[Cues: Climb Up! and Get the Last Chance! ~ White Land [F-ZERO X]]
The Outsider's Insurrection
Indigo Iliad
Chapter 98: The Night of the Party
Translated Pokémon Speech
Pokédex Entries/Computerized Voices/Flashbacks
Reference to an Accessory in the Games
-o-
(Scarlet City, Outlaw Island | June 6th | 4:00 p.m.)
Crimson was beyond excited for the party having bought a new suit for the party. However, he wished that Marguerite had not taken his advice to heart so quick and go seek out education at Kassai just yesterday. Training had come along decently, and Crimson opted to let him team relax for the rest of the week. Crimson was in his room laying back on his bed after a meal simply relaxing himself.
"Excuse me." Amelia said coming in. "I just wanted to thank you for keeping me around. Usually, I'd be shuffled to another person by now back at the hotel."
"To be fair, I'm putting the effort to make my instructions clear." He thought.
"I wanted to make something special for you, but you eat up all I cook. So, I figured we'd share a pre-party drink." Amelia said chipperly as he got up.
He came downstairs to join her, clinking glasses before having it. His phone rang and he answered putting it on speaker.
"Moshi moshi." He remarked.
"Crimson, hey." Misty said. "That invite still open for the party?"
"You coming?" He asked.
"I would but I got a conga line of opponents to deal with. A Gym Leader's job and all that, but I wanted to say I asked around our friend group if anyone wanted to go in my stead. Megumi's offered to do that." Misty said. "She's ready to join the Black Dragons."
"Good to hear from you. A shame you'll miss the party, but what can you do. I'll see you around." Crimson said before hanging up as there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it."
He walked to the door opening it to see Mitsune.
"If it isn't the freelance reporter, what can I do for you?" He asked.
"Maybe let me come to that party." Mitsune remarked. "I got some information for you."
"Go on and come in." Crimson said letting her in.
"For one, Naru's been shipped back to Japan. Seems they found out where she was, and they wanted her back. She's looking at serious jail time, but at least she can't hurt anyone else. Also I've been investigating Team Rocket, while the main group fell…there's still a branch active outside of the main Kanto region." Mitsune said as they sat at the table.
"The Sevii branch. All right, I'll bite. How much for the information?" Crimson asked.
"You've been good to me. So an invite to the party and let's say twenty grand." Mitsune said as Crimson paid her.
"How soon can I get it?" He asked her.
"How you prefer the information given to you? On paper, on email?" She asked.
"Both. You can send the physical file to this address." Crimson said scribbling it down. "I'm going to be going back there quite soon."
"Then I'll head back to my hotel room and make arrangements. See you at the party." Mitsune said before leaving.
-o-
(Valenica City, Five Island | June 6th | 4:30 p.m.)
It felt good to be back with the Virtue Triplets and they were grateful to have someone that could actually cook.
"And that's what happened at Viridian…" Rusty said finishing her his story about Crimson's last Gym battle.
"A twist for the ages." Hope remarked.
"Pretty predictable if you think about it. Why else would he have everyone in his group use Poison Pokémon?" Faith said dryly.
"I mean it still makes for an exciting story." Charity said.
"Yeah, but it's basic. Maybe someday we'll get a more complex one." Faith said as she continued to eat.
The home had looked slightly cleaner than the last time as the triplets wanted to make an effort to get their boyfriend a clear place to stay.
"Is that food I smell?" Ivy said coming up. "Smells good. I may just to steal you for myself, Rusty."
"Like hell you well. He's ours!" Faith said. "I have to put up with sharing with these two numbskulls."
Ivy filled up her plate and chuckled as her sisters rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, we're not into doing a real oyakodon." Charity said.
"I'm kidding. I could never take away your boyfriend." Ivy said ruffling Faith's hair. "I just need to bag me a house husband."
Unbeknown to Rusty, Joe was on the island, but the nearby Water Labyrinth having just made it to the end of the 'maze' of rocks which a tiny island lay.
"The perfect spot for our picnic." Sissi said getting off Joe's Lapras. "It's gorgeous."
"It really is." Joe said getting off him and returning Percy.
Aside from them on the island was a lone old man looking down at the ocean.
"You." The old man said turning towards Joe. "I can feel it, the love and care for your Pokémon that you have."
The old man promptly gave Joe a Pokémon egg citing it was his travels before teleporting away right in front of them.
"Oh…thanks." Joe said putting the egg away as they set up their picnic.
The two were eating sandwiches as Joe leaned back.
"I still can't believe I'm living the dream. It all seemed so out of reach long ago, but here I am." Joe said. "I guess the only thing on my mind is…what of the two douchebags who spawned me into this world. I'm still restless about it. I…"
His phone rang as he took it to put on speakerphone.
"Speak." Joe remarked.
"It's Allison. I wanted to let you know that Pokémon Tech has officially closed down. One of those rich pricks got collared on tax evasion and sold out Ethelinda to save their own hide. She was arrested earlier today." Allison said. "She put up a fight…but she was taken down. Seems her going down was the domino effect. A lot of staff were arrested."
"Matsuda?" He asked.
"He left for Kassai after Crimson won his final badge." She said. "But it's not just staff that were arrested. Several people in town were as well, a doctor, a lawyer, one of the mayor's assistants, and two police officers. All of this ties to you, Joe. Ethelinda was covering something up about you."
"What?" He remarked.
"Joe, Ethelinda was your mother." Allison said as Joe's jaw dropped. "She had been hiding that for years. Apparently, you were the product of an affair she had with a married man, and they covered it up. All I know is…it's over for her and the school."
"So, it's all come crashing down. What about who my father is?" Joe asked.
"He's deceased. His name was Dantin Bateman." Allison said forlorn. "I was only barely able to get the information I know now. I had a friend on the force…he's retiring and cutting ties as that was his last favor. I'm sorry, Joe."
She hung up leaving him and Sissi rather quiet letting what happened sank in.
-o-
(Scarlet City, Outlaw Island | June 6th | 6:00 p.m.)
Crimson had driven himself and Amelia in the Gallardo over to the Black Dragon Arena and had decked out in his new suit. A charcoal pinstriped suit, wine red shirt, a Black Fedora, a black tie, and black zipped boots. He and Amelia had entered the lounge to see the party was getting started.
"Crimson!"
"Dude!" Crimson said fist bumping A.J. "What it do, man?"
"Well, it's all good. I got your spicy secretary to thank for me being here. I got me a job working in the Black Dragon Arena as one of it's bosses." He said chuckling. "I'm doing the Dragon's Dojo."
"Good to hear you're moving on up." Crimson said before getting a drink.
Kiyomi, Lee, Marie, Topaz, and Samurai were among the small crowd. Chad and Maylin were the late arrivals.
"Lee, you're looking good all cleaned up again. I see you even got the tooth fixed." Crimson said coming up.
"I figured since I had the money now." Lee remarked. "You're looking pretty good yourself."
"I wanted to show up in style. I'm not going to miss this…I'm so pumped to see 2 Fast 2 Furious!" Crimson said with a grin.
"A fan of the first one?" She asked him.
"Yeah, but the sequel is where it's at." He said simply.
When they aired the movie, Crimson just took it all in. It was like watching it for the first time given the theater vibe to it. Come the end, everyone was entertained, and Roulette gave a little speech about what's to come from the Black Dragon Arena. As dinner was being served, Neo had slipped into the building sitting at his table.
"I figured you'd show up." Crimson said dryly.
"I got some news for you. Seems one of your old enemies is on the run. Ethelinda Sazandora." Neo remarked as he raised an eyebrow. "And get this, she's Joe mother."
"Shit…" He said.
"Apparently, Joe's an affair baby between her and a married man. He was a retired International Police officer." Neo said as Crimson was surprised. "Lot of Pokémon Tech staff are getting arrested…a good chunk of Viridian is getting arrested. Charges of racketeering, child abusing, bribery…it's going down."
"Good, let's just rich brats survive in the real world." Crimson said.
"So, how goes preparing for your final challenge?" She said sweetly.
"I'll be leaving tomorrow morning." He said firmly.
"I wish you the best. You've been proving yourself quite well, and I think you got a good shot at doing it." Neo said before getting up. "Good luck."
She left him alone as he finished his own. He was not surprised that Momo and Iida took jobs working at the arena as well. However, his mind was on other things. His focus shifted once he saw she made it.
-o-
(Open Seas | June 6th | 6:45 p.m.)
Ethelinda Sazandora's whole world was falling apart. She never wanted it to get out, but when she learned that one of them squealed. She knew it was time to bolt. She snatched all the money she could stuff into a duffel bag, her essentials, and was out of there on her Charizard.
Now she was fuming that she lost everything, and it all because that one ally of her squealed. She put two and two that the police were observing her to get enough to bust her. The squealer just sped up the process. She slumped on her seat, with a sour look on her face. At the moment, she was on a boat off to another region. She sought to hide there until the heat died down…
Her phone rang. She was expecting her to call and she answered.
"Allison." She said.
"You piece of shit." Allison snarled. "He was your own son."
"Oh, don't get moral with me. You didn't exactly give him the best treatment either. He came out of me, but he was no son of mine. Just an accident." Ethelinda said.
"I wonder if he knew you were pregnant." Allison asked.
"Fuck you." Ethelinda said.
"Not on my life." Allison said before hanging up.
(A/N: A short chapter, but yes, Joe's parents are finally revealed. I originally planed Allison to be revealed to his mother initially, but the plan fell through with how with I ended up doing with her character. Thus, that what I was originally going to do to Verdant was on Ethelinda instead and it worked out. As for Joe's father, he's actually a familiar character from a video. While his actual name is unknown, I did use the last name of his voice actor.)