LETHAL VECTOR - 3. Rend3vous
Uuurm... I don't own Pokémon... m'kay? And... uuurm... don't plagiarise me or my story... m'kay? Coz plagiarism is bad... and if you plagiarise, you'll go to prison... m'kay? M'kay... and prison is not a very nice place... prison is full of bad people, and... and if you go to prison... they'll rape you in prison... So... prison is bad... m'kay? M'kay. "Telepathy." Or emphasis. Character thought. SUPA-EMPHASIS! Or telepathic emphasis. Or if I'm yelling at you for plagiarism... Here we go for the hundredth time-! [////////// LETHAL VECTOR \\] [3: Rend3zvous]
"Don't get comfy." Nova. "You have neither of us fooled. We know you aren't who you say you are, so don't think you hold all the cards. Until you prove yourself, I don't trust you. Sometimes it may seem he does, but trust me: Six doesn't trust you. You're with us because you can help us, but remember - nobody trusts you..." Elise stared after the two as they disappeared upstairs, unsure of what she had just heard. "Am I the only one confused, here?" "Huh?" Elise glanced over her shoulder. Toby arrived behind her, hands in pockets to hide them from the wind. His black fringe rested sparsely across his forehead, nearly reaching his eyes. "That fight..." He looked at his feet, where his Pokémon stood on either side of him. "Those guys. A bit random, right?" "Oh." Elise nodded. "Yeah. It was." "The Pikachu's going to live." Toby added, once again glancing over his shoulder. "A bit cut up, but a little medical attention will fix him up." Toby shivered a little, and continued around Elise to the door. His Pokémon followed single-file behind him. Luxio and her Cubone mount first, then the Delibird lagging behind. The door shut behind his Delibird, leaving Elise and her Volcarona alone, save the soldiers further away in the centre of the carpark. "Vol?" Her Pokémon finally spoke up. "It's nothing." Elise sighed. She turned around and made her way inside. The room's attention landed on her as she closed the door behind her. The manager lifted his wary eyes from a glass he was busy cleaning. "Something unpredictable." He muttered, and looked back down. "Never know what's around the next corner." "Don't I know it..." Elise dropped her practiced speech pattern. She just couldn't be fucked with it. She staggered towards the manager and dropped onto a nearby stool with a sigh. "Got any beer? I need something..." One hour later "Six?" Elise eased the room door open and poked her head through. Nobody. Empty. The bed was empty, and neatly made. Odd. She remembered seeing Six there... lying beside Nova beneath the covers... just my imagination. She thought as she closed the door behind her. "Six? Are you in here?" "In here." She looked at the bathroom door as his muffled voice seeped around it. She paused a moment before moving - a deep part of her wondered what Six was doing - but made her way towards the door. It swung open for her as she reached it. The door swung away from her, and into the room beyond. She stepped through, and gazed about in bewilderment. "What the-" The bathroom was suddenly bigger. The shower, the toilet and basin were gone. In its place, the walls immediately opened outwards, and formed a mirror image of the room she had just left. She had stepped through a mirror, and was on the other side. The white walls, the beige skirting boards, it was the same room. The same shape, the same size, but reflected. There was one difference. In the centre of the room, where the bed should have been, was a Jacuzzi. A spa bath sunk into the floor in the same spot, and host to two cheerful and bright figures. Six and Nova. Nova relaxed against the edge of the bath with a dreamy purr, spreading her arms across the back of it and wearing the second most joyous grin Elise had ever seen in her life. Immediately at her side, shirtless and enjoying himself immensely, was Six. Six, who wore the great grin to which Nova's was runner-up. It was a portrait of absolute pleasure. It was wide, it was genuine, it was bright. Six's whole face softened as he smiled, and he took a distinct boyish appearance. Glossy hazel hair, a carefree grin and a pair of shorts soaking under the water. "Hey, Elise." Six raised a hand and waved. His fingers moved. They straightened, his wrist bent, and he waved properly. "Nice outfit. Compliments your hair." "I'm sorry?" Elise glanced down at her body. So did Nova. She somehow hadn't noticed, but evidently she had changed into her bikini without realising it. A perfect, pure white two-piece swimsuit. In her cleavage she caught a glimpse of black fabric, which wouldn't turn transparent when wet, but other than that there was no other colour to be seen. "Oh... this..." Elise glanced back up with a nervous grin. She immediately spotted something wrong with Nova. Her muzzle hung wide open. Her thin red tongue hung over her lips, and she sat totally rigid as Elise approached. "By the lord Arceus..." She gawked, "Where on earth did you get a rack like that?" Six exploded into laughter as soon as the telepathic words formed in his mind. Elise nearly tripped and fell face-first into she spa. She caught herself giddily, and immediately flushed red. "You're a character, Nova." Six chuckled. "Quite ladylike, indeed." Elise's mouth opened, but Nova held a finger up to silence her. "Wait - I know this." She smirked. She cleared his throat briefly, and sat straight upright. "That's rather impolite of you." Nova placed her hands on her hips with a frown. "Staring at my breasts. Why, I never!" "Has she been smoking?" Elise rebutted sharply as she lowered herself into the spa also, taking note of Nova's sudden turn in attitude. "No. She's fine." Six stroked behind her head a little. Nova 's tongue rolled out again as she leaned back into his hand. "She's perfectly fine." "Wait-" Elise sat upright before she could settle back, "this is a dream..." "Yeah." Six nodded. "When did you figure that out? The spa bath in the reflected room or Nova being friendly?" "A little too friendly..." Elise muttered as she settled back. "So... none of you are real?" "Oh, we're real." Six nodded. "Using my aura, I can connect us mentally, and drag us all into a collective dream." He paused, and held out his hands. "That's how I keep function of my hands. I use them in my dreams so I still recall the movements through muscle memory so that when I one day get them healed I will remember how to use them." "Wow... that's... amazing." Elise's mouth fell a little. "You can just... drag us all into your dream?" "That's the jist of it." Six leaned back and wrapped his arms around Nova's shoulders. She responded similarly, and rested her head on his shoulder. "And I can do whatever I want." Six's free arm lifted from the water. It closed around an empty point of air, and suddenly a cocktail glass flashed into his hand from nowhere. "A drink?" He offered to Elise. "Um... sure." She shrugged, and took the glass. "Thanks. What is it?" "Guess." Six smiled a little. Nova's ears perked a bit as she sat upright, and sniffed the air curiously. Elise lifted the thin glass to her lips and took a sip. She swirled the liquid about her mouth like she had been taught, savouring the taste. Nova's lips quickly rose into a grin as she recognised the scent, and she settled back beside Six again. "Sweet..." Elise observed after swallowing her mouthful. She let the taste linger on her tongue - easy as it was so strong - and swirled the glass, smelling it. "A little Coconot berry?" She asked. "Not it." Six shook his head. Nova giggled a little. "No..." Elise agreed. She lifted the glass and sampled the sweet nectar again. "A little tangier... a bit thicker... no bubbles... strong scent..." She sipped again. A hopeless smile displayed her surrender, and she sat back with a shrug. "I have no idea what this is - but it is brilliant. What in the world is it?" Six shrugged a little, smirking. "Just a little something that Nova makes for me occasionally." Nova loosed a rapturous howl, and threw her face forwards into the bath. Elise's drink spilled across the carpet behind her as she jerked backwards in surprise, screaming at the sudden movement. Six nearly slipped under the surface as he cracked up laughing, slapping the surface ecstatically. The water didn't quite settle. As the splash wave subsided, the surface still rose and bubbled around Nova's head with escaping air. "What in the hell?" Elise barked shakily, pressing herself away from the crazy Lucario. Nova's head exploded from the surface a second later. Immediately the air ripped with laughter again as she failed to control herself. Six laughed softly alongside as her bellowing calmed slowly. It came crashing down through a fit of coughing and spluttering and wheezing as her breath ran out, and ended on a dry, winded squeak. "Ouch..." Nova commented with a painful grin, finally sitting up again. "I repeat. What in the hell?" Elise demanded. "Oh, it's nothing." Six didn't even try to convince her. Her just smirked widely, and shook his head. "I can't believe you just did that..." Nova chuckled telepathically, speaking privately to Six. "Making her drink that..." "She liked it." Six defended, innocent as possible. He shut his mouth, and immediately opened a private telepathic link with Nova. "I bet that turns you on." "SO much." Nova chuckled back, keeping their speech between them as Elise gazed about the room, blissfully unaware of the two's conversation. "She's hot. I'll give her that much. A real beaut." Six nodded a little as his eyes ran down Elise's body again as she settled further into the spa. Nova was right. As far as random strangers went, this one was arguably the finest. He spoke up again after a moment. "She isn't as bad as you suspect." Nova's frown dropped. She had hoped to go at least the night without this being brought up, but she knew Six was concerned about her attitude. "It's a matter of opinion." She sighed, and shut her eyes. Shut Elise from her sight. "I just don't trust her... Why should we trust anything she says? We have no reason." "That doesn't mean we should distrust her." Six tapped Nova's shoulder lightly as they spoke, doing his part to reassure her. "I've lied to her, but you don't see me trying to kill her or capture her. We're all entitled to secrets. Elise clearly has secrets, and as long as I believe these secrets won't affect us, I'm happy not knowing them." "Whatever." Nova sighed, giving up somewhat. "But that doesn't mean I have to be nice to her. I don't like her." "All right then." Six spoke aloud now, alerting Elise. "Sorry?" "It's nothing." Six dismissed. Beside him, Nova lifted herself from the bath. She flicked her head gracefully as she stood, throwing water across the carpet behind her and letting remaining water wash down her body and back into the bath. "I need to use the bathroom." She lifted one leg out of the bath as she spoke over her shoulder. "I'll be back in a second." Nova lifted her other leg to her first, climbing out of the bath, and disappeared. She just vanished into thin air. "Huh." Elise recoiled slightly with a curious grunt. "I swore there was a Lucario there a second before..." "She's woken up for the moment." Six explained. "She'll be back soon." "Oh joy." Elise sunk into the tub with a long, heavy sigh. She slid down the side up to her chin, submerging most of her body. "She really does not like me." "Nova doesn't like a lot of people." Six imitated her. He slid down the wall to his chin, and relaxed there. "That's just who she is. Nova. She isn't a people-person." "I can tell. She certainly has a problem with me." "Give her a chance." Six smiled a little and shrugged. "Nova's a tricky girl, but she grows on you. When you get to know her, she's really quite affectionate." "Ha!" Elise chuckled a little at the mental image that created. Her and Nova, arm-in-arm in a tub and scratching like Six and she had just before. "You'll understand if I find that picture... amusing." "She's careful. She's cautious. When she feels safe and secure, you see a whole new side of her." Six snapped his fingers and another glass flashed from the air. "Another?" "Don't mind if I do." Elise leaned across and took the glass with a grateful nod. Taking her first sip, she immediately recognised it as the same mysterious substance as before. Sweet, thick and a little tangy. It was a remarkable, unique taste that couldn't be compared to anything else. "So - while we are alone - I have a question, if you would grace me with an answer." "Grace you I would." Six nodded. "Ask away." "What's between you and Nova?" It took a little nerve to put forth the question. It felt as if Nova might return at any second and hear Elise. Six smiled a little, and dropped his head back on the edge of the tub. "We're friends." "Just friends?" Elise probed with a grin of her own. "Nothing more?" "Just friends." Six nodded. "That's curious..." Elise murmured, directing it at Six. "I don't think I've ever seen friends like you two. Kissing, hugging, licking... very friendly indeed." "Ah..." Six's eyes widened as the situation dawned on him. "I see how you would get that impression." "Do you?" "It's a gesture." Six stated. "I can't move my hands, so I can't make gestures most people can. I can't touch shoulders with my fingers, I can't put my finger to one's lips to silence them, I can't pat on the shoulder. Instead, I use my mouth. I kiss, lick and bite, and all of the sort to communicate messages with Nova. I like to kiss her on the neck to settle her when she's a bit wild. It calms her down." "I... see..." Elise stared at the roof, trying to keep her eyes off Six as a little heat flushed her face in her embarrassment. She had been wrong again. She had presumed wrongly about Six. He was indeed difficult to read. "Be careful of Nova." "What?" "Be careful." Six's eyes focussed on Elise's. "Nova's nice at heart, but get on the wrong side of her and you're as good as dead. Don't do anything to annoy her." "Of course." Elise dismissed the warning with a meagre smile. She cringed on the inside. Why did you have to say that? Just, worry me even more, why don't you? "She's obedient to me." Six continued. "She does what I say, when I say. But she's also overprotective of me." "That makes sense." Elise thought back to her previous conversations with Nova, and to her interactions with Six. Always close by. Always watching him. "Here's the deal." Six moved his hand. It lifted to his eye-level, and lay flat just in front of his face. "See this? This is me. I'm top dog. Top of the food chain. What I say - goes." "Okaaay..." Elise nodded as she followed his train of thought. "This?" He placed his other hand beneath. "This is Nova. Under me. She's mine. I'm her master, she's my bitch. She does everything, and I mean everything I say, when I say it. She's allowed to ask questions, but she'll only do so while she's doing what I tell her. No delays, no goofing around. She obeys me without haste. Without the slightest shred of free will. She's mine." Elise stared silently as Six's voice turned a note darker with his explanation. "This..." His top hand moved, and swung around under his other hand representing Nova, and flattened out levelly. "This is you. You're under Nova. That means you're her bitch." "I'm sorry?" Elise sat upright quickly with a huff of annoyance. "I am nobody's-" "LISTEN!" Elise gave a small "eep" and shut her mouth as Six roared. "DON"T interrupt me." He warmed with a hiss. He jabbed a finger at Elise forcefully with every word he spoke: "You do NOT interrupt me. EVER! Understand?" Elise nodded hurriedly, shocked into submission by Six's new change in character. "Now, as I was saying..." He returned his hands to their positions, losing the anger as quickly as it had come. "Nova... you. You're under Nova. Nova tells you to do something, you do it. Understand?" "Yes..." Elise nodded quickly as she followed Six's every word precisely. "It's a hierarchy. If you want to get on Nova's level, you have to gain her trust. The thing with Nova is that she's actually a control freak. She may not seem like it, being ordered around by me, but she absolutely adores being in control. You do what she wants, and she'll warm up to you." Elise was about to nod, but she didn't get the chance. "Aaa-" Heat filled Elise's cheeks as something clamped over her mouth. The room around her crashed away into the ground. The water emptied immediately and the sides of the tub fell away. Her body came crashing down backwards onto her back, throwing her into an uneasy, giddy daze. The lights cut off at the same time, and the world blurred out of focus. "Hmm?" Six cocked his head as Elise disappeared. He shut his eyes and made an attempt to extend his aura. "Dammit..." It didn't work. Being away from Nova for long periods tended to mess with his aura. Random waking during dreams was a regular thing. He too experienced it when he first began to control his dreams. It was normal to just fade out... There was nothing wrong.
"Mmmmff?" Elise's eyes burst open as she tried to cry out again. The ceiling blurred momentarily. It shifted and fuzzed as her eyes adjusted to the choking darkness, then settled to a solid state. At the edge of her vision, she saw a hazy mass of dull blue and something a little brighter, and as she tried to sit upright, she felt something heavy on her stomach. Then, everything was visible. Night time. No lights on. Lying on the couch. And Nova. Nova straddling her torso, glaring coldly at her from above and holding her mouth closed with a paw. Even for all its bodily warmth and fur, it felt as cold as the steel from which her bones were forged. "Not a sound." Nova's lips split a little at the corners as she growled. "MMmf? Mmmmf!" Elise struggled against her, trying to heave her arms up, but found Nova's legs holding them tightly to the couch. "What is this?" Her free paw rose into view from her side. Her tone remained monotonous, seething a little and barely containing the storm of rage she held within. Her blood-crimson eyes pierced Elise's, speaking with true accusation to her very soul, it seemed. From her paw, a scrap of paper fell open. Its creases and folds separated, and spilled apart. Elise loosed a great squeak of fear on the inside the second it took her to register what it was. The bounty notice she had stashed in her pocket. Nova had dug through her pockets while she was asleep and pulled it out. By the look which quickly warped the Pokémon's face, it seemed she was none too pleased. "What is this?" Her growl rose higher this time, and her fangs glinted coldly with her second demand. Her paw rose a fraction for Elise to answer. "I... I don't know." Elise replied shakily, without thinking her answer through. "You know damn well what this is!" Elise gagged as she tried to scream. Nova's paw slipped from her mouth and wrapped around her neck. "WHAT is this doing in your pocket?!? WHY do you have it!" She demanded. "ANSWER ME OR I'LL BREAK YOUR NECK WHERE YOU LIE, YOU FUCKING BITCH-WHORE!" Elise whimpered loudly as her head fell limp on the pillow behind her, exhaling her last breath as loudly as possible to protest against the paw tightening around her throat. She gagged painfully as her attempt to take a last breath failed miserably, and left her sucking dry, lifeless carbon-dioxide. The fuzz, the blur, it all returned as a groggy haze as her throbbing head felt light... The door flew open. Elise's head tipped to face the doorway with her last nudge of strength. The door swung aside, and a burst of radiance cut through the darkness choking her. In the centre of the frame, a shadowy figure appeared like a guardian angel in the nick of time. Its outline shone and wavered ethereally, pulsating at the edges with righteous power. "Hey! What's-" It was just the guy from earlier. Toby. Nova flew into action before he even saw what was going on. She fired off the couch like a ninja -arms back, body forwards in a streamlined position and roaring on approach - and launched herself at Toby without a second thought. Toby stumbled back with a shocked exclamation as the Lucario seemed to appear from nowhere - just flashing into the light from the depths of the darkness - and charged at him. Fortunately for him, she had failed to notice his Pokémon at the edge of the door. Nova roared as she drew her fist back, and threw forwards a massive punch as she shot through the doorway. At the same time, a small brown Pokémon leapt at her from the side of the door, swinging upwards with something. Nova gasped as the thing hit her forcefully in the stomach and threw her trajectory upwards. She flew over Toby's head and smashed into the wall above. The plaster exploded outwards as her body smashed into it, and sailed through. Boards snapped and broke away as she tumbled into the unoccupied room opposite. "(That's right bitch!)" With a hearty chuckle, the Delibird leapt onto the edge of the hole Nova's collision created and stood there, sack over shoulder. "(You don't mess wit' the boss!)" "You fat little fuck!" Nova hissed as she rolled out of her fall and jumped to her feet. The Delibird grinned wider in response, and shoved a hand into his sack. "You're gonna pay!" Nova drew an arm back and briefly lit it with silver energy, then threw it forwards at her opponent. The Delibird smirked and leapt backwards. He sailed backwards into the air, flipping back as he went. He soared overtop of the flash-cannonball as it rocketed beneath him, and drew a glowing, pearly orb from his sack. He righted himself in mid-air as the cannonball punched through the wall behind him, and tossed his sphere with maximum force. Nova had regained herself by this time. She dived around the attack with extremespeed as it soared past and exploded behind her, and leapt onto the edge of the hole. She dived through again, still with extremespeed, and landed on the other side before the Delibird had even hit the ground. The Delibird's beak parted momentarily in shock. Nova had moved so fast he hadn't realised what had happened. His squawk was cut short as Nova's paw slammed into his stomach, smashing him back into the wall behind him. Her paw held tight against him for a moment - pinning him against the wall as he released a gagged splutter. "And stay down." Nova grunted, and removed her hand. The Delibird tried moving his arms to catch himself, but his entire body fell limp. He fell like a rock, and hit the floor lifelessly. "(Hey!)" Nova spun. At the end of the corridor, Ryus sat atop Hanas and twirled his bone club. He stopped the bone in its spin, and held it pointed at Nova. "(Pick on someone your own size!)" Hanas barked, ending in a growl. On cue, Ryus swung his bone, and hurled it at Nova. Nova sidestepped with ease. The bone flashed past in an arc and flew to the end of the hallway. She spun to follow the bone, knowing it would be back to hit her on the return. She didn't see Hanas leapt forwards towards her. Hanas drew a brace of claws and dug them into the ground, then used them to launch herself at Nova. As she did, Ryus jumped on Hanas' shoulders and leapt up at Nova also. Hanas slashed her claws across Nova's' leg as she leapt past. Nova cried in pain as her leg spasmed in pain, and fell to her knee as Hanas shot away to safe distance. Then, Ryus' legs suddenly wrapped around her neck. Ryus held his arm up and caught his bone on its return, and before Nova worked out what was happening swung the bone around and clubbed her across the head. He leapt backwards off her as she collapsed forwards. She hit the ground on her front with a short grunt. Hanas was quickly upon her, and jumped onto her back before she could get up again. Nova squealed in pain as Hanas sunk her fangs into her neck and wrapped her tail around her leg. Hanas shook her mane briefly, working up a charge, then fired a thunder wave into Nova as she was subdued. She remained on Nova's back for a moment more, holding her. Nova's protests stopped, and she fell silent. She stopped moving. Hanas finally released her with a satisfied nod, sure her prey was immobilized. "(She's down.)" "What the hell?" Toby stumbled out of the room again with wide-eyes. He glanced from his own paralyzed Pokémon to Nova, and back again a few times. "Who the- what the...?" "Nova..." Toby spun around as Six sighed. Six completely ignored Toby in the doorway, and shouldered past him on his way out. The other Pokémon stepped back as Six stooped beside Nova. "What have you been doing?" "Dude!" Toby took a strong stance and crossed his arms. "She just went nuts! What the hell is wrong with her?" Six ignored him still. "Are you okay?" He asked, nudging Nova with the tip of his boot. Nova nodded stiffly, still paralyzed for the most part. He sighed and hooked his boot under her side, then rolled her onto her back. "Please - roll me back." She said immediately, closing her eyes tight. Six sighed again, and rolled her over again so she was face-down. She released a bottled sigh as her face was hidden from view. She didn't want them to see her face. Not now... she felt so stupid for what she had done... "That's her way of saying sorry." He stood upright and turned to Toby. "Sorry. She gets jumpy." "Jumpy?" Toby raised an eyebrow meaningfully. Ryus and Hanas did similar. "You call that jumpy? She's nuts!" "She's scared." Six replied calmly. "She was choking me!" The boys glanced at the doorway as Elise dared to emerge. She rubbed her throat a little and kept to the inside of the room, just in case Nova found the strength to stand. "She just... strangled me..." "Why?" Six cocked his head. "What did you do?" "Nothing!" "I don't believe you." Six stated. He turned again and knelt beside Nova. "What did she do?" "She has a bounty notice." Elise jumped back a little with a gulp as she heard Nova's' voice. "She has one of those bounty notices on you." "Does she now?" Six glanced at Elise. She backed away a little. She had no idea how Six would respond. "Yes." Elise nodded, and assumed an upright stance. "I do have a bounty notice on you. It's something I picked up on my travels." "An unlikely story, but I assume you'll think better of turning me in." Six nodded to Nova. "Help her up." "Why-" "DO it." Six ordered. Elise frowned at Nova's body, and clung to the doorframe. Her fingers were reluctant to release it. Although, she figured she'd have to get along with Nova at some point or another... helping her out couldn't do any harm, could it? She strode forwards reluctantly, and scooped her arms under Nova. "You have a bounty on you?" Toby appeared at Six's side. His eyes rose curiously, sparked by the mention of bounty. "Court thing." Six shrugged, replacing his usual mask of indifference with a nervous smirk. "Drink-driving charges, caused a little smash-up. I didn't show up for my day in court..." "They're following you into a civil war because of court charges?" Toby's mouth hung at the audacity of the idea. "You're kidding me. You're kidding me, man." "I don't kid." Six dropped his smile and gave Toby a hard stare. A look which suggested he mind his own business. "I lie, I deceive, I cheat, I kill, I hurt, but I don't kid." He ended coldly. He turned his back on Toby and strode through his doorway quickly. "Elise. Door." After setting Nova's rather heavy body on the couch, Elise quickly paced to the doorway and held it as Six entered. She managed a nervous smile as her and Toby's eyes met. She stepped out through the doorway and pulled it shut behind her. "I assure you - it's a very long story." "I'd say so." Toby agreed. He still stared at the door behind Elise, irked and confused by what he had seen and heard. Elise walked away from the door and began down the corridor. She paused to look over her shoulder. "Come. I'm heading downstairs. Would you care to join me?" She smiled politely. Her smile freed Toby from his blank moment. He nodded quickly and began after her. "Yeah. Sure. Why not?" Ryus and Hanas briefly looked at one another. They both stood still, communicating through their silence. "(What about Jobey?)" Hanas broke the silence. She jerked her head sideways a little, indicating to the paralyzed Delibird which Toby seemed to have missed. "(Grab him and drag him with us.)" Ryus said as he walked to Hanas. Hanas lowered herself as Ryus grabbed her mane and threw a leg over, then paced to the Delibird. "(Are you awake?)" "(Awake...)" The Pokémon grunted awkwardly. "(Grab him.)" Ryus instructed. Hanas obeyed, and wrapped her tail around his leg. Ryus turned away from Jobey and glanced over his shoulder to glimpse Toby disappearing around the corner ahead. "(Somebody's lovestruck...)"
"So, who's your friend up there?" Toby asked. He sat in a large red recliner, a couple of metres from the roaring fireplace. Elise sat nearby with her chair turned on an angle toward him. On Toby's lap, Hanas rested in a ball, purring. Ryus lay on Hanas' back, lying on his own back and snoozing. Jobey sat at the foot of Toby's chair, muttering and rubbing his paws together quickly with an irritated frown. "Marcus." Elise grumbled a little as she glanced upwards. "He is just a travelling partner." "A friend of yours?" "I haven't known him for long." Elise told him. She figured Toby was the kind of guy she could be honest with. No lies, no deception - she had had enough. Telling the truth was so much more relaxing than lying constantly. "He's a little weird." "No kidding." Toby chuckled alongside Elise, stroking a finger along Hanas' back. She smirked a little more and showed her appreciation by rubbing his thigh with her tail. "And his crazy Lucario..." "(Don't remind me...)" Jobey groaned and rolled his eyes. He had had enough of Lucarios for a while... "Lucarios are often overprotective of their trainers." Elise shrugged. "Marcus cannot move his hands... so I assume it is hard for him to defend himself, so Nova needs to defend him." "He can't use his hands?" Toby's eyes flew wide. "Wow. That must suck." "If it does suck then he does not show it." Elise leaned her head back with a murmur as she pondered Six's and Nova's interactions. "He instructs her, and she does his physical activity. He needs a door open, she opens it. If he needs something picked up, I assume she picks it up for him." Something clicked, and her eyes flew open. "She's his hands, and he's her brains." She realised. "What does that mean?" "The hands are capable of a lot." Elise sat forwards quickly, mind racing. She held her fists out to demonstrate. "Tools. Opening, lifting, moving. They can do all this." "Okay..." "But - the hand is also a weapon." Elise's fist swung through the air, making a clubbing motion. "The brain dictates what the hand does... so if the brain isn't working..." "The hand does nothing?" Toby suggested. "No - the hand has a life of its own..." "So... the hand acts randomly?" Toby tried again. "Yes." Elise nodded slowly. "Six was asleep when Nova attacked you... my god..." "Um... I'm confused." Toby scratched his head. "Nova does everything Six tells her to..." Elise explained. "But if Six isn't there to tell her what to do, she's impulsive and can't think..." "So... she's crazy whenever this "Six" isn't talking to her." Toby crossed his arms. "Six? You mean "Marcus"?" "Oh..." Elise realised. Shit! Was his name supposed to be a secret? Her face turned a little red under Toby's stare. "Nah, it's okay." Toby waved a hand and sat back. "You've got secrets. Everyone does." "Really?" Elise raised an eyebrow. "Does that include you?" "Sure." Toby shrugged with a grin. "But they're not very big secrets... nothing interesting." "That's an excellent observation, Elise." The two downstairs spun to the staircase. Again - Six was there. This time, however, no Nova. "Nova is impulsive. She was raised alongside me, doing whatever I told her. Independent thinking and problem-solving isn't something she had an opportunity to learn. That's why I keep her close, usually." "Ah - it's Marcus." Toby nodded. "Or, "Six"." "Are you going to tell everyone my secret codename, Elise?" Six chuckled a little as he walked towards the two. "It's not much of a codename if everyone knows it." "Where's Nova?" Elise asked as Six sat between them. "Upstairs." Six glanced upwards briefly, flashing his aura vision to locate her exact position. "She's asleep. I put her to sleep. She needs a rest after everything she's been through lately." "Yeah." Toby nodded, agreeing. "It's been pretty hectic." "What are you doing out here?" Six asked suddenly. "Why Sinnoh? You've travelled, right?" "I have." Toby nodded. "You have a Sinnoh Pokémon, a Kanto Pokémon, and a Johto Pokémon. I can tell you've had each for a while. You didn't trade any, because you keep your Pokémon close. You wouldn't be able to give up a Pokémon you caught yourself to trade it - so you travel a lot, and caught them on your travels. I see you look out that window at your bike often, so that's your transport. So what are you doing in Sinnoh? And on the border?" "I'm an adventurer." Toby shrugged. "I was in Sinnoh when... wassiname was assassinated. Kinda got stuck here. And as for right here on the border... I guess this place is kind of neutral..." "Ah. Neutral." Six nodded slowly. "Not taking sides, then?" "Nope." Toby shook his head. "Well- if you really want to know, I have parents on either side. The patriotic kind... who are both soldiers..." "Oh... awkward." Six smiled faintly. "Yeah." Toby laughed a bit, and nodded back. "They've always been at each other's throats after the divorce, so this kind of works in their favour... me, I'm just staying right out of it." Unova region. Somewhere in Entralink (central Unova) 10:43 PM It was dark. An ominous wind flowed through the swamp's wretched trees. Their dead, spindly limbs were empty of green, and so no fresh rustle was present to heed the wind's call. Their trunks were wrapped in filth and dank overgrowth, and hid their roots beneath the rancid brown surface of the marsh. Small hills and patches of dirt rose from the mud and muck, offering meagre footing. Spanning some of these islands, a flaking walkway split the marsh in half. Rotting piles rose from the depths of the murk, and held atop a brace of old planks stretching into the distance. Also rising from the marsh - skulls. Human and Pokémon skulls alive, all atop frail wood spears jutting from the sickly pond. With an eerie blue, they blazed. Beacons lighting a trail alongside the walkway. Blue tongues of flame flickered about them, like the residual aura draining from a dying victim of some terrible demon. Their jaws hung wide open - some split by spears - and gaped in horror at the distance. The wind whistling through their sockets and holes seemed to screech warning at the passing man - but he kept walking. His bleached grey hair danced in the wind, unable to settle in the gale. Long braids hung behind his head and fell halfway down his back, writhing like grey Ekanses. Behind this, a wide garb swept over the creaky boards and planks of the walkway. It seemed to flow on an invisible barrier, keeping the hem of the silver and blue robe fluttering behind him and keeping it from touching the boards. He passed a tree. Seemingly a normal tree. He didn't think anything of it, and continued past without a second thought. In the side of that tree, however, was a knot. The knotted wood and bark cracked a little. Not loudly, but the man did not hear it. If he did hear it, he ignored it. The knot twisted a little, as if churning backwards to straighten out the mess. It churned and twisted in the side of the tree, and slowly opened up. In the centre, a small vertical split appeared. The split widened outwards a little as the knot continued to churn and twist, and it widened into a small hole. Then - peeping through the hole - there was an eye. Pitch black pupil, a deep purple iris stalking the man's every step. The eye watched the man pass. "Wrong part of town, motherfucker..." It hissed, narrowing on the man. Under that eye, a tongue slipped between cold lips, and licked slowly across them. The eye closed. The hole churned again. It twisted back the other way, and the split closed up again. The wood and bark regrew and retwisted, and closed up the hole as if it had never been there. The tree was normal again. The man inclined his head a little as a patch of soft gold light emerged in the distance. Much different from the harsh blue burn of the skulls. A tiny square, deep in the bowels of the swamp and cloaked in darkness. He continued towards it, paying no heed to the simmering and bubbling of the mud alongside the plank. He should have paid heed. As the man passed, the bubbling grew more vigorous. The surface boiled and popped and spluttered, frothing outwards and growing a darker colour. Turning purple... The bubbling grew on itself, rising into a stack of frothing and foaming sludge as the man carried on, blissfully unaware of it. It bubbled and boiled and frothed, and something rose from the muck. Sludge and ooze layered it thickly and dripped from it, but it appeared somewhat like the upper torso of a human. The front of the thing bubbled a little more, and a bubble of sludge quickly grew. When it popped, it made a small, quiet sound. "You?" The entire shape lost integrity, and the shape collapsed back into the muck. The purple splashed outwards across the greenish brown, and quickly sunk under before it was noticed. As the man's ear twitched as the shape collapsed behind him. He heard the faint splash as it fell again, but told himself to ignore it. He knew who it was. At last, the shack ahead came into view. A small building. Likely one room. Two windows in the front side, and a door in between. Tin roof. No chimney. At the front door, a black figure leaned back. His cowl hung down over his eyes, obscuring what little would be visible in the pallid moonlight. The man caught sight of a small piece of fabric covering the figure's mouth and lower nose, thus leaving only his eyes free. What WAS visible, was the few pieces of metal decorating his body. A thin metallic pauldron sat on his left shoulder, and a much larger one on his right with a spike sticking up as high as his head. A layer of metal sheathed his left arm from elbow to wrist, and his right was encased in a much thicker, heavier-looking gauntlet. Knee guards, shin guards made of metal too. Each gleamed softly in the moonlight. The figure lifted his head slightly as the man approached. His eyes cast a dim red glow from the depths of his cowl. "Stop." The man stopped. He stood tall, arms at sides and staring into the man's empty pits. The shadowy figure stood up, pushing lightly off the door. "Stop." He growled, and lifted an armoured hand. The man inclined his head curiously. "What do-" "Teraph! STOP!" The man's cowl flicked back as he roared; his wild black hair falling free. His wide crimson eyes burned, flashing bright and cutting through the darkness. "Teraph-" The man's words froze as he noticed something at his foot. His head slowly and shakily turned downwards. The moon didn't cast much light, but it cast just enough to make a shadow. The man spotted a shadow wavering at his feet. He turned up just as slowly, still shaking. A huge boulder hovered not a metre over his head. Huge, grey-brown and dripping muck-water. Around the edges, a mass of thick green vines coiled around it, holding it in place. The vines coiled around each other into one giant super-vine, and disappeared into the marsh to the side of the walkway. "Fuck!" A pissed-off voice cried. As if it weighed nothing, the boulder was lifted away, and thrown by the vines. It soared up high into the air, arcing towards the distance, and fell back to earth like a meteor. The ground shook slightly as the thing landed, and the marsh in the distance exploded into a wave around the impact point. The man spun around. Behind him, a tree began cracking. The branches and limbs of the tree uncurled and twisted around the central trunk, and the tree began unwrapping itself. They all twisted clockwise around the trunk, spreading outwards, and they unfolded. The branches protruded horizontally, leaving the top of the trunk free. A black-clad hand reached over the top branch, and a figure climbed out of the hollowed-out trunk. Another black figure, clad in similar black clothing, but without the additional armour pieces of the first. A little shorter. A little younger. "What the hell?" He leapt from his tree onto the boardwalk and paced quickly towards the first. "That's Ghetis, idiot!" The three heads jerked towards the marsh as it bubbled again. The surface broke suddenly, and another black-clad figure rose from underneath. It appeared similar to the second, at first glance... but there was something else. This one had purple skin. And no eyes. "Ghetis..." The second turned back to the man with a thoughtful murmur. "Oh... that Ghetis..." "Yes, that Ghetis." The third rose from the muck without a step. The swamp just lifted up underneath him, and a pedestal of purple sludge lifted under his feet. The pedestal raised him to the height of the boardwalk and alongside, where he stepped onto it. The sludge immediately fell back into the swamp as his foot broke contact, and landed with a quiet gloop. "That Ghetis who we work for?" "Dude, I'm tired." Teraph yawned to illustrate; stretching his arms high. "Fucking Tallon's been playing me all day on soul calibur, and I can't fucking beat him! Fucking bright screen - my eyes are shit now, I can't tell who-" "Enough banter!" Teraph stopped short as Ghetis rose a hand. Ghetis' eyes scanned between the two in front of him with a murmur as his hand lowered to his side again. "I have a job for you..." "Oh..." The first raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? I thought you were here for the housewarming party." He crossed his arms and glared, unmistakeably presenting his anger, but calmly so. "We have it all ready." His voice emanated sweet sarcasm, almost pleasantly underneath the kilowatts of menace, "Cookies-and-crap ice-cream, shit-dogs, scumburgers, everything you would never eat in a thousand freakin years!" His face heated red as he roared his last few words, loosing his cool. "What gives? You stick us out here in the middle of a swamp? This is what you call a reward?" "I would have preferred a condo on Undella bay..." Teraph mentioned. "Then-" "Tallon's right." The purple man interrupted, and stepped to his comrade's side. Behind Ghetis, Teraph clenched his fists with a growl. "If the reward for this job's like the reward for last time's job, forget it." "I already told you." Ghetis growled. "We gave you your rewards - this is simply to keep you a secret from the rest of Unova. Arceus knows what would happen if they found out about you." "You could have given us a secret condo on Undella bay..." Teraph added unhelpfully. "Tinted windows, deliver food straight to our door so we don't have to go outside, we-" "We'll set everything right after this." Ghetis cut in. Teraph growled a bit, having been cut off again. As Ghetis continued speaking, he turned and smashed his fist through the boardwalk with a roar. "We have one last job for you." Ghetis reached into his sleeve. He paused and cringed a little as Teraph's fist connected with the boardwalk. "He gets cranky." The purple man mentioned. "Last job." Ghetis drew a small scroll from his sleeve, and offered it in one outstretched hand. Tallon stared at it for a moment - inclining his head - before taking it. He turned it in his hands and unfurled it, reading it briefly. "Come inside." He rolled it shut before the purple man caught a glance at it. "What does it say?" Teraph jogged after them as Tallon opened the door and headed in. "Grue? What does it say?" "I don't know." The purple man shrugged and followed inside. Teraph grunted a bit, and ran after them. The inside of the shack was sparse, to say the least. A wooden crate in one corner of the room, a table in another, a four messy piles of blankets lying heaped on mattresses... and an Xbox 360 in the middle of the room. Hooked up to a widescreen TV. In front of the TV, an electabuzz sat on a beanbag with a controller in his hands. He didn't turn as the door opened, and chewed the end of an extension cord in his mouth. The extension cord led to a multi-plug on the ground beside the TV, and then to the TV and Xbox. As he chewed, his cheeks sparked with tiny electrical currents. Tallon led ahead, and paced to the table in one corner. He placed himself on one side, and rolled the scroll across the table. "Elesie Sha'ar." He stated, placing one finger on the picture on the scroll. "You want us to kill Elesie Sha'ar? Why?" "It's not your job to ask why." Ghetis seated himself opposite, sitting in an office chair like Tallon's. "It's your job to do." "Right, right." Tallon nodded with a sigh. "Elesie Sha'ar?" Teraph fell to his knees beside the table and stared at the scroll. "I know her. She was on the news. Whole "scandal" thing. She's hot as hell." "We all know her." Tallon sighed, rolling his eyes. "But you want her dead now? Why now? What's she done?" "She's run away." Ghetis' fingers drummed on the edge of the table as his thoughts were momentarily occupied. "She's up to something. I don't know what, but I don't like it. We've already sent a snake... but he hasn't responded. We believe she has killed him. That's where you guys won't fail. The Shadow Triad doesn't fail." "But... Elesie Sha'ar? She's-" "We know who she is." Tallon's eyes narrowed irritably. "She has fled to Sinnoh." Ghetis pointed to a paragraph on the scroll. "She likely hopes that the war will cover her tracks. We hear she's going under the name "Elise"." "Sexy name." Teraph commented. "So... we're infiltrating a war to kill her...?" Grue shook his head. "Wow, that's pretty nuts." "Let's cut to the chase." Tallon's voice commanded attention again. "Conditions of assignment, time limitations, reward." "She has to die." Ghetis stated coldly. "That goes without saying. I don't care how, I just want her dead. You three - your origin is not to be discovered. Tell nobody your true identities. If this comes back to us - if the Shadow Triad is identified as being connected to me - it'll be the end of us. As for time - you have until she does anything drastic. If she reveals any information which is... controversial or harmful, your reward is forfeit. Your reward..." Ghetis grinned a little. "Have you ever heard of Iron island?" "Of the coast of Sinnoh." Tallon nodded. "What about it?" "I have the deed to it." Ghetis smiled a bit wider as the three shared excited glances. "You do this for me, and you do it right - it's yours. Your own island. Pokémon to generate power, included, regular resupplies too. Your own little paradise." "Don't forget bitches." Teraph put a hand up. "Can't stick three guys in paradise without bitches." "You know -" Grue stepped forwards, "For once, Teraph's right." "Dick." "Sorry." Grue chuckled a little. "That was a little harsh. But bitches would be nice." "I'm with the guys on this." Tallon nodded. "We need women. We'd get lonely." "Fine." Ghetis sighed. "We'll assign each of you three personal women to... look after you." "I don't want humans." Teraph crossed his arms with a grin. "I want a Lucario." "Fine." Ghetis frowned a little. "We'll get you the finest Lucario money can buy." "And a Blaziken." He smiled wider. "We'll get you a Blaziken." Ghetis sighed. "I'll have a Gardevoir." Grue put his hand up now, grinning also. "And a Lucario, and a human." "You guys are perverted." Tallon grunted. Ghetis mumbled even more. "We'll get you what you-" "And a Luxray." Teraph's grin grew even wider. So wide, it nearly showed through his mask. "Aaw, that's a bit messed up." Grue punched him on the shoulder. "At least the other two look like humans, but a Luxray? Non-anthro..." "They're sexy." "ENOUGH!" Ghetis leapt to his feet, startling the other three. "We will get you what you want, just get the job done, alright?" He swung his scowl between the men. They appeared unfazed. Tallon nodded, and leaned across the table with a hand outstretched. "Consider her already dead." Ghetis took his hand and shook it with a sigh of relief. "Now get out of here. We have to prepare." "Very well then." Ghetis nodded. "I will take my leave. You'll find your transport arrangements on that scroll. I trust you won't let me down." He turned on one foot, and he headed for the door. As he headed outside, he heard their parting murmurs: "Tallon, why do you always have to act all "business" when Ghetis' around?" Teraph. "You know what? You're right. Next time, I'll act like a dickhead, and you can deal with our business end. That's a brilliant idea, Teraph!" Tallon. "... shut up..." "Just pack your damn suitcase before I stick a spike up your ass." "He'd enjoy that." Grue. "Fuck you, Grue..." "He'd enjoy that, too." "..." Ghetis sighed and shook his head. It was hard to believe those three were some of the most dangerously powerful people in the world... it took him the memory of Teraph throwing a mammoth boulder into the distance to remind him of that... Sinnoh The front door creaked gently open. Nova's ears perked up at the sound, but she made no attempt to sit upright. She had felt Six's aura approaching. "Still awake?" Six pushed the door to the hinge with his foot. He didn't close it fully. He left it open a fraction - like he had found it - so he wouldn't need Nova to turn the doorknob for him when he left. "Yeah..." Nova nodded weakly. Her paralysis was wearing off, but it still left her lax, and she had no desire to move. "What's wrong?" Six sat on the bed beside her and lay down on his back. "I can't sleep. I'm constantly worried about you..." She turned her head to Six with a quiet whimper. He turned to her too, and they stared eye-to-eye. Ice to fire. "You just... get too close to some people, nowadays. You take risks. You're going to get yourself killed." "I do take risks." Six said calmly, rolling onto his side to face Nova. "They make life fun." He shuffled a little closer to Nova, and gently kissed her neck. He savoured the touch of her fur as he kissed her twice more, slowly and gently. He rested his head against her with a content sigh. "Caution may keep me alive. Caution may extend my life - but having fun is what makes that life worth living. A moment of joy is worth far more than full lifetime of nothing. I accept that I'm going to die soon. Within the year - and I can't spend that time doing nothing." "Don't say that!" Nova jumped a bit, and her arms flung around Six. Six bowed his head with a sad sigh as Nova clung to him closely, and buried her head against his as tears welled in the corners of her eyes. "Please don't say that... you're not going to die..." She sobbed. "You're not!" "I am." He kissed her again - this time on the cheek. "I've accepted it. I should be already - but I'm not. Arceus has been protecting me. As soon as I have finished my mission, he's going to let me die..." His closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Nova. His voice shook a little, bearing regret and guilt: "I started this war, and I'm going to finish it. After that, the best thing for the world is for me to die. Let me die so I can't cause another..." "Oh, you're such a fool, Six..." Nova shook her head, disagreeing fervently as she still cried and hugged him. "If anyone kills you, it's going to be you. You're your own worst enemy sometimes... you can't blame yourself for everything." "But I do." His lips barely moved as he spoke even quieter. "It's my fault, and I have to take responsibility." The two of them lay there together, holding and hugging tightly with their heads rested on one another. Nova's fingers gripped Six's shirt in a bunch, shaking and trembling as her body succumbed to impending fear and uncertainty. She just couldn't bear the thought of losing him. They had spent most of their lives together... a world without Six was just... there wasn't anything of importance to her in the vision that conjured. There was nothing worth living for in a world without Six. Six finally released Nova. He pulled away a little, prompting her to release him, and rolled onto his back. His eyes stared vacantly at the ceiling, reflecting the bleakness in his pale irises. "Do you ever wonder what it would have been like? If we weren't in this position? If we were just regular? If I had a job and a house, you lived with me... if I attended university, maybe? Just... living our life?" "I have wondered." Nova rolled onto her back also, and stared at the same point on the roof. Their minds merged for a moment, sharing their warming visions of paradise with one another. "I yearn for it every day... I yearn for it so..." "We could sleep in bed until midday." Six smiled a little, imagining Nova's paws wrapped around him and cuddling up in bed. "We could take long walks in the park, under the moonlight." Nova smiled too as her blissful fantasy broke her worry and anxiety. She imagined the feel of Six's arm draped across her shoulders, and the cool midnight breeze lapping at her fur. The beautiful, infinite void of night surrounding them and the starry skies above twinkling and winking at them. "Friday nights, we could make love in the afternoon, stay up late and watch movies..." "Then make love through the early hours until we pass out..." Nova added with a cheeky smile, adding that to her vision. "Your vision involves significantly more lovemaking than mine." Six chuckled as he explored Nova's entertaining idea of paradise. "Would you object?" Nova smiled coyly, already knowing his answer. "Hell no." "That's good." Nova shuffled a little closer to Six. Her paw landed in his palm at his side, and held it lightly. She removed her eyes from the ceiling and turned them onto Six. "How about now?" "Now?" Six stammered, a little surprised. "I thought we were having one of those moments...?" "There's no reason why "a moment" can't end in an hour of shower-sex." Nova teased his chin with a claw, chuckling a bit. "I think I'll pass this time." It took a lot of effort for Six to spit that out, but as he felt Nova's paw drifting to his shoulders, he realised he had to say no before she worked her magic on him and convinced him otherwise. "I'll only have sex with you when I'm in the mood. Otherwise it just won't be special." "M'kay." Nova shuffled closer, and rested her head on Six's shoulder. "You're the boss." Until we get to it... She smirked as she shuffled about a little, settling into Six and the mattress. Then we'll see who's the boss... Next morning "Elise..." Elise murmured something inaudible to most. Six picked it up. It was incomprehensible anyway. "Elise..." He repeated wearily. "Wake up..." Elise murmured something again. "Grrrrr!" A sharp growl cut the air, immediately next to Elise's face. "I'm awake!" She lurched from her slumber and leapt from her seat with spontaneous energy. Wobbling dizzily, she smoothed her hair back instinctively as she turned around, taking note of where she had woken up. Nova stood beside the seat she had dozed off in, still growling slightly. Six stood on the opposite side of the seat and smirked at Elise. In the seat next to that, Toby slowly climbed out of his seat, grumbling. "What's with all the noise?" He yawned and stretched out. "We're heading away." Six told Elise. He crossed his arms and nodded to a bag Nova was carrying in one paw. "Head upstairs and pack your stuff. I'll be waiting for you." "Uh... okay..." Elise scratched her head idly, still coming to terms with her balance and still trying to shrug off her sleepiness. She groaned quietly and stumbled towards the staircase. She caught herself after nearly falling, stood tall, took a deep breath, and strode back into the same confident composure Six had seen the first time they met. "She's fine." Six commented to Nova. "Very upright." "She is..." Nova murmured, staring at Elise's ass as she left. "Makes you wonder..." "So, where're you heading?" Toby worked up the nerve to speak. "Oreburgh." Six lied seamlessly. "A friend of mine lives there." "That's funny." Toby grunted. "Elise told me you were going to Jubilife..." He inclined his head with an innocent smile. Almost mockingly so. It was a challenging stare. "Which is it?" Nova let slip a growl, and slid between Six and Toby. "Just say the word..." She balled her fists. Toby scooted back in his seat, immediately reaching for his pokéballs as his face fell to fear. "Settle down." Six sighed irritably. "Nova - again with the taking people out? Settle! Please... I think you've scared him enough." Nova's fists uncurled, but she made it clear - with a loud grunt - that she wasn't happy. "Very well." "Jubilife." Six said finally, returning Toby's glare with equal challenge. "Jubilife, huh?" Toby smiled smugly. "I got an uncle who lives there." "Good for you." Six replied coldly. Both parties stared: arms crossed and still. Unmoving. Unbending. They stared silently in a stalemate of sorts, each waiting for the other to make a move. Toby saw he wasn't getting anywhere. His head dropped, and he broke eye contact. "I need a ride." He sighed, giving up. "I saw that coming." "I'm stuck here." He looked up with a hopeless frown. A pitiful, hopeless frown. "I'm not going out there on bike, I don't have a car - I'm stuck in this lodge. Have been for a while..." "You're a wuss." Six translated. "You're scared of the war, and you've hid in here." "Yeah..." Toby conceded. "I just don't like the idea of wandering around on my own. I usually travel with a friend of mine, but as soon as the war started, he buggered off to enrol with the west and left me stuck here." "Guts for you." Nova snorted. "Six - you aren't really considering this, are you?" Her eyes suddenly lit up with concern as she recognised Six's thoughtful stance, and the way he stared at Toby with a murmur. "You can't be serious..." "You can be really short-sighted, Nova." Six said, still staring at Toby. "What can you offer us?" "I haven't got anything on me..." Toby began; his smile growing slowly. "But I can give you something once we get to Jubilife." "What?" "Pokémon." Toby's smile grew as he noticed Six react a little to the word. "My uncle - he runs the day care. He owes me two Pokémon. He promised me them a while ago." Nova's face fell further at the thought of other Pokémon. "I want young Pokémon." Six stated. "A year old at the oldest. Nothing older." Nova's frown eased a little. Baby Pokémon. Baby Pokémon meant they would grow from a young age with Six. They would grow up as Six raised them, conditioned to be loyal. The same way she was. That was a good thing. "Done." Toby nodded, and held out a hand. Six smiled a little, and shook his head. "Seal it, Nova." Nova stepped across in front of Six. Before Toby could recoil his hand back and ask what she was doing, she grabbed his hand. "Deal." She said coldly, exuding menace and squeezing Toby's hand tightly. Toby smiled nervously, and tugged his hand free after a second. "Cool." "We leave in ten." Six told him. "Pack your stuff, then meet me at the car."
And so, we have even MORE questions! WHO is Elise? WHAT does she know? WHO are these three incredibly handsome, awesome and totally-sick-badass fellows called the "Shadow Triad"? coughs and puts hand up J WHAT awaits Six, Elise and Toby around the corner (spoiler: another corner. It's a winding road)? And I still haven't answered most of the questions from parts 1 and 2! So much mystery... how deep will the conspiracies run? Quite. Quite deep. Paul - I know I said no at first to the name you suggested, but as I thought about it the name really grue on me. (see what I did there?) It's actually really clever. It's even an anagram for "Rueg", it's a letter short of "gruel" and it sounds like "goo". When I thought about it, it was so well thought of that I couldn't not use it. That's really clever of you, so well done. claps There's another chapter done after this, but... ima post it some other time. Already done 3 today. ^^ T.phage out!