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The Children Are Hunted

"Heh, don't worry about Thomas. He's alright. He knows what you were sent here to do, and it doesn't bother him. Do you understand what I'm trying to say? And Zaria, anything you don't want me to see is fine. The mind should be the most private thing anyone has. You're free to share what you will, and keep what you don't. I'm honored that you've seen fit to let me see this much," Esper said. It seemed like so long ago when he had shared his memories with Zaria. He tried to remember why he had done that. Oh, right. Thomas had been kidnapped by the AAPM, and she was the only one that could find him from so far away. It was just after he had earned his second badge. Now he was going for his fourth. Time seems to go by so fast!
 
Alyss shook her head. "No he doesn't. Nobody understands Mister Theo but Mister Theo." Zanna agreed and so did Arca. Adan was still eating, seeming oblivious. But he just didn't feel like contributing. It wasn't his business anyway. That was protecting Alyss. Nothing else mattered. Alyss unfurled her wings again, wincing as one bled. "Ah... oops..." Arca groaned and put a small bit of ice over it.

Zaria shook her head. "Okay..." It was probably good she didn't say anything. Zoran wasn't even sure about it anyway. Honestly, she hoped he was wrong. Mickey still hadn't explained why he was here. But if the facts matched... she didn't know what would happen. Honestly, the ghost didn't want to know. Still that shuddery feeling was there.
 
"Hmm... Well, either way, he is glad you are here. Let's just leave it at that, shall we?" Esper said. They didn't exactly get Thomas very well. He was far more attentive than anyone could have guessed. He filed everything he ever saw, felt, or heard away for future use. In fact, if Esper was correct, then Thomas knew everything because of the link the two of them shared. Of course, what he had said to Zaria held true for himself as well, so no one else knew these thoughts of his. He was glad that all of his friends were hear. Whatever Theo was planning, Esper wouldn't let him touch one hair on Thomas's head. Or anyone else, for that matter. Though, he could sense that something was bothering Zaria, but didn't ask what it was. If she wanted to share, she would.

Marcus sat straight up, and his eyes were glowing. Robby jumpedup and took a few steps away.
"Stay back! let him breath!" Robby said in a warning. Very soon, Marcus stopped and began shaking.
"What did you see?" Vulpix asked.
"Um... Thomas was showing his badge case to someone. There were eight badges in there, and Thomas looked a little older. His hair was longer, and he had unseeing eyes, like how he gets after he uses his power. I couldn't see who he was showing them too, but he looked happy. I'm sorry, I can't make sense of anything else," Marcus said.

(OOC: Random unimportant vision of something we all know is going to happen, or is it? Nah, just kidding with you. It's not important.)
 
Mickey glanced at them and nodded. "Visions are shaky on a good day so don't worry." Zaria agreed quietly. Then she carefully placed her fear in Esper's head, trying to tell him to extend his senses. Alyss sighed. She did believe Esper's words and some of the thoughts she gleaned from Zaria. She didn't want him to understand Theo's manipulations because it might make him a useful piece. And that would get him killed. Or worse. The girl shuddered, remembering what had happened to Zeph. She was tired of killing friends. Mickey was twitching shakily from nearby. He was, unfortunately, feeling bloodthirsty. Curse that right now. None of the others, except maybe Ash, would let him near them once they found out. Or Alyss but that was because he didn't think she was all that bothered by it. Creepy little kid.
 
Esper picked it up instantly and extended his senses to the limit. He didn't know what he was looking for, but if Zaria was concerned, that was reason enough to do so.
"Do you know what I'm supposed to be looking for?" he asked her. He was a far better empath than telepath, so he mostly picked up feelings from everyone. Bloodlust, fear, anger, calmness. That was the gist of it. He couldn't quite tell what he should keep an eye out for. Most of what he got was ordinary stuff from the city, and it gave him a headache taking in so many emotions. But he sensed something at the very edge his awareness, which was rather limited from the strain of everything. He couldn't tell what, but it was familiar. He kept his senses open, and turned his thoughts to the one people called Mickey. His emotions were the strongest right now, and were blocking him the worst. He couldn't tell what he was thinking, just that he was terrified of something. Probably whatever it was Esper had sensed going on between him and Zoran last night. He sent him waves of sympathy and compassion, unable to speak because of what he was doing right now, but he needed the boy to calm down if he was going to sense anything useful. Once he was sure Mickey understood, he moved on to the next strongest pot of emotions. Alyss. This was the closest he had ever come to scanning her mind. He, again, sent his support to her, trying to get her to calm down. If those two could calm themselves, even for a moment, he might be able to sense whatever it was that was bugging Zaria, a fact he tried to impress upon them.

(OOC: Quick question. Is Zaria somehow picking up Mia's cry for help? Or is it something else entirely? That way, I'll know which direction to take my next post.)
 
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Alyss looked at Esper coolly. Then she did something she absolutely hated. It made her feel cold. She forced her emotions not only down but nearly dead. As the cold seeped in,she merely shut it off. It didn't matter. She knew Ash would get on her case but deadening herself helped a lot. Zaria gave Mickey a smile, tilting her head. Mickey sighed and tried to force it down. God he felt like a freak. There was a reason he switched to online schooling and Zoran didn't. He really was bad with people.

Zaria listened. "It's a voice, a familiar person." She sighed. "That rude girl." Ash suddenly twitched. She could sense another Aura user, like Kira, different from her. She hadn't sensed it because of the distance.

(It is Mia. Zaria can sense her because her ability was meant more for tracking others than harming them. It's how she knew where Thomas and the others were.)
 
Esper had sensed it too. He pulled his senses back and sat shaking. Alyss hadn't calmed herself down, somehow she had killed her emotions all together.
"Th-thank you both. I'm sorry, but it seems Mia is messing with us again. And I'm sorry for my request... I... I can't sense very much when everyone's emotions are there. I had a whole city to deal with... And I'm glad Thomas is still knocked out. His emtions are harder to see through... But even so... I had no right to ask that," Esper broadcasted to his friends. Then he focused on the source of Mia's cries for help. He really didn't want to help her, but Thomas would insist upon it if he woke up.
"Hey, if it's just Mia, let's leave her to deal with it herself!" Vulpix said bitterly.
"Vulpix!" Marcus said.
"What? I know I'm not the only one thinking it!" Vulpix said with a sigh.
 
Alyss shrugged, trying to start up her emotions again. It would take a while. Mickey shook his head. He didn't mind either. Ash agreed with Vulpix but kept quiet. "She's a helpless girl," Alyss stated flatly after a moment. "As... bratty as she is, we need to find out if she's really messing with your heads or might actually be in real danger." Zaria nodded, feeling her respect for Alyss rise. She disliked Mia immensely, even emotionless, yet she still wanted to help her, even if it was a lie. Though if it was a lie, Zaria would turn Mia's brain into mashed potatoes. Screw a good nature.
 
Vulpix shrugged. Esper was glad Alyss was the one to suggest it. He knew if he had said it, it might not have gone over very well. He was still trying to figure out just where she was. And he was shaking off the cold void that Alyss had become at the end. He would have been worried about her, if it weren't for the fact that her emotions were coming back. Esper figured she had done it to herself, because he had asked her too. He would never ask that again, even if it hadn't blasted his mind.

"Um... What about Thomas? We can't just leave him here like this! Not by himself, at least until Zoran stops battling!" Marcus said.
"I'm not going on this foolish errand! She probably couldn't get her way at the gym or something stupid like that!" Vulpix said flatly. Esper knew that wasn't right. She was no where near the gym, on the other side of Venice. They would have to walk, as Thomas was still out, and none of the others had a pokemon that could carry all of them.
"I'm going. Watch over Thomas for me," Esper said. Marcus walked over to join him, and the two of them set off to find Mia. Marcus turned back.
"Anyone else coming?" he asked. Vulpix stayed right where he was. Robby sat down, deep in thought. Amber meowed cheerfully and ran over to Esper.
 
Alyss silently followed and Ash rested near Thomas. Two aura users fighting would get ugly. Besides, someone needed to stay with Mickey, who looked a mess again. Alyss stared analytically at them. "Ash sensed Aura and I know where to hit those types." Mickey went to sit on the RV steps, looking sick.
 
Marcus was glad that Alyss was coming. He wasn't too sure he could handle a fight, even with Esper and Amber. Her pokemon were definately stronger then his, if Vulpix could use them as sparring partners. But he was troubled by what she said. An Aura user? That would definately mean trouble. Alyss had basically said to let her deal with it, and Marcus was inclined to agree. He had no way to fight, save for having his pokemon, which weren't all that powerful. His highest level was Gyarados, at level 23. The rest of his team was level 20-21. Esper alone was level 29, and Vulpix was even stronger than that! So it followed that Alyss's pokemon were in their mid 30's or so.
"It will take some time to reach her," Esper said with a flick of his tail. He was leading the way. Marcus hoped that Amber would be able to aim. Solar Beam was a devastating move, and Marcus knew they would need it.
 
"We should assume that," Alyss said dryly and Zanna winced. As amusing as she could be when she had no emotional inhibitions to hold her back, it was creepy. Well, creepier than normal. Zaria was floating after them, muttering obscenities under her breath in another language. "Um... Zaria, you okay?"

"Whenever I swear in Hindi, it means I'm not," the ghost replied. Arca snorted. She had picked that up from her brother, though he had been avoiding it lately.

Arca sighed. "How bad will this be?"

"Let's hope it's not too much of a problem. God is she shrill though..."
 
"Really? I hadn't noticed," Esper said sarcastically. As they had been walking, he was slowly picking up her cry for help. It was making him irritable. Realizing what he had done, he sent his sorrow to everyone gathered there. Mia was calling him by name, but she was doing it in such a way that anyone with the right abilities could pick it up. Esper did a quick scan, whincing at the void that was Alyss even though her emotions were returning, but found no one else other than him and Zaria that were capable of picking up the call.
"She makes my ears hurt! But Delcatty is really nice!" Amber said.
"She makes your ears hurt because she talks far louder than any human should," Esper said to Amber. When had Amber had time to talk with Delcatty? Oh well, it was a mystery. Esper continued leading them to Mia, hoping this was not some kind of prank or something. He didn't know if he could protect her, and he had picked up that Zaria was ready to kill her.
 
"I should hope you're observant enough to notice that much," Alyss countered, placing a set of sharp feathers in her left hand. She had never tested to see if they could break through anything thicker than certain metals. She wondered if she would have to today.

Zaria shrugged. "If this is a prank, death will be the least of her worries. I really don't like leaving Mickey the way he is with just Ash able to do something about him. And Thomas is vulnerable right now... we probably should hurry it up."
 
Esper quickened his pace a little. He was urgent to get there and see what exactly Mia wanted. Then he could get back to his job, which was guarding Thomas. He didn't know what he would find there, and he hoped he was ready to face it. Thomas wasn't here to guide him, which made him feel a little lost and helpless, something that he shoved out of his mind as soon as he thought it. Lost, maybe, but he was anything but helpless. Thomas counted on him to keep the rest of the team on track when he couldn't. Amber would be looking up to him, so he would have to lead her right. Thomas would be very upset if anything happened to either of them. The closer he got, the more danger he sensed. He tightened the shields on his mind, and kept moving.

Vulpix paced back and forth. This was maddening! He hated waiting like this! Maybe he should have gone too... No, he was a pokemon of his word. Esper had asked him, among others, to stay and protect Thomas. So that is what he was going to do. But he had a very bad feeling about this. He looked again at Mickey. Something was off about him, though Vulpix couldn't quite place it. The boy reeked of blood. And not from hunting either. It was something else, and Vulpix couldn't figure it out. Oh well, as long as he was no threat to Vulpix or his friends, that was all that mattered to him.
 
Arca sniffed the air and groaned. "I smell that brat," she hissed and Zanna barked an agreement. Zaria glanced at Marcus.

"Keep a Pokeball ready," she told him.

Mickey licked his lips anxiously from where he sat. Ash sat next to him, gently resting an arm on his shoulder. Mickey recoiled instantly. "Ash!" he hissed. "Don't for God's sake! You want me to-"

"As if I care," she replied distantly. He growled at her. "Oh keep the red out of your eyes!"

The boy spat at her. "Fine!" Easier said than done. She turned away from him, making sure Thomas was all right. Mickey groaned to himself. That kid's life force was annoying, it's steady thudding pounding his head. Stupid blood... He needed something, had wanted it earlier out of curiosity. Forget curiosity, he needed the headache to stop! But Ash wouldn't let him near the kid, not without a fight.

Only one choice then. He reached out to Ash and calmly wrapped one hand around her throat... only for an Aura blade to stab his chest. "Nice try Mickey," Ash told him as he hit the ground. "This is me you're talking about, remember?"
 
Vulpix jumped when Ash hit Mickey.
"He gonna be alright?" he asked, slightly worried. He didn't want to have to watch over two unconcious kids. Thomas was still leaned up against the tire, sleeping. He must have had some serious backlash, but he would be fine.

Marcus nodded, one hand on Poocyena's pokeball, the other holding Clefairy's ball. Esper sniffed the air as well. He smelled Mia's fear. She was genuinely afraid of something. You may be able to trick his mind with false emotions, but you smelled a little different when you were afraid. And if his nose could pick it up, then the others could as well. Esper was ashamed to admit it, but his nose wasn't really that sharp. He stopped at the edge of Venice, signaling the others to do the same. He sensed Mia, three wild pokemon, two children about the same age as Thomas and Zoran, one who was closer to Ash's age, and one other person. He sensed a lot of fear, and not just from Mia. The other kids were afraid as well. The wild pokemon's minds were disiplined, almost like Vulpix, only a lot better. Just what exactly was going on out there?
 
Ash rolled her eyes as Mickey spat, getting up. She had stabbed him so it was a good question... for a normal human being. His wound was already healing, his eyes glaring pointedly at her. Great... "Don't worry your heels about him. In fact, get near Thomas and don't move from that spot. If he gets past me, I tell you to roast Mickey alive. He'll survive, believe me. Just keep Mickey away from Thomas unless you want his blood sucked dry."

Mickey crouched and jumped, leaping to move past. Asha spun backwards and kicked him in the still-healing wound into a tree. "Zora, stay where you are." The other waved her off. He wasn't worried. Mickey recovered and clawed at her. Ash blocked and rolled away. "Jeez Mickey, can't you-" She coughed from a fierce stomach blow. "Guess not, little bastard."

"Whatever's happening over there," Alyss stated softly. "We can only get Mia out. I can feel it; I can feel children with powers over there. If we go in while she's still in danger, she'll likely be killed. She's too reckless and loud. After that, we'll go back... to pick up the pieces."
 
"Sounds like fun," Vulpix muttered as he ran to Thomas. He stood firmly, watching the cousins fight. If he had too, he would blast Mickey into next week.

"Only Mia?" What about the others?" Marcus said. Esper peered out at the plane. A Starapter was sitting on top of it, preening his feathers.
"I think Alyss is correct. Mia is closer. If nothing else, we can go back for the others later. Now, how to lure that Starapter away," Esper said. Amber then had an idea. She squeeked and ran out into view. Esper groaned, but was too late to stop her.
"Oh no! She's going to get caught!" Marcus said. Curse that excitable little Leafeon! She was going to get Esper into trouble the rest of his life!

My team:
Esper (Espeon): level 29, Swift, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Bite.
Volt (Manectric): level 27, Discharge, Zap Canon, Quick Attack, Double Kick
Razor (Skarmory): level 29, Steel Wing, Brave Bird, Air Cutter, Whirlwind
Deluge (Wartortle): level 27, Water Gun, Ice Beam, Rapid Spin, Withdraw
Amber (Leafeon): level 25, Synthesis, Quick Attack, Solar Beam, Razor Leaf
Draco (Bagon): level 27, Ember, Dragonbreath, Dragon Rage, Zen Headbutt

Current sub-characters:
Vulpix: level 37, Flamethrower, Flash, Flamewheel, Dig
Marcus: power; future sight. Team: Clefairy, level 20; Magby, level 21; Gyarados, level 23; Poochyena, level 21
Robby: power; telekinesis.
Mia: power; being a brat :P. Team: Delcatty, level 16; Glameow, level 15
 
Ash grinned. "Trust me: it's freaking disgusting. Not to mention it feels all sorts of weird. Though I gotta ask: if you're gonna tell the others, do it later, when he's not looking hungry. It's not his fault. Thomas thinks his backlash sucks." She dodged and slammed Mickey into the tree, rolling her eyes. "I swear you are so much better when you're normal." She flipped back, narrowly avoiding a slice.

"Well whatever she's doing, we probably can't stop her," Zaria mused. "I'll go after her, you guys attempt to get Mia out. Alyss, if things get bad, fire at will."

"Somehow I approve of that idea," Alyss mused, Arca snorting.
 
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