The Children Are Hunted

Esper ignored the panic sent his way. He broadcasted his frustration that Thomas was so close, and now they all wanted him to ignore him? Esper didn't even need to sense him anymore. He could see him in that window! Nothing was going to stop him! Volt picked up the tension from the humans. He jumped in front of Esper and growled at him. Vulpix struggled out of Zorans arms and joined Volt.
"Come on, fur-brain! You're so smart! Try thinking! Go in through that window and what will happen!? You'll be with Thomas again, but those guys will take you away! Remember what happened last time! You'll see your human again soon! But you need to calm down!" Vulpix said, whincing at every word he put emphasis on.
"Wow, Vulpix saying something that actually makes sense? That's unheard of! Esper, he's right! You know that! Stop acting on instinct and listen!" Marcus said teasingly to Vulpix.
"Oh, shut up, you!" Vulpix said to Marcus, never taking his eyes off of Esper. Esper stopped and thought about it. He realized that those images hadn't just been conjured up by Zaria, but Thomas had sent some through her. As he calmed down, he became unable to block out the mental stress anymore. He bowed his head in submission to all of them, and waited for the Words to begin.
 
Zoran sighed and simply held out a hand for Esper to climb on. "Bout to be reckless again. Zari stay with Thomas so we can find the room again. Marcus, you stay too so we have a way of breaking that window down. Somebody ask Thomas if he can figure out where another entrance is."

"You are not barging through the front door again."

"Oh yes I am. Right Doom, Sparx?" They nodded. "They want me, good luck keeping me. Volt should come in too. Vulpix it's your choice. You can stay here or get on my head." Zaria sighed and floated into the room.
 
Thomas grinned at her when Zaria came in and explained the plan. He looked out the window and saw Esper refuse to climb up on Zoran's shoulder. Vulpix had no such inhibitions, and was picked right up.
"Silly cat! I know that you mean to say that you're going to help Zoran, but you may have just insulted him by not taking his help! Anyway, why is Marcus supposed to bust the window! I'm too big to fit though it. Zoran may be small enough, maybe even Marcus, but not me!" Thomas said to her. He then walked over and peered under the door. In the room beyond his he spotted another door. He had an idea.
"Hey, Zaria. Could you turn invisible and see where that door out there leads. It should lead back outside, then you can bring Zoran in here. I'll distract them!" Thomas said.
 
"They won't be able to see me anyway," Zaria muttered, vanishing and walking past. "And it's for backup." Before Thomas could distract them, there was the sound of a crash. "Oh no," she muttered. "Zora's breaking people against walls again." She ran down the hallway, calling. "Come up with that distraction! Please!" Esper had remained by the window.
 
Thomas grinned at her as she left.
"Hey! I want to play Halo! Let me out!" Thomas yelled.
"Shut up! Kevin, find out what that noise was," the guard said.
"That was me! What do you think it was?! Deluge, do it again! I'm sick of waiting!" Thomas said. Deluge looked at him, but right on que, Thomas heard a similar sound to what he heard earlier. They didn't seem to believe it, so Thomas thought fast. Ho turned the sink on and stuffed his shirt down it. Then he shoved one of his shoes down the toilet, and flushed. He grabbed the blanket off the bed and clogged up the shower. He turned the water on full blast. It started to seep out from under the door.
"What are you doing in there!? Kevin! Get back here! We need to teach this brat not to mess things up!" the guard said. Kevin ran back in the room and splashed in the water.
"What the hell?!" Kevin said. Thomas heard them at the door.
"Deluge! Use Ice Beam on the floor!" Thomas shouted. Deluge did as he was asked, and the teenager and the adult slipped and fell entering the room. Thomas laughed at them and slid himself across the ice, out of that cell. He would have closed the door and locked them in, but Kevin was on his feet again.
"Pansear! Malt the ice so we can walk!" he said. His Pansear did what it was told, and Thomas felt trapped. He heard something on the otherside of the door and hoped it was Zoran. He wouldn't be able to take all the goons here. He had his doubts that he could take Kevin and the guard without his team.
 
Zoran flipped over the adult's back to land in front of Thomas. "Yo," he greeted. "These guys have sucky goons. Sparx, hit it!" Blue electricity spiked through the air, zapping the two enemies. Zoran smirked quietly and Zaria was giggling. "YOu all right mate?" Zoran asked.
 
When Zoran had Sparx blast his opponents, Thomas reacted instintly. Zoran was standing in the water, and he was too. Thomas grabbed him, and dove onto the couch that was in the room. Good thing too, for Volt had taken his que from Sparx and used Discharge. The two electric attacks hit the guard, and from there, they spread through the water to hit Kevin and his Pansear. Thomas had barely reacted fast enough to save him and Zoran. Luckily, Deluge had been already standing on the couch, and Vulpix was perched precariously on Zoran's head. The two electric types were not standing in the water.Thomas stood up.
"Are you mental!? You could have been killed! Do you know what water does to electric attacks?" Thomas said, his voice cracking a little. He calmed down and said, "Thanks, though. You saved my butt, big time!"
Then the window shattered, and Esper practically flew in. The shards were suspended in midair, and were gently lowered to the ground. Esper walked over to Thomas and rubbed against his leg. Deluge made himself known.
"Oh, yeah! This is Deluge! He's the newest member of my team!" Thomas grabbed a pokeball from Zoran and tossed it at Deluge, with a quick promise of "I'll pay you back for it."
Deluge hopped in the ball willingly, and was added to his team.

Current team:
Esper (espeon): level 18, Psybeam, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Bite
Volt (elektrike): level 17, Discharge, Zap Canon, Quick Attack, Double Kick
Razor (skarmory): level 19, Steel Wing, Brave Bird, Air Cutter, Whirlwind
Deluge (squirtle): level 15, Water Gun, Ice Beam, Rapid Spin, Withdraw
 
Zoran shrugged. "It could have been worse. I know what happens. I had to take the risk you'd notice. You're welcome. Zaria lead our buddy out!" Zoran went through the window. "No need to pay me back." Zaria waved at the pair, showing them to hurry up.

"Those guys could wake up any time!"
 
Thomas nodded, although he wasn't so sure. He followed her outside, where Marcus was waiting. Esper and Volt followed him out. Once outside, he retrieved Razor from Zoran.
"Alright! I need a shirt and a pair of shoes! Where can I get those?" Thomas asked.
"Um, I'll get another of your shirts out of the bag. You don't have anymore shoes, sorry," Marcus said. Thomas put on the fresh shirt. He didn't tell Zoran or Marcus about what he was feeling about what just occured. He looked at Esper. Esper, sent his appreciation and friendship to Zaria, then cut the connection between the three of them. Thomas put him and Volt back in their pokeballs.
"Huh... I guess I need to go get my shoe out of the toilet! You guys wait here, and rest! I'll be right back! Thomas walked back in the building. He checked Kevin and the guards pulse. He had been right. They were dead. He also chacked the Pansear, and found it was gone as well. He had to hold himself together! If the others see him break down, then they will too! He couldn't let that happen! He had hold himself together, and act like nothing was wrong! He pulled his shoe out of the toilet. He had not used the toilet, thank god! He put the soaking shoe back on his foot. It matched his other shoe, for that one was soaked as well. He walked back outside.
"I'm back!" he said brightly, feigning confidence he didn't really feel.
 
Zaria examined him, whispered something in Zoran's ear. The boy shrugged. He had figured they were dead. The scent of charred bodies was seared in his memories. It didn't really matter as far as he was concerned. Zoran opened his mouth and then went quiet. There was no need to tell Thomas what he had done before he had found the guy. He would probably freak out and attack him.

Zaria whispered softly in Vulpix's ear. "Don't tell the others what Zora did okay? They'll hurt him." Zaria wasn't used to it but... it wasn't a surprise either. Sparx stepped reflexively in front of her trainer, waiting for them to say it.

Zoran shrugged. "You need a moment Thomas?" He turned away politely, but Doom was growling in their direction.
 
"Need a moment for what? I'm ready to go! Where were you headed, Zoran?" Thomas asked. At that point, Vulpix hopped down.
"Guys! It's time for me to go! You've shown me things. You've taught me that not all humans are bad! I'm going to return to the RDM and try and convince those old fools how wrong they are! But fear not! You shall see Van Flaresoul again!" Withthat pronouncement, Vulpix used Flash, blinding all of them. When the light cleared, he was gone.
"Van?" Marcus asked questioningly.
"Hehehe. He's as much a showman as I am!" Thomas said. He turned to Zoran.
"Well, what's it gonna be? You want to head for New York?" Thomas asked his friend. He was still preoccupied with what had just happened.
 
Zoran watched as Van vanished and smiled softly. Then he glanced back at Thomas. "I suppose I should go there, if you're willing to wait for me to get the badge. It won't take long. Unless you want to go somewhere else first. It doesn't matter to me." He kept his hands in his pockets.

"Zora..."

"Ssh. Let 'em talk Zari."
 
"Nah! I got no problem with it! In fact, I got a pair of old gay guys I need to meet! Let's go! Razor! Lend us a hand!" Thomas said. He sent out Razor. He climbed up on her.
"C'mon, Marcus, Zoran! She's plenty strong enough to take us all! Just call your pokemon back! I don't know if she is that strong!" Thomas said. Marcus stammered a protest and got a reproachful look from Thomas. He swallowed his complaints, and climbed up infront of Thomas. Razor lifted of the ground to test the new weight, then landed, waiting for Zoran. Thomas looked at him expectantly.
 
Zoran returned his Pokemon silently and joined them. His eyes were distant, Zaria flying silently around them. She knew what her brother was thinking about. "Think my cell phone will work from up there Zari?"

"Doubt it." He sighed. She wanted to slap him.

"Great. You know how well Ash takes to unexpected company."

"It's you Zora. She'll be fine."

"Hope you're right. I think I still have bruises from her last tantrum." As they soared up, he glanced down at the building. A soft, harsh laugh left his lips and then he looked up at the sky. "It's pretty from up here," he commented quietly.
 
"Who's Ash?" Thomas asked as Razor flew. He loved the feeling! It was as though nothing else mattered while he was up here! Marcus didn't share his feelings, as he had his eyes covered.
"What's wrong!? Feeling a little sick?" Thomas asked. If he was feeling ill, Thomas couldn't blame him. He'd read that Skarmory could fly up to 180 miles an hour (true fact, check the pokedex entry). Marcus nodded his agreement, but thankfully didn't throw up. He would have thrown up on Zoran, who would not have been pleased.

Vulpix ran as far as his injuries would let him. He stopped and gasped for breath.
"I wonder if I should have told them about it," Vulpix said to himself. He was then lifted by the scruff of his neck. He tried to bite them, but a muzzle was slipped on him. He tried to Flash, but the man didn't let him go. He was turned around and found himself nose to snout with the human called Carlson.
"Tell them about what?" he asked. Even if Vulpix could have said anything, he wouldn't have. Instead he uttered a muffled growl.
"Not in the mood to talk? Well, we can fix that. But first, to remove that annoying Shadow Tag. Can't have any of your friends finding you the way we did, can we?" Carlson said. Vulpix braced himself. only fainting would remove the Shadow Tag, something that hadn't happened to him since it was put on. Then everything went black.
 
To their surprise, Zoran turned pink and looked away, refusing to answer as Zaria giggled, spinning around him. "Zari..."

"I don't wanna be you when Mickey finds out," she giggled. Zoran grumbled softly, swatting her head. She yelped and flew away, laughing hysterically.

Zoran sighed. "She's... my friend's cousin."

"And they like each other." Zaria supplied with a grin.

"And she's in high school."

"That did not stop her mother!"

Zoran flushed deeper. "T-That doesn't change much Zari!"
 
"Ah. I think I'll leave it at that, if you don't want to talk about it. Anyway, We're here!" Thomas said. How did Razor know where she was going. Then he remembered that she had a previous trainer. He may have come here in the past. That would explain it. She landed them just outside the city limits. Thomas turned to Marcus.
"Alright, dude. This is your city! Take them to the gym! I got some catching up to do with Jerry and Mr. Stevens," Thomas said. Before anyone could say a thing, he returned Razor, hailed down a taxi, and was off. Marcus turned to Zoran.
"Well, this way to the gym, unless you want to meet your friend. Then you just tell me what the dress is, and I'll get you there. I've been everywhere in this city. Be careful. People may try to mug you," Marcus said after Thomas had gone. Marcus figured whatever he wanted to tell the men was important.
 
Zoran sighed. "Give me two minutes." He flipped open an old, battered cell phone. "Hey Ash, I'm in New York... sorry last minute... dragged... yeah I know... of course... ma'am you are... you're welcome... I'll drop by after the gym battle, promise. Bye." He sighed. "Worrywart."

"You walked into a volcano," Zaria told him.

"Yeah yeah." He turned to Marcus. "To the Gym please." Cody's Pokeball shook and he grinned. "I know I know, you're ready to kill things. Doom needs a chance too."
 
"Ok! Lets go! I should warn you, but Blitz is very tough. His Electric types are hard to beat. Although Thomas kicked his butt as easily as you kicked Embers, so I don't think you'll have a problem!" Marcus said. He began leading Zoran through the jungle that called itself New York.

Thomas hopped out of the taxi and payed the man. He walked into the NYGH. He saw the receptionist was different, and that no one was in the lobby. That tipped him of and he sent out Volt. He walked into the back room.
"Mr. Stevens?" he called out.
"Nope, just me!" Morgan said. He followed Thomas into the room. Thomas was about to have Volt blast him half to death, when Morgan held up his hand.
"Before you do that, let me deliver my message. After that, it's your choice!" Morgan said. He walked over and turned the TV on. Thomas felt his heart stop. His mother was staring at him. Her eyes were stained with tears.
"Oh, god. Thomas, I'm so sorry! I was wrong! These men from the AAPM. They have got Ken and Nicky! They say they will kill them if you don't do as they say. They've threatened to kill me! I'm so sorry, Thomas. I didn't mean for this to happen!" she said. The TV was turned off.
"What do you want," Thomas said in a deadly tone of voice.
"You have no idea how much I begged to have this part of the job!" Morgan said.
"That only proves that you have no shame! What do you bastards want from me?!" Thomas shouted.
"You should know we have your sponcers as well!" Morgan said with glee. Thomas punched him in the stomach as hard as he could. Morgan crumpled over holding his stomach.
"For the last time, TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT!" Thomas yelled. Tears were running down his face. He was in absolute misery. And Morgan was eating it up.
"Hahahah! We just want your cooperation! You will come with me. We will take you back to headquarters, where you will be given certain tasks. Tasks that if you fail to carry out will result in the death of someone you know. Do you understand?" Morgan said. Thomas was silent. Morgan opened his mouth to say something, but Thomas cut him off.
"Fine, I'll do it. But you will not take away my pokemon! And I will do things my way! Not yours! The result will be the same, but the method will be of my choosing!" Thomas said. Morgan nodded, as though he expected that, and the two of them got into a car that had been pulled around by the fake receptionist.
 
Zoran followed Marcus in silence. Cody's Pokeball was shaking with anticipation. Zoran smiled reflexively, darkly. Zaria hovered at his side. He clenched a fist lightly.

"What's the matter?" she asked. "Everything actually hitting you now?"

"Nope," he said cheerily. "Just wondering about stuff, like if the Gym's really so difficult."
 
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