Chapter 10: Repairing the Portal
"What's going on in here?" a voice said. A man dressed in a white lab coat walked into the room and turned toward the hybrids.
"Great," Naria growled. "Now we have to deal with those who are still have this outpost. Get ready, guys… we're going to have to fight our way out!"
"Actually, they were dealt with a long time ago," the man replied. "I'm an insider of this world." He then looked around. "Where's Kevin?"
Naria explained the situation. The man jumped backwards in shock. "What?!?" the man replied. "How did this happen? I launch an assault, only for my friend to disappear?"
"He really longed that his student came back with him," Naria said. "Because of that, he tarried on the bridge."
"Hmm… He must've had feelings for her," the man said in thought. "However, I must admit I haven't properly introduced myself. I am Warles, a friend of Kevin."
"I'm Naria, a scientist of another world," Naria replied. They shook hands. "Are you a scientist of this world?"
"Scientist, spy, Pokémon trainer… It doesn't matter anymore," Warles said, shrugging and shaking his head. "I just wear this most often because I like to look smart." He then scanned Naria's suit. "If you ask me, no offense, but the suit you're wearing is more like a fashion statement than a scientist."
"It was to depict what company I was working for," Naria explained. "But enough of my world. I'm through with it and plan to live here for the rest of my years."
"Sorry to interrupt your converstion," Rikki interrupted, motioning his hand toward the portal, "but we have to get Kevin from out of there. Do you know how long he can last?"
"It is in our theory that all worlds travel the same time, so if he was rendered unconscious, he should last a little longer," Naria explained. She examined the portal columns. "Unfortunately, these seem to be damaged. I didn't bring any tools, so unless we can find some that can suffice for repairs, there's no way we'll be able to get him out of there."
"We'll have to go back and get some, then," Warles said. "However, they won't believe me if Kevin isn't here, so it won't be free, and I have no way to pay for it."
"Does Kevin just have to be there, or does he have to give a code?" Mirmik suddenly asked.
"A code," Warles answered. "I know it because I've overheard his conversations."
"I see what you mean by it doesn't matter anymore," Naria remarked. Warles did a slight bow.
"So tell me the code," Mirmik said. "After all, with this hybrid form of mine, I can turn into almost anything I have seen perfectly, voice and all."
"A hybrid? Where are your other body features of the Pokémon?" Warles asked.
"I have none," Mirmik replied. "After all, I was created with some creature that resembled a blob, or so it is described to me."
"Ahh… a ditto hybrid, huh?" Warles said, mostly to himself. "Perfect then! We should have a good 'Kevin' mimic here."
* * *
Warles helped everyone fly to Veridian City on his Pokémon he provided. As he flew there, he explained what Mirmik was to do. Once they got to their destination, Warles had no problem convincing Laguna to hide in the forest north of the town, but the others were a different matter.
"I want to help Kevin, too!" Blade insisted. "It is only right, since he helped me!"
"And I admire that, too," Warles said, "but now is not the time. Mirmik, Naria, and I must enter the town. Though Naria's suit will attract attention, 'Kevin' will attract even more. We don't need more than that."
"How do I act? I can mimic even that, if necessary," Mirmik asked.
"Kevin is usually calm and not responsive to those around him unless he feels like it," Warles explained. "However, if it's an emergency that involves something not in the area, he absolutely will not make contact with others unless they are the ones he is trying to get to. And remember, Kevin is stubborn, so always stay in front!"
Once they were ready, Mirmik stepped out of the forest and walked toward the Pokécenter, Warles and Naria following behind. Indeed, Mirmik wasn't even in the town yet and already people were beginning to notice. Halfway from the entrance of town to the Pokécenter, half of the town was staring at each other with wide eyes, wondering what 'Kevin' was doing.
Mirmik entered the Pokécenter with such fierce force that Nurse Joy nearly thought it would shatter. "Kevin!" Nurse Joy shouted. "You're back!!"
"Yes, but we have a predicament here," the disguised Mirmik replied. "I must speak with you and Officer Jenny concerning a delicate matter here, as soon as possible."
Nurse Joy nodded. "I'll get her in here right away!" she declared. She then picked up the phone and contacted Officer Jenny.
So far, so good, Warles thought, glad that the building was empty at the moment. Mirmik glanced back momentarily and nodded, one of 'Kevin's' signals that everything will go well for them. Warles and Naria then went to seat themselves elsewhere.
Officer Jenny arrived, a concerned expression on her face. "I'm here," she said, stepping up to the disguised Mirmik. "Did you want us to talk in a more isolated place? I'm sure that what you want to say should not be said around those two."
"They are actually the reason I'm here," the disguised Mirmik answered. "However, this is not the place to talk about it. Let us speak in the storage room."
Making their way to the back of the building, the five of them headed into the storage area. Nurse Joy turned back to Kevin, the door shut. "Alright, now what is the problem?" she asked.
Mirmik motioned his hand to Naria. "This woman here is Naria," he explained. "I pulled her from another world, as well as several hybrids. They used a portal to connect to our world, and I went in to rescue Pokémon that were already taken."
"The problem we have," Naria interrupted, "is that a hybrid is trapped in between worlds. I can fix the portal device that we used, but I need equipment to repair it."
"Umm…" Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny looked at each other. "Is this true, Kevin?" they asked.
"How many scientists do you know of that dress like this?" Mirmik asked in an irritated tone, motioning his hand at Naria. "How many officers wear this type of suit? How many people? None!"
"True," Officer Jenny said, nodding. She then tilted her head a bit. "What hybrid got left behind?"
"A friend of mine," Warles answered. "The very hybrid that you see before you."
"You mean that there's two of you, Kevin??" Jenny asked.
"Actually, I must confess," Mirmik said. "I'm actually a ditto hybrid, rescued by Kevin. Warles told us, both Naria and I, that we needed supplies to repair a portal and rescue Kevin, and that we couldn't do it unless we either had money or I went disguised as him."
"Kevin?" Joy asked. "Have you been brainwashed by these two?"
Mirmik then transformed perfectly into Warles, then into Naria, and then into his original human form. Both Jenny and Joy looked shocked at Mirmik. After a minute, Joy was able to answer. "So what supplies do you need, exactly?"
* * *
It is nearly time, a man thought. They are almost all here.
A man rubbed the head of his Pikachu, who responded with a delighted, "Chuuu…" He then looked about the area, encompassed by rocky walls. The area was large, so large that he was a speck of dust in the center. All about the hidden crater, Lugia, the Three, the legendary Birds, Ho-oh, Mewtwo, Mew, and Celebi were all in the area.
My messenger has not returned yet… Could this be the reason you are delaying?
"More than that, Celebi," the man replied simply. His voice, though calm, sounded as cold as ice. "If necessary, I will go retrieve him."
What? Lugia asked. Though the words were loud, the man showed no pain. Is this messenger of Celebi's more important than this gathering? Had I known we would tarry this long…
The man said nothing. However, through his expression, his Pikachu knew his emotion on this. To the Pikachu, his trainer seemed to be missing something, but what he did not know.
"Let us continue with the gathering," the Greater Suicune urged the man. "The legends grow restless. We have all arrived and are awaiting—"
"We have not," the man stated. "One member is still missing."
What member of this congregation is missing? Lugia asked impatiently. Ho-oh has come from hiding, the Three have ceased their wandering to approach this, and Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno have traveled far from their homes on the Orange Islands. Lugia stomped one foot into the ground of the area. Even Mewtwo, the legend that is a creation of humans is here! Who else must come to this?!?
The man didn't respond. He began walking toward the entrance which he entered the area, named, 'Hidden Valley.' He didn't even look back when he spoke. "Leave if you wish. I will not hold you back. However, if you are not here when the last arrives, we will proceed without you."
Lugia was half-minded to fly out of Hidden Valley then and there, but he resisted. He then looked down at Celebi, who was calm and seemed to be meditating in the air. You seem calm. What resides in your mind? he asked the faerie-like Legend.
Celebi took his time to reply. So he knows… he said silently. My observer and I said naught and he knows who the last is.
Ahh, yes, Lugia said thoughtfully, you see the flow of time. Therefore you know of the last member. What is his name?
You will know when he arrives, Celebi remarked calmly.