Adventures in the Insane: A Pokemon Story

Down a Dark Hallway

Charles's POV

       I watched the base rain fire down on the lower warehouse district from the top of the department store. It wasn't supposed to happen like that. The base should have been empty of Team X members and the cops should have had misleading reports of a headquarters there that would have them racing to the scene just as everything went off. Why did it go off prematurely? And why were Kristen and her friends there?
     "Gah! Why does everything keep going wrong when she's around!?" I ran a hand through my hair and released Cloud with the other. There were too many feelings and thoughts bouncing around in my head for me to sort out alone. 

Cloud
     Charles!

     Cloud wrapped his flippers around me and I held on to him tightly, grateful to have him back. Even if Kristen managed to mess a lot of things up, I couldn't completely hate her. 

Cloud
     Are you okay? 

     "I'm just really glad to have you back. I was going nuts without you." A concrete pit and a blue haired kid popped up into my mind, a strange colored Squirtle his companion, a flash of red and it was all over. I pushed the memory back and another replaced the first: a girl on the ground, one of her legs pinned under a tree and Eevee standing over her, growling at me. "Cloud." I let me head fall onto his stomach and he nuzzled me.

Cloud
     I'm back now. We'll be okay. 

     "Cloud," I choked. "I did some awful things."

Cloud
     Then we'll make them right again. 

     "I don't know if that's even possible. It was like I was completely different person. I started to actually believe what they were telling me!" There was a noise behind us, I pushed Cloud down behind me. "It's not nice to eavesdrop," I growled. 
      "How else can I get to know you better? You're never this open with me." Bianca walked past me, sitting down on the ledge without an invitation. "Hello- Cloud, is it?"
      "What do you want?" I snarled. 
      "Oh don't be like that," she glanced behind her as another blast from the base lit up the sky. "You seem conflicted. I just want to help," she smiled. Most would mistake the smile as sweet, but having been around her often enough I knew there was something more. Whether it was dark or cynical I hadn't yet been able to discover. 
     "I don't need help."

Cloud
     Charles... Maybe she can help. 

      "How?" I continued to glare at her and the smile fell away as she got the message it wasn't fooling me. 
     "Obviously you're starting to feel conflicted about the organization." She crossed one leg over the other, ignoring an explosion as she got down to business. I rolled my eyes. "I'm going to put myself out there on a thin limb and admit I'm starting to have my doubts as well." 
     "Oh?" I leaned forward, putting my head in my hand and pretending to be interested. Cloud gave me a look and sat down next to me. "What made you change your mind about the organization?"
     "You did." 
     "How so?"
     "Would you like me to recount the past couple of weeks?" She looked pointedly at Cloud. " Or you could just trust me."
     "Pardon if I don't jump at the opportunity." I was done with being toyed, helping Cloud to his feet I left Bianca sitting on the ledge. 

Months Later (Kristen is on the S.S. Hitts at this time)~

     "Yes, sir. Yes. The Canalave operation is ready. We will commence at 0100 hours." I snapped the phone shut and pinched the bridge of my nose. 

Cloud
     I thought we were going to leave Team X. 

     "Don't sass me." Cloud gave me an annoyed glare. "I know. I know. But I can't just let them get away with everything that makes me want to leave them."

Cloud
     So we're helping set up their operations so that we can stop them. Yes. That makes perfect sense. 

     "What would you have me do? Huh?" I threw my arms wide in exasperation. For a couple months things had been quiet- no raids, no bombs, no big operations- and then the bosses had called giving me orders to move unmarked packages to Canalave City. It hadn't taken long to figure out what all the seemingly random items were for, but there still wasn't much I could do beyond a little sabotage. "I'm one person against a well organized operating team of criminals." 

Cloud
     If you had listened to me, there would be two of you right now. 

     "Are we really going into that again? I don't trust her." Cloud and I didn't argue all the time, he usually went along with whatever I was doing, but if I started to change my mind on something because it was proving more difficult than I initially thought, he was right there to call me out. 

Cloud
     You should trust her by now. She could have gone to the bosses and told them about your feelings over the organization and gotten you crossed off living, but she didn't. Why do you think she hasn't?

      "I don't know..." I said quietly.

Cloud
     Yes you do. You're just being an egg head. 

     "I am not an egg head!"
     "Should I come back later?" Bianca leaned against a crate.
     "Yes!" I said just as Cloud shouted "no" at me. 
     "Alright." She turned to leave, purple hair wrapping around a shoulder with the movement. 

Cloud
      Charles, you can't do this alone!

     "Wait," I said before I could stop myself. "What did you want?"
     "Just wanted to let you know your favorite has your rival aboard the S.S. Hitts," she shrugged with her arms folded, looking bored."And if I was feeling really generous, I'd also tell you that Oswin the assassin found his way aboard with a tiny blond. But seeing as you still don't want to trust me with helping you, I won't tell you why he's aboard." Bianca tossed her hair back behind her shoulder. "That's all. I'll be going."
      My mind started racing. I could understand why Kristen would be aboard the recruitment ship, but why would Oswin be on the same ship and who had he dragged with him?

Cloud
     Charles!

     "What?" Bianca had disappeared. "Damnit. Bianca!" I followed her around the crate she had popped up standing next to and ran straight into her, nearly throwing us both off balance. 
     "Yessss?" She nearly purred. 
      I swallowed some bile back. "I need your help." 
      "Now that didn't hurt, did it?" My pride was bruised, but I settled for glaring at her instead of admitting it aloud. "I actually have a plan, too. Would you like to hear it?"
     Sighing, I dropped my head into my hands and nodded. 
     "We're going to need Kristen for it."
      "Why?" I shot her a look.
      "Because she's good at what she does." Bianca held out her hand. "Things are going to start happening fast. Make the decision now." 
      "Fine. What do we need to do?"