Chapter 2

The firefight in the atrium was still going strong as Dee ran through. She managed to snatch a backpack where someone had dropped it then dashed into the cafeteria and crammed as much unspoiled food as she could from the shelves behind the counter into the bag before bolting towards the Vault entrance.

Dee hit the deck as Team Skull led by a couple Aether officers opened fire towards her and the surviving Vault citizens. Someone lobbed a flashbang grenade that went off amidst the squad. Dee took her chance and jumped up, almost overbalanced, then ran past them. She punched one out of her way as she bolted for the elevator, and almost collapsed to the floor as the elevator door shut, which somehow still worked.

The top floor of the Vault was disturbingly quiet and Dee nervously drew the laser pistol as she stepped off the elevator. Unable to afford to walk she jogged towards the robotics lab, hoping to Arceus that the boot-up was still in progress.

She was so distracted she almost tripped over a dead Aether Enclave body and into a man crouched in the middle of five more bodies. Dee blinked through the gas mask at the only other living person in the room; he was trembling. "Ben?!"

It was Ben, but his Vault suit had been painted with red flames and what she recognized as the symbol of the fire-type move "fire blast" and his hair now spiked up like a dancing fire. In one hand he clutched a homemade spear made from a knife taped to a pool cue.

"That's not my real name. I remember now," he stopped shaking and stood up, "My name is Helios from the Moltres Tribe. I was kidnapped, brought here and made into an ideal citizen but now," Helios turned around, "I remeb… Dee? What the hell happened to you?!"

Dee was only grateful he recognized her so she just pushed past the question, "No time! The Vault's going to explode any minute! We need to move!"

"Crap! Better than letting Aether have it I guess, let's go!" Helios grabbed a backpack he had dropped before his fight and took off with Dee.

Dee made a sharp left turn which made Helios stop, "Wrong way!"

"I have to get someone!" Dee called over her shoulder as she all but forced the robotic's lab door open. Helios followed just in time to see Dee set the robo-Growlithe GR-0-WL to follow her.

"Happy to follow you," GR-0-WL intoned.

"What's that?" Helios pointed his makeshift spear at the robot. The robot's body was mostly solid but its face was just two eyes like lights and a metal toothed jaw-trap which made it disturbing to look at

"A robot Growlithe, let's go!" Dee turned and ran off with Helios and GR-0-WL right on her tail, this time taking the correct turn towards the entrance.

A groan greeted them as they stepped into a dimly lit corridor and almost tripped over a middle-aged man slumped against a large steel crate, with blood splattered on the metal behind and below him.

"Doctor Rossman!" Dee and Helios were at his side in an instant. GR-0-WL just stood nearby.

Rossman coughed up some blood, "Ben? No looks like you remember you're Helios now. I think they got me close to a lung, not going anywhere." He coughed again and turned to Dee, "That you, Dee? Did it work?"

Dee recalled what the overseer had said and wordlessly removed the gas mask and scarf, revealing her head.

Helios jumped to his feet, "What the hell?! Dee?"

Dr. Rossman smiled, "Yeah it did. Looks like I at least stuck it to the Aether Enclave a little."

Dee looked down at her hands then back to Dr. Rossman, "Who are they? How does this stick it to them?"

Dr. Rossman coughed again as he struggled to pull something out of his lab coat pocket, "They want things to return to how they were… before the final war… When Pokemon were just slaves to humans… they want to keep… humans and Pokemon pure and… exterminate mutations." He held forwards a small metal case in his shaking hand, the same one the serum he'd given Dee had been stored in.

Helios had recovered enough sense to grab the case and open it. It contained one full syringe and a holodisk, "And this will turn me into a… Poke-person?"

"Yes. They'll kill you but…" Rossman coughed violently as Helios took the syringe and injected it into his forearm with little hesitation. Dr. Rossman smiled, "good, now get out of here! I'm dead already."

Dee retrieved the holodisk but didn't bother to hide her face now as she and Helios left Dr. Rossman behind, jogging to get to the entrance.

"So how long does it take?" Helios asked as the Vault door came into view.

"Don't know, I was asleep for most of it. Maybe being hurt makes it work faster," Dee glanced sideways as Helios. "You did that pretty fast."

"I don't want to be anything the Aether Enclave wants," Helios' gaze hardened, "let's hope you don't freak anyone out."

They slowed to a stop as they arrived at the Vault's front door. There were less than two dozen survivors including them. Thankfully everyone was focused on the front door and didn't notice the Riolu woman, those that did glance back were more startled by GR-0-WL.

The leader of the survivors was shouting as he worked the door controls, "When the door opens just run for the outside, don't stop and fight. The Aether Enclave is probably waiting for us." Helios took the time to open a nearby Wasteland Scouts' locker and grab a pistol and ammo that had been left there while Dee opened a first aid box by the door they had entered through and emptied the contents into her backpack.

"Remember, GR-0-WL, just run with us," Dee whispered. The robo-Growlithe silently nodded in agreement as the Vault door was pulled open by a mechanical arm.

All the survivors charged out the instant the door was clear, pushing past each other in the panic. Dee, Helios and GR-0-WL joined in the mad dash but slowed to a stop as the sounds of energy discharges and flashes of light came from up ahead.

"Bellsprout, Hoppip, Bullet Seed!" a voice behind metal rang out.

A moment later the rapid fire of flying seeds erupted ahead accompanied by the mechanical rhythm of some heavy weapon. Four of the survivors were cut to ribbons by the flying ordinance before everyone scattered. Dee only managed to catch a glimpse of two Bellsprout and Hoppip spraying seeds at machinegun pace alongside a man in bulky armor firing a minigun at the other survivors before she darted left behind a rocky outcrop.

The other survivors didn't heed the warning and rushed the armored soldier, more than half falling to gunfire and flying seeds before he was brought down by four dogpiling him, drawing the attention of his Pokemon while Dee, Helios and GR-0-WL beelined for the exit, which was guarded by four hastily set-up gun turrets that opened fire on them.

Helios drew his pistol and emptied a clip at one turret, a lucky shot taking out its sensor making it start spray bullets at a second turret until it exploded before turning back to the approaching group. Dee was out in front and punched the frenzied turret as hard as she could, breaking its barrel. GR-0-WL bit right through one of the last two turrets and Dee kicked the last one over which allowed the three of them to run full tilt out of the cave.

The Vault entrance had been built into a canyon so the sun was blocked enough that neither of them were blinded by a sudden exposure to sunlight. They were nearly deafened as three twin-propellered aircraft were loading Aether and Skull soldiers and ignored anyone else who might have been exiting the Vault.

Explosions started to rock the ground. "RUN!" Helios shouted and they all took off for an exit from the canyon valley.

Dee didn't have any time to take in the new scenery around her as she pounded forwards, her chest bouncing despite the bra as she ran harder than she ever had. Either being a Poke-person gave her more stamina than she thought or the desperation and adrenaline kept her going past her limits. She barely registered Helios calling out and pointing to a tunnel under some rocks and changed course, passing him as she ran alongside GR-0-WL.

They were halfway through the tunnel when the final explosion knocked them all off their feet and the ground shook for a full minute. Then everything was still.

Helios was the first up, "Better keep moving," he wasn't even winded, "might be some radiation or fire or more Enclave searching for us." He helped Dee to her feet.

"Right. Gotta keep moving," Dee panted slightly but forced herself to start moving again. They didn't have to sprint anymore but they jogged the only way the canyon would let them go.

It was late evening when they finally arrived at the ruins of a pre-war town where GR-0-WL pointed out the building with a roof and most of its walls intact at the top of a hill, a shack with the sign "BLACK URSARING LODGE" by its front door.

Dee and Helios leaned up against the walls of the lodge, both panting after jogging almost all day. Dee turned on the light on her Rotom-Boy, the wrist computer all Vault citizens wore, and held it up.

"How's it look?" Helios has slumped to the floor as he turned his Rotom-Boy light on.

"Not bad," Dee peered into a locker where she saw two boxes of shotgun shells but no gun for them. "I'll take a look around in a bit," she turned back to Helios and jumped, "You're orange!"

Helios held out his other hand and saw that his skin had indeed turned bright orange, "Guess the serum's working then." Both heard their stomachs growl, "Got any food, Dee?"

"Yeah," Dee took off her backpack and carefully pulled out some synthetic berries, "got any water?"

"Actually yes," Helios produced two bottles of water from his pack, "There was some stockpiled by a workstation where the Enclave found me."

Dee drained the water in one gulp and all but inhaled one of the berries, not caring about the taste, "I got some synthetic meat too but we'll need a fire to cook it."

Helios smirked, "Hopefully I'm turning into a fire type then," He proceeded to devour his own share with gusto.

Dee was picking up planks that had fallen from gaps in the walls when Helios asked, "So how do you feel?"

"About what?" Dee arranged the wood into a bonfire.

"Being a Poke-person?"

Dee stood up and stared at her blue-furred hands then turned them over to see the metal discs on the back, "I should be freaking out, but after running from the Aether Enclave and losing my home and everyone I've ever known I think I'm all out of panic."

Helios stood up, "I'm still here."

"But you're different, I mean you're acting different," Dee stood up, "You're not the Ben I knew all my life… sorry this is just a lot to process."

Helios took her hand, "I know. What's it like being a woman now?"

Dee let go of his hand then noticed how tight her suit felt around the chest and thighs, "Kinda uncomfortable, urg," she unzipped her Vault suit. The bra that had been a snug fit at first was now tight and her breasts were squished up against her chest. She undid the bra and sighed in relief as it fell away and steam rose from her sweaty chest. "Much better."

Helios stared for a moment, "So you don't like it?"

"No, it was just the bra. Guess I wasn't done changing after I woke up," Dee looked down and poked one of her breasts then felt her now wider hips and thighs, "Honestly it feels alright. I mean after I found out I had breasts and no dick it was easy to just start thinking of myself as a woman."

"Sounds like you were trans and didn't know it," Helios watched Dee zip up her Vault suit. "Or maybe I'll turn into a woman too."

"Guess we'll find out soon," Dee adjusted her suit and shuddered at the feel of it scraping on her chest, "How are you coming along."

"Not much besides the orange skin. Ack!" Helios winced and reached behind himself, "My ass!"

"Let me see," Dee leaned forwards as Helios turned around. The base of his spine was poking into the Vault suit, starting to tent, "Looks like a tail, hold on." Dee grabbed Helios' spear where he'd dropped it and used it to cut open the bottom of his Vault suit which let his orange tail poke out. "There we- whoa!" Dee jumped back as a small flame flickered to life at the tip of Helios' new tail. "I think I know what you're turning into."

Helios looked back over his shoulder, "Nice. Help me light the fire."

Dee helped Helios back up to the campfire she'd built and held his tail-tip there until the fire started. As they sat by the fire, roasting the synthetic meat, Dee turned to where GR-0-WL was now sitting in the front doorway, a question popping into her mind.

"GR-0-WL, do you know who built you?"

"A Vault dweller who wanted to have a Pokemon companion, however they must have died before I was finished," GR-0-WL replied.

"How do you know that?" Helios raised an eyebrow.

"They logged their records of my creation into my memory."

"Looks like the only thing they didn't finish was your head," Dee said, "do you need me to replace your batteries?" Dee asked.

"No. My power can last for years without needing replacement," GR-0-WL replied.

Helios turned to the robo-Growlithe, "Good, then can you keep watch while we sleep. Don't know who or what might be out there." GR-0-WL just nodded then turned to face out the doorway.

As they ate, Dee pulled the holodisk out and inserted it into her Rotom-boy. Helios looked up, "What on Rossman's disk?"

Dee shook her head as a message popped up on screen, "Its encrypted," she tapped the controls a few times then sighed and ejected it, "Can't guess the password. I'll have to try again later."

Dee and Helios satisfied their hunger on as much synthetic meat as they could eat then found a bed in an adjacent room. Little more than an old mattress on a metal bedframe but neither of them complained as they collapsed on to it and fell asleep.

GR-0-WL's metallic barking woke them both up in the middle of the night. Helios was the first up and he shook himself fully awake as he crept to the door.

"Someone's coming," GR-0-WL spoke as quietly as it could.

Helios peered into the darkness, seeing about half a dozen torches alight about halfway down the hill.

"WE SEE YOU UP THERE! SURRENDER QUIETLY OR THINGS'LL GET UGLY!"

"Shit!" Helios turned to see his flaming tail tip that had given them away.

"What's happening?" Dee crept up alongside Helios.

"Ambush. See if you can sneak around closer while I distract them, you too GR-0-WL," Helios whispered back. Dee nodded and backed up until she found a collapsed wall to slip through and get around the side of the lodge, GR-0-WL followed but went the opposite direction.

Helios unholstered his pistol and shouted back, "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"

"TELL US WHERE DOCTOR ROSSMAN IS!"

"HE'S DEAD! HE GOT SHOT THEN TRAPPED IN THE VAULT WHEN IT EXPLODED!" Helios tried his best to see if Dee and GR-0-WL were in position yet and did to pull his tail flame out of sight, so he wouldn't make an easy target.

"BULLSHIT! WE SAW HIM 'KILLED' HALF-A-DOZEN TIMES BEFORE NOW!" the leader sounded indignant, "BUT IF YOU KNOW HIM YOU'LL BE PERFECT BAIT!"

"We're not bait!" Helios saw the torches advancing and fired at the crowd.

Dee had barely managed to get around the side of the raiders when the bullets started flying and she charged in, not even bothering with the laser pistol. She slammed her palm into the face of one of the raiders and felt a *crack* from his neck. Metallic barking and bullets ricocheting signaled that GR-0-WL had joined in.

"Die!" one of the raiders lunged at Dee and bit her on the shoulder. She cried out and kicked him hard in the legs but he didn't let go until she'd delivered two more kicks and knocked him down then stomped down on his chest. Two more fell with bullets in their heads from Helios' shots. The leader, with a wide-brimmed hat, turned and had a sawed-off shotgun in Dee's face for a moment before GR-0-WL bit his leg and he fired, the pellets just barely missing Dee's head as the barrel jerked upwards. Dee slammed her palm as hard as she could into the leader's chest twice, felt him stumble and go rigid then punched him as hard as she could and felt his chest cave in.

"Damn you!" The last raider swung his rifle butt at Dee's head and stars exploded in her vision as she fell to the ground. She winced at the sound of gunfire until she felt the raider fall across her back.

The night became still as Dee heard GR-0-WL barking and footsteps running down the hill.

"Dee!" Helios pulled the dead raider off Dee and helped her up, "Are you alright?"

Dee's head spun in pain as she fumbled to turn on her Rotom-Boy light to survey the results of the fight. They were all Poke-people just like them: five Poochyena and a Mightyena, their boss, now all lying dead at their feet.

"Dee? Dee?" Helios shook her lightly.

Dee just stared at her hands, focused on the blood stain on her right hand from where she'd caved in the Mightyena's chest. "I killed them."

"I know," Helios looked at the bodies then winced as he felt the pain where a bullet had passed through his arm, "Didn't you shoot anyone back at the Vault?"

"I was just firing randomly so I have no idea if I even hit anyone but… I just killed them," Dee fell to her knees and started to shake.

Helios dropped to his knees and hugged her, "I'm here Dee, I know what you're feeling… I was starting to panic before you found me."

"We're not in the Vault anymore," Dee took in a deep breath and blinked away some tears, "we can't stay here, can we?"

"No," Helios helped her to stand, "There could be more nearby especially if they heard that fight. You go check if there's anything in the house, I'll scavenge their gear."

Dee just nodded then walked up the hill in silence.

Dee found a storm cellar entrance at the side of the house where she found a few bottles of water and canned food along with a few handwritten notes. She gathered up everything then emerged to find Helios had gathered the gear from the raiders inside the house.

Dee could see him better now, "Looks like you're a Charmander." Helios' skin was orange scales now and he'd lost all his hair, eyebrows included, his tail was long enough to drag on the ground if he didn't hold it up and his nose and mouth protruded forwards into a round muzzle which now had sharp fangs.

"I figured." Helios smiled then went back to checking the pile of gear, "A few grenades, a couple crappy rifles, the Mightyena's shotgun, not much food or water." He holstered the shotgun at his side then winced and grabbed at the bullet hole in his arm.

Dee retrieved a stimpack from her supplies, "Here," she carefully stuck him with the syringe and injected it, satisfied as the hole closed up before she retrieved another to use on her bitten shoulder, "Only have four of those left. Not much food in the house either."

"Find anything else?" Helios was packing what he could into his backpack.

"I found some notes," Dee laid them out, reading by her Rotom-boy light, "Something about a group called the NKR collecting taxes and a place called Trovitropolis."

Helios picked up one other note, "And, the Moltres Tribe!" he showed the note to Dee.

"The tribe you came from?" Dee looked him in the face and saw he was smiling.

"Yes! They might be in the desert to the west, at least they were seen there!" Helios was suddenly full of energy.

It was infectious and Dee was repacking the medical supplies and grabbing the grenades that Helios hadn't claimed, "Let's go then, maybe we'll find them or at least find this city. Ready to go GR-0-WL?"

"I will come with you," the robo-Growlithe said.

"Then let's get going before anything worse finds us," Helios hitched his backpack up and the three of them set off out of the ruined city.