Chapter 83: A string of unhappy correspondences
Unknown time
Johto
Whirl Islands
Maximum security prison
Day and night melted into each other. They simply served to show the passage of time. Time meant nothing in this dreary darkness. A square room surrounded by three bare walls and metallic bars. Inside the stark cell devoid of natural light, Giovanni squinted at the words inked on a page and frowned on hearing a brawl break out in the adjacent lockups. The beginnings of a headache throbbed behind his eyes and put the book down to massage his temples. In the distance, a pair of boots echoed on shiny tiles and the other prisoners stopped yelling and pummeling each other. The warden, a young man, came to a crisp stop in front of Giovanni and thrust a white envelope between the steel rods, he waited for the criminal leader to get up and take it from him. Instead of pushing himself off the bed and snatching the letter from the official, Giovanni first scrutinized it. The envelope bore an intricate seal, one he could not recognize. Underneath the seal, he saw the insignia of the International Police. What did they want? He already had a life sentence to serve...Perhaps they decided to release him early due to his good behavior? The former Team Rocket leader amusedly contemplated and grunted. Heaving himself off the bed, he nodded at the young warden and reached for the envelope.
"Letter for you convict." The guard dipped his head lightly. Giovanni did not know why this particular individual treated him differently. When the young man called him convict, it sounded more like an affectionate nickname than a derogatory term. And the adolescent should not smile like that, all the senior officials treated the former criminal lynchpin like scum...However this youngster simply regarded him like an ordinary old man and Giovanni felt a bit grateful for the sentiment shown to him. Offering the warden a modest smile, he sat on the floor and tore the envelope open. Out fell a letter. "It's from the International Police." The jailer offered uselessly, "I doubt they are offering you parole...However...I hope they don't take you away from here" Turning around, he muttered to himself and looked back. "You didn't hear me say that...Okay?" The former boss nodded distractedly, wanting the warbling man to keep quiet so he could focus on the words written on the expensive piece of paper. He read it over and over again, hardly believing his eyes. After the third time, he placed the letter in his lap and stared at the dirty white ceiling of his cell. How long was he confined in here? "Hey, is there something wrong? You look pretty shaken." The guard pressed his face against the bars and enquired, a hint of concern laced his electric blue eyes. Why did that brat care so much anyway? The criminal blinked, gave a watery smile and waved the man away. Throwing him another look, the sentry marched off to his duties and left Giovanni to read the letter for a fourth time.
To Giovanni:
We write to inform you of your son's detainment to Valora, Ransei. Silver is being held in maximum security for his allegiance with the Dex Criminals. Giovanni's eyes misted over. Due to your confinement, you may have not heard of this notorious group of criminals who operate on a multi-regional level. They managed to blot out all their competitors, the first and foremost group being Team Rocket, but we digress. We regret to relay that your son has performed an act of crime that put people in danger on a national scale. This is no mere theft or murder, his and the actions of the people he works with, ultimately put the entirety of the Poke-world in danger. For this, he is to serve life time imprisonment in Valora and the nobles of Ransei unanimously agreed to punish both him and his cohorts accordingly.
Signed:
Chief Anabel of the International Police.
Why be a criminal out of all people? He inwardly bemoaned the fate of his son. Couldn't Silver learn from his father's mistakes? Father...The Rocket executive chuckled humorlessly. His son never considered him a father to begin with. He remembered the red head bursting into his office so many years ago. The boy's face held hatred and contempt and the word father, spat out from his mouth like some undesirable object, sounded more like an insult than a term of endearment. Giovanni shook his head and folded the letter, as he tried to slip it back into the envelope an image fell out. On seeing the booking photograph, he briefly wondered if the Chief of Police perhaps had children of her own. The picture showed Silver, pale and thin. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he stared at the photo, noting down each and every detail on his child's face before humbly pocketing the image. Scrunching up the letter and envelope, he threw them outside and huddled back to his bed in order to sleep.
Late afternoon
Ransei
Valora
A fortress. They collectively agreed.
The members of the Dex Criminals craned their necks to see Valora castle resting atop a rocky escarpment crawling with a multitude of pipes, levers and gears. The region resonated with a mechanical energy and most buildings were constructed out of metal or mechanical implements. They exchanged glances and snippets of conversation drifted into the air. The head imperial escort, tasked with a team of six men to guard the criminals whilst they journeyed to Ransei, resisted the urge to growl in displeasure. These people had no fear, despite being roped to each other like a pack of sub-humans; they continued to chatter amongst themselves, pointing at the castle and at the gates. Gasps of awe emanated from the huddle in front of him and the other sentinels shared his disgust. In the middle, an ebony haired man excitedly pointed at Valora's blast doors and poked his spiky haired companion in the ribs. Said companion, dissatisfied because the jailers roused him up too early and refused to fuel him with a daily dose of coffee, murmured and looked away. Undeterred, the black haired man's blood eyed gaze swept around for another victim. This time he pounced on a well-endowed, brown haired woman. Her azure irises clouded with apprehension and she meekly nodded at her companion's enthusiastic findings. The guard derived sadistic of pleasure when the male turned away and prodded someone else; the expression of worry on the alluring female's face fuelled him. It made him feel important. His ego stoking moment promptly suffered a backlash when he saw one of the younger female's gnaw on the ropes tied around her wrist, her two comrades eyed her disturbingly before the blonde midget followed her example and chewed on the heavy duty lariats.
The band of convicts stiffened when the leading escort's skarmory uttered a harsh cry. They quailed as one; some of them dropped to the floor and covered their ears. Silence replaced the formerly excited babbling and skarmory touched down to the metal plated ground. Skirting around the group, the imperial retainer climbed the steps leading to the gates and rotated to face the assembly. "You will now enter the Royal Palace grounds. He boomed, "so far, you criminals have shown utter disrespect for the nobles of Ransei. I do hope you will conduct yourself civilly from now on; it will be in your best interest to remember that we hold your lives in our hands. If anyone of you steps out of bounds, I shall be forced to make an example." The previously raven haired, crimson eyed man rolled his eyes expressively and the guard resisted the urge to unsheathe his sword and cleanly swipe the offender's head off. How dare this bunch of commoners soil his region! Who do the International Police think they are to be asking his Lord to house such infernals? Composing himself, he turned around and the blast gates opened, again, a few whimpers of fear and cries of distress rose from the group behind him and one person whooped in pleasure.
Arceus damn you, fiendish individual. The guard chanted in his head and led the procession through the doors.
A convoy of guards, steelix and lairon greeted them. Seeing the pre-evolved state of aggron, Red tensed and Gold cast a quick peek at his mentor. Next to him, Silver and Crystal eyed their surroundings in astonishment, unable to believe their eyes at the blend of cutting edge science and ancient traditions. The gold eyed man looked around, any chance of seeing the pretty female warrior he encountered here the last time? Through the gaps offered by armor plated men and their steelix, he caught her. She stood behind the line of men, her inky-blue hair held up in a high ponytail with two bangs framing her face. Most of the retainers failed to recognize him since the last time he came here, he resembled one of Greenleaf's retainers, however, a knowing tingle pervaded her eyes. The warmth in her face diffused and she turned her face to the side. Gold shrunk...the shame of being escorted as a criminal finally dawned on him.
They were not allowed to peek inside the beautiful interior of Valora Castle. Blue let out a breath she didn't know she held. The new experiences around her were disorientating. Oak gazed at everything in a disinterested manner whilst Red excitedly pointed at the scenery and kept up a running commentary about the marvels of the province. A small part of her looked forward to seeing the interior of Valora castle. Red, Gold and even Green commented on the aesthetics of the palace and the latter never complimented anything unless it awed him. Next to her, Yellow shuffled melancholically; the blonde's sunny disposition seemed to hide under permanent clouds since they were arrested. Coming to a stop before a door set into the plateau, one of Valora's retainers approached them, holding a black box in his metal clad arms. He bowed to the commanding official and the older man, his face lined and lecherous retrieved a strip of black cloth. He motioned Red to step out of line, her friend marched forward with his head held high and the escort wound the cloth around the fighter's eyes and guided him back to the line.
Great...Blindfolds. Blue sighed, so much for wanting to see the inside of Valora Castle.
White imagined the environment around her based on the sounds she heard. After riding a rickety elevator in which the cries of kling, klang and klingklang deafened her, she blindly followed her captors to what seemed like a metal workshop. Heat prickled her skin and bright light diffused from the exterior environment, bleeding through her eye covering. And the clanging and banging of metals echoed from all sides. They passed through a door and the cacophony faded till a heavy silence enveloped it. Now the only thing she heard were the dull sounds of marching feet over wooden tiles. Her surroundings became quiet as a grave and she sensed fear clouding around her friends. None spoke; they only paraded blindly, led forward by seven captors. A subtle mix of wax and incense drifted across her nose and she inhaled deeply, the scent calming her overwhelming apprehension. Down twisted hallways they trooped and eventually came to a stop when her sock clad feet hit metal. The Dex Criminals huddled together, seeking comfort from each other's presence and in spite of being swamped with friends, she felt alienated. Black was not here...White reminded herself. He will never be here. Just as her thoughts took a morbid turn, she felt two, no; three pairs of hands grab her. One pair belonged to Whi-2, the others were Diamond and Pearl who fumbled over each other and eventually pressed her into a hug.
"You aren't alone." Pearl whispered, his breath brushing over her ear and she recoiled. The Unovian appreciated the gesture but her three friends squashed her into a pulp; and the hyperactive teen seriously needed to shift away, when Black and White first saw the Sinnoh natives, she was surprised by their age. They were young children. Now several years later, both Dia and Pearl towered over her. Shifting backwards, Pearl comfortably clasped her hand and Whi-2 gripped her arm, Dia ambled away to find himself a person to stick to, the older female mused, probably senior Red. Team Execution worshipped their leader.
A warm, content feeling pervaded her chest and she wanted to cry for a wholly different reason.
They were escorted into individual cells. Once the guards pushed them through the barred doorways, they removed all restraints and quickly locked the door, without waiting for the outlaws to adjust to their new environs, the royal escorts melted into a line and followed their leader out of the metallic corridor. In the distance, White heard a door slam shut. Contrary to her mental image of a jail cell, the room she stumbled in was well lit, a single bed stood in one corner and behind a screen, she beheld a shower and a toilet. In the middle of nowhere, a basin with a mirror hanging above it, reflected her slightly shocked expression. "Sweet! They have hot water in here!" Yelled a male voice and she spun around to see her friends all holed up in the adjacent cells. Some of them, like Gold, Pearl, Sapphire and Ruby explored their areas and related their findings in jubilant hollers. Others, notably Silver, Green and Red, tucked themselves into one corner and brooded. Her lazuline irises locked on the fighter, normally he would be leading the exploration...However, the red eyed male crouched in one corner and peered at the world scornfully. Of course, the organizer admonished herself, he wouldn't want to come back to this place would he?
"My skin is all dry." Ruby complained, "And they neglected to supply us with shampoo, lotion and scented soa-"
"Ruby darling." Blue sliced in her underling's grumbles. "This is a jail sweetie." Her tone dripped saccharine poison, "be lucky you have hot water for a shower you imbecile." The brown haired woman paced the cell akin to a glameow and sharply studied her environs; she noted a button camera hidden in one of the ornate screws and no doubt, it recorded each and every event playing out in the cells. Whirling to a stop, she eyed Red who sagged in the shadows. Prowling to the barred entrance, she gripped the steel columns and added: "Red, stop looking like someone stole one of your badges and think of a way to get us out of here." Her comrade frowned, seemingly unconcerned about searching for a way out of this cell. He adjusted his position and tucked his head inside his arms.
"...I'm sorry; I'll give back the badge I stole from your house." Silver weakly confessed from his cell and Blue glared at him. Her brother's words had a profound effect on Red, the male's head snapped up, he scowled at the red head who rummaged in his pockets and locked gazes with his female friend.
"There isn't a way out of here Blue." His tone lacked energy and the will to live. "I've been here before remember? Valora is designed to keep intruders within these four walls, the last time we were lucky...The warlord was busy with other matters." The female trainer's resolve crumbled but she steeled herself and implored him to think of a plan. "For starters...Go ahead and bust the cameras hidden in the screws holding up the mirror...And try to drive the guards crazy. At least...That's how I stopped myself from tearing my hair out." As soon as he mentioned the cameras, all of the Dex Criminals whaled in on the button sized devices and smashed them with various degrees of satisfaction. Emerald plucked the gadget out carefully and gently dissected it, trying to find out its intricacies, when the camera failed to amuse him, he grinded it underfoot. Gold tossed his like a ball straight into Sapphire's compound and the latter kicked it back to him. The round camera soared over his head, crashed against the wall and burst into little silicone chips and wires.
Green peered into the camera; the lens reflected a gloomy, distorted visage. "I wonder if the Ransei nobles are discussing some sort of punishment for us." He muttered loudly and flushed the device down the toilet. "Red is right, this place is an iron fortress, there isn't a way out."
"Stop being so depressing Green. We are all tired and scared, you don't have to make us panic." Yellow's surprisingly strong voice cut into the hushed din and a moment of silence ensured. Whi-2 glimpsed the blond senior clutching the pendant around her neck and trying to hold herself together. She was right; they did not need more ominous prophecies to further dampen the already distressed atmosphere hanging over their heads.
A pair of orange tinted eyes forlornly watched Diamond as he fumbled with his hands. Pearl breathed through his nose, in an effort not to break down and start screaming. When Dia stressed, he played with food, unfortunately, the guards confiscated every bit of edible article the chubby cheeked boy possessed and now the black haired teen picked his hands. In the periphery of his vision, the blonde witnessed Crystal, staring mindlessly at the opposite wall. "How about we vote for senior Yellow to be Strategy's next commander?" He piped up, intending to ease the tension amongst them. A few cells further, his commander growled a threat which was drowned by light hearted chuckles. Pearl smiled to himself; if they had the spirit to laugh...then all is not lost. Sitting cross legged on the cold, metallic floor, he forced himself to think. What would Missy do in this situation? He pondered and veered his thought processes away from her. No, don't think about her! Think about what she would do...They could not get any outside help. Their pokemon partners were lulled into a drug induced sleep. They were secured in steel cells, inside a metallic palace sitting on top of a hill. If by any chance they could squeeze through the window...A sheer drop would reduce him into fertilizer for crops. Befriending and bribing the guards were not applicable. The lines on the blonde's forehead grew deeper, what would he bribe the royal escorts with? Smelly socks?
Pearl let out a short bark of hopeless laughter.
"Pearl, don't think too much, you'll get cross eyed." Diamond gently articulated from the opposite cell. "And senior Sapphire, please don't bite the bars...They won't break." The ebony haired boy scratched his head. "Is anyone hungry? I think I'm starving."
Ruby hissed: "You think?" He turned to see his best friend biting the bars and a grimace marred his handsome features. "Saph! Stop gnawing on those bars. Holy Kyogre, your teeth with wear out."
"In case you haven't noticed prissy boy." She screeched. "I'm trying to find a way out."
"By biting through steel columns?" Emerald's tone betrayed disbelief.
"Good luck." Green and Red simultaneously droned. "Inform me of your progress once I wake up." Oak huffed and climbed into bed. The Hoenn native stopped in her foolish quest and slumped pathetically to the floor. Internally cursing at the spiky haired commander, she briefly wondered what on earth kind, sweet Yellow saw in that guy. Pearl's proposal of electing Yellow as the next strategy leader seemed plausible enough. That's it! The girl fist pumped, after they manage to get out of this mess, she'll petition for Yellow.
Not long after, the members of the Dex Criminals crawled to their individual beds. Crystal went first and Gold pretended not to hear her stifled sobs. Blue paced her cage, one eye on her inert best friend. The fighter drew circles on the floor and seemed to be in no mood to get some sleep. Urging him to rest, she climbed in her bed and glanced at him one last time. Red looked at her for a brief moment and then tore his gaze away.
The image of his face, glistening with tears, haunted the Kanto native in her sleep.
Evening
Valora
Inside the palace dungeon
Sometime after the convicts snuggled into bed, a lone guard reported to his higher ranked officer that the cameras were all found and broken. The head warden, familiar with the commoner criminals' hatred for surveillance, told his escorts to leave them be. Besides, they were stranded and hopeless. All the members have been captured and accounted for; they had no one to rescue them. Saluting and leaving the traditional meeting room, the lower ranked retainer checked his schedule and suppressed a groan. The felons needed to be fed and it was time to distribute their dinner. Feeding fourteen people proved to be a herculean task and he sought out a unit of servants to aid him in delivering their meals. Looking after commoners was a humiliating chore and he pondered why Lord Ieyasu accepted the uncanny proposal from the commoner region authorities. The province of Valora functioned as the defense of Ransei's strongest alliance and thus, the soldier found it unbefitting for his Lord to house criminals of such ill-repute. From the snippets of gossip he caught in the halls, these upstarts were the reason why the deity monsters were not appearing to them. Rumors went around that Registeel last visited Valora almost two years ago. If the steel golem did not come more frequently, Valora would collapse. Perhaps these transgressors knew how to reverse the process? Traversing down the twisted corridors, he briskly walked past whispering servants and retainers; and decided to ruminate about the Dex Criminals a bit later.
In the royal kitchen, a spacious room housing several stoves, steel counter tops and smoke extracting fans, a set of fourteen surgical steel lunchboxes rested on a large tray. Two manservants bowed respectfully to the guard and gestured to the pile. The sentry relayed commands and the servants rushed to carry them out. Hefting the steel tray between themselves, they faithfully followed the retainer up the corridors. The aroma of delectable food wafted from the kitchen and the escort wished to be relieved of duty, for breakfast, he only had a cup of green tea and a bowl of rice to contend with. Striding through the corridors, the trio arrived at the top floor and noticed the lack of guards. Typical, no one wanted to go near the secret corridor if they were tasked to defend a band of low-life humans. The warden scanned the area, opened the corridor and against protocols, ushered the two servants in and ordered them to quickly dole out boxes. Nervously, the two servants did their jobs, placing a steel lunchbox into the individual cells with a muted thunk. The quietude of the corridor unnerved the jailer and he marched inside the corridor in order to investigate. To his astonishment and bitter anger, those felons fell fast asleep, snuggled inside their beds without a care in the world. Only one remained hunched on the freezing floor and the black haired male looked up. Startled by the sheer amount of languor in his eyes, the royal guardsman swallowed his fear and quickly evacuated the hallway.
He did not want to be on duty for the next few days.
Waking up, Diamond rubbed his eyes and spied a rectangular lunchbox sitting innocently on the floor of his cage. The teenager blinked. A trap? He did not know the time and he mused his life will now be dictated by the ones who run this place. Time meant nothing and desires must be shunned. Rampant thoughts and his never ending appetite should be tamed. Throwing off the sparse blanket he used to cover himself with, Dia splashed water on his face and washed his hands. Thereafter, he circled the metal box; too afraid it might be a figment of his imagination and will simply disappear if he touched it. At long last, he summoned the courage to pick the carton up and the warmth diffused by the still hot food prompted him to clasp the box to his chest and sniff it. Food, glorious food. Letting out a delighted squeak, he opened it and gawked, his mouth watering instantaneously. The compartmented base held rice, grilled fish, vegetables in broth and seafood. Eyes lighting up, he picked up a set of chopsticks and speared a shrimp with it. Uttering a prayer to Arceus, he dove into his food with a delighted moan. The delicious aroma drifting from his open lunch prompted Sapphire and Yellow to stir. In the next few minutes, delighted shouts reverberated from the corridor as the people tucked into their food with obvious relish. Sitting close to the entrances and exchanging comments, the Dex Criminals simultaneously finished their meal together and complimented their food with a slew of graces or insults.
Except for one person.
The former champion of Kanto.
Blue gathered all of them together and urged them to brainstorm ideas on how to get out of Valora with all their sanity and limbs intact. Diamond found it difficult to think when an unopened lunchbox sat teasingly at the edge of his vision. His commander stewed by himself and did not touch his food. "Red...Please eat up and join in the discussion." Constellate's leader pleaded. "You too Green, you ate your lunch, so try and contribute something...Even if it's a joke. Come on, you are supposed to be the thinker! Think Professor Oak!" In response to her earnest requests, the jade eyed male sighed dejectedly, closed his eyes and massaged his temples. On the other hand, Execution's commander picked up the lunchbox and dropped it into his lap. He stared at the steel surface like it contained the answer to all of life's mysteries.
"Not hungry..." he mumbled and pushed the box away again.
"I'm... still hungry." Diamond warbled unhelpfully and ignored the glower Pearl sent his way. Red was about to slide the lunchbox over to him when Blue interrupted him.
"No Red," she stated firmly, "you are hungry and you need to eat. Finish up that meal, I promise it will make you feel better." Gold repeated her request timorously and reluctantly the ex-champion popped open the lid and ate, slowly chewing each morsel. Blind to his surroundings, Dia gulped and stared at his leader, the man looked up and gave him an sheepish smile, meanwhile, Pearl's flame pigmented eyes bore holes through his best friend's body. Appeased by her companions, Blue listened to the conversations floating around the cells and spoke up: "Does anyone have an idea of how to get out of here? Anything?"
"I have a headache." Green offered dolefully
Uncharacteristically, Silver bit down a snigger and Gold clamped a hand over his mouth to drown a giggle. Crystal shot Blue an apologetic look and reeled backwards when the female commander's face twisted into an expression of unspeakable wrath. "Do you think I'm joking around Oak?" She spat, "We are all in the same predicament. I'm sure you are bemoaning your fate, but understand there are people younger than you here." Her breathy tone penetrated the silence. "Try to be an example for them, you spineless weedle and you have the nerve to lecture Red when he-"
"Blue...Shush it." Her ebony haired best friend interjected and she quieted down, her cheeks flushed with anger and indignation. "Green has a lot to think about. Give him some space." The brunette in question let out a heavy breath and his shoulders slumped. Blue pressed her lips into a thin line and demanded to know what thoughts plagued the professor and Red answered. "He is thinking about his Grandpa. And his worried about what Daisy will think if she finds out her beloved kid brother has been sent to jail for causing mass destruction."
Silence.
The commander's words induced a new wave of shame. Ruby shot up from his position, careered to the basin and gagged whilst Sapphire buried her face in her scratched up palms and wept. Yellow fumbled with her pendant, twisting the fine chain before slipping the necklace off her person and dropping it into her tunic pocket. Blue uncurled her fingers from the bars. Unlike her other peers, she did not feel ashamed of her actions, thieving, lying and cheating was a means for her to survive when Team Rocket kidnapped her. Silver too, he nonchalantly shrugged when she peeked at him and pointed to Crystal. The indigo haired girl stuffed a knuckle in her mouth and bent over; tears poured out of her eyes and formed a little puddle of liquid on the floor. "...Look guys...we can't really blame the higher ups for what happened." Gold timidly interrupted and his mentor's lips twitched. Lies. The gold eyed man thought, even though Red, Blue and Green seemingly 'invited' the Dex Holders into forming the organization, their requests left little to argument and choice. A bubble of resentment inflated in his chest and he quashed the feeling violently. Red meant the world to him, the ex-champion took care of him after his mother died and trained him. All the blood eyed man wanted...Was a fair world for all. Inhaling deeply, he continued his speech in a tender tone: "It's our fault we are in this mess...Yeah, we did some pretty terrible things and I really can't forgive myself...nor will my dear mom who's up in heaven." Gold's breath hitched. "...But, we gotta stop sniffling and like senior Blue said, start thinking of a way to get out of here. The last time Senior Green and I infiltrated this place, the Warlord of Greenleaf...Bless his leafy heart, helped us out a lot. Hey Green! Do you have his number or something?"
"Yes I do, two nights ago he texted me about his serperior slicing a rouge guard to ribbons." Gold eyed the Strategy commander skeptically. "Of course I don't have it you dolt! Do you think he's going to risk his title and heritage to leave his contact number with a Mew damned criminal? And besides..." Oak rapidly voiced, "The people here use an old means of communication...Letters and whatnot. Do you not understand sarcasm Gold?"
"Sorry." The Johto native jumped up, shrieked and grabbed the bars of his prison, "I'm tired, stressed and trying to mop up the messes you and your cronies created! I certainly do not have time to appreciate your stupid sarcasm you intellectual moron." At his outburst, Red smirked and Gold almost lashed out at him as well. What did the black haired man find so funny anyway? Forcefully calming himself down, he glanced at Crystal who straightened up and graced him with a diluted smile. The breeder wanted to protect her and her smile even if it cost his life, wrath melting into nothingness he reclined on the cold floor once more. "Red...The last time, you mentioned a secret passage of sorts; do you still remember the way? Judging from the sounds, we came in from the castle's basement; there is an iron forge there, right?" Red nodded and replied that he remembered the route very clearly, unfortunately, he doubted the guards would keep the corridors unmanned this time around and there remained a high possibility for them to reconstruct the interior. Without their pokemon they are helpless and after the last break in of Valora Castle, the fighter would not be surprised if their monster partners were guarded by the abominable aggron and Lord Ieyasu himself. "Well...Your logic makes total sense." Gold scratched his head. "Before anything else, we first have to find a way to unlock these cells. Hey Silver, think you can pickpocket a guard?" The red head nodded and Blue chimed in that she was a better thief than her brother. "Well, I'm not sure how the procedures are; previously, a pair of guards would keep watch 'cause senior Red kept on breaking their cameras. If we could at least net ourselves a key...And pray the guards don't notice it, we can escape from our cells and create some sort of distraction."
His co-workers nodded at his brilliant plan and he perceived renewed determination returning to their dulled irises. "You forgot about Red's paralyzing fear of the Lord's aggron." Green deflated the amber eyed trainer's meticulous arrangement and the latter threw him a dirty look. From her cell, White gave Gold a thumbs up and he returned the smile with a shaky one of his own. If she, the organizer and counterpart of Black, approved of his plans then the strategy commander can sit in one corner and tally his faults on an abacus or something. "We have to assign someone with Red-"
"Why don't you go?" Blue pointed, "You two are perfectly capable of covering each other's weaknesses-"
"No." Red interjected and the Kanto natives eyed him in shock. Green inhaled deeply, traced his fingers across the floor and covered his visage with a poker face whilst Gold seized the opportunity to grin toothily and flash the jade eyed male a crude sign. "I need emotional support Blue..." the fighter intoned, "and if you noticed, Green, for all his good looks and intelligence, lacks in the sentiment department." Crimson irises scanned the other members, "how about Yellow? Wanna come with me?"
"No!" Green articulated heartily, Yellow jumped at his shout, blushed and retreated deeper into her cell. Blue and Red simultaneously sported devious, knowing grins and the professor hastily drew back from their plotting expressions. "I meant...Take someone else, if you pass out from seeing the aggron, she won't be able to carry you. And wipe those sneers off your face, both of you!" Oak, against his best efforts, felt his cheeks grow hot and somewhere, Emerald and Pearl snickered and exchanged hushed words. "Contradictory to what you believe Red...I am not emotionally inept."
Tossing her hair backwards and enjoying the teasing smile on Red's face, the brown haired female agreed: "We noticed Green; obviously you aren't emotionally dead...Or else..." She added and their grins grew wider, "how else would you develop feelings for sweet Yellow? Am I right?"
Whi-2 blinked, this was the first time during her stay with the Dex Criminals, that she witnessed the level headed strategy commander loose his cool in public. His cheeks were aflame and a small smile tugged at her lips. He angrily sputtered excuses in a manner similar to Hugh and she wondered if she would see her mauve haired childhood friend again. If...If they ever met, she wanted to apologize for letting him down. "Shut up pesky woman! And you too Red! I swear, if I get out of here alive I'll ignore the two of you for the rest of my life." Green panted whilst his best friends and other members chuckled at him. "Stop getting ahead of yourselves, we still have a stupid key to steal!"
A multitude of phones and other communication devices rang concurrently on four different regions. When the receivers picked up, they all listened intently to a smooth, expressionless tone leaching through the mike. Each of the voices were the bearers of bad news:
"We regret to inform you..." the officer intoned.
"...That your son, Pearl"
"Your daughter Sapphire..."
"Is convicted for being part of the multi-regional crime syndicate known as the Dex Criminals." Several of the men and woman, upon hearing this, broke down gasping and sobbing, pressing a hand against their mouth to soften their cries. Others simply went mute with shock, unable to believe.
Not wanting to believe.
"Your child is currently held in Valora, Ransei. There will be a trial held by the noble leaders to discuss their punishment and as their guardians and parents; you are hereby obligated to attend to this trial. We shall call you back with more details. In the meantime, please prepare your papers in order to enter Ransei." The line went dead with a muted click and Ruby's mother stared into the phone, blinking back tears. Her whole body stiffened, refusing to obey her orders and her limbs shook uncontrollably. Dropping the receiver back into the cradle, she hurtled out of her lounge to see Norman wheeling himself around on the grassy plain in front of their house. Opposite their home, Professor Birch, wearing his stained lab coat, stumbled out of his front door and clutched his hair; seeing him, another heap of dread settled on her chest. The professor met her eyes and she noted a delirious gleam in them. Birch shook his head and wiped his face free of the stubborn tears cascading down his eyes; he collapsed on the porch and wept silently. Ignoring him for now, she called for her husband who stopped ogling at a swarm of beautifly and turned his attention to her.
She strode down the steps, her body leaden. "Honey..." her voice cracked. "Honey...We received a call, there was a female police officer on the phone...She..." his expression turned grim and he clasped her hands in an effort to calm her down. "Said Ruby...Our Ruby...Is currently in Valora because he is convicted for being part of the Dex Criminals." She searched her husband's face for a trace of disbelief, for surprise or astonishment, but it remained blank and serious. "You...You knew?!" Ruby's mother trembled and whispered. "You knew he was part of them and yet you didn't tell me? Why? Norman please tell me...Why?" Norman simply watched his wife break down; she slid to the floor, placed her head in his lap and cried loudly. The gym leader's eyes smarted. He directed his gaze at Professor Birch's house and saw the man get up and amble drunkenly about. Birch went inside and shut the door with such a loud bang; it scared the nearby birds away.
So Sapphire must be part of this as well.
Stroking his wife's head offered scant relief, his fingers brushed lightly over her silky strands and Norman simply listened to her heartbroken sobs and hiccups. Her tears soaked the fabric of his pants. "Put me on the phone." He softly stated, his wife stirred and look at him through a haze of confusion. "Call the officer again. I want to conduct some negotiations."
A/N: The rest of the Dex Criminals have been caught and their parents informed. Heh, Norman. Much thanks to all those who read and reviewed, as always constructive criticism is always valued. Virtual chocolate milkshake to all. (Dear lord I need one of those)
At Silver: Fifty chapters ago (or something like that) you mentioned Giovanni and I managed to squeeze him in here :) Hope I did justice, I mean the man is not that heartless. Devil's food cake is also my favorite, I inhale half of it each time my sister bakes it. Green is saying that the police are just as underhanded as the criminals and will employ any methods to get their duties done, illegal or not. Eh, sorry for the POV switching, I'll try to remedy that in the future chapters and thanks for pointing it out. At Jack54311: Yep, maybe the readers are peeved at the direction the story is taking, that, or I shocked them speechless (Heh). Lack-2 play a role in their escape, hah, look forward to that :P Red can't blame Ruby, the only person he can blame, is himself.