Chapter 17:
'Freezing the heat'

It was busy where ever Karli went in the train station, even in staff only sections where everyday offices were located, pokémon were laying around without a home, passing by or working. Even though the angry kirlia had no scarf or garment with the Crimson emblem on whatsoever, no one was questioning her. Perhaps she was too small to be considered threatening, or maybe her continuous glare was reason to assume she was already a member.

She was not sure entirely where she was going, but was determined to find a golem she figured to have stormed out to return to his quarters. Whether or not that was the case, Karli knew that Marcus was in condition to throw a rage, so any sound of destruction was on her focus.

The living quarters of the Crimson soldiers was reached, though they could be living with the refugees if they wanted, however the section Karli was at were for the higher ranks. The kirlia remembered Gem saying that they were executives, so they possibly had dorms of their own. Along the way, she had not seen anything amiss, nothing particularly loud or violent going, until she reached end of the corridor.

From the left, several voices of surprise and a few screams could be heard as a monferno and mienfoo flew out from it. Karli quickly ran out to look down the corridor which they came from and see an umbreon to have been thrown too. Much further down was a dimly lit golem, whose face was transformed. His colleagues nearby were either backing away or shouting at Marcus, telling him to calm down. Clearly they had not known of his loss.

Seeing the rage had slowed down the kirlia's eagerness, but she continued her approach regardless. The closer she got to the scene, the easier she could see the insanity and tears that had formed on Marcus' eyes.

The golem roared, 'None of you want to save, you're all just killers!' every comment he made both angered his allies and worried them. One blaziken emerged from the crowd, telling Marcus to calm down, which he followed with 'make me you shits! Senseless, child murdering-'

At that moment, the giant rocky dinosaur was struck on his huge boulder shell by a shower of rainbow coloured leaves, stabbing his back and weakening the rock structure of his armour. In fact the leaves had absorbed so much of his energy, Marcus fell to one knee, clenching his teeth like a mad yungoos.

'Hey!' called Karli, forgetting the name of the golem. 'Don't just take it out on them.'

The tiny ballerina approached slowly, still looking so fearless. She had honestly hoped that maybe some of the others would have aided her or tried reprimanding Marcus for already attacking three of his colleagues. Instead most of them just stood staring, gobsmacked or shaking their heads, some were indicating to Karli to get away or calling her crazy.

'You can't blame them for what happened to Austin,' Karli continued, as Marcus got back on both feet. 'I know what happened!'

'And it's too late, isn't it?' the golem hissed, who then slowly turned to the kirlia. 'So why tell me what happened, you messed up freak of nature bitch!'

'Just stop a second.' Karli replied angrily, 'Austin wanted to-'

Suddenly in a flash, Marcus spins wildly, tucking himself into the boulder that was his shell, seeing the movement only metres before her, Karli put her hands forward to summon her Reflect spell. Just on time the kirlia's wall of light flashed into existence, right when the golem shot into it, forcing it and Karli back, while he continued to grind at the wall. Regaining her balance, Karli took one sidestep, allowing her to pull the Reflect at one side and direct the rampaging golem into the wall that neighboured them, bouncing off it and crashing into the intersection the kirlia had entered from.

Cancelling his momentum on the spot, Marcus continued his spin, building up as much speed as he could and redirecting himself to face Karli. The kirlia was tense, holding out her Reflect as her eviolite glowed.

As before, the golem rocketed from the spot, but that time due to the distance Karli had enough time to sidestep to her right and use her Reflect to dodge the mad boulder. Her action also caused Marcus to lose direction and bounce off the thick concrete walls, barrelling from side to side like a pinball, while the witnessing pokémon fled, keen to not get crushed. As tremors and dust filled the corridor, the kirlia countered in attempt to stop the golem once more, by hurling her five Magical Leaf at him, all of which darted into the lethal boulder without fail. However, the golem only slowed down and roared angrily, so Karli generated five glowing leaves again and fired them at Marcus, who finally came to a stop, landing on his front.

Steadily, Karli watched at the golem who was refusing to stop, but was struggling to stand back up.

'Karli!' called McGregor, shooting up from the ground, first facing the downed golem and then glancing to his daughter. 'What on earth are you doing?'

'Defending myself dad!'

Metres behind the dusknoir, Marcus was slowly picking himself, drooling in blood and rage.

'Karli,' continued McGregor, grabbing the kirlia by her shoulders. 'You shall never fight fire with fire! It will only-'

Before the giant ghost in armour could even finish, the path he, his daughter and Marcus were stood on suddenly shook so violently the dusknoir and kirlia were thrown upward and hitting the ceiling. The mad golem had used Earthquake, shoving his claw into the ground. He then managed to draw it back out, quickly tuck himself into his shell, spin and shoot into McGregor. The dusknoir was catapulted into the wall, forcing him through it as Marcus crashed onto the ground, still rolling and grinding the ground. Karli meanwhile, being much lighter than the men before her had only just landed on her front, metres away from Marcus.

'Dad!' shouted Karli, twitching in dust and picking herself up.

The kirlia already guessed that Marcus would be preparing another Rollout and as quickly as she could, she threw her arm forward right when the golem accelerated into her, only to impact once more into a Reflect spell. As before the wild grinding to the barrier was forcing Karli back, as if the wall was also against her and causing her eviolite to beam brighter. The force appeared unstoppable to the little kirlia, who clenched her teeth in trying to stop the golem.

Karli's thinking sped up a huge rate, trying to figure ways to outmanoeuvre the huge boulder grinding the wall before her, which appeared more like just a window. She had no strength to both push back and sidestep, nor could she risk ducking down and hope Marcus would just fly over her, in a children's show maybe. The kirlia realised she only had one option to stop her from getting utterly crushed, while trying to hold her Reflect in place with one hand, she tried to use her right arm to summon more magical leaves. Taking precious seconds, five glowing leaves appeared and Karli immediately swung them forward. The leaves simply passed through the Reflect and appear to explode in green, forcing the giant wrecking ball back.

Marcus continued to spin at a blinding rate for a while after taking the Magical Leaf attack, but after bouncing twice off the floor, he was suddenly grabbed in mid-air by McGregor who then slammed him onto the ground. Upon the dusknoir's pin, the golem's head and arms flung out, clearly showing he had passed out. Seeing the position, McGregor immediately let go.

'What the hell is going on here!' yelled Gem, running down from the other end of the corridor.

During the chaos, multiple pokémon, both refugees and Crimson staff had gathered behind Karli and down where the toxicroak was running from.

Karli fell onto her bottom, but then noticed something worrying. Her hands and hair flashed blue, once. Knowing it was evolution, she gasped and grappled herself angrily.

'No, no!' she grunted, still flashing inconsistently. 'No.'

The kirlia only flashed blue once more, which then stopped trying to make her evolve. McGregor watched her resist it yet again, however his concern was for the golem and toxicroak who approached.

It was perhaps their most awkward escape ever, when Glim and Shadow rushed down the corridors they were directed and then trying to walk through a crowded cafeteria as inconspicuous as they dared. Glim being a little glaceon seemed to be well hidden with all the bigger scarier monsters around, while the houndoom was more of a welcomed sight it seemed as dark types were common in any Crimson site.

The big hound pokémon was keeping a more confident walk, in spite of being beaten already and moving through a dangerous base who were oblivious to their escape. However, Shadow was more concerned for his little boyfriend ahead of him who had a much tenser walk. Glim's ears were erect, while his tail was hardened and restless.

'Keep moving sweetheart.' whispered Shadow, nodding at the stairs.

Glim only nodded, looking back slightly. The glaceon was still hurt about leaving Beryl behind, feeling numb about the area he was passing through as though he was invisible. Shadow occasionally had to give Glim's bottom a slight prod with his nose whenever the little glaceon slowed.

The houndoom and glaceon made it up the stairs and through the desolate fire exit, seemingly unnoticed. The fire doors were much harder to open than they looked, so it was little surprise that there was no one guarding the other side when Glim and Shadow got out. They found their selves on a lonesome path that neighboured the underground railway. It was unclear if it was the same one they were on when they tried to find the base they escaped from. The long platform was likely to be some underground fire station or maintenance bay. Along the wall was a frame of sorts, which Shadow assumed to be a map and quickly strode over to it, leaving the glaceon to still drift in his numb status. Annoyingly for the houndoom, the frame had its map taken from it. Glim and Shadow had no idea which way they were facing, let alone where the centre was.

Near the broken frame was another set of stairs. Its plastic guards were down, but some had clearly broke through it as there was a giant hole covering most of it. Upstairs was the dangerous ground floor, still lit up on fire in spite it was still only early morning.

Just when Shadow took a peek up the stairs, he and Glim decided they must run up it as soon as they noticed the rising shouts of multiple pokémon coming from the fire exit far behind them. The doors had closed on their own, though not completely, giving the two boys the chance to escape without a sight.

'Shit we have to go!' whispered Shadow quickly, bolting up the stairs alongside Glim.

The old fire doors burst open, almost tearing off their hinges. A male garchomp was first to leave their base, followed by numerous CR soldiers, a swampert, a mightyena, two luxray, a mandibuzz, an aggron and three inkay. As soon as they left the fire exit, they began to argue, debating which way they should pursue. There was the obvious stairway at the end of the platform they stood on, but for all they know, the fugitives could have escaped down either side on the railway.

'Then split up!' demanded Charlotte, flying out of the exit and hovering above her comrades. 'If the Republic finds them, the base is screwed! We must kill them! You three,' she pointed at the two luxray and mightyena, 'take the tracks, left!' immediately, the luxray brothers and mightyena leaped onto the tracks and darted into the darkness. 'You, you and you,' she pointed at the swampert, madibuzz and aggron. 'Take the other side! The rest of you, we're going up!'

Without a second to spare the serious mismagius sped toward the stairway, already overtaking the three she directed down the train tunnel next to it. The three inkay appeared to levitate also, tailing Charlotte while keeping their distance from each other, like their minds were one. The garchomp meanwhile had an eager face about him, excited to run around the ground level.

During their flight up the stairs, the Inkay joined up together and glowed, while Charlotte gave to order to send out an emergency assignment.

Underneath Haine's central station, the incredibly crowded Crimson Revolution base was continuing its unending noise. Within the hive of locked down train cars was carriage B244, being used as a shelter for children it seemed. Even with the giant retro steel doors closed, the inside was still affected by outside noises, even with the children inside only whispering or trying to sleep. It was the carriage Ben and Meg had been assigned to, with a few other foster figures in the Crimson. Ideally, these were the territorial members who would fight for Crio's salvation, but would prioritise their objectives over the young and vulnerable.

Ben was finishing up some paper work and stacking it under a drawer in the makeshift office that was once the driver's canopy. While the garbodor finished his work, a bayleef peeked her head through the doorway.

'Hey Ben,' whispered Meg.

'Yeah?' he replied, glancing back.

'I've put her to bed.'

The bayleef backs away from the door and looks over at one of the small beds, just above the car floor. Tucked in masses of white fluffy blankets was Terri, facing the wall and only trying to sleep.

'How is she?' whispered Ben, also staring at the timid cranidos with a sorrowful expression.

The bayleef paused for a moment. 'I can't say she'll recover from what she's lost already. I mean that's… I would to be in her feet right now.'

'She's with us now,' said Ben, patting Meg. 'It's up to us to keep her safe, okay? Maybe she will move on from what has happened.'

The large plant-dinosaur then looked at the garbodor with a very depressive expression and slowly shook her head.

She whispered, 'She's lost her family, her best friend and was blamed for it. Now, she's orphaned in the middle of revolution, Ben.'

'We've-'

'That's a lot to have to endure, especially for a child.'

'We've handle this before, Meg. Even when a child is an emotional wreck, I will do my level best to save them.'

'So are you staying here tonight?'

'Yes, I've asked Selly to stay in underground for now. I think Terri doesn't want to see anymore new faces looking after her.'

Meg passed the garbodor into the office, 'Did Selly ask you for her package?'

'Package?'

'I'm sure- i-it's still here, look.'

As the bayleef moved herself into the office to let Ben peek at the package she was referring to, an old radio placed on a nearby shelf began to buzz. It then followed by stuttering muffled overlapping voices which took Ben's attention immediately.

'This is an emergency assignment from "Magical Ghost",' spoke a light mechanical voice, speaking over the frequencies that got quieter. 'Escapees, consisting of a glaceon and houndoom, males.' Ben's eyes widened and drew closer to the radio, practically leaning his junk manifested ear against it. 'Escape was south of "Underschool", leaving the Egg sector and likely heading for any rendezvous point within Polka Dot sector. Possibly-'

Suddenly the calm mechanical voice was interrupted by the voice of Charlotte, telling her bronzor to shut up as she took over the announcement.

'Listen! These two were Republic spies and they know where one of our bases is! A glaceon and a houndoom, if they get back to them up there, a lot more are going to die! Assist immediately at Polka Dot, anywhere you can! We're on the hunt for them.'

'Oh my god.' said Ben, backing away.

The bayleef coming out of the office had not heard the call, but recognised the garbodor's reaction.

'What?' she asked worriedly.

Ben carefully rushed to open the train hatch door.

'I-I'm going to need you to stay here, Meg.' he whispered loudly, unwilling to wake any sleeping children.

'Wait, what?' Meg asked again as the garbodor slid opened the door. 'Ben!'

Without another word, the giant trash heap pokémon squeezed out and closed the door right behind him. In spite of his size and weight, Ben rushed through the crowds rather swiftly.

'You decided to pick a fight with Marcus?' asked Gem, angrily, accompanied by Maladan the blastoise.

'I didn't want to "pick a fight" with him,' argued Karli. 'I only wanted to talk to him!'

The toxicroak folded her arms.

'And from what others were telling me, you threw the first attack.'

'And that's because he was attacking everyone else!'

'That's Marcus, little kirlia, you may not have known this, but when he's pissed we try to stay the hell out of his way.'

'So you let him bully others, which may end up risking their lives. I know that too well.' she gave a quick glance at her father. 'Like in that fight just now, I was fighting for my life after just getting his attention.'

'You got his attention by shooting leaves at him!'

'And you're trying to justify him? Fuck off.'

'Enough!' shouted McGregor, coming between the kirlia and toxicroak which forced the poisonous frog back near the giant blastoise. 'Just, stop a second, both of you!' he said, holding out his arms to separate the two girls. 'Karli, you overreacted! Marcus was not to blame for his distress, he had just heard the loss of his child.' Karli meanwhile was clenching her fists and teeth in anger, but also regret. 'If that was me, if I had lost you, I would have done the same.'

'I know! …I know dad.' the kirlia sulked. 'But this was about Terri.'

'I'm afraid she has a point.' said the dusknoir, turning to face the toxicroak behind him. 'None of this might have happened had you not been too hard on her.'

'Oh so it's my fault that she didn't take responsibility?' replied Gem.

At that moment, Maladan stepped forward, placing his claw over Gem's torso and shaking his head, indicating her to stop talking.

'Let's not add fuel to the fire here.' said Maladan. 'Everyone made a mistake and took it too far. Marcus will recover, but he will want some space, okay?' his question was mainly directed at Karli, who replied with a nod. 'As for you two, grow a pair.'

'Is everybody alright?' asked McGregor, referring to the people involved in Marcus' rampage.

'Damages were little to the tunnel and the three cadets were only thrown about.'

'Okay, good.'

Karli folded her arms.

'If you're unwilling to make us part of the Crimson, can we at least stay down here? You know, to- to help out underground if we can?'

'Actually Karli,' replied Maladan, approaching her. 'We may not tolerate fighting amongst allies, but your stand against Marcus was quite the phenomenon. Marcus is a king of the cage here, and you alone knocked him out in his rage.' Karli glanced at the toxicroak behind Maladan, who was nodding in her annoyance. 'If anything, we could do with more toughs like you.'

The kirlia stared up at the blastoise with a bit of surprise in her eyes.

'Really?'

'Leave Marcus and her over there to me,' he nodded to the toxicroak behind him. 'You were being seen by one of our nurses, correct?'

Karli stuttered, remembering the leavanny nurse but forgetting her name.

McGregor then interjected. 'Kylie, yes.'

'Good, I'll grant her permission to initiate you.' Maladan turned, but then glanced back at the kirlia. 'She hasn't done one yet, so there may be mistakes. Is it just you two?'

'No,' replied Karli. 'There were a lot of us when we first came, including Angel, um Glim, Shadow, Beryl and Terri.'

'Terri is not…' interjected McGregor. Karli glanced back at him. 'You will have to talk to her, later though.'

Karli sighed.

'Hold,' said the blastoise. 'Confirm you said "Glim and Shadow".'

'I-I did.' the kirlia replied, somewhat hopeful.

'Species?'

'Glim's a glaceon and Shadow is uh… um, a houndoom.'

'Both boys.' the dusknoir added.

'Yeah.'

Maladan's eyes widened slightly. He glanced back at Gem.

'You did witness the Republic attacking them?'

Gem replied, 'They were ambushed, north entrance, all of them. That usual formation they take.'

The blastoise then interrupted, looking back at Karli and McGregor. 'Right, then you two report to Kylie, she'll help you. I have a call to make.'

As Maladan turned to leave, Karli interjected.

'Wait what's happened? Where are they?' she cried.

Neither the blastoise nor toxicroak replied, picking up their pace as they left.

The Polka Dot sector was almost completely unshielded by the upper level and out in the open for aerial attacks, like its neighbouring sectors of Trap and Egg to the north. It was also the biggest sector out in the open, making it the most vulnerable part of Haine to be in for any refugee or revolutionary, especially with the Storm Walk constantly eyeing the whole city.

Glim and Shadow sprinted up a courtyard toward a badly bombed hotel. It was a big mistake as they ended up running out into an open space. The glaceon having to sustain less injuries got inside the tall remains of the building first, while the houndoom followed at a slower pace. Glim glanced back fearfully, to see that Shadow was still in great pain, clenching his teeth.

'Shadow,' cried Glim. 'You alright?'

The hound reached the hotel's reception, as there were no doors left, only a massive hole on both sides, like a train burst through it.

'I'll be fine!' he growled. 'Let's just hide, for now-'

'Oh shit!'

Immediately the glaceon beamed his rainbow laser at an inkay that was slowly swooping toward the main entrance. It appeared to be preparing an attack, but then quickly bounced away.

'What was that?' asked Shadow.

'We have to go, now!'

After giving his boyfriend one nudge toward the gigantic hole ahead of them Glim darted through it. The glaceon ran straight, heading for a pedestrian subway, followed closely behind by Shadow. He swiftly made it to the subway and practically dived down the long flat stairs. The tunnel was quite long and appeared to end at a bus station. The glaceon skidded to a stop, glancing back at Shadow who was further back. The station in question was not underground, however the tunnel which Glim had taken kept him under a concrete shelter.

Suddenly a huge warm sensation grabbed Glim's attention as he noticed a massive ring of fire heading straight for him. Immediately he dived forward, having enough time to dodge the attack as it brushed all along the walls and floor. Deep within the parking lot of blown up buses, a purple figure swooped from the sky. It was Charlotte and she only had one inkay floating with her.

The glaceon bolted ahead, staying under the shelter as the mismagius stopped to hail a barrage of Shadow Ball ahead of Glim. Unwilling to stop, the glaceon took a risky dive roll to his right, narrowly dodging a ball of shadows that exploded near him, which caused him to roll with great momentum. He then ran behind the supporting pillars, hoping what was left of them would protect him, when he was met with an enormous force blowing him against the wall he was running alongside. The glaceon bounced from the wall and crashed across the floor still in his speed. He knew the attack would stop and predicted Charlotte to come for him directly. True to his instincts, the large hatted ghost pokémon zoomed for him and was zipping over the railing when Glim stood, simultaneously inhaling and firing a Shadow Ball of his own. Charlotte had no time to prepare or dodge the close range attack, since she was closing in on Glim and noticed it too late. The mismagius could only brace herself as she appeared to explode in darkness and fly back from the dark clouds and into a disused coach.

Further behind, Glim hoped to see Shadow just behind him, but he appeared to be struggling. The houndoom was shaking his head in rage, under some sort of control from a lone inkay, who he was trying desperately to attack as flames beamed all along the air, burning nothing.

'Shadow!' cried Glim, shooting another ball of shadows for the idly floating squid.

Despite the distance and pace of the Shadow Ball, Glim managed to hit the inkay in one try, making it too fly out of a cloud of shadows, though it appeared fatally injured. Nearby the aching houndoom, the inkay crashed, losing its right tentacle and had a crater in its head, pouring a blue liquid as it twitched violently.

Shadow was quick to shake off his confusion. He sprinted after his glaceon the moment his vision cleared and seeing that his houndoom was okay, Glim continued to head for the opposite end of the bus station. The path in which they were running led to another subway tunnel. Witnessing the two boys escaping, Charlotte picked herself up angrily and noticed her inkay was no longer with her. Having seen were Glim and Shadow were going, she levitated into the air.

Down the tunnel, there was an alternate path heading underground and figuring it would be best to stay safe from an aerial attack Glim ran down the stairs. He and Shadow ran so fast, they ended up crash rolling as soon as they hit the floor. They continued to run, finding their selves not in a train platform, but what appeared to be an abandoned farmer's market. All of the stalls were blanketed in very country fashion, however their mould, debris and dust took the exotic appeal of it.

The glaceon and houndoom were forced to take a left turn, heading down the main isle of the underground market. Suddenly the wall they left behind them exploded, they took one glance back as they ran and at that moment, multiple pokémon were charging from the dust cloud and up the stairs in which Glim and Shadow came from. They were totally oblivious of the two boys who continued to run. However, as the glaceon looked forward again he noticed the last to come from the hole, which was a huge garchomp who took a second to survey and caught eye contact with Glim. The garchomp or 'Bladeface' as he is known by, chose not to waste his breath and call back his allies and instead shot down the isle in pursuit.

Glim had hoped he was only seeing things, but rapid and loud footsteps sent a clear warning to him, in fact grave danger. Bladeface, despite being a bipedal dragon, he was furiously faster than the glaceon and houndoom. When the garchomp was close enough he leaped up directly above the two, almost scraping his shark fin against the ceiling. Glim only had enough time to do an awkward spin as he ran, allowing him to face upward as he hurled an Ice Shard at the flying dragon. Bladeface was badly vulnerable to ice attacks, however the cold only tickled his torso. His bigger problem was the Ice Shard forcing him upward enough to rebound against the ceiling and sending him twirling until he slammed onto the ground.

The glaceon tumbled across the floor after making his interception, however his momentum allowed him to continue running again. Glim and Shadow made it to the other end of the market and took a right turn, which led them upstairs to another pedestrian subway. They unknowingly took a wrong turn, meaning it would take them much longer to get to Haine's central station. However, they had lost the majority of the Crimson, other than the lunatic garchomp.

Once again, the glaceon and houndoom found themselves out in the open, only that time on what used to be a main road, elevated next to a totally destroyed residential block. There were black craters along the road, destroyed buses and lorries scattered all around. Unaware of where the road may lead, Glim continued his sprint followed by his struggling houndoom. But when passed the first remains of an overturned burnt black bus, a deafening sound of the ground shattering echoed. Far behind the two boys, Bladeface burst out from the pedestrian subway, without taking the stairs and continued to fly into the air. He may have appeared as one small navy speck, but it was evident to the glaceon that the garchomp was still on them and knew which way they were heading. Also in the air, though much further away a confused mismagius heard the eruption of concrete, then spotted Bladeface in the distance madly heading in another direction. When the garchomp dived down out of her sight, Charlotte instructed the Crimson far below her 'over there' and just flew above the tremendous wall that separated them and the fugitives they hunted.

When Bladeface struck the ground, the road shook simultaneously, somehow propelling the glaceon and houndoom into the air and crashing violently onto the broken surface. All in seconds the road went from smooth and flat with multiple craters to receiving millions of cracks, trenches and stray rocks chipped from it. Glim managed to roll smoothly in spite of the suddenly rough terrain, but Shadow yelled out upon his impact.

The houndoom twitched, covered in ash and artificial rock. He was able to move, but great pain was overcoming him in his movements. Glim meanwhile rushed by his side, trying to pick him up.

'Shadow!' he cried. 'Come on, get up!'

Suddenly, two loud sounds of something landing on the bus caught Glim's attention as he glanced up at it. The garchomp was poised on the corroded metal with a smile.

Knowing that dragons were vulnerable to ice, Glim spun to face the giant dragon and tried to breathe out his freezing wind. Instead he only breathed out air, in an awkward pause. The glaceon completely forgot how to use Icy Wind. Bladeface meanwhile leaped down, having learned to not jump so high and intended to approach with swift sidestepping. The garchomp approached by each movement as Glim resorted to throwing solid ice chunks at him. Most of the Ice Shard attacks missed Bladeface in his very quick dodging, but when one would hit, it would only jolt him back a little and pause him temporarily. But then the glaceon received help from the incapacitated hound, who blew a stream of fire at the huge dragon who first blocked the attack before leaping back.

Glim intended to keep the garchomp from getting any closer by throwing ice at the floor near him, creating sharp spears of ice, not that it would stop Bladeface, but it would buy the glaceon and houndoom time. Unfortunately, time was not something they had.

'Glim!' cried Shadow quickly. 'Heads up!'

As soon as the glaceon tilted his head up, he could already feel the intense heat of a fiery ring that was practically on top of them. The flames dispersed into them and spread across the ground, heating little Glim hot enough to scream. Something else happened at that moment, the glaceon suddenly lost ability to counter, while his boyfriend nearby appeared to be breathing in the flames.

Well above was Charlotte, swooping in with a determined face on Glim and Shadow.

The downed houndoom retaliated by using the flames he had built up and blasting it back out to the diving mismagius. The ghost pokémon merely spun to her left a bit to dodge the laser of flames, who then retaliated by inhaling to create a ball of shadows and shooting it almost point blank at the vulnerable glaceon. The Shadow Ball exploded, covering the area in black fog as a pained grunt could be heard, followed by a metallic thud.

'No, Glim!' shouted Shadow, just when Charlotte flew by.

The dark fog dissipated, revealing the glaceon to be pushed against the road guard. The left side of his body was covered in scratches, face squinting in pain while his left ear twitched. Shadow meanwhile was also uncovered, giving Bladeface the opportunity to leap over the ice spikes and intercept the houndoom.

In the air, Charlotte who was upside down was drawing closer on Glim as her garchomp ally arced in the air, about to crush Shadow regardless of how he would land on him. At that moment, on top of the towering wall neighbouring the road on its right, a pokémon grappled with poorly made hooks and swung over at a great speed.

'Stop!' yelled Ben, letting go to shoot out his arm, stretching for the metal guard next to Glim.

In a flash, the giant rubbish bag pulled himself toward the vulnerable glaceon, crossing paths with Bladeface and budging him enough to miss his target. But as soon as Ben crashed between Glim and Charlotte, the mismagius had already fired a Shadow Ball which the garbodor was forced to endure.

As another dark ball discharged smoke, Bladeface landed barely catching himself.

Charlotte descended for a closer look, only realising that someone had intervened. When the darkness faded enough, Charlotte could see the garbodor to be wearing a scarf of Crimson.

The mismagius, looked back at the garchomp and ordering him to hold before glaring back at Ben.

'Identify yourself!' she demanded.

The garbodor tried to sit up, 'My name is Ben,' he grunted, ignoring the pain in his back.

Glim's ears twitched as he looked up as far as he could at the garbodor.

'Ben?' Glim stuttered weakly.

'My station is at Haine's Central, and I don't have a battlefront codename, because I work for the refugees, underground.'

'Service?' Charlotte asked.

'Foster.'

The mismagius paused, disbelieving the garbodor. 'You're "friends" were infiltrating one of our bases! How do you know they're not spies?'

'Trust me, I know! I know these guys!'

Bladeface responded with a disturbing, multitoned girly laugh.

The mismagius also seemed reluctant and shook her head.

'Anybody could make that story, garbodor-'

Suddenly Charlotte heard an eerie screech echoing in her head, which was one of her inkay contacting her.

'I'm engaged, what?' yelled Charlotte.

'Charlotte, Maladan.' the blastoise answered, communicating via telepathic messaging.

'Maladan? The hell do you want?'

'Have you engaged the glaceon and houndoom?'

'We're on top of them right now! About to execute!'

'Negative, negative! They're allies, confirmed by accomplices of theirs, a kirlia, dusknoir and weavile. They arrived in Haine this morning.'

'What, all of them?'

'Affirm, they were ambushed and got separated. Let them go and rejoin at Central, now!'

Maladan's voice was followed by a buzzing squeal, much like how a radio would cut out. Charlotte looked upward in annoyance, while her comrades were clamouring over the wall or climbing through wreckage that was the pedestrian subway destroyed by Bladeface. The mismagius wavered at the two crews of revolutionaries to back away.

'Bladeface, step off!' the garchomp stepped back from the houndoom. 'Ah, shit.' Charlotte muttered.

'Ben?' whispered Glim again.

The garbodor finally got up on his makeshift feet and surveyed the little glaceon and houndoom, who were equally damaged.

'Glim!' called Shadow, unable to see him. 'Honey are you alright?'

The garbodor was suddenly able to grow a smile as he carefully picked up the glaceon.

'He'll be alright Shadow.' replied Ben.

'B-Ben?' the houndoom replied, finally looking up to see that it was the same one he knew. 'Is that actually you mate?'

The garbodor had difficulty turning round to face the downed houndoom as he had taking great damage to his right shoulder and back. However, Glim's weight was nothing for the giant rubbish pokémon.

Bladeface meanwhile stood idly looking up at Charlotte, ordering everyone to evacuate before the Republic were made aware of their gathering. As soon as the soldiers received the update and new orders, they dispersed in adjacent directions, some even fled passed Ben, Glim and Shadow.

'We need to get those two back to the base!' said Charlotte, swooping toward Ben. 'Are you alright?'

'For now, mam,' replied Ben. 'I'll take Glim.'

'Affirm,' Charlotte glanced at the garchomp. 'Bladeface, you take the houndoom, now let's go!'

From the glaceon's point of view, he felt like a helpless baby being carried by Ben in that way. He heard Shadow call out 'easy' when the garchomp picked him up, though Glim could not see them. All he could see was the constant black sky that gradually appeared to get lighter. Glim only saw Charlotte overhead once and that was her leading Ben and Bladeface through the quickest route to Haine Central station. It was a bumpy ride for Glim, but being so exhausted he leaned to his left and closed his eyes.

Angel thrusted forward, grunting in pain as he ripped off the ice pack from his back. He was clearly still sore and a little harnessed by pain. He seemed eager to get off the bed and rolled off despite the leavanny nurse trying to keep him on it.

Karli and McGregor stood nearby in silence, though the kirlia was looking down in a mix of emotions. She wanted to know what happened to Glim, Shadow and Beryl. She wanted to find Terri. She wanted to know if Angel was going to be okay. She kept an eye out for the toxicroak Gem, in case she was up for another fight or argument. She was still angry at Marcus for his retaliation and rampage, yet angry at herself too. She just wanted something to happen, instead of just standing around waiting with all those feelings plaguing her.

'Piss off!' said Angel, trying to pass Kylie, who continued to bandage his burned arm.

'A-Angel.' she stuttered.

'Angel, she is trying to help.' interjected McGregor.

'I'm fine!' the weavile grunted, swiping his coat from the folding chair next to his bed. 'If you guys are gonna look for Glim and the others, I'm comin too.'

'That's even if they're in danger,' replied Karli. 'That blastoise didn't say much.' she looked up at her father. 'What about future sight?'

'I have already looked,' answered the dusknoir. 'And as I said earlier, they somehow end up back here.'

'All of them?'

McGregor shook his head in thought, 'I only saw Glim and Shadow.'

Karli remained quiet for a moment, stomping her foot impatiently as Angel adjusted his coat.

'So what are we supposed to do with you anyway?' asked Angel to Kylie.

'Maladan said for me to get your team into the initiation, but I need a superior to witness it. Otherwise anybody could do it.'

'Do you have a superior?'

'Maladan's offered to be-'

'Great, then let's get to it!' said Angel, passing the leavanny and heading for the door whence Karli and McGregor came back.

'Wait, but your friends are going to be part of it!'

Karli nodded, 'yeah Angel, can we just stop? We've already been through enough for one day.'

'Agreed.' added McGregor. 'Glim, Shadow and Beryl have yet to come back.'

The weavile stopped in front of them and sickened.

'And Angel, come on!' continued Karli, pointing at him. 'You probably need a break more than any of us in your state. Are you trying to get yourself killed?'

'Karli.' muttered the dusknoir.

Angel only paused, unsure of what to say, as he did remember the aches and pains he had received in just getting to Haine as well as entering it. His head and fins were still partly sensitive within the single bandage. His claw was also frail from the burn he got.

'Then can we at least go and find them?' asked Angel.

'How?' replied Karli. 'God knows what sector they're in, and Maladan didn't tell us what was happening.'

'So, we're just going to wait?'

McGregor nodded.

The kirlia caught glimpse of her father nodding and actually agreed with the weavile for once and had an impatient look too. Anything but to wait around.

'Then I'm going to find Terri.' said Karli, heading for the nearest exit. 'You coming Angel?'

McGregor interjected, 'Karli, Maladan told us to remain with Kylie until further notice. She may be getting orders anytime.'

'Anytime could be a long time and I'm not just hanging around. Besides, this might be an opportunity to have a look around, see where that garbodor is stationed.'

'Speaking of which, this station is huge Karli, you will get lost easily.'

'Dad, I'm psychic. I'll know where to find you okay?'

Angel also headed for the door. 'Don't worry Gregor, I'll go with her. If you're staying here, then we'll be back, okay?'

The giant ghost paladin folded his arms.

'Do not get into trouble you two.'

The kirlia and weavile quickly left, keen to escape the quiet motionless atmosphere.

'Take care Angel!' called Kylie.

Forgetting that the 'medical bay' was once an office on a platform, Karli almost walked off the platform and just managed to keep her balance as she then bumped into Angel.

'Yeah, there's a drop there, watch out.' said the weavile.

The kirlia moved down the platform shaking her head, a little embarrassed.

'Yes thank you, I know now.'

Angel quickly caught up, walking beside Karli as they approached the crowds. Since it was morning, more and more pokémon were waking and preparing for their missions or tasks for the day.

'You had to get outta there?' asked Angel.

'Yeah.' sighed Karli. 'I honestly have no clue where Terri went, and this place is huge. And I sure don't remember that code the garbodor said that was his train car.'

'Terri couldn't have gotten far, but-'

'It's still a needle in a haystack, I mean just look.'

Angel nodded as Karli pointed at the many children and adult pokémon swarming on the platforms, both on ground and in the air.

Though he knew Karli was right, the weavile felt a stroke he had not felt in a while.

'Well we can still find her, was it just a garbodor you were with?'

That air of positivity was familiar to the kirlia, though she seemed to not ask about it.

'There was the garbodor and a bayleef, and a lot of children. I remember that much.'

'That's a start, maybe they were fostering.'

'Y-yeah, they were.' she replied excitedly, 'who do we talk to find um… organisers or whatever?'

The weavile shook his head.

'We'll figure that out, maybe management is up there?'

He pointed at the stairs at the centre of that platform, which led to Haine's station refugee supplies and access to the southern-side platforms.

Glim found himself in a void, sort of knowing he was asleep. He could hear pained grunting in the background, behind him and in front of him. Little did he know that those voices were of Ben and Shadow getting treated for their injuries.

'You have done well Glim.'

It was her voice again, a voice the glaceon had only heard in his sleep so far.

'It's you again.' he replied.

'Yes, and well done for saving your friends from entering Larkspur.'

'Why did you have me do that anyway?' for a moment, the female kept quiet. 'Have you come to warn me about something?'

'Indeed Glim, for I cannot help with what is going to happen at where you lay right now. At all. We have tried damn near everything. I am afraid, what happens Glim, will happen.'

'What will happen?'

'It is Martyr, Glim. That monster is biding its time and will show up when you least expect it. The underground tracks will literally flood in blood.'

'What, how do you know this?' he asked worriedly, but again she kept quiet. 'W-well? When does he appear?'

'That I cannot tell either. It has been different every time we tried to stop it or save your friends.'

Glim paused.

'My friends? Are you saying he's coming after my friends?'

'It is after all of your friends, Glim. It is after you for surviving its first attack and your friends for the same reason or even knowing it. McGregor was also on its list for being able to see into the future. When you are all together, along with the very warlord Commander Rancour, it will try to bury everything alive.' she and Glim paused. 'You and your friends are its only survivors, and by killing the Crimson's leader, Martyr will become unknown once again, while the president will destroy Crio.'

'Oh my god.' the glaceon muttered. 'Can you tell me who it will kill? Maybe I can save them.'

'Glim… I can only tell you, that you must accept what will happen. You are going to lose friends Glim, and you must move on when it happens.'

The glaceon paused, feeling as though something cold and tight gripped his legs.

'But… why is Martyr doing this?'

The female paused.

'That, is an unavoidable event for you Glim. Now wake up.'

Suddenly the little ice quadrupedal opened his eyes, finding himself on a cheap rubbery mattress, with his head on an unexpectedly soft pillow. He was for some reason breathless as he just laid on his left side. Glim would get up, but he became so distant and in shock to hear of what the mysterious voice had said to him. Even with his eyes open, neither Ben sitting on the bed in front of him or either of the two nurses noticed he was awake. The glaceon just remained there, motionless, just knowing he was going to lose friends froze him.

Glim was in a more developed medical bay, as opposed to where Angel was taken on the floor below. The ceiling actually had bright white lights, and the equipment was present more or less against the wall opposite the glaceon. Glim however had only passed out from exhaustion, so the low table behind him only had fruit, brown bread and high protean food prepared for him.

The nurses were a mawile and a usual azumarill, both male. The azumarill passed the seemingly dead glaceon to check on Shadow further behind Glim, while the mawile was performing a chemical test on Ben's unusual blood. The little nurse had to stand on some apparatus to get to the height to come into contact with the garbodor's arm.

'Everything seems alright.' said the mawile, nodding and frequently checking his graph for poison types.

Ben nodded, 'Great, what about my shoulder though.'

The nurse let go of Ben's arm and disappeared from Glim's sight as he climbed down the apparatus.

'It's been set back in place, but it will still be a bit stiff or hurt. In fact, as a garbodor, your shoulder may be a bit fragile for a while.'

'Okay.' he replied, looking over at Glim. 'Glim, you're awake! You okay buddy?'

Even though the glaceon knew that Ben was alive and had been staring at him for the past few minutes, he still could not believe that the garbodor was right in front of him.

'Ben?' Glim finally whispered.

The garbodor checked around his bed to see if he was hooked up to anything before asking the mawile nurse if he was okay to leave his bed. Though the nurse was already at Glim's bedside.

The mawile climbed his apparatus and gave the glaceon a friendly smile, as if Glim was a baby.

'You okay Glim?' he cooed. Stubbornly, the glaceon nodded, knowing he was far from being okay. 'When you wake up a little more, you have a little breakfast on the table next you. Okay, sweetheart?'

Again, the little glaceon slowly nodded.

The mawile nurse happily climbed down and left.

Ben meanwhile must have forgotten to ask if he could leave his bed, but he easily slid off when he knew no equipment was inserted into him. He then approached Glim's bed and leant on the makeshift plastic guards, intended to stop the patient from falling out.

'God… I never thought I'd see you again Glim.'

The motionless glaceon paused before giving a little smile.

'I didn't think I would see you either.'

'You and Shadow got lucky though, you know? I only came out to find you because I heard that emergency assignment on the radio.'

'Where is Shadow? Is he okay?'

The garbodor nodded, looking passed the glaceon.

'If you roll over, you'll see he is just there.' replied Ben as Glim weakly lifted himself enough to look behind him. Because of the table and plastic guard, the glaceon could not see his houndoom completely, however he could see the machinery at the end of his bed. 'He's not in the best shape right now, his front legs were sprained and he received a concussion during your runaway. He's already thrown up.'

Glim sighed, looking back at Ben when suddenly his long ears sprung up.

'Wait, what about Jane? Where is she?' seeing the glaceon seem so desparate, Ben paused. 'Don't tell me she's dead.'

'No no! At least… I haven't heard of her death yet.'

Glim puzzled, lifting his head from the pillow.

'W-what? What happened?'

The garbodor nodded fearfully, 'A lot.'

It was three days ago, when Jane, Ben, Meg and Sergeant left the city of Hydrangea, they had a considerably long journey to make. It seemed though that they had received help from two local survivors, one of which could drive a minibus. In the darkness of night, two days ago, Jane sat on the seats almost next to the driver, who was a female scizor. Two rows behind the infernape was Meg the bayleef, who remained staring out into the darkness of the windows. The seats opposite Meg had Ben, keeping an eye on everyone, though he was slumped on his back and resisting sleep. The magnzone however was resting at the back row since it took so much space, and in need of recovery after its fight with Vice Vora. One row in front of the garbodor however, was Tyson, a delibird who was sat looking out the windows in a little misery.

The bus was driven south, having to pass the town of Freesia via country road due to its quarantine, passing down Route 5 to Boronia village, which was over a hundred miles from Hydrangea. Thankfully the country resort Boronia was not dragon raided yet, so it was a simple drive through to Route 2, heading south-east to the town of Narcissus.

At the front, Jane looked back to see everyone still silent and only Ben and Sergeant falling asleep. She then looked ahead, seeing the seemingly endless country road once more. It looked like they had been going down the same road again and again and with it starting to rain, it was difficult to even see anything. Instead, the infernape looked over to the scizor who remained driving tirelessly.

'So who are you?'

The scizor paused.

'My identity does not concern you.'

'It would just be nice to know. You are taking us over a hundred miles to a death zone.'

'I am only driving you to Narcissus. You will have to cross Route 1 and enter Haine yourselves.'

Route 1 was one of the longest routes in Crio, crossing over Lake Uxie and being the main high road to Haine's western entrances. For that reason, Jane was anticipating it be heavily set with traps, ambushes and its own Storm Walk ship, overseeing the end of the Route.

Jane wanted to ask why the scizor was not coming with them, but chose not to. It was a serious question to ask, why someone would want to come to Haine at a time like that. For all she knew, the scizor may have a family.

'How dangerous?' asked Jane.

'Believe it or not, the bridge over Uxie has been abandoned by the Republic.'

'Which one?'

'The Route 1 bridge.'

'No way.'

'It's been abandoned when the 14th Dragon Raid happened in Haine. The Republic realised that very few were taking the main roads to Haine, so they abandoned that perimeter and reset it at Polka Dot's crop centre.'

'That's the… the entrance to that sector from the outside.'

'Exactly, and still is the most used entrance on foot or vehicle. If you're going to cross Lake Uxie, be sure to turn off and take a different entrance, or you will get bombed.'

'Bombed? As in Dragon Raided?' the scizor turned to look at Jane with a sarcastic expression, hinting the obvious using her eyes. 'W-why would they do that? There's only…' the infernape looked back at her friends, hiding in the darkness. 'Five of us.'

'This is the Republic.' answered the scizor. Jane looked forward again, nodding. 'They're willing to murder babies if they think that arceus dislikes them, in fact, they already have.'

The infernape clutched her arm with her hand, knowing how right the scizor was.

Minutes later, the minibus came by a row of buildings and drove by a neighbouring road that suddenly shot up a hill. Narcissus was essentially two towns neighbouring each other as it was formed on top and at the bottom of a sheer cliff. The crew were staying on the lower level, which would lead to Route 1.

The town below was almost desolate, the wet buildings were either broken or boarded up. Though the town looked destroyed, the destruction did not appear to be of aerial attacks.

'What happened here?' asked Jane. 'Did this place get raided too?'

'You could say that.' answered the scizor. 'But not by a Dragon Raid. It was the first town the Republic started 'cleansing'. Their hunt for dark types, but with the power they had… it quickly got out control.'

Just when the giant metallic crimson bug finished what she was saying, she drove by a traveller's hostel that was massively disfigured. Blood was stained like waterfalls from the windows, most of which had lost their glass. The walls that surround the hostel's garden was obliterated, caved in on the flowers that grew in peace.

The minibus came to a stop at a makeshift carpark behind some rusted barn. The bus in particular had its entrance at its front sides, so when the crew had left, the delibird could stop by the scizor before leaving.

'Hey,' said Tyson. 'Aren't you coming with us?' the scizor shook her head. 'But… I thought you said you were going to Haine.'

'Eventually, kid. This was a different assignment.' she glanced at Jane, listening on the conversation along with Ben.

'Okay.' disheartened, the big red bird turned and jumped off.

'Thanks for the lift.' called Ben.

Without an answer, the scizor waved dully and closed the door. It was not long before she had the engine going and drove away.

'Uh, where to now?' asked Tyson, a little timid.

'Route 1.' spoke Sergeant, pointing one of its magnets down a pitch black road, masked by trees. 'It is the quickest route to Haine, and is actually safest.'

'Once we're passed the bridge that is.' interjected Jane.

'Wait, down there?' complained Meg.

'Yes.'

'Wait,' interjected the magnezone. 'What do you mean by "once we're passed the bridge"?'

Jane passed Meg and Sergeant, heading toward the unlit path.

'Apparently, the main bridge is unguarded, so that scizor said. And think about it, if it's Haine the Republic are trying to protect, why would they barricade a big bridge ten miles off?'

'Fair enough, but how're we going to enter Haine from there?'

The infernape stopped.

'I'll think of something. Perhaps we'll take a side road or something.'

Jane continued, entering the path.

'W-wait, Jane!' called Ben.

'What?' she shouted.

The garbodor ran up to the entrance of Route 1.

'Weren't we going to stay here first? Wait until dawn? It's dark, raining and cold right now.'

'Be my guest.'

Still, Jane continued, making Ben sigh as Sergeant approached.

'I'm going with her.'

'Yeah wait up.' replied Ben as the magnezone floated passed him. The garbodor looked back at the little bayleef and delibird. 'You two alright?'

Meg nodded and pursued the magnezone sergeant and infernape. She just did not feel safe in the dark, let alone on a main road that could have an ambush set at any point. Tyson quickly followed, though he was much slower.

'You knew that scizor, mate?'

The garbodor joined the path and walked alongside the delibird.

'Sort of… she helped me escape Hydrangea prison.'

'Oh really? She must have done it when Sergeant busted me and Jane out.'

'I didn't get to ask her name, but she was super strong. She even transformed!'

'Wh- that scizor?'

'Yeah, when the guards blocked one of the corridors, she sort of exploded and got much bigger.'

'Wow… I've never heard of anything like that. Can a scizor use Growth?'

'I don't know.'

The garbodor shrugged, deciding whether or not he should believe the delibird.

'I can see why you looked sad when you left that bus. I'm Ben by the way.' he smiled.

'Tyson.'

The rain had picked up, when Jane, Meg, Ben, Tyson and Sergeant finally reached the bridge. As was said by a scizor, the site was completely abandoned. There were barricades and giant sandbags, but no one hiding behind them. Two supply lorries were present on the other side, but nobody within the driver canopies. It looked like the sort of place for an ambush, but somehow Jane and Sergeant just knew it was not.

'Finally, it's the bridge.' said Ben, falling onto the cement of the bridge. 'How many more miles?'

Jane interrupted, 'Don't remind me.'

The delibird meanwhile was riding on Meg's back and hiding his head under the bayleef's big leaf on her head. Though Tyson was using the bayleef as an umbrella, Meg was using him to keep her body from the freezing rain.

The one-eyed infernape walked slowly onto the bridge, closely examining the walls of sandbags. However, her extra vigilance was in vain to see nobody whatsoever.

'What is that?' murmured Sergeant, floating up in the middle of the bridge.

'What's what?' asked Jane.

'I'm hearing something on the radio. Like a jammer… but really noisy!'

'Is it a jammer?'

Jane looked up at the magnezone who remained at his height and staring north up Lake Uxie.

'I don't know… whatever it is, but I think it's coming from Origin Traverse.'

Origin Traverse was a massive pond, where all three lakes of Crio flow from. The Sergeant descended to play the noise it was hearing over the radio to Jane. The radio sounded traditional, starting with a loud fuzz, but then it escalated into an incredibly crowded, high pitched noise.

'What the hell is that?' asked Ben, quickly approaching.

Jane gestured for the garbodor to stay quiet.

'That's happening down there?' asked Jane, standing up and looking in the direction of Origin Traverse.

'That is where the transmission is coming from,' replied Sergeant. 'But I have never heard of anything like this. It is so clear, yet so many are audible and screaming.'

The infernape continued to stare up the rest of Lake Uxie, looking for any kind of violent attack, but she was seeing no explosions, no hurricanes or water storms. She looked down at the magnezone who was clearly in deep thought.

'Maybe they're just ghosts. People pissed off with what's happened. This being revolution and all.' said Jane, turning to leave.

'Maybe,' added Ben. 'But that sure is creepy, makes you kind of worried. What if it is a distress call?'

'It couldn't be,' replied Sergeant, turning off his radio. 'Never are they that clear, repetitive and so crowded, that I can hear hundreds.' with the radio off, all they could hear was the rain, as though a ferry had sank in a storm and all its passengers were dragged underwater. It gave Ben the chills. 'Uh- she's off again.'

The garbodor, snapped back to reality when he saw the infernape leaving the bridge.

'Oh crap, Jane, wait up!' called Ben, who then looked back for Meg and Tyson who were just behind them. 'Let's go.'

Together, the four left the bridge to catch up with Jane. Haine was only twenty-two miles away.

Ben's story ended there, when the azumarill nurse came to see Glim.

'Hello Glim,' she said, pleasantly. 'Can you eat your food please? You're going to need to, to recover faster.'

'Oh!' perked the glaceon, spinning the patient table round so it bridged over his bed, bringing the fruits and buttered bread toward him. He then glanced back at Ben, 'So what happened then?'

Ben paused, looking down, 'Well as Jane said, we took a different way into Haine, and… well. W-we made it, but by the time we got there, it was broad daylight and we were exhausted. So we stayed in an underground refugee site. There, Jane got into a bit of an argument with Sergeant. I tried to break them up, and share each other's thoughts but… Jane, was really becoming inpatient and uncaring. She just wanted Rancour dead and wouldn't stop pacing in the site we were at. Sergeant was trying to persuade her that Nicolai would be better killed, to saving Crio. But Jane wasn't listening… she wanted to get the Crimson back for some reason.'

Glim paused, after taking a bite of his apple. He then swallowed before saying, 'It was for Oswald.' Ben shot the glaceon a look of sympathy. 'It was a drapion who killed him, who was once a member of the Crimson.'

The garbodor looked surprised.

'Really? How do you know that?'

'It was… back in Symphonia, I met an old friend of his.' Glim took another little bite, using both paws to hold the apple. 'What happened to them?'

'Well… I refused to stop Jane's frustration and let her be. So she left that morning… haven't seen her since. As for Sergeant and Tyson, we got separated when we were avoiding some underground squad by going onto the ground level, which was practically on fire already. I don't know what happened to them either.'

Glim sighed.

'I hope they're alright.'