Reflections of the Past
Chapter 8: Preparations
by: KentaMarina

Feb. 2008

Excellent, almost to the end!

* * *

Chapter 8: Preparations

        I like Kenta in quite a few ways. I'm not really sure which one, though. It's either his bravery, his intelligence and knowledge about Pokémon, or the way he makes me laugh sometimes with his comments and jokes, but the next events that we were about to face at that time totally tested our friendship, and showed how Kenta felt towards me...

* * *

        "Ok, that's not good, I'm lost," I said after wandering around for a few hours. I tried to get help from a Rocket, but there weren't any around the hall I was wandering into. I then saw a door with a scanner-lock (as Kenta had called it) beside the door. I placed my hand on the green pad and the door opened. I entered a dark room filled with nothing but crates, or so I thought. I heard a crackling sound like electricity or something near the end of the huge room. I walked quietly towards the sound, and I heard Richter speaking to another man, whose voice sounded familiar. I pressed through an open gap between two huge crates stacked on top of each other and listened to the conversation.
        "They're planning an attack on the G-Men Headquarters," said Richter.
        "When is this gonna take place?" asked the man.
        "I'm not sure, but Giovanni will position the Rockets not far from the north entrance, Archie to the opposite side of the building, and Maxie will attack from the air," replied Richter.
        "They're probably gonna attack at least during the evening tomorrow," said the man.
        "I guess they probably will," said Richter.
        "Thank you very much for the information, Richter. I'm sure HQ will appreciate it and your brother will even more," said the man as he left.
        After the man was gone, I heard Richter mutter, "I doubt that."
        I suddenly made a huge mistake. I tried to take a peek, but suddenly, the top crate fell and broke, alerting Richter.
        "Who's there?" he asked out loud. "Come on, show yourself!"

        I gasped and dashed towards the exit. Richter apparently saw me and ran after me. I was able to unlock and shut the door behind me, leaving Richter inside, but he was still able to open the door anyway. My heart was slamming against my chest as I tried to find an empty room to hide in. I looked back and saw Richter already gaining on me. I tried to run faster when I got grabbed by a mysterious Trainer who was a little older than me. He covered my mouth as Richter passed me, like I wasn't even there. After his footsteps faded, the boy took his hand off my mouth.
        "What did you just do?" I asked the boy furiously.
        "Cloaking Device," said the boy, holding up a small silver gadget. The boy continued. "I'm really sorry about that, but I need to talk to you," said the boy as he put the "Cloaking Device" back in his pocket.
        "About what?" I asked him.
        "About the attack on HQ," the boy replied.
        "How did you...?" I began.
        "Just tell me what you know, Marina," said the boy.
        I was shocked at that point. "How on earth do you know my name?" I asked. This boy was beginning to frighten me in a weird way.
        "Complicated story," said the boy. "You won't believe me or my story," he then added quickly.
        "Go ahead, try me," I said.
        "No time to tell you," replied the boy. "I need you to tell me what you just heard."
        Without thinking, I told him everything I heard back in that room.
        "Hmm..." said the boy quietly, closing his eyes. "You'd best tell Kenta as soon as possible," he suddenly said.
        "How do you know about Kenta?!" I suddenly asked him.
        "Like I said, it's a long and complicated story which I have no time to tell you," replied the boy quickly. "I have this strange feeling that something is going to happen, only I don't know what," continued the boy. He then took out another gadget that looked a lot like the PokéDex, and gave it to me.
        "Use it if you like. It's a special locator that tracks down any Rocket, Magma, or Aqua activity around almost anywhere," said the boy.
        "Thanks, I guess," I said as I looked at him. For some strange reason, he looked a lot like Kenta, and I mean a whole lot, only he had the same eyes that I have. It then hit me: this boy was the Trainer Kenta was talking about!
        "Glad I could help," said the boy as he suddenly vanished into thin air before I could even ask who he was. I then ran off to find Kenta.

* * *

        "I still don't know who that boy was," I said back in the room. I ran into Kenta not far from where I met that Trainer. Kenta also seemed like he was also looking for me.
        "Don't ask me then," said Kenta. "I have no idea who he is what he does either."
        A moment's silence passed.
        "So, Giovanni is planning to attack HQ when?" asked Kenta.
        "I heard that they're going to set up base near HQ tonight," I added.
        By the look on his face, Kenta seemed amazed at something. "Next time, when you go searching for information, take me along with you," he said. "I really need to take down the details."
        I couldn't help but smile. Another moment's silence passed, and I saw an opportunity.
        "Kenta, I was just wondering," I said slowly, blushing furiously at the thought.
        "Yeah?" he replied.
        "I don't know how to say this, but..."
        "Before you say anything Marina," said Kenta suddenly, "I also have something to say...to you," he said, and I could tell that he was also turning red. "Marina, I..."
        Kenta's PokéGear suddenly began to ring. Kenta reluctantly picked it up and answered it. It was the Trainer again.
        "That's just weird, how did you get my number?" I heard Kenta ask him.
        "Yeah, about that," I heard the Trainer reply slowly, "long story, but anyway, sorry to break the moment dude," and at this, I saw Kenta turn even redder, "but those three idiots already set up base, just so you know," said the Trainer.
        Kenta was shocked to hear this. "They did what?!"
        "Yeah, that's right, they already set up base. I'd get up and go if I were you," said the Trainer. "Later," he finally said before he hanged up. Kenta then looked at me, still red.
        "Tell me you didn't hear him," he then said.
        I couldn't help but laugh. "Sorry Kenta, I did," I said, laughing.
        Kenta, who was still red, got mad. "That's not funny, Marina," he said.
        "Yes it is!" I shouted, now laughing harder. Kenta was already getting irritated at me, so I stopped.
        "Let's just go," he said, walking out the door. I stayed inside and wondered if he really did like me more than just a friend when he suddenly went back in.
        "Nothing's gonna happen if you just stay here and think about whatever you're thinking right now," said Kenta.
        "Oh, sorry Kenta," I said as I stood up and followed him out of the room.

* * *

        We arrived near HQ at noon. We quietly passed the base the three leaders set up and hid in the forest near the main entrance. I then took a step forward, but Kenta stopped me.
        "What do you think you're doing?" I asked Kenta.
        "Just wait, Marina," he replied.
        "Wait for what?" I asked him. He simply pointed in reply. I looked over to where he was pointing and saw a Rocket Grunt who tried to enter the main entrance. Weapons suddenly appeared from nowhere and began shooting laser beams at the Grunt, who was able to retreat.
        "Aren't their defense systems neat?" asked Kenta sarcastically.
        "That's just brutal," I replied.
        "And that's why I held you back, because their range goes up to almost where we are right now," said Kenta.
        "Do you know how to get past them?" I asked him, with a tone of panic in my voice.
        "Calm down, Marina," said Kenta. "Don't worry, I have just the thing for this," he said, taking out a small black metal ball. He threw it over to where the fountain is, and the turrets shot it on contact. I didn't know what he did that for, but I soon found out that the ball released an invisible smokescreen only Kenta and I could see, or so I thought.

* * *

        "Lance, I think you need to check this out," said a Trainer on the monitors.
        Lance came over and watched the monitor with a cloud of smoke on the screen.
        "Intercept the intruders," he ordered.
        "Yes sir," said the Trainer, who then typed a few commands on the computer and hit the Enter key.

* * *

        I felt Kenta hold my hand. "On the count of three," he suddenly said. "One,"
        "Two," I said.
        "Three!" we both shouted as we leapt out of our hiding place and ran past the malfunctioning turrets towards the front door, rolling through the door and stopping in a let's just say, "awkward" position on the carpeted floor.
        "Oh, sorry about that," said Kenta quickly as he got off of me, blushing furiously. "Are you alright?" he then asked me.
        "Yeah, I'm good," I replied as Kenta helped me get up. I thought about what had just happened a while ago, and then I also began to turn red.
        It was like Kenta knew what I was thinking. "Yeah, about that," he then said slowly. "Marina, I hope you don't get any ideas," he said, laughing.
        I also laughed. "I'll try not to," I replied.

        We continued down the large hall until Kenta suddenly stopped.
        "What's the matter, Kenta?" I asked him.
        "Something just doesn't feel right," he said quietly, and he was right, because the next second after he said that, a stunner gun was already pointed to his head by a person.
        "Hold it right there, Rocket!" shouted the Trainer. Kenta did not budge, but he closed his eyes for one moment then he quickly grabbed the Trainer's gun hand, making him drop the gun.
        "It's against the code to attack a fellow G-Man, much less a special agent," said a voice.
        Kenta immediately recognized the voice and let go of the Trainer. "About time," he said. "I've been looking for you, Lance."
        "I thought so, seeing you go past the defense systems with your own style," replied Lance, who suddenly appeared behind me, making me jump. He apologized to me and looked at the Trainer who attacked us.
        "It's okay, they're both with us," he said calmly.
        "Sorry sir," replied the Trainer. "I'll go back and check the systems," he said before running off.
        When all was quiet, Lance continued.
        "Marina, good job on sending the report, we're now trying to create a device that will render the machine useless, since Kenta's modifications to the machine breaks after a 24-hour period from when he installed it," said Lance. "So," he said, looking at Kenta, "what did you want me for?" he asked him.
        "You better call that Trainer back, because they've already set up base not far from here, and they're planning to attack HQ," replied Kenta.
        "I knew it!" exclaimed Lance. "I thought I saw something in that screen! Come on!" he said as he ran for the Control Room. Kenta and I followed him.

* * *

        "Archie, Maxie," Giovanni called out.
        The two came into the room.
        "Don't worry, Giovanni," said Archie, "our Legendary Pokémon will handle them."
        "We'll easily crush them with their power," said Maxie.
        "I do hope you two do that, just don't get carried away by their abilities, though," warned Giovanni.
        They didn't know that the mysterious Trainer was right outside listening to their conversation. He pulled out a strange-looking PokéBall.
        "Let's do this, Suicune," he said to himself...