Welcome to Outpost 20.6!

[emsiecat]

"Welcome to Outpost 20.6!" The jovial greeting was shouted by a man stood a little ways inside the building.

The man was in his mid forties, barrel-chested with a beard, the weight was starting to pile on around his stomach it seemed. Liana had always secretly thought he resembled a large teddy bear. He certainly had the personality of one; fun loving and affectionate with family and friends.

Lucinda pushed past her friends and threw herself into the man's arms, engulfing him in a tight hug. "Pop!"

"Honey, is that you under the new 'do?" Mr. Roberts affectionately ruffled his daughter's recently chopped hedgehog-esque hair.

Lucinda grinned and nodded, turning to beckon the others over.

Mew ran straight over in her Aipom guise and leapt onto the man squeaking excitedly. Mr. Roberts petted the hyper creature warmly before acknowledging the others.

"Rhys my man, good to see you! Ah Liana too, I haven't seen you two in months!" He pulled the other two into a bear hug of welcome.

Mewtwo eyed the man critically. He seemed nice enough, though Mewtwo had enough experience to know that appearances could be deceptive. He shared his daughter's infectious grin.

"And who might this be?" Mr. Roberts turned his attention to Mewtwo. Mewtwo stiffened as Mr. Roberts approached.

"Um this is Kohaku. He's travelling with us." Rhys quickly supplied.

~Mewtwo, don't speak in telepathy, speak 'normally'.~ Liana intoned privately.

"Pleased to meet you, son. Call me Alan, everyone does." Mr. Roberts (Alan) grabbed Mewtwo's hand in his callused one and gave it a firm handshake.

"Thank you Alan pleased to meet you too." Mewtwo replied with as much civility as he could muster.

Alan turned back to face the others. "Well what brings you to this neck of the woods?"

"We were attacked by some monsters, Pop. We decided it might be best if we stayed here for a bit, just until it's safe y'know."

Alan pulled on his lower lip thoughtfully. "More monster attacks, eh? Think it's got anything to do with that Mewtwo fella?"

"Not likely." Liana quickly cut in before Mewtwo could make a smart-mouthed remark.

Alan blinked at the quick response from Liana before seeming to remember something. He clapped a hand to his forehead and turned to Lucinda. "Young lady why didn't you tell your mother you were leaving the village?"

Lucinda struggled for a legible answer but came up blank.

"She wrote me a frantic letter asking if I'd seen hide or hair from you. That Maria woman said you were all fine but we were worried."

Liana suddenly remembered that Thanatos might use her friend's families to get to them and jumped in, hoping she didn't sound too panicky. "Have you heard from them since?"

"As a matter o' fact I have. Karen wrote to me again, it got here yesterday. It seems Maria told her n' the kids, plus Rhys's family to up sticks and leave! I was surprised when I found out. I mean it's dangerous isn't it, but Karen said Maria had a good reason, thought they may be in danger. They're staying at another outpost until they can carry on to Uncle George's village."

Liana visibly sagged in relief as did Lucinda and Rhys. Alan didn't seem to notice. While they were talking they had wandered further into the building.

It was a make-shift construction, much like a large wooden and brick barn. The interior was spacious including sleeping quarters with old beds and adjoining bathrooms, a television and a few couches, a bar, a small dance floor of sorts, and a cafeteria. Recently added to the side of the barn was a first aid centre for both Pokémon and humans. Slightly apart from the main construction was a watchtower. This was made of wood and was twice the height of the barn. Inside was a watchman who took shifts with the other volunteers at the outpost. The watchman used a pair of powerful binoculars to scan the area and had a walkie-talkie and siren handy should an emergency arise. Beside the barn were stables for Pokémon that were used for transport.

"Well you make yourselves at home. I'll see if I can rustle up some grub for you. I bet you wouldn't say no to some beds either after camping out hm?"

The group smiled gratefully at Alan, Aipom (aka Mew) happily bouncing on Rhys's shoulder at the prospect of food.

They sat at a table near the bar, glancing idly at the television (it only seemed to be playing videos or DVD's as most broadcasting stations shut down four years ago) or watching the other people come and go.

The outpost was comfortably crowded. People from all walks of life congregated in the barn. Some were showing off their Pokémon in time honoured tradition of mine's-better-than-yours. Some were milling about talking jovially to friends and family who travelled with them, other groups were eating food from the cafeteria like it was their last meal, or having a good old knees up at the bar. Some were merely sat in the battered couches, happy for a rest and a chance to watch some television before setting off on their respective journeys once more. Still more people were lined up around the barn selling wares and trinkets, calling out their prices to anyone who'd listen.

The atmosphere was a friendly one. People shouted and talked, laughing happily. A few men at the bar were having a friendly poker game; two others were in the middle of an arm wrestle. A group of children screamed in delight as their favourite television show was put into the DVD player.

"'ere we go then: Torus burgers with a side of fries and a beer for each of you!" Alan was back, his arms precariously full with the promised food. A waitress was chuckling nervously as she helped him with the load.

Rhys took a hearty swig from his beer bottle and Alan glanced at him. "Only one each mind. You're still young'uns but after being attacked by monsters I think you deserve it."

"Daaad, we're of legal age!" Lucinda complained.

Mewtwo shook his head at the commotion of human activity around him in this outpost. They were such loud, abrasive creatures. It was bewildering, but oddly freeing how he was observing them now. For the first time in his life he could watch humans at close quarters without being noticed. His curious eyes could drink in the answers to questions he had not realised he had about their pitiful race.
He turned back to his 'companions' and listened as Liana wrapped up a discussion on Pokémon types and their pros and cons with Lucinda and her father. Mew was perched merrily on the table greedily scoffing left over fries with abandon. How unlike a Goddess!

His eyes sought out the 'whelp' as Mewtwo had dubbed him. In all truth Mewtwo rather enjoyed Rhys's company but the boy was young, long limbed, and had little respect thus the term whelp or pup seemed very fitting in Mewtwo's personal opinion. There he was only feet away and apparently engaged in some infantile competition with a complete stranger! They were seeing who could belch the loudest.

"Rhys you pig!" Lucinda guffawed, slapping her friend on the back causing him to pitch forward into his half drunk bottle of beer.

Liana smiled tolerantly and turned to Mewtwo who sported a look that was a cross between amazement and disgust.

"You'll have to excuse us. We're very informal at outposts." She chugged some of her own beer shooting the clone a conspiring wink.

Mew clapped her Aipom paws as Rhys's opponent let loose a fantastic belch, to which Rhys bowed overdramatically and admitted defeat.

"Haha! Victory!" The opponent cried triumphantly, raising his arms in the air as if expecting to be lavished in praise.

[emsiecat]

Mewtwo looked at him carefully. The man certainly seemed familiar. He was tall and leanly built with pale skin, brilliantly green eyes and hair that was a strange shade of bluish violet. The hair was quite long and hung in the man's eyes. Mewtwo could swear that this man had been at the New Island battle!

If the man was waiting for praise in his accomplishment he must have been sorely disappointed with what he got in reality. A hand shot out from nowhere and roughly grabbed the man's collar, pulling him back.

"James, what on earth do you think you're doing!?"

The snappy voice belonged to the woman who was currently dragging James away. She was slim and fairly attractive with blue eyes and long straight hair in a shade of magenta that put Liana's to shame!

"B-but Jess I won!" Gone was the hero-of-the-hour. In his place was a whining, chastised schoolboy.

"I don't care if you won a Chansey! We were trying to talk to you and you take off to partake in childish games!" Jessie's one-track ranting caught the attention of quite a few people in the outpost. Most of who laughed at the spectacle the pair was creating. "You are such a-"

What James was they didn't get to find out, because Jessie had spotted 'Kohaku'. The change was amusing. She went from raging monster to simpering and girly in a nanosecond.

"Why hello there, please excuse my outburst I was just trying to put my crude friend in his place." Jessie cooed practically starry eyed at the man sat nearby.

Oh my Gawd she's flirting with Mewtwo! Liana wasn't sure who looked more surprised at this, herself or Mew. Mewtwo didn't appear to realise what was going on.

"Uh, Jess. Weren't you just saying-?"

"Shut up!"

James cringed as the woman shouted in his face before she turned back to Kohaku smiling pleasantly.

"Would it be a bother if my friends and I were to join your group?" Jessie was speaking to everyone at the table but her eyes were firmly fixed on the human disguised Mewtwo.

Rhys looked as if he had tears of laughter in his eyes. "N-not at all, you can join us."

Jessie looked elated and skipped merrily back towards her table dragging James along behind her.

"What was wrong with that woman?" Mewtwo looked genuinely confused. It would be sweet if the situation wasn't so odd.

~She likes you!~ Liana replied telepathically, she didn't think she could trust herself to speak. Even now the laughter was eeking out of her, her face turning red from the effort of holding it in.

"What do you mean?"

Liana searched for an appropriate term. ~Like a mate! The human illusion you have is quite attractive. That Jessie woman thinks you're handsome.~

Pikachu and Meowth had joined them after talking with the Rapidash outside for some time. They looked at the horrified expression on their master's face and decided it would be best to stay out of his way for a while. They scurried off to play with Mew who had also vacated the table when Liana had started explaining, knowing the blame would be placed solely on her for the illusion.

Jessie was back two minutes and a Meowth later. She had dragged the two males of her party across the barn floor to join the amused group at their table. Polite introductions followed, though Jessie's eyes were rather prone to flitting back over to Mewtwo (in his devilishly good looking, in Jessie's opinion, human disguise). Said Mewtwo was looking rather mortified at the whole situation and seemed to be leaning as far away from the woman as was physically possible without falling off his seat.

"My name is James Morgan, pleased to meet you."

James certainly seemed to be the politest one of the trio. He shook the hands of the men and kissed the back of each girl's hand. He even petted the Pokémon who had come back over to see what was going on.

Jessie simply gave her first name and nodded at them before turning back the rather miffed Kohaku.

Liana was more than a little surprised when the Meowth that accompanied the pair stood on the table (to be at eye level with them) and introduced himself in accented English.

"The name's Meowth, pleased to meetcha! I see Jess has already fallen for one of ya group, and Jim's already made an ass of himself."

On two legs the cat Pokémon took each human's hand in a firm handshake of greeting, most un- Pokémon like!

As Meowth's gaze turned to Kohaku he stopped, his slit pupil eyes dilating in shock and recognition.

"Hey dat's-" His words were cut off by Liana deftly covering his mouth with her hand and dragging him off towards the bar, strangely neither of his companions noticed.

When Liana released him the mouthy creature let out an offended tirade at her. "Whatcha think you're doing!? The guy youse travelling with is a Pokémon, and an evil one at that! He's the human hunter!"

"I know."

"Then why did you drag me away!? Jess an' Jim could be in danger. We've faced that guy before!" Meowth made an irritated little dance.

"Will you let me explain? Do you really think I'd allow your friends to get hurt?" (Though Liana had a sneaking suspicion Jessie may end up with an injury if she carried on the way she was currently).

Meowth quietened down and let the woman speak. As she told their circumstances the cat's eyes widened considerably. She wasn't entirely sure why she was so openly telling their plight to this Pokémon. Perhaps it was the fact that the loud-mouth would blow their cover if she didn't, or maybe it was just the deep-rooted trustworthiness and sincerity she felt from him that felt so much like their own Meowth.

"Dat's quite a tale. So you mean that Meowth over dere is the cloned Meowth from that island we were on?" Meowth's eyes had taken on a dreamy quality almost as if he'd found a long lost sibling.

"Mhmm."

"Meow-vellous!" He said, not even seeming to realise his incredibly bad pun.

Liana hid a smile at his jubilant face and let him ramble for a few moments about his 'amazing' clone. Truly the cat had quite an ego.

"Well den. If this is fickle fate playing a hand then it's a whopper of one, fancy meeting my clone again after four long years!"

"So you won't blow our cover? You'll keep Mewtwo's presence here a secret?"

"Course I will, however," the feline looked torn, "I jus gotta tell Jessie and James, those two have been with me through thick an' thin, we don't keep secrets no more. Besides if I don't then Jessie's gonna end up getting on the wrong side of Mewtwo, dat can't be a good thing."

Liana nodded in agreement. Jessie and James despite their quirks seemed to be on a level with Meowth. She felt they could be trusted somehow.

Meowth turned back towards the table, "Well then, guess I gotta go break Jess's heart." He chuckled and ambled back over on his hind legs.