[font="Tahoma"][size="1"][color="#000080"][b]"Boy, if this is some kind of joke, I'll make sure to have your carcass dragged out and used as a speed bump on a Golem's training course."[/b]
If the messenger recognized the validity of the threat from the Pewter Gym leader, he didn't show it. Instead, he lowered his gaze to idly look at the floor and intoned the news again.
[b]"Commander Morty died on the field, sir. It's been confirmed."[/b]
[b]"You can't be serious!"[/b] Both of the men turned slightly at the outburst, directing their gazes toward a trembling Misty. The young woman was ordinarily pretty, with her fiery red hair offsetting her blue eyes, but her fair features were marred by a mask of surprise, disbelief and naked fear. She violently pushed her chair back, sending it clattering, and began to pace, never taking her own wide-eyed gaze from the messenger.[b] "You're wrong. Mistaken. He's not dead. He [i]can't [/i]be."[/b]
[b]"Simmer, Misty. Getting riled won't help anything." [/b]Even as the words left his mouth, they sounded hollow to Flint. Morty was dead? Nothing had even really been done yet and the man who had started it all was gone in a pre-emptive strike. What did that say about the league? What did it say about [i]them[/i]? Hell, what did it say about the whole damn thing?
[b]"Sir."[/b] Flint blinked and looked at the young man, who was staring at him and had obviously been trying to catch his attention. He nodded that he was back and the messenger said again there were survivors and they were en route to Mahogany at last check.
[b]"Well, they should be able to make it there, at least. Feh. Small blessings, I guess."
"Commander Claire has requested a strategy meeting."
"She'd be a damn idiot if she didn't. ...though I admit that a request like that is a surprise coming from her, as hot-headed as she is."
"Are you [i]sure [/i]it's been confirmed?"
[/b]
Flint looked at the younger woman, who had finally stopped pacing in lieu of fervently worrying her bottom lip. She tapped a hand absently on her thigh as she looked at the messenger expectantly.
[b]
"Yes, it's been confirmed. By my own eyes, Commander."[/b]
Flint sighed and went to give the man--no, a boy, really--a hearty pat on the shoulder and an encouraging nod.
[b]"Go on and tell her that we'll be there in a day's time. We have to make preparations here. Dismissed."[/b]
The young man gave a curt nod and removed himself from the room, though he cast a parting glance Misty's way. Flint stood silently by with his arms folded until he heard the footsteps fade and sent the woman a sharp look of his own.
[b]"Get a hold of yourself!"[/b] The sharp command broke the woman out of rapid thought and she looked up at him in confusion. Flint gave a short sigh and rubbed a temple.[b] "Did you [i]not [/i]see the way that kid looked at you? You're standing there looking like a spooked stantler."[/b]
Misty stood dumbstruck, seemingly oblivious to anything Flint was saying to her, but her body quickly stiffened in anger after a moment, her blue eyes flashing.
[b]"Do you realize what he just said?! It's [i]over[/i], Flint. They just crushed everything before it even started!"[/b]
Flint slammed a fist down on the table, making a mug close at hand jump from the motion. [b]"They haven't crushed a damn thing! That's the last thing I want to hear from you right now!"[/b]
The violent outburst rocked Misty back on her heels for a heartbeat, but her brow furrowed and she clenched her fists at her side.
[b]"They're saying Morty is [i]dead[/i], Flint. And Ecruteak is go--"
"I heard the report just as well as you did. Morty's gone. Ecruteak is gone. But we all knew the League had a chance of taking any one of us out when we started. We can't let this stop us now."
"They just killed him!"
"And you think just giving up is an appropriate response to that?"
"He was our leader!"
"And now we have to lead. That's just the way it is."[/b]
Misty stared at the man head, then slowly started to shake her head, a mixture of disgust and scorn on her face. [b]"You... You don't even ca--"
[/b]
[b]"Don't you [i]dare [/i]finish that sentence,"[/b] Flint said darkly, his own eyes glittering with anger. [b]"There're a lot of things I can bring myself to do, but hitting a woman isn't one of them, and I don't want to change that now."[/b] Misty stood there tight-lipped and red, but held her tongue. The older man closed his eyes to steady himself and continued.
[b]"Of course I'm sad he's gone. He was a good man and a good friend. But we started something that we're going to see through. We've got two countries counting on us. And stopping now would only mean he gave up his life for no reason. I'm not going to do that to his memory. So you can get a grip on yourself and keep going, or you can stand by and bury your head in the sand. Those are your choices. I've already made mine."[/b] As he made his way toward the door, Misty followed his progress with her eyes.
[b]"Where are you going?"
"To put someone in charge while I'm gone. I told the kid we'd both be there, but apparently that was a little premature. Though I'm hoping you don't make a liar out of me."[/b]
The sound of the door closing behind him seemed to echo a little louder in Misty's ears.
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[/color][/size][/font][left][font="Tahoma"][size="1"][color="#000080"]Although he was straight-backed as he stood at attention, Bugsy seemed completely at ease as he stood in the antechamber of the Elite. Four of the six seats were filled at the high podium and their eyes looked down at the young commander, their visages varying from scrutiny to vague interest. The man at the center, age apparent in his salt-and-pepper hair and slightly rugose features, steepled his hands and bowed his head slightly as if pondering a response to some unasked question.
[b]"Why did you strike against Ecruteak."
"It harbored a known enemy of the League, High Commander Koga. I eliminated the threat."
"You acted without orders."
"He was gathering allies."
"It was not your decision to make!"[/b]
The words echoed off the walls of the chamber and made the boy flinch. A soft chuckle a moment later managed to cut the sudden tensity in the air and drew many looks to the source.
[b]
"Come now, Koga. The boy showed initiative and acted in the best interest of the League. He can't be completely blamed for that, now, can he?" [/b]
The elder merely turned his head slightly toward the younger man, fixed him with an even gaze, and said[b] "High Commander Will. I do not believe you understand the gravity of the situation."
[/b]
Will heaved an exaggerated sigh and offered a half-apologetic shrug as he rested his head on a hand and looked to Bugsy. [b]"I tried, little one."[/b]
[b]
"If it's true that Ecruteak was gathering allies, then he was right to kill the little worm,"[/b] said Karen, as she idly flicked a wayward strand of hair back over her shoulder. [b]"Better to get rid of the pests quickly than to let them breed, I say."[/b]
[b]
"You are short-sighted and foolish, girl."[/b] A scowl darkened the beauty's features as she looked at Agatha, the want to slap the wizened old crone apparent, but she merely pressed her lips together tightly and swallowed her venom for the time being. The oldest member of the Elite continued,[b] "The boy has struck an enemy, true, but one that may have friends in far places."[/b]
[b]"Precisely,"[/b] said Koga.[b] "Without knowledge of those enemies--who they are, the numbers behind them, what resources are at their disposal--he may have done no more than stir the beedrill's nest."
"...permission to speak, sir." [/b]
Koga looked down at the boy with a gaze that could pierce an aron's hide, but when the boy didn't flinch a second time, he curtly waved a hand for him to go ahead.
[b]"I have reliable information stating Blackthorn City has begun securing all areas surrounding their region. There have also been reports of a skirmish in Mahogany that was not perpetrated by myself."
"Oh, another gung-ho. You should get together and form a brigade."
"Enough, High Commander Will,"[/b] Koga said shortly. [b]"Commander Bugsy, while this information may prove useful, it does not excuse your actions. You will wait for a squadron from the Plateau to take command from you at Ecruteak, then you and your men will return to Azalea to await due punishment."
"...understood, sir."
"Dismissed."
"Sir."
[/b]
Once the boy had silently left the chamber, Will gave another sigh and leaned his chair back on two legs, crossing his legs at the ankle atop the podium desk.
[b]"It's almost as if you wanted to scare the poor boy to death, Koga. He's young, yes, but he did a good job."
"He acted on his own. And while we gained a territory, it's now an idle one."
"Idle or ideal?"[/b] Will asked, wagging a finger. [b]"Thanks to that little bit of destruction, a good majority of the Johto mainland is now completely under our influence. Despite your griping, my stance on the matter is unchanged."
"As is your casual demeanor, which has not gone unnoticed."[/b]
Will gave a disarming smile, but it fell to a serious hold when he saw it did nothing to change Koga's countenance. [b]"Just how much power we hold may have changed, dear [i]High Commander[/i], but our personalities have not. I don't intend to let a switch in government govern who I am."[/b]
[b]
"Enough petty squabbling!"[/b] rasped Agatha, thumping her cane on the edge of the desk. [b]"Just do as you're told, rake, and things will progress smoothly enough. Putting on airs is not nearly as important as producing results."[/b]
Both men eyed the other for a quiet moment before allowing themselves to shift into relaxed positions. Karen gave a none-too-subtle snort.
[b]"So what now?"[/b] she asked as she examined her nails. [b]"We got rid of one of the pests. What of the other? Or others, maybe."
"That is a matter that will require more observation,"[/b] said Koga, to Karen's obvious displeasure. [b]"If it's true that Blackthorn was allied with Ecruteak and others, we may have to sit back and see just what we're dealing with."
"You honestly intend to let them regroup? Do you really think that wise?"
"There is strategy in kicking the beedrill's nest."
"You see just how many are defending the hive, yes?"[/b] Will questioned idly.
Koga nodded and said [b]"I suppose there was some value in Bugsy's outburst."
[/b][i][b]"Exactly what I was saying,"[/b] [/i]the young man thought to himself.
[b]"Still, with the strike, the citizens will start to wonder what's going on. Will, visit the Leaders in Kanto and take stock of the cities. Karen, you will see to Johto. Pass word that keeping peace and order is top priority as the transition continues."[/b]
[b]"And what of the plans for the good lieutenant-turned-general?"[/b] asked Will.
[b]"Hm, there is that."[/b] The old poison master pondered silently for a moment, then nodded.[b] "Tell him to go ahead."[/b]
[b]"As you wish,"[/b] the flamboyant man responded, nimbly turning the chair about to get on his feet. Karen rolled her eyes as she did the same, following after at a measured saunter. The two elder members of the Elite glanced after the pair, the same thought on their mind.
Those two will be trouble.
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