Wes groggily opened his eyes. He could feel the various beads of sweat accumulating and dripping from his jaw and neck. It was so hot. During the summer, temperatures usually stayed around 80 degrees at the south rim of the canyon and well over 100ºF at the bottom. The Snagem Hideout had very little ventilation and air conditioning was only reserved for certain rooms and Gonzap's Master bedroom. Nearly all their sparring matches were held down at the base of Eclo in that extreme heat. The other grunts must've gotten used to it over time and they also had the benefit of an exercise and weight room within the base, which was one of the ventilated areas. However, Wes wasn't allowed in there. Not until he proved he was strong enough to enter another training regimen separate from the spars. Until then, he was stuck enduring the sickening heat and humidity.
His eyes slowly cracked opened. His cell was dark. The entire corridor was barely lit, the only slivers of light peering in from the moonlit sky through the barred window.
Groaning slightly, Wes slowly sat up on his cot, his body still aching from the intense training from the previous day. His Eevee were huddled together at the foot of the mattress. The younger Eevee was shivering ever so slightly but still noticeably to Wes' discerning eyes.
"Don't worry, pal. I'll get you a blanket."
Wes folded the single sheet back and swung his legs over, careful not to hit his beloved pokémon. He walked barefoot out of the cell and down the corridor, the soles of his feet making light clapping sounds as he stepped. His right ankle still hurt tremendously but he was willing to grit and bare it if it meant his Eevee could be more comfortable and sleep peacefully.
As Wes walked down the hall, it gradually started to get lighter, the many shadows and darkness slowly giving way to light. That was odd. The grunts usually were all knocked out until sunrise. They loved their sleep. It wasn't too much longer that the smell started to reach Wes' nose. The foul pungent scent of raw liquor. If they were up drinking at this hour, Gonzap surely would have chewed them up by now. Unless he was sacked out by his own indulgence.
Wes froze as he heard sharp footsteps coming his way. He wasn't allowed to leave his cell at night, and most days, they had him locked in. He looked around but he was in a narrow corridor with no barrels or boxes. No place to hide. He couldn't sprint back because of the immense pain in his ankle. He was trapped.
Wes grimaced as the owner of the footfalls turned the corner. To his surprise it wasn't Gonzap or Biden at the end of the corridor. It was a young woman with long emerald green hair that tied at her waist. She was wearing clothing that seemed to be made as the same material as Gonzap's black leather jacket. It clung to her skin as if it were claiming her body for itself, the only openings being a wide slit exposing her abdomen and the cut just below her knees. Large glittery platform shoes wrapped tightly around her ankles and legs, threatening to piece her skin at any moment. Those must have been what were making those sharp steps Wes heard down the hall.
The young woman seemed just as surprised to see Wes standing there. After regaining her composure, she walked slowly to him. She crotched down slightly to be on eye level.
"Well, well…I had no idea there were children around here. What's your name sweetheart?" she asked gently.
She had a soft smooth voice that went up several octaves as she ended her sentences. Like a not-so-subtle crack.
"Wes." He answered, uneasily.
"Wes," her voice squeaked.
"What is your name, Miss?"
She smiled softly. "Braixen."
"Braxten?"
"Like the pokémon."
"I've never heard of or seen a Braixen before."
She giggled slightly. "Most folks around here haven't. It's a pokémon not native to this region. It's from Kalos, a region very very far away from here. But you can just call me Braxi."
"Miss Braxi."
"Mhmm. I just stepped out for a moment to get some air. A little break from the boys in the back."
Wes looked slightly passed her. "You were back there with them, Miss Braxi? Everyone's usually asleep by now. Are you giving them some kind of special training?"
Braxi blushed slightly. "Um…Well…I guess you can put it that way…Only for adults though. But what of you, little one? Why are you up at this hour? Better yet why are you here at all? This isn't the place for someone so small as yourself to be milling about."
"I'm under contract by Mr. Gonzap. I cannot leave until I fulfill my duties to him and his team."
Braxi shook her head sadly. "My, my. What has this world come to? You are more than little too young to be working here, darling. This isn't the place for you. You shouldn't be here."
"I don't work here. Not really. I mean, I can leave once I've completed my obligations to Mr. Gonzap. Then my Eevee and I can go."
"Do your parents know you're here, Wes?"
"I don't have a father. And I haven't heard from Mama in years. She was real sick that last I saw her. Once I get out of here, the first thing I'm gonna do is run up to her and give her a big hug! She wanted me to become a Pokémon Trainer. But I sorta failed in doing that."
Braxi cooed and knelt to Wes, bringing him in for a warm hug. His face pressed firmly against her chest as she held him tightly.
"Lord, please cover this small child and protect him from all of the wickedness in this here place! He is young and innocent, not yet tainted by the corruption around him. Keep his heart pure throughout whatever he may endure. This I declare and pray in the Lord's name, Amen."
After another moment passed, Braxi released Wes from her hold and held him firmly by the shoulders.
"Child, whatsoever you witness, please I pray you try to remain on the straight good and narrow path. This isn't the place for you."
"I'd say this isn't the place for you, Miss Braxi. I can't really leave, I'm under contract. But why are you here? You don't seem to like the training you are doing here."
Braxi chuckled dryly.
"You can say I'm under contract as well. Not to these lots specifically but they request my services often. It helps pay the bills so, you know, I do what I have to. But like you I hope to put an end to this routine. Get it right. Get a life. Reclaim what I've lost."
"What you've lost?" Wes repeated back in confusion.
Again, Braxi shook her head. "Too young for someone of your tender age to hear."
"You keep calling me young but you don't look too old yourself, Miss Braxi. You look like you're only a couple years older than me."
"Life can do a hell of a lot to speed your years and grow you fast. Never you mind how old I am. I'm at least young enough to be able to start over and not too traumatized to be consumed the rest of my days."
"I don't understand."
"Good. I don't want you to. I hope you'll never have to. You still have a chance not to have your innocence stolen. Hold on to your purity, Wes. You say you got pokémon?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Eevee. Two of them."
"Cherish them," she said warmly, "Pokémon are among the purest and kindest of creatures. They are all little angels we are blessed to have in our world. If you ever feel like you are losing your way, look to your Eevee. Let them remind you what you know to already be true in your heart."
Just then, another girl with twintail curls who appeared to be a late teenager like Braxi appeared from behind the corner. She was wearing a quite form-fitting red halter top and white micro skirt.
"Braxi, Daisy chain time," she muttered as she walked a little closer.
Bowing her head, Braxi stood to her feet.
"Looks like I'm needed again. You best be on your way back to your bed. It's way past your bedtime."
"I need to get a blanket for one of my Eevee. She has bad dreams sometimes and having a quilted blanket helps give her some external comfort."
Braxi reached into her very small white purse and pulled out a tiny vial. She held her palm out in front of Wes to pass it to him.
"This is some lavender essential oil. Just put a few drops around your Eevee or something she may like to lay on and it should help calm her nerves. You can even dilute it with water and give her a bathe or massage it into her fur so that it soaks into her pores."
Wes gently took the vial. "You sure you won't be needing this?"
She shook her strongly. "No. My pokémon are safe and sound on a ranch far away. When I've gotten better, I can go back and see my old partners again. And it looks to me you need this more than me. Now you turn around and go back to bed. Don't tell Gonzap you saw me tonight either."
"You don't have to tell me twice," he said dryly. "Thank you, Miss Braxi. I wish I had something to offer in return."
"Never you mind that. It's my pleasure, Wes," She nodded, turned around and started to walk away. When she reached her friend, she stopped walking and called back. "The special thing about Eevee is that they can adapt to their environment and use those hardships and trials to overcome them and survive in the end. All dependent on the care they receive during development. That helps shape what they choose to evolve into. Raise your Eevee with care and nurture them while they discover their way as you do your own. Together, you're full of possibilities."
"Of course. They are my family, Miss Braxi. They will be happy and confident enough to be whatever they desire to be."
Braxi smiled. She could hear Wes' footfalls getting further away.
"Who was that kid, Braxi?" asked the girl beside her.
"If he's lucky, he'll be a strong one never to be messed with. And he'll escape the corruption breeding in this hellhole."
"Sheesh, what's got your heart all mushy all of a sudden? Once you're in the game, there's no getting out, you know that."
"I know. But maybe he has the strength to stop playing and will survive to maybe delete it."
"Rose-colored glasses much?"
"No. Just a little childhood optimism returning for a brief moment. Let's go, Lei. We're still players obviously. Let's finish our turn."
Wes was already awake by the time Biden banged on the cell bars. No many how many times he heard it, the sharp reverberating sounds of the clanging metal bars perforating deep into his ears always disoriented him.
He sat up slightly dazed, trying to alleviate the pressure in his eyes from double vision caused by his extreme fatigue. His bones and muscles still ached from the previous day's training regimen. But he wouldn't allow himself to show his weakness. He couldn't. If he didn't appear for practice, he'd be in for much worse than the beating he received yesterday for his lackluster performance.
"A thorough trouncing and fight inflates the heart and tans the hide," Wes whispered to himself begrudgingly.
His two Eevee sat on top the makeshift bed.
"Get up, runt!" Wakin shouted before scornfully walking away.
Even feet away, Wes could still sense the lingering smell of booze of his breath from his cot. His raspy drunken voice coupled with the reverb from the cell bars were like a Loudred's shrieks tearing into his inner ear.
"Boss is out, so I'll be overseeing your matches today. Get up and hit the eclogite. Or I'll have you running laps across the dune."
The Orre desert was primarily barren, the environment being even too uninhabitable and hostile for even the most adaptable of pokémon and plants. It was one of the few areas in Orre that was completely arid. Even Eclo Canyon wasn't completely barren, hosting vegetation and water in specific areas even in its extreme heat sometimes. But the Orre desert was much too volatile. It is for this reason that Cipher decided it was the perfect place to build their facility. No one would ever dare to venture to such an unbearable, unendurable wilderness.
The newly constructed laboratory contrasted greatly with the desolate landscape. The building was sleek, perhaps one of the most technologically advanced in the region, hosting several floors and levels, with various scanning devices and security panels and codes for increased protection and to better control its limited admission.
On the lowest level of the building sat two men in what clearly was a room devoted to experimentation, containing many laboratory glassware, analytical devices, incubators, and various other equipment for scientific, technological research, experimentation, and measurements.
In one chair behind the large metal work desk sat Gonzap, Team Snagem's ferocious iron-willed leader. Across him on the far other side of the table sat a slim, tall young man with long wavy deep midnight bluish black hair. One elegantly long thin bang hung graciously on the right side of his face. He had smokey blue eyes, pointed tinted glasses, and an intricately designed silver close-fitting necklace similar to a choker. He wore a long elaborate lab coat that further extenuated his slender physique, purple slacks, and a pair of sleek silver boots.
Gonzap grunted. "Alright, Ein. It's been a few years now. You promised to have the Snag Machine ready by now. My Snaggers are ready to start collecting pokémon to add to our arsenal. What is taking so damn long?"
The scientist known as Ein gently flicked his bang nonchalantly, before clasping his hand and placing them under his chin in thought, taking a moment before answering Gonzap.
"Come now, Gonzap. There is no rushing this process. Developing Shadow Pokémon is a delicate and intricate art. Creating the most insanely powerful pokémon takes careful design and planning which can take a considerable amount of time to yield the most amazing and profitable results."
"You promised to have the Snag Machine ready by now."
"No, I gave an estimated time of completion, which is not guaranteed. We've had many delays in production. Closing the door to a pokémon's heart and turning them into soulless fighting machines must be treated with the utmost care. It has to be circumspect; it has to be meticulous; it has to be exacting. All haste and no speed, my friend, will get you nowhere and will only cause further delay."
Gonzap slammed his large, gloved fist on the table.
"Careful, you barbarian!" Ein shrieked. "That's a special Marbled Patina! You cannot even begin to fathom the costs of acquiring such a rare and exquisite piece of furniture that is both art and practical. Do you comprehend the intricacy in having more texture with a marble effect to create this glorious sheen?! Of course you don't!"
"Is this where you've been squandering your money to?!" roared Gonzap. "Stupid flimsy table furniture like this that will undoubtedly break!"
"Excuse you!"
"We had a deal! You highfalutin Cipher elitist snobs are ruining everything!" he bellowed standing up.
Ein crossed his slender legs while keeping his eyes fixed on Gonzap. "If standing up and complaining about my magnificent investments makes you feel all high and mighty, I suggest you tantrum in some other's office. I haven't the time or patience to deal with an oversized toddler."
"Ein, we had a deal!"
"Yes, we did, Gonzap. But lest not shift the blame all to me and Cipher. You Snagem thugs were supposed to be catching the pokémon we are to be injecting with the Shadow Pokémon serum, which itself is still in development. But you have yet to bring us any subjects. I'd say you are the ones prodigalizing and frivoling away our efforts."
"We cannot snag pokémon without your damned Snag Machine!"
"Is that all you can think of? Then it's no wonder we don't have any test subjects already. Stealing – that's the first thing you thugs go to. It's not surprising but it is pathetic. Just because we are in development of the Snag Machine for catching all powerful pokémon whether they have ties to another or not, does not mean you are only to obtain stolen pokémon. You can just as well catch the pokémon in the wild and bring them to us."
"That will be too tedious!"
"Sounds to me that you are just lazy."
Gonzap's face turned red as he let out a loud unrestrained scream before grasping the end of the table.
"You bring us test subjects, you get a few of Cipher's tech to help you gain stronger militant beasts that can help you in your cause of getting you lot out of the slums and have Orre see you finally and recognize your might. In doing so you will also keep your endeavor separate from what our lord wants in regional planetary domination. Your organization can either support or stay out of our way, it doesn't really matter to me either way. But you will stop this infantile tantrum of your toys not being ready in time and let me do my work, so that we may go achieve our respective goals. You will know when the prototype is ready, and you will have a pokémon, several in fact, I can test it on. Am I understood Mr. Gonzap, Sir?"
Sneering, Gonzap let go of steel table and stormed out of Ein's inner lab.
"You will be paying for any and all damages to my Marbled Patina." Ein remarked without looking up. He skimmed through his files stopping at one page in particular.
"Ugh. Lovrina, They are seriously considering hiring this girl to the Research and Development Team? This hyperactive, narcissistic, valley girl? Oh, I do not get paid enough. They're going to have this tween shadow me. What is Grand Master Greevil think– ?…"
A cold chill ran up Ein's spine and feelings of fear and anxiety gripped him.
"Ein, you fool! How dare you question the Grand Master?!" he monologued to himself. "He is not to be spoken of. He is far above your rank. I only need question Evice and Nascour…" he flipped the page in his notebook and landed on Nascour's profile. "Nascour…That one too rose in the ranks pretty high. This one with his white wiry serpentine hair and gaunt terrifying visage. It was clear he was terribly malnourished when he arrived. Said he was done not being able to make ends meet and would do whatever it to took for him to become our leader's righthand man. No kin or family that would be looking for him he said. Had one love that was worth nothing according to him. He would and is giving his all to Cipher and our plans. Hm. He's living a pretty penny now. But he still has some helluva anger issues he needs to work out…Evice."
He closed his notebook on profiles shut and took off his pointed tinted glasses before finally sighing loudly.
"Everybody wants results. But nobody appreciates the time it takes to achieve perfection. They wanna send in this newb Lovrina, fine. She'll not get in the way of my work. If Gonzap rampages up here again, I'll just have Venus or Dakim deal with him. I am the only one of us four actually working. Or maybe we'll have that Mirror B annoy him to leave us be. Whatever the resolve we will find it. Right now, I must get back to my studies."
Standing up, he put his tinted glasses back on and walked over to a test tube that contained a frighted Sunkern trembling inside.
Ein then pressed a few buttons on the control panel and inserted a vial into the tiny compartment. Soon, an inky dark purple solution flowed through the many connecting tubes until it finally attached to the baby Sunkern. The connected tube then pushed out a needle into the Sunkern, causing the little pokémon to cry. As the serum released and injected into the Sunkern, its eyes grew wide and it started to writhe in agony, crying and screaming louder and louder.
"Yes!" exclaimed Ein. "Show me, you little plant fetus the magnificence of my genius! Tell me what else needs to be done to perfect the adulteration process. Grant me the good graces of lord Evice so that I too may be seen by even he who is greater than us all! Tell me Sunkern! What do I need to fix? What needs to be adjusted? Show me what I can do! And what you still need!"
The only place in Elco Canyon Wes felt any kind of peace was when he was able to sneak away to his special spot for his very limited breathing spell. Wes often retreated to the canyon's core with his little bit of free time, where it was much cooler and peaceful. Within the extremely excessively heated canyon, was a little alcove which hosted a decently sized subterranean waterfall. This waterfall was one of the most beautiful natural forms that was found in nature, with the shimmering streams of water hurtling downwards. Wes heard of their being waterfalls flowing naturally throughout the world, but this was the only one he's ever come across. Buried beneath and inside Elco Canyon, its rivers flowed between stone and rock, forming underground torrents.
Wes sat lotus-style beneath the cave's waterfall on a naturally flattened river rock, meditating. He had taken up meditation one day when the grunts were watching the Hoenn League on the television in the dining hall. A commercial that played between matches focused on a young woman meditating with her Medicham and Hypno. The two pokémon were floating in the air outlined in light blue and white energy, leaving Wes in awe. The focus of the segment was showing how focusing your spiritual energy on mindfulness could help one achieve a more mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state, while also displaying how meditation allowed Trainers to become more in tuned with their pokémon, deepening their bonds, and increasing their strength. After meditating for ten minutes, the Trainer stood to her feet and performed various stunts and maneuvers with her pokémon. They nimbly dodged each attack they threw at each other, moving at incredible speeds and then delivering their various attacks with such force. When she and her pokémon were finished, after bowing to the crowd, the young woman explained how meditation could significantly help to reduce one's stress, anxiety, depression and pain while also increasing their peace, perception, self-concept, awareness and well-being. Her name was Shauna, the apprentice and would-be successor to the Hoenn fighting-type trainer Brawly. Even though most of the Snagem grunts grumbled at what to them was boring filler for the tournament, Wes was amazed. If focused and dedicated meditation allowed for this skilled trainer to enhance her pokémon's skills as well as her own while also deepening the emotional connection between a Trainer and their pokémon, Wes was all for it. To bring out the innate abilities of his beloved pokémon – allowing them to achieve anything they wished and desired while also strengthening his bond with them – that's all he really desired as a Trainer. Not power, but to foster and nurture the growth and potential of his pokémon.
Ever since he watched that segment, Wes spent most of his very restricted free time meditating in the canyon's hidden cavern with his Eevee. The remainder times was spent either training, running errands, stocking supplies, or doing grunge work. This was the only times he could really have quality time with his pokémon.
Wes inhaled deeply, focusing on his intake and noting how his chest muscles contracted. He felt the expansion as he filled his core with air, holding his breath for about ten seconds before slowly exhaling, and being observant of how his muscles relaxed, feeling the strain and tension flow from his body as he respired. He listened to the soothing patter resonating from the pithy waterfall contacting the lake below it, the forceful gush of waterflow creating delicate ripples and hushed splashing all around him. He felt the coolness of the deluge of water from the vertical drop umbrella the top of his head, feeling the various streaks that trickled down his face and dripped from his chin, paying close attention to the little droplets that sprinkled on his legs and thighs. He lulled himself into dissociation as the rushing waters flowed over him.
His male Eevee sat to the right of him, meditating deeply as well while his female Eevee played ahead of them in the cave. She chased as rolling pebble that she had been kicking around.
Feeling refreshed, Wes stood to his feet and stretched, first his arms, then his legs, and finally working out the cricks in his neck. His male Eevee followed and stretched his tiny legs, paws, and neck before shaking his body to remove the water from his fur as well as work out any lingering stiffness in his joints.
"Alright, guys. I guess we better be headed back. Don't want to give Gonzap any incentive to pound me."
"Vee Vee!"
Wes looked around questioningly. "Where'd Eevee run off to now?" he asked as he continued to survey the area around him. The older Eevee looked around as well. His partner was nowhere to be seen.
"VeeVee?"
Wes walked on ahead, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Eevee! Where are you, pal? It's time for us to head back."
"Eevee! EeVeeVee!" his other Eevee called.
"Eevee! Eevee!" they finally heard her respond. Wes looked up and saw his Eevee running around with a young Diglett who kept popping in and out of the ground. She ran over to Wes once he was closer, and he enveloped her in his arms.
"Eevee! VeeEevee!"
"EeVeeVee!" the older Eevee scolded from the ground.
"I'm glad you made a new friend. But you can't go running off like that without me knowin."
Her ears drooped to the side. "Eevee eve…"
Wes petted her gently on her head between her ears and they immediately perked back up.
"I'm not mad. It's okay. Just let me know where you're running off to is all."
"Ee Vee!"
He placed her back down on the ground and walked over to the tiny mole pokémon who dug back underneath the ground once it saw Wes was approaching.
"This is your new friend, huh?" Wes said as he crouched down to the open hole. "No need to be afraid little guy. I'm not gonna hurt you."
"Dig?" it muttered as it slowly popped the tip of its round heads back up.
Wes reached down and gently petted it. It cooed as it reared the rest of its head up.
"DiglettDig!" it cried in delight.
"You have sensitive skin, right? That's why you hafta stay in dark cool places like caves and stay perpetually underground? So that the heat doesn't dry out your skin and make you feel weak. Sometimes I wish I could burrow underground and hide away when things get too tough…But then, all I'd ever know is runnin'. But I gotta admit, it must feel nice having a safety net. A safe space you can retreat to when needed. That's what dis cavern is for me. But this is just your house, huh?"
"Diiiiiglet!" it cooed. Suddenly, the small brown pokémon rose higher, exposing its body as it crawled onto the surface and rolled on its back for Wes to pet it. It had thick forepaws with sharp large claws and thick but smaller clawed hindlimbs. It also had a short hairy tail.
Wes' eyes twinkled. "Oh my gosh! You're actually showing me your whole body! I don't think nobody but breeders have seen that before. But I could be wrong. You're certainly an interesting looking pokémon, haha!"
"Diiiiiglet!Diiiig! DiglettDig!" it cried in delight.
"Thank you for trusting me, friend," Wes said as he stopped petting the small pokémon and stood to his feet. The Diglett sighed sadly that the petting had stopped, but it soon rolled back on top of its belly and burrowed beneath the ground once more.
"Alright, guys. Let's go back," Wes said as he turned around. But before he could take a step, the earth beneath him gave way and he plummeted down beneath to a lower level.
His Eevee cried out in worry as their Trainer slid down a long slope. Wes struggled as he skidded along the sabulous loam and silt, going from sliding on his behind to barreling down the slippery slope, forming numerous dust clouds as he rolled. He finally dropped when it abruptly ended and fell down to the cavern's lowest level. He groaned as he stumbled to his feet. He looked around to see that the area he was in was much sandier than the upper level he was on previously. The soil was much more fertile and richer, and the floor comprised of very fine sand, clay, and sediments.
He looked above to see his Eevee peering over a cliff's edge, at least 60 feet above where he was now.
He cupped his hands around his mouth. "Don't worry guys! I'm fine!" he shouted from below. "Just stay where you are, I'll try to find my way back up."
"Eevee! Eevee EE!" they shouted back.
Looking back around the area, Wes followed what he thought may have been a pathway inside the cave. As he continued walking, he came across two small pokémon that were tussling on the ground. One was a quadrupedal pokémon that had four stubby legs, and rounded head with plates of gray armor covering its head, back, and legs. The other was a small green reptilian pokémon with rocky skin and a blunt spike on top of its head and red scales covering its diamond-shaped belly.
"Hey, you two," Wes said as he approached the two baby-like pokémon. He crouched down between them and separated them from each other. "No need to fight."
The two small pokémon stopped staring at each other and looked questioningly at Wes. He then stood up and reached inside his pockets, pulling out two Oran Berries, then resting one in front of each pokémon. Both their eyes lit up as they each devoured the sweet succulent round berry.
"I know a lack of food can make anyone grumpy. And at the same time, getting a little grub in your tummy always makes you feel good if even for a moment."
"Aron!"
"Larvitar! Tar!" the two pokémon cried in delight.
The ground started to shake mildly as loud stomping footsteps could be heard approaching. As Wes look away from the two small pokémon, his heart dropped as a gargantuan bipedal light green dinosaurian pokémon with an armor-like hide covering its body entered the area. Several spikes of various sizes protruded from the back of its head, neck, and shoulders, and it had a grey diamond-shaped patch of scales covering its belly. A ring od spikes surrounded its tail and it had two pairs of pointed teeth in the front of its mouth. It eyed Wes, its hardened glare intimidating.
The two small pokémon ran up to the large kaiju-like pokémon gleefully.
Wes held his arms up in defense.
"I-I mean you no harm," he gushed.
The Tyranitar stomped closer to Wes. He remained still as it stepped in front of him. He watched dauntingly as it lowered its upper body down to the ground, its face very close to his own. He closed his eyes as he felt the behemoth inhale his scent deeply, before lightly nudging him with its snout. He reopened his eyes to see the intimidating creature seemingly smile, and then lower its head under Wes, lifting him up and he slid down to its neck.
"Whoa, whoa!" he cried nervously as he repositioned himself. "Whoa…"
The Tyranitar stomped away and soon entered a different part of the cavern. It glittered with many different kinds of sparkling glimmering crystals and gems. Sapphires, rubies, emeralds and diamonds. So many kinds of crystalline rocks and gemstones littered the interior of this cavernous area.
"Wow," Wes whispered as the two baby pokémon ran ahead to another intimidating pokémon. It was a huge bipedal pokémon that was covered in similar plates of silver armor as the baby Aron, with the same but fiercer looking sky-blue eyes. The armor on its head had two pairs of holes with horns protruding from the foremost holes. Its forehead plating extended past its upper jaw into a small point, and on the rim of its mouth were several pointed, fang-like protrusions.
It lowered itself to the ground to allow the baby pokémon to climb up on its shoulders and roared affectionally at its mate. The Tyranitar roared back.
"This is your home?" We asked from atop the Tyranitar. "It's so beautiful. You live here? You're so lucky."
Suddenly, the ground in the cavern started to shake as several explosions detonated around the walls. Dust clouds filled the area as several cables shot out from the broken walls.
"What's happening?!" Wes cried out.
One cable wrapped its way around the Aggron's torso and he cried out. The Tyranitar then formed a blue ball of energy in front of her mouth before releasing a condensed yellow orange beam. It severed the cable that had snared the Aggron. She roared to its mate to escape, and though he contested at first, the Aggron parent soon fled with their young ones.
As the dust clouds started to settle several figures came into view, who Wes immediately recognized.
"Agrev!"
"Well, well, well. So this is where the runt went scurrying off to," he smirked. "Gonzap's been looking for yah for a mighty long time. You know how the boss hates to be kept waiting."
"What're you doing here? You can't just attack these pokémon!"
"I can do whatever the hell I want. Especially if it means we get to acquire a strong powerhouse like this monster." He released a Machamp and Vileplume from two Pokéballs. "Focus Blast and Petal Dance."
The Machamp put his hands together and created a flashing orange ball of energy before thrusting his arms forward forcefully and firing it. The Vileplume stretched the opening on her flower and released several pink petals in a twister like fashion, spiraling.
The Tyranitar crossed her arms defensively as both attacks hit her in her center and pushed her back several yards. She cried out in pain.
"What're you doing?!" Wes cried out. "You're hurting it!"
"Don't get in our way, kid. Unless you're fixing to get hurt too. I still owe you a beatdown for your snarkiness before!" Agrev yelled.
Gritting his teeth, Wes jumped down from atop the Tyranitar and held his arms out on the side as he landed in front of her.
"I'll not let you hurt it!" he shouted.
Agrev smirked. "Suit yourself. Attack now!"
The two pokémon once again charged up their attacks. Tyranitar quickly lifted Wes from the ground with her tail and swung him to safety just before it was blasted again by the combined attack. Wes landed a far sight away on a ledge above. He spun around and crawled to see the Tyrantiar surround herself in light blue rings of energy that soon materialized multiple glowing gray rocks.
"I don't think so," Agrev muttered as he pointed ahead of him. "Ready! Now!"
Wes looked on in horror as several water cannons and hoses that were obscured by the dust earlier shot out high-velocity streams of water at the Tyranitar. The Tyranitar mother cried out in agony as she was doused by powerful jets of water. Several black ropes swathed around her, tying her legs, arms, torso, belly and neck. They pulled her down to the ground as they continued to stun her with the water cannon and hoses.
"No," Wes' voice cracked from above.
"Eevee! VeeEevee Vee!" his two pokémon cried as they ran up to him. They two looked down in abhorrence at the display before them.
The Tyranitar screamed one more time before she finally fell unconscious from exhaustion and energy depletion.
Agrev took an Ultra Ball from his waistband and enlarged it, then tossed it at the fainted pokémon. Just after the release button was depressed from impact, the yellow-striped black ball snapped open, the Tyranitar being zapped with a beam of red energy before atomizing and being pulled into the capture device. After it was sucked all the way in, the ball shut closed and dropped to the floor, wiggling once and then the button blinked off from red and returned to normal. The ropes dropped to ground with a resounding thud as the pokémon they once tethered was gone. Agrev walked up to the ball and picked it up.
"Critical capture. Nice." He signaled to the grunts surrounding the area. "Might as well snag a few of these jewels as well. Might be worth some serious dough."
Wes' eyes shimmered…What…What had he just witnessed? What…just…happened?
He heard the sound of footfalls behind him and turned to see Wakin standing above him.
"Time to go, pipsqueak."
Gonzap pounded his fist on his desk, making a small break just under the cloth that covered it.
"Where the hell have you been?" he uttered as he glared at the youth before him.
Wes remained still, his head bowed and eyes closed. His Eevee stayed by his feet, one cowering behind him, and the other taking a protective stance in front of him.
"I was training," he replied calmly.
"Training?" Gonzap questioned. "The training you do here isn't enough for you, boy?"
"I was doing my own regimen. To deepen the connection between me and my Eevee. I wasn't far and it wasn't my intention to be gone long."
"But you were," he said finally. "You know the consequences for breaking curfew, don't you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then get your ass to the mines now."
Wes furrowed his brow as he finally opened his eyes and look straight at Gonzap.
"Where's the Tyranitar?"
"Excuse me?" Gonzap said, incredulously.
"The Tyranitar that Agrev captured. What did you do with her?"
Gonzap ran his hand over his bald head. "That scotch must be messing with my senses. Because I know you are not committing one of the unholiest of transgressions and questioning my authority."
"No, Sir," Wes answered evenly. "But that Tyranitar was injured by Agrev's attacks and waterboarding. She needs medical attention. I just would like to see how she is doing so that she may be released back to –"
"Wes." Gonzap interjected. "I gave Agrev an order. And he followed it. I have my reasons for capturing this pokémon. Is that understood?"
"But she did not join willingly, Sir. She belongs in the wild. No pokémon should be taken against their will."
Gonzap stood up from his chair and walked slowly over to Wes. "I told you when we first met that my organization's goal is to bring out the raw power of pokémon, did I not?"
"You said you would bring out the best of every pokémon's abilities," Wes answered. "You also said the pokémon you trained were happier. That Tyranitar isn't happy. She doesn't belong –"
"She belongs wherever the hell I put her!" Gonzap bellowed. "I'll not have you interfere with our plans, Wes. You will drop this now and haul your ass to the mines for your punishment now!"
"She had a family! Two babies at least and a partner. You can't just –"
Wes was stunned as his head bent nearly unnaturally to left from the force of Gonzap's large backhand. His eyes rocked as his hands flew to his jaw and cheek, tears welling in his eyes from sting.
"EeVeeVee!" his Eevee cried.
"It would seem you are in fact not only questioning my authority…You are downright defying me."
He grabbed Wes by his tee shirt and threw him against the adjacent wall. A shockwave shot up Wes' spine as his back slammed into the steel wall before dropping on the ground. His Eevee tried to run to him but Wakin quickly dropped a crate over them, effectively trapping them inside.
Gonzap snatched Wes off the ground and slammed him once more into the iron wall, clenching his large hand around the young boy's neck.
"I let you spout whatever nonsense you want to about those mutant furballs you have follow you around. But you will mind your tongue when it comes to the beasts I capture. No matter what self-righteousness you may have, you will acquiesce to any and all of my orders. You are a grunt here just like any other. Your ass is mine. I own you. And you will not defy me again. Do I make myself clear?"
Wes struggled to breathe through Gonzap's vicegrip. He couldn't move his head at all. But he managed to croak out a throaty "Yes, Sir."
Gonzap released his hold and Wes again dropped to the floor. The held his throat as he gasped for air. Gonzap turned around and started for his desk.
"Get that trash out of here and down to the mines immediately." He ordered Wakin.
"And the pokémon, Boss?"
"I don't care. Release them to him. I don't care."
Nodding, Wakin lifted the crate and the two mammalian pokémon sprinted straight for Wes.
"Get him out! Now!"
"Yes, Boss!" Wakin repeated as he walked over to Wes. His throat and lungs burned with fury and tears streaked down his face. Wakin grabbed Wes by his arm and hoisted him over his shoulder, carrying him outside of Gonzap's office, his Eevee worriedly running after him.
Gonzap held his forehead and gave a heavy sigh. Between Ein's delays and Wes' disobedience, he was about ready to smash something.
He barely lifted his head up and looked at the small photo frame he had of his now sickly wife and young daughter. He sighed again. If he was able to get this operation to work…By some miracle…he might be able to face them again.
Wes wrapped the gauze bandages around his hands and knees tightly. After his spat with Gonzap, he had his grunts carry him down to the abandoned coal mine in Pyrite Town. They had him digging for lost and hidden treasures, goods, shards, and gems, even having him scavenging through the sewers underneath the mines.
He felt like a living biohazard, which was ironic since there were Muk, Grimer, Weezing and pokémon of the like milling about the region. In fact, there were an excessive amount of Muk and Grimer because of all the human pollution and exposure to X-Rays from the moon. They were genetic waste. Just as it wasn't the pokémon's fault they had become this abomination of living sludge, Wes tried to find some solace by reminding himself that it wasn't his intention to do all the grunge work Team Snagem forced him to do. It was for the betterment of his pokémon, they told him. And the young naïve child he was believed them, not knowing of anything else that challenged them. And though he had a few questions as the few years went by when he joined, nothing really stood out to him that anything was wrong or immoral. He was sheltered on base on Snagem's campus. He wasn't allowed to venture out passed the canyon's walls unless the grunts were watching him at the mines or supervising him running an errand and picking up supplies. There was still a lot of the world he hadn't gotten to see. But so long as he was with Team Snagem, he was theirs to control. He had no idea what had signed and in turn indebted himself to.
Wriggling his fingers slightly, Wes noted the different stings and aches he felt, analyzing the condition of his hands before balling his fists tightly.
His Eevee sensed his body tensing and both ran to either side.
"He lied to me," Wes muttered, still looking down at his fists. "He told me he was helping pokémon. He told me he was bringing out every pokémon's innate talent. That he and his team strived for every pokémon to be at their best! He said the pokémon he trained were happy!"
His younger Eevee's ears drooped down the sides while the older one stood at attention beside his Trainer on his right side.
Wes opened his lonely and sad laden eyes. "What they did to that mama…Tyranitar…She…She was not being helped….She was not happy…The way they all treated her – they constrained her with metallic ropes, hosed her incessantly with ferocious torrents and forced her all the way down to the ground. They didn't stop until she finally succumbed to her injuries and blacked out…What they did…The way they tormented her!…How could…?! They didn't even care that she was a mother, or had a family, or that they were invading her home, in her nesting grounds! They didn't even see or treat her like another living creature!"
"Eevee! EeveeEvee Eevee!"
"Vee Eevee!" his pokémon warned.
Wes looked down at his two pokémon. Then he dove down to the ground and enveloped his Eevee in tight embrace, one of either side of his chest and arm.
"I'll never let them do that to you! Ever! I will protect you both with everything in me!"
His Eevee held on tightly to him and placed their foreheads against him, declaring in their own way their commitment for their pained Trainer.
Wes' hardened eyes opened slightly.
"We've been here long enough. I'm sorry what you both have had to see and witness since we've been here. I've been a foolish Trainer. But I promise you. We will get out of here. Tonight."
His two Eevee paused and looked up at Wes as he sat back up.
"After they've all gone to bed, even the big Master himself. First, we free Mama Tyranitar and release her far away from the waterfall cavern where she and her family can find a new home where they will be safe. Then, we're bustin' out of here. This is not what I signed up for. It's time to put an end to this."
A/N: So, as you can see, there will be references to both Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness, as I have thoroughly played and enjoyed both games and the stories are interconnected. There's still much of Wes' origin I would like to cover before his eventual departure from Snagem so there's still several chapters to go before we get to where the games starts off. So I hope you'll bare with me as I delve deep into the psychological and physical struggles Wes has had to overcome to evolve into the hero that saves Orre. I'll also be slowing down on the author's notes from now on unless there's something necessary I need to mention.
Please read and review!
Always Do Everything With Love,
XyKPfan
