A/N:
This update has been long overdue, so I'm glad that I could get it out before Christmas. Hope that the holiday season has been a good one for each of you.
Something I'd like to address before this chapter is read is that there is a part where Michael says something against a particular group of people that isn't very nice. He's not meant to be some heroic character to everyone, and his biases are supposed to be made pretty clear over the course of the story. So when this statement comes about, please keep in mind that that's not me being mean, but rather showing how a person such as him typically thinks - which sometimes is not the best.
Also want to point out that now I have started doing one-shots, so feel free to check out that collection and make requests.
"…" - Spoken dialogue
Italics - Michael's thoughts
'Italics' - Telepathic dialogue
/\/\/\ - Lemon Scene
"Way before Watergate, senior administration officials hid behind anonymity."
-Bob Woodward
Ch. 37 - Searching for Guilt
"This is a horrible idea," Kevin stated.
"You all have received stealth training unrivaled by any other country. You should be able to pull off a job like this," Colonel Hawkins replied.
"Yeah well this is in the middle of the city, and we don't even know if these guys are guilty of anything. And you just want us to storm in there and look around?"
"You didn't seem to have an issue with it when we were investigating PMC bases back during Stone's time. What's gotten you so against the idea now?"
"Because that was a time of war - that was a special case! But now you're having us break into a building and go through someone else's stuff just because the guys you work for don't like a his political views."
"There is a legitimate need for this. We have no intentions of undermining the campaign efforts of liberal politicians, regardless of how we feel about them. But we are searching every corner of the country until we find out who these people are and where they're hiding. And I'd hate to pull this on you, but you really don't have much of a say in the matter. This is happening whether you like it or not."
"Well do I have to be a part of it?" Kevin asked. Wesley, seeming to have grown tired of debating with the younger Reaper, finally snapped back at him.
"You came back, didn't you? You took up this job again."
"Yeah, to stop some so-called insurrection - not to spy on the current administration's political opponents. This is just flat out fascism, and something I'd expect from Douglas fucking Stone. Not you guys."
"You're sounding like one of those Delta fuckers right now," Thomas stated.
"Stay outta this," Kevin stated. "And as for you, Hawkins, I don't want any part in this absolute bullshit." The Colonel looked back at the heated soldier, completely unfazed.
"You act like you've got a choice," Wesley said. "Truth is, you don't. You agreed to our terms. Took the money and signed that contract. You do what we say when we say it. And as much as I hate to hold that over you, you are making it exceedingly difficult to speak to you any other way than like a child. You're going over there and you will carry out your mission. Am I clear, Werber?" Kevin stared back silently, but eventually upon finding himself trapped, replied with a slight nod. "I understand. You think that this is all political. It's not. International law would eat us alive if they found out that we were trying to illegally undermine opponents. The military has no interest in getting in a global dispute with the other regions over something as trivial as a few senators' elections. But we do have every right… no, every obligation, to intervene when a group of people calls for the death of our country and doesn't mind flooding it with drugs and prostitution to pay for a resistance."
"Anyways, what'll we be using?" asked John, probably in an attempt to change the subject. Wesley seemed to think it a good idea, as he immediately shifted his focus.
"Same primary as usual. Your MP5s have now been fitted with vertical foregrips. As for the pistols, as you all are surely aware, there's been an increasing push towards 9mm. The army just adopted the P320 as its main sidearm."
"We don't have to use their stuff. And we don't. Are we clear to keep the .45?" Michael asked. Admittedly it had become one of his favorite pistol calibers.
"I want you guys to get used to using the Glock 19 for some time," Hawkins replied. "I know you all can shoot it well, and I do like the increased capacity."
"Damn. I just don't like the way it feels," Michael flatly stated.
"Keep in mind you'll be using fifth generation models. The ergonomics improved a lot with the removal of the finger grooves. But aside from all that, is everyone on board?" Wesley asked. After receiving their confirmations - albeit one of them being reluctantly - he continued. "Alright. We will be investigating Senator Callahan's offices tomorrow night. Be ready to leave by eight."
After the six of them had been dismissed, Michael checked the time. He had to uphold his end of the bargain within another half hour. But as long as he was able to do what he had come here to do in the first place, then that was alright with him. And if Jax went back on his deal and somehow did reach a negative diagnosis, then the Reaper could always utilize his leverage. But that wasn't to say that the therapist didn't have leverage of his own; how he had discovered of Michael's attraction to his own pokémon was beyond him, though he did suppose that sometimes he didn't hide the signs the best. But anyone else that knew of him would've overlooked gestures of that nature - surely a war hero in a country such as Johto would never be into such things. No matter which way he looked at it, either one of them stepping out of line could result in mutually assured destruction.
"Where are you headed off to?" Zaire asked. "The others are headed that way."
"The others don't have to go to some bullshit therapy session."
"What? I thought you got outta that whole thing," she said in confusion.
"For the most part. But we've come to an arrangement. I've agreed to still meet with him twice a week."
"Well maybe that's for the best. We wouldn't want a crazed Reaper out there, now would we?" He looked over at her, completely unamused.
"You think you're funny, don't you?"
"Pretty much, yeah," she chuckled.
"Is there any way I can convince you to go bother someone else?" he asked.
"Nope, you're more fun. Besides, the others aren't as thin-skinned as you are."
"Alright, whatever you say." He had just about reached the exit of the central building, to which he'd take the first door outside to get into that short yet dreaded hallway once again.
"You're off already? Well have fun in there." Go fuck yourself, he thought as he went outside. He didn't know which he disliked more, honestly - the therapy or this absolute joke of a partner that they had been assigned. Had he known all this would happen, Michael probably would not have signed up again. But what's done is done. No going back now. He knocked rather abruptly on Jax's door, which was shut this time. Huh, didn't bother to show up for the appointment he scheduled? Seems professional.
"You have a visitor Jackie!" a voice from within said.
"Oh shut up. Come in! Door's unlocked!" Jax said.
"No, don't!" the female voice yelled back. "You can't come in unless you know the password!" He pushed the door open, to the dismay of the raichu. "Well you're no fun at all," she huffed.
"My idea of fun doesn't include being here for a start," Michael said.
"Jeez, you're a stick in the mud…"
"That's enough Kyra. Why don't you give Mr. Grim and I some privacy?"
"Okay, fine. Have fun putting up with that." Michael just ignored the comment, glad to hear the sound of the door shutting behind him.
"Sorry about that…" Jax said.
"How many pokémon do you have?" Michael asked.
"Three. The other one is my nidoqueen. I'm sure you'll see her in here a time or two. I'm guessing you're familiar with the whole concept of alternating days. It becomes necessary once you have more than two."
"Yeah, I can get that…"
"But anyways, what do you say we get started? I doubt this session should take too long. Mainly I want to get some information about your past." Michael nodded, hoping that he was right about that.
"Alright. Where do you want to start?"
"Your childhood - what was it like?"
"Busy," Michael stated, matter-of-factly. "I got shipped off to Kalos for my education. They put all of us through the grinder until I graduated. Alex and I were roommates throughout our time there. Only friend I really made during that time."
"Your parents? Did they keep in contact?' asked Jax.
"Oh, that's a fun rabbit hole to go down. But yeah, they did, and just about every night, too."
"Did you have a good relationship with them until… you know…"
"Yeah, I'd say I did. Or at least an average one with them. It hurt finding out what my dad did, if that's any indicator. But I got over it pretty quickly afterwards." And that had been the truth.
"Really? I find that interesting. Care to elaborate?"
"Well I'd devoted every fiber of my being to killing terrorists. I wasn't about to put those ideals aside just because my dad happened to be a leader among them. And besides, the girls had been more of a family to me in their three years of knowing me up to that point than my family had been in my entire life. My mother decided to side with him just because of the fact that she was content in how her life was. She didn't seem to give a fuck about the fact that her husband had been responsible for the deaths of countless people. So no, I don't feel a shred of pain over my choice to put a bullet in Ethan or cut her out of my life."
"Well damn," Jax said, "guess that answers that…" He wrote a few things down on his paper, focusing intently as he did so. It was positioned in an angle in which Michael could not see its contents, much to his annoyance. "What about the incident in Hoenn?"
"What about it?" Michael asked.
"You were the first human at the scene. Does that incident still weigh heavily on your mind?"
"I thought I'd always see their faces," he admitted. "Until you see something like that, you can't even imagine that many dead people in one place. But over time things faded away. It doesn't trouble me now."
"Is that why you decided to join the Reapers? From what it looks like, you were engaged in a campaign to take on the Hoenn League. You stopped halfway."
"Shit, you can even see how many badges I have?" Michael asked with a laugh.
"If it's registered, odds are we've got access to it," Jax replied.
"Including weapons?" Michael asked. "If that's the case, you'd better lose that fucking list right away."
"No, I don't know what guns you own. But I'm assuming it's a lot…"
"Anyways," Michael said, changing the subject, "what else do you need?"
"Not too much. Just a few more questions."
"Alright, shoot."
"I am pretty curious about the incident at Chrono Island."
"Aren't they all?"
"Sure you get asked about it a good bit. But it would be helpful for the purpose of our discussion. If you don't want to talk about it, that's also fine." At least Jax held some reservations about this whole process, which did bring some comfort to mind.
"Nah, it's fine. Just haven't really talked about it a whole lot. Even the girls didn't really ask much of what happened there. Must've figured that it'd been pretty bad, and they knew about Raptor…"
"Raptor was the sceptile that helped you escape, correct?"
"That's right…"
"You sound like you'd gotten close to her…" Jax said.
"I guess so. I'd really only gotten to know her for a few days, but I saw something in her. She had a lot of good in her - it was her who brought that whole thing down on Stone's head. But I was the one to walk away from it all… I got to feel the fucking life leave her body…"
"Damn… I can't imagine what that must have felt like…"
"I didn't want to believe that it happened. I tried everything I could to get her breathing again, but she'd lost all the blood in her body through that bullet hole. It was stupid, I know…"
"No, it was natural. I'm sorry that there was nothing you could do."
"It just is what it is. Wasn't the first time something like that had happened. Only with Zeke, he'd been dead for ten minutes since I'd come to the scene. Got to see my friend's fucking chest cavity opened up." He looked up at the therapist and shook his head. "It's not supposed to happen that way… We have the best training and limitless resources. We're supposed to be the ones to survive… But he died there and just like with Raptor there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it…"
"How do you feel now about those things?" the therapist asked.
"I guess I've moved along the best way I can. I still visit their graves. Say hello and all, hoping that the two of 'em are listening. Of course I have yet to hear a response…"
"Know how ya feel there."
"You lost someone too?" Michael asked.
"Yeah. Truth is, the Hoenn Massacre led me into my profession as well. Or rather, redirected it. I was already majoring in psychology when I'd heard that my brother had been confirmed as one of the casualties… He'd been missing for months shortly after getting a new job there. Guess he also got targeted for his beliefs. Whatever the case was, it does brings me closure to know that the man responsible has been taken care of."
"Not gonna lie, after all he'd done… it felt good pushing that knife into his chest. But yet he didn't seem hurt by it. He just… accepted it. It was like he was already dead. I remember that like I'd seen it yesterday…"
"If you don't mind me asking," Jax said, "do you have flashbacks of these incidents? Or nightmares?" Michael hesitated.
"No," he said flatly. "I don't dream much."
"Seems like a good sign. Sometimes it's best that the past stays in the past," Jax replied. "I feel like we've covered enough today, wouldn't you say so?"
"Yeah, I'd say so."
. . . . .
When the session had ended, Michael headed back to his place to change into some gym clothes. Of course, the first thing the girls wanted to know was how the whole thing had gone. He skimmed over the topics of their conversation, explaining how this time they had mostly covered some details about his time in the service. "How is he?" Alaina asked.
"Jax? He's alright from what I can tell. I find it annoying even being there, but then again I have to put up with Zaire. I guess I'd rather take therapy than associate with her any day of the week."
"Come on now," Charlotte said, "Zaire can't be that bad. Just give her a chance. She might actually be really fun to be around."
"If by fun you mean making me want to beat my head against a wall, then yeah. I don't even know why they felt that we needed another CIC recruit. Especially a fucking zoroark."
"Michael," Alaina said, "you can't hold what happened to Zeke, or the decision of the CIC for that matter, against her. She probably was just told that she'd been assigned to your team. She might not have had a say in the matter…"
"I couldn't care less what she has to say about it. Maybe if she wasn't as big a pain in the ass, then I'd be willing to let it slide," he said.
"Just take it easy on her," Alaina said. "She has done nothing to you aside from trying to associate with you."
"Wish she'd stop trying if this is how she is."
"Whatever. Just don't be rude to her anymore, alright?" the latias said. "But I am glad that you have agreed with the therapist to the sessions."
"Call it what you will. It wasn't an agreement that I exactly had a choice in making."
"What do you mean?" Layla asked.
"Well he agreed to give me clearance from a PTSD diagnosis if I came twice a week. And had things not gone my way, I could always use my leverage in this country to ruin his job."
"You wouldn't dare do something like that," Alaina stated. "Even saying such a thing is wrong and you know it."
"Not as wrong as putting up with all this bullshit. And besides, it's a stalemate. He somehow knew about my relationship with you all."
"What?" Charlotte asked. "But… I didn't say anything… No one here would…"
"I know," Michael replied, "I think he must've seen some sort of affectionate gesture or something. I don't know how, but he knows. Said that he'd recognize another pokémon lover anywhere."
"So he's one as well?" Layla asked. "That's interesting…"
"I know. He isn't military by any means, but I still can't believe how many damn people I know in these relationships. I mean for fuck's sake, half of our damn team is into it. Half. And you never hear of Reapers engaging in stuff like that. Hell, most of them settle down with a human girl that ends up divorcing them…"
"Yeah, I can see how it would be hard," Charlotte said. "I mean if we couldn't be here… if we had to wait at some place away from you while you stayed out and fought for almost a year… I don't know how our relationship would be able to cope…"
"Never could figure out why the military allowed soldiers' pokémon to stay," Michael said. "It didn't use to be like that. My guess is they may have figured that it would draw more pokémon to the service, and that's not wrong. I mean two of you signed up, and that alone is worth more than the costs of accommodating everyone here."
"True. And I enjoy EMT," Ver said. "I'm pretty good at it."
"Yeah. Anyways, we're getting off topic here," Layla said. "So how long will you be going to therapy?"
"No clue. I probably should have gotten that part specified…"
"Oh well. Just keep going, alright? I think it's good that you at least talk to him," the latias said.
"I'll give him that six week time limit. At that point, I'm going to speak up about a time limit for this whole mess." Figuring that there wasn't really much more to say in the conversation at hand, Michael went back to his room and changed into some gym shorts and a t-shirt. Today would be arm day, so it would be nice if he could get Ver to spot him for benching. Layla always tagged along, but in the case that he couldn't lift the weight, there was no chance that the lucario would be able to really help him. As powerful as the species was, their strength did not reside in muscle mass, but rather in the speed and ferocity of their attacks.
"Getting ready to go to the gym?" his braixen asked.
"Yeah. Haven't been in a week, so I've got to. Anyone wanna tag along?"
"You know it," Layla said as she hopped up from the couch.
"Ver?" he asked.
"Hmm? Sure. Maybe someone there will be looking for a battle."
"You'd enjoy that I'm sure," Micael said. "Alright, let's head out. I'll see the rest of you before dinnertime."
He walked outside with the two of them, with Ver closing the door behind. "Think you'll need a spotter?" Ver asked.
"Probably. Just to be safe."
"Alright. Haven't been to the gym here yet. Hope they have a big field."
"Oh they will. It's right outside the weight room. I saw them training there when we flew the other day."
Once they'd arrived at the gym, they found it to be relatively empty. But then again, not many people would be at such a place at three in the afternoon. Either late lunch or drill. Of course, they weren't complaining at all; this was much more preferable.
"Hey," Layla said, "wanna have a sparring match? We haven't done one in awhile."
"Eh, sure. But we'd better do that before I bench," Michael replied. "Best two out of three?"
"Yeah, let's do it!" She hopped inside of the ring, which was as usual located towards the center of the gym. The lucario waited there impatiently as he climbed inside with her. "Alright, let's see if you've forgotten anything since last time."
"Doubtful," Michael said as he got in his boxing stance. She eased her way closer, and he intently watched every motion. His breathing was calm, his mind focused. The first sign of a twitch on her part, and he immediately lowered his left arm to block the strike. He immediately fired back and struck towards her shoulder. Right as she dodged the punch, Michael followed it up with a harsh front kick to her stomach. Though such a move never really caused damage, it did put distance between the two of them. But as soon as she had been pushed back, Layla closed the distance between the two of them once again.
As she was nearly a foot and a half shorter than him, all of her blows were aimed torso-level. A roundhouse kick was sent towards his ribs, something that Michael could always counter. He took the swift kick, immediately pulling his left arm down and pinning her leg against him as he kicked her other leg out from under her. Before she could react he was on top of her.
"Dammit," she muttered. "Alright, that was my own fault."
"Ready to go again?" He extended his hand, which she took.
"Yeah, just gimme a second." She regained her footing and backed herself up outside of his range. Getting back into her fighting stance, she waited for him to make a move. Alright, guess I'll attack first this time. Michael thrust his left hand forth, and as she went to block, followed it up with a right hook towards her shoulder. Layla blocked both strikes as quickly as he had launched them, something both of them knew would not last long with his sheer strength advantage.
Layla responded with a front kick to his abdomen, and though it didn't have much of an effect on him, it did cause for him to back up, giving her the relief she needed. The female lucario took the opportunity to run up to him and slide between his legs, punching the back of his knee before he could respond. Michael fell to his knee, and Layla took her chance. She placed her foot on the very same spot and swiftly locked both arms around his throat, squeezing tightly.
"Gotcha this time!" she said proudly. Michael instinctively had both hands to his neck, pulling at her arms.
"Haven't you… learned yet?" He asked through stuttering breaths. "Headlocks… are horrible ideas…" He pivoted to his right, holding onto both of her arms and slinging her over his shoulder and harshly onto the floor. She impacted with a loud thud, her body remaining completely still. Wait…shit… "Layla…"
"Michael what the fuck?!" Ver yelled.
"I didn't mean to knock her out," Michael said defensively. He gently scooped her limp body up in his hands and got back onto his feet.
"You were too rough, dammit!"
"Look, it was an accident, okay? You think I'd hurt her on purpose?!" he asked in annoyance as he climbed out of the ring.
"Not on purpose - but you were careless," she said angrily. Her chest was rising and falling steadily, and she almost looked content. But there was no doubting the fact that she was out cold. Michael sat with his back to the boxing ring, placing his hand on her head. Of all the times that the two of them had sparred, nothing like this had ever happened.
"I hope she doesn't get pissed when she wakes up…"
"Why would she be upset about her trainer knocking her unconscious?" Ver asked.
"Alright, dammit, I get it. Now fuck off with that shit, alright?" Veronica recoiled away from his tone, and he realized that he'd messed up twice in but a few minutes. "Look… I'm sorry… I didn't mean it…"
"Oh I think you did," she quietly said. "Hope you can bench without a spotter. Now give her to me." Wordlessly, he allowed the flygon to take the unconscious lucario from his arms, to which she turned away without another look in his direction.
. . . . .
"Nothing here," John said, gently shutting the empty drawer. The cameras inside of the room had already been taken care of, and they were continuously looping over the same few seconds. Alex and Samuel were dealing with the computers and simply dowloaded all stored files, while the others searched for various other forms of evidence. Though they weren't wearing their masks, as being seen doing such task would undoubtedly look bad on the Reapers, they had night vision sets with several small cameras fitted on them. A single glance at a paper was enough for them to obtain its information back at base, where analysis was being carried out in real time. Though it was kind of odd being dressed like some sort of elite burglar…
Of course, the work here was uneventful and boring. Zaire hummed to herself as she flipped through papers in the file cabinet towards the corner. Michael looked over miscellaneous notes on an aide's desk, seeing not much of interest aside from receipts and random memos, and being careful to not alter the placement of anything.
"This whole thing's been nothing but a bust," Kevin said. "I doubt there's anything in this building."
"Keep searching," Hawkins instructed. "We need to be absolutely sure."
"Or maybe we could accept the fact that just because we don't like someone's ideology, that doesn't make them a criminal," he countered.
"Not now Kevin," the Colonel replied. I swear, just the shut the fuck up with it already and get to work, Michael thought. A small post-it note stood out to him, simply reading: Lunch with PM on Thursday. He picked it up, keeping its original location in mind.
"Look like anything special?" Michael asked as he held it up.
"No telling. We'll be keeping tabs on him, so we'll see soon enough."
"Finished up with the computers," Alex stated. "How much longer do you think we'll need?"
"Probably only ten more minutes. You guys have pretty much turned the place upside down."
"Good. This wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I was told I'd be joining the Reapers," Zaire said. "I'd rather there be a little more action."
"Well then you're stupid," Michael replied. "You want to be in a firefight? Being the only one shooting is one thing, but once bullets start flying around you it quickly goes to hell."
"Nothing you can't handle, right? So surely a strong pokémon like myself will do just fine," she said snootily, though her voice was not without humor.
"Sure, whatever you say." Maybe if he was lucky, the next firefight would result in her getting capped somewhere non-fatally. That might change her tone about it.
"It's like I work with fucking kids," John said to the side.
"He started it," Zaire said jokingly, playing into the situation. And if you don't shut the fuck up, I'm gonna end it too.
"You two shut up," Samuel said, "I think I found something."
"What?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah, definitely," the sniper said. "Looks like a ledger."
"Good," replied Wesley, "that's the kind of shit we came for. Look over it all. Be sure to get a good shot of each page." Samuel went about doing just that, and it wasn't long before he spoke up.
"Holy shit, this guy blows through about as much money as Douglas fucking Stone," Samuel said as he slowly flipped through the pages.
"Not quite, but those amounts are raising a couple questions," Hawkins stated.
"I get big city politician and all, but what the fuck is up with half a million in travel? He's campaigning right here…"
"Also not liking the looks of all those abbreviations," the Colonel added.
"Well there ya go," Zaire said. "It sounds like you've got your guy."
"Not necessarily. This isn't exactly someone we can just snatch up and interrogate. We're talking about the leading liberal politician in Johto, so it's going to take a lot more precision than that. My guess is that we'll be watching over him for at least another month or two. We have to catch him explicitly dealing with Delta to confirm our suspicions. A bunch of abbreviated text isn't enough by a long shot," replied Hawkins. Michael took a seat in the office chair, figuring that there was nothing more he could do. It only took one person to flip through a book.
"So we're pretty much done here?" the zoroark asked.
"Once Samuel finishes up there, yes."
"Good," she said, before taking a seat on the floor. Of course, it didn't take her long to find something else to say. "So I've been kinda curious... there've been a few rumors going around about this squad in particular…"
"Rumors? What kind?" John asked.
"Well there's some word out there that some of you are into pokémon. Like really into them," she said with a laugh. "Is that true?"
"That's kinda a weird way to put it," Samuel said.
"Does that mean you're one of them?" she asked.
"Nicole - my ninetales - and I have had a relationship for a few years now. The fact that she happens to be a pokémon doesn't matter in my opinion," Samuel replied without looking up from the ledger.
"Oh wow. And you guys don't give him shit about that? You never hear of a Reaper being into something like that."
"I dunno why anyone here would give him trouble about it," Kevin said. "Not when half the squad is just like him."
"No shit?" she asked. "Who else?" Michael looked at Kevin and shook his head. The blonde-haired soldier must have gotten the message.
"Not my place. If they want you to know, they'll let you know."
"Oh come on - not like I'll give ya a hard time about it. I think it's fine. I'm just kinda curious, that's all. And plus there's only six of you. It won't be any trouble to find out."
"Enough of that," Thomas said. "Plenty of time be prodding around in our personal lives after this. Let's get the hell outta here." Samuel had slid the ledger back into the file cabinet and had placed everything else back in its respective spot. Alex headed for the door, ready to reengage the security system. It was only a minute before everyone else joined him, and the Reapers silently disappeared from the scene.
. . . . .
Once he had entered his quarters, Michael had noticed that nearly everyone was out and about. Alaina was cooking, as she did just about every morning. Layla was carrying plates to the table and walked towards her. "Hey…"
"Hey," she said, setting them down, "how did the mission go?"
"We think we got the intel we were after. Not sure yet, though. How are you feeling?"
"Oh, you know I'm fine. Ver was only being overprotective as usual. We've already spoken about it and she's calmed down now. It was just an accident. And besides, it's not like any damage would've lasted long anyways."
"Yeah, just wish she'd get that. I'd never hurt you or the others like that on purpose."
"I know. And she does too. She just rages before she actually thinks stuff through. But that's just her."
"Yep. Where is she now?"
"Out flying," the lucario said, setting all the plates on the table. He helped her set them accordingly.
"Think she'll be back soon?" He did want to set things straight with the flygon. Michael never liked it when one of the girls was upset with him.
"Probably. Like she would ever pass up eating."
Sure enough, as everyone was about to sit down, Veronica opened the door. "Hey everyone," she said, "brought a guest." What?
"Really?" Alaina asked. "And who might that be?"
"Hello!" that signature voice said. Really? Are you fucking serious right now? The zoroark joined the large dragon inside the room, much to Michael's irritation.
"Oh it's you again," Layla said. "Zaire, right?"
"Mhm."
"I met her on the way back," Ver stated. "We struck up a conversation. Come to find out we're neighbors, and also she's a part of the Twenty-Fifth now. I thought it'd be great to sit down and talk a bit."
"Of course," Alaina said, "and I always seem to cook more than enough. Go ahead and take a seat," she told the zoroark.
"Well thank you," Zaire replied. "I suck at cooking, so this is a nice surprise." Anything but, Michael thought. She looked over everyone as Alaina levitated the food onto the table, and then came to the realization. "Holy crap, there's no way…"
"What?" Elise asked.
"All of you are female…" she said, shaking her head. But that wolfish grin was impossible to ignore, and Michael immediately knew that she'd figured it out. "You would have been the last person I would've suspected."
"Suspected of what?" the glaceon asked innocently.
"Michael, Michael, Michael…" she trailed off. "There's no way you can tell me you have a full team of females and you aren't into pokémon."
"I had a male member once…"
"Okay, but someone doesn't get a five-to-one ratio of females on their team naturally."
"That's not true," Charlotte said, "we were all a part of his team way before—." She cut herself off upon realizing where she was headed.
"Ha! So it is true! Tell me," she said, barely containing her laughter, "is it all of you?!"
"Zaire, you are being quite loud…" Alaina said.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. But you gotta admit this is hysterical!"
"Why does it matter that we are intimate with him?"
"Oh it doesn't - I'm supportive of it. But he's all stoic and nonemotional, and come to find out back at home he's got himself a little harem going on!"
"Do not call it that," Michael stated harshly. "That's not at all what's going on here."
"Really? And what else would you call it?"
"Look, are you gonna eat or what?" He was starting to dislike the zoroark more and more each day.
"Of course - this all looks great," she replied, starting to put food onto her plate.
"Thank you," Alaina said. "I do my best." She made eye contact with Michael, noticing that he was more than irritated by the situation. She just nodded as if saying 'just try to be nice.'
"Look, I'd better not hear that you've gone out and told anybody that. It's still a secret for the most part, and it better stay like that."
"Of course," Zaire stated, "I'd never throw a friend under the bus like that." Friend? As if. "So anyways, are y'all into battling?"
"Oh you could definitely say that," Charlotte said. "Had it not been for this tour, we'd be in the Indigo League right now. The expected winner is already someone we've beaten before."
"Wow, that's neat. I'm pretty good at it myself, though there's a difference between military and league combat. They get so pissed off if you do a single move they don't like."
"What do you mean?" asked the braixen.
"Well obviously the quickest way to bring a guy down is to hit below the belt."
"Oh…"
"Yeah, and try that there and you get disqualified. But true combat doesn't give a shit about fair fighting."
"Got that right," Ver stated. Michael had to agree - Douglas had almost done him in by a series of similar moves.
"Language please," Alaina said.
"Oh, sh— I mean my bad…" Zaire replied, causing Layla to laugh. "Wait… Michael swears all the time… Kinda comes with the job…"
"We're working on that," the latias said. "Right Michael?"
"Sure."
. . . . .
The sky was bright and moving, the orange light invading every corner of the island. The explosion that he had caused lingered throughout the air, and those it had consumed walked beneath it as though nothing was amiss. Great, here again…
"Yeah. Part of you will always be here, just like me." Douglas had made his way to the Reaper's side, standing in front of the crumbling base. "I'm glad to hear that Johto is finally deciding to fight Delta. They were a pain in my ass too."
"Well sorry to disappoint, but I'm sure we'll manage to do it without the genocide."
"Probably. Some sort of legal bullshit will get in your way, and you'll just throw a few people in prison. Maybe cap one or two. But they'll be back, just like they always are. As much as I hate them, I'll give 'em that. Liberals are persistent."
"What makes you think they'll come back?" Michael asked.
"Because it's in their nature. I'm sure you guys will crack down on Callahan and take him out of the ring. Purge his list of contacts. But you'll stop at the borders of Johto, and it won't be long before Delta will send more people. They won't stop until they've taken over and created a global society. So you either destroy the root of the problem or just get used to fighting them over and over again. I realized this unfortunate truth when I was engaging in my vision."
"And why exactly do you think we won't chase their asses wherever they're hiding?" the Reaper inquired. "We chased you all over the place."
"No, you chased me into Kanto, and that was only because they wanted your help. The government was terrified and gave the CIC a green light to do whatever. Only because I was a right-winged revolutionary. But now you get to deal with the other side. Tell me, has Kalos asked for your help? Unova? They support what Team Delta stands for. They don't want you over there, taking out a group that they're so fond of. My guess is that most of their politicians are working with 'em. Only way you take Delta out is rip out the very heart."
"I think our generals know what they're doing. I'll let them do the planning and not some dead terrorist."
"Do what you will. But know that there's only one way to silence this threat. If you aren't willing to go through with it, then don't be surprised when you find yourself fighting the same wars over and over again. If a war's worth fighting, then it's worth fighting the right way."
"It'll be a cold day in hell before I decide to take your advice. You're just a deranged murderer."
"It's all a matter of perspective," Douglas replied. "Really, the only difference between a terrorist and a revolutionary is the person you ask. Had we won, history would've looked back on us favorably. And if Delta wins now, the same can be said about them. They happen to be revolutionaries contrary to what we fought for. I'm sure they think they're doing what's best, but anyone with even a basic understanding of human workings or economics knows that they're just going to cause more turmoil. See, a liberal cannot exist without there being a conflict of some sort. Whether its men against women, rich versus poor, race against race… they cannot accept the fact that their demand for discrimination is no longer being met. They must convince people that they are victims - that they are being oppressed and need to vote in some leftist to fix the problem."
"I… look, whether or not agree with that, that doesn't change the fact that you didn't care that you were about to nuke millions of innocent people just to forward your vision," Michael said.
"And I would have paid for it, too."
"You did. Cost you your life."
"That is true," the insurgent stated. "But I needed to subdue by intimidation. They wouldn't have struck back - they don't possess the military might or the courage to do such a thing. And by striking fear into the hearts of the masses at the expense of a few, I can spare more people in the long run. Besides, what separates my actions from those of the monarchs of ancient history? A new, modern understanding of morality? Or maybe your sect of religion?"
"Well I can't see a world under your ideals being any better than the one we have now. You would've had pokémon practically enslaved again."
"What would give you that idea? Was it because a pissed-off sceptile just so happened to feel that way? Or is it your own lust for the animals that clouds your judgement?"
"It's not lust," Michael said in annoyance, "and they aren't animals."
"Well whatever it is you consider them to be. Pokémon are essential tools to our society. They were invaluable parts of my own missions as well. But as a human, I am only obligated to assist those in my own species."
"So just because they look different than us, they aren't worth protecting? Or even considering as equals?"
"But they aren't. If they were equals, then maybe they wouldn't be naturally living in the dirt and in caves. Explain to me how a species without powers is able to dominate the planet if they are not naturally superior. They may share our emotions - perhaps even our intellect - but they do not share our drive. Our sheer will to succeed and thrive. So if a conflict between the two were to arise, of course I'd have sided with my own," said Douglas.
"There didn't need to be a conflict. You'd have been causing an issue that didn't need to exist. You're just a monster. Nothing more, nothing less," Michael stated.
"That's also a matter of perception," replied the terrorist. He walked over to where the walls of his compound once stood, all but a few cracked fragments still remaining. The rest of the island was devoid of life, and what hadn't been vaporized was still on fire. "You know, there are tens of millions of people alive right now that think you're a monster - all because you think that, say, being a faggot is wrong. You don't hold their views, and you are someone they could do without. Funny, a lot of those people are only alive because you stopped me."
"And just like I told you three years ago," Michael said, "that's on them. If that's the way they wanna live, then let 'em. Not my problem if they join you in hell. Actually, it's kinda funny. You and your men get to be surrounded by the people you hated most."
"And perhaps that's my punishment for my role in it all," he admitted. "But I'd do it over again. I failed in my pursuit of a better world, but at least I held the disease off long enough so that a more capable force could inherit the fight. Let me tell you, if Johto wanted to… you all could take it all."
"Too bad for you that we won't," Michael replied.
"Don't be so sure. Times change - these last few years should've proven that to you." He looked up into the sky, where a pink light had cut through the flames. "It looks like our time is up for now. I will be seeing you soon." With that, the image of the terrorist and all of his men faded before him as a gentle feeling took ahold of his mind.
He slowly opened his eyes, seeing Alaina staring back at him. "Michael?" she asked quietly. "You were having one of those nightmares again, weren't you?"
"It's just a dumb dream," he replied. "Thanks, though." He looked at her questioningly, though it was dark. "That was you, right? How'd you do that?"
"Dream synch, remember? Though it has been awhile. I couldn't see what you were dreaming, though. It was like there were iron walls around your mind. It must have been bad…"
"Nothing real bad. Just him again."
"Oh," Alaina said with a whisper. "I don't understand. He cannot have any form of contact with you - not where he is. I don't know how you keep seeing him like this..."
"Beats me. But I'm getting pretty tired of it. The best thing I ever did second to meeting you girls was thrust that knife into his chest. But he can't seem to leave me be, no matter what…" The latias placed her hand on his chest, rubbing him softly.
"Well… whatever it is, I'm getting tired of it. I feel like I enjoy speaking to a dead terrorist about as much as anyone else would."
"I'm sure. He was an unpleasant one."
"To say the least." He slipped his arm underneath her, and she repositioned herself to be closer, ending up resting half her body on his chest. "I know I've messed up a time or two," he admitted, "but killing him wasn't one of those times."
"He would have killed countless people. The taking of a life is not something to be celebrated, but… sometimes it is necessary…"
"Yeah." Michael rubbed his hands along the length of her neck, ending when he cupped her cheek. He gently pecked her lips, earning a soft kiss from the dragoness in return. They stayed that way for a few moments, their kisses not being too intense, but passionate nonetheless. "I love you," he said.
"I know," she giggled. "What's not to love about a powerful legendary in your bed?"
"I dunno, tell me when you find one." He shielded himself from the pillow that she had grabbed, laughing as the latias assaulted him with it.
"I'm going to make you pay for that!" she teased.