Shadows of Almia
Chapter 37 – Take the Reins

Of all times, the little girl had never felt so afraid. Her friends would have found it so laughable that a brave girl like herself would cower in fear, but it was far to unimaginable to describe the feelings running through her veins. A large buff man with with strikin yellow hair and shoulder pads was looming over her, and she merely gulped despite the cries of the Union staff members to just run in the other direction. Had she not fallen over at a critical time, she wouldn't have felt this way.

Surely, she could tell that these men and women in dark suits were bad guys, and they had caused harm to Almia for the past months. Her parents, Operator and Scientist working here at the Union, were so happy when she came for the holidays from school last month. It was then when she had heard news that the friends she made back at the Academy were all gone, never to be seen again. The girl never understood the concept of death, so her parents told her little, but now she understood.

"Summer!" An Operator shouted. "Get out of there!"

The man was still standing over her, a rather psychotic grin on her face. She answered with a shudder down her spine. She was too scared to move. She couldn't move...

"Wh-Who are you?" The girl stammered. "D-did you have an a-appointment?"

Summer mentally slapped herself. Her habit was popping in again. To make up for the time that her school was shut down, she worked at the union with the Operators at the desk, and addressed certain things the civilians asked for as she waited for her parents to finish work. She always said that, and now it was stupid, saying that in front of a scary man who clearly didn't ask for it.

The man was quite shocked, and then stared at her for a few moments before laughing his heart out, the sound reverberating in the eerily silent room. Summer was quaking furiously.

"Who am I? Do I have an appointment?" the man mocked her. "You think I am caring about that? I Heath, of Sinis Trio!"

Summer merely stood there, her eyes brimming with tears. Was this what her friends felt like before they disappeared? No, before they died? Just this everlasting fear?

"What, you are receptionists, little girl?" the man howled with laughter before. "You too young!"

"H-help..." Summer muttered weakly as the man raised a hand above his head, before swinging it around to hit her head. Summer merely sat there in shock. Was this the end?

"Get away from her!"

Then everything was in slow motion. A boy her age with brown hair came running in front of her, arms spread in front of her, but Heath's hand didn't stop as it crashed into the boy's side. Summer's red hair was flying in the wind as the dust flew by her, and she saw that the boy wasn't moving from the impact of the hit. However, his face was contorted in pain.

Shakily the boy raised his fist at Heath, and with a deafening roar he drove it home and slammed his knuckles at the man's tone body. Oddly enough, the man was sent staggering back a few feet, surprised that a scrawny little boy could make him move with a single punch. Summer was appalled at the boy's own strength. She had seen him in her class several times. It was... Amazing...

"Good job, boy!" Heath laughed. "You can fight like me!"

"Don't you dare come any closer!" the bog shouted and he took out a School Styler and poised it at Heath. Summer was completely surprised that he had one of those. But why was he taking it out? Did this boy have any idea that a School Styler was not even comparable to a regular one? What kind of fool was he?

A smile spread across Heath's face as he tapped a few keys into a Miniremo. A loud rumble shook the Union floor again, and they saw a cloud of electric sparks coming from behind. Summer was speechless when a shiver of fear passed down her spine again as an Electivire stomped into the reception room, eyes murderously aiming at them. The boy braced himself and kept his face from sinking in fear.

"You want to do loopy-thing?" Heath asked in a mocking tone. "You get to loopy-thing!"

"Ben!" another boy shouted, but Ben was not listing as he released his Capture Disc and went barging towards the massive electric Pokemon. A hand yanked Summer to her feet and she met the face of another young boy her age. She had seen him, too, walking alongside Ben at school. What was his name... Basil? She only distinctly remembered he being the younger brother of one of the Top Rangers.

"Hurry," Basil ushered her out of the way, and Summer looked at him in shock. Weren't those two boys friends? Why was he only worrying about her, and not Ben?

"What about him?" she pointed at Ben.

"Don't worry about Ben," Basil said quickly and began dragging her into a room of hiding Operators. "We'll deal with them."

Summer gasped at him in disbelief. Was Basil a fool, too?

"But you're only students!"

"I know," Basil said in his usual tranquil tone, and gave a reassuring smile. "Ben does, too, but we're doing what we can to help before the Top Rangers come back. Now please stay here for the time being."

"Wa-Wait!"

But Summer was shoved into the room, and the Operators caught her as the door locked itself. She merely sat there in quaking fear about those two boys. They were her classmates, and not even at the level of a Top Ranger, who were really on par with those bad guys… How were they supposed to hold?

Ben was panting heavily as he run out of the way of an electric attack that was zooming for his head. Never before had he been this tired since his time at the oil field hideout. He had been absolutely cautious with attempting to capture this Electivire, but he wasted too much time trying to not get fried, so the progress was dull.

"Hahaha!" Heath laughed at his predicament. "You such a funny boy!"

Ben tried not to listen and ran around the room, still dodging, and directing the Capture Disc to a safer place for the time being. But then his foot slipped on a pile of debris, and he tripped forward, losing control of the Capture Disc. A flash of thunder hit the poor thing, and he heard the sickening crack of a broken Styler. He had been fully aware of a foolish thing, but he had been adamant about it, despite Basil's protests…

"Ben!" Basil's voice shouted into his head, and he looked up to see something being tossed to him. He caught it, and saw it was a music case, the same one he had seen when Basil was doing Kate's work of gathering information for her two weeks ago when she was trying to get out of the hospital. He only remembered that it carried her weapons, but why give it to him now? Wouldn't Kate have already taken every weapon she had in there out?

Still, he opened it, and much to his luck, a pair of tonfas were looking up at him, polished and ready to be used. He took them out, and placed them in his own hands. They were quite weighted in strange places, and he, to be honest, had never used these before. He only knew basic fighting from the times Kate visited him and Basil at the Academy, but that was all. He then swung it before him to ward off the sparks coming at him. Hmm... So it was like a lightning rod?

Meanwhile, Basil was taking out a few Pokeballs, and he summoned a Machop, a Shieldon, and a Hippopotas. He had been carrying a whole lot of Kate's partner Pokemon with him for the while, and it was time he used them. He had studied the basics of battling, but it was worth a shot.

"Hippopotas," He commanded. "Use Sand Tomb!"

The small baby hippo squealed and a flurry of tan dust created a tornado around Electivire. Basil tossed a new Styler to Ben, who caught it deftly. He was holding only one of the tonfas now, and released his Capture Disc. He began to draw enough loops to the half point, but the tornado subsided, and Basil called another of the Pokemon to attack. However, the Electivire deflected it, and broke the next Styler, letting out a large spur of electricity into the room. Ben ran in front of Basil and the Pokemon with the tonfas in hand to shield them from a large burst of electrifying energy at them, it didn't end well.

In the almost empty reception room, two boys screamed for help, and no one could help them from the incoming pain of sparks. Afterwards, Heath was staring at two unconscious young boys in a heap of fallen Pokemon. Their clothes were entirely tattered and burnt on the edges, and their faces were winced in pain.
"You gave a good fight," Heath grinned. "But no use for you now."

Electivire came close to them, ready to go for another shocking move, as Heath cackled, "I have none!"

Then, a Capture Disc flew towards him, and with only a few loops, the Electivire jumped away from the Styler, breaking off connection. Heath looked up suspiciously at the end of the escalator, and saw a familiar girl with a sword in her hand, a Styler in the other. Her eyes were flashing dangerously in quiet fury as she stepped past the fallen boys, only glancing with little signs of indifference, before looking back at the blonde Sinis Trio member.

"Well, look at what we are having here!" Heath laughed. "Is this not Kate? You are remembering me, yes, you are?"

"Clearly," Kate responded in a cold tone.

"We was meeting only a month ago," Heath chuckled. "Is me, Heath, send you fake vicemail? That Yellow Gem you give me nicely as big present?"

Kate continued to return a cold glare as Heath continued, "We is hiding it away, very, very careful, like. Where it could be? In tower somewhere-"

"You hurt my little brother," Kate said slowly.

"Sorry?" Heath couldn't seem to catch what she said. Kate gave a small scoff, and then went to repeat it again.

"You. Hurt. My. Little. Brother."

"Oh?" Heath looked at the two boys. "They your family? Gahaha! Now, then... Time is it for having fun times!"

He set the Electivire at her, but she was too quick. Starly came flying into the room at full speed, and headbutted the Electivire in the gut. It kept the massive electric Pokemon paralyzed for a moment before Kate released her Capture Styler and completed the capture in a few loops. She then began to running at Heath, and she quickly dove down and jumped back up with her fist in the air, delivering a very painful uppercut to the large man's head. While in the air, she spun around, and locked her calves around the man's neck, and with a sharp twist of her hips, she sent him crashing into the ground.

Heath was left with a blade pointing dangerously at his neck, while Kate stomped on his large chest. Her eyes were completely on fire. Clearly, a person not to be trifled with. A bead of sweat dripped down the man's face as he regretted his actions, most of them.

"Maybe get careless too much, me?" He chuckled to himself as Kate kept her sword trained on him. He found this so odd. At this point, shouldn't he be dead?
"Hey," Heath smirked. "Why not kill me?"

Kate said nothing before reverse her blade with her hilt facing the front, and she drove it hard into his head. She got up, and looked at her work. The man was completely knocked out, and he wouldn't be getting up any time soon. Perhaps they'll interrogate him when they drive out all the Dim Sun people.

The building then shook again with another explosion, and Kate looked about wildly.

"Wh-What was that?" Katemuttered. "That came from upstairs!"

"Gahaha…." A laugh came from Heath, and she looked at him. He was still awake?

"It is going like we plan… our plan!" He said in mockery with short spurts of exclamation. "Fool you good I did do… hey? I was play … at decoying! For you…. to upstairs going is too late!"

"I'm… not coming with you." Isaac balled his hands into fists. He was backed up to a wall, and the Rangers were nowhere to be found. Ice sighed, and clicked a few more buttons on the Miniremo.

"Prof. Isaac," He looked up at the blonde scientist, sharp eyes glinting. "Weren't we once colleagues who worked alongside each other? Why, I learned how to operate software from you. Didn't I also share my candies with you?"

"You tricked me," Isaac shot back in utter disgust. "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 ever again!"

"Honestly," Ice shrugged. "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?"

"We're not buying that!" A voice echoed from behind him, and Ice moved out quickly enough to avoid a large burst of flames heating up the Miniremo, which got caught in the fire, and exploded. He looked at whoever had a Pokemon, but there was only one new person there, a redheaded boy. His hands were poised before his face, as if he were ready to snap.

"You blast a hole in the Union headquarter's walls, and yet you claim to be peaceful?" Keith seethed. "That's stretching the truth beyond the breaking point. You'll have to pay for the damage."

"Oh, what a pleasant surprise, Keith Alphonse Mustang," Ice smiled, and the redhead flinched at his full name. He snapped, and a burst of flames sprang up from both sides of him.

"Don't make any sudden movements," Keith said in a low voice. "Or you'll be placed in a frying pan."

"A frying pan?" Ice was amused. "Are you a cook?"

"Naturally," Keith frowned, and snapped again, and Ice felt a stinging sensation on his arm. He looked, and saw that a part of his sleeve was gone, burnt away. He looked up at the redhead, and could see that he was a formidable enemy.

"How do you blow things up, little boy?"

"I'm not going to answer that," Keith said, and he snapped again, burning the other sleeve. Ice gasped as he noticed that his coat was in ruins, and he gave a rather annoyed face. How rude, he thought, was this boy going to strip him to his underwear for embarrassment? Why was he so bother by this? He was supposed to get Isaac and go!

Keith didn't seem to notice a pair of arms creeping up from behind, and then he was smashed into the floor with a small gasp. He got up with relative ease, only to be tossed to the wall, his head making first contact with the plaster. Isaac gasped as he noticed that Keith was completely dizzy, and possibly out of it. A few footsteps came their way out of the dust, and in came Ice again. Isaac stared in utter horror. Why were there two of them?

"Silly boy," Ice chuckled, and the one with the burnt sleeves disappeared with a Mismagius floating on the air instead. "You are too naïve to understand."

Keith got up blearily, his anger running thin. He had trained for two weeks with Kate for the sake of getting stronger and controlling himself. Whatever happened to all that training?

"I-I'm not letting you take Isaac," He said coldly. Isaac muttered Keith's name in surprise to his resolve while Ice laughed, and drew out a new Miniremo.
"Boss said I had to bring you unharmed, Isaac," Ice smirked. "But guess I can't help it… if you resist…"

Isaac and Keith heard a ground-shaking roar as he saw an orb of light form within the smoke behind Ice. Keith immediately noticed the danger and he summoned the will to run, taking Issac with him. Ice laughed at the scientist and the ranger's frantic attempt to escape.

"It's useless, kids," He said. "This Garchomp will get you anyways… Hyper Beam, just enough to give him a few burns."

Isaac winced as he saw shadows come his way, and a beam of light coming from another direction. Keith was continuing to take him to a safer place, but he stopped. Keith looked back and was yelling at him to move, but Isaac couldn't hear anything. He attempted to run again, but fell backwards. He then shut his eyes and shielded his face, and Keith's last desperate call. However, he felt a brush of cloth pass his cheek, and a large dissonant clang of metal being struck. He slowly opened his eyes, and saw Kate standing in the billowing smoke.

"Did I make it in time…?" She was panting heavily. Her left arm was dangling helplessly with her sword swinging, while her other arm was raised above her head. Her bandages were getting unwound, and she seemed to have acquired a few more cuts and bruises.

"K-Kate!" Isaac cried, but Kate ignored him and kept a fixed glare upon the blue haired member of the SInis Trio. Keith was catching his breath, and he joined behind Kate, gloves poised again.

"What was quite low of you, Ice," Kate noted.

"Well, speak for yourself, Kate-noob," Ice chuckled. "You're the one who pointed a blade in my face back at the castle. Besides, what would happen if your dear Keith hears of this? Oh, look, he's here."

"I would have told her to slash up that face of yours," Keith answered coldly.

"Well, all I need is Isaac at the moment," Ice sighed. "Let's just get this over with, and-"
"Not having much success, are we?"

Everyone turned and saw a pink haired woman and a squad of Dim Sun grunts following closely behind her. Keith felt a jolt of pure anger run through his head, and Kate held a hand to his shoulder to make sure he didn't go running at the wrong time.

"Lavana..." he growled under his breath, and the pink haired woman noticed him for once, and gave a playful grin.
"Oh, hello, sweetie," Lavana smiled. "You've gotten better! You miss me?"

"Please stay out of this, Lavana," Ice sounded quite irritated. "Handling matters in a manner befitting a gentleman takes time, my dear."

"Well, it's not working," Lavana rolled her eyes. "So drop the gentlemanly act, and do it in a dirty, despicable way. Like this, for instance!"

The crowd of Dim Sun grunts cleared way for something to be tossed at Lavana's feet, and everyone, including Ice, were completely taken aback by the fact that it wasn't something, but someone.

A blonde little girl was laying right in front of them, long hair completely splayed across the floor. Her pink and purple sundress was smudged with dirt and grass, and one of her shoes missing from her bruised legs. Her face was a mess of bruises, and her eyes were barely opening as they focused on a certain blonde haired scientist.

"Isaac!" the girl screamed in a shrill face. "Help me!"

Isaac blinked as he continued to stare at his little sister with a horrified expression, "Melody?"

He then shot a glare at Lavana. "What did you do to her? Where are you going with her?"

"Hello, mushroom-haired Isaac," Lavana grinned maliciously. "We need the architect of the Incredible Machine to make the final adjustments. You will come with us, won't you?"

"No..." Isaac was in denial. "You would never..."

"You don't have much choice, sweetie," Lavana explained in a sickening sweet voice. "You see what's going on. I don't have to spell it for you, do I? How about about a little demonstration instead?"

She showed them a small object hidden in her right hand as she yanked the limp form of Melody up to her feet and showed the small object, earning gasps from everyone. Keith was utterly outraged, and Kate was clutching his arms to prevent him from moving. Lavana was holding a syringe with black liquid, a psychotic grin across her face.

"That's..." Isaac muttered. "That's Black Water!"

"Precisely," Lavana smiled. "A little pinch for Melody would be nice, but I had an extra of these from a recent torture session..."

Her eyes fell upon Keith, who cringed as Kate squeezed his arms tightly. Ice was appalled she had an extra of those. Wasn't one enough? He understood she didn't have the best of minds, but this was rather shocking.

"Considering how hard it was for a teenage boy to survive it," Lavana laughed. "I doubt a mere ten-year old could handle this..."

The syringe needle was dangerously close to Melody's face, and everyone's breaths were held as they didn't move to provoke Lavana from plunging it into the little girl's face. Ice and Kate were watching in complete terror while Isaac was shaking terribly, from fear and anger. Keith was trembling just as much as Isaac before flashing a feral grimace at the pink haired Sinis Trio member.

"That's dirty," he shouted, shattering everyone's still forms when he said it. "You hag!"

Lavana winced and her eyes became completely different. She tossed Melody down to the ground and a nearby grunt hoisted her up by the arms and held the little girl captive. Lavana was beginning to breathe heavily at the offense Keith had caused.

"Hag...? Did you just call me a hag?" she roared. "You're going to regret that!"

"It's the truth, Lavana!" Isaac shouted. "You are a horrible person! How dare you hurt my little sister!"

Lavana scoffed and then looked at Ice for some support. The man was at a loss for words and gave a look of disapproval.

"The kids are right," he said hesitantly. "Sorry to sound mean, but that's taking it a bit too far."

Lavana then stomped the ground, "Okay, that did it! Now I'm steamed!"

She tore Melody from the grunt's hands, and held the syringe to the girl's arm. Melody was still gasping, and whimpering as she stared desperately at her brother.
"Isaac, decide!" Lavana shouted. "Are you coming or staying? This time, your precious sister's going to get this through her eye!"

Keith could see the blonde scientist wide-eyed and shaking in fear, tears rolling down his cheek. He could tell, the boy wasn't used to this violence. The syringe was very close, and one wrong move, Melody could die. From having been through Lavana's torture session, Keith knew this was no bluff.

"Please..." Isaac said in a weak voice. "Please stop this... I'll go back! Just don't do anything to Melody..."

Kate muttered, feeling betrayed by his choice. "Isaac..."

The blonde scientist let his hands fell to his sides and stared at her with a face of a broken boy. "They're hurting Melody because of me..."

Keith growled dangerously as Isaac walked past them and joined Lavana's side of the rooms. Meanwhile, Lavana was flaunting a look of pride and triumph over Ice, who gave a look of disgust. Melody was let go, and now she was buried in Isaac's arms as the Dim Sun grunts surrounded them from escaping.

"That settles that!" Lavana flashed a sweet smile. "We're done with this place. Bye-bye babies!"

Then she commanded the Dim Sun grunts to retreat, leaving Ice alone with the two Rangers. Ice was still angry about his co-workers ostentatious display of persuasion and began to sulk.

"What the...?" he stared at the ground, catching Kate and Keith's attention. "Was I even needed for this Union raid? Lavana swept in and stole the show herself."
He noticed he still had Garchomp with him, and he had a functional Miniremo with him. Kate and Keith were aware if this, too, and they readied themselves for an attack."

"So, what should I do now?" I've mused to himself. "Just going home sounds lame. I may as well amuse myself."

He slapped his fingers across the keyboard, and the blue dragon launched itself at the two Rangers. Keith snapped his fingers and blew the Garchomp away from them and set it flying at a wall. The two Rangers then captured the Garchomp quickly, and soon, Ice found himself in the same position he had been the first time he met Kate: sword pressed against at his neck, and cold blue eyes staring at him.

"Not too shabby," Ice chuckled. "I see why you're a Top Ranger."

"I won't forgive you Dim Sun goons," Kate said in a low voice, almost a growl. "After you hurt my friends, my little brother, and me, I can't forgive you scumbags. Even worse, you people hurt my little brother again today."

Keith looked at Kate in complete shock. "Wait, Basil got hurt?"

Then a painful realization shot through Ice. Basil... Hat boy he made a promise with... was Kate's little brother? He grit his teeth as he stared back at Kate's blue eyes. Here was the definite resemblance. Even then, he seemed to be uneasy to even try to hit Kate. Stupid blue eyes.

"You seem troubled," Kate said, and pressed the sword further at his throat. Ice then scoffed and arched backwards and rolled away from Kate's range of attack, and then he turned to the wall, a disgruntled expression on his face.

"We'll have a rematch if we see each other at tomorrow's event," he held up a pack of explosive and gave a lazy salute. "Until then... Farewell!"

He dropped it at the wall, and it detonated, creating a culminating sound cutting through that eerie silence that preceded bad times. Keith pulled Kate back, and shielded her from the flying debris. Once the burst of wind was gone, they looked up and saw a large hole in the wall, and the clear night sky with the blinking lights of a departing helicopter. Keith and Kate ran at the hole to look outside, but knew they could never reach the helicopter if they tried. The two Rangers fell into despair and both punched the remaining parts of the wall in anger.

BOOM!

Another explosion shook the Union, and Kate immediately began running up to the third floor, intent on defending the Union the best she could. Keith followed her line of thinking and ran after her, gloved hands clenched tightly.

Kate and Keith ran up the stairs and witnessed not the desperate and rushed atmosphere on the lower floors, but that of an ongoing tragedy. Several Operators were lying about the floor, unconscious. Two Operators were holding off the Dim Sun Grunts from the escalator from the fourth floor. Meanwhile, the entire control room was in utter room when they entered. Murph was standing in front of an enemy, while Rhythmi and Linda were crying at a fallen comrade. Hastings was kneeling beside them, his cane abandoned and eyes wide in despair.

"I won't let you hurt them any longer!" Murph shouted. A Slowking was standing between him and a green haired man, Miniremo at hand.

"Hehehehehe!" a green haired man rubbed his hands together. "In our boss's grandiose scheme, the Union is an inconvenience. I'm here to remove that eyesore. Eheheheh!"

"Who is that creep?" Keith whispered in her ear.

"Wheeler," Kate hissed. "Hall's right-hand man."

Kate and Keith hid behind a pillar as they listened to Wheeler and felt Murph's ever-so-growing anguish. His Slowking gave a rather disgusted face. So far, it had beaten several of this creep's Bidoof with ease, but the man had an entire army of them in the reserves.

"This floor is off-limits to everyone but those associated with the Union," it said. "What is the meanin of this?"

Wheeler giggled, "Little smart Pokemon! What is the meaning of this? What about 'I demand an answer'?"

Murph growled, and Slowking reflected his owner as it launched a psychic attack at Wheeler, but a horde of Bidoof jumped at the attack and took it upon themselves. Kate and Keith released their Stylers and captured the army of Bidoof in a few swipes. Keith then snapped his fingers and blew up Wheeler's Miniremo. Murph and Slowking then immobilized the man, making him stand as stiff as a board and keel over.

"Yikes!" Wheeler exclaimed, and he shuddered under the pressure of four pairs of eyes staring down at him. Kate then gave him a look of disgust and yanked him to his feet, about to punch him, but a Dim Sun grunt came walking in, oblivious to the tension.

"Mr. Wheeler?" he began "We've already achieves the objectives of our Union raid! We should pull out!"

Kate then snorted, and with questionable strength, age threw he still immobilized Wheeler at the grunt's feet. The man didn't say anything by stared in fear of the wrath coming from the three people looking at him.

"You're done here," Keith said coldly and snapped, causing an explosion next to the two foes. "Get out. NOW."

"Aiyeeh!" Wheeler squeaked, "I failed to notice that. I hope this will suffice for today. Eheheh!"

The grunt then ran away, dragging his superior with him, leaving them behind to pick up the pieces. The Ranger's eyes fell upon the person the Operators were crying over, and she felt Keith stiffen considerably when he realized who was lying down on the ground with a massive injury, a pool of blood.

"Chairperson Erma!" Rhythmi was screeching. "Please respond!"

"Please!" Linda joined in. "Hang in here!"

"Erma!" Hastings was shouting at a high pitch. "Don't die on us now!"

"What... happened?" Keith asked.

"The explosion tore apart the control room..." Linda replied shakily. "We... couldn't stop it from hitting Erma..."

"Oi!" Hastings was getting desperate, with the medics taking too long to get here. "Wake up, Erma! wake up!"

Kate and Keith looked at each other in complete fury at their enemy. They felt ashamed to fail their duty to protect the Union. Those Dim Sun goons hurt many people... Those people had to pay.

"Prof. Hastings!" Keith said. "I'm going to get those clowns!"

"No!" Hastings screamed at the redhead, who winced at the volume of his tone. "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!"

The paramedics came, and Erma was placed under life support. Fortunately, Doctor Wayne said she was still alive, and everyone nearly died from happiness at the news, one less thing to worry about in this crisis. He remaining scientists and operators were gathered in the the only intact are of the Union, the science lab. Kate and Keith were standing beside Murph to support him of his injuries. Ben, Summer, and Basil were awake, and they were huddled about Doctor Wayne, whom they pleaded to attend the meeting. Hastings was shaken from the raid on the Union, and he as barely handling his cane properly.

"The top priority for Operation Brighton will be shifted," Hastings shouted. "Before everything else, Isaac and Melody must be rescued!"

Rhythmi was documenting things when she suddenly jumped from her place.

"Prof. Hastings!" her face was visibly excited. "Sven is reporting in!"

"Patch him through," Murph said hoarsely, and they heard a crackling distortion on the other end of the line.

"They threw up a powerful barrier on top of the tower!" Sven shouted in a rushed voice. "Worse, the barrier has three layers!"

"We can't reach it!" Wendy joined in. "It's impossible for us to get close to the Shadow Crystal from the sky!"

Everyone grimaced at the sudden change of pace, and Hastings was frustrated.

"I didn't expect things to go so easily," he grumbled. "They must have kept it out of their blueprints for precisely this reason. Well done... Very well done... Now How to eliminate that barrier..."

Everyone watched warily as Hastings walked back and forth in deep thought, but a cough from Murph caught their attention. Lately, with Chairperson Erma out of commission, the representative was treated with the position of advising Hastings.

"Prof Hastings?" he asked. "Surely, you didn't forget that the union has two other Top Rangers?"

Keith understood what murph was implying and began beaming a hopeful look at Hastings. Kate also gave an intent but eager stare at the old scientist.
"No, no, of course I haven't forgotten," Hastings said hesitantly. "But though they are Top Rangers, they simply lack experience..."

"I don't think so," Murph shook his head. "You should have seen them when they were trying their best to defend the Union from Team Dim Sun, just the two of them against an army. I watched them with my own eyes."

Everyone watched in amazement as Murph began to pour out everything he wanted to say. Kate and Keith stepped up to Hastings, faces full of resolve.

"We were aware that we had to work hard," Kate said. "The two or us didn't give ourselves any room to rest as we strived to improve ourselves."

"Now we are sure we can take on your plans," Keith nodded in agreement. "No matter what."

Hastings was shocked and looked at Murph, and everyone else, hoping for an answer. He stared back at the two Top Rangers. Since when did either of these two grow to be so... So capable and confident? Was this the next generation of the Union? How funny.

"Fine," Hastings smiled to himself, earning a gasp from Kate. "I understand now. I must have been blind. No more treating you like rookies. I promise."

Kate and Keith gave each other excited faces, and they were close to holding each other's hands in excitement, but they refrained.

"Keith and Kate," Hastings began. "I'm assigning you a mission truly worthy of Top Rangers. All right, listen closely."

Hastings held up one finger. "First, you are to infiltrate Altru Tower and rescue Isaac and Melody."

Hastings then held up a second finger. "Second, you are to locate and get back the yellow gem."

The scientist proceeded to the next instruction. "Third, Keith is to take a Staraptor and fly the Yellow Gem above the tower. You are to join up with Wendy and Sven, Keith. Kate, you are to remain in the tower by yourself. You're assigned the key role in Operation Brighton."

"Me?" Kate was rather taken aback. Hastings nodded and looked to Vato.

"Kate," the brown haired scientist explained. "We're working on something to be added to your Styler to assist you in the Operation. That's why you are to remain on the tower."

"Anyways," Hastings concluded. "You are to make your way up the tower while disabling the three barrier layers. After piercing the barriers, guide the three Rangers to the Shadow Crystal."

Hastings then gave a look of a worried parent sending his kids off into a new world away from home. The sobriety of his tone increased, and Kate and Keith felt uneasy.

"It goes without saying that you will faced with many foes on the way," Hastings warned them. "It's a harrowing, challenging, and ultimately rewarding mission! Why, my lips are trembling even as I issue these very commands!"

Everyone chuckled at Hastings attempt of brightening the mood. Everyone subsided their laughter, and Murph gave them a proud smile before standing up himself.
"Kate and Keith," he said. "We will be supporting you from here."

"Yeah, Big Sister and Keith!" Basil shouted, and Ben followed. Kate smiled at their enthusiasm and turned to everyone.
"Okay," she said. "Let Operation Brighton Restart!"

Everyone shouted and raised their fists to the air, and made way for Kate and Keith to run through. Starly chirped loudly and Buizel barked as they followed their partners as the summoned a Staraptor and leaping away from the Union. They began flying at full-speed, with Keith's arms wrapped around Kate's waist as she sat in front of them.

"Hey, Keith," Kate said to him. "You think we can do it?"

"Sven and Wendy in the sky," he said. "Our dedicated operators, that research staff that forego sleep to decipher the diary, Murph and his happy cheer. Of course."

"Hm," Kate agreed. Everyone had their own responsibilities, duties for their own purpose of being. Everyone was supported by each other. They all needed each other. If no on forgot this, operation Brighton couldn't fail!

X month, XX day
The oil reserve us down to half that of last year. I fear for the future of Almia. Today, several mysterious black stones were unearthed from the drilling site. They were unlike anything I had ever seen. They shone with a dark, alluring light. I felt something stir in my heart in response to its fascinating darkness...

A/N: Pretty big chapter again. Sorta ashamed of myself for making this chapter sound badly done... *sigh*