If I Were A Boy
Keith: Where have you been?!
Zenya: why is it that you had time to write a one shot with me in it and post it on this thing?
Me: That one shot is a product of procrastination and my brain not shutting about the amazing idea it hard. I thought it turned out pretty good.
Zenya: Good? I ended up with him! *points at Jackie*
Jackie: okay, now you're just being mean
Keith: answer me woman!
Me: Life can get busy and sometimes it's hard to come up with enough stuff to plan out a chapter.
Keith: you took Nathan for something, what was it? You've been kind of suspicious lately around here!
Me: I, um, have actually started to write out this story that I've been planning for a long time: Misadventures of Moon and Friends. However, I'm not sure if it's ready to be presented to the world.
Nathan: I've had to sit through three chapters of that nonsense at least.
Me: but its an OC centered fanfiction so I want to make sure that it's not crappy.
Nathan: paranoid person
Summer: can we at least start so that we can figure out what happens next?
Me: Keith, you're slacking
Keith: I'm slacking?!
Summer: oh for the love of Arceus! pokelover0ash does not own anything but her OCs!
Keith: someone's impatient
Me: and for once it's not you or Ben O.O
Keith: where did this story leave off anyways?
Me: good question *looks at the last chapter* Oh, I was leading up to the festival thing...
Keith: any bright ideas?
Me: many, but not many that are too helpful
Keith: =.="
Me: Lightbulb! Ben's been bugging me about his screen time!
Keith: so? oh...I see where you're going with this
Summer: why is it that sometimes you two share a brain?
Me: no idea, viewers please remember that in the story most people think and call Summer "Sam" (and people in the story think that Jewels is a girl)
Ben: hey! What did I miss? Do I get a super awesome part?
Keith: I guess you could say that
Chapter 7
Ben's P.O.V.
I looked at the boards to see my scores and classroom assignments. I cheered when I saw that I had all my classes with Sam, well all except for a few of my academics, but I can't be good at everything, or rather, I can never pay attention long enough to bother with good at everything. I had a lot of classes with Lunick and Nathan too. Lunick grew up as the son of one of the most influential men in the region so he can occasionally be a killjoy and spoiled prick, but I've been stuck with him too many times for me to say that the part of Lunick that he tends to show to everyone else isn't most of him. He is a fun loving goofy guy like me, but I think his childhood was just too rough. Not like it's my place to say anything, but his mother did leave him and his father when he was little. His father is a busy man and life was never easy despite what everyone thinks. Makes me glad that my family has never been involved in politics. Nathan is antisocial, a bit of a killjoy, and on the arrogantly annoying side. I would say he's one of those cold hearted people, but I've seen the picture that sits on the night stand by his bed, the one he always stares at before going to bed. It's a picture of him with people that I'm going to assume are his friends. He looked embarrassed and like he wasn't expecting to be part of the picture, but those people in it must mean a lot to him. In the picture, a young brown haired girl was hugging his arm, making him be a part of the picture. The girl had a beautiful bright smile and she was also lightly holding onto a short purple haired kid who could be a boy or a girl for all I know (girls are strange back in trainer regions, they cut their hair and dress and act like boys). The purple haired kid was startled and obviously in the middle of an argument with a black haired boy who wasn't much taller than the kid or the girls. Wrapping her arms around the brunette's neck was a blue haired girl. I wonder who those people are and if the brunette is single or if the blunette is nice.
Sam Layton is the best and I'm glad that I'm able to room with the cousin of one of the Top Rangers. Granted Sam doesn't seem to be very popular like Lunick is, but the scrawny guy has skill and heart on top of having a brain (something I don't always use very well, or so I'm told).
"Ben, stop creeping us out," Sam said and I blinked, startled. Sam was staring at me with his brown eyes. Some of his features seemed too soft to be a guy's, but then again, no puberty yet and some guys just happen to be like that. I smiled sheepishly as I realized that I had been staring at my roommates while being lost in thought.
"Hey Lunick, keep the weirdo away from the girls when they come, don't want him making any of the ladies uncomfortable," one of the guys said. Sam rolled his eyes and Lunick looked ticked. Crap, I don't want him getting in a fight because of me. Why do I sound like a worrying female? Whatever. I'll question that later.
"Yeah, Lunick, we have a responsibility to make sure the girls aren't uncomfortable," Nathan commented as he continued to read whatever book he was reading. Wait, what? He marked his page and looked up. "There's a bunch of trash here that needs to be cleaned up or at least swept to the side." He looked at the guy who was trying to start a fight with us with cold serious eyes. One look alone and you could tell Nathan believed that he could easily take care of them with a flick of a wrist.
"For once, I agree with you," Lunick replied as he cracked his knuckles.
"If I were you, then I'd apologize quickly and run fast," Sam commented as he opened up a textbook to study from. He's such a studious person and thankfully not a bad tutor.
"What was that wimp? You can't even lift more than forty pounds in gym," another guy said and Sam tried to get lost in the book, but how can you get absorbed into a textbook, those things are so boring! Also, can you even be absorbed into any book? I've heard osmosis of information doesn't work, so maybe not.
"You're asking for it," Lunick said. Lunick didn't particularly like Sam or Nathan, especially not Nathan though those two are ironically similar, but he was slowly grow loyalty bonds to them and growing fond of them.
"Quick or slow and painful? Hurry up because I'm in a bad mood," Nathan said.
"What is going on here?" A teacher asked. It was Mr Wilmouth, our homeroom teacher. "The ladies will be arriving in less than ten minutes! No fighting and clean up a little!" We all glared at each other but we let the fight slide. The four of us got window seats to watch the girls. Well, I was watching girls, Nathan and Sam seem to care less about checking out girls (which means they're gay, have a girlfriend, or one of those strange breeds of boys I've heard of that just don't focus on that). All the girls were dressed up in their own cute nice outfits. I've seen their uniforms, they're hilarious. I'd hate to wear them. I made a mental note of which girls to talk to and flirt with. A girl with beautiful blonde hair that was curled who was wearing a red dress. She looked so cute, she could be a model. A girl with brown hair pulled back in a braid wearing this soft pink dress that was kind of white. She looked adorable and petite. Another girl that stood out to me had purple hair and was wearing a white flowy skirt and a brown camisole with a black sweater. The girl kind of reminded me of the kid in Nathan's picture, but that must be pure coincidence. We walked over to the meet them out of obligation. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who cares about getting a girlfriend or anything romance related. After the formalities, almost everyone honed in on the girls I wanted to talk to! Not fair.
"SAM!" The girl in the pink dress exclaimed as she ran, white heels clicking on the floor.
"NATHAN!" The purple haired girl exclaimed as she too started to run. Nathan visibly flinched for the first time ever (that I've seen) and I caught him looking around for an exit. Sam had a smile on his face until he saw what they were wearing.
"SAVE US!" The two exclaimed as they latched onto Sam and Nathan.
"Nice to you too, Karrie," Sam said as he petted the girl's head. Karrie, wait, as in Karrie Chandler? A tomboy beauty of Chicole Village?! Wah! Sam's so lucky! She's so hot! "What are you wearing?"
"Rhythmi made do it, the school can't kick me out so they decide to punish me by making me wear this stuff and do other stuff," the girl replied.
"Let go," Nathan said as he tried to pry the purple head girl off of him. Is that his girlfriend? "Jewels, let go."
"No! Not until you get me out this awful place!" The purple haired girl whined. Is Operator School that awful? I looked around and noticed that all the girls were trying to sneak glares of hate at the two girls. A few were glaring at the purple haired girls, but part of me wonders if that's because she's latched onto Nathan. If they only knew his personality, then they wouldn't be so jealous, but that's my own opinion.
"Women are so weak," Lunick commented and I sweat dropped. Yeah, did I mention that because of his childhood, Lunick has very bad view of women? He's pretty sexist, I guess to a point. Sometimes I wonder if he hates the female population. The girl with Sam stopped whining and looked up at Lunick with a glare so deadly that I'm starting to get why Kellyn warned us not to mess with Karrie. Sam glared at him too. I wonder why.
"Let go." Nathan said.
"You're mean! If I was Moon, then I would have been comforted and out of here by now!" The purple haired girl exclaimed. Nathan looked like he was very close to committing murder. Who is Moon?
"Stop being such a wimp," Nathan replied. "Besides, she wouldn't be acting like you in your situation. And leave her out of this! I'll get a dusknoir. Let go." The girl let go and looked like she had seen her life flash in front of her eyes. What's so bad about dusknoirs?
"You're girlfriend is pathetic," Lunick commented.
"Not my girlfriend," Nathan replied. "Best friend. Friends because she latched onto me."
"Nathan's great and all, but imperfect when it comes to considering marriage partners," the purple haired girl said as she brought her hand to her chin as if she was one of those prince-like characters out of a manga or anime.
"Would you stop pretending that there is a glittery rose covered backdrop behind you?" The other girl asked as she stopped hugging Sam. Glad I'm not the only one who noticed that.
"Would you stop complaining about have to dress like a girl even though you are one?" The purple haired girl asked and the two glared at each other. I'm confused. Are they friends, rivals, or enemies?
"Anyways, guys, this is Karrie Chandler, my cousin's, Summer's, BFF and a really good friend of mine," Sam said.
"Nice to meet you," the girl said with a shy smile. So adorable.
"My name is Jewels, a childhood friend of Nathan's," the purple haired girl said as she put her hands on her hips. She gave off the impression of 'bow down to me, peasants' so I'm not sure how I feel about her.
"Ben Kennedy at your service," I said with a bow. Both girls smiled and nodded. No giggles like I was hoping, though I did catch Sam trying not to laugh and biting his lip.
"Lunick Arlington, try not to forget it," Lunick said coldly. Karrie glared at him as Jewels smoothed out her clothes.
I eventually got to talk to the other girl too. Her name is Mindy. I'll be competing against most of the guys at my school, but I'll try to see what I can do, though Karrie would be a nice catch too.
Keith's P.O.V.
Alright, let's get the bad guys! Still have no idea what Kaleb means by equals! Still avoiding Rhythmi like the plague!
I ran down the halls of the Ranger Union and gathered my team up before heading over to the ice castle where reports of the armed enemy have been coming from.
Oh hey, look at that sexy butt. Oh, Wendy's looking good today.
I winked at her and Wendy laughed while wagging her finger at me, scolding me.
"Flattered, but never happenin'," Wendy said and I laughed.
In the freezing tundra, there isn't much to look at female wise. It's all covered up by jackets and snow pants. Stupid brain, stop being so pervy. I need to work.
"When will you ever learn?" A woman with a lot of curves, mocha skin, and blood red hair asked me. She may be an enemy, but I still think she's hot.
"Let's go grab a bite and we'll see," I replied, acting cocky. The woman laughed.
"Flirting, are we Keith?" The woman asked. This isn't the first time we've crossed paths. "Give it up and face it, you're going to lose this war." One of these days, I really need to get her to me her name.
"Not happening, now release the pokemon you've stolen!" I said. "If you don't start talking, then I'm going to have to start by searching you." A pervy comeback, but come on, if you saw her, then you'd understand completely.
"Aw, Keithy doesn't want to play with me," the woman purred. "It's a shame really, you are handsome, but so unfaithful. Your poor girlfriend."
"Don't be hating on me, kitten," I replied before setting my jaw firm. Rhythmi deserves better, but no matter what, getting rid of her seems to be impossible.
"Commander! We got what we could away before the rangers could set everything free," a male grunt said.
"Good boy, proud of you guys," the woman said before looking at me. "I'm sorry we couldn't go a few rounds like last time, but maybe this will make up for it." She took out a handgun from her pocket and a shot sounded. I hissed as I fell onto the ground while holding onto my leg as I swore out loud. "Wouldn't want you to ruin our plans or get hurt more. Consider that your warning." I got up and ran over to her, ignoring the searing pain. I went to throw a punch only to be pulled back by someone and thrown to the ground. A gun barrel pressed against my head. I forced my eyes open despite the splitting headache as I tried to figure out who my assailant is. A platinum blonde woman with green eyes stared at me with zero emotion.
"Who are you?"I managed to ask.
"Love, it's not that hard to figure out, is it?" The redhead asked before applying pressure to my wound with her heel. I cried out in pain. That freaking hurts!
"All you need to know is that you're going to lose, so just give up already," the blonde woman said before removing the gun from my head. "Tie ropes to the rock and the secure his wrists to them. He can't follow us and needs to be an example." The grunt obeyed and, surprisingly, so did the other woman. Whomever the blonde woman was, she held the most power out of the three. I was dragged along and my hands were tied up to a rock. The platinum blond woman pulled out a knife and stabbed my stomach. It wasn't supposed to be fatal, thank goodness. Though that doesn't matter if I manage to lose too much blood or get hypothermia. They left after a few kicks and punches and my team quickly found me soon after. A note was found at my side that told us their next target. I closed my eyes as I was rushed to the hospital.
Why did they assume that it was something easy to figure out? Has Team Dim Sun risen from the ashes? No, they're not bright enough for something like this. Who is behind this? Who is pulling the string? And why was I shot at and stabbed?!
Kellyn's P.O.V.
Somehow I got the short stick on this one. We actually drew lots to decide who was going to break the news to Rhythmi. So here I am, hoping to catch Rhythmi not busy here at Operator School. Thank goodness that the girls were visiting the Ranger School today. Fan girls can be so obnoxious.
"Rhythmi!" I yelled as I spotted the blonde Operator.
"Kellyn! What brings you here?" Rhythmi asked.
"Um, well, I'd hate to be the bringer of bad news," I said, hoping that Rhythmi doesn't have a complete breakdown.
"Oh no, did Keith said you to break up with me? Or did he really cheat on me?" Rhythmi asked, panicking.
"Um, if that was the case, then I would have made him tell you yourself," I replied. Why is she still with Keith? Someone explain that to me. Poor Isaac. "You see, Keith has just been admitted to the hospital." Rhythmi's eyes widened. "He was injured on his last mission by the ice castle. They say it shouldn't be life threatening, but he might not be able to be as active as he typically is for a long while." Rhythmi gasped and covered her mouth.
"What happened?" Rhythmi asked. "Can I visit him?"
"He's not allowed any visitors for the next couple of days, but the hospital is supposed to call you when visitors are allowed."I replied. "Keith was passed out by the time they got him to the hospital and his team just found him tied to a rock bleeding in the snow so no one is sure what happened."
"Oh man, this is horrible," Rhythmi said. "I've been worrying about infidelity while he fights for his life. I'm horrible."
"This just happened today, Keith flirts and dances along the line between cheating and innocent fun constantly," I replied as I tried to get the blonde girl from getting in the wrong mindset. She gets her mindset and no matter what, you can't change it, you have to wait it out. "Not your fault. You have nothing to do with it and Keith is expected to make a full recovery, or were you not listening to me when I was talking about his condition in the hospital."
"What do I do Kellyn?" Rhythmi asked with tears in her eyes.
"Um," I replied, trying to think of what to say. Break up with Keith? Leave him be? Yell that he should have been left there bleeding? Find a new boyfriend? Give up on Keith alright? "If I know Keith like I do, then he'll come back kicking in no time. Don't worry about his health. Rhyth, I'm concerned though about your relationship with him, with you. Your relationship with him, it's not healthy." I got slapped across the face. Should have kept my mouth shut about their relationship. Heck, even Kaleb avoids talking about it and he's the brutally honest one. I bet Zenya would say something, but she rarely speaks and yeah... Rhythmi's slaps hurt.
"Kellyn! I love him!" Rhythmi rolled down her face from her yellow eyes. "It hurts so much to be his girlfriend, but at least I get to be with him!"
"You can be by his side as a friend too, you know," I said as I got out some tissues. I keep them around just in case Kate gets me dirty with whatever she works on. "You deserve so much better and I think even Keith would agree with me when I say that you do." I handed her a tissue. "It hurts a lot, but you're strong. I know that you could walk away and come back so much stronger. Find someone who will stay true and dedicated to you and only you."
"You can't know that, you've never gone through this before," Rhythmi said and I sighed.
"That you've heard of at least," I replied. "When I was in Sinnoh, I got rejected by a trainer. Surprisingly, fate has it played out so that we crossed paths again, except this time she's happily in a relationship." I smiled as I thought about Ashleigh. "I got over it and when I came back from Sinnoh, I got stuck with Kate, something that hadn't happened in such a long time. I realized that I fell in love with her only to find out that she was dating someone else. To add salt in the wound, Kate told me that I was like a brother." Rhythmi was shocked.
"She didn't," Rhythmi exclaimed. "I'm going to have to talk with Kate."
"Don't you dare spill the beans about my feelings for her," I said as blushed and glared at her.
"Who was the trainer from Sinnoh? Isn't Kaleb's girl-oh...isn't that awkward?" Rhythmi asked.
"Well, not as awkward as you'd expect it to be," I replied as I scratched the back of my head. "I'm honestly happy for both of them, no ill feelings."
"How is your sob story supposed to help me anyways?" Rhythmi asked as she dried her eyes. I shrugged. "Kellyn, sometimes you're not the brightest bulb of the mix, despite being at the top of your class."
"Technically, I was second, but only because Kaleb is a pain in the butt," I said as I crossed my arms. I lost the position of being top of the class to Kaleb by a good couple of points. Kaleb's grades were a little too perfect in school. At least I got most of the speaking roles because people like me better than him, probably has something to do with his death glares and shyness.
"In all the chick flicks I've seen and the romance books, this typically comes before the guy comforting the girl starts to date the girl," Rhythmi said and I shook my head.
"No offense, but the two of us should just stay friends," I replied. "I'm not sure if it would be good for either us to start dating."
"Not like I'm bothered by it, but why?" Rhythmi asked.
"We both have feelings for other people," I replied and Rhythmi tried to hide a little smile.
"You still love Kate," Rhythmi commented and I blushed. "Kellyn, I'll think about what you said. Right now, I will try to be there for him during this difficult time, but I will think over our relationship." I nodded, glad that ended better than I expected it.
Jackie's P.O.V.
I walked up to the door of the mechanic room for the fifth time with a broken styler in my hand. I had crushed it yesterday when I heard about Keith getting admitted into the hospital. I saw him and he looks awful and pale. Walking in a room and asking for it to be fixed would be easy, if it wasn't for the fact that I knew exactly who was in there: Zenya. I went to open the door, but something stopped me. I hate this feeling. Why am I afraid? I went to pace again when the door opened. Zenya glared down at me and it didn't help that she looked exhausted with bags under her eyes. Oh and yes she's taller than me! It's not fair!
"Oh hey Zennie!" I exclaimed cheerfully.
"It's Zenya and you're annoying, pacing back and forth like that, just open the darn door if you need something," Zenya snapped. Quick to the point as always.
"Oh you noticed," I commented while awkwardly laughing and rubbing the back of my head. Stupid Jackie! This is Zenya we're talking about! There's nothing she doesn't notice! Zenya looked down at my styler before looking back at me. She sighed and pulled me into the room before shutting the door. I opened my mouth to make a comment about how forceful she was in a flirtatious kind of way, but she glared at me so I shut my mouth. She grabbed some tools and cleared space on a work bench. She pulled over two stools.
"Sit," Zenya said as she grabbed my styler and sat on one stool.
"Trying to be the dominant one, are we?" I asked in a teasing manner and Zenya glared at me. "Just trying to make a joke." I looked around and noticed that a shooting range had been set up in part of the lab area and there was a lot of stuff around regarding weapons and tracking. Typically the place is filled with a mix of all the mechanics that work in the room, but Zenya must have been working for a while on something big or there was something the mechanics knew that no one was telling the rangers.
"You got angry again, stop taking it out on your equipment," Zenya commented as she took apart my styler, trying to salvage as many key parts as possible.
"They got Keith," I said, avoiding the fact that she was right. I really did need to find something other than crushing my styler and any other equipment they give me whenever I'm mad. Zenya stayed silent. "We're not even allowed to go after them." It's not Zenya's fault, but my temper began to boil.
"They used a handgun, one that is fairly easy to get on the black market and is very commonly sold in gun shops," Zenya said. "The other injuries were made by a six inch knife, I can write down the exact details and you can happen to look at them. A note was found with him telling us their next target. I'm close to narrowing down suspects based on ink, paper, and handwriting. Only Keith's DNA was found on it."
"What are you doing?" I asked. "That's breaking protocol!"
"So? If things keep going on the way it is, then I'll probably be better off leaving this place either way," Zenya replied and I was shocked.
"You can't leave me," I blurted out. I didn't mean to make it personal. Zenya's eyebrows slightly rose.
"You don't need me, I'm a girl after all," Zenya said and I immediately was flooded by memories of every single sexist comment and action I've said and done around and to Zenya. Why have I been such a fool and a pig? I clenched at my heart. Why have I refused to see that women can be equals when I've always known somewhere inside me that Zenya has always been my equal and then some? And the information that was withheld from us that Zenya just told me, why are secrets being kept away from us? And why do I have a feeling that there are more secrets lurking in the darkness?
I looked up, breathing heavily. Zenya actually looked concerned for my well being. I took a gulp of air and tried to not pant.
"The eyes and ears, have they been active?" I asked, hoping that Zenya would figure out that I was asking about the surveillance system.
"Everyone put your pants on!" A voice shouted and Zenya quickly hit a button and the shooting range went into hiding along with half of the other projects that were visibly going on. What on earth is going on with the mechanic department? The door opened and Professor Hastings walked in.
"Security detected a glitch in the feed, is everything alright?" A man asked as he stepped in. My eyes widened. What was Mr. Arlington doing here? He was one of the heads of the board! Professor Hastings looked around and found an outlet sparking.
"Ah, there's the problem, Mr Walker must have tripped and accidentally messed with the electricity flow for the room." Professor Hastings said. Is that even a thing? And why am I the klutz?
"I see, well, please be more careful," Mr. Arlington said. I'm not sure if he quite believed the professor. "I have a meeting to go to." He went to leave, but stopped to look at the professor one more time. "I'd be careful professor, real careful."
"I will," Professor Hastings replied and the man left. The old man looked at me and then back at Zenya. His bushy eyebrows rose.
"More or less," Zenya said. "You really need to invent a heavy duty styler for people like him."
"Or convince the board to give him free anger management classes," Professor Hastings replied. "But then again, he does seem to have you to rely on for help." I caught sight of something rare: pink dust on Zenya's cheeks. Woah, wait, does she have feelings for me? Why am I excited and happy that she may like me romantically? Do I have a crush on her or something? But my type is typically big bust and wide hips as well as shorter than me (which is the exact opposite of Zenya, may I remind you that?) "There may be a better material to use to make stylers, but who could spare time to do that research?" I thought hard and physically stopped Zenya from volunteering herself. I had a feeling she already had a lot on her plate. This is freaking weird. I need to figure out why I care so much and what is my deal with Zenya.
"Kate or Wendy, what about them?" I asked. "Or Elita?"
"I'll contact Elita, it may be easier for her," Professor Hastings replied. "Good work, Walker."
"Err, thanks," I replied and Zenya broke free from me. I barely registered that I had my arms around her and had been holding on to her wrists. "About my styler, can't I just get a new one? Kate and Wendy normally do that. Just transfer the data or something." Zenya froze and Professor Hastings coughed.
"We can fix it," Professor Hastings said quietly. "Tell me, who do you trust more? Strangers in a manufacturing building or one of us?"
"Are you implying that someone could be trying to tampering with our equipment?" I asked.
"We don't know if someone is or if someone will in the future," Zenya quietly replied. This is the most I've heard her say in month, or rather months. "The attacks are becoming more bold and frequent. It's not out of the question that they'll try to go after our equipment to come after us."
"I only asked because these times have made someone with Zenya's roots very paranoid," Professor Hastings said. "Which is why I request that you go to Zenya as your personal mechanic. I can't have my brilliant minds wandering elsewhere and not solving the problems at hand."
"Are you implying that Zenya cares about me or likes me in a romantic sense?" I asked. "Because to me, it seems like she hates me."
"I don't hate you, I hate the fact that you have succumbed to the sexist ideology in this region," Zenya replied. Woah, big words and lots of words coming from her today. She's worried about me and it makes me happy and guilty that I often forget that there actually people in this world who do genuinely care about me.
"Alright, I will, on one condition, where are Zenya's roots?" I asked. Professor Hastings looked at Zenya and she nodded. Her eyes reflected back internal turmoil. What exactly has she been carrying by herself all this time?
"Orre," Professor Hastings replied. "One of the most unstable regions known." My heart went out for Zenya. I had the desire to protect her and comfort her, a desire that was stronger now than ever. These feelings that have towards Zenya and these thoughts related to her, what do they mean? Who should I consult? Zenya is out of the question. If I ask a girl, then she'll blab. Who would be able to help me? Who can I trust? Sven is just like me, so I don't think he'll be much help. Spencer is too far away. Joel is far away and far too geeky. I don't think Keith would be able to help much given his record. So Kellyn and Kaleb? This may hurt my pride a little too much and I'm not sure how that would work. But I have to try right? Which one should I go to first? Kaleb has a girlfriend and though I'd rather not have to confide in him, maybe he would be the wisest decision.
Normal P.O.V.
"That's not our initial target," a young woman (maybe old teenager) with blonde hair that almost looked white or silver and green eyes said as she spoke into a phone. "We'll keep an eye on the professor... The mechanics weren't initially viewed as a threat, but the more restricted to their job descriptions, the less of a threat they'll become... That's something to bring up on your end, sir...My only concern with the trainers that are visiting the region is that now we have the rumored head of the Shadow Crew, an anti-criminal underground organization, and one of the rumored admins of Black Royalty, one of the greatest criminal organizations the world had seen in centuries, in Almia. With those two, it's hard to tell what they're planning, but I don't think they'll be stupid enough to be too active and they probably won't try to be in the frontlines and be a direct threat especially if I keep myself from being identified by them. I can take care of them on an individual basis, but if they work together, then we may have something to worry about." She waited for a reply. "True, that would be nasty and sneaky of you, pulling their strings to get rid of your own enemies and make yourself look better. I like it." She smiled. "Of course you have my support." She hung up and a twisted evil smile appeared on her face as she chuckled. "Fools, all of them, they have no idea how elaborate this web is."
"Agent Jazz!" A curvaceous redheaded woman exclaimed as she ran over to the blonde woman.
"Kókkino, what's the problem?" The woman asked.
"Master would like to speak with you," Kókkino replied. "Also, the experimental controls seem to be working well. Where did you get all that amazing research and data?"
"I'm glad, but let's just say I came across it by chance in the past," Jazz said before walking with the woman to the head honcho.
Meanwhile, Hannah and Rose were having a stare down. Nick was hiding behind a counter and carefully eating candy. Lyra had a bowl of Halloween candy and she was eating it like popcorn as she watched the two teenagers/young adults.
"Can't we just both accept the fact that both of you have a horrible past and have a horrible habit of trying to take secrets to your graves?" Sarah asked as she cooked lunch.
"Why are you here? What is here that benefits you?" Hannah asked.
"Nick," Rose replied.
"Leave me out of this," Nick commented.
"Yeah, and it's not like he'll ever be much of a benefit to anyone," Sarah added.
"Hey!" Nick exclaimed and Sarah shrugged.
"It's true though, you lazy bum," Sarah replied.
"I'll spill if you spill," Rose said with a sly smile.
"Suspicious activities," Hannah calmly replied.
"That's real specific," Lyra commented and Hannah glared at her. "Right, not helping."
"I suspect there is something going on behind the scenes that runs deeper than anyone initially suspected." Hannah elaborated.
"Why so paranoid?" Emily asked as she got ready to go a bike ride. "Can't a government have issues and not have a huge big conspiracy behind it?"
"I'm here for essentially the same reason," Rose said.
"Is this the end of the world or something?" Dark mumbled.
"Maybe, because I actually agree with both of them," Nick said and all eyes were on him. "Rakutsu contacted me recently, there have been some odd transactions that people have been trying to cover up around here for a while now." Nick sighed. "Rose, you're company has been trying to cover up a huge security breach." Rose tried to not look surprised. Hannah was impressed. "Hannah, some of the activities happening here can be traced back to the remnants of old criminal organizations that you've unofficially helped take down." Hannah looked surprised as Rose gave her a smug look.
"When did you get useful?" Sarah asked.
"And since when did he know more than us?" Lyra asked. Teah walked in while putting in earrings.
"Simple, the International Police have been interested in recruiting Nick for some time now," Teah said and Nick tried to protest. "Don't bother, nothing gets past the female population."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nick asked.
"That and I have blackmail against Rakutsu and Looker so I was able to get them to tell me," Teah replied with a shrug.
"And people think I'm scary," Hannah mumbled.
"Darn it, I knew I should have tried that," Sarah said as she snapped her fingers.
"What do you have against Rakutsu?" Nick asked.
"I take a lot of pictures," Sarah replied with a shrug.
"Women are dangerous and to be feared," Nick commented as he rolled his eyes. "So I might actually go through with accepting the invitation and becoming an officer, who knows?"
"Why you and not Hannah?" Lyra asked.
"She's done more," Emily added, agreeing with Lyra.
"Most of what she's done is borderline illegal," Cassidy commented.
"They can't let someone with her past into the International Police," Rose commented with a smirk.
"I'd refuse anyways, too restricting," Hannah added, trying to ignore that her rival was right.
"So does this mean we're all working together on this?" Sarah asked. Everyone stared at each other.
"I think that it's in all of our best interest to work together," Rose replied calmly. "Though I detest the thought of it."
"Same," Hannah said in agreement.
"If that's the case, then we need to work fast and in the shadows." Dark said. "I have a feeling that the deeper we search, the higher the chance we'll find someone who connects it all."
"I don't like this, but I feel like there is a strong chance that Jazz could have a hand in all of this." Rose said.
"But if she is, then who is she working for?" Hannah asked. "She used to work for your father." Rose's jaw tightened.
"I always had a feeling that working for my father was just a cover for her true motives," Rose replied. "Jazz, now that is a person who is so twisted and in the shadows on the inside that even someone like me can't see more than the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her. Until she slips up or we manage to uncover enough, we won't know the exact person she works for. For herself, for others, it's hard to tell."
"Right, our common enemy," Hannah commented with a nod.
"I think I remember her, we battled against her, remember Sarah?" Nick said and Sarah nodded after taking a moment to think.
"That battle was too easy," Sarah quietly replied.
"So something tells me we're not just going on a girl power campaign, are we?" Lyra asked.
"I hate politics," Emily commented.
"We'll do what we can to help," Cassidy added.
"Well, let's do this girl power thing! This place needs some joy and a distraction," Teah cheered. "So let's give it to them!" Everyone nodded.
~end of chapter~
Me: holy crap, do I surprise myself or what?
Ben: when I said I wanted more screen time, I didn't mean I wanted to be mentally exposed.
Keith: I got shot at! And stabbed!
Kellyn: I was slapped T.T
Karrie: I wore a dress
Jackie: I broke my styler and I'm confused what is happening between me and Zenya
Zenya: you and me both
Nick: I'm a future policeman...
Hannah & Rose: O.O we're actually agreeing to work together.
Dark: what is up with this plot? It's intense already
Me: *shrugs*
Kaleb: I didn't have a part in this chapter =)
Ashleigh: why are you happy about that?
Kate: yeah, some of us have to grateful for the little time we get
Kaleb: I have my reasons
Lunick: why does there seem to be mystery and darkness surrounding my father's character?
Me: you'll see eventually
Rhythmi: Kate, we need to talk
Kate: about what?
Rhythmi: Kellyn is like a brother to you?
Kate: can we talk about it later?
Rhythmi: T.T fine
Me: someone do the review reminder!
Emily: REVIEW THE STORY! WE LIKE TO READ STUFF!
Cassidy: that was brilliant *slowly claps*
Emily: thanks =D