Just When You Thought It Was Safe...
"Approaching the chaotic edge, elements show internal conflict. An unstable and potentially lethal region."
--Ian Malcom
*****
"So you mean to tell me that these changes are permanent?" I couldn't help but to let the edge of fear creep into my voice.
Xanady just nodded.
I glared at her. "You did this to me and I demand that you find a way to un-do this."
"You...demand...me?" she laughed, "You silly little girl! You can't demand anything of me."
"Wanna bet?" I countered, feeling my cheeks warm. I had no Pika/Raichu power left, so I was hardly an opponent for Xanady, but I still had plenty of good ol' fighting power left.
"Sure, why not? After all, it is Team Rocket that has found you a way home." Xanady paused. "You still do want to go home...don't you? To your mother, your father...and your brother. What was his name? Mark? Mica?"
"Matt," I whispered hoarsly. "His name is Matt."
"Of course, dear," Xanady pulled a drawer open, took something out. "The scientists from Sub-Lab 2 made this for you."
I looked up at her, at the slender band she held out to me.
"Go on, take it." she urged me.
I could tell that she wasn't lying about the band, though she'd been trying a mind-game by mentioning Matts name. It almost worked. I took the band from her.
"See how it looks like a watch? It works in almost the same way." Xanady chatted as if we were old friends. "When it is activated, the controlled, combined force of a hundred Psychic Pokémon will open a portal back to your dimension. You will have a time limit in which to choose."
"Choose what?"
"Why, if you want to stay in your dimension or if you want to return here. I will inform you that it will be a one-way ticket after you decide. No going back and forth."
I held my breath. What she was saying was the truth, every word of it. What she didn't tell me was that several of the Pokémon were bound to die in the process.
"There is also a time difference."
"What do you mean? What kind of difference?" I was imagining Rip Van Winkle.
"For every week you have been here, six minutes have passed in your dimension." Xanady suddenly looked smug. "You will have four of your hours to decide. After such time has passed, the portal will re-open in the same place you re-entered your world. It will remain open for ten minutes of your time."
"But that means that," I multiplied quickly in my mind. "That about ten months will have passed!"
"Well congratulations! Your mother must be proud of your grasp on higher mathmatics!"
Her words stung me.
"Though you're lucky, I suppose, that you weren't given one full day to decide." Xanady smiled. "You would've been for almost two years."
The translation to me via Mew's necklace was this: I would've a had two year's head start on you and the world would've been mine.
I decided to switch tactics and throw her for a talespin. "What about Mewtwo? Will he be one of the Pokémon?"
Xanady gasped, "How did you know...Nevermind, Mewtwo is such a rogue." She crossed the room for a drink of water. "Aah. You want some?"
I shook my head. Like I'd trust her.
"Anyway, no, Mewtwo will not be there." She snorted. "A pity, really. Mewtwo is so powerful that it could send you back and forth multiple times before even feeling the littlest bit fatigued."
My throat constricted and tears threatened at her words. They were true, not a one was a lie. He could've sent me back at any given time...multiple times....why didn't he...Mom..
"What's wrong?" The words were not spoken of any emotional concern, merely what one feels for an experiment.
"I...I need to lie down now." My voice was as shakey as the rest of me.
"Go ahead," Xanady waved me off. "But you only have until eight o' clock tonight and then the band will be activated. Regardless if you're ready or not."
Her words followed me as I walked out of the lab and into my "room". I stumbled to the bed and flopped down, half on and half off. I knew she could see me, I knew of the cameras and the two-way mirror. But I didn't care. I dragged myself onto the bed and cried into the pillow.
*****
It was late at night and Gary was in the middle of replacing Pokéballs in his Grandfather's lab when a blue glow surrounded him.
"What the...?" But he was unable to even call out for help as his surroundings blurred and reformed into the now familiar lab of Xanady. As soon as the glow faded, Gary spun around and saw Xanady and Cirrus waiting for him.
Cirrus looked miserable, holding one arm close to her body, she couldn't meet his gaze. Was this the same bold, quick-mouthed person he met a month ago?
"Cirrus?" he called out.
She looked up then, her now golden eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Gary."
"What is it?" he asked, walking to her, taking up her hands in his. He stared at her, searching her eyes for answers. He didn't care that her skin was golden brown, that her ears had a pointed tip to them, that her cheeks were slightly reddish all the time.
"I have to go now." She smiled weakly at him. "I'm going home."
The realization hit him as if someone punched him in the stomach. "Now? But.."
She sniffled, "I know, but I have to. Take care of Eevee for me, will you?"
Gary nodded, feeling an unfamiliar tightness to his throat. "Will you come back?"
Cirrus nodded, "In about two months, if all goes well." She glared at Xanady, the first spark of life he'd seen in her. "Right?!"
"Of course," Xanady looked bored. "Two months, blah, blah. Are you done yet? You have a lot of people waiting on you."
Cirrus acted as if Xanady's last words weren't spoken. "Promise me you won't be Flamethrowing anyone?"
Gary smiled at her weak attempt at a joke. "You have my word."
She sniffled again and suddenly, threw her arms around him, holding him tightly. "I'm gonna miss you so much!"
"I know, I know," Gary murmered, holding her equally as tight. "I'm going to miss you, too."
"You are my friend and I would do anything for you," She whispered fiercly.
"And I, you." Gary said, resisting the strongest urge to kiss her. He wanted nothing more than to take her away and protect her from all of the Xanady's of the world.
"It's time, Outsider." Xanady said, pulling Cirrus away from Gary. "Sub-Level One, ready. Waiting your call, Sub-Level Two."
There was a burst of static from Xanady's walkie-talkie. "Ready and activating portal in three...two...one...Go!"
Cirrus pressed a button on the band around her left wrist. A blue outline in the shape of a door formed in front of Cirrus. Gary moved around so that he was beside her.
She looked into his eyes and smiled, then gasped.
What Gary saw, astonished him. In the outline of the portal, was a grassy area. Trees rustled in a breeze and Gary could smell the fresh dirt beyond, as well as a different odor.
"Ugh, pollution!" Xanady held a cloth to her nose. "Get going, I can't stand the stench of your world!"
Cirrus smiled sadly and stepped through. There was a flash and Gary could see Cirrus. She spun around, searching for Gary, but the portal was closing. In seconds, it was gone.
There was a snapping sound as the Portal vanished completely. Another sound had him spinning on his heels.
Xanady was laughing.
"Time for my reign...to begin!"
I know that was short, but things are just beginning for everyone.
As for Chapter 9:
Cirrus has made her way home, but will her Mom want her? What will happen to Joe and Frank's machine? Will Xanady take her Pokémon transformation thing on a Global scale?