Here's the revamp, hope you like it. ;D
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Chapter Two - Escape
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Bleep-bleep-bleep-bleep-THUNK.
Jack massaged his hand, groaning at the alarm clock he had just assaulted. He noticed the time and groaned again, wishing he could sleep in.
<Jack, let’s go!> Static said, pulling off the blanket. He bounced on the bed, trying to wake Jack up.
Stifling a yawn, Jack pushed himself into a sitting position and switched on the lamp on his nightstand. “I hate mornings. . .” he grumbled.
Static hopped off the bed and looked at him expectantly. Jack glanced up at him. “Alright, alright.” He stood up and stretched before going into the bathroom. He stared at his sleepy expression in the mirror and splashed water in his face to wake himself up. After relieving himself, he went back into his room to change into his jeans and t-shirt. Static was waiting with his backpack. Jack took it and gathered the items he had left on his nightstand. He tied on his shoes and stood up. Everything prepared, he threw a fleeting look around his room, thinking it would be a very long time before he ever saw it again, if he did decide to come back.
Together, Jack and Static crept out of their room and down the stairs, skirting alongside the walls to prevent the floor from squeaking. Now in the kitchen, Jack laid his pack on the island counter and went to the pantry. He salvaged a few stacks of crackers and four bottles of water. He jammed them into his pack.
“We’ll have to buy more later,” he whispered to Static, who was looking disdainfully at the meager rations.
Suddenly, they heard a creak from the ceiling. Frantically, they pulled the pack off the island and ducked behind it. Jack could hear his heart pounding in his chest, and he struggled to breathe slowly. After two painful minutes, they heard the toilet upstairs flush. A few more creaks, and then all was quiet.
<That was close,> Static whispered, letting his muscles relax. Jack breathed a sigh of relief, but his breath caught in his throat as he heard another voice.
<Yes it was, though I had already known it would not affect you.> A green creature was standing next to them, staying unnaturally still. It was about five feet tall and had a round head perched on a column-like body. Two white wings were folded around it, and two red eye-shaped patterns stared blankly out from its chest. The bird-creature was one of Jessica’s Pokémon; a Xatu.
“Totem!” Jack hissed. “What’re you doing?”
The rigid Pokémon spoke without moving his beak. <I was meditating when I felt your disruption. Do not worry, I will not tell my master about you.> Totem, being able to see the future, had known what Jack would ask before Jack could even open his mouth.
“Well, um, thanks,” Jack murmured, feeling slightly awkward.
The Xatu made no sign of hearing Jack. After a few uncomfortable seconds, Jack turned to leave.
<There is a storm coming.> Jack glanced back at Totem.
“What?”
<There is a storm coming. It does not seem as if you will stay dry.>
Jack frowned. The weathermen had predicted sun all week. “Literally or figuratively?” Jack asked. Totem just stared blankly into space, showing no more signs of life than a rock.
Puzzled Jack turned again to leave. He quietly opens the front door and he and Static walk out into the cool morning air.
The sun was just beginning to rise, and just over the trees and houses Jack could see its light. As the two walked in silence along the road, Jack absorbed all the beauty and majestic quiet of the morning. A few cars drove by, and Jack saw a couple of the drivers look at him. Must be odd, he thought, to see a teenager and a Pokémon walking around on the side of the road at this hour.
They arrived at the closest bus stop and sat down on a bench to wait. Jack took out his iPod and listened to music while Static fell asleep at his side. The bus finally came half an hour later, and gently waking Static, Jack boarded. He paid the fare, found a seat in the back, and settled down, again put the buds in his ears and let the music absorb him. Static fell asleep again, and with a jolt the bus began driving, stopping at a few intervals before finding the highway that led to Cherrygrove. Jack rested his head on the glass window, gazing out at the bleak stretch of forest that continued on for miles.
It was about an hour later when the bus jumbled into the small city of Cherrygrove. Known primarily for it’s abundance of cherry trees, it was also the second largest port city in Johto. However, unlike the boisterous city of Olivine, Cherrygrove wasn’t much of a tourist magnet. Most of the ships that docked there were cargo ships or ferries providing cheap transportation across the border.
The bus slowed and jolted to a stop at the first stop in the city. Jack woke Static again and put his iPod away. He stood up, taking Static and setting him on his shoulders to keep him from the many feet that were now making their way off the bus. Jack stepped out onto the pavement and stretched, his muscles stiff from the long ride. The other departing passengers dispersed, going their own way. The bus closed its doors and slowly pulled away, leaving Jack and Static alone.
“Alright, we should find the nearest Pokémon Center and pick up a map,” Jack said to Static. He set off down the sidewalk, passing the occasional commuter or jogger. After a few minutes of walking, he stopped and asked for directions from a man in a business suit.
“Excuse me, sir. Do you know where the Pokémon Center is?”
The man frowned and studied him disapprovingly. “Do I look like I should know?” Jack mumbled something and turned to go, but the man spoke in an exasperated tone. “Go down three blocks and turn left. It should be at the end of the street.”
“Thanks,” Jack said gratefully, and the man nodded and continued on. Jack followed the directions and soon found himself standing in front of the cement building. It was two stories high and displayed a large neon Pokéball above its sliding glass doors. Windows lined the walls on both stories. Jack passed through the doors and surveyed the lobby. As it was only around 7:00, there were few people up and about.
Pokémon Centers were facilities paid for by the Pokémon League Association, the highest authority in any Pokémon related activity. The Centers served dual purposes; they were both infirmaries for injured Pokémon and hotels for registered trainers. Since the Centers were paid for by the PLA, anyone with a valid trainer ID received free services from the Center. If you did not have a valid ID, the services required payment.
Jack wasn’t in need of any services other than finding a map of the city, so after scanning the lobby he located what he was looking for. Among stacks of brochures advertising vacations or upcoming tournaments was a stack of foldable maps. Jack picked one up and unfolded it. He found the Pokémon Center and traced a path to the docks where a ferry could pick them up.
Before leaving, he stopped at a vending machine and bought two candy bars. He gave one to Static, who now opted to walk by himself. Static hungrily tore open the wrapper and gnawed on the chocolate.
Following the map wasn’t too hard, and after fifteen minutes of walking, the dock was in sight. A small square building guarded the wooden dock where the ferry would stop. Much to Jack’s dismay, he saw a boat sailing off to the east, only 200 yards or so from the dock.
“Aw crap, we just missed a ferry,” Jack moaned. He and Static walked the rest of the way to the building. They entered the small space, occupied by only one man, standing behind the counter, looking slightly apprehensive.
“Can I help you?” he asked gruffly, looking Jack up and down.
“Yeah, uh, do you have a list of times for the ferries?” Jack asked.
The man’s eyes flitted nervously over the opposite wall for a brief second. “Naw, we had to take it down ’cause we’re changin’ the times.” He licked his lips. “The next ferry should be in at about 10:00.”
“Okay,” Jack said. “I’ll take a ticket for that one.”
The man gave him the price and Jack fished through his wallet for the necessary cash. He exchanged it for the ticket and thanked the man, and then walked back outside to wait on a bench.
Static hopped up next to Jack and looked at Jack expectantly.
<Jack, I’m still hungry.>
Jack looked down at Static. “Fine, you can have some crackers.” He pulled out a stack of crackers from his backpack and opened it, grabbing a few crackers before giving the rest to Static.
Static gratefully accepted the food and wolfed down the crackers as fast as he could. After only several seconds, the crackers were gone and Static felt satisfied.
<Water, please,> Static demanded, holding out his hand. Jack rolled his eyes and fished out a plastic water bottle from his pack. He chucked it at Static, who tore off the top and gulped it down.
Jack leaned back and gazed into the sky, his mind feeling restless. His plan seemed simple and flawless, and chances were he would be in Viridian sometime tomorrow. From there he could do what he pleased. . . . Jack knew that he wouldn’t have a very hard time making money. Trainers would always bet on matches, and the prize money from tournaments and official matches was always a lot. He was an excellent strategist and Static was very skilled, despite his small stature.
Jack was woken from his thoughts when Static hurled the empty bottle at his head.
<Finished.> Static grinned mischievously.
“Static, why don’t you work on your Elemental Punches?” Jack suggested, trying to ignore Static’s little cry for attention.
Static’s expression changed to one of surprise. <Good idea. I’ve already mastered Thunder Punch.> Static held out one arm and clenched it. Crackling yellow electricity crawled around his thick forearm. Static held the position for a minute before he let the light disperse.
“That’s excellent, Static,” Jack said, a small smile of pride playing at the corners of his mouth. “How about Ice Punch?”
Static frowned and concentrated hard. Around his outstretched arm, the air turned cold, and small ice crystals formed on his fur. The frosty air disappeared after ten seconds. Static groaned with disappointment as he brushed the ice off his arm.
<I can’t hold that for nearly as long as I should be able to. . .> He looked dejectedly at the ground.
“Well, keep practicing. You’ll get there,” Jack said, giving Static a brief smile.
The next few hours were passed with Static practicing his Punches. A few people settled down on the other benches, themselves waiting for the ferry. At 9:45, the boat arrived at the dock. It was rusted in places and looked rather old. A gangplank was lowered, and Jack, Static, and the other people made their way onto the boat. The upper deck had rows of hard plastic benches for passengers, covered by a shoddy roof. Jack and Static shuffled along towards the back. They picked a bench on the left, two rows from the back. They settled down into the seat and looked around.
“Not exactly a luxury cruise ship, is it?” Jack said dryly. Static chuckled a bit. At 10:00, the gangplank was raised and the boat’s engine revved, propelling them away from the dock. A couple of people settling into a seat a few rows up caught Jack’s eye. He could see the backs of their heads. The taller one had a flaming red afro, and the smaller one had silky green hair, hanging straight around his head. Jack wondered who the odd people could be, but as it would be rude to get up and look at them, he dismissed his curiosity.
Jack looked out the window and gazed at the ocean stretching out to the horizon. The sun was well up into the sky and its light reflected off the water, giving it a smooth, glossy look. The weather was very fine, and the waves were gentle. As he was admiring the view, Jack became aware of a noise near the side of the ferry. His window was glass, so he couldn’t get a good angle, but he caught sight of a couple small dinghies floating beside the ferry. From what he could see there were crates that were being moved into an opening to a lower level of the boat. Jack frowned. What could they possibly need to load into the ship in such an odd manner? He dismissed the thought, reminding himself he didn’t know very much of boats or sailing. Pretty soon, the dinghies moved away from the ferry and out of Jack’s line of sight. The engine of the ferry started the gangplank was raised. Jack felt a stab of excitement; there was no turning back.
As the boat pulled away from Cherrygrove, Jack stared out the window at the rolling waves and let his thoughts wander. I’m on my way to Kanto, he thought. In an hour of two, I’ll be in Pallet. From there, I’ll move on to Viridian and begin my journey. . .
Without warning, Jack felt his vision go black and flash into a scene, but everything looked as if he was wearing violet lenses. A horrid screeching rang in his ears, blocking out the sound of the ocean. He realized he was looking at his kitchen. His parents were standing there, talking to a police officer. The image blurred and morphed into one of the same officer in his patrol car. He was speaking into his radio. Jack’s vision blurred again, and he found himself staring out at a town from the window of the boat. It wasn’t Cherrygrove. His vision blurred again, and he saw himself sitting on a park bench, watching as a girl talked with three tall shady looking men. Again it blurred, and he saw himself in a dark cave, with the daylight shining in from an entrance in the distance. It faded, and his vision was black again. The screeching had stopped, and he became aware of his surroundings. He was on the floor, and his eyes were closed.
<Jack, get up,> Static’s voice said. Jack opened his eyes and saw Static crouched in front of his face, a worried look on his face. Jack then realized that there were other people staring at him. He scrambled to his feet and sat back down, trying to ignore the eyes on him.
“What happened?” he muttered to Static.
“Fell out of your seat, bro,” someone said. Jack looked around and saw the man with the red afro sitting next to him. On the other side of the man was the teenager with green hair.
Jack frowned. He knew this person. He had seen him before. And then it hit him.
“Flint!?”
“Shh!” Flint said franticly, glancing around. “I don’t need to be found out.”
Jack was astonished. This was Flint Ooba, one of the Sinnoh region’s Elite Four. He was one of the most accomplished trainers in the region.
“So you must be Aaron,” Jack whispered to the green-haired teen. Aaron was another Elite from Sinnoh, almost as famous as Flint.
“Yep,” Aaron said, giving a small smile.
“What exactly are you doing here?” Jack asked, still thoroughly stunned.
“Can’t say, top secret and stuff,” Flint replied with a grin. “So you know our names. What’s yours?”
“Oh, sorry, my name’s Jack,” Jack stuttered. “Jack Surge.”
Flint paused for a brief second, and then leaned forward to look at Static. “And is this your Elekid?”
<My name’s Static, and I’m the strongest Elekid in the world!> Static boasted, puffing out his chest.
“Are you now?” Flint said, an amused smirk on his face. “Can you use Fire Punch?”
<. . .What?>
“Well, I would think the greatest Elekid could use my favorite type, but oh well.” Flint put his arms behind his head.
<I wasn’t born with the move, so I can’t use it, alright?> Static muttered darkly.
Flint looked sideways at Static. “Would you like to learn?”
“You can do that?” Jack asked, frowning.
Flint grinned. “I happen to have a special item that should allow you to learn it, Static.” He rolled up the sleeve of his overcoat and revealed two black bands on his wrist. They began to expand, like molten lava, covering his hand. When it had formed into the shape of a glove, it became still.
Aaron leaned forward, looking apprehensively at the other passengers. “Flint, what are you doing?”
“Chill out, Aaron. It’s cool, nobody can see us.”
“You shouldn’t be doing this. You don’t even know this guy,” he muttered, crossing his arms and sitting back against the seat.
“It’s alright, he’s cool. Isn’t that right, Jack Surge?” Flint gave a sly smile to Aaron before turning to Jack. Aaron furrowed his eyebrows, as if he had suddenly realized something.
“So Static, come here for a second,” Flint said. Static hopped over and stood on the seat next to Flint. Slowly, Flint put the coated hand on Static’s head. The material began to glow a faint red, and Static shivered. After several seconds of contact, Flint removed his hand and pushed down his sleeve.
“Did that teach him Fire Punch?” Jack asked quietly.
Static held up a fist. He closed his eyes and concentrated hard. And then, a flame appeared around his fist. Shocked, Static gave a start and the flame dissipated. He stared at his hand, his fanged mouth hanging open in disbelief. <I can use Fire Punch.>
“Incredible . . .” Jack said, amazed at Static’s new power.
“Anything for a friend.” He grinned and leaned back in his seat, apparently pleased with himself.
“Flint, exactly what was that?” Jack asked, nodding towards Flint’s arm.
“Sorry bro, can’t tell you. It’s a one-of-a-kind item, and I’d rather not say. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep it secret too.” He winked at Jack.
Jack nodded and leaned back against the seat. “So Static, looks like you’ve got something new to practice,” he remarked, giving Static a grin.
<Yeah,> Static murmured. He stared hard at his hand, trying to make the flames stay.
“So Jack,” Flint said, leaning back in his seat, “what brings you to this ferry on such a fine day?”
Jack bit his lip and averted his eyes. “I left home.”
Flint sat up, clearly interested. “Oh? And for what reason?”
Jack stared at the floor. “I want to prove to my dad that I can be successful doing things my way instead of his.”
Flint gave him a mischievous grin. “Breaking the mold, then, eh?”
“Kinda.”
“What interests you the most in the field of Pokémon then?” Flint asked.
Jack stared at the floor. “I’d like to be a breeder, but I wouldn’t get paid very much,” he mumbled. “I’m decent at battling, but it’s not exactly my thing.”
“I can understand. There’re a lot of complex strategies and details you have to have memorized in order to survive as a pro battler,” Flint said knowingly.
“It isn’t the strategies that get me,” Jack explained. “I, well, actually. . .I was the top of my class in Battle Tactics this year.”
Flint’s eyes widened in surprise and Aaron turned to look at Jack, clearly impressed. “That’s quite a feat, considering the difficulty of even getting into a Pokémon Academy,” Aaron remarked.
“So you know your stuff then,” Flint said. “You understand the concept of lures, right?”
“Of course,” Jack answered. “In order to execute the strategy of your team, you train a Pokémon that would attract the kinds of Pokémon that would give your team trouble. However, you train that Pokémon in a way that lets it overcome or incapacitate the problematic Pokémon, effectively clearing the path for the other members of your team.”
“Very good, you’ve been taught well,” Flint said with a grin.
After nearly an hour of discussion over various strategies, the town of Pallet could be seen off in the distance. Aaron was still gazing out the window, looking slightly puzzled. After a few minutes, he got to his feet, now looking worried.
“Flint, the boat’s not turning towards Pallet.”
Flint stopped and looked out the window. His smile disappeared and his face became expressionless. “I knew it. Jack, Static; stay here.” He walked out into the isle, with Aaron right behind him. Curious, Jack followed them with his eyes as they made their way to the cabin. Right as they reached it, the door swung open and a man stood in its frame, a handgun pointed directly at Flint’s forehead.
Jack’s heart skipped a beat. He watched in horror as four men walked out into the isle from the behind the man with gun. Each held an AK-47 assault rifle. Jack recognized one of the men as the jumpy man who had sold him his ticket.
“Hands on your heads, all of you,” the man with the handgun growled, advancing on Flint, who started backpedaling. The men carrying the AK-47s began inspecting the frightened passengers, looking for anything that could be a threat.
Jack sat frozen in his seat. He could hardly believe what was happening. Why would there be a group of thugs with guns running a ferry service? What could they be hoping to accomplish?
“We don’t need any heroes today,” the man with the handgun told the passengers. “We would appreciate your full cooperation. Nobody has to get hurt.”
Static crouched beside Jack, his narrow black eyes darting around, his muscles ready to react to whatever might happen. One of the men approached him, his grip tight around the gun.
“Put the Pokémon in its Ball and hand it over.” His eyes moved back and forth between Jack and Static. “If you cooperate, you’ll get him back when we’re done.”
Jack felt himself shaking. He couldn’t turn Static over, but he couldn’t think of anything else to do.
<Jack, let me handle this,> Static murmured, not taking his eyes off the man. <Just hand me to him.>
The man aimed his gun at Static. “What did it say?” he demanded.
Jack realized the man couldn’t understand Pokéspeech. “He uh, he said he has to pee,” Jack stuttered, his heart pounding in his chest.
A toothy grin broke across the man’s face, and he lowered his gun a bit. “Well, that’s just too bad. Now hand it over.”
Jack picked up Static and held him out for the man. As the man reached for Static, Static murmured, <Grab the gun.> Confused, Jack glanced at the AK-47. The man grabbed Static, and at the same moment, he let out a cry of shock. Both Static and the gun dropped to the floor as the man stumbled back, his face contorted into a grimace. At the moment Static touched the floor, he sprung forward with lightning speed, slamming into the man and spending him sprawling out on the floor, completely unconscious. Jack realized what Static had meant and scrambled to pick up the AK-47 that had been dropped. He heard the other men shout and he clutched the grip and muzzle of the rifle, not completely processing that he could very well be forced to use it to defend himself. He looked out from around the side of the seat and saw Static attack a second man as a yellow blur, sending the man to the ground.
Jack heard a cry of shock from near Flint and swiveled his head to see what had happened. Flint had trapped the arm of the leader and aimed the gun at the two remaining men. Two shots rang out and the men crumpled, dead before they hit the ground. Flint then swung his elbow back into the man’s face, smashing his nose and knocking him out. He kicked the gun out of the unconscious man’s hand and drew his own handgun from within his coat. Aaron had also drawn a gun from inside his jacket.
Panicked whispered rushed through the passengers, and Jack stared in disbelief. Three men unconscious and two dead, all in a matter of seconds. He realized he was still crouched behind the seat. He pushed himself up, his legs feeling jelly. Static walked over, still alert and ready to attack.
<Are you okay?> Static asked, looking up at Jack.
“Um, wha—yeah, are you okay?” Jack said, stumbling over the words. “You just attacked two guys with guns!”
Static gave Jack a grin, his yellow fangs glinting. <I know. That was Quick Attack. It makes me feel like a ninja.>
Jack laughed weakly. They had almost died, and Static was thinking about being a ninja. Shaking the thought, Jack approached Flint and Aaron.
“Jack, are you okay?” Flint asked, looking Jack up and down.
“I’m fine, Flint,” Jack said, trying to keep his voice calm. “What’s happening?”
“We suspected this vessel would be used to transport weapons to a small terrorist group located in Kanto. That’s why Aaron and I are here. To ensure that the weapons don’t reach them.”
Jack stared at Flint. “I thought you were a Pokémon trainer? How do you know how to disarm a guy like that?”
Flint closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. “Jack, Aaron and I aren’t just trainers. I can’t give you the details, but I assure you we’re here to help,” Flint said in a hushed voice. “I’ve had training, and that’s how I could do that. Now we’re still in danger, and I need to speak to the passengers.” He turned to Aaron. “Alert HQ.”
“Already have,” Aaron answered. He watched the door to the cabin with wary eyes.
“Okay, I need everybody’s attention!” Flint called out to the passengers. The whispers stopped and the people gave Flint their undivided attention. “This boat is currently being held by a group of terrorists. I’m here with my partner to prevent anything bad from happening to you, but in order for that to happen, I need you all to stay calm.” He looked at a frightened woman sitting with her son, who couldn’t be more than six. Flint gave them a comforting smile. “Ma’am, do you have a cell phone?”
“Y-yes,” she whispered, her eyes still wide with fear.
“Everything will be okay,” Flint said. “I need you to contact the police. Let them know we are a few miles off the coast of Pallet, heading due east. Can you do that for me?”
The woman nodded and fumbled around in her purse to find her phone.
“Now, by a show of hands, how many of you have any experience with a gun?” Two men, one in his early thirties and the other looking to be over forty, raised their hands. “I am not forcing you into this, but if you are willing, take two of the AKs. If something were to happen, you could help save lives.” The men nodded and picked up the guns off the floor.
Flint turned to Jack and Static. “I need you two to stay here and help defend the passengers. I know how hard this may seem, but if you have Surge blood in you, I’m sure you’ll be able to do what you have to.”
Jack nodded and gripped his rifle harder.
“Alright Aaron, let’s go.” Flint and Aaron turned and crept into the cabin, their guns raised and ready.
As the two disappeared, the passengers resumed whispering with panicked voices. The two other men with guns drifted over to Jack and Static.
“Alright, son?” the older one asked Jack, giving him an encouraging smile.
“Y-yeah, I think so,” Jack replied, desperately trying to keep his voice steady.
“Those guys,” said the younger man, “they really seem to know how to handle this.”
Jack nodded in agreement, deciding it was best not to try and talk. He looked at the open doorway that led into the cabin. Were Flint and Aaron still alive? Or could they have killed the rest of the crew? Jack gave a start when he heard gunshots from below the deck. The passengers grew silent as the fight below ensued. Jack could only hope that the two Elites would survive.
He heard a creaking sound and he looked behind him. For a second he didn’t understand what was happening, but horror soon spread throughout his body. There had been a trapdoor in the floor of the upper deck, and from it came a man with an AK-47. One of the passengers gave a shout and the two men turned around, lifting their guns. The crew member squeezed the trigger and shot off a short burst of bullets, and Jack stared in shock as the younger man collapsed. The older man took advantage of the situation and shot his own rifle, catching the man in the chest. He gave a strangled cry as he fell back, landing with a muffled thud on the floor. The older man bent to examine his younger comrade. Jack couldn’t move. He stared at the body of the younger man and realized that the rises and falls of his chest meant he was still alive. There were two wounds in his lower abdomen, but from what Jack had learned in school, he wasn’t in mortal danger.
“Don’t anybody move, or I’ll shoot.” The voice caught Jack in the chest like a knife. He turned his own gun around and aimed it at the man who now stood over the dead crew member’s body. He held a handgun, aimed straight at the old man. “Get on your feet and put your hands where I can see them.” The old man slowly stood up, holding his hands up in surrender. The crew member glanced at Jack. “Drop the gun, or I’ll shoot.”
“Don’t,” whispered the old man. Jack stared with frightened eyes at the crew member. He wanted to drop the gun so the old man wouldn’t get shot, but he couldn’t feel his own fingers.
“I said drop it!” growled the man, glaring at Jack.
Jack remained frozen, unable to move, even as his head screamed to drop the gun.
The handgun swung towards Jack. “I said drop—!” Five shots rang out, instantly followed by the shattering of glass and the crunch of holes being torn through the wall. Jack stared in utter horror as the crew member with the handgun slumped backwards. With dreadful realization, Jack understood that it was he who shot the bullets and killed the man. Without realizing it, he had pulled the trigger and released the lethal pieces of metal that burrowed themselves into the flesh of the enemy and stole the very life from him.
Everyone was silent, but even if they had been screaming, the pounding in Jack’s head would have blocked it out. All he could hear was the fast thumping of his heart as it pounded the blood into Jack’s head. He tasted bile in his mouth and turned away from the old man and Static and vomited on the floor. The very thought of what he had done repulsed him. He felt like he was stained, tainted by the blood that oozed out of the man he had shot. Surely he would die, because how could he live with this on his conscience? He was marked, maybe not visibly, but he was a killer now.
<Jack. . .> Static mumbled, looking worriedly at his trainer.
The old man put his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “It’s okay, son. You’ll be alright.” Jack looked up at him, searching the aging face. He nodded stiffly, not altogether in agreement, but thankful for the comment nonetheless. “Go ahead and sit down.” Jack sat, resting his forearms on his thighs and hanging his head. He tried to steady his breathing and calm himself.
He heard footsteps coming from inside and glanced up as Flint and Aaron jogged in. Flint’s eyes swept the seats, assessing the situation. “Is everyone alright?”
“We have one man down, two shots to the gut, but they shouldn’t be lethal,” the older man said. He was now holding a shirt against the man’s stomach to staunch the blood flow. Flint nodded and walked over to the lady who had called the authorities.
“Ma’am, are you still with the police?”
“Yes,” she answered, looking up hesitantly.
“Tell them to send out the Coast Guard with a medical team. We have one civilian with two bullet wounds to the abdomen.” The women nodded and gave the dispatcher the information.
Flint strode over to Jack and sat down beside him. “Hanging in there?”
Jack nodded.
Flint frowned and cocked his head. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.”
“I-I shot—” Jack couldn’t finish his sentence. Flint glanced at the old man on the floor, who nodded at the dead crew member Jack had shot.
Flint smiled grimly. “It’s alright. You did it naturally. Almost anyone would have done the same thing in your position.”
Jack looked at Flint quizzically.
“It’s for the same reason an ordinary person can kill on the battlefield without it killing him inside. When you see your comrade get shot,” Flint indicated the younger man, “and the gun turns to you, you will do whatever you can to avoid the same situation, even if it means taking a life.” Jack gave a small nod.
“You aren’t a bad person Jack, and protecting yourself isn’t something you should be ashamed of. I’m not saying you shouldn’t feel anything, but don’t think badly of yourself because you shot him, alright?” Flint clapped Jack on the shoulder. Jack looked at Flint’s fiery brown eyes and the red afro that framed his face. He felt a wave of gratitude towards Flint and managed a smile.
“Thanks.”
Flint grinned wide and stood up. Aaron approached him, giving Jack a weary smile before focusing on Flint. “HQ has a chopper dispatched for us. It should arrive outside of Pallet in approximately thirty minutes.”
“Great news. Let’s get this boat turned around. Aaron, you drive, and I’ll handle the authorities when they come.”
An hour later, Jack walked down the gangplank onto the dock at Pallet. Static trailed after him, uncharacteristically silent after the events on the ferry. Flint and Aaron were speaking with the local police, sorting out all the details. From what Flint had explained, until the crew was proven to be the source of the violence, Flint and Aaron were responsible for the deaths of several people. But after the officials saw the large shipment of firearms and explosives in the lower deck and listening to the passengers give testimonies to prove Flint and Aaron were only protecting them, the police were okay with letting them go.
Jack stood on the edge of the dock, staring at the water below. It rose and fell with each gentle wave, breaking against the pillars that held up the dock. He had been gone from home less than twenty-four hours and already he had more than enough adventure. Jack wondered what would have happened if he had missed this ferry. He wouldn’t have had to kill that crew member, but then again, he did meet Flint Ooba and Aaron Ryou. Not everyone could say they’ve met two of the greatest trainers in Sinnoh, so he guessed he should be thankful for that. But if he could have chosen, he would rather have been on a different ferry. The thought of taking that man’s life made him feel sick.
Someone walked up next to him, and the flaming red hair let Jack know it was Flint. “Well Jack, it’s been quite a day.”
Jack smiled slightly. “Yeah.”
Flint put his hands behind his head and looked up at the sky. The sun was now well on it’s way through the afternoon, and it was currently resting among a few wispy clouds. “You’ll be alright, I know you will. You’ve just got to listen to some wise words from an American band.”
“Hmm?”
“‘Even when your hope is gone, move along; move along, just to make it through.’” Flint looked down at Jack with a smile. “Life’s to short to live in the past. You only get one shot, so make it a good one.” Flint clapped Jack on the shoulder. “Yes?”
Jack grinned. “Yes.”
“’Atta boy. Well, Aaron and I have to leave.” Flint held out his hand. “See you around, bro.”
Jack clasped Flint’s hand. “See you around.” Flint crouched down and stuck his fist out at Static.
“Bump it,” he said, and Static bumped his own knuckles against Flint’s. Flint grinned and stood up. “Later Jack.”
Jack watched as Flint found Aaron and strode off down the dock, away from the boat, and away from Jack. Though he had only known Flint for a few hours, Jack already felt as if he was a close friend. Jack brushed his brown hair off his face and turned to Pallet. “Let’s go, Static. We need to find a place to stay.”
The pair walked up the dock and into Pallet. The town was very small indeed; it held only one supermarket and very few office buildings rose more than two stories. The houses were intermixed among the city, with a few small neighborhoods branching off on the outskirts. From what Jack knew from his studies, Pallet really only had one reason for existence; Samuel Oak, one of the highest authorities on Pokémon and a genius Pokémon Biologist, specializing in Pokémon behavior. Other than Oak’s lab, the only other notable detail being that it was the hometown of Oak’s grandson, Green Oak, who at fifteen became the youngest Champion of the Kanto/Johto Pokémon League ever.
After meandering through the town, Jack located the only hotel. Much to his dismay, however, the price of a room was more than he was willing to pay. “Looks like we’ll be camping for the night,” Jack mumbled to Static as they exited the hotel.
<That shouldn’t be too bad. It’ll be our first time camping like real trainers!> Static said excitedly.
Jack didn’t feel quite as thrilled and gave Static a pained smile. “Well, we need some supplies from the supermarket first.”
Locating the supermarket wasn’t very difficult; it was the largest building in the town. Upon approaching the automatic doors, Jack saw a sign with an ‘X’ over a Pokéball, indicating that Pokémon weren’t allowed. “Sorry Static, looks like you’re gonna have to wait in you Pokéball.” Jack took out the black, red, and gold Luxury Ball.
<I hate you,> Static grumbled, giving Jack an annoyed look.
Jack knew Static was only annoyed at the store, so he gave him a grin and pushed the button on the Pokéball, causing it to open and turn Static into pure energy form and contain him inside.
Jack shrunk the Luxury Ball and stuffed it into his pocket as he entered the supermarket. He took a few steps forward and stopped, reading the signs above the isles. With a sinking feeling, Jack realized that he hadn’t prepared for this at all, and was at a loss as to what he needed. He had expected to make have a place to stay in Pallet and visit the Pokémart in Viridian for all his equipment. Looking very unsure of himself, he made his way to the dry foods isle. He grabbed a box of crackers and continued through the store until he found the bottled water. He grabbed a few bottles and headed for the registers, hoping that the food would suffice until he reached Viridian.
As he purchased his items, he wondered if he would have enough of an income to last his journey. The Kanto and Johto regions, along with Hoenn and Sinnoh, used a currency very close to the American currency of dollars. Like America, each note was called a dollar, but they were represented by the symbol “§.” Jack had saved §500 when he decided to leave, and he figured, factoring in the registration fee for his license, he would be able to last a month. With Pokémon Centers, he’d have free lodging and meals, but he’d have to buy food for the road, along with supplies for training Pokémon. Trainers usually bet on matches, but only the very serious ones bet enough to make a decent profit, and some sore losers refuse to pay up if they lose. Other than betting on matches, you could enter tournaments, which were held often in the various towns across the region. They ranged from official PLA tournaments to unofficial tournaments sponsored by various corporations such as the Silph Company, the largest manufacturer of trainer equipment in the regions. They had invented the molecular conversion technology that was used in Pokéballs, making them one of the most revolutionary organizations of the modern world.
Jack carried the bag out of the store and extracted the Luxury Ball from his pocket. He pushed the button in the center and Static materialized in front of him.
<Stupid store,> Static grumbled, scratching one of his yellow prongs. <So what’d you get?>
“Crackers and water,” Jack answered pathetically. “I don’t want to waste too much money.”
Static muttered something Jack didn’t hear and followed his master away from the supermarket.
“We’ll have to find some place to camp for the night,” Jack muttered as he passed cars in the parking lot. “I wish there was a cheap place to stay.”
“Excuse me,” a voice said from behind Jack. He turned to see a lady putting groceries into the trunk of her car. “Are you looking for a place to stay?”
Jack opened his mouth, trying to untie his tongue. The sudden conversation with a stranger surprised him, and he tried to find the words. “Um, we were just—camping,” he stuttered awkwardly.
The lady smiled kindly. “Are you a Pokémon Trainer?”
“Um, yeah. Well, actually not yet. I was going to go to Viridian to get my license,” Jack explained. “Static was given to me by my father.”
“If you need a place to stay, you can stay at my house. We have a guest room that never gets used.”
Jack bit his lip. Stay with a complete stranger? The woman had just met him. Although, she didn’t look like she meant ill. “I really don’t want to intrude. I’ll be fine just camping. . .”
“No, you’ll come stay with us,” she said resolutely. “There’s no need for you to stay out in the elements when I have a guest room that hasn’t been used in forever.”
“Are you sure?” Jack asked, feeling trapped.
“Positive. Go ahead and get in the car, dear.”
Defeated, Jack walked around to the passenger seat and climbed in. Static hopped up and sat on his lap. <Are you sure about this?> Static whispered, looking warily at the woman putting the remaining groceries into the trunk.
“No, but I don’t think we have a choice,” Jack admitted. He fastened his seatbelt as the woman sat down in the driver’s seat. She started up the car and pulled out of the lot and onto the street, apparently headed for home.
As they passed through the town, Jack examined the lady. She had wavy, copper brown hair, reaching past her shoulders. Her face was relatively tan, most likely due to days at the beach. He could tell she was closer to forty than thirty, yet she looked very young. Bizarre thoughts swirling inside Jack’s head were calmed slightly at the sight of a ring on her left ring finger. At least she was married. Jack had thought at first that she might have only wanted to take him home to sleep with him. Disgusting and horribly provocative as it was, Jack shook the thought from his head. No, she didn’t seem like the type. He prayed she was taking him into her home just out of the kindness of her heart.
It didn’t take long to reach her house, located in one of the small neighborhoods on the edge of town. She pulled up the driveway and turned the car off. They exited and Jack walked with her around to the back, Static trailing behind him.
“Lemme help you with the groceries,” Jack offered, feeling he should do as much as he could to make up for her allowing him to stay at her house.
“That would be wonderful, dear,” the lady replied, handing Jack a few bags.
<I can help too,> Static said. The lady looked down.
“I’m sorry, I’m not too good with Pokéspeech,” she said apologetically.
“He wants to help,” Jack translated.
“How sweet,” the lady said. She picked up a gallon of milk and handed it to him. “Think you can carry this?”
Static nodded and accepted the milk. Jack could tell he was struggling; the milk jug was half as big as Static. Nevertheless, Static was determined to show no signs of weakness and stood firm.
The woman closed the trunk and walked up to the front door. Jack and Static followed, and as she opened the door, she called into the house, “James, we have guests!”
“Thanks for the heads up, I’ll definitely have to get ready,” a voice came from another room.
Jack and Static followed their host to the kitchen where they put their groceries on the counter.
“I didn’t get your names, by the way,” the lady said, taking the milk from Static.
“Oh, I’m Jack. And this is Static,” he said.
“I’m Carey Migoto,” the woman said. “My husband’s name is James.”
“Well hello there!” the voice of James said from behind Jack. He looked around and was surprised at the man’s appearance.
While Carey seemed very young, James was the exact opposite. His hair was gray and receding, and he looked to be over fifty. He wore black-framed glasses with rectangular lenses and had a warm smile on his face.
“I’m James,” he said, holding out his hand. His voice was a little raspy and had a tone of relaxed content in it.
Jack took his hand. “I’m Jack, and this is Static.”
“Pleasure,” James said, smiling. “So, what brings you here? I didn’t agree to taking on a foster kid,” he said jokingly.
“Jack is going to get his trainer’s license in Viridian, but he needed a place to stay. We have an extra room. Why not?” Carey busied herself by putting the groceries away.
“Yes, why not?” James said in agreement, looking bemused. “So Jack, come, let’s sit down,” James said, motioning Jack into the sitting room adjacent to the kitchen. Jack and Static followed, sitting down on the brown leather couch across from James, who rested in a matching armchair.
Jack looked around the room, taking in his surroundings. It was a modest home, not very large, but very well decorated and completely immaculate. It could have been a model home, save one not-so-small detail; on the shelves, on the walls, and on tables, there were dozens of photographs. Some displayed serene settings; sunsets on the beach, grassy meadows with blooming wildflowers, and lush green forests, while others captured various species of Pokémon, whether in battle or in the wild. And among these were pictures of a family. The same three people, sometimes separate, sometimes together, at varying ages. Jack recognized Carey first, as she hardly looked different in every picture. Jack recognized James as the only male in the photos. Some showed him at a much younger age, with blond-brown hair styled in a windswept fashion. The third person was unfamiliar to Jack, but he assumed it was the daughter of James and Carey. She had hair like her father, a light brown, with just a hint of the copper shine her mother had. She had a smooth complexion, lightly tanned, but not as dark as her mother. Jack flushed as he thought that she looked quite attractive.
James watched Jack gaze at the pictures, and finally broke the silence. “I’m a photographer,” he explained, waving his hand across the room. I tried my luck as a trainer, but I found that I preferred to capture the beauty of nature, rather than use it for sport. Don’t get me wrong,” he said hastily, seeing the look on Jack’s face. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Pokémon training. It just wasn’t my thing.”
“You’re very good,” Jack said, trying to keep the conversation going.
“Thank you.” James followed Jack’s eyes to a picture of the young girl, kneeling in the sand on the beach, holding a shell. “That’s my daughter, Megan. She’s about your age, I would say, maybe a year younger or so. She’s a new Pokémon trainer as well.”
Jack looked at James with interest. “Really?”
“Uh-huh. We actually took her to Viridian just yesterday to begin her journey. She’s planning to travel with her cousin from Saffron. Megan’s a little. . .too trusting, if you know what I mean. We wanted her to be with someone a little older.”
Jack nodded. “That makes sense.” He tried to think of something more to add, but came up blank.
“So, what’s your story? If you don’t mind me asking,” James added.
Jack shifted in his seat. He wanted to tell the truth, but he didn’t want to risk them trying to contact his parents. Franticly, he invented a story that would seem plausible. “Well, Static and I came from Violet, and we decided to register in Kanto rather than Johto. I’m originally from here, and my uncle lives in Vermillion.”
“I see. Are you planning on travelling by yourself?”
Jack looked down at Static. “Well, Static is old enough to help defend us if the need were to arise, so I think we’ll manage.”
James smiled. “I could tell your Elekid was pretty strong from when I first saw him. You’re lucky to have such a good companion.”
Jack put an arm around Static. “I am lucky.”
After a filling dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, Jack, James, and Carey talked for a while before showing Jack and Static up to the guest room. Once alone, Jack was left again to his thoughts. The memory of him killing the man on the boat came back in a gut-wrenching pang, and Jack threw himself into the bed, trying to breathe under the crushing weight of guilt he felt. He was a killer, and he hated himself for it. The soft bed and clean sheets he had hoped for were little comfort when he kept reliving that single moment on the boat when he squeezed the trigger, that single moment when he squeezed the life out of a living, breathing human being.
END
Here are the changes;
- There is a brief explanation on how Pokémon Centers are able to support themselves while providing free services to trainers.
- Lorelei is written out of the chapter. She served only to introduce a side plot that saw no development and contributed nothing to the overall plot.
- Flint is joined by Aaron on the ferry. This was to introduce Aaron’s character a bit earlier, but it also makes sense for Flint to have a partner during such an important mission.
- The boat is given a more distinct purpose; whereas in the original it was merely under the control of the shady people and never really explained, it’s now clear that it was being used as a weapons transport.
- Rather than being tackled out of a window and being forced to kill a man underwater, Jack instead uses an AK-47 to kill the man. This scene helps develop Jack more than the original. In the first scene, it would be more realistic for Jack to freak out and squirm rather than grab the gun and shoot the man. This one helps to portray Jack’s innocence; he didn’t consciously make the choice to kill.
- Flint doesn’t use any Pokémon. While it may seem odd to remove the presence of Pokémon in a Pokémon fanfic, it gives a more serious tone to the chapter. It also builds Flint’s character. The act of him doing all the fighting with another human shows that there’s more to him than just Pokémon training.
- In the Migotos' house, Burrow the Sandslash doesn’t make an appearance. His absence helps reinforce that James isn't absorbed in Pokémon anymore.
Thanks for reading!
Jack ;466;