AN – I should mention, before I get to the end, that this story has many layers of organized plot. I don't mean the obvious, that it has lots of plots, but that this story has been in the making for about 5 or 6 years, and that over that period of time, several different versions of the plot have been developed. I realize now as I reread some of the earlier chapters that some of the plot ideas I had when I wrote them and included foreshadowing in them did not quite make it to the latest version of the plot, which means, I'll have to make at least one more version to tie in all those lose ends. Darn for me…
Anyways…
Black
Chapter 6: Shooting Stars
The heart rate monitor on the opposite wall was doing its thing and beeping light at structured intervals. Boring. But apart from that, there wasn't much else to watch, and nothing at all to do. Meowth sat in his cage staring blankly out of it. That scientist had returned, but didn't mention anything to him about the personality 'deletion'. Actually, he wasn't even interested in Meowth. When he came in, he went over to check the Pokemon in the cage next to Meowth. He wrote some things on his clipboard, nodded while muttering in approval, and left, all the while the lab creature was sleeping soundly. Meowth glanced at him again, coming out of his trance. Nothing. Well, he guessed, sleeping was probably more interesting than sitting here. But Meowth was too restless to sleep. He gave an impatient huff and whacked his tail against the bars. He yawned and decided to file his nails on the metal. Ooo, the scratching noise was a little bit interesting…
His lab partner stirred, obviously disturbed by Meowth's attempt at captivating interest. He opened his eyes and looked into Meowth's. Meowth stopped what he was doing.
"I see you're awake now," he said. "Welcome to da woild of boredom."
The other just blinked. It was like he was considering him. Like he was trying to analyze him. Meowth began to do the same – studying this guy was the most exciting thing that had happened to him since the twerp was dragged away.
Meowth felt like he was looking into a warped mirror. The other Pokemon was a Meowth as well, except that he looked different, and he certainly acted differently. The other Meowth had red eyes, black fur, and a gray coloured tip of his tail. The only thing that was the same about him was his gold charm in the center of his head. He sat perfectly still and remained calm.
"So… have a good nap?" ventured Meowth after a few moments. The other merely blinked.
Meowth sighed, realizing he'd probably have as much conversation with the dark one as he'd ever had. But the monotony had gotten to him, and if he be the only one to speak, then so be it – anything but sitting back and staring at the lab. He racked his mind for a topic, but the only thing to surface, his anxiety, impending doom.
"As I was sayin' before, dere ain't nottin' better den havin' ya own personality. I really hope I wake up and discova dis was all a bad dream or a lame prank or sometin', 'cause I… well, it'd be like moideh! If dey stole my personality, dey'd basically be killin' me! I don't wanna die! I don't tink anybody does! And to have it taken from me like dat – it's just horrible."
Meowth made great gestures with his arms as he spoke.
"Especially to lose it to a Persian," he muttered in distaste.
His unenthusiastic audience merely continued to observe.
"Heya, dat young one, dee assistant, he called ya 'Black', right?" Meowth commented as he renewed his gaze in his lab partner's direction. "Black. Dat's not a bad name. Gives ya style, I suppose. Or, well, at least some colour. I only got Meowth, along wit all dee odder Meowth's dat don't gotta nickname. But, unlike dee odders, I'm dee only one who can talk. Reminds me of bein' top cat all oveh again. Sometimes I wonda what got me into dis in da foist place…"
Meowth's thoughts were pulling him away. Talking a monologue wasn't what he really wanted to do anyhow. And soon enough, he'd have lost his only audience member anyways. The scientist returned once more and was now taking Black with him. Meowth caught one mumbled word as the two left the room, Black in his cage looking unperturbed, "training".
-
"Ok, I've got the club sandwich on rye – that yours toots? And fish and chips for the mister. Enjoy!"
The waitress of the Diner placed each meal in front of her customers and hurried to fill the next order. Misty and Brock looked down at their food before digging in. They sat across from one another in a booth next to the window. After talking to Officer Jenny and getting her assurances that she would take care of the matter, they had nothing else to do but wait for Ash to return, having no idea where he ran off to. And then their grumbling stomachs gave them the perfect activity to pass the time, so they headed to the nearest food provider and waited to be served. And here they were, munching away.
They were both worried and didn't speak for a little while. They knew Ash could get himself into a lot of trouble if he wasn't careful, and they weren't there to help him out. But without knowing where to search for him, they couldn't do much else but worry. Worry and eat. Or, in Brock's case, worry and eat, and watch the pretty girls walk by.
But a disturbance in the center of town called them away from their thoughts and they went outside with the others to investigate. There were loud cracking sounds coming from the sky. And somehow, each bang emitted a pitch so that the whole time, a strange melody could be heard. Looking up, Misty and Brock also saw blinding flashes of light – fireworks. The music was drawing them in and the light was dazzling their eyes and then two more explosions changed the nature of the event. The first one sent a shockwave throughout the town and knocked everyone to the ground in unconsciousness. The second sent a spray of murky green substance upon the townspeople. Those infected by it followed the Rocket minions when they called, "Come to the Headquarters, Now!" Brock stood up stiffly, eyes blank, mind blank, and obeyed, leaving the town behind.
-
Ash was running hard, following the yellow blur ahead of him.
"In you go, sonny," said Mark as he opened the door to a holding cell. Lenny had a tight grip on Ash's arms.
The trees were rushing past him in a green swirl and all he knew was that he had to move fast.
"That's what you think," scoffed Ash. "My Pika-pal doesn't like it when his friends are in danger."
"What?"
He was nearing the edge of the forest now.
"Pika!" Pikachu sprang out of nowhere, a triumphant glare in his eyes, and he attacked the two Rockets with his electricity. Ash began to run towards the exit, knowing there was little time before the guards would be after him. Pikachu was in hot pursuit and the two made their escape.
The town's grey pavement came into view and Ash sped up. "I've got to get back, now!" he thought. All that he had seen, all that he had heard, he needed to tell the authorities. There were so many experiments going on, he had lost track, but none of them were good. He knew the location of their hideout and he'd heard something about explosives. On this point he was worried he might be too late. He ran through an alley and burst onto the main square of the town. To his bewilderment, he found everyone lying unconscious on the ground.
-
A few people began to stir, Misty among them. She opened up her cerulean eyes and looked around. Brock was nowhere to be found. She sat up, all alone, and tried to remember what had just happened. When she did a moment later, she stood up and rushed down the street to find others. An elderly woman she met up with cried that her son was missing, and a child complained that his older sister was gone. Misty scrambled through the small forming crowd until she found an Officer Jenny – apparently the only one left.
"Officer! My friend has disappeared!" Misty panted.
"Yes, I know, it seems that they've kidnapped a number of people. We've got to calm down though, otherwise nothing will be accomplished and they will have won."
Misty nodded and turned to look at the crowd. Someone's voice cut through the murmuring and caught her attention.
"Misty!"
It was Ash. She ran to him and hugged him.
"Ash! You're ok! I was so worried! They took Brock! Where did you go? Did you catch Jessie and James?"
"Whoa, Misty," he coughed. "Uh, could you… let go… suffocating…"
"Oh, sorry," said Misty as she released him and blushed.
Ash smiled at her, happy to have found her safe and sound. Then he faced Officer Jenny and spoke.
"I know where they went. I was inside their headquarters. And there's a lot of stuff going on."
"You were inside? Wait, is this the friend that went chasing after the criminals?" Jenny asked Misty.
She nodded.
"You're lucky to have escaped! You know that was very reckless of you?" reprimanded Jenny.
Ash hung his head, but a smirk was clearly visible on his mouth.
"Well, that's in the past now," Jenny continued. "We really need to gather ourselves if we're going to get our people back, and stop them from destroying this town."
"We're going to have to do more than that," Ash stated. "They're trying to take over the world. This is a war."