Pokémon Sword: Genetic Mutations

Chapter Seventeen.... A Thirst for Science

Today was particularly slow, and the sun's warmth shone through Leon's room, giving it a lofty feel as someone softly shook me awake. "Hmn?" I asked groggily, looking up at the figure before me as I rubbed my eyes. "Good morning, Lele. Mum wanted me to tell you that Breakfast was ready." Hop said, beaming gently. "Hop? Man, my back hurts." "I reckon it does, sleeping at a desk all night. Leon came to check in on you, and just threw a blanket over you before turning out the light." "Is that why it's so warm in here?" I asked, shimmying my way out as I stretched. "After we eat, I thought maybe we could have our friends over to watch some telly in my room, if you don't have anything else, that is." Hop offered, helping me up from the chair as I replied, "Yeah, that sounds good. I may just take a nap though, we WERE out pretty late, you and I..." I yawned, stretching out my back with a series of cracks and making Hop flinch at each one. "That sounds like it hurts! I guess "Limber" wouldn't be your special ability, eh?" He joked, and I replied, laughing, "Not for this sack of potatoes!" We shared a laugh amongst ourselves as we went downstairs, and I helped Hop's mom set the table for waffles, eggs, and sausage as the rest of the family settled down. His mom asked is how our evening was yesterday, and we were honest about everything, including the kissing bit! "Well look at that! My little Hop's grown into a man now; means that now he's got a girlfriend to look clean and pristine for. And as for you, young lady, that Bede better stay true to his word, and treat you kindly or I'll have his hide. You can tell him I said that too!" His mother said, and the two of us could only laugh bashfully as his grandmother added, "I told you it'd all work out dearie." "I-I suppose you're right, ma'am. Thank you!" I replied, cutting into my eggs. "Alright, mum. Let the children eat; suppose they have plans today?" "Actually, Hop was going to bring Gloria and Victor over so we could all just pile up in his room and watch Tv. I was just gonna nap a short while, but if you'd like, I can help with any chores that need doing." "Oh, no, you've done so much for us already love. I'll let Hop do the after chores, and you can wait for him in the lounge if you wish." His mother replied, smiling at me a warm, familiar smile. After breakfast, I patiently waited for Hop in te lounge, watching his grandmother knit while his grandfather read the newspaper, making little comments about politics or economics every now and then. "Lele, dear, you've been eyeing my knitting for a good while now. Would you like for me to show you how it's done?" "I-Is it really okay? You seem very hard at work, and I don't want to be in the way..." "Not at all sweetie! Come, I'll show you what you have to do." She beckoned, and I took a seat next to her as she took the hooks into her hands, and wrapped the yarn into loops and ties, and I paid attention as she spoke, and moved her wrists to the movement of the yarn. I heard Hop poking fun in the kitchen, and his mom telling him to stop as he laughed before a loud clanking came from the kitchen, making all of us look up as we saw a frightened look on Hop's face. "Hop? Sweetheart? What is it?" His grandmother asked, concerned when he replied shakily, "Th-There's a strange man outside the gate. He's staring through the window at us, mum!" His mother joined him at the window, and squinted her eyes as she asked under her breath, "Who is...?" "Wh-What is he wearing?" I asked, my blood running cold as Hop described, "He's wearing shades, and a black fedora with a brown trench coat and striped suit. Why do you ask?" My heart dropped, and I quickly stood up, panicking, "Are you kidding?! They tracked me HERE?!" "Lele, who is it?" Hop asked, urgency in his tone. "He works for the same scientists that want to slice and dice me! They dress up under the guise of a detective, but they're really thugs that kidnap and ransome anyone who gets in the way of corporate goals, like discovering the next big break on Pokémon to Human compatibility, and the evolution of the next race of humans." I explained, hyperventilating as I frantically looked for a place to hide. "How? HOW could they've pin pointed that I'm hiding HERE?!" I asked, gasping for air as Hop rushed to my side, and consoled me in his embrace as his mother ordered, "Take Lele, and hide in Leon's closet. DON'T come out for anything, alright? NOT until I tell you!" "Yes mum. Come on, let's go Lele. You'll be alright, I promise!" Hop said, taking me upstairs to Leon's room. "They've found me, and they're going to hurt me!" I sobbed, shaking as Hop dug around his brother's room for something. "Calm down, Lele. Breathe! Your powers will frenzy if you don't." Hop replied, picking something up, and unlocking his brother's closet door before ushering me inside, and shutting the door behind us as I tried to keep my form together. The closet was quite spacious, and very neat as it had knickknacks placed on shelves, shoes on a shoe holding wrack that look barely worn, and Pokémon related items on a top shelf above his clothes. There was a barren corner, and after Hop locked the door up tight, he placed the key into his jacket pocket, and the two of us cowered in the corner as an altercation broke out downstairs, resulting in yelling, and things being thrown around as I clung onto Hop tightly. "I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE MY PROPERTY THIS INSTANT! DON'T MAKE ME CALL MY ELDEST!" Hop's mother demanded as a man gave orders, and we heard the thumping of boots go into Hop's room before turning the place up and over to look for me. I could hear the terrified cries of their grandmother, and the loud threats from their grandfather as Hop's mother returned back downstairs. The people followed her, and my breath froze in my throat as we waited for a grueling ten minutes as the crashing continued on downstairs. After about half an hour, the footsteps returned, and they came into Leon's room, making my heart thud as Hop tightened his hold on me. We watched the door, making sure that whoever it was didn't try the handle when a series of crashing and stuff being thrown began to sound. Luckily, my notebooks and suitcase were tucked safely out of sight, or they'd have been in deep for sure! Once the room went quiet again, the footsteps approached the closet door, and the handle jiggled as I began to whimper, and I turned my face away to hide it in Hop's neck as I cried softly. I guess they were going to try to kick the door in, but a sound of rapid footsteps caught their attention as I heard Leon yell furiously, "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE THEN?! TRESSPASSING ON MY MUM'S PROPERTY AND TURNING THE PLACE UP LIKE YOU OWN IT! GIVE ME A REASON NOT TO CALL THE CONSTABLE!" "With all due respect sir, you have something that's contractually ours, and we'd like to have it back into our possession." A man explained, cool as a cucumber as Leon continued, "SO YOU FEEL THAT GIVES YOU REASON TO SEARCH AND BATTER SOMEONE'S HOME WITHOUT A WARRANT?! YOU CAN TELL YOUR SUPERIOR THAT I DEMAND RECOMPENSE FOR THE DAMAGES YOU INFLICTED ON MY MOTHER'S PROPERTY. EVEN IF WE DID HAVE SOMETHING THAT BELONGED TO YOU, THAT GIVES YOU NO REASON TO TRESPASS ON ANOTHER'S PROPERTY. I DEMAND YOU LEAVE AT ONCE!" "Hmph! We'll pay you when Sandslash fly. Good day to you sir!" The man replied, stomping off. Once we heard the front door slam, a jingling of sorts was heard on the other side, unlocking the closet as I whimpered some more, and braced myself for the worst when we were met with Leon's bright, amber colored eyes. "Are you two okay?" He asked, worried. I began to bawl as I lost control of my form, and I turned into a Vulpix from my region as I shook in fear. "Oh, Lele..." Leon sighed, softening his gaze as he knelt to the floor, and held out his hand. I walked over to him, and placed my head into his hands as I slunked to the floor, crying, "I was so scared, Leon. I thought for sure they were going to take me away!" "You sweet, gentle creature you. I'm SO sorry you have to go through this madness, Lele." He said, stroking the fur on my head as Hop came up to him. "Lee, I've never heard you so angry before... Are you alright?" He asked, concerned for his elder brother. "I'm fine, little brother, don't you worry about me. I'm sorry if I've frightened you two." He said, taking Hop into his arm. Almost as if he couldn't keep up the strong act, Hop's lip began to quiver, and he too began to cry as he dug his face into his brother's shoulder. Tears running down his own face, Leon brought the two of us close to him, promising that everything was okay, and that the bad people were gone; I knew better, though... They won't stop looking... They NEVER will..! Once we calmed down a bit, and I returned to my human form, we all stepped out to observe the damage done, and my heart broke as I surveyed broken photo frames scattered about, blankets strewn about, and fractured bits of wall all over. The place looked like something straight out of a nightmare! I cried again as I began, "Leon... Your room...." "Lele, it's fine. It's nothing we can't fix, and it's nobody's fault!" "B-But-" "It's NOT your fault, Lele." He assured again, patting my shoulder before sending Hop and I downstairs. The doorbell rung, and I was positive they returned as I hid myself beneath the kitchen table, and Hop growled, "NO VISITORS, PLEASE!" "S-Sorry. I saw these strange men, and I wanted to see if Hop and Lele were okay." A boy's voice chimed nervously, and Hop quickly ran to the door as he asked, "Victor? And Gloria?!" I quickly emerged from beneath the table as his lady threw her arms around her dearest friend, and she cried, "Oh, Hop! I was so worried when mum said there were screaming and stuff being thrown, and these people in long coats left your house!" "Shhh, it's okay. Really! They're gone, and Lee made sure they won't come back." He assured, moving her hair from her face, and cupping her face in his palms. "Victor! Gloria!" I cried, embracing one before the other as I sobbed, "I'm so happy to see you! Those people didn't do anything to you guys, did they?" "No! No, we were worried about you lot!" Gloria replied, hugging me tight as she sobbed. I noticed Victor approach Hop, and he punched him in the shoulder which caught him off gaurd as Victor said calmly, "THAT was for snogging my sister last night without asking!" "Owwwww!" Hop replied, rubbing his arm as his friend stuck out a hand, adding with a smile, "I couldn't ask for a better man to take care of my sister, mate." After the pain subsided, Hop took his friend's hand, and the two shared a hug that symbolized the respect they held for each other. We spent the rest of the day, consoling Hop's poor, frightened mother and grandmother as they took a rest, and Leon had left with his grandfather to file a police report, and get some materials to repair and replace what the coated individuals had decimated. Deep down I knew they'd come back, though.... They ALWAYS came back.....