to stop trying to get him involved in this investigation. Set him free so you all can live happily ever after - just like a fairy tale ending right?"
"Don't mock me, Erwin." growled the Gardevoir. He was a little taken a back - she had never been this aggressive before.
"I'm not," said Erwin with a small chuckle, "But that's the truth - you want him to be set free from all this. But you're ignoring the fact that once that group finds out he's alive - they'll come after him. He's a loose end after all."
"But they haven't - and in your opinion they already know."
"That could mean they're planning something worse for him," he countered, shrugging his shoulders.
"Then I'll stop them."
"By yourself?"
"If I have to - then I will."
"Even if that means killing another human being and bloodying your hands? In front of Phillip?"
Galatea glared at him in silence without saying a word. But Erwin knew the problem wasn't she couldn't answer - it was that she could - and easily by the looks of it.
"So... have a dislike for humans now. Is that it?" he asked.
"What was done to Phillip was evil. Not only was his family slaughtered in front of him - he was abandoned when he needed humans the most. So yes - you could say my views have shifted a little." The tone in her voice and the contempt behind her eyes spoke more than words. This was more than a little.
"But Phillip is a human - I'm human by the way - does that mean we're evil too?" he asked.
"Not at all - but humans cannot be easily trusted. Nor can their actions be so easily forgiven."
"Well, what can I say..." he said with a smile, "We are imperfect beings." This new outlook explained why she was more willing to use the Psychic abilities. Before, humans were intimidating to her, or at best a curiosity. But after what she saw, she had gone through her own change just like Phillip had that night. Now she saw humans as threats and if it meant protecting the boy, then she had no issue with something as simple as violating another's privacy. If that was the case, then who knows to what lengths she would go to protect him. The ends justifying the means.
"So... do you know then? My thoughts on this group? It's goals?" he asked, changing the subject slightly.
Galatea said nothing - she only nodded.
"Then you know I'm skeptical of trying to legally nail them to the wall. I'm only following that route because my compatriots think that's the best one to take. But I have my own thoughts on how this will play out. Even so, Phillip is a key part of stopping something even worse from happening - stopping what I think is going to happen. You have to understand why we can't let Phillip out of this. Risking one life to save millions is not a hard choice."
"He will not be a sacrificial pawn for you people!" she shouted. Her hands were clenched to her sides - shaking in rage.
"That's fine. But what do you plan to do now that he's volunteering on his own"
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What are you saying?" she asked.
"Phillip spent his whole life running from his own demons - I don't think that boy will run from something else so soon," said Erwin. "We humans - especially men you could argue- have our pride to consider. When given the chance, we thump our chests and go into the fray out of our own, primal volition. It might have been possible for you to convince him to escape before that night. He had nothing to make him want to stay. Sure - he wanted his record cleaned up for his own benefit - but you could have pushed him to consider other options."
"So what?" she asked in a hissing voice, "Are you counting on Phillip to become some kind of hero - a leader - for your cause now that he's recovered?"
"No - I'm counting on the same thing you are. For him to care about others again - for him to reconnect with his humanity." He pointed at the glaring Pokemon. "And he has you to thank for that, Galatea. You gave that opportunity back to him and whether you like humans or not, that was probably the kindest thing anyone could have done for that boy."
The Pokemon was silent, regarding Erwin and his words. Then she relaxed, ever so slightly, her shoulders dropping a little.
"The way you put it - it's almost like he was better off before," she muttered. "At least then his life wasn't in danger..."
Erwin walked up to her, and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. He looked her straight in the eyes. "Let's be honest here - we both know that was no way for a person to live."
"I know - I just wish he hadn't become involved in any of this," her voice had grown heavyhearted and tired. "He deserves better - so does Athena. They deserve to live happy and peaceful lives. To be spared from any more dangers and evils of this world."
She turned to float away, letting his hand drop from her, but Erwin wasn't done.
"Galatea!" He shouted after her, causing her to stop - but she didn't turn to face him. "I'm sorry - for what you saw and for what happened to him. I just want you to know that had I been there - had I known - I would've stepped in to help him..."
She turned her head slightly, but her eyes were covered by her bangs. Only her mouth could be seen. "But you weren't there were you?" Her voice was filled with anger once again. "No one was there. Not a single person helped him. All of those humans left him on his own - assuming he would become a monster like the people who took his family!" She paused to take a deep breath - and then turned to face him. Her scarlet eyes met his and stared deeply at him - as if measuring his very soul. "I believe you though Erwin," she said in a calmer voice. "I know Sycamore and that other man you work with - Jax, right? You are all good people - but the reality is that all of you - and Phillip - are the exceptions."
She turned and began to float away. As she left, she spoke back to him. "If he chooses your path Erwin, then I'll fight alongside him and I expect you to do the same. But remember, I fight for my family first and foremost."
He nodded. "You can count on us'" he called after her "We're all in this together after all."
She didn't say another word as she vanished in a flash of light.
-Cemetery - Outskirts of Geosenge-
Night had fallen in the sleepy town of Geosenge as residents went to sleep for the day. The town was small, one of the smallest in Kalos with barely enough residents to even qualify as one. For the most part, it was known for the strange stone structures which surrounded it - stone pillars made centuries ago and rumored to have some kind of powers.
Or at least it had been - several years ago all that had changed. This town had played host to an event that nearly wiped out all of life, led by a man seeking to build an Eden on Earth. Now, humans with weapons were constantly around the site where the machine had been buried in one last blaze of glory. They investigated anyone who came close to the wreckage, sometimes with violent methods.
But none of that mattered - not to a lone figure standing in a town cemetery a ways away. It stood in front of a stone grave, the marker small and worn. It wore a dark black overcoat that covered all of its features. A tophat, resting on its head, hid the rest of the features. In front of the grave, it had placed a bouquet of spider lilies, they're bright red color contrasting sharply with the gray tones of the stone marker. The figure stood silently, looking at the gravestone, until finally it spoke.
"I did as you asked," it said in a man's voice, "Though I have to admit I never expected such a distasteful request from you. I don't like to play the part of the villain." It leaned closer to the stone, as if to get a good look. "I hope death hasn't besmirched your dignity and kindness."
The winds howled around the long lines of gravestones. The figure stood up, as if taking in the scene around it.
"No... I suppose you're right. It had to be done. But you know, it wasn't an easy task - a small error on my part and I would have joined you in the afterlife..."
It turned on its heels as if to leave, but paused for a moment. It turned it's head slightly around to look back. Anyone looking at the figure would have noticed nothing but black shadow in the small gap between the coat and tophat.
"Of course. I will not reveal anything you have shown me until the time is right. Such knowledge should not be shared beforehand with those bound to this realm. But I hope that for all our sakes... you are horribly wrong about all of this, my old friend."
Then, like a wisp of smoke, it was gone.
-Elsewhere-
The night was still young, but he already felt a profound sense of accomplishment as he cleaned off the last of the woman's blood from his blade.
He couldn't help but chuckle at how this whole thing had gone down. The fool actually though he was a trainer - since he still carried some empty PokeBalls on his belt. Of course, she had been wrong. He was something far worse. The look on her face when he cut the throat of that Growlithe of her's was something he would never forget - it was a look only brought on by utter despair as she realized her mistake.
Then again - it was what she deserved for acting like a predator when she was nothing more than prey. Her last cowardly whimpering, her bowels turning loose as he began stabbing her over and over in her chest until she was dead - an end fitting for someone who had no real strength. She had mistaken her Pokemon's power for her own and when it had failed she had been exposed for what she really was - a coward.
Gino sat before the scene admiring his work - after all he was one of only a few people who could grasp it. The scent of iron in the air from the blood, the corpses of his enemies on the ground, and even his own wounds from when that dog had bitten him - they were all pieces of a great work. Humans had become so disconnected from the need to survive - using Pokemon as tools and boasting about their own power when they had none themselves - it made Gino's work all but a necessity. And to be honest he never felt more alive than when it came to these moments.
His communicator rang in his pocket, breaking his trail of thought. He took one look at the ID on it and answered.
"Well, this is a surprise," he said with a small laugh. "you rarely call when I'm out on the field."
"I assume everything is going well?" answered a distorted voice on the other end of the line. It was altered on purpose for security, should anyone be eavesdropping.
"Of course - though I may gone a little overboard and killed some more than I was supposed to..." he added, feigning regret.
"As long as they can assume the connection to the others - then it doesn't matter." The voice paused for a moment, "It appears you've been getting sloppy with your work, Gino."
"How so?" he asked, his interest piqued.
"The boy you said you terminated a few weeks ago. We never found a report of his body being found - even in the black records the Kalosian government keeps away from prying eyes."
Gino's eyebrows climbed skyward. The little prick had survived then. He was tougher than he looked.
"Hmph - well in that case I'll go right away and track him down - finish the job," he said as he got up.
"No - I want you to leave this one alive."
Gino paused - he had never been ordered to spare a life.
"Can I ask why? This could lead to our discovery by government authorities that care... Witnesses tend to muck things up after all."
"He knows no more than the three who are tracking us already and could become an unwitting asset like the rest" the voice replied. "In fact I plan to feed them some more information - just enough to wet their appetite."
"This is a very dangerous game your playing," said Gino after a pause, "If you're not careful, your ambitions could end all of us."
"But it's precisely why this game is so dangerous, that you've bet your life on it's outcome," replied the voice with a hint of amusement, "Is that not right, ex-Major?
Gino smiled a predator's grin. "You know me too well it seems..."
"Move on and await further orders," came the command, "Our operatives are making final arrangements with customs officials to execute the next stage. This world shall be purged in flames, and belong to the fallen as it always should have."
"As you wish," The moonlight glinted off his bloodied blade, casting a scarlet glow across his face. "Until the day of convergence, my sovereign - I shall happily play the reaper."
Until next time readers! -Bladewing265