Chapter 69: Friend or Foe

"Mhhh..." Frost mumbled under the stupor he had been forced into. As his eyes slowly opened he realised he was face to face with none other than Cynthia's... Garchomp who was staring at him dead seriously not even sparing the time to blink.

"Frost!"

Now there was the familiar voice of Garchomp's trainer that he couldn't forget, as he tried to lift himself a sharp pain ran near the back of his head causing him to almost drop back on his back.

"Easy don't overdo it, how are you feeling and what do you remember?" she followed after helping Frost lay on his back.

Garchomp was unmoving as he stood there still staring at him with what Frost could feel was not a good sign. What happened his memory was still hazy, he looked around only to find him still on top of the telecommunication building.

[That's right there was a sniper...]

"Frost, can you hear me?"

He could tell she was worried just by listening to her voice but he couldn't remember what had happened that caused him to faint. As he traced the events that had transpired after the sniper was spotted, he began to remember.

[The arrow... it was rigged with a... and I fell for it... Dammit.]

Getting drugged then hallucinating... this series of events reminded him of something grim... the past he tried to forget was resurfacing in his mind. Maybe it was the side-effects but the memories he never wanted to relive were playing in a loop in his mind. That's right he remembered even back then he was drugged he sighed at the thought.

[Nothing's changed... dammit.]

He tried to take off his mask so that he could breathe better only to find out it was already off. After taking some deep breaths he slowly rolled over and used his hands and legs to slowly get up. A coughing fit ruined his progress as Cynthia leant him her shoulder to ease him into a standing posture.

Garchomp growled under his breath as Cynthia quickly hushed him.

"I am *cough *cough sorry..." He answered her question which she had asked a while back now.

"It's okay, I am just glad you're alright."

"What did I do?"

"Don't worry I know it wasn't your intention."

It was then when he knew he messed up and as Cynthia helped him sit down with his back resting on an AC's outdoor unit he remembered his fight well... supposed fight with the humanoid adding that and the death glare he was on the receiving end to since waking up he somewhat figured it out.

[I tried to kill her... great job idiot... kill the woman you are meant to protect.]

The pain in the back of his head was persisting but it wasn't the thing that was hurting him. If the idea of hurting Cynthia was bad enough that he now had to live with the fact that he actually did it. A mix of guilt and embarrassment flooded his mind as he asked her who actually knocked him out.

"Rain, you should thank her otherwise Garchomp would have bit you," she replied with a small chuckle.

Frost turned to face Garchomp who still glared at him for trying to hurt his trainer. The beast clearly wasn't alright with the situation.

"Honestly... it would have been better if she hadn't stopped him, I deserved it," he answered weakly.

"Don't say that... you didn't mean it I know that so don't hold yourself responsible."

She tried to cheer him the best she could but he couldn't just ignore such a thing. His body was already weakened from so much fighting and his mind burdened with the things he did in the past needless to say he reached his limit for the night, sighing he dropped his head low, Cynthia could no longer see his face with his hair hanging messily in front of his features.

[This is not him...] she spoke in her head.

A moment of silence passed in which Cynthia tried to choose her next words very carefully, knowing full well something mundane wasn't going to help her solve this. She touched her coat pocket which contained a parting gift from Rain as she steeled herself.

"Is this it then...?" she asked in a slight underhanded tone.

"What.." he answered as if he misheard.

"I mean if this is it for you I am leaving you here to go help Rain who is, by the way, hunting the humanoid alone, I'll tell Spark to send someone to pick you up."

He was initially surprised to hear her speak in such a tone but having been dealt such an emotional shock he couldn't bring himself to even look at her let alone talk to her.

Seeing her statement have little to no effect she bent forward to face him, Rain had warned her before leaving that getting drugged by something of such high potency to cause hallucinations leaves the victim in an emotionally weakened state afterwards. Her hand caressed his cheek as he initially winced at her touch but she didn't stop and once her palm rested on his cheek she began to speak.

"I don't think it is just you trying to hurt me that is bothering you, this is clearly something else now I don't want to force you to tell me anything I just want you to know that you aren't alone."

She moved again and this time more slowly and calmly as she gently touched her head with his.

There was something serene about the touch, something that Frost couldn't explain with words alone, his mind that was stuck in the mistakes he made in the past and all the bad memories that came with them quickly forgot about them and he was truly living in the present even if for a short time it was just him and her.

As they separated Cynthia asked once again.

"So what is it going to be Frost..."

He didn't speak instead he stood up and turned around.

"You know Champion... you really aren't supposed to know me this well but... thank you.." although he began confidently he ended his line very softly as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

Cynthia smiled warmly.

"Here, Rain said you'd need it." she handed him the item in her possession.

Accepting the item which looked like a red colour marker, he flicked the cap off with his thumb and administered the medical syringe at the base of his neck.

"Ready," Cynthia asked as she already climbed on Garchomp's back.

"Wait. There is something I need to do first," he said as he walked to Garchomp and the two of them just stared at one another before Frost bowed his head, much to Cynthia and Garchomp's surprise.

[Well he definitely is well taught.]

Garchomp eyed Frost suspiciously before he grumbled something under his breath causing Cynthia to snicker as he also lowered his head to match Frost.

After a few seconds, Garchomp raised his head and spoke.

"Garrrrr...chomp."

"That meant he accepts your apology but he will still keep an eye on you," Cynthia translated.

"Thank you," Frost said as he raised his head and spoke to the Pokemon.

Garchomp looked at him and lightly moved his head to the side signalling him to get on, as he lowered himself for Frost to get on more easily. Frost smiled and silently thanked the ace pokemon before following his instructions and taking off.

Rain had been pursuing the humanoid for some time now with the help of Noivern she had been able to keep pace with the humanoid which had begun running from the building opposite to the AGS building. The mechanical body of the humanoid allowed it leap gaps impossible for any actual human. Both of them had just lost sight of it around a building drop and it had disappeared once they reached the same ledge.

"Shit." Rain leapt off Noivern's back while cursing. She dropped on the rooftop below and removed her hood.

"Noivern stay sharp."

"Noi Noivern." the Pokemon replied instantly as it landed.

She didn't have time to check where she was but looking at the red and blue lights flashing in the distance she could tell she was still within the police barricade set for the raid. The bot had survived her sniper shot by blocking it with its weapon but that wasn't the thing bothering her.

[It used a crossbow and hallucinogenic drugs... it can't be him right?] that MO only matched for one guy in her head. She was sure Frost must have also noticed it but would he tell Cynthia was another thing.

[Focus.] she repeated to herself.

Leaving the sniper aside she readied her rifle she surveyed the roof nothing much to look at just a water tower and the rooftop entrance. Rain didn't move from her spot as she continued to sense her surroundings.

"I know you are still here why don't you come out and play..." she began as she itched forward.

Noivern moved along with her covering Rain's back completely silently not messing with Rain's concentration. They moved in unison as they reached near the middle Rain heard a sound to the right and instantly turned and shot at the source small dust particles emerged from the concrete wall she had shot as she immediately turned her attention to her back.

"You're good... not that I am surprised... " an electronic voice came from the figure that loomed from the top of the water tower.

"Grrrrrrrrrrr" bellowed Noivern.

Rain stood still eyes wide open in shock her mask not able to hide the look of sheer surprise on her face.

"This... can't be true, you are supposed to be dead," she muttered.

"Hmm 'Supposed' is a deceptive word dear." the humanoid replied as it jumped down in front of her revealing itself completely.

Noivern waited for Rain to begin but her attack never began as she just stood there slightly shaken.

The humanoid had an exposed body no clothes it was completely inorganic made from metal with an odd wire or two peeking at the joints the head completely covered with a tinted visor, it was as if a mannequin had come to life but the voice, the voice even though electronic she felt could recognise anytime.

"How are you?... Rain my darling."

She sweatdropped after all how can you forget the voice of someone you loved or once loved.

Author's Note:

Ahhhh writing can sometimes really be tiring even thou the chapters aren't long I try to put as much context to what I write this is something I hope to improve in the next part but we'll keep it like this for this story as I think it's like a style for me now. Well, the final humanoid's been revealed to be from the ranger's personal history and more on this in the next chapter. I hope you guys are enjoying and be sure to follow the story to keep yourself updated. If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the reviews or through PM. As always love to see the support from you guys and as always until next time.

PEACE