It's been a while since I updated this, eh? I'm thankful for the positive feedback so far. To be honest, I'm my own biggest critic. I often look back on some of the previous chapters and think "yeah, that probably could have been done better".

Ah well.

To KGIrishNinja (if you're still bothering to read this)... Don't worry. I'll leave the 4th wall alone from now on...

So without further ado...

CHAPTER 11

Erika hummed quietly to herself, somehow remaining serene and calm as an angry horde of Covenant soldiers pounded on the Gym doors, desperate to get in and kill the Humans inside.

The Grass-Type Specialist Gym Leader was neatly trimming a hedge as her employees rushed about frantically, most of them either preparing a defence, panicking in hysteria, or simply waiting for the end. One of them ran up to her, "What are we going to do ma'am? The aliens are almost through our door and you don't even care?! How can you remain calm in a situation like this?"

Erika turned to the girl, smiling cheerfully, "Don't worry, we still have a short while before they break through. Until then, here's what we're going to do..."

...

Gary and Brock slowly cautiously approached Celadon City. It was pretty obvious that the Covenant had reached it first, as several Phantoms hovered menacingly overhead, dropping troops in amongst the buildings. They could hear the sound of plasma guns and screams amidst explosions and general anarchy.

Gary breathed a heavy sigh. "I hope we know what we're doing," he said nervously.

Brock pulled a Poke ball from his pocket, "You know, I highly doubt we'll be able to do this quietly. C'mon out, Onix!"

The big, grey snake emerged in a bright flash, emitting a low, rumbling growl.

"We've been asked to do a job," said Brock, "and I intend to get as many people out of here as I possibly can. But I won't be able to do it without your help, Gary".

Gary sighed, nodding softly, "We came this far. It's probably too late to turn around now. Let's do this, Growlithe!"

The Puppy Pokémon appeared in a bright flash by Gary's side.

They shook hands, and turned towards the city.

...

"Is everything set?" Erika asked, walking the length of a makeshift wall about a metre high, ignoring the loud crashing sounds of the Covenant trying to barge their way in.

The Gym assistants huddling behind it all nodded in unison, shuddering in nervousness.

"Relax," Erika reassured them, "Stick to the plan, and we'll win this, okay?"

Another loud crash shook the building, and the front door seals started to crack.

"Alright everyone," she shouted, releasing several Pokémon from their Poke Balls in quick succession, "Let's do this!"

A Shiftry, a Victreebel, a Roserade, a Bellossom and a Tangrowth all appeared in rapid order.

"Bellossom, use Sunny Day!" she ordered.

"Bell-ossom!" it replied in a high-pitched voice, forming a bright orb in its stubby arms. It thrusted the orb into the air, and it hovered up near the roof. The building suddenly became brighter as the trainers reached for their sunglasses. The temperature became unbearably hot as well.

"Get ready..."

Another loud crack jolted the doors slightly.

"Take aim..."

With an almighty effort, the doors suddenly blew apart, and the hordes of Covenant soldiers swarmed in.

Erika grinned, "Wait for it..."

All at once, there was a bright purple flash as rows of large spikes of energy shot up from the floor, stabbing the Covenant troops from beneath.

"Good old Toxic Spikes," she mused to herself, "Never fails".

The Covenant was caught off guard as the toxic venom took hold of them.

"FIRE!" yelled Erika.

All at once, a large broadside of Solarbeams, Leaf Storms, Energy Balls and the like shot across the gap between the two forces, slamming into the crowd of disoriented invaders, triggering a series of massive explosions that shook the foundations to their cores. The first wave had been promptly annihilated.

"Phase Two!" Erika commanded, "Gas masks on!"

The Gym assistants quickly scrambled to comply.

The Jiralhanae Commander, watching from the gunner position on a Wraith, stared in shock at the swift destruction of his initial assault, before grunting in anger, "Wave Two, attack!"

With the doors wide open, there was nothing stopping another swarm of soldiers from charging at the Human defences. They simply rushed in, firing at random as they went.

"Sleep Powder!" yelled Erika as they all ducked behind the wall.

Several Pokémon released a large cloud of green pollen, which drifted over towards the gathering crowd of Covenant troops.

The aliens paused as the cloud gathered around them and drifted out the open entrance.

"W-What's this?!" the Commander asked hesitantly, unsure of what to make of it.

He received his answer when large scores of his troops started slumping over flat on their faces.

"What's going on?!" He became frantic.

The Humans peered back over the wall.

"Take Aim!" said Erika.

The Commander's eyes widened.

"FIRE!"

There was nothing stopping the second barrage from ripping into the crowd of drowsy aliens, quickly dispatching them also.

The Commander grit his teeth in fury, "ENOUGH OF THIS! Attack with the Mortars!"

A Wraith gathered at the entrance.

"Oh dear," Erika's face went whiter than normal.

"Smite them!" the Commander grinned maliciously.

The main cannon on the Wraith opened fire, and a large blue bolt of plasma hurtled straight towards them, culminating in a gigantic explosion that ripped the roof of the building clean off, kicking dust, smoke and fire everywhere. The Wraith quickly scuttled backwards to avoid being caught in its own blast.

The Commander started laughing, "So much for the Human Resistance! We should have done that from the beginning!"

A beam of yellow energy suddenly shot from out of the clouds, slamming into the Wraith and punching clean through it. The tank exploded in a fantastic blue fireball.

"WHAT?!" The Commander roared, "Impossible!"

As the dust and smoke cleared, it revealed a very much alive line of Humans. Several of the Pokémon were holding up large green barriers, protecting their fellow associates. Victreebel stood nearby Erika, its mouth noticeably emitting steam from its attack. The surrounding area however, was reduced to rubble.

That was close, thought Erika, the Protect barriers were barely able to hold together. If they launch another attack like that, we're done for.

Several Gym members, frightened out of their wits from the whole ordeal, broke rank and fled for the back door.

As they reached to open it, the door suddenly burst open, and several Jackals swooped in for the easy kill.

Everyone turned about, startled as the Jackals opened fire, felling several more people as well as their Pokémon in quick succession.

A vicious, all-or-nothing brawl quickly ensued as the Pokémon rushed to protect their trainers. Both sides traded barrages as they closed in, before engaging in close combat.

"Quickly!" Erika ushered her subordinates, "We're getting out of here!"

"But what about the Pokémon?!" asked a Gym member, "We can't just leave them there to die!"

A Wraith ominously stared inside the building, the turret gunner primed and ready to fire.

"It's too late!" Erika urged, "There's nothing we can do! We have to go NOW!"

"But..." the member began to protest.

"I'm not having ANY of my associates killed on me!" Erika raised her voice fiercely, "I'm upset that it has come to this as well, but if we don't leave, their sacrifice will be for nothing!"

The Jackals started pulling back to avoid the oncoming storm.

"Like rats in a trap!" the Commander snarled, "Destroy them once and for all!"

The Uggnoy on the turret pulled the trigger, unleashing a relentless barrage of plasma that ripped into the ranks of helpless Gym members and Humans alike.

Nobody noticed the large boulder hurling in from the Wraith's 3 o'clock position.

The boulder flew straight and true, slamming into the tank and crushing the occupants.

The Commander almost blew his top in fury, "What in the Prophet's name is that now?!"

"Good shot, Onix!" Brock congratulated. The big snake grunted in appreciation.

The Commander spotted the new entrants about fifty metres away, standing amongst a forest of large trees.

The driver pivoted the tank around to get a shot, when Gary's Growlithe sprinted forward, fangs aflame for the kill.

The Commander grinned and opened up with the cannon, striking the relatively easy target, "Stupid creature! You should've thought twice before- WHAT?!"

Growlithe snarled as its Flash Fire ability kicked in, harmlessly absorbing the plasma rounds and boosting its power. It leaped up on the tank and sunk its teeth in the Commander's arm.

The Jiralhanae shook it about furiously as the flames proceeded to take effect. Growlithe released its grip and jumped backwards, launching a Flamethrower at the Brute's face and burning it to a cinder, boiling it alive.

The Wraith driver hit the boost accelerator, charging straight at the trainers, intending to road-kill them.

Onix quickly moved in front, causing the driver to violently swerve aside to avoid a collision, throwing Growlithe off in the process.

Gary jumped onboard as the tank went past, holding onto the rim of the gun turret for support. The driver opened its hatch, reaching up to grab the pest on top.

"Get 'im, Growlithe!" Gary yelled.

Growlithe jumped back up, sinking its teeth into the hapless Brute's head.

"Fire Fang!" Gary grinned.

Growlithe's teeth ignited, super-heating the Brute's head in an instant.

The body slumped forwards against the controls, causing the Wraith to accelerate forwards.

"Bail out!" Gary released his grip and fell off, with Growlithe following close behind.

The tank meandered forward and lodged itself between two trees.

Brock and Gary then faced down the remaining Covenant forces. With all three Wraiths and a considerable bulk of their forces gone, their confidence had been violently shaken.

A Jiralhanae stepped forward, "We will not let this setback affect us! Destroy these pests once and for all, if it's the last thing we do!"

The Covenant growled and attacked, splitting themselves up between Erika's survivors and the newcomers.

"Come on out Wartortle, Nidorina, and Graveller !" Gary released the respective Pokémon into the fray.

"We have to lure more of the aliens towards us!" Brock said anxiously, "Otherwise, those still alive in the Gym will be wiped out! Onix, use Rock Slide!"

Onix gathered up several more large boulders and began meticulously hurling them at any random alien it saw, often taking out several at a time with one hit.

"Graveller, use Rollout!" exclaimed Gary.

Graveller promptly curled itself up into a ball and charged forward, heedless of whatever unlucky bastard was in the way, leaving a path of carnage in its wake.

The Covenant momentarily withdrew to reform their lines.

"This isn't working!" The next in charge became exasperated, "These blasted 'Pokeymon' or whatever they're called are proving a serious challenge! Not only are they annoying to bring down, no matter how many of them we kill, there are always more to replace the fallen!"

"Retreat!" someone yelled out.

A panic suddenly gripped the Covenant formation. 'Retreat' was a word very rarely used in their vocabulary.

"NO! No retreat!" The Brutes shouted, "We are taking this vermin down with us if we have to!"

As confusion reigned supreme, the survivors from the Gym burst through the Covenant lines and dashed to meet up with Brock and Gary.

Brock quickly held a handkerchief to his nose as they approached.

"Get us out of here!" several members screamed hysterically.

"With pleasure," Gary muttered, returning his team to their respective Poke Balls.

"Oh? Have you got a cold or something?" Erika asked Brock.

"Uh...," Brock stuttered nervously, "...Yes. Let's put it that way".

"They're getting away!" a Brute roared, "After them!"

The Covenant charged after their retreating foes, shooting at them as they ducked amongst the trees for cover.

A plasma shot whizzed past Brock's head, causing him to turn and see where that came from.

The Gym members struggled to keep up, and several were being picked off at leisure.

"This has become a rout," He muttered angrily.

Suddenly he ran straight into a large object, knocking the wind out of him.

"Agh! What the heck..?!" He turned to see a parked vehicle. With a large machine gun mounted on the back.

Dozens of loud gunshots erupted around them as the Covenant suddenly found themselves in an ambush.

The surviving Gym members all dropped to the ground in panic as the large machine gun opened up, spitting death and destruction at the Covenant forces behind them.

"IT'S A TRAP!" a Brute yelled, "Get out of here!"

The aliens pulled back in a hasty, disorganized retreat.

A loud chorus of laughter erupted from the woods around them. Several Gym members squealed in terror.

A large squad of Marines emerged from amongst the trees, wielding a variety of weapons.

A soldier perched in the driver's seat of the Warthog stepped out with a heavy sigh, extending his hand in greeting.

"Lucky you lot ran into us, eh?" he remarked, "Name's Gunnery Sergeant Riley. Consider us your new guardian angels".

"Glad to know," Brock sighed in relief, "We have wounded over here!"

"I'll see what we can do. Parkins, get over here!"

A young woman with a red cross on her left shoulder guard stepped forward, holstering her assault rifle across her backpack, "On it, sir!"

One at a time, she closely examined the state of the survivors.

"It's amazing you people got out of that in one piece," she remarked, "You seem to have luck on your side today".

She turned to the Gunnery Sergeant, "Casualties range from light to heavy injuries. We should be able to ex-fill these people to safety without a hitch, but some of them will need transportation and immediate attention."

"Right," he replied, "Let's get out of here before the Covvies come back and have themselves a refugee stew!"

The group slipped away amongst the trees undisturbed, heading back for Saffron City.

...

North of Vermillion City.

Ash kept close to Ben's side, cautious for any attacks. Raichu walked on the other side of him, scanning the small ravine around them. Ben switched his HUD to VISR mode, watching for heat signatures.

Up ahead, a man stepped out of the checkpoint structure. As they drew near, they all sized each other up.

The man was tall and well built, sporting a pair of snazzy sunglasses obscuring his eyes, an olive-green tank top, green camouflage trousers and large, steel-capped boots. Their gazes met when they were only a few metres apart.

"Sorry strangers," the man spoke in a threatening tone, "here is where you stop. Turn around and go back to where you came from now, for your own sake".

"Why?" Ash was perplexed, "We're here to search for survivors of the invasion. We're only here to help!"

"No can do," the man replied, "We have it all under control here. Go away".

"But there's an invasion!" Ash insisted, "If we join together, we can fight back and retake the planet before-"

"I SAID NO!" the man thundered, "If you don't mind, please turn around and leave, NOW!"

Ben frowned in concern, "Is there a particular reason that this is the case? Who's in charge here?"

"I am!" the man replied, "I am Lieutenant Surge, the Gym Leader of Vermillion City, and entry has been forbidden for the time being until the invasion is over! If I have to tell you again, I will use force if necessary!" The man glanced from Pikachu, to Raichu and to the ODST, "I don't care what it takes!"

"You're ex-Marine... aren't you?" asked Ben.

"Who wants to know?" Surge replied.

"I'm sure you're aware of the procedures and protocols during a Covenant invasion?" Ben continued.

"Yes, I am indeed aware," Surge grit his teeth, "So if you don't mind-"

"Then we're coming in whether you like it or not. There must be civvies in there that need evac and..."

Ben paused as a Phantom flew overhead towards the city.

There as an awkward silence.

"Alright! I'll come clean!" Surge sighed, exasperated, "They're holding the city hostage, and I have to keep anybody else from entering or leaving! If I don't, then they're gonna start killing people at random!"

The situation suddenly became clear. "So that's why..." Ash murmured.

Surge lowered his voice, "They have a sniper up on the ridge keeping an eye on me to make sure I co-operate".

Ben considered this for a moment, then pulled the Ultra Ball from his pocket, "Latias! I have a mission for you!"

Latias yawned, "What's up?"

"There's an alien sniper on this ridge somewhere," He said , "Go find and dispatch it".

"Easier done than said," she replied, turning invisible.

Surge stared at Him blankly, "You caught Latias?!"

"Yup."

"Whatever, I'm still not letting you through. Instead, I challenge one of you to a Pokémon battle. If you win, I'll let you in. If I win, you turn your little parade around and don't come back," Surge challenged.

Ash stepped forward, clenching his fist, "Alright! You have yourself a deal! Pikachu, let's do this!"

Pikachu jumped off his shoulder to the ground, "Pika-Pika!"

Surge sneered, producing a Poke Ball from his pocket, "Raichu, show 'em how we roll!"

Surge's Raichu appeared in a bright flash by its trainer's side.

"Sure you don't want me to handle this?" Ben asked tentatively.

Ash frowned determinedly at Pikachu's evolutionary opponent, "... No. I've got this one, thanks".

Ben watched in concern, "...Okay, if you're that confident".

Surge couldn't help but laugh, "You've got guts kid, I'll admit. But your baby Pikachu's way out of its league here!"

Pikachu growled in resentment, taking a step forward.

"As you wish," Surge grinned.

Ben and his Raichu took a step back to provide space as the two opponents sized each other up.

"Alright Pikachu, let's do this! Use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu tensed as it launched the first strike, hitting its mark dead on, engulfing its opponent in electricity.

Raichu shrugged it off as if nothing happened.

"That's cute," Surge grinned, "Raichu, show 'em a real Thunderbolt!"

Surge's Pokémon replied without hesitation, launching its own Thunderbolt.

Pikachu, to say the least, was blown completely off its feet, sent flying backwards a good ten metres, landing with a hard thud.

"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed in concern.

"It's still not too late to back out now and let the ODST take over," Surge remarked, "Perhaps he'd provide a better challenge".

Surge's Raichu chuckled maliciously as it approached its fallen opponent.

Ash became anxious, "C'mon Pikachu, get up! We're still in this! There's no backing down!"

Pikachu slowly hauled itself back up, using a rock for support.

"Oh well," Surge shrugged, "Raichu, use Mega Punch, then Mega Kick!"

Raichu grinned and rammed its fist into Pikachu's gut, knocking the wind out of it and sending it a metre or two into the air.

Ben cringed, "This is hopeless. It's not even a battle".

As Pikachu landed again, Raichu didn't hesitate to kick him viciously across the face, sending him rolling across the ground.

Pikachu groaned in agony as it coughed up a tooth and a torrent of blood.

"That's enough!" Ben growled, "Ash, get that poor guy outta there! We're taking over from here!"

Ash quivered in fury, "... Fine".

He dashed over and collected the fallen mouse in his arms.

"That was pathetic. Not even worth calling a fight," Surge grunted, turning towards his new opponents, "Don't disappoint me".

"Oh, I won't," Ben scowled underneath his helmet.

A series of loud hissing noises suddenly echoed up the valley.

"That sounds like a Needle Carbine," Ben noted, "Latias, do your thing!"

He then reached into his pocket, pulling out a thick green piece of silk, and tied it around Raichu's waist.

"This was a good luck charm from my fiancé," He murmured, "It'll help me tell you apart from your opponent".

Both Raichus gave each other icy stares as they slowly began to circle each other.

Latias suddenly appeared by Ben's side, "Well, we won't hear from him again".

"Patrol the area and discourage any aliens from getting too close," He instructed.

"You can count on me!" she replied cheerfully.

Surge briefly watched her fly off, then turned back to the battle. "Well, we're all warmed up for the main event now! Show us what you've got!"

"After you," He beckoned.

Surge grinned, "Alright then! Raichu, use Mega Punch, then follow up with Mega Kick!"

Surge's Raichu swung wildly at its opponent's head. Raichu calmly blocked the attack with its paws. It then jumped up to avoid a sweep directed at its legs.

"Use Focus Blast," said Ben.

Raichu grabbed its opponent's head and vaulted itself up over the top, pirouetting mid air, and landing behind it. As Surge's Raichu twisted around to punch it, it caught the punch in its left hand and gave its opponent a shove, throwing it backwards several metres.

Raichu quickly formed a ball of energy in its paws as its opponent charged in for another attack.

"Raichu, Don't-!" Surge spluttered.

Too late, as Raichu easily ducked under the swing, and rammed the orb into the opponent's gut in an uppercut fashion.

Surge's Raichu was knocked off its feet, but not out as it stood straight back up.

Surge grinned, "Now this is more like it! Raichu, use Thunderbolt!"

"Quick Attack," Ben countered.

Raichu lunged at its opponent, knocking it off balance and into the turf.

Surge's Raichu kicked backwards, sending its opponent over its head, then quickly jumped up and launched a Thunderbolt in every direction.

Raichu braced as the electricity pounded the surrounding area.

"Tail Whip!" called Surge.

Surge's Raichu pirouetted and slammed the broad, yellow part of its tail across its opponent's face with a resounding slap.

"Thunder!" Ben clenched his fist.

Raichu unleashed a powerful burst at point blank range, sending the opponent backwards several metres.

"Another Thunderbolt!" Surge commanded.

"Quick Attack!" said Ben, "Keep the pressure up!"

Raichu quickly zipped to the left to avoid the blast of electricity, before barrelling in and slamming into its opponent in a fierce tackle.

"Mega Punch!" exclaimed Surge.

Surge's Raichu slammed its opponent's jaw with a vicious right hook, and span about to plant a Mega Kick in its gut, launching it backwards a considerable distance.

Surge became ecstatic, "Finish it!"

"Move!" Ben exclaimed.

Raichu clawed frantically into the dirt to drag itself forward to avoid another Mega Kick and hauled itself up. It jumped backwards to avoid a left hook and rammed a Focus Blast into its opponent's face. Both Raichus then paused to catch their breath and wipe a trickle of blood from their face.

Surge grinned, "If this was a Gym battle, I'd say you'd get my badge without a problem. This is quite an exciting fight! So let's finish this now! Raichu, use Thunderbolt once more!"

"Use Volt Tackle!" Ben pointed in the general direction of his opponent.

"Volt tackle?" Surge remarked with surprise, "That's..."

Raichu broke into a sprint. The mouse became engulfed in a powerful burst of electricity as it darted about.

Surge's Raichu's eyes widened in surprise as it hastily launched a Thunderbolt. The electric attack was harmlessly absorbed as Raichu slammed into it at full bore with a sickening crunch. They both landed in a heap about four metres from the impact point.

Using the body of its opponent for support, Raichu hauled itself back up in a defiant stance.

Surge's Raichu did not budge an inch.

Surge suddenly noticed a trickle of blood from the back of his Pokémon's head.

"It must've hit its head on a rock," he mused as he recalled the fallen mouse.

"You did it!" Ash exclaimed, "I can't believe it..."

Ben turned a fierce gaze at him, "You're lucky I was here. Your careless mistake very nearly cost us. Surge showed you grace there by allowing us to switch and you know it!"

Ash's face fell, visibly upset by this outburst, "I'm sorry, I had confidence that I could do it..."

"Well..." Ben shrugged, "... learn to pick your battles more carefully next time. Taking care of your team is a big responsibility, and being a proficient leader requires time, experience, a good sense of judgement, and trust in your team".

"But I DO trust my team!" Ash protested.

"That's a good start then," He replied, "Now let's rescue this city, eh?"

Ash nodded, "After you, sir".

...

...