Chapter 71: ALL IN.
"Frost! It is not Mist but a highly advanced mimicry." Rain informed as Cynthia lent a shoulder to her.
He nodded and took up a defensive stance, expecting its speed to be much like the first humanoid.
[I cannot take any chances.]
The humanoid also did the same as it raised its arms and formed fists. Both of them stood absolutely still not moving from their respective spots. Until Frost took a deep breath.
[Here goes...]
He took the first move slamming the metal baton straight into the guard of the humanoid.
"Tch," he muttered as the Humanoid pre-emptively blocked his attack.
This did not deter Frost at all as he continued with repeated strikes aimed at the Humanoid's weaker joints but there was no loop in his defence as it blocked every strike with ease.
[This isn't going to work.] he thought as he distanced himself from the humanoid once again.
The problem was that he couldn't let this become a matter of endurance because in his current state Frost was already beaten if not for the medication he was on. His breathing staggered as he needed to jump out of the way of the Humanoid's charge.
"Shit" he muttered as he narrowly avoided getting pinned against the side of the roof.
The humanoid crashed into the wall but got back up soon after, it checked its arms and once he was affirmed that they still functioned he procured the fibre wire Rain had dropped and carefully wrapped it around his left hand and then with his right one held the other end. It had made itself a make-shift weapon as it continued to glare at Frost with it's cracked head visor.
Frost who had rolled out of the way stood back up and immediately went on the offensive, he swung the baton aimed at the head and the humanoid ducked under the strike. The humanoid quickly thrust its arms towards his chest as Frost reversed the grip on the baton which allowed him to reach in and block the hit. Frost sighed in relief internally as he once again narrowly avoided getting hit sadly this didn't last long as the humanoid wrapped the wire around Frost's weapon and yanked it out of his hands.
[Damn..] it was a ruse to lure Frost in so that he needed to block at an uncomfortable angle all to disarm him.
Weaponless now he scrambled backwards trying to dodge the relentless wave of attacks from the humanoid which unlike a human didn't need to breathe in between strikes. Each punch from the humanoid was enough to break his bones if he didn't avoid them he would die. Trading blows with the humanoid was also no longer an option as he couldn't damage the humanoid with his hands. He needed to interrupt the barrage of attacks or he'd be done for.
The humanoid pivoted and initiated a spin kick aimed at Frost's torso.
Frost braced himself as he caught the kick as it connected with his stomach. He gasped for breath as the wind got knocked out of him but he successfully stopped the kick.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" he yelled as he shifted his body weight and swung the leg of the humanoid as a bat and lifted the heavy bot off the ground.
The humanoid shuffled its legs as it lost balance and got thrown sideways. It didn't fall far as once it regained focus he turned it's head to the side to search for Frost only to be greeted by a kick to the face.
As the toe cap of his shoe shattered the already cracked visor of the humanoid, Frost didn't waste this chance as he pulled out his pistol and aimed at the exposed head of the humanoid. The humanoid caught Frost's legs with its own and tripped him. With the roles reversed Frost rolled sideways to avoid getting stomped on and recovered himself by picking himself up from the ground.
"Still got fight left in you have got to be kidding," he told in between his breathing that was beginning to look much worse than at the beginning.
COUGH COUGH*
As Frost's posture slackened the humanoid jumped in and punched Frost in the gut and moved behind him coiling the fibre around his neck.
"AAAK!" as the wire tightened Frost struggled to breathe and his hands tried to grab the wire around his neck.
Rain had told him this wasn't Mist but the way it fought and countered his every move was suspicious he didn't want to distract himself during the fight but now that he was about to lose he couldn't help but wonder.
His hands soon weakened were basically hanging onto the wire with everything that was left. His eyes wandered on the other battle that was happening in the air between Noivern and Garchomp.
[Where is she?] he wondered as his gaze dropped down onto the roof where the woman in question stood on the edge guiding Garchomp like always her attacks were aimed to incapacitate Noivern. He looked around more until he saw it.
[A window of opportunity.] he heard as his eyes locked with Rain.
BANG!
The rifle bullet grazed the wire slightly making it snap in half. It threw the humanoid's balance off as Frost fell down gasping for air he still couldn't move due to the lack of oxygen.
"Haaah haah haaah.." He breathed and tried to compose himself.
The humanoid lost its balance and Frost seeing that picked up his fallen Pistol and slipped away from the bot.
He looked back over to Rain.
[Thanks.]
[Your welcome.]
[Rain... get Cynthia off the roof.]
[But why?... don't tell me you plan that!]
[It's all in or all out plus she wouldn't mind since it is a robot.] he explained.
[I understand. I'll get her away be careful.]
Frost simply nodded and saw that Rain already began talking to Cynthia about it as they jumped onto the emergency stairs on the side of the building.
He shot at the water tower causing it to leak onto the rooftop and then he produced a premier ball from his coat and it expanded to its full size.
"Please lend me your power," he mumbled as he called out.
"NINETAILS! I CHOOSE YOU"
Without any warning a powerful Blizzard erupted on top of the rooftop and it almost blew Frost off if he didn't brace for impact even the surrounding clouds all converged over them, snow and hail began pouring and Garchomp who had just knocked Noivern out over at the adjacent building roared at the sheer display of strength.
The temperature of the roof had dropped significantly as everything the water, the wall and even the drying clothes froze instantly. Everything went completely stagnant and nothing was moving on the roof until Frost who had shielded himself recovered.
His body trembled in the freezing environment but he powered through it after all he trained for this exact thing for years.
"Ninetails I need your support," he called out as the Pokemon simply stretched her slim body.
"Nine," she replied firmly as Frost nodded and readied himself.
"-*$"
The humanoid tried to speak but Frost could only catch some of it before it began a jumbled mess again.
"GO" Frost yelled as both he and his Pokemon dashed forward.
Ninetails stopped mid-way and charged her Ice-Beam and then released it along the ground just behind Frost.
Spikes of clear ice formed behind Frost and rushed along with him as he jumped in strides building momentum as he executed a spinning hook kick onto the humanoid's head, the humanoid immediately tried to dodge but the spikes of ice quickly circled around it trapping him in a prison of sharp icicles on each side.
Frost's heel would have broken a jaw if it was a human who received it but in this instance only made the humanoid fall face-first into the spiked surroundings. His attack didn't stop yet as he jumped clear and just as he cleared off a beam of colourful light ripped through the iced floor and collided with the humanoid's body.
Frost and Ninetails stood back hoping that the fight ended as the icy mist cleared it revealed the Humanoid still standing with one arm completely blown off.
"Grrrrr" Ninetails growled as the Humanoid with one arm dashed towards them.
"Ninetails Icy Wind," he commanded as the tails of his Pokemon spread open and she released a powerful gust of chilling wind.
The wind slowed the movement of the Humanoid as the temperature had dropped way below zero the internals of the humanoid began to freeze. Its intimidating charge was reduced to a leisurely stroll in seconds. It struggled to walk again and Ninetails lowered the intensity of her attack allowing Frost to wrap things up as he walked through the icy wind not being concerned about the cold at all his coat fluttered in the wind as Ice began forming on his face and eyelashes. He pushed the frozen humanoid and it fell on its back shattering some of the ice beneath.
"Ice Shard," he muttered as Ninetails stopped the wind and using her trainer's shoulder jumped in the air forming a single big ice shard she dropped it on the humanoid's head impaling it out of commission.
She landed back on her feet and gracefully twirled around Frost's legs before sitting down beside him. Both of them stayed quiet as they soaked in the atmosphere the hail had stopped and only light snowfall remained. They were interrupted only when Cynthia and Rain pulled themselves back up.
"Wow," Cynthia muttered under her breath as she knew from the beginning that something seemed off about that Ninetails all while Rain observed silently.
Garchomp joined them soon after with an unconscious Noivern in tow.
"Thanks, Noivern," he said as he bowed and recalled his Pokemon.
"So this is your true strength as a trainer..." Cynthia began.
Frost laughed sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"I knew she was strong but damn..." Cynthia began as she looked around.
The ice was limited to only the building's roof but this entire side of the urban district had snowfall because of the clouds.
"Garrrrr... Garchomp" her Pokemon spoke his piece on the matter.
"Even he suspected her." she translated.
"Gar-chomp"
"And now he wants to fight her..."
Frost smile faltered as he began
"About that champion..." he eyed Ninetails who looked back at Frost shyly.
He glanced at her warmly as he shook his head after that she calmed down and simply licked her paw to clean herself.
Cynthia witnessed this and cleared her throat
"Anyways I am glad both of you are fine."
"Thank you too, Cynthia, for dealing with Noivern and helping Rain," Frost added.
She knelt and patted Ninetails as she replied
"It was my pleasure."
"Hey if you guys want a room I can leave." Rain spoke loudly as both of them blushed.
The sniper chuckled as Frost asked
"You good?"
"I was saved thanks for the rescue you two."
"Since Noivern is down for the count I'll send Rain first with Garchomp, is that alright with you?" she asked Frost.
"Yeah, I don't mind."
"Of course you don't~" Rain teased as he elbowed her lightly before helping her climb on Garchomp.
"Garchomp, Rain will guide you afterwards come back to pick us up," she instructed as the half-dragon type nodded and flew away.
She saw as Garchomp's figure become distant as she finally sighed.
"So are you done pretended?" she had only spoken this when Frost plopped down on the snow below him, his breath ragged and face pale.
Cynthia immediately rushed to his aid as Ninetails grew concerned.
"Don't worry he's just tired," she affirmed her as she lightly stroked her head.
She saw how worried the pokemon was so she decided to let out Glaceon to help her understand better.
"Gla-glaceon." the eevelution immediately brought the mood of the situation up and was more than happy to see so much snow around as she jumped from one mount to another.
Ninetails observed and was tempted to join as well but Frost was still her priority. Cynthia smiled warmly as she lifted Frost's head and softly placed it on her lap.
"I'll watch over him, you can go enjoy yourself."
"Nine?"
"Yes. Now go." Cynthia patted nudged her cheerily as she rushed to Glaceon and still sneaking glances at Cynthia who stroking Frost's hair.
"She is a stubborn one that's for sure," Cynthia commented to the resting man.
"I know right.. that being said I could get used to waking up like this," he muttered weakly.
She smirked as he still had the strength to joke.
" Your body is cold and you are basically running on fumes when was the last time you ate something?"
"Ah... lunch.. maybe?" he answered.
She sighed.
"I may not have something to eat but I have a solution for the cold," he spoke confidently as he procured a stainless steel flask from a hidden lining in his coat.
"Wow..." she spoke dryly as she watched him take a sip of the drink while still lying down.
"Here." he offered.
She stared at the flask before taking it from him.
"You know this wasn't what I meant when I said dinner." she joked.
He chuckled "I figured so but in reality all you really need is alcohol and people to have a good time."
"And maybe some food.." she added while taking a sip of rum.
"I'll take notes for the future."
"You better although if I am being completely honest I don't mind something like this," she added with a blush.
"Yeah... me too," he spoke softly as Cynthia passed back the flask.
"So its finally over?"
"Yup...at least it looks like it,"
Her sigh was definitely one of relief as even body relaxed. While she enjoyed watching the two Pokemon play in the snow with a small smile, he stared at her face under the dim light of the moon as he used his arm to slowly moved the part of her hair that covered her left eye.
"You should let others see more of eyes you know..." he mumbled absentmindedly not realising he actually said it.
"Really and why is that?" she asked in an assertive tone?
Frost was very much shocked as that question was something he thought he spoke in his head.
"Be-Because your eyes are really nice... and think they are fairly good as far as eyes go." he fumbled through his unplanned compliment.
"Fairly good as far as eyes go... that is best you got?" she asked while laughing.
He was flushed with embarrassment as he covered his red face with his hands and Cynthia kept on laughing.
She stopped after some time and things were quiet for a while until she asked
"You really think my eyes are pretty or do you just like them because they match your mentor's."
Frost peaked from under his hands as he saw her looking at him dead on expecting a serious answer so he gave one.
"I really like them not because they are similar to hers. Your eyes only match them in colour but there is a lot to eyes than just that, they tell a lot about their owner like take my teacher as an example she had similar grey eyes but... you could tell she was lost her gaze was always searching for something else but... when I first saw you that look you gave me back on that plane it told me..." he stopped questioning whether to continue or not.
"It told you?" she asked deeply engrossed in the conversation and it just pushed him to continue.
"It told me you were determined and focused on your goals... your eyes also told me you were kind and caring when you looked at the people in the plane they told me you were honest when you stared at me in the underground facility, they told me you were funny when you glared at me for laughing at your cooking skills, they told me that you were afraid in the cryogenic freezer... your eyes tell a lot about you... more than you know so there you have it." he finished but could not maintain eye contact with her any longer.
She definitely did not expect such a strong response... but what was surprising was the effect it had on her. The eyes he spoke of so passionately of had teared up. She frantically wiped her eyes and answered.
"You know that was the first time anyone said anything about my eyes... all of the others speak so much about my smile and even my body but no one ever said anything for my eyes... so thank you."
"...It wasn't much..." he replied as the two of them glanced at the Pokemon playing.
He had recovered enough to sit on his own now and he slowly lifted himself.
"Thanks for the pillow... I really appreciate it."
"No worries it wasn't much, thanks for the rum," she said as she handed him the flask again.
"Cynthia... are you alright?"
"I am fine."
"And you call my Pokemon stubborn."
"What was that?" she asked surprised.
"I can tell you know by looking at you that everything is not fine... so as...partners... I ask that you can lean on me if you want, this night was tough for you and you did a great job at hiding your feelings too," he asked seriously.
Her gaze looked down and the events of the night replayed in her head... the deaths, the deception the inhuman experiments...everything was overbearing and she still couldn't wrap her head around all of it.
He moved closer as his hand brushed her cheek
"It is over now so don't hurt yourself more."
His voice was like a catalyst and she couldn't control her feeling any longer as she burst in tears and wrapped her arms around him.
"I was afraid that you are going to die that someone else I know will die the pokemon that suffered in the labs, the rangers that were killed I was so shocked that all of this was happening and I never knew about it," she spoke in between her sobbing.
Frost in return held her tight and he stroked her hair and allowed her to release all the pent up emotions.
"This... ANY of this wasn't your fault so don't blame yourself for it."
"I know... but it still hurts..."
"Heh yeah... It does."
Her crying had stopped but she still rested her head on his shoulder.
"Feel better?" he asked.
"Yes.. thank you very much," she said as she released herself from the hug only to find the two Pokemon staring at her with concern.
She petted both of them as she said
"I am fine both of you sorry you had to see that."
"Gla-gla."
"Nine..."
"Sorry for worrying you two," she said again as she looked back at Frost.
"I still plan on seeing this through, I won't back down."
He smiled and replied
"Figured that much out before only."
Her smile was back as she chuckled as she saw Garchomp in the distance returning. She glanced back at Frost who was busy playing with the two Pokemon now.
"Guys its time to go back."
The night finally came to a close.
Author's Notes:
The mission is over and all that is left is the epilogue I will try to make that chapter longer than the rest but I hope you enjoyed this chapter. As always feel free to ask questions in the PM's so until next time.
PEACE