06-18-2016, 08:22 PM
The island that had been implanted in the three warriors’ heads was nothing impressive. It was several miles wide, but mostly flat, without even any trees or mountains to break up one’s line of sight. There were rows of flimsy shacks, and one single building that appeared to be military ready. Even that impression was only given off by its steel plating and the fact that it stood a single story above the pitiful wooden structures that stood before it. Still, the fact that the Liberation Front made no effort to hide this cell was at least a little bit comforting. It was even more troubling, though. Not like a shadowy group to have such an easy to spot fortress, even if this island would have been difficult to stumble upon had they not known how to get here.
AndrAIa watched the island through binoculars as they approached. She continued to gaze while Matrix and Syril pulled the boat onto shore and anchored it effectively. All that time, there was no sign of movement in the village. It appeared deserted, which was surely the worst case scenario. They had played a heavy hand by engaging and killing Liberation Front members, which could be dangerous to Coal’s life. It was a risk they’d been forced to take, but if they had been given the wrong location then it was all for nothing.
The only way to know for sure was to investigate. AndrAIa tossed the binoculars on the console, and crossed over the top of the boat. She dropped down next to Matrix, splashing just a bit of water as she landed in the shallow surf. The three silently looked at each other, not having much to say. AndrAIa’s weary smile seemed to speak the message they were all thinking: let’s get this over with.
They trudged up the small hill that had been worn into the island by erosion, courtesy of the ocean that pounded against it. From there to the apparent ghost town was flat and barren terrain. It was as if not even grass could be bothered to populate this utterly forgettable island. Matrix simply saw it from a more tactical aspect. The most important talking point to him was there was no cover to utilize for any defensive purposes. If they were dragged into a battle in this open terrain, they would be stuck in it. Silently, he went ahead and planned on having some sort of showdown here.
Matrix put that creeping worry aside for the moment, and instead kept his attention on the small village they were entering. Even up close there was no signs of life. The only sounds in the area were that of their feet walking across the dirt. As they reached the end of the rows of flimsy houses, they found themselves in a clearing between the village and the larger, steel fortress. The dirt abruptly turned to concrete, and they found themselves walking towards a large bay door. Above the bay was a railing and an upper walkway, and they could now see a viewing tower on top of the second story. What was this place?
As the hangar doors opened, they realized they would have their best chance of finding out. Two figures emerged from the building, and Matrix’s eye was already hard at work scanning them. They were Pokemon, too, so maybe they were in the right place after all. His cybernetic implant identified one as a Hitmonchan and the other as a Hitmonlee. The figures looked at the three trespassers with narrowed eyes and scowling faces, and their expressions were matched. Suddenly, there was movement from the previously quiet village, and Matrix half turned to see a small horde of purple and tan creatures were now flanking them. Raticates and Rattatas. Yea, this was the place.
“Welcome, Syril!” a voice boomed from above them.
Syril looked up to see a fearsome Blastoise towering over them. The monstrous turtle Pokemon had an electronic scouter over its right eye, no doubt for targeting assistance with its modified cannons. Instead of the typical water cannons on each shoulder, this immense Pokemon had a large rocket launcher over his left shoulder, and a minigun replacing the weapon on his right. Yet, despite all of these modifications, Syril recognized him.
“Tor,” Syril called back up to the Blastoise by his given name. “This is your doing?”
“You know this guy?” AndrAIa softly interjected, and at the same time drew her trident.
“You should have never come here, old friend” Tor responded, watching as Syril and Matrix drew their own firearms. The Blastoise simply waved its right hand as it issued its commands. “Dispose of them.”
“I’ll have to tell you later,” Syril snarled, turning to fully face smaller Pokemon that flanked the three Cinnabar residents.
“Just deal with the little ones,” Matrix was curt as he issued the order.
The horde of rat Pokemon began to rapidly approach, and the well-armed Yoshi opened fire on them. Matrix and AndrAIa did not immediately move, leaving Syril to deal with the crowd himself. The two fighting-type Pokemon were approaching, slowly, and they were the focus of the two wayward sprites.
AndrAIa watched the island through binoculars as they approached. She continued to gaze while Matrix and Syril pulled the boat onto shore and anchored it effectively. All that time, there was no sign of movement in the village. It appeared deserted, which was surely the worst case scenario. They had played a heavy hand by engaging and killing Liberation Front members, which could be dangerous to Coal’s life. It was a risk they’d been forced to take, but if they had been given the wrong location then it was all for nothing.
The only way to know for sure was to investigate. AndrAIa tossed the binoculars on the console, and crossed over the top of the boat. She dropped down next to Matrix, splashing just a bit of water as she landed in the shallow surf. The three silently looked at each other, not having much to say. AndrAIa’s weary smile seemed to speak the message they were all thinking: let’s get this over with.
They trudged up the small hill that had been worn into the island by erosion, courtesy of the ocean that pounded against it. From there to the apparent ghost town was flat and barren terrain. It was as if not even grass could be bothered to populate this utterly forgettable island. Matrix simply saw it from a more tactical aspect. The most important talking point to him was there was no cover to utilize for any defensive purposes. If they were dragged into a battle in this open terrain, they would be stuck in it. Silently, he went ahead and planned on having some sort of showdown here.
Matrix put that creeping worry aside for the moment, and instead kept his attention on the small village they were entering. Even up close there was no signs of life. The only sounds in the area were that of their feet walking across the dirt. As they reached the end of the rows of flimsy houses, they found themselves in a clearing between the village and the larger, steel fortress. The dirt abruptly turned to concrete, and they found themselves walking towards a large bay door. Above the bay was a railing and an upper walkway, and they could now see a viewing tower on top of the second story. What was this place?
As the hangar doors opened, they realized they would have their best chance of finding out. Two figures emerged from the building, and Matrix’s eye was already hard at work scanning them. They were Pokemon, too, so maybe they were in the right place after all. His cybernetic implant identified one as a Hitmonchan and the other as a Hitmonlee. The figures looked at the three trespassers with narrowed eyes and scowling faces, and their expressions were matched. Suddenly, there was movement from the previously quiet village, and Matrix half turned to see a small horde of purple and tan creatures were now flanking them. Raticates and Rattatas. Yea, this was the place.
“Welcome, Syril!” a voice boomed from above them.
Syril looked up to see a fearsome Blastoise towering over them. The monstrous turtle Pokemon had an electronic scouter over its right eye, no doubt for targeting assistance with its modified cannons. Instead of the typical water cannons on each shoulder, this immense Pokemon had a large rocket launcher over his left shoulder, and a minigun replacing the weapon on his right. Yet, despite all of these modifications, Syril recognized him.
“Tor,” Syril called back up to the Blastoise by his given name. “This is your doing?”
“You know this guy?” AndrAIa softly interjected, and at the same time drew her trident.
“You should have never come here, old friend” Tor responded, watching as Syril and Matrix drew their own firearms. The Blastoise simply waved its right hand as it issued its commands. “Dispose of them.”
“I’ll have to tell you later,” Syril snarled, turning to fully face smaller Pokemon that flanked the three Cinnabar residents.
“Just deal with the little ones,” Matrix was curt as he issued the order.
The horde of rat Pokemon began to rapidly approach, and the well-armed Yoshi opened fire on them. Matrix and AndrAIa did not immediately move, leaving Syril to deal with the crowd himself. The two fighting-type Pokemon were approaching, slowly, and they were the focus of the two wayward sprites.