PW! - Heart of Darkness
William Rendfeld
Dark clouds of volcanic ash hung oppressively in the sky above
Citadark Isle, streams of magma running down from the volcano’s tip
and streaming down into the dark oceans surrounding it. Constructed
long ago by Cipher to serve as their primary base of operations, it
was all but inaccessible due to the dark storm clouds suspended around
it and the violent, churning waves surrounding it. Indeed, most
avoided it, the only easy method to reach it was the use of a boat
fast enough to pierce the waves…and only so many people had access to
such vehicles in Orre.
Cipher, however, was not just one person.
A number of peons and administrators were hard at work in the
island’s control center, coordinating Cipher operations throughout the
region and globally. Overseeing them from a central chair was a tall
man, grey hairs fading to white upon his head, his neatly-trimmed
goatee emphasizing his chin and piercing grey eyes keeping watch over
the proceedings.
One of the peons turned from her console to address her leader.
“Master Kosda, Admin Orrin’s team has returned – he’d like to speak
with you, sir.”
A quirked eyebrow. “Orrin…remind me, he was sent to Professor
Krane’s laboratory to destroy the purification chamber, yes?”
“Yes sir, that was his mission.”
A nod. “Well, I hope for his sake that he didn’t fail his mission.
Good help is very hard to find.” He rose from his seat, his long dark
blue cloak swishing behind him and briefly allowing a glimmer from
metal to escape from beneath, then turned to the waiting elevator.
“Send him up.” The message was relayed, and a large man wearing
Cipher’s normal body armor stepped out. “I don’t mind speaking with my
subordinates, Orrin, but I appreciate an explanation.”
The Admin gave a small bow. “My apologies, Master. I and my peons
were successful in destroying the purification chamber. While they may
end up repairing it, it will be some time before it’s restored to full
working order.”
“Which is accepted and part of the plan, yes. Now, why bother
speaking with me?”
“We were met with interference.”
The older man pursed his lips. “Orrin, it was a Pokémon laboratory.
Trainers live there and pass through there regularly. Again, why are
you bringing this up?”
“We weren’t attacked by a bunch of trainers, sir, we were attacked
by two. One was a boy, about six feet, with a Lucario and this staff
with a crystal at the tip. The other was –”
“Wait…what sort of crystal?” Kosda reached under his cloak and drew
an old glove. “Was it like this one?”
“Yeah…and he was wearing gloves just like that one too, just
newer.”
“And the other was outfitted similarly?”
“No sir. The other was a girl, taller, kinda curvy, with a Blaziken
and a shadow Arcanine.”
Again, up went the eyebrow. “A girl, taller than the boy and
dressed differently. What was she wearing?”
“High-heeled brown boots, blue jeans, green shirt, brown vest,
these strange-looking gauntlet things…she had a sword, too.”
A nod. “An interesting wardrobe to be certain.” He turned and
approached the consoles. “Zalin, if you’d be so kind as to do a search
of registered Pokémon trainers? I’m looking for a young woman, taller
than six feet in height.” Kosda looked back to Orrin and asked, “Any
other physical characteristics?”
“Long brown hair, sir.”
“Brown hair as well.” He beckoned Orrin to approach. “You don’t
live as long as I do without having seen things like this before.
Trust me, a plucky young hero or two will only cause problems down the
road. The sooner this is nipped in the bud, the better. The sooner we
can determine the identity of the one, the sooner we can find them and
their potential traveling companions.”
“You think these two are traveling together?”
A small smile. “No reason to believe otherwise.”
Zalin’s console beeped. “Sir, we’ve finished the search. Only one
match.” On the screen appeared the Trainer’s Profile and statistics on
a young woman with long brown hair, brown eyes and a pleasant smile
looking back at them. “Alexandria Masters.”
“Excellent. I want all the information you can get about this girl
– background, family history, details on her Pokémon, whatever you can
dig up. Also, have someone head to Gateon Port and ask around about
her – odds are, that’s where she arrived here in Orre.” He turned to
the peon who addressed him earlier. “Cuna, have our outposts placed on
full alert.” He then turned back to Orrin. “Have your team healed up,
and see about getting Shadow Pokémon issued, then get some rest.
You’re going off to Agate Village tomorrow.”
-
A sour look went over Nicholas’s face as he examined the snag
machine in his hands. “I don’t like this. I don’t even like the idea
of something like this.”
“Truthfully, I don’t either.” Examining the accompanying ear clip,
Alex noted, “Still, it doesn’t work without this. That’s a small
comfort, isn’t it?”
“Smaller than a visible Diglett.” The young man sighed, then put
aside the machine. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but you seemed a
little eager to chase after those Cipher operatives. Any reason why?”
The young woman huffed. “It’s complicated. Stuff’s happened to me
before, bad stuff, and the ones who did it were never caught. They may
have done what they set out to do, but I don’t like the idea of them
escaping justice in the bargain.”
A reassuring smile. “They won’t. Not forever.” He then slid into
the driver’s seat. “So, the Pokémon have been checked over, and
Cipher’s taken out one means of turning Shadow Pokémon back to normal
ones. Agate’s only an hour away.”
“Well, let’s get moving. Hopefully, we’ll beat them there.”
Nicholas buckled in and started up his mobile home. Alex clicked
her own belt into place, and then settled back into her seat. Things
had gotten a bit more complicated than she liked, and things only
looked to be more frustrating. She just hoped they wouldn’t get worse.
-
Kosda marched into his private chambers, glad that the previous
tenant had them included. They allowed him privacy, and he enjoyed his
privacy.
He threw off his cloak, revealing the light armor he wore
underneath, a mix of chain mail and plates over strategic areas on his
chest, arms and legs. Despite his age, he was in excellent shape – the
exact reasons for his physical condition, and his exact age, he kept
to himself. At his side, however, was part of the reason. Hanging from
his belt was a long sword, a blue crystal embedded in its hilt. The
one he carried was a reproduction of one he carried long ago, before
Cipher’s foundations, but no less valid a weapon.
And now, as he looked over the information concerning the young
trainer, it looked very much like he had found the mate to his blade.
TBC!