The brunette nurse squinted in the dark at the visitor, "What can I help ya with young man?" She had been in her office working when she had heard the boy enter the infirmary.
Going over to the light switch she flipped it on and turned back to the Rocket, "If it's a wet dre...Good God almighty I'm dreamin." She whispered as she saw him, he looked so much older since when she had last seen him.
His hair was long, face more matured, but it was him. "Ash,"
Her eyes drifted to where his hand rested on the gun, "What the hell are ya doing here," She whispered going over to the doors and locking them shut, "What even happened to you! You left Alyssa here alone, do you know what she went-"
"Alyssa is safe," He said slowly getting off the cot.
Her eyes went wide and she came forward anxiously, "She's alright, you've been in contact with her!?"
He blinked, "More or less," He saw that wasn't the answer she'd been hoping for so he continued on, "It's... Well it would take a lot more than a day to fully explain,"
Her eyebrows furrowed concernedly, "Why did ya leave all them years ago boy, you caused some hell around here as they searched for ya,"
"I don't have an answers," He said quietly, "It's a very long story Sue, one I'm not entirely sure of myself... That's why I came here,"
"Whadda ya mean," She eyed him curiously, "And the gun, you'd rather die than pull a trigger."
His head tilted conceding the point, "Well I died," He stated simply, "Few times if what I learned is true."
Sue regarded him suspiciously, something was off about him. "Explain,"
He shook his head standing up, "I need to know how to get to the sub-basements," He informed her slowly, "There's... Something down there I need."
She crossed her arms over her chest, "That is?"
He mumbled something under his breath, "I've had my... Memory blanked Sue, I'm here to... Get clues as to who I am, Ash Ketchum or... Shayne, I don't know."
Her raised eyebrow clearly stated she didnt believe him, but she decided to play along, "I'll bite boy," She started, "What ya want to know?"
He blinked, what didhe want to know? "I-I don't know anything, medical history, fights, routines, anything. Our relationship, Alyssa's and I's, Everyone elses and I's, anything!"
"Well, you and I saw each other a lot, with you picken fights with anyone who decided, or attempted to lay a hand on Alyssa. Ya hated everyone but us, had some... Rough times early, first year was the roughest. Suicide attempts, starvation, dehydration, you tried a few ways to get outta here. None worked, it was a good think 'Lyssa showed up when she did. Saved you from going all the way through with the attempts."
"Really, suicide?" He asked quietly, he wouldn't put it passed him honestly. Seems like he had always been a loose nail.
"Ay," She continued, "With everything ya went through, and there was alot, you wanted to opt out quite a few times."
"What did I go through?"
Her eyes looked him up and down, his brown eyes were filled with curiosity. Cracking her neck she went over to one of the cabinets and pulled one open. Getting down onto a knee, she skimmed through the folders and pulled out a thick stack, "Here are my recorded ones, course you and Alyssa never came for every little bit a trouble you two got in. But for most ya came to see me."
She handed him the stack and he skimmed it quickly, "Do you have Alyssa's?" He asked intriguingly.
"Where is she?" Sue rebutted, and Ash bit his lip, "Tell me where the gal is and I'll get the folders."
Ash glanced down to the stack he held, it was fairly weighty. Looking back up to Sue he examined her quickly, she wore a long green dress, and had her hair tied back in a bun. She looked tired, not from the conversation but from time.
She was getting worn down with the mandatory needs here at the Academy, "I'll get you out." He offered seriously, "You can be done with Team Rocket. For good, just as I am. Just like Alys-"
"Woah woah hang on a second boy," She interrupted waving her hands back and forth, "Ain't know body said anything bout-"
"You hate it here." It was a statement, and he saw that he was correct, a feint stiffing in her posture. "I can keep you safe, I know you'll be safe. You can see Alyssa again,"
"Where is she?" She asked shakily, "I haven't heard from her since she graduated, I thought her dead with what she went through here."
"She's alive, and safe. She can tell you every- or most of what's been going on the past few years. My memory has been wiped. I don't know you, I know that you helped Alyssa and I here. That's about it, you can come with me and tell me what we were like. Come with me and you'll be under the protection of a group who would keep the Rockets miles away."
Sue was wavering, so Ash lied or didn't lie. He didn't know if it was the truth, "Alyssa misses you, she spoke fondly of you. I'm still learning about er', but the way she spoke of you she would love to see you again."
"How can I leave though, a bullet would be in my back in a blink of an eye if we were seen running outta here. I ain't young anymore,"
Ash glanced around, "There'll be an armoury yes?" He asked seriously.
She nodded, "If ya expect me to run outta here guns blazin yar out of your mind."
"You'll be flyin," Ash stated, "If you have any belongings that hold emotional attachment, pack em' into a bag." He handed her the files, "Place these and Alyssa's in there as well,"
She stared at him, just stared. He wasn't... Ash, not the one she remembered, there had been energy behind his actions, emotion. This Ash, just wanted to fulfil a mission.
It was a weird feeling to see someone who had so much heart, suddenly become a machine... She supposed it wasn't suddenly however, it had been over three months since she last saw him after all.
"Now where is the sub-basement?" He asked steadily, this was where he had been apparently tortured, than he was going to remember how, and by who.
She went over to a desk and picked up a key card, "This'll get you down there. Third and forth floors are the sub-basements... What are you looking for exactly down there, which... Memory?"
After a pause, "Torture."
She swallowed sickly, "You'll.. You'll want the fourth floor down then, keeps the umm..." She cleared her throat uncomfortably, "Screams at bay..."
He reached into his own pocket and pulled out the key card he had stolen, "Get to the roof once you've got your belongings. I'll be up there once I've gotten everything."
He gave her a tilt of the head before starting for the closed door, "Boy?" She asked as he pulled it open, "It really is great ta see ya again."
He hesitated, before he stepped into the halls once again.
He passed more doors, voice's speaking to him in the far reaches of his mind, he made his way over to an elevator and swiped the card key. He briefly considered while the elevator descended into the depths of the Ecruteak Academy if he should make a stop by his old room.
Memories would be prominent there, that was guaranteed. But he had Sue now, and those files. That was more than a bonus. She could explain along with Alyssa the injuries in detail. It'd help him learn more about his and Alyssa's relationship as well, something he was quite curious about.
The elevator door rolled open and he stepped into the chill of the room. Now he could feel why this room was used. Silent, cold, dark... He walked forward, hand removing the pistol from his waistband. The action alone helped still his beating heart.
Moving to the centre, his head knocked against a dangling object. Reaching up he grasped it, instantly knowing what it was, tugging, the room lit up.
He stumbled to a knee as he felt the air driven from his lungs, the pistol clattered to the ground and he clutched his shirt in a fist.
His eyes darted around the room, everything was stone. There was a wooden table, metal tub, rope. That was it-
Now Ash Giovanni... The tone was a soothing calm, almost too so. Do we reallyneed to go through all of this again
A wheeze, and he felt his lungs burn. I... A coughing fit...Won't do it... Nothing could make me- His head snapped to the right as if he'd been struck against his left cheek.
Hook em up boys! His heart ached at the voice, don't let it be- His body felt wet, although he was perfectly dry. It felt like some poured a bucket of water across his head, and put him in... His eyes narrowed on the tub.
Two clashes of metal against each other. There's two ways this is going to end His body arched as electricity suddenly coursed through his nerves, and then it came to a abrupt end. Say yes, and get it over with. Or we can go through this, over and over again until you give in.
Domino... She wouldn't- His body spasm'd as the electricity, starting at his cheek, racked at his body.
G-Go... His voice trembled, Go to hell... And then the shocking began, him not responding as Giovanni and Domino spoke to him. As they tortured him.
And then it stopped, the air was sucked in and the pain elevated. And he lay there on his back against the cool concrete until his adrenaline dropped.
He sat up slowly, holding himself up with an arm planted firmly on the ground behind him. IT'S NOT MY FAULT!
His voice was hoarse, and his body tensed. On his own accord, not the voices. You killed him-
He was going to kill me! I fucking should hav- A fist struck his right cheek this time, I didn't want to... He was going to hurt her!
THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE LET IT HAPPEN! Giovanni roared at him, and he crawled backwards in shock. This wasn't real, he knew that... But.
If they... A cough,If anyonetries something like that again... I don't care, I'll kill them before I let anyone near er'
And then silence... Drawn out, he sat there, seconds, tens, a minute, two... Was it over? Was that all he was going to get? A hallucination, or memory flash?
Another minute passed and he got to his knees, nothing happened. Hesitantly he stood, feeling a little uneasy on his feet, but he ignored the feeling.
He was done here... He hoped so anyway.
Entering the elevator he went back to the main floor, he need to locate the armoury. He replaced the pistol into his waistband and started down a hallway, he'd fined it. Didn't know how but he would locate it.
He was glad the hallways were dark, he had passed a few stray Rockets who had given him a couple of glances. They didn't sound the alarm though, the butt of the gun was black so that it mixed well with his shirt and pants in the dark. Had the lights all been on, the alarm would have been sounded ages ago.
He turned another random corner, as he was halfway down another voice spoke to him.
"Hey scrub!" Ash halt in his step and resisted looking over his shoulder, "What are you doing out of bed!?" Foot steps approached him from behind, "I asked you a question and I expect an answer!"
Ash scrolled through his memories as fast as he could. This voice... He had heard it, the name escaped him though... So he risked turning around.
When the Rocket saw Ash's face, he staggered backwards and fell to the ground in horror, "K-Ketchum!" He exclaimed in horror, as remembrance sprang into his mind.
"Oh..." Ash crooned softly, "Never thought I'd see you again Chris..." His eyes were locked on the ginger twenty three year old in front of him. The nose was far off center, his work if he recalled correctly. "What are you still doing here, huh? Picking on new recruits?"
"Y-Your supposed to be dead!" He pushed himself back, but Ash kept coming towards him, "When you-you broke out the Houndoom got ya!"
His head tilted to the side, "That what they say?" Ash asked himself, "Well seems your higher ups lied to you..."
"Why are you here?" Chris hissed as his back hit the wall, "Why would you come back?"
"Tell me where the armoury is," He said slowly, "And I won't lay a hand on you."
"Fuck you!" He spat angrily, "You lived here long enough so find it! Is that the reason you came back? You wanted a tour, the Princess wanted to return to her cast-"
A spark of anger flickered in Ash, he ripped the ginger up to his feet by the collar and with a single jab shattered his nose, "WHERE IS THE ARMOURY!?" He growled holding Chris off his feet against the wall.
Removing one hand from his collar, he gripped his pistol and placed it under Chris's chin, "I've been fucked for to long by Team Rocket," He said through gritted teeth, "I won't be again, so tell me... Where, is, the armoury?"
Chris's pale face, now a sheet of white with a river of blood flowing from his broken nose, shrieked as the barrel touched his skin, "D-D-Down the hall to the right! Third door!"
Ash glared into his eyes, and could see the truth as if it was written in ink. Now he had to decide, let him live, or die...
It wasn't to late to stop killing. But had he never not killed since being with Team Rocket? Alyssa had told him he had killed. But whether that was in the academy or not he didn't know... But what about what Giovanni had said? He had killed someone. At the Academy...
Chris would let him know that it was him who had come back, but the security cameras would have caught everything anyways...
So he swung the butt of the handgun down onto Chris's temple, knocking him out cold. And then he was running, Pistol at the ready as he rounded the corner. Going down three doors, he swiped the card into the lock and stepped into the armoury.
Guns, Knives, training equipment, Pokeballs... He went over to the shelves of Pokemon and searched through the selections. Electric, Water, Fire, Grass, Flying!
He scanned the assortment, searching for one big enough for him and Sue. His hand rested on a Ultraball, the label beneath reading Aerodactyl. Strong, Fast, awesome. He swiped it off the shelve and slotted it next to Espeons.
Bursting through the doors, he ran down the halls, passed the limp body, and over to the elevator. Stepping in, he pressed for the roof, and felt the lurch as he began to ascend.
They'd have to swoop in and collect the vest and holster as they returned to the bike. There, he'd give Aerodactyl the opportunity to stick with him, or be free. It's decision.
When the door rolled open he was relieved to see Sue already there. "Had I know, you would have taken forty five minutes, I would have brought an extra jacket." Sue drawled irritably, it was noticeably chilly in the late night, early morning.
Ash removed the Rocket shirt and tossed it at her, "Won't need that," He stated now wearing his tank top.
"What happened to that guy over there?" He didn't even need to ask what she meant.
"You're borrowing his shirt."
She grimaced slipping on the sweat shirt, "Nice..."
Ash unclipped the Pokeball and prayed that this would work, hitting the release, the 6ft Prehistoric Pokemon emerged in the flash of light.
It opened it's long jaws to cry out, but Ash shot it down with a hard stare. "Quiet, you'll take us to where I order. And then you have the choice to be set free or to come with me, it is your decision."
It blinked at him, but bent over and allowed him to climb on. "Sue," He helped her securely onto the Prehistoric Pokemons back before he hopped on himself.
With a awkward running start, the Aerodactyl leapt off the roof and into a glide towards the tree tops. Ash ordered it down to the trees, the spot in which he left this vest, and told it to fly low. As soon as they were over top of it, Ash leaned to the side, snagged the vest with his index finger, and the holster with his middle, he commanded to gain altitude. Sue was in awe as she looked down to the earth far below, "Where are we goin?" She asked hesitantly.
"I'll be taking you to the G-Men headquarters. It's safe there, and once Team Rocket is shut down, you'll have a place to stay."
Green eyes watched him uncertainly, "We're against the G-Men," She stated.
"You'll like it there more then with Team Rocket trust me." He remained silent until the small dirt road appeared in the forest below, "Land down there."
Aerodactyl glided gracefully to the small opening, landing with a small clomp before bending over and allowing them to disembark. "Thank you," Ash rubbed it's snout gently, "Now would you like to go free? If so I'll destroy the Pokeball. I know for a fact Team Rocket hadn't treated you right, so I wouldn't blame you if you took off."
It's large eyes regarded him curiously, a random Trainer, noticeably kinder then the others, was giving him the chance to be free in a world it didn't understand. It would take off, but not yet. Not until it understood where and how it could survive on its own.
It cooed quietly before nudging the Pokeball at his side, and returning to the red and white orb.
Going behind the bush where he hid his bike, he slipped on his vest, attached his holster, and returned his pistol to it's rightful home.
Sue came up next to him as he put his leg across the seat and gave it a kick start, the engine roared then quiet to a hum. Sue saw him tilt his head to the side car and she sighed, it was going to be a long, uncomfortable ride.