Ace spat out the sock. He was coming to, double vision forced up bile. He recalled the events, he did not see his Houndour anywhere. Ash! Where was the little brat! He had to finish his mission yet he wanted to kick that kid into the ground.
Then he saw them, all huddled around the fire tending over something. He tried to see what it was. His Houndour! She was in real bad shape. Ash poured some potion into her mouth. Ace didn't know if he should tell the truth or keep up the lie slipping away first chance. Giovanni was dead, his revenge with him. He had to find somewhere to report back.
His superiors would want to know that the Rockets were lead by a new leader. The invasion on Greenfield had to reach them! If Greenfield was taken then Amber would be the next country to fall. He had a plan!
Yes, he had a plan, a devilish smirk on his face. He dug his heels into the tree, groaning quietly he held his breath. He twisted his body while he bucked his legs. He felt burns begin on his flesh, bucking again he felt his body moving in the direction he wanted. Yes, Ace had his plans.
Misty laid on her bed, her thoughts wandering. Had she been so bold to have kissed Ash? Why did she? She finally quit denying it all, she knew she loved him. She was afraid of being reject by someone younger. She hugged Togepi.
He had held her hand, smoothed it, held her while she cried. He was surprised by the kiss but, he kissed her back. Now she able to admit to it all, now that he wasn't coming back. She began to cry.
I heard there was a break through last night with the psychic links. A bad one though. Misty told me that without the crystals touching Ash can't return. Great I said just have Gary and Ash use the crystals. Then I found out Ash was in the future of Emerald. Gary was alone with Jessie, she is the most treacherous person I've seen. He better watch her closely if he doesn't want to wake up robbed blind.
I have managed to gather the Kanto Leaders except Koga, he has vanished after the incidents at Indigo. Janine can't find him. She is worried about her father, he nevers leaves more than a day without calling her. He always keeps her informed of his whereabouts. I must say I'm worried as well.
Johto Leaders are a different story. I can't believe how many phones have been slammed on me. Will is depending on me but, I'm failing. Some grudge this must be if grown people are reduced to childish behavior.
Mew is rather quite a remarkable pokémon. When I feel my worse she tries to comfort me. She is constantly at Will's side yet she also is so in tune with those around her. Time is flowing so fast these days, it's time to order some lunch. Laters Tracey.
The slave felt rays of soft light fall upon his eyelid. His eyes fluttered open. The moon rose high. It was a mere quarter yet it raised his spirits. His finger s played with the rays from the crack in the wall. The only light in this dismal cell he was thrust into.
His heart was heavy with thoughts of Cassandra. He stopped twitching his fingers in gentle beams of moonlight. His head lowered, he felt someone approach. He felt her mind. She was coming again. Time for public humilation. He longed to destroy the collar on his throat yet, if he dared she would kill Cassandra.
He silently stood, his eyes trained to the floor. He was forbidden to cast his sight upon her face. Since he tried to control her mind. He was close to his freedom, to live as he pleased with Cassandra at his side. That infernal Lickitung of hers! It realized what he was doing. She attacked him as the woman was releasing Cassandra.
Cassandra took the beating. Cassandra was bleeding and broken when she brought her before him. His sweet Cassandra, he promised never to do anything that brought such furious pain to her. The door swang open. The light burned his eyes, a hand blocked part of it.
"You must be lonely here. Let's take you to your adoring fans!" She laughed as she snapped the leash to his collar. "Remember if anything happens to me she gets that and worse!"
He was lead out, light causing him to stumble. She kicked him wickedly. He stood once more. He was to be robbed of his dignity another night. He had little to hold onto, if she killed him what would become of Cassy and the children she carried.
The doors above the castle opened, she stepped out. The crowd cheered, roses strewn at her feet. She was their beloved ruler. She hauled him out as he refused to be lead out, his only rebellion alotted. Even now it was a farce, he learned quickly that was what she wanted her people to see. A dumb creature stubborn to move.
"Greetings!" She held her arms high, the crowd silenced. "Look on the glory that is your Leader!"
She whipped the leash violently, he fell forward upon his face. Applause wafted from below. He soberly knelt before her. She took his tail in her hand. She gave her people a loving look.
"Look! For I have conquered this mighty beast! For it was I who has brought you to your rightful and magnificent rule! I led you against the weak Emerald Gym Leaders! We brought them to thier knees as I have brought this abomination to his knees! Cur!" She wrecthed at his tail harder then ever before.
She caused tears to well in his eyes, then she placed a foot on his back. She slowly forced him to lower to the floor. He felt her high heels dig in his back. He kept thinking he could grapple her neck with his tail, how easy he could twist it breaking her spine. Then what would become of Cassandra? No, he would force himself to bend to her demands. His hope was in his children.
His seeds of rebellion were growing inside Cassandra. The future of his kind depended on numbers. It was inevitable, if his race of pokémon grew in large numbers some would escape. Yes, escape to exact revenge for the elder generations forced into this slavery.
"Now are you willing to tell me further about those who threaten me!" She slapped him.
"I've told you what I can see." He hated her, hated these sessions.
"No! You haven't!" She pushed a button, he felt the needles in his collar dig into his flesh. "Now who is the kid you described! Who's the Rocket imposter!"
"I have! I have told you everything! Kill me if you want it will only end my suffering!" Even now away from the audience he kept his eyes on the floor.
"What if I killed your female!" She cracked her whip against his back.
"You don't have to! I told you what I can see! You won't be in any danger for another year!" He roared.
"Fine! Guards! Send him to the black box! When you want to tell me more you will. For now rot in your cell!"
In utter darkness once more, he thought. His fingers felt the humble rays that filtered into his cell. He wanted his freedom yet he kept thinking of the price. He would hold on for Cassandra. For the love of Cassandra. Always for Cassandra.
"Where's the Fed!" Meowth hollered.
All eyes fell upon the empty ropes across the tree. James ran over to it. He was astounded by the escape. Nero was stumped, Ash was worried. Meowth began to search close to the camp. Ash and Nero soon joined him. James was rechecking his rope. He was sure he tied it securely.
He hadn't realized the others were out searching for Ace. He found himself alone. He called the others, he walked around to the otherside of the tree calling. He didn't even glance behind him. Had James did he would have seen Ace doubled over. His feet clinging to a branch above.
James took a few steps back shouting. There! Thought Ace as he let his grip on the branch slacken. He let the weight of his legs work with gravity to crash down. He caught his heels squarely into James' back. He went down easy. Ace gritted his teeth as the adrenaline faded the stings of cuts, bruises, rope burns rushed in.
He used his teeth to worry over a corner of his vest. His teeth clinched a small metal rod, he tugged it free of the vest. He postioned it, then he took a breath. Houndour's ears rose at once. She ran to his side. He spat the dog whistle into his open palm.
"Good girl! Rip this rope apart!" His houndour obeyed. "Let's get going!"
They held each other a long time before parting. Misty was ill, Brock saw her but, he didn't know if he should leave Melanie's side or if he should speak with Misty. Sabrina had already entered the gym. Brock had a few meager hours before the Goldenrod train departed.
"Melanie I think we should talk with Misty. She looks depressed." He finally suggested.
"I noticed, we should talk with her. She lost all her friends and Ash, she will be lonely here Brock. She needs a friend, I should talk to her Brock." She placed her things before the junior trainers, they took them inside eagerly.
"I'm her oldest friend Mel, I should talk with her." He strode ahead of her.
"Brock, I know you care for her. Right now though she needs to talk with another girl. There are things we can talk to each other about yet we can't talk so easily about with a boy." She kissed his cheek before walking on.
He wondered what he would do until the two came looking for him. Brock shrugged, he went into the nearest gas station he decided to call Tracey and Will. He bought a soda and used the change for his call.
In the gym Sabrina's Master placed a gloved hand upon her shoulder. Under his hood she could see his eyes filled with relief yet, guarded relief.
"You are in pain my old friend." He tried to pry it out of Sabrina again.
"It's nothing but, fatigue mentor please let us discuss far more important matters. We need a solution to bring our friends back to this world though they are separated by time periods." She tripped, her Mentor helped her to her feet.
"Something is wrong! Don't be so proud Sabrina! What is wrong!" He was enraged at her selfishness. She was thinking only of her pride.
"Nothing Master! I am tired!" She heard the gym doors swing open as students came running to her.
"We will pick up this dialogue again later till I get an answer. Go, your students await." She was pained when she lied to him. He gave his secrets and pains so willing to her.
Was she too proud? Sabrina had to think this over. She called several students by the wrong names while she spoke to them. She didn't seem to want to read any of their research reports on her pokémon powers. She excused her students as Brock and Misty entered the gym.
Ace let out a booming chuckle as he strolled with his newest pokémon Houndour. He hadn't named her yet but, she was proving herself to him. He would soon have the perfect name for her. His laughter died down. He would have to call FBI HQ, he didn't know where to find a clean connection.
He sighed, his dog looked at him with curious glances. He petted her, as he kept walking. He readjusted his cloak. He lost Houndour's pok‚ball so now he had to let her tag along on foot.
He heard shouting, Ace froze. His dog growled. Then a man separated from the shadows. He rubbed his chin while he bounced something in his palm. He wore a cloak as well. A green cloak with black triming and black patches on the shoulder gave him the rank of a Royal Slave Trapper. This man was personally employed by the Team Rocket's Queen. Ace stood tall, he lowered his head before speaking.
"How goes the hunt Lord!" He kept his eyes lowered, learned from previous encounters how to react to higher rank slavers.
"What are you doing on my hunting grounds!" He sneered.
"Looking for a lost slave, he fled from my lady." Ace knelt, he sensed this trapper was uneasy about him.
"What lady is that man!" He shouted.
"My Lady Rezel, she wants this man lashed and lynched." He heard so many tales of Rezel's cruelty, his explaination had convinced several trappers before.
"Rezel? Really? Hey! Suelly! Suelly come here!" He shouted. A fat and rather ugly woman appeared. She bore the marks of a royal trapper as well.
"Suelly, he says he is hunting a lost slave of Rezel." He snickered.
"You don't say so Jesus?" She snorted.
"What do you think Sue? Should we help him find Rezel's lost one?" They both laughed.
Something was wrong. Ace could feel Houndour's agitation. Ace leapt backward, he had two pokéballs in hand. With a graceful landing he held one over his head. Houndour snarled as Ace took a battle stance, Ace wanted them to make the first move.
"What did I do wrong?" Ace asked.
"Rezel was killed last month fighting rebels! Dark Pupitar go!" Jesus and Suelly released their pokémon.
To be continued............
-JLB