Set in Stone: Chapter Ten -

Oh my God. Chapter 10. Wow. I can't believe we've come so far in 4 short weeks.

Summary
It's time to put the plan into action. Will this be the ultimate victory for our hero?

Set in Stone

Chapter 10: Contracting the Virus

The first sound heard from a house in Newport Beach, CA, on October 31, 2008, was that of a shotgun being cocked, fired, and subsequently reloaded.

That sound came from my backyard. It was the alarm clock for the entire city that day. And it woke us up promptly at 5:00 AM.

My Halloween outfit was prepared for such a situation. A black trench coat, long and light, would suffice in carrying adequate weaponry and Pokéballs. The Mark of Palkia would shine through a tailored circular hole in a fingerless glove. An eversive pair of black cargo pants would hold two pistols, branded with the Staunton coat of arms. Lilith would sit in the coat's breast pocket, ready to spring out on call.

Rather than go to school today, Estancia's students would march with me down to the town square, where we knew Troy would be. At 9:04 AM, we would surround him; we would rush him, capture him, kill him, if it be needed.

"This is no longer just friendly competition."

Expanding on the previous Operation Pfs-33B we had explored yesterday, I upgraded and renamed the mission Operation Fakeout. Why that name? Primarily as defense. He may have been reading my thoughts, too...

At 6 AM, the legion was outside, prepared to march to what would most likely be their deaths. As I exited my abode, fully packed, everyone stood attention. They were a team of offbeats, at best; their outfits were tattered deliberately, their costumes mostly black, with sharp edges and spines decorating the fringes.

"Soldiers! Now is our time! But before we leave, I must organize you all. Varis! Join me up here. You will be my lieutenant. As for the rest of you..." I held out three fingers, creating imaginary lines between the soldiers. "You will be separated into three squadrons. On the left, Frozensolid! On the right, Hurtbypoison! And directly in front of me, Fullyparalyzed! We will form a triad; when I give the signal, you seal off the intersection on three sides! My Pokémon will take the fourth edge...

"There will be no surviving traces of the enemy."
Lightning rolled across the sky. My soldiers' faces, veiled in shadow by the dark clouds, all held stern expressions.

At 7:18 AM, there was an explosion. It rattled the entire block. A moment later, there was a rising cloud of purple fire and thick black smoke.
"Is that it, Kyle?"
"Yes, Varis, that's the one."
"Frozensolid! The catch begins... now!"
Frozensolid Squad ran off to the south.
"Fullyparalyzed! Follow Frozensolid, but turn in the opposite direction at the fork in the road! Hurtbypoison, off to the north, and stand by!"
The respective squads displaced themselves accordingly. There was a sound of screeching metal being ripped apart.
"At this point, nobody's been hurt yet. Varis, we make our move now. March with me downtown."
"Right."
As we stepped off the porch, ash began to fall from the sky. It was still warm.

"Varis... if I die, can I entrust you to one thing?"
"What's that?"
"The log you've written of this battle... I want you to record that in the Staunton tome as my contribution."
"But it's forbidden for me to even browse that book!"
"Varis... a family statute says that if a Staunton male who has yet to record his literature in the tome expects to die before he is able to do so, he has the privilege to entrust that honor to a friend, as well as the right to browse the tome. Besides, I have a little brother. He'll have stories to write."
"Don't say that, Kyle. You're not going to die."
"Maybe... but I still feel worried. Whatever. Let's do this!"

And so the time came. 9:04 AM. And, without fail, there was Troy standing in the square. But something was wrong... he wasn't wrecking structures or felling trees. He was standing still.

And he was staring right at me.

"Hello, Kyle."
"Hi... Troy."
"I've been expecting you."
"As I have you."
"Kyle... would you mind stepping into the intersection?"
"I don't see why not."
"Hm."
I stepped into the square; between all the clouds, one swirled overhead, giving way to a beacon of sunlight that glorified me and Troy's location.
"Troy?"
"Yes, Kyle?"
"I'm afraid we must end this now."
"How's that, then?"
I pulled one of the pistols and put it against his head.
"You're going to have to die."
"And I suppose you think I'm going without a fight?"
"You? Ha! You're defenseless, Troy. Whereas I, on the other hand, have a full army backing me up."
The three squadrons emerged at three sides of the intersection, and the fourth, my legion of Pokémon covered. They all advanced to block off the exits.
"Army?"
"Yes."
"What army?"
"Wh-- what do you mean by that? They're right in front of you."
"I do not see your army. I only see my own."
"Your--"
The three squadrons all pulled their guns and pointed them straight at me. Their eyes all glowed violet. I dropped my pistol.
"Shit..."
"Now... what was it you were saying?"

I sighed and dropped my head.
"...OK, Troy. I surrender."
"Excellent. That's what I thought you were saying." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Master Ball.
"Get in."
"What?"
"Get in the ball. You're on my personal death list now."
He lunged the ball at me.

Before I could blink, I had been transformed into a mere consciousness without a body, and I was trapped inside the mechanical sphere.