A Descent Into Rancor
Part VII- The Scent of Wrath and Kamikaze
I still think I should kill you, Gary spat, taking a stiff drink of some sake he had hidden somewhere on his person. Even though it wasn't necessary to hide anything at the time, some old habits just died hard.
Ash blinked, they had me convinced that he was so drugged that he would snap and kill anyone. When he just started yelling shut-up I thought he was going to freak for sure.
I always knew you were an ass, Gary growled, then his eyes widened, and get your filthy paws off my sister!
May whispered, sitting up in bed for the first time in a long time, please chill. It's been a hard time for all of us, and Ash has been very nice to me since you've been gone.
Awww, fuck it, Gary grumbled, downing more sake than he had before.
Ash rolled his eyes, attempting to change the subject by addressing discourse at Misty. I can't believe you were a spy that long and none of us had any idea.
Misty would have normally retorted by somehow knocking Ash's abilities to observe the obvious, but she simply stared ahead, watching each breath forced inward and outward from Brock's chest. Her eyes were wide but glossy, and she pretty much refused to answer anyone's request for conversation.
I wish you'd tell me what was wrong, Ash sighed, mostly thinking audibly since the only person in the vicinity who heard what he had said was May.
Gary grumbled, I can't believe you have all these awesome abilities and that you're Giovanni's great experiment and you've been a loser for so long! Obviously Shale here was the one to get any brains out of the deal.
Ash looked to the ground, then looked up at Brock. His eyes watered momentarily, and he stood to watch his friend breathe as Misty had been doing.
Ash walked gingerly over to Brock's bed, running his fingers over Brock's lightly clinched, clammy palm.
Gary stood as Ash did this, ready to pounce for any reason. He nearly reached for a weapon as Ash put a hand to Brock's cheek, letting the warm flush of healing blood which warmed his friend's body creep into his palm.
I'm so sorry Brock, Ash whispered. If I had killed you, I would have followed.
Damn straight you would have, Gary snarled, as he had been listening intently to any sound which escaped Ash's mouth.
May frowned. Stop being so defensive! Ash isn't going to kill Brock.
He almost did, Gary narrowed his eyes, his glare never escaping Ash.
There's nothing I can ever do to fix it, either, Ash admitted, turning to May with the frostbite of a personal hell behind his eyes.
The past is in the past, May assured, patting a spot on her bed for Ash to return to. Don't kick yourself forever, although my brother may try to make you.
Don't touch Shale, Gary growled through clenched teeth, and don't touch my sister. I will never forgive you for what you tried to do.
Ash's eyebrows furrowed in angst as he turned to Gary, I have been friends with Brock longer than you have been, and I was told something that wasn't true. I still don't forgive myself, but I will touch him and try to get his forgiveness if I want to!
Like hell, Gary began, stepping forward towards Ash. He was only stopped by Misty as she stood in front of Gary, appearing there almost as if she had teleported. The stare she gave him was filled with more threat than Gary's glare could hope to achieve if he had a billion eyes.
Ash backed away from Brock's sleeping figure, sitting next to May once again.
It was nice to have the liberty of being in the Espiritu hospital instead of a public one. They knew the doctor and the beds were much more comfortable. The rooms were more commodious in general, and there was a certain leniency given to the patients that wasn't present in any public hospital.
Gary sat with his head in his hands for a while, letting the steady beep of Brock's heart monitor totally inebriate his mind. He was about ready to explode when he finally decided to stand up. Misty had gone back to staring blankly, and Ash was sitting on a chair next to the bed of a napping May Oak.
Gary sauntered over to Brock's bed, drowning in blood which had consumed his face, causing him to take on a very deep flush. He didn't like the sight of Brock's nose covered in a blood-stained bandage, but at least he wasn't looking at a corpse with a blood-stained, gaping hole in the back of his head.
Gary sucked up his desire to flood with the sentiments he'd been storing away in his mind since he'd recovered from the incident with the Mistake, and he merely grasped Brock's hand gently.
We'll pull through this, he assured.
It was almost positive. Most of Brock's current incapacitation was due to mental anguish rather than physical problems. He prayed that Brock would wake from his sleep soon.
Something soft resided beneath Brock's hand, and he twitched his fingers gently against it. Light tried to sift in between his tightly shut eyelids, and they quivered in response, but he was too drained to open them at that moment. His tongue and throat reeked of metal, and his head felt stuffed with saw dust.
Where um I? he muttered stuffily, as if his tongue had dried into a ball of cotton.
said the voice above him, and the hand holding his squeezed it gently for a moment.
Brock mumbled again, gently stroking the hand. The hand's owner pulled away quickly, and Brock felt suddenly cold.
I guess he wants to talk to you, Gary muttered, and then once again, after a moment of reluctance, someone was holding Brock's hand.
Don't try and stay awake, this person advised in a whisper, also putting a hand to his head to gently stroke his temples. You need to sleep, trust me. You were on a major overload of nerve calming chemicals.
Brock's eyes welled with tears as his skin felt incredibly sensitive and almost painfully receptive to the light touches he received on his hand and temple from the girl. He tried to reach his hand out to touch her cheek, but it wouldn't rise as he had mentally commanded it. It was much too tired. A tear splashed from one closed eye to his lips as he realized he couldn't do this, and Misty brushed the moisture away.
It was hot and it was stuffy and restless, all of which contributed to Brock feeling as if his heart was going to suddenly burst. His temples began to throb as they continued to be stroked gently, and the tears just kept coming.
Don't cry, Misty whispered, delicately enough to make Brock cry more. She held her palms below his ears and stroked away each falling tear with her thumbs. It's all right, you're home now.
Brock's breathing deepened, and his head tumbled sideways as to press upon Misty's hand even more. He had no idea what she was doing there, but he knew that he didn't want her to leave by any means.
I love you, he whispered while trying to brush his lips on her hand. He was still drowsy, and his eyes hadn't opened since he became quasi conscious while lying there, so he didn't really feel the consequence of what he had said.
I love you too, Misty consoled as blood flushed to her face. Her eyes began to gloss over with moisture as well.
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Brock woke completely to a chill induced by the night. He'd slept so long that day that he was completely awake in the night.
But it was better that way.
Ash, Misty and Gary had all crashed out on chairs in the room, a tiny hospital room in the Cerulean City Gym. He surely couldn't be taken to a normal hospital, and the Espiritu's had their own doctors and technology. Great technology. It was why Gary was alive at that point.
Brock sat up from his bed, his feet falling off the bed and touching the cold tile floor below.
He walked across the room gingerly to a desk where he knew there was pen and paper. He drew the necessary materials, and listened to the scratch of the pen with anxiety, hoping that his scrawlings wouldn't wake anyone up.
My Friends, his letter began.
I have unfinished business in Team Rocket. I'm sorry that I've failed you all, but after this moment it will not happen again. I probably won't be coming back, so know that I love you all.
Knowing that Gary is alive and I didn't kill him has given me strength, but the pain that I caused him and Misty and all of you needs to be repaid. With what I'm about to do, everyone that caused you pain will die at once.
I don't know if there could have been something between us, Misty, but know that I did love you with all of my soul. Take care of Gary, and never think that I ever meant to hurt you.
Goodbye--you might never find out what has become of me, but I love you. I love you all.
--Brock
He placed his letter on his bed where he knew it would be found.
Was that a suicide note? he contemplated as he stealthily left the room, trying to open and shut the door with as little sound as possible.
He checked his jacket pockets as he often did before a hit. This time, however, he didn't need any kind or manner of drugs to stay calm, and he strode with confidence to the building in which his fate resided.
No wind flustered his face as he walked, and no contortion or movement graced its edifice as he moved stealthily toward his goal, walking in the hopes of reaching it near dawn. His determination was almost mockable as his face was distorted with the bandages which were the result of his broken nose, but even the most farcical appearances his face could have taken didn't keep his fortitude from bleeding all over his aura.
He suddenly sensed something, as he was begining to be able to, as he walked--this sense being a rancid feeling which struck chords against his mind like a child banging haplessly on a piano. A shifting breeze flustered his back, and he didn't even turn to face that which he knew was present.
Go away, he said calmly, I'm going to go kill Giovanni. You don't have any reason to be here.
The presence stepped closer, however. Brock's pulse began to quicken as he didn't feel like dying before accomplishing his goal. He whipped around quickly, drawing his gun with such speed that nothing aside from a huge, psychic aberration would be able to escape his fury.
However, upon turning around, all that could be seen was a red glimmer of a light which had just departed moments before, and a hulking figure surrounded in red lightning begining to blend in with the starless, blue-black canvas in the air.
Breath escaped Brock's lips slowly as he turned back around, regaining his stride. Though he became a bit more shaken, he was grateful that he'd be able to continue on to do what he had to. He wasn't sure what the Mistakes were or what Giovanni had done to piss them off, but he did have a feeling that the common hatred would spare his life.
What about Katie? a voice asked him, a voice from within.
I've given up hope, Brock answered himself, the cage isn't real, so she was probably killed.
What if she wasn't? the voice began to fade, but was still audible. Suppressing his logic was difficult, but he was becoming successful.
She was, Brock closed his eyes and sniffled, Giovanni would have killed her the second I defied Team Rocket.
It wasn't as if he could have avoided that tragedy--he didn't know that there was no Cage at that point, and it's not as if he could have gone through with hurting Misty.
he sighed.
He knew none of his loves could ever be, so avenging them was the least he could do.
The dust-graced path which his feet treaded upon began to notably shorten in distance from his destination, and the sun began to peek over at the horizon, as if scared to rise and illuminate a colorful earth on what would be a day filled with shades of gray and darkness.
Brock closed his eyes and nodded at the building. Few people remained in it as anyone besides security had gone home for the night and wouldn't be returning until a respectable hour of day.
I guess I'll be able to plan a surprise party, Brock dispatched in an enthused manner, but his body language reeked of resignation.
Brock ascended to the floor of Giovanni's office by means of the fire escape stairs, and he did it quietly at that. He supposed that Giovanni didn't have the foresight to place security outside the building, and he moved boldly toward the end window on the desired floor, peeking in momentarily to see if all was safe. His eyes were met with a room filled with various pokemon, probably a kennel of sorts for vacationing Rockets. They slept in large cages in the room, probably waiting to be taken out for exercise in the morning.
Brock rubbed his dry hands together, feeling the morning chill temporarily dissipate as he did so.
He used his newfound strength to open the window. Though the action wasn't particularly quiet, the pokemon inside didn't startle and begin to make noise. Their heads turned as he climbed through the window and into the room, but they were used to strange and furtive occurrences from being owned by various rocket members.
Brock tiptoed across the room to the door, unable to open it at first in fear that he would startle guards walking around in the hall outside. He knew he couldn't just stand immobile in that room all day, however, and with a deep breath he gently twisted the handle, cracking the door open so as to scan the hallway, hopefully unnoticed.
He gulped hard as he was met with a scene of about twenty security guards pacing in front of Giovanni's office.
The bastard is expecting me, Brock spat, astounded by the length of Giovanni's precautionary measures.
The guards weren't armed lightly, either. Giovanni knew that Brock could easily wipe out their numbers, guns or not. But these guards had dogs, stun guns, assault rifles with silencers, and some odd computer-like devices which rested at their belts.
I can still take them, he mumbled under his breath, then grabbed his gun from his jacket and stood against the door, preparing himself to run out and ambush them.
He stood for a moment, trying to let his heart calm down.
Roll! an impulse suddenly sprang into his head, and he somersaulted to the ground, rolling behind one of the metal pokemon cages. He finally landed behind the very last one, as it was also his premonition that this was necessary.
The computer machines were motion and heat detectors.
They knew Brock was in there the whole time.
The world seemed to fade into slow motion, even more so than it usually did when Brock was in a battle, one against an army. He noticed every splinter of dawn's light which glanced the metal cages right before lead began to pour into the room from the door, blasting straight through the metal, splintering it and the pokemon in the cages into pieces. Brock screamed uncontrollably as metal flew into the air above him and landed in his skin. He covered his face with his arms, and his eyes shut tightly as he began to sob, the noise, the pain, the surprise, and the failure of his mission combined driving him into madness.
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Ash yelled, flinging himself awake. It was morning, but only about four thirty a.m. He's gone!
Misty shook her head, then looked at Brock's bed. Shit! I should have known this would happen!
Ash suddenly began to sob, wiping at his arms and legs as if they were being bitten by a million spiders. No, GONE gone!
May jumped up from her bed as well, and she was well enough to rush over to Ash and put her hands around his waist. Calm down! What happened?
Ash sobbed, he's dead! I know he is! Dead!
Where is he? Misty jumped over to Ash, putting her hands on his shoulders. He went to Rocket Headquarters, didn't he?
Ash just began to howl more, and Misty stood away from him, shaking.
Why is the loser freaking out? Gary's eyes widened.
Something must have happened to Brock, Misty shook her head. We knew that he had premonition, but not like this--
Wait wait, Gary shook his head, you're trying to tell me that the loser psychically knows that Shale is hurt?
I don't know for sure, Misty gulped. It might be because of a bond formed during the cloning process, we--we don't know all that much about it.
Gary began harshly, but was interrupted.
Misty yelled into his face, her piss and vinegar returning in the form of impatience. Who the hell cares? We've just got to find him!
For once in his life, Gary was silenced. He didn't even reply to her, he ran for the door.
Misty looked to Ash, believing that he would be too incapacitated to leave, but she noticed he was gone too, already running for the door.
Misty nodded and followed suit, not even taking the time to change from her pajamas.
Time wasn't theirs to behold, and any time wasted could mean Brock's death, if he wasn't already dead.
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You just should have followed orders, Giovanni shook his head, standing authoritatively over the shell and stain that once was Brock. You thought you were too good, you thought you were better than me.
A slight twitch manifested itself in Brock's palm, though his eyes remained shut tightly, tightly and as unmoving as death.
I wonder if that was the wind, Giovanni muttered, then his concern drove into a smirk once again. Maybe you are still alive. Maybe you can learn even more of a lesson than you did by being shot into certain death.
Giovanni clapped his hands twice, and two rocket grunts entered to room with a screaming child in their arms. Jessie and James and Meowth were being dragged in on ropes behind them by another set of Rocket Grunts.
one of the grunts coughed, these two wouldn't give up the girl. We had to take her by force. Two rockets were killed before we were able to.
Giovanni seemed taken by surprise at the actions of the usually futile team, but his moment of weakness was quickly covered again by confidence and a smirk.
I guess we'll have to kill them too, then, Giovanni shook his head.
the grunt replied, drawing his gun.
No no, Giovanni held up his hand, and the grunt's gun went limp in his arm.
First things first, Giovanni clenched his fists, then walked up to Katie. If you can hear me, Shale, I demand that you tell me the name of the other experiment, or she dies.
Giovanni pulled a switchblade from his pocket and pressed it to her throat.
And not comfortably, either, he added.
I dunno what you're talking about, Brock tried to reply although he was barely conscious. It came out as not more than an incomprehensible mumble, but somehow Giovanni understood him.
You don't? Giovanni drove the knife tip into Katie's throat, then pulled it out, letting a stream of blood begin. Jessie, James and Meowth began to scream despite their gags as they heard Katie's scream from behind them, and Brock would have winced if he was physically able to.
He really didn't know how he spoke in the first place.
Don't think for a second that I'll believe the espiritu's didn't tell you about the other experiment when they got to you, he announced. It is my experiment, and it is impertinent that i have it for my future plans.
Protection from the Mistakes, you mean, Brock thought.
Brock tried to move his arms to grab a gun and blow the balls right off of Giovanni, but as his life ebbed away, he was unable to even open his mouth again to speak. Somehow tears found their way out of his eyes.
My fault.
He thought as death crept into his skin.
Katie's going to die. Misty and Gary won't be avenged, all because I was impetuous.
Brock still kept trying like damn to move his arms, but it became harder and harder to attempt to move his arms as he did so. He was removed from the pain of it all. He knew he was bleeding from hundreds of places in his body, and that he had bullet holes in his stomach and in his legs and in his arms shards of metal in even more places than that, but he didn't feel any of it. His impending death shot waves of soothing numbness into his body. It became harder and harder to even think about his mission. He was begining to shut off entirely, to just shut down like a computer or a video game.
The only thing he could feel was cold.
And he was consumed by it, by a freezing cold instigated by loss of blood, by a chill of solitary that came from dying without being able to say goodbye to those he loved, even though he admittedly had committed suicide.
Tell me who the other experiment is, Giovanni asked again, not realizing how far gone Brock really was. I'll kill her if you don't.
No movement or sound came from Brock.
Giovanni began to sweat, then ran up to Brock and kicked him.
Tell me who!
Ash Ketchum! A voice shouted from behind him, and a throng of warriors bent on saving their friend stood angrily behind the door.
Giovanni's face fell as he realized the security they must have gotten through in order to reach him.
Both Giovanni and Ash drew weapons as soon as they realized each other's intentions, although Ash was much faster. His inhibition to kill, however, kept the gun pointed at Giovanni rather than firing at him. The grunts pointed their guns at Ash as well, but they knew that if he was the good clone and Shale, the executioner, was the bad, then they really wouldn't stand a chance.
You're a fool, Giovanni laughed, then pulled the trigger.
However, he was bloodied and on the ground before it was possible to do so, seeing as Ash saw the gunshot coming.
The grunts didn't bother firing. They tossed their weapons away and fell to the floor, their arms behind their backs.
Both Misty and Gary shouted at once, running over to the fallen child's side.
Katie stood in shock, just watching as Ash released Jessie, James and Meowth from the ropes which held them. She could hardly breathe as she watched Misty caress a stain on the ground, as she watched her passionately kiss lips which were dead in every visible sense.
She couldn't even break down to cry as Gary grabbed the hands of his beloved friend and pressed them to his face, babbling incoherently about love and trading places with him.
Ash joined Katie in a state of shock after the prisoners were freed. Katie was soon to be hugged and reassured by her temporary foster family, however, and she brought herself to be able to cry.
The shadows of the trees pressed themselves against the ground as the sun moved higher into the sky, able to lift itself from its rest as the wrath-induced Kamikaze which had wracked the building faded into a a slightly less volatile sadness and disbelief.
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A/N: Whoa, I ditched you guys at a cliffhanger. Don't worry, though, the next chapter is the end, and it will come soon. I only have two more days left of school, so I should be writing a lot more (like I used to) when Summer rolls around again. Sorry these keep getting shorter. The next chapter will be nice and long since it's the last one, and since I'll have a lot more time to work on it. ^_^ I hope you like this story, even a little.