route_1065 | You think you've seen the world but you see nothing

You think you've seen the world but you see nothing

Who:

itsybitsycrazy with some Johan cameo later on
Where: Route 32
When: Wednesday, August 18th, a few hours after OH UNOWN NO begins.
Summary: Girl meets deranged Team Rocket member in the middle of crystallized chaos. And then they have tea. PROTIP: "Tea" is synonymous with This Is Why Kay Should Never Go Off On Her Own.
Rating: PG-13?! idek
Log:

"Byrne, Faint Attack!"

It sounded like any other training session. Kay adjusted her gloves, eyes fixated on the black bird soaring above and ahead of her, who responded to his trainer's command by silently blending in with his surroundings and then crashing into a group of the... floating black things. They scattered, a few of them dropping lower, where Kay's Gengar was waiting for them.

It was supposed to have been any other training session.

"Good!" Kay called out encouragingly, scratching behind Jam's ears as the Zubat returned to her shoulder and awaited further instructions-- which he didn't receive as she slipped, stumbled, and just barely caught herself. At his anxious chitter, she grinned ruefully. "Don't worry, the ground's just a little weird today."

Weird was an understatement. Somehow, these floating things - Unown? - were responsible for methodically crystallizing everything in their path, and as pretty as it was, Kay couldn't bring herself to stop long enough to admire it. Something just felt wrong about it, and surely if it was nothing to worry about, the police wouldn't have sent out a request for help. And this couldn't have been a coincidence. This wasn't a swarm of ghost balloons. This was...

"I should be that way shortly, a'ight?"

She'd wanted to believe that 777 being close to Violet didn't have anything to do with Team Rocket, but this time, Kay wasn't so sure she could believe that. Not with this, and-- come to think of it, Jam had been behaving oddly two days ago, but was that relevant? She'd only meant to help fight off the Unown with her friends, but there were too many of the things, and once she'd realized she'd been separated from them, she'd only been pushed further away. So Kay turned her attention to Route 32. They'd come from there. That meant somewhere along the route, she'd be able to see if she was right, and if Team Rocket did have some involvement in this.

Byrne's next attack cleared the way for them again, and she picked up her pace. Maybe she'd send the Murkrow up ahead to scout so she'd know how far she'd have to run until she found something. It only took a minute to call most of her team back, each one receiving sincere praise for a job well done; they were all getting tired, so she'd probably have to double back fairly soon. And contact her friends, to make sure they were holding up. Not that Kay had any doubts, considering that it was Johan and Kaito and Crow and-- all of them, really. They had probably made it into a competition.

The Murkrow descended on her unoccupied shoulder as she slowed to dig in her pack for her PokéGear. Jam made no motions except to nuzzle on the other side.

"Okay..." She fumbled for the device a little more, then laughed and shook her head. She withdrew her hand a second later. "What do you want to bet they're having tons of fun without us? And here I am, being nice enough to fill them in on what I'm up to. I guess I should wait until I actually have something to report other than 'Crystals, crystals everywhere', huh?"

Byrne grumbled uneasily, keeping an eye on the sky to make sure it stayed clear of Unown (for the time being), but affectionately ran his beak through Kay's ponytail as she walked-- walked quickly, anyway. Everything looked so foreign now that she didn't even know how far on the route she was.

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Oh how Tarantulas would have loved to have access to his lab. Even half of his lab. One of those creatures they'd sent off to their so called "leaders" - he'd regretted not keeping one, but given the circumstances and how they'd reacted after most of the Rocket members had fled back to the base, he supposed it was obvious why no one had wanted to keep one... and why those in charge wanted one. The reaction, Tarantulas noted to himself almost nostalgically, almost reminded him of energon.

At the very least, he could move on with his other plans now that he was in an area much, much closer to the other side of things. He'd go along with the orders he got, of course, so long as they didn't interfere with what he needed to get done. That thought brought a twisted smile to his lips, a chuckle escaping them not a moment after. A similar sound, only made in insect clicks instead of true laughs, came from his back - his Ariados, as eager to get his claws dirty as ever, could almost read Tarantulas' mind. Such a good... partner. Yes.

"Now let me see..." Though he had grown more accustomed to his human form, even that couldn't have prepared him for having to deal with the crystalized terrain and the letter-shaped creatures flying around everywhere. He'd taken care of quite a few of them, but they just kept coming. Was this really what they had planned, or was the one who had given the orders simply more foolish a leader than his Croconaw's namesake?

In any case. There weren't too many people near, but he expected as much. All he needed to do, really, was wait for the first person to come along and strike. It was simple enough, and something he was more than used to, regardless of this worthless flesh body he was trapped in. He might not be able to fully enjoy whatever meal were to come his way, but he was going to enjoy it to whatever length he could in this body. Now all he needed... was the meal.

"What do you want to bet they're having tons of fun without us? And here I am, being nice enough to fill them in on what I'm up to. I guess I should wait until I actually have something to report other than 'Crystals, crystals everywhere', huh?"

........ Speak of the devil. Tarantulas' eyes lit up behind his glasses, almost glowing dangerously. There was someone just ahead, wasn't there? Silently, like the predator he was, he released his Croconaw and whispered some commands, and knowing the plan, as they'd discussed what they would do should a golden chance like this ever come many times, the Ariados on his back slowly crawled away, bearly able to contain its glee. Its master had told it many times of what this was like, but this would be the first time it got to enjoy the thrill of a real capture.

After just a few moments, the prey was in sight. Tarantulas had never considered humans a worthy meal, but as guinnea pigs... This one would do.

"... Now!"

And with that, his Croconaw and Ariados stuck-- Attacks aimed now for the Pokemon, but for the girl it was with. The bird was irrelevant to them.

The Zubat had become increasingly agitated as the minutes ticked by, but no amount of looking around had aided Kay in pinpointing the source, and she'd finally called Jam back-- moments before Byrne shrieked an alarm.

"Wh--" Kay whirled, two seconds too late and with one hand still on her pack, where she'd just stored her Zubat. Looking back on it later, she'd be grateful she'd instinctively released the buckle attaching it to her belt. The pack hit the ground-- as did its owner when webbing shot around her, pulling her arms and legs close to her body and sending her crashing. The ice hit a split second later, and this time Kay released an involuntary cry of pain, made all the more horrified when she realized she couldn't move.

In response, Byrne became infuriated, flinging out an Astonish towards Kay's attackers without bothering to await orders and landing in front of his trainer to look as fiercely protective as a Murkrow could.

"Byrne," Kay hissed through gritted teeth, struggling to free herself. "Don't--" What was going on? They couldn't have been wild Pokémon, but if they had a trainer... they hadn't been aiming for her Murkrow at all. But then... why?

Tarantulas couldn't help but let out a delighted laugh as the girl fell to the ground. It had gone just as he'd hoped, perhaps even better! He stroked his chin, watching as, his Ariados added an additional String Shot and his Croconaw, fresh from using Ice Fang on the human, tackled her for good measure. Perfect.

... Or, it would have been, had the bird not used an attack of some kind on it and made the Water type flinch. No matter. The girl was down, and he could always send out his Electrode to send the bird a message.

"Now that that's settled..." Tarantulas, clad in a lab coat opened up over his Team Rocket uniform, began to approach the Pokemon and, more importantly, the human. Too long had he been stranded here with nothing to do, no way to entertain himself - no way to research anything. Perhaps this human would answer some of his questions or, at the very least, help him pass the time and... satisfy him, if only for a little while.

Grinning eagerly, he stepped up to the scene before him, one which had played out spendidly, and clapped his hands twice to make his presence known as he looked over the sight appraisingly.

"Whatever do we have here...?" he asked mockingly, his face giving no question that he knew exactly what he had here - and he was absolutely thrilled to have it. "A little human, caught in a web... My web. Heeheeheehee, you should know better than to be out all by yourself. It's dangerous."

Tarantulas shook his head, more laughter escaping him. Oh, if only he had the proper equipment! He would be able to dissect her, and feast upon her innards! As it stood now, he could still... theoretically do that, but it wouldn't be nearly as tasty in this body, not would getting rid of her in such a fashion do him any good. A living human was just what he needed, and if he could get more... Well, time would tell. One musn't get ahead of themselves, though.

"Tell me..." Tarantulas bent down, reaching down to stroke the string, the "webbing" that was wrapped around the girl, an eerie smile on his face. "Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be one of these creatures? Surely you must have at least once."

... She knew that uniform and, as she gazed at the stranger in confusion, things began to click into place. She had been right. Team Rocket was somehow involved in this, and he'd... just called her a human, like he wasn't.

Kay chose to disregard that for now, having more important things to do. Like glaring defiantly, and then locking eyes with her Murkrow when Byrne prepared himself for another attack. It was only a few seconds, enough for her to flick her eyes in the direction of her pack with all the firmness she could muster. He was tired, and outnumbered-- she wasn't going to let him get himself injured, and right now, the number one priority was getting her Pokémon and Little Thief as far away from this creep as possible.

At her look, Byrne reluctantly desisted, but flew to land near the pouch. The man's attention was more on Kay than the bird, so he took the opportunity to dig his claws into one of the straps. And waited, stare baleful.

As for Kay herself, she'd forced down all fear and trepidation in favor of returning that glare to the man's face. As he reached out, she jerked back as best as she could-- which ultimately amounted to nothing, but the sheer power of her glare would have given most sane people second thoughts.

Sadly, he didn't seem that sane at all.

"I can't say I have." Kay's eyes didn't move from his face and she growled under her breath, still confused but definitely angry now. At him... and herself. Had she really just walked straight into a trap? "I like being me. I think it's a lot better than being you, you filthy giggling creep--"

Normally, she was friendly to strangers, but she took immediate exception to this one.

Tarantulas could only continue to smile, watching as she surely sent some signal to her bird, laughing all the while. Whatever it was, it didn't matter to him, and on that train of thought, he paid it no mind - he was too close to what he wanted, far, far too close. His Ariados agreed completely, watching from behind him with eager, eager eyes.

His Croconaw, on the other hand, had noticed and... done nothing. It wasn't like it mattered, and after everything that his... trainer? master? had done to him, it would suit him if something he overlooked came back to bite him in the tail. And if it didn't, well, that just meant the Croconaw wouldn't the one getting tested on, so it worked out both ways for the creature.

"You haven't? A pity. Your species is so... inferior. Not that they're much better, but they, especially some of them--" At this, his Ariados gave an almost devious chirp. "Are a good deal, well... Superior, heheheheh!" Tarantulas shook his head. He was used to such reactions, after all, he'd dealt with the likes of Cheetor. Still... Throwing an insult as him, as well? Oh, that would come back to haunt her. "Feisty, aren't you? We'll see how much good that does you, heeheehee..."

Tarantulas laughed. He laughed and laughed and laughed. Truthfully, having a human wasn't that much of an accomplishment without the proper equipment or a proper body, but he was still pleased. Since this whole ridiculous ordeal began, now he'd finally managed to accomplish something. The first step of many, he knew, and he'd just have to take it slowly for now.

Looking over the human as he stood, pushing his glasses up to cover his eyes, he couldn't help but grin. He had always preffered a slower pace for his meals. Perhaps he would simply make a meal of this entire planet.

"I think you're just ignorant. But fear not, by the time we're through, you'll be extremely knowledgable-- I'd say you'd be the top of your class, even, hahahaha!" Tarantulas leaned back, allowing himself to cackle, his Ariados delivering a blow of Leech Life to her as he enjoyed the moment. He could even use this, oh, he could use this, now that he could of it-- But now wasn't the time for that. He had to get her to a more... appropriate place. A temporary lair. That would do. The human law enforcement might be looking for her, surely they would, but they'd never encountered someone like Tarantulas... No, he'd be fine.

"Are you ready to begin your education?"

Before Kay - somewhat light-headed from whatever the giant spider had just did - could reply, Byrne did the honors for her. Once again without needing to be instructed, he aimed a Wing Attack at the Ariados. How dare it hurt his trainer, his partner and expect that he was going to do nothing! He'd show it why bugs should fear birds--

"Byrne!!"

Kay's cry stopped him immediately, and she spoke very quickly. The dizziness from the earlier attack was fading, and she didn't care if this man heard, nor did she rise to the bait of the taunting of her "species" in favor of getting her Murkrow out of here. Whoever her kidnapper was, he was sending chills down her spine, and if she couldn't fight him herself, at the very least, she could guarantee that he wouldn't lay a hand on any of her partners.

"This'll be the only order I ever give you that you'd better obey," she said quietly. There was no room in her tone or expression for argument. "Get them away right now. You know where's safe. And remember to give them space."

That last line wouldn't make much sense to many people, but Byrne understood. He understood, and watched Kay with a low squawk, watched her as she tried to smile to reassure him-- but even Kay couldn't dip into her usual store of sunny optimism in a situation like this.

"... Tell them I'm sorry," she added on a halting breath, "and don't come back."

What she wouldn't say in front of Tarantulas was conveyed nonetheless, and the Murkrow let out a mournful noise, but then circled once, adjusted his grip on the pack, and zoomed off into the distance. That left Kay alone, save for the company of two rather rude Pokémon and a crazy guy in a lab coat.

... Well, she'd been in worse situations.

"No offense, but..." And now she looked at Tarantulas. Feistiness would always win over fear, as far as she was concerned, and she wasn't going to give him the pleasure of watching her tremble. "As teachers go, you should've been fired years ago."

Tarantulas watched the bird go. He didn't frown-- He still didn't particularly care what it did. So it would hide, so it would stay safe. He knew what happened to Pokemon when he did what he did to them, he had no interest (at the moment) in pressing that matter any further. No, it was time to see just how humans reacted to this.

Logically, this was all a waste of time. He should have been putting all his efforts to contacting the Tri-Predacus Council, or at t he very least, finding himself a new body... but the likes of either of those being possible on this planet, in this body, were becoming so increasingly impossible, even improbable, that Tarantulas had begun to realize he'd have to settle for doing what he could here while he could, all the while slowly working towards his real goals.

... But enough logic. This wasn't about logic, not now. Chuckling, he turned to the girl, the piercing eyes of a spider lit up behind his glasses-- He bent down, looking in her eyes directly, and grinned.

"How noble. Oh, how postively Maximal of you. You want your little partners to be safe... You want them to be out of harm's way... I was never concerned with them to begin with. At most, they might make a delightful little snack," he laughed to himself at the idea. Had he been in his body, this training business wouldn't have even crossed his mind. He was more than capable enough on his own, and Pokemon and human alike would be little more than prey to a master spider like him. "But enough chat, we have much to discuss. You'll find, if you think I should be fired now..."

Tarantulas abruptly stood up and took a few steps back. His Pokemon needed room, after all. He waved a hand toward the girl, and at that wave, the two Pokemon lunged at her, preparing a fresh wave of attacks - this time, preparing to attack until she was out cold so they could transport her. Afterwards, though, she could wake up and cry out in pain all she liked.

"... that you'll think I should have been cooked a few thousand times over by the time I'm done with you! Heeheeheehahahahahaha!!"

This wasn't the best day for Kay Faraday, but at least she'd have some time to remain blissfully unconscious. As for her partner, Byrne flew valiantly and as hard as he could back towards Violet City. It wasn't easy going; he was exhausted from the earlier fighting, and there were several clusters of Unown hindering him, but he doggedly persisted.

Kay had said to get them away, and he had. But she hadn't told him not to get help, which he was going to do. And there was only one person he'd go to.

Over an hour later, the Murkrow finally spotted a familiar head of blue hair and descended, frantically squawking up a storm and beating his wings to get the attention of one Johan Andersen. And if he nearly whacked him in the head with Kay's pack, well-- that was attention-grabbing, too.

Edited 2010-08-18 05:26 (UTC)

Having split up from Kaito to look for Kay (they'd both since defeated the entire alphabet, just as she had challenged them to do, without a word from their female companion) Johan ran a hand through his hair. After a few moments, he glanced at Misola, flapping her wings next to him and giving him a concerned look. Was he too worried? Maybe. It was Kay, after all, but it shouldn't be taking her this long to hunt down the Unown.

... He'd leave her a message, he decided. She hadn't been answering his calls - all two of them - and the third time was always the charm, right? That in mind, and what he'd planned on asking her before this whole crystal mess had started (not that Johan minded, it was... oddly comforting, for some reason), Johan dialed her number and, as he expected, she still didn't answer. He left her his message and closed his eyes, sighing.

"... I guess she's still busy," Johan finally decided, looking at Misola and nodding. There were more alphabet creatures to take care of, in any case, and Johan could call her again after he took care of some vowels. Nodding to himself, he reached for Quartz's Pokeball, getting ready to call the Venonat back out, when--

"Krow! Krow! Murkow!"

Johan wasn't sure if he heard it or dodged it first, but before he knew it, a very familiar Murkrow was upon him, with a very familiar pack in tow - one that nearly smacked him right in the face.

"Eh-- Byrne? Byrne, is that you--? What is it?" Johan found himself asking, before he'd even managed to get himself righted. Maybe now he'd find out why Kay hadn't been answering him-- And more importantly, looking at the bird... if she was okay.

Sadly for Johan's peace of mind, Byrne was in no mood to be consoling or comforting, and didn't bother to use the boy's head as a perch in his usual manner. Instead he dropped the pack in Johan's hands and hovered directly in front of him, and what emerged was a miserable stream of "Kroooooooow" and various words that his trainer had taught him-- her name, mainly, and the word she'd prompted before she'd sent him off: "Rocket". It was beyond frustrating to not be able to convey exactly what had transpired, but he did his best to get across a proper feeling of panic and worry.

He continued this for a good few minutes, clearly agitated, and then piteously, he parroted back the words Kay herself had said as he finally landed on the ground and drooped. He'd done what he could for his trainer, but it didn't feel near enough to adequate. "I'm sorry."

Johan could get a few things out of the Murkrow's initial attempt to talk to him, and he knew from experience (there was always the occasional spirit once in a while that couldn't talk, after all) that it must have been even more upsetting to the bird that he couldn't speak properly.

Firstly, there was the emotions the Murkrow was displaying. Johan had to be calm, or as calm as he could be with despite the fact that he was growing more and more worried, and try to figure out just what those emotions were and go from there as best he could. Obviously panic was at the front of it, anyone could tell that, followed by... worry? That seemed to be the case. Which meant something had happened to Kay, but-- But-- Johan had to tell the sinking feeling he was starting to get, which became an outright jump off of a cliff when the Murkrow spoke "I'm sorry"-- But, that meant that there was still a chance. If he had been depressed, or hurt, then Johan might have feared the worst, but if someone was worried, that meant there was someone to still be worried about.

"Take me to her," Johan managed to breathe out after a few moments. His voice had quickly become surprisingly shaky, but he needed to keep calm. Now wasn't the time to let any emotion get the better of him - not yet. The Murkrow gave him a hopeful look, and immediately took off in the direction it came from, and Johan wasted no time in summoning Opal from his Pokeball, mounting him, and chasing after the bird. "I'm coming Kay...!"

As they moved, Johan tried to decipher what else the Murkrow had been trying to tell him. Was Team Rocket behind this? Behind everything that had happened? If they really were responsible for bringing everyone to this world, it wouldn't surprise Johan, but this was still... No, that couldn't be what Kay-- or Byrne, rather, was trying to tell him. Had someone from Team Rocket (immediately his mind went to 777) done something to Kay?

... And why was she sorry? She... She couldn't be--

Johan shook those thoughts away. No. No. She would there, wherever Byrne was taking him, and he'd give her whatever help she needed if it killed him. That in mind, with an almost furious cry, he called out his Drifloon, Jet, to assist Misola in fighting off the oncoming swarms of the creatures. They were in the way, and Byrne and Opal needed to do everything they could to keep moving. They would keep moving and they would get to Kay and she could be okay.

... But by the time Johan and the Pokemon would arrive where Tarantulas had attacked Kay, both of them would be long gone.

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