Yesterday we got to journey through a desert, today we're on our way to a scenic junkyard.
I must say, I thought exploring would be a little more glamorous than this.
The difference is that today, I have a plan. With Dragalge, I was still reeling from the situation I found myself in—waking up in a strange land in a new body might have that effect. But this time? I've had two whole days to process it (not as much as I'd like, but what can you do?). And if I'm going to learn anything about my past, I can't just stumble through these encounters blindly—I need to be prepared.
I want to ask Rotom questions—questions about her team, and where they came from. And if there are any other members, if anyone is missing.
I'm dying to tell Skitty and Noibat about what's on my mind, but I'm honestly not sure how. Skitty's been so supportive and uplifting throughout my whole ordeal, and Noibat has been hovering around both of us wide-eyed and innocent, eager to do anything to help. I'd feel terrible bursting their bubble by saying I thought I was actually affiliated with the very criminals the Center was so eagerly trying to capture. But keeping my motivations secret is also making my stomach roll, so I guess I can't win. For now, I'm going to try to achieve both my goals—solving the mystery of who I am while also extracting info from a wanted criminal—with a line of vague, open-ended questions.
A lofty set of goals to achieve with a few questions, but it's the best I can do on short notice. Maybe I'll have time to think of something better before Serperior's found.
We approach Garbodor's Junkyard, and are met at the gates by Garbodor himself. I feel unkind thinking this, but I'm itching to get into the junkyard partly to get away from him; let's just say, a bath or three could work wonders.
"Thanks for coming, got a real weird one in there," he says, motioning to the mountains of junk. "She's all over the place! Can't talk any sense to her, and if you get to close, ZAP! She gets ya!" "I see, thank you Mr. Garbodor," Skitty says, ever the voice of professionalism.
We turn to the mountains of trash before us. "Well, onward…" Skitty says halfheartedly. We linger at the entrance. There's no denying it—it looks pretty nasty in there. "Well…" Skitty says again, trying to motivate us.
Unpleasant or not, it's the way to find Rotom; we have to press on. "We are explorers—the up and coming Team Starburst! We can handle some garbage!" I say, stepping forward. "Let's go!" I start to lead the way, then quickly realize another problem.
Where do we even begin to look?
Everywhere I turn, there's mounds of garbage, ranging from trash to old appliances to mushy piles of…something I'd rather not consider. It goes on as far as the eye can see.
"Well I guess we should just go forward and see if we notice anything, but if Rotom's anything like Dragalge, we should stick together" Skitty says, resuming her role as leader. I'm glad to pass her the baton.
So we start wandering into the junkyard. Memories or not, I'm confident this is the most unpleasant area I'd ever been in, why Rotom would come here of all places…maybe she thought it'd be safe from the authorities? That they wouldn't want to go in a place so foul?
I guess they wouldn't; that's why we're here. Well, that and the ball. That's the other thing I wanted to ask her about, Dragalge seemed to recognize it, so it stands to reason she might too. Why did I have such a thing in my possession? Would she know where I got it from? Somehow I'm certain it's a link between us, but of course, memory's still out of action.
The deeper we go into the junkyard, the more unsettled Noibat seems to become. Every now and then he punctuates the silence with questions about how strong could Rotom be, or is she still even here (he sounded just a bit hopeful when asking that; I get it, it's pretty daunting thinking you're approaching a powerful criminal).
We enter a clearing. Appliances have been carelessly tossed aside amidst the litter. It's very quiet—I can't shake the feeling we're being watched. The air crackles with anticipation. I hold my breath for a beat. Two. Three.
"Aaiiiiieeeeee!" A screech breaks the silence. "What do we have here? A bunch of little kiddies?" The dismbodied voice sing-songs. Noibat is shaking now "I-I'm sorry! I can't!" Before we realize, he's flying back the way we came as fast as his little wings will take him. "Noibat!" We call after him, but it's no use, he's already gone.
"Huh, not much of a hero that one, hmm? But smart, you two should follow your little friend!" The voice calls with a playful lilt.
"Rotom!" I call out before Skitty can start her 'under arrest' speech again. "We're from the Exploration Center, and we have questions! Please, show yourself!" I'm trying to sound authoritative, like we have her right where we want her, but I'm really desperate to talk. Skitty throws me a look, I can tell she's not following, but she trusts my decision.
I so hope nothing we learn here betrays that trust.
"Hmm, well I didn't want to entertain visitors, but maybe we can help each other? You see, I'm in a bit of a situation myself…" the tiny glowing form of Rotom floats down from above. She grins at us, looking rather like she has US exactly where she wants us. Skitty tenses beside me. "Go ahead furballs, ask your questions, and I'll ask some of my own. Fair's fair of course" "…of course." What questions could she have?
Ok, it's now or never.
"We have reports that you were seen with two teammates" I refrain from calling them 'accomplices,' as there's a chance she doesn't know she's a wanted outlaw, "Dragalge and Serperior, yet, you appear alone, where are they?" Rotom crossed her arms, suddenly looking defensive "I'm...I'm looking for them! I'm looking for all of them! But I don't know where they are!" Seems I've struck a nerve. "Now my turn, where exactly are we?" Skitty and I exchange a look, "this is Garbodor's Junkyard…" she says awkwardly. "Ohhh, I know that you twerp, I mean where is ALL OF THIS? What continent are we on? Where's the lab!?" She's getting agitated now, electricity crackling around her body. "I don't understand this world! It's all so…so different! I've been attacked and I'm lost and there's no one…there's no humans…it's too much!"
Skitty and I freeze. There's no mistaking it.
Rotom said humans.
She's lost and confused and…and comes from a place with humans.
"Rotom…I-" "ENOUGH!" She's crying angry tears now. "You don't UNDERSTAND! I've tried to find my family! It's all gone! I'm ALONE!" the electricity is building in front of her as she speaks. Almost as if…
~she's preparing a thunderbolt, it's her signature move, after all~
Why do I know that? I—I must know her, if only I could talk—
Not now, time to act. "Skitty! Dodge!" I call out as Rotom releases the powerful move. It misses her by inches, the ground sizzling in its wake.
"You have to LEAVE!" She dives towards a broken, rusty lawn mower. She actually dives INTO the mower. A moment of quiet, then it springs to life, Rotom's face on the front.
"Rotom! Please! I think I can—" I'm cut off by a Will-O-Wisp. "NO! You CAN'T help!" She throws a Volt Switch and ejects from the mower, which continues running for a moment before collapsing in ruin in front of us. A moment later, a refrigerator bearing her face stands over us. "We fought! And fought! And LOST! And now I'm here! And everyone is GONE!" With the last word, another huge Thunderbolt comes our way.
"You have to use a ball!" Skitty shouts from across the clearing. Rotom is hysterical, firing half-formed attacks all over the place. "I can't! I need—" "Gwen DO IT!" Rotom stops for a moment. At some point in the turmoil she abandoned the refrigerator. "What kind of SICK JOKE?!" She screams. "The very UNIVERSE mocks me!" She's winding up for another Thunderbolt. We're too tired to keep it up. Skitty's right….I have to catch her. I pick a ball, then discard it for another. I don't know how to explain, but the second one just feels...right.
Pointing it at Rotom, I see her panicked expression for a painful moment before she vanished inside.
Skitty and I both collapse. We are exhausted. Now I have even more questions than answers.
Two down, one to go.
—
After frantically escaping the junkyard, I make it to the rendezvous point. It's a miracle I could find it, my heart's still pounding.
"Did she see you?" A phantump asks. Gosh, it's still going to take time to get used to THAT.
"She did, but she didn't seem to recognize me," I reply. "Good, good, it's all going according to plan…"
"…boss? I'm still a little lost…how will this all help?" "Ugh, don't you ever listen?" Audino groans. "We always knew this was a risk, so the rest of the team is working out how to open the portal again. But if Gwen and company are on the loose, our whole plan could be in jeopardy. They need neutralizing." "Right…" I shift uncomfortably, "so when she's caught them all…?" "We swipe them and leave her of course!" The phantump proclaims. "I was saved a little trouble with her memory loss, alone, she shouldn't be a threat. Anyway," he gestures to me "shouldn't you be going back to that bundle of trees to make yourself useful? Wait for us there, we still have one more loose end to tie up." "Right" I say, feeling as small and useless as I usually do around the boss and his prized partner.
I remind myself that it's all for the mission, we'll get back home, and everything will be better. We can be a team again.