Sorrow and Joy (Chapter Three)
#4 of Saj
Sorrow and Joy
Chapter Three
Questions
Chapter three is here. Again I like to think Amberwolf for the editing and suggestions and another to Mysterydude. Now on with the story. I couldn't think of a title for this chapter so after some rereading I settled on Questions don't know if its a good idea but I'll stick with it.
C-34 silently walked down the brightly lit hallway. He was escorting some guy to the base captain. He didn't say his name nor did the grunt want to ask. Something about him made 34 nervous. It was something in his eyes and the red stripes on the sleeves on his shirt. He wore the shirt of a commander, but 34 knew of only four of them.
34 was on sentry duty watching the secret door that led to the base. He was disguised as a bum, with orders to attack anyone who managed to gain acces without the password. He didn't notice the strange man until something was held against his throat and someone hissing into his ear. "Take me to whoever's in charge."
Who is this guy? How the hell did he manage to sneak up behind me? C-34 thought.
"How long have you been with Team Galactic?"
34 jumped at the sound of the stranger's voice.
"2 years... Sir." 34 said his voice crackling with fear.
"So you don't know who I am."
"N-no s-s-sir." 34 stammered.
The person went quiet and 34 thought that was the end of the conversation.
"You'll learn soon enough."
34 gulped. The rest of the walk down the hallway was carried out in complete silence. 34 sighed in relief as they finally reached the doors that lead into the command center.
Two grunts with black uniforms guarded the door. Both reached for their pokeballs as 34 and the stranger stopped a few feet in front of them. 34 saluted. "Sirs a guest is here to see Captain Venus sirs." Both grunts took one look at the guest and their eyes widened.
34 looked at the guards and then to the person. Was this man so scary that he even scared blacksuits? The grunt on the right saluted several times and turned to his companion. "B-6 open the door to the command center for the boss."
Boss? 34 glanced back. Was this man master Cyrus? He looked back at the blacksuits. The other one was punching some numbers into the security panel next to the door. The door opened and the man walked through.
"All three of you with me."
"On you six sir." Both grunts said confirming the order and followed closely behind the strange man. 34 gulped and followed them. They headed down a smaller hallway with doors on each side. At the end was a large steel door with a gaint G in the center. "Allow me sir." One of the blacksuits walked past the stranger. Taking out a keycard from a pocket on his suit he swiped it through a panel near the door.
*Bleep*
The door opened and they walked through. The room was filled with all sorts of equipment, computers on every side, a large flat screen at the far end and numerous grunts rushing left and right from one computer to another. In the center of the room was a chair facing the large screen. The stranger walked forward, flanked by both blacksuits and called out in a loud bass voice.
"Captain Venus report."
All commotion in the room ceased as they stared at the new comers. 34 took a step back, something was about to happen. The chair in the center of the room slowly spun around revealing a middle aged women with long blond hair. She stood up and silently walked over the group. Stopping a few feet from them she glared at the blacksuits and 34, who cringed under her stare. She then turned her attention to the man in front of her.
"Captian Venus reporting...who are you?"
The man smiled and put a hand in one of the pockets on his uniform. Pulling out a pocket knife and with a flick of the hand it's blade appeared. He tossed it up into the air. Catching it neatly by the blade with his thumb and index finger he tossed it up again.
"I'am commander Mercury, the rightful commander of this base."
The women stared at him, completely unphased by the presence of the blade. "I didn't know of a new commander. Odd that command didn't notify me of a replacement was enroute."
He smiled as he caught the blade by the edge again.
"Oh I'am you replacement all right. But command doesn't know I'am here... at least not yet.
Kyler rolled out of the way of the icebeam wincing as he got to his feet. He glanced back at his leg which was encased in glittering ice. He felt a cold wind blow past him, ducking out of the way of a ball of ice and launched a shadow ball in Rick's direction.
"Rick duck and use Quick Attack."
Rick ducked the attack, the ball skimming the fur on his head, and disappeared.
"Kyler use Shadow Ball!"
Kyler reared his head back powering up the shadow ball when Rick suddenly appeared and headbutted him in the chest. The shadow ball evaporated as Kyler staggered backward, his nerves screaming in pain.
"Kyler comeback!"
He looked back at Diane.
"I'm fine."
She stared at him for a moment and nodded. He turned back to Rick who was on the other side of the clearing. Branden and Rick were silently awaiting their next move.
With his leg frozen he can't move. Rolling out of the way was a miracle. Shadow ball takes too long, Dig requires his leg. Moonlight won't work during the day, so that leaves... Diane smiled.
"All right Branden make your move."
"Fine. Rick use Blizzard."
Rick reared back and unleashed a howling gale of ice at Kyler. Kyler patiently stood his ground. Right when the blizzard was upon him Diane shouted.
"Use Psychic"
Kyler's lowered his head. Suddenly the blizzard stopped and hung in the air. The attack revearsed direction and headed for the glaceon. Kyler grinned as the ice type was enveloped by its own attack.
"Mirror Coat!"
Suddenly the attack whirled around and again reversed direction and sped even faster towards the shocked umbreon. The icy cold air surrounded him.
"What th-!"
Diane covered her head with a hand as the cold air rushed past her. She looked up and her jaw dropped in disbelief. Kyler was completely frozen his eyes widened in shock.
She glanced down at her pokedex which was set to battle mode. It showed the energy of both battlers. Rick's was down to a very small amount, and in the red. Kyler's was completly gone and it showed a status FRZN. Her eyes widened as she glanced to her frozen form of Kyler, then to the pokedex and back.
"Looks like we win"
Branden shouted as he flipped his dex close and walked over to them. Diane sighed and reached into her bag pulling out a small bottle and headed towards him. They met at the frozen form of Kyler and Branden smiled.
"Hey how about I unfreeze him for ya?"
Before she could say anything he motioned over to Tiri who ran over and without a word from her trainer blasted the ice sculpture with a steady stream of fire. After a few moments the ice melted and formed a puddle around the umbreon.
Kyler stood there shivering. "H-h-holy s-s-shit t-t-thats c-c-c-cold" Vula covered Alex's ears so that he couldn't hear his dad. Diane knelt down and examined the umbreon's body making sure nothing had frostbite. She then looked at the scarf around his neck and groaned.
The green scarf was completely destroyed and was reduced to a tattered mess. "This isn't good." She untied the scarf and as she lifted it up a rather large piece fell to the ground. Kyler looked up at her. "W-w-what i-i-isn't g-g-g-good. He noticed she was staring at the ground. Filled with curiosity he looked down and saw the strip of green cloth at his feet.
He stared at it and opened his mouth but quickly closed it. Branden reached down and picked up the cloth and handed it to Diane. She took it and placed it along with the rest of the scarf in the bag.
"Man that was a intense battle I-"
*Rowr*
Branden blushed. Diane put a hand to her mouth. "Heh heh maybe some breakfast will stop that." He smiled and placed Ricks pokeball on his belt. "Hah hah ya I guess."
The rest of the morning went by as the group rested and ate. Branden and his pokemon stared in amazment as a Oran berry pancake flipped into the air and vanished into Kylers mouth.
"Was that number six or seven?" Tiri asked.
"I lost count after four." Ardi replied
Kyler layed down. "Ahh that was good. *Yawn* I should get some rest." His eyelids closed as his head tilted to one side.
Alex silently flicked his tail back and forth irratated that his dad has been asleep for a long time. He wanted to play. Alex sighed and rested his head on his footpaws.
"Hey Alex can we talk to you?"
Alex turned to see Rick and Tiri standing only a few feet away. Alex smiled. "Hi are you here to have dad play with you too?"
Tiri shook her head. "No just came to ask you some questions."
"Oh" Alex laid his head back on his paws.
"Listen we were kind of wondering... do you have a mother?"
Alex looked at them. "A mommy?"
Tiri nodded. "Yes a mother... does your dad have a mate."
Alex tilted his head to the side. "Mate...whats a mate?" Rick shook his head and stepped forward. "Maybe I should handle this." Tiri smack him with a paw.
"I've seen you handle stuff. I'll take care of it."
She turned back to Alex who's was staring at Kyler. "Alex?" He looked back at them. "Yes?"
She hesitated before continuing. "A mate is someone who...um..." She stopped, how was she going to explain this to a youngling.
Rick took a step towards her. "Should I?"
She pushed him back. "No no I can handle it."
She took a deep breath. "Its like....um... a very good friend. OH like Vula and Spark."
Alex looked over Tiri's shoulder. Vula and Spark who were heading into the woods, their tails intertwined. "Like aunty Vula and uncle Spark?"
Tiri nodded.
"Nopey"
Tiri tilted her head to the side puzzled. "Nopey?"
"It's like nope but more fun." All three turned to see Ry and Lukro walking towards him. Ry tossed something over to them. It rolled along the ground until it came to a rest at Alex's feet. Alex yipped in delight, the object was a Figy berry his absolute favorite. In a matter of seconds the berrie ceased to exsist, Alex looked up at Ry.
"Their anymore Ry Ry?"
Ry pointed right of the camp. "Ya near the edge of the clearing, Luk can show you." Luk looked at him. "Why me?" Ry laughed and placed a arm around meditating pokemons neck. "Would you let a youngling go and get his favorite berry without some protection." Luk wiggled out of his grip. "Okay okay I'll go."
"Well you better hurry the little ball of fun already left."
Luk looked to see that Alex was already on the other side of the camp heading straight for the berries. "Hey Alex wait!" Ry chuckled as Luk ran off after the eevee. Tiri sat down and laughed with him. "So why your here?"
Ry looked at them. "Well to anwser you question about Kyler and Alex." Rick stepped forward. "Maybe... asking a child about that isn't a good idea." Ry nodded and turned to Tiri. "So what do ya wanna know?"
Ry sat listening to Rick and Tiri telling him on how they wanted a young one of their own but they couldn't for some reason. They wanted to know how Kyler did. After they finished Ry folded his arms in front of his chest. "Well first off you got it all wrong. Kyler doesn't have a mate... never did."
"Never did? Then how did he have Alex?"
"He adopted him."
Rick and Tiri looked at each other. "Adopted?"
Ry nodded.
"Ya. When you can't have one of your own you can adopt a parentless youngling, act as their parents and their kinda like your child."
"We know that... and kinda considered it."
Ry looked at Tiri who was staring at the ground. Rick nuzzled her, whispering into her ear softly. She looked up and licked his face affectionately "Thanks" Rick smiled and returned the show of affection.
"Ahem"
They bothed looked back at him. Tiri blushed. "Sorry about that. You were saying." Ry eyed them both and continued. "Now were was I? Oh yes about Kyler. Well he rescued and adopted Alex. Its kinda a touchy subject."
Rick leaned in closer his eyes sparkling with excitment. "How'd it happen?" Tiri slapped him with a paw. "Stop acting like a child." Rick rubbed the spot on his head where his mate hit him. "What? I can't help it, I love a good story."
"Maybe tonight you'll here it."
They all looked at Kyler. He was staring at them with one eye opened.
"Oh hey there Kyler how ya feelin?"
Kyler glared at Rick. "Better since I'm no longer a dark type Popsicle."
"Heh heh come on it was only a battle."
Kyler smiled. "Ya it was. Thanks."
"I mean- WHAT!?" Rick's jaw dropped. Ry and Tiri stared at the umbreon in astonishment. Kyler looked at them puzzled. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Ry stood up. "It's just that you never thanked someone for a loss before."
Kyler stood up and streched. "Well its kind of some-"
"LOOK OUT!!!"
Kyler spun around to see a large paw with claws outspread heading straight for him.
Decided it was time for a cliffhanger in my series. I have no idea on what I'm gonna do for the next chapter. Which makes it even more exciting.