Wes laid motionless on his cot, staring at a wall within his cell.
Today was the last day he tried to make his escape again. He had already tried to escape four times prior since his initial escape and he received beating after beating from Gonzap. His spirit was crushed. He was up many nights and mornings wailing in his cell from the pain of his lashings. From bruised and broken ribs to electrical shocks to acid burns, there was no limit to Gonzap's abuse. No one could hear his cries. His dreams of being a Pokémon Trainer and going back home to his mother was undone. He felt so small and lost like he was the only one in the world going through this. He wanted so badly to scream – he was so desperate. Desperate to get out of this horrid nightmare. He wanted somebody, anybody, to lay their hands on his soul tonight. Someone or something to give him a reason that someday he was gonna see the light.
He was in the dark on his own with no one to call. Sleep was his only friend but even sleep couldn't hide him from all the tears, all the pain and all the days he wasted being tormented by Team Snagem. This was his life now and he was going to have to face it. He knew that things needed to change, but he couldn't go back. He had to find his way, hoping that as the days went on, he would start to become alive and be able to get out of this hellhole.
This last time he tried to escape affected him as badly as his first beating from Gonzap. He tried to escape while all the grunts were in the mess hall. But he ran into Agrev just as he was running through the outer layer of the canyon, and Agrev reported him to Gonzap. That's when they decided to scar him for life.
"You little shit. You never learn your lesson, do you?" Gonzap sneered as he circled around him.
Gonzap's right fist connected with his left cheek, immediately followed by another punch to Wes' right cheek by his left fist. Before Wes could even recover, Gonzap grabbed him by his shirt and threw him to the western wall. His back slammed into the wall with a resounding thud! And Wes slumped down languidly to the ground.
Gonzap wasted no time grabbing the youth by his shirt and hoisting him over his shoulder. He carried him from his study to testing ground in the hideout's lowest level. He strapped him to the metal chair and bound him by his wrists and feet.
He went over to one of the stations and put arm-length gloves on his hands before picking up one of the flasks that was on one of the shelves and carried it over to Wes.
"Looks like you'll need more than a thrashing to curb your rebellious tendencies. Agrev, hold him steady."
Agrev put his gloved hands around Wes' head, bending his head backwards as he secured him firmly by grasping his jaw and the top of his head.
"This virulent toxic liquid came from the fingertips of one of the most poisonous pokémon in the world. It is especially dangerous for anything that comes into direct contact with it. Let's see what happens when we put this corrosive toxin on human skin."
Wes' face was a mask of fear as Gonzap approached him. With Agrev holding his head firmly, there was nothing he could do but give a piecing scream from the top of his lungs as Gonzap poured the toxic substance on his face. It left him with an ugly burn that marred him from ear to ear.
Wes lay somberly on his cot, still staring at the wall, his eyes dulled and unfocused. The life nearly completely gone from his eyes, Wes sat up and grabbed his sheets. He tied them together and tossed it above the lamp that was hanging down above him.
Seeing what he was trying to do, the male Eevee tackled him and sent him smacking into one of the cell walls.
"Eevee! EeVee Vee Eevee Vee!" it cried as it scolded Wes for trying to kill himself and abandoning them.
Wes shrieked. "I can't do it! I can't do it! I'm so sorry…I'm…so so so…very sorry…" he cried as he clutched his stomach and bent over, his head pressing into the hard concrete floor. "I'm so weak! I'm too weak! You both deserve better!"
Both of his Eevee ran up to him.
"Go run while you still have the chance! Go find someone who can better care for you. Protect you. Go be free! I can't protect you here. And I'm destined to be Gonzap's punching bag. He will kill me one day…I don't want either of you to see it…Please! Leave while you still can! You deserve so much better than me! So much better than I've given you and can provide. Please, leave and safe yourselves!"
His Eevee nuzzled themselves into his arms and put their paws on their Trainer's shoulders, trying to comfort him.
"EeVee Vee!"
"Vee. Eevee VeeEevee!"
Wes weakly opened his eyes, as he looked on the ground, the tears blurring his vision.
"'You…refuse to leave?"
"Vee Eevee Ee EeVee."
"Eevee Eevee!"
Wes clutched his Eevee close to him. "I'm so weak. I'm sorry you are burdened with such a weak and pathetic Trainer…I promise I won't try to do this again. I will protect you both with everything in me."
"Vee Eevee!"
"Eevee EveVee!"
"One day. One day we will find a way out of here. I declare it."
Seven years later
The sun bore down heavily in Eclo Canyon. The hot brown sand no longer burned the soles of Wes' feet. He was stoic as he blocked every one of Agrev's blows. Gloveless, he no longer utilized the gel-padded gloves and instead use hand wraps and first aid bandages to cover his hands and arms as he deflected Agrev's unyielding blows. He was agile on his feet, bobbing and weaving meticulously with every evade, planning his steps carefully and methodically. He no longer shook with weariness, effectively dodging every move Agrev made and he was no longer able to lay blows on him. Wes learned his fight pattern. He didn't even have to strike back as Agrev was steadily tiring himself out.
Agrev ran speedily towards Wes. But Wes was quickly able to dodge him and grabbed him firmly by the arm, swinging him overhead and throwing him behind him. Agrev roll away on the ground after smacking into another Team Snagem member.
"You little shit," Agrev grunted as he wobbled to his feet.
"Enough, Agrev. The match is over," said Wakin.
"Like hell it is! I'm not done yet."
"I'd say you are. Cut your losses now."
"Screw you! I'm coming for you runt!"
Agrev charged towards Wes. Wes again dodged each of his blows before using his Wing Chun marital arts training to strike decisive blows on Agrev. He finished by side parrying Agrev's punch and pushed his southpaw left to the side with his right forearm and followed with a counter right.
Agrev stumbled back stunned. Wes then used the opportunity to run up behind Agrev and picked him up from behind, tossing him behind once more. Agrev slammed into one of the canyon walls.
"Wes has won. End of match." Wakin said as he walked up to Wes. "Get cleaned up and hit the showers. We have some more snagging to do today."
Wes nodded before leaving the training grounds. He washed himself off and headed back to his cell where his Umbreon and Espeon were waiting for him. His male Eevee had evolved one night while he was training under the full moon and his female Eevee had evolved one morning protecting him from a beating by one of grunts. They were his most trusted companions who've seen him at his lowest. Had it not been for them, Wes knew he would no longer be here.
Now it was time to show his thanks to his beloved partners. It had been years since they last planned their escape. He had captured so many pokémon for Team Snagem – over 134 Pokémon and it sickened him. Now he had to atone for his sins.
Today was the day. While the whole Team was getting ready to celebrate their climb to being one of Orre's most feared criminal organizations.
Wes walked out from his cell and headed down the corridor. He exited outside the base and headed for the nearest town. Wes found himself in Hidashi's Powersports, a motorcycle dealer. He had secretly gotten his license when he was 16 years old while he was out on a snagging mission. None of Team Snagem knew about it.
"Hey, hey there," Mr. Hidashi greeted as he entered the lot. "What can I do you for? You know what kind of wheels you looking for?"
Wes nodded as he started to peruse the lot. There were a number of different motorcycles on the lot – standards, cruisers, sport bikes, dual purpose, scooters – they were many and varied.
He ended up stopping in front of a red sports bike.
"That one's best for track riding, fast riding, and weekend riding," said Mr. Hidashi as he walked up to Wes. "It has a taller seat, forward leaning riding position with low range handlebars and is a 1300cc engine. Best for immediate and advanced riders because of the speed of the bike."
Nodding, Wes paid Mr. Hidashi the $2900 for the sports bike and drove it to a nearby mechanic whom he had met weeks prior and had the bike fixed with an extra engine to maximize its speed and also added a bike trailer for his Umbreon and Espeon to travel with him.
Now that he had his customized motorcycle, there was only one thing left to do.
Wes drove back to Team Snagem's hideout and parked his new motorcycle west of the base. His Espeon stayed in the bike cargo trailer while he and Umbreon went to the western wing. He put his sterling silver customized spy glasses over his face and gave his Umbreon the signal to use Shadow Ball. He opened his mouth and formed a black ball of energy in front of his mouth before firing it off at the door.
It exploded on impact.
The building shook violently from the force. Many of the grunts stumbled around but Gonzap stood tall and erect.
He glowered. "Where's Wes?"
Meanwhile Wes walked into the Snagem's base's west wing and walked up to the object of his attention. In front of him was Team Snagem's Snag Machine – a silver plated metal armor that gave the user the ability to capture any pokémon they wanted – even pokémon under the ownership of someone else. It was the prototype – the original model developed by Cipher's Ein. Subsequent snag machines were developed but none of them worked like the original mock-up designed.
Wes placed his hand on the Snag Machine. It was cold to the touch.
Tucking he Snag Machine under his arm, Wes then nodded to his Umbreon and they booked it for the exit.
"Hey, brat!" Agrev shouted. He threw two pokéballs and a Machop and Gloom materialized in front of him.
Without saying a word, Wes instructed his pokémon to attack. Umbreon released several balls of black energy from his mouth and they hit the two pokémon, effectively fainting them.
"What the hell?!" Agrev cried.
As more and more grunts pooled in Wes and Umbreon continued to make their escape. The view of Wes' motorcycle and Espeon came into view. They were almost there.
"WES!" Gonzap bellowed as he ran ahead of his grunts.
Wes flinched slightly and grunted but kept running. He and Umbreon then leapt forward – Umbreon landing beside Espeon in the bike trailer and Wes in the driver's seat. He started the engine.
Gonzap was very nearly about to catch him when –
Vroom! Vroom!
Wes speed away from them in an instant. Gonzap heaved from exhaustion as another explosion sounded in the hideout from the damage he had done.
As Wes sped away he lifted his spy glasses. He smiled wildly.
They did it! They actually got away from Team Snagem!
But it was too soon to celebrate. No. He had to keep driving. No matter what. He didn't know where he was going. He just knew he wasn't ever going to look back.