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Eddies

Chapter 53: Butt face!

DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Eddies 53

After a restless night sleep Chris groaned as he woke, disentangling himself from Skyy's arms as he slowly rose from his bed to meet the new day.

It had been a tense few hours following the drama at the military area. Wary of a counterattack, the pokémon had kept lookout from the house verandas until Cameron could arrange a sufficient police presence to take over their sentry duty. By the time they'd all made it to bed, the group had been exhausted.

Understandably, Gwen and Paul were suitably upset at the latest events occurring on their property, not to mention to their family. However, when the situation was explained fully, they exchanged glances and acknowledged that there was little else that could have been done. At the least, they were in full agreement that the military had no further business on their property, so Cameron's assurance they would be "made to move on" was met with dry satisfaction.

While Chris and Skyy had managed to get some sleep, a part of Chris wished he could have stayed up to join in the discussions. At least his parents were happy that Jimmy had spent the night with a school friend and had avoided the entire saga, he thought, wiping tired eyes on the bed sheets. One less worry to add to the growing list.

Skyy muttered something in his sleep and Chris gave him a wry grin, pulling the sheets back over the snoozing lucario. Rising slowly, he stepped over the slumbering form of Suicune, who must have slipped into the room at some time during the night, but nearly tripped over the pokémon's head when he lifted his face with a snort, woken by the light step.

Catching himself at the last minute, Chris leant down and scratched the blue legendary on the neck, looking into the big red irises eyes which suddenly darted away. Sighing, Chris dropped to the floor, wrapping both arms around the surprised creatures neck and burying his face in the thick, warm fur.

When he felt Suicune sigh, he pulled his face out and gave him a frank look. Avoiding his eyes, the pokémon said softly "Yesterday was not pleasant", glumly staring at the claws of his right paw which still had traces of blood on them.

Chris shrugged, turning to lean back against the pokémon's neck comfortingly. At the pokémon's chuckle, Chris grinned up into the big blue and white face peering down at him, before the eyes turned melancholy and Suicune looked away.

"I messed up yesterday, didn't I?" he muttered, giving a long sigh.

Chris shrugged, the gesture not lost on the pokémon. "Oh, I don't know. I've done worse."

Snorting Suicune gave the young human a stare. "I could have killed someone, Chris. I was so angry, I didn't care. I was going to rip that human's throat out, and all that was coursing through my mind was how... good it'd feel." Dropping his head shamefacedly, he pressed his cheek against Chris's own, and said softly "Maybe I am an animal..."

Chris took a moment to collect his thoughts. "Steph told us that no one was killed, Suicune. Scrapes and bruises, and a few broken bones, but nothing terminal. Those injured in the Sinnotech attack, including Tony, were spared the base destruction without a scratch. Nor was the farm house damaged. Even if you felt out of control, you obviously were limiting yourself, all of you! Besides, it's not as if those arseholes didn't deserve every bit of it!"

Suicune shook his head, thick fur brushing Chris's face lightly. "But I could have killed someone." he began again, but stopped as Chris said vehemently "Enough! Believe me, I know what that's like, Suicune. I... I know exactly what it's like, and worse..."

When the legendary didn't respond, Chris sighed and told him of his arrival to their world, and their violent confrontation with the redneck brothers. "I was given a choice, Suicune. To save my life, and that of Skyy, I made a decision that even now I struggle with. Even knowing I had no alternative!"

Dropping his face tiredly, Chris said quietly "I killed that human, and Skyy killed the other, to protect both of us. Even though Scott and Storm, and my father, and even J.B told me it was justified, I still... hate it. Every day, I hate it, Suicune. So, I know what it's like, yeah."

Suicune shifted, wrapping a pair of warm paws around his human friend, who cradled the arms in his own. Eventually, Chris chuckled; a giggle that became a laugh, even as the pokémon stared down at him in astonishment.

"You guys fucked them up good, though!" he smirked, and Suicune snorted in amusement.

"Yes, we are good at excessive and showy spectacles, certainly" he replied, sending Chris laughing again, as he grabbed the legs around him, hugging the big pokémon close.

As the laughing died down, Suicune sighed again and said "I miss Tony."

Nodding, Chris replied "Yeah, I know. Steph told us he's looking much better. They took him off the life support, and he's breathing well on his own now. It looks like the worst is over."

"I wish I could see him..." Suicune stammered, eyes watering as he pressed his face against Chris again, tears coursing down his furred cheeks.

Chris didn't respond, just stroking the big head until the sobs subsided and Suicune raised a paw to wipe his eyes.

Chris gave him a hug and said "Song's not over till the fat lady sings. Who knows where we'll go from here?"

Their conversation was broken as a sleepy lucario muttered "Who's fat?", sending the pair giggling again.

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Some time later, having left Skyy to sleep in, Chris joined his father on the rear veranda. His mum had given him a big hug as he entered the kitchen, but a look at her red eyed, teary face made Chris realise the huge amount of stress they'd been under. Hugging her hard, she told him his father had wanted a word when he woke, and was waiting on the back deck.

Chris wasn't sure he really wanted to know why. It couldn't be a good thing, after all.

Paul had been smoking a cigarette prior to his son's arrival, but tossed the almost empty butt into a can of sand that'd been left there for the purpose. When Chris approached, he patted the seat beside him, and they both leaned back into the padding, resting their feet on the coffee table as they shared a companionable silence.

Finally, Chris made to apologise for the previous day's events, but Paul stopped him stating "I know why it happened. I know there was no choice. Scott told me about it, and I agree with him; there wasn't really an alternative. Jobes is a fool, and you can't always tolerate fools forever, Chris. We've taught you that. Thing is, we need to decide what's going to happen now."

Concerned, Chris gave Paul a loaded look, meeting his father's blue eyes in alarm.

"What do you mean? I don't plan on going anywhere!"

Paul shook his head. "We both know you can't remain here for the moment, right? Especially if your friends leave. Jobes will hunt you down, and you'll get no peace from him. Even Cameron doesn't think he can protect you and Skyy, not to mention Jimmy and Azil. You're targets, and attractive ones at that."

"But where will we go?" said Chris, wide eyed at his father's words.

Sighing, Paul rubbed his head and said "Gwen and I have talked. We want you to stay with Scott, Storm and Raikou."

When Chris made to object, Paul held up a hand, cutting him off. "I haven't finished. We also want you to take Jimmy and Azil with you."

Aghast, Chris stammered. "But... I can't protect him! I don't even know what'll happen!"

Paul sighed. "I know what'll happen if you all stay here much longer. Cameron and Scott agree with me. Cameron has his men patrolling around the farm, keeping those soldiers away, but once Jobes regroups he isn't going to stand by and let you remain here. He's coming for you all; you know that, Chris! While Suicune might have done everyone a favour removing him from the equation permanently, it wouldn't have changed a thing. If not him, one of his cronies would've taken over with the same result. Sooner or later, they'd hunt you all down. So, we need you two safe, somewhere they can't get to you."

"But where..." Chris began, before petering off. "Oh, you can't mean?"

Nodding, Paul said softly "Yeah. You need to follow Skyy home again. Only then will you be beyond their reach."

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The plan was simple, if such a thing could possibly be called simple.

They needed a portal, and Scott knew exactly where they could find one.

Admittedly, accessing it might be a bit of a challenge, but after speaking with Raikou and Storm, Scott was well and truly over fucking around with these people.

There was only one way to get what they needed. Hit them now, and hit them hard!

Cameron had been keeping in regular contact with the two Rangers, and had advised there was an almost continual flow of communication being exchanged between the army base on the farm, and the governmental administration. He was fairly sure they wouldn't send more soldiers or vehicles, land or air, any time soon. "Mainly because they can't afford to lose any more!" he told them dryly, causing Storm to snigger.

"Getting you to the city from here will be the real challenge" Cameron muttered, but looked up as Scott exchanged a grin with his partner, who leered as he nodded.

"Oh, I think we know just the delivery driver!" Scott said, giving the police officer the details of where Rodney Tjuana had been staying with relatives in a nearby town.

"Think he'll help?" the police chief said doubtfully, and Scott chuckled wryly.

"He's been on my case as to when he needs to come get us. It's almost like he knew this shit was coming!"

"Probably did," said Storm, finishing off his coffee and putting the cup in the kitchen sink. "That human is a strange one!"

Nodding in agreement, Scott gave Cameron a candid glance. "You do realise all hell is going to go down if we do this, right? It'll likely make last night look like a kids birthday party by comparison."

Cameron flashed him a smile. "I'm counting on it, Ranger. The more things blow up, the less likely those bastards are going to manage to keep things under wraps. The only way you guys stand a chance of making this work is for the public to be made fully aware of this."

Sighing, he rubbed his face and admitted "I should have released that press info from day one. Yes, it would have caused a huge stir, but it would have avoided a lot of this stupidity had I done so."

Storm shrugged furry shoulders and slapped an arm around the startled police chief. "Don't matter. Secrecy was our first option. Hindsight is always twenty twenty."

Grinning, Cameron said "Philosophised by a furred rug with legs. What is this world coming to?"

Guffawing, Storm gave the man a hard slap on the back, sending him coughing, and said finally "That's your problem. You're livin' on the wrong world! Back home, we don't have all this political correctness shit. Being here is like operating with a plastic bag taped over your head. All this bullshit you humans put yourself through!"

Interrupting the pair, Scott said dryly "We have a deadline, fur ball." Tapping his watch, he turned to Cameron and continued "I'll get Raikou and Entei in on this, and we'd be happy to have your input."

Cameron gave the Ranger a smile and gestured towards the door. "Lay on, MacDuff, and damned be him who first cries 'Hold! Enough!'" he muttered, causing Storm to give him a confused look.

"Who's MacDuff?" he asked gruffly, and received a pat on the back in reply as they left the room.

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It was a tearful farewell as Gwen and Paul gave the group their farewell. With the decision to leave inevitable, Scott, Raikou and Cameron had decided that further delay would only work in favour of the army, and with time of the essence, the earlier they departed, the better their chance of success.

Rodney Tjuana had received their message through his friends, arriving at the farmhouse via the less-used rear entry. With the base still in disarray, he wasn't accosted as he drove the huge cattle truck past the border guards, who took little interest in his progress, likely assuming it was just another farm delivery. When he pulled up at the farmhouse park, skidding to a halt in a cloud of dust, he jumped from the cab to greet Scott, Storm and the legendaries, his usual grin plastered across his face.

Still, the seriousness of the situation hadn't escaped him, and he gave the three pokémon a dry glance, drawling "I see you boys have been busy!"

Suicune looked abashed, but Entei gave the aboriginal man a sly nod. "We decided we didn't like their attitude, so we gave it an adjustment."

Rodney laughed loudly, white teeth visible in his dark face. "That, and some, I would think! Still, can't say I warmed much to that lot. They certainly didn't appreciate the efforts I went to getting you three here. Job well done then, I'd imagine!"

They retreated to the rear deck, where Rodney was filled in on what had occurred to date, and their current plans and thoughts. Eyes glistening in amusement, he nodded his assent at taking them to the city, rubbing broad palms together in glee as they detailed their next move.

"Oh, I'm gonna enjoy this!" he chuckled, receiving a dry look from Raikou, who said "It's not a joke, you understand?"

Rodney nodded, still clearly amused, before replying "I told you three, this was destined! The spirits are walking, and can only stir up the pot to my people's benefit!"

Rolling his eyes, Raikou ignored the man's insistence they were his ancestor spirits, and lead the group to the waiting vehicle. Having already packed what gear they needed, including both travelling items and some fairly serious armoury supplied courtesy of Cameron and the police force, it didn't take long for them to assemble ready to depart.

Receiving long hugs from his parents, Chris and Skyy boarded the truck after Raikou, Suicune and Entei, all of whom had been warmly farewelled by Chris's parents. Blinking back tears, Chris looked down on the pair, who had arms wrapped around each other while bravely trying to hold back their own pain, and called to them "I'll look after Jimmy, and we'll be back as soon as we can. I promise! "

Gwen gave him a valiant smile, but still buried her face in Paul's chest as the vehicle slowly pulled away, leaving them to recede to distant pinpoints as the heavy vehicle gathered speed, driving again unhindered through the secondary farm gates.

Gripping the side of the rocking truck, Scott turned to Storm and muttered darkly "That was way too easy. Why didn't they stop the truck back there? It's almost as if they want us to leave!"

Storm shrugged, settling back onto the hard timber flooring of the tray and leaned against the slatted walls. "I reckon they probably do. How else are they going to keep track of our intentions?"

Bill looked up from across the deck, where he'd been sitting with his back against Shadow's side, and nodded sombrely. He'd been ordered to stay with the group by Cameron, and hadn't protested overly at the command. They hadn't kept their own feelings at the army's behaviour any secret, and even under the protection of his own force, the pair had copped a lot of flak from the military personnel.

"They will follow. We will need to be both smarter and faster!" rumbled Shadow in pokéspeak, causing Bill and Storm to nod at her comment. Chris gave Scott a wry look, and the Ranger flashed him a grin as the youth muttered "I really need to get him to teach me how to do that one of these days!"

Chuckling the Ranger nodded, even as his partner gave them a smirking translation.

Jimmy hadn't been told of the issues occurring at the farm. Instead, Gwen and Paul had passed on the vague message via his friends parents that he'd be staying with them a few days; something he hadn't questioned, thankfully. With his friend being of the same age, and sharing the same class, it hadn't been difficult for his friends parents to transport the duo to school together.

Knowing Chris's parents for many years, they didn't question the unusual request, as with so many strange rumours flourishing regarding events occurring at the Darken Ridge property, it was just one more oddity. Paul's muttered comment that "it wasn't safe to discuss it over the phone" was enough to have them readily agree, and Paul had thanked them profusely for their kindness.

By the time they reached the nearby town, the school day was drawing to a close. As the cattle truck pulled up in a bus zone outside the school grounds, Scott glanced at his watch, noting it was just after 2pm, with a good hour of class remaining before their day ended.

After conversing hurriedly with Storm, Bill and Chris, they decided that waiting the final hour for school to finish wasn't feasible. The covered cattle truck was already drawing curious glances from passerby's, and Bill made the comment that the place would soon be crowded with parents picking up their kids from school. While the pokémon were relatively hidden within the vehicle, it wouldn't take much for a curious pedestrian, or even worse, more curious local authorities who hadn't been informed of the goings on in the area, to blow their cover. It didn't take a rocket scientist to work out what would happen then!

As a precaution, Shadow had been asked to remain in the vehicle. While she wasn't happy with the request, as she had no pokéball she couldn't accompany them discretely, so had resigned herself to remain behind with the others.

Not that Skyy and Storm were particularly happy at having to return into their own balls. Again, the need was understood, but the typhlosion gave his partner a dirty look as his disappeared in the familiar red flash, with Scott chuckling dryly at the thoughts of how his partner would make him pay for the indignity later.

Lifting the canvas flap from the vehicle back, the trio jumped to the bitumen, heading through the chain link swing gate into the school grounds. The administration block wasn't hard to find; a large sign directed them to the office, where they pushed onto the glass entry doors as a small bell attached on the frame announced their arrival.

The bright smile on the middle aged woman's face froze as she lifted her head to greet them, as the unusual appearance of the men before her finally registered. The police officer and khaki clad "Ranger" she didn't know, but the smile returned as she recognised the young man accompanying them, as he'd been a student at the school until recent years.

"Chris Masters, as I live and breathe!" she said, reaching out to give him a gentle grip on his arm as he leaned across the counter. "It's been a long time since you've haunted these halls. What have you been doing with yourself?"

Chris chuckled, giving Scott a wry look, and replied "Oh, been travelling, Mrs Beers. It's been an interesting time."

Nodding, she gave his companions another glance, before eyeing him intently. "I hope you're not in any trouble, young man!"

Laughing, Chris shook his head. "No, these are friends of my family. Mum and Dad just sent me down to pick up Jimmy. We're in a bit of a rush, so would it be possible to get him out of class a bit early?"

She pursed her lips before leaning forward and muttering conspiratorially "Well, normally I'd say yes, but Mr Jones, our old principal, retired earlier this year. He's been replaced by Mr Brown, who's a bit of a stickler for the rules. Give me a minute, and I'll ask him for you."

Smiling again, she rose from her seat and disappeared into the rear office, where she could be indistinctly heard conversing with the individual within. It was a long several minutes before she returned, a frown on her face as she approached the counter to report "I'm afraid he's not keen on letting Jim out early, Chris. He's told me to tell you to return back at 3pm."

Scott leaned forward past Chris and said "It is important that we leave as soon as possible, Mrs Beers. Can you pass on that we do really need to leave immediately?"

Giving him an apologetic look, she said "I'll try, but I don't know..."

However, she was interrupted as a voice from the office called out "I thought I told you to tell them 3pm, Mrs Beers? Is this difficult?"

Scott gave the door a dry look, before calling out in turn "I'm afraid I will need to insist, Mr Brown."

His comment was followed by silence, before a florid face peered past the door, and the man inside gave the Ranger an angry look. A large, overweight body followed as the principal approached the front desk and said "Well, this is my school, sir! I make the rules, and I'm advising you that you will wait until school finishes. Do you understand?"

Scott's frowned deepened at the man's attitude, and he made to retort before Bill interjected hurriedly "Look, Jim's parents have specifically requested we get him home ASAP. Surely you can make an exception in this case?"

Turning his glare on the uniformed officer, Mr Brown said sharply "And I suppose you have a letter from them requesting this, officer?"

Bill stepped back, as Chris said "No, but..." before being interrupted again.

"No letter, no exceptions!" Mr Brown spat, turning from the group in dismissal, only to be halted as Scott gripped his arm angrily.

"As I said, I am insisting. What class is he in?" the Ranger said coldly.

Mr Brown's face turned even more florid, as he rounded on the Ranger in fury. "Take your hands from me, Sir! I believe I will call the authorities if this continues further!"

Chris snorted. "Yeah, good luck with that, mate!" before quietening as Scott gave him a glare. Shrugging, Chris said "I know what class he is in. Let's just go get him!"

Scott thought a moment, and nodded, releasing the principal, who turned on Mrs Beers and said "I think you should call the police." However, he had no further chance to continue, as Scott grabbed him again roughly, dragging him from behind the reception desk and pushing the protesting man out the office door before him. Bill and Chris followed, even as a worried Mrs Beers trailed behind them.

As they marched past the School gate towards the class blocks, the shouting voice of the principal disturbed several nearby classes, causing students to rush to the windows to view the confrontation. Scott rolled his eyes, keeping firm control of the struggling man before him, but groaned loudly as the back of the truck nearby rocked, and Raikou and Suicune jumped down to see what the commotion was.

Screams from nearby were heard as the two huge legendaries approached the group, almost matched by the thin whine released from their wide eyed captive principal. Scott gave Raikou a dark look and said "I thought this was supposed to be covert?" to which the legendary shrugged.

"Does it really matter at this late stage?" Raikou replied, raising an eyebrow at the Ranger. Scott sighed and shook his head. "I guess not. Might as well release Storm and Skyy then."

Chris pulled Skyy's ball from his belt clip and let the lucario loose, followed closely by the typhlosion. As storm materialised beside them, he gave the aghast Brown a glance, before pointing a clawed finger at the crowded windows in the nearby classrooms and muttered "What's with the audience?"

Scott didn't reply, instead shoving the man into movement as he said "Now, let's go find Jimmy Masters, with no more delays!"

For some reason, the principal was much more obliging all of a sudden.

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Maths wasn't Jim's favourite class at the best of times, and he'd already been reprimanded twice for not paying attention to the board before him. Sighing, he turned back to the droning voice, as the teacher continued her lesson on fractions.

Something was happening back home, his gut told him, and he was worried for his family. When Tommy's parents had told him he'd staying over a few days, he hadn't objected, but when they wouldn't let him call his parents to ask why, he just knew something had gone wrong there.

His objections had been ignored, and the subsequent sulk as he moped around with his friends was met with stony silence. In that frame of mind, school just sucked, and keeping his mind on his work was beyond his capacity.

Adding to this, he'd had no opportunity to release Azil in days, except for a brief, secretive moment where he and Tommy explained to the charmeleon what had occurred.

While he knew his parent would be furious he'd told his best friend about the pokémon, the social isolation he'd felt after being teased and harassed at school couldn't be contained, and in his human friend he'd found a sure ally in keeping Azil safe, from both the adults around them, and the authorities. Still, they'd had little chance to get to know each other, as Jimmy took his parents warnings seriously enough to keep his orange friend hidden, and thereby protected.

Whispering his thoughts to Tommy sitting beside him had earned him yet another warning, the last before he'd be put on detention. Fuming, he began doodling on the cover of his maths book, refusing to fill out the blank answer sections from the day's exercise within, even knowing he'd be in more trouble at the end of the class.

It was enough to send someone crazy, he swore to himself, as he looked up and out the nearby window as a faint disturbance sounded outside, getting progressively louder as whatever was causing the strife came closer.

Soon, even his classmates were leaning up to peer out the room at the source of the noise. Yelling and a few screams finally distracted the teacher, who turned from her board work to scowl around at the class, telling them to get back in their seats while she checked out the problem.

Moving swiftly to the classroom door, she threw it open to be confronted with the massive whiskered face of Raikou, who started as she let out a shriek and collapsed, unconscious, in a faint at his feet.

The class around him froze, as Jimmy jumped up and shouted "Raikou!", even as the huge legendary pushed into the room, ignoring the sudden bedlam his entry caused around him. When Chris and Skyy followed, closely followed by Scott, Storm and Bill, most of the kids in the room began yelling, some fearful and others jubilant, while a few simply huddled whimpering behind their desks staring at the pokémon in disbelief.

Throwing himself against the big legendary, Jimmy gave Raikou a hug as the pokémon rumbled a purr in return. When he finally released him, Jim turned to his brother with wide eyes and said "What's happened?"

"Tell you later, squirt! We gotta go" Chris soothed, ruffling his hair, before Jim raced back to his desk, stuffing his books into his back pack as fast as he could. But when Azil's pokéball fell from inside to land on the desk surface, he paused, one hand hovering over the release as he turned to his brother and said plaintively "Can I...?"

Scott laughed sharply at the look and shrugged. "Might as well. Not like it's going to cause us any more problems."

Smirking, Jim turned to face a tall boy a few desks away and said loudly enough for the rest of his class to hear "Hey butt face? Here's an "I told you so!" to stick up your arse!"

With that, he pressed the pokéball release, as the charmeleon inside materialised before the horrified class mate who had teased him so mercilessly in past weeks about his "imaginary pokémon friend".

Whistling, Jim waved at Tommy, who gave him a thumbs up in return. He then grabbed his backpack and lead the bemused Azil from the room, following in the wake of the others, as well as most of the kids from his class, as they exited the school grounds and boarded the truck to depart, leaving the dumbfounded principal and confused Mrs Beers at the school gate to recover.

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Authors note:

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I'm baaaaaack!** **** ;)**