Chapter Twenty Eight: Getting Stoned

If it hadn't been for the door, Alaska would have been killed.

She tried to scream out, but even she couldn't hear herself over the roar of the explosion. Orange burned through her eyelids as the door was sent flying forwards, the weapon flying from her hands and bits of wood jabbing into her back. Alaska could tell that the explosion must have died down, otherwise the door would have been fully blasted in half, but it had simply turned into a large shield that was pushing Alaska to the ground as shots rose up all around her.

After only a few seconds in the air that felt like longer, Alaska crashed into the ground. The door bounced away but not before hitting her across the head. Alaska rolled through long grass with a loud grunt, her bag bouncing around and making her worry about her PokeBalls and laptop. But once Alaska finally came to a stop, she knew that her friends and Pokemon were more important to worry about.

"Odd Odd Oddish!" Several Oddish rushed away as Alaska looked up, clutching her head as her brain bounced around inside and felt along the temple to find she was bleeding where the door had hit her. But Alaska forced herself to get to her feet even though it made her head pound, and she watched as a pack of Meowth ran past, led by a concerned looking Persian. The worried looks on their faces were possibly just from the explosion, but Alaska didn't want to know what was left behind and looked up nervously.

The building she had past through less than a minute before was now destroyed: the windows and roof had been shattered and a fire was roaring inside, though its smoke paled in comparison to the thick black smoke rising up from the tunnel. The walls remained in tact though, and Alaska quickly remembered that Sandy, Bellsprout and Nadia had been on the ground when it happened.

"Pidgey Pidge Otto!" Paige rushed over, several feathers at odd angles but otherwise alright. She looked concerned as she came over, and Alaska couldn't help but tear up and pull her friend into a hug. "Pidge!" She squawked as Alaska clutched her tightly, but the hug became more gentle and they stayed this way for half a minute.

"Nidoooo!" The sad cry sounded all around, and Alaska quickly snapped out of her emotions as the noise struck her. She let go of Paige and tried to run forwards, but her right knee must have struck the ground hard as it was painful to run on, forcing Alaska to simply hobble forwards. She was relieved to see that Sandy was sitting upright, glass strewn through her hair and clothes but otherwise unharmed, and Bellsprout's small and flexible body had allowed her to escape injury. Butterfree had flown away with Paige and was fine as well, so Alaska focused back on Nadia who was a few feet away.

"Nadia, are you alright?" Alaska called. The Nidoran was cowering where Alaska had put her down, which had been only a few feet from the door. The little blue Pokemon was shaking furiously, and Alaska was shocked to see a cut across her back from flying grass, but her strong claws had allowed her not to be blown away by the blast.

"Oh Nadia!" Alaska said, collapsing down onto her knees and picking up the Nidoran. Nadia's tough personality had disappeared under light of this situation, and Alaska felt terrible for leaving her behind, but could only worry about what might have happened if things had been different in any way.

"I think I can hear sirens," Sandy called out. Alaska looked behind and saw a fire engine racing out of Vermilion in the distance, but there was also a siren sounding much closer. Alaska tried to find it, but turning around was only making her head shake and throb. She could feel blood dripping down her shoulder, but as she did the world began to spin. Paige, Nadia and Sandy all cried out, but Alaska had no idea why as she fell backwards onto the grass, staring up at the sky and wondered why things around her were going black. She caught a brief glimpse of Paige as she appeared overhead squawking loudly, but Alaska couldn't understand why and shut her eyes, wondering if it a little nap would make things better…


You are in grave danger, Alaska Acevedo. The longer you stay on this path, the longer you are putting yourself at risk. If you cross Gideon's path again, he will most likely eliminate you. Once Neil Bolton hears you are still alive, he will stop at nothing to eliminate you. You must stop this Alaska Acevedo, before it is too late

Who are you? Why are your saying these things?

I simply can see the truth you are unwilling to see. Stop your journey, or you and your family, your Pokemon and Alexandra will be further at risk from two forces that are willing to tear our world apart. Stop your journey Alaska before it is too late…


"Hello there Alaska. It's nice to see your finally coming around.

Alaska let out a groan as her eyes began to flicker open, only to shut them tightly due to the sunshine coming in through a window and shining directly into her face. There was something soft around her head, but Alaska's head still felt as if her gym battle with Brock was being re-enacted on top of her brain. All she could remember was the incident in the tunnel and than seeing the explosion, but every after that was a blur of strange blue light, a shadowed figure that hadn't been human and deep, meaningful voices. The bed she was in felt comfortable, though Alaska began to note she was only wearing a singlet and underwear underneath the thick blankets.

"I don't know what is going on, but I sure hope that whoever you are, you didn't undress me," Alaska murmured and glanced towards the sound of raucous laughter. She had been expecting it to be a doctor, nurse or Sandy, but was surprised to see a grey haired man sitting next to her. He was wearing long grey-brown pants and elaborate purple felt jacket that looked like her grandfather's dressing gown had been butchered. Despite the grey hair the man looked a lot younger, possibly only in his late thirties or early forties, and it wasn't until he had stopped laughing that Alaska's injured head registered who he was.

"Your Steven Stone, aren't you?" Alaska gasped. "You were the Hoenn Champion after defeating Mr Devon, and then you had that really famous battle with Wallace that you eventually forfeited because…"

"I said that I was getting bored and he could have the title and all the glitter coated crap that came with it," Steven replied calmly and Alaska let out a laugh that quickly turned into a cough. "If it reassures you to know, you are not going to be terribly wounded by that explosion yesterday. You have several stitches in your head and they suspect you may have twisted your knee in an odd way when you struck the ground, but you are expected to recover nicely.

"I've been here overnight?" Alaska said in shock, her relief at not being injured being overshone by this fact. "Have you been sitting here all this time and perving at me in my undies?" Steven let out another laugh, but Alaska gave him a look to show she was serious.

"Oh dear, I am not interested in your body in the slightest, though you are a very attractive young woman," the ex champion said. "I am asexual: I do not believe in waffling away my time with a romantic conquest of any variety. My Rock and Steel Pokemon are my only love, and I have my time devoted towards expanding our world's possible knowledge on the legends of our past.

"Well, I am sorry to tell you this, but loving a Rock type sounds like it would lead to some pretty painful sex," Alaska said, and Steven's laughter echoed around as one hand clutched his side and the other patted Alaska on the arm.

"Oh my, your sense of humour is as inappropriate and vulgar as your blog suggests, but I must admit I walked into that." Alaska would have been willing to laugh along, but something the seemingly kind man had just said turned her laughter into a scowl.

"You've read my blog?" She said in almost a hiss. "Let me guess: Professor Oak or Bill or one of the 'Kanto Elites' found out I was involved and sent you here to check on me, just make sure I was still alive and to possibly help you in dragging Gideon out of hiding, or some stupid plan like that?"

"Heavens no my dear," Steven said with a gasp. "I am currently in Vermilion City for a meeting with the Pokemon Fan Club President concerning some theories he has that could help me into my current research when I heard about the explosion. I must admit that I have heard of you through Bill and have been reading your blog, which I read more for its delightfulness than for your account of the grim dealings you've been through. I came to see if you were alright and saw you were on your own and thought it was best that you woke up to someone." Alaska was convinced by the story, but another fear rushed through her that made her try and swing her legs around.

"Where are Sandy and my Pokemon?" She asked as she tried to move, but Steven leapt up and pulled her back around just as Alaska's head throbbed.

"While you got the worst injuries and shouldn't move," Steven warned, "Sandy was not harmed by the explosion, asides from glass landing on her and leaving a few small cuts that were easily treated. She recounted what happened in the tunnel to police officers, from the Electrode robot to the shadowed figure, but whilst firemen have found some electronic parts, there are no signs of human remains so we can only presume the figure got away." Alaska found this interesting, but was more eager to know about her Pokemon.

"Your Nidoran has suffered a cut on her back but the nurse at the Pokemon Center sewed it up, and Paige and Sandy's Butterfree and Bellsprout were healed as well and are currently resting," Steven explained with a smile. "Sandy went into shock for a while and I didn't like the idea of her stressing out at the police station or by your bedside, so she is currently with a friend of yours at Vermilion Gym." Alaska had no idea who this friend was, but lay back in the bed and sighed with relief.

"I am glad the Pokemon are alright, but I feel so bad for Nadia: she'd only be on my team for a few hours and she's already injured," she explained with a sad sigh, staring out of her window at the clear blue sea around her. "Is all our stuff alright?"

"Your bag is here, and I checked through and your laptop and that contraption Bill gave you are all fine," Steven said, "and I found it amusing to see you have those brownies," which caused Alaska to laugh softly. "Sandy's things are fine as well: she was worried her egg may have been damaged, but it was insulated well. She told me about Andy and Judy, a nice couple I have known for a while: it is a pity they don't have the facilities anymore to look after the egg themselves, but Sandy seems friendly and competent."

"She and the Pokemon saved me in the tunnel," Alaska explained. "The ElecBot was about to smash right through me when they pushed it away. I really should thank them again." Steven nodded to this and they fell silent. Alaska felt tired, but she had never been one for lying on her bed at home with nothing to do and decided to continue her conversation. "Is there any news as to who is behind the robot, or who is behind the nuclear bomb on Chrono?" Steven looked quizzically down at Alaska, a half smile coming onto his face that slightly unnerved Alaska.

"You seem quite with things," the champion explained. "Always eager to find the answers and work out what is happening: I know you said on your blog you wanted to ignore things, but I think you stand a good chance at solving things." Alaska felt uncomfortable at this: she didn't want to get further involved with anything, but his words made her think she should be.

"I think Gideon was behind the nuclear bomb," Alaska explained to deflect the statement. "It seems like something he would do, but I am not sure why. I don't think he is behind the robots though: he seemed surprised by the GolemBot, and it would have ended up killing him if Onix hadn't crushed it. However, Sandy and I were discussing things and I think Gideon is trying to build his own fossil resurrection machine but with some sort of added twist." Steven nodded along with this, wearing a look that seemed similar to as if they were having an intellectual debate over tea rather than in a hospital bed.

"Your talents are far too wasted to be in this room," Steven said suddenly, not acknowledging Alaska's theories at all which slightly stunned her. "I am going to see if I can take you out in a wheelchair, just to give you a lovely view of the city, and than we can go and find Miss Samson, alright?"

"Sure, but what about my – ," Alaska began, but was interrupted as Steven briskly leapt to his feet and walked out of the room. Only now that she was alone did Alaska realise how bare the room was, with only one window in front of her and a door to the side, possibly a bathroom on the other but she didn't care enough to check.

All of these things that were happening to her were confusing and frustrating. Alaska had left Viridian City to finally embark on a journey and to show Chloe and everyone what a true trainer without a starter type could do. While she had her two gym badges and four Pokemon, Alaska was annoyed with herself for getting involved in all of this. She could only imagine what might have happened if she hadn't bother to dive into the Beedrill's nest or hadn't gone into the Pewter Museum: would her life be simpler? Would she had ever encountered Gideon and gotten involved in his mad plan, or had to deal with giant robots and mysterious men that hid in the shadows? Than there were all the famous people that knew who she was, the strange brain switching blue lightning and the electronic voice at the gyms that enjoyed mocking her – the number of mysteries were building up and Alaska didn't have the answers to any of them.

Tears of frustration began to build up as Alaska angrily lashed out with her good leg, kicking the sides of the bed. All she had wanted was a nice normal journey, but now she had robots trying to kill her and people who probably had access to every detail of her life that was on record. Gideon had most likely blown up an entire island and killed hundreds of people, but Alaska didn't even know why yet a part of her wanted to go across to Chrono Island and start looking for clues through the ashes.

No matter what Alaska wanted, she was caught up in something bigger than herself. Though the voice in her dreams sounded too real to be part of her subconscious, whatever it was had a fair point that she could only get deeper into the mystery now. Alaska allowed her tears to stream silently down her face as she knew that there was no way she could get out of this, and that things were only going to get worse from here on.