Chapter 16:
Sanctuary
Ella ran. She wasn't completely sure of where to. All she knew was that she had to run.
She jumped into the trees, morphing into her newly acquired Sceptile form. She changed directions repeatedly, running south, then west, then northeast. Her body changed back into a Lucario as she dropped to the ground. Anyone would be hard-pressed to follow the trail she was laying down.
Five minutes of hard running shot her from the trees. She continued until the trees were mere toothpicks on the horizon before she allowed her legs to stop. For a moment, she leaned her body over, putting her weight on her knees. Even using energy to run as a Pokemon, that had been hard.
She turned her eyes over her shoulder. There was nothing between her and the trees. No one had followed her. Or they hadn't been able to.
The blue sphere in Ella's hand both terrified and amazed her as she looked at it, the same type of ball that Aura and Ben had used to entrap her. It was incredible technology. But it could also be the beginning of something horrible. That man that had used it looked like some kind of scientist. Ben, Aura's cousin and the one that had orchestrated Ella's capture, had said that he'd stolen his ball from a lab somewhere. Could that man be from the very same lab?
She'd have to think about that later. She quickly tossed the ball up into the air. It split open with a flash and a moment later, Aura was standing in the same pose as when the ball struck her. The girl stumbled for a moment, then stopped and looked around. "What? What happened?"
Ella dropped the ball to the ground and crushed it under her foot. "Some guy got you with the same pokeball your cousin used on me." Aura eyed the fragments in the grass with slight fear. "Do you know anything about where your cousin got his?"
She shook her head. "I'd never seen it until he used it on you."
Ella nodded. That was perfectly understandable. But it still created a problem. Whoever that man was, he would probably have friends, very powerful friends. They'd have to be careful if he ever showed up again.
But for now, it looked like they'd lost him. Ella took a look around to see where they were. She was well familiar with the Pallet Town area. One landmark and she knew exactly where they were. "Perfect." She started to walk up a gently sloping hill.
"What is?" Aura turned and gasped as her eyes bulged.
A short way up a tall hill sat a large white building. Attached to one side of it was a thick windmill. It sort of looked like a fat ordinary house. If ordinary included barricaded windows and doors, crumbling sides, and a sign that read, "Condemned." The whole thing looked dead as a grave. Wooden beams showed through holes worn through the paneling. Inside the windows, there was nothing but darkness.
Aura studied the place as Ella slowly made her way towards it. "What is this place?"
"Oak's lab. It was abandoned just after his death. That's the way he wanted it for some reason."
Aura followed silently.
When they reached the door, Ella peered in through one of the windows. Very little light made it inside, but she could see enough to know that the inner space was clear just like she'd last left it.
She morphed her body into an Abra as Aura came up to the wall. "Are you sure we can do this?"
Ella spoke, her voice changing and uttering human words. "I've been coming here for years. No one should bother us."
Aura nodded and took Ella's hand. They flashed into the dark confines of the lab.
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Down the hill, just at the edge of the forest, the man with black glasses gazed through binoculars, observing the two teleport. He raised a radio to his mouth. "Target marked: Oak Hill. Be advised: Shaiya's daughter is with her."
"Confirmed," a voice answered back through the crackling speaker. "Stand by for back-up."
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As Ella and Aura appeared in the dark space, a computer against the wall came to life. No light shined from its face and it made not a sound. Its job was one of secrecy. The process drilled into it began.
Two life forms detected…
Initializing scan…
Estimated time till completion: 12 minutes.
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Ella immediately went to a lamp against the wall and flicked it on, giving light to the room. The main section of the building was the lab itself and two hallways split off to either side, leading to more rooms that included a private examination room and Oak's personal room. Ella didn't really need the light, she'd memorized that layout after coming here to be alone many times, but she lit it for Aura's sake. "I'll get us something to eat."
Aura nodded before her head turned and began to examine the space. The far wall's upper portion was nothing but glass, and several places sported jagged holes, letting in chilly air. Machinery sat silent and motionless along one entire wall. Two tables dominated the middle of the room, but they were completely devoid of items. Just like the outside, the room projected a sense of lifelessness.
Ella walked back in from one of the side halls carrying two trays of steaming food. She handed one to Aura and sat down, immediately digging into her cut of meat.
The Pokemon-girl gingerly followed Ella's lead and went to the ground softly. "Where did you find this?"
Ella chewed several times and swallowed before answering. "All of Oak's machines were left behind when the place was abandoned. He left some pretty incredibly stuff, including a machine that made food from waste.
Aura visibly cringed. "That's disgusting!"
Ella shrugged. "You wanted to know." She put another piece into her mouth. "Go ahead. By all accounts, it's actual food."
She paused, still unsure. But after a quick stare from Ella, she cut off a piece of meat and put it into her mouth. Even with her alien taste buds, it tasted very pleasant and the warmth was welcome in the colder space. "That is pretty good."
Ella smiled and went for the veggies. Her gaze traveled the room, examining it as Aura had done in her absence. But it hadn't changed since she had last been here several months ago.
When she brought her eyes back down, Aura had set her platter down. Instead, the girl was idly examining the backs of her hands, where the spikes protruded from her skin. Ella finished chewing the mush in her mouth and set her platter down next to her. "So…how are feeling about your change?"
Aura suddenly looked like she was going to cry. "I don't know what I'm going to do." She brought her hands up to her eyes and began to cry.
Ella cringed. Why did she ask? She needed to think more before she asked questions of people. But the question was out. So she pushed herself over and wrapped her arms around Aura, hating herself as she did it. She hated being all mushy like this.
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Scan complete…
Life form A…
HTR Positive
Pokemon/Human DNA fully compatible
Identified as Ella Adams
Life form B…
HTR Negative
Pokemon/Human DNA non-compatible
Pokemon dominant
Identified Unknown Halfling
Initializing Program…