Chapter 13: Descending Deeper Down
Another dream. This was starting to get annoying. For once, Chris was in his human form and was in a weird place, if you call it that. It looked like some sort of dark void. What was going on? All of a sudden, there was a strange dark portal that appeared out of nowhere and through it came a Ninetales, the same Ninetales that has been haunting his dreams.
"You again," Chris said. "Why do you keep appearing to me? Why can't you just leave me alone?"
"I've already told you why," the Ninetales said. "And I don't need to explain myself again. You know why I keep coming to you again and again."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Chris said.
"Do not lie to me!" the Ninetales snarled. "I am perfectly aware of what you do. Killing someone like that for revenge. Do you even think of what you do?"
"You know nothing about me!" Chris snapped.
"You think I don't know you Chris?" the Ninetales said, smiling. "I can look inside your memories, your nightmares, your dreams. You're a man haunted by two terrible words: what if? You wonder if there was a chance you could've saved the ones you loved, especially the girl."
"You shut your fucking mouth!" Chris said angrily.
"You see, you're constantly full of anger," the Ninetales said. "It is because of what had happened to you, present and past. You are the inescapable result of your tragedy, just as I am the inescapable result of you. But enough games, it is time for you to fulfill your fate and release the darkness creeping in your heart!" The Pokemon then leaped, fangs bared, right onto Chris knocking him down and going for his throat. However, Chris managed to block the attack with his arm so that it's fangs sank into his arm. "And yet, you still resist," the Ninetales said. "Why bother?"
"You can say what you want, but I'm not listening!" Chris yelled. With a large amount of force, he managed to throw the Pokemon off of him and he quickly got to his feet.
However, the Pokemon just stood there, staring at him. "I see," he said. He then smiled, but no longer in a menacing way. "If that is what you believe, then I hope you hold on to that statement."
"Huh?" Chris said. Something weird was going on here. "Wait a minute. Despite what you've said you are, you're accepting the choice I make?"
The Ninetales then froze in surprise, something Chris had never seen from the Pokemon. The Pokemon then laughed. "I see, you've finally caught on. True, I am not really what I say I am, but I cannot explain. At least, not right now." The portal from before appeared again. "Until then, this is goodbye."
"What? Hey, wait a minute!" Chris said, but the Pokemon was gone, now leaving Chris alone and very confused.
Soon, Chris woke back up into reality. Sadie, who was right next to him, was still sleeping. He looked over to the clock on his desk, which read 6:43. As much as he didn't want to get up, he realized James would be expecting him sometime soon.
Sadie then let out a small moan and took Chris' hand into hers. Chris smiled as he clenched her hand softly, while grazing it with his thumb. He then went right next to her. "I'll be back tonight," he whispered into her ear before kissing her on the forehead. After that, he then got out of bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower. About ten minutes later, he got dressed and quietly left the room. As soon as he got out of the hospital, he went to his car and got into it. Pulling out of the driveway, he then headed back towards the Vista Lighthouse.
He had another dream again. But this one appeared different. Whoever this Pokemon was, Chris was starting to think that it's trying to play mind games with him. At least, that's what he thought. Still, it was best to concentrate what was going on in real life.
Chris continued driving until one of the buildings next to him exploded, the force causing Chris to lose control of the vehicle and it ended up flipping over a couple times before stopping, upside down. Chris then quickly unlatched his seat-belt and kicked the window out before crawling out. He took a look at the car, which appeared to be totaled, meaning he would have to walk the rest of the way. But where did that explosion come from? Or more importantly, what caused it?
The road was barely used so he would be lucky if a patrol came by through. He then got off the road, seeing as his car was as good as done, and started walking on the sidewalks. Looks like he won't be arriving at the lighthouse as soon as he thought. He continued on the main street, passing by one of the former food markets.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a knife flashed right next to him and went right through the wood. Alert, Chris turned around quickly and saw a man wearing shades walking up to him. Chris didn't recognize him at all. "Sorry, I had to get your attention somehow," he said smugly. "Then again, I didn't have to purposely miss."
"What do you want?" Chris asked. "You with Zena too?"
"Zena? No," the man said. "I thought I told you already that I wasn't interested in them?"
"Told me? What are you talking about?" Chris demanded.
(A/N: Okay, you're about to see why I have this music here. I actually have two songs here. The first is called "Rematch" from Resident Evil 5. The other is "Wind Of Madness" from the same game. And that should be the last of the RE5 songs.)
"You don't recognize me, huh?" the man said, smirking. "I'm not surprised. This is the first time you've seen me like this. Remember, back in that good old facility?"
*Chris gasped. "Dash!?" he said quickly. "But that's impossible! I saw what happened!"
"Did you?" Dash said. "You think that would've killed me? Give me a break." He then took off his shades. "Anyway, I haven't really come to talk. You may have gotten lucky last time, but this time, I'll be the last one standing."
He then threw his shades away and all of a sudden came at him with great speed. Chris instantly felt a fist hit him in the stomach and then an elbow in the neck, sending him to the ground, but Chris recovered quickly and used his legs to knock Dash to the ground. "I see you've gotten stronger," Chris said.
"You've improved as well," Dash replied. "But you're only seeing a sample of what I can do now." He then proved his point by sending Chris head-first into the brick wall behind him. He was about to strike again but Chris quickly got out of the way and using the momentum Dash had, Chris slammed his head into the wall.
"You know Dash, sometimes I think you talk too much," Chris said.
While his face was beat up a bit, Dash just laughed. "Oh, is that so?" he said. "Watch this." All of a sudden, he changed form but instead of being a Pikachu like Chris, he was now a Raichu!
That wiped the smirk off of Chris' face. "What? But how?"
"That, I do not know," Dash said. "Must be a new type of nanomachines. *Anyway, you knew this was coming, so what do you say for old time's sake?"
"You always have to treat this as a game, don't you?" Chris asked. "Very well." He then changed form as well. "I accept then."
"Good, I always love a good Pokemon fight," Dash said. He then charged forward at a speed faster than before. The evolution really had influenced his reflexes. Chris dodged the attack, jumping into the air to try and land an Iron Tail attack on him. But, Dash still proved to be too fast as he dodged it and used Iron Tail of his own to send Chris to the ground. "I'm sorry, but it seems you're at quite the disadvantage," Dash said.
Breathing heavily, Chris got to his feet slowly. "Guess that just makes me the underdog then." He then had an idea. He charged once more, jumping into the air. Dash dodged again but Chris then turned to face him and used Charge Beam. Dash took the hit fully and was sent backwards.
"Ah, you're getting better," Dash said. "But check this out." He then charged forward, now using Volt Tackle.
"Oh yeah?" Chris said. He then charged as well using the same attack. They both met head on and neither were willing to stop, causing the force between them to increase.
"Oh, where did you learn that kind of power?" Dash said.
"Like I would tell you!" Chris responded, driving forward and causing Dash to be sent back.
While he was stunned, Chris took the opportunity. Still using Volt Tackle, he then jumped into the air and with Iron Tail, he hit Dash directly, causing Dash for once to have a look of pain on his face. Once it was over, Chris just stood above him while Dash was still on his back. "But how?" Dash asked. "I was much stronger, and yet you still beat me."
"Your overconfidence got the best of you," Chris said simply. "That was your downfall."
Dash took that in greatly. "So, you're not going to finish me off?" he asked, getting to his feet slowly.
"No," Chris said. "I have no reason to. You haven't done anything wrong exactly. However, there is one thing I want you to do."
"What's that?" Dash asked.
Chris then smiled a bit. "Just... be yourself. Whether you choose to live the life of a human or Pokemon, the choice is yours. Either way, live it peacefully. There is no point in fighting anymore."
"Live it... peacefully," Dash repeated. He then smiled. "I see now. Chris, I think I've now found a new respect for you. I... have to thank you. I will do that, whether I wish to be human or Pokemon." With a final nod, Dash then went off. To where, Chris would probably know, but he was glad to have finally resolved a conflict, if you could call it that.
Chris then changed back to his human form and decided now was a good time to give James a call. "James, this is Chris," he said. "Sorry that I have not arrived. I ran into some... difficulties."
"Oh?" James said. "Like what?"
"My only mode of transportation had been totaled due to a random explosion," Chris explained.
"I see," James said. "Not a problem, we always tend to have spare vehicles. Speaking of which, since there is a patrol near the area, I will inform them to pick you up. Once they do so, I will explain what your next mission is."
"I'm guessing they're going the same place I am?" Chris asked.
"Exactly," James said. "I'll explain more soon."
"Alright, here is your next mission," James explained to him as Chris was riding in a military APC. "We happened to have stumbled upon a major Zena base about three miles from Sunyshore City, on the coastline. This must be where they first arrived. The base is heavily fortified, but luckily your part in this mission is simple."
"Simple?" Chris asked, while holding the M4A1 given to him. "How so?"
"Obviously, it'll take more than infantry and artillery alone to take that out. You're going to need the big guns for this one," James said. "However, you're going to have to get close to the base first to call them in, that way none of the men get caught in the bombardment."
"Roger that," Chris said. "What exactly am I calling in?"
"Once you can, send a message to Black Panther Squadron," James said. "They have their AC-130 fueled and ready to take off once you're ready."
"AC-130, huh?" Chris said. Those planes were deadly, especially if you were the one it's after. "Guess I better get ready for the fireworks."
"Once the deal is done, report back here ASAP," James said. "Remember, this mission relies on you now." And with that, the transmission ended.
Soon, the APC stopped, and the ground shook slightly, mostly from a nearby explosion. Chris and the other soldiers immediately got to their feet. Then, the back hatch of the vehicle opened up and the soldiers, two-by-two, went straight out. Once Chris got out, he looked at the battlefield before him, and it wasn't pretty.
There, stood a large base, almost a fortress, up on a steep hill with SIP infantry and artillery firing right at it. Indeed, the place looked rather fortified. "Well, this day is already starting to get better and better," Chris said before taking off the safety on his gun and running straight into the battle.
(A/N: This upcoming battle next chapter I kind of got off from playing Call of Duty: World at War when you're in Japan. They had this big ass fortress and it was a pain to beat. Anyway, next chapter will be fun, especially with that AC-130. By the way, I hope people have noticed the stories I will be doing after this and that instead of doing one at a time, I'll be focusing on all of them, so expect slow updating, or maybe not.)
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