Author's Notes:Sorry for such late update, but I was busy with school, Japanese and with participating in a Pokemon RPG. This chapter will reveal some things, as well as set the background for future events and characters. Review, please!!
Disclaimer:I don't own Pokemon because if I did, Ash&co. would be dead and Team Rocket would rule the world!!
Chapter 2:
Hell was raging across Pokémon regions as hypnotized prisoners did their worst, wreaking havoc in cities. Nobody knew why was this happening, which amplified the chaotic state even more. Police seemed to fight a losing war against them and was not able to contain the uprising.
The man responsible for this, Giovanni O'Evil, sat cozily in his office, reading reports about the operation progress. He would issue a hasty order sometimes or make a call, but all was becoming a routine soon. His faint smile indicated that he was pleased with the efforts put in by the personnel in charge for the operation. Suddenly, his videophone rang.
He smiled, as he was expecting the call. The screen split in two, that meant a conference call was on its way. The 2 men on the other line, a general and a Japanese man in a black raincoat, asked sternly:
˝Is the first phase of the plan proceeding well?˝
˝Yes, it most certainly is, General Porovneyko and Mr. Saeda.˝
˝Very well. We will notify you when to begin the second phase.˝, those two said and cut the line. Giovanni went back to his stuff, laughing smugly.
Ashand Brock prayed that their loved ones be fine, the news of the uprisings gave them nightmares. They were on a bus taking them to the Oldale Airport, listening the latest news. There was tight security around the airport, which created long rows of people in front of the desks. Although people were advised not to go in Kanto, many did the opposite, not wanting to leave their families behind.
˝I don't get it. First they say that the military is behind all this, and then the military officials say someone is masking like them. Crazy things happen around here.˝, Ash commented the latest news, while waiting in the line.
Brock responded:˝But who could mask up as the army forces? It isn't that simple.˝
A few hours later, on the flight 477 to Vermilion...
˝It's good they have air marshals in planes, especially after this happened.˝, commented Ash with a sigh of relief.
Brock nodded and replied, pointing to a man that was a few seats in front of them:˝Yeah, it makes me feel safer. That marshal is strong.˝
After a minute or two, an older, balding man rose from his seat and began walking towards the pilot section.
˝Sir, you cannot go there, please go back to your seat.˝, the main stewardess asked him politely.
He then, to others' horror, pulled out a pistol and fired a couple of shots. One hit the stewardess, while other 2 ended in the pilot section doors. The air marshal leapt at him, and a wrestling contest began. The attacker tried to aim at his head, but he was prevented. Unfortunately for the passengers who were watching the fight in a horrified state, the gun went off and one of the windows burst, causing the plane to lose pressure. Distress signals were sent off to all nearest airports immediately, but the plane's fate was uncertain.
The man took the element of shock and poked the marshal in the eye, rendering him incapable of fight. He slowly got up, walked over to Ash and Brock's seat and aimed at them. If an older lady hadn't struck him on the head with her briefcase from behind, the duo would have been shot.
˝T-Thank you...˝, Ash barely stuttered, having just suffered a great shock.
Brock nodded, also showing signs of great trauma. ˝Why was he trying to kill us??˝
Ash and the others could only shrug, as they didn't know the answer. The assailant was tightly restrained, but kept an eerie look in his eyes. They looked hollow, without any movement.
The crew somehow patched the hole, after a passenger's Spinarak created a web to cover it. The stewardess survived, thanks to her necklace, which stopped the bullet somewhat. That enabled them to get to Vermilion afterall, though after a shaky landing. They were escorted by the police and military. Among the military faces, Brock and Ash recognized one as very familiar.
˝Lt. Surge, what is going on?˝, they asked in unison.
˝That's what I would like to know too. So you were in that plane? Thank Lord you weren't hurt. This is the second time it happened since the uprising.˝
˝You mean this happened somewhere else?˝, the trainer duo was intrigued by this fact.
˝Yes, there was the same thing in Newbark. And the second mystery is, who gave the prisoners so much heavy weapons? It was made so that we looked like the culprit.˝, he continued to explain the situation.
Ash concluded:˝The man who attacked us had the same, blunt look, like those hordes that were destroying cities across Kanto and Johto. There must be some freaky plan behind all this.˝
˝You might not be far from truth. We've got some scientists saying it is hypnosis. We can't tell is it really that, and we cannot pinpoint the source of it.˝, the lieutenant said, seeming very frustrated.
˝Listen, did you see Misty by any chance? We came here because of her and Ash's mother.˝, Brockinquired, hoping for a positive answer.
˝I think Misty is in the town, but I don't know anything about your mother. Prof. Oak is in the town, he might know more about her status.˝, Lt. Surge answered.
Ash's expression was half relief-half worriedness upon hearing this. ˝I pray my mom is fine…˝, he mumbled silently.
The trainers went to the city gym, which looked like a true refugee camp. The cafés around it were also filled with people. While they searched around, someone in a gray coat was watching them.
˝Misty!! Are you okay? We're so glad you're alive!˝, Ash and Brock cheered and ran to hug their red-haired companion.
˝Ash! Brock! Thank goodness you made it out alive! Don't tell me you came back because of me!˝, she was happy to be reunited with them again, it gave her comfort.
˝Yeah, because of you and Delia. I heard Cerulean was like, totally wrecked. Did your sisters get out in time?˝
˝Yeah, they are in the other camp, volunteering. It's at the Pokécenter. What is it, Ash? You probably don't know where your mother is? We could try to find her in the Pokécenter, if she's there.˝, Misty offered, seeing his gloomy face.
Ash said in a very low, saddened voice:˝Yeah… I'm really worried about my mom…˝
The trio headed to the Pokecenter, talking about the circumstances of the uprising. Little did they know, that same person was still watching them. He took a walkie-talkie and reported:
˝Agent Marin reporting: the main target and his senior companion have met with a certain girl and may be headed towards the Pokémon Center. I'm awaiting further instructions.˝
A voice answered:˝Add the girl as a target, but for now, just keep tracking them.˝
˝Understood that clearly, end transmission.˝, the agent responded.
The trio came to the Pokécenter, which was full of people asking shelter and food. Prof. Oak and Nurse Joy had a handful of job of attending to all sick and injured ones, so they didn't notice the three trainers coming at first.
˝Hey! Ash, Misty, Brock! You made it all right! How did you survive through all this mess?˝, asked the professor, seemingly startled with their sudden appearance.
Ash answered:˝Well, we came back for Misty all the way here. How are things here, Professor?˝
˝Since the crisis, a lot of people came here. This is one of the safer places to be, right now. Pallethas been destroyed totally. I had to run for my life. God knows what comes up next.˝, the gray haired man responded with a tired look on his face.
˝When you were fleeing from Pallet, did you see my mom? I don't know where she is right now.˝
Prof. Oak smiled and answered:˝She's OK, she fled to Cinnabar. I'm worried about Gary. I haven't heard him since the assault. He was in Cerulean, attending to some researchers' council.˝
Ash, Brock and Misty gasped, fearing the worst. Though Gary was sometimes boastful and arrogant to them at first, they became very close friends.
˝Let us help you take care of these men.˝, they offered. They began treating humans and Pokemon with the help of Nurse Joy, telling the details of their hazardous flight to Vermilion by the way.
˝So, you're saying that man just rose from his seat and began firing at all of you? Gives me the creeps.˝, the professor commented and shuddered, as tingles went through his spine.
Ash nodded and revealed something very interesting:˝Yup, he tried to kill us. But there was a weird thing about him:he was listening to music all the time, he attacked when the track changed. We heard a different song, and after 30 seconds or so, he rose and began to terrorize us.˝
All who heard this turned their ears to hear more, it was a strange coincidence. Suddenly, a man near to them spoke, upon hearing Ash explain the event:
˝You say that he assaulted the plane crew after the track on his music player changed? I might be able to know why.˝
˝Really? You…know who's behind all this? Who are you?˝, everyone shrieked.
˝I am Julian Castlereagh, a former scientist of Team Rocket. I was one of the pioneers of the project ˝Suonantis˝, which goal was to test whether it is possible to hypnotize and boost someone's capabilities with music. The man that assaulted you was most probably a result of that project.
˝Does that mean that Team Rocket hypnotized all those people?˝, Ash blurted.
˝I don't know how could they hypnotize so many people with music, it takes a long time to do it. The first subjects were assigned as undercover agents, after a long period of training. The only thing I know is that only Team Rocket are able to use this technology.˝