Me: Chapter 37! And I have to hurry a bit, since I haven't finished chapter 38 yet. ^^'
Anyway, today's chapter will focus on the bad guys and we get some backstory about them, well a bit, I didn't go into too much detail - I may get to that another time! :D
Now, let us start, shall we! Have Fun! :D
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Chapter 37: Liars And Traitors
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„Lunick!"
Solana ran to her wounded and exhausted boyfriend while Spenser called a medic to check on him.
The young ranger was covered in bruises and looked really done. He must've taken a brutal beating.
Minun ran to him aswell and jumped in his arms.
„What happened to you?" asked Spenser shocked.
„Those guys that we hid from.. they caught me.. and I jumped out of their car in which they were dragging me.. They beat me up, they had.. they had bats and knifes.. Luckily they didn't use.. their.. guns..."
Lunick collapsed, probably because of the exhaustion. He was brought to their home where he received further medical treatments by two medics. They couldn't go to a hospital after all and the base was burning. However the local trainers used their pokémon to help extinguish the flames.
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Meanwhile in Fall City...
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„How is the takeover going?" asked a man in grey suit, he was looking out of the window of his huge airship.
„We have succesfully taken over Fall City, Summerland is no threat and serves as a place where we can bring all the pokémon, Wintown is in the process of being taken over, Jacob Rook has destroyed the base, same with Ringtown. Speaking of which, the base is blown up but other than that everything is normal." replied Tanaka.
„Good. Wintown won't be able to withstand the attack, so there is no problem. What do you think should we do about Ringtown, Jim?"
„We should let them suffer. I don't think that the poison fog is required there. We just have to make sure that they stay where they are. They will slowly run out of supplies and then starve. Then they will come to us begging and they will obey us."
Suddenly one of the soldiers entered the room, „Mr. Lapan! Mr. Lapan! The rangers of Fall City are still resisting. They've locked themselves up in their base, what shall we do?"
„I'll talk to them, if you don't mind, uncle." suggested Tanaka.
„And what are you going to do with them? I don't think that you'll achieve anything. Remember how the last time I sent you to a ranger base ended? You had a black eye and were whining about the lack of respect." replied Lapan discouraging.
Tanaka looked at him visibly pissed, „And what should we do instead?" he asked.
„Where is Jacob?" asked Lapan. He turned around and walked towards the young soldier.
„He is on his way back from Wintown, sir." replied the soldier.
In this moment the door openend and a green haired man entered the room with a Noctowl on his shoulder.
„Ah, Jacob, we were just talking about you." said Lapan.
„Hello Amon, hello soldier.." he took a quick look to Tanaka, „...Jim."
Lapan and Jacob shook hands, „Mission successful, Wintown is almost taken over and the ranger base has been destroyed."
„How many killed and how many captive?" asked Amon.
„Three dead, four captives. The villagers are being put under control without the use of the toxic fog." replied the green haired man.
„Good, very good. The more we safe the better. Anyway, I have another job for you."
„Let's hear it then."
„The rangers are still resisting and we can't get through."
„Send all of the soldiers away from the base. They should trust me after all."
Jacob then left the room and made his way to the base. The soldier left the room aswell.
„Why the angry face, Jim?" asked Lapan.
„I can't believe that you're letting him do this. I thought you trusted me!" complained Jim.
„I want this to be executed without mistakes and I think that he'll do a better job. So spare the envy." replied the man.
„I just have a hard time trusting a criminal underground boss."
„Well considering what has all happened, he has more reason to hate you than you have to hate him, don't forget that, Jim."
Tanaka grunted and turned away from his unlce.
„Anyway, how does it look with the pursuit of Lupine?" asked Lapan.
„Not good, he left Fiore as far as we know. Jacob said that he was 'retreating' to.. I don't know why, the point is he left and won't be a threat for us anymore." replied Tanaka.
„He left just like that? Looks like he isn't this shining hero after all. He succumbed his selfishness and his inner deamons, just as planned," Amon turned around and looked out of the window again, „You may go now, I will contact you if I need you for anything."
„Of course, uncle.." Tananka then quickly left the room.
„Why is he such an asshole towards me.." he mumbled angrily, „I did everything he was asking for and helped him with his plan and this is how he thanks me?! I should've just stayed an officer.."
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When he arrived at the landing plattform he saw Jacob standing there, he was leaning against the railing and looked down at the corrupted city. In his hands he held a picture of a young red-haired woman. Tanaka recognized her, it was Chelsea Fugaki. But what did he want with a picture of her?
However, before he could approach him to ask about that Jacob already left into a helicopter which brought him down into the city. He put on his gas mask and gave a quick look to Tanaka with a mischievious smile, which angered Tanaka even more.
The former police officer went back to his airship, which was currently above the old factory. Having arrived there, he immediatly stormed into his office and sat down on his desk. On his wooden desk was a computer and next to it a framed picture which showed a man and two children. They were all smiling and the man was wrapping his arms around the two children. One of the kids was Tanaka, while the man was Lapan. But who was the girl..? Jim picked the picture up and looked at the girl
„Oh how much I wish I could return to those times.. When the world seemed so careless and calm.. What has just become of me? I'm a corrupt ex-officer who helps his insane uncle to take over Fiore. I wonder if I made the right decision back then. *sigh* Maybe Lupine was right and I was just too delusional to see that.."
He put the picture back down on the desk and rose up from his chair. He slowly walked towards the window and looked out of it. From there he could the whole of Fall City. It looked like everything was slowly getting under control. The fog cleared and the people stopped their screaming. They still lived in fear but they stopped resisting and started to adapt to their new situation – Under Amon Lapan's tyranny.
When Tanaka looked towards the ranger base he saw two vans standing outside of it. The rangers were brought into them by Jacob and a few soldiers. They didn't resist either, but they didn't look hypnotized or anything, they looked sad, even hopeless. It looks like they've given up and realized that it had no use to withstand them, they were just too strong.
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After a few minutes he heard someone knocking on his door, it was a soldier.
„Sir, do I have the permission to enter? I have been given an order that I am to inform you about immediatly." said the soldier, who was female. She had a very beautiful and tender voice.
„Of course, come in." replied Jim.
A light brown haired woman entered the room – and damn did she look gorgeous. She had big turquoise eyes, red lips and a nice slim but yet curvy figure.
„So, how can I help you, soldier?" asked Tanaka.
„Actually I wanted to ask you the same, sir. You looked very upset when you stormed to your office.." replied the young soldier.
„It's nothing, don't worry about me." said Tanaka discouraged.
„I'm sorry, but I have to insist, sir," the woman walked towards him, „I don't like people seeing like that, and I think that it could affect this whole mission."
She now stood directly next to him and they both looked out of the window.
„..Do.. Do you think that we're doing the right thing?" he asked.
„I don't seem to follow. What do you mean, sir?" she asked.
„Look at Fall City. The people have to live under a terror reign after we bombed the city. They are terrified. I mean, how can this be a good thing? Where is the order in fear?"
„I understand your point, sir, but I'm sure that everything will turn out just right in the end. Also it was you who tried to persuade the people without any of this and they refused, it was the only thing that we could do to accomplish this and reach our goal."
„Our goal? More like my uncle's goal. What's your name?" asked Tanaka.
„Mako, sir." replied the young soldier.
„Mako, ok. Let's be honest here, let us back out of our job for a moment."
She nodded.
„Look at the city, look at the rangers faces as they are being transported into those vans. Does this look like order? Does this look like peace?" he asked cold.
„.. Honestly, I just want to get this behind me. I don't support this whole thing at all but I have no other choice. My father had a deal with Lapan and when he was to repay it, he just gave me away like I'm worth nothing to him. And to answer you, no, this is far from peace. This is a madness. The people here are suffering, do you know what I had to do earlier? I had to separate a family so the father could join us. I don't know what happened to the others, they just brought them somewhere.."
The two continued to talk for a while when suddenly...
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„Jim Tanaka!" Jacob kicked the door open a gun in his right hand and his Noctowl on his shoulder. He was accompanied by Lapan and a soldier.
„What terrible things did I have to hear from you two? It sounds like your planning a treason!" he shouted.
„We never said that!" protested Tanaka.
„Well, not exactly but next time you talk like this about our cause, make sure to turn your transmitter off." replied Lapan.
„Please, we didn't do anything, sir, we were just talking! It is allowed to-"
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BANG!
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„Oh shut up." Jacob shot her blunty in the leg and Mako screamed out in pain.
„Bring her away." commanded Lapan and the soldier carried her away.
„Are you out of your mind?! Why did you do that?!" barked Tanaka fierce.
„Well, she was interrupting and I found that quite annoying. As far as I know it's allowed to, am I right." replied Jacob mocking the two.
„Now, what shall we do with you.." mumbled Amon.
„I've got an idea, sir.." replied Jacob smiling.
„Yes, but I don't want to kill him, he is too important," He slowly approached the former officer, his hands behind his back, „Jim, I can forgive you this time. I know that you only said that because you were angry about what I said earlier. And I can understand that. But you joined my team and as a member of this organisation I demand loyalty, especially from you and I will not tolerate something like this ever again, do you understand?"
Tanaka hesitated for a moment, but agreed finally, „I... understand. It won't happen again."
„Good, I knew that you still had some sense in your mind. And don't worry, after everything cooled down, we will all live in peace together. Like a big happy family."
Lapan and Jacob then left the room.
That last sentence.. 'Like a big happy family'.. He was referencing their actual family – Or what's left of them. And what had happened. He only said that to provoce him of course.
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Back in Ringtown...
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„How does it look?"
„He is pretty though, he'll get through and we also checked on his mental health. We don't think that he will have to suffer any other effects. So concluding, Lunick is one tough son of a bitch."
Solana and a doctor were talking outside of her and Lunick's bedroom, where he was currently treated. Luckily he didn't have any major injuries but only a few bruises and scratches. However it was a miracle that he didn't got affected by the fog at all.
„But something is strange," said the medic, „It's almost like he was immune to this poison. I mean, he didn't got affected by it at all, while everyone else did.."
Solana was also confused. But then she remembered how it was with Lupine when he was imprisoned. He hadn't been infected aswell, eventhough he was right next to the explosion.
„Do you mind if we take a blood sample of Lunick for some research?" asked the doctor finally.
„No, please go on. And thank you, doctor." replied Solana.
„No problem, Solana." The doctor went back into the room, where Lunick was sitting on his bed.
Solana decided to wait outside for Lunick. It had started to rain, which made everything a bit easier and the flames were soon extinguished.
Chelsea joined her after a short while and they both waited outside.
„How's it looking?" she asked.
„Oh, he's getting through. He was just exhausted." replied the female ranger.
„That's good to hear. Really.." said Chelsea.
„Is everything ok?" asked Solana.
„It's just.. *sigh* I still can't believe that Jacob is on their side. I mean, why would he? He was no reason to join them – Especially Tanaka. If only Lupine would be here.. I bet he knew what to do." said Chelsea discouraged.
„I can't believe it either.. And yes, I think Lupine would make things easier for us, but we all know why he's gone. Honestly, do you really think that it's because he has to overcome his marks?" asked Solana.
„Of course not, Lupine never had any problems with them at all." replied the red haired girl.
„Exactly. We know that it's about Aiyana. And who can blame it for that? Definitely not me. I can understand that he just wants to get away from everyone. However, that means that we have to be even stronger if we want to fight them, we have to prove that we can manage even if Lupine is not with us."
Solana's words were lifting Chelsea up, „I think you're totally right, Solana. And I think that we can do it! We can beat them, I just lost my faith for a bit."
„By the way, what were you talking about lately? I'm sorry if I shouldn't ask." asked Solana curious.
„It's okay. Jacob and me? You mean this morning before the fire in the factory?" Chelsea hesitated for a moment.
„Well.. he told me that he wanted to get away from here. He told me to come with him, he said that he already had a place to go. Then I asked him why he wanted to leave just now and so suddenly. He only said that I don't need to know, the only thing I had to know was that it's urgent. After that we've gotten into a bit of an argument and I decided not to join him...
Well, now I know why he wanted to leave.."
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Me: So maybe they aren't entirely bad...
Anyway, I don't have much time to write a big end... stuff so, I'll just say thanks for reading and...
Auf Wiedersehen! :D
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