The Pokewars alternate universe was created by Cornova who was nice enough to let me muck about in it with Dawson. It is likely Start of Chaos will be updating less frequently as I work on my other story. I've been lacking in inspiration and re-addressing my thoughts might help.
August 25th
Team Rocket base.
The sun had long since dipped below the skyline at the rocket base. The evening had finally taken hold and light was no longer provided by the sun, rather from the moon and stars in the sky. The base was dark as the group kept most of the lights off unless they were far enough inside that no one could see it in an attempt to keep them hidden. Today however was slightly different as not only several of the outside flood lights lit up but the Mareep also had charged themselves up, letting their tails illuminate the area in front of the base.
Lance stood outside the main entrance constantly looking upwards towards the east. Since the sun had dipped below the horizon he had thrown caution to the wind and lit up the base. He knew it would tell Clair and Dawson where they were if they couldn't navigate at night. He also knew it would tell everyone within ten miles where they were if they looked. He felt it was an acceptable risk.
"C'mon you two... where are you?" He said silently to no one.
He broke from his vigil of the skies when he heard the door behind him open and Joy walk out, "Any luck?" She asked.
"Not even a cloud passing by..." He said, "Not that it's possible to tell now. I can't really see the sky that well with this much light around us. Hopefully they'll see it and not someone else... hopefully they're alive to see it."
"They're alive..." Joy said reassuringly.
"How can you be sure?" Lance asked.
"I'm not... but we haven't died yet." She replied with a smile, "And I've been trying to be more positive."
"Is it working?" Lance said before pausing, "Sorry that was depressing... I think Dawson is starting to rub off on me."
Joy responded by laughing softly. The two of them shared a small smile before Lance put on another serious face and started looking up at the sky. Joy glanced back inside when she heard one of the children start calling out for her.
"Seems like they're done getting ready to make supper." She said, "I'll bring some out for you when it's done."
"Oh what are we having?" He asked.
"Soup, Apparently Rosemary is cooking so we'll see if she can help do the cooking chores with this meal." She replied before heading back inside to help.
"Ahh well not like we're really in a position to complain about any food we get." Lance said to himself as he went back to watching the sky.
For once his diligence was rewarded. Across the night sky he heard a sound that most people would be unfamiliar with, but as a dragon trainer he recognized almost immediately. Dratini had let out a shout to warn the Mareep below as the dragon and togekiss both came in for a landing.
The electric Pokemon unfortunately didn't know what to do in the situation and started to shuffle about attempting to go anywhere but where they thought the two would land. From above it made for an amusing sight seeing the multiple lights from their tails scurry about on the ground. Realizing it it would make landing difficult he got to work immediately.
Running to the Flaffy he quickly laid out their orders, "Move the Mareep, form two lines for the Pokemon to land in." He said before heading to one part of the flock to do what he had just said.
Thankfully the more organized Flaffy, along with Lance, formed the sheep into a pair of parallel lines. With the light now guiding the two Pokemon it was a simple matter for Dragonair and Togekiss to glide down the Pokemon's corridor. Once both Pokemon had gotten close to the ground Lance signaled to the Flaffy and the lights dimmed from the electric Pokemon's tails. Clair climbed off as Dragonair came to a stop, Dawson and Togekiss following behind, and walked past Lance without even making eye contact.
The dragon trainer turned towards Dawson with a confused look, "Did... I miss something?" He asked.
Dawson climbed off Togekiss hoping the dismount would cover the pause in his response, "It's... complicated. Ask Clair not me, She's the one who has to tell you what happened." He said working on taking off the supplies from Togekiss.
"What do you mean? What happened Dawson!" Lance said more urgently.
"I'm sorry Lance, for once I'm not doing this because of my disposition towards you. It's something you have to ask Clair about." He said tossing one of the bags of clothes towards the Dragon trainer.
"The hell kind of response is that!" He shouted looking at the trainer as he caught the bag, "Dawson what happened?"
Having enough of shouting for one day Dawson dropped the next bag on the ground and marched over to Lance, "Ask-Clair." He said fixing the Champion with a cold glare causing him to back away a step.
"Umm... anyone want soup?" Came a voice from the main entrance.
Both men looked over to see Joy holding three bowls of soup for them. Both Lance and Dawson traded a looks regarding the argument. Joy handed the two of them their bowls and they all sat down amongst the lights of the base. The silence around the three was stifling, something that Joy noticed right away.
"So... how was Blackthorn?" She asked tentatively.
"Empty for the most part... we picked up the supplies we needed and headed back." Dawson said not bothering to go into detail until the end where his face brightened up, "Oh but Clair did get a shotgun."
"A shotgun? Wait I do remember seeing her carrying something over her shoulder." Lance said thinking back, "How'd she manage to find that?"
"It was... a trade from another survivor." Dawson said before occupying himself with his food.
"Another survivor? What did he say, where was he from, why didn't he come back with us?" Lance asked urgently.
"I didn't get much time to talk with him, he pretty much made the trade then left for parts unknown." Dawson said after finishing his mouthful, "Regardless I need to get back to unloading this stuff before it gets too late."
Lance and Joy watched Dawson go back to the pile of bags he and Clair had brought back from Blackthorn. Both finished their soup and headed back inside the base to go put the bowls away to be cleaned. Had they stayed a moment longer they might have noticed Dawson stifle a yawn while he worked.
That night.
Joy let out a yawn as she checked the rooms throughout the Rocket base. It was unlikely anything would have moved in especially with the humans now living within the base. She still felt the need to check on rooms before going to bed, if just to calm down her mind slightly. Nights were still hard on her but the nightmares the once plagued her had begun to fade.
Upon reaching the room furthest from where everyone was sleeping she let out a sigh at the sight of Dawson working at the same bench he built his spear previously. The trainer was hard at work with another apparent project. Gardevoir was floating nearby, watching her trainer with a concerned look.
"Dawson don't you think you should go to bed?" Joy asked walking over to the trainer.
"Nah I'm fine I'm not even tired." He said holding up a piece of steel.
He had taken the metal from one of the many piles of debris around the base. He held the scrap of steel up to the single light in the room and let it shine across it's surface. Joy could see from where she stood the shine of a sharpened edge. Much of the metal had been chipped, cut, and sanded away leaving a shining blade. The handle was covered with several strips of cloth to prevent it from chafing the wielder's hand.
"Of course you're not tired..." Came a voice from the hall Joy had just walked down, "You keep doping up on the healing abilities of your Pokemon." Clair said walking into the room.
"Here to yell at me some more Clair?" Dawson asked bitterly.
"Should I... go?" Joy asked, "This sounds like something personal."
"No, Joy I need to ask you for a... personal favor after I finish talking to Dawson." Clair said walking over to the trainer as he continued sharpening the metal machete.
"Talking or yelling?" He said glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
"Neither... I just wanted to apologize. What happened in Blackthorn wasn't your fault and me taking it out on you wasn't right." She said holding her arm and refusing to look at the trainer.
Dawson paused in his sharpening after Clair had finished, "Whatever it's not a big deal, water off a psyducks back and all that." He said going back to sharpening.
"Clair?" Joy asked, her voice tentative and shy, "What happened?"
The gym leader looked at the nurse with an expression Joy couldn't read, "I'll tell you, I have to tell you... but first I need to do something." She said
"What?" Joy asked.
What followed was a sudden and angry batch of shouting as Clair walked over to Dawson and grabbed him by the cuff of his Rocket shirt. She unceremoniously dragged him off his stool and pulled him along the ground towards the door. Dawson responded with a series of colorful expletives while trying to grab ahold of something to stop the gym leader from pulling him along.
"First... We get this idiot to go to bed!" She said with clear irritation.
"Clair what the hell I'm fine!" Dawson yelled back.
"Tauros shit." She replied, "I saw how you were getting up after that sleep powder attack. How many days have you been going without sleep?"
"Damn you, let go! Gardevoir, Stop her!" He ordered his psychic Pokemon.
Gardevoir looked back and forth between Clair and Dawson for several moments while the trainer continued to struggle against the gym leader. He was starting to recover from the surprise of being dragged off his chair and was working on getting up while Clair kept trying to drag him to the door. Joy could only watch, torn between her desire to have Dawson sleep and her respect of his wishes.
Eventually the psychic came to a decision, approaching the two trainers as they struggled. With gentle pressure from her mind she halted the trainers as they fought. They both looked to her with shock as they found themselves unable to move at all.
Looking into her own trainers eyes she locked her gaze with his and felt her psychic energies flow outwards from her eyes. It took only a moment for her Hypnosis to affect Dawson and he slowly dozed off, muttering about backstabs and betrayals. With one combatant down she released her hold over both and looked to Clair with acknowledgment.
"Thanks Gardevoir." She said as she resumed dragging the trainer away.
Joy and Gardevoir watched for a moment before hurrying after the gym leader, "So... can you explai-" Joy asked tentatively.
"Not here, let's deal with sleeping beauty first." Clair said cutting her off, "Here grab his other shoulder and it's be easier to drag him."
Joy nodded and both of them grabbed his shoulders. Gardevoir assisted by lifting his legs and the three of them carried the trainer to one of the free bunks. It didn't take long to get him in the bed with the help of the psychic Pokemon. Once he was on Joy draped a blanket over him and followed Clair outside and into the darkness of the corridor.
"Joy... I..." Clair started before hesitating.
"What is it Clair?" The nurse asked looking at her shadowy form in the darkness.
"When... when we were at Blackthorn there was someone else. He..." The gym leader took a deep breath and turned towards the nurse, "He... I think he raped me, I- I don't know if he did... but I need to be sure. I need you to... examine me." Her heart was beating loud enough for her to hear it in her ears as she asked the nurse.
Joy didn't say anything at first, shocked into silence by the revelation, but then walked over to the gym leader and put her hand on her shoulder, "Of course Clair. If there's anything else I can do just ask." She said.
Clair didn't say anything, just turned and hugged the Pokemon nurse while her body shook from the memory.
August 27th
Rocket base
Clair leaned over the table in the center of the base where the group had set up for their dining hall. The Rocket base had a dining area but it was next to a window and made it less than ideal for eating at night. Many of the luxuries that they had once thought were nice had turned sour in their mind when faced with the new realities of this world. Windows and lights offered too many opportunities for someone to see them or know where they are.
She was currently looking over the map they had taken from Hal. Rosemary and Joy, along with the children, had taken off to gather more berries. The children, specifically Steven, had found their own in collecting berries with the Pokemon. Rosemary and Joy went along to watch over them, although Steven regarded them as simply porters to carry more food back rather than chaperones.
Clair had taken an accounting of the various things they had taken from the would-be rapist's backpack and while the shotgun was useful the map of the area complete with notes was the real score. While looking over the parchment she heard the sound of creaking metal outside. She paid it no mind as Eric, now equipped with his tools, had taken to repairing the radio tower with gusto. He had regained a lot of his confidence with the return of his tools going so far as to draft Lance's Dragonite to aid in the task.
The wayward Dragon trainer, having failed to pry the information out of Clair as to what happened at Blackthorn, had taken to sequestering himself in the rooms and spending his time reading through the books Dawson had brought back. Clair wondered what he found so interesting but let him be. He had little to do after Dawson had vetoed him from any more missions out into the world.
The trainer hadn't seen Dawson up since she and Joy had put him to sleep two days ago. She wasn't too worried overall, they had left him food by the bed and the fact that it would eventually get eaten meant that he was waking up and moving at least. Because of that it was a surprise when she heard him mumble his way into the room.
His hair disheveled, clothes skewed, and the imprint of the pillow on his face clearly showed how much he had slept, "Whaz time iz it?" He asked with groggy voice, any other questions overridden by a yawn.
"Almost ten in the morning, did you enjoy your beauty sleep?" She asked with a teasing voice.
"Uggh... Do me a favor, don't let me go more than a day or two without sleep next time." He said.
"Not the same attitude you had when being put to sleep." She said.
Dawson sighed in response and sat down at one of the chairs near Clair, "That was before I tried to move after sleeping. Apparently having your body constantly moving for several days isn't good for it... who knew." He said stifling another yawn.
"Well I'll be sure to drag you to bed next time you start to skip sleeping sessions." Clair replied.
"So what's drawn so much of your attention then?" Dawson asked looking over at the map.
"It's something that guy had in his pack. A map with lots of areas highlighted and marked with symbols. It seems our..." Clair paused and looked over her shoulder at the entrance to the room they were in before continuing is a slightly more hushed tone, "infamous rapist had traveled around a lot in the week since this all happened. Got a lot of markings down with several areas. If I had to guess the guy was crazy before this all a happened to be this prepared."
Dawson let out a sigh and looked off to the side his gaze not focused on anything, "I sometimes wonder if I'm much different." He said before refocusing and rubbing his arms slightly.
"What you think you're crazy like him?" Clair asked, "What are you doing?"
"I don't know if I'm crazy but considering how well I've taken this shit in stride I sometimes... whatever it's not an issue worth discussing." He said, "And in all seriousness, don't let me do my marathon no sleep runs anymore. It's like my entire body is tight, almost wound up, I feel tired still, and quite frankly it's not just a feeling like I worked out too much the previous day or something."
"Yeah it feels like that trip drained me a bit too..." She said.
"So you got any place in particular you want to go?" He asked looking over at the map.
"Well I don't know the symbols that guy used to note areas. Its basic geometric shapes but what each one represents there's no way of knowing." She said looking at the map, "But I was thinking this area simply because it has more symbols than any other areas."
Dawson examined the point on the map Clair indicated, "Huh..." He said nonplussed.
"What?" The gym leader asked.
"That's a steel mill, or iron I'm not too sure, I know of that area." He replied.
"You know of it?" She said.
"Yeah... kinda. I've never been there personally but Roark had to go down to visit a few times, mostly during worker unrest and trade disputes, and he told me about it. Apparently it's damn near a city in size with all the things cities should have short of a Pokemon center and Poke mart" Dawson said, "And I'm guessing the lack of those is mostly because the place doesn't want trainers mucking about and stealing all their stuff."
"So we're in agreement then, Head over there next and start mucking about while stealing their stuff?" Clair said with a smile.
"Sounds like a plan." Dawson said returning the smile.
"OK... OK... Little more... and there! Hold it there Dragonite." Eric said as he watched the dragon adjust the battered radio tower from the air.
As soon as the damaged metal tower was held in place he rushed over to the base. He carried with him several long scraps of metal which he immediately used to start shoring up the base of the tower. Once the supports were in place he then moved to the base and picked up several sheets of metal near the base. With the sheets he pulled out a device from his toolkit and strapped on some blackened goggles. Soon the area filled with the sounds of welding as he added the metal to the tower to strengthening its structure and began repairing the damage done by the very dragonite holding it up.
Lance was nearby leaning against the base as Eric went about welding the tower back into a standing position. The dragon trainer held open a book, seemingly oblivious to the noise in the background, and silently browsed through it's contents. Since Eric has started working on the tower this was the scene that played out to anyone watching.
"So how long are you going to sulk Lance?" The mechanic asked over the sparks from his work.
"I'm not..." Lance began before going silent when he realized he was sulking, "Fine I'm sulking, what does it matter to you?"
"Do you really want my opinion on the matter?" Eric asked.
Lance sighed and rolled his eyes at the question. He was frankly startled by how much more confident the man was when he had his tools and something to focus on. Going from someone so mild mannered to this person who actively started conversations rather than hovering around them threw the dragon trainer off every time a conversation happened.
"Well I wouldn't have asked if I didn't." He replied.
"Well it seems to me..." He started finishing his welding on one of the legs of the tower and moving to the next, "That it's less about how Clair and Dawson are treating you, and more about 'why' they're treating you like that."
"No their attitude is what's bothering me, if they were more polite it wouldn't be an issue." Lance said looking over at the water as his Gyarados, alongside Dawson's, swam by the shore.
"Really? I think if they were polite about it then you'd think they were patronizing." Eric replied during a pause in his welding.
"If there's a point I want you to get to it Eric." Lance said.
"Fine I'll just ask the question then, Are you mad at Dawson and Clair for treating you like you're useless or are you mad at being useless?" He said glancing over to the dragon trainer.
'I... whatever, the kids are coming back I'm going to go greet them." The dragon trainer said heading over towards the edge of the woods.
Eric rolled his eyes at the once member of the elite four as he walked away before getting back to work.
The woods, some distance away.
Growls and the snapping of jaws greeted anyone who approached the enclosed forested area deep within the woods. Dozens of Pokemon had gathered around two apparent leaders. Anyone listening in could clearly hear the anger present in many of the sounds coming from them. Both Arbok and Clefariy worriedly looked about at the hungry and angry faces of their army.
"We're starving!"
"I'm tired of eating human corpses!"
"When are we going to get some real food!"
All the shouts and complaints were directed squarely at the two impromptu leaders of the group. Kadabra had left several days ago and had yet to return. Their only indication that he hadn't died along the way was the arrival of a murder of Murkrows.
Their arrival was currently the cause of many of the complaints. Not only did they complain about everything but they ravenously ate and gorged themselves at every opportunity. What food there was in the area should have lasted the small army for weeks but with the arrival of the bird Pokemon it was quickly becoming harder and harder to forage for a meal.
Clefairy and Arbok could only control the various Pokemon so much. Neither of them were viewed as leaders to everyone and Kadabra's presence and will was what kept most in line. Not only were most afraid of the psychic but his drive to kill the humans and grow this motley crew of Pokemon into a real army had given them purpose.
"I know we're all hungry..." Clefairy started.
"Of course we're hungry you stupid twit! Those Murkrow have been eating everything and our glorious leader is nowhere to be found." One of the assembled Pokemon called out.
"Ssssilence foolsss!" Arbok hissed in anger, his own patience having run out hours ago.
"Oh go stuff yourself you hissing idiot!"
"WHO SSSSAID THAT!" Arbok shouted out staring into the crowd of Pokemon unable to find the culprit in the sea of faces.
Just as violence was about to break out a flash of light drew their attention to one side of the clearing. Both Clefairy and Arbok held their breath as Kadabra had returned. They had hoped to get the situation under control before he returned to avoid complications. The look in his eyes didn't give them hope of avoiding trouble.
He walked towards the two Pokemon oblivious to the crowd and their anger, "Come you two we have much to discuss." He said.
"HEY! We're hungry here, those stupid Murkrow you brought on have started eating everything! What do you plan to do about that!"
Kadabra glanced over toward the group of Pokemon. With a flick of his hand a single Sandshew floated upwards. His claws were at his throat and he was gasping for breath as the psychic choked the air out of him.
"My diplomacy with lord Ho-oh did not just end so I could treat with one such as yourself..." A wet ripping sound was then heard followed by the screams of the Sandshew as Kadabra slowly and painfully ripped him apart with his mental strength, "Does no one else wish to foist upon me their grievances, No? Good." He said letting the now twisted and bloody body of the Sandshrew fall to the ground.
Both Arbok and Clefairy followed the psychic away from the group into their own private part of the forest. Both Pokemon looked at each other nervously as they trailed after him. Arbok was especially uneasy knowing full well the damage a psychic could do to a Pokemon.
"Fools all of them." Kadabra said.
Clefairy paused a moment before replying, "Maybe so but they do have a legitimate complaint, the food is star-" She said before being interrupted by the psychic.
"It was not the simpletons I referred to." He snapped looking back at her, "I was, in truth, not even able to talk to lord Ho-oh. The Alakazam in his service denied me an audience to him, and I was nearly forced away when I pushed the issue."
"Why would you need to sssee him anywaysss?" Arbok asked.
"When I had collected our ravenous new allies on my journey back I ran afoul of something horrible. A beast... no that is inaccurate... A beast implies something of natural origin, this was a monster." He said, Clefairy following his words with rapt attention, "A parasect growth gone beyond the realm of nature and into the twisted world of nightmares."
While Clefairy was hanging on his every word Arbok was less than enthralled, "Yesss, we get it, a big ssscary bug type. What doesss that have to do with your trip to Ho-oh." He asked
Kadabra shot him an irritated look, "I apparently do not have the necessary skills in grammar to give a proper description so one with your mental facilities could comprehend. Ho-oh needed to be informed of this creature's existence. But the change he has brought on this world has started to spiral out of control. He spends much of his time simply putting out fires, started by the change he bestowed upon us."
"So what are we going to do about that creature." Clefairy asked.
"It worries me to say but, nothing." Kadabra said, "Without the comfort of letting those with the strength to deal with such a creature know of it's existence we must take solace in the fact that it was moving away from our camp."
"Ignore the problem until it goesss away?" Arbok asked.
"Indeed..."