Celebrate life's grandeur… Its brilliance… Its Magnificence…
Light filled the room as multiple grunts sent out their pokemon to take down the Metagross.
Blitz in his mega form was more than capable of wiping out everyone in this room. At top speed he could probably turn anyone he ran into a red mist, but it's really hard to justify mass murder as a member of the police, so knocking the grunts and their pokemon around the room non-lethally was the best option. It's definitely a longer process, but it doesn't look like they have any way of stopping the metallic pokemon.
I look back to the stage. The execs have finally dealt with the Magcargo by knocking it out with a graveler. All of them are still up there except for the masked one.
A door adjacent to the stage swings open and I see the Decidueye soar through it. That makes life a lot harder.
I reach into my bag and bring out another pokeball. This time I send out Lucas and order him to deal with the people on the stage. The Mimikyu gives a salute with one of his claws and waddles off. While small, Mimikyus are known to be pretty merciless when it comes to attacking things. They also have a pretty unique trait, which causes death upon looking at its actual body, or so I've heard. I was never keen on testing the validity of that statement. If for some reason one of the execs just didn’t happen to know this then I guess I could consider it a happy accident.
I take a look back at Blitz, watching them barrel through the gathered crowd of rocket members. Since most of their pokemon consist of Raticates and Golbats, they’re only able to get a few meaningless hits off before getting thrown into the walls of the auditorium.
As confident as I am that both Blitz and Lucas can do their job without me here, I would be fighting an enemy, completely blind to what they can do and down two pokemon.
I make the decision to follow the masked figure anyway since waiting for Blitz would take too much time.
Running down the hallway the Decidueye flew down, I ran into both it and its masked trainer.
The executive was tapping a bunch of different codes into a panel next to the door with seemingly no avail. Perhaps closed by some other Rocket member trying to get away from the auditorium or maybe this building’s technology has just become that faulty due to the lack of care.
Regardless, both were caught off guard by the fact that I’ve seemingly followed them alone. This gave me enough time to take aim at the trainer. “Don’t move, put your hands up!”
Unfortunately this doesn’t deter them as they immediately try reaching into their pockets while ordering the Decidueye to do something. Since we were now in much closer proximity I am able to hear what they’re saying. The mask must not be for presentation only since the voice that comes out of it is annoyingly high pitched and robotic.
“Arthur ki-”
I shoot two live rounds at the trainer. One finds its mark on the trainer's leg while the other hits the trainer's hand, taking a finger off.
They fall to the floor grabbing at their hand. The Decidueye shrieks and shoots an arrow at me. It gets pretty close to hitting me in-between the eyes before it's shot out of the air by a bolt of water.
Taion materializes right next to me and uses Ice Beam. The attack hits the Decidueye's left arm, freezing it and making it unable to use its drawstring.
In desperation the Decidueye starts swinging its right arm sending razor-like feathers everywhere. Taion blocks them from hitting me, taking quite a lot of damage in the process. Each feather that hits him cuts into his skin like butter, causing multiple deep cuts. He retaliates by shooting off a non-lethal Snipe-shot, hitting the Decidueye in the head knocking it out.
For a few seconds none of us move. The only noise that could be heard coming from the scuffle in the auditorium behind us and the heavy breathing of the masked figure. Finally Taion tries to walk forward, but falls down. Too injured to move and blood rapidly leaking from the cuts.
“Hey! You can stop moving.” I demand as I walk over to him.
I drag him to the wall and use one of the full restores I have. His cuts stop bleeding, but he's in no condition to keep fighting. Even so he still tries to get up, falling again in the process.
“Look, just rest for now, there's no point in continuing to fight like this.”
I return him to his ball. As it opens and the energy from the return surrounds him, I can see a bit of disappointment on his face. Whether it was because of his pride or something else entirely, he should know he would be useless if he kept on going. I can’t have a half dead pokemon following me into potential danger.
After I make sure Taion no longer has the chance of running in and dying I turn to the masked assailant who is still on the floor. I walk over to them reloading the bullets shot off. I take in new details as I get closer. For the most part they are wearing a standard Rocket uniform.
From their shoes to their torso it’s almost identical to what you would see on one of the grunts. This executive however is wearing some type of hood that's fitted underneath the mask, covering any part of their head the mask doesn’t. Speaking of, the mask itself looks to have some metal straps with some type of locking system. Guess I’ll continue to leave who they are up to my imagination.
Once I’m within about a meter I notice something in their undamaged hand. It looks like a small box with a button on it.
I point the six-shooter at them as I walk closer “ You have one chance, what is that, and what did you do?”
The person looks up. I can almost see their smug expression behind the mask.
“You wouldn-”
*THWACK*
They go silent and fall over unconscious as the butt of my gun meets the side of their head.
They didn't seem like the type to say anything, but it was worth a shot.
Knocking out suspects isn't really a part of what I should be doing, but this person looks to have a few more tricks they could pull and I don’t have the time to properly restrain them.
I look at the device in their hand. It's not beeping or showing any other signs of having an immediate effect.
I send out Tora and point to the device.
“Can you find out what this does?”
Tora looks at it for a moment and makes a low humming noise while rotating their head.
While Tora can get into and infect most digital systems, some signals don't really count. If Tora was near a TV, they could access a bunch of things in there, but wouldn't be able to do anything if they just had the remote with infrared signals, same goes with some radio signals. Meaning that this button probably controlled something in here, but it will be a while before I find out what. I take the device with me. It's a bit risky to do so since there may still be a signal on it, but there is a chance I might need it for something in here. As for what the first button press did, I'll cross that road when I get to it.
I wrap the masked person's hand and leg, while not willing to talk now, they still seem to be the most competent one here, they probably have the most information. Leaving them to die would be a waste.
In terms of restraining, don't really carry cuffs on me so zip ties will have to do.
I drag the unconscious body to my final destination, the laboratory. Usually the only way to get to it is through a teleporter in Cyrus' old office, but like with the rest of the teleporters it still connects to the same system.
Tora is able to convert the teleporter from the fourth floor to the lab. As soon as I enter the abandoned room I take a look at my surroundings. The place is still filled with machinery even after most of the stuff here was cleared out, probably because a lot of it is built into the room. I see the tanks that once held the lake spirits Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie.
Once again, I find myself impressed with Cyrus’ accomplishments. I leave the masked person by one and make my way to the main computer.
Although this was used by Team Galactic and I doubt that any Team Rocket member besides possibly the masked one would ever think to use it, if they used any type of computer here with information and connected it to the internet then Tora should be able to access it.
First things first, I ask Tora if they can shut down whatever is blocking signals in here. Tora once again starts beeping and dissolves into the computer. I take out my phone and look at it waiting for any changes. After a few minutes the signal is back up.
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I guess I should probably call the Chief. This was supposed to be just a scouting mission, but things happen.
I dial his number and wait for him to pick up. The time between each ring feels like an eternity. Wasted time in between each one. After the third ring he finally picks up.
“What is it Volpe?”
“Some things happened, there was this huge issue, but I've taken care of it for the most part. Even so I have enough evidence here for criminal activity so sending people wouldn't hurt.”
I hear a sigh come from the speaker. It’s not my fault there was one possibly intelligent person here.
“They'll be there in about ten minutes.”
Well that settles that. By now Blitz and Lucas should be done dealing with people downstairs, even so there are a few things I still need to do here.
“Tora, can you download information about what they were doing here, even the useless stuff?.”
I plug in the usb and instantly a bunch of files start popping up on the monitor.
While multiple file names start to flood the screen, there is one that grabs my attention.
Youth program profiles
“Tora, can you actually leave that youth file alone and open it?”
The file on screen opens. It contains a list of multiple names, all listed in alphabetical order. I recognise some of them as other kids I used to know, back when I was still being taught by Dr.Ludwig for “a better purpose”. I opened the first file.
Name: Alex
Sex: Male
Age: 9
Pokemon: Abra, Rattata (Deceased), Shellder Deceased)
Status: Deceased
Deceased. Last time I was there, Alex seemed to be doing fine, there seemed to be no signs of any type of sickness. The staff would never let any of their prized possessions die. Then another possibility formed in my head. Was it possible that he was killed there? Even if some of the kids stepped out of line no one was ever executed for it.
I moved to the next file.
Name: Cindy
Sex: Female
Age: 12
Pokemon: Mankey, Tumburr(Deceased), Trubbish (Deceased) Weedle (Deceased)
Status: Deceased
I scrolled through and picked a few more files at random, all listed as deceased. I scrolled down to the K section and found my file.
Name: Kenny
Sex: Male
Age: 14
Pokemon: Zorua (Deceased)
Status: Unknown
A take a few minutes to look at the information documented, remembering everything that had happened before I left.
Zeke, a bolt pistol on top of a desk, and Dr.Ludwig on the ground unmoving.
I shake those thoughts from my head.
“Tora, other than this one can you bring up any files that aren’t of someone who's dead.”
Almost instantly a file pops up. One singular file
Name: Leano
Sex: Female
Age 13
Pokemon: Rowlet, Magnemite(Deceased)
Status: Alive
I pause on the file. Leano, Rowlet, Neutral. This is the only other person who wasn’t deceased. My memory of her is a bit foggy, only really making out a timid girl with short brown hair. From what I can recall after losing her first pokemon, she never lost with her second one, putting her on about the same level as me. I never watched other people's fights so I had no Idea that her second pokemon was a Rowlet.
I turn back to the masked Rocket member on the floor. Is it possible that they could be Leano? It would be a pretty big coincidence if they weren't. I guess I can find out later when we’re able to get the mask off.
Now looking at the unconscious exec, something feels weird. If this is Leano that would make them the only other person I know who has the same gift as me, the same experiences I’ve had. Now I’m about to turn them in. The only other person like m-
*BANG*
I’m unable to finish my thoughts as a loud crash comes from the wall on the farther side of the room. My vision goes blurry and I’m knocked off my feet by a piece of wall that hits my side. I feel a sharp pain explode where I got hit. When I recover from my temporary daze I look at the cause of the noise to see a giant hole in the wall and standing in the middle is a Garchomp.
There was something off about this one though. This Garchomp was bigger than any I've seen before and its eyes were completely black. Even though it was not being commanded by anyone, it automatically turned its attention to me.
I turned my head to the computer and realize how lucky I got. The entire system was destroyed by a huge chunk of the wall. While it was really great that It wasnt me that got hit by that, Tora was in there.
A computer is mostly just an entrance for Tora. Once inside the computer Tora exists inside the systems network, and anything that connects to it. So while destroying the computer wouldn’t hurt Tora at all, it means that they can no longer appear from the now destroyed machine. Which is bad now that I'm down to three pokemon with only two that can actually fight.
Scratch that it’s mostly one. Juno is a kind soul and would do anything she could to help me, but she's not much of a fighter. Even if she was, I doubt that she could do anything to the behemoth of a Garchomp in front of me. So backed in the corner without too many options I sent out Ashley.
As soon as the ball opened a mini sun formed in front of me and flew toward the Garchomp and the two collided there was an explosion of fire.
When the flames setted, Ashley stood in front of the Garchomp, ready to fight, and the Garchomp… It looked almost unscathed. I wasn’t expecting too much, but for it to look completely unbothered shocked me.
The behemoth charged forward and Ashley was able to barely dodge out of the way.
After missing its initial target, garchomp runs into one of the old holding chambers destroying it immediately. Some metal chunks get impaled into the Garchomp, but it doesn’t seem phased in the slightest. Before it could recover Ashley lands a mach punch to the side of the Garchomp head. The hit made it rear its head back a bit. Using the opening, I used all six shots in my revolver, each shot hitting the Garchomp.
I expected it to fall over or at least stagger a bit, but instead the Garchomp simply shrugged off the shots. When it moved each bullet fell to the floor, none of them pierced its skin. I looked to Ashley, she still looked ready to fight but her hand was bleeding pretty badly.
What the fuck is this?
The Garchomp opens its mouth and a stone appears in front of it.
Stone Edge.
Ashley braces for the hit, but it never comes. Instead it directs its head to me and fires the shot off.
There's a quick thunk as the rock pierces both the uniform and my work clothes. I look down to see the stone the size of my hand sticking out of my stomach. I feel a warm and wet substance surround the area I was hit. I start to see my white dress shirt underneath the Rocket uniform turning red.
Then there's a shock of pain and the intense sensation makes me drop to the floor.
My vision starts to blur in and out. For the few moments I can focus, I see a look of shock and horror on Ashley, then I see the Garchomp getting ready to shoot another Stone Edge. Before it can, Ashley uses Blaze Kick to hit its mouth which momentarily stops it, but in turn its rough skin rips through some of the skin on her leg. Then my vision blurs again.
I start to crawl away while blood leaks onto the floor, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.
This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening. I'm not going to die here. I can still get out of this.
I look around the room frantically. The spot the masked exec was at is now empty, and behind that… Is the teleporter I used to get into this room.
I start to crawl towards the teleporter, empty gun still in hand. Looking back a few times at the fight between the two pokemon. The Garchomp was swinging wildly, hitting everything around it. Ashley on the other hand was using Acrobatics to avoid getting hit, while desperately throwing out attacks. Each hit barely does anything to the Garchomp while more and more cuts start to appear on Ashley, her white fur now stained red.
I’m almost to the teleporter when I hear the sound of a thud and snap which makes me look back at the battle. It looks like the Garchomp was able to land a hit on Ashley. The dent in the wall makes it obvious what happened. She's now laying on the floor, clawing around, trying to pull herself up.
Fear and pain were painted on her face as her attempts to get back up fail. In her current state, she has no way of defending its next attack.
Flames start to engulf one of her legs, but sputters out within seconds. Then she stops moving, and lies down, giving up on trying to fight, waiting for the inevitable. Looking at the broken and bloody Infernape on the floor, I can't help but think about a similar scene.
—
It was a silent winter night in Eterna forest. For the most part, it was a really beautiful scene. Snow covered the forest floor as far as the eye can see, the whistle of the wind passing through the trees was low but soothing, the night sky was almost pitch black with distant stars sprinkled throughout the black abyss. It was almost perfect. The only fault in the otherwise impeccable view was a boy, stumbling through the snow.
My clothes were soaked from the snow and my hands were covered in now dried blood. I was barely making my way through the snow, tripping and falling every few steps. I had no idea where I was going. This place was alien to me so the only thing I could do was continue to walk in a straight line. At first the touch of the cold snow stung, but now the feeling is getting more and more numb by the second. Although dying here was not ideal, I was content with this rather than whatever would have happened had they found out I killed him. In the distance I spotted a faint light.
Looking back, approaching a single light in the middle of a forest at night was not a good idea, but with the new possibility of survival, I threw away any thoughts of caution. Reaching it, I found a pokemon laying in the snow, it was a Monferno. She had multiple wounds over her body and looked as close to death as I did. Not willing to lose the slight chance of surviving, I ripped parts of my sleeves off to cover the cuts and prevent her from bleeding out. In turn she stuck with me to prevent me from freezing to death. It was probably the first selfless act I’ve experienced in a while. Being stuck with someone who couldn’t move in a forest at night was an easy way to be ripped to shreds by the next biggest thing to come, nevertheless she took a spot by the roots of a nearby tree and started sleeping.
When morning came we were able to navigate our way out of the forest towards Eterna City.
On our way, I heard the Monferno start muttering to themself, something about being too weak.
Being a bit curious I asked what she meant by it.
While shocked I could understand her at first she told me that being gifted at fighting was all she currently had. Losing to a bunch of Ghastly made her feel worthless in a way.
In a move I’m not entirely proud of, I leveraged the moment to get her to stick with me, Promising that if she stayed I’ll do whatever it takes to make whatever dream she had about being the strongest come true. In turn she had to help me with my “dream”.
It was surprising how fast she jumped on the idea. Having someone want to be with you of their own volition was… nice.
Once the deal was struck, that's when I came up with a name, Ashley.
—
I’m sorry.
The Garchomp moves closer to the Infernape on the floor. It knows its target can no longer fight back so it's in no rush to finish the job.
There is nothing I’m able to do. This thing is a monster. If I send out Juno or Taion they'll die and if I do something I’ll die. At least this way I can guarantee there isn't any needless death.
I can’t. I'm sorry.
The Garchomp opens its mouth to use Stone Edge again.
I move closer to the teleporter, forcing myself to look away from what I know is about to happen.
Memories start to flash in my head, begging me to reconsider my decision. Us working on the Team Galactic arrests, training against tough pokemon until we came across a silver Metang, celebrating a birthday I made up, Ashley forming an addiction to protein. The final one is about the day I forgot about her while it was raining, about how I sat there thinking letting her get mad would be a laugh, about how I never actually owned up to it becauseI didn’t know how to and never tried.
Goodbye
I found myself standing, my legs barely propping me up, gun pointed at the Garchomp. I can’t recall when I took the time to reload it, but when I pulled the trigger a bullet fired out of it, and another and another. They all hit the Garchomp. Almost all of them bounced off of the Garchomp like before, but by some miracle, one hit a small piece of metal shrapnel stuck on the Garchomp from his first charge. The impact caused the metal to dig into the Garchomp’s skin and blood started to flow from the new opening.
The Garchomp immediately turns its attention to me. It still doesn’t seem too bothered by the blood now leaking out of it, but it loses all interest in Ashley. I am able to place a few more rounds in the revolver before it fires a Stone Edge off, impaling my left arm.
I could have done so much more with my life. So much more.
My left arm now uselessly dangling at my side, I flick my wrist, moving the barrel back into the gun's frame and fire two shots, one hits its skin while the other hits another smaller shard of metal, not causing as much damage, but still creating a small cut. The Garchomp shoots another Stone Edge, this one hitting my shin, forcing me to stand on my knees.
When we made that promise back then, you already wanted to become stronger. It’s a really dumb dream that I can’t understand, but it’s something. Something you wanted. I never had a dream. I thought I would have come up with something by now, but back then just having an excuse to not be alone was enough. Now I wish I actually wanted something.
I shoot the last loaded bullet which once again finds its mark in the bigger piece of metal, shifting it and making the cut deeper.
Before the Garchomp fires another Stone Edge I see Ashley, she's slowly getting up and moving towards the Garchomp now facing the opposite direction, tears streaming down her face. For a second we're in the snow covered woods again and I see a Monferno. The one who saved my life years ago and kept me alive until now. She was alone once again, but still able to stand.
Ashley, I might get to see you again before lo-
My thoughts are cut off as the stone hits me in the head, I fall over and everything goes dark.