Chapter 13: From space, with Love
The moment Green heard Pearl's earsplitting scream through his earpiece, he knew something had gone wrong. When the sirens blared in the center and he was being escorted out, he knew his underling had paid a heavy price for his mission. The urge to rush back and rescue him was strong, but Pearl was resilient. He will survive.
He will make it, somehow.
Mid-afternoon
Hoenn
Mossdeep city
Red wished his hair wasn't glued to his head, he tried to take the cap off and mess his bangs up a bit, alas they stubbornly stuck together. They had come out to a scene of disaster and the local police were already on site, ushering panicking civilians and crying children to clear out in an orderly manner. Overhead, clouds floated lazily and he turned when Green shifted uneasily next to him.
"Something wrong? You are awfully fidgety."
"Pearl might be injured" the man replied somberly, "and our target seems to have escaped to space. If it were here, it'd be causing chaos right now." The criminals marched faithfully alongside citizens. Again, Green looked backwards, over the heads of the people behind him to see if he could catch a glimpse of the Sinnoh native. No such luck. As he faced forward, the crowd surged in a moment of fright and he got separated from his team. An arc of light came down from the sky and hit the radio and satellite dishes on the roof of the Space Centre, the metallic equipment crumpled without resistance and pieces of it simply melted off. Screams tore through the air as terror seeped in, people ran without reason, parents tugging their children violently with them. Within moments, the area around the laboratory was cleared and without further ado he dived past the sliding doors and into the facility. His best friend, Gold and Crystal could handle the two monsters by themselves. Right now, he needed to find his team mate.
There were now two Deoxys circling in the sky. Crystal, ready with an ultra-ball in her hand faltered when she saw the duo. Their identical forms made it impossible to distinguish the correct target. She narrowed her eyes in concentration, trying to find some form of distinction. Blue eyes locked on to the crystal cores of the alien pokemon.
"The purple one with the fissure marring its surface." A voice spoke up and she looked to the side to see Red peering at the space monsters with a pair of binoculars. Removing them he grinned goofily and in the next instant, his smile slid off. Crystal literally saw the corners of his mouth turn down. His hand shot out and grabbed her and without warning or a word, he broke into a run, pulling her as well. The indigo haired trainer did not protest, her senior did not do things devoid of reason. Forcing down questions, she simply ran with him, they made a beeline for the research facility and instead of going into it; he turned direction and went around only stopping when they got to the abandoned rocket launch pad. The young female risked a peek at Execution's leader; she had never seen the trainer look so alarmed before.
"International police" he wheezed out an explanation, "gotta keep out of sight as per protocol. They are searching for me." Unable to speak further he crouched down against a metal girder and gulped in a lungful of air. Crystal joined him; she too was out of breath.
"Where did senior Green go off to?" she queried "and where is Gold?"
"To rescue Pearl most likely, he might be injured…I'm not sure where Gold…there he is!" The capped trainer had just crashed next to his leader and was breathing raggedly, he rubbed his eyes.
"Sorry," he gasped "I got a bit lost in the crowd then saw you two running this way, so I came."
The female nodded gravely; sometimes she forgot the dangers that accompanied these sorts of jobs.
There were two once again, Norman observed the Deoxys flying in a lazy arc in the sky firing beams of radiant energy at the buildings and using Psyshock on the fleeing humans. A number of people lay on the pavements and roads with their eyes rolling around in sockets and mouth foaming, limbs thrashing. Shaking his head, he tore his gaze away from the sight and focused. In an instant one of the Deoxys flashed before him, glowing in a purple aura, morphing again, it sped off and the gym leader stared at in in confusion. Unexpectedly, his chest started to burn like fire and he clutched it desperately only to see blood seeping through his clothes and staining his fingers. His breast bone cracked open with a sickening crunch and the pain rendered him unconscious on the spot. One thought flashed in his mind: Psycho Shift, the pokemon must have passed its condition of health on to him. Agony flared and everything went black. A pair of arms stopped him from crashing to the floor.
"Man, we came to an apocalypse didn't we? Sorry you had to see this newbie; although now you have a good idea of how strong those things are right? Cover for me guys, I have to get Norman to safety." Saying this, Flint heaved the prone body on his back and scoured the area for a suitable hiding spot. The Space center seemed viable; however there was the imminent threat of it collapsing. Eventually he decided on taking him to town and before he went, he shouted some instructions:
"Misty, Blaine! Try to keep Deoxys confined to this area, don't let it get to town. I repeat, don't let it venture off or else we'll have another Lilicove on our hands." His words were tossed to the winds as he escaped on a flying pokemon. A Deoxys noticed and gave chase; a pillar of fire stopped its pursuit.
Two legendries glared at each other. Drifting in the air for a moment, the space pokemon shifted into attack forme and attacked. Four tentacles zoomed onto the target, aimed to stab.
"Entei, use protect!" the appendages struck against an invisible barrier and recoiled. Not one to give up, the two creatures exchanged blows reducing the surrounding area to rubble.
Inside the malfunctioning laboratory, Green navigated through the endless amounts of rooms and corridors, he had already sent his porygon 2 via the electricity wires to search for the youth. Currently it has taken over the security system, peering through rooms with aid from the cameras dotted around the facility. Wherever Pearl was, it was not in a monitored place. Anxiety welled up and he took a calming breath, ignoring all the rooms fitted with security devices, he marched forward and then backtracked on seeing the blonde boy collapsed in a hallway, a stream of semi coagulated blood ran down his right arm. The male went to him and gathered the beaten boy up in his arms, thereafter he called Red and before he got a word in, his companion bellowed.
"Leave Hoenn, International police are prowling the area. I'm currently hiding by the rocket Launchpad with Crys and Gold, if we get an opening, we'll snag the pokemon and follow, if not, I'm coming home without it!" The ruby eyed adolescent was about to cut the call when Green's voice interrupted him.
"Listen you dolt! I have a better idea, send Pearl off with them and the two of us will give a shot at capturing Deoxys, what do you say?" he heard his friend sputtering protests, "Come on, for old times' sake? I bet the monster could give you a thrilling battle." The excuses died out and moment later he heard a small okay. The brown haired man smirked. Red was so gullible at times.
Carrying the unconscious trainer, he made his way to the back of the laboratory and recalled porygon-2. Summoning his rhyperior, he ordered the drill pokemon to break part of the wall, with a bulldoze, the partition was torn down and Green emerged outside to see a wide-eyed trio. He beckoned his subordinate closer and passed Pearl to her instructing her to return to base and get him treated. The girl nodded and pulled out her flying pokemon. Noting her xatu was too small to carry two people, he lent his Charizard. The fire dragon shook its massive wings and let the two trainers onboard. The gold eyed trainer was unsteady on his feet; nevertheless he called out his togekiss and boarded it. Before long, the three was a speck in the sky. Green and Red watched them till they disappeared from view. In the next instant, their attention was jolted when Deoxys' wail pierced the air. Gazes sharpening, they hurtled to the spot, taking care to remain out of sight.
Entei sensed the move before it was executed. His opponent had taken a stance, all four of its tentacles where gathered before its chest and a rainbow colored orb of energy swelled in the space. As the beast bent backwards and fired it like a cannon, he used double team and psycho boost hit one of his clones instead. Deoxys had become exhausted after the attack but he, Entei was in perfect shape. His trainer had sprayed him down with nasty smelling potions each time he was inflicted with an injury. So, when the bald man requested him to use eruption he did so. The ground splintered beneath his nemesis and a plume of hell heated flames encaged the alien. It shrieked in pain. The flames died away, leaving a beast with peeling skin trying to hold its existence together. Teetering on scorched, half melted tar, Blaine was shocked when an ultra-ball soared out of the sky and captured Deoxys. A movement on the far edge of his vision alerted him to two individuals, one carrying a backpack. Recalling his partner into a pokeball, he hollered at Misty, the newest member to join the police, to give chase.
"Nice catch Green"
The trainer pressed a button on a short metallic rod he was holding and the ultra-ball was reeled in. "Don't compare me to you."
"You know, your rod thing kinda reminds me of Yellow's fishing ro-"
"Stop talking and get moving!" The brunette hissed in annoyance and reached out for the spherical capsule. His hands closed over and he looked up to see a wall of water crashing down.
"Crap! Red MOVE!"
Ball in hand, the two parkoured over debris, the officer chasing them was a female and she was doing a pretty good job of running and commanding her pokemon to dish out assaults. The winds picked up speed and soon a hurricane raged. Risking a glance behind him, the black haired male tried to catch a glimpse of their pursuer but no such luck. The only thing he saw was a rampaging gyarados. A particularly violent gust of wind knocked his cap off and the article of clothing went soaring, pulled and pushed by the tempest. Events took a turn for the worst as the second Deoxys zoomed up on them and swiped a tentacle at Green, who had the foresight to duck. Not deterred, it smacked the other set of limbs at the thief and the human went flying, crashing into a telephone pole. Deoxys was about to follow when its movements were restricted by a set of thick vines coiling around him. Struggling, it eventually broke free of its confinement and blitzed to the spiky haired trainer who had its partner in his grasp.
His head buzzed and stars floated before his eyes. The Kanto native gingerly felt the back of his head, no blood was present just a large bump. With the black pokeball firmly secured in his hand, a shadow loomed over him and a pair of flexible limbs wrapped around his sore wrist. The tentacle squeezed painfully and his hand became numb, forcing him to relinquish his hold on the captured pokemon. With a clang, the ball fell and rolled to a stop near the space creature's feet. It was then violently smashed open and an injured Deoxys spilled out on the street.
Fearing for his friend's safety, Red dashed to Green's side without recalling Venusaur, the bulky pokemon lumbered awkwardly after its master who was checking up on his best friend. Snarling, the wounded adolescent pointed to the pair of beasts before them and implored the Kanto champion to look. And he did.
Pairs of red and jade irises stared. The healthy creature was tenderly caressing its damaged partner and growling in soft tones. Beryl and orange tentacles wrapped around the half dead Deoxys and it was gently lifted in the air. Imparting an utterly disgusted look to the observing duo, the monster disappeared into the heavens leaving a trail behind. By the time it was gone, Saur managed to catch up with his trainer. Drained of energy and sore, Green slumped against his companion. The spectacle they witnessed left them feeling hollow.
Empty.
"Come one" Red urged "seems like we failed in..." his words died in his throat when the afore mentioned gyarados descended from the sky and smacked down, making an impact crater on the pavement. The serpentine pokemon emitted a suffocating aura. Scrambling up, the duo bolted, however a voice stopped Red in his tracks.
"Red? Suicune please tell me I'm seeing things..." Misty stepped down from her pokemon and gaped at the champion before her. "Are you here because of the Deoxys fiasco? She took in the man's presence, he was dusty and the red jacket he wore was grazed in places. His comrade fared no better, in fact, the other person looked even worse. Cerulean eyes took in the two and slowly, sluggishly a harrowing realization formed in her mind. She did not want to word her suspicions but, it had to be done.
"You...Were trying to cap-" The earth rumbled and Red was pulled away by his accomplice. He turned his head to the front and careered away. Heaviness settled in her chest. Stunned for a few moments, she regained her composure and ordered gyarados to her side, the creature obeyed. Thereafter she pursued them. The two were remarkably agile and obviously well versed in the art of escape. In mere moments, she lost sight of them. Venusaur too was gone. She scoured the surroundings, since Mossdeep space center was situated far away from town; the area was devoid of large buildings therefore there were few places to hide in. Finally she turned her attention to the lone building and landed on the roof, a satellite dish creaked and toppled over, other than that it was deserted.
Or not.
A second later, her target burst through the door and slammed it shut behind him. A muffled shout issued forth as he pressed his back against the door and spat at his friend to remain quiet. The rattling and shouting died down at once.
There was no escape.
"You are a thief aren't you?!" the red head smoldered and came close. "I can't...Believe it. No, there must be another reason...I mean you are a champion respected by the peo-"
"Misty...Please let us go." Red requested "What's done is done; they have escaped back to space. Just step aside and we'll be on our way."
She beheld him, stupefied, almost as if he was speaking some foreign language.
"I...NO!" the gym leader took a deep breath and faced him squarely "Who is the other person with you? Your partner in crime?" her eyes narrowed suspiciously, "give yourself up and come with me." Turning around she walked back to her pokemon, "Don't do this, Red...don't do this. It all makes sense doesn't it? Missing Pokemon champion and missing legendary Pokemon, only someone of your caliber will be able to pull it off. You...You were after Suicune too weren't you? I thought it was strange for you out of all people to pop up in my mansion..."
"She knows" Green's muffled voice issued from behind the door. "Partly, however she's knows enough."
The accused champion said nothing. He calmly watched the incensed water type trainer pacing furiously on the rooftop, her expression scrunched up into disbelief.
Blue eyes flashing dangerously.
Blue eyes.
He was drowning in the ocean again, like the first time he met her. Cyan fire and resolve burned in those eyes.
"RED!" his partner's harsh tones slapped him back to reality "get rid of her and let's return!"
A battle...The thought of one did not excite him, usually he was always pumped for one, now...Now...It felt like one of Saur's vines was constricting his windpipe. Reluctantly he unclipped a random pokemon from the belt around his waist and sent forth a beast. Out popped Venusaur. Seeing this, Misty's mouth fell agape. She shivered slightly.
This was not going to end well.
"I won't lose!" the gym leader firmly declared. Red had gone silent, deadly silent. Mechanically he raised his arm and Saur attacked. Vines lashing out at high speed, this was countered by a flamethrower; the green reptilian merely shrugged the flames off.
"Leech seed."
From the huge flower atop Venusaur, a multitude of lime green seeds were shot at gyarados. The organic bullets lodged into the atrocious pokemon and buried itself deep within its flesh. From there, sinewy tendrils grew and ensnared the thrashing monster, tiring it and sucking energy. A solar beam finished it off and it keeled over, nearly crushing its master with its body. Gritting her teeth, Misty prepared another ball; instead thick vines wrapped around her and kept her immobile.
"Saur, use sleep powder." Astonishment marred her face as she gave up resistance and pinned him with an accusing and hated stare. Eyelids grew heavy and drifted peacefully shut and her body went limp. Venusaur lowered her on the cold floor where she slept. Picking up Gyarados' vacant ball he recalled the pokemon and put the ball away in his pocket.
"Azelf's sake Red, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind?" Green, finally able to come out witnessed the black haired's actions and exhaled angrily. His friend was gazing at the female fast asleep on the floor.
"We're going home! Get Aero out! Now!"
Red quietly complied with his demands.
Night
Kanto, Celadon city.
Underneath the game center.
"He has gone insane" Strategy's leader ranted in a low tone, "first he runs into this international police agent and stops to chat with her, next he refuses to battle her, lastly he knocks her out and steals...steals her pokemon. Tell me what ghost pokemon possessed you to do this huh?" Blue calmly listened whilst Green vented, it was rare to see him this worked up. For his part, the red eyed adolescent hung his head and listened. Not once did he protest or refute his comrade's words. Therefore all this must be true. The trio was currently sitting in a small room, the rest of the organization was sent away. The matter was a delicate one and needed to be solved amongst them.
"Red" she soothed "if you took her pokemon, it gives the police a legitimate reason to hound you down." A sudden thought dawned on her and she wondered if she should mention it with the brooding brunette breathing down Red's collar..."Do you perhaps l-"
"I'm leaving for bed" blood red irises gleamed and the trainer stood up and marched out of sight. Green watched him go scornfully.
"He's crazy; there is something wrong with his brain." Crossing his arms over his chest, the brown haired male accused again. "What should we do Blue?" The woman ran a hand through her locks and closed her eyes in sympathy.
"He's not crazy Green...don't worry, he'll be fine. It's something your over-logical brain won't be able to comprehend." She too got up from her chair and made for the exit. "Good night and sleep tight! Tee hee." He scowled as she floundered off.
Around the same time
Kanto, Celadon city.
Ruby's room
Ruby stared at his PokeNav. He was doing this for the past six hours
He was busy hanging out with Yellow and Whi-2 in the afternoon. The two females heeded his request to come to Constellate's common room and he took the opportunity to dress Yellow up in costume outfits. Whi-2 lent her pokemon and Ruby took great delight in dressing Foongy and Snivy up. He had a difficult time choosing an outfit for the smug pokemon but eventually settled for a black top hat, bowtie and a custom made waistcoat. Twirling around in an overly happy manner, he pulled a couch and his friends sat down. Putting on a fashionable outfit of his own, the red eyed trainer started an impromptu pokemon contest and his two man audience giggled with wonder and excitement. When he was about to present his beautiful Milotic, the PokeNav started ringing, excusing himself, he shuffled to a corner and answered his call. The transmitted words left him petrified.
"Ruby honey, your father has been gravely injured against the fight with Deoxys, he was rushed to hospital and the doctors say his breastbone has cracked...Come home as soon as you can, please..."
The damning words killed him inside and his stomach turned. Dad...he always looked up to the man as an iron wall and Deoxys...what about his seniors that went to capture the creature?
"I'll...I'm going to my room for a while." He stated to Yellow and Whi-2 after trying his best to smile appropriately. Recalling his pokemon, he sprinted to his room and took out his PokeNav to return the call, however he couldn't. And so the afternoon melted into night and his eyes were still locked on the yellow surface of the device. Thoughts churned in his head, twisting and whirling and driving him mad. He knew he should go home but would Blue allow it? Earlier he heard a commotion, Green had returned and yelled for Blue down the hallways. This action was extremely odd as he was the most level-headed trainer amongst the top trio. Something had gone wrong, he was sure of it. Tension lay thick in the air. After what seemed like an eternity, he heard footsteps coming down the corridor. Making up his mind, he hastily grabbed his backpack, running shoes and PokeNav, running out of the door he met Blue, his leader looked troubled.
"Ruby? Where are you going at this time of the ni-?"
"Home." He breathed "Dad's injured, I need to go senior, please let me."
She contemplated for a while and made a decision.
"Yep, go. After all, family and friends are most important."
The teenager was already gone before she finished her sentence.
A/N: Much gratitude to: TheSilverHunt3r, Eevee and Jack54311 for reviewing. At Silver, whoops, I totally forgot about that, I was thinking about his age when he becomes the legendary trainer sitting alone at Mount Silver, but you have a point, he was younger. And Eevee, you don't know how motivating it was to find out that you kept on reading the story despite being unfamiliar with the games and manga. I don't have such patience so thank you very much for sticking through. This chapter is dedicated to you :) If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask, although I won't answer if it leads to spoilers :P
Once again, thanks to all those who are reading this story. Please keep on reviewing and telling me your thoughts.