Chapter 12: Sheer cold
Mid-morning
Kanto
Dex criminal's hideout.
There was a knock on the door, pulling himself off his bed, Lack-2 crossed the carpet and opened it, his senior, Gold stared back at him with red rimmed eyes and ironically, a bright smile.
"Say" the black haired adolescent started, "we don't look too good do we? May I come in?" Without a word, the boy relented and let Gold into his room, he briefly caught his reflection in a mirror. His eyes too were red and swollen. Grabbing his visor off a table, he set it on uncombed hair and slumped back into his bed whilst the older trainer grabbed a chair and sat opposite him. The duo looked at each other.
"Is everything going okay?" Gold tinted irises searched for an answer but the boy's expression was heavily guarded. He was still in pajamas and his bedroom was neatly organized, all the books were in their shelves, his clothes were in the wardrobe instead of carpeting the floor, a portable computer lay closed on a study desk. After taking all of this in, the Johto native's attention turned back to the brooding child before him. He decided to ask him another question:
"What were you doing last night? I came to fetch you for training bu-"
"I was busy" came the frigid answer, Lack-2 noticed his senior's face turn a shade darker, "I was...Busy. No matter what I do, I can't escape from this place, I hate this place with a passion, Mom and dad are probably worried. And Red. Arceus that man is a monster." He finished his rant and breathed heavily and another thought came to him. Gold sitting so casually in front of him might also be categorized as a monster. After all he was trained by the champion. "Dewott has evolved and I still can't chip off any health from Aerodactyl," he looked up briefly and their gazes met, "personally, I feel like he is insulting me by using a pokemon with a type disadvantage." Letting out a defeated moan, he crashed back into his comforting duvet and stared at the ceiling. Due to Whi-2's insistence, it was decorated by his Pokemon Zodiac sign, a Bouffalant. While he had zero interest in astrological signs, it was a great way to impress girls so he stuck with it. Now it seems like the bovine creature was mocking him from the heavens. Even so, when the lights were out and the room plunged with darkness, the faint glow provided a small source of comfort to him.
"Senior Red is not so bad, you must be privileged to be able to spar with him and there are people, trainers out there who'd kill to be in your position." Gold decided to mildly point out.
"Kill to be in my position?" The brown haired boy exclaimed and sat up abruptly, eyes wide with scorn, "sure they would. Or probably not after they find out that he and Green are the reason why so many legendries are disappearing. It messes with the balance of the world. Did you see the news? Thanks to Rayquayza being absent, some mysterious alien pokemon destroyed one of the cities in Hoenn. Obviously that does not concern you does it?...What...What do you people want anyway?"
"Dunno" the older trainer answered with his hands folded behind his head "They might've told us but I didn't care to listen." He got off the chair and began dragging it back to its proper place. "Maybe you would've stopped questioning all this if you took a good look at them. They both look very lonely. Red once disappeared into a mountain because he got bored, a nationwide search was unable to find him, finally false news was spread about something happening to Green and he came over. Want to know where he went?" The neophyte nodded. "He hid himself in the mountain range bordering Kanto and Johto, the area is currently a no-man's land, neither region can claim it as theirs so they leave it as a dividing border separating the two regions. It was the perfect hiding place...Enough with these talks, let's head to breakfast and get training afterwards. You only have a starter right? I'll help you catch more pokemon if you like." Imparting these words, the black haired man strolled out of the room and Lack-2 watched him go in a crestfallen manner. He sat on his bed for a couple more minutes and eventually got dressed and went to eat.
The moment he slid the door apart and entered the kitchen, a cream covered cupcake flew out of nowhere and landed on his face. Hissing irritably, he took the pastry off and glared at the occupants in the room. Near the stoves Diamond and Pearl had turned around to look at him, the blonde sported a guilty grin. Inhaling deeply, the trainer ignored the whispering duo and trekked to the fridge. Peering into it, he debated between a can of lemonade or orange juice, finally making up his mind, he grabbed the can of lemonade and was about to leave the area when he ran into Whi-2. She and two seniors had just stepped over the threshold and were chatting in an animated manner. Not in a mood to join in their conversation, he discreetly exited and found Diamond holding out a sandwich.
"Sorry about earlier" he apologized "Pearl can get a bit hyperactive at times, you didn't have breakfast yet right? I made this for you." The teenager smiled earnestly and Lack-2 thanked him and took the package. He lingered outside the kitchen for a while and the mouthwatering aroma of various types of food made him miserable. Cheers and gleeful shouts emanated within, seems like the blonde teenager had started a ruckus again. Unwrapping the parcel, he bit into the sub and paused.
The stuff was delicious. Hungrily, he crammed the rest of the sandwich in his mouth and swallowed. Stuffing the wrapper into his pants pocket, he opened his soda and started drinking. With nothing else to do he meandered down the corridors and into his team's common room.
"Whoa!" Lack-2, a can of lemonade in his hand, stopped at the entrance of Execution's room. "You look different..." He gave his leader a wide berth, propped himself up and sat on the pool table with his legs dangling in the air. After taking a good swig of the fizzy lemon laced drink, he peeked at his superior once again. Red's normally upright and unruly bangs had been forced down and he looked a bit like Ruby, without the cowlick on the latter's head of course.
"Did I surprise you?" the man gave a courteous smile and the russet eyed male listlessly looked at him, "Blue did this. I'm going to Hoenn with a few of the other members of course, and since we need to capture Deoxys, we have to get to the Space Center, there will be lots of people so..."
"You have to fool them" the young trainer stated "I understand. Who are the people going with you? Am I on the list?"
A hand reached up and patted the stiff bangs arranging them neatly, finished with what he was doing, Red replied: "You were on the list before Green took your name down and put in Gold's. Apparently it's his punishment for doing what he pleases. Don't worry though; I'm sure you'll get to work in the field someday."
"Can't wait" the child muttered sarcastically under his breath, for all his expertise, Red could be so oblivious at times. Crushing the can, Lack-2 gulped the rest of the carbonated drink and was about to hop off the table when a few other people walked in. Green strode with a sulking Crystal in a tow, behind them, Gold and Pearl, still wearing a chef's hat, followed. No doubt, this was going to be the Deoxys capture team. Surprisingly a small pang of sympathy tugged his heartstrings. His so-called teacher was exhausted; the peak-capped trainer was rubbing his raw eyes vigorously. Next to him, the blue haired female passed him a bottle and he squirted the liquid into his eyes. Blinking rapidly, Gold spied his student and walked up to him. For his part, Lack-2 jumped off the table and joined his senior.
"Going on a mission again senior Gold?"
"Yeah" he black haired man answered forlornly and his voice dropped into a whisper. "Green is such a prick, just because Crys, Black and I decided to take a holiday, he goes and blows his underpants apart. Now Crys and I are being forced to work extra as punishment."
"I think you deserved it" A sly smile stretched across the youth's face. "Double punishment for neglecting me. Whi-2 and Silver are already best buds and poor old me has no one to play with." He shrugged and buried his hands deep inside his pockets. Throwing another complacent look, he shuffled out of the door. Gold watched him go.
"Deoxys is being held in a holding cell deep in the facility" Green opened the conversation and spread several photographs on the table. Pointing to one, he continued. "These are the pictures of the facility Whi-2 procured for us; we can use this to get a good idea of the interior of the laboratory. Since its capture, Mossdeep space Centre is holding several seminars discussing the pokemon, these conferences are open to both scientists and the public and therefore we are going to attend one. Thereafter one of us has to sneak in to the place where they are keeping the alien and set it free."
"I'll do it" a hand shot up and Green face-palmed much to the amusement of those present.
"Pearl, you are going to bring the laboratory down if yo-"
"Actually, it is a good idea" Red cut in firmly "Pearl can talk the guards and other facility members to death." The statement induced a few chuckles from the rest of the group and Green found himself relaxing.
"So it's settled. I'll be going with as well." At this snippet of information, a tense silence untangled in the room. No one was brave enough to speak against the strategy department's leader, not even his best friend. Red had opened his mouth to protest, eventually he decided against speaking out and swept his gaze around the others, he took in Gold's watering eyes and spoke up.
"Gold is exhausted Green, can't we give him a bre-"
"NO!" Thus the case was closed.
Hours later
Hoenn, Mossdeep city
Space center.
Pearl watched the screens disinterestedly. The entire capture team were currently sitting in a darkened amphitheater and next to him, his leader was furiously scribbling down every bit of information falling out of speaker's lips. A large screen showed the different formes of Deoxys and a scientist was currently pointing at the mauve crystal core and explaining its use. A few seats away, he caught both Gold and Red dozing, seems like they were as bored as he was. Stretching his arms, he consulted his Poketch and nimbly stood up from his padded seat. It was time to initiate the mission. Switching on the mike hidden on his person, he nudged his commander, who nodded in understanding and set out. Apologizing to the audience members, he exited the theatre and stopped to get his bearings. Pulling his striped sleeves down, he glanced left, right and began walking in a random direction.
He had no idea where he was going, several people had stopped him from accessing a restricted area and some doors could only be activated with a keycard. If anyone asked, he was lost and trying to find his way out. When the kind patrons pointed him into a particular direction, he took the opposite one. Eventually he reached the areas depicted in Whi-2's photographs.
And now he was utterly lost.
In the hangar-esque area, he had little time for admiring the assembled rockets and space shuttles. Without breaking stride, he confidently swaggered on to the other doorway. When he reached it, he was about to pass through when a small glass cabinet set against the wall caught his eye. Ignoring the several safety precautions taped on the surface, he gingerly pried it open and connected a palm computer to it. Instantaneously everything went black. Gathering his wit, he disconnected his portable device and bolted, leaving screaming and cursing technicians and engineers in his wake. Retrieving a small flash light from his pocket, Pearl used it to guide himself around, his phone vibrated and he blanched. Hesitatingly he answered it.
"Pearl..." hissed a low tone on the other side and he turned whiter.
"Sir...I can totally explain, you see it's more convenient this way. While the rest of the facility is panicking, I can go about my job without being suspected; besides I saw a funny looking cabinet on the wall, it was housing a bunch of electrical outlets and dials so I thought maybe it Rald could check it out or something. Thinking this, I plugged in my Palmtop in it and boom, everything became dark. Funny huh? Oops, I gotta go, there is someone coming down this way. Sit tight senior I'll definitely get my job done, you'll see. And watch out for Red and Gold, they are probably fast asleep by now. See you later sir..." And with that, he cut the call and breathed a sigh of relief.
Green was not going to be pleased with the development.
In the pitch dark amphitheater the older male stared at his gear in annoyance, trust the over eager individual to make such mistakes. No matter, if Pearl put his mind to a job, it was considered done. No matter how much the collateral damage maybe. Green patiently waited for the emergency lights to come on and the moment they did, his head whipped to the two sleeping offenders. Red had jolted awake and gaped at his surroundings, he was pulling a cap over his trammeled hair whilst Gold...the adolescent had his cheek squashed against the headrest of the seat in front of him, fortunately, the occupant did not notice. The brunette motioned his best friend to wake the trainer up and once he did so, he tired trainer sat ramrod straight. The lecture on Deoxys formes resumed and all attention was fixated on the pokemon's Attack forme and how it is streamlined to cause heavy amount of damage.
Once pale fluorescent light bathed the room he entered without permission, Pearl spun around to see the automatic door slide close behind him. It took a minute for despair to sink in. Discarding the flashlight on the floor, he banged the steel gate in a not so covet manner and screamed at the top of his lungs for help. When those actions did not help, he summoned infernape and asked the flaming monkey to break the door down. Surprisingly to both trainer and monster, the door withheld the initial assault and several others. With no other option, the blonde decided to contact his senior and on trying to do so he realized there was no signal in the particular room.
An ominous sound issued from the back of the room. An amalgamation of a growl, hiss and roar.
The teenager broke out in a cold sweat despite the flames emanating from his partner. Mechanically he turned his head and dropped his phone to the floor.
The screen cracked and so did his humerus as two toned tentacles punched a neat hole through skin, flesh, bone and the steel door securing them inside. Pearl's back hit the cold metal with a thump and he screeched in pain. The pointed appendages were recalled and the boy rolled out of the way as the four tentacles lashed on the door. It creaked, dented and eventually caved in. The pokemon fixed his eyes at Pearl and the human trembled in fear. Infernape stood protectively before its trainer and chattered in a threatening manner. Directing his gaze to the roof, Deoxys gathered up energy and blasted a hole right through with a hyper beam. Small pieces of concrete rained down and in a flash, the pokemon morphed and flew through the created opening faster than naked eyes could follow. Recalling his pokemon, the trainer clasped a hand over his exuding wound and limped out.
Crystal was taking down notes when the sky was torn asunder with an unholy shriek. Adding to the ear damaging noise were the blaring sirens of the facility. Soon, all the guests were being ushered out and asked to evacuate the area as soon as possible. Her lips tugged upwards into a grin, seems like her team mate had accomplished his task. Hands clasping over the smooth contours of an ultra-ball, she shouldered past the visitors to go outside.
It was capturing time.
Iris was never the one for formal meetings or occasions. The first time she was crowned champion of Unova her usually bubbly personality had quieted down when an inter-region meeting was held to foster diplomatic relations between champions of different regions. She remembered sitting at the head of a ridiculously long and expensive table surrounded by food her stomach could definitely not digest and in a room so opulent, her head spun. The other champions, who were much older than her initiated polite conversation and soon the topic turned to her age. The dual champion of Kanto and Johto (an impressive feat by anyone's standards) eyebrows shot up when she mentioned her age.
"I'm twelve."
Twelve.
"I suppose she takes the title of youngest champion of history from you Red." A feminine voice commented and the young male hung his head, thereafter he looked up and beamed at her.
The present scene reminded her of that day; except this time the room was circular with a circular table surrounded by chairs to many too count. Professor Juniper and she were summoned to the police headquarters in Unova to discuss strange energy issuing forth from the Giant chasm. Iris had often felt it but ignored it, besides the readings came from a dragonoid creature. Dragons were pretty harmless creatures in her book. Requested to take a seat, the two female guests occupied two chairs and waited for the discussions to begin.
"Professor Juniper and Ms. Iris, we are sorry to call you at such a short notice-"
"Get to the damn point already!" A burly blonde shouted. "Listen up, there is something weird going on in the Giant chasm and both of you have a fairly vague idea of what it is. Enlighten us at once or else those weasels will take it from right under our noses like they did with the Light stone, the dark stone... (Here Steven clenched his jaw) and other legendary pokemon. If it's strong, they'll take it and for Raikou's sake, we still don't know who the hell they are!"
The dark skinned girl wondered if the individual sitting opposite her always harbored such rage, nevertheless...
"It's a dragon pokemon" she spoke without delay "from the energy it gives off it must be a mythical type. The dragon's main element is ice. Pardon me, this is all I can tell you, I don't have much time to go investigate because I'm saddled with my duties as a champion and since I'm new, I am not allowed to go out much."
"Professor Juniper?"
"I...Did some research on the myths of Unova and learnt something interesting, some claim this pokemon is of extraterrestrial origin and came in the form of a meteor crashing from outer space. Drayden claims that when Reshiram and Zekrom were created, it also gave birth to a third creature named Kyurem. This is the most plausible theory and all evidence currently supports this. However, there is one problem; you see, Kyurem is not a complete entity on its own. It needs either Zekrom or Reshiram's DNA to restore itself to its fully functional form. In this case we can ascertain that this dragon is far more powerful than the other two. And as a result of not being complete, it leaks energy which is now affecting the surrounding environment."
"Will it get worse?" Skyla, politely probed, Unova's economy will be threatened if the entire region starts to freeze over.
"I hope not, although I can't say..." The professor replied, unsure of her words.
"Well whatever, we'll assemble a team and try to keep the dragon's energy spillage to a minimum." The burly man announced, "Skyla, Clair, VOLKNER! Looker. Head over to the cavern with a team of scientists and set up camp, we need to guard the beast and make sure it does not harm nearby civilians. Unfortunately the train service to Victory road will have to stop for the moment." Hearing this, the twin train conductors snorted.
The meeting was disbanding when a screen flickered to life; the leaders in the room observed the screen and listened to the individual with varying degrees of morbid fascination.
"Deoxys has broken out of confinement" Norman's voice floated in the room by aid of two huge speakers connected to the monitor, "apparently there was an unexplained blackout at the facility and it took the opportunity to break down the cell, punch a hole through the roof and get out. Currently, it's reducing Mossdeep city into rubble, I'm on my way there. I need backup, provide some for me as soon as possible."
"Wait Norman!" Cynthia shouted, "weren't there any suspicious individuals on sight? Like Silver...Or whatever is real name is?"
"...There was one...but he was a pre-teen, he kept on roaming through the halls and bumping into people asking for his siblings and parents, there are no camera records of him going into any restricted areas. I'm leaving, save the questions for later." And the display went blank. Back at the table, one of leaders pounded fist and barked out more tasks.
"Newbie!" the member shot up from her seat and saluted, "You, Blaine and Flint, get to Hoenn and aid Norman." The three named trainers got off their seats and hastily exited. Flint, one hand scratching his orange afro, showed a victory sign to a scowling Volkner. The electric type gym leader sunk further in his seat. Keeping guard over a dragon confined to the depths of an unfrequented cave? So boring. His mind briefly wandered to his gym in Sunnyshore, it needed a city blackout inducing tweak again. Maybe he'll get more promising trainers.
So bored.
So listle-
"VOLKNER! Stop daydreaming and MOVE!" The male lethargically followed his orders.
Evening
Between route twenty two and twenty three
Giant chasm.
"I thought...this was supposed to be a cave..." Volkner stated whilst eyeing the forest of frost capped trees with half lidded eyes. The icy dust glittered like fire gems in the rays of the setting sun. Without waiting for his team mates, he stepped forward, thick grass crunching underfoot. Suddenly a wild pokemon leapt up to him and he tensed.
A white furred mammalian beast stood before him, savoring him with somber eyes. Its face and sickle shaped horn, jutting out from the side of its head were lead colored. Volkner thought of shooing the creature away, instead, ruby eyes swept the little group of trainers and it turned tail and vanished deep into the forest.
"We are in for some trouble." Looker intoned and pulled his shabby trench coat tighter against his body, "According to the myths, absol only appears when disaster is about to strike." His comment was met with a scoff; the Sunnyshore gym leader thrust his hands deep into his pockets and advanced. Skyla and Clair followed after him and a team of scientists, including Juniper and Iris trekked after them. Looker brought up the rear, his trusty croagunk leaping by his side. Together, the motely band infiltrated the forest battling several wild pokemon along the way. As they surged forward, the temperature had become much colder and their breath came out in a cloud of mist. The environment was being enveloped by a thick fog reducing visibility.
On the outskirts of the forest, a crowd of people dressed in medieval styled clothing watched the gym leaders enter the chasm. A figure amongst them, rendered prominent by the long hat he wore on his head instructed his underlings in hushed whispers. Sneakily, they tailed the team, keeping them in sight at all times. In several instances Looker looked behind him on hearing the odd crackling of grass, but he failed to see anyone.
The shadows outlining the trees are merely wild pokemon, his mind supplied, quelling his growing suspicion.
"Ah...Finally a cave."
It was dank and the earthy smell made breathing a bit difficult. And it was cold. Bitterly cold. Teeth chattering and shivering, the band ventured further, here a layer of ice caked the ground, stalactites were coated with a fine layer of shimmering powder and some damp stones gleamed like unearthly diamonds. Pushing aside path blocking boulders, Clair took the forefront, leading the mass along a small body of water; once again, they exited a cave and traversed another forest area centered in the crater. A few hours later, amidst much grumbles and complaints from Volkner's part, they entered another cavern. The interior waterfalls were lost to the apathetic blonde as he purposefully strode forward, stomping his sneakers against the dirt in an effort to keep warm. Reaching the end, he halted abruptly and stared.
Two huge, glowing yellow eyes leered at him. One by one, the other members came to a harrowing standstill as they beheld the pokemon in its monstrous glory. Razor sharp chalky claws glinted and the dragon quietly watched them.
With calculating eyes.
Slowly, it opened its maw and mist poured out. The jaw widened and the cave got colder.
Glaciate.
From Kyurem's mouth poured a breath so cold it chilled the very marrow of bones. The cave was glazed with ice. Volkner took a step back and brought his rime covered hands on his face and was horrified to feel it coated with a layer of ice. He blinked rapidly; his eyelashes and hair were partially frozen. Everyone on his team suffered the same gruesome fate. Clair cracked her whip on the icy floor and summoned her kingdra, she commanded the pokemon to use yawn in an effort to slow down the mythical creature, jolted into reality, the others did the same, calling forth their pokemon and issuing attack commands. The area briefly lit up with flashes of light as Kyurem absorbed the various assaults. Finally, as the leaders recalled the pokemon they saw the dragonoid sway. Tranquilizer shots were fired from the group of scientists and the white dragon keeled over and crashed on its side. Seeing this, the trainers visibly relaxed. Not wary of the creature anymore, the investigators swarmed over the beast and began to critically inspect it from every angle. Others began setting up a base of operations.
In the shadows, a figure spoke in a tiny mike:
"Sir, they made contact with Kyurem. Yes, seems like they might stay and guard the dragon for a while..."
"Good job" a scratchy voice rasped, "you have done your duty splendidly, return here at once, we must inform him."
A/N: These power outages are so annoying, can't even update my story properly. Anyway, much thanks to Jack54311 and HeyYouYaYou for reviewing/following my story, it's a motivating factor in these depressing and too hot (for proper brain function) times. Please keep on supporting the story and giving feedback. Thank you.