Chapter 3
Dee, Helios and GR-0-WL walked through the night, morning, afternoon and even into the next evening in order to put as much distance between them and any potential pursuers as possible. They ate and drank on the go, neither wanting to risk a stop even as their eyes had to adjust to direct sunlight for the first time.
It was getting dark and their eyelids were starting to feel heavy when Helios stopped pointed down the road, "Look, someone's camped up ahead."
Dee yawned then forced herself to look ahead ahead and saw the flicker of a campfire, "Should we try to meet them or just avoid it? They could be dangerous."
"Not everyone's going to be like those Poochyena or the Aether Enclave," Helios started to jog towards the campfire which forced Dee and GR-0-WL to match his pace.
As they got closer they could see that the campsite was deserted even though the fire looked freshly lit. Helios reached the side of the fire first, "Hello?" he didn't raise his voice much as he searched around. Dee and GR-0-WL joined in for a moment before there was a hissing noise and a thick black cloud of smoke billowed up around them which made them start coughing.
"Hold it!" They heard the sound of something powering up nearby, "Don't try anything!"
The three rounded on the source of the voice and Dee swore she could see a faint shimmer through the smoke before they all caught sight of a green glow as it cleared.
A Stunky-woman in metal armor stood in a small ditch by the path and had a plasma rifle aimed at them. She narrowed her eyes as she got a better look at the group, "Are you from the Vault I heard was around here?"
Dee and Helios shared a look before Dee answered, "Yes, but it blew up." No point in lying, they were still wearing their vault jumpsuits.
The Stunky women didn't relax, "So you're not with the Survivalists or the Aether Enclave?"
"The Enclave's the reason it exploded," Helios tensed up, ready for a fight if she started shooting.
"Really?" the Stunky-woman sighed and lowered her rifle, "That explains the earthquake." She took off her backpack and slumped down by the fire, "You might as well join me. My name's Melany."
Dee was about to sit down when Helios spoke, "Were you setting a trap for anyone who came along?"
Melany looked up at them, "No, I saw the light from your flame tail up the road and hid just in case."
"My name is Dee and this is Helios and GR-0-WL," Dee sat down, followed by Helios.
"Growl?" Melany stared at the robot, "Is it supposed to be a Growlithe?"
"I was designed in the image of that Pokemon." The robot's voice took Melany by surprise.
"Wasn't expecting a poke-robot to talk." Melany reached into her backpack and pulled out what looked like a Leppa Berry, "So how long have you two been Poke-people? I thought the Vaults just had humans and Pokemon."
"We were both human yesterday so barely a day so far," Dee took more synthetic meat out of her bag and started to cook it over the fire.
Melany stared, berry about to bitten into, "Really? You mean you changed that fast?" she muttered, "Took me almost a week."
"What?" Helios sounded intrigued.
"Never mind," Melany shook her head and proceeded to munch on the Leppa Berry while the meat cooked. "Where are you two headed?"
"We're going into the desert to find the Moltres Tribe, my old tribe," Helios pulled out the bottled water and passed one to Dee then one to Melany, who accepted.
"Then maybe try to find Trovitropolis," Dee took a long drink of the purified water.
Melany sighed, "You won't last two days out here. I'll take you to Trovitropolis."
"What about my tribe?" Helios picked a piece of cooked meat off the fire and bit into it.
"Do you know where they are exactly? The desert's a big place," Melany said.
"We made it this far, even through some raiders," Dee shuddered at the still all too fresh memory.
Melany shook her head, "Only because that explosion scared off all the mutant Pokemon. They'll be back soon."
Helios swallowed the last of his meal, "Mutants, like us?"
"Nope, feral mutant Pokemon that might want to make you their next meal." Melany finished off her bottle of water.
"Like Radparas?" Dee asked nervously.
"Those are nothing compared to Death-Scyther and Rad-Skorupi," Melany checked the plasma rifle at her side a and shuddered slightly at unpleasant memories.
Dee stared at her hands for a moment, blue fur where there had once been skin, "What happened to the world? I mean I know about The Final War but nothing about poke-people. Is everyone out here like us?"
Melany dug out one of her own water bottles, "I don't know that much, but I'll tell you what I know." She took a long drink.
War. War never changes
In a world where humans shared the planet with sentient animals called Pokemon and learned to work and live with them
They still could not learn to live with other humans
Pokemon joined humans as allies or servants or even as new weapons
But war never changes
As war seemed inevitable, Silph Co. built hundreds of underground vaults to keep humans and Pokemon safe from the coming devastation, many hoped it was just paranoia
But eventually the nature of human and Pokemon conflict reached critical mass and the Final War came
It was thought that the war would end all life on the surface, but instead the radiation and energies of the war irrevocably changed everything
Many survivors succumbed to the energy and mutated into monsters far stronger and more vicious than they ever were before the war
Others became hybrids of humans and Pokemon, the Poke-people.
And while a new species is now dominant over the planet, War never changes.
In the most recent century, The New Kanto Republic has emerged to rebuild what was lost, unify poke-people and to tame the new savage wasteland
But their expansion has met opposition every step of the way from those who prefer disorder and chaos or those who would see that work turned to their own ends.
While some of their enemies have quietly vanished into society or disappeared among the wastes, not all are willing to letgoofthepast
Melany was the first to wake up and she pet GR-0-WL down his back, "Thanks for keeping watch, GR-0-WL. Nice to sleep without one eye open."
"You're welcome," the Robo-Growlithe intoned.
Melany prodded the two sleeping Vault dwellers with her foot until they stirred. "Get up, the sooner we get started the better."
Dee yawned then rubbed her eyes, "Morning," she stood up and stretched.
"Kinda early," Helios scratched himself as he sat up.
"The earlier we get started the better," Melany pulled her backpack on and picked up her plasma rifle, "Can you show me what supplies and weapons you have?"
Dee and Helios exchanged concerned looks for a moment then turned out their backpacks.
"A couple stimpacks, decent amount of food and water, two busted hunting rifles, a few grenades and ammo," Melany looked up at them, "Do you know any techniques, or moves?"
Dee pulled her backpack on, "I think I know Force Palm, I swear I hit the raider leader with it," she pulled her arm back then thrust forwards, palm open.
Melany jumped back to avoid being hit, "What about you?" she turned to Helios.
"Haven't tried yet, let's see," Helios spun and swung his tail which sent a shower of embers out which forced Melany to duck. Thankfully the flames dissipated before catching anything on fire.
"You need more practise," Melany stood up, "stick to your guns for now if you have to. It's a four day walk to Trovitopolis if we take the safest path. I'll try to teach you how to survive out here." She shouldered her plasma rifle, "just remember, with mutant Pokemon it's kill or be killed, if they ignore you then leave them be but if they attack then put them down fast."
"What kind of mutant Pokemon are there around here?" Dee asked as they started to walk, and stumbled slightly along with Helios.
"Hopefully none for now, but maybe some Dug-Ratatta will pop up," Melany turned back, "Also get rid of the shoes and socks."
Helios and Dee looked down at the shoes they had been wearing, Dee only had one on the leg she hadn't broken, which were now tattered messes barely able to be called footwear. They kicked the shoes away then tore off the shredded remains of their socks and felt the dirt under their feet for the first time.
"Feels weird, thought it would hurt more," Helios put more pressure on his feet.
Dee smiled and jumped in place a couple times, "One of the advantages of being a Poke-person." She looked over at Melany, "Do you know any attacks?"
Melany sighed and motioned for them to follow her as she started the trek, "A couple, but I don't use much other than smokescreen. Most types my moves would be good against are rare. Let's keep moving."
The first day was uneventful. Dee, Helios and GR-0-WL followed Melany mostly in silence as they took in the sights out outdoors for the first time as they emerged from the canyon on to grasslands. After spending years in a Vault it was disorienting to be somewhere without a ceiling and where you could see all the way to the horizon. A few times they had to jog to keep up with Melany, who was unused to slowing her pace to let others keep up.
They ate as they went and only stopped at nightfall to set up camp. Melany set up a campfire from fallen branches. She was about to pull out a flint rock when Helios grabbed his tail and stuck the flame in the fire to start it up.
Melany put the flint away, "Thanks, now let me see those broken rifles."
"These?" Helios pulled the weapons out of his backpack.
Melany took them, "Give an me an hour or two and I should have a functional weapon between these." She sat down as Dee started to cook more pieces of synthetic meat.
As they ate, Helios and Dee watched Melany work. She took out a tool kit from her backpack and disassembled the two rifles, picking the best pieces between each and carefully reassembling them.
Dee turned to Helios, "So do you remember much about your tribe?"
Helios shook his head, "No, just my name and theirs really and a little info I found on the Vault's computer. I was just a child when I was taken and I was so convinced I was a Vault citizen that I just can't remember everything."
Dee looked at Helios' Charmander features in the fading light and flickering firelight for a moment then turned to Melany, "Is everyone out here a Poke-Person?"
"Not everyone, but most people," Melany didn't look up from her work, "From what I heard the most populous places were hit the worst while more remote areas only got a little sprinkling of whatever happened, and it was ages ago. Some tribes in more remote areas still have humans and Pokemon in them but most of the NKR is all Poke-People."
"What's the NKR?" Helios asked.
"New Kanto Republic. Started out west to try and rebuild civilization. They're pretty new in this region though." Melany finished by using some duct tape to hold the barrel together, "there, crappy but functional." She handed the weapon back to Helios. "Now get some sleep," she turned to GR-0-WL, "You don't mind standing watch every night, GR-0-WL?"
"It's the best idea, I don't need sleep." GR-0-WL said.
"Just feels weird, like the old days when Pokemon were just servants or slaves," she lay down, "just tell us if you want to stop."
"Thanks, GR-0-WL," Dee petted the robo-Growlithe, "We'll get you a tune up when we get to Trovitopolis."
"Thank you," GR-0-WL turned to keep watch as they went to sleep.
It was around midday the next day when they ran into their first mutant Pokemon. Melany pointed to the fat green Pokemon with giant red eyes as it lumbered through the air. "Bloat-Flygon, probably the least dangerous Pokemon you'll find around here."
"I thought Flygon were powerful," Dee watched the creature that seemed barely able to fly as it bobbed up and down in mid-air.
Melany sighed, "If they were then they got the short end of the stick for mutation, look out!" The Bloat-Flygon had spotted them and hurled a glob of something in their direction. Dee was too slow and took a hit on the chest, it barely even stung.
"Shoot it!" Melany shouted. Dee pulled out her laser pistol and fired. The beam went wide as did the next four she tried to hit it with. Helios pulled out his pistol and fired once, killing the creature.
"Nice shot," Melany nodded then looked at the laser pistol shaking in Dee's hands, "Your aim is terrible."
"I'm not used to this," Dee holstered the weapon, "I felt more comfortable just punching things."
"Then stick to that," Melany walked to where the Bloat-Flygon lay and pulled out a combat knife which she used to start cutting meat off the dead Pokemon's body.
"What are you doing?" Helios holstered his pistol.
"Can't waste anything out here," Melany stood up with a chunk of the Bloat-Flygon meat in her hands, "It'll keep you going if you can get past the taste." She saw the wide stares on their faces, "You won't be able to find that synthetic stuff out here, you need to get used to whatever's available. Maybe canned food and berries when you find a city." She bit into the meat in her hand, grimaced then swallowed. "Just be happy it wasn't a Death-Scyther, they'd cut through my armor in seconds and they're taller than any of us. Let's keep moving."
Eventually, they found themselves walking uphill on the remains of an old route with a guard rail on the right. Dee stopped and gazed out at the valley below, then smiled and pointed, "Look! It's a lake, and a city! Is that Trovitopolis?"
Helios leaned over the guard rail to get a better look, it was a large lake and a small pre-war city that looked mostly intact, albeit still ravaged by time.
Melany paused but didn't turn to look, "No, it's a Survivalist den."
"Who are they?" Helios turned back to Melany.
"Dark-type Raiders, probably the same ones that attacked you." The Stunky woman picked up her pace which threatened to leave the other three in her dust so they hurried to keep up.
It was early next evening when the sound of distant explosions reached them. They stopped as flashes of light lit up the darkening sky ahead.
"What's going on?" Dee ran ahead and strained to look, hand over her eyes.
"Some sort of battle," Melany kept up her pace and stopped next to Dee, "Trovitopolis is that way."
"We should try to help them then!" Helios started to run ahead, followed by Dee and GR-0-WL
"It's too far!" Melany shouted, "And- LOOK OUT!" A chittering noise announced the arrival of a massive Skorupi, the size of a small car, which bore down on the three, "RAD-SKORUPI!" Melany yanked her plasma rifle off her back.
Helios jumped aside as the Rad-Skorupi struck with its tail. Dee wasn't as fast and got stabbed in the side by one of its claws. It hissed and tried to bite at her but she jumped back as GR-0-WL bit down on the same arm that had stabbed her.
"Move!" Melany fired her plasma rifle, the bright green bolt striking the thing's tail, leaving a scorch mark. Undeterred, the Rad-Skorupi jabbed its tail at Dee, trying to grab her in its tail pincers. Dee fell backwards as the tail snapped at where her head had just been then jumped up and punched the tail as it struck again, cracking the carapace.
Helios pulled out his sawed-off shotgun and fired at the Rad-Skorupi's arm when it tried to jab Dee again, blowing it off and making the thing screech in pain. Dee jumped aside which finally gave Melany clear shot and she fired at the thing's body. Six bright green bolts struck the Rad-Skorupi and blew a hole in its carapace until collapsed, its insides glowing green from the heat as it liquified.
"Is it dead?" Helios reloaded the shotgun but kept his eyes on the creature as its body twitched.
"Yes," Melany swapped the microfusion cell in her rifle, "We should get moving before anything comes to find it. Too much plasma to try and eat." The Stunky woman pulled a small spray bottle out of her backpack, "Hold still, Dee."
Dee looked at the bottle, "What is it?"
"Antidote, better safe than sorry with that injury," Melany bent over and sprayed the contents of the bottle over Dee's stab wound. Dee winced at the sting but held still until Melany was done. They all walked around the dead Rad-Skorupi, afraid it might suddenly jump back up, with GR-0-WL staying back until they were clear.
It was early morning the next day when they ran across a battlefield.
Dee and Helios stared, horrified at the hundreds of dead bodies littered across the landscape among several blast craters. The smell of gunpowder and gore was still heavy in the air.
Even Melany stopped to stare, "That explains what we heard yesterday." She started towards the battlefield with GR-0-WL close behind.
"Do we have to walk through that?" Dee asked as she and Helios stood still.
"It'll take too long to go around," Melany called back without breaking her pace. Helios took Dee's hand and squeezed it in comfort before they started to make their way through the battlefield.
Melany stopped to look at one of the mostly intact bodies, which was wearing military fatigues, "Looks like NKR but who were they fighting that needed this much firepower?"
"Maybe the Aether Enclave," Dee suggested.
Melany walked to another body and glared at it. The head was missing but the body armor was mostly intact; the armor looked like it had been sewn together from whatever scrap metal the wearer could find, "No, these are raiders but there's no sign of their approach." She pointed in the direction they were heading, "The only tracks lead towards Trovitopolis and there's too many dead raiders for the NKR to have lost. Better hurry before something comes by for dinner, nothing worth salvaging here." Melany took off at a faster pace which forced Dee, Helios and GR-0-WL to jog in order to keep up.