Bella
A Prologue to "Attached"
By ThreeBlackNoises
Chapter 2
Purpose?
I come to myself, and see that I'm back in the chamber where I first awoke.
I hurt, all over, but am otherwise fine, so I push to my feet and check the simulation pod in front of me.
No simulation is loaded, so I check the computer next.
"Good Job Bella. Now. For your next mission..."
My next mission is a bunch of strange sounds? That can't be right.
The computer only displays meaningless characters for a time as the sound continues.
"Explore the city." It finally says, before spitting out a small card.
Bending down to take said card is, difficult, but I eventually manage it.
The computer says nothing else; no matter what I do to it, so I head for the locked door.
It takes, several minutes for me to figure out how to use the card I now have, but it eventually slides through a slot, and the door opens.
As the door closes behind me, the woman from the simulation now stands directly in my path.
So I was correct. She's someone I'll have to interact with.
"Why are you here?" I ask.
I think I already know the answer, but this woman doesn't look like someone I need to make mad, so I want her to specify her purpose before I ask anything else.
"That' simple. I'm your handeler." She says plane enough.
Her voice betrays no emotion, and the vale covering her face makes it so I can't read her vary well either.
(but you just killed me. Said that I had to be judged for killing Pokémon."
I know this woman standing directly in my path has done no such thing, but she must have allowed herself to be put into the simulation.
On that note, I wish to let her speak her mind on that subject if she wishes.
"That's impossible, as I've been waiting here for you to come out of that door."
Okay, so, no issues with my actions.
"so does that mean you have orders for me?" I ask; not sure if she's the reason for the computer's lack of them.
"Shouldn't you already have them? Giovanni said he'd give them to you upon successful completion of the simulation."
Should I tell her about the computer? Maybe exploring the city is my next mission?
"the computer did, but I need out of this room." I calmly say.
"Far bee it for me to question the great giovanni's orders.
That card key will get you out of the Viridian Gym, but only through the back entrance." She says; using her hand to indicate a door farther back into the current room I find myself in.
" I've also been told to make sure you understand that you are to only use the back entrance when reentering the gym.
Using the front entrance would spoil the fact that the viridion gym is little more than a front for team rocket's operations here in viridian city." She continues.
Is team rocket good, or bad?
Far be it for me to ask such questions.
They must have givin me life, and missions, so who, or what, they are, shouldn't matter to me.
"I understand. I'll return shortly." I agree, and she moves out of my way.
"Take your time. I'll be here if you need me for anything." she invites.
This room does look like the back of an establishment, but I see another door than the one she indicated, and head for it.
"That door leads to the gym proper. Trust me, don't go there." she says; before I can even touch the door handel.
That's not a problem at all.
At least I now know where it leads, and will stay away from it.
I set my sights on the other door and walk toward it.
It has a card thing, like the one, wait, where did I come from anyway?
I reverse course and head back toward the door I'd used to gain entry to this room
I don't want to inter the previous room again, just find out what it is.
A large sign above the door says that it's a, test chamber?
That's good enough for me.
My handeler let's out a long sigh behind me, and I wonder if she has other obligations to this, team rocket.
Deciding not to ask that question, I use my card key to exit the gym and enter what must be viridion city.
immediately, I see why I'd been told to only use the back entrance to the gym, as a small wall had been built to conceal anyone coming out that way from the rest of the city.
I stop and look, but see nobody looking in my direction.
It seems that everybody's to busy to pay me any mind, and that's fine for now.
I have no clue what I'm supposed to find, so I start walking around randomly and find three exits to the city heading north, south and west respectively.
I also find a shop of some sort, and eventually my feet bring me to a building with a red rouf.
Upon entering it, I find nobody at the front desc to greet me, but I do see another computer and attempt to interact with it.
This computer wants my trainer ID, and I'm once again frustrated that a computer wants something I don't seem to have.
I turn away and notice a small table that has been set up not to far from the computer.
A small flower creature stands on said table, and a sign behind it reads, "Bethany's Potions.
Curious, I approach, and the flower creatures sees me and smiles.
"Hay, I'm bethany, nice to meat you. You into all-natural healing drafts?" she asks.
I see the potions she's selling in a container next to her.
I have no idea what all-natural draffts are, but I smile; or try to; as I respond to her.
"What, like hyper potions and stuff?" I ask.
This seems to anger the tiny creature, and; despite her size; she has no problem intimidating me.
"don't even mention that vial swill around me. If you want those, bug the human staf next door." she says in a dangerous voice.
I take that as my cue to change tact.
"So what's different about your stuff?" I ask, hoping she'll at least answer my question without getting even more angry.
Her face brightens as she replies to me.
"It's all natural, no stupid human pharmaceuticals, just barry juces and other natural ingrediants." She explains passionately.
"You're selling these, right?" I confirm, as I don't see any way for this creature to collect money.
"Of course. why?" she grinns up at me.
I then realize that I don't have any money to give her.
Thankfully, my face doesn't react as I quietly tell her this fact.
She looks me up and down, then smiles again.
"You've got some human-made potions right? I'll take them off your hands and study them to make better natural potions." She explains patiently.
"Now That's, a deal I can make." I say without consideration for team rocket and the fact that they must have provided the potions I currently carry around.
Oh well, they can always, provide more. I think as I hand Bethany the bag.
I end up helping her exchange the potions in said bag for some of her's.
Actually, I do all of the work, as Bethany doesn't seem to have working hands.
"Hay, might I be so bold as to ask you a favor?"
She drops the question innocently enough, but I can read the worry on her face, and in the way she holds herself.
"That depends on what it is." I respond curiously.
"You know of route 22 right?" She asks eagerly; jumping up and down slightly.
"Yes, if it's west of viridian city." I reply; remembering the sign above the west gate indicating as such.
"It is. does that mean you're interested?"
She's vary excited now, and I don't have anything pressing at the moment, so i decide, what the hell.
"Possibly, but I need more details first."
Bethany is grinning from, ear to ear?
"Well that route is home to a bunch of Spearow, and one of them stole something from me." she explains; her face, falling.
"I can't imagine what they'd want from you." I say, attempting to grin.
My face protests at this request, but eventually, gives in with a lot of cracking sounds.
Bethany's mood lightens somewhat; do either to the fact that I'm grinning, or that my face doesn't like doing it at all.
"Just a vary shiny bottle of something I've been working on." she adds, but her face isn't smiling anymore.
"Let me guess, you want me to defeat them and get it back?" I ask.
"No, unless you have to, other wize, just get it back for me."
Now, it's a challenge, and I want to pass it.
"Oh, ok, I'll see if I can find it."
I hear the doubt in my voice, but Bethany doesn't seem to.
"Oh thank you so much! None of the humans wanted to help me." Bethany almost sobbs.
"Wait you can talk?" I ask as I realize that she and I haven't been speaking the same language, yet, somehow, I understand her just fine... Weird...
"Of course I can. what kind of an item vender would I be otherwise?" she asks; the grin back on her face.
"Oh, right..." I say as I turn away from her and exit the building as fast as possible.
I find route 22 easy enough, but nothing seems out of place.
Bird Pokémon fly in the sky, and small Pokémon scurry through the grass some distance away.
A sidewalk leads me to an imposing structure who's sign states it's the Pokémon league
Curious, I enter and find the building empty of life, but a computer is built into a door at the far end.
Checking it, I learn that I need something called gym badges in order to proceed.
Maybe I'll ask Giovanni for one later.
Exiting the building, I decide to take a look behind it, and that's when I come under attack by; of all things; an army of Spearow.
They seem to want me to step away from a shiny bottle on the ground, and I have no entention of doing so.
They scream at me to leave it alone so they can use it to heal a member of their flock, but I decline, explaining that they can simply have him or her use the roost technique to accomplish the same result.
They don't understand, and press the attack, so I use swift to take care of them.
This, ends up killing them, oops, sorry Bethany, but more take their place.
I still try talking with them, but they don't listen at all.
Trying to weaken my attacks proves impossible despite my efforts, and they all fall to the ground, dead.
"I'm sorry Bethany. I tried to spare them, but I'm just to strong." I say aloud as I; try to kneel and claim the bottle.
"Bethany? Who's that?" A voice asks.
A Fearow jumps down from a nearby tree and looks me up and down.
"Is Bethany the aah." The fearow blows out what seems to be a frustrated breath before speaking again.
"Does that bottle belong to this, Bethany person?" The Fearow finally asks.
"It does, and I was tasked with retrieving it for her." I explain calmly.
"Then take it." The bird invites.
"Sir? Or madam? I can't kneel." I finally admit.
"I'm a madam named Feara, and I, can kneel."
She demonstrates this as she speaks.
"And you can to. Try it." She challenges.
I do, and finally succeed; yelling in pain as my body finally sincs to its knees in the grass.
Grabbing the bottle in a claw, I try to stand, but can't.
"Need a wing?" Feara asks as she approaches.
"Don't get to close! My breath, it'll poison you!" I say, but Feara keeps coming.
She doesn't listen, instead coming right up to me and using strength; she doesn't look like she has; to pull me to my feet.
"Now gaa." She says before blowing out more breath.
"Back to Bethany with you." She finally says.
"Can you not say go?" I ask.
"Not any word that sounds like that sound in my name." She explains hesitantly.
"Weird. Well nice talking to you. I'm bella." I say as I wave and turn to head back to the Pokémon center.
Maybe Bethany will forgive my murdur if I'm honest about it.
Bethany forgives me quite easily; given the situation, but tells me of a talking Pidgeot staying on the top floor of this Pokémon center that might be able to help out Feara.
I return her bottle, and Bethany reveals its contents, some kind of "Mega Draft" that can help both humans and Pokémon.
I help her por some into a smaller bottle that I except, before heading to see this pidgeot.
I don't even get to leave the steps before the large brown and yellow bird intercepts me. It looks like it should have broad, large wings, although now they look for all the world like they've been surgically removed then attached; almost like they were broken some time long ago and are still healing.
"Hay Sir, or madam? I'm quite afraid I can't let you pass." It says by way of a greeting.
"Why not. I mean no harm to anyone here, as they haven't been designated as a target by Giovanni." I calmly explain.
I note that the bird's sharp pink beak and large sharp talons are very dangerous, but not to me.
It makes no move to weald them against me however, so I also decide that talking is probably the best course of action here.
""All I have is your word, and my orders are absolute." It says; not moving an inch.
Its beak moves whith the words coming out of it, and I realize that this bird is actually speaking english.
"Wait, Giovanni?" It asks, and I get the feeling I just dropped more information than was necessary.
"You're part of Team Rocket?" It asks; confirming my theory.
"Yes, why?" I respond; getting the feeling this bird knows more about them than me.
"You do know they're evil right?" the bird asks, and; for some unexplainable reason, I get a strange feeling; somewhere deep inside of me; that I might be fighting on the wrong side.
"All I know is what Giovanni told me." I inform the bird, and it gets, a look that unsettles me even more.
"And what was that?" It asks.
I decide that I can tell this strange bird the truth, and I won't be judged for it.
"That my name is Bella, and that Pokémon he designates as targets need to be eliminated." I say calmly.
"Well Bella, I've given myself the name Robin, and I think you need to see team rocket for your self. If you head north from Viridian city, you'll come to the Viridian Forest. Past it, you'll find Pewter City. From there you'll be able to see mount moon. I hear team rocket's doing something shady there, and you should go check it out."
Robin has a point.
"I currently have no other orders, so sure." I agree.
"Once you see the true face of team rocket, I'm sure you'll reevaluate your position with them." Robin says as I turn to leave.
I'm half way down the stairs when I remember why I came up them in the first place.
"Robin?" I ask as I turn to face him again.
He doesn't respond with his voice, but a slight incline of his beak tells me he's listening.
So I explain my situation with Bethany, and he agrees to help if he is allowed to.
I thank him for considering my request and take my leave.
I decide to ask my handler for permission to head south, so I retrace my steps to the gym and head inside.
The woman is cleaning my test chamber; of what I don't ask, but she notices me and looks up with a vary small sigh she tries to hide.
"Might I request permission to head south?" I ask.
She looks at me funny before appearing to make up her mind.
"I don't see any complications arising from me granting you permission to explore the areas south of viridian city, however. Under no circumstance are you to head north. understand?"
I file the information away, and wave to the woman as I exit the gym.
Author's note:
I've noticed that some users have followed this story, and I apologize for the late update.
This story will be split into 4 chapters now, and I've already decided where to brake them.
Hopefully I'll have the third chapter out much faster than this one.
I had to make sure information in this chapter and chapter 13 of Attached didn't contradict each other.
That chapter just went live a few hours ago, by the way.
