Chapter 9: Glasgow
Devon strode briskly down the street. He wasn’t going anywhere in particular as long as it was away.
Finding small grassy park, Devon sank onto a bench and pulled out his pokeballs. After thinking about it briefly he let all of his pokegirls out at once. Kathryn rushed to his side immediately. “Are ye all right husband?” Lamya and Tess just looked at her curiously.
“I’m fine. Why don’t all of you sit down and I’ll explain what’s been happening.”
Lamya looked at him oddly as she sat down. “You’re unhappy about something. What is it?”
Tess was more alert to her surroundings. “Where is Maeve?”
“Let me explain. That should answer most of your questions.” He squared his shoulders. “First of all you have been in your pokeballs for about a week. Now Kathryn and I were coming into Glasgow when we ran across what we thought was an accident. It turns out that it was actually the site of an attack by a terrorist organization called Team Viper and we missed them by only a few minutes.”
“You couldn’t really help so I didn’t get anyone else out. After sending Kathryn on ahead I was attacked and knocked out by the police who thought I was a member of Team Viper.” He looked curiously at Kathryn. “What happened to you?”
The Ladyba flushed. “I saw the rogues attack you and rushed back to your defense. I realize that I’m nae much of a fighter so I was trying to get to yer belt to let the rest of your harem out when I was hit by a flamethrower attack. That’s all I can remember.”
Devon smiled and stroked her head gently. “They returned you to your pokeball and took me into custody. I was unconscious for two days.”
“The police decided that I was a member of Team Viper and locked me up. You were all placed up for adoption because as a member of Team Viper I couldn’t be a good Tamer. Maeve was adopted by a Tamer several days ago.”
“So when are we going to get her back?” Kathryn looked outraged. “She may not be me best friend but she’s a member of your harem and she belongs to ye.”
“We’re not. Her new Tamer apparently had some problems with her because right after he got her he ran her through a level five conditioning program. Maeve’s body is still alive but the individual that we knew as Maeve is dead.”
They all stared at him with stunned expressions. Tess was the first to respond. “You can’t even get vengeance for her death since the Tamer thought she was his free and clear.”
“I know that. I also know that if we cross paths in the near future I’ll kill him anyway.”
Kathryn stroked his knee. “So what did ye do during this week?”
“I spent the first two days unconscious and the next two days being interrogated by the police. Then I went feral and had sex with what I suspect was a large number of pokegirls in one of their fine police stations. Then I spent some more time in the company of the local police. We traded some inane comments and finally I left. I still have to go back to police station to get the rest of my gear.” Devon tried to keep his tone light.
“Where are we going to stay tonight?” Lamya gave him a curious look. Tess and I still have our backpacks so we could camp as long as we don’t need the tent.”
Kathryn gave her an indignant look. “I dinna have any of me cooking gear. Me backpack is still in Devon’s pokepack. We dinna have nae food.”
Devon interrupted. “We’ll stay at a hotel or at the pokecenter if we have to.”
“We’ll nae be staying at any pokecenter.”
Tess nodded. “Kathryn is right. They won’t want your pokegirls out at the pokecenter and you are not going to be left alone for a while.”
“That’s right!” Lamya’s agreement was emphatic.
“Thank you very much for your concern. I had thought that we could stay with a NurseJoy I’ve recently met until I realized I have no idea where she lives or what her name is.”
“So we’re staying at a hotel.” Lamya gave him a quick hug. “What do you want to do about Maeve? Do you want to have some sort of memorial?”
Devon shook his head. “Not right now. I’m too mad. However, while I realize that Maeve really wasn’t with us for that long, she does deserve something.”
“What are you going to do about the police?” Tess looked at him evenly. “I suspect that you are not even going to consider just walking away.”
“No. Ming Die is coming down to deal with them. Since I can’t have my pound of heart muscle I think I’ll just have to see how much poorer I can make them. It won’t bring Maeve back but it’ll feel good.”
I’ll see what I can do.
Devon looked around and spotted Ming Die walking down the road towards the park. “I was wondering when you would get here.”
I have been here for a while conferring with Mr. Smythe and Dorothea. You were rather abrupt with them. Did it make you feel good?
“Did it hurt your plans?”
No. But they might be easier if you didn’t go threatening their lives. I’ve gotten them to believe that you were distraught with grief.
“That didn’t make what I said any less accurate.”
Since they don’t believe that a fifteen year old boy would cold bloodedly plan out their murders it is of no import.
“And you?”
I know you are not stupid enough to execute any plans without thinking them through completely. This would require you to acknowledge that they were blinded by their limitations and this would rob your revenge of most of its use.
I have reserved some hotel rooms for my use. You are welcome to bed there with your pokegirls tonight.
“Thank you. I accept your generous offer.”
Ming Die stepped in front of Devon. I told Poppet I would inspect your changes personally. What are they?
“My eyes and my claws are what changed.”
May I see them?
Devon opened his eyes wide and leaned forward. Then he lifted up his hands and extended his claws.
They are very impressive. Is that everything?
“Would you like me to strip so you can check?” Devon’s tone was wry.
That won’t be necessary at this time. I think we should go to the hotel. You need some time with your pokegirls.
“What about my equipment?”
Tomorrow.
***
Devon struggled back to consciousness to the strains of Amazing Grace being played on bagpipes. He slowly dug his way out of the pile of pokegirls and sat up. Tess looked at him from where she was lying in the bed. Her leg was still draped across his waist. “Trust a bloody Scot to have a bagpipe ring tone,” she grumbled. She shoved at Kathryn. “Move your arse.” Kathryn grumbled but slid over next to Lamya.
Tess propped herself up and watched Devon as he grabbed his phone off the dresser. “What?” Devon glanced at her as he turned it on.
“I’m just making sure, my lord, you don’t go wandering off on your own.”
“I think I learned my lesson.” The message was from Ming Die. Actually it was from Phillip. She’d brought him down with her. Ming Die preferred not to talk and no phone would yet allow telepathic communication. Phillip’s message requested that he come down to the police station right away.
Devon sighed and glanced at the clock. It was early afternoon. The pokegirls had kept him up a long time while reassuring themselves that he was still healthy. It was a good thing that Lamya’s pack had a handful of potions in it or else Devon’s friction burns would have ended that fairly quickly.
“I have to go to the police station.”
Tess nodded and poked Lamya who jumped and activated her armor in surprise. “DON’T do that!”
“Get up. Our lord has to go back to the police station.”
“Fine.” Lamya sent her armor away and shoved Kathryn out of the bed. The Ladyba glared from the floor before picking herself up.
“I dinna understand why ye are being so mean to me.” She edged towards the bathroom. “But I forgive ye, ye poor barbarian. FIRSTIES!” She darted into the bathroom and slammed the door shut in Lamya’s face.
“Shit.”
Devon set about ordering breakfast. Right away was looking more and more like it might be anything but.
***
“Welcome to substation 2 of the Glasgow police…” the Catgirl trailed off and the color drained from her face as she realized who had come through the front door. She pushed her chair back to the wall behind her and looked frantically for a means of escape before asking Devon in a small voice, “How can I help you sir?”
Lamya snickered. Devon tried to ignore her. It was harder than it might be since he’d been surrounded by his pokegirls on the walk down here. He’d had to give Tess a direct order to make her keep her claymore in its scabbard.
“I’m looking for Ming Die. I understand she’s around here somewhere?”
“PleasehaveaseatI’llgetsomeonetohelpyourightaway.” The Catgirl bolted from her chair and through the security door.
“I see you made quite an impression on the help.” Lamya sounded evilly amused.
“That is enough.” Devon gave her a hard look. “Do you have any idea of what happens when I go into, uh, whatever it is called?”
Lamya shook her head. “No.”
“The reconstruction of the events that took place at the Conservatory indicated that my body starts putting out enormous amounts of pheromones that no female can resist. These traveled through the ventilation system to affect females that weren’t even near me. If I can get skin to skin contact or a bodily fluid on someone the pheromones work even faster because the contagion is absorbed by the skin. That means that masks are useless. Only full decontamination suits stand a chance of resisting the effect.”
“The effect is that any female that comes into contact with the contagion goes into Taming frenzy. The females tend to migrate towards the source of the pheromones, but if I’m unavailable then any male will do. If no males are available, anyone or anything becomes a target. Add to this the fact that once infected a pokegirl can pass the contagion on and you have the start of quite a nasty situation.”
He sighed. “Both times I haven’t been able to remember what happened, but that is not true for my victims. The gods only know what happened to that poor Catgirl if she was here at the time. If she wasn’t, the stories everyone else has been telling were probably bad enough to give her quite a fright.”
“On top of everything else, Tamer’s Disease is quite rare, so few case studies have taken place and not much is known about it. That means that the vast majority of people know only that I came in here and incited a sexual riot. They probably think I can do it with force of will if I don’t like you.”
“All in all it means many if not most of the people here are going to see me as some kind of freak or monster.” He shook his head briefly. “I must admit, compared to them I often wonder if they could be right.”
“Ye’re not a monster.” Kathryn hugged his side.
The security door swung open and a NurseJoy appeared. She wasn’t the one he’d met before. She didn’t seem frightened like the Catgirl, but she didn’t come close to him either. “If you will put your pokegirls up and come with me please?”
Kathryn gave her a glare and drew the other two members of Devon’s harem into a quick huddle. She then turned to Devon. “Ye’ll be keeping out Tess. She most likely can protect ye the best in here.”
The NurseJoy protested. “All of your pokegirls need to go into their pokeballs before we can let you in.”
Tess gave her an even look. “You are laboring under a misconception. We did not ask to come here. Considering the quality of your hospitality the last time he visited Devon is not going anywhere here without at least one of us. Take it or leave it.”
Devon grinned and nodded in Tess’ direction. “I agree with her. I have no desire to be helpless here ever again. I’m just here to get my gear. Why don’t you be a dear and get someone to bring it out?”
“You can’t leave,” the NurseJoy protested. “We haven’t found out if you’re the… Wait right here.” She went back through the security door.
Lamya waved at the security camera.
“How about I put two of you into your pokeballs to show the police that I’m willing to cooperate at least a little.” And suiting actions to words he returned Lamya and Kathryn to their pokeballs.
A short time late an OfficerJenny showed up. “Both of you come with me.” She led them down a hallway of closed doors to the holding area where another OfficerJenny and Ming Die were waiting for them.
Devon looked at Ming Die curiously. “Why are you here?”
There has possibly been a complication. These people want to see if you bonded a pokegirl that was here during your visit. Her Tamer was killed by another Team Trauma attack before she came here and yet suddenly she is demanding her Tamer.
“I suppose it could be me. How much trouble am I in if I did alpha bond her?”
One of the OfficerJenny’s spoke. “None. The only reason she was here was because she came here to report the attack and we hadn’t taken to her the pokecenter to put her up for adoption when, uh, you happened.”
“I see.”
The OfficerJenny unlocked the door to the holding room and pushed it open, stepping out of the way as it swung into the room.
The pokegirl was floating several centimeters off the ground. She was tall with silver hair that fell in a cloud to her waist. Her bright red eyes widened as she saw Devon standing in the doorway and she sank to the ground, folding up to demurely sit with her feet tucked under as her filmy green gown billowed around her. She bowed, draping her body along the floor. “Wagakimi.”
Devon glanced at the OfficerJenny. “I really hope she speaks English.” When she nodded Devon turned back to the pokegirl.
“Please speak English. I’m Devon. Who are you?”
“Hatsumi is your koshimoto.”
“Your name is Hatsumi?”
“Hai.”
“And you are what?”
“Hatsumi is your koshimoto.” She cocked her head. “Hatsumi was still remembering English when Hiro was killed. Hatsumi now remembers most of the words she needs but not all of the little words.”
“Am I your Tamer?”
“Hai.” She paused. “Yes.”
Devon sighed and pulled out his pokedex. “Demon-Goddess, the Heaven or Hell Pokegirl. Demon-Goddesses can be good or evil but this varies by the individual. Demon-Goddesses are believed to evolve from Megami, Demonesesses, Succubi or MechDolls.”
“Are you good or evil?”
“Hai. Hatsumi is.”
One of the OfficerJenny’s grimaced. “She says she’s your pokegirl. Take her already.”
Hatsumi rose to her feet and approached the OfficerJenny. Devon noted that she was a good two meters tall. Her red eyes glowed. “This pokegirl has a big mouth. You will keep a civil tongue in your head when addressing master or Hatsumi will roast you over slow fire.” Her right hand began to glow.
Devon touched her arm. “Hatsumi, no.” He looked at the Jenny. “Where is her pokeball?”
“Hatsumi has her pokeball. Hatsumi was not willing to give her pokeball to police girl.” Hatsumi produced a pokeball from her gown and handed it to Devon. “Now master has Hatsumi’s pokeball.”
“Return.” He turned to the OfficerJenny. “Now about my stuff?”
***
What are you going to do with the Demon-Goddess? Devon and Ming Die were walking back to the hotel. Tess trailed behind them. Ming Die had already send Phillip on ahead. They are quite rare and if you do not want her I’m sure the Conservatory would take her off your hands.
“I’m going to keep her. Maeve was one of my fighters and Hatsumi should be useful in filling that vacancy.”
You need a powerful psychic pokegirl in your harem. One with telepathy who would be able help you deal with other languages. Teleportation would also be useful in traveling.
Devon gave her an impish look. “Do you want to join my harem?”
She turned to look at him for a moment. Having me in your harem would give you that overwhelming advantage that you are so insistent on avoiding.
I will remain here to advance your grievances while you proceed on to Ireland.
“I’m going to Ireland? Why?”
Your father is going to call you in forty two minutes and ask you to come to Ireland to meet with him.
“Oh. I guess after that phone call it would make sense for me to go there.” Devon gave her another look. “Is he going to ask me to take a ferry or walk?”
My precognitive powers are not always that specific. Be careful with Hatsumi. It would be unwise to let her eat anyone.
“Oh, I don’t know. I think when I get back home I may enjoy introducing her to the Sheriff of Lairg.” He grinned. “It might be unwise to let other people see her eat anyone.”
***
“Where are you taking me?” Tess smiled and continued to pull at his hand. Lamya and Hatsumi kept the rear guard while Kathryn walked beside Devon as he was led down the street.
“Here we are, my lord. This store is supposed to have some swords for sale.” She gave him a broad smile as she pushed the door open. “You are doing well with your stick and it’s time to let you start practicing with a real sword.”
Kathryn and Lamya stayed outside while Hatsumi followed them in curiously.
The shopkeeper came out of the back of the store at the sound of the chime hung over the door. The Bunnygirl smiled. “Good morning. Are you looking for something in particular?”
Tess nodded. “We’re looking to see if you have any katanas for sale.” Devon looked at her in surprise. “Do you?”
“We have a couple of them. We keep them in the back as there’s not much call for them. I’ll be right back.” The Bunnygirl disappeared into the back of the store.
“Katana? Why do you want me to have a katana?”
“When we started training I evaluated your style to be very similar to kenjutsu, so it was much easier to ease you in a style similar to kenjutsu than to retrain you in a European sword style.” She gave him a hard look. “They are very different. Due to the hardness of the edge of a katana, there are very few direct contacts of edge to edge. When that sort of impact happens with a European weapon you get a notch that must be buffed out. In a katana that kind of impact eventually causes the edge to chip. This is very bad for the blade and can quickly ruin a quality weapon.”
“How does an English pokegirl know so much about Edo swords?”
“The current theory is that all Armsmistresses are slightly psychic and that we can pick out weapon information as it ‘floats around the cosmic unconsciousness’.” She wriggled her eyebrows at him. “All I know it that if I think about a weapon I suddenly know how to use it, how to care for it, how to repair it, and enough about it to be sure and get one of good quality.”
She looked up as the Bunnygirl appeared, laden down with a handful of long boxes. “Let’s see what we have here.”
Devon helped her lay out the boxes and open them up. To his eyes the swords were magnificent. Tess was slightly more critical. “Crap. Each and every last one of them is nothing but crap.”
Hatsumi looked at Tess curiously. “You want to find a good sword for our master, yes?”
“That’s right. Unfortunately this is the only place I know of that sells Edo weapons here in Glasgow and nothing here is acceptable.”
“There is a good place for swords that Hatsumi knows of”
“Really? Everyone I talked to said that this was the only place in Glasgow.”
“The place Hatsumi is talking about is not in Glasgow. It is in Edo.” Hatsumi smiled broadly. “Hatsumi has been there.”
Tess gave her a disgusted look. “That might do us a lot of good if we were in Edo but we aren’t.”
“Actually it does, Tess.” The Demon-Goddess disagreed politely. “Hatsumi has been there and since Hatsumi can teleport we can go there whenever you want.” She looked pleased with herself. “Hatsumi is strong enough to carry master Devon. Hatsumi can also carry his harem of pokegirls if they are in their pokeballs. That would solve the problem of getting master Devon a good quality katana.”
Tess grinned. “Sounds like a great idea to me.” She shot a questioning look at Devon. “My lord, may we travel to Edo to acquire you a katana?”
“Aren’t you suddenly formal?” He frowned at a sudden thought. “Hatsumi, did you travel through any cities on the Blood Continent?”
“Hai. On our way here our ship put in at several of them.”
“Good. Lamya has been after me to find her someplace to buy some of her native clothing. This’ll give her the chance.”
***
Teleporting was kind of a letdown. Devon had expected some lights, some noise, maybe his stomach would be upset, but he hadn’t expected it to be so normal. One instant he was standing in his hotel room as Hatsumi draped her arms around him and kissed him gently. When she pulled away they were standing outside a nice house at the end of a mountain path. There was a small smithy tucked in behind it against the side of the mountain.
Devon blinked in surprise at what he was thinking. He’d stepped hundreds, possibly thousands of kilometers in the blink of a, well, kiss. He decided that should be incredible enough.
He opened Tess’ pokeball. As she formed, Hatsumi leaned over and whispered into his ear. “Hatsumi was here with one of her previous masters about thirty years ago. He came here to acquire a sword but was rude to the smith, who refused him and his money. Kathryn has warned Hatsumi that master Devon can have a temper so Hatsumi wanted to warn him about the smith.”
“Thank you for the warning.”
Quickly he filled Tess in what he’d been told. She nodded. “It would be best if we proceed with the idea that it is still the same sword-smith until we know better.”
“Hatsumi.”
“Hai, my master?”
“You are from here, right?”
“No Hatsumi is not.” Devon stared. “Hatsumi never said that to you. Hatsumi did become a demon-goddess here but Hatsumi is not from here.”
“Where are you from?”
“Hatsumi was born in one of the creator’s laboratories before the end of the Revenge War. The way you understand things Hatsumi is from Texas, which used to be part of the same continent as the Johto League. Hatsumi was just a Youma then.”
“So you cannot help us negotiate with these people?” Devon’s eyes were big as he tried to digest the news that his newest pokegirl predated the Leagues.
“If that is what you wanted, that is what you should have asked. Yes, Hatsumi is familiar with the customs here and would be happy to help you.” She licked her lips. “Or Hatsumi could make these people into curry and master Devon could take everything that he might want. Hatsumi likes curry.”
“I think we’ll try it my way first,” Devon replied in a droll voice.
“Hai. Hatsumi will do as master Devon wills.”
***
Once again teleporting was unimpressively impressive. Devon began letting pokegirls out of their pokeballs so they could go through the loot they’d accumulated in the port city they’d hit on the Blood Continent after acquiring a sword for him in Edo.
He started to drop his pack on his bed when he realized that someone was sitting on it. Tousled pink hair identified her. His NurseJoy.
“Hello Devon.” She smiled as she watched the pokegirls dumping bags on the other bed. “Looks like someone had a good day.”
Devon smiled. “If I’d known where to find you I’d have taken you along.”
NurseJoy dimpled. “That’s so sweet.” She got up and took his hand. “How about we go down to the lobby so we can talk?”
“Sounds good.”
Kathryn looked up and put down the blankets and new tent she’d gotten Devon to pick up. “Master, who is this?”
The NurseJoy gave her a smile. “I’m a member of his harem. You are his alpha, right?” At Kathryn’s nod she continued. “He bonded me during that episode at the police station. I need to talk to him someplace quiet but I’ll explain everything to you later. I’m just going to take him down to the lobby since this room is a little small for six people.”
Kathryn nodded. “I understand. I’m trusting ye not to take our master anywhere else.” She frowned for a moment. “Lamya, post.” Lamya grimaced but pushed her bags into the corner and followed Devon out the door.
Joy watched her as they went down the stairs. “What’s with her?”
“My harem is worried that if I go off by myself I’ll end up in trouble again.”
Joy laughed. “Considering what happened last time they may have a point.”
“Hey, that wasn’t my fault. I’m a big boy now and can tie my shoes without help and everything.”
Lamya giggled. So did Joy.
Devon and the NurseJoy sat down on one of the couches in the lobby while Lamya took up station nearby.
Devon turned to Joy. “So what did you want to talk about?”
“Where are we going after this?”
“I have to go over to Ireland to meet with my father. He hinted in his call that I may be heading over to the Indigo Plateau after that to deliver some stuff to some friends of his.”
She nodded. “I’d like to go with you to Ireland. If you have to go to the Indigo Plateau then I guess I’ll go to the Conservatory when you leave.”
“Why do I get the impression that I’m missing a vital part of this conversation? As far as I know there is no reason why you can’t go with me to Indigo.” He smiled. “The last time I checked NurseJoys were still welcome there.”
“I can’t go after that because I can’t go into a pokeball. The only reason I’m going with you to Ireland is because I want to spend some time with you before I have to go to the Conservatory. Ming Die says I’ll be perfectly welcome there.”
“Can’t go into a pokeball? There are only a couple of reasons that a pokegirl can’t…” he trailed off as a peculiar expression crossed his face. “You aren’t a pokegirl at all are you? You are a pokewoman.”
She gave him a sad smile. “That’s right. Being a civil service NurseJoy I have never had an exclusive Tamer so I’ve never been in a pokeball.”
“So you’ve not been on any contraception.”
“No. And it seems your sperm are very healthy.” She gave him a hesitant look. “Are you mad?”
“I’m stunned. That is an acceptable emotion at this point. Mad would be insane.” He gave her a wry look. “After all I raped you.”
“It wasn’t rape.” At his incredulous look she dimpled again. “I don’t even work at that police station. I’m assigned to one of the ambulances. I volunteered to go into there to see if I could evaluate the situation and possibly isolate you. I knew full well that I might end up in that orgy. It just worked out great for me. I never expected to bond. And your ‘attack’ wasn’t even vicious.”
“I don’t remember anything that happened.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. After a moment he rested his head on hers. “It wasn’t polite or anything. You were very definite that I wasn’t going anywhere but you were gentle considering the situation. At that point I was under the influence of everything and wasn’t putting up any resistance. Quite the contrary, in fact. You were even gentle when you cut my clothes off.”
“With what?” He grimaced. Then he suddenly pictured this naked blue-haired fiend sporting a gigantic erection and a pair of scissors. He laughed.
She touched his hand gently. “With your claws.” She gave him an arch look. “They were just so shivery and frightening. And so powerful. You were taking me and I had no choice in the matter.” She rubbed her head against his cheek. “Just thinking about it makes me hot.”
“Did you have any plans as to whom you were going to be Taming tonight? Because if not, I have a suggestion or two.”
Devon laughed again. As he wound down, he looked at her. “What is your name?”
She shrugged. “They just called me Joy. Are you going to give me a new name?” A wink. “Make it a good one.”
“Letitia.” She blinked. “I’ve only been with you three times, including at the police station, but whenever I’m around you I seem to be much happier than I was just a few minutes before. Letitia means happiness, and I think that describes you to perfection”
Letitia threw her arms around him and gave him a fierce hug. “I love it!”