Zane, Hanso, and Penance - Torture Chambers
The room was dark... very dark. It was a specific cell for a specific type of pokemon... a pokemon who had been trained extensively in combat yet had sought to not start wars... a type of pokmeon who had honor, who would fight to their last breath... and it was meant to break those certain types of pokemon. Break them like a twig. Have them endure weeks of mental torture to snap them open and have them realize their wrongs. That was the situation Genevieve would find herself in when she would awake. No lights, all heavy duty steel, and full of despair.
...I'll break them all...I'll... Genevieve couldn't think straight in the few seconds after she awoke. Her body ached, yet that feeling of pain indicated she was still alive. The Gardevoir opened her eyes, then blinked and shook her head. No, she didn't imagine it: there was no light. Panic threatened to strangle her mind for a moment, before Genevieve took a calming breath. She would not panic. She hardly ever lost her composure before, and she wouldn't now.
Pushing herself into a sitting position, Genevieve poked at the room with her mind. She seemed alone, for now. So how did she get here?... Closing her eyes again, Genevieve recalled her most recent memories. There was the flood, then waking up to an assault from several Pokemon. She felt confident that she could have destroyed them if it had not been for the rushing water minutes before.
Could this be the darkness Genevieve had always seen in her own future? No, that did not make sense. She could have seen past that if she were to leave this place alive. The Gardevoir shuddered slightly before angrily firing a Shadow Ball from her hand. It splattered against one wall, the weakened attack doing nothing to mar it. Focusing on the far wall before her, Genevieve fired an Energy Ball, taking the time to charge it up a little more. From its light before the attack broke against the wall, she saw the steel and shrugged.
Steel. I won't be breaking out of here any time soon.
A thought crossed into her mind before she banished it:
I may not leave here at all. Genevieve folded her knees beneath her, focusing now on her Psychic energy. Sit and wait. That was all she could do for now, with no one else around. Yet she could not recall any time before now when she'd found herself in a room such as this, with no lights.
As the psychic began to settle down, it seemed the real torture was just beginning. A small beeping sound began to sound. At first, it was nothing, just a beep but as the seconds passed the beeping got louder and came out in faster intervals. The beeping began to reverberate around the steel room, using the walls to make an even louder echo. All the while it got louder and louder and louder, but there was no specific opening it was coming out from, no mesh that would allow it to sound in the room.
It seemed that the sound was just in the room... but how could something sound in the room if there was nothing in there to make the sound in the first place? Regardless of the conumdrum the sound continued to get louder and louder, not caring if it got so loud that eardrums would burst. In fact, the louder it got the more pain the psychic would feel in her head, almost as if a needle was being pushed deep into her brain matter.
What was this? Since there did not seem to be any other change, she ignored the beeping sound at first. That was before it got to the point that Genevieve's head began to hurt.
So this is what they have for me. If it weren't for the fact that she was the prisoner here, Genevieve would have relished the fact that her enemies would stoop so low as something like torture.
Then the sound got so loud that she couldn't think clearly about anything except
stop the noise. Genevieve opened her eyes in irritation and released a wave of Psychic energy into the room. It was not a wild burst; it was concentrated, directed, despite the effort it took to get past the pain. She would not break so easily.
As she screamed out the noise stopped, and a masculine voice sounded in her head,
Of course. They are coming for you now, so put on your pretty face. If everything goes smoothly than the one known as Truestriker will be here to retrieve you... if everything went smoothly back there of course.
In her mind the image of an Alakazam appeared,
If you force us to kill you, we will. Keep that in mind. The Alakazam shook his head slowly,
Why we don't kill you now I don't know, but staying calm will aid your case greatly.
Really. Genevieve gave the image of the Alakazam a sweet, sarcastic smile.
You're too kind. In her own mind, where the other Psychic couldn't read it, she giggled to herself. So Hanso wasn't done with her after all. Silly, silly men.
Do give them my regards, will you? Nothing like a nice little chat. After a pause, Genevieve added,
Unless, of course, you all continue to stoop down to our level.
The Alakazam narrowed his eyes,
No... your kind fell down to OUR level. If it wasn't for Penance sending the order before hand, you would have continued to be tortured. And no mind games. I can already see through any sort of illusions you might put up. Other than that you will remain in your cell and my men and I have been tasked to watch over you.
The Alakazam sat on down, levitating his two spoons.
I suggest in the mean time you entertain yourself with word games or however you train your own mind. We are quite a ways from them, so it will be some time before they arrive.
Her smile remained, though something flickered in Genevieve's eyes.
So nice of you to admit it. At the same time, he was all business and no fun. No surprise there, with these Alakazams. The Sentinel pointedly ignored him after that, returning to her meditative state. She really shouldn't have released what energy she'd concentrated.
Now that she was allowed to think again, something nagged at her. It was hardly a surprise that the Gallade they called TrueStriker would come to retrieve her. Yet how would these Pokemon have known to name him in particular? Moreover, why let him take away a Sentinel?
As her silent captor continued to levitate his spoons, he cocked his head and stood back up.
If you would excuse me, a situation has come up. I'll leave you in capable hands.
With that the Alakazam dissapeared from within her mind and in his place a young Hypno appeared. The male grinned smugly at the Gardevoir,
Well well! Another Gardevoir! There was only one around before... so a Sentinel eh? Hehe, you don't look so intimidating! He sat on down with that same grin,
Anyways until Rupert comes back I'll be in charge here, so no trying to escape or anything! Besides, that cell you are in is Gold Tribe proof! No one can escape from it! Solid steel inside and out!
He leaned back a bit,
I say if we wanted to you could be kept in there for a few years, in no way able to get out! How'd you like that lass?
A situation, he said. The odds that it was something to do with the other Sentinels was...well, Genevieve truly didn't know which of the other Sentinels had survived the flood. As for this Hypno. He was already more talkative, and she didn't have to do a thing. He'd already told: the name of the Alakazam was Rupert; there was another Gardevoir somewhere in the premises, wherever she was; this cell would have been very difficult to escape, obviously. Even the Psychics' presence alone told of the likely possibility of security measures set in place for any prisoners who were Psychic.
Of course, none of this showed on Genevieve's face as she ignored the Hypno as well. The way he sounded, being ignored would irritate him in the end. Really, men were so predictable.
And likewise after a few moments of silence the Hypno frowned,
Didn't you hear me? I said I am in charge. He narrowed his eyes at her,
You know Rupert was too calm with you. Without me here you woldn't have any sort of interaction! You would be all alone in that dark cell and be bored! He chuckled,
We could always do that you know, just have you in there all alone...
He shrugged,
It all depends on you after all. Still... you are fine looking Gardevoir... too pretty to be counted as a Sentinel you know/ His eyes gleamed a bit,
I bet you have all the guys falling over for you eh? It was obvious at this point that the Hypno was trying his best to now hit on her.
There was no indication that Genevieve had in fact heard the Hypno. Given her posture, one might have thought she was completely alone both in the cell and in the mental world. At this point, Genevieve would have preferred to be alone.
It was only as the Hypno finished that the Gardevoir reacted.
Oh? Just like you are falling for me? Genevieve sounded bored as she gave her short reply before resuming her feigned ignorance. Toying with this Pokemon, limited as she was, did give her something to do. And it gave her time to restore what she could of her mental defenses on the sly; it never failed to have something in place.
The Hypno smirked at her statement.
I... uh... well, you do look rather good... He looked away as a light blush formed over his cheeks.
I never did get talk to the other Gardevoir after all... Penance kept us all away from her, said that she had important stuff to do and all, but you don't seem that evil, what with what all the other Affiliates say about you guys. He shrugged,
But that's how they are. Mostly it's because of the move I think, it's caused everyone to just get tense, moving into the new cavern can do that, especially with leaving most of the little things behind.
He grinned once more,
But I'm sure that you would want to talk about other things. I mean, I don't know what women talk about a whole lot, I guess jewelry or something?
Typical. It never failed to amuse Genevieve how they would act, no matter the circumstances. Just throw in a beautiful Pokemon, like herself, and a time and place where their attention wasn't too focused elsewhere, and they fall. At the same time, some were entirely unconsequential, meaningless, especially if she had no use for them at the time.
This other Gardevoir worked with these Pokemon, away from them for some reason. Affiliates, the Hypno said. Not the Alpha Alliance or Gold Tribe at all, then. Genevieve scoffed lightly at the Hypno's last statement.
Hardly worth talking about. Now if you will excuse me... With that, she ignored him once again.
He huffed and crossed his arms, turning his head away,
I guess you don't want to hear about what we have planned then eh? No matter, I'm sure it wouldn't matter. He gave a weak shrug.
Rupert will be back soon, and he isn't as talkative as I am. He pointed out.
She would love to hear what they have planned, but Genevieve would not give him the satisfaction of knowing that, for now. She did not seem to react. If the Hypno was desperate to fill the silence, he could spill something more. Or he could go the other way and decide that if Genevieve didn't seem to want to know, then he wouldn't bother saying. If need be, she could tease something out of him later.
The Hypno after a while glanced back over at her,
Well... uh... I'm not supposed to say... but we're going to have a ceremony tonight you know. Honor the dead and that stuff. Everyone is leaving to attend it... but I won't. Have to stay behind and make sure everything is accounted for and not broken into. He said with a firm nod.
Penance picked me out and everything! He said, almost as if emphasizing this point would cause Genevieve to pay more attention to him now.
After a few moments, Genevieve raised her eyebrows as her apparent attention returned to the Hypno, though she never looked directly at him as she spoke now.
Just you? That could have two different implications. The Gardevoir seemed to think, though as part of her act.
One. You're one of the best this Penance has, trustworthy enough to make sure nothing gets out of hand.
A small frown came onto her face.
Or, it could be...that he doesn't trust you. It might be that he thinks you don't deserve to attend this ceremony. Perhaps he thinks you're not ready to handle the bigger things. Then Genevieve shrugged.
There is still that, though, the fact that he'd be leaving you to guard so many important things.
At her comment the Hypno frowned,
No... that's not it. Penance said he trusts me, that I need to prove myself this night. He said firmly.
I know that's what it is. I'm already rising up in the trust ladder, that's why I'm here after all. Only the most trust of Affilates can interact with prisoners. He paused,
Hm... they're coming through the tunnels now. About a few minutes before they come and let you out. Anyways, heard that you're going with them, to Gold City and fighting to free it. Also heard about that shadow supposedly in your mind, but I see nothing.
Once again, Genevieve said nothing. However, this was not so much out of wanting to toy with the Hypno as it was out of not speaking on this particular subject. A twist of events, one she had not anticipated. The idea of fighting to free what they called Gold City, of fighting against Auron, was incomprehensible for the Sentinel. Nor would Genevieve say anything about this shadow the Hypno mentioned.
The Hypno smirked,
I bet you know all about it? That shadow from the Silver Crystal apparantly? I heard it's big and strong, you don't even know its in your mind, do you? He grinned wider.
Yeah, a shadow that is controlling you apparently. Eh, whatever I say! I see no shadows in here, so I guess you don't have one huh? Or it could be a rumor, I don't know. He rubbed at his pendulum,
Anyways Rupert should be getting back soon along with the others. I bet you're ready to get out of this cell eh?
Genevieve's mind seemed to fight with itself, or perhaps with another power. In the end, the subject of this Crystal was shoved to one side. And she still said nothing.
He shrugged,
Well Rupert is back. Catch ya around With that the Hypno dissapeared and with him the inner room they had been in.
---------
Penance glanced over at Zane and then Hanso. "Hm... to let her go or no... hm... what to do? Hanso! You have anything to add in? Eh eh?"
Folding his arms, Gold Tribe armlet still in one hand, Hanso met the Golduck's gaze. "I say we go for it. We won't know if she can be freed or not unless we try."
He nodded, "Sure sure sure. Zane you'll have to come along anyway, but we'll need to see if there is something in there! She's in good hands for now though, so up and away!" He walked on over and kicked open the door. "Just follow and I'll do the twisting."
"Right," Zane replied with a nod. The idea to bring Hanso along here made Zane a bit more comfortable with the whole idea of what they were doing. After all, going deep into a chamber where many Gold Tribe members of the past were held, and likely tortured, wasn't something he wanted to do on his own. He stared down at the Gold Crystal around his neck, hoping it would work once more. He never knew Genevieve as a Gold Tribe member before the war, but he doubted she preferred this life, even if he had no way of tell what they mindset was. He walked inside, prepared to do what was necessary.
Slipping the armlet back on, more for convenience, Hanso followed Penance and Zane through the door. To be honest, along with working to end this war, he had a more personal reason for wanting to free Genevieve from the Silver Crystal's grip. He hadn't known her before the war either, but Hanso had a gut feeling that if they took the corruption away, Genevieve might just be the kind of Pokemon he could live with for life.
At the moment, however, Hanso had no real good feeling for the Gardevoir. And it would be one less Sentinel to worry about, if this worked.
Penance hummed lightly as he led them along the streets to a still intact house. Inside was a Lotad who just gave a brief nod to them and moved a carpet out of the way to reveal a well dug out hole. Penance jumped down with a grunt and picked up the lantern down there, motioning for the others to still follow as he led the way down a passage. The going was tough since the water had managed to make quite a bit of mud and it was a good half an hour before they arrived at a pair of steel doors deep inside the tunnels.
Penance rapped on it and an Alakazam opened it up. "Heya there Rupert. Everything going good?"
The psychic just nodded, "Yes, she is in the back cell."
"Splendid! Come along you two!" Penance hummed as he let them into what could be considered a piece of hell on earth. Inside was steel plating, but worst of all were the devices there. Tortrue racks, small cells that looked like they could barely fit in any sort of pokemon. There were shackels hanging from the ceiling and as Penance brought them in further and further they soon reached 'the sticks'. Hanging from the ceiling were wooden stakes, thick enough not to fall, that had steel square prisions hanging from the tip. Right underneath the prisions was a large row of sharp steel spikes that would be able to tear right through the steel if the stakes were ever cut through.
Penance led them to a staircase and went up at a relaxed pace. There was no walkway attached to the steel shell, but there was a wooden plank and near the stairs was a Hypno cleaning his pendulum. "Yo." He stood on up. "She's quiet... been too quiet in fact."
"Well, let's crack this open!" Penance stated as he grabbed the wooden plank and slid it on over, humming as he fiddled with the lock and with a click the door swung open. "There we go... not that bad."
Zane kept quiet during the trip to the captured Sentinel. He couldn't bring himself to speak, not on anything he saw in there. In fact, Zane barely looked up to avoid all the torturous devices that caught his gaze.
And this was the Pokemon who called us corrupt? He thought to himself. He shook his head, but saw that they had finally reached their destination. In front of them, the Sentinel Genevieve remained in prison.
Zane looked down as his Gold Crystal, then at Hanso and Penance. He didn't have anything to say to the Sentinel, and as far as he was concerned, the only job he had to do was carry the crystal here. It was up to the Psychics to do the rest. He would, of course, keep an eye out for the dark smoke should it appear. But as of now, his was a passive role.
Whether the others noticed it or not, Hanso froze the moment he set foot inside and his eyes widened at the sight of the torture devices. Racks, small cells, shackles...
"Lessee, what's next on today's list? Ah, one o' the Gold Tribe. Fighter, fast on your feet, right? No matter, of course, not now. 'Cause now you ain't on your feet. Shall we begin?" Before the steel instrument was set to his leg, Hanso had not known such pain...
Giving his head a furious shake, Hanso hurried after the other two, trying to ignore the memory and the ghost pain that had awoken in his leg. He...What could he call Penance now? What, if he condoned these torture devices?
The Gallade shuddered slightly as he came up the staircase, avoiding both Penance's and Zane's eyes by staring at the steel prison that held the Sentinel.
The Gardevoir did not open her eyes as the door behind her swung open. She wasn't hasty in leaving her meditative state, and her eyes needed time to adjust to the sudden light. All the same, a quick scan revealed not only that three more Pokemon had arrived, but that one was Hanso. "So." Genevieve stood slowly, smoothing her dress as she turned toward the others. "Nice of you all to come see me."
Penance nodded, "Why of course! Why wouldn't we come?" He cocked his head, "Though... you have a little black ink in your head. We'll head in and stop it, okay? Okay. Let's get this started on the road!" He pumped a fist in the air. "First off... we'll get the three of us. Rupert, Somnus, let's dive on in!" The Hypno's eyes shined as he launched his mental attack on her as did the Alakazam down below. Penance jumped on in as well, seeing the inner fabric of her mind. "Ah lovely, where is that shadow hm?"
Zane watched as the psychic barrage was initiated. As before, he was unaware at what happened within the minds of the Psychics, having no Psychic ability of his own. They all began to struggle, which Zane assumed was a good thing. But the opponent that they tried to crack was different from the other two Sentinels they tried to free, for a few reasons. The first and obvious reason was that they were Psychically entangling with a Psychic. A Sentinel-class, former Gold Tribe Psychic. The second was, as the Keeper suggested, the longer one was around the Sentinels, the harder they would likely be to free. He wondered if they were successful.
In the room they occupied, Zane was ever-weary of the shadow that would likely approach. Yet thus far, nothing came. In fact, nothing appeared out of the ordinary. That is until Zane blinked once, and thought he saw another figure in front of them, standing there as if he was with them. He looked over at him, stunned, but when he blinked again, the image was gone. Was it the visions again?
Her Psychic defenses came up full-force the moment the Golduck mentioned the 'black ink'. "Wasted no time, did you," Genevieve's voice echoed in the minds of Zane, Hanso, and the three Affiliates. "I have to admit, you're no weaklings." She could have simply continued to resist the attack, but discord needed to be thrown in as well. "You say you want to stop this...black ink? Should you not have addressed such darkness within your own ranks first?"
Though Zane wasn't in the 'room', Hanso could tell that Genevieve's words were reaching him. The Gallade had begun his part of the barrage at the same time as Penance and the other two Psychics, but the Gardevoir's words made Hanso hesitate for a moment.
"Honestly, I had not expected more than one of the 'honorable' Gold Tribe to be associated with Pokemon of such a low level as these Affiliates. One, perhaps, but not two of you. Makes me wonder just how righteous the Gold Tribe really is." Speaking did not distract Genevieve from pushing back the Psychics' barrage. She could also feel something stirring inside her head, which had begun the moment the Bisharp had entered the cell.
Penance cocked his head as she spoke. "You forget though Sentinel... the Gold Tribe has been warped. In the beginning they were there to protect the population from the other nations surrounding them. It worked for a time, I will admit that. Without them then the entire continent would have been overrun. You wouldn't be here as well as I."
He shook his head, "But... with time passing, as is usual, those in power desire more power, whether they realize it or not. They begin to tell themselves lies, claim that the world NEEDS them to make peace and balance when in fact it does not. The time of empires rise and fall each and every day... similar are organizations. Knights no longer exist to this day because they are not needed, they served their purpose and gladly departed from the world. The reason the Gold Tribe exists and continues to 'serve' is because of the crystals, something that should have been taken care of long ago."
Then, he grinned. "But answer me this Sentinel... if these goldies are fighting so that the crystals can be destroyed... that another cycle doesn't happen again... that such a fate can never befall you or any other warrior... then maybe they aren't so bad... maybe, just maybe they are more honorable than our lot." He chuckled, "Face it, we have to stoop beneath the law to get what we need done, yet even in this time they haven't taken over every single facet of the community. They aren't recruiting at a young age or killing off those who claim to have different opinions than them. Unlike the Sentinels of course... now killing indiscriminately... that's too far in my book. Even the Affiliates have specific goals, but to just kill or lock up whoever they come across? Pssh... At least this Gallade can look you straight in the eye and say, without a doubt HE. IS. BETTER. THAN. YOU."
With that said, Penance shot out a psychic beam. "For now... the cleansing must be taken to a new level... even if that must mean death."
Though Zane didn't want to listen to what the Sentinel had to say, he was interested in what she meant by the darkness in their own ranks. Of course, he assumed it was the Affiliates she referred to, and she seemed to confirm that. Yet he wasn't surprised to hear Penance say the things he said about the Gold Tribe, how it was merely the crystals that ensured its existence. That it was becoming obsolete. He didn't believe it, but whether he liked it or not, he knew that the crystal's end might very well be theirs as well. However, he was surprised that Penance did mention that the Gold Tribe still had some honor left, though that was only in comparison to the Sentinel. He remained silent, and scouted around, awaiting something to happen.
What he couldn't see, as before, was the figures of the others standing in the white room, with the larger shadow covering the body of the Gardevoir. Just as in the other cases, Zane did not appear in the room, but the light that permeated from his general direction began to do its work again, and soon the shadows was in another battle for its life The gold energy clashed with the darkness, and the battle within the mind intensified. But on the outside, a rumbling had begun to emerge, though Zane was unsure from where. The others didn't seem to react as he did, but that might have been due to their preoccupation inside the mind. Soon from the rumble, darkness approached. In rapid speed, it encircled the area, roaming round. Yet surprisingly, it did not choose to enter the Sentinel as it did before. It just seemed to...observe.
For a few moments after the Golduck replied, Genevieve had to step up her game with deflecting the Psychics' barrage. There was a deep urge within her to win this battle, deeper than her own desires. The psychic beam and a few other attacks met a steel-like wall of Genevieve's energy; it seemed to crack by the time they dissipated. Four Psychics against her, two of which were definitely Gold Tribe caliber, were no easy match.
Then the Gardevoir chuckled slightly. "I suppose I wasn't specific enough, but it's funny that you mentioned this Gallade. What do you do to traitors in your ranks, hm?" The slice of energy that Hanso threw at Genevieve in that moment wasn't quite full-power. "It would have been so easy to crush the Gold Tribe on its way to Cape City, leaving the Alpha Alliance behind about a week ago. We had less than three hours, yet that would have been enough time." She gave a teasing smile. "Now how do you think we got that kind of information?"
Regardless, Genevieve felt she was running out of time.
Penance cocked his head, and chuckled. "Ah... I see." He grinned at the Gallade in question. "You know... females are said to be tempters... that it is said in the beginning it was a woman that caused man to fall. And... if he was in my employ I would have questioned him, maybe a bit of mental torture if he wasn't entirely honest, and then seeing if he deserved life." Penance shrugged, "Buuuut, he's a grown Goldie, he also makes his own decisions of course. Though, if you must take to seducing young men obviously you're lacking something else... of course..." Penance's smile grew a lot. "My psychics found lots of hidden extras in Scar's brain. Such a lonely night it must have been for you."
He chuckled deeply, "Just how good WAS Scar? I hear some naughty details that he caught onto... and I wonder, do you do that with all the males you meet? I bet you do, hehe. You must have a ton of experience on your end, simply finding no meaning in life than finding another to quickly take your lusts away. Maybe there are many eggs left behind with fathers who don't know how to care for them hm? Eggs that want to meet their mother?"
His eyes glittered with sarcasm now, "I wonder... how many did you sleep with? So much experience and I bet you tried to seduce this hunk of a guy eh?" He gave a sly wink to Hanso, "Still he's youngHehe... and he's quick to talk so if you had done it with him then he would have been shaking and been so distracted just now... I guess it's true what they say. Even women can't get everything that they want."
Zane raised and eyebrow as Genevieve spoke. Naturally, his first instinct was to dismiss what the Sentinel said. She was a known manipulator, one of her most formidable weapons being her words. But to confirm, he would probably see if TrueStriker knew what she referred to after they were done here. Zane watched the dark shadow intensely as he heard Penance continue to interrogate the Gardevoir. It encircled above them, not seeming to have any reaction to the psychic battle below. Zane wondered what this meant. Did it not care? Was it waiting for something else?
As he watched it, Zane blinked his eyes again, and once more the silhouette of a Pokemon seemed to enter his vision. It was a shadow of a figure, something he couldn't make out. And as he blinked again, it was gone. While this occurred, on the inside, the purging affects of the Gold Crystal was working to dispel everything that corrupted the Gardevoir's mind. In a rapid but hardfought motion, the corruption was being eradicated.
Out of everything else he might have said, Hanso stared at Penance and retorted, "You blind, kid? I'm older than you."
That was hardly any of Genevieve's concern. The Gardevoir glared at the Golduck, putting up another catch-all shield of her psychic energy. It was apparent now that talking would get her nowhere, and her mind felt as if it were on fire. "Fine, then." A part of her mind seemed to be struggling to get out now, trying to help push back against the corruption.
For the next few moments, the shield was not fully supported against the psychics' barrage as Genevieve closed her eyes and concentrated. The corrupted part of her mind had one last conscious thought: All or nothing. The shield began to crumble after a few more seconds, but that was just enough time.
Four concentrated blasts of psychic energy shot out, one for each Psychic. At the same time, in the physical realm, the Gardevoir pushed herself up for a second off the floor with a psychic push before firing two Thunderbolts from her hands. One shot directly at Zane while the other aimed at the floor around the Pokemon's feet, where the steel could conduct it to all three of them and anyone else touching the cell.
Penance gritted his teeth at Hanso, "You just never learn do you?" He muttered. As the shield broke Penance watched the Sentinel closely. Something was up... why would the shiled break so easily? The psychic energy waves ended up hitting the Hypno easily, the Alakazam put up his own barrier to repel the attack and Penance took the force. And as that happened the electricity hit them.
Since the Alakazam was actually on the floor below them and projecting his mind up into Genevieve's he was unaffected by the attack, but the Hypno cried out, his image disappearing from the mind as he fell unconscious. Penance screamed out as his weakness hit him hard, with metal no less. He fell out of the mind as well, but luckily didn't fall unconscious as he fell to his knees panting heavily.
The Alakazam narrowed his eyes and shot out more power to hit the Gardevoir, "Now you die." He replied testily as he worked to squeeze her with a psychic force.
The Thunderbolt fire by Genevieve took Zane by surprise, as he was more focused on the shadows than on her. He payed for it, the bolt piercing his side and striking him directly, the electricity passing through his system and shocking it. He reacted with a yell, and fell to the ground, clutching the point of impact, even though the shock had reached all across his body now. The shock seemed to trigger something, and immediately the dark shadow headed down to the action. However, instead of heading to any one Pokemon, the shadow seemed to dissipate across the room, and form into a single ball of purple energy in the center. From the center of it, a chilling voice pierced the room, heard by all inside.
"The nightmare is not over for you..." It said, as the purple-black energy began to increase in power and size. At any moment, the attack seemed like it was about to detonate. It was almost as if his body move on its own, covering the area in rapid motion and charging to the center of the blast to try to stop its detonation. "
...Void..." the voice said again, its voice cut off from the multiple noises on Zane's end as he charged and leapt onto the attack. Unexpectedly, upon his contact with the blast, a bright golden light shot through the room, originating from Zane. It spread all across the room, permeating brilliantly both the physical and psychic world. It dispelled any remaining corruption both inside and out, and as the darkness that once covered the area disintegrated, a chilling voice made one final statement to all.
"The nightmare...has only begun."
Zane fell to the middle of the ground, in a state of semi-consciousness as thousands of words made their existence known in his head simultaneously, most prominent of which seemed to originate from the same voice as before.
We have not seen the last of each other, Zane Tyrael, Vigil of the Gold Tribe. We are, after all, connected. With those final words in his mind, as well as many, nameless more, his eyes closed, and he rested shakily on the ground.
Hanso knew the Gardevoir was too powerful to let her shield crumble so easily...unless it had a purpose. He'd pulled his psychic energy together in a prepared defense, checking the physical realm at the same time. Then Genevieve had pushed off the floor.
Oh, snap. In the second it took for the Thunderbolts to fly in their direction, Hanso jumped to one side, clearing air for a couple seconds as the bulk of the electricity began to fade.
That left him mostly unprepared for the psychic blast, which left Hanso disoriented as he landed hard near the wall to the right of the door. Something in his mind stirred as he returned his attention to the psychic realm, where Genevieve was being squeezed by the lone Alakazam's force. He couldn't be sure, but in the midst of the voice's words, Hanso thought he heard,
Save me...
He couldn't care less about Genevieve the Sentinel, especially after what Penance had revealed. As Hanso saw it, however, the initial cause of the personality change was the Crystal's corruption, which was close to being erased. Take that away, and...
No. She won't die. Not now. The Gallade lashed out with his psychic energy, aiming to cut through the Alakazam's force and protect Genevieve. He thought he saw tendrils of shadow twined in it, before the golden light permeated everything.
Back in the physical realm, Hanso pushed himself up into a kneeling position, rubbing his head with one hand. Looking at the cell revealed the battle's results: Penance on his knees; Zane lying in the middle of the floor; and Genevieve lying some feet away from the Bisharp.
Well. She snared you after all, once all is said and done.
I don't need your comments right now, Varren, Hanso replied tiredly, slowly getting to his feet. Almost mechanically, he stopped by Zane, then Penance, releasing a Heal Pulse for each of them. His last stop was the Gardevoir, who looked to be unconscious as Hanso crouched down beside her. There was no trace of the corruption anywhere that his tired mind could find.
She'll always remember it, though.