The Battle Club
Chapter 5
-Arthur's Truth-
1:30 P.M.
Pewter City
Grant glanced down at his PokeGear. "What? Now Aaron's device is gone too!"
Chester was sitting in his chair, the usual gusto noticeably absent from his attitude. "What are we going to do?"
"I don't… I don't know. I'm going to go think it over. Find a way to amuse yourself."
"Can I help?"
"I work better alone, thanks."
Chester sighed, and sat back in his chair.
5:01 P.M.
Kanto Ocean
"Is she alright?"
"What happened?"
"My god, captain, is the poor girl alive?"
All of the voices swirled around in her head, giving her a massive headache.
"She's breathing… She's still alive."
"But look at all that blood!"
She forced her way out of unconsciousness, and back into reality.
Painful, painful, reality.
Her eyes seared as they opened, painful spots dancing across her vision. Her entire body was burning, and she tasted blood.
"Thank goodness she's awake!"
She tried to sit up, but was held down.
"There there, missy. You stay laid down. We'll have a stretcher in a second, so you don't worry about moving at all," The warm voice of the captain became muffled as she struggled to retain consciousness.
"Where… Where am I…?"
"You're on the S.S. Lilycove, m'dear. We're headed back home right now!"
"I need… My Pokemon…"
"Pokemon? You didn't have any Pokemon on you when we found you. Just what exactly happened to you?"
The pain didn't matter anymore. "WHAT?"
They tried to hold her down, but to no avail. "Hey hey hey, just stay laying down and everything will be o-"
"No no no no no no no no no….. This can't be fucking happening…." She searched her belt, her bag, but there were no Pokeballs anywhere. "Those assholes stole my Pokemon!"
She looked around. She was surrounded by sailors in white, and tourists decked out in flower shirts, sunglasses, and flip-flops.
A cruise ship. She'd been picked up by a cruise ship. She whirled around to face the officer. "I need a phone. Now."
"First, we have to treat your injuries."
"Captain, I presume?"
He nodded.
"I've had both of my arms broken, a concussion, and the lower half of my body paralyzed. While I was lost. In the forests around Mt. Moon. I think I can handle this. Now get me a phone."
5:04 P.M.
Pewter City
Grant looked at the number on his PokeGear. It wasn't one he recognized.
"Hello?"
"Grant, this is Samantha," came the familiar voice.
Grant felt waves of relief. "I'm so glad you're okay. What happened?"
"Well, I got ambushed, and my PokeGear got a little wet."
"Wait, so are you okay?" He asked, the worry clear in his voice.
"Well, better than that time at Mt. Moon."
Grant winced.
"Anyway, how did things go with that bitch?" She asked, a crackle of static interrupting their conversation for a second.
"Well, Aaron showed up, and she ran away."
"That's Aaron."
"Yep. He went after her with his Alakazam, but… His PokeGear signal's gone too. I'm worried something happened to him."
"Heh. They'd have to use something pretty powerful to get rid of him."
"Yeah. I'm sure he just dropped it in a lake or something."
Unkown Time
Live Headquarters
Zicks sat in the corner of her cell. "I can't believe that I couldn't resist. She just brought me to show how little I can do." Her heart was sinking, and it kept sinking. "How am I supposed to fight an enemy that I end up being nice around?"
"127, we have a question for you," 6 declared. She hadn't even noticed the side of the wall go up. "But first, let me introduce you to some of my friends. This is 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12."
Six black-robed figures stood behind 6, their faces cloaked in the shadows of the robes.
"We were wondering if you know who this is… She looks a lot like you, oddly enough," He held up a picture of a person she instantly recognized.
"That's Sam. What is she doing in the water… And why does she look so beat up? What did you do?" Her anger rose up again, and she began imagining all of the ways she could torture and kill the insufferable stuck-up dick that stood on the other side of the window, holding up the picture.
"Oh… You didn't notice? She tried to follow you and your friends-"
Zicks scoffed. "Friends? Really?"
"You and your friends all the way here… She was trying to track you."
"So how did she end up in the water?"
"I'll let these guys explain it to you…" 6 said with a sick smile, stepping back.
"Your sister, I presume…" 7 said in a deep voice.
"Yes," Zicks replied, mistrust evident on her face.
"She was very skilled," 8 said.
"However, we defeated her," 9 said.
"And for opposing our Utopia," 10 said.
"We surrounded her on our Dragonite," 11 said.
"And we shot her with Hyper Beams after snapping this picture," 12 finished.
Zicks punched the glass.
6 smiled.
She punched the glass again. And again.
"We all just thought you should know…" 6 smirked, and walked away, the wall closing behind him.
She didn't stop punching the glass. Her knuckles turned red, then they started bleeding. The bones became visible, and they started breaking. But she didn't stop punching the glass.
"HEAR ME YOU SICK FUCKS!" She yelled, ignoring the pain that came with the shock. "I WILL DESTROY YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER WORKED FOR. ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS, ALL OF YOUR FAMILY, ALL OF THEM!"
Then, she passed out from blood loss.
7:00 P.M.
Pewter City
"Chester, we're leaving."
"I don't want to be a tree!"
"What?" Grant turned around and raised an eyebrow.
"Get it? We're leaf-ing…" Chester chuckled to himself.
Grant rolled his eyes. "That was absolutely horrible."
"Yeah, say that when I'm a successful stand-up comedian."
"I thought you wanted to be a Pokemon Trainer…?"
"I'm exploring my options, stupid," Chester sniffed, and walked down the stairs to grab his things.
Grant sighed and began packing. He had talked it over with Samantha over the phone. They would travel through the woods, tracking Aaron's route using Grant's Exeggutor to follow the psychic residue left by Alakazam. Once they found him, they would go back to Pallet town to meet Samantha, who would be working with the International Police to locate Zicks and the other missing person.
Finished, he walked downstairs to find Chester waiting by the door.
"Um, Chester… Where are your things?"
"I have my Pokeballs! I'm set to go!"
"Well… We still have to stop by the Pokemart to get food and water, so we'll buy clothes and a backpack for you too."
"And a fez!"
Grant shook his head. "I don't think they sell fezzes, Chester."
"Yeah, they do. Trust me, I've checked."
"Alright whatever…" Grant said as he opened the door. "If they have fezzes, we'll buy you a fez."
The same man that he had seen for an instant was standing in the middle of the street.
"You again? Arthur, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was. And I'm sorry to interrupt your preparations for departure, but I must explain something to the both of you… It is of utmost importance."
Grant sighed. "Well, finding my friend is of the utmost importance to me. Make it quick."
"Once you know what it is I am explaining, you will understand why that is impossible. I suggest we go back inside and find somewhere to sit." Arthur smiled warmly.
"Hey, I remember you! You're the one that gave Zicks all that money! Can I see your Gallade again?" Chester said excitedly.
Grant raised an eyebrow. "So this guy gives Zicks a bunch of money, and then she disappears? There has to be a connection…" He thought for a second. "Okay, let's go back inside."
They went three stories up to a room with couches and a T.V. "I should start at the beginning, I believe."
"Go ahead."
"Very well, it all started a very long time ago…"
"That's a ways into the beginning…" Chester said, bracing himself for a long talk.
"It is necessary."
"Chester, be quiet. Arthur, please continue."
A long time ago, there existed two families, the Excalorium and the Liveiratus. Both existed peacefully, ruling with cooperation over a wide expanse of land.
However, to the Liveiratus was born a young man… Zeronno Liveiratus. He was a very kind and gentle young boy, but also tall, strong, and sociable. Everyone loved him. He spent all of his time with the people of the kingdom, giving valuable input to the rulers. The kingdom prospered. But one fateful day, he was murdered by a group of men, his money and his clothes taken to be spent and sold.
The Liveiratus family took the blow harshly. They began to rule more coldly. No opposition was met with good will. The freedoms that the people experienced were taken away. They wanted a utopia where something like the death of Zeronno could never happen again, but by doing this they were not letting anyone live.
The Excalorium pleaded with their partners to stop imposing more and more regulations and rules, but the Liveiratus were just as merciful toward this opposition as they were toward all others. The mansion of the Excalorium was burned, and all Excalorium, man, woman, boy, girl, infant… They were all sentenced to death.
Luckily, some escaped. They lived with the people, lying low, biding their time. Then, they struck back, bringing the freedom back to the people of the land.
Or so they thought.
The Liveiratus began using a child strong in the psychic force, and amplified its commands through the use of a psychic Pokemon. This child could persuade anyone to do anything. People to be fair. Sentenced prisoners to behave well.
People to kill themselves. Betray their friends.
People to come out of hiding.
The Excalorium were all but exterminated.
Only two survived, a man and a woman. They trained themselves, day and night, to resist the urges that told them to give themselves up to the Liveiratus.
The Excalorium were reborn, this time as soldiers resistant to psychic influence. Those around them were also affected by the psychic power, able to resist the Liveiratus' control.
With their power, the Liveiratus had taken over a huge empire. However, the Excalorium became strong enough to take that from them. Once the Liveiratus had fallen, the Excalorium left control of the people to the people.
Ever since then, the Liveiratus has been building its strength, biding its time, until the time comes to deal the final blow to freedom. They lost their intentions long ago, hiding their ambition for power behind the promise for utopia.
"Why are you telling us this?" Grant asked.
"Because, not only am I one of the Excalorium protecting this world," Arthur said calmly. "But Chester is as well. Not only that, but the Liveiratus have become to move again, under the abbreviation Live."
"So how do you know I'm an Excalorium, Arthur? Also, does that mean I get a Gallade?"
"Um, no… Unless you obtain one on your own. And, do you remember when you were talking to 1? She looked surprised when her influence didn't work."
"Oh, yeah…"
"And Grant. Do you remember the way you began to think when she began talking to you?"
"I suppose so…"
"Then, Chester came back, and those thoughts all but disappeared."
"That's true."
"Wait, Arthur," Chester said, his forehead crumpled in concentration. "If that's true then why didn't Zicks break away when she was by me?"
"Prolonged exposure to control, and the fact that the controller was so close. However, you did see her cry, correct?"
"…Yeah…"
"Her will to escape that control was so powerful that even under those conditions she was breaking free."
"So… If Aaron went away from Chester, that means that…"
"Either Aaron has joined Live, or he is dead."
Grant closed his eyes. "Don't break it to us easy, Arthur. It's not like he was my best friend or anything."
"I felt I shouldn't… Um… 'Beat around the bush' so to speak. Regardless, now that I've explained this to you, I have a favor to ask."
"Which is…?" Chester asked.
"I need you to come with me to assist in the destruction of Live."
"YES! THIS IS GONNA BE SOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOOOL. WE'RE GONNA BE ALL BOOM-POP-POW-BAM LIVE'S DEAD, AND GALLADE WILL BE ALL AWESOME AND EVERYTHING, AND THEN WE CAN GO TO THE VIRIDIAN CITY PARFAIT SHOP AND BUY SO-"
"No."
Chester and Arthur both looked at Grant questioningly.
"I have one question, Arthur. How did you know all about what happened today?"
Arthur smiled. "I have a friend who knows these sorts of things."
"Oh, a friend? A friend who just happens to know everything about how what's going on? Just out of coincidence?" Grant's voice steadily rose.
"I assure you that the reason I can't reveal their identity is not what you think. I would never work with the Liveiratus, if that's what you're implying."
"Well, I don't trust you. Your story is just too perfect. And it all adds up to us going with you… What's waiting for us then? Will 1 come around with reinforcements to take us too? Or will she kill us, like she might have to Aaron?"
"Young man, you must trust me!"
"Are you insulting my intelligence? Are you trying to just… Piss me off? Because you've done both. I don't believe you, I don't trust you, and I don't ever want to see you again. In fact, I think I'll turn you in to the authorities! They've been looking for a lead!"
"I take it that you haven't convinced them yet…" The child's voice echoed out of nowhere. "I'll bring you back.
In a flash of green, he was gone.
"Chester, let's go. We're going to supply up, and then head out. That psychic trail is only fading, so let's hurry."
Unkown Time
Live Headquarters
Zicks woke up, and growled. She looked down at her hands, expecting a bloody mess, but was confused to see that they were fine.
"Was it all a dream? I hope so… For Samantha's sake, I hope it was all a dream."
However, something told her that it wasn't.
As if to confirm her fears, the window opened up. 6 stood outside, smiling smugly.
"You'll find that your home is also equipped with a cellular regenerative, which will apply itself while you are unconscious. We hope it is to your comfort."
She stared at the wall, pretending he wasn't there.
"However, I have been told that you are to be informed that your group is ready to be fully converted to Live. This process will begin shortly, and will take a few days."
She turned to make a smart remark, but the window was already closing.
As if on cue, the other wall opened up to the familiar passageway. She found herself wanting to walk down the hallway, to be with her friends.
127 got up and walked down the hallway.
It didn't take long to reach her destination. All five of her friends were there, smiling, and happy. 1 stood in a raised green circle surrounded by six red raised squares.
"My friends," 1 gushed. "Today, you will become a full part of Live."
Excited whispers were exchanged.
"I will connect my mind with yours, and together, we will bring about a utopia. Please stand in the red squares."
They did as they were told.
"Now, we shall begin." The room began to glow a faint green, wisps of purple emanating from 1. Then the wisps formed into solid ropes of light, and stretched out to each of the people in the red squares. It illuminated them, pulsing brighter and brighter, until suddenly, it stopped.
"Now friends, let us journey out into the main building of Live, where you will meet many more friends!"
One side of the wall opened up to reveal a large room, full of about fifty other people.
"Since you are a full part of Live, you will now be sent regularly on missions to either recruit or defeat many opponents." 1 gushed gleefully.
All six new Live members smiled.
127 felt a small twitch. She frowned, looking over at a large window that held a grand view of the scenery. They were up very high on a mountain, with snow falling all around them. Then, she smiled, and looked back.
"These are your companions, and you may be sent on missions with them, or without them."
127 looked at one of the metal chairs by the window, but didn't know why. Oddly enough, she stepped forward.
1 stopped what she was explaining and looked over.
127 saw beads of sweat dripping down 1's face, and was very satisfied, but she didn't know why.
Then, Zicks broke free.
9:30 P.M.
A Forest
Aaron groaned and rolled over.
"Ow."
He sighed and tried to get up, but he couldn't.
Out of his peripheral vision, he saw his Arcanine. Wincing with the intense aggression that his body showed toward movement of any kind, he turned and looked.
The Pokemon's chest was moving. He was still alive.
"Okay, Arcanine's alright." He thought, a wave of relief washing over him. His pokeballs were scattered about, so he grabbed the nearest one and sent out its resident.
His Machamp appeared, and ran to his side, a worried expression on his face. "Hey, buddy, I need you to send out everybody else and get to work building Arcanine a shelter."
"-What about you?-" his Machamp asked.
"Oh, you. I suppose if you could fit me in there, it'd be pretty swell."
The other Pokemon were sent out. Venusaur, Omastar, and Dragonair got to work finding food and wood to build with. Machamp, however, brought over another Pokeball.
Alakazam's Pokeball.
A large crack had appeared in the side, rendering the Pokeball useless. Alakazam was trapped in a stasis inside.
Everything came together in Aaron's head.
"Alakazam saved us all... He must have slowed Arcanine's and my descent using his powers, but he had to go through his Pokeball, so it broke. And now he's sealed inside in an emergency stasis."
The hut was built in no time. Arcanine and Aaron were put onto makeshift cots, and there, Aaron fell asleep.
11:30 P.M.
A Very Very Very Long Time Ago
"This is going to be mightily more difficult than I had previously suspected. Mr. Rouge does have his reasons to doubt us, but I had no idea they would be so strong." Arthur sighed, and sat down in a wooden chair in a run-down hut.
"Oh, Arthur. There's always another way. I'll think of one and send you back."
"Thank you very much for your help, Celebi." Arthur smiled at the Time Travel Pokemon.
"No need to thank me, this is rather fun!" The Pokemon giggled and swiveled around while hovering in mid-air. "In fact, I already thought of a way you could gain their trust! I'm brilliant!"
"And?"
"I can tell you where their friend Aaron will be, and then you can go and help them find him!"
"Perfect! I'll leave as soon as you're strong enough to transport me again!"
"Yep. I'll work on it, you go outside and buy some food, if you'd please."
Arthur smiled once more, and went over to a small chest. He pulled out some raggedy strips of cloth that could have once been considered a shirt and pants, and switched them with his prim, elegant clothing. He messed up his hair and put a strip on his teeth to make them look less blindingly light. Then, he stepped outside.
The street that Arthur walked onto could only be considered mud. Hordes of peasants strode to and from their work, the market, and their homes. Animals and children ran rampant in the fetid stink that ran into and mixed with the road, and the homeless sat at the side of the road, raising their cups to every passerby.
Arthur dropped a few coins into one mans and gave him a reassuring smile. "I hope yer fortune improve to better, strang'r," He said in garbled, heavily accented English that secretly made him wince inside.
Anything to keep up appearances.
He walked up to a stall in the market where a woman was selling fruits.
"Hullo ma, cun I git a somma that Lepp Berr's you got on ya? I've been runn'n out asuv late and I fix'n te git sum more,"
"Anythin' fer mah favrit client, Horgor!" She said with a mostly toothless smile, and grabbed an armful of berries that 'Horgor' stuffed into his shirt.
"Thanks, ma. 'Ave a nice day,"
He rolled his eyes in disgust after he had turned around. Sometimes it almost wasn't worth it to act like a complete oaf, even if it meant avoiding death.
If his mother could see him right now, she'd die of shame.
Although, she was already dead, so it didn't make a difference either way.
"Peasant. I need to see your papers." One of the guards that stood like hawks on every street corner grabbed him by the shirt, some of the Leppa Berries spilling out into the muck, snatched up instantly by hungry kids.
"Of carse, sir, anythin' to please the Liveiratus." He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a soggy crumpled mess.
"I wish that you stupid swine would at least take care of the most important thing in your lives, but I suppose you're all to busy rolling around in your own feces to care," the guard said with an impetuous sniff, grabbing the mass out of 'Horgor's' hand.
"Let's see... Horgor Jufft Torthelson. Well well, a Torthelson. How many Pokemon have you raped in the last week? Don't worry, I know your family history. I won't be surprised."
"Sir, I dun thin' yer should be basin' wut ya thin' o' me based on mah family. I'm proud to be a law abidin' citizen, yep."
His only reply was a punch right in the stomach, a soggy identification paper thrown in his face, and laughing as the guard returned to his station.
Arthur seethed with fury, collecting what few Leppa Berries remained to be washed off later.
10:01 P.M.
Kanto Wilderness
Exeggutor walked in front of Grant and Chester, who both carried backpacks. Chester wore a red fez, and made sure to mention this fact out loud to nobody in particular every few minutes.
The sun had already set, and Grant decided to set up camp. "Here, have this." He handed a Pokeball to Chester. "Go and catch a new Pokemon."
"What are you going to do?"
"Set up camp. Just go. And yell if you need me."
"SWEET." Chester ran off into the woods.
He soon slowed down, creeping up to a bush. He threw the Pokeball at it, hoping that he could win without a fight.
No results.
After he finished fishing it back out, he saw a light out of the corner of his eye.
Curious, he walked as silently as he could toward the area.
He saw the flash again, this time, brighter.
Chester moved faster now, but still silently, until he tripped over something and fell with a crash.
He lay without breathing for a moment, hoping that whatever was controlling the light hadn't heard him. Then he looked up.
"WOOPAH. WOOPAH WOOPAH!" A little baby Wooper stared him in the face, a happy smile plastered across its small blue head.
"Shhhh! Shhhh! Be quiet!" He hissed. "I don't have time right now! Go away!"
He got up and started creeping again. The light kept flashing.
Small footsteps followed his own. He stopped walking, and he felt the Wooper run into his legs.
"Stop. Following. Me." He demanded, his voice a barely audible whisper.
The Wooper didn't say anything. Instead, it stared up at him with curious, loving eyes.
"You can't go with me! I don't know what's out there!"
It stared.
"No!"
"Woopah?"
"Fine! But as long as you're quiet!" He picked up the Wooper, and set it on his shoulder.
It snuggled happily against his head.
He crept closer and closer, until he could make out what the light was.
It was a searchlight. From the top of a tower it swiveled around, lighting up the rim of a deep circular valley lined by a tall, barbed wire fence with six guard towers stationed equally apart.
Inside the valley was a massive building, the roof lit up by the search light. There was only one entrance visible, a gate through one of the guard towers led to an elevator that lowered itself down into the building.
The Wooper hopped off of his shoulder and into the light.
Alarms sounded everywhere and red lights flashed all across the fence. The searchlight snapped to the Wooper, and Chester ducked quickly behind a tree, holding his breath, hoping that he hadn't been seen.
Two men approached on foot from the nearest tower.
"Bah, it's just a Wooper." Said the bigger one.
"Well, shouldn't we keep it? Boss said that every Pokemon counts." Said the smaller, skinnier man.
"If this useless piece of shit just walked up to our base, that means it must've been nearby. The collection parties leave behind every Pokemon that's too weak." He picked up his radio. "False alarm, it was one of the weak Pokemon that the CP's left in the forest."
The searchlight left the still oblivious Wooper, and the men walked quickly back to the tower.
Chester peeked out from behind the tree to watch them leave. It was only then that he noticed the two Growlithes that walked beside them. "How did I miss them? They were completely silent, I didn't even hear footsteps, or growling!" And then he noticed something even stranger.
There was purple mist emanating from them.
While the searchlight was facing away, he coaxed the Wooper back to him, grabbed it, and made a mad, silent dash back to Grant.
A few minutes later
Grant's Camp
Grant had already set up camp and was making sandwiches.
"So?"
"Grant, I found this huge building in the middle of a circular valley and there was a searchlight and two men who came to inspect this Wooper that went out near the fence surrounding the valley and they had two Pokemon with them who were both completely silent and there was a weird purple cloud around them so I ran back to find you."
"Oh."
"Do you think I'm lying?"
"Partly. I believe that you found the building, but purple mist? That sounds a bit too far."
"There was."
"Fine, whatever."
Chester panted for a few more seconds.
"You seem a lot less surprised than I thought you would be."
"Chester, I sent you out because I didn't think you'd be able to find any Pokemon."
"What?" Chester asked, confused.
"I can't believe you didn't notice. In the later part of our walk, have you seen any Pokemon at all?"
Chester thought back. "Well, when I think about it, no."
"Secondly, you've lived most of your life on your own, correct?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"So you'd obviously be better at sneaking than me. And finally, you didn't have a backpack, I assumed you wouldn't be able to put up a tent. So, I sent you out to find where they went."
"Why didn't you just tell me?"
"I wanted to be cryptic and cool."
"You're an idiot."
"Says the person who didn't notice a lack of Pokemon in a forest, one of the most Pokemon-abundant places known to man." Grant smiled. "Now, how did you find that baby Wooepr?"
"I tripped over it."
"Way to go, man," Grant said, rolling his eyes. "Anyways, it looks like it wants to stay with you. Now, think with me, why would all the Pokemon but the baby Pokemon have disappeared from a forest that has a mysterious building in the middle of it?"
"Aliens?"
"Please tell me you're kidding."
"...Alien Kids?"
"The people in the building are poaching Pokemon. And I intend to find out why. You take my Exeggutor, and find Aaron. I'll go investigate this building. Also, I'd catch that Wooper. It seems to like you."
"Yeah, I suppose... Are you sure you don't want my help?"
"I'll be fine. What's the worst thing that can happen?"
"Alien abduction."
"And what's the likeliness of that happening?"
"Approximately 3.72183992%" Chester replied after thinking for a few seconds.
Grant sighed. "See you later." He turned and started walking toward the building, following Chester's footprints.
"Hey Grant."
Grant stopped and turned around.
"You forgot the camp."
"I'll be coming back. The tent was for if you didn't find anything, anyway." He turned and started walking.
"Hey Grant."
"WHAT?" Grant sighed with exasperation, turning around again.
"Take care."
Aaaaand it's finally finished. It's good to have that off my back, although I should probably pump another chapter out soon.
I have to say that IMHO this is developing nicely. IMHO. I don't know what your honest opinion is. Why not tell me YHO in a review?
That segue was beautiful. You can complement me on that in a review.
Teehee.
So I finally got everything worked out, and I sent a file of what I had completed to my new computer, and the first line of text read like this:
ÐÏࡱá
I heaved a great sigh, and then worked around it. But, in the same day, I finally finished the new chapter that was technically due months ago. Whatever. It's done. Be happy. And review.