Chapter 37

So sometime during the middle of the night, the PRA tried to start shit by messing around with a flare gun. The dumbshit in question fired the flare gun into the air, causing a stir for a few minutes. Louis waked me on the satellite phone, told me what had happening. I told him I would handle it. After spending five minutes in the dark trying to track the bastard down, I grabbed the conscript and threw his furry ass off the roof. He landed ass first on the concrete and broke his hip and leg. I watched the paramedics take him away, then I returned back to the House Chamber and went back to sleep.

When a new dawn broke, I rang up Louis on the satellite phone. It took a few rings before he finally answered. "Tesla."

I said, "How's morning for you?"

"Fine, fine. How about you?"

"Good, no more disturbances."

"You have any more demands?"

I said, "The old farmhouse had collapsed from age, I need someone to file the necessary paperwork to make a claim. Is the Homestead Act still in effect?"

"It is."

"Scrounge up 500,000 pokédollars and deposit it all in Irvin Westinghouse's old bank account. While you're at it, I'll start releasing some people. Assuming anyone wants to leave at all."

"Okay, I'll get the paperwork started."

"Keep me posted."

. . .

When the captive Faradian government began session, a few senators and representative had turned in resignation letters. I read them myself, making sure the signature and dates were present. I handed them to their speakers and let the assembly people go. The scene of them walking out of the Capital Building created a lot of attention, people were beginning to think the standoff was ending.

Mark brought in a notebook laptop for me to use. Being computer savvy I felt right at home. My familiarity ended when Mark showed me Reddit, a so-called front page of the internet website. I found my name on a link to an FNN news article, receiving 6,000 upvotes in two days. I clicked on the comments section and got a glimpse into people's minds. Among the 1,034 comments, most were supportive of me. The deeper I went through the comments, the more confused I became. Users were drifting off-topic on other things, some mentioned sex jokes and pornography. Many users posted links to so-called "reaction GIFs" that made no sense to me whatsoever. I frowned, once the important discussion was complete people began posting random shit for attention. I was just about to shut the computer down when Mark showed me the IAMA page, a subreddit where any important person can ask questions to their adoring fans. He had me made an account. I kept my username simple, labeling it as "Tesla_Westinghouse", then I created my first Reddit post.

"Hi, my name is Tesla Westinghouse. Former starter pokémon of the late Pokémon Master, Irvin Westinghouse. Ask me anything."

I uploaded the post and set it aside for the time being. I then dismissed Mark and stared at the post for a few minutes before the satellite phone rang. "Hello?"

"Westinghouse," said Louis. "The money has been deposited in your bank account."

I went onto the computer and opened up Irvin's old Bank of Faraday account. Sure enough, a recent deposit of 500,000 pokédollars is pending in the checking account. "Alright," I said. "That's another step done. How's the petition going?"

"The petition has been set up and we're receiving signatures from all over the Island. You sure have a lot of popularity over this."

I said, "I've recently released some assembly men and women, have they been escorted back to their families?"

"They're back home, relieved that their ordeal is over."

"Okay."

Louis said, "What is your next demand?"

"The next one wouldn't be yours to carry out, I'll get back to you soon."

I killed the connection and turned my attention to Governor Norman. Earlier he had been moved to a secured room in the center of the Capital Building, heavily guarded by Dixierat raichus. It's about time I speak with him in person.

I said to Smugleaf. "Hold the fort, I'll be right back."

"Kay, Tesla."

I left the House Chamber and walked to the lobby. I remembered that Governor Norman's makeshift office was on the 2nd floor of the Capital Building situated down the hall from the Senate Chamber. The office is normally used by the Vice-Governor, since he's the President of the Senate. For now, Norman his borrowing his number two guy's office so he could carry out his duties. As I walked into the lobby, I caught Ray talking to the committee members, running his mouth, telling them all sorts of useless information. I whistled for him and caught his attention. I waved him over, Ray excused himself and rushed up to me in a hurry. "Up to something, Grandpa?"

"Let's find Norman again, and this time don't break down the fucking door."

"Yes, sir!"

I jumped on his back and Ray took off. We went up the main stair gallery up to the second floor, then made our way down the hallway. The second floor was swamped with both PRA and Dixierat looters. Each room we passed was wide open and gutted. Papers litter the floor, furniture and windows smashed. The Dixierats searched for food, while the more merciless PRA searched for anything of value. Strangely both factions were getting along despite differences in interests and values. I watched them run from room to room, chasing down goodies and plunder. When the PRA conscripts saw us, they dropped what they're doing and stood in attention. The Dixierats less formally started following us, eventually massing a dozen chus. I heard one grass monkey comment as we approached Norman's room. "This isn't an army, this is a hive."

Big burly raichus wearing Kevlar vests stood guard by his door. They stepped aside as Ray and I stepped into the office.

There he was, the Governor, wearing nothing more than an undershirt and pants as he runs the crippled Island in a commandeered office, using nothing more than a burrowed laptop, a CB radio, and a satellite phone. He was just finishing typing something up when I approached.

"So why pardon me, after all that shit for twenty years?"

Governor Norman sit back and stared at the wall for a moment. "No other pokémon like you has moved so many people, I've overestimated you on what were your intentions. You made a mockery to the FIPD and crushed many trainers and pokémon who come your way. From what I was told, Irvin was well associated with then-Governor Stanley back in your time. I didn't grow up watching you on the TV, but I heard plenty of talk about you. People mostly adore you for your looks."

"The shit I can get away with, if only they knew."

Norman said, "After I received Mark's plea to get a pardon for you, I went to the archives and dug up Stanley's journals. I found a tape about a conversation between him and your trainer."

"What is it about?"

"Mostly explaining why you never showed up to his party. Irvin regretted dragging you into the spotlight, you were trying to get away."

"Had been for twenty years. Living as a hermit underneath Faraday City's shadow taught me one thing, and that's Irvin's legacy will forever haunt me. I just found out that just before his death, he made an audio tape explaining a lot of things. And then he terminated our contract. Seventy years of my life went down into his grave, another twenty years spent trying to avoid what was left. No matter what happens now, I can't get those years back."

Norman said, "What do you want to see me for anyway?"

I said, "Pardon the co-conspirators who brought the Dixierats to the Island, mainly Irvin's grandson, Andrew Westinghouse, and his best-friend's grandson, Mark Kissinger. They may be assholes, but they're close friends."

"And what about you, what's your take in the invasion?"

"I simply brought those mice pokémon into existence, I was not responsible for bringing them to the Island. However, I did instructed the Pokémon Resistance Army to come here."

"I heard about what happened at Soho, you brought their problem to our homeland."

I frowned. "First, that was Nobark's problem, and he's out of the equation. And second, I was never a citizen of this damn Island. I am stateless, I merely reside here. Amazing that little detail is overlooked in a country paranoid about immigrants. Rather than taking their jobs, the people gave me their identity. Do you have any idea how infuriated I was when the General Assembly put my fucking face on the national flag?"

"Is that why you took down the banners off the Executive Mansion and City Hall?"

"One of the reasons, the other is to show I own your country now. I don't have to fight my way over here, I simply walked in and conquered your capital. All because my dead trainer put me into this position." I took a deep breath. "So why did you pardon me? In fact, why did you have me, an aging pikachu, battle Cabot for it?"

"My advisors pushed the idea, saying they want to see if you still have what it takes. I would've pardon you even if you had lost."

"So it was your advisor's decision? All you know is a celebrity pikachu killing and incapacitating anyone who tries to capture it. I have no sympathy for those trainers and their pokémon who risked their lives trying to capture me. They were trying to take my freedom, I was defending myself, and I wasn't taking any chances. So, for the third and final time, why?"

Norman reached out and closed his laptop. "If I ordered for you capture or assassination, I would be forever known as the Governor who put down this Islands crown jewel. Your powers and fierce determination symbolizes the Island's technological and economic strength. You've been around for countless generations, if anything were to happen to you this Island would suffer an irreversible economic recession."

"I don't give a damn about your Island, I brought here by force and I had no private life. All I care right now is family. Irvin made his plan so I could bring your nation to its knees, allowing the Dixierats a life I used to lead a long time ago. So for fuck sake, pardon my friends. I'll be taking the fall for this."

"You sound so willing to wreck your own reputation."

I exploded, "Because it's not mine!"

A surge shot through the dead electrical lines within the Capital Building, causing the ceiling lights to flash and burn out. Ray jumped, nearly knocking me off. I heard several Dixierats and PRA conscripts rushing to the door, expecting a firefight. Instead they saw me just standing there in infuriation. "All I did for Irvin was do his taxes, his chores, battle, and most of all, sit on his shoulder for the camera! Do you know how long it took him to realize his mistake?! We wouldn't even be here if I wasn't even poached!"

I looked behind me and saw the troops standing at the door, terrified and uncertain. I turned back to Norman and pointed at them. "They don't even know who I am, I don't even know who I really am! I don't have a home to go back to, and I simply cannot walk away from this! I didn't march into your Executive Mansion just to kidnap you, I came just to beg for help!"

I breathed for a moment, trying my best to cool down. "Please," I said. "I can't take this anymore, I'm finished."

I climbed off of Ray and leaned a hand against the door frame. I stood there for a moment, trying to clear my head. Then I asked, "Where's your Vice-Governor by the way, isn't this his office?"

Norman said, "Vice-Governor Sherman has resigned, I received his letter of resignation days ago. Since independence is near, I didn't bother replacing him."

I turned around and said, "Pardon my friends, and I'll let you go. I'll leave you to it."

I turned back toward the doorway and left.

. . .

The next few hours were interesting. Louis called, saying the petition I requested was almost finished. He also added that the polls were opened, overcrowded with people eager to vote. The initial tally showed that a majority of people were eager to vote out their General Assembly. I was impressed, I didn't expect things to be this easy.

Governor Norman came down to the House Chamber, dressed back in his business suit. He had something to say to the people. I asked the FNN crews to train their cameras on him, I then got on the phone with Louis to notify him of the Governor.

"I have an important announcement to make," he said, "in regards with our situation with Unova."

He paused, letting that thought sink in. "The Unovan parliament has voted whether or not to declare independence for Faraday Island. The vote was in our favor, but barely. The bill has been passed on to the council to be voted upon."

He paused for a second time, then said, "Our request for independence has been approved."

The whole House Chamber erupted in applause. I stood there unamused, Andy and Mark however were ecstatic. They even hugged each over for the spur of the moment.

When the applause died down, Norman continued, "In response to the declaration, I have to announce that we're not going to found not just one nation, but two. One for humanity, and the other for pokémon. Our longtime legendary pikachu, Tesla Westinghouse, has exposed atrocities committed by our species against pokémon. His close associates who are responsible for the mice pokémon infestation are hereby pardoned for their actions, and under Executive Order, Tesla Westinghouse is hereby placed under diplomatic immunity until a new constitution for our new nations is approved.

"Since we are founding a new nation, I hereby introducing a bill to repeal our current provincial constitution, and with it, the creation of a committee to draft the new constitution. Also in the bill, anyone who has hold office or has any close ties with Unova will be banned from participating in the committee and holding any jobs with our new government. Any citizen of Faraday Island born before the day of independence will maintain their dual citizenship of Unova and Faraday Island. Note that if this bill fails to pass, our people will still impeach us and the march toward a new government will continue. We are backed against the wall here and we need to make a decision."

Both speakers of the House of Represesenatives and the House of the Senate stood up, they had a message prepared for Norman. "In that case, we'll vote for the intensity of ayes and nays."

The Senate Speaker announced, "In vote for the repeal of our constitution and the impeachment of our associated offices, all in favor?"

"Aye!" the Senator roared.

"All opposed?"

Silence.

"The Senate has approved of the bill."

The Representatives Speaker then chimed, "In vote for our repeal of our provincial institution and our resignations, all in favor?"

"Aye!" the House of Representatives roared, this time louder than the Senate."

"All opposed?"

Silence.

"The House of Representatives has approved of the bill, now awaiting your final approval Governor."

"Approved, the measure will be effective my midnight."

The whole House broke into applause and cheering. I stood there, dumbstruck. No resistance, no opposition. Everyone knows this government was fucked. Rather than stand to face the tide, they opened the flood gates. I dialed the negotiator's number. "Yes, Tesla?"

"Louis, we're standing down. The men and women in the House Chamber are free to go. Come meet me in the lobby, it's about time we have a chat in person."

. . .

Buses were brought in to take the resigning General Assembly men and women home. The anarchy flag over the Capital Building was lowered and that fucking purple flag was raised again. I stood at the top of the Capital Building's stairs and watched as Supreme Commander McNamara board one of the buses. From what I recalled, someone got promoted to take his place, even take part in the committee for the new constitution. Didn't know who it really was, all I know he was under the age of thirty and his position is only temporary.

Before McNamara left, Mark rushed up to him, saluted. Words were exchanged, then the resigning Commander got on the bus minutes before it took him away.

"What did you two say?" I asked Mark as he climbed up the stairs.

"Just thanking him for those years of service I spent with him." He said.

"That's all?"

Mark nodded. "That's all."

I glanced down the steps and saw an FIPD officer coming up the Capital Building stairs. He had grey hair, wearing a pair of thin-rimmed glasses and an FIPD jacket. I have no doubt in my mind this was Richard Louis, the guy pretty much sounded like his age.

"You haven't changed much since I first saw you on TV," said Louis as he approached. "You look more weathered than old."

"And more sober," I said. "I hadn't had a drink ever since Unova."

Louis smiled, "Is that your nature?"

"Being a pest is my nature, it's what I was raised to do."

"Hmm, I do remember several cases back during the national blackout of several stores being gutted and raided. We found several strands of pokémon hair and saliva samples all over the place. The most prevalent is yellow strands of hair, usually around the cash registers."

I said nothing.

"I was reviewing those cases to meet the cold case review requirements. I asked to have the hair samples analyzed for DNA, it just so happened to match you."

I said nothing.

"Well?"

I said, "Even if the evidence is pointing to me, I'm admitting nothing. Confessions alone never stand in court."

Mark said, "Says the pikachu who hadn't had sex in 40 years."

"You prick, nobody needs to know about my sex life!"

"Tell that to all the Dixierats who are busy fucking in public."

I glared at him for a moment, then turned back to Louis. "Can you escort me and my associates back to Faraday City? I got an old friend to see."

. . .

We packed everybody into a bus and drove back to Faraday City. With the farm caved in, I was looking forward into finding a place to sleep tonight. Mark and Matt's house are potential candidates, and there was the old Faraday City Gym, which was being turned into a refugee center. Regardless of where I go, I want to keep a huge buffer between me and the Dixierats. Mice pokémon are pests, even to their own. I hoped that they would stay away from me for the rest of the week, I need a break from their bullshit.

The bus wasn't exactly comfortable and it was nauseating, yet a few people managed to nap. I noticed Smugleaf and Wotter holding each other as they slept. Woody just leaned back and napped, his mouth gaping open. Mark kept an eye out through the windows, as if he was expecting an ambush. Swoobat hanged from the ceiling handle bars, swaying back and forth. I wasn't sure how he was able to sleep through the rocking, he must be really tired from all that flying. Ray up near the front with Bruiser, chattering non-stop. As always, I sat by Andy as he scratched my back. I didn't remember most of the ride, all I remembered was the bus stopping and Andy carrying me back to Matt's house.

"Where's your truck?" Andy asked Mark as we approached the house.

"Henry has it," he said. "He's borrowing it for a while, saying about investigating some anomalies. He's going to stop by tomorrow to pick me up once he finished doing tasks for our superior officer."

When we walked inside, we found Polly, Wheels, and Volta sleeping on the couches. The raichus guarding the place were in the kitchen, digging inside the fridge for goodies. Andy sat me down by Polly and I brushed up beside her. She stirred, opened her eyes, then hugged me with glee. "Tesla!"

"Nice to see you, Polly," I said.

Volta stirred and climbed up on top of me, desperately trying to lick my cheek. "Tes, Tes, Tes, Tes!"

I reached out and scratched her back, she cooed and laid down beside me. I proceed to scratch her belly, she giggles and tried to swat my hand away. "I guess I got your sweet spot."

"Dad," said Wheels, stirring from sleep. "You're back!"

"You saw me on TV?"

"We all did, we had trouble sleeping last night. We weren't sure if you were coming back."

"I'm back, am I? What's wrong?"

Wheels pressed his head against my side. "I didn't get to say goodbye."

I scratched his back. "Don't worry, I'm here for you."

Andy walked over to the kitchen and open the fridge. "Oh boy, that stinks."

He came out with the bundle of bedsheets holding the body of my other son. I frowned when I noticed I saw the tail sticking out. Polly didn't pay much attention, but Wheels was curious.

Ray asked, "Where you're going?"

Andy said, "I'm going to get this necropsy done, and then we're going to bury him."

Wheels crawled up to the edge of the couch to ask who was in the bundle, but Andy was already out the door. We crawled up to the window and watched as Andy took the body to a cab outside, I can't imagine how the driver would react to the smell from the corpse. When the cab drove away, Wheels slid back into the couch. "That was my brother, wasn't it."

I nodded. "Yes, it was."

Polly sat up and said, "I had children who died stored in refrigerators before they were dissected. They usually died from a bad reaction to a drug or chemical or from an accident, it was a weird feeling to see the hides after the necropsy. From what I heard they stuffed them and donated them to somewhere."

"Colleges, museums, or anyone collecting odd stuff. I've heard them all and I've seen them all. After the Dixierats kicked out the poachers back in Unova, they went through the remains of their dead. I expected mourning, but instead I saw playing with the hides and prepping several bodies to be roasted over a fire."

Ray said, "Some of them use the hides as blankets for warmth, or as rugs for their burrows."

I shrugged. "Waste not, want not."

I jumped down and stretched my legs. "Well, the day's still bright. We've performed one messed up deed by introducing a species to this rock, along with other misfits. So for that, I want to visit my old café and order a tall glass of chocolate mint mocha and ponder my existence while people gawk around me."

"That's your plan to celebrate?" Mark asked.

"No, that's for this afternoon. Tonight, we head to your house, order several pies of pizzas, and review what we just went through."

"How about movies?" Ray asked. "Or long YouTube videos?"

I said, "Why not, Ray? Why not?"

. . .

Even though the entire city was under Marshall Law, Mark's position in the National Guard, including my public endorsement of him allowed him to buy several pizzas at the store around the original price. Under Marshall law, groceries cost ten times more than normal in an attempt to ration food supplies. Say one candy bar that normally costs around one pokédollar now costs ten dollars. Armed FIPD officers were posted at the entrances of the stores to force compliance. From what I've gathered, they also assisted with looters cleaning out stores during the day. But when night comes, it's the other way around. With a long way from 7PM, we had all the time in the world to grab all the luxury goods our hearts' desired.

Mark called in a HUMVEE to be delivered. Two HUMVEE's drove up minutes later. One of the driver's got out and had Mark filled out a compliance form or some policy contract. After that, the technician got into the second HUMVEE and drove away, leaving the other HUMVEE for Mark. We all piled into the HUMVEE, they were astonished with all the space they had available for them. Unlike the van, the HUMVEE neither had insulation nor air conditioner. Everything inside besides the seats was metal, and the radio was a throwback from the time of analogue. Just like the one in the truck. Ray sat up front while we all sat in the back. There was a benchseat bolted into the back, covered with seatbelts and straps. It wasn't exactly pleasant and we didn't feel comfortable. Bruiser offered to sit in the back, leaving the smaller pokémon to sit up front. Polly didn't mind sitting on the hard seats due to her background, but everyone else, especially Mark's pokémon had trouble getting comfortable.

Mark got behind the wheel and looked back at us. "You guys alright back there?"

I said, "Yes, we're fine. Take us to the café and drop us off, then do your thing."

"You sure you're going to be okay? No drama or a pokémon battle?"

I frowned, saying nothing.

Mark raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm sorry that I told everybody on the rock about your sex life even though I was the one who cared enough to bring Polly back into your life. But knowing you, the battle would be over before it even began. And you got Ray, who will amplify your power in case you get into a heated debate."

"Just drive, Mark."

Mark started up the engine and started off to the café shop. What I liked about it was that it was just a few blocks down, all Mark had to do was make a right and go straight down. The familiar old café shop was still there after fifty years of age, and it was open. As we got out, I said to Mark. "Do we have blankets for Smugleaf?"

"Yes."

"A heating blanket?"

"No."

"Get that, and also get a big bottle of ibuprofen for Wotter."

"Got it."

I called out to Wheels, "Son, do you still need aspirin?"

"It's not as bad as it used to be but my elbows still hurt."

"How about your mother?"

A pause. "She has some pain but not terrible."

"Does she have any allergies for over-the-counter pain killers?"

Another pause. "No, she doesn't."

I turned back to Mark. "Also get some aspirin, a lot of it."

"I'll get the biggest bottles I can find, you have anything else in mind you want me to get?"

"Yes, once you get everything and also your things drop everything off at your house and go back to the farm and retrieve all the stuff there. If you think it's too much for you, Ray and Bruiser can help you with that. But note that they're getting old too, you might wanna look forward into buying a lot of aspirin bottles."

"I might as well get a bag full of drugs, the legal kind of course."

Mark's emolga sat up front as his pikachu and cheering pokémon sit in the back. "You sure you don't wanna stay with Tesla, guys?" He asked.

Emolga shook her head. "No."

"Alright, just sit tight and let me drive. Have one Tesla, I'll try not to keep you waiting."

"I have all day."

Mark scooped me up and hugged me, then let me down and I jumped out of the HUMVEE. Ray shut the door, knocked twice, and Mark drove away. As we watched the HUMVEE grew smaller down the road, I turned to Wotter. "I almost wish you have shot him, this prick likes to do good while infuriating anyone."

Wotter said, "I kind of like him. Even if Nobark had ordered me to execute him, Mark would have disarmed me the moment I opened his cell door. I wasn't going to challenge him."

I shrugged. "Well then, I suppose it doesn't matter now."

We all walked inside the café. The whole place was almost empty save for a couple of people sitting alone, drinking their beverages or reading a book. We've all got a seat by the fireplace. It was lit, and it had been burning for some time. Ray laid back on the couch and stretched out his legs. Everyone else got a seat at the smaller sofas save for Smugleaf, who decided to sit down by the fireplace. I asked everyone if they wanted anything.

"Mint mocha," said Smugleaf.

"Water," said Bruiser. "I'm in no mood for anything sweet."

Woody said, "Pumpkin cinnamon mocha."

Ray said, "A big tall drink of double chocolate chip."

"Salted caramel mocha," said Wotter.

I said, "How about you, Wheels?"

Wheels thought for a moment. "A cup of strawberry frappuccino."

"What about you, Polly? You want anything?"

Polly blinked with tired eyes. "What?"

"This café serves hot and cold beverages, you can even have it custom-made. You have a favorite flavor, Sweetheart?"

Polly just stared at me. "I can't think of anything, how about an apple-flavored drink?"

"Warm or cold?"

"Warm."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

I went over to the counter and ordered the drinks. The clerk knew me well, I had been a regular customer back in the day when his grandfather first opened the café. His employees made the drinks and I took them back to my friends and family. I walked up to Smugleaf and handed the serpent her drink. "Had the cold always been a problem?" I asked.

Smugleaf shook her head. "No, not ever since Alice. How do you handle the cold?"

"I had many strategies throughout the years. I used to sleep through it, now I just stay inside by the fire. This is usually how I spend most of the time in the winter. The cold is never forgiving."

Smugleaf sipped her mocha and sat there for a moment. "What am I going to do in Faraday Island, Tes? I don't even know where to start."

"You already have a job, part of Nobark's inner circle in the PRA. Well, my inner circle now. If you want to fine tune your leadership skills, you can start by reorganizing the PRA regiments coming into Faraday Island. If you know anyone who's competent enough to replace Tendon, perhaps we can look for a replacement."

Smugleaf said, "That's a start."

I left Smugleaf be and returned to Polly. She was sipping her mocha sheepishly, but she was getting used to it. "Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm not used to anything sweet. This drink is so rich that it makes my belly feel funny."

"You feel nauseous?"

"No, I don't feel sick or anything. It's just…" Polly thought for a few seconds. "This is just a whole new world to me, it's so big."

"How's your eyes?"

"They feel weird when I look far away."

"That's depth perception, its normal."

I sat down beside Polly and she rested her head on my shoulder. Volta and Wheels crawled up, piling into a group hug. We sat there, sipping our drinks and chatting. It felt like an eternity.

TO BE CONTINUED. . .