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Chapter Three: Heading Out

I woke up. I felt sleep linger a bit, but I shook it off. I opened my eyes and felt like I did when I slept in the field at Camp Ripley during an FTX (A/N: Field Training Exercise). At least this time I didn't have to get dress in the sleeping bag, but the sleeping bag was covered with a light frost, just like at Ripley. I sighed, but when I tried to move over to unzip the bag, I felt something dig into my side.

I looked down and saw Sarah, with both her arms wrapped around me. What I was feeling was her chest spike. I smiled a little, and would have let her sleep in, but it was time for me to get up. I gently shook her. Despite a moan of protest, she opened her eyes.

"Time to get up, Sarah. Or at least let me get up," I said with a small smirk. She then realized that she had her arms wrapped around me.

"But it's so early," she yawned as she let go of me.

"Not as early as I'm used to waking up. I actually got more than five hours of sleep. I've slept in," I joked as I slide out of the sleeping bag, "Go back to sleep. I'll wake you up before we head out." She snuggled into the warm spot I left, and quickly fell back to sleep. I pulled out my pistol and checked the load. It was down three rounds, in the magazine, but still enough that I didn't need to reload. I pulled back on the slide and ejected the round in the chamber. I then put the round back into the clip, let the slide snap forward, and slid the clip back into the magazine well. I holstered the weapon, and looked at everyone. They were all still asleep, but seemed to be waking up.

I did a few stretches to wake up fully, and then set about breaking the camp down. Brock eventually got up, noticed me, and walked over.

"Morning," he said quietly, "You're up early."

"Nah, I slept in," I said with a small smile, "I'm used to sleeping outside and not even getting five hours of sleep. I got about two, I believe, the last time I slept outside. It was in a lot colder temperatures than this, and with a lot more people around." We continued to break down the camp. Eventually everyone but Ash and Sarah were awake. I shook my head, a little in disbelief at how much noise they could sleep through. 'At this rate, they could sleep through a carpet bombing,' I thought with a chuckle, but then went to help Brock with breakfast. His food was almost worth all the trouble staying with them would bring. After breakfast, we would have to split ways, for everyone's safety.

Once breakfast was ready, I walked over to Sarah and gently shook her. "Hey, Sarah. Time for breakfast," I said softly. She groaned, but opened her eyes.

"Already?" she asked while she yawned.

"Yeah, it's eight in the morning," I replied, "Time to eat and then move out. We got a lot of ground to cover, and not a lot of time to do it."

"Alright," she replied as she slipped out of the sleeping bag and tried to smooth out her ruffled fur. I laughed a little bit at her as I rolled my sleeping bag up and tied it down. Afterward, I picked the sleeping bag up and walked over to where breakfast was being served.

"Alright, food's ready," Brock said as we started serving.

"Want me to wake Ash up?" I asked, a plan being formed in my mind. 'Man, I can be cruel,' I thought with an evil chuckle.

"No, he'll wake up once the food's out," Brock answered. Internally, I grumbled, and filed that plan away for another time, "Besides, Pikachu likes to do it when Ash sleeps in too much." We all sat down at a picnic table that was near out campsite.

"By the way Eric, what's that strapped to your leg?" Dawn asked as she pointed at my pistol. Sarah suddenly looked decidedly uncomfortable. 'She still hasn't gotten over me using the pistol... sigh She'll have to used to it somehow. It might be the only thing that keeps us alive, when push comes to shove,' I thought.

"It's a gift from my dad," I said, but didn't elaborate other than, "I keep it as a good luck charm, of sorts."

"Really? Can I see it?" she asked.

"Sure," I replied as I sat down. I pulled the pistol, and while it was still under the table, quietly removed the clip. I set the clip down on my lap and brought the weapon up. I handed it to her grip first.

"What is it?" she asked, as she held the pistol. I kept my reaction in check when she pointed it at everyone without thinking about it. 'I hate being flagged,' I thought as I felt my pulse quicken a little, 'Especially with a real weapon and not those rubber ducks (A/N: Rubber M16's with a metal barrel) we use at ROTC.'

"I don't know," I lied, "I got it just before we were going to head home from a vacation we took as a family. That's the last thing I remember before waking up in the ocean."

"Morning, everyone," Ash replied sleepily. He looked like death warmed over.

"Holy crap! The dead are awake! Run for your lives!" I said in mock horror. Everyone had a little laugh at his expense, save him who was still half-asleep.

"What's that, Dawn?" asked Ash after everyone stopped laughing, and he seemed more alert.

"It's Eric's. He says it's a good luck charm." She said as she looked closely as the magazine well, "It looks like something goes here. Is there something that goes in here?"

"I don't know a whole lot about it. It's completely possible," I said, feigning ignorance.

"It looks really complicated to just be a good luck charm," Brock as Dawn passed it to him, barrel first. He worked the slide a few times, thumbed the safety on and off, and pulled the trigger once. It was aimed away from everyone luckily, and the click that came from the gun seemed to startle everyone but me.

"What was that?" asked Ash as he was handed the gun from Brock.

'Something you don't want to hear in the middle of a firefight,' I thought but said, "Don't know. You need to pull the top part back to hear it again though, so something tells me that it isn't a noise you want to hear." Ash looked at it for a bit before he handed it to me, surprisingly grip first. I took the weapon from him and sat it in my lap as I took the clip and got ready to slide it back in. "What's for breakfast, Brock?" I asked, using the noise to cover the click of the magazine being locked into place. I then quickly holstered the weapon.

"Some rice balls," he replied as he laid them out. I had always wanted to try them, so I grabbed two and handed one to Sarah who sat down next to me. She was glad to have the gun put away, and took the rice ball with a smile. She started eating the rice ball, and surprisingly finished it before I was able to take my first bite. I took a bite. It tasted okay, definitely not my favorite food, but I could eat it. I looked over at Ash, and he was all but inhaling them. Pikachu was also munching away, but seemed to savor it. Everyone else seemed to be eating at the same pace I was.

"Sarah," I warned as she reached for another rice ball. She stopped instantly, and suddenly seemed like she was getting chastised. I quickly finished what I was saying, "Better watch your hand around Ash. You might just loose it in that black hole he calls a mouth." She instantly looked relieved, and giggled a little. She quickly grabbed another rice ball and started eating them, before Ash ate them all. I also quickly grabbed a few. We finished breakfast quickly, and packed up everything.

"So Eric, you want to travel with us, or?" Dawn asked.

"Thing is, the beach I was found on is south of here while Jubilife City is north. I'm not sure if I could reach the beach and get to Sandgem town in a day," I said, "I'd hate to distract you all from where you're heading."

"Well, we're heading to Jubilife City for a small contest and a tournament in about a week. It won't take that long," Ash said.

"Yeah, we'll come with you," Dawn said quickly. Their two Pokémon also added in there two cents. 'Defeated by logic, crap...' I thought as I looked at Sarah. She just smiled in response.

"No, I don't think it would be wise for all of you to follow me," I said as I picked my rucksack up and placed it on my back.

"Why?" Brock asked.

"I just have a bad feeling about this. And so far...I have yet to be wrong," I said. Sarah looked at me, suddenly very worried about something.

"Well, if you're sure..." Ash said, a little down.

"It would be best for everyone, but since you're heading to Jubilife, we'll see each other there. We might even battle in the tournament there," I said, while glancing at Sarah.

"If you're not going with us, then here," Brock said as he handed over, what looked like a credit card, "Your winnings from the battle."

"Ah," I said, as I had the feeling of a light bulb going off over my head, "Thanks." I quickly pulled out my wallet, slipped it in one of the credit card slots, and slid it back into its pocket.

"Anyway, I guess we'll see you there," Dawn said.

"Yeah, see you there," I said as I waved and started to walk away.

"Next time we meet, I want a rematch!" Ash said, "And I won't go easy on you!" I laughed in response.

"I might just hold you to that. See you three later!" I replied as Sarah and I left the group and entered the town.

"Alright Sarah, lead the way," I said and motioned for her to take the lead. As quickly as we entered the town, we left. I had barely played any of the games after Gold and Silver, but I ventured as guess that we were on Route 219, heading south. The Route's condition surprised me. I always had thought that they were like a road back home, or a well-groomed trail at the very least. Nope, they were just very well traveled paths that have so many people traveling through them, that a trail had been worn through the grass. We traveled the entire way in a comfortable silence. We arrived at the shore I washed up on, at about 1300H (1:00 PM). I estimated we had walked a solid, eight or nine miles.

"So this is where I swam to shore," I said as I looked around for any remnants of me dragging myself ashore. The tide must have washed away all traces of that and Sarah's assistance.

"Yeap, and I hid the stuff over here," she said as she led me over to a rocky area just to our right. She led me a ways off from the Route. She pulled away some rocks and brush, and showed me a small cave that held some things in it. I pulled out a case. On it was stenciled, "United States Army, M4A1 Serial: F107088K."

I opened the case and there was an M4A1. It had a quad-rail system on it. On the rails were a foldable fore-grip on the bottom and a tactical flashlight on the left. The weapon also had an ACOG scope mounted on the rear-sight/handrail, and a one/two point sling. I quickly disassembled the weapon and saw the weapon still had the firing pin in it. 'Someone jacked up when they packed this thing...' I thought as I reassembled the weapon. I set it back in the case and checked through the rest of the supplies in the cave.

My broken ROTC mummy sleeping bag was there, along with a quarter inch foam pad, a set of Dragon Skin armor, a helmet upgrade kit for my K-Pot, four IFAKs (Improved First Aid Kits), an Emergency Trauma backpack, several MREs, a few smoke grenades of various colors, and a flare gun along with various colored flares.

I took of my rucksack, and placed the grenades, flares, and MREs, save for two, in it along with the mummy bag. I rolled the foam pad up and attached it to the top, and placed three IFAKs in one of the pouches on the ruck. I then attach the last IFAK to my LBE. I slung the rifle across my chest, and then took one last look in the cave and noticed I missed two small boxes. I pulled it out. Inside one were several fully loaded 5.56mm thirty-round magazines. The other was an ammunition box, containing a thousand rounds of 5.56mm ammunition. I loaded one magazine into the M4 without chambering a round, and put a few others into some ammo pockets I had. The rest I placed inside my rucksack.

I checked the Dragon Skin armor out and noticed it said that it was a "Tactical" version. I wasn't sure what that meant, but quickly donned it. I was surprised by how light the armor was. I had seen videos showing the armor take 7.62mm rounds, and even an M67 Fragmentation grenade without buckling; so to say, I was extremely impressed with it, would be an understatement. Once I got the neck guard and groin protector seated comfortably, I was impressed by how comfortable it was. It felt like I could wear it like a regular T-shirt.

When I picked up the rucksack, I had to grunt with the effort.

"Light Infantry," I joked as I tried to get the rucksack settled on my back, "Anything but..."

"Are you sure you can carry all of that?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, just not used to it," I said, "Think you can carry this?" I held up the Trauma pack.

"Sure," she said. I let her put it on, and then I adjusted the straps to fit. The kit was black, and actually blended in with her fur coloring well.

"Now, how about some MREs on the move?" I asked as I held out two MREs.

"I guess..." Sarah looked at the bags with obvious confusion. I had to bite back a laugh at her expression.

"Here, let me show you how to do it. You learn how to eat these on the move during training, and you learn it fast or starve," I said quickly as I opened both MREs.

"What does 'MRE' mean?" Sarah asked as she watched me work on getting the MREs ready for consumption on the move.

"Officially or unofficially?" I asked with a small smirk.

"Um, both?" she said. I chuckled a bit, as I quickly started heating up both main courses by placing the plastic wrapped food in the heater and adding some water. I then fold the heater closed, and insert it to the cardboard packaging that the main course came in. I lean both of them against my helmet, which I had set on the ground.

"Officially, 'MRE' stands for 'Meal Ready to Eat.' Unofficially, it means a lot of things. For example, 'MRE' means 'Meal Reserved for the Enemy,' 'Meal Refusing to Exit,' or 'Materials Resembling Edibles.'" I explained, as laughed at her expressions at the unofficial meanings. "Don't worry, we may bash our food a lot, but it really isn't as bad as we make it out to be. It used to be that bad, but they are a lot better now. I really don't want to try an old C-ration, aka 'crap in a can.'"

"I think I'm going to lose my appetite," Sarah groaned as she held her stomach. However, she was betrayed by both her nose and stomach when she smelled the main courses finish heating. I chuckled as she blushed in embarrassment due to her mouth watering and stomach growling.

"Here," I said as I finished with her MRE and went back to work on mine, "Go ahead and start eating. If you have any problems opening the packaging, let me know." I quickly placed all of the trash in one of the ACU pockets and then introduced Sarah to Army crackers. I laughed when she quickly polished them off, "See? Even the Army can't jack-up the cracker, haha." We continued on our way back to Sandgem, eating our MREs. We finished them quickly, and I stuffed the trash into the same pocket as the rest of the garbage. Again, we continued on in a comfortable silence.

We arrived back at Sandgem at 1800H (6:00 PM). We decided to stay in Sandgem town one more day, and then move on to Jubilife. Our first stop was the Pokémon Center.

When we walked through the door, Nurse Joy was at her desk, as usual.

"Evenin', Nurse Joy," I said when she looked up to see who entered.

"Good evening, Eric. It's good to see you again," she replied.

"Any chance of a room we can rent?" I asked. This time she held up a key with her trademark smile.

"Just in luck this time. The last room available," Nurse Joy said. Sarah yipped happily at that. I just laughed at her amusement.

"Well, not the first time I've slept outdoors on the cold hard ground, but that still can't beat a nice bed," I said as I walked over and took the key from her, "Thanks Nurse Joy."

"Any time, and the room is that same room as where you were treated. Do you still remember the way?" she asked.

"Yeah, I remember. Thanks again," I replied, as the two of us left for the room. Once there, I dumped the ruck, which landed on the ground with a loud, hard, and heavy thud. Sarah looked at my rucksack, then at me.

"What? Never seen a Light Infantryman's rucksack before?" I asked with a completely emotionless face. Sarah cocked her head, and I just laughed.

"What's so funny?" she asked. I just laughed harder. "Tell me what's so funny!" she demanded, obviously annoyed.

"If I tell you, then it's not funny anymore," I explained as I forced myself to calm down, "It just has to do with the amount of weight in that ruck, and the definition of light in reference to weight." I set my rifle down by the bed, as I pulled out my wallet.

"I still don't get what's so funny..." Sarah muttered after a moment of thought.

"If you think about it, it's not funny. Just don't think about it. Anyway, feel like going out for dinner?" I asked as I held up the credit slip that Brock gave me.

"Sure, but do we have enough?" she asked.

"No clue," I replied as I tried to figure out how to look at the balance. I sat down on the bed as I flipped the card over and over. Sarah sat down next to me, also looking at the card.

"Shouldn't you figure that out before we do anything with it?" she asked, shifting her gaze to me and looking at me like I was an idiot.

"Yeah, blame the guy who has never seen this kind of crap before," I muttered as I continued to examine the card, "Let's just get out of the room for a while, and then decide what to do for dinner. I would rather save the MRE's for when we need to eat on the move."

"Alright," Sarah said. We both stood up. I slid the card back into the wallet and put it in its pocket. I then grabbed the rifle and slung it so that it rested in a low-ready position. We then walked out of the room. We walked towards the lobby of the Center when I heard my name.

"-Eric is?" a gruff male voice asked.

"Why yes, he's in room fifteen. Just down that hall," Nurse Joy's voice responded. I looked at Sarah and shrugged.

"Someone's looking for me, so..." I trailed off as I walking into the lobby, I saw Professor Rowan walking towards me.

"Looking for me, Professor?" I asked.

"Why yes, come with me," he replied, "I need to talk to you about something."

"Right behind you," I replied as we walked out of the Center. We walked back to the Professor's lab, and I was surprised to find that the blood that those two grunts had spilled was all cleaned up. He sat behind a desk, and I stood in front of it "at ease."

"What did you need to speak with us about, sir?" I asked professionally.

"Can I trust you to complete something that could mean the difference between life and death for everyone in the world?" Professor Rowan asked bluntly. I was immediately put on edge, a small amount of adrenaline flowing through my system.

"I'll do it, or die trying sir," I replied with complete seriousness in my voice as I stood a bit straighter and I switched from "at ease," to "at attention."

"If what you told me is true, which as crazy as it sounds seems like it is, I believe you are the only one I can trust with this. When you walked in on the Team Galactic members questioning me, they were trying to get me to tell them about something I had stumbled upon. It was an ancient ruin; in it, there was a room that contained writing and a map. We, me and a few other Professors, had just been able to translate part of the tablet, and it talks about seventeen 'orbs of power,' as they are described. We are working on the map right now. However, what we do know is that each controls a certain 'element,' if you will. If they fall into the wrong hands, the tablet describes that a terrible darkness will descend on the world. We have been able to locate three, but have been unable to obtain them. I want you to get them. I will not lie to you, this will be extremely dangerous. Three people have already been killed because of this. I don't want to ask you to do this, but I have no choice. Will-" Professor Rowan said before I interrupted.

"Sir, give me the locations. I'll get them, if only to make sure that the lives lost, were not lost in vain. I'm not being forced into this job, sir. I go into it, know full well that I may not be coming back from this mission. I will not let anyone else perform this mission in my steed, sir. I'm the best suited, and best equipped. Team Galactic will regret the day they stood in my way," I say as I salute him, "Cadet Eric Fischer, reporting for duty!" The Professor looked at me, and I could tell that he was shocked that I would willingly perform an obviously dangerous job, and even be so willing to risk my life on the word of an almost complete stranger. "Sir, I would not have volunteered for the US Army, if I was not ready to die in the defense of my country and for the lives of civilians. I knew when I signed up that I might get deployed on a mission, and not come back from it. I've understood that for a long time, and I accept that. It's part of my job, sir. If it's my time to die, that's just my fate, sir. As a leader of my country once said, 'Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference,' at least now I won't have that problem, sir. If I die on this mission, then I died for something worth dying for. I died so that others may live."

"Well, let's hope that, that doesn't happen. Here, take this," Professor Rowan said. He handed me a blue device. I then realize that it was a Pokégear. "This Pokégear has the locations of the three orbs we know of. The first one we know of is the Ice Orb, which is near Snowpoint City. The second orb is the Ghost Orb. This one is located near Lavender Town. The third is the Fire Orb, located on Cinnabar Island. We believe that another orb is in the Ruins of Alph, but we are not sure. I, or one of the other Professors, will contact you to tell you the location of any Orb we are able to verify. Is there anything else you need before you begin?" Professor Rowan asked.

"What support can I expect from you and the Professors, beside Orb locations?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" asked Rowan.

"I mean things like funding, equipment, personnel?" I explained, "Will I be paying for any equipment that I need to purchase out of my own pocket, or will I be given an operational slush fund? A slush fund is slang for an auxiliary monetary account or a reserve fund. Will I have some form of back up to call on if things get too dicey for me to handle solo? Will I be able to call on vehicles for transport when available?"

"No, I'm sorry to say that we can't give you any of that, except for the money, but we can't spare a lot," Professor Rowan said. At that, I had to bite back a laugh as a thought crossed my mind. Professor Rowan and Sarah both looked at me strangely.

"Sorry, but I swear this sounds like the storyline of a book I read a while back. Funny how the survival of the world depends on me, and yet I can't get any form of back or support. Oh well, not like I was expecting any form back up, thanks to Murphy. I'll take whatever I can get," I said as I looked the Professor in the eye, "I'm ready to go, but I need to do one thing first." I turned to look at Sarah.

"I can't ask you to do this, Sarah, and I'm not going to. You're free to go. I never expected this when I asked you for help," I said as I pulled out her Pokéball.

"Well you don't need to ask, I'm going with," she said, "And there is nothing you can say to stop me."