Disclaimer: Pokemon, and all affiliated Pokemon products are the property of Nintendo, Game Freak, and whoever else's name is on the bill of sale. This is their world, I just play in it.
Author's Note: This Chapter was a bit harder to crank out. Bright side is, I'm slowly starting to build up my stamina so the chapters should be getting longer soon, although don't expect the pace to stay as it is. That's four chapters in four days, if you count the companion type story I posted. I may cut it down to once a week when work starts next week, so we shall see. I hope you guys enjoy it, let me know what you think!
Chapter 3
Callum found himself on the far side of the boardwalk as the sun rose. It had been a very long night, to say the least, and he found himself with a lot of time to think. He toyed with the beads around his wrist as the purple hues filled the sky. Callum knew that he should be productive. He could root around in the Pokedex and see what he could learn. He could release his Pokemon and update them on recent happenings. He could change out of his night clothes and keep his nighttime wanderings more secret. He could even just go get some breakfast at the very least, but instead Callum released his Pokemon, besides Oak's starter, and they watched the rising sun.
The morning rays balanced out and the sun's ascent slowed, and Callum found himself finding focus after his daze. Things needed to get done. His Pokemon needed to get taken care of, and he needed to find a place to hole up to get a few hours sleep. At the very he needed least a cup of coffee to get him through what needed to be done. First order of business though, he needed to introduce his team to its newest member.
As he stood, his Pikachu and Scyther instinctively rose with him, and watched intently. His beads itched as he remembered Oak mentioning his ghostly connections and totems, which were a large part of the reason his Pokemon were so in tune with him after so short an amount of time, although Pikachu had had time to grow with him naturally.
Callum unclipped the shiny red and white Pokeball from his waist, and threw it underhanded, several feet in front of him. A small, pale blue frog materialized. A Shiny Froakie. Oak sure knew how to treat those he worked with.
Callum scanned it with the front camera on his Pokedex. Apparently being a Professor's Pokemon had its perks, as it already knew icy wind in addition to quick attack and water pulse. It would eventually evolve in to a dual water and dark type ninja. Oak really knew how to pick them.
He crouched down next to the Froakie, and hesitated. Oak had a point in that he should be careful with what he did with ghost links, as well as the fact that eventually when Froakie evolved it's dark type status would negate it. Perhaps it would be better to simply forge a relationship the natural way. Through natural methods and perhaps whatever Oak had said about the Pokedex, he could do this the normal way.
Although, it would take much longer for the Froakie to understand him, as he would have to teach it sign language. Then again, he could always have Pikachu translate and that might expedite the process…
Callum sighed, sitting back again. He was so tired. In front of him he had a shiny Froakie given to him by the premiere pokemon authority in the world. In his hand he had a Pokedex, the most advanced tool any trainer could have. He should be ecstatic. He should be over the moon. Any other boy his age would be jumping for joy. But on the other hand he had just faked a murder. He had caused an explosion in the middle of New York City, and had set his Scyther on what he thought was a man, with intent to kill.
Rising, Callum, set out. Things could still be worse.
-/
He found them that night, in the same warehouse they had left him that first time. They were waiting for him, so they knew. Everybody probably knew.
He got his first look at the man with blue hair as soon as he reached the top floor. He was dressed casually in all black. Black work boots, somehow kept immaculate, black skinny jeans, with a slightly large black hooded sweatshirt. The only distinguishing mark was the shiny gold R on his chest and his dark blue hair.
The girl on the other hand, was more of a young woman. She had her arms crossed and was leaning against the wall. Her shiny red hair was clearly dyed. She wore black trainers and long thigh high socks, leading up to a white mini skirt. she also had a white cropped hoodie, with a large red R this time, cut to reveal the black long sleeved crop top underneath.
They were not that much older than him, looking to be about college-age. Slinking around was a Meowth, sniffing around until it made its way back to the girl, slipping in and out between the girls legs and around her feet.
Callum tossed him the flash drive and blue-hair grinned.
"We saw the explosion. Bit of a loud way to get things done, but we've seen the body, and now we have the flash drive. You've done everything we've asked. In fact you did more than we thought you would" The man spoke.
He realized they never expected him to succeed.
Callum waited, hearing the pause. "And now we need to ask for more."
His heart dropped. But he knew it would have to be done.
"You've got the right Pokemon and the right skills for the job." he continued. The girl snorted at this, and muttered under her breath. He gave her a look, before shaking his head.
"As I was saying, there are things you can do that we can't. Long story short, there's a TM we need. It's not too hard to get, you've just gotta steal it from some guy. His security isn't much better than Oak's, although we don't need any explosions on this. It'll be easiest if you go in while he's at work, which should be right about-" he checked his watch. "Now, actually. Here's the apartment, he lives at, meet us back here right after. Who knows, you might get something nice when you get back.
Callum caught a rolled up note, which he assume contained the address, and turned to make his way out of the room.
"Hey. Quietly. Nobody sees you, or else there'll be hell. Got it?" This time he was insistent. Almost nervous.
Callum made his way out, already planning how he was going to get in.
-/
The apartment was empty as promised. Callum padded softly through the halls, searching. Most people kept their technical machines in cases, so he just had to find the case, take the right one, and he could be on his way. He released Pikachu and Froakie. He had made progress that day in teaching Froakie some sign language, but even so he still had Pikachu translate what he meant.
"We're looking for something. It'll be round and shiny. Got it? "
They both nodded their understanding, and went along rummaging through the apartment. Callum searched, through desks and cabinets, inside books and even in the cushions of the couch. Nothing was to be found.
Cal' sighed, pushing his hair out from over his face. It was truly time to go get his dreadlocks redone, but considering everything going on some slack could be cut for him. Still, a deep condition or something might help the case.
Suddenly it hit him. Cal jumped off the sofa he sat on, and made his way to the bathroom. He looked, behind the toilet, in the tank, and under the sink. Finally he looked in the medicine cabinet. Nothing.
His head dropped as he braced himself against the sink. If he were a TM, where would he hide. He looked back up in to the mirror, noticing for the first time the circles around his eyes, the way his hair hung lankly around his face.
Froakie and Pikachu walked in.
"Sorry guys, just need some rest. It's been a long…" Cal's signing trailed off, as he looked again at the medicine cabinet. There, along the edges, what was that? He dug his fingers in around the corners of the cabinet, and pulled. It slid out partially. He pulled again, harder, and slid out the whole way. He held it tightly, as the weight nearly pushed him back, before putting it on the toilet. Plaster crumbled around the sink and the counter, and a wide grin split his tired face.
There, in the recessed hole left by the medicine cabinet on a shelf lay TM 28, in a plastic CD case, and next to it, an ultraball. Talk about a good find.
Cal replaced the medicine cabinet, cleaning up the fallen plaster. He recalled Pikachu. Froakie could stay out, he needed the exercise anyways. He made a final sweep through the apartment to make sure no trace of him was left, before exiting out of the window, and down the fire escape.
Instead of the hooded balaclava he had opted for just the black sweatshirt, although he really needed a new outfit. New clothes in general would probably be a good idea, his two pairs of sweatpants were getting ragged, and his sneaking around clothes needed a good wash at the very least. He tied his hair back as he started walking.
Suddenly he bumped in to somebody, hard.
"Hey, watch where you're going, yeah?" the man said. He was about Cal's age, and had a leather jacket on. On his shoulder sat a rufflet, a lot larger than the average.
Cal just stared, before turning around and continuing on his way. Why deal with some trainer who couldn't watch where he was going? He had bigger problems, like getting this TM to the… un-proper authorities? Who knew these days. Speaking of authorities, he pulled out the Pokedex to text Oak.
Suddenly a hand appeared on his shoulder.
"Hey. Where'd you get that." It was the trainer with the oversized rufflet he had just bumped past. "I asked where'd you get that. That's the newest model of the Pokedex, it isn't even out in Japan, only available to betas and professors. You're sure as hell not old enough to be here a professor, and you're not a beta looking like that. You steal it?"
If only he knew what was in his pocket besides the Dex. Cal simply shook his head, and tried to walk away but the guy's hand on his shoulder stopped him. Time seemed to slow, as he looked him in the eye, before looking at his shoulder. The rufflet and Froakie both tensed as they felt what was happening. Callum shook his head once, trying to convey to this trainer that he hadn't stolen it. That it was a gift.
He couldn't see it, but his eyes flashed purple once.
"A thief and a ghost all in one, this keeps getting better." The trainer pulled back, his bag forgotten on the floor, and the rufflet leapt off of his shoulder.
Callum ducked, Froakie leaping off his shoulder as the other trainer's fist swung over his head. Froakie didn't need to be told what to do, as it released a pulse of water at the rufflet, while Callum whipped out the Baton and extended it all at once. He swung it out, but the trainer blocked it with both arms.
"Maverick, shadow claw!"
Froakie used icy wind to maintain distance between the torchic's claws and himself, before spitting another water pulse at it. Callum could feel the battle going on around him, and knew that Froakie was seriously out of his league. Luckily he had a few tricks under his sleeve. He spun, whipping the baton around. He struck twice, once against the other trainer's legs and once against his shoulder.
The other trainer hissed in pain, and Callum took the opportunity to kick him back. He looked at the ensuing pokemon battle, and looked at just the right time to catch Froakie take a direct hit from a fury attack. He knew that was it for him, and returned him. There was only one way out of this, unless he wanted to release Pikachu which he very much didn't.
His wrist began to burn up his arm as the beads trembled. He would have to go for broke.
He turned and ran.
The burning increased, like a blistering frostbite, throughout his whole left side and in to the right. He looked down at his palms and saw himself begin to… disappear.
This had only worked a few times, but every time it had, had been an emergency, just like this time. He ran faster, and saw the trainer running after him.
"I still see you, asshole!"
Callum ran faster, and suddenly, he was gone, as he ran directly through a wall in front of him. He heard a muffled "Shit!" but he didn't stop, appearing on the complete other side of the building panting. Looking around, he found himself in the middle courtyard of an apartment complex.
That one had never worked so well. He shuddered as the thrill of adrenaline hit him, and grinned. That was fun. Is this why people rob things? That was… intense, to say the least.
He stood up straight again, trying to get air inside of him as he walked, realizing that this trainer may be persistent and try to get inside. Besides, he had to deliver the TM.
Callum walked to the opposite side of the courtyard, and located an exit. As he walked the itch in his wrist increased again and he looked down, as the totems on his wrist glowed brighter and brighter. Perhaps Oak had a good point when he mentioned to be careful, but then again what did he know? Was he capable of invisibility, or of becoming intangible? As far as he knew, that remained his power alone. He walked on, not bothering to reach for the door as the burning enveloped him quickly this time, and he simply passed himself through it. Yes, he could definitely get used to this.
He walked on, phasing himself again through the second door, before rubbing his wrist around the beads. The burn was worth it. Callum grinned to himself as he walked, releasing Froakie once again who released bubbles of different sizes and speeds from Callum's shoulder. He checked his Pokedex again, noting that it had only been an hour since he originally left the warehouse. He completed his message to Oak.
Cal: they both wear a big "R," what does that mean.
Eventually Callum made it back to the warehouse building. The top light was still on, and he hurried up the stairs returning Froakie once again. No need to bring up questions he couldn't answer. He entered the room, sliding the TM out of his pocket, and flicking it to blue-hair who caught it deftly.
"I told you he'd be back, Jesse" he grinned triumphantly, as the girl, Jesse, rolled her eyes.
"Yes, the freak came back, can we go now, James?" She hissed the last word, clearly irritated he had used her name.
James appraised Callum one more time before flicking the TM back. "Keep it." he said, "We've got our own ways of getting places. Consider it, pay for the last job, as well as this." He tossed him a one-shoulder daypack. Callum opened it, and saw a small bunch of rolled money at the bottom. He looked up again bewildered."This was just a test. You've probably figured out by now that you were never supposed to come back from Oak's, but you did. You're useful to us, and you'll stay alive as long as you remain so. We'll be in touch."
Jesse and James made their way out of the warehouse, and Callum watched. He stared back down at the money, before exiting as well, turning the light off behind him.
He walked without aim for a half hour before deciding on a destination.
That night he stayed at a hotel. The bed was softer than any floor, and much larger than the ones at the old group home he had stayed at. The shower water was warm, and ran brown as it washed months of filth off his body. His hair took several of the tiny hotel portions of shampoo and conditioner, and he discovered that he was in fact old enough to shave as he looked in the mirror. He had his old clothes laundered and folded, and stuffed them in the bag as he dressed in new ones ordered through air mail. A simple T-shirt, dark denim jeans, and black boots.
When it was all said and done, Callum had never felt more human, or more clean. Not that he could remember. He left the water running for Pikachu, who's fur was dirtier than he realized, and Froakie, who enjoyed the feeling of cold water running down it's back, as he simply laid back and watched tv. A luxury he never understood.
Most wouldn't appreciate a cheap motel like this. Cal looked outside as the sun rose with a full stomach for once, he realized that for many like him, being a criminal was much better than the alternative. Every luxury needed to be appreciatedThat being said, Team Rocket needed to be stopped. They weren't poor, from what he had seen. Instead they were college-age thugs who needed to be stopped before somebody got seriously hurt.
The Pokedex rang. It was Oak's response to his text the previous night. It was two words, that confused him as much as they scared him.
Oak: Team Rocket.
Who was Team Rocket? And what was their goal?
Callum watched his Pokemon in the tub. Froakie was blowing bubbles again, and foam covered him head to toe, while Pikachu had climbed out hours ago and seemed to have fallen asleep in a small pile of towels. He would've released Scyther, but he didn't want to have to pay for anything he might have to replace.
As Callum watched, he wondered what this plan would mean for him. What it would mean for his team. Suddenly the lights flickered.
The totems began to burn, worse than when he became intangible, and the lights flickered once more, before everything froze. The water stopped flowing, suspended in mid-air, and Froakie stopped moving as well. Pikachu remained in his small towel ball, and the burning intensified until it became unbearable. Suddenly a purple vapor escaped one of the beads, and in front of him materialized a sableye.
It's blue eyes flashed violet once, and it pointed, chittering.
"Yeah, I know, it's getting worse. What can I say? " Even in the ghost dimension he couldn't find his voice.
The Sableye pointed at his beads, especially the vacant white one, and shook his head.
"What do you mean another one? Another Ghost? Won't that make everything worse?" He signed all of this frantically, as his head filled with ice club soda again, his usual state of anxiety. Another Ghost on the totem sounded like more power, but it meant more power against him as well. It was already difficult controlling the strength of two ghosts, one intensely powerful Sableye, and a weaker rotom. The sableye stared now, it's eyes glowing violet once more before the burning returned again, and another purple, less condensed vapor escaped.
A Rotom appeared next to Sableye. It's red eyes flashed brightly, as it's aura changed colors rapidly from orange to red to blue and back again. It hissed at him, and his heart dropped. When this had all started, Rotom had been on his side. Sableye had turned it against him as well. He sighed, pressing the palms of his hand in to his eyes until he saw bright lights.
"You too? Is this what you want? Another pal to attack my fucking arm all day and night, in return for what you have to offer? Another pal to make sure I get under 4 hours sleep so you can try to possess me? Fuck that. Fuck you. I should just catch you in a regular Pokeball and lock you up somewhere air tight. How's that?" By the time Callum had finished signing all of this, rapid paced, the Sableye and Rotom were wide-eyed. or as wide as diamond eyes and an electric ghost's eyes could get.
This time they both hissed, and sableye bared his fangs as rotom's aura changed colors even faster. They both leapt at Cal' and something within him snapped.
"STOP!" He yelled.
Sableye and Rotom both stopped short, suspended in the air as Cal's hand trembled. He breathed heavily, and purple static crackled around his hands. His eyes flashed once and he breathed heavily.
They had told him speaking in the shadow realm should be possible, but he had never known where to start. Apparently getting angry was as good a place as any. He released them both, and stared them down each in turn.
"Listen, I understand. You want a pal. Whatever. I'll find something, some type of. I don't know, compromise? And you'll keep doing what I ask, and you'll let me sleep, and that's that. Got it? Good. Now, get the fuck back where you belong or so help me I'll banish you from here myself, you know I can." As satisfying as speaking was, Callum signed all of this out of habit. He looked at Sableye first, who nodded resignedly, and secondly at Rotom, who spun in an ashamed circle seemingly back to normal before it also nodded.
"Good," Callum nodded, and summoned the two ghosts back in to their totems on his wrist. Time returned to normal, and there was no sign of anything happening except Froakie giving him an odd look and Pikachu making an appearance before burrowing back inside his mound of towels.
Callum shook his hair free, before tying it back in a new knot. Things were definitely becoming more stressful, but at least he had a bed to sleep in.
He shut the lights off, and filled the tub with water so it wouldn't be running overnight before dropping himself in to bed. Immediately the Pokedex went off. It was an unknown number. He picked up.
"We'll get in touch with you when we need you, Boy." It was the man with blue hair. He hung up. Callum nearly threw the device at the wall, but instead he got up, his head in his hands as his hair slipped out of the tie it was in. He sighed tying it back before gathering his things and leaving the hotel. It didn't seem he was getting much sleep that night. Not in that bed at least.
Edited: December 27, 2017