And now, here for your reading plasure, the second part of The Great Pokémon Escape chapter.
Chapter 11: The Great Pokémon Escape part 2
After escaping and freeing the other captive Pokémon Neo, along with his new friends Hope, Star, Crystal and Mech, proceeded to the computer room to learn of the location of Neo's captured friends. They found what they were looking for, but were unable to escape thanks to Kirkland and his two Pokémon Rhyhorn and Duskull. Neo and the others were confident they would come out on top, having the numbers advantage. However, Kirkland's confidence was as high as ever.
Neo: Give it up, Kirkland! We're getting out of here and there's nothing you can do to stop us!
Kirkland: Is that what you think?
Hope: That's what we know!
Kirkland: Then come! Come and try to get by us!
Neo: With pleasure!
Neo charged forward, fully intent on taking out Kirkland and both of his Pokémon. Half-way through his charge, however, his body was suddenly frozen in place.
Neo: What's…going on?! I…can't…move!
Kirkland: Take Down!
Rhyhorn charged at Neo and delivered a devastating blow, sending him hurtling back towards his friends. Hope and the others gathered around him to see if he was alright.
Mech: You okay there, pal?
Neo: Yeah…just a little shaken up. What just happened.
Crystal: I believe that was Duskull's Disable attack.
Neo: Disable?
Crystal: Yes. By using that attack you prevent your opponent from attacking, leaving them open to any attack you decide to launch.
Neo: In other words all my speed attacks are useless against him.
Crystal: As long as that Duskull can use Disable then yes.
Hope: Then we take out the Duskull! Let's go, Star!
Star: Right behind you, sis!
The Vulpix sisters sprang into action, targeting the Duskull.
Star: I think it's time to turn up the heat, don't you?
Hope: My thoughts exactly.
The sisters fired off a Double Flamethrower attack at the Duskull. But Kirkland had other ideas.
Kirkland: Psychic.
Duskull's eye glowed blue and immediately the Flamethrower attacks were surrounded by a blue aura. Then, they froze mid-attack.
Neo: You have got to be kidding me!
Crystal: Now's our chance! Duskull can't attack while it's holding those Flamethrower attacks off!
Neo: Right!
Mech: Let's do this!
Knowing that Rhyhorn would be at a severe disadvantage against her Water attacks Crystal fired off a Hydro Pump at it while Neo and Mech launched a Double Thunderbolt at Duskull. Then, without any orders, Kirkland's Pokémon went into action. Rhyhorn moved in the way of the incoming Double Thunderbolt, ready to defend Duskull. But that also put it in line for Crystal's Hydro Pump.
Neo: We've got them now!
Neo's hopes of victory were dispelled by what happened next. Still using Psychic to control the Flamethrower attacks Duskull re-directed the attacks towards the Hydro Pump, canceling out both attacks.
Star: No way!
Hope: You can't be serious!
With nothing to fear from Crystal's Hydro Pump, the Rhyhorn took the Double Thunderbolt. With it being part Ground type the attacks had no effect on it at all.
Neo: Damn! It didn't work!
Kirkland: You'll have to try harder than that if you want to get by me.
Neo: He's right. So far he's had a counter for everything we've got.
Mech: Then how are we supposed to beat him?
Neo: Just give me a sec…okay. I think I've got a plan.
Star: What is it?
Neo gathered everyone around and, speaking just loud enough for them to hear, explained his plan.
Crystal: That's quite a battle strategy you've come up with. I'm impressed.
Neo: Thanks, but for this plan to work timing is everything. If it's even the slightest bit off then the whole thing could fail.
Hope: Do you think Kirkland will use those attacks?
Neo: Based on what he's already used I'm quite sure.
Hope: Well, I'm ready when you are.
Crystal: So are the rest of us.
Neo: Good. Now, let's go!
The five Pokémon resumed their fighting stances. Kirkland simply laughed.
Kirkland: Do you really think you stand a chance?
Neo: We stand more than a chance.
Kirkland: Then come at me!
Neo: With pleasure!
Neo charged towards Kirkland.
Kirkland: You fool! Did you not learn anything from last time? Disable, Duskull!
Neo: Gotcha!
Kirkland: What!
Neo: Do it, Star!
Neo stopped and jumped, revealing Star firing a Flamethrower attack at Duskull.
Kirkland: Stop that with Psychic! Hurry!
Duskull stopped its Disable attack and changed to a Psychic attack, freezing the Flamethrower before it could make contact.
Crystal: My turn!
Crystal took this opportunity to fire a Hydro Pump at Rhyhorn. Of course Kirkland saw this.
Kirkland: Redirect that Flamethrower! Stop that Hydro Pump!
Hope: I don't think so!
Hope went into action and fired a Flamethrower to intercept the redirected Flamethrower, clearing the path for Crystal's Hydro Pump to strike the Rhyhorn.
Kirkland: No!
Neo: Let's do it, Mech!
Mech: I'm with you!
With Duskull preoccupied with both Hope and Star Mech and Neo fired a Double Thunderbolt. Both the Hydro Pump and both Thunderbolt attacks hit their targets, knocking both Duskull and Rhyhorn out.
Kirkland: No! How dare you!
Before Kirkland could react Neo struck him in his gut with a Quick Attack. The force of the blow wasn't enough to injure him, but it did knock the wind out of him. Kirkland fell backwards against the wall and slumped to the floor. With Kirkland down Neo jumped on his chest, sparking cheeks threatening to unleash electric hell upon him.
Kirkland: What…what do you want with me?
Neo: Answers.
Kirkland: Answers? To what?
Neo: You developed that experimental poison that Seviper was using, didn't you?
Hope: Poison?
Kirkland: What if I did?
Neo: Where's the antidote?
Kirkland: Why should I tell you?
Neo: Because if you don't…
Neo sent a slight electrical surge through Kirkland's body. It was a slight one to Neo, but for Kirkland it was anything but.
Neo: That was just a warning. The next one won't be so gentle.
Kirkland: …
Neo: Not in the talking mood?
Kirkland: …
Neo: Very well!
Kirkland: No! Wait! I'll tell you!
Neo: Where is it!
Kirkland: At Team Rocket's main headquarters.
Crystal: The one in the Silver Mountains no doubt.
Neo: Okay then. That's where I'm heading next.
Hope: Wait a minute.
Neo: Huh?
Hope: There's something I have to ask him.
Neo was confused but gave Hope the okay to ask her question. She walked up towards Kirkland.
Hope: Years ago Team Rocket came to Hoenn and raided an area around Mt. Pyre. You captured plenty of Pokémon that day.
Kirkland: What of it?
Hope: One of them was a Ninetails named Reikou. Where is she?
Kirkland: What makes you think I know?
Neo: Answer her! Or else…
Neo's cheeks began sparking once again, reminding Kirkland of the situation he was in.
Kirkland: I-I don't know.
Hope: Why should I believe you?
Kirkland: That was carried out by our Hoenn branch. I wouldn't know anything about that.
Neo: You'd better not be lying to us.
Kirkland: I swear I'm not!
Neo: Well Hope. What do you think?
Hope: …alright. I'll believe you for now. But if I found out you've lied to us the so help me I'll…
Kirkland: It's the truth. I swear.
Hope: If that's true then there's no reason for us to stay here any longer.
Neo: Alright then. Let's get out of here.
The Pokémon turned to walk out of the room. However, Kirkland was outraged that he had been outsmarted by them and was looking to extract revenge on them. He slowly got up and took a gun from his coat.
Kirkland: You five won't make it out of here alive!
His outburst caught the attention of the Pokémon just in time for Neo to stop him. Out of self-defense he fired off a Thunderbolt, striking Kirkland and sending him flying into the far wall. The attack also struck the computer, causing it to explode. Unfortunately for Kirkland one of the fragments struck his eye.
Kirkland: Ah! My eye!
Crystal: Now's our chance to escape!
Neo: Let's move it!
The Pokémon escaped during the confusion caused by the computer's explosion.
Neo: Do any of you guys know the way out of here?
Hope: No.
Upon escaping from Kirkland Neo and the others have been searching for a way out of the Team Rocket base. Unfortunately, none of them knew where it would be located.
Mech: Then how are we supposed to get out?
????: (We can show you.)
Mech: Huh?
Neo: Hey! You're that Raticate and Rattata we helped earlier. What are you doing here?
Raticate: (We were on our way out and saw that you weren't following.)
Rattata: (We got worried and came back to find you. Looks like it was a good thing we did.)
Star: You can say that again.
Neo: So, about the exit.
Rattata: (Follow us.)
Now with the guidance of Rattata and Raticate Neo and the others headed out of the Team Rocket base and to their freedom.
Things had gotten from bad to worse for Kirkland. After recovering from his battle with Neo and the others he had the unenviable task of reporting to Giovanni.
Giovanni: You mean to tell me that not only did you let those Pokémon escape but they also know the location of Team Rocket's main headquarters?
Kirkland: It wasn't like that, sir. They were very organized. It's like I said last time, they had this planned the whole time.
Giovanni: I don't want to hear your excuses! It looks like I'll have to deal with them myself.
Kirkland: But sir…
Giovanni: I will send someone to clean up your mess.
Kirkland: But…
Giovanni hung up before Kirkland could speak. Half frustrated and half furious he slammed the receiver of the videophone down, his one good eye glaring at the screen.
Kirkland: Mark my words you pests. I will have my revenge on you all. Especially on you, Pikachu.
At the local Pokémon Center Neo was surprised to see that the Nurse Joy working there had been informed about him. Upon his arrival she took him and the others to a back room where Neo was immediately put through to Professor Oak.
Professor Oak: Neo! What happened to you?! It's been almost two weeks since we last heard from you!
Neo: I know. I'm sorry I couldn't contact you sooner, but I was in a bit of a bind.
Professor Oak: What do you mean?
Neo: Team Rocket captured me after I left their base beneath the Viridian City Gym. I've been here in their Blackthorn City base since then.
Professor Oak: Blackthorn City? You're in Johto now?
Neo: Yeah.
Professor Oak: Well, are you alright? Did you find anything?
Neo: I'm fine, and I did discover where Skye, Bandit and Buzz are.
Professor Oak: Where?
Neo: At their headquarters in the Silver Mountains.
Professor Oak: Silver Mountains you say.
Neo: Yeah.
Professor Oak: I could meet you there in a few days and…
Neo: No, Professor.
Professor Oak: But why?
Neo: I need you there to watch over Sasha. Besides, this is something better suited for Chad.
Professor Oak: I see. I'll send him right away.
Neo: Thanks. Give my regards to Ziggy and Angel.
Professor Oak: I will.
The call ended. Neo went to rejoin Hope and the others.
Hope: So, where to now?
Neo: I think you know.
Crystal: Silver Mountains.
Neo: It's time we brought the fight to them.
Free from Team Rocket Neo and his friends decided now is the time to strike back at Team Rocket, and they know of no better place then their headquarters. But will they succeed or is this a futile attempt to bring down the massive criminal organization? Find out in the future chapters of Battle for Life and Love!
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