Hey everyone, I'm back with a new chapter, this will be a shorter chapter than usual. Either way, please enjoy!
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Chapter sixty-two: Redemption Part 2
This is not what I expected…
I didn't expect to end up out here in the middle of Saffron City in the rain…acting as bait for some Ex-Team Rocket grunts. Jennifer and I have spent the last few minutes "exploring" certain areas marked by the authorities to be places they think the grunts will congregate. The arcade where we were at (where we initially ran into them) is now on the list. For now, we stopped to rest under a building to shield ourselves from the rain.
"Nothing…" Jennifer muttered, sighing loudly: her legs shaking from being wet and cold. Still resting on her shoulder, I too am suffering: my fur is drenched and I'm freezing.
We haven't seen anybody we recognize…no one is even outside in these conditions…we're just wasting our time!
I suppose the authorities were hoping we'd be confronted by the grunts by now, but no such luck now. Maybe this new group (Team Destiny…gosh…what a terrible name…) might have caught on our act.
"This is not comforting…knowing that we're being watched…." I said, rubbing my wet ear to dry it.
"Yeah…" she muttered back softly, "but help won't be far if we run into trouble…" she reassured but I respond silently with a raised yellow brow.
"You're putting…so much faith…into these people all of a…sudden."
Jen scoffed silently, double checking her Pokéballs to make sure everyone is battle ready, "I told you, I want to help you by the end of the day…these slug heads are getting what's coming to them."
"What about you…" I jumped off her, stopping the girl with a small yellow paw as she gave a slight disappointed look that grew as I carried on, "you…told them you're a grunt…it doesn't matter if you're from Sinnoh or if you're…doing this for good. D-do you really think…they'll let you off the hook?" I asked with pain in my brown eyes, expecting an honest answer from her.
She just looked away…speechless; however, soon she looked into my eyes again with determination and heart, "but, at least you'll be okay."
Silence slapped the both of us in the face and we just stood there for who knows how long before I quivered at her answer. Jennifer accepted her fate…this is NOT how I wanted it to go…
Already I had a picture in my head of where she'll end up, even if everything works fine for us all. Incidentally, Kanto is VERY harsh on grunts…many go behind bars for years. The worst imagery plays in my head about her…spending the next decade in prison…I didn't want that for her! But maybe it's already too late and I must accept this…
In response, I back myself into a wall and slump down…shutting myself out for a moment before the human girl sighed.
Not a minute later, I spotted, from the corner of my eye, what appeared to be two men dressed in black…they look suspicious enough.
"Jen…" I alerted her before she got a Pokéball ready; however, it turned out I overreacted, for it's only two dudes out for a smoke before entering the club with their couples (who came out from inside to get them.)
The rain continues to fall heavily in Saffron City as we continued our journey through the streets…with no end in sight.
That is, until we heard a voice…more like a chuckle, coming from the shadows behind us. Jennifer and I quickly turn around to be met with several people, who arrived from under the bridge leading to the complex we made it to. All but one man stood in the dark: their leader removed their hood and by that time we both know who it was.
It's Rk…
"You are quite the grunt, Mrs. Jenson…" he simply stated, referring to Jen. She looked a bit shocked at first, but it all made sense soon enough. She narrowed her eyes whilst curling a hand into a tight fist, "you did a background check on me, how adorable." Jen gritted through her teeth.
"We could use someone like you…" the man said, stepping slightly closer to us, "it'd be better than working for a bunch of feds…knowing they're just using you…and they'll just lock you up after."
H-how does he know!? D-did they listen in!? M-maybe it's the tracker…maybe it had an audio receptor…damn!
"Spare me" is all she said in response, patience wearing thin.
Rk scoffed in response, "that remark reminds me of someone I used to know…heh…we'll be seeing them soon too." He laughed to himself a bit…what is he hinting towards…Cy? "Anyway, you two might as well give up on what you're doing."
Jennifer laughed back in retaliation while sparks left my red cheeks as a warning to the grunts, "you…and your ragtag group won't survive" I muttered in human-speech.
Rk simply crosses his arms in arrogance at my statement and with a sinister and triumphant laugh he replied, "we've survived worse." He snapped those fingers of his before his henchmen walked out of the shadows to confront us.
"You asked for it" Rk, or Jeremy, grinned.
Jennifer aimed her ball, the one containing Sneasel. I get down on all fours as my anger grew and my sparks grew evermore persistent.
"Bait or not, you two are coming with us!" Rk shouted as his arms finally burst into flames…revealing his signature ability. His sleeves burnt to crisps as raindrops immediately evaporated upon contact with his arms. As soon as everyone was battle-ready, however, bright lights shone on the group as a dozen police officers came out of hiding and ran up to the street toward us.
As if they anticipated this, one of the grunts jumped in and created a rock wall behind Jen and me to block the advancing officers.
The girl next to me quickly released her Sneasel as I unleashed a Thundershock at the criminals. The clawed Pokémon got one, but I wasn't as lucky. Still, the red-eyed beast continued her advance: using Fury Swipes to incapacitate two more of Rk's grunts. Unfortunately, that was the end of her run, for one grunt had used a rock-type move and the small Pokémon fainted!
"D-damn!" Jen said, calling her back before I'm forced to smack away a grunt, who was trying to get to the human, with my lightning-shaped tail. My human ally quickly called upon a Gabite (which is a Dragon/Ground type) into the fray! It's a purplish-reddish reptile that roared upon entering the battle and it quickly clawed at the grunt who finished Sneasel. Joining in I used quick-attack and ended up adding to Gabite's attack, rendering that grunt history.
Rk stepped forward before I focused on him…we should end this…now…
I rushed at him; however, Rk's fire got in the way and with an anxious yelp I was forced to jump away. Unfortunately, as I jumped back, the grunt released a pillar of fire in my direction: causing me to be thrown back. Jen and her Gabite see the man walking up to me…picking me up by the throat as I struggled.
"Lucas!" Jennifer cried out in horror.
"Pathetic" Rk muttered in my long ear.
Before he can finish me off or I can retaliate with my electricity, something huge, painted white and black, burst through the rocky façade that blocked the authorities: it's a police spiderbot!
The hairs on the man holding me raises from both fear and the electricity I am gathering around me. Rk senses my intentions and quickly throws me toward Jennifer. Thankfully, her Pokémon catches me in midair and sets me down. Gabite growls before jumping toward the group leader in anger. Unfortunately, Rk (or Jeremy) punches them out of the way with a flame fist.
"Sir! More are coming!" One grunt shouted before their leader scoffed silently…taking out a device from his pocket.
As soon as Rk pressed a button on the gadget, we all heard a clanking sound just as the officers arrived. Much to our shock and horror it turned out that Rk and his goons had their own Spiderbot. Incidentally, it's very similar in appearance to the one that attacked me in Viridian Forest, so dread overwhelmed me in that moment.
Images from the past flood my mind: from the time Orion and I had first encountered the Spiderbot upon our escape from the research facility. Another memory came to me from the moment "model 004" grabbed me with a claw and almost apprehended me.
This one is a slightly older model but still dangerous, nevertheless. On its side it bears the model number "002."
I never thought I'd see one of these blasted things again…my nightmares are back to haunt me…but this time they're real again…
The three of us had to get out of the way as the Grunt Spiderbot slammed into the Police Spiderbot and soon a shootout ensued.
Forced to retreat, Rk huffed in our direction (knowing that his group is now outnumbered, specially when he saw police needlebots flying in.)
With a wicked smile and laugh, the man turned to us and said, "say hi to the brat for me." He finally pulled away before the girl next to me shouted in response, "n-no! Come back here!"
"Jen…wait!" I threw my arm out toward her, but I had to move out of the way as one of the Spiderbots almost trampled me.
Sure enough, a chase ensued and it's not long before I reunite with Jennifer and her Gabite. Our group follows Rk and the remaining Ex-Grunts down a street before one of his henchmen stopped and released a power light beam toward us! I had to jump away quickly in order to avoid getting struck, but now that I'm in mid-air I released a powerful ThunderShock at the female bandit. Both attacks meet in the middle and are soon dispelled…creating a shockwave that rocks the area!
The lady yells in frustration but Rk calls for her before she scoffs, running away to rejoin her group.
"Oh no you don't!" Jennifer shouted at them before we made it to a bridge. The three of us saw the group jumping off it just as we arrived…are they crazy!?
As the authorities arrived behind us, Jen and I got to the edge to see that the Ex-Grunts had successfully jumped on a moving train…darn it!
As I stand on the railing, the girl next to me is about to jump across to board the locomotive, but I quickly prevented her from doing this, "Jennifer, it's too…fast!"
I shook my head violently and finally she yielded, sighing loudly before calling Gabite back into his Pokéball. The cops leaned over the ledge and gathered themselves…the battle was over…for now…
"Clobi Station, now!" One officer yelled into his radio before the group dispersed. Several police cars arrived, and we were escorted inside one before the group began to drive parallel to the train's route.
…
A few minutes later we arrived at a train depot. The authorities had forced the locomotive to stop; by now almost the entire Saffron police force is out looking for Rk and his goons.
Jennifer and I joined them, trying to help them end this once and for all. It doesn't take long for all of us to find and approach the disabled train. The conductor and some other staff members all evacuated to safety…but there's no sign of the grunts anywhere.
I gulped…probably not a good sign we haven't found them yet. There are so many tracks here, what if they're attempting to jump another train to escape…or maybe they got off long before they got to this station?
"Keep looking" one of the officers muttered as he shone a flashlight at dark corners and other spots. We, as a group, continue searching until we come across a large T.V. screen above us that is there to show passengers news bulletins. For the moment, it is static, and we could hear white noise coming from its speakers.
"Dang it…where did those buffoons go…" the girl trainer said across from me…clenching her fist.
One of the policemen who escorted us walked up and put his hands on his sides in frustration, "Mrs. Jensen, we appreciate your help but we're taking you back to the precinct for now. We'll handle the rest from here" they said.
She had a look of surprise and soon the red-jacket female scoffed, "no way, I'm staying!"
"It's not up for debate" the man deadpanned.
I walked up to Jennifer and climbed her back…I softly muttered in her ear in humanspeak, "think about the…others…" I said, referencing Rigel and Orion.
Jen looked away, unyielding. I tried talking sense into her, but my ears began getting irritated…is it me or is that static noise getting louder and louder?
We all looked above at the television screen changing from a greyish image to red…and finally the image of a man behind a podium…a man I know very well…
He's a middle-aged man with brown hair, long…and it's tied into a ponytail. He wears glasses just like Dr. Bartoli, but his miserable look…his cold, icy, expression is what I remember most. It's that man…Dr. Preston…from Outpost 3C 273…
My eyes are full of fear, my heart stopped. Jennifer looked down to notice, but she didn't know. She has NO IDEA who this person was…but she will soon enough…
P-people of Kanto…
Can you see me?
Can you hear me?
I am Doctor Anthony Preston of Olivine City, Johto
Today, I stand before you to make the following proposition…
"L-Lucas…who-who is that?" Jennifer asked but I didn't respond…I was in complete shock. Jen looked toward the other officers who also had no idea what was going on…many appeared to be staring at the screen in confusion.
We, the people, have the power to end the suffering our regions had been forced to endure…from the senseless bickering and fighting our regions subjected us to…to the lies they placed on us following its aftermath. These problems, trifling as they may seem, have been tearing at us all…even to this day.
The blanket of lies they have put over your eyes have taught you that organizations such as my own are draconian in nature.
I urge you all, remove the blanket from your eyes and see the limitless potential you were born to see. It is time we band together against our oppressors and seek to create a new age of progress…an age where Kanto and Johto can work together in peace.
But the first step to take to begin your journey to perfection is to hear the bells toll…
Just as we hear the end of that sentence…we all hear the city erupt into chaos...
Soon, people appeared all around us! It's an ambush! Many of Rk's troops had us all surrounded and a battle soon commenced. Jennifer and I had to be quick or else we're done for! We ran for cover just as Rk and his original compatriots and started firing at the Police Force, who had no choice but to shoot back!
The girl and I hid behind a wall as everything unfolded and from the corner of my I can see their leader boarding another train to escape: one that is green/red in color. It looks as though it's already leaving! At this point I memorized the locomotive to let the authorities know; however, amid everything happening…Jennifer just…Snapped!
The young adult began running for the military train and I gasped in shock at her sudden motion. I was forced to catch up with her, but by now the train was gaining speed and departing from the station. Jennifer jumped and grabbed onto the rail…turning back to see me running toward her. The adult trainer extends her hand before I jump and grab it with my paw.
Now both of us are on the train, and I wasted no time scolding her, "seriously, Jen!?" I had my arms out as I stood on the railing.
"We're ending this!" The twenty-three year old snapped at me, looking around, "come on…let's see what we're dealing with…" I sighed at this, I'm forced to yield to her wishes for now…after all, we're stuck on this blasted metal for the time being.
Hell…maybe we'll get lucky…very lucky…maybe…hopefully…
As the train left the vicinity, fires began to spread all around the train station we left behind.
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As all of this is happening, Rigel and Orion were hastily led out of the apartment by Yoshida and his partner.
It was on the news: Saffron and other neighboring cities are having skirmishes along train stations leading to Viridian City. One thing they all had in common: the train was heading there…the grunts want the train and its cargo to arrive…
Rigel, with almost no time, asked the detectives of our whereabouts and the men simply said, "we have to get you to safety."
"W-what about my friends!?" Rigel shouted back, "you haven't told us a thing!" Orion added with his unintelligible squeaks.
The two adults stopped the boy at a corner and said quietly, "we think they may have pursued the grunts on the train."
Orion's heart sank to the ground upon hearing…but then, as the group is hidden…the detectives receive a message:
"Sir, there were sightings of the two grunts from Celadon City…reports suggest they went on that same train!" They explained.
Two grunts…wait…Cy!?
Orion tried jumping up and down to get everyone's attention, but soon even Rigel realizes the connection between the two, "w-wait, you know where they are, the grunts from Viridian!?"
Yoshida almost hesitated, but he soon nodded.
Oh guys…what have you gotten yourselves into, Orion thought softly to himself.
Unknown to them, the train was headed for Verdigris…
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It's all starting to converge once again. The finale of this story is right around the corner…
I hope you enjoyed this recent chapter, have a good day everyone!