Ray opened his eyes to sunless light entering the room.
The sun was rising gradually over the horizon, and he and Crystal had to leave in less than an hour. At least the possibility of escape was something to look forward to, but Ray didn't feel he would ever be ready to go out there again. The thought alone made him tired beyond repair. He sat up and stared at Crystal, knowing he had to wake her.
He watched her paws twitch in her sleep, grinning, then reached down and cupped her cheek. "Crystal," he whispered. He hated to disturb her, but it wasn't up to him.
She opened her eyes while stretching her limbs, rolling onto her stomach and giving herself a moment to wake up. She'd rested well and felt ready to tackle anything. If only it weren't today. Crystal, too, felt exhausted thinking about heading out into Sinnoh after staying at a five-star base.
"Morning, sweetheart. We're leaving in a bit, and Jenna is joining us this time."
Crystal yawned and looked up at him, cocking her head. "Spi?" She would never have expected that. Why would Jenna leave this paradise willingly?
"Her brother felt there was an extraction point for survivors in Canalave. Heading there is our best bet if we want to live, and she wants to go with us."
Ray then heard a knock at the door. "Hold on." He'd fallen asleep in his black shirt, so he slipped on his jeans and went to open it. Jenna was in the same outfit she wore on the night they'd met, minus the glove, and Ray was surprised to see a pokémon standing next to her.
"Say hi, Bizzy." She may as well introduce him since they'd all be traveling together. She had explained everything to Bizzy before they left the house.
"Bui." Bizzy raised his paw and glanced at Ray. He was rather timid around new people and pokémon but would have to get used to their company if they were going to be watching each others' backs.
"I didn't know you had a buizel." Ray grinned at him and saw Bizzy staring into the house. Ray looked back and saw Crystal returning Bizzy's curious gaze. They'd be acquainted later.
"He stays in a lot… Anyway, I came to tell you to meet us at the western wall in fifteen. We're leaving then. I'll have us squared on supplies by the time you arrive."
"Sounds good. We're about ready now." Ray watched her nod and walk off with Bizzy. Her spirit was shattered and soul non-existent. He could very much feel it. He turned to Crystal. "Be nice to that buizel or at least cordial. I know I don't have to tell you that, though."
Correct. Crystal was a kind espeon in general. If anything, she hoped he would be nice to her. If so, maybe she'd make a friend after all.
"Gonna take a quick shower, make a quicker breakfast, then we'll go." It would be the last one he'd be able to take. He started walking but stopped and turned back to her. "You want a bath?"
Jenna strolled with Bizzy and approached the western wall after a while of walking, thinking of how to tell the present defenders she needed supplies. It would have to be one she knew, but Jenna would also have to tell them she was leaving. She'd kept to herself throughout the stroll, but that would stop in moments.
She saw Harrison at the post talking to Jan, and Jenna stopped briefly, swallowing before approaching them with Bizzy by her side. Of course they had to be there.
Harrison noticed her after a moment and grinned, "Ah, Jenna. After yesterday's events, I'm having more offensive security installed at every post that we've been building. This one's going to have our only two mounted turrets since most of the infected rushed this wall. It seems to be the popular entrance. I commend you for stepping up and helping yesterday. You're always welcome to be a part or full-time defender."
She felt her chest tighten and he and Jan's eyes on her while awaiting a response. "Sir, I... I have something to ask of you."
"Go ahead. Anything."
"I'm leaving today… permanently, most likely." She noticed his grin fade instantly.
"What?" Jan asked. She'd gone back and forth but forever sounded far-fetched. What had gotten into this girl? He thought some sense had sparked inside her yesterday.
"I'll be going with Ray, the boy I brought here, to find the siren's source," Jenna elaborated. "I don't want to stay here anymore."
Harrison knew what she was referring to. Chris brought it up to him now and again. "Jenna, now… you've thought this over, right?" She hadn't with her recent decisions, so he wanted to ensure such.
"What's up, sir? Hey, Jen," Abby said while walking by. She was surprised to see Jenna at the post again, but something felt off about the air. She double-glanced at Bizzy and stopped. Abby hadn't seen him out here in a while.
"I have." Jenna looked down, keeping herself from breaking.
Harrison wouldn't try and talk her out of it. The last two incidents were impulsive, but this one was a lot different. He could tell. "What did you want to ask, Jenna?"
"I need two care bags. One for myself and Ray."
"I can do that. Jan, get two rifles and a couple of mags ready."
Jan shot a glance between Harrison and Jenna. "Sir…" She couldn't be thinking straight again. They'd already lost Chris, and horrible things would happen to her out there. Jenna was chasing something that may not exist and could be a trap for all they knew.
"Do as I say," Harrison said in a firm tone and nodded him off, then softened when turning back to Jenna. "Sit tight, Jenna."
She watched them leave, as did Bizzy.
He couldn't believe it either. They were going outside the walls and never coming back. He looked over at the closed exit. Bizzy didn't even know what was out there. He'd never been out there, and after the condition Jenna had returned in that night— he could imagine nothing but the most brutal of nightmares. But wherever Jenna went, he went. There was no other option in his mind.
Meanwhile, Abby had been standing in silence. "Jenna, what's going on?"
"I'm leaving."
"What do you mean?..."
"I'm going to find out where the siren is. There might be a way out of Sinnoh there."
"Huh?" Abby tilted her head, her expression full of fixed confusion. "There also might not be, and you're going alone?"
Jenna shook her head. "With the person I brought here."
Abby knew who she was referring to, as word had spread among defenders. "The guy that just got here? Can you even trust him? You can't be seri–"
"Abby, I've made up my mind."
"Jenna, what the fuck? You'll die. You know that, right? You'll die…" Abby's voice faltered. She eyed her and noticed tears well in her eyes.
Jenna sniffled, standing tense in front of her friend.
"Damn it..." Abby pulled her into a firm hug, tearing up with her and shutting her eyes while rubbing her upper back and sides, feeling her stiffen. This could very well be the last time she'd see her.
Jenna snaked her arms under her shoulders and raised her hands, setting them on Abby's upper back by her shoulders. If she would miss anyone, it would be Abby. She meant a lot to Jenna ever since they'd met. They knew so much about each other over late-night talks and comforted each other, and had shown each other vulnerability.
Abby broke their hold moments later and shook her head, tilting it down. "It's not gonna be the same… at least for me."
"Keep doing what you do best. The base needs you." Jenna saw Ray coming up with his espeon from behind Abby in a black shirt and jeans.
He could see what was going on and didn't say a word. In fact, he stopped short not to interrupt.
Crystal nodded at Bizzy, and he returned it, although a grim moment was taking place. She shook out her damp fur. A proper introduction would have to wait a while longer.
Jenna saw Abby turn and glance at Ray. She didn't want the air to be any more awkward. "This is Ray."
Abby looked at him while wiping her eyes. "Protect her with your life. She'd do it for you."
"I promise." Ray planned on getting everyone to Canalave if it was the last thing he did. Dying in Sinnoh would be a waste of a life.
"I'll see you, Jenna." Abby grabbed a rifle from one of the open boxes and reached to climb up the platform, holding a peg, but stopped and turned back. "You never told me... why'd you decide to play defender for a day?"
Jenna grinned a little, "just wanted to show myself I could."
Abby stared for a moment, then started climbing the ladder.
"Are you okay?" Ray asked. It was a dumb question, but he wasn't sure what else to ask and wanted to check on her in some way.
"Sure," Jenna replied.
Just then, Harrison returned with two moderately sized forest green backpacks and Jan with loaded rifles, a sheathed shortsword, and two magazines each.
Harrison set the bags down. "Water, food, and some equipment, including flashlights and knives in the side pockets. I kept it light enough to carry long distances. It should last roughly three days."
He looked at Ray. "Sword is for you. Hope you can swing cause you'll need it out there."
"I'll make it work. Thank you," Ray replied with a nod.
"I appreciate it more than you know, sir," Jenna said.
"Know you always have a home here if you change your mind," he replied.
Jan leaned the rifles on the bags, glancing at Ray and especially at Jenna. "Both loaded."
Jenna picked up the bag and put it on her back, attaching the mags to her belt and slinging the rifle over her shoulder. "If I make it and there's an extraction point, I'll let them know you're here."
Harrison nodded. "We'll be waiting. Good luck to you both." He motioned for Jan to wait at the wall for Jenna's say. "Could I pull you aside for a moment, Jenna?"
She followed him to a building nearby where no one was present but ones strolling by.
Harrison stood with his arms folded. "Is it his passing, Jenna?"
She took a deep breath, exhaling shakily as more tears came.
"I have more respect for him than most throughout my time serving and leading. He did more than any of our forces attempted to do. He ever tell you how he met me?"
Jenna swallowed and looked up at him while wiping her eyes. "A little... He told me he saw it in you when you walked up to the unfinished wall."
"Correct. I had pride while most stood in pity. He found me later and asked me what it was, and I told him about my service. He said I would make a respectable and proud leader and couldn't group me with the rest. He then asked if I would, in essence, help build and command a small and capable army, as he wasn't qualified to do so... Well, it happened to be one of the things I'm pretty good at." Harrison held his hands behind his back. "I'll miss him too, Jenna, and I understand why you're going all too well. I know you'll do well for him out there."
"Thank you, sir." She eyed him. "And... Chris told me you were kicked out of the military. Could I know why?"
He grinned at the corner of his mouth. Harrison didn't enjoy looking back on this story, but he didn't mind telling it. "Ah, that... It was a good while back when I was deployed to Ransei to command my unit of five during an operation, three men and two pokémon. A braixen and a machoke. I soiled it." He looked down for a moment.
"What'd you do?"
"We had to hit three kingdoms in one day and remove two warlords from the equation. They were radical and training a big enough army to rival ours with acquired autos from other regions selling to them and charizard mounts. It was becoming a true threat we hadn't taken seriously for years because they were outdated in every possible aspect. They were on us because we'd recently sanctioned them for poking at Lental, an ally we fund. They wanted a few of the islands to establish offshore structures for who knows what kind of operations... Lental refused the money offered and stationed soldiers to guard the islands and pokémon, so Ransei started forcing themselves onto them, resulting in the direct deaths of pokémon and many soldiers. Bastards," he sighed.
"We were ordered to eliminate them before it got any bigger... Well," Harrison cleared his throat. "We hit the first one clean and another unit hit the second before they could be briefed and prepare for our arrival, but the third kingdom was briefed of our arrival because our third unit was forced into a separate conflict by an extremist group.
The third kingdom sent a mini army, separated our two civi trucks with a car accident and ambushed us while we passed quietly through a small city, roughly fifteen klicks away. I assume they had scouts looking for us. Myself and the two with me had a clear path out for less than a minute while our other truck and the three in there, including the pokémon, were trapped behind us between the accident. Command ordered us to leave immediately because more soldiers were on the way. We couldn't stand a chance."
"You stayed, huh?"
Harrison nodded. "Couldn't leave my unit behind to die at the hands of those savages. I ordered my two to leave the truck, although they didn't want to disobey direct orders, and grouped with our other three. Unfortunately, the enemy soldiers arrived and kept us at bay with gunfire, forcing ours at home to have to drone strike an opening for us."
"But it was selfless. It was a good thing." Jenna understood that it crumbled the mission, but it was nothing to feel bad about.
"That it was, but you can't oppose a direct order, and it did force us to abandon and later complicate the operation for our military. I don't regret bringing lives home to their families, but I miss my work and fighting for a good cause and cleansing the world of evil beings." He nodded once. "Be strong. I'd be right behind you if I didn't have a duty here to continue your brother's work. These wonderful people need a leader."
"Of course, sir. I know you have it under control. You're an amazing leader." Jenna broke a subtle grin before walking back to Ray. She only admired Harrison more after hearing his story.
Ray put the mags in his bag, slid the long clip he saw on the sheathe through several loops in his pants, and threw the bag and his rifle over his shoulder, looking at her as she approached. "Are you ready? No rush." It's not like he was eager to step foot out there.
Jenna opened her mouth to say yes but noticed a luxray sitting next to a nearby building. "Hiko," she whispered. "Just a sec." She dropped her backpack and weapon. "I won't be long." She left Bizzy with Ray and walked over, kneeling before him. "Hiko."
He eyed Jenna.
Other than the lack of emotion in his gaze, she saw sorrow and perpetual wear. "I'm leaving, Hiko. For good."
He wasn't surprised by that. Perhaps Jenna felt shame or guilt, maybe anger due to recent events. He raised his paw.
Jenna looked at it, unsure of what the gesture meant. "Are… you asking for my hand?"
Hiko nodded. He wanted to ensure they were on good terms before they parted ways. He forgave her actions. He knew Jenna cared for Amy and would never have allowed her death if she could have helped it. What happened that night was a disaster, but it wasn't right to hate Jenna for it.
She took it with her good hand, holding his paw. "Thank you, Hiko. You could come with us, you know?... If you'd like."
He had no reason to. He'd live out whatever remained here, as there was no longer an urge to do much now that Amy was gone. "Lux." He shook his head.
"Alright." Jenna ran her fingers across his paw's thick, rough pads before letting it go. "Bye." She leaned in and kissed his head while sifting her fingers through the fur on his side. She'd miss Hiko a lot.
She stood and returned to Ray, slipping her fingers in her right pocket to ensure Chris' note was snug and wouldn't fall out. "I'm ready." Jenna then nodded at Jan, signaling him to reel open the wall. She watched it pull up for them, revealing dead bodies littering the pavement in hundreds from the recent attack. Jenna pulled her rifle's switch and put her backpack on again, then picked up Bizzy under his arms with some struggle.
She noticed Ray do the same with Crystal, pulling her up to his chest. Bizzy wasn't light, and she still wasn't fully recovered, but Jenna wouldn't have him walk through a mile of infected bodies.
She'd checked her hand before she left and wrapped it with new gauze but feared it had gotten infected due to the increased irritation and swelling around the wound. The rest of the roll was in her pouch. She could manage long enough, though, and wouldn't put pressure on her injured areas if she could help it.
Jenna started out of the base with Ray following, glancing back to see multiple defenders aiming down range in case any of the dead weren't dead, one of them being Abby. The putrid stench attacking her nose with every step made Jenna want to gag, but she withheld it.
"Eterna?" Ray asked while stepping over several bloodied pokémon. It was the next city west on the way to Canalave.
Jenna nodded. "We'll clear it before sundown, maybe Eterna Forest if we move."