Justin's Story Episode 14: Battle for Beryl Pt 2

[Damage]

The battle for Beryl rages on with Justin and Team Shenanigans finally entering Jasper forest to take down Team Meteor and save the plant infested wards. It seems there are more perils that lurk in the wood work besides just Meteor. The true danger behind Beryl and Jasper has yet to be discovered but the real mystery is will taking down those responsible truly bring piece to this sliver of Reborn. Only time can tell in this installment of Justin's Story. The Battle for Beryl Part 2: Administrative Duties.

 

ExT. jasper ward

The episode continues where the last left off with Justin charging towards the forest. As he approaches the entrance he is attacked by vines. They lunge at him but he grabs them and locks them down between his arm and torso.

Justin

LUX!

Luxcalibur jumps in the air and looses a thunderbolt which burns the vines to ash.

JUSTIN

Where's the trail of that vine lead bud.

Luxcalibur's eyes glow and he looks around the area and is startled upon looking down. Justin turns around to see Blaze breath out a flame thrower that just misses him and scorches more vines that come from the woodwork.

JUSTIN

What in the distortion world was that?

Luxcalibur growls and Justin sees the vines are coming from the ground.

JUSTIN

This is bad.

Officer

Its worse than you think. Check out the weather right now.

The group looks upwards minus Luxcalibur and Soldier who are looking at a tree next to the police station.

JUSTIN

A ripe sunny day. Makes it hard for surprise attacks.

OFFICER

And hard to fight grass types like the one hooked up to that crazy machine in the forest.

JUSTIN

(sighing)

Yeah... Forgot about that.

OFFICER

It sounds dangerous but I've made significantly more progress at night.

Soldier kneels next to Luxcalibur and the two whisper between each other.

JUSTIN

Meteor might have surveillance. If that's the case then it just might be harder to track us after dark.

OFFICER

I hate to think they're keeping a better eye on us than we are on them.

JUSTIN

Hey Lux, Soldier. Wanna take to the skies and give us a birdy eye report?

Luxcalibur shakes his head.

JUSTIN

Ummm okay.

Justin looks at his partner confused. Luxcalibur rises to his hind legs and Soldier bolts away in a flash then a man screams as he is flung from the tree by the side of the station. When he lands Luxcalibur comes down and presses his front legs on the man's chest.

JUSTIN

(shocked)

How about that?

The officer rushes over to the man now being held prisoner.

Meteor

Let me guess... I have the right to remain si-

The police officer punches the man in the jaw.

JUSTIN

I think we're supposed to interrogate a certain way first.

OFFICER

This is one of the maniacs behind the train station bombing!

JUSTIN

(shocked)

What?

METEOR

Hey nobody important got hurt.

The meteor snickers and the officer punches him again. Before a third punch lands Justin pulls the officer off of him.

JUSTIN

If he's knocked out or dead, he can't help us.

METEOR

Who says I will anyway?

JUSTIN

I dunno. How do you feel about heights?

METEOR

(confused)

I... Wha?

In the next shot we Soldier dropping the man from several hundred feet in the air. He screams in terror as he falls at high speeds. Descending next to him is Isabella who looks worried for the man. Justin can be heard through a communicator on her wrist.

JUSTIN

Hey Izzy. He have a change of heart yet?

The man pulls Isabella's watch closer and yells violently into it.

METEOR

YES FOR ARCEUS SAKE I'LL TALK!

JUSTIN

Beam em up Scotty.

Isabella teleports them up to Soldier who then gently flies them both down. He throws the meteor to the ground hard.

JUSTIN

Have fun big guy?

MeTEOR

(furious)

What do you think-

Justin raises his hand about to signal a second flight.

METEOR

(soft spoken)

About helping this sick man reform his awful ways.

JUSTIN

I'd love to help. Officer...

Officer dean

Dean. I'll take him to holding. See what we can get out of him.

JUSTIN

Alright.

OFFICER DEAN

In the mean time I suggest you kids wait till night. Fight during the day and you're just giving them the edge.

JUSTIN

Yeah, I'd rather catch them sleeping... and would you look at that.

Everyone stares at the captive Meteor goon.

JUSTIN

We have their old alarm clock.

The groups glares quickly change to grins.

METEOR

Awww slurpuff tails.

Int. jasper police department

Only Officer Dean, the Chief and another officer are in the precinct along with one Growlithe. Justin and company are all sitting at a table with the police chief standing a few feet away explaining the scenario. Luxcalibur stands by the door with eyes in full glow.

Chief

I'm certain they have surveillance but its nearly impossible to figure out where it is. Their moves don't always counter ours and every once in a while we're caught in a trap. Hence the dwindling numbers.

JUSTIN

Lux.

The young lion turns to Justin.

JUSTIN

What's in the skies bud?

Luxcalibur looks up and walks through the precinct. He then exits the building.

CHIEF

What is he-

JUSTIN

Give em a minute.

A few crashes are heard outside. After a moment Luxcalibur walks in with several drones in his mouth. They spark and fade in and out of view.

CHIEF

Cloaking...

JUSTIN

More where that came from?

Luxcalibur points to the distance.

JUSTIN

Figured. Take a breather bud. You've never been pushed and I'd rather not see your limit hit while we're here.

Luxcalibur nods and goes to lay down.

CHIEF

Thank you for giving us some freedom again. I'd go further in detail but I'm told you've been briefed more than once already.

JUSTIN

Yeah. Can you tell me about any places people could still be hiding if they've been holding out.

CHIEF

That's the question of the year kid. Until you told me about the young woman in the nearby complex... I assumed the worst.

JUSTIN

Does anything come to mind?

CHIEF

Well... Its a long shot but.

JUSTIN

But?

Officer Dean comes from the back room. His fists are bandaged and traces of blood can be seen on them.

CHIEF

I take it our guest wasn't as ready to talk as we hoped?

OfficeR DEAN

We shared choice words for each other's co-workers... Finally he told me about a small group that his friends were trying to reach. They've been holed up in the Beryl Public Library. A lone girl has been wreaking havoc on anyone who tries to break in.

CHIEF

That's what I had hoped people reached and stayed safe.

OFFICER DEAN

Luckily its 100% intact.

JUSTIN

So we need to reach the library and we can save?

OfFICER DEAN

Barring a few casualties... Everyone.

The police chief yells in excitement.

CHIEF

Arceus be fucking praised!

JUSTIN

We can trust this information to not be a trap?

OFFICER DEAN

Can trust him as far as I can throw em

CHIEF

And Dean can't throw for shit.

Both officers chuckle.

OFFICER DEAN

Thanks Chief. But seriously Justin, as much as we want it to be the case we can't rule out it being a trap.

CHIEF

That said however, the library has a large stockpile of food for literally this kind of scenario. Scary problem is a couple weeks ago I saw a Salamance flying and a small girl with a large bag away from the direction of the library.

JUSTIN

Think its the same defender?

CHIEF

Can't know for sure until we secure the library.

JUSTIN

Alright. We need to secure a route to Beryl.

OffICER DEAN

Yeah. If we can help just say the word.

Justin raises his Pokégear on his wrist and the cops raises his gear and the two bump them and a bing is heard.

JUSTIN

Stay in contact Officer Dean. If either of us need backup just say it.

OFFICER DEAN

Dean is fine Justin.

Outside the windows we see the setting sun.

[Damage]

JUSTIN

Looks like its about their bedtime.

OFFICER DEAN

Agreed. Me and Growlithe will stick to the streets and see if we can get some gardening done. Fire types and forests aren't the best combinations.

CHIEF

Stay safe out their men. I'll try and get these drones working and maybe we can setup some better counter-surveillance.

OfFICER DEAN

Yes sir.

JUSTIN

Yes sir.

Everyone except the chief exits the precinct.

ExT. JASPER WARD dusk

We see Officer Dean heading up streets between buildings and Justin and company going into the forest.

JUSTIN

I hate to say it given the state of the Ward but this does have a certain type of beauty to it... Now that I think about it. Reborn looks nothing like how my parents described it. Ten years can really change a place huh.

Blaze pushes Justin to shake him off his train of thought.

JUSTIN

Sorry... Lets go.

ExT. Jasper Forest

Justin, Blaze, Luxcalibur, Soldier and Isabella are all cautiously walking through the forest. Nothing dangerous lurks in the forest, instead are a myriad of Bug types including Beedrill, Butterfree, Ariados and their early stage evolutions. Most are relatively docile and maintain their distance from Justin and company. A caterpie is seen crawling on Luxcalibur.

JUSTIN

I expected to run into some sort of danger at this point but nothing. Maybe the Meteors are just deeper but its odd since none of the Pokémon here are violent. I'm assuming-

Justin sinks through a hole in the ground and begins to plummet while yelling.

JUSTIN

DO NOT ALL JUMP IN!

The group of Pokémon all look at each other in confusion. Blaze tires of waiting and dives in after Justin. For light he ignites his hand and can see Justin slowing his descent with the poles usually holstered to his side. After a few moments they reach the bottom of the hole which is a small cave. Using Blaze's fire they look around and notice they are inside of a cage with a knocked out officer who looks as though he hasn't eaten in days.

JUSTIN

So Meteor is keeping them holed up huh. Dark thought but why let anyone live?

Blaze and Justin hear steps in the distance and Blaze puts out his flame.

JUSTIN

We'll knock em out here. I'll lock this location and send it to Lux. They can rescue the officer.

The steps get closer but no light comes on.

JUSTIN

(whispering)

They can't possibly see down here.

Finally the individuals reach the cell door and open it. Blaze reignites and lunges at them. We see it is a group of Nuzleaf and Shiftry.

JUSTIN

Nuzleaf and Shiftry. Explains the night vision.

The wily Pokémon all snarl at Blaze.

JUSTIN

Wait! We surrender...

Blaze lashes out at Justin.

JUSTIN

Blaze. We're on a rescue mission first. Lux and them know where here is. Let's find out if there's more okay?

Blaze's embers weaken so that they can see.

JUSTIN

We good.

The Shiftry begins to tie up Justin and Blaze's hands and the two are escorted out of the cave. When outside they can See Luxcalibur, Soldier and Isabella in the distance. Luxcalibur is about to run over but is cut off by Soldier after seeing Justin shake his head. A beep is heard on Isabella's communicator and a note pops up.

"Head to stored location. Officer down, Lux's eyes needed"

The group sees a map with a marker. Luxcalibur growls and heads to the location on the map alone. The small ballerina hops on Soldier's back and the two take to the skies.

ExT. JASPER POLICE DEPARTMENT

Luxcalibur arrives at the police station with the starved officer on his back. He growls outside the door and the chief comes out to see his hurt comrade.

CHIEF

Flynn? Damn it man what happened to you?!

The excited chief pulls the downed officer to his feet off Luxcalibur and brings him inside. The chief lays him on the couch and begins to resuscitate him. He is unsuccessful after a few moments. His face is flustered as he looks unsure of what to do. Luxcalibur places his tail on Flynn's chest and gives him a light shock and he bounces up.

Flynn

HOLY HELL.

Flynn recovers from the shock but then reels from his heavily growling stomach.

FLYNN

Thanks for the save chief.

The chief nods to Luxcalibur.

CHIEF

Try again.

FLYNN

Saved by a Pokémon. Thank ya kindly lion.

Luxcalibur smiles wagging his tail.

CHIEF

What happened to you?

FLYNN

Fell in a trap. Stuck in a cell. Growlithe was hurt from battling a bunch of Meteors.

CHIEF

So they've been setting up traps?

FLYNN

No. Nuzleaf and Shiftry. They setup pitfalls and crap. I don't think the Meteors know about them since I saw a few of their own fall for their fair share as well.

CHIEF

What did they do to you?

FLYNN

Nothing. Just left me in a cage they built underground.

Flynn's stomach growls again with increased intensity.

CHIEF

Alright. Rest up and get something to eat.

FLYNN

Yes sir.

Flynn limps to the back and the Chief pulls out a phone and calls Justin and Dean.

ChIEF

Dean. Justin. You copy?

A quick shot of Justin inside of an outdoor cage and Dean pulling vines from a building's doorway.

JUSTIN

Copy.

OFFICER DEAN

Yes sir.

CHIEF

Apparently Meteor isn't the only problem out there.

JUSTIN

Nuzleaf.

CHIEF

Y-yeah. Did you run into them?

JUSTIN

Yeah. Lux should get to you soon with one of the officers we found.

CHIEF

He just got back.

JUSTIN

Yeah I'm guessing they want this turf. Ran into the same problem underground in the city with rival Pokémon gangs.

OfFICER DEAN

Arceus damn! What should we do?

CHIEF

Stay on your damn toes officer!

OFFICER DEAN

Yes sir.

CHIEF

Justin remember they aren't the problem so if you encounter more don't waste your energy if you don't have to.

JUSTIN

Got it.

CHIEF

Still gonna be a while until I get the drone working. Luxcalibur did a real number on it.

Luxcalibur growls angrily.

CHIEF

Not complaining. Only have one because of you.

He pets the young lion calming him down.

JUSTIN

Lux. Try to regroup with Soldier and Izzy. Much easier than trying to find us.

Luxcalibur leaves the station.

CHIEF

He's heading out. I'm off too. Keep the line clear in case they can hear us too.

JUSTIN

Copy.

OFFICER DEAN

Roger.

All three hang up and we focus back on Justin and Blaze trapped in the cage.

JUSTIN

So... Blaze.

Blaze nods but before he can begin to tear down the cage Fern walks up.

JUSTIN

No......

Fern

Well well well....

JUSTIN

No.......

FERN

WELL WELL WELL.....

JUSTIN

NOOOOOOOOOO........

FERN

WELLLLLLL WELLLLLL WELLLLL.....

JUSTIN

For Arceus sake why now....

Fern paces around the cage's entrance and uncovers a lever hidden by a small bush.

FERN

Justin... Why am I not surprised? I came up here looking for a gym but all I see is a scrub in a cage.

JUSTIN

You do realize this area is in lockdown and the gym leader may be dead right? I love ripping on people too but maybe this isn't the time for you to be you.

FERN

Please. No stupid lockdown can keep me out.

JUSTIN

Do you just not know what words are?

FERN

I couldn't expect a simpleton like you to understand how MY mind works.

JUSTIN

You got me there.

FERN

Of course I do. And as a sign of respect for you realizing your mistakes I will open this gate for you.

JUSTIN

Golly what a hero.

FERN

All you need to do is take a knee and ask nicely.

JUSTIN

I would but sadly it isn't opposite day so...

FERN

Last chance Justurd I will let you rot in there.

[Damage]

JUSTIN

I can eat him.

Justin points to Blaze who begins spitting fire on his own arm.

JUSTIN

Self-cooking too!

FERN

Have fun being dead loser. I'm gonna go to the beach and deliver the good news to Victoria.

Ferns runs off.

JUSTIN

I'm going to kill him.

Fern pops his head up from below a small cliff.

FERN

And by good news I mean your death and me being single.

Justin punches the gate as Fern dashes away.

JUSTIN

FERNNNNNN!

Justin begins pummeling the defenseless gate causing equal damage to it and his hands. Blaze sits down looking bored at his mentor's tantrum. After a few moments a Chatot pops out of some trees and looks around. It then goes to the lever hidden in the bush and pushes it to unlock the gate.

JUSTIN

(suddenly calm)

Umm... Thanks.

The Chatot looks at Justin for a moment.

Chatot

Help Justin. Help Justin.

JUSTIN

(confused)

Wait whuuuu?

The music note bird scampers off with Justin and Blaze confused.

JUSTIN

So... Should we see who's helping us?

Blaze nods and the two give chase ater Chatot.

E/I. skies of Jasper

High above the forest of Jasper are Soldier and Isabella looking for and taking out drones. Isabella points them out and Soldier quickly disposes of them causing the masses of iron to plummet into the forest below. After a few moments a vine pops up and grabs Soldier by the foot and begins pulling him down quickly. He pushes Isabella off his back and he is dragged down but she stops his descent with her psychic power long enough for him to cut through the vine. She falls past him but he is able to catch her and she returns to his back. Without time for rest more vines begin to attack the duo and Soldier begins to descend as he cuts through the vines until they safely reach the ground.

Soldier grunts and his wings close and retract and Isabella nods. Soldier looks around then taps her on the shoulder and rolls his eyes. He then walks ahead of her. She follows him from a distance and after a few steps several vines fly past her all aiming for Soldier but before they reach the mantis she stops them all with psychic power. She holds on to the psychic grab and Soldier untucks his wings and grabs her as the two follow the vines to their source.

E/I. JASPER FOREST

Justin and Blaze are running through the woodwork following the footprints from the small bird.

JUSTIN

So... Its odd that it isn't flying right?

Blaze caws in agreement.

JUSTIN

Yeah... I think this might be a trap.

Blaze again caws in agreement.

JUSTIN

Man. Me and you. Great minds think alike huh?

Blaze once again caws in agreement.

JUSTIN

Ohhh.... I think we were right bud.

Justin and Blaze stumble across the second of Team Meteor's grotesque Pulse machines once again hooked up to a clearly in agony Tangrowth. A young blonde haired man wearing a purple scarf with a yellow tee and blue jeans with dark spots under his eyes and a melancholic look on his face stands by the machine with a controller in his hands. Next to him is the Chatot responsible for saving Justin.

Taka

Hey there bud.

The sunny disposition of the young man's words clash heavily with his exhausted expression.

TAKA

You must be Justin.

JUSTIN

The one and only.

TAKA

I'm sure there are other Justins. Its a fairly common name friend.

JUSTIN

I... Yeah. You are?

TAKA

Taka. And this awful machine you see hooked up to Tangrowth is the PULSE or Pokémon Ultimation Link System Exaggerata... PULSE works.

JUSTIN

Okay...

TAKA

Ya know... I kinda want to set this guy free... Just a poke that wants to play in forests ya know.

Justin and Blaze cautiously walk over to the young man.

JUSTIN

Not hard when its not attacking...

TAKA

Yeah... Sadly I have orders. Keep guard, stop this Justin character who takes out PULSE and admins.

JUSTIN

You think you're gonna be the one to stop me?

TAKA

Dunno. The name is Taka by the way. Good luck saving the world... Arceus knows someone needs to.

JUSTIN

I'm confused.

TAKA

I hear that a lot.

Taka activates the PULSE with a controller.

TAKA

Tangrowth. Battle Mode.

The Tangrowth has poison ooze from its body as the machine fires up. It is jolted awake and wails in pain from the command. It whips out two vines that slam and pin Justin and Blaze into a nearby wall.

TAKA

I know you probably wont but don't take this personally... Just something I gotta do.

Justin and Blaze fight back the weight from the crushing vines but they are embedded further into the rock wall.

JUSTIN

For Arceus sake... Is this thing stronger in the forest?

TAKA

Fraid so.

A blinding light comes by and slashes the vines which are then covered by psychic energy and hurled back at the Tangrowth. Justin and Blaze are covered by the same energy and lifted a few yards away from the monster and Taka.

JUSTIN

Thank you Izzy. Soldier.

Both nod to Justin.

JUSTIN

So... Taka?

TAKA

Sup?

JUSTIN

Don't like your job, I get it. I think I know just how to get you fired... Blaze.

The young fowl ignites his hands with a serious look.

JUSTIN

Step one... Wreck your shit.

Justin lunges forward. Soldier and Blaze fly upward and attack from above.

TAKA

That is surprisingly easier than quitting.

The episode closes on Justin, Blaze and Soldier about to collide with the monstrous vine and we cut to black.

JUSTIN

You're weird.

End of Episode 14.

[Damage]

So that's episode 14. Those who know Taka can probably get that he's one of the stranger and more difficult characters to expand upon. Like... He only makes sense later on the road in the story and even then its only if you make certain choices. Anywho new characters mean new theme songs for said characters. For Taka I've decided on a song that I think perfectly captures him. Will you like it or appreciate it? Well If I'm being honest-