Chapter 64: Endurance
Cynthia was shocked, to say the least.
[And she is the medic…] her mind wandered as she saw the usually sweet and calm Leaf unsheathed her blade after pulling it out of the body of the humanoid.
As the green-haired swords-woman walked back with silent and neutral expression Spark who was lending Frost his shoulder asked.
"Leaf is everything alright…..?"
She eyed Cynthia before replying
"Not now Spark…. Also, the new arm is busted." She said as she lifted her left hand revealing the prosthetic dangling from the joint not moving.
"Damn I suppose it still can't handle your swordsmanship…." Spark said in a low tone.
[The last attack from Leaf must have broken it.] Cynthia summarized as Frost who left Spark's support said.
"Leaf return to the van with Spark you are out."
Cynthia was a bit surprised at his words but seeing Leaf nod in agreement she didn't raise her voice on the subject.
"Spark check the bot and tell me exactly what we are up against take Leaf's help she fought it so she could tell you how it behaved."
"Yes, Leader but what about you?" Spark questioned.
"I'll stay with the Champion and go check on the others, we still have two humanoids missing so both of you don't let your guard down." He responded sternly.
As Spark went to disassemble the humanoid so that he could carry it back up, Leaf who was quiet cleared her throat as she spoke.
"Champion can I have a word with Leader."
Cynthia obliged as she walked towards the other blonde currently working on the humanoid's body.
Once some space was made Leaf began
"Leader…. It knew who I was….."
"I heard it too, you don't have to explain."
"How can this be possible? I thought everyone that knew you know was… dead." She asked in a weak tone.
"Listen to me carefully Leaf, I need you to stay calm because the other two robots could also be a code greys which means our lives are not out of danger yet."
Leaf took a deep breath to relax before replying.
"Okay."
Frost kept a reassuring hand on her shoulder as he said
"You did well now leave the rest to the others."
Leaf nodded as they joined up with Cynthia and Spark.
"Spark what do we have?" Frost asked as he examined the body of the humanoid himself.
Spark who was having Cynthia hold a torch so he could open up the humanoids body replied after removing another armor plate from the humanoid's abdomen revealing the internal workings of the machine.
"Well sorry to disappoint Leader but the body is exactly what you would expect of humanoids, these motors and hydraulics are used to imitate human muscle."
"Was it being controlled? Or was it artificial intelligence?"
"Artificial Intelligence, unlikely boss, I'll take it back with me and tell you exactly what is up with it."
"Check for traps before you bring it in, Let's go Champion." Frost finished as he began to walk towards the ladder.
"Also one more thing Spark…" Frost said as he stopped mid-walk.
"Yes."
"Don't involve the Kalos Branch in the investigation."
Frost said it in such a bone-chilling tone that even Cynthia shiver slightly as the two of them went ahead.
The nightly air of Lumious was chilly as Cynthia and Frost finally got out of the sewer system. Cynthia looked at the battered and bleeding body of Frost as she suggested.
"You should also stop for tonight Frost….."
"No, I can't rest till I make sure everyone's safe Champion while fighting the humanoid I figured another problem…."
"What?"
"We figured out that the humanoids are targeting us Specialists but it looks like they are targeting a specific one."
"Are you talking about when it ignored you so it could have a duel with Leaf?" Cynthia questioned.
"Ya..*cough *cough." Frost tried to speak before being overcome by a coughing bout.
As he knelt Cynthia grabbed his shoulders instinctively as she tried to comfort him.
"Frost you are not healthy…." She spoke as she saw him wipe the blood from his mouth.
[Arceus and he intends to keep going.]
"Tell me something I don't know Champion." He joked as Cynthia's frown intensified.
Frost stood back up and adjusted the straps on his uniform before walking again.
Cynthia could only follow as any demands from her were either ignored or downright refused.
"Where to now then?" she asked accepting defeat.
"You go back south to join up with Ash and Alder, help them deal with the remaining Galactic members and I'll go back to check on Steven."
Cynthia a bit reluctant to leave Frost alone asked.
"Will you be fine on your own?"
"I will… don't worry champion it will take a lot more than this to kill me…"
Cynthia observed the tired appearance of her partner as she took a sharp breath
"Fine…. But don't do anything dangerous alone and if you need help contact me…. Promise me that."
"Alright."
"Promise?"
Frost smiled and answered.
"Promise."
Cynthia took a Pokeball out and called out Garchomp. Her pokemon was ready as usual for anything and it didn't look tired at all considering he had fought against Diantha's Gardevoir earlier.
"Be careful." She told him as she climbed on her ace's back.
"You too Champion…." He said as she patted Garchomp's back and immediately flew out of the alleyway.
Frost whistled at the speed at which Garchomp took off as he stood alone in the narrow alleyway.
Back at the burning building Stone and Steven were busy in their own right.
"Thanks for the assist Stone." Steven thanked as he tightened the rope around Mars and Saturn.
"No problem." The man replied with a smile.
After defeating Mars and Saturn in a 2v2 fight they decided to tie them up for the police but Stone had his own plans as he knocked out both of them once close enough, which he said was for safety reasons which brought them to their current situation where they were finishing tightening the ropes around the now unconscious Galactic top players.
"Champion why did you pursue this alone?" Stone asked as he walked closure to the Hoenn Champion.
By the way, he sounded it Steven felt as he was being scolded much to his dismay but he bit down on any complaints considering Stone came in last second and saved Metagross from what seemed like guaranteed defeat.
"I don't know ranger but all I knew was that people might need help so I moved..." he justified his recklessness.
Steven could have sworn he saw Stone smile under his mask but he could not say for sure as he replied
"Fair Enough."
Stone's reply cooled Steven as he felt the tension lower, after all, Stone was the most muscular out the rangers he had seen and also the tallest, so Steven just wanted to stay in his good books.
"How is looking with Ash and Alder?" Steven asked once he composed himself.
"They are doing fine, for now, I am more concerned about you I hope you aren't hurt much." Stone began.
"Oh no I am fine my backs a bit sore considering I fell off Metagross but it is nothing to worry about." The Hoenn Champion replied without hesitation causing Stone to eye him suspiciously.
"Okay if you say so, still let us get these two to the police before you can get medical attention," Stone added as he heard Ember on the radio.
"Stone! Are you alright?" She asked in a hurried tone.
[Is she running?]
"I am fine Em and so is the Champion where are you is everything alright?"
"Are you still at the burning building, never mind I see you stay where you are," she said in a rush as Stone turned around to see a panting red-head come to a halt.
Stone and Steven waited for Ember to take a breath before Steven asked
"What's wrong?"
"Shut it Champion, Stone we have a code grey." she brushed off the Hoenn champion before continuing.
Normally Stone would scold her for acting rudely but he understood the severity behind her words and held back.
"Also one more thing we have killer robots hunting us," Ember said so nonchalantly that it made Steven's jaw drop in disbelief.
"WHAAT!" he yelled.
"Shush Champion!" Ember once again cut him off as she continued talking with Stone.
"Let's get going I'll explain the rest on the move, keep an eye out."
"Okay, but we still have to take these two in." Stone mentioned the two unconscious people there.
"Who the hell are they?" Ember asked already frustrated with the growing complexity of this situation.
"I'll explain on the way."
And just like the two of them were in sync and ready to move as they carried one each on their shoulders, Steven just stood at his place feeling completely left out and ignored on top of being confused.
"What the..." he could only voice part of his mind before Ember called out to him.
"Oye! Rich boy get a move on or we'll leave you here."
"Stop treating me like a child, woman!" he yelled back.
"Then stop acting like one and start walking!" he heard as he huffed in annoyance and started walking with the two rangers.
Author's Notes:-
Sorry for the short chapter had a lot of things happening in life will be getting back on the grind now so keep an eye out for new chapters. Until next time
PEACE