Sunday, April 30th, 1989

The midday sun scorched the sand enough to make Sergeant Sutton retreat into the teens' sun shelter. He placed a wet towel on Kitiku's head. You are burning up from the heat, Kitiku. I guess even you, Colran, aren't used to this heat. I feel like I am dying, though. He pushed his blond hair out of his eyes and lay down.

Tossing his green poké ball up and down, James sat opposite him. "Damn, match getting cancelled. Can't wait for the next round, though. Li's picture and my picture are up on the same board."

"James, two people got killed. I think that's more important than your match. What if that was you? Your father would kill me, and then you... again." Sergeant Sutton opened one eye. "You might be strong for your age, but what even is your onix's level ?"

James screwed up his nose and turned away. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I'm guessing, since, well, you haven't evolved your onix, she doesn't have the level to form metal to evolve into steelix." Sergeant Sutton closed his eyes again but felt a tugging on his bright red t-shirt. "Hmm? Oh, what's up, Kitiku?" He looked into Kitiku's grey eyes.

Kitiku looked at Sergeant Sutton briefly, then looked back down at his hands. "What do you mean by level? I don't really... I don't battle. Battling is scary," he signed.

Placing his hand on his chin, Sergeant Sutton took a breath out. How do I explain this in Colrat? He pressed his finger against his lip. "So, you know how you can cook dinner? Experience is knowing what pan to use for what type of food. Level is how complicated and good the food you can make is. So for a pokémon battle, I suppose it would be how strong your pokémon can use an attack and how many attacks your pokémon can take as their level, and knowing how to use the attack effectively is experience." He watched Kitiku nod at him, and a little smile crossed his face. Only way to find out and be sure is to wait for a pokémon's move to upgrade or to go to a healer for a test. I wonder how that man is doing?

James got up. "Look, Sutton, no offence, but fuck off back to Elktan."

Sergeant Sutton leaned back. How could two siblings be so different?

The tarp flopped behind James. He pushed his hands deep into his pockets. Damn Elktan, they ruin everything. He glanced over the corpses covered by tarps. Not me. He stepped onto the battlefield, glancing at Mr Bourbabel, who was walking away.

I guess it is the teens' turn. That match was a tough one, but when push came to shove, I managed to push through. Mr Bourbabel walked up to the referee and stood beside her. A gurdurr and an onix. Alright, that's not a bad combination on its own. The theivul on the other side should be an easy takedown, but its red and orange fur can blend into the sad. Oh, now, this is not a favourable matchup at all.

The onix dived underground quickly as the shimmering blade sliced through the air. "Okta, use rock throw!"

Aegislash. Its ghost steel typing really limits them to what they can do about it. If he feels threatened, he will just go and switch back to his shield form. Mr Bourbabel leaned in against the barrier.

The onix rose up from the sandy ground. It began to sink like water in a sink. She slammed her tail down where she came. The aegislash scrambled away as fast as it could, sicking his sword and then its shield into the sand.

"Okta? Wait, did you learn sand tomb? That's awesome, and it's super effective. The sand is chipping into the steel!" James jumped up and down. His glance darted to Lioa's gurdurr. His heart raced as the large grey pokémon grabbed the thievul's tail. His pink muscles flexed along his arms. "Finish it off, Li!"

"Shut up, you twat and focus on your own pokémon!" Lioa sneered as a loud thud emanated from the field. The crowd's roar consumed the arena.

They are laughing at you, James. Kill them, James.

James paused. Yeah, they are laughing at me. I will kill them... wait? No. He shook his head and pushed his hands into his pockets. Why would I think that? Putting his foot forward, James took in a deep breath. "Okta! Get up! It isn't over!" He crossed his fingers and stared at her, and she screeched in response. It is like the Elkran jerk said... Sutton... Okta isn't very good at using sand tomb yet because she doesn't have the experience. What do I do? He gripped his ears and pulled. "Come on!" What can I do? I got it! "Li!"

"What?" Lioa scowled, throwing his left arm to the side.

"Do you think you can knock them out of their trainer box?" James looked back to his onix. Her tail collided with the blade of the aegislash before pushing off it.

Lioa looked forward and gritted his teeth. "Ruskuo, use slam!" His gurdurr dashed forward, eyeing up the aegislash. The aegislash glared back, swinging its blade and slicing into the rock-hard body of the onix. As her body crumbled, the aegislash pulled his shield up, tucking his shimmering, sword-like body behind it. He let out a little giggle as the gurdurr rushed through him and stumbled and slashed him along his back.

Mr Bourbabel leaned in closer. Suppose he was a pure steel type; sure, the attack would have hit, although it wouldn't have done much damage at all. Normal-type moves are horrific against steel types. As it stands, though, aegislash is part ghost type. Normal-type attacks just go right through. This matchup is so bad for the boys. However, it's a two-on-one. The level and experience are very much against them, still. Their only hope is...

"Okta, use dig!" James ordered. Without hesitation, his onix dived head-first into the sand, and it started to spin, sucking the battlefield in.

The aegislash pulled his blade out from behind his shield. His golden blade swung around, left to right. His purple eye flicked from side to side. The ground quaked, and he stabbed his sharp blade into the sand but was met by the overwhelming size of the onix's tail. The ground cracked, and the blade slipped, crushing the tip. He rocked back and forth, and a small metallic sweat tear dripped down its blade.

"Follow up with iron tail! Slam it into the sand tomb!" James smiled.

That's it. The round over. Mr Bourbabel took a sip of water from his water skin. Aegislash is down, but the battle isn't over yet. In terms of damage received, the onix has taken far more. Also, she is at a considerable disadvantage considering the type of match-up, but it could still go either way. He sighed and looked into the poké ball in his hand.

Lioa smirked and looked over to James. "I guess I am the one going home with the prize. You are so fucked, you twat. Ruskuo, low kick!"

"Fuck! Okta move!" James pressed his palms onto his forehead. Sweat dripped onto them, and his heart pounded. A calming sigh left him, seeing his onix dive underground once more. That's it, I win.

Mr Bourbabel smiled, leaning in once again. He had been building up to this, huh? Screeching earlier lowered everyone's defence. He is at a disadvantage, yes, but James planned ahead, or at least had the sense to take it into consideration.

The ground rumbled, and the gurdurr toppled forward. His knees were swollen, and his feet were bleeding from the force of the attack.

"When it comes down to it, Li, I am faster than you, and so is Okta. Okta is faster than Ruskuo." James grinned at the sound of the thud. He returned his onix to her poké ball and stepped out of the arena. His eyes locked with Mr Bourbabel's. "Oh, hey, mister. I guess it is me and you and two others in the final, huh? Where is Kuti and the Elktan jerk?"

Mr Bourbabel ran his fingers along his moustache. "Elktan? Oh, you mean the Elktan gentleman, Sergeant Sutton. He's with your friend, I think." Mr Bourbabel looked at the broken field. "Yes, we are next, but the field is smashed up." He crossed his legs and slid down next to the barrier. His fingers pressed against the poké ball in his hand. "Don't expect me to go easy on you because you are a child."

James snarled at him. "I'm fourteen. I am an adult! I know I'm short, but I'm not as short as a twelve-year-old!"

Right, Mr Bourbabel thought, grinning at James. "Best show me that on the field then. We are opponents officially now." He jumped back onto his feet and waved, walking back towards the shelter.

Under the white sheet, Andrew yawned, pressing his head into Sergeant Sutton's shoulder. Sergeant Sutton's blond hair dropped down, drenched in sweat. He smiled softly at Andrew and placed a hand on Kitiku's arm. Even for Colran, you are struggling with this heat. I wish I were with my wife and kids right now. He took a deep breath and lifted his arm to check his watch. Quarter to three. It should start to cool down soon. I don't blame these two for wanting to sleep through the heat. What do I do with them, though? When they get back, they should be punished. They broke the law. He felt a tug on his arm.

"Too hot," Kitiku signed.

"I know. Here, would you like the rest of my water? I can go to the pump later and get some more." Sergeant Sutton held up his waterskin, and Kitiku reached up and took it.

"Thank you, sir," he signed.

With a smile, Sergeant Sutton looked at him. "You know, you don't have to use sign language with me. I won't laugh at your voice if you are worried about that."

Kitiku sighed. "I..." he started, pausing and looking down. "W-when I-I was three, I-I..." Kitiku grabbed his arm and squeezed it tightly.

The sheet blew a little in the wind, and Sergeant Sutton glanced at it. He carefully lifted Andrew and placed him on the ground. The sheet's rope ran through Sergeant Sutton's fingers as he threaded it back through the metal loop. "You can tell me when you are ready. With this new Captain coming to Fehahra, I don't know where I stand. I should report you all, but, if it is as rumoured to be, Lord Captain Jackson, well... I don't feel like I could do it in good conscience. Let's go watch the finals."

The finals are just around the corner and with Sutton's information that the new Captain could be the dreaded Lord Captain Jackson, a man not known for his mercy or kindness, what will the teens do?

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