Another chapter

Disclaimer: Shadow does not own pokemon, but this is her fanfic so she owns this. Nintendo owns pokemon, this is non-profit fanwork and no copyright infringement is intended, ok?

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks.

Red is 11, Lance is 14

Chapter 4

The next day, they were running surveillance on Viridian Oil.

“They use faulty tankers, there have been three oil spills last year alone.”

Red winced. “That bad?”

“Yes.”

“Then why don’t you just…”

“Destroy it right off?” Lance chuckled. “We would, but that would be too obvious. Besides, they appear to be complying with government regulations right now.”

“Ah. I think I get it.”

After two days of surveillance though, they had found nothing, so turned to another mission.

“It seems kind of random.”

“In a way, it is. That way the public can see no pattern and therefore not find our identity.”

“I see…”

“Keeping this a secret is very important Red.” Lance said.

Red frowned a little. “All right, but…”

“But what?”

“Is our next charade absolutely necessary?”

“Why are you worried?”

“I just am, I feel nervous for some reason.” He saw the faint purple lines running under his skin as the poison sensed his nervousness.

Taking a few deep breaths, he willed it to ebb.

Still, it was very nice.

It had been a surprise when a black-haired boy had tried to molest him – in plain view – but then had dropped down, dead.

Well, not dead, but badly intoxicated.

The poison would protect him.

It was almost like a living being, but not quite. Magic did have a little sense of its own though, and it wanted to protect him. So that was good.

However, he was not quite as happy the next day.

“You have got to be kidding me!”

“I told you we had to work undercover.” Lance said quite calmly as he adjusted his hair.

“But-but!”

“Besides, you’re not the one playing the girl, dear.”

“I cannot believe this…”

Lance was cute, but still…

Dark blue silk clung to his body like a second skin, and even if he was flatter than most girls, he still looked hot.

Red smacked himself in the head inwardly.

“Unless you want to play a girl?”

“Of course not, but why?’

“We’re crashing a party. Drake and Claire will be there by right, we just have to sneak in…”

“I can’t believe this…” Red whispered.

“Why, scared?”

“N-no! But are these measures really necessary?”

“We don’t want to get caught.” Lance winked.

Red sighed, and then began getting dressed. He could pass for old enough, if he wore dark colors, and Lugia had helped age him, although he had protested – but not much.

He could pass for fifteen if he was lucky…

That was better than nothing, right?

They arrived at the mansion at precisely six o’clock, and were admitted.

Red had to admit that Lance was doing well though… really, he was doing really well, as the diamonds glittered at his throat while on his wrists he wore Lugia’s silver bracelets.

And… well, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to pretend.

He took the glass of sherbet Lance offered him, and ate slowly; knowing that if there was any poison in it his body would have identified it already.

Still…

He met the eyes of a man across the room purely by accident and shuddered.

What evil…

The man approached the table of refreshments…

Red’s eyes glowed purple for a split second, and then as the man took a glass of wine, poison spores filled it.

Yes, he would kill, he supposed.

It was his duty, right?

Besides…

Well, his mind refused to admit that part of the reason was the look he had been giving Lance… not that that had anything to do with their mission.

Lance was discreetly psychic scanning, passing the names to Red, and he poisoned them all.

The next day, this ball would be known as ‘Haunted Terror’, but they didn’t’ know that at the moment…

It was fine.

They were simply doing their duty.

It went well, Claire and Drake added their own estimates and figures afterwards, and it was fine.

They were working for the good of pokemon after all.

Nothing would stand in their way.

************************Ending of Flashback Sequence***********************

“Honou, use Sacred Fire!”

Oliver screamed loudly, as his factory went up in flames.

“Very good.” Red praised, before the bird flew back to him obediently.

He didn’t need badges to control the legendaries. They swore themselves to him freely, these two.

Lance held others, Lugia himself, Suicune, Articuno… perhaps even all the legendaries of Houen, it was whispered.

Still, it affected him not.

His partner was perfect in his eyes.

“Very good.” Lance said softly.

Red smiled back. “Our time is nearing an end, is it not?”

“Yes, soon we shall no longer be needed and the pokemon will run free… then we will be free as well.”

End Chapter

Completed 7/12/04