(This was the point in the Jathemon stories, where things started to really get going and open up a whole new world, for us. There are many more stories I've yet to post, but if these two get the okay, I'll work on editing some more.)
They reached a small health clinic, tended to by a single blue-haired young woman, whose eyes widened when she looked at them all. "Oh my my, you all look so terrible. Please come in, lay down right here on the beds." she said in a soft silky voice. "Thanks, Grace." Bruce grunted, setting CT down. Nurse Grace tended to them all, bandaging wounds and tending to CT. "This is terrible frost. I'll need an ice heal drip." she said, attaching an IV to CT's arm.
Rest was good. They were all tired, weak, and sleep-deprived. CT didn't know how long he was out, but when he woke up, it was almost dark, out. He looked around the room. A hospital? When did he get to a hospital? He sat up, grabbing his head. It still hurt, from that Bug Buzz.
He yanked the IV out, and swung over the edge of the bed. He had to get out of there, before authorities showed up. A bunch of people coming in here with injuries that severe, people were bound to be asking questions. He looked over, across the room. Nico had fallen asleep, in Musashi's lap. He had been through a lot. He deserved a good rest.
He was still weak, but at least he wasn't frozen. He limped over toward the two, and sat down next to Musashi. There was a long, awkward silence, before CT finally spoke up. "Thank you." he said, softly. "For keeping an eye, on him."
Musashi looked at CT with his green eyes. "Not a problem. Personally, I don't like you, and I feel I should do whatever it takes to stop whatever you plan to do. However, this one is just a child." he sighed. "To think you created such a diminutive boy, not like you at all."
CT smiled, at the sleeping Nico. "He does take a bit after his mother." He stood, taking the sleepy child in his arms, and started to walk out. Nurse Grace popped in, gasping. "No no no, patients are not to be leaving prematurely."
"Madam," he sighed. "My son and I have been through a lot, tonight, and I'd like to leave, before people come in and start asking questions. If you don't mind.." he said, shrugging past the nurse. He just wanted to go home, and forget about this whole thing. Lash and Shii were still at the hotel, though, so first thing's first, he supposed.
Bruce groaned as he sat up. "Yes, thank you for caring for us this far. "
"But, you're not fully recovered." Grace protested. "We're fine, nothing some more rest wouldn't cure." Bruce said, leaving with CT. "Little Nick too heavy for you? I can carry him."
Musashi ran his fingers through his hair. Why did he help that traitor? Better yet, why did he let himself be thanked by him? Any other time he would have been attacking him, or something else like that. He sighed. "What's coming over me?"
CT nodded, at Bruce. "The boy weighs next to nothing. I'm fine." He stopped and turned back, glancing at Musashi. He took a deep breath, as though the words he was about to say tasted bitter. "Musashi, do me a favor and meet me in the Central Plaza, in two hours. Alone, please. There's one final matter, I need to discuss with you." he said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Musashi raised an eyebrow. Had the moment he'd been waiting for finally come? Was Ferrovax finally giving him the duel he wanted? Was he going to end this in a mere two hours?
Ahti was already back at the hotel, with the kids. His injuries weren't as severe, and all he needed was a good rest. CT walked in, with Nico, and Lash embraced them both in a hug. Everybody was together, and unharmed. Except for...
"Where's Shii?" CT finally piped in. Lash sighed; "I don't know. He was here a few hours ago, then not long after Ahti got back, he was gone. No big deal, right? He probably just ran home, or is scavenging the dumpsters." Lash said, rolling her eyes. Shii didn't matter, right now. What mattered, is that everybody was safe.
Clem smiled as she tugged on Zero's sleeve. "Mommy mommy, guess what? I helped Daddy fight! I was all hyaa take that meanie poo faces and they were all like owie owie and I was all cha! This bug meanie was all 'rawr I'ma hurt yo daddy' and I was all no take that!" she chimed, pantomiming how she apparently viewed the scene.
Zero listened, intently. Her little Clem had become quite the battler, and brave, too. Ahti chuckled, as he watched Clem's reenactment of the battle. "If it wasn't for Clem, we'd be toast." he said, as he ruffled her hair. Clem giggled happily as her tail wagged. "Nico, too." he continued. Lash regarded him with a warm smile.
Two hours later Musashi was ready, waiting as he sat cross legged. When he saw CT coming he stood up, putting a hand to his swords.
CT stepped out of the car, and started toward Musashi. CT noticed Musashi's hands on his blades, and quickly held up a hand, in protest. "I'm not here, to fight. If you truly wanted to kill me, and I, you, we both had the ideal opportunity, back in Relic Castle." Musashi relaxed. "You weren't calling me out to duel? Then what, pray tell, have you called me out here for?"
"I need you to do something, for me." CT sighed, and he waved his hand, signaling somebody to step out of the car. Lilith and Soto stepped out, both looking very nervous. They had every right to be.
"Unfortunately, the process can't be reversed. Somebody needs to help them. To guide them. To help them adjust. I want you to take them with you, Musashi." the tone in CT's voice wasn't at all snarky, but rather had a touch of respect to it. Musashi had the opportunity to kill CT. CT knew he wanted to, but he didn't. He stayed with Nico, while CT was resting, in the clinic. He may have hated Musashi, but he had earned a respect, for him.
Musashi stood stunned, for a moment. "You. You want me to help them? Well..." He looked at the two girls. They were frightened and nervous, entering a world they didn't understand, barely even knowing who they were anymore. "Ok, you got it. I'll help them. I don't really have a dojo yet, and this city still confuses me. However, I couldn't abandon people who were in a situation like I was."
"Very well, then." CT nodded at Musashi, and turned back heading for the car. "By the way," he said, not turning around. "Have you been to Icirrus City? Nice town. Dragonspiral Tower to the North, Twist Mountain in the West. Also has a nice moor, further out." he said nothing more, and returned to his car.
Back at Relic Castle, Elvis had woke up, and was quite furious, at the two fusions. Before he could open his mouth, to start scolding them, a familiar voice was heard, from the shadows.
"You didn't get rid of boy." it hissed. Elvis stood up straight. "You didn't give me the data." he shot back. A tall, lanky figure stepped out, from the shadows. "We had deal. You get rid of boy, Shii gives you data. Boy is still alive, birdman doesn't get data."
"We weren't planning on the Mystery Inc. coming after us." Elvis growled. "We'll get the boy." Shii chuckled. It wasn't his typical, maniacal laughter. It was a twisted, sadistic laughter. "Ferrovax is bound to be on high alert, after this. Not let boy out of his sight. Is very protective, yes. Birdman won't get another chance, so birdman gets no data."
Elvis narrowed his eyes, at Shii. "We'll get rid of the boy. Whatever it takes. I need that data." Shii started walking out. "Long as boy is still breathing, Shii keeps the data. We will talk again soon, birdman."
It was good, to be home. After Lash and Nico were in bed, CT headed back down to the lab. It seemed quieter. Empty. The dim glow of monitors and various other electronic devices lit up the lab, in an eerie glow. Shii had returned, and fallen asleep in his nest, in a corner. It was almost like living in your parents' basement, but as long as Shii got the job done, CT didn't mind.
CT sat in front of a monitor, and flicked it on. It stored much of Blackstone's research, as well as something CT himself had been toying with. Pokemon had extraordinary healing abilities. Reuniclus, Audino, Chancey, Altaria, and...an image flickered across the screen. Roserade. Roserade could heal status problems and wounds inflicted by such problems. Perhaps it was a cruel irony, that CT decided on a Pokemon that had a weakness, to fire.
After all that happened, everything they had been through, the last few days, he still had to continue Blackstone's research. He just had to be more careful, about it. Certainly no more fusions, at least not outside the ones he and Lash created, together. He couldn't risk letting Nico get hurt, again. He had to be careful, from now on. Think things through. But he couldn't simply abandon this project.
He walked over to a room, with a man in it. A human. He was a little under average height, and a very scrawny build. He had a short, round nose, and equally round face. He was also covered in burns, and most of his hair had been scorched away. CT held a serum that would mix this person's DNA, with that of a Roserade. One of Roserade's abilities, after all, would cure things such as burns. If things went well, once this human's DNA had melded with the Roserade's, his burns would heal, and he would gain the Pokemon's power. Instead of turning Pokemon into people, instead of creating fusions, he was merging Pokemon with human beings.
"Soon, Pokemon battling, gym leaders, and League championships will come to an end, as we know it. Humans will have the power of Pokemon, and Pokemon will no longer be under the control of humans. Imagine it. The next step in human evolution. Instead of using Pokemon to do their bidding, humans themselves can fight back, wielding the power of Pokemon. That is to say nothing, of Pokemon's incredible healing abilities."
The man in the room had his back turned, the whole time. "You sound like Blackstone." he wheezed. CT grinned. "That's why I took his name. In honor of his mad genius." he said, readying the serum. The man grimaced. He was too badly injured, to stop it. "Please, don't do this. Haven't you hurt me, enough?" the man wheezed, again.
"Don't be daft." CT said. "You can barely speak or move. You look like something from a bad horror movie. This will make you better, according to theory." The man winced, as the needle struck his arm. "I'm giving you a second chance at life, Dr. Porter. And you're the first of something, that could change the world, forever."
