Chapter VI: Together Again
Her eyes lit up. She looked around then down at me. She instantly got off me to which she promptly lay on the floor, curled up and began to shiver. Standing up, I slowly walked over to where she was laying and crouched down.
"Latias. Please look at me." I said in a quiet, calm tone.
Placing my hand underneath her chin I gently coaxed her to lift her head and look at me. The fur on her cheeks was wet and the white of her eyes were filled with tears and the whites were blood red.
"Latias. It's okay. I missed you too." I said whilst smiling at her.
She just stared at me with her golden eyes. Tears still rolling down the strands of soft fur. I sat next to her and put my arm around her and she put her head onto my shoulder and quietly continued to cry on it.
"Lucas. I know what you're trying to comfort her but I think we should leave." Josh said still covered by Pryces hand.
"Josh's right Latias. We should leave. The ones that took you away are probably looking for us." I whispered.
She simply raised her head and nodded at me. It hurt to see her cry. She knew what she'd done would be considered wrong and out of place, wherever. I stood up, helping Latias off the ground as well. As I began to walk forwards she hovered extremely close to me and attempted to coax my hand open. I realised that she was trying to hold my hand so I stopped, gently clasped my hand around her paw and smiled at her. We both walked up to Josh, Surge and Pryce and nodded.
"Let's go. We can't have any armed guards after us again." I said as I sat down in the chopper. "I've been shot enough as it is." I continued.
Latias snapped her head round to look at me.
"What?" I asked in a confused way.
She simply looked me in the eyes, hard. She then seemed to look me over and then she noticed the small white, and now slightly red, rag around my arm. She jerked her head backwards, mouth agape, and stared at me.
"Ooooh no..." I sighed. "I can see what's gonna happen..." I laughed.
Latias obviously didn't find it funny in the slightest. She had a slightly worried, and angry, face and she was staring daggers at me.
"It's not my fault I was shot when we escaped." I argued.
She just continued to stare at me as the helicopter shook and lifted into the cool air above.
"Don't worry. Lieutenant Surge, here, removed the bullet and patched me up. He's the reason why I can still use my arm." I smiled nervously.
Latias just let go of my arm and rested her head on my shoulder once again. Josh gave me funny looks as he was sitting directly opposite to me.
"She deserves a rest after what she's been through. This is nothing compared to what she did earlier is it?" I asked rhetorically,
"You looked like you enjoyed it." Josh pressed,
"Don't push your luck. I might have been shot but I can still punch you." I threatened,
"Accept it. She was all over you and you liked it." Josh teased,
Looking at the furry dragon leaning on my shoulder, eyes closed, purring quietly, I smiled and kissed her on the forehead whispering 'good night'. She began to purr louder. Turning back to Josh I said,
"Maybe I did."
2327hours GMT +1
The Cobra hovered in mid-air before slowly descending onto a helipad. We were in some sort of army base in a, strangely, familiar place.
"Right. We've touched down at the Kanto army barracks at vermillion city. Pryce, here, will show you around the officers quarters." Surge said,
"Wait a minute, you telling us we have to stay here?" asked, Latias still completely out cold on my shoulder.
"It's late. You three deserve a rest. This is also for protection. Stay as long as you think you'll need to. My men will be happy to assist you." Surge continued.
Surge nodded at Pryce who was getting out of the pilots seat.
"Take these into the barracks and show them around." Surge ordered,
"Sir, yes sir!" He replied.
Josh stood up and left the bay area to follow Pryce. I gently nudged Latias so she would wake up. No dice. I tried to whisper into her ear but she still never responded. Horrible to think, but, was she breathing? Yes, she's purring quietly. Well why isn't she responding.
"Come on, Latias. Let's follow the others." I whispered again.
She still never replied.
"Only one thing for it." I thought to myself.
I gently lowered her head onto the seats as I stood up. Placing one hand under her back and the other by her tail I slowly lifted her up so she was comfortably cradled in my arms.
"She's lighter than I thought." I murmured.
I thought I caught her grin in the moonlight. When I looked back again she had a straight face. Odd. I smoothly stepped out of the helicopter and followed Josh into the bright door way.
"Oh God..." Josh sighed as he saw me. "You look like your carrying your new wife out of the altar!" Josh sniggered.
"Too right!" I said, playing along.
Josh just looked at me when I said that. I can swear I heard Latias purr again when I said that. Ignoring such thoughts I smiled at Josh and carried on walking, with him tagging behind. We walked down a well lit corridor until Pryce stopped.
"This is one of the officers extra rooms. This is where you can stay. There's a lamp, main light, a phone and two single beds." Pryce said monotone-ly.
"Wait. Two single beds?" I asked, "What about Latias?" I continued,
"I'm afraid it's up to you on how you sort that out." Pryce said as he walked off, "Oh and here's your room key. Don't lose it!" He said tossing me a small, silver key.
"Oh great." I mumbled as I caught it.
I walked into the room with Josh and carefully placed Latias down onto one of the beds. She promptly curled up into a ball and began to shiver. As soon as I sat down next to her she stopped and began to purr again.
"I don't think she was asleep you know." Josh suggested, "I think she might have pretended so you'd have to carry her in." Josh continued.
"I'm not so sure she'd go as far as th-"
I noticed that she'd gotten closer to me and had now put her head on my lap.
"You were saying?" Josh laughed.
"I stand corrected." I smiled as I stroked her head. She looked quite cute when she was tired.
"I think she's drooling..." Josh pointed out,
"You're 'thinking' an awful lot all of a sudden aren't you?" I quizzed.
Looking down I noticed that she had indeed fallen asleep, for real this time, and began to drool onto my right knee.
"Great...Just great..." I sighed, "Meh. We should get some sleep. We've been through too much for one day." I said as I lowered Latias' head onto the bed and lay back.
Twenty minutes after the three of us had gone to sleep...
"Sir. May I point something out?" Pryce asked,
"Go ahead Pryce." Surge replied,
"You know how on the way back from the truck, Lucas, told us what had happened whilst the two of them were on the inside?" Surge asked,
"Yeees?" Surge replied as he cocked an eyebrow,
"Well, by the sounds of things, the scientists there had finished what they'd intended to do." Pryce suggested,
"How?" the Lieutenant asked, probing for information,
"They had been experimenting on Latias yes? In that machine he was on about? Why would they leave it there if they were halfway through? They must have finished what they were doing and only left to transport Latias somewhere." Pryce continued,
"I see your point, Pryce, but that is of no concern at the moment." Surge ushered,
Pryce saluted the Lieutenant and left the room,
"Oh, but I believe it's of more concern than you think sir..." Pryce whispered as he shut the door.