Part 2: Forgotten Memories

Legends of Team Rocket

Part 2: Forgotten Memories

Written by DK

KEY:

{Pokémon speech.}

[Telepathic speech.]

Thoughts.

(Present day)

As Darru rolled over on the cold, dirty cot, trying to catch some desperately needed shut-eye, various memories invaded his mind. He shrugged to himself. No biggie. This sort of thing happened all the time, considering his memory chip was extremely unstable. He flopped on his side and gazed out of the soiled window. The moon cast its pale, flickering shadow over what little vegetation lived outside of the trashy shack.

"I can't believe this ghetto dump is supposed to be a hotel," he muttered. He flicked the wrinkled sheets aside and sat upright. It was the same old thing bothering himthe biggest mistake he'd made in his life

NO! He shook his head vehemently, trying to clear his thoughts. He couldn't face his old buddy now. Not after all these years of killing, double-crossing, razing. He was definitely a different person from eight years ago. Orwas he?

"I'm just confusing myself," he frowned as he stretched his fatigued arms and legs, wincing from the fierce pain. He'd barely escaped with his life from another Team Rocket attempt to recapture him, but not without sustaining injury. "I was such an idiot. Nothing but a dirty traitorfirst my family, my friends, now, even, that damned Team Rocket" He cradled his bowed head in his hands. "I'm nothing but a failure"

{Hey, I'm tryin' to get some sleep here!} a more than annoyed voice interrupted.

Darru shot the ghostly, grinning Pokémon a dirty look before returning his head into his palms. Gengar sauntered over, patting Darru's hunched back sympathetically. {S'okay, man. You escaped, that's all the counts.}

"That's not what I'm depressed about," Darru said angrily as he returned to a sleeping position down on the bed, rusty springs creaking painfully.

Gengar shook its head sadly. {Oh Lord, not that sorry mess about your biggest mistake again}

"You know it was a mistake," Darru shot back. "Anyway, I'm not in the mood to argue, so shut up and let me get a couple winks before I lose sanity."

{Hmph. You lost that ages ago.} Darru said nothing.

{Oh, let's just wallow in self-pity,} Gengar mocked as it returned to its corner of the small, four-poster bed. Darru, glad for the peace, shut his eyes and was drifting into Slumberland when suddenly he heard a low growl. He bolted upright, hand on the hilt of his scimitar, eyes traveling across the dark, empty room for intruders. Suddenly he spotted a purple hand waving lazily in the air. {It was just me,} Gengar said, yawning. {Stomach's growling like no tomorrow. Let's see what we've got here.}

Gengar floated over to the pack of rations the hotel manager had given them to chow. Opening the aluminum can with a sharp claw, Gengar took a whiff, decided it was safe enough to eat, and took a large bite. It spit out its mouthful almost immediately, a sour look scrunching up its face. {Bleccchhhhh, what is this nasty shit? Is that damn manager trying to poison me?!?} the ghost Pokémon demanded, wiping its mouth.

Darru rubbed his eyes sleepily and skimmed over the label on the container. "It says here that it's stuffed eggplant," Darru read aloud.

{Yeah, well, this eggplant is gonna be "stuffed" up the manager's ass if he expects me to eat any more of this garbage!} Gengar raged. Darru laughed at Gengar's anger and settled back into the covers, his head literally disappearing in the giant, oversized black garbage bag stuffed with cotton that served as a makeshift pillow. "Well, Gengar, g'night."

{Yeah, good fuckin' night}, Gengar muttered as he curled up into a little purple ball near the right edge of the bed. {If I die of nutritional deficiency during the night, just call the undertaker when I croak.}

Darru roared. "You're crazy, Gengar. Maybe this hunger really is affecting that minuscule brain of yours. I'll see what I can scrounge off the manager next morning. But for now, it's either the eggplant or nothing."

{Well, I'd hafta say that nothing tastes somewhat better,} Gengar replied dryly.

"Good choice," came Darru's reply before he fell silent. Gengar, assuming that its friend was asleep, soon dozed off and its loud snores filled the room. Darru smiled inwardly. Gengar had always been a snorer, even as a young Gastly back in the day when the Pokémon Tower still stood. Now it was nothing but a pile of useless rubble, torn down by Team Rocket when the legendary ghost Pokémon Spookle began to roam the streets, haunting the townsfolk of Lavender Town. Darru had been incredibly lucky when he captured Gastly; only a few days after did Giovanni issue the orders to destroy the Tower.

Wide awake, Darru rolled over, the coils screeching noisily at every move he made. He remembered the event as if it was yesterday, it was so clear in his memory. At times he would only remember parts or segments of that fateful day, but today his gears were turning properly. It was eight long years ago

*=*=*=*=*

"So you're just going to get up and leave, are you?" an old, yet healthy-looking gray-bearded man said softly. "Leave your family to join a criminal organization?"

"I told you I'll be back!" A younger version of Darru yelled. "I'm just gonna check it out and if I don't like it, I'll be back!"

"Don't think we'll accept you with warmth and love when you do," Darru's father seethed, "if you can even return to us in one piece!"

"Well, if that's the way you want it, fine! Don't expect me home. I haven't got the desire to come back to this shit life in this petty little hut on the outskirts of town! This is my chance to use my powers for something—"

"For what? To ransack entire towns? Steal from the poor? Murder the innocent?"

"Don't stop me, old man! You've just lost the last speck of authority you've had over me. I'm outta here!"

"Go! I won't stand in your way on your journey towards absolute failure!"

"Fine!" Darru made sure to slam the door as hard as he could on the way out. He felt a slight twinge of guilt when he heard the windows shatter from the force of the slam and his mother scream, but he didn't look back. Not once.

*=*=*=*=*

Suddenly Darru jerked awake and realized that he'd dozed off during the night. He looked around the bare, empty room, somewhat resembling a prison cell. He hopped off the bed and threw open the raggedy, dust-riddled curtains, letting the warm, welcoming rays of sunshine stream in. As the room brightened, Darru noticed a small, curled up purple ball sleeping soundly near the foot of the bed. Darru smiled at the little ghost, then quickly grimaced. It had been such a long time since he'd smiled, his mouth began hurt when he did. Then again, I'm nothing but a mere essence instilled into an artificial body, he reminded himself bitterly. What's the use in smiling? I have no personality; only an artificial intelligence chip. But if Giovanni spoke the truth when he told me this after I was repaired, why do I have these unexpected flashbacks? Why do I remember some things so vividly, while others are unclear?

"Must've all just been a mistake Giovanni's scientists made," Darru shrugged as he gently nudged the lightly snoring Gengar with the tip of his foot.

Gengar groaned, lifted its head, and gave Darru a dirty look. {That nasty smell from your feet's enough to wake me up,} it mumbled groggily as it rose to its feet. Floating over to the door, it raised its head and inhaled deeply. {Well, whaddaya know,} Gengar remarked, grinning widely, its rows of white, razor-sharp teeth flashing in the sunlight. {Something actually smells good! Bout time I get some food in this empty stomach,} it said, creating a large hole in itself and pointing to it. {Breakfast, here I come,} it called out as it stepped out into the hallway, passing straight through the door as if it wasn't there.

Darru rolled his eyes as he watched it leave, then quickly pulled out a small black cube out of his pocket. He stared at it for a moment and concentrated. It began to expand, eventually forming into a normal-sized brown-and-black backpack. He stared intently at the backpack, checked its contents, then began to concentrate. He closed his eyes, formulating a mental picture of the clothes he'd change into. Then, his eyes suddenly snapped open and for a moment glowed a bright white. Instantly, he was clothed with the clothes he'd pictured in his mind earlier, and his old clothes that he had been previously wearing had been transferred into his backpack. Satisfied, he picked up the backpack and pressed a small button near the top. The backpack immediately began to shrink and fold, returning to its miniature, cubic shape once again. He pocketed the black cube, pulled on his sneakers, and opened the door, the wonderful smells of bacon sizzling and egg frying hitting him full in the face like a punch. He sniffed, smiled, and headed for the kitchen, more than ready for a good meal.

*=*=*=*=*

Gengar's bright, orange-yellow eyes lit up in sheer joy as it thrust its sharp, pointed claw at a million different items on the wrinkled, tattered menu. The waitress, a gum-chewing, jaw-smacking brunette in her early twenties, accustomed to strange occurrences such a Ghost Pokémon ordering food, merely jotted down as many things as she possibly could. Gengar was just about to order another twenty or so things when the manager, a dirty old coot with a mouthful of rotting, broken teeth, limped over to the table and stared at Gengar with his half-blind eyes.

Gengar hardly noticed, so busy as it was choosing more food. The manager ran his bony hand over his scraggly beard and remarked, "Boy, you need to go an' take a nice good bath, you sho dirty it look like you're purple."

Gengar shrugged to itself. Could be worse, Gengar thought. At least the geezer isn't colorblind.

The waitress cracked loudly with her gum. "Anything else?" she asked between chews.

Gengar shook its head no, and tossed the menu to the girl, who quickly disappeared into the kitchen with the long list of food trailing after her. The manager squinted harder behind thick, horn-rimmed trifocals. "Waitaminute, you ain't no boy, you a Pokémon!" the old man exclaimed.

[Hey, you're a quick one,] Gengar answered sarcastically. [I've been starving since yesterday, and there's no way I was eatin' that eggplant crap, so I'd better be gettin' a discount on all this stuff.]

The man's eyes narrowed, if that were possible; it seemed as if his eyes were permanently shut. "Ain't no damn Pokémon llowed ta ordah food in here! That'sh your trainer'sh job, you mangy ghosht, now git! Shoo!" The man slurred his s's as he spoke, his putrid breath choking Gengar and polluting its nostrils. Gengar waved a purple claw in front of its nose.

[Get lost, old man. You owe me big for makin' me sample that poison yesterday night. So shut your smelly ass up and get a Cert,] Gengar growled as the waitress reappeared with a tray loaded with all sorts of scrumptious goodies. Gengar licked its lips and rubbed its hands together, grinning madly. As the waitress plopped the hundred-pound meal on the table and walked back to the kitchen rubbing her aching arms, Gengar focused all its attention on the delicious feast set before it.

"Aaah," Gengar sniffed, letting the smell permeate its nose. "Could a Togepi possibly be better fried?" Gengar was about to dig in when the manager, angrier than a stampeding herd of Tauros, decided to take action against this troublemaking Pokémon. Grabbing the nearest object he could find, a cheap metal folding chair, with considerable effort he raised it over his head and swung down on Gengar with all the strength left in his scrawny body.

Gengar saw it coming before it'd taken two bites. Raising its hand over its head, the chair stopped in mid-air. The old man's eyes widened in surprise, and suddenly he felt his raggedy shoes leave the floor. Before he even had time push his falling glasses up his crooked nose, he flew through the air like a Frisbee until one of his own tables stopped his flight with a loud crash. Amidst the tangle of broken table legs and his broken legs, two yellow orbs glared at him from across the room. The old codger picked up his broken teeth from the floor and jammed them into his mouth, croaking, "You'll pay for thesh damagesh, y' hear?"

Gengar's eyes glowed a demonic white. [Shoo me,] it said in a mocking imitation of the broken manager's voice before the man's limp body was thrown headlong into the kitchen door. A loud scream was heard, followed immediately by a plopping noise, a sound similar to when a heavy object is dropped in water.

Gengar's eyes returned to their normal colors and it went back to scarfing as if nothing had happened. When it noticed the appalled stares of the various customers, it shrugged. [Boiled manager soup, anyone?] it asked as it gulped down a giant mug of coffee created by Snorlax Industries, Inc.

At that moment Darru entered the room, hair neatly combed, his sharp eyes scanning the room. "Am I late for breakfast?" he inquired of Gengar.

Gengar motioned him over. [Nah, I'm just getting started.] Gengar was crunching on a piece of buttered toast when it noticed a tender leg of chicken to its left. Discarding the toast, it tore into the drumstick like a meat cleaver into a raw steak. Darru eased into a chair and was about to try to snag something when he saw a big, iron pot roll out of the kitchen out into the dining area. The pot tipped over, spilling its boiling, bubbling contents all over the dirty hardwood floor—and to Darru's surprise, the manager was among the contents.

Before anybody had a chance to say anything, Darru quickly stood up. "We're leaving," he stated abruptly before roughly grabbing a protesting Gengar by the arm and making a hasty exit.

The waitress watched them leave, then popped a sticky bubble and pouted. "That guy was cute"

*=*=*=*=*

"What was that all about?" Darru asked hotly when he was out of earshot of the inn. "I've got a high price set on my head by Giovanni, the richest, most powerful man in the world. And here you are, stuffing your face and flinging old men into pots of boiling soup." Darru remained calm, but his anger was evident to Gengar as they were telepathically linked.

{So I was hungry!} Gengar shot back. {Can't a guy get any decent food? I told you I wasn't eatin' that eggplant shit last night!}

"Eating doesn't involve cooking the hotel staff," Darru answered, voice soft with anger.

{I defended myself! That old fart was bout to hit me over the head with a chair!} Gengar shot back.

"You didn't have to hit him back. You could've used your transparency."

Gengar was indignant. {Then I would've gotten in trouble anyway! He would've ruined my meal!}

Darru held up his hands. "Calm down, Gengar, you're turning purple with rage."

{Ha ha, very funny,} Gengar replied sarcastically as he and Darru turned to leave. Darru concentrated and snapped his fingers, his black sweatshirt materializing in mid-air and falling into his hand. He slipped it over his head, the hood obscuring his facial features under its dark shadow. He nodded to Gengar.

"Let's go."

Darru began to walk in the direction of East Pallet. The entirety of the small, forgotten town was basically nothing more than a assortment of cardboard boxes that were supposed to be homes. East Pallet had once been a prosperous city, thriving after Ash Ketchum, the Pokémon Master, built and connected his mansion to the famous Professor Gary's Oak's lab after marrying his sister May Oak. But poverty and politics tore the town apart, and while West Pallet continued to thrive, East Pallet slowly became a ghost town. The town, unlike its West Pallet sister, was above ground, and transport lines did not extend there. Old, rusted buildings, most in conditions past repairable, lay dusty and empty, and the streets were littered with the twisted skeletons of cars. Darru figured that would be the last place anybody would look for him, and the city was such a confusing network of streets, buildings, tunnels, and alleyways, that he could hide in a million places without being discovered.

Darru had taken not more than three steps when suddenly he felt a hard fist slam into his upper back. He fell forward, but managed to land on his hands, turning the fall into a two-handed flip. He landed squarely on his feet and spun to face his attacker.

The attacker was tall, muscular, and slim, with two long, black bangs hanging down in front of his eyes. He was clad in a sleeveless black shirt, showing off his muscle definition, and long, baggy jeans. He was an unmistakable copy of Darru, like a twin, for they looked exactly the same, save for Darru's black sweatshirt. The dark brown eyes peered out from underneath the bangs, an evil coldness present in them that Darru recognized immediately.

Gengar identified the attacker aloud. {A Replicate,} it whispered.

Darru nodded. The only reason he'd been caught off guard was that Replicates could never be sensed. They attacked without warning, and sometimes, without purpose. Darru despised them with all his heart, but he knew that he was the one responsible for their existence.

When Giovanni had been restoring his body from the ravages of a powerful attack, he had taken some of Darru's DNA and had begun to create clones, or "replicates" of Darru. In a short period of time, Giovanni had an entire army of powerful Replicates that would never refuse his bidding. While they lacked personality, they were ideal for suicide missions and were also very strong and quick, possessing the characteristics the real Darru had. Darru's senses had been dulled from the repairs on his body, but he could still feel emotions.

The Replicate raised his head and brushed his bangs away from his face. "Your journey stops here," he said in a mechanical voice. "You are wanted by Giovanni and I must return you to him at all costs."

{Pity he only sent one,} Gengar sneered, stepping forward and balling its fists. {A Replicate hasn't been created that can take Darru on one-on-one.}

The Replicate cocked an eyebrow. "THE Darru?" he asked. When Darru made no reply, he began to laugh. Then howl. Then roar. Pretty soon he was rolling across the ground in fits of laughter, clutching his sides.

Darru began to grow annoyed. "I don't see what's so funny," he told the Replicate.

The Replicate got back to his feet, taking deep breaths and wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. Since when could a Replicate laugh and cry? Darru wondered as the Replicate opened his mouth. "First of all, Darru, I am not an ordinary Replicate. In fact, I was the first Replicate ever created." The Replicate waited for some kind of comment, but received none, so he went on. "I am called the Protocate. I was called upon by Giovanni to hunt you down and return you to him." Suddenly he broke into a wicked sneer. "And second, you are most certainly not the real Darru. The real Darru died eight years ago. He was never completely repaired, as he died while they were operating on him." Darru's eyes widened when he heard this, but he said nothing. The Replicate cackled for a bit before resuming his talking.

"So technically I am closer to the real Darru than any other Replicate," he said in a boastful tone. But then his smile faded quickly and he glared hard at Darru. "For some odd reason, Giovanni seems to have taken a strange liking to you. It seems that you experience the same feelings the real Darru did." The Protocate shrugged. "No matter. Once I return you to him, your pitiful life will be as well as over."

"If you can return me to him," Darru replied coldly. "And how is it that you know that I'm not the real Darru?"

The Protocate was on the verge of bursting into laughter again, but he surpressed the urge with an effort and flicked his index finger at Darru's left arm. Darru stepped back, suspecting that the motion was an attack, but instead a small metal square popped up out of Darru's arm. Darru's mouth opened in shock as he read a number similar to the serial number all Replicates are labeled with: 9442703.

Darru's face fell, the anger and pain burning within him. He refused to believe it, but the seven-digit number was forever burned in his memory. He had a serial numbernot only that, but his skin was actually artificialDarru lowered his head in sorrow. He was nothing but a Replicate. What foolish thoughts he had about being Darru were all liesbut what about his memories? Weren't those real? Or were they just another illusion Giovanni had planted into his mind?

{Don't listen to him!} Gengar hissed. {That's nothing but a bunch of bullshit!} But Darru was unheeding to his Pokémon's words. He was too stunned to move.

The Protocate watched unemotionally from a few feet away, arms crossed over his chest. "The truth hits hard, eh, Replicate?" he chuckled evilly before pointing a finger at Darru. "Now I suggest you come with me before I show you just how superior I am over a normal Replicate."

Darru's eyes narrowed. "If I truly am a Replicate." Darru snapped the metal square off his arm with a mere flick of his finger. Surprisingly, a sharp pain shot up his arm.

The Protocate sensed the pain and smirked. "So that's what Giovanni sensed in you, eh? More human than the rest of us." He laughed derisively. "We feel no pain."

"You are killing machines," Darru countered. "You don't deserve to feel painyou deserve to DIE!" Darru blurred forward, gathering momentum as he cocked his fist back, ready to strike.

The Protocate just stood there smirking. "Pity I'll have to make your death quick and painless. I was expecting more of a challenge than this." He merely dodged the blow at the last instant, and as Darru reached around for another shot, the Protocate had drove his fist into Darru's stomach, with the knuckles creating welts upon his skin as he fell to the ground. Darru quickly jumped to his feet, just in time to parry a blow to the side of his head. Darru countered with a front snap kick, then a flying side kick to knock the Protocate off his feet.

The Protocate laughed. "You call this fighting? HA!" The Protocate sprang into the air, twisting into a 180° back kick, his leg a blur. Darru brought up a forearm just in time as the blow struck, sending him flying backwards from the sheer force. Darru's sneakers created skid marks in the ground as he stopped himself. "Where's the quick death I was expecting?" he mocked as he lunged at the Protocate, whipping into a tornado roundhouse kick and hitting the Protocate squarely across the jaw. The Protocate bit the dirt and spat, grinning.

"So, you're better than I thought. Lucky for you I was just going easy." To prove his point, the Protocate merely raised a hand. Suddenly, Darru's entire body began to shake, and an intense pain shot through his entire body. It felt as if his entire body was aflame, and that all his bones were cracking. Darru's body was suspended in the air. Then, the Protocate made a downward sweeping motion with his hand. Darru slammed into the ground with intense force, face first.

Gengar had patiently stayed out of the battle to avoid Darru giving it a lecture on what battles to fight and not to fight, but this was too much. Gengar had felt Darru's pain, and now he was going to return it tenfold. {Dirty bastardyou'll pay for this! DARK KATANA!} A long, black sword materialized in Gengar's outstretched claw. Gripping it tightly, Gengar teleported behind the Protocate and slashed in a dark blur, separatingnothing more than air molecules.

The Protocate was gone.

Gengar ran to Darru's side. {Darru? Darru! Get up!}

Darru raised himself from the miniature crater with a groan of pain. "Unnnnnhhhis he gone?"

Gengar nodded. {For now, at least.}

Darru stood and brushed bits of dust from his clothing. "Good." He began to walk briskly in a southerly direction—AWAY from East Pallet.

Gengar was baffled. {Darru! Did that pushover completely clean your clock? What's the matter with you? You lost your sense of direction?!} Gengar began to worry. What if what that crazy wannabe said really got to Darru? it wondered. {Where're you going?} Gengar yelled at Darru's back.

"To Team Rocket Headquarters," Darru said shortly, his steady pace not slowing a bit. His loose sweatshirt billowed out behind him as he walked.

Gengar was even more puzzled now than before, and even a bit fearful. Their last encounter with Utor had not been a friendly one. {Why?!} it asked, enraged. {They'll take you!}

Darru stopped and ran his fingers through his jet-black hair, and a bright red glow seeped into his pupils as he whispered in a voice colder than Death incarnate:

"Let them try."

Gengar fell silent. It knew that nothing would stop Darru while he was like this. The best thing was to do was to stick around and help as much as possible.

Darru brushed a lock of hair behind his ear and pondered to himself. Even he didn't know what he was doing at that moment, but he was furious at Giovanni for ruining his life. He'd been brought into existence only to rend, maim, and destroy. He knew that Gengar was right; there was a high possibility he could be taken or even killed. Not that Darru was afraid of death. Hell, he'd welcome it like a friend. But who knew, maybe he'd find some answers thereand perhaps, just perhaps, he could take down Giovanni with him. That bastard should've kept an eye on his creations! Darru said silently. Pretty soon one would revolt; there would always be a defect.

And Darru was that defect.

*=*=*=*=*

A lone figure stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing out towards the horizon, the cool, (remove comma) ocean breeze caressing his thick, dark brown hair. A bright green blade was held in his hand, the luminous glow casting its lime light on his sharp, well-defined facial features. Two glistening emerald eyes reflected the raging waves as they pounded against the cliff mercilessly. A strong, firm voice commanded, "Blade Cap, deactivate." The green sword began to shorten, and the handle began to change shape until it became a cap, spinning up into the air before landing squarely on the figure's head.

The figure smiled. "We'd better head on home," he stated to the cap as he began to head down the cliff. In less than a millisecond, he had reached the bottom with a series of lightning-fast leaps and flips. The hat blinked on and off repeatedly in response. The figure grinned, showing perfect white teeth. "Come on, I can taste Mrs. Beasely's homemade chicken already." He streaked across the plain like a green laser, leaving burnt blades of grass in his wake.

*=*=*=*=*

"—and now a report from John Blake, filling in for Cory Delinsow, who has been reported missing. Police are still investigating the situation. John?"

The camera shifted to a young, handsome man in his late 20's. In the background was the remains of the great Ilex Forest. Despite the image of destruction behind him, the reporter's face remained expressionless, his monotone voice completely devoid of emotion. "Thanks, Philip. The weather report has been delayed until the 8 o' clock news, and I will be delivering this special report."

Philip nodded. "Very well, John. Go on."

"Now I'm sure we're all familiar with the famous Ilex Forest. It has stood tall and proud for centuries, preserving what we here in Azalea have taken for granted, serving as a home for all kinds of Pokémon and guarding our peaceful town. But now, as you can see here, the once prosperous forest is now nothing more than kindling." The reporter stepped over a fallen redwood as he continued speaking. "By the looks of it, it seems as if the forest was used as a battleground by either humans or Pokémon. All entrances to the forest have been blocked, and it will be inaccessible pending further investigation. Philip, back to you."

"Now Philip, you said that the forest may have been used as a battleground. Who do you think may have fought here?"

"Hmmm, that's a good question, Philip. Well, judging by the condition of the forest floor, I'd say there were a few Pokémon involved in this fight, although investigators have also picked up scraps of clothing, meaning that there were also people fighting here."

"A mysterious event in a mysterious forest. Thanks, John. And now, for the sports report"

"KYLE!" a loud voice called from the kitchen. "Jin is going to be here soon, and here you are, just sitting there watching TV! Come over here and help me prepare dinner!"

Kyle rolled his eyes he switched off the TV without even getting up. "Coming, Mom." He levitated himself off the chair and floated over to the kitchen. Concentrating for a brief moment, he watched in satisfaction as spoons, forks, and knives flew out of their cabinets and laid themselves neatly on the table. He was just about to finish setting the napkins when two loud knocks resounded throughout the small, quaint house.

[Coming, Jin,] Kyle said telepathically as he teleported himself to the door and opened it.

"Kyle! How's it going, buddy?" Jin's emerald-green eyes lit up in pleasure as he slapped hands with his longtime friend. "Still too lazy to open the door with your hand, I see," he joked as he entered the house and removed his shoes, still smoking from his traveling. He removed the neon green cap from his head, freeing his hair and letting it tumble over his face. He blew his hair out of his view and greeted, "Good evening, Mrs. Beasely! I could smell the chicken from a mile away, and it smells great!"

The kind woman beamed at him. "Why, thank you, Jin. If you boys'll just give me a few minutes, I'll have this dinner ready to go."

Kyle gestured to him from the living room, so Jin flashed to his side.

"Did you hear the news?" Kyle asked as they plopped down together on the couch.

Jin's eyes wandered around the room, but he responded, "No, what was on?"

"There was some accident in Ilex Forest. Some guys were fighting, and it got completely trashed."

Jin's intense eyes locked onto Kyle's, (replace comma with "with") a look of utter shock on his face, his full attention now focused on his friend. "What?"

Kyle nodded halfheartedly. "I don't understand it either. But the place was a mess when I saw it on the newsbroken branches and dead stumps everywhere. And the ground looked like it got torn up by an Earthquake, or some other ground-type Pokémon attack."

Jin shrugged, his gaze drifting once again. "Fissure, maybe. Probably Team Rocket hunting down some wanted criminal." He inhaled deeply. "Damn, I'm so hungry!"

Kyle nodded absently, and was about to say something on the subject of Ilex Forest when his mom's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Jin! Kyle! Dinnertime! Come and get it!"

"YES!" Jin yelled, absolutely euphoric as he blazed into the kitchen in two milliseconds. Kyle shook his head, grinning, and he wondered whether Jin was faster than him if he teleported. He'd have to test that out sometime. Teleporting into his seat, he just smiled and let the smells of freshly baked chicken permeate his nostrils. It didn't get any better than this.

But the conflict in Ilex Forest still nagged at him through the entire meal. He sensed something justnot right about the whole ordeal. He knew it had been more than just a big fight. Kyle wanted to know the purpose of the fight. But the accident was shrouded in mystery and it even had the experts baffled. Kyle seriously contemplated going to the remains of the forest to investigate.

He shrugged to himself as he munched indifferently. Maybe later. For now he would enjoy his meal. But (as he ate the chicken,) for the first time in his life, Kyle grimaced.

Mom's chicken was bitter.

*=*=*=*=*

Jin was amazed at how quickly Kyle had finished his meal. He didn't seem to enjoy it at all. Jin, on the other hand, had seven pieces of chicken, plus heaps of mashed potatoes and corn, and he even managed to polish off an refreshing bowl of ice cream for dessert. What had happened? Questions ran through his head as he and Kyle walked side by side to Jin's home.

"I know what you're thinking." Kyle said slyly. "Sorry, couldn't help it. But anyway, don't worry, I'm alright. It's just that sumthin's not right about that forest thing. I just have a gut feeling."

Jin knew his friend would read his thoughts, and chuckled. "What's there to worry about? The only thing troubling me was that you weren't enjoying your meal, and I could've eaten that chicken for you instead of having it go to waste!"

Kyle laughed. Typical of Jin to think with his stomach. "You want it back? It might be a little digested, but I could teleport the chicken out of my body into your mouth."

Jin gagged. "Heh, no thanks."

The two friends walked a little further, when Kyle sensed that something wasn't right.

Jin sensed it too.

"What the hell? My house!" Jin streaked to where his house had stood no less than two hours ago. It was now nothing more than a pile of burning rubble. "No?"

Kyle stopped dead in his tracks. "What theoh my Godhow did this happen?"

But Jin's ears were unheeding to Kyle's speech. He knelt in front of the smoky remains of the house. "Why?" His volume of his voice went higher as he realized that not even the bodies of his mom and dad had been left behind. The house had been razed to the ground. "WHY? WHAT DID WE EVER DO TO YOU?!?" He was hysterical now, his eyes bloodshot and blazing.

Kyle held out a timid hand. "Jin" He, too, was at a loss of words. He couldn't believe what he'd just experienced, and he'd never seen Jin in such pain. He tried to offer words of comfort, but they merely bounced off him like rocks off a Snorlax.

"ARRRGHH, NOOOO!!!" Jin activated the Blade Cap with a blinding flash of green light, the powerful energy blade glowing with power, and began to madly slash everything in his path. His expression was frantic, his breathing irregular.

[Jin! Get a hold of yourself!] Kyle shouted in Jin's mind. But in his own mind he was completely shocked as well. Who would have the nerve to kill Jin's parents, two of the nicest people living on this earth? It was morally unjust. And unfair. In fact, it was downright evil. Whoever had committed the crime deserved to die.

"WHY?!?" Jin screamed again, this time casting the Blade Cap aside and beginning to glow a bright green. His whole body seemed to be consumed by green fire. "WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?"

[Jin, DON'T!] Kyle cried out in panic. He'd never seen Jin go insane before, but he knew the destructive power he possessed inside his body. He knew innocent lives would be taken if he didn't act quickly. Thinking fast, he set up a powerful psychic shield in front of Jin. He watched helplessly as Jin began to float in the air, his body aflame, streaks of green power surrounding him in a neon tornado. His pupils disappeared as a dark green color Kyle had never seen took their place.

Suddenly Jin doubled over as if dealt a blow in the stomach, but was not in pain. Instead, green energy crackled like lightning down his muscular arms into his hands

"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" With his arms thrown out in front of him and his palms facing forward, Jin exploded in a burst of energy as a gargantuan green beam erupted from his fingertips. The attack was so incredibly strong it simply cut through Kyle's shield like scissors through paper. Kyle's mind was racked by an intense psychic backlash, and his efforts to desperately hold onto consciousness disappeared, just like everything that was unfortunate enough to stand in the beam's path.

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End of Part 2. Copyright © 2001 by DK. E-mail at rpgmaster@netzero.net.

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~ The Blade Cap ~

A mysterious hat that was found by Jin, or rather, the hat "found" him. A light green in color, with a short pair of golden wings protruding from the sides. Can be activated into an energy sword, and possesses many other powers yet unknown. Able to communicate with Jin and Jin only.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Pokémon. Duh, as if this is news to anyone. Pokémon belongs to Nintendo, 4Kids Productions, Creatures, and Gamefreak. So don't sue me. I don't have any money except for the pennies I scrounge off the street and I live in a cardboard box on 123 St. in Ghettoville, USA. Well, maybe that was a slight exaggeration.