Truths and Secrets

18

Tuesday, May 9th, 1989

A knock on the Bryson's household door woke James from his sleep. Ugh, my head, he thought. He pulled himself up from his bed and sat up. He stared out the window to see the Elktan flag hanging in the street below, lit up by the crescent moon. The dark room's shadows crept around the room, and the creaking of footsteps on the stairs thudded louder and louder.

"Hi, sweetie; sorry we didn't mean to wake you. Are you feeling okay?" Mrs Bryson said, raising her hand and placing it on his shoulder. She smiled at him. "You get back to sleep now."

James looked at her. His stomach grumbled, and his fingers twitched. "Kuti is home, right? You know what? It is just super unfair. He doesn't even like pokémon, and he has three." He grabbed the pillow and threw it over his face. The gods conspire against me.

"Sweetie, it's okay. You'll get your pokémon when the time is right. Besides, Kuti only has the herdier he was given and his klink." Mrs Bryson took the pillow from James's hands and helped pull him down off the bed. "Let's put you on the downstairs sofa. I know you like to sleep there when you feel sad. Is it too much here? If you want, we can talk to the Captain, and he can find somewhere for you to stay."

"You want to get rid of me too?" James closed his fists and scowled. "First, my mum decides she loves that jerk more than me, and now you don't love me either. I wish you had never adopted or taken me in or whatever this shitty arrangement is!"

"Oh, hello. What's the commotion?" Sergeant Sutton said, placing Kitiku on the lower bunk. "I apologise; your husband said just to carry him, so I did. Hames?"

"My name is James. J. It isn't that fucking hard, you Elktan scum. All people like you ever do is invade and hurt people. Tomilson is the only person in this stupid world who understands what I say, and even then, he is Elktan! I hate it here!" James pushed past him as Sergeant Sutton went to correct him on calling him Elktan rather than Elkran, snatching the booklet and the key from his pocket and storming down the stairs. "Fuck off, Mr Bryson! And you too, stupid Oosho." James kicked the octillery and slammed the door behind him—dumb family. I wish I was allowed to look after myself. I could totally get a job and take good care of myself. He walked down the street and slipped into the alleyway. He walked past the school and headed towards the west exit to the town; occasionally, he paused, waiting for soldiers and Lords alike to pass. Screw it, he thought and stepped into the streets, keeping his head down. Up ahead, whistling away, he saw two soldiers talking and smoking. James scurried forward and bumped into them, shoving his hands in their pockets as he did.

James ran as fast as his legs could carry him towards a wooden fence. He jumped up onto the dumpster on the side of the alleyway and vaulted over to the other side. He could hear the footsteps getting louder as his feet struck against the cobbles. A tingling feeling rang out from where his bare feet struck the cobbles. He darted down the main street and into the office building. He could see the door in sight; however, he suspected it would not be a quiet entrance. Someone in the reception would see him. On the side of the building, a window hung open. He passed under it and sprung up, grabbed the ledge and pulled himself inside.

"James, what are you doing up and out after curfew and in your pyjamas." Captain Bourbabel raised his hands. His eyes drooped a little, and his voice was far more profound than in the day.

"I just can't take it anymore!" James thumped Captain Bourbabel's chest. To James's surprise, Captain Bourbabel let him. James screamed louder, "It is just so pointless. How does Kuti get more pokémon than me? How is he so much better than me? Li gets away with so much, and none of you jerks can say my name right!" He felt Captain Bourbabel's hand on his shoulder.

"Let's go to my office; we can talk there, and I can give you something to eat and drink. But James, I do need to go as soon as possible." Captain Bourbabel took his jacket off and put it on James's shoulders.

Following Captain Bourbabel up the stairs, James chirped up, "Why?"

"The forest just east of Shmitty town was set on fire by an explosion a few days ago. We need to get supplies through the town to help injured Colran and Elkran soldiers alike. But first, you are cold and upset, and you need to be taken good care of, too." Captain Bourbabel opened the door and gestured to the chair in his office. "Now, you wait here. I'll be back in a moment."

James shuffled in and sat down on the chair. He held onto Captain Bourbabel's jacket, rubbing the tips of his fingers along it. He looked around the room as the silence consumed him. He felt a shiver and turned around to see Captain Bourbabel's alakazam just standing there by the door. What's that hanging behind the door? Goggles? Why would he have goggles?

"Because I have a pilot's license." He placed a shirt on the back of the chair with some grey trousers and some soft shoes. "I hope they fit. It's a little cold tonight for you. It was only 21 degrees, 5 degrees colder than usual. Of course, for me, this is still very hot." Captain Bourbabel grabbed his chair and pulled it over to James. The sound of the wood grating along the floor made his ears twitch. "One step at a time. Why are you upset?"

"It isn't fair. Kuti got another new pokémon. What do I have? Okta and that thing." James tucked his legs up on the chair, and then he changed into the clothes.

"I see. Well, what sort of pokémon would you like to catch?"

"I don't know. I want to be able to fly and be free. You fly. What is it like?" James looked back at the goggles which hung off the back of the door.

Captain Bourbabel smiled at him. "Do you want to find out? I'm sure I'll get in trouble, but it is fine. You can help us move supplies, and in return, we can fly. Yes?" He jumped up off his seat and walked over to the door. If I can make the boy smile for a moment, it will be worth it. He has been through so much already. He took the goggles made from miltank leather and extended his hand, holding them to James.

"Alright." James took the goggles and darted down the stairs. "Hey, um… don't tell Sutton it was me, okay?" He took the little booklet and the key out of his pocket and offered them up to Captain Bourbabel. "I was angry. I still am." James pushed open the door and walked straight into a young Lady who drew her sword immediately. "Watch it, bitch!"

"Who are you? Why are you out after curfew." Her stern gaze fixed on him, and she poked him with her sword.

"Ah, young Lady Ignat, this is James. James, this is young Lady Clementine Ignat. She has come from Quigk to assist along with a lot of other young Lords and Ladies – the young Guard, if you will. James is going to help move supplies." Captain Bourbabel stepped out the door.

"This is highly irregular!" young Lady Ignat scowled at them both.

"You are highly irregular. Have you ever heard of not getting your Elktan arse in a twist?" James knocked past her. "Let's fly!"

"You rude, irresponsible… ugh." Young Lady Ignat spat words out in Elkrat at James and stormed away.

James scowled and looked at Captain Bourbabel, who shook his head and sent out his braviary.

Captain Bourbabel rummaged through his bag and pulled out the flat-packed saddle made from the same leather as his goggles. He placed it on the braviary's back and tied it on with a buckle. He lifted James and helped him grab hold of the handle on the top of the saddle. I hope James is ready for this. At least the metal boxes are made using light-metal pokémon skin.

"Let's go. Let's fly already." James fidgeted on the saddle as Captain Bourbabel sat down behind him.

"Hold on tight. One hand on the top and one on the bottom, or you will fall off. Squeeze your knees against Barook." He changed to Elkrat. "Barook, be nice and slow. No fa- aaagh!" Captain Bourbabel gritted hold of the handle tightly. "Barook, slow down!"

"Awesome. Go faster!" James reached up with one hand and pulled the goggles down over his eyes.

"No, no, don't go fast- aaagh!" Captain Bourbabel gripped the handle and leaned to the side, forcing the braviary to turn in the air. Damn braviary. Ha, I should have known. He is a wild pokémon still at heart.

James looked back at Captain Bourbabel. He must be scared. His eyes are shut tightly. The stars sparkled in the purple sky, and the clouds were nowhere to be seen. He closed his eyes and felt the air rush into his skin. A churning feeling came from his stomach, and he opened his eyes again. The ground rushed towards him.

"And that's enough. We need to pick these supplies up. Good boy, Barook." Captain Bourbabel petted his head and ruffled his feathers. "Good landing. Come, James." The street lampent flickered their flames, and the cobbles were barely visible in the purple light. The crowding of lampent around some metal boxes created an eerie glow, a feeling Captain Bourbabel hadn't felt since he was much younger. He walked over to the boxes with James in tow and grabbed one. "Heavier than I thought." He placed his hand on one of his poké balls and sent out a machamp. Its four arms flexed, and its blue body glowed from the flickering flames. "Mind helping me out, old friend?"

"So, who was that girl? You said her name was Clementine. You know, the one who was all uppity." James walked over to the boxes, picked one up, and loaded it onto the open sawsbuck coach.

Captain Bourbabel grinned at him. "You like her?"

"Eww, no. I was just… wondering…" James stuck his tongue out and screwed up his face.

"James, it's okay to like someone. Even if she is Elkran, it is only natural. You are what? Fourteen? Fifteen? By your age, I had already started crushing on someone." Captain Bourbabel placed his box onto the coach and pushed James's box on further so it didn't tip off.

"Eww, no. I said no. She might look pretty, but I don't like her. No. Eww. No. Besides, I bet she sucks in battle." James stepped over one of the lampent, which was floating just above the ground, and picked up another box. "Anyway, I was meaning to ask. How did you get so strong in battle anyway? I mean, I am still stronger, but I was curious."

"Well…" Captain Bourbabel paused for a moment, looked at James, and then went back to the purple glowing lampent. The clunking sound of the boxes being moved around by the soldiers and Lords alike washed calmness over him. He reached over and picked up another box. "I trained for a long time. I even fought in the civil wars."

"Civil wars?" James asked. He placed the last box he could squeeze onto the cart and screwed his face up. "Did they fight over who is the lamest?"

"No. It was about slavery, James: slavery and cruelty. In fact, Lord Piscar wants to ban the slavery of the Elkran people in its entirety. However, it isn't that simple. For a law like that to go through, he would need the agreement of two-thirds of the Lords. And most of those vote it down. Lord Jackson, the one Lord who everyone would assume to vote for the ban, actually voted the other way. His reasoning is solid. It isn't that he doesn't want to ban it; it is just that some Lords don't. Another civil war would be a disaster. How old are you? Fourteen, right? Kids as young as you were dying in these wars. There is a huge gap in the Elkran population, and well… you understand." Captain Bourbabel looked at James and saw a deep sadness in his eyes.

"My dad died to the Elktan before I was born. Were there many Colran in the war?" James looked down at his hands, and brushed the dirt and muck off them. He glanced back up at Captain Bourbabel and felt relief soak him. "So, he could have died fighting for the Elktan? Why would he do that?" James sat down a pile of metal boxes. The metal was cold enough to feel through his thin trousers.

"What you have to understand is that James is Aaron Piscar, and his brother Erik Piscar went to war with their dad, Ellio Piscar, to create a better world." Captain Bourbabel sat down next to James. "We all did terrible things in that war; brothers and sisters fought and killed each other." Captain Bourbabel nudged James and looked to the sky. "It's pretty out at night, isn't it, James? You do look exhausted, though. Perhaps you should walk home. It will give you some time to think. And James? Give me the stuff you stole."

James jumped off the metal box, put his hands in his pockets, and pulled out the items. How did he… oh right, psychic. Stop reading my mind, jerk. He placed the items on the box and turned back to the streets.

James walked down the cobble street and looked up at the stars. "I don't have feelings for her. Ew…" James muttered, thinking back to Captain Bourbabel's comment. "She might be pretty, but she's the enemy…" his eyes glowed a soft brown as he spoke.

You should show him who is strongest, James.

James shook his head. "Shut up…" he muttered as he continued to walk. A shiver crept down his spine, and he turned around, expecting to see someone, but the street was nearly empty, with the exception of the patrol. He sighed and continued his walk back to the Bryson's household. He knocked on the wooden door and crept back upstairs. The glare Mr Bryson gave him sent a shiver down his spine, but Mrs Bryson hugged him as tightly as she could.

"I am sorry," he whispered as he sat next to Kitiku's bed. "I was just angry…" Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a figure in the alleyway opposite the house. "Who is that?" The figure faded into the shadows.

"Huh?" Mr Bryson said, glancing out. Something is off. Maybe I'll get Oosho to keep tabs on the outside. He turned back to his octillery, who had taken up residency on his chair. "Oi!"

The figure glanced back at the window out of sight and slowly disappeared from mind. He pressed the cigarette against his lip but refused to light it. If you have the stone like I think you do, why don't you use it? I am sorry, kid. I really do care about you. You are a good kid, but at the same time… you are in the way. Don't get too close to the mission. Maybe after all of this is said and done things can be different.