Chapter Twenty One
When morning came, and he still remembered, Gary was very reluctant to get up. He didn't think he could look at Eve without going red in the face. However, he was in a great mood. He could remember something! But then again, he wasn't sure he should share it; at least not all of it. Maybe lounging in the shade of the trees, but not the bathing woman or hiding in the cave. That would just raise questions and worry everyone. So, he decided not to tell anyone he had remembered anything at all.
He went about his normal morning routine; showered, dressed, and headed down the stairs for breakfast, which he was feeling more in the mood for every day. Because of the memories that had resurfaced, he was in a good mood, despite the confusion that came with them, and there was an extra bounce in his step.
This caught his sister off guard, and she was still staring at him as he came up to her and kissed her cheek. He hadn't done that in eight years. "Mornin' sis; heading out, not going to eat much, just going to grab a snack bar." He said, and reached over her head, grabbing one out of the box and headed outside.
Daisy blinked, getting ahold of herself in time to watch him walking to the labs, lunging at his Pokémon playfully as they darted around his feet, and the tears came on suddenly and unbidden. She had her brother back!
Meanwhile, Gary went about his chores with more enthusiasm than he had in nearly four years. He couldn't believe that the next summer was his four year anniversary of the accident; but that didn't bother him. He was mulling over the memory from the night before of the Pokécenter. He had remembered this scene before, possibly because it could be significant, but this was the first time he had remembered it so clearly and been able to hold onto it. These memories and the memories of Keegan he focused on, and had even been able to remember other things about the Ranger; such as he had stayed with the man for three weeks, hiding in the woods. That was why he knew so many of his little quirks. His head still hurt a little when he thought too much about the Pokécenter, but he was remembering more and more even as the day went on. The memory of arriving there was pretty solid, but after that there was the waiting for news on the condition of the two pokémon, and then just sitting with them. He had a vague memory of feeling ill that night, but he couldn't remember why. He had gotten a vaccination in case the pokémon had been carrying a virus, but that was confusing as he had never been allergic to any kind of shot before.
About noon, he was hauling some boxes out to the storage shed with Umbreon and Eevee playing out in the grass nearby, thinking over his memories again. Suddenly, an excited cry rang out, startling him into nearly dropping the boxes.
"Eve!"
Blinking, Gary looked around, the voice unfamiliar, and he caught sight of Eve rounding the corner, Eevee and Umbreon sprinting to her. She laughed, kneeling on the ground and speaking lowly to them, scratching their ears. Frowning, Gary backed into the supply shed and after he set the boxes down, walked back out scratching his own head in confusion. Who had called out?
"Hey, Gary; feeling pretty good today I hear?" the albino asked, walking up to him, a fox in each arm.
"Uh, yeah, actually," He said shuffling nervously, the dream still at large. Eve smiled.
"Good to hear." She said. "Anything I can help with today? I wasn't needed at the vet's, so I'm free this afternoon."
"No, not much," He replied, heading back to the labs. "I just put away the last of the things that came off the truck, and no new trainers are leaving for another three weeks." He said, opening the doors for her. Eve frowned.
"Isn't leaving home just a few months before winter starts a little dangerous?" She asked.
"Not really, there's a bank fund and inns in every town for trainers under 18 to spend the night in on cold nights. Some don't have fire pokémon to keep them warm, so many camp out in a single town through the winter and take the time to further bond with their pokémon."
"Then it works out? None of the kids get stuck out in the snow or anything?" She asked as they sat down at the front desk.
"Well sure they do. But each Pokédex has a homing device, and they are monitored during severe weather. Grandpa designed those just before we were old enough to go ourselves. He had been working on it for years though; the technology just wasn't there before." He said, leaning back in his seat. He wasn't sure why he felt so good, but he wasn't complaining. Eve smiled and shook her head as he blew a strand of hair out of his face idly.
"Stay there, I'm going to cut that mop down a few inches." She said; standing and rummaging around for some scissors.
"Wait, what?" He asked, twisting in his seat, watching her.
"You need your hair cut, its gotten way too long."
"My hair is fine!" He protested, spinning in his seat to watch her as she shifted through a desk drawer for the tool, and surfaced with one not long after.
"Well I don't see you moving, now just lean back, jeeze, I do mine all the time and it comes out alright." She said, standing behind his seat. He frowned at her, then sighed and closed his eyes, leaning his head back.
"Alright alright…" He muttered. Eve shook her head and shifted his hair around a little before she started working. It was quiet other than the pokémon playing on the floor, both falling into a comfortable state of existence. The red head found himself nearly falling asleep as she worked; until she walked around in front of him, and leaned over, peering intently at his hair as she ran her fingers through it, an intense look of concentration on her face. He happened to open his eyes at that moment, and a sharp pain lanced through his head, making him flinch and moan, doubling up over his lap. Eve panicked, dropping the scissors and kneeling in front of him.
"Gary! Gary, you okay?" She cried, her delicate hands wrapping around his arms as he shook his head. Several things were running through his head at once. Nights of lying sick in a cave, tent or some crude shelter as he tried to care for himself, feeling as if he was burning from the inside out; and again, he saw her face, the strange young woman he remembered from before caring for him as he lay there helpless and afraid of dying.
It took a few minutes, but the fit passed, and he was able to relax again albeit breathing heavily and sweating still. Eve had run to get a cool compress, and was holding this to his head while wiping the sweat away.
"Is it over?" She asked. "Do you need anything?" He looked at her, her expression making his head throb a little more. Why was it so familiar to him?
"Yeah, just some pain killers." He managed to get out. He needed a moment to himself, really. She nodded and headed to the medicine cabinet, thankfully down a small hall in the bathroom. He took this short time to run his hands through his now short hair, trying to make sense of these new memories. He couldn't think much beyond a few hazy memories through the sickness, as it hurt too much, although he could tell that they were spaced apart, as if several weeks had gone by between each one.
Eve came back with the pills and some water, hesitating only a moment when she saw the look in his eyes. It was unlike any she had seen in the month or so she had now been there, as if he was trying to decipher her simply by watching her. It made her nervous, but not in a bad way. This confused and excited her all at once. The albino handed the red head the glass of water and pills, and sat beside him as he took them, a silent agreement not to mention this to anyone else hanging between them.
-x-
Excited chatter ran through the room, people greeting others they had not seen for a while, talking about what they had been doing, who they had been watching. Exciting news and sad recollections were told. Everyone seemed to know each other quite well, as if they were one large family, and each person wore the same, identical black, white, blue and gold uniform, and each had a particular pokémon beside them.
A freckled red head and a brunette walked in together, the differences on their jackets were the purple stripes and the reaction was immediate. The rest saluted them, and they saluted back before the mass majority went back to their conversations.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that, Liberty…" The red head muttered. Liberty smiled, shoving her brother playfully.
"Oh, eventually you'll have to, Equality." She said. "Looks like Freedom and Independence were even able to make it." She smiled, waving across the room at the two oldest members, a man and a woman, the man with snow white hair that stuck out as if he had been shocked, and a kind looking woman, her peppered white hair pulled into a bun. They nodded back and returned to whispering.
"Justice and Deliverance make it yet?"
The siblings turned to see X behind them, Honesty on his arm, her Persian at her side, purring happily.
"Nope, not yet; they're nearly here though with the new guy." Equality said. X nodded and looked around.
"Good, everyone made it." He smiled, his hand reaching to his shoulder to pat a fuzzy orange and white head as it popped up.
"Vee?" It blinked, looking around, and then clambered up to his head, making him laugh.
"Easy there, your claws are sharp!" He said, pulling him down.
"That's why I've repeatedly told you to get his nails trimmed." came a voice from behind him. X turned and grinned.
"Ah, Justice, made it finally eh?"
"Yeah, was a little difficult getting Integrity and Deliverance away, but we managed it." The curly haired blonde said. A shiny whooper was perched on his shoulder, peering about curiously. Deliverance was beside him, her Vaporeon at her feet. X looked beyond them at the new Integrity, shifting awkwardly, picking at his fresh uniform, his Chatot on his shoulder also looking as if he felt out of place.
"Nice to have you here, Integrity" He said, holding out his hand to shake "Your willingness to assist us is appreciated. There's going to be a lot you probably won't accept right away, but it'll all makes sense eventually."
"Yeah, that's what Justice and Da-Deliverance said." He smiled, shaking hands. "Nice to meet you too, X, right?"
"Yep," X grinned. Integrity frowned.
"Why X?"
"You'll see in a moment." Justice said and stepped forward. Again, all eyes were on this purple stripe bearing member.
"All members of Operation Anthem are now present, at least I hope, because I'm getting this thing started. Please take your seats, there's much we have to discuss." He said. Excited murmurs ran through the members as they took their seats, X and Honesty leading Integrity to his, right beside Honesty's as Justice, Deliverance, Liberty, and Equality took theirs at the front facing the rest, Freedom and Independence on either side of the four.
"Now, the first and most important, we must remember Keegan Evo, one of the bravest men I've ever known. He took on Agent Mayhem of Team Rocket on his own and although he perished, he kept our goal in mind. He kept her safe. We will always remember his bravery." There was a voice of agreement around the room, and the new Integrity looked a little green, swallowing.
"It took some time, but now we have found a man who's enough of an idiot to join us other morons in this mission of ours." He grinned, and a ripple of laughter ran around the room, making Integrity smile. "Integrity, please stand."
All eyes moved to him, and the blonde stood slowly. Each person saluted to him in greeting, and, still new to everything, he saluted back awkwardly.
"Thank you, all of you." He said. "Keegan was a dear friend of mine, and I'm honored to take up his task where he left off. I can only hope I can live up to his, well, Integrity." He smiled, and the rest laughed. Justice grinned and after everything settled down, he stood instead.
"Down to business everyone." He said. "Let's brief Integrity on what's happened thus far, and X has requested that we all know something very unique not only to him, but her, and now him as well. X, please step forward." X stood and moved to the center of the room, Integrity glad he was not the only puzzled one. X explained his findings, his and her history, and although he still saw confused faces, he smiled.
"It'll be easier if I just show you." He said, and closed his eyes. Moments later, shouts sounded and people leapt out of their seats either in shock or amazement. Integrity, however, gripped the table going deathly pale.
"Oh dear God…."
Author's Note: I apologize for the very, very long wait.
Life kind of took over for awhile, and been busy since last November planning my wedding this November!
Hopefully i can update regularly again and finish this for those who are enjoying it :)