How does it look Faus? a calm, almost emaciated man looked up at the elder doctor. Faus was writing something and seemed to be having trouble.
Faus shook his head, then looked up at the man who had asked. I've never seen anything like this. They're not going to survive.
Those kids said that their friends were finding some sort of antidote, the thinner man said brightly. I mean, maybe it was true. Their story seems impossible, but so does the condition of the patients they brought.
Faus looked up again with a look of both sorrow and agitation. Joy is so far gone that there's no way any amount of any antidote could cause her to regenerate what she's lost. And the boy-- he hesitated, a look of almost fear crossing his eyes.
What about him? the thin man put a hand on Faus' shoulder. He could be saved?
The doctor looked down. Look Memo, I don't believe in any antidotes. He's going to have a long and painful death, and I don't see anything we can do to prevent it. His mind has turned against him. If there is an antidote, yes, he'd be salvageable. I've called an expert diagnostician. She's as good as Dr. Killdare from what people say, and Killdare isn't real.
Why bother if you think they're gonna die? Memo smirked.
Faus became a bit angered. I never just give up on my patients. Now please leave. I'm trying to think.
It wasn't the answer that Memo wanted, but it would have to suffice.
Memo walked down the halls of the hospital carrying his tray of food as he had before. On one hand he dreaded having to walk into her room, but on the other hand he was scientifically enticed. He'd never seen any of his uncle's creations before, and how one of them ended up in the hospital puzzled him even more.
Life was draining from the woman. One of the boys who had brought her in said that she was being sustained by a shot of something given to her every so often.
I'm sorry Joy, Memo grinned toothily, but my uncle would kill me if I didn't do this. I hope you understand.
He took a syringe and pressed on its bottom, allowing for a bit of the substance inside to squirt out the tip, as a doctor or nurse of such would do to make sure no air was trapped inside. But such brings up the proverbial question, why clean someone's arm with alcohol when they're about to receive a lethal injection?
Memo stalked over to Joy and hovered over her bed, needle in hand, with his thumb over the bottom.
But your friend will join you soon, he pretended to console as he plunged the needle into her neck. She gasped silently, too weak to do much else.
------------------------------
~Sanguine Dreams~
Part III- Daring to Kill
Ash hugged his knees as he sat in the room with Brock. They'd had to tranquilize him nearly every six minutes. His mind was truly buggered, and thus the tranquilizer wasn't working as it should have. James offered to clock him with his shoe, but the doctor insisted that Brock would sustain even more damage as such.
I think we should go back for Jessie and Misty now that Brock is here, James bit his lip as he tried looking away from Brock who was waking up once again. The doctors can take care of him.
I'd love to, Ash frowned, but I just have this feeling that I shouldn't leave him--
Ash trailed off, wincing as Brock sprang to life where he lye.
Where am I? he said calmly. He always started out calm.
You're still in the hospital Brock, Ash gulped. You haven't left.
The hospital? Brock yawned. Oh, my head hurts a lot. Is that why I'm here?
Ash hissed. He was nearly panicking as he discreetly pressed the button for the Nurse to come back. Just lay back and don't move. You're injured, you shouldn't move.
It hurts really bad Ash, Brock closed his eyes tightly and began breathing sporadically. He bled a little where the skin from his eyelids pressed into his face, and Ash began pressing the button more quickly.
I know it does, Ash frowned. Just stay calm--
Brock shouted. I can't take it anymore!
Ash grumbled, realizing that the nurse was too late. It would take a lot to get Brock to calm down now.
Ash tried to keep Brock's hands away from his face, so that he couldn't claw it up any farther. It was easy on one hand since Brock was incredibly weak from both the tranquilizers and his dementia, but it was difficult because Brock had no inhibitions with hurting himself to try and escape Ash's grasp.
Let me go! Brock screamed. No! Let me go!
This struggle ensued as a nurse came in the room. He had the tranquilizer in hand, and Ash backed off of Brock as he neared.
Thank god you're here, Ash sighed, welcoming the thin, syringe wielding nurse into the room. He won't stop hurting himself!
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Jessie shouted, dashing into the room with bomb in hand, her finger on the trigger of the gun. Misty entered in much the same state, sans a bomb.
Jessie felt a little foolish after the war cry when she found the room to be empty.
Misty shrugged. Hey, at least we don't have to waste that bomb.
To say the very least, Jessie snorted, then she took a look around the room.
It seemed to be a perfectly normal office. There was a receptionist's desk, and it was as if whoever owned this place used the bottom floor as a front to the other operations. Jessie wondered why no one was previously suspicious as to why someone had their doctor's office in a place almost impossible to find with barbed wire on the fence--
Misty's eyes widened. Do you recognize this room?
Jessie snapped out of her train of thought. she shook her head, taken off guard.
You've gotta recognize this room, Misty seemed in awe. Remember when the TV stations were taken over for about five minutes that one day, and that guy got on the airwaves and told the public to watch out--
I thought it was really sloppy, Jessie snorted. This isn't Austin Powers. I would have figured the jerk would have been caught.
But you don't recognize this room? Misty asked as she opened a drawer. I swear this is the room they broadcasted from.
Every office looks just like this, Jessie said softly, begining to see where Misty was coming from. But why would he give a warning? And how come no one has seen him since?
Misty was looking at a picture frame, obviously intrigued.
Jessie walked over behind her shoulder and looked at the picture as well. Why is there a picture of Professor Oak on this desk?
Hell if I know, Misty put the picture down. Maybe this guy is a relative.
Makes no sense, Jessie blinked. Come on. Let's get to the lab. I think it's on the fourth floor, but we were only here for a little while the first time, so I'm not sure.
Misty shrugged. We've just got to hurry! Is there an elevator?
Jessie scanned the room. It almost made her sick--the obscenely normal paintings of flowers which adorned the walls, the normal lamp shades, the normal desk the normal walls the normal chairs the normal floor. How could such a normal place do such sickening things? It was proof of the old saying don't judge a book by its cover, but then no one truly desires proof of the cynical side of things.
No elevator, she frowned. Stairs, quick.
Jessie, Misty, Meowth and Jigglypuff hiked up the stairs after Jessie gave the word. Jessie was in the lead, hoisting her bomb up into the air once again.
I wish Pikachu didn't stay with Ash, Misty muttered.
Why's that? Jessie asked.
Because he could shock the room before we went in to make sure it was safe, she sighed.
Well he was fainted, Jessie pursed her lips, then dashed into the room as the stairs ended.
She gave her battle cry again as noise surrounded her, but it was soley the sounds of pokémon in a multitude of cages.
Jessie coughed, a little unnerved by the fact that they hadn't had to fight a guard as of yet at all. She doubted that all of the place's guards had been wasted by Pikachu, so they had to encounter a set-back at some point. But it didn't look like this point was it.
Jessie sighed, then hugged herself for warmth as she looked around at the pokémon inside the room. Pokémon of many varieties were snapping and raging within their cages as the humans entered the room. They were starved--both for food and affection, and they looked as if they wouldn't have left any appendages on anyone who dare enter the room if they could have had a shot at them. Their cages had element proof, clear coverings, however, and even their powers were of no use to them as they tried to will their ways out.
Let's get out of here fast, Jessie's eyes widened, and she grabbed Meowth's paw.
Hey, I'm not arguin' here, Meowth grumbled as he was practically snapped off of his feet. I'll go I'll go!
Jigglypuff caught up to them, and they came to a door which led to a stairwell. They assumed that it had been for security purposes so that any escaped pokémon couldn't travel to whatever was on the third floor, but as Jessie tried the door knob, she found it to be locked.
she cursed. Unlock it, Meowth!
Meowth began to sweat. Dere could be an ambush on da udda side!
We ARE the ambush! Jessie smacked him. Open it!
Meowth cowered and began to work on the lock.
You really shouldn't treat him like that, Jigglypuff growled. He had a valid point!
Oh, shut-up pinky, Jessie grumbled. This room gives me the creeps!
It's all right Puff, Meowth assured. We always act like dis. I scratch dem, dey hit me, we're all just one big, dysfunctional family.
If you say so, Jigglypuff nodded, then stood by the door, gathering the courage to strike.
A creaking sound began in the room, and Jessie jumped and prepared to bomb the next floor should it be necessary.
something demented grunted,
Jessie screamed, dropping her gun and falling to the floor. Luckily she clung to the bomb for dear life, so the room didn't explode.
Keep unlocking Meowth! Misty screamed as Jessie twitched on the ground, recoiling from the solar beam which had hit her square in the back. I'll take care of this!
About twenty pokémon were advancing upon the humans, Jigglypuff and Meowth in the room after having been released from their cages.
Sing Jigglypuff! Meowth blinked.
Sure thing, Jigglypuff said shakily. Um, jiggly puff, jiggly puff, jiggly puff--
Damn!' Meowth twitched. She knew hyperbeam, and though she wasn't the first mute jigglypuff ever, she was definitely the first tone deaf one.
Misty began shooting wildly at the bulbasaur, missing it entirely, but managing to kill a Sneazel and a Murkrow before having the gun vinewhipped out of her hands.
she copied Meowth, rubbing at her sore wrist. I didn't want to do this!
Do it, Jessie coughed. I've seen them in action. They'll save us.
Misty nodded, then took Ash's belt off from around her. Go all of you!
She also set her pokémon loose. Jessie and James' were all taken from them when they were captured, so the numbers couldn't be evened out anymore than they were. Misty grabbed for her gun once again as Charizard assessed the situation and immediately used flame wheel on the ivyasaur, putting it out of commission.
There was something decidedly wrong with the pokémon which had originated from the lab. They were stronger than any pokémon should ever be, and though most Ash and Misty's pokémon could hold their own as they sought out pokémon with a disadvantage to battle, they weren't gaining the upper hand.
Charizard had taken a different approach than the other pokémon. He had once again gone into a state of almost kamikaze-like hatred, and was setting everything he could fly around the room and get within range on fire. His constant barrage was causing the lab pokémon to lose to Ash and Misty's pokémon, and Misty didn't know if she could get a clean shot in amongst the chaos.
Jigglypuff was using thunder and blizzard in the fight, apparently steering clear of hyperbeam for the time. Meowth was using fury swipes against a dunsparce, but Meowth was being headbutted into submission by superior stats.
Misty woozily walked over to Jessie and cowered over her, watching the shadows of pure chaotic violence play against the wall, an enlarged replica of the disturbing fight scene already taking place.
You've gotta get up Jessie! she shouted, desperately. She grabbed onto Jessie's arm and tried to help her up from the ground.
Jessie shakily stood, grabbing for her gun once again. She put the bomb safely back onto her belt, ready to help in the fight. She didn't blame Misty for staying out of it. In fact, it was preferable because she wasn't adept with guns. Jessie, however, wasn't the least bit afraid behind the face of weaponry.
She caulked her gun in the air, once again in a ceremonious gesture, and some of the pokémon stopped their continued havoc for a split second, flinching as they had recognized the sound. Ash and Misty's pokémon remained more on the naive side, but were quickly educated as their adversaries began to drop, their heads and other body parts lolling around on the ground.
I don't know who you are! she shouted into the air, but I know you're watching us! she continued on her murderous spree as she made use of apostrophe into the security cameras. And we're not gonna lose! You'll all burn in hell for what you've done!
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Burn in hell! Brock shouted, spitting into the Nurse's face. Ash turned his head away, and James was stunned at how changed Brock had become. James didn't blame him. James blamed Brock even less than Brock's own best friend. James wasn't empathetic to the pain either, but he heard Brock beg to be killed at one point in time. He had heard the cries of a poor kid in unspeakable pain many times more than Ash had.
It will help you Brock, Ash gritted his teeth, trying not to look as the shot plunged into Brock's skin. He didn't know when it would happen, but he knew he didn't want to see it.
The nurse hit the floor as Brock kicked him off. James' eyes widened, as he had no idea how Brock got the strength to do such a thing.
Lay off of him for a second, James ordered, standing up. Are you sure these tranquilizers aren't just making him worse?
The nurse looked up at him smugly. We're the professionals here. I'd appreciate it if you left us to do our jobs.
James narrowed his eyes, not knowing why he said what he did. Lay off a second, call someone else to hold him down for you, you can't expect to do this yourself.
Ash looked up as James said this, a realization taking hold of him as well. Yeah, normally about three of you come in here to do this.
The nurse shrugged. They didn't know what they were doing.
Get him away from me! Brock screamed almost incoherently. It sounded as if the blood vessels in his throat had to have burst from how loud it was. Don't let him near me! Don't let him touch me!
James tried to get a good look at the nurse which had approached. I know you, don't I?
The nurse looked around in a panic, then began to come after James with the needle.
Hey back off of him! Ash shouted, wishing that Pikachu wasn't in the pokécenter at the time. He doesn't need tranquilizer!
I think I'll be the judge of that! the nurse said angrily, lunging for James.
James grabbed the nurse's wrist, struggling with him and trying to keep the needle away from his body. The last thing he needed was more tranquilizer. This guy had obviously gone crazy.
James' struggle didn't last too long, however, for two nurses and a band of security burst into the room. James almost wept on the site, thinking that he would be just as soon jailed as they psychotic nurse.
However, such was not the case. The security' were actually police officers, and they didn't hesitate before gunning the nurse to the ground.
James threw the guy's cadaver off of himself promptly. He was breathing heavily from having struggled so intensely, and he fell to the ground, too close to the needle for comfort. He scooted away from it, and a cop with gloves came over and carefully deposited the needle in a bag.
You're very lucky, the guy said gruffly, this is one of the more potent poisons in this hemisphere. Mixed from a variety of both plant and pokémon poison powders.
James' eyes widened. What did he want with Brock?
He works with a man who just got twenty of our officers killed, the policeman narrowed his eyes. We see that you guys took one of their squadcars. Why weren't you arrested immediately?
James began to shake, but Ash stepped in front of him. We had the officer Jenny of this city call the Nurse Joy that heard us make a phone call to the police about that place. She believed us.
the officer coughed, we have about thirty SWAT team cars headed that way right now. Whatever sick freak is in there isn't going to be free for long.
If James had a drink, he would have spat it out all over the floor. he shouted, my partner is in there!
And Misty! Ash shouted as well.
Silence ensued for just long enough so that Brock's thrashing was noticeable. James turned his head quickly enough to look at him, and he was peeling the skin from his arms.
They're looking for the antidote! James shouted, then grabbed Brock's wrists in a demented fervor, God, I hope they're quick!
Ash walked over to Brock and looked into his eyes for a moment. Poor Brock, he closed his eyes slowly, then reopened them before speaking again. You do know what's going on around you, don't you?
James looked at Ash strangely as he continued his vapid speech. You recognized that guy and knew he was bad. You're not kicking James. Ash bit back his lower lip as Brock calmed down for a moment. Brock's skin still tinged with the unspeakable pain which made every inch of him demand that he scrape it off, whether his judgment agreed or not, but he fought it back long enough to shudder. Ash stepped back, understanding just how bad off Brock must have been.
Ash looked up at the Nurses behind the police officers which were about to shuffle off and get something for Brock. His look stopped them in their tracks as they awaited his question.
What happened to Joy? he frowned. You know, the one we brought.
They didn't answer, however. The officer did.
Her death was what tipped us off on this guy, he shook his head. We were called as soon as her body was found with a hole in the neck. The doctor who is caring for Joy and your friend here had his suspicions, and told us to come in here immediately.
Brock gasped. She's dead?
Everyone stopped all other conversation as Brock's statement was said so coherently.
Ash looked at him with the least shock in his eyes, and he threw his head back to laugh. Everyone thought he was sick until the tears which raced down his cheeks were visible, and Ash's laughing turned into a sort of overly-depressed hyperventilating. He walked clumsily over to Brock, putting shaky fingers to Brock's chin. Oddly enough, it was so gentle that Brock's already damaged skin wasn't damaged any further.
You're going to live, you hear me? He cried, his words muddling together as he had to remove his hand since it started shaking. And I'm gonna go help them find the antidote right now!
James was stunned. Your intuition is gone?
You're staying here! Ash shouted.
Like hell I am! James fumed. If you get to go help Misty, I have to go help my Jessie too! And you're the injured one!
Neither of you is going anywhere, the officer ordered. The police are handling this. Your friends shouldn't be there as is! I have to radio this to the squad now.
Brock sighed relievedly as he tried to keep his fingernails away from the flesh which was actually dripping from his legs. he muttered. Don't leave me.
But I can't leave Misty either, Ash whispered inaudibly to himself, and prayed that his pokémon would be enough to keep Misty alive so that he could be with her once again.
------------------------------------------------
Misty stood to her feet amongst the wreckage which was once a fairly clean storage room for lab pokémon. She grabbed the pokéballs from the floor and got almost all of Ash's pokémon to return. Charizard insisted on following them, however, but Misty figured that five out of six wasn't bad. She actually felt a little safer since Charizard insisted on guarding them, but Jessie seemed annoyed by him as he shoved Meowth out of the way and just broke the doorknob off.
Jessie gathered her weapons to her closely, bitter that Charizard insisted on entering the room first. She realized that he presented the same advantage as Pikachu, and she wondered if he would use flamethrower on the room first to be sure that no one would harm them. But as they came up to the third floor she realized that such was not the case.
Misty, Jessie, Meowth and Jigglypuff walked into the room cautiously, and Charizard stood against the wall, watching for intruders.
That's Ash's Charizard? Jessie raised an eyebrow. I would have thought it would help them kill us.
Misty shrugged. He's been better lately. And besides, I always thought that he and Ash had a love-hate relationship.
Jessie smiled. Yeah, I know how that is.
Misty took a deep breath. You were wrong--
Jessie nodded, the lab is on the third floor, the bedrooms are on the fourth. I remember now. How do we find an antidote in this place?
Misty scanned the room, not really looking for anything in particular. Jessie scanned as well, but she was looking for a container to carry things in.
Jessie walked over to the corner.
she ordered, Help me carry this crate.
Misty did as told, and though it was light enough for one person to carry at a time, she realized Jessie's intent. It had to be done. They'd have to take just about every chemical substance in the room they could find and hope for the best.
Most of the stuff was not in open viles and flasks as one would imagine when imagining a laboratory. The chemicals were packaged, their toxicity being the reason for it. Jessie and Misty were careful in handling the chemicals, and Jigglypuff and Meowth decided to stand guard, anticipating some sort of ambush.
The room looked almost cleaned out by the time they were done filling the box.
An antidote has to be in one of those, Misty winced, thinking about Brock and Nurse Joy. Let's just hope that we get to them in time.
Jessie didn't waste her breath on small talk. She lifted one end of the crate carefully, and Misty lifted the other. The pokémon they were traveling with watched their backs as they had to descend through the floors they'd passed with extreme caution.
Jessie reached behind her for the knob to the second floor, sweating as she had to maintain her grip on the crate with one hand. She was flooded with relief as the door opened, but flew backwards from the crate as soon as she took a good look inside. She grabbed her gun which rested atop it quickly as she fell, and Misty took swift action to swing her legs beneath it and use them to break its fall.
A man stood at the other side of the room. He was strangely thin, and a halo of thinning, dull colored strands of hair encircled his rounded head. He looked pissed, to say the least. He looked like someone who'd always been assured in life suddenly come unraveled. Charizard leapt at his head from the stairwell, but fell quickly after a gunshot.
Misty shouted, and Jessie fumbled for the trigger of her gun quickly.
No you don't, the man growled, then blasted her hand straight off her arm.
Jessie shouted in pain. You asshole!
the man retorted, pointing his gun between her eyes. The police are chasing me. He pulled his hand out from his gun wielding arm, showing the blood which covered it. He stuck it back under his arm where he was trying to tend to his wound. But they won't catch up to me before I rid myself of you two!
Misty shouted as his finger gripped the trigger.
The man pulled the trigger away from Jessie's eyes and tried to lay waste to Misty. Many of his shots missed, but one of them plugged her straight through the stomach. Misty began to tremble as she fell flat to the ground. She put her hands on her wound as she began to fade out of consciousness, waiting for the next which was aimed for her head.
Meowth shouted, fury swiping the man's head. He wondered why Jigglypuff wasn't reacting.
Jigglypuff's eyes watered, and she stood still as she watched the man blow a hole through one of Jessie's legs before police caught up to them from the back room, gunning him down after he refused to put the gun down, blowing a hole through one of Charizard's wings instead.
The man lye on the floor, dead as a doornail. Misty lye on the floor, her breath gurgling with warm blood as she couldn't stay awake. Jessie sat sobbing uncontrollably, one hand gone, one leg almost completely drenched in sanguine liquid, her scalp bleeding profusely from the temples from a shot which was a millimeter away from blowing off her skull.
Get the crate too, Meowth stammered as he passed out to the sound of Jessie's uncharacteristic sobbing.
Jigglypuff still stood tharn, unable to move to help herself or to help her friends for a time as the members of the SWAT team called for an ambulance.
Get a hold of yourself puff, she told herself. He was a bad man.
But some sort of sick genetic programing took root in her soul, and she turned to the police which had taken her old trainer away from her.
How dare you kill him, she shook, her eyes begining to shine with a red tinge. He was my trainer, you know.