Chapter Thirty-One: Training, Alarm, and Escape
A few days passed since the inquisitor's visit. A few students figured that someone had been reckless enough to chase off the inquisitor (they'd all known one was coming), but they never figured out who.
Chris yawned, then grinned at Mathrara. "Have fun?"

(This place bites. Boring as heck, besides that one bit of excitement. There isn't a single fire type to play with, and nothing…)

Anekiro added (he tried to run under a few girls skirts, and got punted away by the psychics. So he can't even play panty-watcher.)

Chris shook his head. "Mathrara… you know you're sick, right? I wonder how long it'll take for Kani to snap, and 'fix' your mind… or…" Chris trailed off, but Mathrara got the point when he said 'fix' as if it had special meaning. (She wouldn't!)

Anekiro and Chris exchanged a glance. "She would." (She would.)

Kani walked in at that moment. (I would what?)

Chris looked at the panicking Mathrara, and grinned evilly. "Uh… if Mathrara went too far, you'd 'fix' him."

Kani paused, apparently thinking it over. (It depends. I might.)

Mathrara said nervously (How many 'bad days' do female Espeons have? And when?)

Kani's mind voice was cold as she said calmly, (Now I know I'd fix him whenever he toes the line. We don't have that problem, and I'll thank you to never mention that again.)

Chris shuddered. "Mathrara, have I ever told you it's a bad idea to suggest that a girl automatically has PMS when she's in a bad mood?"

Kani shook her head, her eyes growing cold. (Chris, Anekiro, I want a word with you. Out, fox.)

Mathrara looked at her incredulously, and then yipped in surprise. (Oh, shit!) He ran out. A couple of people peered into the room in shock – a Vulpix running at high speed away makes people wonder what's wrong. But when they saw it was Chris, they mostly just shook their heads.


"Whatssup?"

(Shaun. He's… something's wrong about him.)

Anekiro floated down from the ceiling, and eyed Kani in wonder (what? You worried he's an inquisitor?)

Chris's voice went soft, as he said carefully, "or a Rocket?"

(I… don't know. I'm not probing his mind to find out, but something was wrong with his Kadabra.)

"Yea. It never said anything. That's wrong, I remember the one in the cave. I've been getting bad vibes about him too."

(We're keeping an eye on him, got it? And don't tell me not to insult him, I'm trying to provoke him that he slips, and openly thinks about something that gives me a clue.)

Chris's eyes widened. "Oh. You got it."

A knock sounded on his door. Kani looked over at it, then her eyes widened. (It's for you… and I'm not sure I like this…)

"Let them at least say whatever it is. Door's open!"

Sanja walked in, with a few of Chris's battle classmates. She looked down, and the others elbowed her. She fired them a look of hate, but said haltingly "Uh… Chris… could you… couldyouteachmetobattle?"

Chris paused to translate what she said, then shrugged. "Why not? But… I'm not going to be here long. The inquisitors have a big grudge" (that was an understatement, inquisitors hated witches with a passion) "with me… and I'm a big target here. They'll be pissed that I ran one of their own out of here."


The rest looked confused, but smiled when they realized he'd said 'yes'. They walked out to go tell the rest of their group. Apparently, it HAD been worth it to blackmail that weird Sanja, who was the only one Chris appeared to trust to a degree. They'd tried to get close to him, but he'd just remained quiet, and left for his room quickly, never answering the door when they knocked. Now, they'd get the key to become strong enough to take on the upperclassmen.

He alone was strong enough to fight off an inquisitor (no one had claimed to run off the inquisitor, not even the seniors. So it had to be him – he was the only freshman insane enough to try it.)

Even the upperclassmen had trouble with inquisitors.


Sanja glared at the retreating group. They were the 'popular' group, the rulers of this year's students. They didn't control Chris (who could clearly nuke them in terms of psychic control and pokemon attack power, but really didn't care), or herself (except for that blackmail, which they couldn't use anymore – she had the evidence)… but she didn't listen to them, and they just left her out.

Chris seemed to be following her line of thought. He snickered softly, and grinned at his Espeon, Kani. "Who said I'd teach them? Let them have Shaun. You were the only one that asked."

Sanja felt her eyes widen. "You meant… me? Me… only?"

He nodded, smiling. "Well, unless you don't want me to offer what I know. I'll admit I haven't been in a lot of battles, but Al's talked to me about that – especially strategy. Since he's a pokemon master and all, I guess that might help… that and what Kani did…"

Sanja thought she felt the floor drop – along with her jaw. "Po… Ma… Master Al? Of the Pokemon League?" She said that in a harsh croak – she wasn't sure if she should shout, or whisper.

Chris scratched his head. "Do people call him that now? Urgh, now I know why he's a recluse. I'd go into hiding too, if people started calling me that."

Sanja couldn't believe it. Chris KNEW Al? The youngest pokemon master – one who was deemed the most brilliant master yet? The one that disappeared up until there were publicity stunts for the League… and that weird 'super Espeon' thing? "No… way!"


Chris snorted, looking at Sanja's reaction. "We grew up together in the slums. He always wanted to become a pokemon master." He snorted again, "he called himself a 'master-to-be', never a trainer. Just as well, with all the piss-poor trainers out there now. Anyway, why would I lie? Kani's right here, she's not flinching…" Chris noticed Sanja instantly studied Kani for a moment (Kani was chuckling merrily at Sanja's stunned reaction), and then slowly her mouth closed.

After a few moments, Chris heard her say softly "you sure?"

Chris snorted. "Just because I know him doesn't make me special. He's cool and all, but he's still human."

"Yes… but… what if someone found out? Here…"

Chris smiled. "Let them play their power games. I don't care, frankly. So long as they leave me out of it." His look became a bit harsher "and if they don't… they'll regret it. Or if they try to coerce me. But I'm not going to let them go brag. 'cuse me, I've got to correct their assumption. You might want to shield your mind, they'll probably start cussing into every open mind."

Sanja blinked, then finally nodded at him. "Go ahead."

Chris nodded back (he noticed she was acquiring a wicked smile), and sought out their minds. It wasn't hard to find them; he just had to look for a lot of gloating pleasure. They might have shields, but he could break through easily enough. It was one of the tricks Kani'd taught him. It had a counter, but they didn't have to know that.

(You know, who said I would be teaching you? Sanja's the only one that asked, and I said I'd teach her.)

He felt outrage in their minds, as if they'd been caught gloating to the upperclassmen about that. Chris chuckled softly, broke the connection, and shielded himself before they started yelling back. He didn't block pokemon psychic (for lack of a better word) 'wavelength', but he kept it to a certain distance.

Kani was beside herself in laughter. (Well, you've cause some chaos. I wonder how long it'll take for someone to try something about us…)

"You've been working on endurance for your attacks, right?"

(Yup. We all have, even that goof of a fox. Please… can I reshape him?)

Chris sighed. "If he asks for it. Otherwise… we just leave him behind, if he causes hell. I'm not forcing a change on someone, that'd be betraying what I am."

"What about what you are?" Chris flinched – he'd forgotten that Sanja was there. "Uhm…"

She gave him a glare, saying murderously "What about what you are…"

(Dunderhead.)

"Save it, Kani. Sanja… it's…"

Anekiro shook his head, and said clearly (he's a gifted one. Happy?)

Chris's eyes widened, and he turned to stare at the Dragonair. "Is this such a good idea?"

Anekiro floated down, then clearly nodded. (She's safe enough. Frankly, she's an outcast. Who the heck believes an outcast, or listens to one? And Kani can modify her memory if she has to.)

Sanja looked from one to the other, her murderous look disappearing in confusion. "Uh… I don't get this. Chris, how are you understanding him? Kani… there's NO WAY she's translating… unless… you know pokemon language?"

Chris nodded. "You got it." Anekiro nudged him, and Chris gave him a glare. "But that's not it… I'm a witch. Or whatever you want to call it."


Sanja smiled, thinking he was joking. That he could understand pokemon was one thing, but him being a witch? They didn't exist – it was just an excuse inquisitors used to try to kill psychics.
Chris sighed, and yanked off his left 'glove'. He then held it up, the markings on his forearm clear. "No joke. Happy now Anekiro?"

(Yes.)

Sanja looked at the markings on his arm in interest for a moment, then she looked like she was trying to remember something.

Chris put the 'glove' back on, and waited for the bomb to drop.

"No… that's… it can't be… witches… they…."

Chris snorted softly. She'd finally got it. "I'm not a witch, but that's what the church calls me. The proper term is 'gifted one'. It's someone who has a deep empathy for pokemon as a whole, and… well, in my case, I have potential to gather a lot of power – power I could abuse." He glanced at the glowing glyphs, and said calmly "so long as these continue to glow, at least I know I'm on the right path."

Sanja backed into the closed door. "Why didn't Sabrina…"

Chris shrugged. "I think she doesn't honestly know." His eyes went distant for a moment, as he sighed. "The gifted ones are dying out, Rayquaza said that I'm one of the few left in Kanto – if not the last. It's understandable why – we do exist, but we're branded witches because we can connect with pokemon on such a close level." He snorted softly, then continued very softly "actually, that's not all of it. I think that we're a threat to anyone who wants power. Because of our connection to any pokemon we encounter, we could probably rule the world… if it was possible. They don't seem to understand that you can't be a gifted one if you try something like that. But… we can also destroy the church… and their amassed power, because we know they're corrupt, any wild pokemon who's dealt with them would tell us that, even help us. We can even turn some of their pokemon to our side. Being the greedy fanatics they are, I bet they don't like that potential. Hell, I did just that in a way to the inquisitor that was showing up here."

Sanja stopped shaking, and slowly walked over to Chris, slipping off his gloves. She hesitantly poked one of the symbols, and seemed surprised when nothing happened. She peered at them a bit more closely, and said in wonder "they're… glowing…"

Chris nodded. "Of course they are. A Dragonair elder burned the marks into my skin with a mixture of hyper beam and outrage."

Kani said softly (Sanja, if you have aura vision, would you use it on Chris now? You should be able to… see three auras. His human, psychic… and gifted one. If you've only seen two before… it's because a human has to see the marks before they can see the aura. It's a security precaution.)


Sanja's eyes widened, and she nearly gasped at Kani. The Espeon had never said a word to her before… not like that, anyway. But she recovered quickly enough to nod, and use her aura vision (she had to close her eyes to concentrate). Normally, a human only had one aura – their life aura. Chris had three. One was a peaceful one… she felt at ease just looking at it. His psychic aura radiated softly, like a fire well under control, emitting a pleasant feeling akin to the peaceful aura he had – a sign of control over the powers that he had. But at the same time, it seemed a bit ragged at times – as if he had more powers that he fully didn't control yet, but grasped well enough. His life aura… was different from most people's. There was a strength in it that wasn't usually there… and it also had a different form… he'd nearly died, and that was the cause for the form difference. That's what her intuition told her, anyway. "Have… you… nearly died? Your life aura is different."

Sanja opened her eyes again, even though she wanted to stare at that peaceful aura for a long time. She'd actually felt… calm… loved, when she gazed at it. Chris was looking back at her, apparently thinking. He finally nodded slowly. "I've been to the lands of the dead before, yes. It's why my psychic powers are under such control – Kani instilled the training while I was nearly dead." Sanja wasn't even surprised anymore. She thought that he couldn't surprise her anymore – he knew a pokemon master, was a witch (and had hid it so well)… that he'd nearly died wasn't a shock.


Chris smiled at her. "Want to begin those lessons? I'm leaving within the next few days, before I start a war here or something." More or less, that was right. Upperclassmen here ruled the underclassmen… and he was a threat to them, since he had tricks they didn't, and battle skills they didn't. Eventually, they'd mob him out if he didn't leave.

Sanja nodded, and sat down next to him. Chris slowly dug up what he remembered Al talking about, and he began to repeat it to her (with his own observations about this or that). Of course, his 'observations' were quite precise… and he also added in tidbits of what Kani had taught him.


For the next few days, it was like that. Chris would go to Sanja's room, or she'd go to his room (they couldn't find a neutral place where no one would overhear), and he'd give her another lesson in strategy, and the general state of life.

The popular group, infuriated by their actions, tried to take it out on them one day. But Kani hadn't been in the mood, and had used her unique barrier to knock them on their butts, and embarrassed them enough that they just glowered at the two of them after that. They spread rumors about the two of them being together, but neither cared.

They weren't sleeping together, and that was that.


"What do we do about them? They won't heel, and none of our rumor-mongering seems to bother them!"

"Maybe they are a couple."

One of the girls snorted. "What does he see in that freak? She's a berserker!"

"Who knows what our inferiors think? Let them have each other. All we need is a way to get what we want from him."

"How do you propose to do that? We tried to take them before, but that weird barrier from his Espeon either absorbed or reflected our own attacks back at us!"

"Yea. It's like he's taught his Espeon the same trick that the one in that weird coma victim…"

A hush fell on the group. One finally said "him… the mystery trainer?"

"Well, the barrier is similar. He's got a dark purple Espeon… and it makes sense, he's a telepath. All you need to do is strip away their shields, and they pass out from receiving too much."

They exchanged looks. "Strip his shields…"

The quiet one (their thinker) said softly "don't bother. He's been trained in a way we can't make heads or tails of. Sabrina could handle him, but I doubt even a master psychic could deal with his wierd shields."

They fell silent, and exchanged glances. "Blackmail?"

She shrugged. "It might work, it might not. He could care, or not care at all. But if we threatened to leak that out to the press… or maybe the Rockets…"

They thought it over, and malevolent smiles crossed their faces. "Are we agreed?"


Chris sighed. "You got it now?"

Sanja nodded. "I think so."

Chris smiled softly. "Then prove it." Mathrara stepped forward, and mock growled. Sanja backed up, and grabbed one of her pokeballs. She sent Chris a questioning look, but his face was blank. It wasn't a nasty look, she figured he wasn't going to give her any hints. She released her Lunatone. "Lunatone, use Rock Throw!"

Lunatone charged Mathrara, but he disappeared, hitting Lunatone with a Faint Attack, then disappeared again.

Chris said softly "Now your opponent can hit you, but you can't hit him. What now?"

"Lunatone, Cosmic Power!"

When Mathrara tried to jump Lunatone again, he bounced off Lunatone's hard body. Sanja glanced at Chris, and she almost smiled as she saw the smile of encouragement across Chris's face. "Now Lunatone… light screen!"

The light screen popped into existence, and Mathrara re-appeared. His eyes began to glow darkly.

Sanja shook her head, as she began to feel tired. "Lunatone, close your eyes! Don't fall asleep!" She shut her eyes herself.

Lunatone complied, but it was nearly asleep. Sanja began to think, then said "Listen for it, and use…"

"That's it. Lunatone, hold your attack. Mathrara, cut it out."

Sanja squinted her eyes open, and Mathrara was sitting there, looking pleased. Chris was standing next to Lunatone. His eyes were shining (a sign of using psychic power), and Lunatone began to float higher in the air. He then turned to her, and she felt something strengthen her, removing the sleepiness.


Chris sat down wearily. Doing that took it out of him. He'd basically done the equivalent of a Full Heal to Sanja, and a Full Restore to her Lunatone. THAT was the ability he'd talked to Kani about before. He could heal anything he wanted… but at a cost to himself, in terms of energy. Neither of them had an idea where the hell that ability came from, but he could do it. Sure was useful, though. "You're getting the hang of it. Faint Attack might be unblockable, but you can defend against it with those attacks. I'm impressed on how you countered the Hypnosis – if you shut your eyes, you CAN block it out… but you've got to be fast."

Sanja nodded. Chris gave her a grin, and continued "but you have to be careful, when you're fighting a speed pokemon. Rock attacks need time to charge up, a confusion would have been a faster attack."

Sanja gave him a strange look. "But rock is strong against fire!"

Chris nodded. "But slow. Mathrara's specialty is speed, especially with faint attack. It's like he has a teleport that lets him attack freely. A psychic attack… relies on the speed of the user's mind. If Mathrara's trapped in a confusion, he can't use a faint attack. The psychic energies counter out the dark energy, so he can't use dark attacks. It only works on a non-dark type, but it's a good defense." Chris grinned softly, "and if you pokemon's strong enough… Lunatone could charge up the rock throw while it's using Confusion. It couldn't use two moves simultaneously, but Mathrara would need a moment to recover…"

(A/N: it's the principle of opposite energies. Mathrara can't draw on the powers of a dark type attack when he's being attacked by a psychic attack. The psychic energy counters out the attempt to initiate the attack itself – stops his brain from being able to access Faint Attack. Same for a dark type attack – constant use prevents the target from using psychic attacks – the accumulated energies on their body just absorbs the psychic waves. Except for a psychic type, who would have a way to deal with those energies.)

Sanja smiled. "I get it now. He wouldn't have enough time to react. But could Lunatone do that?"

Chris nodded softly. "Psychic pokemon have that gift. They have access to almost all, if not all their brainpower… they could charge up a physical attack with part of their concentration, while they use a psychic attack. It wouldn't be a full-strength attack, but the idea is to distract, not assault…"

Sanja nodded, and opened her mouth. A thud at the door cut her off. Kani shook her head softly. (Brick, door, note. A popular kid. Damn, I don't like this.)

Chris nodded, and opened his door, taking the note. He read it over for a moment, and then narrowed his eyes.

Sanja called "what's up?"

Chris glared at the note. "Blackmail. They know I'm the mystery trainer who passed out in Cerulean. Damn!"

She laughed, not surprised at all. Chris figured she knew that much already – she wasn't stupid. "What use is that, anyway? It's not like they'd be stupid enough to tell the media where we are…"

Chris sighed. "Yea. But… they might spread the word to the Rockets that I'm here. I have a serious history with them, they'd happily shoot me on sight." Chris gave Kani a look, and she nodded darkly. (We're leaving. NOW, before they get a chance.)

Sanja turned to Kani in surprise. "What?"

Chris gave her a humorless smile, and grabbed his pack. "We have a history with the Rockets. I'm on their blacklist, I know that much."

Sanja paused, then shook her head. "I'm coming with. You're a better teacher than anyone else here, and I'm more at risk here than outside."

Chris opened his mouth, about ready to argue, but stopped himself. "Pack, and be ready in fifteen minutes?"

She ran out.

(Why are we taking her?)

Chris shrugged at Mathrara. "I thought you'd be happy, with another girl to torment… anyway, it's only a matter of time."

(Huh?)

"Kani, tell him."

(Shaun's a plant. He's working for the Rockets. They're going to start recruiting people through here.)

(Why didn't Sabrina…)

"Something's clouding his mind. I think it's some techno toy, that counters out an area around him of psychic energy, but makes it seem like he's just a normal guy. I nicked it off him for a moment, and Kani found that out. It was why we sneaked out that one night."

Anekiro's eyes narrowed. (In which case, we should alert Sabrina.)

Chris nodded softly. "We will. I'm sounding the inquisitor alert, and then using a psychic broadcast to warn EVERYONE that Shaun's a plant by the Rocket organization, and he's going to betray us to inquisitors."


Sanja showed up twenty minutes later, panting heavily. Chris grinned at her, then nodded to himself. He widened out his perceptions until he could feel every mind. They'd agreed NOT to use the inquisitor alarm – they'd let the psychics deal with it. Sabrina was competent, she'd know what to do. (Shaun… everyone… listen. I've read Shaun's mind. He's a plant by the Rockets, sent here to recruit psychics to join them in crime. He's been using a device to jam psychic wavelengths. Stop him before he brings the inquisitors down on us!)

A quiet fell for a moment, then a group of minds roared in rage. They'd make sure Chris wasn't lying… but Chris figured on that. Shaun wouldn't hear him, and when they found out it was true, he'd be in deep trouble. Chris grimaced for a moment, and turned to Kani. "Well, we've alerted everyone. We'd best go."

(Badge first.)

"Fine…"

Sanja touched Kani (she knew about teleporting), and Chris bent down, touching Kani's head gently.

They disappeared.


Sabrina gave Chris a look. "Though I'd like to thank you for alerting everyone, couldn't you stay? You'd be quite the battle teacher, I've seen you teaching Sanja."

Chris shook his head. "No. Not now. I'd… be happy to come back… but not until the Rockets are gone. Otherwise, I'm too much a risk."

Sabrina nodded. "You wish to battle for the badge, don't you?"

Chris nodded in return, but nearly jumped when he saw the badge just fly at him. Sabrina said softly "I'll give you this, if you tell me why you have three auras."

Chris sighed. "The calm one's because I'm a gifted one. It's the aura that lets pokemon know that."

Sabrina eyed him softly. "If you're a gifted one… what are you out to do? Stop the Rockets?"

Chris nodded. The badge settled in his hand. "Take that badge. You'll need all the help you can get. But… if you survive, I want your word that you'll come back.And be my practice partner when I'm training, your pokemon are sure to get stronger."

Chris nodded again, and gazed at Kani. "Sure. But don't expect me to teach snot-nosed punks who'll use my teachings for power." He stroked Kani, and gave Sanja a look. She jumped, and grabbed Kani herself.

They disappeared.


Sabrina sighed. He was a promising psychic. He didn't have her power in the psychic art (no one did), but he had a power she did not… he was a gifted one. There were only a FEW in Kanto at all. Ten, perhaps, she wasn't sure about a few cases.

Well, eleven (and maybe a few more), when the boy that was Lugia's champion became one… but she had already encountered him, and while he had a spirit of empathy with pokemon... he didn't have the same psychic ability Chris did. Ash Ketchum… she smiled softly. He was the one who had changed her to her current state.

Even if he was a bit of an idiot, he had a kind heart. Eventually, he'd be dragged into Kanto again, despite his attempts to stay out.


Chris sighed. "Well, you wanted to tag along, Sanja? Fine. But I've got to warn you… we've got Rocket's after us."

She shrugged. "Rockets, inquisitors… whatever."

Kani chuckled. (Well, she's brave.)

"Yea. Wonder what happened to April?"

"April?" Sanja grinned evilly "would that be your girlfriend?"

Chris shook his head, and Mathrara burst out laughing. (She's GOT to be kidding. He's a virgin in every way!)

Sanja laughed herself. Chris gave her a look, and she sheepishly smiled, looking at Kani. Chris gave her a glare, but stopped himself from doing much besides that.

After a moment, Chris sighed. "Well then, if you're sure… feel free. Leave when you want… but give me your word that you'll never talk about us… never willingly betray us."

Sanja nodded. Chris gave her a weak smile in return, and turned to Kani. "Hey, I think we need to go east."

(Lavender? Why?)

"The tower. I… think something…"

(Right. We're going.)

Chris nodded, and Kani led the way. Mathrara gave Chris a glance, and he shook his head. "I dunno why."


The suit received the folder with an arched eyebrow. "What's this? That brat again?"

"No, the mystery trainer… our analysts calculate that it's very probable that they're one and the same."

The suit narrowed his eyes, and then wearily looked up at the woman. "Probabilities aren't good enough. We need definite proof. Capture him, or someone close to him. He might have told an acquaintance about his adventures, and only then will I act. We will not have another massacre without proof, is that understood?"

The woman nodded, took back her folder, and left the room. Just as she left, she said "It's a shame we killed his mother, she might have made things easier."

The man rubbed his temples. They'd lost a few operatives to the investigation of that explosion.

Multiple murders were bad for business when discovered. The brat was supposed to have died in the explosion.