Don’t die bunny! I know how the ending will be; I just have to get there! *Laugh*
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Chapter 2
“What does that boy think he’s doing, calling us out like this?” Surge groused. Bruno grunted from next to him, shrugging. In the back seat, Violet rolled her eyes.
Multiple pairs of eyes watched the armored car’s progress down the dirt road. There were still a few small, scattered human settlements in the cities around Cerulean, but they tended not to bother them.
Humans were weak, after all.
Should we attack? A Pidgey asked his neighbor.
No. The time is not ready.
An hour later, they pulled up in front of the building. A guard let them in, and they followed him down the hall.
Paul had gathered quite a crowd, Surge noticed. The room was packed with workers. He recognized a few of the former gym leaders, and even a Champion or two. Ash was hugging his Pikachu tightly in a corner, despite the suspicious looks others were shooting him, but anyone who had met the kid and his pokemon would know that this was at least one pokemon that would never betray them.
It was a crying shame that none of their pokemon had that same kind of loyalty.
“Were there any attacks on the way here?” Paul asked.
Murmurs of dissent came from all around. Surge was slightly irritated that this cocky purple-haired kid had the audacity to try and be their leader. Staying with his small group of cowards had definitely given him a swelled head! Why, he wasn’t even a legal adult yet!
Paul nodded. “Flannery?”
She walked up to him and handed him a sheaf of transparencies. Paul slid the first one onto the projector.
There was a sharp intake of breath as they stared.
“I have discovered that the pokemon are attempting to build some sort of structure nearby.” Paul stated. “Everyone should be concerned.”
“Is this true?” Richie piped up. “Where did you get these pictures?”
“I discovered them while doing field research.” The reply was snippy, and just a shade arrogant. “The pokemon have been acting abnormally.”
“What could they be building?” Giselle wondered.
Excited discussion broke out. Paul took out a megaphone and yelled into it to get everyone’s attention again.
“We need to think about this logically.” He said. “Pokemon normally are not this intelligent. Someone must be controlling them.”
“And do you have any suspects?” Danny asked coolly.
“The fact that all of the psychic, ghost and dark gym Leaders and Elite trainers disappeared after the pokemon attacks began is very suspect.” Paul stated. “We should begin by investigating them.”
“What if your hunch is wrong?” Surge growled, feeling his hackles rise at the superior tone. “And there’s really nothing going on?”
The boy glared at him. Undaunted, he glared back.
They might have stayed that way forever, but then Flannery began going through the rest of the slides. The photographs did not seem to be fakes.
“In any case, we will begin our search immediately! Who has any news?”
Silence filled the room.
No one really knew – or cared – where other people had vanished to. Staying alive had been the top priority for everyone after the pokemon had turned.
“And even if we did discover evidence of a conspiracy, what could we do about it?” Dario grumbled. “It’s not like we have any weapons any more.”
“That is where you are wrong.” Paul almost gloated. “This building was once a nuclear facility. There are still several useful weapons that have survived. If necessary, we can use them.”
“You want to kill pokemon?” Ash’s voice squeaked out. “But that’s wrong!”
“Shut up, weakling,” Paul snapped. “Your useless rat wouldn’t be any help anyways.”
“I might point out,” Lance cut in, “That his ‘useless rat’ stayed loyal, unlike someone else’s pokemon.”
His anger lashed out and he punched the former Dragon Master hard, sending him to the ground. “As if you’re one to talk! So what if you were Johto Champion? You don’t have any pokemon either, so quit trying to one-up me, loser!”
“Enough!” The voice cut through the squabbling. Pryce rolled his wheelchair towards the center of the crowd. “These petty arguments will get us nowhere. We will decide on a plan of action later. For now, we must absorb and discuss this information.”
Paul glared at the old man. Pryce met his look unflinchingly.
“The fire of youth must be tempered with the wisdom of age, son.”
“But-!”
“It is not wise to talk of using nuclear weapons so casually, Paul. Many factors must be considered. We do not wish to destroy our own lives as well.” Pryce sighed heavily. “They must only be used as a last resort.”
“I hope that won’t happen.” Violet shivered.
* Weak girl. *
During the discussions that followed, Lance returned to his room. He closed the door of the small room behind him.
There was nothing worthwhile he had to contribute to the debates.
It took a few minutes of searching before he found his first-aid kit. He stripped off his shirt, dabbing arnica on the bruise with a wince.
Paul hit blasted hard.
He’d only been pointing out a fact!
Even in a world without pokemon, Paul was still a glory hound and an arrogant bastard. It didn’t matter if he had no power – he would never get off his high horse until someone else knocked him off.
Besides, if he used nuclear weapons, he’d only destroy the world faster.
His pet wrapped his arms around him as he climbed into bed. Lance smiled, kissing the boy gently.
At least he still had this.
“Lance…”
“I’m fine, Red.” He smiled.
The black-haired teen did not look convinced. “Did Paul do something again?”
“You’re too perceptive, love.”
“I wish he would leave you alone.” Red muttered. “He’s annoying.”
“Soon, he will fall.” He soothed. “So don’t worry.”
“Okay…”
End chapter
Completed 5/2/08
Paul is the worst kind of boss who does none of the work and takes all the credit. Reminds me of certain people…
*Cough*
Lance: *Hugs Red*
Red: Is he going to die?
Phantomness: We’ll see…