Chapter 10

The next morning Gertrude redressed with some difficulty, doing her best to handle the discomfort, and held her egg protectively next to her belly as they resumed their walk.

It was late afternoon when they finally returned to Trovitopolis and passed through the now repaired front gate. Ranger Kerry Vargas was there to greet them.

"I was starting to get worried about you," her greeting was warmer than before, "Been too quiet for my tastes." She pointed over her shoulder in the direction of the military HQ, "General Silverman will want to see you." She turned to Gertrude and saw what was in her arms, "Gertrude, you laid your egg out there!"

"Didn't really have a choice," Gertrude chuckled nervously then turned to her friends, "You go on ahead, I need to drop my egg off at home and change into something that doesn't smell like afterbirth."

Dee, Helios, Melany and GR-0-WL made their way around the boxing ring in the HQ's floor and into General Silverman's office. The Aggron-man was seated at his desk when they entered and he didn't seem perturbed by them just arriving unannounced.

General Silverman actually smiled, "Welcome back, honestly I thought you'd be at this for weeks if you didn't end up dead and you two managed to evolve too, didn't expect that."

Helios' eyes wide, "Weeks! What about your water reserves?"

"With rationing they could have lasted a little over a month before I'd have had to hire the Aqua Merchants to keep us going. You saved us a lot of money and paperwork getting that fixed so promptly."

Melany groaned, "So we didn't have to rush past that Durant mound..."

Dee chuckled nervously, "Well it seemed like the right choice. I thought we had to rush to save lives."

General Silverman's face became stern, "You did, I need everything I can to keep our soldiers combat ready especially now." He reached into his desk and pulled out a stack of NKR money, "Here's your payment, $200 each," he passed twice the amount to Melany, "You can give Gertude her share, Ranger Vargas told me she joined you for this."

Dee nodded, "We almost didn't make it, the Aether Enclave took over the place and were trying to put some sort of virus in the water but the system locked before they could send it here. Melany and I fixed the system and Gertrude cleaned it out."

"The Enclave!" Silverman sounded alarmed then looked grim, "Seems we have a more serious problems on our hands."

"Right," Melany kept her voice level as she accepted both payments. "What about my pardon?"

General Silverman nodded, "Yes, Melany, you are now pardoned and are a free woman inside NKR territory. Just don't leave this region until the paperwork gets through and they have time to remove you from wanted listings."

"I wasn't planning on it," Melany pocketed her half of the payment.

"I do have another mission for you if you're up for it, pays $500 each." General Silverman was already pulling out paperwork to check details then consulted a map that was spread out on his desk. "I need someone to accompany Captain Jameson to raid Fort Daggerpoint. We're still short on Poke power here and you've shown you can handle adverse situations with only minimal gathered intelligence." He pointed to a location on the map far to the East that had been circled in red.

"What's Fort Daggerpoint?" Helios asked.

"An old Aether Enclave military base from before the war," General Silverman looked up from his paperwork, "But other than that it's a blind spot in our intelligence."

"What do we need to do?" Dee gulped.

General Silverman gave a small smile, "A shopping spree, of sorts. I'm sending a whole pack Tauros caravan with you to carry all the weapons, armor, ordinance and spare parts you can find to haul back here. Before you ask, yes you can take some of what you find, but I expect there's going to be more than what four people can use on their own. NKR reinforcements will arrive in a week or two so we'll have enough Poke power to prospect Daggerpoint properly, but what you bring back will be enough to keep the Raiders and Aether out of Trovitopolis."

"So just us and Captain Jameson?" Melany folded her arms.

General Silverman nodded, "He'll bring a squad with him to escort and protect the Tauros. I've received more reports about skirmishes with the Survivalists ever since the attack, a few other supply caravans had to be pulled out of hot zones so there might be a leak in our intel and they could be heading there now. If they found a way in you'll need to clear them out and if they're waiting for you at the fort then you'll need to help Jameson to break in. I'm sure you're the right choice after two of you evolved from the last mission."

A thought crossed Helios' mind, "How do we get in if it's a blind spot in your intelligence?"

The General nodded, "Smart man. The only reason we can do this now is that Senator DuVille recently acquired a pass-key for the base's security and he has it stashed somewhere in town. Go talk to him and get it then report to Captain Jameson. His squad can have the Tauros ready in a day, so if it all works out you'll leave the day after tomorrow. It'll be at least a month-long round trip so be prepared."

Dee looked to Helios and Melany then down at GR-0-WL who remained silent throughout the conversation. She could see their nerves but at the same time she knew what they would do. "We'll do it."

General Silverman smiled, "Excellent." He handed a stack of bills for $2000 to them, "I can't take any chances so pay's up front this time. Make sure you're ready before you go."

"We will," Melany took $1000 from the two and split it half, pocketing one and adding the other to the wad set aside for Gertrude while Dee and Helios took a moment to enter the location from the map into their Rotom-boys.

OoOoO

After setting her egg in the incubator she'd prepared and taking a much-needed shower, Gertrude changed into her casual clothes and headed for the HQ. She arrived just in time to see her friends enter the senator's office. She was about to join them when she heard Melany angrily shout "YOU!" and froze, then crept up to the edge of the door to listen in and made a motion for the soldiers around the lobby and boxing ring to ignore her. They all resumed what they were doing.

Melany snarled and bared her teeth at the Aron-man wearing leather armor and a cowboy hat on his steel plated head; he was shorter than everyone in the room except GR-0-WL. He leaned up against a desk with a computer where a fat purple Purugly-man with blue ear tips and wearing a business suit was seated.

The Aron-man gave a smug grin, "Surprised to see me, Stink Girl?"

Melany's contorted into an even angrier expression, "Surprised you dragged yourself all the way out here, Maxwell Silverman. What the fuck do you want?!" her angry response made GR-0-WL growl and get ready to fight. Dee had to step back as she could feel the intense rage bleeding off Melany.

"Now now let's all calm down," the Purugly man, Senator Paul Duville, spoke with a voice that sounded like it was muffled by his own fat, "After you left on your mission I expedited a message back west so Maxwell could join us. I don't want to send anyone to the gallows today."

Melany turned her acidic glare on the senator, "The fuck! I've been pardoned so don't try that shit on me!"

"Watch your language, raider," the senator's voice became harsh, "And listen to what I have to say." He nodded to Maxwell who casually strolled past the four and shut the office door, not seeing Gertrude listening in. The Zigzagoon woman put her ear up against the door so she could hear everything going on inside.

Senator Paul DuVille nodded to Maxwell as the Aron-man returned to stand next to his desk, "Now then I know why you're here, General Silverman has asked you to get into Fort Daggerpoint and I have access to a pass-key that will let you do that."

"Can we just get it then and skip the rest of this conversation?" Helios swore he could smell the slime leaking from the Purugly man's pores.

"Ahh, straight to the point. Very well," the senator nodded, "the key is with a woman named Annai Oran, she's an independent who can't be bought; she just wants information on something called 'Project Alola'." He leaned forwards, elbows on his desk and fingers entwined, "I don't like people who can't be bought, you never know where their loyalties lie."

"Is she a mercenary?" Dee asked.

Senator DuVille scoffed, "She can barely be called a bounty hunter, no one knows who she works for. All I know is that Silverman's investment in her cost the NKR a quarter-of-a-million dollars. When you meet her tell her 'Project Kanto went up in smoke, Project Alola is active, projects Kalos, Sinnoh and Paldea are 1000 miles away' what ever that means. If that fails then I heard she'll hand it over for $1200."

"Isn't Alola another region out on the ocean?" Dee asked.

Maxwell snorted and shrugged, "Who knows, it probably blew up in the war ages ago." He smirked at the group, "But when you get back from Daggerpoint tell the senator everything you found."

Helios' tail flame burned brighter as he resisted his urge to flamethrower them right there, "You mean tell General Silverman, right?"

"Yes, quite," Senator DuVille sat back, "If you don't care what happens when you get back. You see the General doesn't do things the proper way, he butts heads with congress and does things 'his own way', hiring you to do this for instance. This raiders business is part of that because, you see, the Survivalists have been good for dealings with the families of New Celadon, my own family in particular."

"So if you know what's good for your health you'll bring everything back here to Senator DuVille then maybe you'll really be off the hook," Maxwell grinned smugly at Melany, "and maybe if you're willing to marry me I'll make sure your head stays on your shoulders."

Gertrude had heard enough and she crept away from the door then marched into the General's office. Captain Jameson the Manectric-man was talking to General Silverman when Gertrude entered and shut the door behind her. Neither even noticed her until she spoke

"General, I need to talk to you now!" her voice was overly forceful which made them both jump.

General Silverman cleared his throat, "Gertrude, can this wait?"

Gertrude shook her head, "It's about the senator, he just threatened my friends if they didn't report to him instead of you."

That got both Silverman and Jameson's attention and Jameson replied, "Does he know you heard anything?"

Gertrude shook her head again, "I don't think he even knows I'm with them."

General Silverman sat down, "Then you'd better tell us everything."

One explanation later, Captain Jameson looked alarmed while General Silverman's expression had hardened.

"We need to get him out of here, before he turns the city over to the Survivalists!" Captain Jameson was sparking as he tried to leave before General Silverman's voice stopped him.

"Not yet, we can't use one civilian's eavesdropping as evidence, but I can make sure this doesn't go too far until he does something stupid." The Aggron-man general turned to Gertrude, "Tell your friends I know what happened and that I'm on your side. I'll have a talk with my grandson about this, it won't be suspicious if a grandfather wants to talk to his grandson. Jameson and your friends can fill you in on the details, if you're going to the fort with them."

Gertrude nodded, "I am," she bowed, "Thank you. Excuse me."

Gertrude caught a glimpse of her friends exiting the HQ and hurried around the arena on the opposite side from Senator DuVille's office right as someone shouted, "Maxwell Silverman, your grandpa wants to catch up with you," in a tone that sounded like the Aron man was being invited to dinner.

"I can't believe he, URRRRRRG!" Melany had to bite her lip to stop herself blurting out that they had been told they would have to kill Silverman or the Senator could have them all convicted of treason, no matter how spurious that would be.

"What do we do then?" Dee wiped her brow, sweating not just from the sudden stress and her tight clothes but the sickening aura she'd felt coming from Senator DuVille.

"I don't know, but we have to think of something," Helios clenched his fists as his tail flared up for a moment.

"Don't worry about it," Gertrude caught up to them, "I heard everything and told the General, he's going to sort things out especially his grandson."

They all stopped and turned to face the Zigzagoon-woman with surprise. GR-0-WL barked, "You did? So what do we do?"

"Do the mission with Captain Jameson and report to the General as planned, which is what exactly?" Gertrude looked at all her friends.

Melany sighed in relief and pulled out the $700 that was for Gertrude, "Here, payment for both missions. Right now we're waiting for tonight to meet this Annai Oran woman at the Dubwool Shack, so just killing time till then, maybe get supper I guess."

Gertrude could feel the relief and smiled, "You and I can go with GR-0-WL but I think our two newly evolved friends should get some time to see their new bodies in private, follow me." She led them back to her house and unlocked the door, "You two can stay in for the night, help yourself to any food, I can always get more. Melany and I will have a night on the town then meet our contact. Just don't disturb my egg in the incubator."

Dee let out a sigh of relief, "Thanks, these clothes are way too tight!" She disappeared inside followed by Helios, and the door shut with a click as it was locked from within.

Melany chuckled, "They're going to fuck tonight."

Gertrude nodded, "Yep. Now let's get supper."

GR-0-WL trotted along with them, "They're going to use expletives at each other?"

Melany rolled her eyes, "I'm going to have to tell you about the Delibirds and the Combees over supper."

"An ice/flying type and a bug/flying type. I don't understand," GR-0-WL sounded confused which just made Gertrude laugh.

"It's what happens before someone gets eggnant."

OoOoO

Dee felt immense relief as she undressed in Gertrude's bathroom, her bra was tight enough to squish her breasts up against her chest and it practically flew off as she undid the hooks. Dee smiled as she looked at her newly evolved self in the mirror. Her muscles were more visibly defined as she flexed an arm then turned her head to get a better look at her aura dreads, she now had four which were each thicker than they had been before evolving. Her torso and breasts were covered in short black fur, except for her nipples and areola which were electric blue. She touched where the Drapion had gripped her around her middle and back and found the holes from its pincers were gone.

"I thought Lucario had poofy cream colored fur," Dee hefted her breasts up and shuddered at her own touch. They were a lot bigger now, at least D-cups. She put her arms behind her head and swayed gently from side to side. The weights on her chest that shifted back and forth made them feel all the more real. She wondered what Helios would think and blushed, the thought sending a rush of heat through her chest and down to her groin. Only one way to find out.

Dee headed for the bedroom in just her underwear, "Helios, how are you feeling?"

"Tired," Helios was sitting on the bottom bunk of the bed, also only in his underwear, when Dee entered. He turned and almost shot to his feet, but banged his head on the top bunk, "OW!" he rubbed his head and he looked at the nearly naked giggling Lucario-woman, his underwear rapidly tenting at the sight.

"What do you think?" Dee leaned forwards.

Helios forced himself to look Dee in the eye but couldn't help his gaze drifting to her chest, "You are the hottest woman I've ever seen."

"High praise from a fire type," Dee folded her arms under her breasts which hefted them up, "You're not just blowing smoke up my ass, are you?"

Helios grinned, "Only if you ask nicely."

Dee leaned forwards and gave Helios a kiss on the lips, then reached down and pulled his underwear off. Helios gasped when Dee knelt and wrapped her breasts around his hard member, squishing and rubbing and even letting the tip rub up against her chest spike.

Helios grunted and came suddenly, splattering her cleavage with his seed. "Sorry, I was trying to take care of that before you came in."

"It's alright," Dee stood up smiled and tried to clean her fur without success, "It just means you really think I'm the hottest woman ever."

Helios sat forwards, he could smell and see Dee's arousal starting to soak her underwear and grinned, "At least let me return the favor." He grasped her waistband and yanked her underwear down which made Dee gasp as he fell forwards onto his knees and plunged his muzzle into her wet nethers.

"Helios! Ahhh!" Dee gasped as she felt his hot breath enter her and his tongue start to work her insides. Her legs wobbled as she struggled to stay upright while he worked around her pussy and some smoke wisped up from her waist. Dee let out a cry as she had her first female orgasm, splattering Helios' face with her juices.

The Charmeleon-man sat back as Dee collapsed to her knees. "Wow… Helios… I… thanks."

"You were just as eager," Helios wiped his face then stood up and helped Dee to stand.

Dee blushed, "Well you're the hottest man I've ever known." She leaned forwards to kiss him, then pulled back, "Maybe let's clean up first, the water's back on."

Helios grinned and led her towards the bathroom, "Shower together?"

"Isn't that dangerous for you, what about your tail flame?" Dee held him back for a moment.

Helios rolled his eyes, "It'll hurt a little more than it used to but everyone has it backwards: putting out my tail won't kill me but it will go out if I die. Let's not think about that."

A moment later they were both in the shower, small hisses of steam coming from Helios' tail flame as they lathered each other up. Helios couldn't resist groping Dee's breasts as he cleaned them from behind. Dee leaned back and reached behind her to grab Helios' hardening dick.

Helios reached down from her breasts and prodded Dee's wet pussy with a claw, "Damn, you're eager tonight."

Dee panted, "Can't help it, got so much pent-up frustration I want work out." She leaned her head back.

"I'll help you burn it off then," Helios gave her a full kiss on the lips and Dee turned to face him, hands on his hard pecs as he squeezed her ass with one hand and groped her breast with the other. Dee felt Helios's dick poke her leg and she moved up and sideways to give better access. Helios took the hint and helped her up and drop onto his dick. Dee gasped and moaned as she bounced on Helios' dick and he rammed up into her. She grabbed his shoulders and forced herself in time with him until she came around him and panted. Helios lasted a bit longer but held her as he unloaded into her, letting out a small puff of flame from his mouth that sent up a massive burst of steam around them.

They both panted as they stood under the water stream and Dee stood back to avoid accidentally poking him with her chest spike. "That was… ha…"

"Yeah…" he gave Dee a kiss on the cheek, "We should probably actually get cleaned up."

Dee giggled and grabbed the soap they had dropped before their lovemaking, "Yeah. Then supper."