08-13-2015, 05:32 PM
Matrix and AndrAIa followed Syril into the main town of Cinnabar Island. AndrAIa was looking around in absolute awe of the hodgepodge of species that populated this odd island. Like Matrix, she quickly noted that they were the only human-like creatures in sight. Sure Matrix had green skin, and she had some scales on her back, but that was minor compared to what she saw around here. That same thought obviously crossed the minds of the inhabitants, because they were getting plenty of odd stares.
They passed through the doors of one of the larger structures on the island, ascended a flight of stairs. At the top were two slightly larger than usual doors, and Syril stopped before them.
"Wait here," Syril said, before opening one and entering it.
Matrix quietly looked around, looking around the area. They had been ambushed so well earlier that he was certain there was a guard of some sort hiding in plain sight even now, but he didn't see anything. What was so strange about this place was that he simply did not know what to look for. The potential this civilization had was very apparent, and he was beginning to put the pieces together.
The door opened again, and Syril was standing there.
"Come on in," the Yoshi merely said, holding the door open for them.
AndrAIa walked in first, followed by Matrix. As he passed Syril, Matrix locked eyes with the dinosaur, both of them glaring at each other. Syril closed the door behind them as they entered.
The room itself was nothing too fancy. The most noticeable thing was the four Pokemon that each sat at a respective desk, studying the newcomers carefully. They were vastly different from each other. One appeared to be a large boulder with arms, another was a yellow skinned bipedal, the third was a a purple ghost, and the final was a four armed creature with blue skin. Matrix carefully looked between each one, waiting on them to speak.
"So, you seek refuge on Cinnabar Island?" the ghost spoke abruptly. "We will discuss your merit, here. I am Gengar. This is Alakazam, Golem, and Machamp."
"Thank you for seeing us," AndrAIa politely replied. Matrix crossed his arms, silently.
"Why should we shelter you?" Machamp asked them. "We know nothing of you, and this island has struggled greatly with the Empire. We have our own problems, and don't want to invite any more in."
"We're not bringing problems, we just want to stay away from the Empire," AndrAIa explained. "We've only been in the Omniverse a little while, but we haven't quite been able to escape the reach of Imperial influence. We've had troubles with groups like them in the past, so we just want to take shelter somewhere and figure out what our next step is."
"The Empire wants control of Cinnabar and all it's inhabitants, for likely terrible purposes," Golem explained. "We have our own problems, but we're not above letting people prove their loyalty."
"Prove our loyalty?" Matrix skeptically asked.
"There is an Imperial fleet serving as a blockade just off our coast," Alakazam's voice rang into their minds. "Their presence makes it impossible for us to accomplish much off the island, as our best warriors must always stay here in preparation for an Imperial assault."
"That unorganized bunch of ships?" Matrix laughed back at them. "You guys are worried about them?"
"We are not a hidden warrior society," Alakazam snapped back at him, mentally. "We are simply trying to survive in an unforgiving reality."
AndrAIa put a comforting hand on Matrix's shoulder, to keep him calm. "What would you like us to do to help?"
The four Pokemon looked at each other for a few seconds, then back to each other. Matrix wondered if the mind speaker was talking with them privately.
"Go to the fleet, disrupt it," Machamp ordered. "The more ships you can force to leave, the better. We don't want to start a war, but we want them gone. And we certainly don't want them shipwrecked on this island."
"Forget it," Matrix replied without missing a beat. "You want us to stick our necks out for you, when you won't do the same for us? We don't owe you anything, either."
"You seek shelter here," Gengar curtly reminded him.
"And you want us to go antagonize a super power, just for a way to stay away from said power?" Matrix said back. "We're not marked enemies of the Empire, yet, and if that's the only way to earn temporary shelter, then forget it. We'll find another island. Let's go, AndrAIa."
"What you say is fair," Golem replied before Matrix could even begin to turn. "You are right. The Empire is our problem, but it's not every else's...yet. It is not fair to force you to become involved."
"But they pilot an Imperial vessel, this man has technology like that of the Empire," Gengar said as he turned to the other council members. "Even now, this man studies us with that same technology."
AndrAIa looked over to Matrix. Sure enough, his eye was glowing red. It was all too obvious he was scanning each member of the council. She slapped him on the arm, which caught him so off guard that he jumped in place.
"Stop that," she ordered.
"Sorry," Matrix quietly apologized, his eye losing it's glow as his scanners deactivated.
"We're not Empire, but Matrix is right. We won't join a war without knowing more facts," AndrAIa explained.
"There may be another task you can do for us," Machamp suddenly said, rubbing his chin with his lower right arm. "We have another issue that we are unable to pursue. It is just as pressing, if not more."
Gengar looked to Machamp, and shook his head. "We cannot trust them."
"We have no choice. The blockade prevents us from helping them," Golem replied suddenly.
Matrix and AndrAIa exchanged glances. What were they talking about?
"If there's some other way we can help, please tell us," AndrAIa implored, trying to take advantage of this opportunity.
A silence fell over the four of them as they thought. Matrix again wondered if it was a private, telepathic conversation, but was starting to doubt that given the last discussion.
"Several younger members of this society have ventured off the island, and may be in extreme danger," Machamp suddenly explained. "It was against everyone's advice...but they are young and reckless. When we couldn't find them, we knew they had gone."
"Where to?" Matrix asked.
"Do not tell them!" Gengar snapped. "If they know, the Empire could find out. We cannot trust these strangers!"
"We have no choice," Golem replied. "They are in extreme danger. We cannot send a rescue off island as long as the Empire looms."
"And if the Empire learns of the children and captures them?" Alakazam boomed into everyone's minds. "They will hold an advantage, and even Mewtwo will be unable to stop their demands. They are our children. With them, the Empire can manipulate us."
"Exactly. They are our children," Machamp shot back. "For them, we should spare no expense."
A silence fell again, as the four pondered the implications of trusting these strangers. Matrix, however, had heard enough.
"This is basic," Matrix said to AndrAIa, turning towards the door. "If they won't trust us, why should we bother? Let's get out of here."
AndrAIa shot one more glance back, studying Machamp and Golem. They seemed to be the more open ones to this suggestion, but they simply stared back at her.
"We are sorry. This is too sensitive. If you will not deal with the Empire, we cannot trust you," Golem replied. Even his logic was different now, to her annoyance. AndrAIa shook her head and followed Matrix out the door.
Matrix shoved the door open, but AndrAIa calmly closed it behind her as she exited. They were surprised to see Syril still waiting in the hallway for them.
"Well?" the blue skinned dinosaur asked.
"Will you show us the way back to the boat?" Matrix asked bluntly. "Your council doesn't trust us to do anything except get ourselves killed by charging at Imperial warships."
"They didn't mention the children?" Syril asked, looking surprise.
"Oh they mentioned them," Matrix scoffed.
AndrAIa sighed. "They won't tell us where they are. They're afraid of them falling into Imperial hands. Sorry, Syril. We're going to move on."
"Isla Nublar," Syril suddenly said, keeping his voice low.
"What?" Matrix said, surprised.
"I'll show you on a map, and explain it on the way," Syril replied. "Come with me to your boat. I won't leave the children to a horrible fate on that island."
Matrix and AndrAIa looked at each other, nodded, then looked back to Syril. The Yoshi began to descend the stairs, and they followed. They didn't know what the council would think if they recovered children they weren't supposed to be able to find, but they seemed to have the same mindset as Syril on this one. Ensure their safety, then deal with whatever may come of it later.
The council may have merely said it, but this warrior Yoshi had meant it. Spare no expense.
They passed through the doors of one of the larger structures on the island, ascended a flight of stairs. At the top were two slightly larger than usual doors, and Syril stopped before them.
"Wait here," Syril said, before opening one and entering it.
Matrix quietly looked around, looking around the area. They had been ambushed so well earlier that he was certain there was a guard of some sort hiding in plain sight even now, but he didn't see anything. What was so strange about this place was that he simply did not know what to look for. The potential this civilization had was very apparent, and he was beginning to put the pieces together.
The door opened again, and Syril was standing there.
"Come on in," the Yoshi merely said, holding the door open for them.
AndrAIa walked in first, followed by Matrix. As he passed Syril, Matrix locked eyes with the dinosaur, both of them glaring at each other. Syril closed the door behind them as they entered.
The room itself was nothing too fancy. The most noticeable thing was the four Pokemon that each sat at a respective desk, studying the newcomers carefully. They were vastly different from each other. One appeared to be a large boulder with arms, another was a yellow skinned bipedal, the third was a a purple ghost, and the final was a four armed creature with blue skin. Matrix carefully looked between each one, waiting on them to speak.
"So, you seek refuge on Cinnabar Island?" the ghost spoke abruptly. "We will discuss your merit, here. I am Gengar. This is Alakazam, Golem, and Machamp."
"Thank you for seeing us," AndrAIa politely replied. Matrix crossed his arms, silently.
"Why should we shelter you?" Machamp asked them. "We know nothing of you, and this island has struggled greatly with the Empire. We have our own problems, and don't want to invite any more in."
"We're not bringing problems, we just want to stay away from the Empire," AndrAIa explained. "We've only been in the Omniverse a little while, but we haven't quite been able to escape the reach of Imperial influence. We've had troubles with groups like them in the past, so we just want to take shelter somewhere and figure out what our next step is."
"The Empire wants control of Cinnabar and all it's inhabitants, for likely terrible purposes," Golem explained. "We have our own problems, but we're not above letting people prove their loyalty."
"Prove our loyalty?" Matrix skeptically asked.
"There is an Imperial fleet serving as a blockade just off our coast," Alakazam's voice rang into their minds. "Their presence makes it impossible for us to accomplish much off the island, as our best warriors must always stay here in preparation for an Imperial assault."
"That unorganized bunch of ships?" Matrix laughed back at them. "You guys are worried about them?"
"We are not a hidden warrior society," Alakazam snapped back at him, mentally. "We are simply trying to survive in an unforgiving reality."
AndrAIa put a comforting hand on Matrix's shoulder, to keep him calm. "What would you like us to do to help?"
The four Pokemon looked at each other for a few seconds, then back to each other. Matrix wondered if the mind speaker was talking with them privately.
"Go to the fleet, disrupt it," Machamp ordered. "The more ships you can force to leave, the better. We don't want to start a war, but we want them gone. And we certainly don't want them shipwrecked on this island."
"Forget it," Matrix replied without missing a beat. "You want us to stick our necks out for you, when you won't do the same for us? We don't owe you anything, either."
"You seek shelter here," Gengar curtly reminded him.
"And you want us to go antagonize a super power, just for a way to stay away from said power?" Matrix said back. "We're not marked enemies of the Empire, yet, and if that's the only way to earn temporary shelter, then forget it. We'll find another island. Let's go, AndrAIa."
"What you say is fair," Golem replied before Matrix could even begin to turn. "You are right. The Empire is our problem, but it's not every else's...yet. It is not fair to force you to become involved."
"But they pilot an Imperial vessel, this man has technology like that of the Empire," Gengar said as he turned to the other council members. "Even now, this man studies us with that same technology."
AndrAIa looked over to Matrix. Sure enough, his eye was glowing red. It was all too obvious he was scanning each member of the council. She slapped him on the arm, which caught him so off guard that he jumped in place.
"Stop that," she ordered.
"Sorry," Matrix quietly apologized, his eye losing it's glow as his scanners deactivated.
"We're not Empire, but Matrix is right. We won't join a war without knowing more facts," AndrAIa explained.
"There may be another task you can do for us," Machamp suddenly said, rubbing his chin with his lower right arm. "We have another issue that we are unable to pursue. It is just as pressing, if not more."
Gengar looked to Machamp, and shook his head. "We cannot trust them."
"We have no choice. The blockade prevents us from helping them," Golem replied suddenly.
Matrix and AndrAIa exchanged glances. What were they talking about?
"If there's some other way we can help, please tell us," AndrAIa implored, trying to take advantage of this opportunity.
A silence fell over the four of them as they thought. Matrix again wondered if it was a private, telepathic conversation, but was starting to doubt that given the last discussion.
"Several younger members of this society have ventured off the island, and may be in extreme danger," Machamp suddenly explained. "It was against everyone's advice...but they are young and reckless. When we couldn't find them, we knew they had gone."
"Where to?" Matrix asked.
"Do not tell them!" Gengar snapped. "If they know, the Empire could find out. We cannot trust these strangers!"
"We have no choice," Golem replied. "They are in extreme danger. We cannot send a rescue off island as long as the Empire looms."
"And if the Empire learns of the children and captures them?" Alakazam boomed into everyone's minds. "They will hold an advantage, and even Mewtwo will be unable to stop their demands. They are our children. With them, the Empire can manipulate us."
"Exactly. They are our children," Machamp shot back. "For them, we should spare no expense."
A silence fell again, as the four pondered the implications of trusting these strangers. Matrix, however, had heard enough.
"This is basic," Matrix said to AndrAIa, turning towards the door. "If they won't trust us, why should we bother? Let's get out of here."
AndrAIa shot one more glance back, studying Machamp and Golem. They seemed to be the more open ones to this suggestion, but they simply stared back at her.
"We are sorry. This is too sensitive. If you will not deal with the Empire, we cannot trust you," Golem replied. Even his logic was different now, to her annoyance. AndrAIa shook her head and followed Matrix out the door.
Matrix shoved the door open, but AndrAIa calmly closed it behind her as she exited. They were surprised to see Syril still waiting in the hallway for them.
"Well?" the blue skinned dinosaur asked.
"Will you show us the way back to the boat?" Matrix asked bluntly. "Your council doesn't trust us to do anything except get ourselves killed by charging at Imperial warships."
"They didn't mention the children?" Syril asked, looking surprise.
"Oh they mentioned them," Matrix scoffed.
AndrAIa sighed. "They won't tell us where they are. They're afraid of them falling into Imperial hands. Sorry, Syril. We're going to move on."
"Isla Nublar," Syril suddenly said, keeping his voice low.
"What?" Matrix said, surprised.
"I'll show you on a map, and explain it on the way," Syril replied. "Come with me to your boat. I won't leave the children to a horrible fate on that island."
Matrix and AndrAIa looked at each other, nodded, then looked back to Syril. The Yoshi began to descend the stairs, and they followed. They didn't know what the council would think if they recovered children they weren't supposed to be able to find, but they seemed to have the same mindset as Syril on this one. Ensure their safety, then deal with whatever may come of it later.
The council may have merely said it, but this warrior Yoshi had meant it. Spare no expense.