SS Ann part2: Friend among foes

Disclaimer: Some violence and Damn is used once.

Shan opened her eyes slowly. Her head felt like it was about to explode. At first she didn’t know were she was, when she remembered what had happened she tried to stand up but found that her arms and legs were securely fastened. Shan lifted her head and tired to get a look around. She only saw a woman in a lab coat leaning over a computer and typing franticly. Shan laid her head down and sighed. The woman stood up and walked towards her Shan quickly closed her eyes and pretended to still be asleep.

"Your awake." The woman said with some relief. Shan just laid there. "Don’t pretend, my equipment already showed me that you’re awake." Shan opened her eyes and glared at the woman. "Oh my," She said and took a few steps closer.

"Where am I?" Shan demanded. The woman smiled and sat down on a near by chair.

"You’re on the SS Ann. My name is Rita, what’s yours?" Shan frowned.

"None of your business." Shan said. Rita sighed.

"Don’t be so hostile." Rita said. "I’m not your enemy." Shan glared at Rita.

"Then let me go." Shan said. Rita closed her eyes and took on a sad expression.

"I can’t." She said. Shan laid her head down and looked away form her.

"Then you’re a rocket and that makes you a enemy to me." Shan said. Rita stood up and walked towards the computer. Shan struggled to get free but it was no use, she was too physically and mentally week.

After a few minuets had past the door opened and someone walked in. Shan couldn’t see who it was but she knew. Tachi walked up to her and looked down at her.

"Comfy?" He asked. Shan narrowed her eyes. "You are more trouble than your worth." Tachi said turning to Naru. "Don’t be so scared Naru she can’t even use her powers." Tachi said smiling. "Can you kid?" He said. Shan watched as Naru walked up to her.

"So the little freak isn’t so powerful now." Naru said. Shan glared at Naru as she walked closer to her. Naru smiled and then slapped Shan hard across the face. Anger fill Shan and for a second her eyes flashed blue. Naru jumped back as Shan struggled to get free.

"Calm down Naru." Tachi said. "She can’t get free or use her powers. That little trick of hers is just that a trick."

"You creeps aren’t going to get away with this." Shan said angrily.

"Oh come on now isn’t that a little to cliché." Tachi said. "We have gotten away with it before. You were just lucky all the other times." Tachi said. Luck had nothing to do with it the other times, she knew that. The fact that she had escaped was because of her own skill with her pokemon and the wild power that she used. But, at that moment she felt that she had only been lucky up to that point.

"Sir," Rita said calmly. "I don’t think it is a good idea to get her to excited." Tachi turned to look at Rita. Rita seemed to slink back a bit. "She is still week and if she gets to angry that anger might trigger another powerful release of her powers. That could kill her."

"You’re the expert." Tachi said. "Tell me what you found out. Were almost to our destination and the boss will be happy to meet our young psychic friend there." Shan watched as Naru glared at her from behind Tachi.

"Let’s talk outside." Rita said. Tachi nodded and they began to leave.

"Naru come on." Tachi said. Naru turned and walked away. Shan looked over at the computer and tried to read it’s screen but it was to far away.

"This is not good." Shan said and laid her head back. "I have got to get out of hear."

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They walked into the narrow hallway and each turned to face each other. Tachi smiled as he looked at Rita. Naru frowned and leaned up against the wall. "What’s the report?" Tachi asked. Naru crossed her arms infant of her and smiled.

"Yea spill it." Naru said. Rita nervously lifted her clipboard up to look at her notes.

"I got the blood work back." Rita said in a scared voice.

"And?" Tachi asked. He was getting annoyed with the scared scientists. Things weren’t going well on the SS Ann for him. The coast guard almost searched the boat when one of the rookie recruits made the mistake of caging a pokemon above decks. Tachi had to straighten every thing up, he hated cops and talking to one was not on his things to do list.

"Well I the main lab said that they know who she is."

"What?" Naru asked. "But we only found her a few months ago."

"That may be but the main lab said that they know who she is. They also said that once we get to the underground research center we are to transport her to the Main lab." Rita said and lowered her clipboard.

"What did they say about her?" Tachi asked.

"Nothing they said it was top secret and only the boss and the scientists at the lab could access the information." Rita sighed and held her arm. "That poor girl." She said under her breath. Tachi frowned and put his hands on his hips.

"Don’t go soft." Tachi said. Rita lowered he arms. Naru stood up and placed her hand on her hip. She looked towards the door.

"So what did your research say. That isn’t classified is it?"

"No it’s not." Rita said quietly. The tension was getting to her, Tachi knew it.

"Then report," he said smiling. "That is an order."

"That full black body suit that she’s wearing scans her power and her physical abilities. It’s amazing. Her leg muscles are very strong and so are her bones."

"So," Naru said impatiently. "Get to the good stuff, what about her power?" Rita pushed took off her glasses and carefully placed them in her pocket.

"I can’t explain it," Rita said. "She has all the qualities of a human psychic, but the fact that she can produce energy and force it towards a target with out the help of an enhancer is strange."

"How so?" Tachi asked.

"Well it’s almost like she has powers that are similar to psychic type pokemon. Her power is like a combination of both. It is very strange and extremely powerful."

"That can’t be possible. Can it?" Naru said. "This kid knows more than she lets on. I think we should try to get her to tell us about herself."

"That won’t help." Tachi said.

"Why?" Naru asked.

"Because she doesn’t know anything about how she got this power. I took the liberty of finding out about her. She is an orphan and has no clue to her past." Tachi looked at his watch and frowned. "Time to check on the pokemon. You make sure that she can’t escape, come on Naru. And you," He said sternly. "Move her to a cell in the below deck."

Rita watched as the two disappeared down the hallway. Rita sadly looked at the door to her small lab and entered.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Shan watched as the scientists came back in the room. Rita looked at Shan and smiled. Shan looked away angrily and attempted to free her arms again. "You shouldn’t do that." Rita said. Shan sighed and closed her eyes.

"Get lost." Shan said.

"I wish you would believe me when I tell you I’m not your enemy." Rita said taking out a remote control. Rita pushed a few buttons and Shan’s arms and feet were freed. Shan jumped to her feet and glared at Rita. Shan lunged forward at Rita but then stopped as a pulse of electricity hit her. Shan took a few steps back and began to breathe heavily. "I don’t think you should try that again that body suit your wearing not only controls your power but It give me some control over you." Shan frowned and looked at what she was wearing.

"What am I cat woman?" Shan said angrily. Rita smiled.

"You are to come with me." Rita said. Shan crossed her arms infront of her.

"I don’t think so." Shan said. Rita pressed a few buttons and Shan was hit with another painful jolt of electricity. Shan reluctantly followed Rita to the lower decks of the ship. Once at their destination Rita turned to Shan.

"I’m not a part of team rocket you know." She said. "I’m not doing this kind of thing because I want to. I am doing it to make the world a better place."

"I don’t see why I should believe you." Shan said. "Your just as bad as team rocket, maybe worse." Shan said. Rita looked at Shan and frowned.

"You’re just a kid," she said. "You wouldn’t understand my reasons."

"I understand that your going along with trying to steel pokemon. How can you justify that." Shan said angrily.

"The pokemon are used in experiments for the betterment of mankind. It may seem harsh to you but that’s my reasons."

"You steel pokemon from hard working trainers like me. Team rocket only wants to use pokekmon to get power. I may be a kid but even I can see that." Shan said. Rita cupped her hands to her ears.

"Stop talking and get inside." Rita said opening a door. Shan walked in and watched as Rita turned away.

"You want to help mankind?" Shan said. "I don’t see how steeling pokemon will do that." Rita turned and looked at Shan for a moment with sad eyes.

"I have my reasons. I’m sorry." The cell door closed leaving Shan alone.

Shan sat for a while wondering how she could escaped her predicament. She tried to use her power but was only greeted a mild jolt.

"Ahh, this is hopeless." Shan said and flopped down on the floor.

"Aye, it does look that way don’t it Lassie." Said a voice. Shan looked up.

"Who’s there? Shan asked.

"Names Captain Emanuel Gritty. I de captain of dis hear fin vessel." The gruff voice said.

"Why did the rockets kidnap you?" Shan asked. "No offence, but what use do thy have for a captain of a cruise liner."

"I ain’t. . uh. . .urp."

"Uh, are you ok?" Shan asked walking towards the cell doors.

"Aye. . .uh. . .jus. . .urp a bit sea sick." He said.

"Your seasick? How can a captain be seasick?" Shan asked.

"Don’t ask me Lassie," a loud groan was heard. "I bin salin for many a year and every time I head out in a new boat it’s the same old thing."

"New boat?" Shan asked.

"Aye, the SS Ann hear ain’t the original. That one was taken by the sea long ago, thanks to poor captain. Me on the other hand. . .uh. . .I never had a sea wreck." Shan sighed.

"SO why did the rockets catch you. And what happened to the crew?" Shan asked.

"I have a special skill Lass. I am a master with the sword," He groaned again. "I learned how ta use it while I was in Lavender town a long time ago. Great place that was. As for me crew, I don’t know what happened to um."

"You learned how to use the sword in Lavender town? What is that town like is it nice?" Shan asked, temporary forgetting her predicament.

"Aye lass tis a fine town. There was a quiet little place that I used to visit, an old monastery. That’s were I learned me skill."

"My name is Shan." Shan said. "Can you tell me about the monastery?"

"Eye," he said. "Never was there a more beautiful place in my mind. I knew the monks well. The monks taught me about the sword."

"Wow," Shan said. "I’m trying to visit that town." Shan said.

"No Lass ya shouldn’t go. That place has a curse on it."

"A curse? Come on get real it’s the year two thousand no one believes in that stuff anymore."

"Aye, but by my word, that place is cursed." Shan walked around in her cell.

"Doesn’t matter any way." She said. "If I don’t get off of this boat my dream won’t ever come true." Shan said.

"By the sea," the captain said. "I feel much better after talkin to ya lass."

"Thanks," Shan said flatly. "I wish there was a way out of hear."

"Lass what’s yer dream." He asked. Shan sighed and sat down against the wall.

"I wanted to be a master of fire pokemon and open my own gym one day. Even if I get away from team rocket it’s going to be hard to achieve that dream."

"And why's that?" He asked.

"I don’t know," she said and closed her eyes. Shan sat thinking in silence when the captain began to talk again.

"Hey Lass," He said.

"Yes," Shan said.

"Why you hear lass?" He asked.

"It’s a long story." Shan said sighing.

"Well we got nothin but time lass."

"I rather not talk about it." Shan said. Shan could hear the captain groan again. Shan laughed to herself a bit. The fact that she had met a seasick captain was funny to her. Shan leaned back against the wall and frowned.

"Captain?" Shan asked.

"Aye Lassie." He said in his gruff voice.

"What happened to the rest of the crew?"

"That I don’t know lass. One minuet I’m telling me mates to prepare for our leave and the next thing I knew those urchins had us. I feel stupid about that lass. . .uh. . . They hid themselves in with me crew."

"Oh," Shan said. Shan sadly looked down at her feet. The body suite covered her entire body except for her hands. "I hope my pokemon are ok." Shan said. She looked up as the main door opened.

"Look who has finally gotten what she deserved." Seth said. Shan jumped to her feet. "Ha, you thought you could keep my Charmeleon from me well now I have her and a nice little Eevee thanks to you."

"You’ll never make them obey you." Shan said Seth took out a pokeball and smiled.

"Let’s see. Go Freddie." He shouted. Shan watched as Charmeleon formed infront of her. Seth had released Charmelon in the cell with Shan.

"Char." Charmeleon said and ran to Shan and jumped into her arms. Charmeleon rubbed her head on Shan's leg and barked happily. Shan smiled and stood up.

"I told you." Shan said.

"What’s going on Lass?" The captain said. Seth glared at Shan through the bars.

"Freddie come back hear." Seth said. Charmeleon glared at Seth and then opened her mouth wide. Suddenly a blast of Fire shot out at Seth causing him to fall back. Shan clapped as Charmeleon puffed out her chest.

"My Charmelon is a girl. Don’t you know the difference Seth?" Shan said. "Now give me back sweet Eevee." Seth smiled and walked towards the cell.

"Return," He said. Charmeleon attempted to jump out of the way but was caught in the beam.

"No!" Shan shouted. Seth smiled and clipped the ball to his belt. Seth laughed and walked up to the cell.

"Ahh what’s wrong?" Seth asked sarcastically. "Do you want your little pokemon back."

"You leave the lass alone you urchin." The captain said. Seth laughed and then stopped when the door opened again. He turned and saluted as Tachi walked towards him.

"Sir." Seth said. Shan clenched her fists at her side. Tachi looked at Seth and frowned.

"I thought I told you to take that old fool to the infirmary." Tachi said. Seth swallowed.

"I was sir I was just. .uh. ."

"You were just disobeying orders." Tachi said harshly. Seth almost jumped back. "Your lucky I am in such a good mood." He said looking at Shan. "Thanks to my latest triumph I am now going to become an Supper Elite." Seth saluted and went to the Captains cage.

"Urp. . .Get lost you little urchin. I kin take ker of me self." The captain said. Tachi watched as Seth entered the cell.

"Clam down old man," Shan heard Seth say.

"Why you," Shan jumped as she heard Seth let out a scream.

"Ow," Seth said. Tachi frowned.

"What is the problem?" He asked.

"That old fart bit me." Seth said. Tachi laughed.

"And I’ll be doin it again if ye try that again." The captain said. Tachi walked towards the captains Cell. Shan heard a metal noise and then saw Seth walking with an elderly man.

"Don’t you fret none Lassie," The captain said. "I be comin back." Shan watched as the two left. She was now alone. Alone with Tachi.

"What do you want now?" Shan demanded. Tachi's face twisted into anger and he raised something at Shan. Shan gasped when she saw that it was a gun.

"It would be so easy to get rid of you right now." Tachi said. Shan took a few steps back. "DO you know the hell you have put me though? DO YOU!?" He shouted. Shan swallowed.

"I didn’t do anything to you." Shan said calmly. Tachi cocked the gun and walked closer to the cell.

"Didn’t you?" He said. "Ever since you got away that first time I’ve been plagued by those eyes of yours. Every time I closed my eyes to plan another job those eyes stared at me, mocking me." He said. Tachi narrowed his eyes. "You have haunted my dreams Shan."

"I was just trying to be a pokemon trainer. You’re the one who ruined my life." Shan said. Tachi laughed.

"It would be so easy just to kill you now," he lowered his gun. "But I want to make sure that I don’t jeopardize my promotion."

Shan leaned up against the wall and slid down to sit on the floor. "Why are you doing this Tachi?" Shan asked sadly. Tachi smiled and put his gun away.

"Well my little psychic. I am doing this to make you pay." He turned and left. Shan hugged her knees to her chest and began to wonder if her friends were looking for her. Shan slowly drifted off to sleep.

"Lass," The captain said shaking Shan awake. Shan opened her eyes and jumped with surprise. "Come on Lass we are gittin out of hear." He said. Shan followed him out of the cell but then stopped.

"I can’t go without my pokemon." Shan said. The captain looked at her.

"Lass, I know ya love yer critters but ya kint put ya self in jeopardy." He said. Shan smiled.

"Thanks for your concern but I am not leaving with out them. You go on," Shan said. "I’ll meet you on deck after I find my pokemon." Shan said.

"Lass I kin not leave ya hear by yer self. You’re just a wispy little thing." Shan frowned.

"I’ll have you know I won two real badges." She said. The captain laughed.

"Lass you have a lot of guts. Fine then. I’ll be watin for ye on deck. I have some things to git meself." The Captain ran out of the room. Shan followed but headed in another direction.

Shan had ducked into a room just as two rockets passed by her. She sighed and was about to leave when she heard a noise.

"Vulll," Shan turned on the light and gasped. There, surrounding her, were hundreds of pokemon and among them Rattaata, Kitsune, Puwar, and Buterfree sat looking happily at their master.

"I found you." Shan said and released them from their cages. Luckily their pokeballs were in the cages with them and Shan found a belt to put them on. She looked around the room. Most of the pokemon were small, Shan let them out.

"Now for a bit of a distraction." Shan said and allowed the pokemon to run out of the door. Shan waited until she heard the rockets shouting for help. Shan looked around the room and luckily found her bookbag and her pokedex. Shan slung her pack on her back after putting her pokeballs into it.

Shan ran to the upper deck just as the rockets were beginning to catch on to what was happening. Once she got to the above deck she began to look for the captain. When she couldn’t find him she hid in a lifeboat to wait. Around her the Rockets chased after the pokemon that she had freed.

"Hold it!" Tachi’s voice boomed over an intercom. "Shan come out now or your friend the good Captain is going to go for a swim." Shan closed her eyes tight and got out of the boat.

"Got her sir," A Rocket said grabbing Shan’s arm. He walked Shan towards Tachi. Another Rocket grabbed her other arm. Shan frowned.

"Don’t hurt him." Shan said. Tachi smiled and began to laugh.

"Got ya," he said. Shan’s eyes flashed blue quickly but were stopped by a jolt from the suit. Shan struggled to get free of the two rockets but was still week. Tachi walked towards her with Naru following closely behind.

"You thought you could get away," Tachi said and cupped his hand under Shan's chin. "You won’t ever get away from me." He said and then smiled. He turned to Naru who was red with anger.

"Make sure you find that old fool." Naru glared at Tachi.

"What about her?" She asked.

"I’ll make sure she doesn’t escape again." Tachi said.

"Ya let the lass go." The captain said running at Tachi with a sword in his hand. The rockets let go of Shan and ran off. The captain laughed.

"Yer boys aren’t that brave." He said. Seth ran at the Captain from behind. The Captain moved to the side and tripped Seth just as Seth fell he grabbed his pokebelt. "And they’re loud to." He said. The captain tossed Seth’s belt to Shan who quickly found Charmeleon's and Eevee's pokeballs.

"There is no were for you to run you old fool." Naru said. Tachi smiled and looked at Shan.

"And you know that I will not stop till I make you pay." Tachi said. "There’s no were to run Shan." Tachi said walking towards them. The Captain was about to attack Tachi when Tachi took out his gun. The captain backed down. Tachi just stared at Shan and aimed the gun at her.

"You know there’s no way out of this kid." He said. The Captain and Shan backed into the rail. Shan turned and looked down. She gasped and took a few steps towards Tachi causing him to smile.

"To high for you?" he asked. The Captain let out a loud Whistle.

"Not to high urchin." The captain said and grabbed Shan by the waist and heaved her overboard. He jumped after her. Shan gasped as she landed on something. When she opened her eyes and saw the face of a Gryidos she let out a scream.

"North, South," The captain shouted. "Swim my lovelies." The two Gryidos began to swim threw the water.

"Get in the speed boats and the wave-riders and get after them. Bring back the girl alive." Tachi yelled. Rockets began to run about.

They were a good distance from the boat when Shan opened he eyes and smiled nervously at the large pokemon. "Nice pokemon." Shan said. The Gryidos ducked its head and Shan laughed as it roared happily.

"She likes ya lass. South always was a good old gal. Not like North hear." The captain said. The Captains Gryidos swayed its head angrily. "Ah calm down lad ya know I didn’t mean it." The Captain said petting North’s head.

Shan turned to looked around and gasped. "Hey they’re coming after us." Shan said. The captain stood up on North and looked towards the boats that were heading towards them.

"Don’t worry lass I won’t let them get ya." The boats were soon surrounding them. Tachi stood up on the boat he was on and glared at The Captain.

"You’re an old fool." He said. North roared at Tachi and spit out a spray of water. Tachi laughed and held up his Gun. Shan stood up on the Gryidos.

"Stop!" Shan shouted. Tachi pointed the gun at her causing Naru to smile.

"You’re not getting away." Tahci said. Shan closed her eyes and lowered her head. A clash of thunder caused her to look back up.

"What?" Tachi said looking at the sky. "There wasn’t suppose to be a storm today." The captain laughed over the wind as it began to pick up.

"The sea don’t listen to Urchins like you. She does what she will." A large wave hit the boats and the large pokemon. South was tossed back throwing Shan into the water. Shan quickly got to the surface and gasped for air.

"South attack those boats with yer dragon rage." South began to shot our a wave of fire knocking the rockets off of there boats. Shan struggled to stay afloat. Shan was still to physically weekend from the Haunters attack. The last thing she saw before she was knocked out by a wave just as the captain was heading for her on North, which was the last thing she saw before she blacked out.

Tachi slammed his fist on the table. Naru sat silently smiling to herself. Tachi sat down behind the desk and ran his hand though his hair. "She got away again." Tachi said flatly. Naru stifled a grin of joy and looked over at him.

"No that old man helped her to escape. If he hadn’t helped her we would still have her." She said.

"That’s not going to cut it with the boss." Tachi said. A nock on the door made them turn. "Come in!" Tachi said angrily. Seth walked in and saluted. Tachi leaned back in his chair and stared angrily at the boy infront of him. Seth had not been much of a challenge to break into being a rocket.

"Sir the boss is on the vid-phone for you." Tachi sighed and turned to the vid-phone. He turned it on.

"When will you be at the destination Tachi?" The boss said. Tachi closed his eyes.

"In a few hours sir." The boss smiled though the darkness.

"And how is the girl. Has she regained conciseness.

"Yes sir but she escaped." Tachi braced himself for the boss’s anger. Instead he just sat there smiling in the darkness.

"I’m glad to see you didn’t go after her." Tachi looked up surprised. Naru and Seth exchanged glances. "You knew that the SS Ann mission was important and you stuck with it."

"Sir the captain helped her to escape."

"That old fool wasn’t worth the time. I must commend you on your good work so far. Don’t worry I know this girl." He said.

"But sir what should we do?" Naru asked walking up to the vid screen.

"Let her go for now," he laughed. "Don’t fret compared to what we are doing now she is not that important. We will get her in due time." Tachi saluted as the vid screen went blank.

"The boss knows her?" Naru asked. "But how?" She asked. Tachi leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms infront of himself.

"I say we find out," Tachi said smiling. "That way we’ll know how to get that kid." Tachi glared at Seth. Seth quickly left.

"You looked like you were up to something before the girl escaped." Naru said angrily to Tachi. Tachi stood up and hugged her close.

"Don’t tell me your jealous of her. You know there’s no one that could take your place." Naru frowned and backed up.

"Me jealous?" She said. "I’m not jealous." She said. Tachi gently cupped her cheek with his hand and smiled.

"My darling Naru you’re the only one for me. Just trust me and we will become the leaders of Team rocket someday." Naru smiled and hugged Tachi.

"Damn you," Naru said. "You always know the right thing to say to me when I’m mad. How come you can’t just let me be mad at you." She said resting her head on Tachi's chest.

"Because I wouldn’t be able to take that," He said smiling.

Mark kicked a rock down the road as he and the others walked along. "I can’t believe she ditched us." HE said angrily.

"Hey man give it a rest." Alex said.

"She didn’t even tell us were she was going. The least she could have done was tell that Nurse Joy were she went. But no." Mark said.

"Mark Shan must have a reason." Quin said. "Besides Nurse Joy didn’t even seem to know who she was. Maybe Shan told her and she just forgot." Quin said. Alex sighed.

"I know your worried about her Mark," Alex said. "We all are. But we’ll run into her again. You just need to calm down."

"Don’t tell me to calm down you purple haired punk." Mark shouted. "Shan was fine till she went to that gym. You could have warned us about that."

"I already told you that I couldn’t." Alex yelled. "What you think I wanted you guys to get the crap kicked our of you?" Quin stepped between them.

"Stop it." She said angrily. "Let’s just go on to the next town Maybe Shan’s there.

"Your right," Mark said calmly. "What was the name of that town again?" Alex laughed.

"Bad memory boy," He said dramatically. "Abel to forget things in a single minuet." HE said laughing. Mark glared at him.

"Dark city." Quin said. "The gym there isn’t apart of the pokemon league but the badge counts. Let’s go. Maybe Shan’s there." Quin said. Mark smiled.

"When I see her I am going to give her a piece of my mind. We’re suppose to be a team." Mark said and ran down the road. Quin and Alex ran after him.