Into Reality Ch. 9 – Lost time… and Reunion ...

"Friendship is a very powerful thing. Even the most powerful creature that would ever walk the face of the world would crumble faster to nothing than the time it took to bring them to power. So says the legend..."

-Anonymous

"Speech" or "Emphasis/hint"

'Telepathy' or "Thoughts"

*_* Action or *special cue*

Previously:

'What happened to me?' In my own silence, intense flashbacks of my final moments in with Latias and Marlon came rushing back to me.

"Staff Sergeant, I want you to address to me who is your commanding officer? I want you to name the person's position in the rankings." Sam cut in. "… My commanding officer is CMC (Commandant of the Marine Corps) Samuel. He is in charge of all main operations within the Marines Corps." Raphael stated clearly.

With a battle cry and one massive launch, the attack made contact with the hard ceiling and erupted into a massive explosion causing dust and concrete to go flying everywhere inside the room.

A huge wave of the intense heat from outside rushed into the room catching me off guard as my reflexes kicked in as I put up a defensive stance. My paws went up in front of my face while I could still see in front of me.

I was slightly confused but I turned my back on him and prepared to fly away.

"I understand your confusion and aggression towards me but please understand that you've been under our utmost care for a long time. We've been taking care of you ever since you were lost…."

Present:

At that I stopped midair and turned around. I locked eyes with Sam once more and returned to him glaring with a look that said, "This is your last chance. I'm at my last line before I teach you how to fly."

Sam nodded. "As you now already know, you and the other two Lati were in a deep slumber. However as of now, only the Brown Latios and the Latias remain dormant, up to our knowledge."

"Ever since your encounter over Edwards Air Force base my staff members have taken it under themselves to taking care of you three. I've given my regards to all the doctors that stayed up night after night to check up on you three. I do have to say it is quite a miracle that you three are still alive. Your heartbeats were so low that they were barely being recognized by our computers. Needless to say, all of you were on the very brink of death."

"After the Sky Raider disappeared from our radar we had scouts sent out to locate the wreckage as well as you three. Once we found the Sky Raider, we found you three not too far away."

As Sam continued to speak I began reading his mind and watching the events happen as he spoke of them. With a different form of "Sight sharing" I was watching Sam's operation unfold through his thoughts.

"From there we Airlifted you three back to Edwards. However, we lost a full squad of men that tried to hold our position as we attempted to airlift you. Thankfully for their actions we were able to get you out of there."

At the moment I wasn't too worried about the past but more so on how to find my brother and sister, this showed in the form of angry snarls and more death glares.

"But that's not all that I'm here to tell you. Months after you fell into slumber, the enemy you encountered over Edwards A.F.B. has also reduced their amount of activity. We do however have a positive I.D. on their HQ's whereabouts. It's located in the Pacific Ocean off the Midway Islands. As of now we are seeing increasingly large amounts of energy/ power located inside the building. We have no idea as to what they're up to but that doesn't completely apply to you right now as I can see."

I nodded to Sam, right before a radio on his bulletproof vest began ringing.

"Hello? … I understand…"

'It's one stall after the other. I'll never find Marlon or Latias at this rate!' I mumbled as Sam continued talking into his radio.

"Okay we'll be done soon…. Out," Sam hung up.

"It appears we won't have a lot longer to talk to each other. There's a massive dust storm approaching from the west. Listen, your friends won't have much time if they stay in this dust storm. Each of you were placed in identical compounds designed specifically to be impenetrable from the outside but vulnerable on the inside. This would allow the three of you to escape on your own but be strong enough on the outside that not even all out warfare could break through. There are seven compounds located throughout this region, each containing a backup supply of oxygen stored in massive underground tanks that are equally as strong as the building they're supplying. These tanks however or on the brink of running out of air."

"There is still no word of either that the Latios or Latias have awoken yet so you will have to rescue each one of them from their compounds before the storm hits. If you fail to do so, they will be buried alive and suffocate as the tanks run dry. You alone will not be able to penetrate the outside walls. Of all honesty, you'll do nothing more than leave a scratch the size of a penny in the wall after you've sacrificed yourself trying to get in."

'So how in the word am I supposed to get in then?! Quit stalling and tell me the answer!' I tried to telepath, but to no avail.

It was obvious Sam didn't understand me. Unfortunately for him, that snapped the last thread holding me back.

I summoned a dragon claw at my side and took aim at Sam threatening him to give up the information.

"Latios, threats won't get you the answers you want. Put down your claw and I shall continue."

I ignored him and kept my claw where it was. The idea now was if Sam wouldn't tell me the information I needed to know, I'd get the answers out of him through fear… one way or another.

I slashed the air approaching him slowly cooing angrily with each passing inch.

Sam backed up slowly. He knew his armor was only meant to block bullets… not a rampaging Latios.

As Sam backed up, he tripped and fell to the ground crawling backwards as I got ever so closer to him.

I didn't let Sam get back up as I approached him faster.

Sam could feel the pressure I was putting on him and his mind was starting to open up to me.

Luckily for Sam, he spared himself and cracked as my eyes didn't exactly show anything sweet, kind, or forgiving…

"I'll tell you where your friends are, just lower your blade!" Sam cried out, not wanting to go home in pieces.

I gave one long glare before pulling my arm back and dissipating my attack.

Sam got back onto his feet taking a deep breath trying to recuperate, "Okay, as I've said earlier, your friends are located in compounds identical to yours. The brown Latios is located in a compound directly north of here about 10 miles out. The Latias is located east of the Latios's compound. The brown Latios is the closest of the two so I recommend you head to him first. However, there still remains a problem."

I continued listening.

"As I mentioned earlier, each compound is designed to be impenetrable from the outside. For this matter I've sent out my men to deliver a special device to the Latios and Latias's compound. My men can't stay out in the storm so you'll have to use the device yourself. The device will allow you to penetrate the outside walls of both compounds. However, this will not pierce the walls all the way through. The bomb will only break through so far. You'll have claw your way through to get inside. Once you've managed to break through both compounds, you will need to bring both your friends south east of the Latias's position to arrive at our HQ. There we can provide you with shelter throughout the storm. Whether you chose to come back to base or not is up to you. Just be weary that there is no sign of civilization within an hundred miles before the storm hits."

The wind starts to pick up and sand was being thrown into the air.

I shielded myself from the sand and continued to watch Sam as he covered his face to avoid becoming blinded by the sand.

"Head north from here and you will arrive at the Latios's spot, by then the bomb should be ready to use. Just tap the big red button and you'll have five seconds to get out of there." Sam managed to say over the sand.

"And before you go, take this earpiece, it'll allow you to stay in touch with me. Either way we'll meet again in due time, and hopefully you'll give it back."

I grinned on the inside and took the earpiece and put it behind my ear.

"I'll be waiting back at base, now go! There isn't much time. Go rescue your friends and return to base. I'll fill you in further there if you'd like."

I nodded (whether Sam saw it or not) and took off northwards blasting more sand into Sam as I took off.

(And yes it was intentional)

I took a quick second to look back at Sam to see him waving into the sky as a helicopter approached him.

'I figured he had a helicopter waiting for him. But now I need to get to Marlon.'

I kept my shield up to prevent the sand from hitting me as I raced through the air to the first building. Luckily it wasn't too far away but the sand flying in the air was making it a bit difficult to navigate. I kept a straight flight path and continued heading north.

'At my current pace, I'd be with Marlon in a couple more minutes… but, now that I think about it, how am I supposed to wake either Marlon or Latias up?" I pondered on a question I didn't know the answer to.

I looked out into the horizon and I could see a massive wall 100 stories high of sand approaching from the east.

'It doesn't look like I've got much time. That bomb better get me through the wall in one try. Otherwise I'll have to do things the hard way.…' I kept going, flying northwards as the sand in the air continued to get thicker with each passing minute.

(The air wasn't very thick with sand but it was at its point where it was everywhere)

'I should be halfway there by now.'

A couple more minutes went by and I could barely make out Marlon's compound in the distance. All was quiet (besides the constant sound of sand hitting my shield) but I began feeling a sensation of being watched. Even at my young age, Marlon, Latias and I have grown accustomed to following our instincts.

I looked around me trying to find what was making me so cautious but I couldn't see anything. Little did I know there was something out there watching me, not too far away.

As a natural defense I stopped in midair and quickly charged a dragon pulse between my paws as I took aim into the sky. I looked around my, searching for the slightest distortion in the air that would spell danger… but nothing showed. (Also consider the continuous amounts of sand in the air). After a good minute of searching, I dissipated the dragon pulse and looked around once more.

'Either my mind was playing tricks on me, or there's something out here.' I questioned as I continued looking around.

Not wanting to waste any more time, I took off once more heading north keeping my guard up not wanting a surprise attack before I got to my brother.

…. *flies on*

The sand continued to get thicker and thicker in the air, but it didn't take much longer before I finally reached what I believed was Marlon's compound.

'Okay, there's Marlon, and I guess that box sticking out of the wall is the bomb.' I said referring to a black box hanging outside on the building.

I approached the box and took note of the big red button sticking out reading, "Hit and run".

'Convenient instructions I must say."

Suddenly Sam could be heard through my earpiece, "Okay, you've arrived at your first stop. Don't pay attention to how I know this, focus on what's going on right now. To use the bomb, it's as easy as push the big red button and get as far away from it as you can. This will lock it into place on the wall and automatically start its countdown from ten to zero. Once it gets to zero, I'm sure you know what comes next… It blows up."

*Rolls eyes* 'I think I already knew that, for your information.'

"As I've said earlier the bomb will do most of the work for you, but it won't pierce the surface of the wall. It will only remove most of the concrete from the wall but you'll have to dig your way through to get inside. I would also like to point out that the bomb does have a large blast range so I'd encourage you to fly back quite a bit…. That's all there is to know about the device, hope you got all that, Sam out."

'Hmph, well I did get all that, but whatever you say better work Sam or next time we meet you'll get more than this earpiece back.'

I pushed the button and a voice countdown could be heard from the bomb. Doing as I was told I flew back 200 feet and put up a shield to protect me from any stray flying debris.

"5...

4...

3...

2...

1..."

In an instant a flash covered the entire area. From a distance, sand was hurled stories into the air. However, before I could see anything else a massive shockwave caught up with the blast and tore open the ground opening hidden crevices. I watched as the shockwave approached and brace.

However, the shockwave alone easily shattered through my psychic barrier as well as hurling be back over a length of 12 football fields.

I was blasted back, skipping across the sand like a ragdoll as a secondary blast kicked in 5 seconds after the first.

After the second blast (equally as powerful), I managed to dig my paws in to the sand to stop myself from being flung back further. I managed to catch my breath but was cut short by another surprise blast that was the most powerful, cleanly ripping my paws out of the sand (even though I was already so far away from the compound) and flinging me even further back to crash back first into a sand dune about half mile away.

I dug myself out of the sand and quickly shook off the dizziness, but my ears were ringing like crazy. I checked myself over and blasted out of the sand flying towards Marlon's compound.

It didn't take very long before I arrived and assessed the damage. There was a large whole about 16 feet in diameter (enough to span from wing to wing) that went into the wall about 11 inches deep.

I didn't waste time and started hacking at the wall with my dragon claws. Adrenaline kicked in and each slash removed a massive chunk of concrete from the wall and before long a small hole appeared in the wall –the size of a penny. I stopped attacking and peered through the hole to see a brown Latios lying motionless in the center of the room.

I flew back 10 feet and concentrated on the wall in front of me.

'That wall can't be very thick by now, maybe I can rip the wall wide open.'

I stuck both paws out and focusing on the wall and slowly applying power retracting my arms slowly controlling the psychic energy.

(Visualize pink psychic energy that is flowing between me and the wall. The flowing energy is like a rope that is attached to the wall with be trying to pull/rip the wall wide open.)

I applied more pressure and concentration but the wall still refused to budge. I let loose and gave it everything I had to offer into my attack.

'AHHHHH!' With everything I had the wall slowly cracked as concrete shards cane flying out piece by piece, but the wall was still standing. I continued applying more concentration and power and the wall soon had no choice and gave way exploding outwards around me opening a massive hole in the wall.

I collapsed right after letting go of the psychic bond and fell to the sand. I was breathing deeply trying to recover from the overexertion of power I just accomplished.

I slowly rose from my spot and flew through the hole in the wall until I floated right next to Marlon, who continued to lie sleeping on the floor. It brought a tear to my eye to see my close friend again, knowing that we'd been separated for so long. I shook off the sadness and grabbed Marlon by the paws dragging him outside into the sunlight.

I gently tapped Marlon oh the shoulder calling out to him trying to get him to wake … but to no avail. After multiple attempts, he remained motionless and refused to wake up. Marlon's mind was wide open to me but even so, I still couldn't get him to wake. I looked out into the horizon as I watched the wall of sand continue its approach. I took a deep breath and turned back to Marlon.

Suddenly static came through my earpiece followed by the unwelcomed Sam.

"Lat…*static*…Latios can you hear me… Okay, I've got a stronger com link. Listen, the storm is just about to pass over head. It'll be less than 3 minutes before the entire base is covered by the storm. No matter what happens now you'll have to find your way back through the sand… Also be aware that enemy forces that you've encountered over Edwards Air Force Base have come in large numbers. We believe they know that you're here, although we're unsure if they know that you're still alive. We've already deployed all ally troops to intercept and engage the bandits. Although there is a problem, the allies will only be able to stall the enemy for a short amount of time before the storm passes over them. In other words these men and women are going to stay out in the storm the success of you, so don't let their sacrifices be in vain…. Get to your brother and sister and report back to bas….. *static followed by cut off*

'…I guess the storm's over the base.'

Suddenly something tapped me on the shoulder… I turned slowly, to be met by an awake brown Latios grinning with crossed arms.

'You miss me?' Marlon said smiling.

My mouth hung open smiling as I quickly grabbed Marlon close and held him tightly shedding a few tear in the process, while Marlon returned the hug before letting go.

'Uh Raid, what's going on. I can't exactly see very clearly for some reason?" I let go and recalled the issue I had earlier.

'Don't worry, your eyesight will come back to you slowly. For now, use your other senses. Can you fly?'

'Yah, sort of. Next time, you should train me to fly blinded.' Marlon joked.

'I'll keep that in mind. For now we need to get to Latias.'

'Wait, what exactly is going on? Where are we anyways and how did we get here, I don't recognize anything.'

'Well you can barely see.'

'Yah I can see that. But what's going on.'

'You're asking too many questions. Just focus on my energy and follow my tail. We're going to head east from here. Think you can keep up?'

'Raid, you when you challenge me I can do almost anything you tell me.'

'I wish, and I'm counting on it too. Follow my lead. We don't have much time anyways. Let's move.'

'I've got you back.' Marlon commented.

'And I've got yours. Let's go.'

'On you.'

I smiled and we took off east… 'Off to get Latias.' *Dramatic music*

…

'Where are we again?'

*Face-palm* 'Oh Marlon, you're such the brother to me…'

'And that's why you love me.' Marlon finished the sentence.

I could only sigh acknowledging my own defeat…

Well its great to see raid easing up a bit after reuniting with Marlon although I still don't think he's completely satisfied, that probably won't go away until the trio is together once again. The only problem is, will the bandits get to Latias first or will the storm be the thing to worry for.

Wondering what in the world is going on, ask questions and I'll do my best to clarify... other than the fact that I finally had spare time in my day today to get this done as best as I could, I won't disclose whether I was as happy with this one over the last one or not... I wanted to re-align the story in a direction that might be more "soothing" on the story-line and making things piece together a lot smoother.

In other words, stay tuned till next time...

FIND OUT, ON INTO REALITY!

I DON'T own the idea/theme of Pokemon. I DO HOWEVER, own the character Marlon and Raid the Latios and their names I also own the Idea and the theme/name of the Eon Squadron. It's all © by me marcturbo1.