Story Notes:
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.Characters thus Far: Lancer Riocynn (Riolu)Isaac Riocynn (Lucario)Sapphire Ryoka (Pikachu) Lord Aika (Mismagius) Garnett Ryoka (Raichu)
Chapter 6 - The Froslass
Chapter 6: The Froslass
Garnett had been idle for 8 hours as he awaited the delayed response from the doctors trying to save Sapphire's life. He was patient and silent with his head bowed; eyeballing the tile floor beneath him. 8 hours spent just staring at tile and thinking to himself.
He sweetened his thoughts as he replayed the attack in his mind countless times. He tried to remember exactly what Sapphire did when she came in contact with the Stage 3 lightning and if she could possibly survive this.
Even if she was an electric-type Pokemon, Stage 3 lightning had enough intensity to outright kill her. "Oh, Sapphire." He thought. "What were you doing?" the image of Lancer flashed in his mind along with a rage for his daughter's foolishness. "Why did you try to save him?" by what he had heard, she only knew him for a few days. She was never ordered to scout Rustboro city so there was no way she could have met him any time before the invasion of the city.
"You risked your life for a stranger?"
Before Garnett knew it, a Chansey loomed over him. "Uhm, Mr. Ryoka?" she seemed disheartened which disturbed him. "I'm sorry, but-"
"No!" Garnett roared. He jumped up from his seat. "You'd better not tell me that-"
"No, no, no!" the Chansey replied; gesturing for the Raichu to calm down. "I was trying to say that we won't know of her chances of survival for another day or two. I'm sorry."
"Oh. Oh, my..." Garnett sat back down, greatly relieved that he didn't hear what he thought he was about to. "Okay then."
"I apologize for scaring you," the Chansey said. "Me and my clumsy choice of words..."
Garnett did not respond. He resumed staring at the tile floor and pondering as Lancer watched from across the hall, hidden behind the corner. "A few days, huh." He muttered as he decided to take his leave; feeling great guilt and directing his frustration right back at Sapphire. "Stupid girl, I could've dodged it." He said it... but he knew he couldn't.
**
The search for the Silent Fraternity had commenced and Lancer honestly had no idea where to begin. As soon as he was engulfed in the underground city, Checkpoint: Orpheus, he was clueless where he was. The city, either way, was absolutely beautiful and striking. Most buildings were skyscrapers that also served as pillars to keep the massive ceiling above them, plastered over with metallic tiles, from collapsing. A huge light beamed from the ceiling and was reflected off of the metal tiles which indicated daylight for the sun-depraved residents. When the sun went down, the massive light shut down and the street lights activated.
The Checkpoint was odd with its residential system. Everybody lived in apartments which were all located on the walls surrounding the entire city while the center was used as the marketplace.
Lancer was unfamiliar with all of these customs and had a very difficult time locating anything. He was impatient to start asking questions but the image of Garnett's horror-filled glare repetitively came to mind. Perhaps he should be careful of who he asked and how he asked the question.
So, his plan was to pretend he was a messemger refugee who was ordered to deliver a letter to a member of the Silent Fraternity. What makes this plan work is the "messenger refugee" bit. If he was just going around, telling people he had received a letter from some Luxray, then it may have a more negative response.
The plan works because, as a messenger, he's forced to complete his task. The people he asks won't be inclined to think he may be one of their agents, but just a Pokemon trying to do his job. At least... that's how Lancer perceived it.
Lancer asked a great number of residents but none of them, even with his "masterful" plan in action, knew where to find the Silent Fraternity.
During his search, however, he felt this shame rising up from the back of his mind. His mother would repeatedly be quoted saying "We Riocynns must stand firm... and must not show our fear... and must be proud of what we are." He felt a deep degradation being forced to conceal who he was under contact lenses.
He was a Riocynn... he should be allowed to parade his "greatness" but he was obligated to follow Garnett's words. The old man seemed to know what he was talking about. It was safer this way but it dishonored Lancer to no end.
**
In his search, quickly, he was discouraged and stopped to take a break. "Whoa..." he grabbed his stomach as it furiously rumbled. "...Shut the hell up, stomach." He hadn't eaten anything that entire day. Conveniently enough, there was a restaurant not too far from him: "Restaurant #15" was its name. "Seriously?"
That served to unshackle Lancer's perception of Checkpoint: Orpheus. Everything was so organized... so tidy to the point where every service was identified only by their number: "Super Market #4, DVD Rental #8, Hair Saloon #3". The residents seemed to have been forced to stay to one side of the road while walking to avoid collisions. It was almost like accustomizing with driving regulations.
Also, all the while, Lancer felt as if he were being followed. He never had any reason to suspect, but his eyes, under the contacts, would shift from volatile to serene repeatedly. Were city spies tailing him?
He stepped into "Restaurant #15" and ordered pizza along with some soda to prolong his stamina. He planned to search the entire night. The waitress was a very friendly and outgoing human. Her name was Mei Leonarz. A very clumsy waitress but very amicable. Lancer was never really exposed to humans that much; he was a little nervous around her.
She was actually on her dinner break right after she served Lancer his food so, being very social, she decided to sit next to him with a plate of salad and a water bottle coupled with a straw.
Mei had red hair and blue eyes and this very formal black and white waitress uniform which reflected on the person responsible for the dress code. Apparently, he liked his waitresses walking around in very short skirts with no sleeves and seamed lace-top stockings.
She also tried to speak intelligently but ended up sounding ignorant; forgetting words often or not using them correctly. She would hear words used then try to mold them into her own image.
"So, you're a refugee, huh?" Mei started. "I heard that the outside is really diminutive right now." ...see? (Diminutive means small)
"Uh-huh..." Lancer was busy shoving his food down his throat to give a proper response. After he was done, he didn't even know if he should ask Mei if she knows the location of the Silent Fratenity's hideout. She seemed too... stupid to know.
"Not very talkative, are you?" Mei inquired as she used her tongue to play around with the straw to her drink.
"I am... when I need to be."
"You look so mysterious, y'know that??" she giggled. "You walked in with this... uhm... this blank face and everything. You on a mission, little guy?"
"Yes."
Mei's smile instantly faded and she gave a sheepish laugh. "Uh-huh. Gonna go find a bomb hidden in the Checkpoint, huh?" Mei obviously didn't believe him. She jabbed him with her elbow a couple of times while he was trying to drink his soda.
"No."
"So, anyways," she changed the subject. "Where'd you come from?"
"Rustboro city."
"Didn't that place get disestablimembered?"
"...what?"
"Disestablimembered. You know, uh... blown up or something?"
"...disestablimembered isn't a word."
"Huh?"
"Never mind..." Lancer would give so much money just to be able to 'facepaw' without looking like a jackass. "Yeah, it did. My brother helped me escape and he got captured. I'm pretty sure he's already freed himself though so all I need to do is find out where he might be."
"But if your brother got captured, then-" she stopped herself, knowing this Riolu still had hope. It wasn't her place to destroy it. "Okay, now I see. Uhm... but how are you gonna get him retrievified?"
"..." Lancer broke down her embarrassing grammar and figured she meant to say retrieve. "I wanted to... ah, whatever, I'll get him somehow. I need to locate the Silent Fraternity for a job I'm doing. I need to deliver a message." It was a sloppy way to deviate from his real situation to his substitute.
Mei, with her index finger to her lip, pondered. Lancer reacted to this, believing that he had found his answer where he least expected. To think that somebody as oblivious as Mei Leonarz could-
"Nope, never heard of it."
Lancer's heart dropped. "Really...?"
"What's a silenced fracturnisy?"
"...never mind."
**
Lancer was left to his thoughts as soon as Mei's break was spent. She allowed him to hog up the table after he admitted he had no home in the Checkpoint as of yet. She showed sympathy and reserved his table for him and him only. Beneficial to him, "Restaurant #15" was open 24 hours and Mei worked the nightshift.
He left to search for 4 hours more but returned to the restaurant with little progression. The most information he received was from some Typhlosion who said they might be somewhere on the western half of the Checkpoint.
The table was ready for him. Mei had cleaned it up and led him back where, as soon as he sat down on those nice, cushiony seats... he fell asleep. "Hehe... he's so cu-ute!" Mei squealed as she brought him a blanket while one of the other waitresses was passing by.
"Uh... what's going on here?" she asked Mei.
"He's homeless right now." Mei responded. "I wanted to help him a little because... y'know... that's so... exultant for the Checkpoint to not let him have his own apartment." (she meant "unfair" as opposed to "exultant")
**
Lancer had returned a couple of years to the past where he was training with Isaac. Back when the Riocynn Pack was in the Sinnoh Region. In Snowpoint city. Back when things made sense.
His mind impatiently skimmed through everything leading up to the point where Isaac had murdered those Abomasnows. Lancer opened his eyes and everywhere... everything was slick with gore while Isaac loomed over the intenstines with a devilish smile. His green eyes beamed as the world behind him disintegrated into a revolting fountain of disembodied heads; all piling around Isaac in a void of green nothingness.
"We..." Isaac's voice, altered into a deep, frightening tone, thundered. "...are gods!"
Almost instantly, Lancer had awoken with a frightened yelp, a mere 4 hours later. Mei was still on her shift and he asked her what time it was. "3:30 am." She answered, still as peppy as ever. "Oh, and I didn't wanna wake you up but, uhm... uh... I think somebody's watching you."
Confused, Lancer scanned the area then shifted his attention back to Mei. "What do you mean?"
"There's a female Froslass over there and... uh... and I think she's been looking at you while you were snoozing."
"Hey. Everything alright?" the Froslass, suddenly, was upon them. Mei nearly jumped out of her shoes but sustained her composure professionally.
"You guys know each other?" Mei queried nervously.
"Yes, ma'am." The Froslass instantaneously answered; gesturing that she had covered Lancer's response as well.
"Hmm... okay then." Mei resumed her work dilligently.
"Not to be rude, but," he took a sip of his fizz-less, warm soda that was left as he slept. "Who are you, exactly?"
"Don't you remember me? I'm Chamomile." She could instantly tell Lancer was lost by that expression he carried. "Uhm... I was the one who let you into the Checkpoint?"
His response was delayed but positive. He finally remembered her. She was Sapphire's friend who had completely ignored him. Why was she suddenly interested now? "Okay, so, is there anything you wanted?"
"Well, I figure there's no point in making this a long process," she spoke as if she rehearsed exactly what she was going to say. After all, Mei accused her of staring at Lancer while he slept. "I know where the Silent Fraternity is."
Lancer's eyes lit up. "You do?" he reassured. "You really do?"
Chamomile smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, sir."
"Can you... take me to them?"
"Not yet." She said. "I'll do it in the morning. That will be a better time for them, okay?" Here, I want you to meet me here." She handed him a prewritten slip of paper. "Room 45B on the southern section." She gave a pleasant and welcoming smile as she left as quickly as she had arrived. "Don't be late."
Lancer, stuck with this small paper, was so happy that he could barely contain himself. "Hehe, patience really does pay off!" However, her news was contradictory to that Typhlosion who informed him that the lair of the Silent Fraternity was in the western section. Oh well, Chamomile was a city official since her job was to allow the uninfected into the community. She must know what she was talking about.
**
Arriving at room 45B on the southern section, Lancer found himself at a wooden doors superior in height compared to the rest. He knocked once and instantly Chamomile had flung the door open with that same smile she delivered earlier. "Hello, Lancer." She revealed a blank room, most likely a storage due to the many boxes present.
"Huh..." he thought, "Did Sapphire ever tell her my name or...?" Lancer could sense danger, however, it must have been the Silent Fraternity's presence. By Garnett's reactions, they must be dangerous.
"This should be the secret room that leads to the lair." She expunged, her ghostly figure shrouded in the dim light. "There should be a little pushable panel of wood that opens a secret door. Could you go over there and find it real quick?"
"Uh... okay?" at this point, he didn't care what it took. He would do anything just to get back on track to finding his brother, however, as soon as he neared the wall across the featurless room, 2 Pokemon sprung out from the ever-present boxes plaguing this little space. The Pokemon duo consisted of a female Medicham and a male Grumpig. The first thing that came to Lancer's mind was: "Silent Fraternity agents?"
Instantly they cornered the little Riolu and, oblivious to their intentions, froze in place. "Chamomile?" he charged up his aura as a precaution. "Do you know these people?"
Retaining her smile, she stared into Lancer's eyes. She had this look now, something that was present since the beginning but Lancer never noticed. She had sustained this look that says "You're mine". Then, as quickly as she popped up behind Mei in the restaurant, her smile vanished and 3 blasts of Psychic nailed Lancer against the wooden wall.
Psychic... every Riolu's weakness.
"Do you have any memories of the name "Lerastan"?" Chamomile's voice insisted she wasn't fucking around anymore. The confused Riolu struggled to break free of the Psychic's intense grip but his efforts were in vain. He was completely trapped. "Do you?!" Chamomile roared; getting 2 inches away from Lancer's snout. Her eyes, her distraught and maniacal eyes, pierced his soul. Just by a look he could feel her pain.
For what? He did not know.
"No," Lancer bluntly responded. "I do not." He struggled to remain calm. It's looked down upon for a Riocynn to show fear, however, as this rule flashed in his mind... he instantly recollected his time with Isaac after Rustboro had fallen.
He was no longer capable of abiding the Riocynn code after Chamomile shouted "Remember then! You scum! You Riocynn scum!"
"She... knows." Lancer had exposed himself to Chamomile as soon as he stepped foot into the Checkpoint. She was the third (counting the two guards right at the entrance) to see that a Riocynn had entered into the city, but, what confounded him was why she did not attack back then.
"God damn it!" she exerted an extensive amount of Psychic pressure towards Lancer. He felt like he could smash through the wooden wall at any moment. "I've kept my composure for far too long, Riocynn!" every time she said "Riocynn" her voice altered into this earsplitting, reverberating scream.
"Please!" Lancer pleaded, breaking his character and resorting back to a coward. What pained him the most about this was the fact that Isaac had outright said it multiple times. "You big baby", those words always stick with Lancer for they represent him perfectly in the eyes of his older, better, stronger brother. "I don't remember! I don't know who you're talking about!"
"You mother fucker!" Chamomile's strident voice cracked. Her ferocity did not conceal itself. It was as if a slave had concealed all emotions of the loss of dignity and, all at one moment, decided to let it out on one person. "Now the murder of my protectors goes unnoticed? Forgotten in the sea of crimes you... Riocynns... committed?!"
Lancer could not respond. This was too much for him. One minute he was trying to find the Silent Fraternity, he was helped out by a seemingly innocent Froslass, and the next minute he's pinned up against a way with 2 Pokemon looming over him while the Froslass he trusted vocally annihilates him. Tears of frustration slid down his cheeks as the Froslass guffawed at him.
"Don't give me that!" she bellowed. "Don't make it seem like you're an actual person. Like you have feelings! You... you people." Lancer recalled Garnett's similar words. "You monsters..." the Medicham and Grumpig watched from the background silently. "...you killed the two most loving men in the entire world!"
"What...?" Lancer burst out. "I... I've never killed anyone... in my entire life." The warrior pack of the Lucario Riocynns. The age of adulthood 15. The age to be allowed to kill. Lancer was 14 and has never been allowed without permission to take a life... and also was never willing.
"What?!" Chamomile's outrage was made clear. She blasted him with Psychic once more, took completely control of his body and slammed him around the room several times like a ragdoll. "You've never killed anyone?! You DARE say you've never killed anyone?!" Lancer collided with the floor. His entire body instantly numbed. "How... how dare you!" she began to weep. "I have been suffering since that day... and you sit here and mock me?! Well, of course... you're a Riocynn. You don't care about your family. You have no loved ones. All you do is murder."
Lancer just about had enough of this. This constant insulting of his people. These consistent lies.
"You would never know what it's like to lose a family," she muttered. "and 5 month later... lose those who swore to protect you. All in one year I lost everybody!"
The Psychic grip the Pokemon trio had on him was beginning to weaken. He could feel his arms begin to loosen up. "No." Lancer whispered. "I know the feeling..."
"Hehe... you know what?" she forced a giggle. "When I heard the Riocynn presence in the Hoenn Region was completely wiped out..."
Lancer's eyes widened. He predicted what she was going to say but prayed it would not come out of her mouth. He seethed, hoping for the love of Arceus she wouldn't stoop so low as to say...
"...I celebrated all night long. I partied until the sun came up knowing that you Riocynns got what you deserved!"
At that moment, Lancer broke free of his possession. The Medicham panicked as Lancer instantaneously charged two balls of Aura in each paw then smashed them together creating a rippling wave which sent all 3 Pokemon hurdling against the boxes and walls. The 9th Variation of the Aishakiri: Aura Repulsion.
Lancer, giving a battlecry as his tears flowed, charged Chamomile after her solidified his Aura into a 9 inch blade. She closed her eyes, took a stance, then... Lancer was unable to move anymore. The first thing that crossed his mind was "Psychic" but it was not. He felt no Psychic energy swirling around him, binding him to a single position. No. It felt like his brain was betraying him; moving his body against his will.
It was only after a few moments that Lancer had finally realized... this was a technique he had never seen before. A single sliver of electricity would intermittently reveal itself; connected to Chamomile's forehead and Lancer's. She was using electricity to control him?
"What..." he struggled to speak, grinding his teeth as he endeavored to break free of this unholy grasp she had against him. "...What are you doing...?"
No response to his question. "You killed my protectors," she muttered. "I know it was you, I saw you there... knelt down in the middle of the gore you created."
Lancer's brain lurched. Finally he understood what she was talking about. All those years ago when he was training with Isaac. He remembered... he had a dream about it previously. It was the two Abomasnows that Isaac had killed. Those were Chamomile's protectors... that must have been what she was raving about. Though... she was incorrect. Isaac had left Lancer there to cry his eyes out after he witnessed such horror.
Chamomile must have seen Lancer weeping over her loved one's graves... therefore, she was inclined to believe he was the murderer. He calmed down. "I... I know what you're talking about."
Her expression did not change.
"I..." he stuttered. "...I'm not the murderer." He admitted. "My brother, Isaac, was." Something within him felt guilty about telling her his brother had committed this atrocity, but, it was the truth. He could not let himself be killed for his brother's actions.
"You... filthy liar!" Chamomile roared but what silenced by the Medicham who stepped up to the Riocynn. "What are you doing?!"
"I want to see if he's telling the truth," she explained. "To me, he seemed very sincere, but, just to be safe... I'm going to use Mind Reader."
"Heh... good idea." Chamomile said. "Show us how much of a liar he is!"
The Medicham approached Lancer with her eyes shut tightly. She knelt down to his level as Chamomile's unnatural grip on him forced him to stand erect. Her control was so precise that she was even capable of opening his eyes against his will to stare into the Medicham's.
Her eyes pierced his soul. His efforts to shut his eyes were in vain because before he knew it... his mind was completely scanned. Lancer felt a backlash. He felt violated... his deepest thoughts penetrated and revealed to a stranger. She turned to Chamomile with an empty expression. "He's not the guy." She admitted.
"...what?" Chamomile's grip on Lancer faded and he fell to the ground facefirst. "He's... he's not?"
"No." the Medicham avoided eye contact. "I'm sorry."
Chamomile was unable to accept this. She remained idle for nearly 3 minutes, contemplating on whether she should kill this Riocynn even if he was not the culprit. She desired to vent out her anger on something today... she was prepared... prepared to avenge the deaths of her protectors, however, she felt a superiority to Riocynns which she felt she must preserve.
"I'm no murderer like you people." She said. "I would only kill those who deserve it." She turned to the Medicham. "He's never killed anyone, has he?"
"He hasn't."
Chamomile glared at Lancer for a moment as he lay facedown; expressionless. She used her Psychic to pin him up against the wall again. Lancer resembled a dead man; no expression and not even a grunt when he was slammed against the wall once again. His mind raced... almost feeling raped during this hostile situation.
"You... Riocynns." Chamomile spat in his face. "Don't let this be a secret... I hate your kind. I hate you people... and know that 'normal' Riolus and Lucarios I love. Your kind has brought me so much pain... so much depression... but I can't kill you. You were not responsible for the pain I went through." She turned and motioned for her group to begin leaving with her, but as soon as she was on the threshold of the exit, she turned to Lancer once more. "You're pitiable... you're pathetic and pitiable and I hate you. I hate your origins. I'm going to find your brother... and I'm going to fucking kill him." And with those last words... she left Lancer alone, stricken... just as Isaac did all those years ago.
**
Black Mercury Clear Ups
~Checkpoint: Orpheus is known for being overly organized with their services being numbered.
~There are no advertisements allowed in the Checkpoint's broadcasting network or anywhere for that matter.
~Chamomile's technique used to subdue Lancer after her group's collective Psychic attack failed was achieved by mastering Stage 3.
Garnett had been idle for 8 hours as he awaited the delayed response from the doctors trying to save Sapphire's life. He was patient and silent with his head bowed; eyeballing the tile floor beneath him. 8 hours spent just staring at tile and thinking to himself.
He sweetened his thoughts as he replayed the attack in his mind countless times. He tried to remember exactly what Sapphire did when she came in contact with the Stage 3 lightning and if she could possibly survive this.
Even if she was an electric-type Pokemon, Stage 3 lightning had enough intensity to outright kill her. "Oh, Sapphire." He thought. "What were you doing?" the image of Lancer flashed in his mind along with a rage for his daughter's foolishness. "Why did you try to save him?" by what he had heard, she only knew him for a few days. She was never ordered to scout Rustboro city so there was no way she could have met him any time before the invasion of the city.
"You risked your life for a stranger?"
Before Garnett knew it, a Chansey loomed over him. "Uhm, Mr. Ryoka?" she seemed disheartened which disturbed him. "I'm sorry, but-"
"No!" Garnett roared. He jumped up from his seat. "You'd better not tell me that-"
"No, no, no!" the Chansey replied; gesturing for the Raichu to calm down. "I was trying to say that we won't know of her chances of survival for another day or two. I'm sorry."
"Oh. Oh, my..." Garnett sat back down, greatly relieved that he didn't hear what he thought he was about to. "Okay then."
"I apologize for scaring you," the Chansey said. "Me and my clumsy choice of words..."
Garnett did not respond. He resumed staring at the tile floor and pondering as Lancer watched from across the hall, hidden behind the corner. "A few days, huh." He muttered as he decided to take his leave; feeling great guilt and directing his frustration right back at Sapphire. "Stupid girl, I could've dodged it." He said it... but he knew he couldn't.
**
The search for the Silent Fraternity had commenced and Lancer honestly had no idea where to begin. As soon as he was engulfed in the underground city, Checkpoint: Orpheus, he was clueless where he was. The city, either way, was absolutely beautiful and striking. Most buildings were skyscrapers that also served as pillars to keep the massive ceiling above them, plastered over with metallic tiles, from collapsing. A huge light beamed from the ceiling and was reflected off of the metal tiles which indicated daylight for the sun-depraved residents. When the sun went down, the massive light shut down and the street lights activated.
The Checkpoint was odd with its residential system. Everybody lived in apartments which were all located on the walls surrounding the entire city while the center was used as the marketplace.
Lancer was unfamiliar with all of these customs and had a very difficult time locating anything. He was impatient to start asking questions but the image of Garnett's horror-filled glare repetitively came to mind. Perhaps he should be careful of who he asked and how he asked the question.
So, his plan was to pretend he was a messemger refugee who was ordered to deliver a letter to a member of the Silent Fraternity. What makes this plan work is the "messenger refugee" bit. If he was just going around, telling people he had received a letter from some Luxray, then it may have a more negative response.
The plan works because, as a messenger, he's forced to complete his task. The people he asks won't be inclined to think he may be one of their agents, but just a Pokemon trying to do his job. At least... that's how Lancer perceived it.
Lancer asked a great number of residents but none of them, even with his "masterful" plan in action, knew where to find the Silent Fraternity.
During his search, however, he felt this shame rising up from the back of his mind. His mother would repeatedly be quoted saying "We Riocynns must stand firm... and must not show our fear... and must be proud of what we are." He felt a deep degradation being forced to conceal who he was under contact lenses.
He was a Riocynn... he should be allowed to parade his "greatness" but he was obligated to follow Garnett's words. The old man seemed to know what he was talking about. It was safer this way but it dishonored Lancer to no end.
**
In his search, quickly, he was discouraged and stopped to take a break. "Whoa..." he grabbed his stomach as it furiously rumbled. "...Shut the hell up, stomach." He hadn't eaten anything that entire day. Conveniently enough, there was a restaurant not too far from him: "Restaurant #15" was its name. "Seriously?"
That served to unshackle Lancer's perception of Checkpoint: Orpheus. Everything was so organized... so tidy to the point where every service was identified only by their number: "Super Market #4, DVD Rental #8, Hair Saloon #3". The residents seemed to have been forced to stay to one side of the road while walking to avoid collisions. It was almost like accustomizing with driving regulations.
Also, all the while, Lancer felt as if he were being followed. He never had any reason to suspect, but his eyes, under the contacts, would shift from volatile to serene repeatedly. Were city spies tailing him?
He stepped into "Restaurant #15" and ordered pizza along with some soda to prolong his stamina. He planned to search the entire night. The waitress was a very friendly and outgoing human. Her name was Mei Leonarz. A very clumsy waitress but very amicable. Lancer was never really exposed to humans that much; he was a little nervous around her.
She was actually on her dinner break right after she served Lancer his food so, being very social, she decided to sit next to him with a plate of salad and a water bottle coupled with a straw.
Mei had red hair and blue eyes and this very formal black and white waitress uniform which reflected on the person responsible for the dress code. Apparently, he liked his waitresses walking around in very short skirts with no sleeves and seamed lace-top stockings.
She also tried to speak intelligently but ended up sounding ignorant; forgetting words often or not using them correctly. She would hear words used then try to mold them into her own image.
"So, you're a refugee, huh?" Mei started. "I heard that the outside is really diminutive right now." ...see? (Diminutive means small)
"Uh-huh..." Lancer was busy shoving his food down his throat to give a proper response. After he was done, he didn't even know if he should ask Mei if she knows the location of the Silent Fratenity's hideout. She seemed too... stupid to know.
"Not very talkative, are you?" Mei inquired as she used her tongue to play around with the straw to her drink.
"I am... when I need to be."
"You look so mysterious, y'know that??" she giggled. "You walked in with this... uhm... this blank face and everything. You on a mission, little guy?"
"Yes."
Mei's smile instantly faded and she gave a sheepish laugh. "Uh-huh. Gonna go find a bomb hidden in the Checkpoint, huh?" Mei obviously didn't believe him. She jabbed him with her elbow a couple of times while he was trying to drink his soda.
"No."
"So, anyways," she changed the subject. "Where'd you come from?"
"Rustboro city."
"Didn't that place get disestablimembered?"
"...what?"
"Disestablimembered. You know, uh... blown up or something?"
"...disestablimembered isn't a word."
"Huh?"
"Never mind..." Lancer would give so much money just to be able to 'facepaw' without looking like a jackass. "Yeah, it did. My brother helped me escape and he got captured. I'm pretty sure he's already freed himself though so all I need to do is find out where he might be."
"But if your brother got captured, then-" she stopped herself, knowing this Riolu still had hope. It wasn't her place to destroy it. "Okay, now I see. Uhm... but how are you gonna get him retrievified?"
"..." Lancer broke down her embarrassing grammar and figured she meant to say retrieve. "I wanted to... ah, whatever, I'll get him somehow. I need to locate the Silent Fraternity for a job I'm doing. I need to deliver a message." It was a sloppy way to deviate from his real situation to his substitute.
Mei, with her index finger to her lip, pondered. Lancer reacted to this, believing that he had found his answer where he least expected. To think that somebody as oblivious as Mei Leonarz could-
"Nope, never heard of it."
Lancer's heart dropped. "Really...?"
"What's a silenced fracturnisy?"
"...never mind."
**
Lancer was left to his thoughts as soon as Mei's break was spent. She allowed him to hog up the table after he admitted he had no home in the Checkpoint as of yet. She showed sympathy and reserved his table for him and him only. Beneficial to him, "Restaurant #15" was open 24 hours and Mei worked the nightshift.
He left to search for 4 hours more but returned to the restaurant with little progression. The most information he received was from some Typhlosion who said they might be somewhere on the western half of the Checkpoint.
The table was ready for him. Mei had cleaned it up and led him back where, as soon as he sat down on those nice, cushiony seats... he fell asleep. "Hehe... he's so cu-ute!" Mei squealed as she brought him a blanket while one of the other waitresses was passing by.
"Uh... what's going on here?" she asked Mei.
"He's homeless right now." Mei responded. "I wanted to help him a little because... y'know... that's so... exultant for the Checkpoint to not let him have his own apartment." (she meant "unfair" as opposed to "exultant")
**
Lancer had returned a couple of years to the past where he was training with Isaac. Back when the Riocynn Pack was in the Sinnoh Region. In Snowpoint city. Back when things made sense.
His mind impatiently skimmed through everything leading up to the point where Isaac had murdered those Abomasnows. Lancer opened his eyes and everywhere... everything was slick with gore while Isaac loomed over the intenstines with a devilish smile. His green eyes beamed as the world behind him disintegrated into a revolting fountain of disembodied heads; all piling around Isaac in a void of green nothingness.
"We..." Isaac's voice, altered into a deep, frightening tone, thundered. "...are gods!"
Almost instantly, Lancer had awoken with a frightened yelp, a mere 4 hours later. Mei was still on her shift and he asked her what time it was. "3:30 am." She answered, still as peppy as ever. "Oh, and I didn't wanna wake you up but, uhm... uh... I think somebody's watching you."
Confused, Lancer scanned the area then shifted his attention back to Mei. "What do you mean?"
"There's a female Froslass over there and... uh... and I think she's been looking at you while you were snoozing."
"Hey. Everything alright?" the Froslass, suddenly, was upon them. Mei nearly jumped out of her shoes but sustained her composure professionally.
"You guys know each other?" Mei queried nervously.
"Yes, ma'am." The Froslass instantaneously answered; gesturing that she had covered Lancer's response as well.
"Hmm... okay then." Mei resumed her work dilligently.
"Not to be rude, but," he took a sip of his fizz-less, warm soda that was left as he slept. "Who are you, exactly?"
"Don't you remember me? I'm Chamomile." She could instantly tell Lancer was lost by that expression he carried. "Uhm... I was the one who let you into the Checkpoint?"
His response was delayed but positive. He finally remembered her. She was Sapphire's friend who had completely ignored him. Why was she suddenly interested now? "Okay, so, is there anything you wanted?"
"Well, I figure there's no point in making this a long process," she spoke as if she rehearsed exactly what she was going to say. After all, Mei accused her of staring at Lancer while he slept. "I know where the Silent Fraternity is."
Lancer's eyes lit up. "You do?" he reassured. "You really do?"
Chamomile smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, sir."
"Can you... take me to them?"
"Not yet." She said. "I'll do it in the morning. That will be a better time for them, okay?" Here, I want you to meet me here." She handed him a prewritten slip of paper. "Room 45B on the southern section." She gave a pleasant and welcoming smile as she left as quickly as she had arrived. "Don't be late."
Lancer, stuck with this small paper, was so happy that he could barely contain himself. "Hehe, patience really does pay off!" However, her news was contradictory to that Typhlosion who informed him that the lair of the Silent Fraternity was in the western section. Oh well, Chamomile was a city official since her job was to allow the uninfected into the community. She must know what she was talking about.
**
Arriving at room 45B on the southern section, Lancer found himself at a wooden doors superior in height compared to the rest. He knocked once and instantly Chamomile had flung the door open with that same smile she delivered earlier. "Hello, Lancer." She revealed a blank room, most likely a storage due to the many boxes present.
"Huh..." he thought, "Did Sapphire ever tell her my name or...?" Lancer could sense danger, however, it must have been the Silent Fraternity's presence. By Garnett's reactions, they must be dangerous.
"This should be the secret room that leads to the lair." She expunged, her ghostly figure shrouded in the dim light. "There should be a little pushable panel of wood that opens a secret door. Could you go over there and find it real quick?"
"Uh... okay?" at this point, he didn't care what it took. He would do anything just to get back on track to finding his brother, however, as soon as he neared the wall across the featurless room, 2 Pokemon sprung out from the ever-present boxes plaguing this little space. The Pokemon duo consisted of a female Medicham and a male Grumpig. The first thing that came to Lancer's mind was: "Silent Fraternity agents?"
Instantly they cornered the little Riolu and, oblivious to their intentions, froze in place. "Chamomile?" he charged up his aura as a precaution. "Do you know these people?"
Retaining her smile, she stared into Lancer's eyes. She had this look now, something that was present since the beginning but Lancer never noticed. She had sustained this look that says "You're mine". Then, as quickly as she popped up behind Mei in the restaurant, her smile vanished and 3 blasts of Psychic nailed Lancer against the wooden wall.
Psychic... every Riolu's weakness.
"Do you have any memories of the name "Lerastan"?" Chamomile's voice insisted she wasn't fucking around anymore. The confused Riolu struggled to break free of the Psychic's intense grip but his efforts were in vain. He was completely trapped. "Do you?!" Chamomile roared; getting 2 inches away from Lancer's snout. Her eyes, her distraught and maniacal eyes, pierced his soul. Just by a look he could feel her pain.
For what? He did not know.
"No," Lancer bluntly responded. "I do not." He struggled to remain calm. It's looked down upon for a Riocynn to show fear, however, as this rule flashed in his mind... he instantly recollected his time with Isaac after Rustboro had fallen.
He was no longer capable of abiding the Riocynn code after Chamomile shouted "Remember then! You scum! You Riocynn scum!"
"She... knows." Lancer had exposed himself to Chamomile as soon as he stepped foot into the Checkpoint. She was the third (counting the two guards right at the entrance) to see that a Riocynn had entered into the city, but, what confounded him was why she did not attack back then.
"God damn it!" she exerted an extensive amount of Psychic pressure towards Lancer. He felt like he could smash through the wooden wall at any moment. "I've kept my composure for far too long, Riocynn!" every time she said "Riocynn" her voice altered into this earsplitting, reverberating scream.
"Please!" Lancer pleaded, breaking his character and resorting back to a coward. What pained him the most about this was the fact that Isaac had outright said it multiple times. "You big baby", those words always stick with Lancer for they represent him perfectly in the eyes of his older, better, stronger brother. "I don't remember! I don't know who you're talking about!"
"You mother fucker!" Chamomile's strident voice cracked. Her ferocity did not conceal itself. It was as if a slave had concealed all emotions of the loss of dignity and, all at one moment, decided to let it out on one person. "Now the murder of my protectors goes unnoticed? Forgotten in the sea of crimes you... Riocynns... committed?!"
Lancer could not respond. This was too much for him. One minute he was trying to find the Silent Fraternity, he was helped out by a seemingly innocent Froslass, and the next minute he's pinned up against a way with 2 Pokemon looming over him while the Froslass he trusted vocally annihilates him. Tears of frustration slid down his cheeks as the Froslass guffawed at him.
"Don't give me that!" she bellowed. "Don't make it seem like you're an actual person. Like you have feelings! You... you people." Lancer recalled Garnett's similar words. "You monsters..." the Medicham and Grumpig watched from the background silently. "...you killed the two most loving men in the entire world!"
"What...?" Lancer burst out. "I... I've never killed anyone... in my entire life." The warrior pack of the Lucario Riocynns. The age of adulthood 15. The age to be allowed to kill. Lancer was 14 and has never been allowed without permission to take a life... and also was never willing.
"What?!" Chamomile's outrage was made clear. She blasted him with Psychic once more, took completely control of his body and slammed him around the room several times like a ragdoll. "You've never killed anyone?! You DARE say you've never killed anyone?!" Lancer collided with the floor. His entire body instantly numbed. "How... how dare you!" she began to weep. "I have been suffering since that day... and you sit here and mock me?! Well, of course... you're a Riocynn. You don't care about your family. You have no loved ones. All you do is murder."
Lancer just about had enough of this. This constant insulting of his people. These consistent lies.
"You would never know what it's like to lose a family," she muttered. "and 5 month later... lose those who swore to protect you. All in one year I lost everybody!"
The Psychic grip the Pokemon trio had on him was beginning to weaken. He could feel his arms begin to loosen up. "No." Lancer whispered. "I know the feeling..."
"Hehe... you know what?" she forced a giggle. "When I heard the Riocynn presence in the Hoenn Region was completely wiped out..."
Lancer's eyes widened. He predicted what she was going to say but prayed it would not come out of her mouth. He seethed, hoping for the love of Arceus she wouldn't stoop so low as to say...
"...I celebrated all night long. I partied until the sun came up knowing that you Riocynns got what you deserved!"
At that moment, Lancer broke free of his possession. The Medicham panicked as Lancer instantaneously charged two balls of Aura in each paw then smashed them together creating a rippling wave which sent all 3 Pokemon hurdling against the boxes and walls. The 9th Variation of the Aishakiri: Aura Repulsion.
Lancer, giving a battlecry as his tears flowed, charged Chamomile after her solidified his Aura into a 9 inch blade. She closed her eyes, took a stance, then... Lancer was unable to move anymore. The first thing that crossed his mind was "Psychic" but it was not. He felt no Psychic energy swirling around him, binding him to a single position. No. It felt like his brain was betraying him; moving his body against his will.
It was only after a few moments that Lancer had finally realized... this was a technique he had never seen before. A single sliver of electricity would intermittently reveal itself; connected to Chamomile's forehead and Lancer's. She was using electricity to control him?
"What..." he struggled to speak, grinding his teeth as he endeavored to break free of this unholy grasp she had against him. "...What are you doing...?"
No response to his question. "You killed my protectors," she muttered. "I know it was you, I saw you there... knelt down in the middle of the gore you created."
Lancer's brain lurched. Finally he understood what she was talking about. All those years ago when he was training with Isaac. He remembered... he had a dream about it previously. It was the two Abomasnows that Isaac had killed. Those were Chamomile's protectors... that must have been what she was raving about. Though... she was incorrect. Isaac had left Lancer there to cry his eyes out after he witnessed such horror.
Chamomile must have seen Lancer weeping over her loved one's graves... therefore, she was inclined to believe he was the murderer. He calmed down. "I... I know what you're talking about."
Her expression did not change.
"I..." he stuttered. "...I'm not the murderer." He admitted. "My brother, Isaac, was." Something within him felt guilty about telling her his brother had committed this atrocity, but, it was the truth. He could not let himself be killed for his brother's actions.
"You... filthy liar!" Chamomile roared but what silenced by the Medicham who stepped up to the Riocynn. "What are you doing?!"
"I want to see if he's telling the truth," she explained. "To me, he seemed very sincere, but, just to be safe... I'm going to use Mind Reader."
"Heh... good idea." Chamomile said. "Show us how much of a liar he is!"
The Medicham approached Lancer with her eyes shut tightly. She knelt down to his level as Chamomile's unnatural grip on him forced him to stand erect. Her control was so precise that she was even capable of opening his eyes against his will to stare into the Medicham's.
Her eyes pierced his soul. His efforts to shut his eyes were in vain because before he knew it... his mind was completely scanned. Lancer felt a backlash. He felt violated... his deepest thoughts penetrated and revealed to a stranger. She turned to Chamomile with an empty expression. "He's not the guy." She admitted.
"...what?" Chamomile's grip on Lancer faded and he fell to the ground facefirst. "He's... he's not?"
"No." the Medicham avoided eye contact. "I'm sorry."
Chamomile was unable to accept this. She remained idle for nearly 3 minutes, contemplating on whether she should kill this Riocynn even if he was not the culprit. She desired to vent out her anger on something today... she was prepared... prepared to avenge the deaths of her protectors, however, she felt a superiority to Riocynns which she felt she must preserve.
"I'm no murderer like you people." She said. "I would only kill those who deserve it." She turned to the Medicham. "He's never killed anyone, has he?"
"He hasn't."
Chamomile glared at Lancer for a moment as he lay facedown; expressionless. She used her Psychic to pin him up against the wall again. Lancer resembled a dead man; no expression and not even a grunt when he was slammed against the wall once again. His mind raced... almost feeling raped during this hostile situation.
"You... Riocynns." Chamomile spat in his face. "Don't let this be a secret... I hate your kind. I hate you people... and know that 'normal' Riolus and Lucarios I love. Your kind has brought me so much pain... so much depression... but I can't kill you. You were not responsible for the pain I went through." She turned and motioned for her group to begin leaving with her, but as soon as she was on the threshold of the exit, she turned to Lancer once more. "You're pitiable... you're pathetic and pitiable and I hate you. I hate your origins. I'm going to find your brother... and I'm going to fucking kill him." And with those last words... she left Lancer alone, stricken... just as Isaac did all those years ago.
**
Black Mercury Clear Ups
~Checkpoint: Orpheus is known for being overly organized with their services being numbered.
~There are no advertisements allowed in the Checkpoint's broadcasting network or anywhere for that matter.
~Chamomile's technique used to subdue Lancer after her group's collective Psychic attack failed was achieved by mastering Stage 3.