Rookie
Chapter 3.

'I was able to discover what the substance is. You were right, Barry, it's DNA. However two Pokémon are mixed together within this fluid. This could mean that they're making hybrids. Don't you find that fascinating?'

Barry pulled a face. 'No, I find it disturbing actually. We need to stop them to continue doing this then. Have you found anywhere where they could be?'

She paused over the Pokétch. Barry heard the sound of tubes clinking together. She sighed. 'So far, no. However I'm looking into it.'

'The police haven't found anything? They are useless.'

He heard her chuckle. 'They try their best. I can use a Pokémon to sniff the scent attached to the tube. Hopefully it might lead me somewhere, but because I've touched it as well, I have doubts. You stay where you are, and don't go looking for them.'

Barry secretly hoped she wasn't going to say that. He had been planning to go on his wild goose chase the moment she hung up. He growled. 'Fine. I'll stay here. Get back to me about it though. I want to be involved.'

'I gathered.' She hung up.

He considered lying, but something stopped him. He didn't want to hurt her, and knew she wouldn't be impressed if he went looking for danger. Barry was sensible though. He was perfectly capable of keeping himself safe and his Pokémon were strong enough. He was irritated she doubted him so much.

Lucas was still in hospital, but his scratches looked considerably better. He was now sitting upright on his own, and his face now had a healthy colour. He cocked an eyebrow towards his friend approaching.

'Where've you been for the past few days?'

'In Kanto,' Barry smirked.

'Why were you there?'

'I was having a hot date–' Barry laughed when Lucas playfully punched him.

'Knock it off. You don't have time for dates. You couldn't be less interested in relationships.'

Barry kept his smile over his face, but disagreed completely. He had been fascinated for quite a while now, and certainly had an innocent curiosity. Barry was too nervous to confront the opposite gender about anything remotely inappropriate, and never had the guts to ask someone out. He did a good job to act uninterested though. Lucas, on the other hand, had been asked so many times and Barry had lost count the amount of dates he'd had. It was only a few months ago when Lucas decided to hook up with Dawn, and they were still happily together.

Secretly, the boy felt missed out.

'Anyway, how are you feeling?' Barry asked, rolling back on his heels.

'Good thanks,' Lucas said. 'I heard they've found a cure for the move Crunch in Kanto. Did you hear about that?'

Barry couldn't refrain himself. 'I was there when they found it! Actually I brought the patient in who had been injured.'

The navy-haired man sniggered. 'Righto.'

'I swear I was!'

'Okay, I believe you,' Lucas whispered, throwing up his hands. 'Calm down.'

Barry snorted. 'Don't tell me to "calm down", mate. Never happens.'

'I know. That could also be another reason you've had no "action". Too rushed into everything.' Lucas was teasing him now. Barry punched him. 'Okay, sorry, haha.'

'I'm just too glamourous,' Barry sighed, turning away. 'Get better soon. I want a match with you.'

Lucas nodded. 'First thing when I get out of this bed.'

When Barry received the phone call he had been sitting in a café, petting his Infernape. Whilst it greedily drank his milk, Barry answered. 'Hello?'

'You might find this surprising, but it actually worked. The Pokémon sniffed out the scent and has led me somewhere.'

His heart skipped a beat when he recognised who this was. 'Seriously? Wh-Where are you now? Can I come over?' He was already on his feet.

'That'd be great. Can you Fly to Cinnabar Island?'

'Um. . .'

'There should be maps provided at the train station. I'll meet you here.'

He was on the train in fifteen minutes. Barry slowly grew impatient by how slow the vehicle was going. His Pokémon distracted him somewhat, but his anticipation was too much to handle. After two hours, he was finally nearing Kanto. The train was going at a mighty speed, but it wasn't fast enough for him! He wished it was legal to Fly to different regions.

The train stopped at one more stop, and a man sat opposite Barry. He was dressed formally, and seemed only a few years older than he. His eyes were a sparkling blue which engrossed Barry.

'Where are you from?' His deep voice didn't suit the gentle face.

'Sinnoh. I'm meeting someone in Kanto.'

'Really? Who is she?'

Barry raised his eyebrows. 'How did you know I was meeting a girl?'

'I didn't.' He laughed softly. 'I was just guessing, kid. Are you a Pokémon trainer? I have myself six Poké Balls strapped to my belt. Want a battle?'

Barry's temptation drove him wild, and he was almost about to accept. Then he remembered he was supposed to be meeting Cynthia. Barry bit his lip and settled down. 'Sorry. I have to see this person as soon as possible.'

'Oh. . . Shame,' and the man began to read the newspaper in his hands. Barry exhaled and slouched, waiting dreamily for the train to halt.

When it stopped, he shot up so fast the man opposite dropped his newspaper in shock. After a quick apology, Barry rushed out of the compartment and onto the platform. Cynthia was correct: maps were waiting to be picked up by tourists in the station. He grabbed one and scanned the area. All he needed to do was Fly to Pallet town, and then Surf to Cinnabar Island. Easy.

It took the male trainer roughly two hours to get to his destination, occasionally bumping into trainers who begged for a match. He was delayed another twenty minutes. Hoping Cynthia hadn't gone and left him, Barry jumped off his Floatzel, returned it, and searched for her around the island. She was nowhere to be found. He exhaled, irritated. How could she leave him? She knew he was eager to help.

'Oh, are you Barry?'

He turned to a teen girl. 'Yes.'

'Ah. Um, Rachel was waiting for you. She's in here.'

Rachel? Barry didn't know a Rachel. He followed the girl into a building. As soon as he entered, he recognised it to be some sort of lab. Microscopes and similar equipment lay sprawled across desks, tubes of substances standing in places. Everyone here wore white lab coats. Barry spotted a rather big tube containing what looked like a bird Pokémon. He grinned wide. This place was exciting. The girl led him to a small room and realised Rachel was actually Cynthia, who was currently speaking to someone.

'He's here,' the girl said and left them.

The female blonde turned to him. 'Hi. You're earlier than I thought you'd be. Just wait outside for a moment.'

He forced back a groan. He had to wait! Again. Barry slumped down onto a chair and muttered obscenities to himself. After ten minutes, he glanced at his watch and stood up. He was about to go and ask how much longer she was going to take, but received an answer. She appeared.

'Right. Come with me. Are your Pokémon fully healed?'

'Yep.'

'And can you not go running off? I need you with me.'

He blushed and followed her out of the building. They strolled across the island for about five minutes, and arrived at what looked like a museum. He gave her a puzzled look.

'It's quite a walk to reach where they are. No one might be in there, but the Pokémon certainly sensed them off.' She glanced behind her. 'Do you want to do this? You don't have to.'

He sighed in irritation. 'Why do you think I'm here?'

Barry felt a little guilty for speaking so rudely, but she didn't seem harmed. They entered. A large, red rug led upwards, but Cynthia directed him to the right where the floor was just cold stone. She was correct: it was a long walk. He sighed every now and again loudly, and it was only a few minutes later when she told him to be quiet. He shut up immediately.

He tossed his Poké Ball repeatedly into the air out of boredom. They went from door to door, and it never seemed to end. Finally she came to a stop, kneeling down onto the floor. He watched her curiously as she felt for something. Her hand grabbed hold of a small handle and she pulled part of the floor up. Barry helped her when she began to struggle with the weight. 'Thanks.' They placed it aside and looked through the hole.

Barry whistled low. 'That's a drop.'

And she casually fell through. Barry gaped wide.

'Oh my – Cynthia?'

He heard a light thud. 'It's okay. It's not that big a drop.'

Barry swallowed, relieved she was unharmed. 'Um. . .' He awkwardly placed his feet into the hole and grabbed onto the sides, before gingerly falling further through. 'I'm going to die.' He released himself. A high pitched scream escaped his throat and he landed heavily on his ass. 'Ack!'

She gave him a look. 'It wasn't that big. I landed on my feet.'

'Get you,' he muttered.

Cynthia turned away and walked onwards. Barry stood and shivered. It was cold and moist down here. The walls were now wet stone. He was underground. Again.

'Why do these people like to go beneath the earth?' He asked.

'Maybe you should ask them,' She said, without turning to him.

Barry hurried to catch up with her. He subconsciously grabbed hold of one of his Poké Balls and struggled to keep at her pace. He wanted to run and see what was up ahead. They walked another three-hundred miles to wherever the heck Cynthia was taking him to.

'Can I ask something?' he asked.

'Of course.'

'What was it like being Champion? I mean, I gather it was hard because of the media and everything, but wasn't there anything glorious about it?'

She smiled. 'Yes. For a while, anyway. You're really looked up to as an idol. People want to follow you and be like you. It's inspirational and very flattering. But. . . the media change their mind about you and try to give you a bad impression. Then when you leave, they're suddenly in love with you.'

'So it was only the media that put you off?'

'Barry, you can't have a life when you've always got cameras in your face. You can never do something in private.' She looked at him. 'You want that life?'

He wasn't sure now. 'I. . . I've wanted to be a Pokémon Champion since I was three years old. I've just never been lucky to have the glory of it. I'm a really determined trainer, but I can't do it right. I love Pokémon – they. . . make me happy.'

She watched him in silence. Her smile was warm and affectionate. 'I don't know many trainers like you. Most people just want to use Pokémon to train with and that's it. No affection whatsoever.'

'I know what you mean,' Barry said. '. . . When I was younger, I really wanted to battle against you. I can't anymore though, but I understand why.'

'Why can't you?'

'Well. . .' He shrugged, 'You quit, didn't you?'

'I didn't quit my Pokémon.'

Barry met her eye, and looked away, a small tinge of red growing his cheeks. She was looking at him differently, and he wasn't sure what her expression meant. He swallowed.

'I think I remember meeting you once when you were training with Lucas. You've grown a lot.'

He smiled a little. He was much taller than her. 'Some say I'm looking more like my old man.'

'You do look like him. That's not bad.'

'Oh. You think he's all right looking?'

'I can't answer that.'

He laughed. 'Why not?'

She smiled, but didn't answer. They continued onwards for another twenty minutes, until they reached a dead end.

'Oh my – seriously?'

'Barry, look around.'

He obeyed. He looked at the walls, the ceiling and then the floor. He raised his eyebrows and knelt down to it, spotting a small engraving of a flame. 'What does that mean?'

She knelt down next to him. 'Think about it.'

Barry frowned. 'It's a flame.'

'Yes?'

'Fire?'

'Right.'

'. . . Oh. You need to use a fire power to burn the ground?'

She nodded. 'Yeah. I thought your Infernape may be some use.'

Barry pulled out his Poké Ball, and tapped it to the ground. His Infernape exploded within and instantly obeyed Barry's command. The two trainers stood back and watched it burn the ground. Soon there was just a gaping black hole. He looked at her. 'What was that made of?'

'Strong wood. They did a good job disguising it.'

'Why do you act like you admire these people?'

She searched for something inside the hole and her face brightened. 'They have a ladder.'

'Wow, that makes a nice change.'

'You want to go?' Cynthia requested, gesturing down.

'. . . Ladies first.'

She smiled a little and climbed down. Barry looked at his Infernape.

'Back in you go, buddy.'

When he reached the bottom, he couldn't see a thing. It was completely pitched black.

'Do any of your Pokémon know Flash?'

'No. Do yours?'

'No.'

'Ah. . .'

'However we can still use your Infernape. Allow it to breathe out a flame gently, and that'll help us see.'

Barry obeyed and told his Pokémon what to do. It worked successfully. They followed a small pathway, and reached a heavy, metal door.

'These people have great security.'

Barry rolled his eyes. She removed a Poké Ball, and Barry took a few steps back when her Garchomp appeared. It growled a little. She told it to knock down the door. After several attempts, it finally broke lose from its hinges, until it collapsed completely. Barry gritted his teeth. Someone would have surely heard that.

She entered confidently, her Garchomp in front of her. Barry followed from behind. The room they entered was almost identical to the one they had gone in with Lance. However this time there were thousands of those tubes around the place.

'These people are crazy.' Barry stated. He took a grab for one of the tubes and stopped. He slowly turned his head to find himself facing a pissed-off looking trainer. 'Ah. . .'

'Damn it,' he exclaimed. 'Why did you have to appear when they went out?'

Before Barry could do anything, Cynthia's Garchomp took the man from behind and sent its claws close to his neck. The man exclaimed in shock and cursed loudly. Barry snorted by how pathetic he was.

'Just wait a few minutes, and you'll see what we can do.'

'Oh God! I'm shitting myself. I'm so scared,' Barry grinned. He turned to the tubes. 'So where do you intend to take all of these?'

'Nice. You really think I'm going to answer–'

'Yes actually,' Cynthia said pleasantly, standing beside Barry. 'If you tell us what you know, we can provide you with security. We gather your friends won't be very happy with you telling us anything, so we shall return a favour.'

He certainly seemed tempted for a moment. He gritted his teeth. 'These people are mad. Barking mad.'

'Where are they all positioned?'

He swallowed. '. . . You don't want to get involved. They're too powerful.'

She smiled almost daringly. 'Try me.'

He watched her for several seconds. 'You promise you won't. . .' he struggled with Garchomp's strength, '. . . You promise you'll keep me safe, right?'

'You have my word.'

'Well. . .' he lowered his eyes. 'They're are all in Hearthome City; Viridian City; Evergrande City; Seafoam Islands. . . that one's underwater, very close; Fallabar town and here. . . Is that it?'

'One more thing: Where do you intend to create these hybrids?'

'We haven't go that far with–' he was cut short when something stabbed his neck. Barry widened his eyes. Cynthia grabbed his arm and searched for who had shot. The blonde male realised the man had been shot with a Poison Sting.

'We've got a bug somewhere,' he whispered.

'Barry. . .'

They spotted five trainers quickly approaching. A Beedrill furiously flew towards them, its stings darting at them. Cynthia lowered him down and the Pokémon zoomed past. They heard barks.

'Destroy the tubes. I'll handle this.'

She released his arm and removed three Poké Balls, her Garchomp proceeding to her side. Barry slowly stood to his feet. He gasped when a Mightyena pounced at her, but she managed to pull it off Gatchomp soon dealing with it. More Pokémon appeared–

'Barry!' She shouted.

He turned to the tubes and released his Infernape.

'I don't care how you do it, just destroy these tubes!'

It blew out scorching flames from its mouth. Tubes smashed from the heat and liquid poured at Barry's feet. He turned to Infernape.

'Burn the liquid. Dry it up! Right. . .' He released his Floatzel. 'Use Water Pulse on these tubes. Destroy all of them!'

It obeyed and it was like the whole room spurted with water. Shards of glass flew everywhere. Barry screamed when something heavy pounced onto his back, ripping at his clothes. His Infernape blast fire towards the Pokémon and it leaped off Barry's back.

'Thanks mate. . . Keep doing that to the others! Floatzel, you too.'

Whilst he struggled to his feet, his Pokémon dashed past him to help Barry's companion. His legs shook violently when he turned to her. He widened his eyes by the amount of Pokémon.

'Staraptor!' His Pokémon exploded from the Ball, 'Wing Attack!'

He hadn't considered how vulnerable his Pokémon was. A Houndoom tore at its feathers.

'No! Fuck off! GET OFF!' Barry kicked the Pokémon off the bird, and it instantly pounced on him. Barry whacked its jaw, and struggled to keep its teeth away from him. He recognised the Garchomp's claws grab the Houndoom and throw it to the ground before using Dragon Rush.

'You bastard! You destroyed the tubes!' Someone whacked Barry across the face. The blonde snarled and kicked him in the groin. He buckled to his knees in agony.

'Barry!'

He whipped his head to Cynthia who was desperately gesturing him over. He dashed forwards, returning his Pokémon. For a moment, they were free from anything. She grabbed his arm and in one quick movement, her Garchomp Dug them away from sight.

'That man. You forgot the man!'

'He was killed,' she said bluntly. 'He's gone.'

Barry couldn't speak. The shock of everything that had happened made him shake awfully. He looked at Cynthia and was surprised by how unnerved she was. He noticed she had a few injuries.

'Are you okay?'

'I'm fine.'

He followed her into a Pokémom Centre and told him to give in the Pokémon he had used. The nurse gave Barry a room to stay in for the night, and Cynthia followed him there. His knees ached tremendously and he was so happy to see a bed waiting for him.

'Your shoulder.'

Barry turned to her and froze when she touched his injury. It had opened up. 'That was from the other day with Lance.' He widened his eyes when he noticed blood oozing out and purple puss. 'Oh my Arceus.'

'It's okay. I've had this before,' she said comfortingly. 'Take off your top. I'll get some medicine downstairs.'

Now shaking with fear, Barry removed his top and waited for her. She appeared in seconds, a flannel in her hand and a bottle of blue liquid.

'What's that?'

'A potion used on Pokémon. It stops the infection from spreading.'

He put his faith in her and followed her into the bathroom. She told him to pour warm water into the sink. He obeyed whilst she removed her jacket.

'Turn away from me.'

Barry felt clammy when she did whatever she was doing behind him. He heard her dab some of that blue liquid onto the flannel. He exclaimed in pain when the flannel touched his injury.

'Shh, it'll be all right.'

He bit down his tongue, tears stinging his eyes. The pain was excruciating. He tightened his fists whilst she continued to dab.

'Calm down. You're so tense.'

'It hurts.'

'No, I mean you're generally tense. For once, be calm.'

Barry loosened his shoulders a little. He sighed when she stopped dabbing him. The pain eased down. When she rinsed him with water, it didn't hurt as much.

'That should help. Let it wait overnight.' Her voice was warm and soft. 'Turn around and I'll see if you're injured anywhere else.'

He knew he was fine, but turned to her anyway. Barry was taken off guard by how unbuttoned her shirt was. He swallowed and looked away from her cleavage. Annoyingly his eyes drifted back to her chest and he cursed himself quietly. He had never been so close to a woman before and it was almost electrifying.

Barry blushed when he realised she had been watching his eyes drift to her chest. He looked away.

'Barry, have you ever been near a woman before?'

'Um. . . No.' He felt ashamed. He was past his teen years and he had never even been kissed. However he didn't want to reveal that to her, afraid she might laugh at him.

Her eyes squinted and she now showed the same innocent curiosity in her face like he did. 'People make a big deal out of it. It's not as fantastic and exotic as they say.'

'You don't think so?' His voice was mumbles, but she fortunately could hear him.

'Well it might just be me.'

He swallowed and grew hotter every second. She watched him for several seconds and a small smile appeared over her face. Barry looked at her and quickly away, wide eyed, when she unbuttoned her shirt some more. He couldn't breathe when she took hold of his hand and led him between her breasts.

His rustic eyes turned to her. He didn't show lust or aggression. Just innocent beauty. He was fascinated by the female body. He frowned, examining the curve of her breast and its softness at his hesitant fingertips. Barry exhaled slowly, as if relieved about something.

Barry removed his hand.

'Thank you. . .' he said quietly. She stood to her feet, buttoned her top and walked out of the bathroom.

She allowed him to dwell into his curious imagination.