Under the Skin

Chapter 34

Justice locked the door to his private phone booth and then made sure the window covers were in place. He loved the privacy of these places. He quickly dialed the number Jack had given him, and waited anxiously. He had just seen on the news that an old wharf house had fallen due to a crash there a few nights previously in Olivine City. He had recognized the bike as Luke's.

"Hello, You have reached the head ranger base of this region and you are currently speaking to Jack Walker, head ranger."

"Jackie!" Justice said before the man was finished. Jack immediately relaxed, and smiled, though there was sadness in it. "Jackie, what happened? Is everyone okay?"

"We're all fine here." Jack said. "But, Equality and Liberty…" Jack shook his head. "It's terrible…"

"Jack, what is it?" Justice asked, terrified.

"Liberty didn't make it. She fought Luke. As one would expect, she was rapped and killed." Jack said quietly. Justice felt like he had swallowed a bucket of ice and that another one had been shoved down his shirt, and another down his pants. He went cold and clammy all over. "She, she's mostly intact…" Jack said shakily. "He just slit her throat is all."

"What's wrong with Equality?" Justice asked, sinking into the available seat. Jack grimaced.

"Well, that's the thing. He's fine physically speaking…" Jack trailed off. Justice grew even more worried.

"Jack, what has happened to my best friend?" He demanded.

"He's, he couldn't take it, Justice. His sisters death. He's living in the past now. He wont respond to Equality, he wont acknowledge that Liberty is gone. He doesn't even remember meeting you and Deliverance, She's had to reintroduce herself with her code name. Deliverance is at her ropes end, she's getting frustrated." Jack sighed. "Freedom and Independence are trying to figure out how to get him to snap out of it, it's not going well."

"I guess not." Justice sighed. "Just keep an eye on him and don't let him leave the area, if you can."

"Will do. I'll see you later. Be careful."

"You too." Justice disconnected and stood in silence for a minute before hurrying out of the booth.

\o/

"Come on, we're almost there." Gary said, holding out his hand to Eve. Eve took it, unsure.

"Gary, I don't know about this…" She whispered.

"Everything is going to be okay, don't worry." Gary reassured her. He gave her hand a squeeze and Eve smiled. She entered the lift and huddled close to him. Everyone in the lift looked innocent, but they didn't know who to trust anymore. They had gone shopping at small sales held at peoples homes, bought some new clothes and warmer winter clothes as well. They had also gotten something to help keep Zephyr warms as well. The other three were safe in their poke-balls in Gary's fanny-pack. This was the first time they had been in public sicne they had left Pallet Town three months before. Someone tried to start a conversation with them, but the two remained silent other than a few nods, and eventually were left alone.

When the lift stopped, Gary got out first, and helped Eve out after him. "Well, welcome to the coldest place in Sinnoh." He smiled. "Snowpoint City."

"Cold." Eve giggled.

"Very." Gary smiled. "Okay, lets look for a place to stay around town, and even if the Rockets do come around here, we'll have plenty of warning since it's a small area." Gary said, leading the way into town.

"Gary, how the heck are we going to find a place to stay? I don't think that there's an inn anywhere near here." eve said quietly, looking around nervously.

"Maybe not an Inn, but how about a cabin?" Gary asked, pointing to an advertisement on the side of the poke-center.

Several hours later, they were settling into a small cabin, Espeon and Umbreon positioned to take turns keeping watch.

\o/

"Well sure. They went over the water about t-two days ago."

"And you're certain it was Gary Oak and a girl with white hair?" Luke asked the man again. He nodded vigorously and gulped, eyeing the knife in Luke's hand, positioned at his neck.

"Alright Luke, we got the information we needed." Will said, straightening from leaning up against the wall. Luke followed, releasing the man and turning towards Will, but the moment Will's back was turned, Luke spun around, swinging his knife. It caught the man in the mouth, going through the back of his head. Will spun around angrily at the cry of pain, seeing Luke grinning maniacally.

"LUKE!" Will yelled, making Luke spin around and face Will, the knife getting yanked out. The man fell to the floor in an agonized heap, writhing in pain.

"What? Can't I have a little fun?" Luke asked.

"Not unless you want to get caught! We need to keep a fucking low profile you stupid son-of-a-bitch!" Will snarled, glaring at Luke. He sighed angrily and drew his gun. "May as well finish him off." He said, and shot the man several times in the head, until he stopped moving. "Now, YOU!" Will snapped, brandishing his gun at Luke. "Get the fuck out before I shoot you too, you moron."

"Yeah, yeah! I'm moving!" Luke grumbled and walked past Will and outside the small house.

"Right!" Will called as he exited, his typhlosion turned and empties a flamethrower attack on the house as he addressed the small crowd of Rockets, and then led them to the boat. He looked up at the sky as he waited for the boat to load, and smiled. Things seemed to be a bit easier than he had originally thought.

Who can believe it? I'm here! I really hope you liked this chapter, i had fun doing it. Yes, even the end. I feel sorry for the man who works the lift, but hey, Luke was in the house.

Yes, Evaen/Equality can't handle Lindsey's death. He's living in the past, and thinks her and her boyfriend are on a trip together.

i'll update the next chapter in a few minutes XD see you then!