As soon as the word was heard, Gary did a lightning check of all charge signals on his HUD before sending the detonation signal.
The status in the top left corner of the visor flickered to say BOOM! Out at the airship's dock, two columns of fire shot into the sky, shearing straight through the metal and setting the side of the vessel ablaze. The flammable Kecleon canopy used to shield her entire compound easily burned up, flames lighting up the sky as if it were a night sun.
As if on que, J's docked airship seemingly materialized from behind its cloak, revealing its sleek gray front and a large cockpit window. Behind that glass were a half dozen figures firing at the bridge's entrance.
Commandos didn't call Brock Harrison nicknames like Big Brother and Dr. Clutch for no reason. At thirty years of age, he had maintained years of experience with both the standard army and the Commandos, building up invaluable experience. He stood six feet and nine inches, towering nearly a full head above the average Commando. Forged for nine years of service as a sniper, his instincts and gut often told him of danger and reading the signs.
The danger that Ash, Paul and Trip were facing right now was definitely hampering their assassination of J.
His sniper, an FN Ballista bolt-action marksman rifle sat on a metal bipod and the tip of the barrel jutted out from over the cliff. To his right, Gary Oak had a pair of optics to his visor to act as a spotter. He fed back reliable information, but it was all on Harrison's shoulders to take a crucial shot to turn the tide of the firefight.
Staring through the reticule at the end of the scope made the crosshairs burned into his eye and he adjusted his aim slightly to the left, almost as if the rifle was an extension of his body.
Someone's hand darted out of the side of the door, releasing a long cylindrical canister that began to blanket the open doorway with thick white smoke. The sheet of cover did little to stop the hostiles from lowering their fire.
It looked like the three inside the ship were dead sooner or later unless Brock lent them some brass.
J's men had taken ample cover to shield themselves from Ash's side, although the sniper on the ridge had a clean view of every single one of them.
One time his leader had asked him to explain the concept of his marksmanship and he typically responded, "That moment when you have everything lined up perfectly. Everyone does their share of the job just for this moment. Then the shit hits the fan and everything goes hell-bent anyway."
Of course, people would scoff at the response, but it was true for those who fought alongside him knew exactly what he was talking about.
The suppressor coughed once he had centered his aim on the second enemy to the left. A Hammer Arm of a pin impacted the primer, sending a powerful 338 Magnum round traveling right to the designated target, just below the neckline of the henchman before drilling him straight through.
A split second later, everyone else had turned to see what had happened to their friend. Through the smoke at the other end, Ash Paul and Trip finally appeared, firing at the exposed enemies to their left.
Back inside the control room, Ash spotted a woman with a similar visor to their own with silvery hair. A dark blue jacket resembling a trench coat. She had a small handgun in her right hand and aimed it in their direction.
"Hunter J! Federation Commandos!" He raised his rifle, "Drop the weapon!"
Her response was to fire the weapon, causing all three of them to slide into cover at varying sides and return fire in the direction, hoping that she would duck and allow them to move up.
Then, as if some sort of intervention, there was a quiet ping as another bullet passed through the thick panel of the cockpit glass. J jerked forward as the sniper round ripped its way through her shoulder, spraying blood all over the floor.
Ash signaled Trip to clear the remainder of the room as he and Paul ran up the stairs. Her grip had slacked on the pistol, which was nudged away by his foot.
J had miraculously managed to sit up, leaning against the blood splattered wall and looked up at the two with glossy eyes. Her gaze centered on Paul, "You."
"Pathetic." He spat.
She coughed hard, spitting up what seemed to be mouthfuls of blood, "Pay for this…"
Then J went limp.
"All clear." Trip waved out to the sniper team on the ridge before approaching the two of them, "Shit."
Ketchum activated his HUD and performed a facial scan of J before finally getting a match, "It's her. Target confirmed dead."
Ash looked over at Paul, who was still glaring at the deceased form of the female terrorist that had contributed to the violence of his homeland, "You okay man?"
"Yeah," He still didn't take his eyes off her, "Let's just get to the exfil point."
Paul was flipping through a magazine in the Commando's lounge in Vermillion City after Cobalt had been debriefed about the situation eight hours later. Eventually Federation soldiers would surround and root out survivors before taking inventory of all the contraband and equipment that had survived. The airship would be searched, salvaged and then its remains would act as target practice for the air force in a few months.
With the purpose of him being in the Federation now fulfilled, he had been approved of a renewal of his visa and had been invited for an extended stay for additional training and joint exercises.
He looked up upon hearing the door open. Ash Ketchum stepped through, now instead dressed in a workout shirt and basketball shorts. Now off duty, he was able to wear more casual clothing.
"I heard that the Federation granted you an extension on your stay here as well as an offer from Surge to integrate you into the Commandos."
Paul nodded.
"I also heard you turned both of them down."
"Yeah," He threw the magazine down, "I did."
"Sure you don't want to stay with the Commandos? Most feared warriors on the planet?"
"I'm grateful for what you and the Commandos have done for me, but it's time to go back home."
Ash nodded, "Well you're one of a kind. You're welcome back with us anytime."
"It was an honor to fight by your side Ketchum," Paul extended a hand out and his lips curled upwards in a small smile, "Perhaps when the conflict in my home has ended; you can come to visit me in my country. We can talk and reminisce on old times."
He smiled and shook his hand, "I'd like that."
Later that night, Ash stepped off a small jet plane in Viridian's airport and rented a car, driving thirty minutes south, before reaching a smaller town in the metropolis' shadow and taking a couple of exits before parking at a house that was clearly aging, but well cared for.
A few people were hanging out in this part of Pallet and he ignored them as he removed a key from his pocket and unlocking the door before stepping inside.
This was Ash's childhood home; he had grown up in a tough Pallet neighborhood where violence, drugs and gang fighting was quite common. Next door was where his best friend Gary had used to live until he moved away to live with his grandfather when his mother died in a shooting when he was eight.
His father was a Commando and was killed in action when he was seven; both he and his own father were Commandos.
Making matters worse, Ash's mother, Delia had refused to leave the house despite all the crime occurring down the street. During the day, it was fairly safe to venture out, but at night it was dangerous enough that even the police were rarely seen.
"Mom?" Ash called out.
"Kitchen sweetie." A sweet but slightly raspy voice came from the other room.
Delia Ketchum's frail form was leaning over the kitchen counter. Even before Ash had entered the room, he could smell a familiar scent of her world-famous triple chocolate chip cookies.
"You sure know how to determine my arrival." He gave her a smile as he took a bite into one of the cookies. It was perfectly cooked, chewy with the chocolate all melted and gooey. Flawless every time. She had sent a whole batch to him while he was away and his squad had gone through them so fast that he had only gotten two. They were delicious enough to make him keep any further packages of them locked inside a drawer in his quarters.
"You even told me when you'd get here."
No matter how many times he had tried to get her to leave, Delia refused to part ways with their old house. The neighbors and strangers alike had kept their distance, ever since word had broken out that her son was now a Commando, the last person anyone wanted to piss off. It definitely was odd that the sweet sick woman was still living in a neighborhood full of crime, however she would only move out of the house when her life did.
Two years ago, Delia was diagnosed with a rare form of amyloidosis, the body's buildup of unprocessed proteins in her kidneys that was almost always deemed terminal. The doctors had recommended a chemotherapy treatment to help alleviate it; however the expense was too much. Ash was off in the military, putting all the spare salary he earned towards getting the treatment, however it still wasn't enough. Even his transfer into the Commandos hardly made a difference in the high medical bill that would follow. More unsettling news was that the disease was making her weaker.
"How are you feeling mom?" Ash's tone carried hints of concern, as it was evident what his true question was.
Delia looked down at herself, over time she had lost weight and her appearance had quickly changed to someone a full decade older. The chemotherapy treatment wasn't working as effectively as planned and it was taking a hard toll on both her physical and mental self.
"I spoke with the doctors a couple days ago. It's bad news. My body's shutting down," She sighed, "I have a month…maybe two."
Ash went pale, but quickly regained his composure, "Okay mom, so what's the plan? We can get you more powerful drugs."
"That's not it,"
"What do you mean that's not it? You gotta fight this thing!"
"Ash sweetie," She pleaded, "Whatever it is, it won't work!"
"Is it a money problem?" He asked, "I can get a loan and use my own salary."
Her hands had the appearance of slightly gnarled roots, but they were silky soft when they made contact with his fingers, "Ash, I'm not going to be cooped up in some hospital and ingesting poison for the rest of my life, knowing that I am too far gone to be saved. Besides, you have a whole future ahead of you. You're not even thirty yet! The money that you have needs to go to a better use elsewhere. For a house, for a family and for your future."
"Can't believe you're saying this."
"I've lived my life to my fullest and I have no regrets. You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to both me and your father," Ash visibly stiffened at the mention of him, "It's just that moment where Arceus is ready to take me." She held his hands in hers, "Everything will be okay. When I do go, don't worry, this won't be the last time we see each other."
The hardened Commando nodded at her words, remaining silent and enjoying the peace the two of them had together, "You're not one to take orders are you?"
"And you are?" She playfully teased. Just as he was about to make a smart mouthed reply, his phone began to ring. Looking at the ID, he groaned.
"No groaning in the house," Delia scolded, causing him to laugh it off.
"Work always finds me. Just like trouble," He answered the phone, "Ketchum."
"Lieutenant," It was Surge, "I need you back on base ASAP."
"ASAP?" Ash looked at his mother, "Sir, my mother is terribly ill and could pass at any time. Are you sure you need me?"
"Yes. They requested you specifically."
"Okay, I'd like some time to spend with my mother though. Give me two days and I'll be on the first flight to Vermillion on the third."
"Listen Ketchum," Surge's voice softened, "I understand you're going through a tough time at the moment. I get it. However, this needs a clear head and an even tempered approach. No mistakes. If you need to take additional time off from two days, I can give you a maximum of a week, but this is a major thing for the Federation and you're going to be a big part of it."
"Okay," Ash agreed, only after seeing Delia nod towards him. "What do you have for me?"
So with a mission success and another one looming around the corner, Ash is now facing the fact that his mother may not have very much longer to live. I was hoping to capture part of his childhood in this chapter and show that his mother is a massive influence on his character. I had an uncle that died from the same disease that she has contracted here.
Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing, you give my writing purpose.