[Battle] 232 vs SURGE

[abyss]

ROUND 1
232 vs SURGE
BATTLE COMMENCE

[Nikolai]

Nikolai could feel his pulse quickening and the adrenaline begin to course through his veins, despite being still five minutes off from his drop point. The sounds of battle had already reached him this far out in the sea, however; the call of the canons and guns and the response of splintering wood and explosions. It made him feel tingly. It made him feel alive.

It was a small boat that carried him, with a sleek black hull and compact build that allowed it to carve a path smoothly through the water. Though the lieutenant had travelled to the Whirl Islands on one of his Vermillion fleet’s formidable warships, he had arranged for some wet-behind-the-ears sailor to take him to shore directly using the smaller vessel, carefully circumventing the line of fire of the line of Lux warship’s main guns.

This battle wasn’t only a matter of duty. He would have followed his fleet to the ends of the earth regardless of the battle, but today he found himself particularly invested in a Lux victory. After all, Team Rocket had made this series of islands their own. The criminal syndicate had wreaked enough havoc in Nikolai’s resident region to last a lifetime. Their motivations, in his mind, could be blanketed as greed and power-hungriness. Winning this battle would be a favor to humanity, not only to Lux. Unfortunately, any of the Nox rats running around would probably disagree with him on that sentiment – hence this big bloody battle.

Just as the shapes of boats and houses became clear and distinct against the hills of the largest Whirl Island, Nikolai signaled the boat driver to kill the engine. “On my leave, return to ship and await orders from your commanding officer.” the lieutenant told the young sailor curtly. Though the sailor’s eyes revealed he had questions, he only dipped his head in acknowledgement with a hesitant yessir. A good soldier.

From under the surface of the water, a dark outline appeared. The oval shape grew larger and larger, finally breaching the surface and sending out small shockwaves that lapped against the side of the boat. A large blue head emerged from what was now shown to be a dark brown shell, twisting to look expectantly at his master. The Blastoise would be taking his master the final leg of the journey.

Nikolai balanced on the side of the motorboat with the fearlessness of someone who had been spending time on boats before he could speak, and made the jump to land crouched on the Blastoise’s shell. The turtle Pokemon did not wait for further instruction, instead propelling itself purposefully through the water while the lieutenant examined the approaching land mass through a pair of binoculars.

The Rockets had allegedly set up an intricate tunnel system to connect these islands, and Nikolai had taken a personal interest in finding them and smoking at least some the pests out himself. With the first wave of attack from the fleet itself largely being spray-and-pray tactics to instill in the insurgents and residents of the Whirl Islands a healthy dose of fear, the city admin had decided to hit the shores early with the vanguard.

He and his Blastoise reached shore without incident. Above them, a Braviary circled around in an expanding spiral – a lookout. Though Nikolai had not spoken a word on their journey, as he adjusted the position of his bulletproof vest and checked to make sure his weapon was in its holster, he issued a short but curt command to the Blastoise by his side: ”Rain Dance.” The clouds above slowly turned darker as Brizo summoned the rainstorm, starting as a week drizzle but soon enough become a full down pour. From above, the red warbird circling Nikolai and Brizo became all but obscured despite its bright plumage. The Braviary had flown through much worse conditions than the sudden storm, and the creature could hardly fear a little lightning when its trainer was an electric type specialist. Instead, Reginald used the cover of the darkened sky to expand his patrol, alert and prepared to warn his trainer of any potential danger. From his belt, Nikolai finally pulled out a third Pokeball, enlarging it and releasing the creature contained inside. A humanoid shape formed out of the carmine light, and as the light faded away revealed a bipedal creature with long yellow and black striped fur. The Electivire seemed primed to fight, red eyes darting around expectantly as the two antennae around his back exchanged sparks.

From above, a shrill cry cut through the sounds of gun fire and chaos. Reginald must have discovered something… or someone. The lieutenant watched as the bird turned north, wiping the rain that spattered onto his face. ”Let’s go.” Without further hesitation, the Gym Leader began running purposefully towards whatever his Braviary had discovered, his accompanying land Pokemon hot on his heels.

[232]

Nothing was okay. Nothing was ever going to be okay, and 232 didn’t know if this was a realization that had dawned on him at the moment the attack became evident or if it’d always been there, gnawing at him as no more than a feeling worming around in the back of his mind. There was gunfire, and streams or flashes of color as pokemon attacks crossed the sky.

Damn Luxies. There was no way they didn’t know about the civilians. 232 knew for damn sure there were children there. Did Lux just not care as much as they’d claimed to way back when?

That kind of went without saying, actually. 

When had it started raining?

A gun fired, and 232 couldn’t tell how far off anymore. He stopped, tripped some, and slid down a ways on the cliff before he caught a weak foothold. He was lucky; it wasn't a long or steep drop, but it was slippery and that'd make things more difficult. Would they even be able to hear him anymore? He could see the shoreline now. He could see a soldier, with his fancy evolved Pokemon and probably a gun, all to mow down someone else with. Who was he to judge, though, right?

On closer inspection, maybe not just an ordinary soldier. It was hard to tell, though.

Cheri’s grip from around his neck tightened as she hung against his back, and he shifted to attempt to make sure she wasn’t pressed against the rock. “Stop this.” There was almost no response, and then a Magic Room was quietly cast by the small Abra. All items, all guns, would be rendered useless at least within this space. Maybe it would save lives.

Up behind him, Leichi waited for orders, not yet deigning to get herself more dirty by sliding down after 232 right away and into the rain. Was he ... nah, no way was the soldier headed his way. But maybe he could take advantage of this. He clutched Cheri's adjoined hands as he hopped down, making for a harder fall than he'd anticipated and yet finding it in himself to stagger back up and keep moving, shouting. "Hey. Hey! There are civilians! There are unarmed people and children out here!" With 232's luck, the guy wouldn't even be able to hear him over the pouring rain. Or would, y'know, just attack him.

People 232 wanted to protect didn't belong only to the civilians on Whirl Islands. But it'd be a start. Or the guy could just mow him down in his plainclothes. For some reason 232 hadn't been particularly inclined to throw on his uniform.

[Nikolai]

A human-shaped outline came into sight, a dark smudge in the heavy downpour. Nikolai's gun was out of its holster, held firmly and confidently between his hands. Otherwise, he didn't stop his forward movement. Faint noise that sounded like it could be coming from the figure tried to rise above the sounds of the rain and the rumble of burgeoning thunder, but it was all noise - not words.

Eventually Nikolai drew close enough to see a little better, though there was still a distance of thirty or so yards between them. Young male. Didn't appear to be armed, though there were two Pokemon with him. No sign of any Rocket affiliation. The lieutenant took note of the Arbok, though he found himself far more concerned by the Abra. Psychic types had always worried him, the way they could break through not only flesh and bone but the private and unprotected layers of one's mind. He had been working on getting over it, learning how to prepare himself as best he could and gaining a grudging acceptance for them (even if it was only to please an old friend)... but that had all stopped when mentioned old friend disappeared, only to reappear some foolish renegade.

Nikolai found the trigger-happy idiotic, though he found those afflicted with the opposite problem equally unsuited for battle. He might not have been ready to point and fire away, but he leveled his gun at the newcomer - unaware of its now-uselessness thanks to the effects of the Magic Room - and held it there. Brizo's movement mirrored his master's as the huge turtle angled one of the cannons on its back to point towards 232 and his Pokemon. Arleo did not move, though it was hardly stoicism; his impatience was clear, and ignored.

"Return your Pokemon to their Pokeballs and surrender any weapons you are carrying." the lieutenant commanded in his booming voice, keeping his gun raised. "These islands are now under the control of Lux." He had never been good at eloquent speeches or clever words; there were other men and woman who could do that. "Surrender yourself willingly and you should have nothing to fear."

From his tone, one could tell that Nikolai was issuing a warning, not trying to give some sort of consolation. Surrender yourself willingly and you should have nothing to fear would probably be more accurately phrased as: If you don't surrender yourself willingly, you have a lot to fear.

[232]

The man lifted his gun and 232 did what most would do: he raised both hands into the air, staring down the gun. For just a moment, however, his eyes drifted out over Surge’s shoulder, where the man had come from, as he made out the lieutenant’s (was he still a lieutenant these days?) words. So much for peace time.

The Blastoise’s movement drew a hard stare from the young man, though. He remembered a time before and even at the start of the war when Pokemon had even hesitated upon orders to outright attack another human being. Even among Rocket ranks, he’d been told.

Now a days, he couldn’t count on such a thing. Especially from self righteous Luxies.

This is what was coming for Rocket, and Nedra.

232 was shaking as the rain pelted him, sinking deep past his layers of clothing, just a thin jacket and shirt and jeans with tennis shoes. Nothing fancy, nothing had been supposed to happen while he checked in on the kid. Now, she was alone.

Which way would he even go?

And that’s assuming he gets past all these full grown monsters. Cheri's grip on him tightened and, whatever her intent had been, 232 took it to mean he wasn't all alone.

A fierce look was drawn to the man when he spoke again, and 232 gritted his teeth for a moment before parting his lips with a shouted protest that strained his throat. “Have you even been listening to me? Lux soldiers are firing on children right now!” He was getting cold, fast. And he’d be out in the open with nothing going for him if this broke out into a fight, by the looks of it.

There wasn’t enough time for what this would take. 232 had to make a choice.

[Nikolai]

The lieutenant was pleased to see the boy raise his arms. He didn't need trouble from some kid who looked more drowned rat than human now that the rain had him soaked through. Nikolai didn't let down his guard in the slightest, however - that would be a rookie error, warranting a punishment of perhaps a few hours of extra PT in basic training but able to cost him his life in the cold real world. Nikolai could see the disapproval written all over the civilian's face. It was an understandable reaction; the civilians who lived peacefully on these islands had all but had their world turned on its head in one swift siege. The innocent and uninvolved would be allowed to resume their lives once the takeover was complete, however... after Lux smoked out all of the Nox Rockets living in those damned confusing tunnels.

Nikolai also noticed that the young man hadn't returned his Pokemon to his pokeballs.
Strike one.
Then the civilian had the nerve to shout back at him.
Strike two.

Lux soldiers firing on children. Pah.
Surge wasn't surprised to be demonized. The boy's shouting sounded like a line from any Nox newspaper that would later cover the story. If there was any truth to it, it was a gross generalization. Lux soldiers did not mow down children unprovoked; Lux soldiers were humans, not machines. Lux soldiers were humans who sometimes had children of their own, who perhaps even knew what it was like to lose a child... Nikolai shook his head sharply. His cause and comrades did not mindlessly mow down children; the young man's words were useless babbling, and hopefully - for his own sake - a last-ditch attempt at defiance before he came to his senses and got out of the Arceus-damned way.

If the boy hoped to shake his morality, Nikolai would have none of it. The warzone was all shades of grey. Any ten-year-old could be armed with a Pokemon that had the potential to do more harm than any gun; a ten-year-old was just as capable (perhaps even more so) of slipping a home-concocted molotov cocktail beneath the massive wheels of Lux tank and killing the five young soldiers inside. Youth were drawn to Nox; it was a symbol of counter-culture and an act of rebellious defiance. Nikolai was sure it wouldn't even hit their hormone-driven brains what they had truly committed to till they were standing on the battlefield and realizing that their choices had launched them into the big kid playground where it was suddenly do or die. Children were not only dying in the war. Children were killing. Children were marching onto the battlefield armed with weapons, poor judgement, and no authority. Because, after all, Nox freedoms included allowing the young and manipulable to throw their lives away for a war they couldn't even begin to understand.

Nikolai could justify his actions and compartmentalize his feelings. It sometimes helped him make it through the all-too-often sleepless nights, though only a little. He didn't owe this boy any such explanation or an equally judgmental and biting retort, however. This wasn't a moral battleground; it was a real one, one where all of the little pawns had to fight and possibly even die for what the believed in. He didn't have time to argue with a boy who looked at him as if he were an agent of the devil.

"Civilians who willingly surrender themselves and cooperate in Lux investigations have nothing to fear." he repeated, digging his heels into the ground (figuratively AND metaphorically with the way the rain was softening it to mud beneath his combat boots).

"This is your final warning. Return to your home. Stand down."

Two strikes.
A third, and things would start to get ugly.

[The Crash Man Ω]

VICTORY: SURGE

+300 WEP to Lux