Chapter 62: The Darkness that lies beneath
"Spark Open it," Frost spoke quietly as he gestured Cynthia to stay at a reasonable distance behind him.
"Okay" buzzed Spark's voice in Frost's earpiece.
As the light on the metal door turned green Frost drew his rifle and slowly crept forward as the motion detectors kicked in and the door slid open revealing a huge space lined with shelves and various boxes.
With whatever light that trickled in from the newly opened door Frost scanned his surroundings carefully while ever so slowly making his way forward, having told Cynthia beforehand not to enter until he says so he proceeded without worrying about her for the moment.
The room was eerily silent and on top of that was completely dry which was weird considering that they had tripped the Sprinkler system on the above floors. As he walked deeper the light from the doorway began to fade and Cynthia's figure grew smaller.
Turning the flashlight attached to his rifle he started to examine the next row of shelves, lined with computer parts and lab equipment this room was looking just like a storage room.
[This doesn't add up that scientist said they weren't allowed here but if it is just a storage room then why the privacy.] he wondered as he walked down the walkway in between rows of shelves.
"Did you find anything?" Cynthia's voice rang in his ear as Frost almost flinched.
"SHHHH…" he hissed at her through the comms.
"I am sorry it's just that I got worried…." She replied apologetically.
"Hmm" Frost responded in a low hum just to help her relax.
"Also while you are in there I looked around and found a shipment manifesto lying on of the tables outside, the contents seem to match what Spark showed us earlier." Cynthia continued.
"Maybe this is just a storage room," she added.
She waited for a response from Frost but it never came her, she grew even more concerned as the seconds flew by as she peeked in the darkroom.
"Frost? Hello?" she asked but he still didn't respond.
"If this is a joke of yours I am not happy with it." She called out.
"Spark turn the lights on?" Frost's voice came in the open channel and Cynthia could breathe normally again.
"What happened are you okay?" she asked.
"I am fine, it's clear you can come in, I am to the right from the end of the straightway," Frost spoke clearly as the line ended.
[Was it my imagination or he sounded unnerved.] she thought.
As she made her way in Spark had turned the lights on, the ceiling had various lights built into it so she did not have any problems making her way through to where Frost was waiting for her.
He stood in front of a small door at the end of the walkway a panel on the door read in bold letters.
"CRYOGENIC FREEZER"
This was it, the last room to check in this entire base hidden deep in its confines.
Frost had a grim expression on his face and considering he did not bother hiding it Cynthia asked
"Okay, you are acting weird, and seeing that you stopped here outside this ominous looking and sounding room you know what is behind the door."
"Cynthia..." he began.
"Mentally prepare yourself."
Cynthia jogged her memory as she tried to piece together what could be inside.
[This place they did experiments on Pokemon here...illegally so the only things they could store in a freezer are...] she stopped her mind from going further as she felt extremely unsettled.
He was awfully quiet about it and Cynthia gulped seeing him like this as he slid the door.
As soon as he did cold air gushed out and sent chills down both their spines.
Huge metal lockers Cynthia couldn't exactly define what they were but she had a vague idea as Frost who walked forward unlatched the door of one of them opening it revealing multiple plastic bodybags hanging off hooks inside.
Cynthia wanted to hurl even thou she knew it was coming she felt sick nonetheless. Like a Champion, she had busted multiple Galactic Laboratories in Sinnoh but she had never seen such vulgarity before.
As she stood in front of the newly opened "Freezer" completely stunned she didn't even notice that Frost walked past her and opened the rest of the metal lockers.
She glanced around to examine the rest of them only to feel even more sorrowful.
Honestly, she wished to cry.
Bodies over bodies having seen numerous of them just today whether be human or pokemon she was reaching her breaking point but seeing Frost still not giving in she steeled her resolve once again and put on her brave face.
Frost had stopped in front of a locker this one was much much smaller than the rest and in the blue hue of the room it didn't stand out much as well. The only catch this one had a numeric keypad on it.
"That one looks important," Cynthia spoke.
It was clear to Frost that she was struggling to keep her composure but he didn't question it right now.
"My thoughts exactly." He spoke as he used the butt of his rifle to break the keypad' panel open.
He knelt and messed with a few wires before the lock popped open.
Cynthia peered over his shoulder as he examined the contents inside.
Numerous test tubes were stored in there each having a barcode pasted on them, seeing these Cynthia felt even more gutted then before.
"All those Pokemon.… for these..." she muttered weakly almost trembling if Frost had anything to say.
"Yes." He replied calmly.
It was honestly unbelievable for Cynthia as to how Frost managed to keep his head straight, she knew that he had better tolerance than anyone she could think of but this was just too much, considering he had taken the lives of other humans, not more than an hour ago.
"How do you do it..." She muttered quietly.
"Excuse me?" Frost must have not heard her.
"I said How do you do it... all this killing and well… this." She said while gesturing at the hell they stood inside.
Frost loved Pokemon as well she knew that his bond with his Ninetales and other Pokemon was strong then how could he stay calm after committing and witnessing so many sins, how could he bear them.
[He must feel something...] she thought as Frost only stood next to her and smiled.
He just smiled through it and Cynthia could only stare at him.
"Champion are you feeling sad for these Pokemon?" He asked a dumb question.
"Are you joking, of course, I am sad more so I am angry at myself for not being able to help any of them." She replied sternly.
"Champion..." he began " you don't have to blame yourself for any of this its just how things are sometimes but if you want to change this then you can't let it weigh you down."
Hearing him just made Cynthia even more distraught it made her feel that it was due to her own weak heart that she couldn't handle something like this.
[I am weak...] her own words echoed in her mind.
"But if they weigh you down... it only means you have a heart, it doesn't mean you are weak." He added.
"Are you saying you don't have one?"
"Well even if I do have it in me, it's definitely not as strong as yours as I said before Champion the life I live isn't a bright one and is full of hardships and tough decisions but what keeps me going is my own will and the words of my teacher, she taught me that if we get blood on our hands it only means the rest of the world gets to stay clean and if I am being completely honest about it I am fine with it even thou it eats my soul."
Cynthia stood dazed at his confession although she could only imagine the pain that lay hidden inside Frost when he spoke those words of encouragement to her how much strain he put on his own life every day just for the sake of others.
"Cynthia..." he called out to her softly like a whisper " why did you choose to become a Champion, what drove you to push yourself?" he asked.
"I wanted..." she gulped "I wanted to help others be it Pokemon or humans."
Frost understood that because even thou they laughed their way to here Cynthia was a very serious person at heart her laid back childish demeanor was just an excuse for her hardworking and serious side to hide behind. They were a lot like each other in this regard.
"Then don't let this slow you down use the emotions you are feeling as strength to boost your own reason and move forward."
After a deep breath, Cynthia calmed down as she spoke.
"I am sorry.."
Frost almost immediately corrected her
"Don't be this is too much for anyone myself included." He spoke softly.
"You don't look fazed." She retorted teasingly.
"Wow, calling me heartless just after I cheered you up you are truly evil" He answered with a fake hurt voice.
Cynthia chuckled at him and her smile returned much to Frost's delight.
His hand moved subconsciously as he patted Cynthia on the head.
Although initially surprised Cynthia eased into it as she let out another deep breath.
"If you ever need help you only need to ask Champion, after all, we are partners are we not?"
Something about his voice was very comforting to her as she hummed in response.
Realizing what he was doing Frost shyly retreated his hand as Cynthia replied
"I will help you as well you know this will be a give and take you, no no matter how small or insignificant it maybe I will do my best" She answered confidently.
Frost smiled at her as he said
"Then I will be relying on you as well as Champion Cynthia."
"Why won't you just give up," Saturn growled at Steven who along with his Metagross was still not surrendering.
"Sorry, but backing out of a fight is not Metagross's nature." He replied as Metagross fended another volley of attacks from Toxicroak and Purugly.
[Their attacks are slower than before are they conserving strength… probably…. yeah since Metagross is going to lose its mega evolution they must be waiting for that time to strike.] Steven quickly assessed the situation and began to form a counter-strategy he did this while also making sure Metagross was pressuring his opponents to keep them in bay.
Steven needed to make sure when the time comes that Metagross de-evolves Toxicroak and Purugly are unable to exploit the timings to their favor.
On the other side, his opponents were also wondering about something.
"Saturn he isn't attacking as much you think his Pokemon is getting weaker?" asked Mars to her blue hair partner.
"That is the most likely explanation, get ready because the moment the de-evolution process begins we will attack with everything," Saturn replied with a tinge of doubt.
"Got it till then I'll make Purugly eat away at his Stamina Toxicroak should take it slow," Mars suggested as their side had also taken much much more damage than they expected.
"Alright"
Purugly had less endurance than Toxicroak but was much quicker than him and could cover more distance in less time.
Steven had two choices since Metagross could only effectively delay one of his two opponents he could only choose one.
1. Create an opening and attack Purugly hoping that Toxicroak is slow enough to miss the opening created by the de-evolution.
2. Create an opening and attack Toxicroak hoping that Purugly doesn't have the power to defeat Metagross in one hit.
The first one had more likelihood for success and since Purugly was in front it also made more sense but that still could be a trap but unfortunately, Steven did not have time to consider that properly.
It was now or never and Steven had to decide.
"Metagross! Use Flash Cannon on the ground." He commanded as the Pokemon launched a beam of light towards the ground.
The asphalt road erupted and a bright beam of light along with the subsequent explosion blinded everyone in the surrounding.
Metagross was at his limit for its mega evolution and could de-evolve any second now.
"Use Brick Break on Purugly NOW!" Steven called out in the last second as his Pokemon moved once more knowing full well this was its last chance before it de-evolved.
The Steel/Psychic put everything it had in this attack as it swiftly executed Brick Break on Purugly who blinded by the Flash Cannon could not dodge it and with no Toxicroak this time who also blinded by the previous attack this attack connected successfully.
"Great Hit Metagross!" Cheered Steven as Metagross began to glow.
This was it the moment everyone was waiting for.
"USE FOUL PLAY!"
[Shit] Steven cursed as his plan failed he did not account for this.
Foul Play a move that used its opponent's attack stat against him and since it was cast when Metagross was still Mega Evolved it meant that its power was also much greater than if it were used against Metagross.
Toxicroak closed the gap between him and Metagross Steven muttered.
"So its come to this huh I guess it is my turn now." He said as he started running towards the incoming Toxicroak.
Mars laughed
"Is he Crazy does he want to leave on a stretcher."
In a legal match, this would be a rule-breaking move but this wasn't the league.
"I commend your Valour Champion but don't think it will make us stop, Toxicroak get to Metagross through even if you have to hit the Champion in the process!"
Metagross's eyes widened as Steven stood in front of smiling at him.
"You did good buddy." As Toxicroak jumped at Steven.
"METAAAAAAA!"
Metagross cried as he thought Steven was going to get hurt but couldn't move because of the fatigue from de-evolving.
Suddenly the ground just ahead of Steven that was previously an asphalt road erupted and out came a huge figure that tanked the hit for Steven.
"What the…." Saturn muttered in shock as Mars tended to Purugly just so it was able to return to fight.
"A Golem? Oh… I see took you long enough." Steven said while taking a sigh of relief.
From one of the alleyways emerged a tall man in a brown accented long coat with a duffle bag slung over his shoulder.
"Sorry I am late Champion."
Author's Notes:
Not anything special to say this time so I'll just say the usual. Be sure to follow so you don't miss any updates and feel free to ask questions on the story in the reviews or through the PMs. Until Next Time
PEACE