Rookie
Chapter 2.

She had company with her. Barry was numb from the long journey and it was seven o' clock in the evening when he arrived at Saffron City. A few Pidgeys had flown into the station to the annoyance of several people as the pocket monsters casually left their leavings on the platforms. He was rushing with excitement when he left the train, but disappointed to find a handsome, tall man standing beside her. Barry could barely recognise him. Lance, like Cynthia, had changed his features so he was hardly recognisable. It was odd to see him with barely any red hair.

'Shall we get onto it?' Barry said, cutting through the older female's greeting.

Lance grinned. 'I like him already.'

'We're already onto it,' Cynthia said.

'Us three are the last to enter the building,' Lance added.

Barry looked at them both. He raised his eyebrows, and turned to the blonde. 'Fill me in.'

'I recognised the man we had caught yesterday. He used to be a member of Team Rocket, was sent to prison and then released. I've seen him around here, exiting a particularly popular building frequently, with others. We've just sent two people in to have a look around, and they've found something.' Barry grinned, his enthusiasm growing by the second.

'A passageway leading to underground, under the stage,' Lance said. 'They're hiding in a building where little children do drama.' He scrunched his nose.

'We thought you might want to come and help out, considering you had, in a way, informed me about it.'

Barry looked at her and nodded. 'Yeah – I'll come.' She didn't show the same excitement Barry held, and she even looked a little reluctant.

'What levels are your Pokémon?' Lance asked him.

'In their sixties.'

He caught Cynthia's eye for a second. The trio proceeded out of the station, and escorted Barry to the building they had spoken about. A Machamp stood outside the entrance, and it tensed when spotting the three trainers approaching. Lance calmly patted the Pokémon's head whilst they entered. Barry guessed it was on guard, and only allowed the trainers it recognised to enter. Inside was a large stage, big red curtains and lamps attached to the ceiling.

Barry rushed over to Lance whilst the former Champion pulled out a drawer from the bottom of the stage. He looked at the young blonde, 'Just crawl through there.'

He didn't hesitate. Barry dove in, and crawled for what seemed hours in pitch black. He could hear the two adults behind muttering, and wanted to know what they were talking about. He continued, until finally came to an exit. It was a flap. Barry flipped it open and fell out, landing heavily on his backside. Lance joined him, Cynthia more gracefully.

A series of halls were before them.

'Red 1? Over.'

Barry frowned and turned to Lance, then realised he was speaking into a mouthpiece.

'Red 1, number 2. Over.'

'Which passageway? Over.'

'Um – We've had no luck with left and north. I guess the only remaining one is right. Over.'

'We'll go that way. Over and out.' Without a word, each proceeded right. Barry removed one of his Poké Ball and raced forwards. The hall went on for ages. A corner appeared and the trainer quickly turned, following the same empty hallway. His heart thumped hard when he spotted a door. Barry groaned to find it locked.

'Pokémon aren't just for battling.' Lance smirked, and threw a Poké Ball into the air. Out exploded a Dragonite, that almost hit the ceiling. 'Break the door down, buddy.' The large orange dragon obeyed, and whammed itself against the door. It crashed open.

'Yes, but Pokémon aren't meant to be used as tools either,' Cynthia responded bluntly. Barry looked away from her gaze. He entered first and gasped. Tubes of fluids lay across desks around the small room, papers strewn almost everywhere. Barry hurried towards one of the tubes and picked it up. Lance snatched it off him.

'Careful. Might be poisonous.'

'You just touched it though.'

Lance ignored him and placed the object back carefully. He placed his hands on his hips and turned to the female blonde. 'Well?'

She wasn't listening to him. Cynthia was completely engrossed with the tubes and papers, inspecting them closely. Lance slumped his shoulders.

'We should take some of these back, and see–' he was cut off short when something heavy pounced on him. Lance yelped and whacked whatever it was away.

Barry released his Infernape and ordered a Flame Wheel. The victim burst into flames, but no scream escaped.

'Wait, stop!'

The flames instantly vanished. Barry realised what Cynthia was trying to show them. The Pokémon that had pounced on Lance had been a Raichu. It lay still, sprawled across the cold floor. It was dead, sparks zapping out of its body every few seconds. Lance gritted his teeth, upset by the sight. Barry was frozen. He had never seen such a beaten Pokémon before, and it disturbed him.

'What was that? A trick?' Lance looked around as if hoping he might find an answer. He turned to Barry. 'Keep your Infernape out.' He began to grab his own Poké Ball.

Barry could barely breathe. He fidgeted, whipping his head around, looking towards the door. No one. . .

All too quickly, Barry was thrown backwards and then something picked him up and sent him gently to the other side of the room. A roar erupted from the doorway, and the trainer watched in awe as several vicious Pokémon appeared and darted towards the other two trainers. Barry realised it had been a Togekiss that had sent him across the room. It now swooped back to its master, and obeyed the move it was told.

Lance's Dragonite was ferociously bitten by two Mightyenas. It exclaimed and swiped its fist at both. Lance quickly ordered it to use Earthquake. The floor vibrated furiously, and a crack split towards the Dragonite's targets, startling them. Cynthia's Togekiss shot a mixture of colours towards them. A Rhydon stomped towards the female. Barry shot to his feet, 'Flame Wheel!'

The flames blasted onto the Rhydon, but barely caused much damage. Before Barry could say anymore, the Togekiss swooped him off his feet, away from the scene. Barry understood. Cynthia didn't want him involved. He felt disappointed and irritated by this. She was underestimating him.

Soon it was over. Lance's Dragonite still stood strong, but had awful gashes across its flesh. Cynthia's Togekiss remained swirling around Barry, whereas her Garchomp continued to pin the Ryhdon down with its large foot.

He was finally allowed to stand. Disgruntled, he walked over to the two trainers and turned to the female. 'Why didn't you let me do anything?'

She wasn't listening. A series of claps escaped the doorway, and a young man appeared, smiling brightly. Barry cocked an eyebrow at him and saw three others behind looking a little older. The blonde clutched onto his Poké Ball, prepared.

'This is really weird, because most of the time we succeed in killing the Pokémon. Oh, and the trainers too. I see you found my experiments–'

'Fire Blast!' Barry shouted. His Infernape obeyed and blew scorching flames towards the man. Lance yelled something at him, but Barry couldn't hear. He couldn't believe what he had just done. He had made his Pokémon attack a human. When the fire descended, Barry saw the man had protected himself using his own Pokémon which collapsed to the side, unconscious.

'Stupid boy.' He sneered.

'I'll second that,' Lance whispered.

'So you want to play, hm? No problem,' and he threw a Poké Ball at their feet, exploding from it a Venesaur. 'Use Vine Whip on the boy– Oof!' He growled towards the Togekiss that had plummeted into him, and tried to grab its talons, but the Pokémon was too fast. Barry wasn't quick enough for the Venesaur when it whipped him with its vine. He exclaimed, blood oozing from his arm. Jesus, that hurt!

'Dragon Rush.' Barry almost screamed when the Garchomp hurled blue flames towards the grass-type. It was obviously at a weak level because it fainted soon after.

'Mightyena, use Crunch!'

Lance slipped a little, and yelped when the wolf pounced on him again. The Mightyena ripped at his clothes, and ignored the pain when Cynthia's Garchomp Slashed its back. With one quick movement, the Pokémon bit Lance just below the collar bone. Barry could already see the serious infection and was stunned. Lance began to shake violently, yelping in pain.

'Don't just stand there!' Cynthia's exclaim made the younger male jump. He instantly ordered his Infernape to use Flame Wheel. The Mightyena dropped to the side, limp. Cynthia rushed past Barry to Lance and cringed by the sight of his injury. Barry swallowed. He removed three Poké Balls and shot them into the air, revealing a Staraptor, Floatzel and Roserade. One by one he ordered them to damage the three men, and was completely oblivious to the Rhydon that slowly stood to its feet.

'Barry!'

When she yelled his name Barry froze. He whipped his head to her, watched her order her Garchomp to attack the Ryhydon. In a blur, the steel-type fell at his feet.

'Return your Pokémon!'

He obeyed her, as if she were his mother or his teacher. There was something about her voice that made him instantly obey. He realised why she wanted him to return them: his Roserade was almost burnt to ashes. He cried its name and instantly returned the severely injured Pokémon. He watched Cynthia tell her Togekiss to do something and the flying-type shot towards the door and lifted two unconscious men slightly off the ground and brought them to her. One of the men had fled.

'Barry–' she passed him Lance's mouthpiece, '–Call into this and get help. Now.'

Lance's condition didn't improve. The doctor and nurse had to strap him to the bed whilst he went into uncontrollable fits, screaming in agony. His injury was terribly swollen, a blueish liquid oozing out of it. Barry couldn't stand to watch him for very long and was relieved when they took him away on a stretcher once outside the building.

'Come with me.'

He turned to follow Cynthia. 'I, um. . .' He wasn't sure what to say. Should he apologise? What for? He was sure he hadn't done anything completely wrong. He bit his lip, remembering he had attacked those humans with his Pokémon. He gathered she was sensitive about that, but she didn't speak a word to him.

It was dark and cold, and Barry guessed the time was near eleven. She escorted him into a decent looking café pub, and ordered them both warm milk. He found her required drink unusual.

'It helps me relax.'

He smiled at her. 'Sorry about Lance.'

Cynthia shook her head a little and took a sip of her drink. She didn't want to talk about it. 'You did a good job back there.'

Barry raised his eyebrows. 'Oh. I thought I was in the way.'

Her eyes lowered. 'I didn't want you getting hurt. I hadn't considered how violent those Pokémon could be, so I apologise.'

The anger he felt towards her had vanished by now. 'Yeah, they were pretty nuts,' he laughed, hoping she would find the amusement out of the situation. She forced a small smile. 'They're going to figure out he's Lance, aren't they? You know that he's hiding away from public eye.'

'Probably, but he can deal with it.'

'So have they taken those two men away?'

'Yeah, the police will come and pick them up.'

Barry blinked. She looked almost miserable. He stood to his feet and beamed. 'Hey, maybe we should go down and have a few words with them too. I mean, we did catch them.'

She watched him for a while. 'You're really restless.'

'It's a. . . habit. Sorry if it annoys you, but–'

'It doesn't annoy me. I find it amusing if anything. You rush into things too quickly, Barry.'

He slumped back into his seat. 'I know. No one can keep up with me, not even my Pokémon. I kind've wonder if that is why I'm so. . .' he shrugged, '. . . bad at training.'

Cynthia rose her eyes to look at him; he quickly glanced away. 'You think you're a bad trainer?'

'No,' he said instantly. 'I just. . . Well, I'm too rushed, like you said. But I can't help it. I need to do something all the time. I am a good trainer.'

She nodded gently. 'I've never met a trainer like you.'

Barry flushed. He wasn't sure if he should take that as a compliment.

'Go easy on your Pokémon,' her tone was a little heavier than before. 'I saw them at the Pokémon Centre in Canalave. You know, if you weren't so charming, I probably would have kept them as my own.' He found the joke out of her statement. 'I gather you mean well, but Pokémon aren't tools. They're not weapons. They're creatures that support us and give us company – friends, if you like.'

'They are my friends,' Barry said defensively.

'Is that you tapping the floor?'

'Yes – sorry.' He stopped his foot from moving. 'So any ideas where more of those idiots are?' He grinned in enthusiasm. 'I am so up for another wild Pokémon battle.'

Cynthia frowned. 'Really? Did you see your Roserade, Barry? It could barely stand.'

His smile faded slowly. 'I, uh–'

'I'll get back to you if we find anything. For now, let the law handle the crime for a moment.'

'They never seem capable of it.'

Barry's heart fluttered when she smiled at him. It wasn't forced, and she looked so much brighter. He nervously smirked back, a little puzzled.

'Amen to that. You want to walk around?'

He stopped his foot from tapping again. 'Um, I can wait.' However she could tell he was becoming shifty. Concern swept over her face for a second.

'Do you have a place to stay for the night?'

'No. I can find somewhere.'

'I'm sure the hotel where I'm staying at will have a spare room.' Her eyes flashed towards his bloodied arm where the Vensaur had attacked him. 'We need to sort that out as well. Maybe you need to go to a Pokémon Centre–'

'No,' he said. 'I can rinse it.'

It was almost twelve o' clock when they arrived at the hotel. The owner had to get out of bed to let them in, but he seemed unnerved. Thanking him for giving Barry a spare room, the two trainers hurried upstairs. She invited him into her room for a while, wanting to inspect one of the tubes she had taken from the peculiar room. Barry felt a little shy stepping inside her privacy, but she didn't seem at all awkward.

She passed him one of the tubes. Inside was a blue, thick liquid. He gave her a sceptical look, but she was studying her own. Barry found it peculiar how someone could be so fascinated by something that looked simple and had nothing to it. He also found her trait quite. . . well, nice. She had a patience he never had.

They discussed the peculiar substance for a while, until they fell into silence. Barry lazily watched the fluid dribble down the tube when he held it the other way. He was starting to feel quite bored. He turned to see Cynthia, who was still watching it as if expecting an answer to jump out of the tube any minute.

'Oh.'

He raised his eyebrows. 'Oh?'

'Yes,' she said, sitting upright, eyes fixed to the tube. She removed the cork and sniffed inside the tube. Barry pulled a face. 'I thought so. Smell it.'

He gingerly smelt his own, and coughed loudly. 'That smells horrible.'

'Do you think so?' Cynthia replied, raising an eyebrow. 'Have you ever smelt your own Pokémon before, Barry?'

'Why on earth would I want to smell my own Pokémon?'

She ignored him, sniffing the substance again. Her face fell. 'When I was younger, I had to perform surgery on one of my Pokémon because I was nowhere near a Pokémon Centre. Fortunately I had someone with me at the time, but it's a tricky task. . . This smells like the surgery. The inside of a Pokémon. . . It smells of a Pokémon.'

He frowned. She was peculiar. Then he realised what point she was trying to make. 'Is this, I dunno, Pokémon DNA?'

She looked unsure. 'I could send this to Cinabbar Island and see what they think there.' Cynthia turned to face him. Her eyes were suddenly full of life. 'Gosh, these people are more clever than you'd think.'

His mouth fell open slowly. 'Um, you mean those crackheads who tried to kill us?'

Barry didn't receive an answer. He watched her walk to a cupboard and pull out a bowl, before returning to her tube. 'Don't!' But Barry's exclamation was one second too late. She had already poured the contents into the bowl. He widened his eyes when she dipped her finger into it.

'It's warm.'

He wanted to laugh at her. Barry dipped his own finger in. 'You going to taste it now?'

Cynthia didn't respond, but he spotted a small smile creep over her pale face. She watched the liquid for another few minutes. Her eyes drifted towards his hands which were currently drumming the floor. He stopped.

'It could be blood.'

'Why would they need blood?'

She shrugged. 'I'm not sure. It could be anything.'

Barry exhaled slowly. 'Is this what you do all day? Sit and watch liquids?'

Cynthia rolled her eyes almost playfully. He blushed a little. 'No. What I do is fascinating.' She stood to her feet. 'But I can't see you having the patience doing what I do.'

He was happy she understood him. She picked up the bowl and placed it onto the small desk beside her bed. Barry scrambled to his feet and stretched.

'I'll see you tomorrow morning. I'm going to meet Lance. I hope he's okay.'

Barry was unconvinced the former Champion would survive. No one had lived to tell the tale when a Pokémon had used Crunch on them. It was a deadly attack. However he didn't reveal to her how he felt, not wanting to upset her. Then again, he didn't see her the type to be upset. She was a complex character.

He didn't sleep much that night.

After a quick breakfast, both departed from the hotel and proceeded to the Pokémon Centre where Lance was being treated. Barry was expecting the nurse to say the man had passed away through the night, but was pleasantly proved wrong. Lance was alive. What more? They had found a cure for the attack.

He was barely conscious, but was capable of giving them a small smile when they reached him. Tubes were attached to his body, leading to a beeping machine to count his pulse. His injury was covered thickly with bandages, and he looked awfully pale. Black rings hung below his eyes, but, apart from that, he looked almost cheerful.

'I'm alive, hooray,' he croaked.

'Yes – just,' Cynthia said.

'Did . .' he swallowed, 'Men. . . catch them?'

Barry gave him a puzzled look, but Cynthia understood him. 'We've caught two of them and they've probably already been questioned. Whether or not the police have discovered anything I don't know.'

'Shouldn't we go and ask?' Barry said. She gave him a smile, but didn't answer.

'This bite kills,' Lance complained.

As if on cue, the man's doctor appeared to give him his medicine. Lance was reluctant to take it. He squirmed when the pill entered his mouth. 'You found a cure?' Cynthia asked.

'Yes. We took the venom out of the bite, and what do you know? Complete success. Bradley did have a rough night, but he's improving. Any other person who has been bitten would be dead by now.'

'Brad–?' Barry stopped short when Cynthia nudged him. He smiled a little. Lance had still been able to cover his identity.

'You should give your Pokémon full treatment here considering what had happened to them yesterday,' Cynthia informed, nodding towards the small beds where the pocket monsters lay.

'Yeah, you're right,' Barry said, removing his belt of Poké Balls.

'Afterwards, you should head home. I'll get back to you if we find anything.'

Barry widened his eyes in dismay. 'No! Why – Why do you want me to go back? I want to stay and. . . and help, y'know?'

'I'm returning to Kanto to give in that liquid. I won't be doing anything else.'

Barry still didn't feel happy with the option. He wasn't sure why he didn't want to leave, but he was a little certain it had something to do with her.

'You will get back to me then?' Barry ignored Lance's pained snigger.

'Yes,' she said, smiling in amusement. 'Now please go.'

He sighed and reluctantly obeyed.