The Honorless [M]

It took less than three months.

It began in Slateport. Brain activity was recorded post mortem in a stab victim well after the time of death. Most dismissed the finding as a medical anomaly. There were others who saw the impending danger and immediately began stockpiling supplies. They were called paranoid and insane, but they were the only ones prepared when it happened. In a matter of days Slateport was overrun by the undead and Hoenn exploded into a state of panic. Teams of medical researchers were given the task of finding out what could cause a deceased human body to reanimate. Military action was taken to secure a border around Slateport in hopes of preventing it from spreading further. The police were worn thin trying to keep the surge of theft and looting under control. People stampeded to airports and harbors. Unfortunately, most of the vessels that departed did not make it to safe ground. No one knew how the disease was transmitted; checkpoints had not been set up to check for marks. Planes fell from the sky as the infected turned. Ships met the same fate as their crews were killed or turned, dooming them to float aimlessly on a tumultuous sea.

The virus spread at an alarming rate. Evacuations began in the cities surrounding Slateport when the border fell. Congestion on the roads left thousands of people stranded, unable to escape or defend themselves when herds of undead swarmed. Looting began in earnest and the Marts were stripped of supplies in a matter of weeks. Those with winged Pokemon strong enough for a lengthy trip fled on their backs. As the government failed to protect its people anarchy reigned. It was no longer a matter of containing the virus; it was a matter of surviving among it. Most of the population died in the initial wave. The rest are left to try and pick up the pieces in a world they no longer recognize. People must learn to adapt and change with it, but that could mean abandoning their humanity. Encounters with fellow humans will become as dangerous as the monsters that have taken over every major city in Hoenn. With everything they ever knew ruined, with their lives shredded to pieces, the question becomes, how will they cope? What will they have to do to survive?

You play as a survivor. All types and ages of characters are welcome. Variety is encouraged. At the start of the RP all characters must be located in Lilycove. How they got there is up to you.

This will be chapter based. The chapters will offer a main objective and at times there will be sub-plots that are optional for each player. Each chapter will be open for one week. They should each begin on Friday, barring any unforeseen real life circumstances.

The zombies will follow Walking Dead rules. The virus is transmitted through bites, scratches, or ingestion of infected fluids. The first stage of infection, provided that the victim survives the initial attack, is a high grade fever, chills, aches, migraines, nausea, and vomiting. At the time of death the brain will remain inactive for two minutes to an hour before restarting. When the victim reanimates they only feel the need to consume the flesh of other living things. Though they prefer humans, they will hunt Pokemon as well. At the beginning of the RP the virus is not zoonotic.

Note that people will have varying views on the infected. Some will think they're inhuman monsters, too far gone for mercy. There will be those that kill them for fun, and others that believe they should only be killed when necessary. A person's morals and beliefs will tie heavily into this. There may even be some people who think they're just sick. Feel free to play with these ideas as much as you like.

• Quality will be a major concern in this RP. There will be a minimum of 300 words required per post. If you've been following the limit well and end up a little short once or twice that's fine, it's more a guideline than anything else. I won't be going through and testing the posts with a word counter. I just want to see that effort is being put into making posts detailed and in-depth. For reference, the first section of this was roughly 300 words.
• Tying into that concept, there will be a post limit. No more than three posts will be allowed per chapter. This is to keep the RP from moving too fast or going off on a tangent. Those who wish to do joint posts are encouraged to do so.
• Since this is a zombie RP gore and violence is a given. Please try to keep it realistic and don't overdo it. Cursing is also not prohibited in moderation. This is rated M for gore, violence, and mature themes including death and the darker aspects of human nature.
• Any type of godmodding is absolutely not allowed. Only one warning will be given for this. If you're not sure if something you want to do counts as godmodding don't hesitate to ask.
• Character death is certainly allowed and will eventually become mandatory. Once the RP gets moving, chances for players to bring in a secondary character will arise. A new SU will have to be submitted for that character.
• If you fail to post at least once for a chapter I'll try to contact you and see if you're still interested in participating. After the third missed chapter in a row your character will be killed.
• Above all else be friendly. RPs can't thrive without friendly players who encourage and interact with one another. Any new or inexperienced RPers are encouraged to ask questions. Everyone is encouraged to make friends in the OOC thread and discuss whatever they want.

Gelius "Wild" Peters - The beginning

As the boat was becoming more and more distant i can only think:

"There is no turn back."

Sneasel, Steely, Sync and I turn around. We start to walk towards the big building. Its the Pokemon Department Store. While we were walking we heard sounds of zombies. I ask my pokemon to shut up and follow me. The Department Store was barricaded...

"Refuge center... Perfect." I think. All was closed. Going by the roof was a good option but they would think i would rob that place. Using Sync to go in wasn't good choice either because she cant transport to inside. By back was not a good choice too. Maybe the windows.

We run to the back of the building. 3 Zombies were near but didn't heard us... But then Steely steps a twig and cracks it. The zombies heard and came into our way. "Look what you did Steely!" I pull out my bow and shot one of the zombies on the head. I grab my knife and slash the other 2 zombies on the head to. I pull the arrow stuck on one of the zombies and clean it. Then i put it back on my arrows "pocket".

The windows were up ahead us. The windows on the first floor was not a good choice. The last floor ones were too high as well as the fourth floor ones. My best choice was the ones at the 3rd floor.

I climb a tree and i start to walk on a tree branch. This one was big enough to reach the window. Steely was heavy so i could not count with him. I return him. I also returned Sync, since she does not like to do brute job. Sneasel punches the wood planks, breaking them. It was my opportunity.

Sneasel and I enter the Store. We go up one floor. Nothing. Another one. Were like 6 people there. One of them was leaned on a wall. She remembered my mother. Both of them have a ponytail. All of them except 2, were older than me. There was a blonde woman taking care of a boy.

Sneasel and I walk in. "Snea, Snea, Sne, Snea, Sneasel." Sneasel says.

"Sneasel asked if we can stay here and maybe join you... There is no problem right?" Then i remember. "Oh where do you keep the wood? It's because you may need to block a window..."

I sit down and take out a water bottle. I drink a little.

"By the way, i'm Wild." I keep drinking my water.

Sneasel sits down and takes out from my bag some crackers and starts to eat them and gives some to me. I observe the red ponytail girl. She had a Turtwig. She seemed nice but there is a chance of not being.

Baxter Robbins

Upon walking into Lilycove on a bike trail, the ludicolo was very alert. He had been feeling desperate, and sluggish compared to Baxter Robbins' other Pokemon Slow at collecting seeds and grains back in the wooded hills near Mt. Pyre, Carlos was energetic and cold-blooded walking into another city. He knew the stakes here.

The crowded, awful streets of Slateport were still fresh in our minds. There had to be supplies around, "shh," I said. I pushed a baby stroller I had stocked with supplies, and used it as cover going on to the next street. Turning to look at the shopping center, I'd say I had about two hundred yards. The walkers were in the way. I crept my supplies and my self behind a stoop over by my Pokemon again. He was stone-faced when he looked at me and then into the supplies. He pulls out a small-ax from the baby stroller and walks chest out into the street. I take a deep breath in when I command fury swipes.

The zombies start to moan when Carlos raises his ax in the air and the sheen gets in their eyes. They yell at him in garbled speech as they approach. The ludicolo charges the first one and swings its ax into the walker's head and then the shoulder, knocking it over. An undead man and teenage boy both charged him at the once, lunging forward with teeth showing. Carlos smacked both of them with the broad side of his ax and they missed him. He threw two green balls of energy from his palms, which struck them squarely in the back of the heads, killing them.

Soon I had reached the department store entrance. I checked behind us as we went, however it seems the skirmishes hadn't brought any more walkers. The Ludicolo went back into its poke-ball, and I sent out my Altaria, who carried my supplies and me to the roof. I broke in through a maintenance door to get to the lower levels. Raptor felt uneasy, but he followed me inside, onto the fourth floor.

Supplies were very scarce, I thought, looking around. No well stocked shelves anywhere, but ahead of me, I found a makeshift barricade blocking the stairs to the third floor. I rolled my supply cart into the back of a store and hid it under some scattered clothing, and then doubled back to the maintenance door. The security on the outside had definitely been a sign of a prepared survivor group, I just wasn't sure where they were now. the coast still clear, I asked my Altaria to find a way onto the third floor for us. Raptor flew me around the building until I found a boarded up window I could climb through.
Inside, I recalled him to his pokeball and started searching again. There was more stuff here on the third floor, and thicker barricades by the stairs. I heard talking as I was examining the barricades strength, and followed the noise to a group of people huddled together by the wall. Among the group, I decided it was best to introduce myself to the other guy, a big fellow, and try to work something out that could benefit us.

"Hey how are you? I'm not bit, I just am getting out of the mess," I say in a friendly tone to him.

"I'm Baxter. Can you let me join up with you guys? I can carry my own weight, that's for sure, and I'm good with tools."

Anne had heard rumors from fellow survivors that Lilycove on the East coast was supposed to be a haven. At first she held hope, not because she thought it actually was a safe place in the apocalypse. She just wanted to believe that it was. As she traveled, however, she had become to realize that there was no "safe place". The information digested rather well, not like a piece of airy chocolate but more like a full sandwich. It was a lot to take in but in a way it was healthy to accept the apocalyptic world. It was a new adventure full of untold opportunities and challenges. This mindset separated her drastically from the others of the world. The reason why they tended to be upset was because they simply couldn't accept change. Anne on the other hand cannonballed in the new world and wanted to make a splash. Her acceptance had also helped her Pokemon to accept it as well, most of them anyway.

She barreled through the air on her Noivern, Nova. At their previous resting point he had taken the opportunity to adorn himself for his lucky potential mates. Several flowers were tucked into the scruff of his collar as a way to make him smell more appealing and look more colorful. Abitt, the Garchomp, had made sure to make fun of him before they had departed.

She wore her bioptic glasses, trying desperately to see what was around them. However, she had poor eye sight. The pair came upon the city rather quickly, "Nova that's it! Nova you're going to miss it!" The Noivern tried to stop but was going too fast. He rolled through the air and tumbled to the ground. Luckily, Anne was used to this kind of clumsiness and leapt off his back before he crashed.

She brushed herself off, while Nova looked at her upside down. He was crumpled up in a ball sitting on his head. Then he tumbled forward and unraveled himself. It was a good thing he was as resilient as he was clumsy. She carefully put her glasses away and surveyed the area. "Hey, hey Nova, are those walkers? I can't see anything!" She tended to become quite frustrated with her lack of sight, but Nova simply came up beside her and nodded. If she was correct than it looked like there was a small mass growing around a building. However, it could also just be a bunch of trees blowing in the wind.

She released the rest of her team from their pokeballs, including Ikari the Ninetails. "Ikari, how many dead walkers are there?" She looked down at her paws which padded the ground one, two, three, four, five times. So, Anne was right. "How many does Milly see?" Ninetails and Milly softly growled a few replies before Ninetails upped her count. "How far away from the initial group?" Nintails pawed the ground twelve times. "Twelve feet then."

Milly was a Luxray and Luxray possess the ability to see through solid objects. Ninetails was able to understand human language so they tended to be great pair for scouting. Now, however, they needed to get the walkers away from the building. As they had flown over Anne was able to make out that it was a Pokemart which meant it could still harbor some supplies."Okay guys, we have to get them away from the building. You know what to do."

Nova and Anne were sent away from the city where Nova let out a terribly loud echo to draw the animated dead. Ninetails and Milly were sent to be scouts and heard what zombies they could. Then once the dead were rounded up Abitt was sent in to run through with his wings out. They sliced through the bodies of the dead silently and without any flash to draw unnecessary attention. Milly and Ninetails tackled the stragglers while Nova stood by me for extra protection.

The group came back to the pokemart. "Milly what do you see?" The Luxray surveyed the building from top to bottom. "Are there any supplies?" Ninetails pawed the ground twice. "Any people?" Ikari came up with the same answer. "How many?" This time she tapped the ground eight times. "So eight of them."

Anne turned to her team. "Think we should go in?" They all looked amongst each other. Milly went into a playful excitable stance, ready for the challenge to go in. Nova and Abitt shrugged, not really caring either way. Ikari remained motionless. She never really helped with decision making unless it would actually affect her directly.

"Then in we go!" Anne found a tree nearby a window with the wood planks freshly torn. Not that she could see the torn planks necessarily from below but she at least recognized the giant gaping hole. She had Milly, Nova, and Ikari return to their balls. Ikari never liked returning for Anne and usually fought it, but this time it's apparent the queen found it a necessary course of action. She climbed on Abitt's back who clambered up the tree and squeezed tightly through the window. Then she followed the sounds of people all the way up the stairs.

On one side of the wall was a shaking girl with knee brace strapped to her. She was chatting with a small boy, whom Ikari would take an instant disliking to. She hates children with a passion. The woman had deep bags under her eyes and looked malnourished which made Anne feel cocky. Anne kept herself pretty well fed despite conditions. Her heavy crescent spade glistened in what little lighting there may be.

There was also a boy seated with a Sneasel. They seemed to be quietly munching on something. A short coal haired man was standing nearby. Dividing up the area were large rugs. They were even hung over windows. Ikari wouldn't be impressed. Then again she never was impressed with anything.

"Hi." She already knew her objective. "So what is this, some kind of survival group? Do I need to do some freaky ritual to join or can I just chill and eat some crackers?" Abitt looked down at the Sneasel and licked his chops before chortling at Anne's joke. She pulled out a can of beans, popped open the top, and started eating them cold right out of the can. Just tipped her head back and started guzzling it. She passed the can to Abitt who had taken a sample before handing it back. Unless the group can prove their quality she was going to steal their supplies, eventually. She wanted to socialize and gather information first.

"Hey Baxter, nice to meet you," said the man as he reached for a handshake. I thought he didn't look bad, he looked really strong and youthful considering everything.

"After meeting so many zombies it's nice to meet a person. You might be good with tools, too, but I can teach you some things. My name's Oscar," he said. "You can stay here for a while but we are only gonna consider letting you join the group, I'll suggest it to them."

Oscar had looked pleased telling me that I could stay, knowing it would help me. He turned away from me to listen to Anne.

 "So what is this, some kind of survival group?" She asked. "Do I need to do some freaky ritual to join or can I just chill and eat some crackers?"

I noted to myself her pokemon as they showed up. She had two big dragon pokemon with her, the interest was shown on my face, wide-eyed but also looking at Oscar. I was still trying to figure out more about Oscar's group. It sure looked as if they had the supplies and the energy to build barricades, they could be really useful.

I walk over to one of the nearby windows and calling out my claydoll, Balto, I released him outside of the barricaded windows. "Go find our supplies that I hid by the clothing on the other floor." Balto opens more of his eyes and floats off. Listening to the others talk amongst themselves, I scanned the room for another window, and find one I sneak my supplies through as Balto comes back floating along with our supply cart. Balto uses his powers to move the supplies through the window to me.

"Thanks, come back," I say returning him again. I wheel my stuff back to the group while I'm taking another inventory of it.

I had been collecting things I foraged, like coal and food wherever I could get some, always running out, and things that I looted, like a few knives, blankets, and books. Coming back into the cluster, I make my way over to Anne, being careful not to get close to her bat-dragon obviously.

"Hey Anne, what brings you to Lilycove? I'm Baxter and yea, I think its cool to eat here. Hey, if you need a meal, you can have some of my food," I say welcoming her. I reach into my stuff and grab a half can of beans and hand it to her.
"I don't know what this group has got really but that tough looking guy over there seems friendly, I'm sure they'll help you."

Gelius "Wild" Peters - Crackers... And Worried Gal

I was eating crackers... Some of my weakness... I just ignored the first events... The girl that was talking with the kid was looking less dangerous. And the last events too. I got talk with the guy called Baxter and the girl called Anne.

Before i reach them a brown haired women came and grabbed my jacket.

"Who are you!?" She demanded. I even was choked by her hurry. The cracker i was eating was almost stuck on my throat. I coughed so hard that the cracker fell on the floor. I was breathing hard. "I will ask you one more time! If you don't answer me you die! Who. Are. You!?!?!?!?" She said.

"I-i-i-i-i a-already told you! I'm Wild!" She was glaring at me.

"I want to know if you really want to join us!" She says.

"Of course! I'm not stupid!" I say at her.

"Well... I don't want you here... You look like a dirty and disgracing thief... Black clothes, a Dark Type pokemon... I want you out of the building now or i throw you out of the window." She yells at me.

"What? I'm not a thief! Believe me. And don't hurt me! Put me down!" I yell. If she does not let me down i must bring Sync and Steely out to battle.

"I can recognize a thief very well!" She was about to throw me out when i hear a voice.

"Laura stop! If he says he is not a thief, he is not a thief and its final! Put the boy down!" Was a female voice.

"Kristyl i'm doing this to protect yo-" Says the woman called Laura but she is interrupted.

"Laura please..." Says Kristyl.

"Fine!" She drops me. "If i know that the boy is stealing i will kill him." She leaves.

"Ouch!" I get up. The woman who saved me from my death had a long blonde hair, blue eyes, and dirty clothes. "Thank you... I'm Wild... What was your name?" I asked.

"I'm Kristyl and that kid over there is my son Ian." Oh so this is the kid's mom. "Sorry about Laura... Well You came to join the group right?" I nod. "Then you should talk with Aidan."

"Oh thanks but i was about to talk with someone... I will talk him later." I said. Krystil leaves. I turn around and i see Anne and Baxter starting a conversation.

"Yo guys! What are you doing?" I asked them.

It was clear from the set of Aidan's jaw as she surveyed the room that she was not happy. She didn't like visitors to begin with, but there was a sudden flood of them. It took momentous effort to keep her temper under control and her voice low. Rogue on the other hand was the epitome of composure. His great amber eyes swept over the group, obviously digesting information but not showing outward signs of aggression. He knew better. The only sign that he wasn't entirely comfortable was the way his nostrils flared as he took in scents, his muscles tensed under his fur, and he lowered his head to protect his neck.

Aidan was just about to speak when one of the intruders knelt down so that she was at eye level with Rogue--only eye level because his head was held low in a guarded stance--and addressed him directly. The girl's unusual appearance meant nothing to her. More important to her was that she considered it to be poor etiquette to address an officer's partner first.

Rogue looked up at her for direction. Normally he knew what to do on his own, but right now he hadn't a clue. "Pass auf," she murmured gruffly as she took a step forward. At the command he raised his lip in a warning to the others. They were no longer interesting newcomers. They were trespassers. Perpetrators.

Aidan only then let go of Drake's arm. "How did all of you get in? Did you compromise the structure?" Her voice was loud and authoritative, meant to carry over the whole room. And it was perfectly clear that she didn't feel positive about the new additions.

"All of you, explain what you think you're doing here. Fast. Take too long, and we'll show you the way out. A short flight off the roof comes to mind."

A habit from years of police work, her hand rested on the gun at her hip. The guard was unsnapped and she was more than confident that she had a faster draw than any of these children. That was what they were, no matter how much they tried to strut and look older.

How long did Aidan wait before losing her temper? No longer than fifteen seconds, surely. She grit her teeth and barked more orders, taking two long strides deeper into the room. At a murmured command Rogue lit his jaws aflame to improve her sight in the darkness.

"Well! Hurry it up. Why are you here, and how did you get in."

A fairly short midget waltzed over to her in an uplifting fashion. His nose looked like a hammer had bitten it. Then haphazardly it was reglued with flesh. Actually it looked like a small wild child had taken great interest in trying to destroy his entire face, judging by all the nicks and textures. His jeans were dirty and stitched like his face. "Hey Anne, what brings you to Lilycove? I'm Baxter and yea, I think it's cool to eat here. Hey, if you need a meal, you can have some of my food," his mitts dug around in his gear before pulling out a half-eaten can of beans. "I don't know what this group has got really but that tough looking guy over there seems friendly. I'm sure they'll help you."

Abitt looked down into the can, giving it a good whiff before turning his attention to Anne. Her diluted blood eyes glanced over at the man before looking up at Abitt. They exchanged a period of intense eye contact as Anne mulled over the cost of the can. Food was an expensive resource now, more so than before the world changed. That meant it could be expensive to replace. However, it was also clearly an invitation for a peace treaty. Denying the food in front of Baxter and the group could be viewed as distasteful. She smiled widely, "Actually Abitt is still hungry after flying so much. If you don't mind I'll just pass it on to him." She took the can. Then Abitt reached out for it to eat. This food was to help pay for his services, equal exchange. It was also a public sign of trust and friendliness. She would just need to find a way to pay back for the can. It should be a simple task.

A young boy adorned with a hat, scarf, and gloves wandered over. Noticeably he was only a few inches shorter than the man called Baxter. His hair is the color of dead grass and his eyes were made out of cocoa. "Yo guys! What are you doing?" Anne had overheard about the child being accused as a thief and made a note of the accusation.

She turned back, ignoring the boy, as she heard the new woman whisper something to her partner. The Arcanine's curiosity bubbled into mistrust as his lip pulled up to reveal his canines. The woman's voice was a pompous crescendo, rolling over the group as a thunderhead. She threatened to literally throw them out of the building and a grin almost grew on Anne's pale face, almost. Anne wasn't foolish enough to let her amusement best her in this situation. The woman strode deeper into the room, radiating with control. Her hand instinctively cuddled her firearm.

Anne stood up, her hair moving in waves of moonbeams. Her voice cut through the air as a katana does a pig, nicely but quietly. "Why, through the open window of course. I noticed the tree next to the building, climbed my way up, and found the barricade was already broken in."

Her contempt got the best of her as she looked down at the woman's gun, "Now I know an officer isn't idiotic enough to use a gun in an enclosed space. It's too likely that the bullet will ricochet, hitting you, your group, or Rogue. It's also rather loud, hurts the ears and draws some rather unwanted attention." Then her focus shifted to the Arcanine. "It's also not very wise to try to roast one of use in case of friendly fire."

Her thumb jutted behind her as she leaned her body so her weight was held in a sarcastic stance on one leg. "Meanwhile I have a long reaching weapon capable of easily decapitating your head, and Abitt to distract Rogue. That doesn't include my Nova that I still have stashed away in his pokeball. You're at a disadvantage unless you want to waste your bullet in shooting me and go through the trouble of disposing my body without attracting the undead." Her smile glistened more teeth as she looked the officer squarely in the eye, "That is unless you plan to eat me to efficiently get rid of the aftermath." Most people didn't have the stomach, Anne herself well… she wouldn't go out of her way to get human cheeseburgers, but that didn't mean she wouldn't at least try it.

She pulled her bangs back behind her ear before continuing, "Besides, if I had wanted to steal from you I wouldn't have added myself to the cluster in this room nor would I have tried introducing myself. If I wanted to kill you all I wouldn't have been a ninny and come into this very room so carelessly. Instead, after finding out there was a group lingering here, I distracted a throng of nearby flesh eaters and plan to do so again to keep this place safe. Why? Because I know that there are a lot more dead cannibals than me which means I'm at a severe disadvantage. I'm also looking for a place to rest until I can decide what to do from here. It's been three months since the outbreak and I personally haven't found a haven, yet. I was actually told there was supposed to be one in Lilycove, but", she sighed, "it seems that they are only rumors."

She was savagely blunt, but she wasn't completely honest. Anne was an opportunist. If she could make this base hers and not have to deal with people, she would. Otherwise if there wasn't a smart way to steal the safe spot she would probably leave. Most people were depressed in this new world and she hated it. She herself was content with the world, having her own theories of how things would be. She wouldn't mind the company for a while though. It'd be a nice change for the time being. Besides, perhaps there was someone here of some intelligence or skill. She loved learning new things and tended to trade fairly for new skills.

"Now, if you aren't going to shoot me, I'd really like to have some shish. I'm bushed from flying all day and Abitt isn't too well off himself." Abitt lowered his head, staying very close to Anne. His wings swerved around her in an embrace. He never stopped watching the officer or her pet.


Perhaps in a different situation Aidan would have liked this woman. But she had broken into her safe haven, planted herself among Aidan's people like it was nothing, and now addressed her with an utterly unnecessary amount of sarcasm. Her lip twitched upward and she eyed her, trying to determine her actual skill level and strength.

"Big words for an intruder. You don't just walk into someone's home and act like you deserve to be there. That's… rude."

She did not remove her hand from her holster. "And there are several flaws in your logic. I have a silencer. I'm trained to take down a single person without harming anyone else. This handgun isn't powerful enough for the bullet to ricochet. And my partner isn't a dumb easily distracted mutt. He'll do what I tell him, and if that means taking you down and ignoring your friend there, he'll do it without hesitation. He doesn't need flame to be deadly. I don't want to hurt you, there are hardly enough of us left for us to kill each other off. But if I think you're a threat, and I do, I've got to protect what's mine."

There was a part of her that was sorely tempted to let her stay in exchange for her sharing the substance. In the months since armageddon she experienced severe cravings for something, anything, to help ease her mind. But it was hardly respectable for someone in police gear to be seen relying on a substance, and Aidan had to command respect. She resisted the urge to make the deal and instead kept her voice harsh and unyielding.

"But I understand being tired. You can stay a few nights, but then you've got to go. If I catch you touching anything that isn't yours, or if I think you've become a direct threat, I will do what I have to do. Don't make it come to that."

She tapped the button on one of the Ultra balls at her belt and a wisp of purple shadows and glinting teeth materialized into her Sableye.

"Watch her, Arty."

He grinned up at her and then at Anne. His motions were rapid and disjointed as he crawled across the floor to examine her more closely.


On of her faint eyebrows cocked softly at her comment of "home". Still trying to cling to the old world. She thought that in response to the woman stating the word home like the idea of it could actually still exist.

Then the woman actually made a reasonable retort to Anne's assumptions. The arch of her brow rose in response, amused. Not many people corrected Anne in such situations, mostly because they were intimidated. Her respect for the officer grew along with her annoyance. She was able to gather some interesting information though. The officer had a silencer. The gun wasn't powerful enough for ricochet, and she had an extremely obedient partner. She painted the information to the walls of the inside of her brain to be sure to remember them when the need arose.

As much as her authority gained Anne's respect it also made her feel challenged. She wanted to test her, put her on the brink. However, she was too tired and had enough sense to understand that now wasn't the time to poke the already livid Ursaring.

With the tap of a button a thin cloud of purple smoke exploded. A pair of sharp white enamel shone brightly in the mist. The Sableye named "Arty" materialized in front of them which scurried around much like a creepy Spinarak. Anne bent down for a better look. She hadn't seen one before. Slowly she stretched her hand out towards it, to which the still hugging Abitt pulled back with its own claws.

Anne blinked away her curiosity before standing up again. Abitt released her as she grinned at the officer. "Alright then we'll be up on the roof cooking up a batch. We've found and made quite a collection for ourselves but traditionally hookah is considered a social event. Take that as you will." She turned and left with Abitt.


Anne had already prepared her hookah. It was smaller than the standard kind but not tiny. It was able to still hold a regular size bowl and it's components were all black. The base was dark with bright yellow rings like an Umbreon's. A similar pattern was painted on the simple hose that connected to the main structure.

All her pokemon, except Ikari, were near Anne in a lazy semicircle. The Ninetails sat a few feet away from the bustle of smoke, enjoying the clean air instead. The ones gathered, including Anne, seemed to be meditating, extremely relaxed. She blew the smoke out in a series of rings, keeping her breath steady and posture at ease. As she inhaled the coals on top glowed as brilliantly as Rapidash manes. First she made a string of large Os then she increasingly made them smaller until they were the size of Spaghetti Os. After that she practiced making large Os and pushing miniscule Os rapidly inside of them.

The smoke smelled of fresh berries with undertones of mint. It was Anne's own mixture, and one of her favorites. Accompanying the aroma was the sound of water bubbling inside the base. If one was able to look inside they'd notice mint leaves and the faint smell of lemon. Nova broke trance to take deep inhales of the berry smell. It helped to wet his desire for berries, which Nova was almost as obsessed with as finding a mate.

"There is no greater peace than that of one's own breathing", she murmured with her eyes closed. Her Pokemon agreed, keeping their own breaths controlled and steady. She was aware of every sound made around her, yet remained tranquil.

(If I'm working on a joint post with you, don't worry. I've pretty much determined that it's impossible to keep Aidan's actions on a set timeline if I have multiple joint posts going at once. So she's going to end up being a little non-linear for a while. Once things get moving and more organized it'll probably smooth out though.)

Again Anne tried making friends with Aidan's partners, rather than showing her any real respect. It made Aidan grit her teeth. As the girl made her statement and went up to the roof she paused, pondering her meaning. True to his orders Artemis skittered after her. He was keeping watch on her as he'd been told and she trusted him to come right back to her if there was anything to be concerned about.

But he was only one Pokemon, she reasoned. Anne had a team of at least two, most likely more. They could subdue the little ghost easily if they wanted to. Whether or not that was true, it was a good enough reason for her. She murmured "hier" to Rogue and shot one more sweeping glance to the room at large and made her way up to the roof. As soon as she opened the door the sweet smoky scent filled her lungs and she breathed in deep, though she tried not to look like she enjoyed it too much. It would take an idiot not to recognize Anne's statement as an invitation, and an even worse idiot not to realize that her intentions were definitely not entirely friendly. But in the less than honorable chapter of her past Aidan had learned that one of the best ways to guard against a potential enemy is to make friends with them. That had served her well before, and surely it would do so now.

Aidan had no doubt that Anne already knew she was here, though she approached from behind her. The utility door wasn't all that quiet, and though Rogue could move with utter silence when he wanted to now was clearly not one of those times. His monstrous paws created soft thuds with each impact against the cement. But for the sake of etiquette Aidan spoke up calmly, her threatening demeanor dissipated for now.

"Still a social event?" She knew the answer, of course. She guided her partner to an opening in the semi circle and paused just behind it to murmur"platz, bleib". The Arcanine obediently dropped to the ground and rested his head on his paws. He knew this meant he would be waiting a while, but he was fine with that. Sometimes he preferred the chance to just relax. If he had his way he would be gamboling all over the roof again, but he knew his partner needed him here now.

With some measure of caution Aidan sat as well. All manner of past injuries prevented her from just dropping into a sitting position as she once might have, particularly a very old gunshot wound to her left foot. She hid this as well as she possibly could. This would be her attempt to make peace and potentially form an understanding with Anne, but she still recognized her as a potential threat. Letting her see weakness could be detrimental.

Gelius and Aidan

As Anne ignored Gelius, the black boy gets mad. On the other side Laura was glaring at him. More like spying him. She goes to talk to a woman. He heard the name Aidan. So the women is called Aiden. Ok...

Laura goes back to spy him and he goes forward and talk with Aidan. Laura was strange... Gelius could change her mind... So Aidan was the only chance...

Gelius thinks he is useful because he knows about sciences and he can use very well the bow... He also knows about pokemon breeding and pokemon battles... But was all in their will...

Aidan turned on the boy, her expression still devoid of sympathy. She eyed him up and down and quickly came to the conclusion that she didn't think much of him. "You. How did you get in? Did you compromise the structure?"

Reacting to her tone, Rogue bristled and glared at him. His claws kneaded the floor as he carefully contained his aggression.
"I came by the 3rd floor window..." Gelius was really confused for the second question... Its normal to him... "And if you mean 'compromise the structure' in a good way where you think i wont do bad to you than yes... If its the opposite then no... Sorry but i failed on the English exam so i don't know what do you mean with the second question..." Gelius says in shame... He did not wanted to harm anyone... Specially being tired from running and killing zombies.

"I'm going to tell you... I don't want to harm no one... If i would come here to rob you, you would have already no supplies now and i would not be here and telling my name. If i would kill you i would already had a way to kill you or open the front doors... But i didn't." He says. He now was hopping he had Aidan give him a reason to not kill him. "If i presented myself and didn't killed you or robbed you its because i want to stay and help you. I may even be useful... I know someone who has a boat to get us supplies or even take us out of the Continental Zone and take us to a safe zone."

"Snea, Sneasel." Sneasel nods.
Aidan was less than impressed. "So you broke the window. You'll be fixing that."

His speech was less than moving, too. "You wouldn't have been able to open the front doors, they've been very well secured. You would not have been able to kill a trained officer, a woman well versed in both hand to hand combat and ranged weapons, and a man at least three times your size. Telling your name is of no consequence, as you gave a nickname rather than your real name. Your claims to knowing someone who has a boat doesn't help. They may be dead by now, and maybe doesn't cut it anymore."

She looked him up and down critically. "Can you fight? Kill the dead? Building repairs?"
"The answers are Yes, Of course, and Yes." He continues. " I also know Sciences very well."

Gelius was real calm but very worried about the name. Did someone already figured out the name?

Then he looks for food. When taking the crackers, he accidentally dropped on the floor his photo, with his mother and Sneasel. On the photo, the woman was somehow a little bit taller than Gelius at that age, had blonde hair, a big ponytail, the eyes had a amber tone and she used blue jeans and a yellow top.

Gelius hurried up to put the crackers and everything he had on hand to put on the bag before picking up the photo...
"Sciences mean nothing now. Surely you know that." Aidan's glare did not dissipate.

"You can rest up. Clean up after yourself, stay out of anyone else's space, and repair anything you broke. You're out in a few days unless you really impress me."

The haste with which he grabbed for the photo told a bit of a story, but again Aidan didn't much care. She felt the weight of the ring around her neck all the time and she didn't expect to be coddled for it.
Gelius got a relief by not being dead now. If he died he would be with the entire family on... Well he does not know where and it does not matter.

He goes to where he broke the window. He starts to fix it. Not so hard like fixing the computer. After some time he fixes it. Even thought he could go rest he decided to go to the roof and train a little bit with his bow. His aiming was not the best but it was very accurate. 95% of of accuracy.

ABEL RIVERS and SCARLET, the shiny Typhlosion

**FILLER**

The Lilycove Poke'Center stood almost intact except for...well...Okay...No...It was just like almost every other building. The windows were shattered. Dried blood and dirt painted the once pristine white walls and inside, everything was upside down.

Abel lied there inside on the broken ceramic tiles, his eyes fixated on the cracking ceiling tiles covered in mold from untended leaks. His thoughts were elsewhere; on the dead, the death, and the next to die. He was used to killing the infected but never witnessed a human being eaten by the infected. His entire group was wiped out in what seemed seconds. He wished he would have paid more attention during the Research Trials at the Team Rocket Base. He touches the embroidered 'R' on his black cardigan. He managed to escape the ambush to his current position. He has been in the Poke'Center for several days now and his food rations were almost completely gone.

"Ty....phlosion?" Scarlet, Abel's shiny Typhlosion placed her head against Abel's shoulder. She was lying on her back as well. Her ruby eyes looked into Abel's creamy, hazel eyes. She was confused of his weakness; she knew he was the proactive type never to waste time when it came to serious situations.

"Don't give me that look." Abel said in a low, depressed voice. "I'm just thinking a lot...That's all." Typhlosion didn't buy it. "Typhlosion!" She wiggled up so her head can rest on Abel's chest. Her face was close to his. She gave him a lick. Abel laughed as he pushed Scarlet's head away. "Hey! Knock it out will you!" Abel exclaimed. Scarlet squealed in a seemingly childish laughter. Abel started tickling Scarlet and they end up rough housing. Scarlet barks in joy as Abel almost tears up from laughing. Their playing is interrupted by a loud growl. Abel looks at Scarlet and she holds her stomach with her paws. Abel looks down. "I know girl...I know..."

"Gall-ade! Gall-ade! Gall." Through the open windows covered with makeshift barricades, the battle cries of a Pokemon filled the Poke'Center. Scarlet immediately perks up and Abel goes over to the window to move some stuff out of the way and look out. A skinny boy in a black tank top and grey slacks limped behind a Gallade fighting off the approaching infected. After struggling killing a few of them, the Gallade swooped the young boy up and made a dash for the Lilycove Department Store where the injured boy began to scale the side of the building.

Would be a shame if he fell. Abel thought with a slight snicker. Suddenly, there was a noise coming from the window on the other side of the Poke'Center. Scarlet let out a low growl as her back sparked, ready to burst into flames; her eyes locked on the window. The makeshift barricade began to wobble and a bloody hand stuck through an opening. First one in three days. Abel sighed. "Return Scarlet!" The Typhlosion looked back at Abel confused but did not resist. Abel would handle it on his own.

When the infected finally got through the barricade, it immediately began to blindly walk towards Abel, tripping over fallen stools and flipped over tables. Abel simply let it get close and then walked around the pursuing infected. I've gotta get out of here...I'm sure more will sense me here soon. Abel climbs out the uncovered window. The sun is falling and it would be night soon. Several of the infected can already be seen walking towards the Poke'Center from a distance. The infected left inside the Poke'Center begins to walk back towards the open window. Abel sneaks between buildings, avoiding the infected in the streets until the Lilycove Department store is a straight shot.

**LILYCOVE DEPARTMENT STORE**

Abel surveys the Lilycove Department Store. A group of infected have began to crowd around the large building. That only means there's more than that boy in there. Abel pulls out his silenced pistol and a dagger from a sheath strapped on his pant leg. So that explains why they haven't been bothering-

"Grruuaaah!" Abel's thoughts are interrupted by an infected approaching him from behind. Abel waits for it to approach, but then a larger group appears right behind it. Crap! No way I can take on this many. He turns and runs for the Department Store.

"Go Scarlet!" Abel releases the shiny Typhlosion as he runs; a red hot flame erupts from her back and she releases a stream of fire at the pursuing infected behind them. Abel points his silenced pistol and shoots as he runs. One bullet per infected; each a direct head shot.

There are three more left and Abel charges into the fray. One swipes at him from his left and he ducks, spins around it and stabs it in its head from behind. Another comes head on and Abel spins into a powerful thrust straight for the head. The last comes up on his right but he can't pull his dagger out of the previous one's head. He aims steadily and headshots the last one at point blank. Scarlet catches up to him and he gives her an approving nod, doing a quick check for wounds, and returns her to her Poke'ball. I'm glad she is okay..If anything would happen to her..

Abel walks around the Lilycove Department Store. All of the windows are boarded but the wall would be easy to scale due to the protruding bricks and ledges. If that injured kid could do it, I can do it to. He thinks. His stomach growls and he second guesses his decision. No...I can do it.

Abel reaches up and grabs a brick extended far enough for him to get a tight grip. He struggles to pull himself up. Once up, he rests before ascending to the next segment of wall. He repeats this laborious process and it seems to take forever to reach the roof. He pulls his head up but quickly drops it. There is a boy shooting a bow and arrow and a girl smoking out of a hookah joined by a Ninetails, Noivern, and Luxray. I don't have the energy to fight all of them...I can sneak up on the boy, take him out...But that girl's Pokemon could all sense me easily...Plus there's more people inside. Crap...I guess I have no choice.

**THE ROOF**

Abel pulls himself all the way up the roof. The boy's back is towards him and the girl is too far to notice.. Abel pulls out his silenced gun and points it at the back of the boy's head but it's hard to get a clear shot. His vision is blurry. His knees are weak. He is exhausted and starving. He passes out on top of the roof.