The GATEON Team

Phantom rose to his paws, scuffing the ground beneath him with a relaxed growl. He figured he should return to the Club, and he felt a little regretful that he had left Acid so suddenly, but something nudged at his cranium telling him that he needed to get away for a breather.

Taking a deep breath, he padded back briskly with his head rose high. He felt much better now, his sorrow was temporary, and he had a clear mind to get over the obstacle course of whatever the day had in store.

He ambulated through the Club's door, and saw Acid sitting near Dave, and Phantom sat next to him with a concerned gleam in his orange eyes. "I-is he a-alright? D-did anything happen while I was...o-out?" he stuttered.

((OOC: Short post is short. Not really much for Phantom to do.))

As Dave stirred back into consciousness, he heard the two familiar voices around him.

"Feelin' better, Dave?"
"I-is he a-alright? D-did anything happen while I was...o-out?"

The Ampharos coughed again and quivered when he did. He opened his eyes a crack, breathing very lightly so he didn't hurt himself. He tilted his head around to see what was going on if anything. From what he could gather, he was back in Club Krabby. He opened his eyes a bit wider and sighed in relief. "Wh-What happened? Is the Metagross dead?"

Acid was satisfied to see Dave recovering from the wounds, as he weakly opened his eyes, becoming conscious.
He was still very weak, though: the military noted his light breathing and weak looks, but he was going to be ok.

"Wh-What happened? Is the Metagross dead?" that was the first question of the Ampharos. Chuckling, the Poison type answered. "If it wasn't, I can assure you you wouldn't be in this table."

Relaxing a bit more, Acid took a few more bottles from the fridge, passing them to the other survivors. "You boys better drink. Fighting a giant spider robot tires up pretty fast." drinking his water, he just waited for a response.

Phantom was nothing less than ecstatic when he saw Dave tremble a bit and pry open his eyes. "Wh-What happened? Is the Metagross dead?"

Phantom felt pity for the Ampharos; it must have been difficult and frightening to wake up after a spar with an Undead. Or at least, for Phantom it would've been. I need to remember not everyone reacts to things like I do...

Phantom heard Acid chuckle and croak, "If it wasn't, I can assure you you wouldn't be in this table." Phantom nodded in agreement cheekily, wanting to keep quiet as to not startle Dave. Dave might be flighty after waking up...But maybe...No, remember-GAH!

Acid handed Phantom a bottle of water, and Phantom yelped in surprise. A bit shaky of the sudden movement of Acid that interrupted his thoughts, he awkwardly choked out a, "T-Thank you, s-s-sir," while accepting the water. Damn it, that battle made me more shaken up than I thought...

Acid said something, but his words were just kind of hanging there as Phantom scolded himself. Then when it registered that he had spoken, Phantom cursed himself again, and then hoping Acid hadn't asked him a question muttered, "Y-yeah...Yeah, that's r-right!"

An epiphany struck Phantom suddenly. What if this weird flightiness he had acquired over the last hour was because...he actually had friends? It seemed a selfish thought at first, but as he pondered more and more it became more of a possibility. Friends. But what if they try to go? What if they eventually throw their arms up and abandon him to live alone again in this dark and scary port?

What if they...die because of him? Just like Mimic?

Phantom shuddered outwardly and whimpered, flashbacks playing through his mind like a demented film. "Heh, it's okay buddy, it's alright, there's beauty in the b-breakdown, finding friends is n-not the equivalent t-to disaster...," he whispered to himself.

He felt like he was on the verge of insanity. He twitched, muttered something nonchalant, then walked a bit in circles, completely forgetting there were other Pokemon around to watch his miserable breakdown.

Fuck. What's wrong with me?

Acid chuckled at Dave's question. "If it wasn't, I can assure you you wouldn't be in this table." The realization at what he asked made him chuckle a bit as well. Dave glanced over at Phantom who was happy to see that the Ampharos was still alive. "You boys better drink. Fighting a giant spider robot tires up pretty fast."

"Of course..." He said as he tried to sit up. He drank the water in small sips, trying to make sure he didn't somehow hurt himself drinking. He turned his head to the Growlithe who was now pacing in circles. "You alright, kid?" He asked.

(OoC: Soooooo sorry for the short post, guys...)

Feeling more relaxed that Dave was feeling better, along Acid himself, the Toxicroak just sat on his place and relaxed, slowly drinking his water. The Staraptor that helped them just a few minutes ago, though, was nowhere to be seen...again.

Suddendly, Acid widened his eyes in surprise, as Phantom was padding all over the building in circles, in a pretty rigid march, too. "Phantom?" the frog croaked, some seconds after Dave's words. "What seems to be the problem?"

"You alright kid?"
"What seems to be the problem?"

Phantom heard their inquiries, flicking his ears in acknowledgement but didn't respond with words. His feeble attempts to get his mind in the right place had so lovingly gifted him a massive, head-splitting migraine. Each pound of his head left a dull aching sensation that drilled deep within his skull, right through his very cranium. The exhaustion had went to his brain, and he was unable to think straight, unable to exactly see straight. His thoughts were illusions, there to only appease his mind as he tried to grasp the truth.

Don't leave me.

He suddenly forced himself to latch on to any sane part of him he had at that moment, and mumbled in a slur, "I-I'm just a l-l-little r-restless, you g-guys," he sniffed, then lied down of his belly and let out a low growl before closing his eyes with a satisfied twitch.

((OOC: Sorry for the lame post. Didn't really know what to do. Writers Block. :U))

(As much as I don't want to, I have to skip. Just say Dave was still resting.)

(I really hate to do this, but skip. There's literally nothing to do for Acid right now.)

Phantom kept his eyes shut, a bit despondent. He quivered with instability, taking deep jagged breaths as he feigned slumber. He wanted Acid and Dave to believe he was alright. He wanted them to believe he was normal, and that he wasn’t going insane from the simple, unlikely idea of abandonment, although the reality was anything but.

It was foolish, he knew. The false slumber was like a long shower under the rain, it made him think about life, made him ponder his issues and fathom the chances of survival.
Honestly, his chances were slim…and he knew it. What was one Growlithe against a mass of twisted beings? He was nothing compared to the fierce warrior living within Acid, or the valiant and resilient fighter living within Dave. That thought also tied in with the idea that they were going to forget him; and his paranoia heightened when he realized that since they were so much different; so much stronger emotionally and physically; it gave them all the more reason to leave.

Then an optimistic thought crept into his mind, pushing the negativity away temporarily. Who was that Staraptor? Why had he chosen to help them? Phantom admitted that he probably wouldn’t have survived that bout without the assistance of the avian.

He debated rather he should get up and search for the bird, or if he should just lay here and mope. The latter seemed more appealing, yet gave him a sinking feeling in his gut. It made him feel weak.

So searching it was, he assumed. He rose to his paws, and without saying a word, left the Club again.

The cool air barraged his thick, pale chest fur, and the sky was a canvas of stratus clouds that proposed another rainfall. He felt the depression rise in his throat again, creep out from his currently broken psyche and fall down his cheeks in the form of salty tears. And he didn't even know why.

There was a reason, somewhere…but he discarded all thoughts of that unknown reason and with useless tears blurring his eyes, he padded on, calling for the Staraptor in a choked voice.

He didn't find the sleek bird. He searched high and low, even looking out into the distance; pass the roiling waters in hopes to find his airborne silhouette beyond the waves. The prospect of finding another companion that would perhaps stay with him was too strong to give up.

YOWL!

Maybe that yowl he heard was just the wind; maybe it was created from his instability at the moment; but whatever it was it sent a shot of adrenaline fused with fear straight to his heart, and forgetting about his abandonment issues, he bolted back into Club Krabby.

”G…guys!” he howled while jumping through the door hard on his paws, ”There’s…something…o-out th-there!! Right after his outburst, he glanced down regretfully. What if it wasn’t anything? Then they would think he was a parasitic, annoying liar. He bit his lip.

(Skip me, please. I'm not feeling well enough to post at the moment...)

Peace.

Finally, there was peace at Gateon: the Metagross's death was the sign of the power of the survivors. Acid, Dave and Phantom had nothing to fear from them.
Afterall, if a powerful creature like that went down rather easily, they all had a chance against the next zombie behind the corner.

The Toxicroak gave a small jolt with the eyes, perceiving the sudden movement of Phantom, who rushed out for Arceus-knows what. That kid is getting a lil' weird...maybe I should ask him what's wrong... but not much after his thought, he seemed to hear a noise into the distance...a howl, or a moan of pain...was that Phantom's? No...it had a much more ferocious tone...it surely wasn't Phantom's voice.

To confirm his suspects, the young Growlithe rushed inside the Club Krabby, panting: ”G…guys!There’s…something…o-out th-there!!
Nodding, Acid looked at the Fire type, trying to calm him. "Calm yerself, kiddo. I've heard something too. Let's go outside, we need to see if it's a danger or not." hopping outside Club Krabby, he looked back at Dave. He didn't looked completely recovered, but it was the Ampharos's choice to join the group. "If you think you rested long enough, yer free to join us, Dave. Phantom, we may go."

And with a last croak, he hopped outside Gateon, trying to localize the source of the noise. And just when I thought everything was done...

When Acid nodded in rebuttal to Phantom's outburst and agreed with him, saying he heard a noise as well, Phantom relaxed a little bit. At least I know I'm not going completely crazy...

"If you think you rested long enough, yer free to join us, Dave. Phantom, we may go." Phantom turned to see of Dave would follow, motioning forward with his muzzle with a growl that would hopefully galvanize him into attending their small expedition, then ran outside with Acid. Padding along beside him, he kept his ears perked in case he heard another noise, keeping as quiet as he could.

What if Acid said he heard a noise just to make me feel like I wasn't crazy...?

Phantom pushed that thought out of his mind. He needed to be focused in case it was a threat, and he needed to fight again. His eyes were squinted, and his tail lashing, preparing for an attack.

Dave followed everyone else outside when Phantom said he heard something. He looked up to see that the Growlithe did in fact hear something, and it came in the form of a pack of undead Mightyena. 'Shit...' The Ampharos tried to charge up yet another Discharge attack, but when he tried to get it going, he cringed in pain and stopped charging it up. He was still tired and in pain from the Metagross, so he couldn't do anything long distance. "I can't do any long distance attacks. We need to get up close..." He told them. "I hope you guys can pack a good punch or kick to these hell hounds!" There was no way in hell Dave was going down without a fight, and if he was to die at the hands of these beasts, he wanted to go down fighting.

(OoC: Shitty post...)

Acid knew that the peace couldn't last long.

The situation was terribly familiar, but worse: the Mightyena were quickly surrounding the survivors, just like the Manectric did.
The only difference was, that Dave was still weakened from the Metagross's blows and this time, there was no skilled fighter in Deadpool to aid them: Acid's only partner in battle was Phantom...but he trusted the Growlithe.

Using Swords Dance to recover his attack from eventual Intimidates, the Toxicroak never lost eye contact with those hellhounds (as Dave called them), and started croaking to Phantom, giving a quick scheme of the situation. "Alright Phantom. These fellas aren't as though as a Metagross alone, but in pack...they are deadly, like most of canines. No offence." Acid croaked, while the Mightyena started analyzing the Survivors with a move that seemed Odor Sleuth. "I saw that you have some Fire Moves. That will be yer main attacking move. Just aim well. I'm...susceptible to fire."

This time, the group of Dark types seemed ready for a more direct approach: many of them were barking with rage and rushing towards the other Pokemon. "ALRIGHT! MOVE!" running against an opposing Mightyena, Acid was ready to strike with a Sucker Punch to the dog-wolf's troath, as it started bleeding. The creature was literally drowning in his own blood.

Needless to say, Acid quickly took action and crushed the beast's head with a Revenge attack straight to the skull. It was crazy...Manectric, Metagross, and now Mightyena. It was like all Orre was going against them.
This time, one of the Bite Pokemon was faster then the Toxicroak, biting him in the wrist with great determination: Acid's body shivered for a quick second, hearing the stinging and intense pain, mixed with the slight disgust of feeling the Infected's saliva drooling from his teeth.

The response of the Poison/Fighting type was a quick round of stabs in the chest, causing a violent yowl of pain from the Mightyena: that was the moment to act.
With a kick to the face, the frog jumped on the wolf, stabbing him in the face until the body made no signs of movement.
Panting, the Toxicroak looked over Phantom, trying to elucidate the situation around him: "Damn...what's the situation, Phantom?"

Fuck.

That was Phantom's only thought when Dave alerted them to the threat before them. A pack of undead Mightyena challenged them, their teeth gleaming and their their red eyes scintillating a sickly ruby in the rays of the sun's ascent. Phantom snarled. Their scent was the most disturbing odor-like carrion that had been laying out for a long time.

Oh Arceus...what if Acid and Dave leave me duri-

No.

He could not doubt his friends now. Even though he was still a bit shaky from his previous meltdown, but this time he knew what he needed to do-take all the negativity, all the lies he had told himself about his new found friends, all the doubt and the pain-and channel it into the undead during this battle.

But as the Mightyena surrounded them, in a twisted circle, his doubts returned, this time for himself. His small size was a substitute for strength, which he lacked. Except for when he felt that... glorious feeling in the midst of battle. The pride.

That thought began a chain reaction in Phantom's mind, suddenly his faith in everything was restored, including in himself.

Adrenaline pounded through Phantom's veins like a euphoric injection. Phantom could hear his heartbeat, and his tiny body quivered as he snapped his neck at the sensation.

Bump, Bump.

He heard Acid's voice next to him, it was slow and easy, almost like Phantom was in a dream. "Alright Phantom. These fellas aren't as tough as a Metagross alone, but in pack...they are deadly, like most of canines. No offence."

Phantom chuckled, kneading the ground with his perpetually unsheathed claws.

Bump, bump.

"I saw that you have some Fire Moves. That will be yer main attacking move. Just aim well. I'm...susceptible to fire." Phantom nodded. He knew what he had to do. He was ready.

Bump, bump, bump, bump, bump...

Quiet.

"ALRIGHT! MOVE!"

Phantom did not pay attention to anything surrounding him but the spar. He bit the leg of a large Mightyena, digging his fangs into the ankle until he felt bone, and the satisfying painful yowls that emitted from him. While the filthy dog was distracted, Phantom released dewdrops of fire from his maw, which luckily engulfed into a full fledged flame when it came in contact with the Mightyena. It screeched and fell to the ground, dying as it roasted. Phantom grinned maliciously.

His triumph was short-lived, other Mightyena sensed the death of their brethren and surrounded their brothers murderer. With a loud gulp, Phantom turned his head to see Acid battling, and he said something to Phantom. He could not hear from the snarls that made up the audible noises around him.

He whimpered, and darted between the quadrupeds legs, joining Acid's side. "WHAT THE HELL DO WE DO?!" he howled.

(I'll throw out a skip for now. Dave can't really do much to help.)

"WHAT THE HELL DO WE DO?!"

The voice of Phantom was piercing Acid's ear. He knew that the pup wasn't used to fighting, but he needed to calm himself. "Phantom." the Toxicroak's voice was clear, assuming once more its military tone. "Calm yer tits, son. I defeated a whole bunch of Manectric, I can defeat this suckers with an arm tied behind my back!" launching against one of the Mightyena, the frog charged the canine with both of his fists, stabbing him and pushing him away at the same time: before the Infected could react, he stabbed the Dark type to the troath and to the head, killing it.

Enraged by the death of one of his companions, a Mightyena prepared his move...a Shadow Ball? Confused by this odd attack, the Toxicroak couldn't dodge in time, getting slammed to the floor by the orb full of dark energy. "Ungh...some of these suckers must have had human trainers..." getting up from the attack, head slightly spinning, the frog sprints towards the offending Mightyena, the beast doing the same.

In a moment, the two Pokemon are clashing, the canine trying to bite Acid's face away while the Toxicroak holds it by the troath. Squeezing his grip harder, the dual type rams his head against the Mightyena's, taking advantage of the zombie's moment of dizziness for attacking it with a Revenge, sending him sliding against the other Dark types. They ARE thougher than the Manectric...

"Phantom," said Acid, his voice clear despite all the racket. "Calm yer tits, son." Phantom muttered,"But I don't have any t-"

"I defeated a whole bunch of Manectric, I can defeat this suckers with an arm tied behind my back!" Acid took a gratifying leap in the air, practically launching himself at the Mightyena. Phantom could only gawk as his paranoia reached its apex, rendering him paralyzed to the spot as Acid battled the dark canine. Acid struck with a beautiful array of stabs to the head, the blows instantly killing the Mightyena.

Acid had came out victorious.

If Acid could, so could Phantom.

The Mightyena had noticed Phantom standing idly, and from the proposition of an easy target, approached the young Growlithe. Phantom came up with a game plan in his mind as the trio of dogs advanced.

"I've got to use my fire. I have no choice. These guys are monsters. And unlike the Metagross, there's a swarm. If I kill one, they'll get more angry and become more powerful in their rage. But If I kill all of them..."

His nervousness ebbed away as he knew what he was going to do. Phantom prayed to Arceus it would work as he looked into the Mightyena's droll eyes, their pink tongues lolling hungrily out the sides of their maw, their very saliva almost savage.

"One...Two...Three."

With a howl, Phantom conjured a Flame Wheel. The flames danced about him in a circle, and he grinned as one of the Mightyena whimpered, apparently witnessing the attack Phantom had on the other.

Nevertheless, the three stepped towards him, and then increased their speed, ramming into the Growlithe one by one. The pain of being rammed into thrice doused Phantom's flames, and agitated, he conjured up another despite his agony.

"I gotta...keep...fighting...

This time, he released the Wheel quickly, with fear of losing the attack again. Phantom panted with a short-lived joy as it hit one, which set it aflame, rendering it helpless as the flames roasted his through his pelt to his skin. And when he died, Phantom would leave him to simmer.

The other Mightyena didn't just hang back and let Phantom rejoice in watching his kill, however. They both launched themselves at the diminutive Growlithe at once, one of them missing because of his small size, the other landing squarely on the Puppy Pokemon, pinning him down with one paw over his chest. Phantom's mind had thoughts spiraling through like mad, his fear ascending as the Mightyena growled with its sharp fangs nearly inches from his face.

Phantom had an idea, which had helped him years ago. He played dead, lolling his tongue out the side in a comical deceased fashion. But the Mightyena didn't fall for it, and he bit into Phantom's belly, and Phantom cried out as the fangs penetrated his skin. With panic, he used his forepaws to scratch the Mightyena's eyes that were staring up menacingly, almost mockingly at him. The Mightyena recoiled, but only for a moment as he became more furious. Phantom sensed the presence of the other Mightyena behind him, and he could hear the pants of the hungry canine as his saliva fell longingly onto his neck. It was like slow motion, but it was so fast, the Mightyena leaned down and gripped Phantom's neck squarely with his paws. The fangs were so close to his throat...and the others were so close to his body.

"N-no...th-this cannot be t-the end of me."

His mind briefly fell over Acid, over Dave, and into the deeper past. Mimic...

"What do you wanna do today Phantom?" The voice was so deeply buried in his past, he almost had to scavenge for it. Mimic's voice rang in his ears like a melody. A small flashback ensued, all in a matter of seconds.

Phantom ambulated slowly to the dock, his eyes distant as he looked out to the moon that illuminated the starry sky. The young Seel followed him, his eyes creased with worry. "What's wrong Phantom?"

"Mimic..what if...what if I deserved to die? What if father should have k-killed me?"

With a bark, the ivory mammal replied, "Well I would be very disappointed in you of course! Even though...ya know...I didn't know you, but still! Even when you were lying at my fins dead, you know what my last words would have been to you? 'Phantom, why the hell didn't you keep fighting?!'

Phantom, why the hell didn't you keep fighting?

Why the hell didn't you keep fighting?

"Keep...fighting!"

Determination beat in Phantom's heart like a war drum, illuminating all his thoughts of giving up before. He released an Ember, which landed right on the canine threatening to lacerate his neck. With a howl, it recoiled, falling to the ground as the flames roasted him alive. This distracted the other, and it loosened its grip, which let Phantom wriggle out from under it. With a howl, he prepared another Flame Wheel. And when he released it, he became enthralled when it landed on the other. His aim had almost perfected in the fight.

He closed his eyes, breathing in the almost sweet smell of the smoke wavering from the fire, and when he opened them, the Mightyena was staring into his orange eyes. And then, the Mightyena's eyes reflected the stars that only Arceus could see.

And Phantom let out a triumphant howl that almost seemed to pierce the sky.

((OOC: I'm so sorry for the long post. I didn't really know how many Mightyena were left, so I didn't make him run over and come and help you guys. ^^" If there's anything I should change, let me know.))

(Skip. Dave still can't supply much support.)

While the Toxicroak was slashing his opposing Mightyena, he turned around at regular intervals, so he could see what was Phantom doing...at first, he regularly attacked two of the dark canines, but when the Infected striked him and pinned down he...played dead?

What's in the head of that damn boy?! Acid widened his eyes in shock when one of the Bite Pokemon gnawed the Growlithe's eyes, but the Fire type learned his lesson: he immediately countered the dogs after a few seconds.

Acid didn't saw anything else: the Mightyena who was fighting rammed his head against the frog's stomach, as he let out a weak breath for the sudden push. Nevertheless, the Toxicroak didn't "played dead". Jumping on his feet again, it was the Poison type's turn to ram the Mightyena, this time with his blades on the Infected's neck, slicing it open with a sudden movement of the arms.

When the Dark type stopped breathing, Acid looked around: no more Mightyena. Finally, the survivor won another exausting battle..."Nice work, team." Acid croaked, looking at the various bodies of the fallen zombies. "Well...since we didn't ate anything, I suppose we could find something to eat, eh?"

Chuckling, the Toxicroaked jumped away from the Mightyena, croaking...it was more or less true. They spent various hours to battling, and they didn't saw the shadow of a Poffin. A break was more than necessary.

((Okay guys, there is a really long word in here, it's a disease that causes inflammation to the lungs to inhaling silica dust. It's painful.))

Phantom cut his howl short, suddenly remembering his friends still battling for their lives in the midst of his triumph. There was also a sharp pang in his throat, it felt almost like he was on the verge of pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, but it could not be so. Or at least, he hoped.

Nevertheless, despite the miserable pain in his throat from where the Mightyena's paws had laid, and the blood-stains on his belly fur, he knew he would have to fight again if the scene he turned around to was threatening to his companions. Not for his own honor, of course.

He whipped his head around, almost foreboding what he would witness. He released the stress from his tensed brows when he saw there was no more battling going on, and his companions were standing victorious on top of mangled corpses. He smiled, running over to join them in their victory, ignoring the pain in his throat and chest as an all time high rushing through him.

"Nice work, team." Acid croaked, and Phantom wanted to beam, but for some reason he still felt a weird feeling in his gut, and he frowned, looking at the ground. "Well...since we didn't ate anything, I suppose we could find something to eat, eh?"

"I-I'd love t-to...I'm s-starving!" He admitted this fact almost regretfully, hoping it didn't sound rude. He followed Acid as he hopped away, taking slow paces because of the pain in his stomach. "Where are w-we going s-sir?" he inquired in a strained voice out of clenched teeth.

(Skip. I swear I'll post next round...)

"I-I'd love t-to...I'm s-starving!"

Now that everyone knew what to do, nothing else was meant to be said. Acid gave a quick croak just before jumping, giving the signal of following him.
While he hopped around the port, he made sure to check if all the Mightyena were dead once and for all: not one sound or movement came from the bodies, reassuring the Poison Type.

"Last time I checked, the Pokecenter had a good amount of food left. If we're lucky, all of the goods should be intact." explaining the situation to the survivors, the Toxicroak looked at a very familiar blue building: indeed, the Pokecenter seemed intact, at least since the unexpected appearance of the Cacturne. Going inside the building, the frog slightly frowned at the hole that took to the Cipher's hideout, now the grave of the Furret.

Closing the hole, the military gave a quick salute, honoring the death of the young Normal type: Rest in peace, son. bouncing over the table, Acid looked once more at the dead body of the human, who was already rotting at a surprisingly fast pace. Examining his outfit, he took the key for the magazine, and unlocked the door. "I used a bag for carrying the food, but this place isn't safe anymore. We'll have to do this quick."

Taking a couple of bags of Poke-snacks from an half-opened box, he croaked at the others, as they would do the same. Once the food would've been taken, they could finally return to Club Krabby, and this time they could rest for real.

Phantom continued to pad after Acid, stopping occasionally to catch a sniff of their surroundings to make sure nothing else was lurking. He felt like a pup again, fleeing from his nightmares, looking over his shoulder every chance he could get. Then he recalled, the nightmare was real, and his wildest dreams had been brought to fruition during the course of the Epidemic. He never would have thought that him; a fragile, cowardly canine, could actually fight against the monsters. He was fighting against his nightmares, the gruesome twisted beings that ornamented his mind with paranoia and racked his soul with their disposition.

He was so deeply embedded in his thoughts that he was absentmindedly following Acid. He gave a sharp yelp when he realized where they had ended up, the Pokemon Center, down by some secret hideout. Surprise rendered him speechless. He had no earthly idea, after all his years living in the Port, that there was...a hideout!

Yet, Acid closed the hole leading to it, and Phantom was going to protest. But he kept quiet, as he knew there probably was a reason for this barricade. He saw respect gleam in Acid's eyes, and he gave a quick salute.

Phantom was not aware of what lie in the hideout, and he was curious, but he knew better than to inquire. He bowed his head towards the now blocked orifice and turned around to see Acid picking at a dead body that Phantom hadn't noticed before. He felt bile rise in his throat, but he swallowed it back down and shivered at the taste. He did not want to lose his stomach again. Acid gripped a key in his hands that he had retrieved from the deceased human and unlocked a door, saying, "I used a bag for carrying the food, but this place isn't safe anymore. We'll have to do this quick."

Acid quickly selected two Poke-Snacks bags, and gestured for Phantom and Dave to do the same. Phantom considered being courteous and only taking one, but he grabbed two in his mouth gingerly, thinking, "It's food. There can be time for politeness once this...nightmare is over."

With the Poke Snacks hanging from his jaws, he mumbled, "Fo we're going bahck t-to Club Krahby?"

Phantom already knew the answer, and he sighed with relief an he began trekking back. Finally, they could rest.