Inyssa could do little but stare in disbelief as Cynthia began to speak.
"My dear, dear citizens of Sinnoh, and even those watching from beyond our borders, let us bask in a short moment of reflection and reverence, before the festivities truly begin." She spoke candidly, her voice carrying a latent, burning strength which made it impossible not to want to listen to her. "Normally my opening speech would be short and to the point, but our current situation necessitates that I elaborate further. It is to my own displeasure that I've decided to do this. I would want nothing more than to let my people celebrate on this fine day, but as a Champion I must not forget the duties I've been assigned with."
Her gaze moved from one end of the crowd to the other.
"Twelve years ago on this very day, our long and bloody war with Kanto finally ended. A war in which thousands of innocent souls suffered an early demise, sprouted by the darkness of the human Spirit." Cynthia's fingers gripped the microphone a bit too strongly, her stormy grey eyes flashing with anger. "Some would say we won that day, though if there is any victory in bloodshed then it is not one I'd want to claim for myself. True; I was the one who dealt the final blow, but I take no pride in this. Just as a doctor would take no pride in cutting off a person's limb once it's begun rotting.
"Many of you must be wondering what I mean by this. Let me be clear; the war against Kanto was a completely unnecessary one. Many would call me a liar, unpatriotic or worse things for pointing this out, but it is the absolute truth. It was a petty conflict born out of the greed of those in power at the time; a squabble over land and trade rights that had no business escalating into an all out conflict. It was a clear sign that those who ruled us were weak, spirit-less cowards who only cared for themselves, and were willing to throw as many trainers and soldiers to the problem as necessary. It was a sign that we, as a nation, needed to change. And change did come, even if it was at a great cost. Let me elaborate on what I mean:
"Even as a young girl, I realized that what many knew as Spirit was not a symbol or a myth. Growing up in this town, surrounded by all of you, I came to understand that inside each human being lies an ember, a fire which can never go out. It is what gives us the courage to face every new day with fierce determination, it is what makes the sun rise and the grass grow. It is the primal, all encompassing strength that has allowed us to come so far as a species. It is our emotion, our valor and our wisdom, and so much more than that.
"However, much like any flame, our spirit is prone to outside forces. Many do not have the necessary strength to take care of it, to help it grow as it is supposed to do. As such, lacking the inner warmth they could never achieve on their own, they search for other ways to fill the emptiness in their chest. Greed, wrath, envy and despair. They quench themselves with it, wallowing in their own weakness as if it were a badge of pride. It is a sickness, one that can spread from person to person via many means.
"I realized that if I were not to do something, the entirety of Sinnoh might fall to such a pest. Even if we won the war, those in charge would've still been there, attributing themselves victory and growing their own reserves while letting the rest of us to rot. As such, I did what anyone in my position would've done: I led an assault against Sinnoh, my beloved region, in order to save it from its sickness. I defeated the previous Champion, dismantled the top and created the League Association in less than a year, burning and quenching under my feet every last remnant of the weakness of spirit my previous superiors had shown.
"After, it was only a matter of months before I was able to lead the final strike against Kanto, though not without help. It was the determination and bravery of my fellows which made this possible. Many would say it was a quick turnaround, but I believe it could've been a lot quicker. Every second we weren't working towards ending the war the sickness spread, and innocent people died. As I said, there is no pride to be found in what we did, but it had to be done.
"Most of you must be wondering why I'm telling you this. The war ended long ago, of course, and ever since we've bloomed as a nation and as a people. But I'm afraid to say that our fight, while long and painful, has not ended yet. I… well, I'm sure you've all been made aware of the group of terrorists who call themselves Team Galactic."
In the few seconds of silence she allowed her audience, a wave of whispers and general sounds of discomfort were heard all around. They were silenced as soon as she began to speak again.
"Many have lodged complaints against the Association, and against my desire to extend the fight past ourselves. They believe we should be the ones to destroy this hateful group, without realizing that their soldiers are not our greatest threat. It is their ideology, something that all of us, as a nation, must fight against in unison.
"I know we're all are tired of such conflicts. The war is still fresh in our memory, as well as the faces of those we loved, those who lost their life to make Sinnoh a better place. Still, it is precisely the reason why we must not let such an ideology grow further. Should we rest, should we allow them to have a voice, they will expand not only through Sinnoh but throughout the entire world. If we don't act now, we might as well be preparing for another war. We need to be better than those who came before us; we need to be able to learn from history.
"We are all responsible for what happens to our nation. Each and every single one of us, has a chance at changing fate. It is time we seize it."
The feeble silence which followed her words was soon broken as a wave of cheers and clapping deafened her. She allowed herself a loving smile as she stared at her audience, before raising a hand to let them know she wanted to speak again.
"With that said, it wouldn't be fair to let you all wallow in worry and fear in such a beautiful, sunny day." She looked up at the sky, a hopeful smile stretching across her face. "Let us rejoice for now, eating and laughing and loving to our heart's content, for there is no better way to–"
Her voice trailed off. She held her arms raised to the side, frozen, as her smile died on her lips. All those who'd been listening returned to reality with a jolt, like Magikarp being suddenly taken out of the water. Free from the alluring spell of her voice, they began to wonder and exchange looks of confusion with each other.
Why had Cynthia stopped? What was she staring at? And why-?
"Such a long time it's been, and yet you haven't changed at all."
The voice which erupted through the speakers made most folk's blood run cold. Sharp as a knife, unsettling as nails on a chalkboard. And yet it held the same effect as that of the Champion; it traveled through the air as a command, urging everyone to hear it.
"You call for violence, to crush under your heel the only threat against your rule, and yet you dare think yourself better than those you've usurped?" The voice traveled through the crowd like icy wind. "Your hypocrisy knows no bounds, my dear Champion. Only fools and mindless fanatics could be swayed by your empty words."
If anyone would've been staring at Cynthia then, they would've seen realization flash across her eyes, followed by the tips of her shoulders shaking ever so slightly.
"Show yourself!" Her voice echoed through the crowd, no longer amplified by the now dead microphone in her hand. "If you wish to speak nonsense then at least have the gall to say it to my face!"
"Of course, that bravado of yours is as present as usual," the stranger spoke once more. "To think you have to raise your voice just to be on par with me, it speaks volumes of how faint the power of your so called spirit is."
Cynthia parted her lips to reply, but then her eyes fell on a shape in the distance. Her words died on her throat.
Most people, including Inyssa and Barry, followed the trajectory of her gaze and looked over their shoulders. The unmistakable shape of a person stood a couple streets behind and up, the sun casting shadows on most of his body. He waited a moment and then began to walk at a brisk pace towards the park, hands behind his back.
Once he was at a reasonable distance, they could make out his appearance. He was a tall man with combed back, faded blue hair. His face was unnaturally pale, skin looking almost stretched out, and his eyes were as cold and hollow as the harshest of winters. He wore a black and grey uniform, with a yellow G stamped over his heart.
Inyssa felt her stomach drop, and next to her Barry let out a choked gasp. It was him, the same man they'd met at Lake Verity and in front of the statue in Eterna.
"I came here to talk, Champion, and yet you seem ready and eager to hurt me. Your over reliance on might and violence demonstrates not only your own weakness, but the very sickness that has spread through Sinnoh thanks to the likes of you." He spoke without any intonation whatsoever. "However, I agree that introductions are in order. Only then will people around the world be able to put a face to the truth I am about to tell."
He stopped before reaching the rest of the audience, about a stone throw's away from a frozen Inyssa and Barry. For a single moment it seemed as if he veered his gaze towards them, but once they blinked they saw him staring at the Champion again.
"My name is Cyrus," he declared, tone lacking any kind of emotion. "I am the leader of Team Galactic."
----------------------------------------
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Sarah's nose crinkled ever so slightly, the smallest sign of irritation she could allow herself to show outwardly. Other than that she stood as firm as a statue, arms crossed so tightly it would've been difficult to untie them from each other. Her gaze was set on the steel door in front of her, which led to the maximum security cell. Her maximum security sell.
"I am perfectly sure, boss. Thank you for asking."
Just in case the dryness of her voice wasn't enough, she looked up and to the side, her eyes falling on the man who'd spoken. He was tall and slim, features which were carefully polished into elegance by his garnet-colored suit and black shirt underneath. Wavy sheets of satin-like purple hair fell to his shoulders, the same color as those prying and curious eyes behind his oval shaped glasses. He stood next to her calmly, like a willow bending towards the wind. If he noticed the exasperation on her face, he did not show it.
"Well, whatever it takes to keep me away from that god-forsaken festival in Celestic," he sighed. "Take all the time you need, Sarah. I'll be waiting upstairs, ready to intervene should anything happen."
Her gaze veered down for a moment, towards the belt slightly hidden by the fold of his suit. Six polished Ultraballs adorned it, each surely containing a Pokemon more powerful than any she'd ever seen, not that she knew much about the subject. She wasn't a trainer, after all. Still, she could recognize someone's expertise by the way they carried themselves, and the man next to her wore the title of Elite Four member down to the marrow of his bones.
"Thanks, Lucian." She smiled for the first time that day, the muscles of her cheeks feeling strangely sore. "I'm going in."
She pressed the back side of her business card against the electronic panel of the door, which unlocked after flashing a few times. It opened up to a wide, poorly illuminated room divided into two sections by a thick sheet of bulletproof glass in the middle.
The other side sported a modest, somewhat comfy room. Sink, toilet, bed, table and of course two security cameras filming every angle of the room, protected by small cages made of the same material as the transparent wall. The wall which separated Sarah from the young, redheaded woman on the other side. She only hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. She'd been hesitant about transferring those apprehended in the Veilstone incident to a prison as strict and high security as that of Stark mountain, but after learning more about the true extent of Mars' abilities she understood the reason for it.
They'd finally been able to transfer her to her own room, after one of the guards came up with the idea of using paralyzing gas on her from a distance. It had taken a lot more than they thought necessary, but after the woman fell unconscious they were able to treat her most serious wounds and transfer her to this room. Not that she'd ever tried to escape, strangely enough.
Mars breathed in deeply as she sat against the furthermost wall of her cell. She tilted her head to the side, opening her eyes lazily like she'd just woken up. She parted her lips as if she were about to speak, but simply let out a long yawn.
"Now that's what I call a nap." She stretched one arm up, grabbing the shoulder with her other hand. Her voice was slow and throaty. "Hello, Sarah. Nice of you to come visit."
"I've come to ask you some questions, since you seem to have recovered from your injuries," said Sarah, voice taciturn. "Your cooperation on the matter will be to your own benefit."
Sarah tried her best not to imbue her voice with any kind of emotion, nor to show any sort of recognition. It was not her job, after all.
However, she didn't fail to notice the glint of a smile on Mars' cold eyes. "Always so professional, eh? Well, I can respect a woman who takes her job seriously," she said. "I'm still sorry about what I did to your son, by the way. I hope you're not still mad about that."
Words got caught up on her throat, along with something heavy and hot which she had to swallow down.
"I would like you to tell me whatever you can about Team Galactic." Her tone was plain, unnaturally so, as she spoke. "Since you seem to be the only member who hasn't lost her memory following the events of…"
"Then again, it'd be hypocritical of you to judge me," Mars interrupted, the corners of her lip forming the shadow of a smile. "I only gave Barry a little cut on the cheek, something to remember me by." She bit her bottom lip, laughter bubbling under her voice. "You've done much worse than that, so I'd appreciate it if you got off that high Ponyta of yours."
Sarah's shoulders tensed tightly, her expression wavering for a moment.
"Where are your headquarters located?" she asked. "I have a map with me; if you wish you could simply point at the exact location and…"
"Not gonna react to my taunts, huh? How boring." Mars threw her head back, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Mind if I take another nap? I'd rather that than continue with this dull conversation."
"If you're not willing to cooperate, then I will take my leave," said Sarah. "I'll have your food rations shortened. Hopefully it will convince you to be a little more cooperative."
Mars shrugged, "You could do that. Or you could stop wasting both of our time and ask me what you actually want to know."
Her last word was followed by an echoing, physical silence. All traces of humor fell from her expression like a cracked mask, like an invisible veil.
They locked eyes; Mars' were as sharp as cold as before, but this time they were also sane and terribly serious. Across them flashed a recognition which Sarah couldn't ignore, it was the same she'd been trying so hard to contain. She felt the silence turning her limbs stiff, holding her hostage.
She could think of only one way to break it. She spoke before her mind could process the words.
"What happened to you, Siffa?"
Mars unconsciously raised her lower lip, as if her old name had hit her harder than she'd expected it to. Her body looked tense, like the string of a bow drawn to its breaking point.
"I tumbled once, and never figured out how to stop," she said. "I guess you could say my naiveté and my bad decisions got mixed together at the worst of times."
Sarah hadn't expected her to actually answer, much less with what sounded like honesty. Then again she hadn't expected to ask either. As she stood there, unsure of what to say, it became clear that at some point the interrogation had grown past her control.
She took another, closer look at Mars. It had been clear as day in the photo, but in person it was far worse. The image of the young, bright eyed Siffa contrasted so violently with the woman in front of her that she didn't want to believe they were the same person. Mars was a terrorist and a murderer, while Siffa was…
That train of thought came to a sudden halt. Ashamed, she had to admit to herself that she had no idea what Siffa had been before she suddenly became Shadi and Ciro's travel partner. Not because of lack of effort, either. After long hours of investigation Sarah was not able to find a single document or ID or even a mention of anyone named Siffa that fit the girl's profile. As if she had never existed to begin with, evidence to the contrary sitting in front of her notwithstanding.
So she's either a ghost or…
The possibility had been dancing on her mind for the past few days. She didn't want to believe it; those had been nothing but rumors after all. And yet…
No family nor a documented life. No fingerprints. Extremely adept at hand to hand combat, stealth and assassination…
Back during the thick of the war, before the new Champion took hold of her title, rumors had spread of a new breed of soldiers developed by the military elites. Rumors of children who had been kidnapped while young and trained in the art of assassination. Rumors of the terrifying monsters they became, their eyes cold and ruthless, their steps as hushed as a whisper.
As a young lieutenant, Sarah often ordered her soldiers to stop spreading such obvious lies and instead focus on the task ahead of them. Back when she was naïve as well, back when she still believed in the morals of a Sinnoh she loved so much.
She didn't want to believe it then, but now it seemed almost insulting to ignore the evidence she'd been presented with. Looking into Mars' eyes, she could imagine someone like her going through such a grueling and horrifying childhood.
What didn't make sense, however, was what came after. If her theory was true then how did someone like Siffa go from killing people to being a normal teenager and then to becoming a terrorist? Something was missing, and it irritated her to no end.
"You're not denying it, then?" Sarah asked. "You really are Siffa."
Another twitch of her lower lip, though slightly more controlled.
"You could say that. I don't go by that name anymore, though."
In a distant part of her mind, Sarah felt relieved to hear that. The last thing she wanted was to associate the Siffa she knew with the criminal in front of her.
"What happened that day in Victory Road?" Her voice felt coarse in her throat. "You were there, weren't you?"
Mars nodded almost robotically, her eyes distant.
"It wasn't anything unexpected, even if I personally didn't see it coming," she said. "Shadi took her ambitions a step too far. She'd groomed us to be the perfect little slaves and didn't like it when we finally decided to stand up to her. She killed Ciro and tried to do the same to me, though she wasn't able to finish me off."
To say she wasn't expecting such an answer would've been putting it lightly. This time she couldn't help it as her mouth hung slightly agape, the impassiveness of her face breaking completely at Mars' casual and unabashed honestly.
"I find that hard to believe," she said, voice thin.
"So did I at first," shrugged Mars. "Though thankfully, denial doesn't last long in presence of the truth."
She tried to think of what to say or ask next, still baffled. That couldn't… that couldn't possibly be true, could it? Shadi was… well, perhaps not a good person but definitely a law-abiding citizen, and the one accusing her of murder was an assassin herself. What reason did she have to believe it? So what if she sounded sincere? It was utterly ridiculous.
"What happened after?" Sarah asked against her better judgment. "Where is Shadi?"
Mars formed a lopsided smile. "Wouldn't I love to know. I haven't seen her since; though not for lack of trying."
Sarah remembered the photo she'd been shown of Shadi's Charizard flying through the night a month back or so. The mind-bogglingly size of the beast, the dark figure riding on her back and the full moon shining above them both. She remembered the chills she got back then, how a spark of both hope and fear had sprouted in her chest. Hope that, maybe, Shadi was still alive and they could find her. Hope that Inyssa could be reunited with her. Hope that Sarah could at least be partly responsible for returning that innocent brightness to the girl's eyes that had vanished ever since her sister's disappearance.
"What... more can you tell me?" she asked. "How did you end up…?"
Her wrist started beeping, a most unwelcome sound that startled to the point of letting out a small gasp. Frowning, she looked down at the bulky Pokétch on her right arm whose screen was flashing red with the word Urgent written in black.
It took a considerable amount of restraint not to throw the thing across the room.
"Behave yourself," she ordered. "I'll be back to talk to you later."
She turned around to exit the room, but Mars' voice caught her before she could reach the door.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," she grinned. "I have a feeling I won't staying here much longer."
Sarah's hand hovered over the doorknob. She turned around slowly.
"What are you…?"
There was a crackle like that of electricity, followed by the lights in the room flickering off. For an instant there was silence, until it turned back on again, much weaker this time.
"The backup generator?" Sarah whispered to herself. "How…"
The door swung open, the only thing preventing it hitting Sarah in the face being her quick reflexes as she took a step back. Lucian appeared at the sill, face unnaturally pale and eyes wide behind his oval shaped glasses.
"Sarah, we are needed on the upper floors!" He spoke swiftly and with authority, barely raising his voice. "The power has gone down, the alarms haven't sounded yet and I can't contact the wards near the surface."
She allowed herself a short nod before she bolted towards the hallway outside, almost crushing her boss against the side of the door. All thoughts of Mars and Shadi left her mind as her body sunk back into the flight or fight response it was so accustomed to. Lucian followed soon after, locking the electronic door behind him.
Inside the room, Mars leaned back and closed her eyes expectantly. She smiled a terrible smile, waiting for what she knew was to come.