Chapter Thirty-Three - The Race
If Curtis's fingers closed any tighter, they'd have broken skin. Rosa's gaze was fixed on Drayden, waiting for the gym leader to make his choice, but the hostility emanating from Curtis was a purple fog. His breath dragged as he breathed in and out, making a tearing noise. It was the only sound piercing the tense silence.
This was the only choice. She knew it. Drayden knew it. And though he didn't like it, Curtis knew it too. Bianca was too fragile to survive a day in Plasma's company, and Rosa had already lost too many people to Ghetsis's hidden prison. It didn't matter what happened to her. She'd survive just to spite them. But they wouldn't take Bianca.
Rosa stood straight and still, hand extended, heart pounding as the entirety of the Plasma army watched. She could see the gears turning in Drayden's head, weighing the impossibility of his choice, until finally, he reached into his jacket and pulled something triangular from his inside pocket.
The older man didn't say anything. He just took her hand and gently placed the DNA splicers in her palm.
"Thank you." She whispered, curling her fingers around their golden edges. What were they? Their tips pricked her skin.
Zinzolin's greedy eyes beckoned her, and for once, she didn't fight him. The man holding Bianca hauled the girl towards the center between the two parties. Exhaling softly to steady her breath, Rosa cleared the gym's sidewalk and stepped onto the black pavement to meet them.
Curtis caught her fingers.
"Don't." He murmured, his expression stone. "Please."
Her eyes met his, and Rosa almost smiled. He was a good friend, this stupid green and yellow-haired boy with his kind eyes and dopey smile. Maybe she'd tell him that, once they were out of this mess.
Or maybe he read it in her face, because after a long moment, the fans around Curtis's eyes softened. He squeezed her fingers, trying to reassure them both with the warm pressure. Could he hear her heart pounding in her chest? She swore she heard his. Slowly, Curtis dropped her hand and backed away. A real smile pulled at Rosa's mouth now. This was the choice. He'd always respected her choices.
Zinzolin made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. "Over here now Rosa, next to your friend. We'll make the switch at the same time to prevent cheating. Get down on your knees. That's it."
Bianca's eyes were tearful as Rosa came to kneel in front of her. The girl's captor released one of her arms to reach for Rosa's, which she gave him. Another hand in her direction and the switch was made.
He pried the DNA Splicers from her fingers.
Smoothing the white hair at his chin, Zinzolin smiled. "That wasn't so hard, was it? Better scurry along now, Bianca, before I change my mind and keep you both. As for the rest of you, back to your positions on the ship. It's time to go."
Rosa glowered at him. So smug, this man. He'd never learn: messing with her friends was a bad idea.
"Gaston, now!"
The member of Team Plasma standing closest to her captor suddenly broke formation and rushed forward. With a mighty leap, he whirled in the air and slammed his booted foot into her holder's side, causing the man to groan and double over. Rosa felt his grip on her wrists loosen. Jumping to her feet, she ripped her hands free and backed away in time for Gaston to flash back into himself and slam his furred fist into the side of the man's head. His body stiffened, then slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Chaos. Rosa bent to retrieve the splicers, fingers shaking, but swarms of Plasma members rushed her and Gaston before she could open his fists. Zinzolin bellowed a war cry, ordering an onslaught of Pokemon to be released, but Curtis, Drayden, and even Bianca retaliated with equal fury. An armada of heated Pokémon and people flooded the street, screeching and plowing down targets in all directions as their trainers screamed orders. Curtis's Espeon bounded by, crimson eyes glowing as she chased down an Absol.
Rosa fought against the wave, back towards the member with the DNA splicers. It didn't matter what the objects were or what they did – if Ghetsis wanted them, she wanted them more. Ordering Gaston to roast the hissing Seviper blocking the way, she flew past them and skid to her knees to fumble with the fallen man's enclosed fingers.
Rough hands grabbed her shoulders and shoved her aside before she could reach them. "I don't think those belong to you." A husky voice breathed near her ear. Long white hair gleamed in the sun as the ninja from the plasma frigate snatched the DNA Splicers and returned to his feet in one graceful sway.
Fury cut off the choice comment on her tongue. What was he doing here?
Rosa aimed a hard kick at his ankle, but he sidestepped easily and struck her face with the back of his hand. She flinched at the sting. "Always causing trouble." He said. "Do yourself a favor, and let us go quietly. It's only a matter of time before you'll be collected as well. Trying to stop us here will only waste energy."
With that he was off, melting like a phantom into the crowd. Rosa forced herself to her feet and touched her flaming cheek. There was no way he was getting away with the DNA Splicers – or without the beating he deserved. Stumbling, she went after him.
Gaston was still fighting Seviper nearby. Rosa drew his attention with a shout. "The triad member, Gaston! After him!"
His ears flickered, then he was off too, weaving through the crowd of warring Pokémon like they weren't there. It was a good thing the ninja's hair was the color of snow – its swish behind him was the only thing Rosa glimpsed as he tried to vanish into the fire and dust.
Another flash of white, this one dashing around the gym's east side. Rosa paused, wondering if her eyes were deceiving her, but then he turned and flashed her a devious smile. Those handsome features were unmistakable.
Of course, they're a Shadow Triad. The ninja's brothers had arrived.
"That one's yours Gaston." She yelled, and her fox changed directions without question. Shoving aside a flame-haired plasma member, she pounded after Shadow while lifting her wrist to search for Curtis's contact information on her Xtransceiver.
He answered with a grunt.
"The Shadow Triad has the DNA Splicers. White hair, black outfits. Obnoxiously fast. Gaston and I have these two, but I'm sure the third one is around here somewhere. Finish off whoever's butt it is you're kicking and find him. Heaven knows what Ghetsis will do with those things if he gets his hands on them."
"You got it."
She hung up. They'd regret showing their faces in broad daylight. Ghetsis was getting cocky sending his army to attack a city, but so long as she had reason to fight, he wouldn't win.
Rosa broke through the midst of the plasma army and turned down another block. Shadow dashed along the sidewalk with the grace of a dancer, his feet scarcely scraping the sidewalk as he moved. The streets were clear of civilians – they'd likely hidden themselves away when Plasma's army descended from the airship – but where were the police? Surely Opelucid's officers heard the commotion and had some obligation to help.
Leaping down a small set of stairs, Rosa landed hard but grit her teeth and kept running. He would pay for what he'd done to her and her Pokémon on the plasma frigate. He'd bleed for hurting Hugh.
He probably knows exactly where Hugh is, down to the cell he's being kept in. Doubt furrowed her brow, and she couldn't stop the poisoned thoughts she kept tucked away from creeping through her head. If he's still alive.
Another street, this one still as stone. The ninja was flying for the forest at breakneck speed, racing her to the safety of the trees that would shelter him. If he got there, he'd disappear in the trees and that would be it. The DNA Splicers, and her chance of figuring out Hugh's location, would be gone.
Her lungs screamed to slow down, but Rosa pumped her legs harder, fighting to beat his pace. She should've called Anna to her side before leaving the square, but her friend was defending Bianca alongside her other Pokémon.
Slab by slab, the concrete ran out. Foliage swayed tauntingly in the distance, welcoming the ninja to its shadowed embrace, but there was nothing she could do. He was going to get away.
A deep growl behind her. A mane of red and black soaring past her, racing down the sidewalk with wind-kissed steps. Gaston's long hair tangled on the breeze, glowing with webs of crimson gloom as power swelled around him. A ball of shadows swirled in his palms, and with a furious cry, he tossed it at the ninja's running form.
It shattered near Shadow's feet with an echoing boom. Wind whipped the branches of the city's neatly planted trees, sending scatters of leaves hurling in Rosa's direction. His flair of white hair disappeared as smog blossomed from the impact site, possibly as he was knocked off his feet.
Just out of the smoke's reach, Gaston planted his feet and hurled a second sphere, this one closer to the forest's edge. It erupted with a crash that shattered a pad of concrete, and Rosa almost laughed at her fox's brilliant timing.
Almost.
From the long stretch of sidewalk and smoke in front of her appeared the silhouette of a man. It was a phantom at first, haunting the mist with silent footsteps. Then the figure dashed forward and burst from the cloud. With whispers of smoke still clinging to the tight fabric around his legs and chest, the triad member zipped down the sidewalk and vanished into the forest on the other side.
Rosa swore. Though she hated the man, she couldn't deny her grudging admiration for his strength. It was no wonder he'd been chosen as one of Ghetsis's admins.
Signaling Gaston back to her side, the pair hurried to cross the concrete's end and reach the soft earth on the other side. The woods were peaceful and still. Bird Pokémon chirped in the uppermost branches of the birches, unaware of the predator lurking nearby. Further inside, a Pidove resting overhead tilted its feathered head and cooed softly.
That was the only sound. The ninja was gone.
"Shinx." Rosa muttered, ripping off her cap to run a stressed hand through her bangs. The skin of her forehead was damp with sweat, as were the strands of hair that had been tucked away. Apparently speed and endurance would always be her shortcoming, no matter how long she trained.
Gaston snarled in frustration and started searching the trees, striped fur standing further on end as his agitation grew.
Sighing, Rosa stroked his cheek to calm him. "Sorry Buddy." She said, leaning into him as her fingers trailed up the side of his face. Her touch smoothed the angry lines around his eyes. "Your timing was just right, and you were brilliant back at the square. Bet you hunted down the guy I sent you after as well, huh?" At least one of them was adequate. Maybe Curtis caught his triad member as well. "This is my fault. I was the one who wasn't quick enough."
Now Shadow had the DNA Splicers. Ugh, always losing to that man was so frustrating. She hadn't left so much as a mark on him! How many months had passed since her time on the frigate, and she still wasn't strong enough to handle a Plasma admin?
Rosa swore again and covered her face with her hands. If she really was Arceus's guardian, he'd made a terrible choice. When it came down to it, she hadn't made a difference at all. Her best friend was still lost, Touko was dead, the DNA Splicers were gone, and Ghetsis was set to retry his master plan whenever he wanted.
She was the same as any other trainer in Unova. Always had been. Had part of her really believed otherwise? Verbally she'd never bought into Curtis's guardian of the world theory, but subconsciously, maybe she'd wanted too. Avenging Hugh's Pidove had seemed a reachable goal that night on the ferry. But now?
Team Plasma was so much bigger than her. Ghetsis had armies of men at his disposal. Admins. Three invincible ninjas. A freaking legendary – the creator of the universe, no less! - if Arceus was truly under his control.
She had four Pokémon. And Curtis, but he was so sweet he hardly counted.
"Shinx." She said again, quieter this time. Everything was such a mess. There was no way she'd be strong enough to take down Ghetsis before he called Arceus again.
Gaston suddenly snorted, stirring Rosa from her thoughts. She peered over, words of concern on her lips, but quieted when she saw his velvet ears were erect. He glared hard into the distance, and his tail swished once. Twice.
"Hey . . . you okay?"
He barked. Actually barked. High pitched and clear, it rang through the trees and stirred the wildlife. The Pidove watching from the trees startled and spread its wings to find another place to perch, cooing as it went.
Then Gaston dropped to all fours and darted into the trees, fluffy tail bobbing behind him.
"Gaston? Gaston, where are you going? Come back!"
Shoving her cap back on her head, Rosa snatched up her bag and took off after him. His strong body moved quickly, maneuvering through the brush like he'd done it a thousand times, but the thickets slowed Rosa's pace. A branch whipped back as she brushed past and smacked her chin, but she kept running. Where in Arceus's name was he going? Surely he hadn't spotted Shadow. The man should be long gone by now.
Panic didn't set in until, after pausing a moment to rip her bag from a twist of branches, Rosa looked up and no longer saw her fox. Her heart skipped painfully, moistening her palms. Whirling on her toes, she searched the undergrowth.
"Gaston?" He had to be close by. She'd have heard if the triad member attacked him. "Where are you?"
Straight ahead, maybe? Rosa started in that direction, trying to control her panic. He was stronger than anything in these woods. He'd be okay.
A voice a few paces ahead of her. Rosa froze, ears straining, waiting for the cool tenor of Shadow's intonation. Had Gaston hunted him down after all? She leaned further and closed her eyes, hoping the dull in her other senses would help.
Something wasn't right. The voice swirling on the breeze wasn't taunting. It was . . . laughing?
Swallowing hard, Rosa stepped out of the cover of trees and into a small clearing. Gaston was there, puffy tail flicking blissfully as he clutched a stranger's waist and nuzzled their cheeks. In return, the man hugging her fox buried his face in Gaston's red mane and smiled with such unrestrained joy, the sunshine radiating from his handsome face set his green hair aglow. The tea-colored locks looped in a ponytail under his hat were askew, but he didn't seem to mind. He was older than her – Curtis's age, maybe?
It didn't take long for him to notice her. His hooded eyes fell on her like a blanket, piercing her with unguarded brilliance, and she was astonished by the jolt of pain that streaked through her chest when they crinkled with his smile.
She knew those eyes. Knew them like her father's voice, tenor notes spiraling above her head. They pinned her there against the trees, asking questions she couldn't answer, stealing emotions she couldn't identify.
They'd never met before, of that she was certain. But she knew him.
"Natural Harmonia Gropius." She whispered. "N. What are you doing here?"