Star in the Storm, Chapter 11

Lody- "The Ultimate Battle"

"Careful now. Ruki, not so tight!"

I pursed my lips together as a pair of cold hands fastened a blindfold around my eyes. Stumbling to my feet, I hobbled forward a few steps before collapsing again on the helicopter floor.

"She's weak. Help her up."

Somebody hoisted me roughly to my feet and prodded me down the helicopter ramp. I was far too tired to object. My sneakers hit what felt like cushioning grass, or maybe soft dirt. In response to an impatient push, I took another step, then stopped stubbornly.

"What are you waiting for?" a girl's harsh voice demanded. "Get a move on already!"

"Where are we?" I asked softly, bracing my feet against the ground.

The voice sighed, and then an arm came out to pull me forward. "That's none of your concern," the girl snapped. "Just keep on moving, and don't ask questions."

I dug my heels in and found myself recklessly imitating my captor's harsh voice. "Just answer my questions, and I'll keep on moving," I retorted, clenching my jaw.

Fingers tightened, digging into the flesh of my arm. "You'll listen and obey, if you know what's good for you."

A girlish giggle came from behind me, a sharp contrast to the gruff individual who had spoken before. "Oh, Ruki, don't scare her!" the giggler laughed lightly, voice similar to the silver wind chimes that hung out on the porch back home. I could hear them playing in my mind right now, sweet and ringing in the breeze. At the moment, home didn't seem like such a bad place to be.

"Oh, Ruki. Humor her," another voice suggested.

I tensed. It was Shane.

The pressure on my arm relaxed, leaving a dull, throbbing pain in my skin. "You're no guest, Lody Chimera," the girl hissed audibly. "Don't expect any special treatment."

The light nearly blinded me as the blindfold was whipped from my face. Staggering backwards, I regained my balance, staring in a mix of confusion and wonder at my strange surroundings.

We were in a grassy meadow; the clawed helicopter had touched down only a few yards away. Most of the field was bordered by a sprawling expanse of thick forest and tangled underbrush. Listening intently, I thought I could even hear the rush of a stream deep within the forest. But the very edge of the field was what caught and held my gaze. Far in distance lay a line of short, squat little buildings, casting a strange silhouette against the midday horizon.

A cool little breeze brushed past my shoulder, setting the grass into a long, rippling undulation about my feet. Tearing my eyes away, I turned and started walking on my own. "What is this place?" I asked finally as we neared the line of buildings ahead.

The giggling girl, who had been introduced to me before as a Goldenrod Junior Trainer, laughed and laughed. She had bouncy golden curls that seemed to glitter in the bright sunlight. A broad little cap atop her head gave the girl (Dissembler, was it?) a pert, energetic appearance.

She was also wearing a black uniform, complete with a red TRC stitched on front.

Now I finally recognized the strange R symbol that I had seen on Shane's shirt before. R was not for Rising. It was for Rocket. Team Rocket.

"This?" Dissembler said, spreading her hands far apart. "This is the Team Rocket HQ. We're the TRC, the Team Rocket Castaways. And this is our home."

"Enough!" the gruff-voice girl snapped. Her lavender eyes darted to and fro, from me to Dissembler and back. The rest of her body was tensed tighter than a coiled spring of metal.

"Ruki," Shane said in a low voice to the girl. "Ruki, give Lody a chance, will you?"

Ruki's lavender steel eyes flashed, but she lowered her head respectfully. I eyed her curiously as she looked down. Ruki looked at least fifteen or sixteen years old, and tough as Sneasel nails. Why was she taking orders from someone as young as Shane?

As she bowed her head, Ruki's reddish-brown hair just clipped across her shoulders. Unlike Dissembler, she was not wearing a TRC uniform, but a grungy old t-shirt decorated with a picture of a cat's face, in addition to a pair of patched blue jeans. "I apologize for my behavior," she said to me curtly. "Now, can you at least walk a bit faster?"

The shrill voice of a small child echoed from the buildings as we crossed the field. Dashing as swiftly as a streaking Raichu, a little boy no more than six or seven ran the length of the field and propelled himself into Ruki's arms. "Did you miss me! Did you miss me!" he cried joyfully. "I wanted to come so bad, but Shane said no!"

"You're too young for a mission, Chip," Shane informed the boy reasonably. "Maybe next time you can go."

"That's right, squirt," Ruki said, punching the little boy gently in the arm. "Listen to what Shane says. He's older than you, smarter than you, plus he's bigger than you, too."

"You could beat him up, Ruki," Chip informed the girl without hesitation. "My big sister can beat anybody up. Not that anybody'd want to beat up Shane," he added hastily, amid hearty laughter from the assembled Team Rocket Castaways.

"Hey, Chipper!" Dissembler said, ruffling the little boy's thatch of reddish-brown hair. "Remember me?"

"'Sembler!" Chip grinned, running over eagerly. "Did you being me any presents, 'Sembler? Did ya? Did ya?"

Dissembler looked around warily, then put a finger to her lips. "I'll show you later, Chipper," she assured the little boy. "When everybody's here. I have lots of presents for everybody!"

"I, for one, am exuberant," came a dry voice from the helicopter. The ramp to the ground was lowering again, and this time, a dark-haired boy was coming down it in a wheelchair. He had sharp blue eyes that seemed to pick out and analyze every detail that they washed over. Like Ruki and Chip, he wore no uniform.

"How's it going, Reb?" Shane asked. "Still think that copter was worth the double slash in our salaries?"

The blue-eyed boy grinned. "She's a dream come true," he pronounced, setting a hand on the shiny black surface of the helicopter. Immediately afterwards, he pulled a cloth from his pocket and polished away the marks his fingerprints had left.

"At least it did its job," Shane smiled. "I don't think we missed a single Eevee."

"Eevee?" Chip cried enthusiastically. "Where's the Eevee? Can I see, Ruki? Please?"

Reb scowled at Chip. "Furry little hair balls," he spat disdainfully. "The world's a better place without 'em if you ask me."

"No one asked you," Chip said confusedly. "And I like Eevee."

"Kids," Reb snorted, folding his arms. "Think everything with four legs and big eyes is adorable."

"Don't listen to him, Chip," Ruki said, face softening as she faced her little brother. "All Reb cares about are his cold, lifeless machines. The two fit each other perfectly."

"Guys," Shane said, stepping in before an argument could erupt. "Cut it out already. You're setting a bad example for the kid."

"Sorry," both mumbled sheepishly.

A small tug on my arm made me turn around in surprise. Chip was standing there, eyes wide and inquisitive. "Who are you?" he asked curiously. "Are you going to be part of the TRC, too?"

I looked down at him and gulped. I was never very good with little kids. "My name is Lody," I said finally. "And no, I'm not part of Team Rocket."

"That's okay," Chip said generously. "Not everybody can be."

As the Castaways headed into the nearest building, Shane and Gauntal fell into step beside me. It was only after the others had disappeared inside that hane stopped and began to speak. "So, have you considered my offer?" he said lightly, voice smooth and polished free of emotion.

"To join Team Rocket in exchange for my freedom?" I shot back at him bitterly. "What kind of offer is that?"

"Your only one." Shane's voice grew even lighter, almost teasing. "And that's only if you beat me in a Pokémon match first. You aren't afraid to battle me, are you, Lody? I know you're just a novice, so I'd go easy on you. And in the end, the choice would be yours. Even if you win, you won't have to join Team Rocket. You could stay a hostage, if you wanted."

"I'll lose either way."

Shane smiled. "Oh, but don't you want the satisfaction of having me eat my words?" he said wryly. "You beat Roary Ketchum the first time I met you; am I really such a difficult opponent?"

He was baiting me, and I hated him more than ever for it. "I'm ready to battle when you are," I snapped, glaring Shane straight in the eye. The boy was bluffing, I was sure of it. There was no way he could be reckless enough to let me, of all people, join an organization I would be sure to destroy.

Shane didn't even flinch.

"This will be a three-on-three match between Shane Rising and the prisoner, Trilody Chimera," Dissembler announced loudly from the edge of the field. "If Lody wins, she will be given the opportunity to join the TRC."

"This is a stupid idea," I heard Ruki inform Shane icily, arms crossed before her. "The Leader isn't going to like this one bit. Shane, we can't risk losing such a valuable prisoner!"

"Have you no confidence in my battling abilities?" Shane replied, smooth as glass.

Ruki was silent.

"Take that cocky little brat down a peg or two, Shane!" Reb drawled from the sidelines. "Sorry, Chimera, but this one's going to Rising."

Clenching my jaw tight, I pushed the hair from my face and sent out my first Pokémon, Vulcanis.

A long, sustained howl shattered the calm of the afternoon air as my Pokémon emerged in a fighting stance. Eyes glittering and teeth bared, the burly Arcanine stepped onto the battlefield. The wind tore at its many ruffs of cream-colored fur before running down its orange-black striped flank. Vulcanis was a reliable Pokémon and a solid fighter. It would hold up well.

Shane nodded, then pulled a PokéCap from his jacket pocket. "I choose Decadence!" he proclaimed, letting loose a murky-skinned Pokémon. Silvery horns curved from Decadence's head to its slender neck, and several pairs of silver rings encircled the Pokémon's long legs. Raising its head, Shane's Houndoom echoed Vulcanis's howl with a low, eerie call of its own.

Taking my place behind Vulcanis, I waited impatiently for Shane to take the offense. But he and Decadence were rooted in place as firmly as frozen statues.

"The first move courtesy always goes to guests," Shane explained at last, gesturing to me. "Please start the battle off, Lody."

I gritted my teeth, but obeyed. "Vulcanis, start off with Extreme Speed!" I commanded. With a bark, my Arcanine was off, becoming just a blur on the battlefield. It feinted several times before barreling head-on towards Shane's Pokémon.

"Smog," Shane instructed coolly. I coughed and covered my mouth as a thick cloud of malodorous vapor bloomed out over the grass. Vulcanis hurtled through the Smog attack, meeting no resistance. In that split-second distraction, Decadence had leapt away and was now circling my Pokémon from behind.

"And it looks like Chimera's Arcanine missed Shane's Decadence completely!" Dissembler whooped, speaking into an imaginary microphone. "What will Trilody do now, folks?"

"For the last time," Ruki snapped. "No commentary!"

I was thankful for Ruki at that moment, despite my aching arm. I already knew everybody here was against me; they didn't have to rub it in my face. "Agility, Vulcanis!" I called out quickly. "Evade that Houndoom!"

Once more, Vulcanis became a streak of orange cream and black stripes, paws barely skimming the ground. Unfortunately, neither Shane nor his Pokémon seemed the least bit concerned. And as the battle wore on, I saw why.

Vulcanis was slowing down, stumbling more and more often. One bump in the ground, probably a sharp stone, sent my Arcanine tumbling into a panting heap.

"And Chimera's Arcanine is down!" Dissembler hooted loudly. "With one Pokémon gone and three to defeat, Chimera will have to do some pretty fast thinking if she wants to win this match!"

"Vulcanis!" I cried, running forward and dragging my hands through my Arcanine's fur. Underneath, Vulcanis's skin felt hot and feverish. "What happened?" I demanded Shane, trying hard to keep my voice from wavering.

"It looks like Vulcanis was Poisoned by that last Smog attack," Shane explained nonchalantly. "You can keep it in the match if you want, but it'd be best to give it some Antidote first." Digging something out of his pocket, he tossed it in my direction. As it skidded to a stop at my feet, I saw it was a small bottle.

Slowly, hesitantly, I picked the bottle off the ground and sprayed Vulcanis a few tentative times. With a quiver, then a small moan, Vulcanis rose shakily to its feet.

"I'm glad you're okay," I said softly, extending a PokéCap. "Return, Vulcanis."

"You didn't keep your Pokémon in the match?" Shane's voice was mildly surprised. "It could have kept on fighting."

"Vulcanis deserves a rest," I stated coldly, glaring in his direction.

Shane smiled, but did not question me further. "Then by all means, send out your next Pokémon," he said.

Pulling out a new PokéCap, I lobbed it into the field silently. In a flash of blue, my Kingdra, Cascader, had taken Vulcanis' place and was facing Decadence threateningly.

"Cascader, Hydro Pump!" I yelled, calling forth the Kingdra's most powerful Water attack. With a powerful blast of water, Decadence was thrown brutally backwards, slamming by its side into a nearby tree.

"Return, Decadence," Shane said, recalling his Houndoom. "Nice work, Lody," he complimented me briefly before sending out his next Pokémon.

I held my breath as Shane's majestic Dragonite took the place of its fallen comrade. Unfurling its azure wings, the Pokémon cocked its head quizzically before launching itself into the air.

Dragon against Dragon, I thought to myself. Except Shane's Dragon can fly, while mine is best suited to the water.

"And so Shane sends out mighty Ragnarok, king of the skies, to combat Chimera's Kingdra!" Dissembler yelled. "Now both Pokémon are taking battle stances, and Chimera…Chimera has chosen to use a Blizzard attack! Watch out, Shane! Ice attacks have and edge on both Dragon and Flying types!"

Ragnarok wheeled sharply upwards as the howling storm of ice chips and snowflakes hurtled in its direction. For a moment, all I could see was white. Putting up an arm to block the stinging fragments of icy hail, I waited for the storm to clear.

And when it finally did…

"Did you see that?" Dissembler crowed triumphantly. "Ragnarok avoided the Blizzard attack completely by flying out of the storm's reach! Sorry Chimera, but you'll have to have better range than that to hit a Flying Pokémon!"

She's right, I thought angrily. Ragnarok has the entire sky at its disposal, whereas my Pokémon is earth-bound. No matter what Cascader does, Ragnarok will be able to avoid it by flying away.

"Ragnarok," Shane called out. "Use a Slam attack on Cascader!"

As the Dragonite neared earth, I realized this would be the perfect time to strike. Now Ragnarok's soft underbelly was vulnerable and within easy reach.

But couldn't Shane see that as well?

"Cascader, Hyper Beam!" I yelled as Ragnarok neared. The glowing ball of light hit Ragnarok full in the stomach. The force of impact knocked the Dragonite to the ground, where it skidded several feet through the chilling snow left by my Kingdra's Blizzard, wings dragging limply at its sides.

"Return, Ragnarok," Shane said, taking his Dragonite out of the battle. "I only have one Pokémon left now, Lody. Maybe you'll win after all, you think?"

"C'mon Shane!" Dissembler cheered. "Don't let that Chimera girl beat you! Better start running, Lody!"

"You can do it, Shane!" Chip called shrilly, pumping a fist into the air. "You're the best battler in the world!"

You let me take down your Dragonite, I wanted to tell Shane. You knew Ragnarok would be vulnerable at that moment. You knew I would strike. Why, then? Why are you toying with me like this?

"I'll choose Poseidon," Shane announced, letting loose his last Pokémon. With a fierce "Hya!", Shane's sparkling Starmie jumped onto the battle field, its ruby red gem glowing intensely. The sun reflected off Poseidon's polished surface, throwing purple and gold rays blindingly back into my eyes.

"And Shane Rising brings Poseidon, the shimmering star of the seas, forth into the battle!" Dissembler proclaimed.

"NO COMMENTARY!" Ruki blasted into the other girl's ear. "Just watch the match, like a good little referee."

"Hey, that's no fun," Dissembler sulked. "Oh, now Chimera takes the offensive with another Hyper Beam attack! Ha, you'll have to do more than that to put a scratch on Poseidon's shiny shell!"

She was right. With a flash of its ruby gem, Poseidon glowed briefly for a moment, before spinning, fully revitalized, into Cascader's side.

"Ooh! Poseidon utilizes a quick Recover, then attacks using Swift!" Dissembler cried out excitedly. "What will Lody's next move be?"

"Cascader, Agility!" I called out. Now that my Kingdra had become little more than a blur of blue scales and white fins, it would be impossible for Poseidon to mount another attack.

But Shane had a different idea. "Poseidon, spin and use Thunderbolt!" he commanded casually. The star-shaped Pokémon obeyed, twisting itself into a wild frenzy of sizzling sparks.

I realized Shane's strategy too late. As the Starmie spun, bolts of electricity flew from its arms, swiping effectively in all directions. No matter how agile Cascader was, she was soon hit by the continuous arc of lightning.

"Return, Cascader!" I commanded, taking the Kingdra off the battlefield and reaching for another PokéCap. Starmie was half-Psychic, so maybe a half-Dark would be able to put it in its place. But the only half-Dark I had was also half Rock. And any elementary battler knew that Rock types had a serious disadvantage against Water.

I was going to have to risk it.

"Go, Sahra!" I cried, sending my Tyranitar into battle. Roaring mightily, Sahra stomped both hind feet against the ground, creating a mini-earthquake that nearly sent Poseidon swerving into the dirt. Turning to face Shane's Starmie, Sahra snarled threateningly.

"With both battlers having only one Pokémon left to go," Dissembler announced, "there's no telling how this match will end! Shane's Starmie is half-Water, putting a serious damper on Lody's half-Rock Tyranitar. But can Shane's Starmie, who is also half-Psychic, overcome its type disadvantage against Tyranitar's Dark attacks?"

Cupping her hands around her mouth, Dissembler shouted loudly into the field. "We're rooting for you, Shane! You can win this thing!"

"You'd better win this thing," Ruki muttered darkly. "Or else there's no telling what the Leader is going to do to us when he finds out."

Sahra growled deep in the back of her throat, shifting one dark eye in my direction. She pumped her claws up in a victory pose, then winked at me.

I smiled shakily. "You can win this thing, Sahra," I said determinedly. "We can win this thing, together." Snapping myself back into battle-mode, I called to my Tyranitar in a ringing voice. "Sahra, use Crunch attack on that Starmie! Now!"