OH YES!!! KERMIT!!! Kai, Rosita, Tora, Maradonna and KERMIT!!! YAY!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter twenty-five - Freedom!!
Jetstorm choked on a piece of wire they had forced down his throat ('they' being the Scientists) He was scrabbling at his throat in an attempt to get it out. He yakked it up and saw it was a shiny piece of metal with a tracking device. He had a gut feeling Team Rocket had something to do with this. He also had a gut feeling he was going to be ill. But he wasn't. It was pitch black where he was sitting in a cage, and he could hear somebody crying. He sent out Arcanine and Arcanine lit some lanterns that were scattered around the room. He looked around and was faintly disgusted by what he saw.
Topaz was in a small cage on the far wall with her Wigglytuff. As for Jacko, he was out cold in the corner. Sam was in a cage, but his hands were through two wrist holes in a mincer, so he couldn't pull his hand back (Jetstorm winced). Killa was in a corner-cage, obviously attempting to gnaw her arm off. Her face was bloodstained, as were her clothes. As Jetstorm watched, she began to sway back and forth a little, then she collapsed, Jetstorm presumed, of blood loss. He saw a glint of a fabulous sapphire blue light, but he looked away. He looked back and stared hard in the direction of the light. He saw two brilliantly blue eyes. A boy stepped out of the shadows. He was dragging one foot behind him as he strained and struggled his way over to Jetstorm. Jetstorm flicked out his penknife, ready to attack the boy. He stopped short and raised both hands to beside his head. He lowered his arms and Jetstorm flicked the knife away again.
"So, you must be the new arrivals." Said the boy
"What of it?" Asked Jetstorm.
"Hey, what's with the snapping? I'm in just the same sinking boat as you."
"Hmm…" murmured Jetstorm, still unsure.
"Look, I can't hurt you and you can't reach me."
"Try me."
"Well, I'm chained to this cannonball here, and that is chained to the wall over there. I can't move any farther forward than this."
Jetstorm regarded the boy with a sullen glare. The boy smiled and shook his head.
"I'm Kai. What's your name?" Said the boy
"Jetstorm" Nodded Jetstorm
"What ya in for?" Asked Kai
"No idea. But certainly not to be asked stupid questions."
Kai frowned.
"I can get you outta here." Said Kai
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. There is a way."
Jetstorm was suddenly interested.
"Why haven't YOU escaped if you know how?"
"Well, A. I'M TIED TO A WALL YOU DOOFUS! And B. I'm part of a resistance group. I got the short straw. Y'see we're anti-research centre and I was voted to be in on the action. The Scientists think I'm stupid, but they can't work out why all their prisoners keep escaping!"
Jetstorm had been listening to all this with quite some amusement.
"You? Resistance? THAT'S THE STUPIDEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD!"
"Why?"
"Err… I… We… well, It just is." Stammered Jetstorm.
Kai had lost interest.
"So, I guess you wanna stay in here then."
"No…"
Kai laughed to himself and looked back round at Jetstorm.
"Hey! They don't have your Pokéballs!"
Jetstorm picked them up and returned Arcanine to his ball.
"No, I guess they…!"
A Scientist snatched the Pokéballs from his hands.
"HOT DAMN!"
Kai laughed again.
"What you laughing' at?" glowered Jetstorm
Kai smiled sideways and dragged his cannonball and rope over to the shadows again.
"No! Wait… Don't go. At least tell me who else is in the room, coz I can't see a thing." Said Jetstorm
"Whatever." Said Kai as he lifted the ball and staggered to the other side of the room.
"Hey! Hey! HEY YOU!" Whispered Kai fiercely
"Wha…? Whoa! Where'd you spring from?"
"Doesn't matter. Your name?"
"Andre."
"I'm Kai… Here…" Said Kai.
Kai picked the lock on Andre's cage.
"Gee! Thanks Kai!" Said Andre
"SSH! Keep your voice down" hissed Kai.
"Now, keep your mouth shut and follow me."
"I wanna help"
"You wanna help? Here, carry this if you want to help."
Kai handed Andre the cannonball. Andre dropped the ball on his foot.
"YOW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OWW!" Screeched Andre.
Kai held Andre's mouth shut.
"No. I'm going to take my hand away from your mouth okay? And you are going to keep it shut. Understood?" Whispered Kai savagely.
Andre nodded meekly and sat near Jacko in an attempt to wake him up. Sam soon joined him with Jig, Tyra, Brock, Topaz, Atomic, Jetstorm, Misty, Tracey, Jemima, Sillabub, John, Jacob, Manic, Scribbles, Ember, Duplica, Zak and another girl with long golden hair and a small tattoo on the back of her left hand.
"WHERE'S ASH!?" Asked Misty
"Go get him out!" She hissed
"What does he look like?" Asked the girl with long hair. "I'm Tora by the way!"
Brock liquefied (To Tora's utmost horror) around her feet
"Oh, Just above my height, red and white hat, blue waistcoat doo-baa, jeans, trainers not welly-boots, ridiculously bad haircut, black hair." Said Jemima.
"Oh HIM… He was annoying me so I left him in his cage." Said Tora
"Go get him out!" Hissed Misty once more
"Tora!" Sighed Kai
Kai disappeared and reappeared with Ash a little while later.
"Wait here a moment…"
Kai disappeared and returned dragging a silent form of a girl.
"Know her? I hope not. If it is, you just lost a friend." Said Tora
"TORA! Don't be so unfeeling!"
"Sorry Kai, but I'm only telling the truth."
"No need to be quite so blunt is there though?"
"It is… her…" Said Tracey as he dropped to his knees beside her body.
He put his hand over her heart, then moved his hand to the right a little, where he found a pocket, put his hand in and withdrew it with his bandanna.
"It's… RED!"
"IT'S ALWAYS BEEN RED YOU FREAK!"
Tracey laughed nervously.
Kai looked at Killa.
"Wait a second… red hair… black eyes… black and white clothes… small… KILLA?!"
"Yes, that is Killa. What are you, Psychic?" said Tracey sarcastically.
"Killa. My little Killa… sister…. My sister Killa…"
"WHAT? REALLY? So she DOES exist!" Said Tora, astonished.
"Rosita, Maradonna and I told you didn't we! Didn't we!" Laughed Kai
"Right, you guys can camp with us tonight!"
Kai lifted the still form of Killa on to his back and Tora helped him to move a small boulder from a passage. Kai slid into the passage with Killa and waited for the others to join him. It was a small, dimly lit corridor and the others soon joined him, Manic and John were, between them carrying Jacko. After what seemed like hours, they came to a smaller passage, so on their hands and knees they crawled for an age, then they reached the end of the passage. Kai moved aside a small rock to reveal a sunlit forest.
"Woah! Were we really in there that long?" Asked Sam, brushing his knuckles gently.
"Yes. You were all sleeping." Said Kai.
Kai ran ahead with Killa and into a gorge. He just kept on running until he reached a set of tents. The others caught up with him after a few minutes.
"HEY! ROSITA! MARADONNA! COME AND SEE WHO'S HERE!"
A girl with black hair tore out of the nearest tent and a boy with blonde hair stumbled out of the next.
"What's all the fuss about?" He asked.
"We've found Killa… But she needs help."
"But we can't heal, Kai" said the girl
"I know… perhaps Kermit could help…?"
"I'll go find him. He can't be far."
The girl ran off.
"That was my sister, Rosita, and this is my 'gossip-head' of a brother, Maradonna."
Maradonna scowled and walked into a marquee. He returned a few minutes later with a bandage. He put it round Killa's wrist and then rinsed the blood off her arms and face. Rosita came running back.
" "He's on his way."
"Good."
"Oh, and by the way, these are our guests for this evening."
"Pleasure to meet your acquaintances!" Said Rosita
"What are your names?"
"Well, I'm Sam"
"Samantha." Said Jemima
"I'm Brock"
"Brocko" Said Jemima
"I'm Manic"
"Maniac." Said Jemima
"I'm Ember"
"Flamie." Said Jemima
"I'm Misty."
"Foggy" Said Jemima
"I'm Ash."
"Ashy-boy." Said Jemima
"I'm Topaz"
"Tipsy" Said Jemima
"I'm Jetstorm."
"Stormy" Said Jemima
"I'm Duplica."
"Ditto" Said Jemima
"I'm Atomic"
"Bombie" Said Jemima
"I'm Tracey"
"Tracing Paper" Said Jemima
"I'm Scribbles."
"Doodles" Said Jemima
"I'm Andre"
"Sealion." Said Jemima
"I'm Sillabub."
"Sir Squillabub Willabub. The Prune-eater" Said Jemima
"I'm Jacob."
"Jay" Said Jemima
"I'm john."
"Idio… Arki." Said Jemima
"I'm Tyra"
"Tyres." Said Jemima
"I'm Zak"
"Yak." Said Jemima
"I'm Jig"
"Jigger. #I really really really wanna Jig-a-Jig-ahh!" Said Jemima
By now everyone was glaring at Jemima.
"WHAT?" she asked
"Oh yeah, I'm Jemima!"
"TROUBLE!" Chorused everyone.
Jemima scowled.
"Oh, by the way… hadn't we better help Jackie?"
"Jackie?" Asked Rosita
"Oh, Jackie is his NICKNAME! His real name is Jacko!"
An old, rather bedraggled Mr. Mime swaggered up.
"KERMIT!" Shouted Rosita.
"Yes. That is me."
"Could you help these two people please?"
"Hmmm… Could be a little tricky. I can deal with him, but for her I'll need my herbs, and they are at home."
"I'll get them for you."
"There's a good girl. They are in the drawer upstairs, next to the bedroom sink. Don't look under the saucepan." Said Kermit. With that he used psychic power to jump-start Jacko. Jacko leapt up and then sat back down again.
"Was it all… a dream?" he asked
Kai shook his head.
"'Fraid not. No such luck. They have your Pokémon."
"Dag' 'nammit!"
Rosita came running back. Her face was totally black.
"YOU looked under the saucepan didn't you."
Rosita nodded meekly.
"You found the Voltorb didn't you."
Rosita nodded again.
Kermit shook his head. He took the herbs from Rosita and put them on Killa's wrist. He bandaged over them and nodded to Kai and Maradonna, who carried her into the marquee-sized tent.
"Anyway, I'm Kermit the ex-hermit. You might meet my brothers if you are moving on soon. That would be Kermit de tecond and Kermit the third, and of course Kermit the Farf. Kermit the third prefers to be known as Kermit de turd, so If you DO meet him, just humour him."
"Uh… Kermit, sir? What will happen to my friend? She was washed away in the river inside the research centre."
"She will be washed out to sea. But there's no storm forecast, I can't sense one… Wait Ponyta can, if there is one. Rosita! Could you get Ponyta?"
"Sure Kermit."
Rosita came back with a Ponyta.
"Ponyta? Is there a storm on the horizon?"
The Ponyta neighed and nodded.
"Oh crumbs… Well, I don't suppose she'll drown. I'm sure she'll end up in the Adventure islands someplace."
This was no comfort to Jemima. Her best friend had been washed out to sea, a storm was on its way and an old Mr. Mime told her Vicky'd end up on some sad little islands, the whereabouts of which she didn't know. She sat down hard on the floor.
"Don't worry Mima" Said Sillabub "She'll be fine. Nothing could drown or kill her. Not even a million Gyarados.
"Remember when I joined Team Secret. It took a long time, but we persevered. And as you said at the time: 'Nobody could push Vicky out, Not even a thousand Rhydon'"
Jemima nodded and remembered that, because she had Vicky's Pokéballs before, she'd had time to Teleport six away to Persian Island!
"POKÉBALLS! GO!"
Out came Mewtwo, Mew, UltraMew, Karinkat, Squirtle and Jynx. That meant the scientists had Jemima's Lapras, Ninetales and her Persian! And they also had Vicky's Blastoise, Marril and Golem!
"AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! THEY GOT PERSIAN!" Screeched Jemima.
Kai walked out of the tent with his hands over his ears, then he put one hand over Jemima's mouth.
"Look, we can get your precious Pokémon back tomorrow. In the meantime, put them back in their balls." Said Kai. He was talking about Mew, UltraMew and Mewtwo. Mew and UltraMew were playing Tag and Mewtwo was blasting them with powerful bolts of Psychic energy. Jemima called them back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter twenty-five - Freedom!!
Jetstorm choked on a piece of wire they had forced down his throat ('they' being the Scientists) He was scrabbling at his throat in an attempt to get it out. He yakked it up and saw it was a shiny piece of metal with a tracking device. He had a gut feeling Team Rocket had something to do with this. He also had a gut feeling he was going to be ill. But he wasn't. It was pitch black where he was sitting in a cage, and he could hear somebody crying. He sent out Arcanine and Arcanine lit some lanterns that were scattered around the room. He looked around and was faintly disgusted by what he saw.
Topaz was in a small cage on the far wall with her Wigglytuff. As for Jacko, he was out cold in the corner. Sam was in a cage, but his hands were through two wrist holes in a mincer, so he couldn't pull his hand back (Jetstorm winced). Killa was in a corner-cage, obviously attempting to gnaw her arm off. Her face was bloodstained, as were her clothes. As Jetstorm watched, she began to sway back and forth a little, then she collapsed, Jetstorm presumed, of blood loss. He saw a glint of a fabulous sapphire blue light, but he looked away. He looked back and stared hard in the direction of the light. He saw two brilliantly blue eyes. A boy stepped out of the shadows. He was dragging one foot behind him as he strained and struggled his way over to Jetstorm. Jetstorm flicked out his penknife, ready to attack the boy. He stopped short and raised both hands to beside his head. He lowered his arms and Jetstorm flicked the knife away again.
"So, you must be the new arrivals." Said the boy
"What of it?" Asked Jetstorm.
"Hey, what's with the snapping? I'm in just the same sinking boat as you."
"Hmm…" murmured Jetstorm, still unsure.
"Look, I can't hurt you and you can't reach me."
"Try me."
"Well, I'm chained to this cannonball here, and that is chained to the wall over there. I can't move any farther forward than this."
Jetstorm regarded the boy with a sullen glare. The boy smiled and shook his head.
"I'm Kai. What's your name?" Said the boy
"Jetstorm" Nodded Jetstorm
"What ya in for?" Asked Kai
"No idea. But certainly not to be asked stupid questions."
Kai frowned.
"I can get you outta here." Said Kai
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. There is a way."
Jetstorm was suddenly interested.
"Why haven't YOU escaped if you know how?"
"Well, A. I'M TIED TO A WALL YOU DOOFUS! And B. I'm part of a resistance group. I got the short straw. Y'see we're anti-research centre and I was voted to be in on the action. The Scientists think I'm stupid, but they can't work out why all their prisoners keep escaping!"
Jetstorm had been listening to all this with quite some amusement.
"You? Resistance? THAT'S THE STUPIDEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD!"
"Why?"
"Err… I… We… well, It just is." Stammered Jetstorm.
Kai had lost interest.
"So, I guess you wanna stay in here then."
"No…"
Kai laughed to himself and looked back round at Jetstorm.
"Hey! They don't have your Pokéballs!"
Jetstorm picked them up and returned Arcanine to his ball.
"No, I guess they…!"
A Scientist snatched the Pokéballs from his hands.
"HOT DAMN!"
Kai laughed again.
"What you laughing' at?" glowered Jetstorm
Kai smiled sideways and dragged his cannonball and rope over to the shadows again.
"No! Wait… Don't go. At least tell me who else is in the room, coz I can't see a thing." Said Jetstorm
"Whatever." Said Kai as he lifted the ball and staggered to the other side of the room.
"Hey! Hey! HEY YOU!" Whispered Kai fiercely
"Wha…? Whoa! Where'd you spring from?"
"Doesn't matter. Your name?"
"Andre."
"I'm Kai… Here…" Said Kai.
Kai picked the lock on Andre's cage.
"Gee! Thanks Kai!" Said Andre
"SSH! Keep your voice down" hissed Kai.
"Now, keep your mouth shut and follow me."
"I wanna help"
"You wanna help? Here, carry this if you want to help."
Kai handed Andre the cannonball. Andre dropped the ball on his foot.
"YOW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OW-OWW!" Screeched Andre.
Kai held Andre's mouth shut.
"No. I'm going to take my hand away from your mouth okay? And you are going to keep it shut. Understood?" Whispered Kai savagely.
Andre nodded meekly and sat near Jacko in an attempt to wake him up. Sam soon joined him with Jig, Tyra, Brock, Topaz, Atomic, Jetstorm, Misty, Tracey, Jemima, Sillabub, John, Jacob, Manic, Scribbles, Ember, Duplica, Zak and another girl with long golden hair and a small tattoo on the back of her left hand.
"WHERE'S ASH!?" Asked Misty
"Go get him out!" She hissed
"What does he look like?" Asked the girl with long hair. "I'm Tora by the way!"
Brock liquefied (To Tora's utmost horror) around her feet
"Oh, Just above my height, red and white hat, blue waistcoat doo-baa, jeans, trainers not welly-boots, ridiculously bad haircut, black hair." Said Jemima.
"Oh HIM… He was annoying me so I left him in his cage." Said Tora
"Go get him out!" Hissed Misty once more
"Tora!" Sighed Kai
Kai disappeared and reappeared with Ash a little while later.
"Wait here a moment…"
Kai disappeared and returned dragging a silent form of a girl.
"Know her? I hope not. If it is, you just lost a friend." Said Tora
"TORA! Don't be so unfeeling!"
"Sorry Kai, but I'm only telling the truth."
"No need to be quite so blunt is there though?"
"It is… her…" Said Tracey as he dropped to his knees beside her body.
He put his hand over her heart, then moved his hand to the right a little, where he found a pocket, put his hand in and withdrew it with his bandanna.
"It's… RED!"
"IT'S ALWAYS BEEN RED YOU FREAK!"
Tracey laughed nervously.
Kai looked at Killa.
"Wait a second… red hair… black eyes… black and white clothes… small… KILLA?!"
"Yes, that is Killa. What are you, Psychic?" said Tracey sarcastically.
"Killa. My little Killa… sister…. My sister Killa…"
"WHAT? REALLY? So she DOES exist!" Said Tora, astonished.
"Rosita, Maradonna and I told you didn't we! Didn't we!" Laughed Kai
"Right, you guys can camp with us tonight!"
Kai lifted the still form of Killa on to his back and Tora helped him to move a small boulder from a passage. Kai slid into the passage with Killa and waited for the others to join him. It was a small, dimly lit corridor and the others soon joined him, Manic and John were, between them carrying Jacko. After what seemed like hours, they came to a smaller passage, so on their hands and knees they crawled for an age, then they reached the end of the passage. Kai moved aside a small rock to reveal a sunlit forest.
"Woah! Were we really in there that long?" Asked Sam, brushing his knuckles gently.
"Yes. You were all sleeping." Said Kai.
Kai ran ahead with Killa and into a gorge. He just kept on running until he reached a set of tents. The others caught up with him after a few minutes.
"HEY! ROSITA! MARADONNA! COME AND SEE WHO'S HERE!"
A girl with black hair tore out of the nearest tent and a boy with blonde hair stumbled out of the next.
"What's all the fuss about?" He asked.
"We've found Killa… But she needs help."
"But we can't heal, Kai" said the girl
"I know… perhaps Kermit could help…?"
"I'll go find him. He can't be far."
The girl ran off.
"That was my sister, Rosita, and this is my 'gossip-head' of a brother, Maradonna."
Maradonna scowled and walked into a marquee. He returned a few minutes later with a bandage. He put it round Killa's wrist and then rinsed the blood off her arms and face. Rosita came running back.
" "He's on his way."
"Good."
"Oh, and by the way, these are our guests for this evening."
"Pleasure to meet your acquaintances!" Said Rosita
"What are your names?"
"Well, I'm Sam"
"Samantha." Said Jemima
"I'm Brock"
"Brocko" Said Jemima
"I'm Manic"
"Maniac." Said Jemima
"I'm Ember"
"Flamie." Said Jemima
"I'm Misty."
"Foggy" Said Jemima
"I'm Ash."
"Ashy-boy." Said Jemima
"I'm Topaz"
"Tipsy" Said Jemima
"I'm Jetstorm."
"Stormy" Said Jemima
"I'm Duplica."
"Ditto" Said Jemima
"I'm Atomic"
"Bombie" Said Jemima
"I'm Tracey"
"Tracing Paper" Said Jemima
"I'm Scribbles."
"Doodles" Said Jemima
"I'm Andre"
"Sealion." Said Jemima
"I'm Sillabub."
"Sir Squillabub Willabub. The Prune-eater" Said Jemima
"I'm Jacob."
"Jay" Said Jemima
"I'm john."
"Idio… Arki." Said Jemima
"I'm Tyra"
"Tyres." Said Jemima
"I'm Zak"
"Yak." Said Jemima
"I'm Jig"
"Jigger. #I really really really wanna Jig-a-Jig-ahh!" Said Jemima
By now everyone was glaring at Jemima.
"WHAT?" she asked
"Oh yeah, I'm Jemima!"
"TROUBLE!" Chorused everyone.
Jemima scowled.
"Oh, by the way… hadn't we better help Jackie?"
"Jackie?" Asked Rosita
"Oh, Jackie is his NICKNAME! His real name is Jacko!"
An old, rather bedraggled Mr. Mime swaggered up.
"KERMIT!" Shouted Rosita.
"Yes. That is me."
"Could you help these two people please?"
"Hmmm… Could be a little tricky. I can deal with him, but for her I'll need my herbs, and they are at home."
"I'll get them for you."
"There's a good girl. They are in the drawer upstairs, next to the bedroom sink. Don't look under the saucepan." Said Kermit. With that he used psychic power to jump-start Jacko. Jacko leapt up and then sat back down again.
"Was it all… a dream?" he asked
Kai shook his head.
"'Fraid not. No such luck. They have your Pokémon."
"Dag' 'nammit!"
Rosita came running back. Her face was totally black.
"YOU looked under the saucepan didn't you."
Rosita nodded meekly.
"You found the Voltorb didn't you."
Rosita nodded again.
Kermit shook his head. He took the herbs from Rosita and put them on Killa's wrist. He bandaged over them and nodded to Kai and Maradonna, who carried her into the marquee-sized tent.
"Anyway, I'm Kermit the ex-hermit. You might meet my brothers if you are moving on soon. That would be Kermit de tecond and Kermit the third, and of course Kermit the Farf. Kermit the third prefers to be known as Kermit de turd, so If you DO meet him, just humour him."
"Uh… Kermit, sir? What will happen to my friend? She was washed away in the river inside the research centre."
"She will be washed out to sea. But there's no storm forecast, I can't sense one… Wait Ponyta can, if there is one. Rosita! Could you get Ponyta?"
"Sure Kermit."
Rosita came back with a Ponyta.
"Ponyta? Is there a storm on the horizon?"
The Ponyta neighed and nodded.
"Oh crumbs… Well, I don't suppose she'll drown. I'm sure she'll end up in the Adventure islands someplace."
This was no comfort to Jemima. Her best friend had been washed out to sea, a storm was on its way and an old Mr. Mime told her Vicky'd end up on some sad little islands, the whereabouts of which she didn't know. She sat down hard on the floor.
"Don't worry Mima" Said Sillabub "She'll be fine. Nothing could drown or kill her. Not even a million Gyarados.
"Remember when I joined Team Secret. It took a long time, but we persevered. And as you said at the time: 'Nobody could push Vicky out, Not even a thousand Rhydon'"
Jemima nodded and remembered that, because she had Vicky's Pokéballs before, she'd had time to Teleport six away to Persian Island!
"POKÉBALLS! GO!"
Out came Mewtwo, Mew, UltraMew, Karinkat, Squirtle and Jynx. That meant the scientists had Jemima's Lapras, Ninetales and her Persian! And they also had Vicky's Blastoise, Marril and Golem!
"AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! THEY GOT PERSIAN!" Screeched Jemima.
Kai walked out of the tent with his hands over his ears, then he put one hand over Jemima's mouth.
"Look, we can get your precious Pokémon back tomorrow. In the meantime, put them back in their balls." Said Kai. He was talking about Mew, UltraMew and Mewtwo. Mew and UltraMew were playing Tag and Mewtwo was blasting them with powerful bolts of Psychic energy. Jemima called them back.