Chapter 8: The Message.
I didn't sleep.
I had one of those nights where you feel tired, but can't sleep no matter how much you try. It's alright though, Cobalt and I agreed to take turns sleeping, but since I have yet to sleep, I just...kinda gave up. I'll let him sleep. He earned it after yesterday.
I throw another log on the fire and shut the fireplace. Hitting the blower switch. Blowing warm air into the room. I sit back down on the couch. I glance at the clock, 6:43am, given the fact that it's March, the sun should rise not too long from now. I sigh and lay back. I grab the book I was reading through the night. It's a large guidebook on how to do certain things traditionally. It's quite cool, actually. It has everything from how to weave baskets, how to start a fire without a lighter, how to carve things out of stone, how to cook this, that. Right now I'm reading how to make an oven out of granite. Yeah, granite. In other words it shows how to accomplish certain tasks without the use of modern technology.
I got a message in my head a few hours ago and haven't heard anything since. I know that whatever it was, it had to be important. If I had to guess it mentioned that they had answers for me. The voice was kinda familiar, but nobody seems to come to mind.
Those few audible words sent my mind racing, though reading seems to have calmed me down a bit.
'The paste from an oran berry can double as a temporary adhesive', Neat.
I hear a door shut downstairs. I look over the back of the couch towards the stairwell to see yesterday's stowaway making her way up the stairs. She freezes like a Sawsbuck in headlights when she locks eyes with me.
"Up early I see." I announce, trying to relieve the tension, even just a little bit.
"Uhh….yeah...You too it seems." She replies hesitantly.
"I couldn't sleep. Why don't you have a seat, warm up a bit." I offer.
She hesitates, then sits in the chair across from me. "If I'm supposed to be your hostage, why are you showing me hospitality? I tried to kill you yesterday." She inquires.
"Well first, I can already see that you're not the same person, you were completely different during our fight yesterday. Like you were possessed, then you wake up and suddenly that psychotic rage has vanished. That and I had visual evidence to back myself up. Cobalt's the one who's suspicious of you." I explain.
"I assume Cobalt's the Greninja...and what's your name?" She asks
"Jackson."
She leans forward a bit, staring into my eyes curiously.
"What... are you?" she asks.
I knew that question was going to come up.
"Well. According to Cobalt, I'm something called a Chosen of Light. Long story short, I've been gifted with the power to control light."
Violet studies me, "That explains the eyes and the glowing stripes, but how does controlling light lead to you finally being the one to fix me?"
"Violet, I wish I could tell you. I've only been Chosen for a couple days. I woke up in a hospital bed, with absolutely no memory, with these strange powers. Mayrum comes in and attempts to arrest me, I escape, and now I find myself on the run from an organization, and I have no Idea why. The only tie to my past being Cobalt, who's been my friend for years, and he has no Idea either, apparently I disappeared for a bit before I woke up in that hospital. That's another reason we've kept you around. You're his adopted daughter, maybe you know why this is happening."
Violet lowers her gaze, thinking. "Sorry, I don't know why this is happening. Mayrum suddenly just went nuts over hunting you, like, overnight just…'That Chaser is a menace and we need him in custody!'" she answers.
I sigh. Still at a dead end, it seems.
But then Violet looks me in the eyes.
"I might have an idea, however." She continues. I quickly set down my book and lean forward, "Really?" I inquire quickly.
Violet nods, "Mayrum got himself a new assistant recently. An Umbreon." She explains, an unexplainable chill goes down my spine. "Ever since she showed up, Mayrum's been acting different. He's always been taking her advice, trying not to disappoint her."
"Why's that weird?"
"Because he, REALLY tries hard to not disappoint her, it's almost as if he's afraid of her."
"Interesting, tell me more about this assistant."
"She looks different from a lot of other Umbreon. Her rings are red."
My eyes widen, I start sweating...what's happening to me?
"And they're diamond shaped."
I start hyperventilating
"I believe her name is Ava Nocturne."
I feel incredibly dizzy, my vision goes black. An image of the Umbreon she describes flashes in my mind. I hear feminine laughter in my mind.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW GOOD THIS FEELS?!" An unknown voice echoes through my mind.
"Jackson?"
A full blown anxiety attack overwhelms me. "Violet! Violet! What's ha-!"
"Jackson, You're having an anxiety attack! Breathe!"
It doesn't work.
"Jackson, listen to my voice."
"Inhale."
I obey
"One...two...three...Hold. One...two...three…Exhale. One...two...three. Keep repeating that."
Slowly, but surely, my vision returns, my dizziness passes. I feel sick. Violet's knelt by my side, "Are you alright?" She asks.
"...I think so." I reply
"What was that about?" Violet presses.
"I don't know. Something about that name, that description, it's like it set something off in my mind, something that wasn't supposed to be triggered."
Violet moves away. "I'm sorry for causing that, I didn't know."
"I didn't either."
Violet gets back in her seat, "And...I'm sorry for yesterday. If I knew how to make it up to you, I would."
I only nod in response.
"So. Now that I have 'freed' you, so to speak. What are you going to do now?" I ask curiously.
Violet thinks, then looks to me with those blue, expressive eyes of hers. The sun has started to paint the sky orange in the window behind her, casting a faint orange glow on the back of her chair.
"The way I see it, you're being hunted down by an organization with a possibly brainwashed leader, who also happens to be my adoptive father, with nothing but with your powers, a car, an isolated house in the hills, and your friend who's kinda…"
"Stubborn?"
"Careless was the word I was thinking of."
"What's your point?"
She leans back, her butterfly knife appears in her hand out of nowhere, she begins twirling it in her hand, threading it in between her fingers, rolling it around her thumb.
"I think you're going to need all the help you can get." She states.
I recoil a tiny bit in surprise. "Really? You could've done anything, We could've dropped you back in a nearby town and have Mayrum come get you. And yet, you want to stick with us, fugitives. Why?"
She shrugs, "You think I've got a lot to lose? I've already lost 5 years of my life. I guess you can think of me helping you put a stop to this as me paying you back for freeing my mind. Plus, I know Mayrum, I know how he thinks. Despite not having the mind anymore, I was still trained to kick ass. Plus, a little girl power never hurts." She explains, grinning at the final comment.
I raise my arm to protest, but then realise that at this point she's probably made up her mind. So I raise my hands in acceptance. "Alright then. Cobalt might object, but I'm not sure anything's gonna change your mind."
She smiles, then flicks her knife closed and secures the latch. "Good. Now, what is your next move, Jackson?"
"I...got some kind of message in my head last night. That's why I couldn't sleep. It was broken up. But it was a man's voice telling me to come to him for answers...at least, that's what I was able to make out." I explain.
"Answers? On what?" She asks.
"I assume why I have my powers, why my memories are gone."
"Or it's a psychic type laying a trap for you."
"Quite possibly. But I'm willing to take that risk."
The sky is now completely orange.
"Looks like the sun's coming up." I notice. Violet turns around to see, before turning back around, "So it is." She remarks. "Do you think you can maybe siphon more from that message? Maybe a location?" She asks.
"It's not like I can replay it."
Right as I say that. The same voice repeats in my mind.
"Ah, the sun has provided me with enough light to effectively relay this to you. Jackson Chaser, My name is Rezala Gleam. You're currently wanted by Covelight for something you didn't do. I'm sure you're seeking answers. Answers I can give. Take your friend, head to the Temple of Radiance, it's not far from your location, but it's off the beaten path, you'll have to trek through rainforest to get here. I'll expect the trek to take at least a day and a half. By now you'll have the location in your mind. I look forward to seeing you. It's time you learned the truth."
The voice fades. I bolt downstairs to Cobalt's Intelligence Center. I pull down the paper map he has. Violet quickly follows. She's about to ask me what I'm doing but I stop her, "Hand me something." I order. Violet looks around for a bit, before handing me a phillips-head screwdriver that was on the table. I take the screwdriver and slam it through the map, to the east of our location, almost halfway between Camaro and the City of Urami. "There." I exclaim.
"I got another message literally on cue. His name is Rezala, I think he's another Chosen of light. He has the answers I need, he wants us to meet him. There." I explain, pointing at the hole I made. "He called it the Temple of Radiance, he says we'll have to hike through the rainforest to get to it."
"And you're sure this guy is legit?" Violet asks. I nod, "Positive, he started with 'the sun has provided me with enough light to effectively relay this to you.' I'm positive he's another chosen here to help me."
Suddenly, Cobalt speaks, "So then. What are we waiting for?" he asks. The two of us turn our attention. "You're not gonna object, or say anything?" I ask. "Hey, you can do things none of us can. If you say that someone telepathically told you to go somewhere and you think they're like you, I don't think I'm going to stop you from going." He explains.
Cobalt and Violet lock eyes. "What are we gonna do about HER, Jackson?" Cobalt asks, still staring at Violet. "I~ am coming with you." She answers. Cobalt narrows his eyes. "No. No you're not." I hold my arm out to him. "Cobalt. Cool it. We talked things out. She's on our side now. Besides, it's better she's with us than in Covelight hands where she'd give away our position." I explain. Cobalt glances between both of us. He sighs, "Fine. But I'm not letting my guard down." Cobalt finishes.
"I guess that's a start." Violet remarks. Cobalt looks to me, "Jackson, how long is this 'field trip' going to take?" he asks.
"He said that just getting to the temple will take a day and a half. Not sure how long we'll be there, I doubt more than a day. Then it's a day and a half to get back assuming we don't decide to head back to Aerocroft for whatever reason." I inform. "I'll grab the drives and bring them back to the car, along with one for food and camping supplies." Cobalt offers, "We'll be gone before Covelight wakes up for the morning." He continues. "Sounds like a plan!" I exclaim. Taking the map with me. Violet stays in the room a bit as we leave. She sighs with a small smile, "What did I just get myself into?" She quips, shaking her head before following.
20 minutes later.
"...Can you like, shift a little bit, my arm's cramping up." Violet complains.
One...slight complication we didn't think of until it happened was that the Kerzeo Neo just so happened to be a Two-seater...and there's three of us. So in order to actually go to the temple, Violet and I have to use our small size to share the passenger seat...unfortunately we aren't small enough and we're uncomfortably pressed into each other from the sides of the seat.
"I would if I could, Vi. We're gonna have to get used to it." I groan. Cobalt reels toward us, fuming.
"DO ONE OF YOU WANT TO BE SHOVED INTO THE TRUNK?!" he rages. We're suddenly taken aback a bit. But Violet suddenly bursts out laughing. "Alright, we'll quit it!" She giggles. Cobalt and I stare at each her for a couple seconds, still laughing, before staring at each other. I shrug. Cobalt mimics and returns to the wheel.
"I think I'm gonna nap the drive away." I announce. Cobalt nods, "Go for it, you didn't exactly sleep last night."
"Don't sleep on me." Violet growls.
"I'll try not to."
Next: Chapter 9-1, The Path to Radiance.
These next few chapters are going to be much longer, and thus will take a lot longer to write, so there's no official release date for these. However, I'll make sure to complete all 3 before posting as they're all technically chapter 9, just split into 3 parts. So I'll keep you all posted.
