Part 8: The Bell

Chapter 60: Doctor Kaiser (3)

We got some more familiar faces, and a not-so familiar face WITHOUT a face.

He's important. ._.

I don't own Pokémon.


Cruce

They weren't kidding. There really was a giant, magical rock just sitting here in a big pond where the water gathered, but remained shallow enough to walk through even at my height. Little inlets of water meandered through underbrush and foliage, some openings wider than others, enough for Pokémon of my size or slightly larger to fit through. The opening was partially clear for the sky to shine down onto the already shiny boulder, one half of it smooth as sanded stone, the other jagged as broken glass. The Bell shook against my neck. I placed a paw over it to steady the thing, but it kept right on, like it was thrilled to be here. The scents, too. They were thick and overwhelming. The stone's purplish glow bled into the waters beneath it, veins of the misty light diluting in the pond about a meter out from the meteorite. It was actually really pretty, all that contrast and lighting, reds and purples reflecting off of the water's surface, highlighting it in strands, creating almost a shape in the water – like a swirling effect oddly similar to the Bell's markings. I looked at the golden object again, finding the name Aza. Mew had mentioned that name.

Then, I quickly looked back up, because the meteorite wasn't the real concern here. It was the man sitting on a padded, metal stool, legs crossed, elbows on one leg, leaned in with his folded, leather-gloved hands bedding his chin – well, whatever was underneath the overzealous amount of gray and black bandages criss-crossed over his entire face. It was to say, he pretty much had no face, hardly even the outline of a nose, but he sure dressed formally, tall boots and black slacks, a black, buttoned up coat similar in fashion to the last of the humans I saw in the Grove before Mew sent them away. Small silver buttons lined his chest about three-fourths of the way across his torso, the coat asymmetrical in that regard, boasting the same crosshatch insignia as the helicopters from before. He was... just sitting there, stool planted right in the rocky mud underwater, islets of green algae gathering around the stool's shiny legs. It wasn't him and the stool alone; a long black rifle was leaned up against himself and the stool, stock out, as to prop it up and keep any water from ruining the... expensive looking weapon?

"Good day," he greeted idly, a slow moving voice. "Little Gamma."

"H-... Hello? Are you... cool? Y-you're wearing, uh-..." I stopped and caught my breath, forgetting I'd just made a crazy break away from Mew. "Er, I'm just gonna... g-get along here and..."

I kept all, well, four eyes on him as I stepped away, giving him a wide berth, just lettin' him do his thing. I was about a meter from the, uh, meteorite, right where those purple streams faded into clear water. I looked down to make sure they weren't causing me any problems – you know, eating me or something. I couldn't take chances, and with this bandaged guy here, stuff was not really looking too hot, 'specially since I was standing in like thirty degree Fahrenheit water. He faced me, the irony of that presenting itself in the obvious, but I could at least tell he was looking at me. He sat up straight, hands in his lap, with his shoulders turned.

"Do as you will," he told me. "I'm an observer and no more. Go on."

"Can I just—like, I don't know if I trust you," I filled him in. "No offense or anything, and your guys just... uuuuh, disappeared? Went loco?"

"I am aware," he said, leaning forward again. "I am... lamenting, over it."

"Oh," I blinked. "Did you get away from Mew? You did, didn't you?"

"No. I've been here, observing things through-... I won't waste your time with it. I think you have places to be." he read me. Was it my body language? Well, sure, the only thing here was the rock, but he sorta spoke like he knew there was a place inside the rock, which may have meant he knew how to get in there.

"Um. Okay," I uttered shyly. He didn't seem bad, never mind the rifle right there or the fact that I couldn't see his face. "Do you know how I can go inside the stone? I have my Bell, erm... i-if that's enough. I don't know. They said that it was possible. I took their word for it. Maybe I shouldn't just run in with no clue of how I'm supposed to... l-like, I didn't really ask—I thought I was already asking too many questions, um... sir... Mister, sir—sss-sorry, I don't know what to call you..."

"Hm," he mused. "Mister is just fine. On the topic of your duty, I'm afraid I can't do much. Geology was never my intended study."

Was that a joke?

"Ye—same." I rubbed behind my head, paw wet.

"Are those voices I hear~?" somebody sang. A new voice? More people – for real? I could see shapes moving through the leaves, rustling loudly. I was kind of ashamed of myself for not hearing it before. Vay would've been disappointed, since he was all about me using my senses better. Well, still, I wasn't expecting anyone to come running to a forest that was on fire, especially not in a swampy part of it, but maybe they were drawn to the that over the fire.

Watching the foliage, two pairs of eyes peeked out from one of the watery inlets, just wide enough to comfortably fit the two side-by-side. One of them belonged to a Flux – I picked that up the moment I could, not just because of the eyes, but because of how obviously tainted he was by it. What was he – a weasel? With a... tiny black inner-tube toy around his neck? He looked like a weasel, anyway, his fur shining red. The other was shaped more like a tiny human, a bit like Pat, but obviously mammalian, with a lovely white tail, poofy hair above her already tall ears, some of it draping around her arms, and a white fluffy scarf to further all the plumpness that was already there.

"Ladies first, Nikki." the Flux offered, reaching up as high as his arms allowed to push a branch out of the taller one's way. She gave him an eyes-half-closed smile, a small hand resting against her soft neck adornment, taking relaxed steps into the cold water. Doing so, the pleasure in her face twisted into disgust, as if she'd just entered the water for the first time.

"Yes, thank you," she said, pretending to sound grateful. "Ugh, I realize we needed to take a different route, but the water is not fine."

"I think it's great," the Flux remarked, walking in after the other, wagging his split tail back and forth. "I'm just happy I remembered my way here. I hope the other two didn't get lost."

"Quite the visitors this place gets..." the bandaged 'Mister' spoke under his breath, difficult to hear through the splashes and the conversation the two newcomers were having.

That Flux though. He was fine, just like me. He looked a lot worse, like he was about to melt in the water, and even if his demeanor was almost clumsy, he still carried and pronounced himself like a sane Pokémon, especially when compared to Mew. He seemed very fond of 'Nikki' in his mannerisms, protectively standing by her, looking up to her as he spoke, craving eye-contact. He wanted her attention. I could relate. Eyes meant a lot to us.

"Oh hey," I called for them, some pieces clicking together in my confused, fuzzy head. "Are you two, like—did you come with Squiggles?"

"Yes! Yes, we did," Nikki answered and clapped both hands together. I even got the Flux's attention – maybe he was just noticing that I was touched by it, too. "You know her? Do you know that detective man, too? What was his name?"

"Allen?" the Flux said for her.

"I was wondering when he would turn up. It is... about time, Mister Foster," the bandaged man remarked. I was more intrigued with the prospect that Allen and Squiggles managed to get out of the Down. I mean, holy shit, they either Tripped and walked miles 'n miles just to get here, like Vay and I did, or they found a different way. Either way, they had to leave behind that church full of Fluxes. I had questions for them, but now wasn't really the time. I guess they had their own pursuits. Good to hear they were still buddies.

"But what about you guys?" I asked aloud, not considering how one thought led to the next. "I mean, you-"

I stopped. The Flux was trying to communicate, and I was interrupting him. I stared him back, mouth still open, letting his gaze do all the expression.

Flux friend?

You okay? You're like me?

I like you! You're okay!

But why do you have that?

I put a paw over the Bell. Oh my God, I forgot; Fluxes and the Bell... No wonder he was so taken aback by me, save for our similarities.

Hi. I'm Cruce. I have a weird situation going on, but...
...it's nice to meet another good Flux. Now I know three.
Four, if I include myself,
but like I said... weird situation.

Cruce! It's me, Bryan.

I got Fluxed, too.

I'm better now. Nice to see you again. We missed you.

This is Nick. Nick is Nikki now. Isn't she pretty?

Say hi! She'd love to hear this.

"No way! Really?!" I leaned forward, flicking my tails about at the news. Oh my—frig me! I couldn't contain all that! Dude! Bryan and Nick out of the blue like that? Well, blue AND red, I guess, but still, holy buh-cheezus! "Guys! I mean—Nick! Nick, it's me—yo, it's Cruce! You two made it?!"

"What... just happened...?" Nikki asked. Was gonna need to get used to calling her that, but the name change wasn't all that different to Alli. Alli and Nikki. Fucking beautiful. Emelina was going to have a heart attack. "C-can somebody explain to me...?"

"Uhm," I leaned back, perking up, looking at the giant stone right here, arcane and glowing 'n all. "I'd love to, I just need more time. Guys, I need to get in the meteorite. Everyone's in there! I got no idea how I go inside though. D'you think you can help?"

"Mmm, well shouldn't we really let Allen and, er, Squiggles know where we are?" Nikki suggested. "And, who is this human? Why is his face all..."

"Never mind the drapery," the man dismissed, light motions of his hand shooing the idea of what was beneath his bandages. "I'll relay any message you have. Allen and I are on complicated terms, but many things have changed."

"Well then," she puffed. "I don't trust anyone in a Delta Meadow uniform, but, I'll let this slide, since you seem... polite? Anyway, 'Cruce', you want an escort into the meteorite...?"

"I do! Would you know how to get in there?"

"Eehmmm..." she bit her lip, paw limply raised from her scarf. "I've been... taken into the meteorite before. I suppose I do have a piece of it inside of me. I should be allowed entrance."

"Maybe my Symbi can open it?" Bryan asked. Symbi, huh?

"Hold up," I stopped them. "Nick—uh, Nikki, you said you were taken into it?"

"Mhmm. By Xima."

Oh. That name meant nothing to me. I might have heard it before, but I'd never met a Xima nor had I really heard her cross conversation all too much, at least to get my interest. Until now, anyway; Xima was our taxi service, and none of us had a means of contacting her. We shared silent contemplation, which made the moment as involved as it did awkward. Bryan and Nick – well, Nikki was as aloof as I'd remembered, uh, him being, but she didn't seem so happy to see me, or even give the impression that she believed I was Cruce at all. Alli already told me I shouldn't expect a warm welcome, but Pat and Emi were up in my face when they found out about me. Bryan seemed thrilled about me. What happened with Alli and Nikki that made me such a bad guy in their eyes? Was it that other Cruce?

It's cool. I'll have Nikki laughing with me in no time. We all gotta meet up again.

Even if it is for one last time.

"If I may," the 'Mister' began, hands folded under his chin again. "I've an idea. You're Cruce? Well, on your first encounter with this stone, what did you do?"

I couldn't remember that. I could hardly remember what I did when I got up and out of that hospital bed, let alone what put me in it. Not to shrug off his query, but I needed more input than rhetorical questions.

"Cruce touched it," Bryan filled in for me. Wait, I touched it? My paws tingled, shoulders shook, arms felt frail. That affected me. That thought of touching the rock, and the idea of someone else knowing over me, took me by surprise. "Him and Drew. They fell asleep. Didn't wake up."

"Ah, so that's how it went down," said Nikki. "You'd think I would know all this by now."

"Maybe your head's still all... mmmmessy, from when Arcadia left?" Bryan asked, cutely looking up to her again.

"...Yes," the taller Pokémon sighed, fingers pushing against a raised brow. "I... still remember more than I'd like to."

She was watching me while she said that.

"What's your idea, Mister?" I pushed the topic forward. "Should I touch it?"

"Only as you'd like," he said. "I'm here to offer suggestions and hypotheses."

"Oh yes, and what does your gun have to offer, sir?" Nikki asked sharply.

"Rifle." the man corrected.

"Same thing." Nikki argued.

"Hardly," he contested. "It sounds like you're asking for a lecture in gunsmithing."

"Well, it wouldn't be called gunsmithing if it wasn't a gun, would it?" she remarked. Good one, Nikki. Real nice answer – we totally had time for that. You know, argue with the man with the gun. Sorry, the rifle.

"Touché, Miss."

...

They winded down fast, which was good, 'cause I kinda depended on everyone's attention while I stepped closer to the purple stone. Not to hog the spotlight, I meant, just to have any witnesses in case something went wrong. I took a long, steady breath, my lungs sucking up that cold, Gamma-poisoned air. I lifted a paw to it, little fingers pointed forward. Then, looking into the hazy reflection of the smooth, gently scratched surface of the mysterious rock, I noticed Bryan and Nikki behind me, just sort of there, strangers to the scenario. I sighed, blowing that breath against the admittedly beautiful, crystalline texture of the rock. I turned back, paw down, and checked both of them – their faces, their posture. Bryan always seemed slumped, while Nikki stood proudly and arrogantly. I reached the other paw out to them, or the space between them, and I offered as welcoming a smile as I could, my two front teeth sticking out of my upper lip as always.

The gesture confounded them at first, but a glance each other's way later led them to make the same, clumsy smile as myself. After all that racing my heart had done, it felt divine to have it uplifted by their trust. As I felt it go aflutter, it made everything else hurt. Not a bad hurt, just... it put my adventure into perspective for me. I was so short on strength that I needed these two with me. Despite how they may have felt and what may have happened to all the others the moment we all got together again, having Nick and Bryan back – I felt it okay to call myself lucky, even if I wasn't really Cruce anymore, and even if I was some... alien Gamma being now, because of what this rock did to me. What did that matter? What did it matter that I was supposed to be Scion, the darkest pit of my cousin's imagination? I mean, I was making all his edginess look like rainbows and cotton candy, and that was all it needed for him to be a perfect bundle of smiles and snuggles.

One paw touched mine, and another touched that one. Bryan's, then Nikki's. I looked at our paws, how they differed in shape, how one of them was just a small hand, the other was practically a big stub, and then there was mine at the bottom, smallest of the bunch. I pictured what it would have been like if Alli's hand was here, if Pat's was, or if Emelina's – I'unno, maybe her tail – was here. Of course, Tophs' hand, too, whatever he was now. Nephi, I thought. I even brought Kieran to mind. Ivan, too, wherever he was. Safe, I hoped. Katalyn, Danithan, Zack, Zatch, Vince; all of them, here with me. This was what I lived for. This was what my heart felt right now, even if a fire was threatening to burn down what could have been us all coming back to a place we could call a haven. I had this moment, and I wanted so many more of the same.

So, I took it, turned around, and put my paw to the lukewarm, wet stone, bridging the space between Nikki and Bryan and the meteorite. A heavy pulse raced through my arm, took to my chest, and breathed for me. I took that, too, accepted it, and let the flood of energy wash over me, taking my body as its own.

A tide of white vapor poured from the stone, its crystal surface morphing into air and hugging around my body. Momentarily, doubt came over me, as I watched the white, fibrous air go over me, through me, touching my inner workings, as I was reminded of all of the faces I saw convert to this substance and fade from color and being. I was there now, but I had my Bell. I had my friends, my Bell, and the wildcard faith of the Grove's last stand. I just needed to put a bit of that in myself, then watch it spread its wings and fly. Alright, I thought. Everything was going to be alright. My paw was going away, turned to air that escaped into the strange crystal membrane. That was okay, I thought. My body was becoming light, my legs whisked into the same mix. Okay, I thought. My chest and my tails, blended together, a soft, fuzzy white and red melting to pink, then losing all the rest of its color, before blending together once more – Nikki's and Bryan's bodies behind me, I ventured, as I told myself 'okay' again. Again, and again, until I could tell it no more, because...

...my head... was going. My nose, my cheeks, my tongue, my ears.

A white erasure overcame me, the world turning and warping before then. I couldn't process it. I had nothing left to process it with. I was numb.

No breaths. No brook.

No rustling in the leaves. No crickets or frogs. No smoky smell. No color.

No blanks to fill in.

There was nothing but a chime, and I wore the golden noise all the way to the end of the world.

Until suddenly...

There were shadows. Two. With shadows came the idea of light and dark. The light was there so that the shadows could be, too. One of them was small, a long pointed snout. The other was larger, a quadruped with a long, thick tail owning a fin, and on its neck some... kind of collar, and three fin-like quills standing tall above its head. Very 'of the sea'.

With them came the memory of the first shape.

The shapes were facing each other. Then, without warning, they meshed into one another with their shadowy bodies. They switched places. They were facing away from another, and then they walked away, following their directions to nowhere.

This event lasted not a second, but it was there. I swore, I saw it.

And then I realized I'd woken up, not to the sound of a chime, but to the sound of white static buzzing in the distance.

The Paradox