This is a piece of fiction and should be considered as such. It is also an adult-themed story, and should not be read by those who are easily offended by such or are not old enough in their respective country to be allowed to read it. This particular work is the property of
The PokeGirl Universe was first created by metroanime. He isn't doing it any more, so don't blame him- find someone else on the site to. In other words, I didn't create the setting, and I'm not taking any credit for it, Original Characters aside. Feedback is encouraged, it provides ego and morale boosts equivalent to the power of the Stim Pack in Starcraft, or in modern terms several grams of crack.
A/N: Sorry for the half-year absence, but things have been happening and whatnot. At least I'm not abandoning this story.
Toman, more than a little alarmed, opened his mouth to tell her to get off of him when she started using her eyes to try and hypnotize him. "Come on, let me blow your very young and impressionable mind," Kathy said. "I might ruin you for your own Kits over there, but at least you'll know how to really tame a powerful PokeGirl." She ran her finger down his gentle jaw and thin neck as he squeezed his eyes shut, the touch electrifying his nerves and making him shiver.
This is rape, was the first coherent thing running through his mind. Outrage supplanted surprise as his dominant emotion, and she could feel it in the way his energy changed and became more focused. "Back up. Now."
Katherine cocked an eyebrow, seeing it was her turn to be surprised. Hardly anyone but Professor Shields himself had ever told her what to do before and gotten away with it. "Look me in the eyes, boy. How can you possibly pass this up?"
"Give me a break, I know too much about Succubi for that to work," Toman said, disdainfully. "Marya, Irena, go get Professor Shields in here and get her the fuck off me and do it now." It was a rare time that found Toman driven to profanity, and this startled the girls into motion. They bolted down the hallway, beginning to raise a very vocal hell. Katherine backed up a pace, regarding him in disbelieving silence until the Professor appeared.
"Katherine," The older man said, surprised he wasn't walking onto the scene of a Taming in progress already, "You've managed to go too far again. Go back to your room." The Succubus fixed Toman with a wilting glare, now completely offended, before silently stomping out of the room. Shields said, "Toman, I deeply apologize. Katherine is remarkably uppity and disrespectful, even for her breed."
Toman pushed his glasses up, adjusting them slightly and letting out a shuddering sigh. "Maybe you need to put her on a leash, Professor."
Shields chuckled. "Perhaps. I'll see to it she doesn't disturb you anymore. I won't have it said that any Pokegirl rules this Lab or has the authority to disturb my personal guests." Toman found it within himself to smile, and that was enough reassurance that the Researcher could depart.
With adrenaline running through his system, shaking in anger, and still partially shocked, he decided to lay down, sprawling out on his back on the decently comfortable bed. From the still-open doorway, Toman's Pokegirls watched him for a nervous minute.
"Master," Marya spoke up. "You alright?" The Boobisaur had been sure that Toman would go for the erotic Infernal-type Pokegirl. She was slightly stunned by the outburst of anger, and concerned that something was wrong with him.
"I'm wonderful," Toman said. "Both of you, go meet the people working in the Lab and see if you can help with anything for a while or find someone to play with. I think I want to be alone for a while. Close the door and kick the lights, too." Darkness claimed the room, and when the door gently shut it swallowed it whole. Toman was alone with the sound of his rough breathing and the din his heartbeat was making in his head.
He relaxed in the silence, enjoying his first alone time since he had left home. He thought about masturbating, but no matter how attractive Katherine had been, her attempt to force herself upon him repulsed him and twisted up his guts. He refused to be powerless at the hands of anyone, much less an Infernal who was only interested in him for his life force. Therefore, he just laid there for a long while. Time slipped by and he drifted into sleep.
He awoke, still in darkness. Feeling a bit relaxed, he sat up, instinctively reaching for the night-stand before realizing his glasses had been on his face the whole time. Glad I didn't sleep face-down, he thought to himself, slowly making his way like a blind person to the light switch, and from there to the door. Ugh. I slept with my hair up, too. That always makes it sore. He absently picked off the rubber bands confining the ponytail, and without them his white hair flowed naturally out to around his shoulders.
The area had a soft red glow to it from the windows. Sunset comes early in the north or in winter, and especially both. He sighed, shambling over to the end of the hallway and leaning on the windowsill as he looked out over the frozen landscape. In the distance, Shelaya loomed between the mountain ranges, the buildings still majestic but less awe-inspiring to him.
Hearing footsteps, he glanced backwards and saw an unfamiliar Pokegirl approaching. She had the mouse ears, but not the tail, of a Titmouse. She looked more like a chinchilla. Like many breeds, he had only read about the Chichi in passing during his studies. He didn't say anything as she came closer, although his recent experience made his skin crawl a bit. "Excuse me, sir..."
Toman adjusted his glasses and took in a deep breath, turning to face her. "Yes?" He strove to project some air of composure, even though he still felt rather not-composed at the moment.
"I met your Pokegirls and they told me what Katherine did to you. I'm very sorry. I just wanted to know if you wouldn't mind meeting some of the others, so you'll see we aren't all like her." She brushed a stray bang of brown hair out of her face, eyes full of trepidation and concern. The Chichi wore a brown shirt and long skirt, which seemed to go with her fur and hair color and fit around her petite form like a glove. Already, as a Tamer, Toman found himself categorizing her and comparing her to all the other Pokegirls he had seen.
Toman paused for a moment, and then smiled. "I appreciate the gesture, but it's not necessary. I don't have the impression that Professor Shields raised you all to be selfish monsters." He was surprised at how gracious he could be. "Just the fact that you came up here without pouncing me shows you've got better consideration." He chuckled a little at the feeble joke, and then allowed it to die a natural death.
"That's still a no," The Chichi said, managing a sad smile of her own. "You're polite about it, but still..."
Toman didn't need guilt, another negative emotion, right now, and he was a naturally compassionate person, so he was moved when she seemed disappointed. "... Why not. The alternative is standing in this hallway all night looking out the window." He motioned for her to lead the way. "By the way, what's your name?"
The Pokegirl almost bounced on her heels in excitement. "I'm Petya. Sorry I forgot to introduce myself. Um, my room is the third one to left, you should meet my roommates. They're all really nice." She led him over to the ajar door and pushed it open. "Girls! Meet Master's new guest!" With such an enthusiastic announcement, Toman felt a little underwhelming, nervously walking across the threshold and into the room.
It was identical to his own, only instead of one large bed and many amenities, it had three bunk beds with three levels each. Toman saw two Pokegirls, a Herowu and a Boobleaf sitting on the bunk near the door. The boy tried to control himself, but he couldn't help letting out an admiring gasp at the Boobleaf.
The Boobleaf was renowned as a breed for several things, including their unthinkable beauty. Her soft, feminine features, entrancing eyes, and perfect figure all gave him a considerable pause. He missed what she said the first time, but shook himself back to awareness with an embarrassed cough. "Hello," He said, his voice still a tiny bit scratchy.
The Herowu felt free to introduce herself, shaking his hand while being careful not to fracture it, and declaring herself to be Ira. "That's Anzhela, since you missed it the first time trying to contain your drool." Toman blushed appropriately. "Ah, you are green, you still blush! That's cute." Still not feeling quite well, Toman was about to reassert his boundaries when she relinquished her hold and gave him a serious look. "That whore that jumped you is the exception here. We know our real place."
Toman wasn't sure whether to be grateful or even more upset, but their hospitality seemed genuine and he found it hard to resist charming people. "Great. You're ahead of me there, I'm afraid."
Anzhela giggled. "Rumors have been flying all around about you, sir. How you resisted Kathy's advances just proves that you aren't the average beginning Tamer."
He avoided locking eyes with her, choosing to look at the other two Pokegirls instead as he spoke. "I won't argue with that." A strange urge, compelling him to talk more about himself, and how his father's insistent commission was the only reason he stood before them on that day, came over him. The majority of his being, who had always been secluded, squelched the notion. This left him awkwardly silent for a moment.
"How long are you going to be staying here?" Ira inquired.
"At least until after Boot Camp, and longer, if the Professor will allow me."
This answer seemed to make the three of them happy. "Then we'll get lots of time to know each other better," Petya said, enthused. "I realize we're just Pokegirls.. but you have a reputation for... not caring as much as some people think you should about that."
"What? Already?" Toman wondered if the unnatural speed with which he accumulated a reputation was common for new Tamers. The gossip-heavy environment of Lab Pokegirl Quarters probably helped that. "What else am I notorious for?"
Ira barked out a laugh. "You're the prodigy-child of Professor Kross, expect people to know more about you than you do. Or at least think they know more about you."
"Master?" Toman looked over his shoulder and saw Irena leaning into the room. She noticed he was talking to the three other Girls and began to back out, but he beckoned for her to come in. She did so.
"What's up?" He said, more in greeting than question.
"Um..." She looked down, and the dark russian boy was about to prompt her further when she stepped even closer, putting her arms around his thin frame and hugging him, nuzzling into his shirt. "Um." What he was saying died in his throat. "Irena..."
"I'm glad you're ok, Master," She said, loud enough for the other three to hear. Their coos and 'aww's made Toman keenly aware of the show he was putting on, but his embarrassment was far outweighed by his concern and affection for Irena.
He petted her, running a hand gently over her furry head. "I know, Irena. I... I'm still here for you." He blinked and said, "We should take this elsewhere."
Finally getting the hint, Petya ushered them out of the room, and said, "Good luck," To the both of them before she shut the door, giggling.
Toman held her tighter, letting out a sigh. "I really appreciate it." This feeling, this realization of the warmth of direct affection, was still something that felt new to him. Marya and Irena were demonstrating they cared for him in a way that even his father or Kiera rarely had. It wasn't that either were anything but caring and affectionate, but he had always wanted, secretly, to push back, to create distance. No urge like that clouded his mind as he kissed his Pokegirl on the forehead. Is this the reality of being a Tamer?
Once again, he reminded himself that if he was having trouble adjusting, Irena must have had it a million times worse. She had no clear memory of birth, parents, childhood, or the warmth and affection they basked in with each other. In some manner, he felt very glad he had taken her from Dom. The blonde was a natural at personal relations and tended to easily connect with everyone. He probably took for granted that simple, deeply personal level of connection that owning a Pokegirl would entail, where Toman would experience it as a fresh, foreign, and yet enticing and welcome sensation, and thus hopefully understand Irena better.
"You know," He spoke up after a while of simple cuddling, "We were deferred on the train, I made you sit through Marya's wonderful display on the ride over here, and I've been very... very enticed by that Succubus' offer..." If he hadn't been so mentally repulsed by her, he could very easily see himself giving in and enjoying the Taming of a lifetime. "So it strikes me that we both might be ready for a Taming. Would you agree?"
Irena giggled and nodded happily, giving him a short kiss on the lips. "Marya's been helping me practice my kissing a little for you, Master." She elaborated, kissing him again and rubbing up against his body. Toman was obviously aroused, both by her, and by the image of his two Pokegirls making out. He returned the kiss, pulling her closer and inadvertently letting her feel his huge erection. "It's so big," She cooed.
Toman was aware enough to lead his Pokegirl back into their room and lock the door before leading her to the bed. He felt his heart beating loudly in his chest, trying to steady his breathing as his hormones quite literally went wild. Nuzzling into her neck, he murmured, "You're beautiful, Irena. Your fur is so soft, you're so warm and cuddly... you don't have Marya's figure but you're no less feminine." His hands caressed her body, which trembled under the tender touch.
She tugged his glasses off and put them down, staring into his eyes. "Master... you're pretty too." It was odd describing a boy this way but Toman certainly fit, although he blushed and shook his head. "Yes, you are," She insisted, her voice cracking as his hands continued to explore. One of them found her bountiful rear and squeezed affectionately, inducing a surprised yelp from her.
Emboldened, he ordered her to help him take off his clothes. She was eager to assist, her dexterous little hands pulling off his shirt in moments and nibbling his lower neck and chest. Toman only allowed himself to bask in the cuddling and nibbling for a minute before removing his own pants. Irena's gaze naturally tracked downward to the huge bulge in his straining underwear. Awe and excitement mixed with a bit of apprehension as she pondered her Master's definitely above-average endowment again. "Master," She gasped, "Please be gentle with that."
"I will," Toman promised, bending over to pull his boxers down and giving the Mynx an idea. She playfully slapped his small butt- not hard enough to really hurt, but enough to get his attention. He jumped in surprise like she had done when he squeezed her back there, and she giggled. "What was that?" He asked.
"Nothing, Master~" The furry girl replied, tittering obviously.
He got the boxers off and stood up, leaning against her once again. "More playful than usual. Maybe Marya's been spending too much time with you, you're beginning to act like her..." He trapped her mouth with his own before she could reply.
The concept that this girl in his arms was his, belonged to him, was his slave, was something that had never left his mind, but now, feeling her shudder again, he felt a dark sort of eroticism from the thought. Was this what it was like to fully embrace being a Tamer? Toman didn't know, and the feeling of her adventurous hand brushing against his penis scoured it, and most other thoughts, from his mind.
He had begun to breathe heavily, and pulled her onto the bed. She laid down, laying out her entire body for her master. Toman saw Irena's nipples were rock hard, and he leaned over, flicking his tongue across one of them and making her squeak and gasp. These pleasurable noises increased the pressure of his own need, the two near-virgins already getting overexcited from this. Pre-cum dripped from his throbbing lower head, the droplets landing over her thigh and letting her feel the warm liquid on her fur.
"Irena, are you ready?" Toman asked in little more than a hoarse whisper, most of the wind in his lungs gone from the tension and excitement.
She nodded, and repeated her plea for him to be very gentle. Mindful of this, Toman aligned their thin bodies together, holding himself over her until he had lined up their hips. When he had, he slowly lowered his penis, the hard shaft touching her outer lips and triggering a staggered, gasping breathing from the Girl. "Master," She squeaked, moaning out for him as she felt it coming slowly deeper, "Oh gods, Master~ It's in me now~"
Irena remained very vocal, encouraging Toman to go further in. He drove his cock into her almost impossibly tight pussy, feeling the warm pressure on it adding to the friction of the slow motion. He still possessed very little endurance and felt the need for release become almost unbearable, but he forced himself through sheer will to contain it a while longer.
His stamina was just a bit greater than Irena, who came with force from just a few more thrusts, crying out and clinging to him with both of her arms, shaking. She squeezed tight around Toman's large cock, and he couldn't take it any more, coming to his own climax less than a minute later. Reams of warm and abrupt semen shot into her deep, adding to the overwhelming flood of sensations in her mind.
Toman collapsed, falling onto her and snuggling close as they rode out the aftershocks and basked in the glow, in silence except for their labored breathing. He could vaguely feel an odd, deeper connection with his Pokegirl forming, and knew an Alpha Bond had finally been forged between the two of them, as he had felt with Marya after his first time.
"I love you," He said, laying against her furry chest in sudden fatigue.
For some time they remained there, and eventually Marya appeared, opening the door and joining her master and harem sister in the bed. She didn't say a word, and didn't need to, with the way she clung to Toman. He felt the affection through both bonds, the warmth of their bodies and the contentment of his own sated lusts and heart.
/\/\
After a hearty breakfast, Toman took Professor Shields aside. "Sir, I'm planning on going into the city to check things out a bit, and see the training facility. I was wondering if you had a method of transit faster than walking... perhaps a car or a transport Pokegirl?" The teenager wasn't looking forward to the long walk from the outskirts to the city perimeter, especially considering the slight risk of Ferals the longer he spent outside it.
The older man's face lit up in a grin. "I don't own a car, but I have something that's, in my opinion, better. And it's a lot rarer, too. How much do you know about the Pegasluts?"
Toman recognized the reference to the mythological creature, the Pegasus, but he hadn't been aware that there was a Pokegirl connected with it. He swallowed the slight embarrassment of ignorance and admitted, "Nothing. I didn't even know there was such a breed." He had studied every known breed, but there had been so many that only some were really imprinted on his mind in a memorable way.
He reached for his Dex, and the Professor nodded. A quick search of the database brought up the required entry. "Pegaslut, the Mythical Horse Pokegirl," The machine spoke, reading along with the text it displayed on its LCD screen. "Near human, Metamorphic type. Element Magic/Flying. Libido Average-High(With Tamer). Frequency determined to be Very Rare in all regions. A recently-discovered Pokegirl who was designed after the mythological Pegasus of pre-Sukebe lore. They can morph into a horse-form and a humanoid-form, are very beautiful and devoted, and can achieve remarkable speeds for long periods of time. For the expanded entry, or the evolutionary tree display, tap the corresponding keys on the display now." He pressed the key for the entire entry and a large block of text came up, explaining more in-depth about the Pegasluts.
"You have one? I'm impressed, Professor," Toman said. "These are supposed to be remarkably rare. I guess one could tell that from the fact that I couldn't remember them."
"Seeking the rare happens to be my specialty." Shields laughed. "I'd be willing to loan her out to you for your transit needs, Toman. Not like I'm going to be needing to go anywhere in a hurry. Just remember who's her real owner, alright? I went through a lot of effort to get her." He raised his voice, "Katya, are you back there?" From the kitchen she acknowledged. "Can you go get Anastasiya for me, my dear? Thank you."
"I'm afraid I'll have to toss a cliche at you, sir," Toman smiled slightly. "You're too kind. I wasn't expecting this kind of hospitality. Even if you insist I don't owe you anything, I feel I must pay something back for your generosity."
"Well." Shields' expression suddenly darkened a bit, and his large smile left his face. "I was just..." He hesitated. "I don't know how to break this to you, Toman, but to be perfectly honest, you are doing something for me. In a way." Seeing the boy's look of confusion, he elaborated. "I've heard some whispers in the local authorities about the Boot Camp. They're bringing in a Menace Specialist to head up the instruction due to the rise in those sorts of fatalities lately." If Toman had a reaction to that hint of a reference to his mother, it couldn't be read on his gentle face. "And... this is utter conjecture, at this point, I have nothing solid; but it appears this instructor is going to be from the Silver Islands. And they're going to let him take a Locked Down Menace with him into the city to use in his teaching."
Now Toman's reaction was obvious- he was dumbfounded at first. "... What?" He simply asked after a long pause.
The Professor laughed again. "Your father reacted similarly when I alerted him to this yesterday."
"I imagine so." Toman felt like he'd been shot again, and in fact the sudden alarm in his mind set of a spasm of pain in his shoulder. Everyone had heard the stories about the Menaces, and he was no exception. Panthresses ripping men apart, Mantises raping and mutilating innocent victims, Leviathanesses snapping boats full of passengers in half without a thought; no horror possible was impossible to equate with one of the Menaces. His mother added the poignant and deeply personal level of fear to the equation. "But.... how could this be allowed?"
"I don't know. If people in general found out about this there would likely be a riot in the city, even if it wasn't true, and like I said, we have no confirmation that it is," Shields said. "I just felt like it would be criminal to keep you ignorant about it. Your father and I were hoping that you could inform us about conditions on the 'inside', including the reality of the rumor. If there is a dangerous practice going on, we'll need a solid witness to bring down real trouble on the trainers and authorities."
Toman blinked. "So, Father learned of the Menace, and decided to send me in anyway?" Amidst the shock, outrage began to well up deep in his heart, including the unfamiliar sensation of some of it being directed at his parent. He had experienced no rebellious phase in his life, and had always been a model of yielding to his father's wishes, including about becoming a Tamer. He didn't idolize the man but had always carried his life around the assumption that he almost always knew best due to his greater experience and knowledge.
Doubt had begun to wear a bit upon that framework of trust. It wasn't anything major or groundbreaking, and his anger was soon passed as he successfully tried to calm down. He allowed very little of his feelings to show in his expression. Shields nodded. "He logically felt that Lockdown has been proven such a success that you weren't going to be in significant danger either way. Although I will note that he was still worried for you. A great deal."
"I know." Toman let out a long sigh. "And I'm glad you told me about this instead of sending me in blind, sir."
Shields nodded. "Of course. Hm. I wonder where Petya and Nasty are..."
The teenager blinked again. "Nasty? Is that Anastasiya's nickname?"
A boisterous laugh greeted that question, and the clouds lifted from Shields' disposition, letting his usual self come up again. "Yes. I would recommend you call her Ana instead, or anything but Nasty. She only allows her Master to get away with calling her that, anyone else receives... a hoof-based reeducation."
"Duly noted," Toman said, allowing himself a chuckle.
The Psi'dkick Teleported in behind the Professor's chair and said, "She's on her way over, shouldn't take but a few..." The door flew open and along with the cold air, a stunningly gorgeous Pokegirl entered. She had white hair and pale skin over her tall and feminine body, which was wrapped in surprisingly little. Snow-white wings fluttered idly behind her back, folding in slightly to fit into the door's frame. She shut the door behind her and favored the occupants of the room with a dazzling smile. Once again, Toman felt the strong urge to just sit there and stare.
"You called, Master?" Anastasiya asked, tilting her head and idly examining Toman.
Shields said, "Toman Kross, meet Nasty. Nasty, this is Professor Kross' son and our guest, as I'm sure you know. He's going to be needing a ride to the city and you're my most valued method of transportation. Would you mind being his taxi for a while?"
She cocked an eyebrow, clearly harboring a few doubts. "This would involve me going around town a lot, right? Might get me noticed too much. I doubt there are fifteen of my kind in all of this region."
The Professor shook his head. "You're talented enough to take on any common thugs if any feel compelled to come at you. I'm not worried."
"Alright." Anastasiya bobbed her head slightly to Toman, who couldn't help from blushing a little. "Nice to meet you, by the way." She stuck out her hand, careful not to squeeze at all as she shook his more delicate one. Might as well get along, we're going to be seeing a lot of each other while you need my services, She figured in her head. Holy Sukebe is this boy pretty, though. I think I'm more worried about common thugs seeing him.
He went to retrieve Marya, who was finishing up a session of morning sunbathing and thus full of bountiful energy. She almost tackled him, threatening to knock him clean over. Irena was slightly less enthusiastic, but seemed excited about seeing the city again. Toman gave his Boobisaur a loving kiss before returning her to her Pokeball. "I'll get you out as soon as we get somewhere inside," He promised as she vanished into white light. "Irena, you can ride with me, another passenger won't make much difference." He put his jacket on and took his cell phone and wallet, with what cash remained, just in case they were needed.
Anastasiya waited outside the house, shifting into her mythological horse-form and spreading her wings out in the frigid air. Katya got a saddle on her, and helped Toman and Irena up onto her strong back. Irena wrapped her arms around her Master from behind and pressed up against him. He felt himself getting aroused, even in the cold, and was sure the Pegaslut felt it, too, but neither of them said anything as she took off.
It was similar to the last and only other time he had ever rode a Flying-type, that Falcongentle back in Samara. The kick of sudden acceleration slammed his chest and the wind smacked into him like it was a brick wall as the powerful Pokegirl climbed into the air very fast. He held onto her neck tighter and felt Irena doing the same to him.
"Don't worry," He thought he heard the Girl say over the roaring winds, "I won't go even half of my full speed!" Needless to say this did nothing to reassure Toman. All he could do was press flat against her back and try to shield his face from too much exposure. Thus, he didn't get much of a view at all of the surrounding countryside, and felt jealous as Irena looked around in awe. She took in the thick mountain bands to either side, the farmlands and fields crisscrossing below them, and the outskirts and suburbs of Shelaya City dead ahead.
Toman was distracted from his minor pouting by the Pegaslut's voice. "Where to?"
Uncharacteristically, he hadn't thought it out before hand, and blinked, trying to sort out his thoughts. He very carefully grabbed his Pokedex and called up the city map. The first place that caught his eye was the Boot Camp facility himself, which was in a Training Gym that had been cleared out for the classes. "Might as well take a look at the Training Gym," He shouted to her. She snorted in acknowledgment, diving sharply and turning his stomach.
She beat her wings against the air and pulled off a perfect landing on the sidewalk in front of the gym, setting down with barely more than a thump. Irena slid over and helped Toman, who was trying to stop shaking and wobbling, down onto his feet. He took a moment to compose himself and spared a sour look at the Pegaslut, who met his gaze with a professional disinterest.
Several people had needed to scurry away to avoid being landed upon, but they didn't seem to mind, gawking away at the rare Pokegirl. Toman ignored them, looking over the training Gym. It certainly looked big enough to suit their needs, although he didn't know how many people were actually going to show up.
Anastasiya shifted into her humanoid form and pulled out a cell phone from her pocket. "Take my number," She said. "Call me if you want another airlift. In the meantime, I'll be around the city." After she made sure Toman had put it in his phone's memory, she quickly made her exit, vanishing into the air overhead.
"I thought she was going to come with us, Master," Irena said to him, eyes casting about nervously amongst the crowds on the sidewalk that flowed around them.
"Frankly I'm a bit glad we get to walk, ironically," Toman sighed, adjusting his glasses. "I'm not sure how much more riding I can take. I'm not cut out to fly like that." By now he had learned to almost completely ignore the throbbing pain in his shoulder, which swelled up almost as a reminder of the Falcongentle and her message. "Come on." He led the way, walking up to the training gym and entering the lobby. His Pokegirl followed, possibly as happy to get into a heated area as he was.
-
Over the following days, Toman slowly got acclimated to his new surroundings. He looked up Flurry and they went around town a few times together, hanging out and checking out the various cafes and stores. Every bit of the urban landscape was totally new to the sheltered boy, whose awe, like that of his Pokegirls, seemed to give her great amusement.
Marya had little problem getting a part-time job tending plants at one of the nearby hydroponic farms. Due to the scarcity of Grass-types to do the job, and the high demand for food in the winter, they had been able to secure wages that were eighty percent of what normal human minimum was- quite a deal for a part-time low-level Pokegirl. Every day she worked she would earn 192 SLC, and Toman was to pick up her pay each week for a total of 1,344 SLC per week.
Irena had expressed a desire not to be borrowed out to work like that, which put Toman in a dilemma. He needed to accumulate all the money he could, and even though he was anti-social, he still thought Irena's shyness was worse and should be gradually corrected. On the other hand, forcing her to do such a thing repelled him. He had asked Flurry and Professor Shields about it, but both of them hadn't seen why, as Master, he didn't just tell her to get over it and go to work in some menial job for some corporation.
After a few days mulling over the problem, he decided to ask her again, and explain the need for as much money as possible. She looked really unhappy about it but wasn't willing to outright refuse her Master's heartfelt request. In return, he had tried to find her a place that wasn't physically taxing, requiring social skills, or much high-level education. Marya had pointed out that the hydroponic farms could always use more Pokegirls for the plants, and even a Normal low-level could get a job there. A slot had in fact been offered to Irena, although she would only be earning 144 a day, or 1,008 a week. Their combined income was 2,352 SLC a week. Toman ran these numbers and found them very, very good, considering he was a starter Tamer. It wasn't enough to live on, but after Boot Camp he could find some kind of job too, and that would help. Not to mention selling Ferals to the titanic Hostler ranch.
He could see plans coming together in his mind, and he was feeling confident on the day of Boot Camp induction. Toman and his Girls woke up early, and had a hearty breakfast before getting a ride from Anastasiya to the training gym. The morning air was even crisper than usual, painful to breathe in, but it also leant them a curious strength. As the Pegaslut came in for a magnificent curb-side landing, Toman saw a trickle of people already arriving and hopped off to join them.
"Hey! Toman!" He looked over and spotted Flurry shuffling through the small crowd, running over to him. "Finally, right? Can't wait to get going! Maybe they'll let us have some battle practice with each other."
"One can but hope," Toman replied dryly, leading the way inside. The training gym's main arena, a surprisingly spacious room, had been lined with bleachers and new Tamers were having seats next to their Pokegirls, and a scattering of backpacks and containers looked like sandbag lines amongst the teenagers. He was reminded of Samara village's school, especially his high school years.
Furry was surveying the crowd with the eye of a predator, checking out Pokegirls and scanning random people with her Dex to get more info. Toman cautioned her against any more theft but she brushed him off. "Besides, if they deserve to keep their stuff I'll give it back." The dark boy didn't find this a very convincing argument, and was about to tell her off when he recognized a blonde coming into the gym and started waving at him.
Dom saw Toman, waved back, and climbed up the rows of seating to get to his friend. "Hey," He said. "My train just came in yesterday. I tried to get in touch with you but I guess you were sleeping or something." His eyes tracked over to Flurry, who tilted her head, sizing him and his trailing Torch Chick up. "What's this? A female tamer?"
"They do exist, you know," Flurry replied. "Call me Flurry. I met Toman on the train here and tried to get him to battle me but he refused. Something about 'safety' or something."
He grinned. "Sounds just like him." With that, he planted himself next to the other two, and said, "I'm Dom. The closest thing to a hometown friend Toman has."
"Even though he got me shot," Toman interjected.
"Closest thing is a relative term," Dom shrugged and curled an arm around Grace as she sat down in his lap, happily cuddling into his body heat. Marya and Irena sat a level above Toman, like bodyguards, and Flurry's Joan sat beside her. All of the Pokegirls seemed like a background thread, and even Marya knew when it was better to be seen and not heard. Even Toman, a presumptuous liberal who only got more so every year, barely questioned this sort of thing when humans were talking.
They got to talking about battling, and Flurry didn't exactly have to work hard to get a pledge from Dom for a battle at the earliest convenience, probably using one of the training gym's rooms.
After about half an hour of idle chatter, the flow of people started to slacken off, and an hour after Toman arrived in the gym, a microphone whined to life on the center of the arena floor, and lights singled out a human figure. He wore a simple black coat, shirt, and pants, and although he looked plain almost everybody could tell he looked important.
His Russian had the unmistakable accent of a foreigner, although it was clear he had worked hard to get the words right, rendering him understandable at least. "Attention, everyone," He declared, his voice booming through the room and causing the background chatter to slacken off and die. "My name is Dahmune Makai, and I'm a specialist hired by the Ruby League to assist in your training. You're all going to be seeing a lot of me over the coming weeks, I'm afraid."
"Once again I'd like to remind everyone that this course is not legally mandated, and completion of it will net you nothing more impressive then some pieces of paper saying the League thinks you can probably hump it against Ferals. So you're free to leave any time.
I'm telling you this because of what I'm an expert in. I am going to teach defense against Menace-types in many of your courses, and to that end I have brought live samples of the real thing. They are under lockdown, and strictly safe, I assure you. If the thought still makes you uncomfortable, though, feel free to leave." The silence and control of the crowd totally vanished, ripples of alarm passing through the new Tamers as they processed his words. Many had a healthy disbelief, unwilling to believe a teacher would actually bring Menaces into contact with them on purpose. Dom looked over at Toman, who feigned shock, while Flurry shook her head.
Before anyone could actually leave, a woman entered the arena from one of the side doors, and a few of the lights focused on her. She was tall, as Toman could see when she approached the man and his mind put it into scale. Her unnaturally colored hair and large breasts, along with her height, marked her as a Pokegirl. Pokedexes came out but Toman had a twisting fear in the middle of his gut before the first artificial voice sprang up and announced, "Mantis, the Man-Eater Pokegirl." That was when the crowd really started to react.
While Toman sat, nearly paralyzed with fear even though he'd been expecting, and dreading it, other Tamers acted. They shouted orders, and a variety of Pokegirls, mostly ice and normal types, joined together in a loose phalanx at the foot of the bleachers, interposing themselves between the Menace and the Tamers behind them. The less brave ones were rising to the top levels with most of the people in order to get some distance between the Mantis and them. Irena was ignorant of what having a Mantis in the room meant, but everyone's reactions told her enough to make her cling to Toman fearfully. Marya, Grace and Joan all stood and moved to join the others.
Through the uproar and screaming, the man kept trying to make himself heard. "Please," He sighed, trying to inject reason into his voice, "It's alright. She's not here to hurt you. Hell, if she weren't on Lockdown, wouldn't she have gone for me first?" That made a few people pause, but mostly they weren't listening to him anymore. Several people had their phones out and were screaming to 911 operators. "My god, will you people just..." He cut himself off with a sigh.
Suddenly, his voice got a lot more loud and forceful. "Will you shut the hell up and calm down?!" He demanded, and that was enough to get some of them to listen, startling them and making them fall silent. "Fucking people. Get back into your seats, dip-shits. Look, look at her. She doesn't even have her other arms out. If she was going to attack half of you would already be in bloody little chunks." Toman didn't think much of his technique for calming the crowd down, but many Tamers, cowed, recalled their girls and the phalanx dissolved. "Why is it we always get this same fucking reaction everywhere we go?" Oh, I can't possibly imagine why, Toman thought with more dry venom then he'd thought he could muster with a stranger. Father and Professor Shields were right. "And get off your damn phones!" The man was so angry that he was slipping into English occasionally, but the barking orders made their point anyway.
Dahmune waited until only a pair of Tamers remained up front, both looking shaken but still determined for a fight. Their Growlie and Daimon actually rushed the Mantis, but before the Menace could react, he quickly put himself between them and said, "GET BACK." Neither of them was willing to go through a human, especially one who was possibly the Mantis' Tamer and thus enrage her, so they retreated and the Tamers gave up. "Are you fucking idiots? I should have let her rip your faces off."
Now with adrenaline, outrage, and fear running through every person in the crowd in various mixtures, Dahmune said, "Like I said, if you have a problem with it, you're more than welcome to leave." He stopped for a moment, realizing everyone in the room certainly had problems with it. "Well, if you can't get over it. I guess it's natural to be a bit scared."
Flurry looked like she was going to physically spit at the man and said, "Oh, what an empathetic and wise person." Dom shared her sentiments, looking quite mutinous. Toman kept his not-quite-blank expression as Dahmune's sweeping eyes caught his own for a moment.
Their teacher tried to get his temper completely under control, and then said, "Like I said, you're safe. Anya's been with me for some time now, and she's different from other Manti. And not just because of the Lockdown, either, she's actually a... oh forget it. You're not going to listen to me about that. Ahem." He tried to ignore the pronounced murmurs and whimpering that still came out of the crowd. "Today you're going to be divided into four Classes. A, B, C, and D. Each Class has several individual instructors who will be assisting me in your education. You can get into personal introductions, too. After that you're free to go. Tomorrow we're going to give you a pre-test evaluation and start the basic courses."
As others came up and counted off people, dividing them into four roughly equal-sized groups, a stream of people had begun to leave, taking the doors farthest from the Mantis with their Pokegirls hefting their bags behind them. Many had decided not to chance it and leave for good, and others had completely lost their nerve and gave into the urge to take flight. Those that remained were either afraid that the Mantis would pounce them as they tried to leave, or felt an odd interest in her that held them there despite their terror. Still others put up their determination and courage and found themselves able to sit there, if not calmly or silently, in the face of the monster.
Dom, Toman, and Flurry all remained in the bleachers. Dom and Flurry got assigned together to Class B, and Toman was put in Class C. Just great, He thought. Not only is a Mantis less than thirty meters from me, but I'm going into a class of strangers, all of whom are crazy enough to stick around despite seeing that... He couldn't help a wry smile as he included himself in that category. His logical mind had told him that Dahmune must have been right; no Mantis would have the patience to just sit there when so much food and testosterone was just waiting for her so close. So this Lockdown procedure worked. Therefore, he was not in physical danger, no matter what a lifetime of education and instinct had told him. Still, as a human, he couldn't help his primal fear, and felt himself shiver slightly as he led his knot of friends and Pokegirls away through the thickening crowds.
Even those had that remained seemed to leave quite eagerly after they'd gotten their assignment, and Dahmune wondered just how many of them would really be back. The allure of the mysterious, dangerous and forbidden would help him, along with the real drive to mastery some of the new Tamers had burning deep inside. On the other hand, he couldn't blame them one bit for their reactions, no matter what he had said in his annoyance. One usually never even saw a Mantis until it was too late, and if you did see one it was considered the equivalent of seeing your own death.
When everyone was gone, other Pokegirls emerged from the shadows and the background, coming to their beloved Tamer. "You were right, Master," A Glass sighed. "With just Anya they were on the verge of rioting. If the others had come out too we would have had actual bloodshed on our hands."
Dahmune nodded. "Don't worry. We just have to take things slow, I'm sure some of them will be able to see you all for who you really are instead of just what your breed is." He let out an annoyed huff as sirens began to wail in the distance, and prepared himself to deal with an alarmed police force yet again. Luckily all his League papers had come in fine and he could just show them to give his Girls immunity from the fate that every officer of the law would love nothing more than to hand out to such monsters.
-
"I just can't believe it," Toman said, shedding his coat as he entered the gloriously heated lab and depositing it on the rack with the others. "Well, I guess I can, but I'm still in total shock." Dom and Flurry nodded in agreement, shedding their own jackets and following him inside before the four Pokegirls. They had agreed to come over to the Professor's lab when Toman had mentioned he maintained a small indoor arena that could be perfect for Dom and Flurry's little contest.
"Ah? Your friends, Toman?" Shields asked, looking up from his papers on the couch. "Oh, Flurry!" He grinned as he remembered the girl, still as feisty, when she had visited the lab when she was only ten years old. "Nice to see you again. And a pleasure to meet you, sir," He said to Dom, putting out his hand and letting Dom shake it.
"Call me Dom, Professor," The blonde said, gripping his hand tight. "Toman's dad had plenty of stuff to say about you over the years. Some of it was even good." This elicited a laugh from the other man.
"Professor," Flurry acknowledged him, bowing her head slightly and putting on a grin to rival Shields' own. "If you don't mind, we'd like to use your arena. I want to show this rustic how we do things in Shelaya."
"A noble cause," The older man nodded. "Very well. I'll even agree to be the referee, I haven't seen a live battle in far too long. But first, lunch is almost ready and I'd feel like a horrible host if I didn't invite you, and your Girls, to our table." The four newcomers all agreed enthusiastically to the offer, and Shields told the aides and Girls in the kitchen to lay out four additional plates. When lunch was actually served, everyone crowded into the dining room, except for Shields, who hung back and grabbed Toman's shoulder. "Is it true?" He asked, his tone much more sober.
Toman acknowledged it with a simple nod. "He showed us a Mantis."
"Heavens! I haven't heard about any riots, but that would have certainly caused mass chaos, even if she didn't attack!"
"It almost did, Professor. But the teacher reigned things in before they could reach that point, thankfully. Nobody was even hurt." Toman looked away. "He scared over half of the Tamers away for good, I'm guessing. I, however, have decided to keep attending, at least until the danger becomes more pronounced. I'd like to tell my dad myself after the battle, please." Shields nodded in assent and he said, "Thank you. Now, let's go eat." Even the thoughtless, gut fear that had consumed the teens and their Girls couldn't stave off hunger very well, and Toman ate well that meal along with everyone else.