Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon
I always wondered what Riolu thought after I left the Pokémon Center. Did it think I was abandoning it? Probably.
I know that I have to return to Riolu and explain the plan my team and I cooked up. But returning to base and just relaxing for a few hours seemed like a better idea by the second. Of their own accord, my hands turned the wheel towards the Rocket HQ.
The ride back was silent. No radio, no one to talk to. Just me and my thoughts. Being alone with my thoughts is starting to get dangerous. I've been doing things I haven't done since I joined the Rockets. Caring, namely. I feel bad that I walked out on Riolu like that. It's not really her fault, if I understand what she told me. But it sure is a lot to take in.
"I am definitely looking up more about this 'Aura' she kept going on about."
Back at base, I lean back in my computer chair in my room. I had just spent the last 20 minutes looking things up about this ridiculous Aura, and I must say: If it really exists, it seems to be a useful thing to have, if not more.
It seems that everything the Riolu told me about Aura was true, but she forgot to mention something about humans that can use Aura. No, wait. She did mention something about me being a 'Guardian'.
I turn back to my computer, and clicked back a few pages till I found the right one.
"Ah, here it is. The 'Aura Guardians'."
An Aura Guardian is the name of a human or Pokémon, through birthright or intense training, that can actually utilize Aura at will. When charged, the color of a person's Aura reflects their personality and disposition. Aura Guardians, trained or not, have an abnormally high Aura, and any being that has the ability to use Aura will be able to sense this.
In older times, the Aura Guardians traveled the world, helping people and Pokémon in times of need. When a certain age came to be, Aura Guardians would seek out an apprentice. Someone, person or Pokémon, to learn the skills the Guardian had learned during his or her time.
Unfortunately, as times have grown more modern, the Aura Guardians have either died out, or gone into hiding. The last known Aura Guardian was Sir Aaron, and his apprentice, a Lucario, whose name was never disclosed.
I clicked out of the window, and shut down my computer. I leaned back into my chair again, pondering what I just read.
"Aura Guardian…" I tried the name out. Sounded like they were superheroes back in the day.
I thought back to when the Riolu told me my Aura was extremely strong, even though she had a fleeting chance to sense it before she was… distracted.
I couldn't be an Aura Guardian… could I? I obviously have never been trained to use Aura, so if I am…this Guardian… it would have had to come from birthright. My mother never even mentioned the word Aura before, let alone spoke of anyone in our family being able to use it. Of course… my father…
I was interrupted from my musings when I heard a loud knock on my door. When I got up to open it, I saw Alex, in full uniform.
"What's up?" I asked.
"We're on call. New shipment of fastballs is coming in from Azalea Town, in Johto. The Boss wants them. Bad."
"Fastballs?"
She snorts. "Yeah. Apparently, they make catching the quick ones easier. Some guy in Johto is still making Pokéballs out of apricorns, and when he realized that some of these Pokéballs haven't been around in years, he started up a company to make and ship them."
"Wow. Pokéballs are made from apricorns?"
"They used to be. Back when the Pokésaurs were still around," she laughs.
I laugh with her. It feels good.
"Hey, sorry. About before. It was a bad night."
She looks at me weird. "Uhhh… Sure. No problem."
"Look, I'd like to go, but there's this thing I have to do at the Pokémon Center."
She shakes her head. "Sorry Matt, but you don't have a choice. The Boss specifically requested you and your Pokémon for this one."
I grind my teeth. This is the last thing I want to do right now. I need to go talk with the Riolu… and my mother.
"Alright, let's just get this over with."
"There's the Matt I know."
It was a perfect night for a raid. A storm was rolling in, and the cover it provided was excellent. Also, the impending rain meant that most of the normal Security Guard's Pokémon, namely Growlithe, would be severely weakened.
The building we were going to hit was right on the docks. It was a simple looking warehouse. Flat, 3 stories, windows and skylights. Pretty basic. Grunts in speed boats were waiting in the water to unload whatever we got.
Alex told me the plan was for my team and me to sneak in, disable or avoid the guards, find a way to deactivate the security systems, and then open the shipping doors, somehow, for the rest of them to get in and load the stuff onto the speeders.
I stared at her in disbelief.
"What?"
"So, while I go in there, by myself, and risk my life, by myself, the rest of you will be doing…?"
"Providing cover and look out. And, technically, you have your team too."
"This is such bullshit, and you know it."
She glares at me. "Oh, get over yourself Matt. You've been acting weird the last few weeks, and everyone at base has noticed," She pointedly looks up, where The Boss probably had a spy satellite trained on us. "Everyone. Certain people want to know you're still trustworthy."
"By basically doing a suicide mission. Alone."
"Pretty much."
I look up. I slowly mouth the words "Fuck. You" towards the sky.
"You better be moving when I give the signal."
She smirks. "Yes, sir!"
What a sarcastic little bi-
"Are you going or what?"
"Yeah, yeah. Watch my six."
This is so stupid.
I sneak up to the side of the building, keeping an eye out for any guards. I pull Psy's Pokéball off of my belt and whisper to it.
"Raid. Keep quiet."
I throw it into the air, and release Psy. Instead of releasing a cry and dancing, he lands on the balls of his feet, ready to go.
I think at him directly, "Tell Triton and Cobra the details."
He looks into my mind, gets the lowdown, and transfers the information to the waiting Pokémon.
They're good to go.
I nod. "Teleport us to the roof."
He concentrates for a second, then his eyes glow a faint blue.
The familiar sensation of teleportation fills me, and when I open my eyes, we're on the roof.
"Nice."
He bows.
"Keep Future Sight ready, and your Teleport warmed up."
He nods. This isn't the first time we've done this.
Psy is my own early warning system. If we're about to be caught, his Future Sight will warn him, and he can do what he has to in order to change the outcome.
We sneak over to one of the many skylights. I peer into it to see that it leads into a bathroom, of all things.
"That'll work."
I look at Psy. His eyes are already glowing. The next thing I know, were inside.
Figured I'd save time.
I shake my head to clear away the dizziness. Teleportation in succession isn't comfortable to a non-psychic.
I release Cobra and Triton. It's better to have them and their abilities out and ready.
"Triton, be ready to use Hypnosis on any guard we stumble onto," I whisper.
He nods, his game face is on.
"Cobra?"
He looks up.
"Go dark. Scout out the door controls, and get them open when Psy contacts you."
He glances to Psy, and then looks back at me. I can tell what he's thinking.
"I don't care if you don't like psychic types. You've known Psy for a couple years now, and we don't have any other choice. Deal."
He grumbles to himself a bit, but slowly fades out of the visible spectrum with Faint Attack.
I shake my head. Poison types.
I look back at my two other Pokémon.
"Bulk-up, Calm Mind."
They immediately start their respective power-up moves. It can't hurt to be ready.
Cobra's PoV
Stupid psychics. Sure, they useful. But tha' don't mean I gots ta like 'em.
I don't like da sneakin'. I like ta fight. But I gots to do wha' Matt says. He the Sherrif.
I get 'round a corner and almos' kiss a Houndour on tha' muzzle. So much fo tha' psychic's Future Sight.
Tha' stupid mutt growls and sniffs tha' air. I ain't gonna get foun' out so quick like.
Befo' he can blink, he knocked out wit' ma Sucker Punch.
Maybe this won't be so borin' after all.
Matt's PoV
What is it with all the Dark types? Psy is next to useless here. I really need to evolve him, so he can start learning some real moves.
Thanks a lot Matt. It's not my fault I can't do anything against them.
I wince. How I forgot about the mind-reading, I don't know.
"Sorry," I whisper.
We've taken care of all the guards and guard Pokémon on the third level. One guard almost made it to an alarm box, but Triton managed to Body Slam him before he could touch it.
I shudder when I remember it. There was a nice clean crack when Triton landed on the guy. I think it was his spine.
Now we're slowly moving towards the stairs that lead down to the second level. I can only hope that Cobra hasn't had too tough a time. Of course, knowing him, he probably already cleaned out the ground level. For fun.
Cobra's PoV
Findin' tha' stupid doors was easy 'nough. An', I swear, I was all set ta' jus' wait for Matt an' tha' others, but som' durn stupid guardin' feller had to trip ova' me. I 'ad to jum' on 'im and poison 'im up wit' Toxic real quick, ta keep 'im quiet. Course, that didn't stop 'is screamin'. Tha' rest of 'em are afta me now. I 'ope Matt is 'avin' better luck.
Matt's PoV
"'Psy, behind you!"
Psy turns around and blasts a Hitmonchan with a Psychic. It's definitely down for the count.
Thanks.
I turn back to my own Guard. I had already put two bullets in both his knees, so I'm pretty positive he isn't going anywhere.
I look up to see Triton freezing a trio of guards together with his Ice Beam. He walks up and taps on the ice, pretending they're fish in a fish bowl. Their eye's move around franticly, clearly freaked out from being frozen.
He turns around, and shoots me a triumphant face.
My Pokémon are enjoying themselves more than I am. I don't see the thrill in it anymore. Doesn't matter. We still have a job to do. I'm also worried about Cobra. I've been telling Psy to let Cobra know that the doors should be opened now, but he hasn't responded. And the doors are still shut.
We sprint for the stairs, and Triton looses another Ice Beam, sealing in the rest of the Guards on the second level.
"Let's go find Cobra, and get out of this blasted warehouse."
They both agree.
We walk cautiously down the staircase, anxious to see if Cobra is ok. When we get to the door, I look to the others. I grab onto the knob with one hand, and in the other I hold up 3 fingers.
They both nod in understanding.
I drop the fingers down to two.
They tense up and get ready.
Down to one.
I open the door and step to the side. Nothing.
I glance at Psy and Triton, telling them to stay ready, as I walk through the door. When I turn to look forward again, a fist is blocking my vision, coming down at me like the Almighty Hand of God.
As unconsciousness takes me, and I hear the sound of my Pokémon struggling against our captors, I can only think of one thing.
My life officially sucks.
A/N: Cliffy! I know, I know, sorry. Don't worry; I won't leave you guys in the dark for too long. Chapter 5 should be up in a day or so. At the rate I've been updating though, probably sooner. I changed the Prologue to the official Chapter 1, mostly cause it gave me a headache otherwise. I'm introducing Cobra's PoV this chapter too. Not only is he a fun guy to think as, but the way he talks is hilarious. Thanks for all the reviews so far!
