I'm graduating really soon and that means summer vacation! So Hopefully I'll be able to write lots and lots! :D
Aqua: Squirtle-Chan doesn't own Pokemon!
Chapter 34
Commence Operation Brighton
Kate POV
I tiredly trudged into the Operation room. I got literally no sleep last night... My whole night was full of terrible dark nightmares about what Team Dim Sun might do to with the Yellow Gem... Not to mention this terrible headache I'm suffering from... So needless to say I was grumpy.
"Did you sleep last night? I couldn't sleep. I'm so choked up over this." Keith sighed as I walked over to him laid my head on his shoulder with a tired groan. "I'd take that has a no..."
"Prof. Hastings, have you learned anything from the Incredible Machine's blueprints?" Chairperson Erma questioned.
"Nothing yet, I'm afraid. The data disc is password protected. It has defied our efforts to crack it. I questioned Isaac about it, but he's become withdrawn." Hastings sighed sadly. "I do have some good news, though. Significant advances have been made in deciphering the diary. This is an entry some three years before the Shadow Crystal discovery. "I spent another day poring through old documents and writings. I learned of the Red Gem, the Blue Gem and the Yellow Gem."
I took hold of Keith's hand at the mention of that stupid Yellow Gem. Just thinking of it reminds me of how hurt Keith got because of it.
Keith gave my hand a squeeze with a soft smile.
"I learned how the Shadow Crystal fears and loathes the harmony of the Gems. And how it also strangely seeks their harmony. I now understand what I must do while I still live. It is to..." And that is as far as we go. Still, it gives us hope. Our hypothesis was correct. The three colored gems have an effect on the Shadow Crystal. It's clear Brighton Hall came to that same realization." Hastings spoke.
"Excuse me. It's Isaac. I thought things through last night." Isaac's soft almost timid voice appeared in the room as he walked away from the escalator and over to Erma and Hastings. "I'm ashamed to realize this now. I saw, but didn't understand anything. All I've seen of the world was through a microscope or PC monitor. But all that changed yesterday. Even through I'm supposed to be an enemy, Sven treated me like a brother. And Kate treated me the same as she did in school... Prof. Hastings shouted at me three times, asking for the password. But he left me alone after that. I was given a comfortable bed and a warm breakfast and everyone was smiling, and... I... It took me too long, but I finally realized that I was being used. I didn't want to believe it. I couldn't admit it yesterday. I was too scared too... The password is "Melody"! It's my little sister's name. Melody's in Pueltrown. I wonder how she is..." He sounded so lost and sad.
I smiled warmly at him. Of course he'd use Melody as the password... He really does love his baby sister...
"Isaac, thank you! That took courage! This could save Almia! Tell the researchers! The password is "Melody!" Wait, there's no exclamation mark! It's just "Melody." Without a period, either!" Hastings cheered.
30 Minutes Later in the Meeting Room
"Prof. Hastings, we're ready." Nage ran into the room.
"Very well, bring up the data on the Underfoot Monitor, if you will." Hastings ordered.
Soon the floor has the blueprints of the Incredible Machine.
"Huh? This shape? I've seen this shape somewhere..." Keith frowned.
"I think I know what this is..." My eyes widened a certain amount of fear in them.
"This can't be...?" Wendy gasped.
"I'd say it might be." Sven frowned.
"This is Altru Tower!" Erma shouted. "It's utterly horrifying! Altru Tower is the Incredible Machine? And it will be completed tomorrow!"
Hastings stared pacing with a rather perplexed look on his face. "Take a close look at the blueprint. See? At the top of the tower, overlooking all of Almia. That object at the top... It's probably the giant Shadow Crystal. So this is what it's about... Give me a moment to think..." And with that Hastings, Isaac and Nage ran out of the room.
"When the Professor gets into that state, he won't emerge for a while. We call it his "Solitary Strategy Session." So, what can you do in the meantime? Why, patrol, of course! Please go out among the citizens and try to address their concerns. When you're done, please report to me dears. Also. It may be wise precaution to capture strong Pokemon. I wouldn't be surprised by anything that happened now, dears." And with that she walked out.
"Yes, ma'am!" The four of us saluted.
"Okay, well I'm headed out! See you after Patrol Keith." I smiled when he nodded his head before walking out of the Meeting Room only to be stopped by Murph.
"Hey, listen, Kate. Tomorrow is Altru Inc.'s birthday bash. Have a look at this." he showed me a newspaper that said that the tower opens tomorrow and something about the Go Rock Quads. "The Go-Rock Quads, live and in person! On stage, plugged in, and rocked out! I'm looking forward to it, but isn't that sort of wrong in these desperate times? Whoops, we're in operation now! Back to work, Ranger!" He panicked before running off.
I quickly made my way outside the union building with Aqua in my arms and began my patrol helping out as many people as I could.
Four Hours of Random Quests Later
After finishing patrol everyone met up on the roof and waited for Hastings and Isaac to figure out a game plan.
I stood next to Keith and looked around. I noticed Barlow was on the Union roof as well as Wendy, Sven, Isaac, Erma and Hastings.
"Prof. Hastings, if you would, please." Erma looked to Hastings with a smile.
"Hmm. Before I outline our operation, you need to know more about Altru Tower." Hastings told her before turning to Isaac. "Isaac, please."
"Yes, sir!" Isaac walked to the center and turned to us. "The tower is 334 meters tall, which is just shy of 1100 feet. From the top of the tower, you can see out to all corners of the Almia region. But it's not an observation deck for tourists or anything of the sort. IT had to be that tall to gain control over every Pokemon in Almia. The Shadow Crystal from the Chroma Ruins is set on top of the tower."
I shuddered at the mention of that evil crystal.
"A strong electrical feed to the crystal unleashes its power. It will gain control over all Pokemon within an approximately 500-mile radius. The Incredible Machine's power is equal to roughly eight million Gigaremo units. Halfway up the tower is it's centralized control room. It allows control of individual Pokemon with unique signals for each one. It also has approximately 300 times more commands than the Miniremo." He explained.
"These facts emerged from Isaac sharing information with us. Combined with our own data, we have a clearer picture of what we are facing. Kincaid had misled Isaac all this time with false promises about the tower. "A peaceful project for fostering new means of communication between Pokemon and people," he was told." Hastings frowned before turning to the sparkling stones. "So, we come to the question: What is there objective? The answer, we found written in Brighton hall's diary."
"My son, Blake Hall, having just turned sixteen, drove me out of the company. His parting words crushed me. 'I will eliminate anyone who stands in the way of my world domination, even my father.' My son has become the main character in this nightmare. The nightmare woven by the Shadow Crystal..."
"That is as far we've been able to decipher." Hastings sighed.
"Blake Hall is aiming to take over the world?!" Barlow shouted panicked.
"The Incredible Machine can control all the Pokemon in Almia, supposedly. If that's so, world domination doesn't sound all that far-fetched." Sven panicked.
"This is terrifying news..." Wendy panicked.
All of a sudden there was a terrible noise. Followed by a feeling of darkness washing over me.
Pain shot through my body and I fall to my knees... Tattoo like designs starts glowing black all over my body... but everything stopped the second the sound stopped...
"Kate!?" Everyone shouted.
Keith held onto me as I tried to catch my breath. My eyes wide with fear.
"What was that noise?!" Hastings shouted. "Catriona!? Are you alright!?" Hastings rushed over and began checking my vital signs.
"I-I'm okay... B-But whatever that was... I-I-It was e-evil." I looked around and noticed everyone staring at me.
"Uhh... What on earth were those symbols... T-They appeared the second the sound happened and disappeared the second they disappeared." Sven frowned. "Kate? What aren't you telling us...?"
I froze up and went pale. I was about to speak but Hastings beat me to the punch.
"Kate is a very special young lady... She can tell when dark energy is around... When it's around those black marks appear... when light energy is around the marks are white." Hastings wasn't exactly lying... he just wasn't exactly telling the truth. Sven and everyone else seemed to accept this and turned towards Isaac.
I gave him a thankful smile before attempting to stand up. Keith helped me up and looked at me with a frown on his face.
"I'm okay." I smiled.
"...They must have run power to the Incredible Machine as a test." Isaac frowned. "They only turned it on for an instant to monitor its operation. Judging by the noise just now, however, the test was a failure. I imagine they haven't been able to do the final adjustments to the program. That's because I was supposed to do them. However, even if the final adjustments aren't made, the tower will still operate. Its power will be reduced to about half, but it will work. That's how the Incredible Machine was designed."
"Hmm... Even at half power, it can wreak havoc far and wide. All right, everyone. Look sharp! Let me announce our plan!" Hastings looked at us. "Extensive analysis of the blueprints makes one thing abundantly clear. It is virtually impossible to shut off the tower's electrical circuits." He stepped forward. "That leaves us with one option. We must do something about the Shadow Crystal itself atop the tower." He began pacing as he spoke. "However, infiltrating the tower will be an undertaking fraught with danger. What, then, can we do? There remains but one course of action: mount an assault on the tower from the outside. Do you recall how the three pendants shone on the rooftop? And how they tuned the dark shard completely transparent? That is what we will attempt on top of the tower! For that, ideally, we should have the Red, Blue, and the Yellow Gems together. With only the two we have, however, we should severely weaken the tower's power. Its output should be cut by nearly 70% if we succeed." He explained to us.
"All right, Professor."Sven nodded his head. "How do we get the two gems to the Shadow Crystal atop Altru Tower?"
"Are you suggesting we should get me Staraptor's help?" Wendy looked really unsure.
"Precisely! You will live up to your nickname the 'Flying Ranger'!" Hastings smiled. "Two Top Rangers are to each ride a Staraptor, carrying the Red or Blue Gem. They are to circle the tower and craw closer and closer to the Shadow Crystal. The closer they get, the greater the gems' effect on the Shadow Crystal. Of course, that also increasingly exposes the Top Rangers to danger..." He frowned turning to the gems. "For this Mission, I would like to call upon the best of our Top Rangers. The two that we have learned to take pride in." He walked over to Wendy and Sven. "The two Top Rangers are... Sven and Wendy!"
"Now you're talking." Sven nodded his head. "I've been longing for a Mission like this."
"You can count on me. Flying is what I'm especially good at." Wendy smiled.
Hastings nodded his head and walked over to me and Keith.
"Kate and Keith, you are to remain on standby at the Union. There's no telling what might happen, so we want you here." Hastings Ordered.
"Y-Yes sir..." The two of us frowned.
"Does that displease you?" Hastings frowned.
"We Area Rangers will concentrate on addressing the concerns of citizens." Barlow stepped forward.
"That's what I hoped to hear, Barlow. You're entrusted with that task. Finally, we need a name for our operation." Hastings look on a thoughtful expression. "We shall borrow the name of the writer of that charred diary. We shall call it Operation Brighton! All right, everyone! Let Operation Brighton commence!"
"Yes, sir!" Everyone shouted.
And with that everyone started getting everything together.
Barlow left.
Sven and Wendy took hold of the gems
And Hastings began talking with Isaac.
And Me and Keith... Just stood there. Doing nothing.
"I have faith that you will all be safe." Erma smiled.
"Mind the Union while we're gone." Sven looked to us before running off.
"We'll report in regularly." Wendy chased after Sven.
Keith sighed. "I hate having to stand around and wait."
"So do I..." I sighed.
"You seem a little disappointed, dears. You probably feel left out, don't you? Well, you should consider it from our perspective. We can't have everyone dashing off towards the key objective. If that were to happen, this wouldn't be an operation. No, it would become nothing more than a race among our Top Rangers. You will most definitely get opportunities to demonstrate your worth. Until then, I ask you two to help keep the Union from harm." Erma smiled gently at us.
As I walked down the stairs there down the stairs to go to the main floor there was a boom that knocked me over.
"W-Woah! What on earth!?" I panicked hugging onto Aqua for dear life.
Murph came running towards me. "B-B-B-Big trouble! The ground-floor doors were blown apart by a wicked explosion! Some big, sinister guy came in! I-I-I'm going to tell the others!" Murph ran up the stairs.
My eyes widened and I bolted down the stairs. The whole downstairs was full of dust and debris that it made it hard to breath.
"Wh-Who are you?!" An area ranger panicked staring at the large Yellow haired man.
"Do you have an appointment?"Another panicked.
"Who am I? Do I have an appointment? You think I am caring about that? What, you are receptionists, not Rangers? No use for you! I have none!" Heath looked around and saw me. "Well, look what we having here! Is this not Kate? You are remembering me, yes, you are? We was meeting only one day ago. Is me, Heath, send you fake vicemail? Beat up boyfriend? That Yellow Gem you give me nicely as big present? We is hiding it away, very, very careful, like. Where it can be? In tower somewhere! Gahahahaha!" He laughed, pulling out a miniremo and summoning a Electivire. "Now, then... Time is it for having fun times!" All of a sudden the large Pokemon attacked me.
Electric type... Why did it have to be an electric type...?
"Capture, on!" I shouted before capturing the large, menacing, electric type. "C-Capture complete."
The Miniremo exploded and the Pokemon ran off.
"Maybe get careless too much, me?" Heath frowned.
All of a sudden another explosion shook the building.
"Wh-what was that?!"
"That came from upstairs!"
The two Area Rangers panicked.
"Gahahaha! It is going like we plan, our plan!" Heath laughed as the three of us turned to him glaring. "Fool you good I did do, hey? I was play at decoying! For you to upstairs going is too late!" Heath laughed.
"I'm designating this a Mission!" I frowned before running upstairs to the battered second floor.
"I'm not letting you take Isaac!" I heard Keith shout.
I saw Keith standing in front of Ice and Hastings glaring at Ice.
I rushed to Keith's side and glared at Ice.
"Ice..." Isaac frowned. "I'm never going back to Altru!"
Ice sighed. "Prof. Isaac, weren't we once colleagues who worked alongside each other? Why, I learned how to operate software form you. Didn't I also share my candies with you?"
"You tricked me, saying that it was for the good of society and peace! It was completely the other way around! I was lied to, over and over! I'm never going back there again!" The young professor shouted.
"Honestly, I wouldn't know or care much about peace among Pokemon. I do know that people will be able to live easier than now. You do understand that we are a very peace-oriented organization?" Ice sighed.
"We're not buying that!" Keith shouted.
"You blast a hole in the Union HQ's wall, and yet you claim to be peaceful? That's stretching the truth beyond the breaking point. We'll have your lot pay for the damage." Hastings glared.
"Not having much success, are we?" Lavana sighed walking into the building via the whole in the wall... dragging a familiar little girl behind her, Melody... Isaac's baby sister.
"Handling matters in a manner befitting a gentlemen takes time, my dear." Ice sighed.
"So drop the gentlemanly act, and do it in a dirty, despicable way." She laughed. "Like this, for instance!"
"Isaac! Help me!" The little girl cried as she was roughly grabbed.
"Melody?! Where are you going with her?!" Isaac panicked.
"Hello, mushroom-haired Isaac. We need the architect of the Incredible Machine to make the final adjustments. You will come with us, won't you?" Lavana smirked. "You don't have much choice, sweetie. You see what's going on. I don't have to spell it out for you, do I? How about a little demonstration instead? A little pinch for Melody." She pinched the little blond.
"Ouch! That hurt!" Melody cried.
"That's dirty, you hag!" Keith growled.
"Hag? Did you just call me a hag?" She growled evilly. "You jumped-up mouthpiece of a little boy! You're going to regret that! Okay, that did it! Now I'm steamed! Isaac, decide! Are you coming or staying? This time, your precious sister's going to get more than a pinch!"
"O-Okay! I'll go back." Isaac looked really upset.
"Isaac..." Keith frowned.
"T-They're hurting Melody because of me..." Isaac looked down, obviously devastated.
"Grrr..." Hastings growled, very unhappy at this turn of events.
"That settles that! We're done with this place." Lavana laughed as Isaac walked over. "Bye-bye, babies!"
Lavana dragged Melody and Isaac over to the hole and pushed the twosome through leaving Ice by himself.
"What the...? Was I even needed for this Union raid? Lavana swept in and stole the show herself. So what should I do now?" He pulled out a Miniremo and summoned a Garchomp. "Just going home sounds lame. I may as well amuse myself." He smirked looking at me.
The Garchomp attacked me.
"Capture on!" I shouted as I started capturing the dragon type Pokemon. It took me a few minutes, but soon the Pokemon was captured. "Capture complete."
I sighed as his Miniremo exploded and the Pokemon ran off.
"Not too shabby. I see why you're a Top Ranger. We'll have a rematch if we see each other at tomorrow's event. Maybe we can even have that dance I asked for back at Almia Castle." He smirked before walking towards the hole in the wall. "Until then... farewell Little Mermaid." And with that he left.
"Prof. Hastings! I'm going to get those clowns!" Keith growled glaring at the hole.
"No! I absolutely forbid that! Chasing headlong after them plays right into their hands! There is still time before midnight, when Altru's birthday arrives. It gives us time to rethink our operation!" Hastings shouted.
"Aiyiyiyiyah! More Trouble!" Murph ran over to us. "Now there's a creepy guy on 3F!
"Kate! Hurry! To the third floor!" Hastings shouted in a panic.
I ran upstairs to see the weird green haired guy who always followed Blake Hall around surrounded by a bunch of hypnotized... Bidoof?
"Eheheheh!In our boss's grandiose scheme, the Union is an inconvenience!" Wheeler laughed. "I'm here to remove that eyesore. Eheheh!"
I ran over to see Wheeler looking up a Chairperson Erma with 8 Bidoof ready to attack.
"Who is this guy?" Linda frowned. "What does he want here?"
"Are you a clown or something?" Rhythmi frowned.
"This floor is off-limits to everyone but those associated with the Union. What is the meaning of this?" Erma frowned.
"Eheheh! What is the meaning of this? What about "I demand an answer"? Eheh!" He laughed.
"Kate! Do something about this creep!" Rhythmi shouted.
Wheeler turned around to see me behind him with a less than amused look on my face.
"Ah, Ranger! I've brought you some friends!" He laughed sicking the Bidoof on me.
I easily captured the 8 Pokemon in once circle and sighed. "Bidoof, seriously?"
"Yikes!" He panicked.
"Mr. Wheeler? We've already achieved the objectives of our Union raid!" A Grunt ran over. "We should pull out!"
"Aiyeeh! I failed to notice that! I supposed this will suffice for today. Eheheh!"
And with that the twosome ran towards the roof throwing an explosive down as they went.
"Don't bother chasing them. We need to rethink our operation." Erma frowned.
Ten Minutes Later
Me and Keith stood in front of Erma and Hastings in the Operation Room.
"The top priority for Operation Brighton will be shifted. Before everything else, Isaac and Melody must be rescued." Hastings told us. "Incidentally... Kate and Keith despite being taken by surprise, you protected the Union HQ. That's worthy of a Mission Clear!"
The two of us did our Ranger Poses.
"Ranger Rank up! You two are now officially Rank 9!
The two of us happily high-fived.
"I'm concerned about Isaac's safety." Hastings frowned.
"Prof. Hastings! Sven is reporting in!" Rhythmi shouted.
"They threw up a powerful barrier on top of the tower. Worse, the barrier has three layers." We heard Sven's worried tone through the speaker.
"It's impossible for us to get close to the Shadow Crystal from the sky." Wendy sighed.
"I didn't expect things to go easily..." Erma sighed.
"They must have kept it out of their blueprints for precisely this reason..." Hastings frowned. "How to eliminate the Barrier... I can't think of a good approach."
"Prof. Hastings? Surely you haven't forgotten that the Union has two other Top Rangers?" Erma looked to him.
"No, no, of course I've not forgotten. But though they are Top Rangers, they simply lack experience. As evidence, have a look at their expressions..." He looked to us "Hmm? They're both glaring at me with determination in their eyes... Since when did either of you grow to be so... So capable and confident?" He sighed before walking over to us. "Fine, I understand now. I must have been blind. No more treating you two like rookies. I promise. Keith and Kate, I'm assigning you a Mission truly worthy of Top Rangers. All right. Listen closely."
"No.1: You are to infiltrate Altru Tower and rescue Isaac and Melody."
We nodded.
"No.2: You are to locate and get back the Yellow Gem."
We nodded again.
"No.3: Keith is to take a Staraprtor and fly the Yellow Gem to above the tower. You are to join up with Sven and Wendy, Keith. Kate, you are to remain in the tower by yourself. You're assigned the key role in Operation Brighton. You are to make your way up the tower while disabling the three barrier layers. After lifting the barrier, guide the three flying Rangers to the Shadow Crystal. It goes without saying that you will be faced with many foes on the way. It's a harrowing, challenging, and ultimately rewarding Mission! Why, my lips are trembling even as I issue these very commands!" Hastings ordered.
"Sven and Wendy in the sky. Or dedicated Operators. The research staff that forego sleep to decipher the diary. Murph with his happy cheer. Everyone has their own responsibilities, duties, their own purpose of being. Everyone is supported by each other. We all need each other. If no one forgets this, Operation Brighton can't fail!" Erma smiled cheerfully.
"All right, people... Operation Brighton, Part 2! Let us restart!" Hastings commanded.
"Come on, Kate! Lets go! We're taking the fight to Altru Inc.!" Keith grinned taking hold of my hand.
And with that the two of us ran down the stairs, ready to take down Team Dim Sun... Once and for all.
Another Chapter Completed~