The Children Are Hunted

Esper was baffled. What did they do to her?! His mind seethed, though he didn't let anyone see it. He cast his mind around, looking for someone familiar. He eventually found Zoran, though he was fairly far away. Zoran would know what the hack was wrong with her. He strengthened himself, and contacted Zoran.
"Zoran!? What has happened to Zaria?! Her mind is a blank! What is going on!?" Esper roared at him. He wasn't roaring with anger, he was roaring to be sure he was heard.

Thomas was confused. She was acting like her mind was elsewhere. It unnerved him, and scared him witless. He couldn't speak for a moment, trying to recover. A sideways glance at Alyss was very telling. She looked like she was feeling guilty about something. Thomas would ask her later.
"Well, Zar, I'm glad they are ok. You too. And don't worry, I know Zoran won't let anything happen to you," he said. The words tasted foul in his mouth. Something had already happened to her, and he could do nothing about it.

(OOC: I haven't forgotten Alyss's flight. If Zoran was within flying distance, then he's within Esper's mental distance, though it's going to be a bit of a stretch.)
 
Zora blinked at the blast on his mind. "Okay... ow."

"What?" Asha asked, flipping off the couch. He shrugged and got up, enjoying movement for the first time in days.

"Esper's flipping out 'cause Zari's acting different," he replied dully. "He's taking it better than I did."

"Considering you broke three lab rooms, trashed Theo's office and nearly throttled the guy before they sedated you when you found out, yes they're taking it better," Asha cracked though her eyes had also lost their sparkle. Zora snorted.

"Would have made stuff easier."

"But we'd have been screwed," the girl commented mildly. "Look just give him the bare bones. The scientific crap confuses us."

Zora nodded and finally replied. "Simply put, they tried to drain Zari of her power. Unfortunately, there is something in the bases we stay at have a strange compound in most of the building that badly weakens us so we don't lose control. The only places that vent system isn't there is in the testing rooms, classes, battlefields, and bedrooms. Unless you count the recreational areas because those are outside. Because it's probably my power that kept her here and she has a specific energy of her own that's being drained, it has a bad effect on her while she's there. It takes a while of being outside for any of us to recover."

"There's something else," Asha muttered, knowing the Espeon wouldn't hear. She rolled her eyes as Zora glared. "Technically that was on you, so she just got hit with side-effects."
 
"Very well... I'll accept that it may have been an acident for now. If you want, I'll keep an eye on her until she recovers. Theo was just here, but he's gone now. Whatever games he's playing, I'm not going to let him hurt Thomas," Esper said a little calmer. He was tired. He sent the memory of what had just happened between Theo and Thomas to Zoran. He didn't know why he did that, but he felt it was important that they knew.

"That was nerve-racking. Are you alright, Alyss?" Thomas asked. He was worried about the effect the recent confrontation had on her. He hoped that Vulpix and the others would be back soon.
 
Zoran analyzed it and turned white. He turned to Asha and explained and she growled. "And here I thought he knew better," she hissed. "Theo knows that's unchangeable."

"Like that's ever stopped him," Zora mumbled. "It was my fault with Zari anyway."

"Your fault that bastard tried draining you?" Asha countered. "Oh please. We've been trying to figure out why Zari's here for years. Sick as it was, painful as it is, it's done something. Tell Zari to stay with them for a while."

The boy obeyed, ending with a private message for his sister. "Sorry, I must seem like a bad brother."

Zaria shook her head weakly. "It's not your fault Zora," she mumbled. "You're as drained as I am. You're just better at faking it." She turned and went to float next to Alyss, who seemed to shake herself out of a stupor.

"I'm all right," she replied to Thomas. They could tell she was lying. She actually wanted to curl up and hide in a tree for the rest of her life. She couldn't do that. "I'll feel better in a little while.

Zari suddenly managed a vague smile. "Zora says if you get Alyss hurt in anyway, Asha's given him permission to mutilate you when she's not looking. That goes for me too."
 
"Wouldn't dream of it!" Thomas said with a grin. Esper sent Zoran his well wishes, then ended the contact. It hurt to stretch his mind that far. He sent out a call for Vulpix once he could no longer smell Theo, for he couldn't sense his mind at all. Vulpix emerged from the trees. TGP ran out as fast as he had left under the Esper induced terror.
"Where is he!? I'll defeat him!" TGP said. That was curious. Marcus came out a moment later.
"Relax, he's gone," Thomas said.
"Pokeboy, never try to face him on your own. Only a true hero can deal with the likes of him!" TGP said seriously.
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," Thomas said. TGP turned to Zaria.
"Ah, well met to you indeed!" he said. Thomas shouldn't have been surprised. TGP was very odd like that.
"Who was that?" Marcus asked.
"Theo, and it seems that I've roused his curiousity," Thomas said glumly.
"Well, he smells off. Anyway, before Esper sent us running into the woods, we had decided to get to the English Channel, and swim across on Gyarados. Then travel there by land!" Vulpix said.
"Sounds fine to me! But, will we have enough supplies for that kind of trek?" Thomas asked.
"We can live off the land. Even if there is no fruit, there will always be animals to hunt. Volt, Esper and I can provide enough for all of us," Vulpix said smugly.
"Glad you thought all that through. Now, any towns on the way? I need to stop and pick something up," Thomas said, but he refused to elaberate what. Instead, he shot a grin at Alyss. What had just happened had scared him, but he was over it now. Things were going to get back on the right track. He would figure out just what was going on, but to do that he needed more information. And that would come if he waited. It always did.
 
Among the Clouds

The RDM plane had just begun to circle above the clearing, high enough to be among the clouds, as Mark and Tony were starting their battle.

Garet frowned as he stared at the camera-screen. The plane had one thermal-imaging camera pointed at the humans below. "Clair and the boy have another companion," he said.

"They do?" Leo put the plane on auto-pilot before walking back to where Garet and the various screens were. This plane was ordered customized (and Pokemon-friendly) by the Lucario for the few times that he and the Lucario worked together. Looking at the screen, Leo sighed. "You seem to find the hardest missions, Garet, don't you?" He went back to the pilot seat and resumed control of the plane.

"That's why you're here," Garet replied, grinning. Leo was the one Deviser whom he most often worked with, when he ever worked with anyone. "Going by this, the boy has more Pokemon besides that Cyndaquil I'd fought. I doubt that an open battle now will be much better."

"Might be, if you'd volunteered yourself for the CM Project," Leo retorted.

"Only when I can be reassured that there are no bugs with those machines."

Leo glanced at the screen that was picking up the signal from the tracker on Clair. "In any case, we won't make a move until they're outta the forest."
 
Alyss smiled shyly and reached to stroke Arca's fur. The Pokemon purred and she too was feeling better. Zaria stared blankly at TGP for a moment, seeming to be attempting to recognize him. Then she nodded lightly. "Good to finally meet you," she mumbled. "You probably met my brother at one point. I was too young to meet you back then."

Alyss giggled as Zanna tickled her with her tail. Then she looked at them with a strange amount of daring in her eyes. "He's right," she told them. "Never take him on alone. Have as many people with you as you can and be careful then too." She looked at Zaria, who stared blankly right back. "It isn't that he's bad that's the problem. It's that he can't be affected by anything."

"Shouldn't we go," Zaria asked. "The journey should take some time."
 
"Well, hopefully I won't have to take him on again. I'll be honest, he creeps me out. Anyway, glad you're feeling a little more like yourself Zaria. And as for taking a long time, will it, you guys?" Thomas asked.
"Even after what just happened, we should be at the coast by tomorrow evening!" Vulpix said. Thomas had an idea as to how to make the trip aven faster, but didn't say it. He wanted to see if it would occur to them. So he walked along as Marcus and Vulpix talked about the trip. TGP remained oddly quiet. Thomas never knew what was going on in his head.
"Hey, you guys never answered my question, is there a town along the way?" Thomas said after a few moments. Marcus nodded.
"If we make good time, we'll be there by tonight!" Marcus said.
"Yeah, but I'm not going into another human town!" Vulpix said.
"It would be good to spend the night in a hotel though," Marcus said.
"We have no money! Not enough for a hotel at any rate!" Vulpix said.
"I know. But still, I can dream, right?" Marcus said. Vulpix sighed. Thomas smiled. His friends were still shaken by that. He was too, but didn't want them to see. Esper purred at him, and Amber rubbed against his leg. He smiled and picked them both up as they all kept walking.
 
Alyss smiled thinly, carefully watching TGP. She wondered how long it would take for anyone to catch on. Zaria glanced at her, then examined her from where she was in the back. She managed a torn little grin. Since Thomas could see them now, she wouldn't notice the difference. Plus they were practically a part of her dress. Zanna snickered before she whispered in Arca's ear, "Oi, you think they're gonna notice?"

"Not until they calm down. Just put the illusion back up."

Zanna shook her head."No way, it takes too much energy out of Alyss. They'll eventually see them anyhow. That weirdo hero probably noticed already but didn't think it was weird."

Arca raised an eyebrow. "You just want them freak out at the sight of a girl with wings don't you?"

Zanna snickered. "Duh. Alyss survived Theo without crying, she'll probably just jump at anything else."
 
It was a full hour later before anyone did notice. Marcus glanced over at Alyss, and cried out in shock. Thomas looked at him.
"What?" he asked. Marcus had fallen to the ground. Vulpix and TGP stopped and turned around. Esper sat down and laughed to himself.
"She-she has w-w-w-w," Marcus said.
"Wings? Yeah, funny that," Thomas said. Marcus stopped being freaked out long enough to get mad.
"You knew!? Why didn't you tell me?!" he said.
"Simple, because I knew you'd freak out. Was I wrong?" Thomas said calmly.
"No, but-" Marcus said, then he stopped. He got a very odd look on his face. He stood up and looked at Alyss.
"Sorry! I... I just don't see people with wings everyday," Marcus said.
"Ah... Don't let him get to you! It doesn't really make much of a difference. A person is a person no matter what they look like," Vulpix said absently, sniffing at her wings curiously. He had never seen a human with wings before.
"Well, of course you wouldn't be surprised! You're a pokemon! You guys come in all shapes and sizes!" Marcus said.
"This gonna be a problem, Marcus?" Thomas asked kindly.
"... No. I think I can get used to it. I'm really sorry I reacted like that. The others are right. Really," Marcus said to Alyss. Esper sent his amusement to Zanna, knowing she had planned this all along. He sent his support to to Alyss, just in case Marcus's reaction had scared her. TGP didn't act fazed by any of this. It was as though it happened everyday for him. Thomas smiled at Alyss. As he had expected, they had reacted like he thought they would. Though he hadn't expected Marcus to recover that fast.
 
Alyss surprisingly hadn't even been paying attention. She was bothered about something and had mostly been looking at the ground. "Oh! Um... it-it's fine!" She put her hands up placatingly. "Really, it is. You could have done worse." Zanna sighed. Only when she was distracted or angry did she show her spine. Normally she would have looked terrified. The girl trailed off into quiet silence again. Whatever she was thinking about was obviously difficult because she soon appeared to zone out again.

"The illusion's going up now," Zanna hummed and instantly the appendages were hidden by an illusion. However, they could still see them, indicating Alyss didn't think it important to hide them from these people. "Huh..." She pawed the feathery appendages. "Forgot they were warm."
 
Vulpix, apparently satisfied, stopped sniffing the wings and walked back to the others. Thomas didn't speak. Everyone else seemed to be deep in thought about other things, and he didn't want to bother them. So they walked until dark. They reached a quant town, and Vulpix declared they would set up camp outside it. After a brief discussion, they picked a spot. Thomas sent out Volt, and he, Esper, and Vulpix went to hunt for some dinner. Thomas got the campfire going, and sat down. He thought about it for a moment, and was really bored. He got up again.
"I'm going into town, I'll be back soon," Thomas said.
"I'm coming with you, Pokeboy! You never know where the minions of darkness are hiding!" TGP said. Thomas thought quickly.
"That's why I have to do this alone! We need you here to protect the others!" Thomas said quickly. TGP nodded.
"Very well, I shall remain! But be wary!" TGP said.
"I will, don't worry. I'm not about to get caught now," Thomas said. He began walking into town.
 
Alyss released Emma, smiling faintly as the Emolga flew around her head. She pointed in the direction Thomas had gone and instantly the flying squirrel glided away after him, looking overly peppy as she zoomed around in the sky. "Why did you send the flying rat?" Zanna grumbled. Arca rolled her eyes.

"At least Emma won't kill anyone," she hissed and Zanna glared, refusing to reply. Zaria watched them and settled quietly next to Alyss.

(If you wanted Alyss to follow I'll change this.)
 
(OOC: It doesn't matter. I wasn't really planning on anything happening. Just Thomas getting some shoes. But now I have to think of something... And here's my solution.)

Thomas walked into town. Amber chased after him. He looked down at her and smiled.
"Well, you want to come too?" Thomas asked. He didn't even notice the flying squirrel floating overhaed. He walked to the shoestore. Thankfully it was still open. He walked in side.
"Hey! Your pokemon will have to wait outside! Company rules, I'm sure you understand," an overweight man behind the counter said. Thomas shrugged and walked back outside. He told Amber to wait there. He went back inside and found the shoes he was looking for. A white pair of converse, size 6. They were a bit big, but odds are she would grow into them. He found a bag of small socks, and grabbed those too. He walked to the counter and paid for them. The man put them in a bag, and handed them back to Thomas. Thomas walked and looked at Amber. She wasn't alone. Some guy with a Jolteon was looking her over.
"Wow, imagine my luck to find one here! I think I'm going to use you!" he said to Amber. She looked up at him questioningly.
"Before you use her for anything, you may want to check with her trainer first!" Thomas said. The man stood up.
"This Leafeon is yours? I'm sorry, I should have known better! My name is Chester O'mally! The worlds greatest pokemon breeder!" Chester said. Chester was about 22 years old. He had light brown hair, and was wearing a light blue suit. His hair was neatly trimmed. Thomas almost laughed at him, but held it in.
"I'm Thomas. Why don't you tell me what you planned on doing with Amber?" Thomas said.
"Of course! You see, Eevee's aren't normally found in the wild. It has been my dream to breed a fine strain of Eevee, and give them out to fine young lads like yourself. For a minor fee, of course. So, I'll make you a buisness proposition. I'll trade my Treecko for your Leafeon. Does that sound fair?" Chester said. Thomas bristled. He wanted to trade for Amber? And then turn her into some kind of breeding machine to make himself rich?!
"Not gonna happen!" Thomas said angrily.
"Don't reject the idea out of hand! How about for my Treecko and my Charmander! And, I'll pay you a royalty for every Eevee I sell!" Chester said. Thomas was angered even more at that! He wasn't going to just sell Amber like that!
"I said no! Go find someone else to pester!" Thomas said. Amber jumped into his arms.
"... Well, I can see you have an unusually strong bond with your pokemon. I won't ask again," Chester said sadly. Thomas's respect for the man rose slightly.
"I'll tell you something, most trainers won't sell their pokemon. And as for your plan? Pokemon feel love just like humans. I would know, my Manectric is openly smitten with one of my friends pokemon. So, if your pokemon don't like each other, then nothing will happen," Thomas said sagely. Chester nodded.
"Well, fine," Chester said. Thomas wished him well, and walked back to the camp. That was very irritating. He hoped he never saw Chester again.

"Here you go!" Thomas said, setting the shoes and socks down next to Alyss. Marcus looked up at him.
"Welcome back. Find what you were looking for?" Marcus asked.
"Yeah, and then some," Thomas grumbled. He told them about his encounter with Chester. Vulpix laughed, and Marcus sighed. TGP ignored them.
 
Alyss smiled politely and carefully began to put them on. Zaria woke from her stupor a little more, watching her as she put them on. They were a bit loose on her feet but she looked happy as she shyly smiled up at Thomas. "Thank you. They're warm."

Zaria looked at her with round hazel eyes, a hint of sparkle in them. "We're all proud of you Alyss." Alyss turned a deep pink and curled up at this, hiding her face behind her drawn-up knees. There was a happy squeak as Emma flew to land on the back of Alyss' white head. The girl giggled, a muffled sound.

Zaria seemed to look sick. "Humans and Pokemon aren't shopping goods to sell," she said vacantly, grabbing her head in a small wince of pain. She looked at TGP. "You don't seem too well."
 
"You're welcome," Thomas said and he leaned back. Amber curled up next to him and began purring. He wondered how much of this she actually understood. She was very smart, but though she had evolved, she was still very young.
"I am very well, thank you. Nothing ever ails The Great Pokemaster!" TGP said. He was another one that Thomas couldn't figure out.
"Hey, TGP, are there any minions of darkness around?" Marcus asked.
"What? No, not presently. Never fear, child, I swore to defend you, and so I shall!" TGP said. Defend Marcus?
"Defend me?" Marcus asked. TGP paused for a moment that meant he was stumped.
"Not just you, but all innocents of this world!" TGP said at last. Thomas didn't think that was the case. TGP didn't sound too sure of himself.
"Are you sure about that? Would you tell me about it?" Marcus asked. TGP looked at him.
"I think not," he said.
"How about your secret identity?" Marcus said. TGP thought about it for a moment. Instead of saying anything, he removed the helmet. Thomas stared at his face. He looked vaguely like Marcus, except he was older. His hair hadn't been cut in years, and it spilled out of his helmet and fell in an untidy mess down his back. His eyes had an eerie glow to them. Marcus gasped in surprise and recognition.
"Robert?! Robby it is you!" Marcus said, and gave TGP a hug. TGP protested a little and shoved Marcus off of him.
"Unhand me!" TGP said. Marcus looked like he was going to cry.
"Robby!? It's me, Marcus!" Marcus said. A brief flicker of recognition flashed on his face.
"Marcus? I know that name!" TGP said slowly.
"Who's Robby?" Thomas asked.
"Robby is my cousin. We were very close when we were young. Mama and Papa sent us to a kind of camp together when I was four. I don't remember it too well, just that I didn't like it. I kept seeing things in my head. Horrible things. And they came true. Robby did everything he could to help, but they took him away. A few nights later, he came back. He was acting weird. He put his hand on my head, and the things in my head just stopped. After that, they sent me back home. But they kept Robby. I never thought I'd see him again. And now he doesn't even recognize me," Marcus said sadly. Robby pulled the helmet down on his head again. He grumbled something about personal space, and lay back and went to sleep.
 
Zaria was very quiet for a few moments, then she spoke two words. "Coping mechanism." Her expression seemed to flicker before she stared up at the sky.

Alyss agreed, looking down. "He remembers you in the depths of his mind, so he'll remember again. He just closed the memories away and made himself a new reality, likely not long after he sealed off your powers. That's what you did in that place. It was that or you lose your mind. I remember that much from seven years ago."

(Cue confusion XD)
 
TGP snored. He fell asleep so fast. Thomas thought about it a moment. Esper was purring loudly. TGP remembered Marcus, which would explain how Marcus had cracked through his shell.
"You remember us? I don't remember you," Marcus said.
"You were 4 at the time," Vulpix said. Then another thing clicked. Marcus had powers. Or, he did at one point. Thomas wondered what had driven Robby to become TGP and how they could fix that. He wished he could help, but Marcus would have to be the one to do it. All Thomas was to TGP was a sidekick. Marcus was something from a past long since forgotten. He had more of an effect on TGP than Thomas ever would.
 
Alyss shrugged. "I was five years old and afraid of people. You didn't know Zora or Asha, you didn't know me." Zanna and Arca both looked at each other, waiting for the kids to figure out the gaping hole in what the eight-year-old had just said. It wouldn't take long. Zanna was smirking to herself and Arca sighed, grabbing Emma and returning her to the Pokeball.

Zaria snorted faintly. She had been three at the time and Theo had only gotten away with bringing her because her brother refused to leave her alone in the house. Of course, the testing had made him furious and considering his powers had only been budding at the time, it wasn't a good mix. She knew for a fact they had been the weirdest little group ever, especially being led by a tomboyish blind ten-year-old who kicked your teeth in before she bothered to introduce herself. Am I glad Asha has mellowed out...

You and me both, her brother mumbled in her head.

Do you recognize Robbie?

Kinda. He was off the deep end like this guy, I remember that. Asha knows him, says he saw time or somethin'. Though I'm not sure about that... I'll get back to you okay? I think I might actually sleep tonight.
 
"Well, I guess I should ask how you look like you're 8 or 9, cause that was 7 years ago, from what I've been told," Thomas asked. Vulpix got bored with the conversation and went to sleep.
"... I guess so. I've tried my best to forget that place. I don't know how I found him again, but I did. Robby is the only family I have that I actually like," Marcus said. His meaning was clear. He would do whatever he could to protect Robby.
"I think you'll be the only person that can help him recover," Thomas said. Marcus nodded and shivered.
"That means that I should get him to undo whatever he did. But I don't know how. And, I'm scared. Those visions hurt, that much I remember," Marcus said. Thomas looked him over. He was serious, more serious than he had ever been. Thomas didn't know he could feel so strongly about anything. He didn't say anything.
 
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