"talking"
'thinking'
Lugia Talking
Chapter Six: Questions and Persuasion
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A total of four months had passed since Lugia had awakened; Gorigan had tried every trick in the book to keep Shadow Lugia in his cage. And everytime Lugia had gotten out, and had been found wandering somewhere in the Cipher Key Lair. Right now XD001 was resting after his battle. He was the strongest pokemon around.
Maria carefully wrote down a report that would be sent directly to Ardos and Eldes; Master Greevil would be coming soon to make an inspection. Lugia's head was now at her shoulder, he was growing quickly and by the middle of next year would be full grown. Although he ignored all of the other humans, he had gotten quite attatched to Maria and she was the only one he would really talk to.
She signed the report and handed it off. Lugia leaned closer as she rubbed his neck, "Good job, Gorigan is about ready to send you on your first mission" she told him. Shadow Lugia nodded To look for pokemon that can be turned into shadow pokemon? he asked. Maria nodded "Team Cipher has shadow pokemon but most of them are weak, there aren't many wild pokemon in the Orre region. Gorigan is working on a new machine to mass produce shadow pokemon but is has to be tested first" she told him.
Shadow Lugia nodded, and flew back into the air. His emotions had been chaotic for a couple of weeks but now he was starting to calm down. He followed orders willingly now and no longer argued or asked about everything. Maria suspected that he was a lot smarter then they gave him credit for being. 'But how smart is he really?' she thought watching Lugia.
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Lugia opened one eye and looked around carefully to make sure nobody was around. He looked both ways to make sure no Cipher Peons were in the room before using his power to punch in the code that would unlock his cage door. The door swung open and he stepped out and walked over to the door.
He waited patiently as two engineers passed by. The door silently slid open and Lugia walked down the hallway moving and blanking out cameras as needed. "Hey what the...!" an engineer said in surprise as he turned the corner. Lugia slammed him into the wall; the man slid down to the floor and Lugia nudged the man with his foot to make sure he was really knocked out before he continued walking.
After walking up several stairs Lugia finally got up to the roof. He spread his wings and moved to the highest level. He took a deep breath and relaxed. It felt better being out here in the open air then inside a building being poked and prodded by a bunch of scientists. 'Why did I have to end up here?' Lugia thought staring up at the stars.
'What would have happened if I had been born out there...if I had been born free...' he sighed and shook his head. He could think and dream all he wanted...but things would never change, he was created by humans to obey humans and nothing would ever change.
Lugia looked over his shoulder as Maria walked up to him with a slight frown on her face, "How DO you keep getting out? They change the code every other day" she said watching him. Lugia smiled, It helps when you can read people's minds, he said with an angelic look on his face.
Maria shook her head and sat down next to him. "You can really read peoples minds?" she asked him. Lugia nodded, It's not very hard most people's thoughts are pretty loud...your thoughts aren't as loud though, he explained. Maria thought about that for a moment, "I just don't trust people thats all" she told him.
Lugia looked at her his red eyes glowing brightly in the night, But you trust me? he asked her. Maria shrugged, "Pokemon don't lie or decieve you, they always tell you the truth. Pokemon only obey those they respect, they only respect people who respect them; the same is true of shadow pokemon like you" she said quietly.
But he could tell that something else was bothering her. Are you sure your alright? he asked. Maria shook her head, "I was just thinking about my...my family" she said quietly. Lugia tilted his head, he had never heard of family before, Whats that? What do you mean by family? he asked her.
"Family is...well" she paused for a moment as she thought about her parents. They never approved of her studying pokemon even more so after the former shadow pokemon incident. Then she had simply vanished when Cipher came and asked her to work for them on Shadow Lugia. Maria hadn't heard from or called her parents since.
Lugia hung his head Oh, never mind...i'm sorry, he said picking up on her thoughts. Maria shook her head, "Don't worry about me, humans can be confusing sometimes that's all" she said putting a hand on his wing. Lugia nodded, So in other words you don't want to talk about it, he stated more then asked. Maria laughed "Yeah that's about right...but more importantly why are you out here?" she asked him.
Lugia looked back up at the stars, What going to happen to me when i'm no longer needed? When Team Cipher doesn't need me anymore? When Master Greevil doesn't need me anymore? he asked her. Maria didn't answer, "I'm sorry...I really don't know" she told him. Lugia sighed, Am I just supposed to follow orders all my life? Just be treated like somebodys science experiment? he thought aloud.
Maria stood up, "I think everybody, human and pokemon alike ask themselves the same thing" she said following Lugia's gaze. "In other regions it's not unusual for trainers to stay with the pokemon they catch their entire lives" Maria explained. He turned and looked at her, Really? So what about you? Where will you go? Lugia asked her.
Maria straightened in surprise, "I...well...i'm not sure, my family isn't exactly fond of me" she said with a frown. "I don't know where i'll go" she told him. Lugia nodded, If all of this ever ends could I go with you? he asked. Maria smiled, "IF this ever ends...i'll see what I can do" she assured him, "But for now I need to get you back to your cage before I get in big trouble" she said sternly. Lugia made a face but did as he was told.
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It was 3:00 in the afternoon. Lugia had been tested most of the morning and was now battling once again. Eldes and Ardos watched carefully as XD001 used shadow blast, the attack knocked the steelix and peon clear across the room. The peon recalled his pokemon and stalked away angrily. "How is Lugia progressing?" Eldes asked not bothering to turn around as Gorigan walked up to them.
"Just fine sir, he's excelled in every area and getting stronger every day" Groigan answered proudly. Eldes nodded and frowned slightly as a woman in glasses walked up and started talking to Lugia. After a second or two he recognized her, "Isn't that Maria? She was assigned to the Desert Lab wasn't she?" Eldes asked crossing his arms.
Gorigan was clearly uncomfortable, "Well sir um..." he began. Ardos stared glared at him, "Um what? We assign people to different labs for a reason you know" he snapped. Gorigan was about to answer when Lugia interrupted, I asked for her to be brought here, he explained. Eldes lifted his head a little and dismissed Gorigan who hurried away, "Is that so? And why would you do that?" he asked.
Shadow Lugia shrugged, She doesn't treat me like a mindless experiment, she treats me like she would anyone else, Lugia told him. Eldes raised an eyebrow and looked over at Maria who was adjusting a machine. "Really? How interesting" he mumbled to himself before walking away. Ardos frowned and followed him.
Lugia tilted his head as he tried to figure out what Eldes was thinking. Unlike most people his thoughts were hard to hear. Lugia looked up as a panel opened up on the side of the wall and wind started blowing. "This will teach you to fly and fight in different wind conditions" Maria told him. Lugia nodded and flapped his wings. He managed to stay in the air as Maria turned the wind up.
After three hours of of constant flying Lugia was worn-out. Maria smiled as she hooked up several machines to check his temperature, heartbeat, brainwaves, and such. She looked up and stood up straight as Master Greevil, Eldes, and Ardos walked back in.
Master Greevil smiled as he looked at the two, "Well well how are you doing Lugia? Are you content here?" he asked. Lugia nodded, As content as a Shadow Pokemon can be, he replied. Greevil nodded and looked over at Maria, "And how is your research going?" he asked her.
"Very well Master Greevil, much progress has been made on the closing of pokemon's hearts. And XD001 is cooperating with us very well, but it's still going to take sometime before his heart can be completly closed. If we rush it the results could be disastrous. Even with our best efforts it will be another couple of years before his full potential is reached" Maria explained.
Eldes nodded "Very good, your handling Lugia well. Keeping Shadow Lugia content and agreeable is whats most important. Maria your dismissed" he ordered. Lugia watched as she left, Is something wrong? he asked. Master Greevil put both hands on his cane. "XD001 how do you feel about Maria?" he asked.
Lugia narrowed his eyes, he could tell they were trying to get something out of him. Why do you want to know? he asked suspiciously. Master Greevil smiled, "Oh it's nothing bad I assure you but we need to know so we can further our research" he explained. Lugia was silent for a moment, how DID he feel about Maria? After all he was a Shadow Pokemon and as such he didn't understand kindness. I...i'm not sure...I like having her around, Lugia told them.
Greevil and Eldes exchanged a look, before Ardos spoke up, "Lugia come with me your going on your first mission" ordered. Lugia was a bit confused but followed Ardos anyway. He looked over his shoulder as Greevil spoke with Gorigan. All of the Cipher peons and engineers bowed to them as the walked by.
Shadow Lugia stayed silent and payed carefull attention as they walked outside. Ardos opened the back of a large van and motioned for him to get in. Lugia got in and looked out the window with much interest as the desert flew past. The sun was starting to set. Where are we going? Lugia asked. "Pyrite Town, it has a shady reputation" he explained. Shady? Lugia questioned.
Ardos glanced back, "The people there only care about fighting, and most don't obey the police they simply do as they please" he replied. Lugia nodded Makes sense to me, he said casually. Ardos smirked, "Yes Lugia to a Shadow Pokemon i'm sure it does" he said.
Lugia looked up as the sun continued to set. How far is Pyrite? he asked. Ardos stared at out of the front window as they drove, "About 3 hours from here, we'll get there at night so no one will be able to see you clearly" he told Lugia. "Cipher has been monitering all the towns, and villages in the Orre region looking for pokemon that are being shipped or flown in. Some wild pokemon are starting to appear as wel. Our contact in Pyrite keeps a record of all such pokemon, but he can be difficult to deal with sometimes" he explained.
Lugia nodded, So you brought me along to tell whether he's telling the truth or not? he asked. Ardos nodded, "Your powers will come in handy" he said simply. Lugia sat back and curled up in a ball, he might as well catch some extra sleep.
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Shadow Lugia woke up as the van came to a stop. Ardos got out and opened the back door, "Get out we've arrived in Pyrite" he ordered. Lugia stretched and got out, he walked down to the entrance of the alley they were parked in. The town was pretty run down and there were a few people hanging around. Not the nicest place around...I like it here, he said looking back at Ardos.
Ardos dropped a blanket over Lugia, "This will keep people from seeing you, at night around here people avoid one another but we still need to be carefull. We can't risk people seeing you, not yet" he warned. Lugia nodded, Someone is coming, he said moving back. Ardos crossed his arms as the man came closer and motioned for them to follow.
He looked both ways before walking down the street. A few people stared at them but quickly moved on, they finally arrived at an old apartment, and the man waved them inside. "I was wondering when you'd get here" he said watching Lugia carefully as Ardos sat down at a steel table. "What do you have to report Mason?" he asked as Lugia looked around at the room.
Mason frowned slightly, "And what who is that?" he asked as Lugia examined the tv set. Ardos glanced back at Lugia, "Don't worry about him we have more important things to discuss" he said ignoring the question. Mason narrowed his eyes, "If you want me to tell you anything, then I want to know who or what that is" he shot back.
Lugia looked over his shoulder and a chair behind Mason instantly slid forward and up to the table. Mason grabbed the table for support and stared at Lugia in shock. It's not polite to intrude in matters that don't concern you, Lugia's voice echoed in the room. He lifted his head slightly allowing Mason to see his bright red eyes.
Now...do you have infromation for us or not? Lugia added, he already didn't like this man. Ardos however looked satisfied,
"Well?" he asked adjusting his sunglasses. Mason cleared his throat, "Well Duking has been gone lately, he's been studying the possibility of wild pokemon spots here in the Orre region. And the S.S Libra has signed a deal and will now start hauling pokemon food and supplies" he reported.
Ardos nodded, "And what about pokemon?" he asked. Mason nodded, "They will in a few months" he said smoothly. Lugia frowned and a knife on the coffee table shot past Ardos head and impaled itself less then and inch from Mason's hand. You have an idea but haven't determined for sure whether they'll ship pokemon or not, Lugia corrected.
Ardos smirked, "It wouldn't be wise for you to lie to us Mason, after all we can and will take our money else where" he said placing a metal briefcase on the table. He opened it revealing a sizeble amount of money, "Now...can you help us or not?" Ardos asked. Mason smiled, "Pardon my rudeness sir; the best estimate I can give is that it will be 2 to 3 years before they start shipping actual pokemon" he told them.
Lugia stayed silent so Ardos proceeded, "What else have you found out?" he asked. Mason took out a map and layed it on the table. He pointed to a spot on the map just north of Gateon Port, "This is the Pokemon HQ Lab built for the study of Shadow Pokemon. The lead researcher Professor Krane has been building something, it's supposed to help purify Shadow Pokemon" Mason told him.
This caught Lugia's attention, Does it actually work? he asked. Mason shook his head, "Not yet, they're doing some work but it's mostly plans right now, they're working on a snag machine that only catches Shadow Pokemon also but I doubt either of them will work" he explained.
Ardos nodded in satisfaction, "Not bad...here's half the money, find us some more pokemon and you'll get the other half and more" he said pushing some of the money in front of him. Mason smiled, "I'll have some as soon as I can sir" he said opening the door for them. Lugia narrowed his eyes at Mason and followed Ardos outside.
Ardos glanced at Lugia as they walked back to the truck, "Good job Lugia keep doing as your told and everything will go smoothly" he said opening the back of the truck. Lugia nodded, 'I was created by humans to obey humans...I have no other purpose' he thought getting in. Ardos started up the van and silently manuvered out of town.
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DragonMaster Reborn: Hope you liked this chapter next one will be up ASAP.
Xadius: And for those of you who have never played Kingdom Hearts 1 or 2 on the Playstation 2 then hurry up and buy it!
DragonMaster Reborn: It's officially the greatest game of all time.
Xadius: REVIEW! And peace out!