"I'm not ready for this..." Breccia complained into her empty bedroom. Finishing with her bags, she turned to the hanging dress in her closet and sighed.
Being she had little money, she was forced to beg Maddie for a gown. Luckily, her lab assistant was happy to comply. This made things a little easier, since the two of them were roughly the same size.
Zipping her bag closed, she let it drop on the floor before sitting on the bed. In the last couple weeks, things had been strenuous. So much so that she made time to go back to her father's grave in order to clear her thoughts.
She had to go by boat, (since the helicopter was out of commission). When she arrived, she asked that the grunts who followed to stay aboard. She feared them bumping into Ethan.
Turns out, she had every right to worry because he was out walking Rusty when she arrived. He seemed glad to see her and invited her back to his place for tea.
She accepted but only stayed for half an hour. In that time, Nibs started to warm up to her new friend and spent less time glued to her shoulder.
"I never did ask-" Their conversation eventually turned to personal matters. "So you work in land? You came in by boat, that must've been quite the journey."
"I..." Breccia formulated a half truth on the fly. "I'm doing research on Pokemon behavior...I've been traveling the islands." She prayed Ethan wouldn't pry further. (Fortunately, he didn't).
They spoke of simplistic things after, the weather, weekend plans and the like.
"They usually don't like the sunlight." Breccia said, continuing a conversation referring to Nibs. "But I egg hatched him, he got use to it young."
When Breccia rose to leave, Ethan turned to a small basket by his chair, retrieving a Pokeball. "That reminds me, before you go...I found this little one when I went out for a walk. I've been trying to care for her but I don't have the tools." Handing it over, Breccia was given a bruised Sunkern with one of the leaves missing atop her tiny head. "I'm not sure how she got here, being that it's too cold for her to survive. I found a bunch of Wingulls poking at her. I've done the best I can, but I can barely feed myself right now."
Now, in the present, Breccia heard a commotion from the living room. Closing her eyes on an exhaled, she yelled from where she stood: "Nibs, you better not be messing with her!" As to be expected, the moment Nibbles saw Breccia coddling another creature, his jealousy knew no bounds. He never had an issue with Koffing, but upon realizing he was no longer the 'baby', all bets were off. "Stop it!" She came in to find Flora on her pillow, letting out a frail cry as Nibs flapped around her. He never hurt her, but that didn't stop him from hissing and sneering whenever he had the chance. "You poor baby." Breccia scooped her Sunkern up, cuddling her close.
After only a couple days of having her, the little sprout on top of her head was starting to grow back.
It wasn't that she minded, as it reminded her of her father's clinic. What she DID mind was the constant heckling from her peers. When she reboarded the ship with Flora in hand, the grunts that followed immediately started pestering her, taunting her constant need to take care of any Pokemon foisted on her.
When she and Ethan were chatting, he told her a few stories of his adventures when he was younger. They were fun to listen to, since they were far better than the mess Breccia was living in. However, it was inevitable that he would bring up his run ins with the very Organization she worked for. It was awkward, having to pretend she knew nothing about the very people she affiliated with. Despite this, when he referred to them as 'morons who know nothing about Pokemon' Breccia couldn't help but nod.
Not all of them were the monsters Ethan accused them of being. (Being that all she could think off was Morice when the topic was brought up.) There were a lot of idiots though. There were days Breccia felt surrounded by them.
"Nibs, you're two seconds away going in your ball."
Nibbles huffed, fluttering down and balancing on her shoulder.
Scratching him under his chin, his owner shook her head. "What am I going to do with you?" He ignored her affection, turning away. "Stop being a jerk." Breccia secured him by the scruff on the back of his neck, guiding him to look at her. "You'll always be my buddy, but she needs a home. You're just going to have to deal with that." When her Pokemon began to sulk, she kissed the top of his head. "Who's my little nibbler?" Nibs answered by shaking his backside and cuddling into the side of her neck.
Checking the time on her Transceiver, Breccia was about to head back into the bedroom when a knock came at the door. "Hang on."
As to be expected from his end, Morice shook his head when his friend greeted him, her Sunkern in one arm and her clingy 'little buddy' crawling around in the pocket of her flannel shirt. "Did I come at a bad time?"
Breccia scoffed. "Please, you should be use to this by now." Going inside to gather her things, she put Flora back on her pillow. "Let me get my bag...I have to talk to Neil before we go, to make sure the Lab is covered..."
Morice hinted at the weariness in her voice. "You alright?"
Turning the lights off as she went, Breccia walked passed him, talking as she headed to the bedroom. "Yeah...just tired. I wish we had another copter laying around." It was going to be a couple hours by boat before she, Morice and Riker would reach land. After, it was another grueling four hours by van.
It didn't help that they had to travel through the Naturra mountains, a range that cut Birtan in half. A part of her wanted to be happy because, once they passed through the peak, they would be in the tropics.
Warmer weather was appetizing.
Then again, a decent nights sleep sounded good too.
"I don't blame you." Morice called from the living area. "I had to see to it the Vans were loaded."
"Vans?"
"I have to ride with a couple of the grunts. We'll be lagging behind once we hit land."
Breccia adjusted her bag strap, pulling her gown from the closet. "Oh, I forgot. I'll be riding with Riker."
She could hear the contempt in her friend's response. "Yeah. Joy."
Wondering around in wait, Morice was busy contemplating the upcoming trip (and dreading it) when he heard Flora cry from where she lay. "Uh...Breccia, your seed pod is crying..."
"Give me a minute, I can't find my shoes."
A minute passed, filled with the shrill, melodious screeching from the abandoned Sunkern. As Breccia traversed the hall, all her things in hand, she took notice of when the noise stopped. "Did she cry herself out?" Contrary to her original thought, she came in to see Morice holding Flora, rocking her as one would a tired child.
It was working, as the Pokemon was silent and starting to doze.
Breccia didn't speak, choosing to lean against the wall and watch without making herself known. It wasn't until Morice put the sleeping Sunkern back on her pillow that she responded: "You're a natural."
He jumped, startled. "Don't do that." He put a hand to his chest, talking down his pulse. "I about pissed myself..."
Breccia smiled. "I've never been able to get her to sleep that quickly. She's taken a shine to you."
Morice rolled his eyes. "Was I supposed to stand around and listen to her scream?"
"No." Pulling Nibs from her pocket, Breccia let him fly across the room. As she expected, he went from her shoulder to Morice's, headbutting him in the side of his cheek. At this point, Morice had grown use to Nibs' brand of affection, so he did nothing. "A lot of Pokemon are good judges of character."
Buttoning the top of his coat, Morice scowled. "You're pleasantries aren't going to work today."
"Long shift last night?"
"No." Morice finally swatted at Nibbles when the bat chomped on his ear. "Ever try to be an alcoholic on a ramen budget? You'd be annoyed too."
Breccia brushed a strand of his hair from his forehead. He was usually good about keeping himself clean cut. As of late though, he'd been looking ragged. Changing the subject, she grinned. "You should really let me cut your hair." She retrieved Nibs from her friend and put him in his ball. "You don't want to get nabbed for dress code again."
"What are you, my mother?" Morice cleared his throat, trying to distract from the blush that appeared when Breccia kissed him on the cheek. "Stop hugging on me, we're gonna be late to the docks."
"Alright Mr. Cranky britches." Shutting and locking the door, Breccia checked to make sure she had all of her Pokemon on her before heading out of the complex.
Out near the Ferry, Riker was overseeing any last minute preparations, all the while coping with Ms. Moore's constant hounding.
"I packed enough food for the next couple of days." She handed him a plastic shopping bag with multiple tuperware containers within. "Make sure Arlia eats hers-"
"Donna, I'm a little busy."
Riker received a glare. "Don't you tell me what to do boy. I've been feeding your happy butt for the last twenty five years and I'll keep doing it." When her nephew tried to step away, she snagged his ear. "I'm asking that friend of yours to let me know if you actually eat."
Riker grumbled. "You are aware she answers to me first right?"
"Aunty giving you grief?" Breccia saw her opportunity upon approaching and took it. "I'd be more than happy to nark if the mood takes me."
Her Boss sighed. "I'd complain about how no one listens, but I'm too damn tired." Cursing to himself, he took the bag and made his way on the boat.
Ms. Moore, whose Meowth was rubbing against her legs, reached down to pet her. "I really shouldn't be giving him grief." She shook her head. "Its dangerous having him off the island. We have more guard but there's always a chance..."
"Are you staying behind?" Breccia asked.
"I'd only get in the way." Donna said. "Besides, he has Arlia, so he should be safe. They've been close as kin since she hatched."
"So I've been told."
Breccia continued to chat with Donna until everything was loaded. Still nervous about the whole situation, she piled on board behind Morice. Instead of staying up top, she went down below to get decent peace. Riker was already below deck, giving orders to a couple of grunts before dismissing them up top.
When he saw her, he said: "Here to spy on me for Donna?"
Breccia chuckled. "I won't if you're good boy and eat your vegetables."
The trip by boat was uneventful, or so Breccia figured. (She slept though most of it.) When they reached the shore, the vans were unloaded and she and Morice went their separate ways.
"We're driving there now...wait at the drop off point, we'll meet you there." Riker and Breccia were both sitting in the back, with Arlia driving upfront. Riker offered to drive at first, but it was obvious he was too tired.
Hanging up, he leaned back in his seat.
Breccia wanted to ask how the conversation went, but the look on his face said it all.
When those Executives showed up at the lab, (and Breccia had calmed from her blow up), the tension between the four of them was palpable. Riker kept trying to comment on their decisions, adding his own opinions on certain points, only to be passed off and shoved aside. It was so bad at one point that even Breccia was starting to get pissed. They were in Riker's lab, acting like nothing he said had any relevance.
"Friend of yours?" Breccia asked, stirring up conversation to fill the silence.
"Kelly." The answer was quick and bitten. "She's so sure about her plans with Dixon..." Closing his eyes, Riker did a count of all they had left to do.
The Boss had been relocated, so that was one thing out of the way.
They were all meeting in Travessia, a city that, not while as big as the capital, was still rather large. The Gala itself was taking place at a mansion on the outskirts, but everyone had to regroup before hand. They were also meeting the police there, something Riker still had qualms with. "No matter what I say, they won't listen. Dixon has given us so much trouble in the past. All the money we've wasted, having to bust our men out of prison...but she gets so sure of herself, she refuses to see past her own genius."
"They all seem to be that way." Breccia said.
Riker was peering out the window, staring past the road at the vast planes of white going in both directions. "Stotler isn't too bad, just too passive. Sanchez...he's known me since I was a kid. I suppose that's how they all still see me..." Quiet for a moment, he listened to the faint static playing on the radio. It was going to be a while before they reached the mountains dividing the region. After that, it'd be another two before they made it to their destination. "Sometimes I wonder if they think I had all this handed to me. Like some twisted form of nepotism." He framed his face in his hands, wondering if his headache was from stress or lack of sleep (or both). "Grandfa-" He cleared his throat. "The Boss refused to promote me until Arlia and I could beat him in a battle..."
Breccia tried to picture a massive Kangaskhan bunting a Torchic around like a deflated soccer ball. "Just a drop in the bucket." She joked.
She heard Arlia scoff from the front seat.
"Only took fifteen years. From the day she hatched..." Riker smirked, remembering the day he waltzed into the kitchen with his stolen egg in hand.
He and Ms. Morre had moved into Johto after his mother's death, and that day in-particular, he was sitting in his room with his newly absconded egg, waiting in anticipation for it to hatch. He heard Donna and a friend of hers (A woman named Marie who would visit for tea on occasion), chattering among themselves:
'Do we punish him?'
He recalled a pause, an obvious sign of conflict, before Donna answered. 'Look, lets just slip it back to the lab before the Professor notices...if he hasn't called the police already.'
As they discussed what to do, they were too late to act on it. Arlia hatched while they bickered. Riker, at only five years old, watched in amazement when the top of the egg popped off and a tiny Torchic head poked through. While he didn't know WHAT Pokemon to expect, he'd seen many of Arlia's kind in the picture books his mother would read to him. Unlike the ones in those stories, her color pallet was reversed with bright orange head plumage and golden body feathers.
When Marie came into the room with the intention of taking the 'egg', Arlia was already shaking away the remnants of her shell. In a moment of stupidity, Marie tried to pick her up, receiving a peck to the hand and a fervor of squawking.
Upon being dropped, Arlia scampered back to Riker and up in his lap, refusing to leave. It was then Donna realized the battle was done.
When his grandfather learned of his ill gotten gains, he was angry with Donna for ever thinking of punishment. He picked Arlia up by one of her claws, looking her over for a moment before tossing her back to Riker like a stuffed animal. 'Let him keep it. It's about time he had one anyway.'
"She can take a hit." Riker said, referring to the Pokemon driving in the front seat.
"Tends to happen when you get your ass kicked from birth." Breccia muttered.
"And all the way through the awkward teenage years." Riker glanced forward, grinning when he saw Arlia peer back at him. "Her's were more awkward than mine." No sooner had he said it, an empty paper cup that'd been sitting in the front seat holder flew back and smacked him in the face.