Sam Fisher
Sam had kept mostly quiet over the next day, pondering how he handled these strangers. Had be been too harsh? Probably. But if there was one thing he learned since being on his own, it was to take nobody at face value. They very well could still be Regime after all, and he couldnt risk them thinking he was weak. If they planned on betraying him, atleast now they knew they would be in for a fight. The three had long since entered the city and night was upon them now. Lucky enough for them, the side they entered was mostly abandoned save for a few sets of eyes peering through closed blinds. Was the entire city like this? He had heard stories of certain parts of the city being essentially abandoned but he had never seen it himself. As he walked through the empty and dark corridors devoid of life, he debated with himself on whether he should apologize to his party, but ran out of time as he began to hear the hustle and bustle of people.
They were coming to the other side of the Manhattan bridge now and the city was finally showing signs of life, even at this hour. Citizens were out and about, streets were buzzing with noise, and Regime officers were everywhere. Sam began to get nervous for the first time in days. A city this size was not ideal for him and Bo, having spent most of their time outside cities in rural areas their entire lives. He signaled to the others to branch off and separate, hoping they understood what his gesture meant. Sam was slipping through the crowd, seemingly with ease, keeping his head down and eyes up, but the same could not be said for Bo. Sam had never bothered to find a pokeball for Bo, having never really needed one. Now however, he wished more than anything that he had one. Bo was trying his best to stay low and avoid people, but they wouldnt allow it. Bo's powerful physique led the eye right up to a thick and healthy mane. Most common folk had never seen a pokemon like him in person. What made matters worse, was that Sam had never come across a fire stone either. Sure, he and Bo had talked about it at length before (Bo obviously didnt say much) but due to the rarity and difficulty in getting one, he had given up hope. The result was a rather large form of his current state, being large even by Growlithe standards, ultimately forfeiting what would have been an advantage of a young and unevolved pokemon. Sam watched as people gawked and pointed at Bo, making it impossible to keep a low profile. It wasnt long before Regime guards took notice and quickly tailed the duo. Sam swore under his breath. He hadnt made it two blocks into Manhattan and he had already been noticed. His pace quickened as he saw more guards take notice, and ignored the shouts directed at him by the first few. Turning a corner, he began sprinting, Bo next to him and keeping up all too easy, covering four of his strides in one bound. The shouts from the guards were threats now as he put distance between them. Him and Bo were survivors, and rightfully so prided themselves on being in shape to handle anything the Regime may throw at them. He weaved an intricate trail through the alleyways, being aware of the direction he was going. He spilled out onto a sidewalk, and surprisingly enough just feet away were the other two he had traveled here with, pokemon out, and only slightly short of breath. He could hear the guards' shouts not far behind them, getting closer with every passing moment. Sam started up again, but quickly stopped. The city shook. He looked around, looking for a source of the possible explosion. Again the city shook. He looked to his companions, who look just as perplexed as him. Were there bombs going off? Once more the city shook, this time taking the lights with it.
The heavy, low whine of transformers shutting down in mass numbers filled the air. Streetlights above exploded in a cascade of glass. Lights in buildings everywhere were blowing out, causing widespread panic amongst citizens who now frantically ran for the safety of their homes or the nearest bomb shelter. The guards who had been following had seemingly disappeared. Sam took off up the street towards the sound of the explosions. He heard a voice behind mutter something about running towards what was likely Regime soldiers, but he ignored it, choosing instead to follow his gut. Turning the corner into a nearby alley, he collided with a group of people. From his back Sam looked up to see what appeared to be a doctor and two others, one being in pretty rough shape. The trio had multiple pokemon with them, and as Sam jumped up and retreated back a few feet, he realized he now found himself between a wall of people and pokemon alike. Behind him, his two companions and their pokemon along with Bo. In front of him was a Hondour, Houndoom, Espeon, and Porygon. The man who looked to be a doctor helped the lady with him support the last man, clad in Regime Shadow Division garb. Moments of silence passed between the two groups. Was this a Regime doctor helping an injured soldier? He could have asked any number of questions that would have better served to explain who they were, and thus help determine whether or not he should be worried. He refrained from asking them however, finally breaking the awkward scene with what they probably viewed as a weird question. Sam looked to the doctor now, "Do you know why the lights are out?" As the last words left his mouth, a piercing shriek could be heard throughout the sky. The entirety of the group looked to the sky as a giant and majestic golden bird soared through the night. Electricity following in its wake, along with what seemed to be dozens of pokemon, all chasing the enormous beast.