Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon; it belongs to Nintendo, Gamefreak, etc. All of the OCs and the Doren region, however, are mine.
"So, how long until we get to Jade City?" Zane asked, biting into a sandwich.
"I don't know," Helen admitted. "To be honest, I've never been quite this far from New Pallet Town. It depends on several factors, though."
"Like what?" Zane asked.
"Like how long we sit here waiting for you finish eating," Helen teased.
"Well, whatever," Zane replied, taking his PokeAPT out of his pocket. "Can we wait a little longer? I want to see how this thing works."
"You didn't test it before we left?" Helen asked, somewhat amazed that Zane could be so unprepared. "Zane, does preparation scare you?"
"No," Zane answered quickly. "This is just another thing I didn't think of before. Besides, we're not in a hurry, right? It's not like we have a tight schedule to work with."
"I don't know," Helen mused. "Since we were attacked, and that Eclipse guy said something about how 'they'-"
"Whoever 'they' are," Zane interrupted.
"Well, whoever 'they' are," Helen continued, "that Eclipse guy said that they'd be watching us, so I think it's a good idea to get to Jade City fast."
"So I'll make this quick," Zane said, flipping his PokeAPT open and standing up. "Hey Wraith, could you get over here?"
Wraith, who had been sitting on a nearby rock, stood up and walked obediently over to Zane.
"Good. Now stay there," Zane said, pressing a clearly marked "scan" button on his PokeAPT.
The Pokeball inscription on the front of the PokeAPT flashed blue, and a second later, a picture of Wraith appeared on the PokeAPT's black, grid-patterned screen. Next to the Cyndaquil's picture was a bright blue box with yellow letters that read:
Subject: Wraith
Species: Cyndaquil
Gender: Male
Height: 1' 06"
Weight: 13.1 lbs.
Power rating: lv. 5
Attack rating: 16
Sp. Attack rating: 17
Defense rating: 5
Sp. Defense rating: 7
Speed rating: 14
Current/maximum stamina rating: 11/13
"Well," remarked Helen, who had moved behind Zane to read over his shoulder, "this explains it."
"Explains what?" Zane asked. "And what the heck do all these numbers mean, anyway?"
"Let me explain," Helen began. "First off, the numbers represent Wraith's ability to attack and defend, as well as his speed and how many hits he can take. What's interesting is that Wraith's offensive stats and speed are a lot higher than they should be, considering his experience. When it comes to defense and stamina, though," Helen said playfully, "I'm afraid little Wraith is a train wreck. Anyway," she said, resuming a more scholarly tone, "that explains why Wraith's battles are so short."
"So you're saying that Wraith has a lot to work with?" Zane asked.
"Basically, yes," Helen answered. "The trick is keeping him conscious long enough to use it."
"Okay," Zane said, storing his PokeAPT. "Let's get going. Come on, Wraith," he added, picking up Wraith's Pokeball and returning the Cyndaquil.
"Aren't you gonna finish eating?" Helen asked.
"Nah," Zane replied, "I don't feel that hungry."
"Fair enough," Helen warned playfully, "but if you're whining about being hungry later, I'm just gonna laugh."
"How many times do I have to tell you to shut up?" Zane snapped, as the two trainers continued along the road to Jade City, bickering as always.
Team Eclipse's newest recruits stood in a straight, well-organized line in the well-lit stone room, unmoving despite the fear quaking in each of their hearts. For some, the emotion was almost unbearable, but they held themselves together, knowing that if they were to show their fear, they would surely be sent to their deaths. They stood still as statues, all eyes turned towards the woman who had just entered and was now standing in the front entrance of the room.
The woman who was striking fear into the recruit's hearts was of average height and wore a different uniform than most members of Team Eclipse. Rather than being formed into plates, the armor covering her black uniform was skeletal, making it appear that she had been encased in a giant ribcage. A cape that bore a distinct resemblance to a pair of battered wings hung from her shoulders. A large hood bearing an emblem of a hollow white circle with a jet black core obscured her entire face. The only parts of her that were visible were the locks of her navy-colored hair, which hung out from under her hood like a Seviper's fangs.
The recruits shuddered. Any moment now, their superior would step into the room and pronounce her judgment on each of them. Those who had shown promise during training were beginning to breathe deeply; though their superior's presence had caused them fear, they were coming back to their senses. They had proven themselves competent. She would welcome them into the team. Those who had been unsure of themselves to begin with began to shudder violently beneath their armor; Team Eclipse's leader was not one to show mercy.
The woman walked through the doorway and along the line in front of her new recruits. The first person she came to was a man who stood about six feet tall. He was visibly fearful, a trait the woman detested. Still, she reminded herself, he had proven to be a skillful medic. There was a place for him.
"You've made it," she said without bothering to look at him. Her voice rang with the harsh sound of a rock hitting a steel wall. "Report to the medical wing once the ceremony is done."
The man dropped immediately to one knee, bowing his head. "Thank you, Lucre-"
Lucrecia raised her leg into the air and slammed it into the man's armored back, right between his shoulders. The man tried desperately to stay on his knee, knowing that even worse punishment would await him should he fall.
"I will not, however, tolerate groveling," she said, projecting her voice so that all the recruits could hear. "In the future," she snarled, still not looking at her newest peon, "you will address me with respect."
"Yes, ma'am," replied the man, in a voice full of obvious pain.
Lucrecia left the new peon on the ground and continued down the line. The next person she came to was a girl, no older than eighteen. Alone of all the recruits, she had removed her hood and mask. Her curly brown hair clung to her sweat-drenched face, and she was breathing heavily.
Beneath her hood, Lucrecia's lips curled into a scowl. This girl had proven herself worthless. She had struggled throughout her entire training just to keep up with her fellow recruits. The only thing she was truly proficient in was intimidation, and even then, there were many who were better. Still, she would not be turned away. Even the weak had their uses…
"You," she said, perfectly masking her sadistic pleasure, "will work under Doctor Sacrypt. Report to his lab after the ceremony."
The girl looked at her superior pleadingly; silently begging her to say this was some cruel joke. Lucrecia didn't bother to even look in her direction. This girl had failed; she would pay for it. Sacrypt always had dangerous, possibly lethal, devices that needed testing, and the girl would be the lab rat.
"No!" came an anguished male voice from somewhere farther down the line.
The girl's head snapped to attention. Lucrecia walked down the line to the speaker, who had stepped out in front of the line in his outburst.
"What was that?" she asked, poison dripping from her harsh voice.
The recruit suddenly lost his composure.
"M-m-ma'am, Superior," he stuttered, falling to his knees, "p-please re-re-reconsi-"
From beneath her hood, Lucrecia's sunken eyes looked down at the recruit in contempt.
"You," she said, as though there had been no interruption, "will build the machinery used in Doctor Sacrypt's research. You will do your job to the best of your ability."
Though the man's mask hid his facial expression, Lucrecia could guess it well enough. It was clear from the man's outburst that he loved the girl she had condemned. She could think of no better punishment for his outburst than being forced to hurt her. Lucrecia walked back to her previous location in front of the line, ignoring the recruit's pleas for mercy and the girl's uncontrolled sobs. She had just reached her place and was about to resume the ceremony when an empty voice, somewhat akin to the sound of water dripping in a cave, sounded from the room's front entrance.
"Superior," Doctor Sacrypt said, courteously, "may I speak with you for a moment… alone?"
The recruits shuddered at the sound of Sacrypt's voice. Lucrecia, slightly annoyed at the interruption, turned her head to the scientist standing in the doorway.
"Very well," she replied coldly. "Do not move," she ordered the recruits as she walked out of the room. Once confident that her recruits were out of earshot, she turned to Sacrypt.
"This had better be important," she warned.
"I assure you, it is." Sacrypt replied, his voice calm and cold. "One of my former peons has informed me that the last Necros reject has survived."
Lucrecia removed her hood, shook her head to straighten her short, navy blue hair, and glared at Sacrypt. There was little point in trying to scare the scientist; Sacrypt had seen far more unsettling sights than her face, despite the sunken eyes that glowed with a sickly blue light, the scars that seemed almost like steps carved into the bridge of her nose. However, the news Sacrypt had brought was certainly not good, and there was little else Lucrecia could think of doing to the scientist. His input was valuable; it would be foolhardy to anger him.
"And why did you bother me with this?" she asked. "This is your failing; kill the reject and be done with it."
"I believe I have a better solution, ma'am," Sacrypt began.
"Go on, then," Lucrecia ordered.
"Simply send out recruits to try and recapture our reject," Sacrypt suggested, being careful to keep his tone respectful. "Those who fail to capture it, we kill, thereby eliminating the weak from our ranks. Should we recapture the reject, we can retrain it and put it into our service." Sacrypt adjusted his sunglasses thoughtfully. "If the reject has indeed survived, perhaps it's not as weak as I believed. It may be useful to us."
"And assuming no one can capture it?" Lucrecia questioned.
"Then I will step in and finish the job myself," Sacrypt replied confidently.
Lucrecia turned her back to Sacrypt, a stern look on her face. "Your plan will thin our ranks dramatically. How can you expect me to even consider it?"
Sacrypt adjusted his glasses again, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves.
"How many of them do you really think you can take with you, Lucrecia?"
Lucrecia's shoulders sagged slightly; Sacrypt had a point.
"Very well, then. Send the peons," she said in a voice that, while still harsh, seemed almost resigned. "Just remember, Sacrypt: if this fails, the consequences will fall on your head."
Sacrypt nodded and breathed an internal sigh of relief. Most people who questioned Lucrecia didn't get off so easily. "Of course, ma'am," he said, bowing respectfully.
Lucrecia pulled her hood back over her head, obscuring her features once more, then turned to Sacrypt.
"I've assigned you two new peons, by the way."
A sadistic smile crept to Sacrypt's face.
"Thank you, Superior," he said, his voice a mockery of a child getting their first pet.
"Make sure they live for a while," Lucrecia ordered. "They need to learn the penalty of disobedience. One of them may be suicidal; I trust you can deal with that."
"Of course, Superior," Sacrypt replied.
Satisfied with her underling's response, Lucrecia turned to resume the ceremony. At the doorway, she paused.
"Oh, and Sacrypt?"
"Yes, Superior?" he answered.
"Never question me again."
With that, Lucrecia walked out of the doorway and resumed her ceremony. Professor Sacrypt stood musing for a brief moment, then walked off through the dimly lit corridors of Team Eclipse's base, plotting how best to put his plan in motion.
A/N: And that's it for this chapter. Please review! If you liked it, let me know! If not, tell me how to improve it!
Also, thanks again to Cheetah Inferno for doing the beta on this chapter.