We got to the top of the stars, and saw the door to the next floor was locked shut.

"How do we get in?" I asked.

"If I'm correct, there should be a computer somewhere around here... Aha! Found it!" Isaac pressed part of the wall, and a small screen appeared. He tapped something into it, and the door opened.

"There! I shut off the power. We've got free access to the tower's top now."'I walked through the door, and Isaac was about to follow when it slammed shut.

"It's the same time-lapse trap from before! I should have known!" I heard him shout.

"I'm going to keep going!" I said.

"Kate, I'm grateful that you believed me, even though I was with the bad guys. Thank you, and I mean it. You have to hurry now. You have to go up to the top. There isn't a second to waste now. You're tough enough to take them down on your own!" He said.

"Thanks Isaac!" I said before running off.

"THIS IS ALTRU CORE COMPUTER. THIS IS ALTRUTRUTRUTRUTRUTRU... THE INCREDIBLE MACHINE'S POWER IS NOW AT LEVEL 3! LEVEL 3! LEVELEVELELEVELLEVEL 3! THIS IS ALTRU THIS IS ALTRU THIS IS ALTRU ALM..."

Rhythmi POV

I had been staring at the computer screen for a while before it hit me.

"The Incredible Machine's power has hit Level 3!" I shouted.

"Its effect is even spreading to Pokemon in the Haruba Desert and Hia Valley!" Linda said.

It was chaos here at the Union. Scientists and mechanics rushed around, trying to get certain parts for whatever they were working on. I had seen Georgia a few times helping carry multiple Miniremos at once to get to the scientists. The receptionists were busy telling people the people that kept flooding in that it'll be over soon, as well as bring everyone cups of coffee. We had area Rangers temporarily fixing the damage Dim Sun did to the Union Building.

"Rhythmi! Have you sent the Incredible program to Kate's styler yet? Professor Hastings asked me.

"It's still sending. It's at 87% right now!" I replied. I stood up and stretched before sitting down again, and continuing my work.

"Things will be fine. You must have faith in our Top Rangers!" Erma said, before Professor Hastings whispering something to her. She gasped and speed-walked out of the room.

Please let them all be fine…

Kate POV

I had reached the roof. The wind was howling, so I barely heard the beep from my styler saying it had been updated with the Incredible Program. What did the Professor say it was for again?

"Welcome, Kate!" I heard someone shout. I then saw Heath, Wheeler, and Blake Hall standing ahead of me. Blake Hall walked up to me, and the others followed soon after.

"Well, I'll be... I seem to be all out of business cards. How careless of me. No matter. I am Blake Hall, the President of Altru Inc. From what I've been hearing, this commotion... I understand that it's named Operation Brighton? That's my father's name. Though a coincidence, I will consider it a family honour."

"It wasn't a coincidence. We found your fathers diary and what made you like this!" I shouted above the wind.

"It's also quite an honour to see someone go through so much to meet with me. Unfortunately for you, you arrived, shall we say, a bit too late?" He said, ignoring what I had just said.

"Yes, I would say it's been only minutes since the Incredible Machine attained full power. But now, it's reach extends to the Almia region in it's entirety. This brings all the Pokemon in Almia under my full and complete control. They are all mine to do my bidding, and my bidding alone. I can have them excavating and mining. I can use them as cargo transports. Pokemon can be used individually to make electricity. Or those that make heat or push volumes of water can be used to power major electrical plants. Or, consider if you will, a time of crisis. What if we are threatened by outsiders? In such times, it would be hard to argue against using Pokemon as soldiers. Yes! This is the dream-energy machine that is fuelled by Pokemon! Wouldn't you agree that description is a fitting one?" Blake Hall continued.

"Mr. Hall, sir. Mr. Hall! If may say so, sir, your wise words are but badly wasted in this uncouth child. Perhaps my Bidoof could convince it to leave?" Wheeler asked Blake. I had no idea what the word uncouth meant, but there was no way I was going to ask.

"Enough of that child's play. This girl, which you rudely called 'it', is by far superior in her power compared to you." Blake said, pushing the small, green haired man out of his way.

"Mr. Hall, I see, I see indeed! You wish to toy with the child yourself? Child, you should feel privileged. This time, your downfall is assured." Wheeler continued talking.

"Shut up, Wheeler. Don't talk anymore. Kate, you don't seem to realise the power of he Incredible Machine. You fail to grasp the enormity of what it represents. Perhaps it's too much for anyone to truly understand. But everyone all come to accept it when the new dawn arrives. Very soon now, the date will change. Altru will celebrate it's new birth. Let me give you a slight taste of what you can expect. Perhaps I should summon a Pokemon that is worthy of this occasion. A Pokemon that is worthy of ushering in a new age of darkness... That said, that Pokemon... No. Not now. Ah, but this is absolutely wonderful! From here, I still have a wide choice of Pokemon. They are all available for me to summon. Whether they be in herds or alone, they are mine to control as I desire. Gigaremo? Miniremo? No longer necessary. Ah! Here! A Pokemon perfect for you! I've spotted it in the Haruba Desert before." For a man who's continually telling others to shut up, he talks quite a bit himself...

A Dusknoir appeared right in front of me, then it drifted over to Blake, Heath, and Wheeler.

"The development of this enormous machine took exceptional cost and effort. The project only took off when we placed Kincaid as a teacher in Ranger School. He succeeded in recruiting a genius who appears only once in a century. The Incredible Machine let's me summon any Pokemon I choose, you see. Let me introduce you to my Duskinoir. Duskinoir, this Ranger has come to join in our celebrations. Give our guest a demonstration of out gratitude!"

The Pokemon disappeared before I could do anything. Like the ghost Pokemon it was, it continued to do this throughout the capture. Slowly, I managed to capture it.

"Quite impressive... You're surpassed your reputation. But don't get too full of yourself. You're sorely mistaken if you think you've won. Don't you understand? I've already won. So long as I have the incredible machine, I can keep summoning Pokemon. Whenever and from wherever I choose, I can summon as many as I wish. It's physically impossible for me to lose. Do you understand that now?"

"Kate! Get as close to the shadow crystal as you can!" Sven and Wendy shouted as they flew over me. I ran over to as close as I could get the the Shadow Crystal. The Gem, which was in my jacket pocket, flashed.

"What? What was that yellow flash just now? You, Kate... What are you hiding from me? It can't be! The Yellow Gem!" Blake stuttered before turning to Heath, angry.

"Uh... We are meaning to reporting earlier, but we three failing at protect it. Not thinking that will forgiving us, but... But, sir, Boss, you having that Pokemon already, so okay, I am hoping..." Heath tried to explain.

"You blundering oaf! It was crucial that the three gems be kept apart from each other! All we needed was to retain one of them! Just one! If we keep even one, the Shadow Crystal can't be harmed! Did you not understand that? Your incompetents failed to protect the Yellow Gem or the barrier! And now you expect that Pokemon to cover for your repeated mistakes? This takes some nerves! You don't even have the courage or he wits to run like the other two. Yes, you do have a lot I'd nerve to show your face when you failed yet again!" Blake yelled.

"B-But... I staying here because... I am so worrying about you, Boss..." Heath stuttered.

"Silence! Save your worthless concerns! I have no need for underlings now! With the Incredible Machine, all Almia's Pokemon are my servants!" Blake continued yelling.

"Hall! We can hear you raving even up here! Kate, get ready! We'll put the finishing touches on Operation Brighton!" Sven shouted down to me.

"This is it, folks!" Wendy yelled.

"You think that's clever, Rangers? You leave me with no choice. The Pokemon will be unleashed! Oh, and what fortuitous timing! Midnight has arrived! On Altru's day of birth, let your presence be shown in all its dark glory! Now! Awaken from the darkness! Rise, my Darkrai!" There was what seemed to be an earthquake, before a strange smoke filled the air. Soon, I couldn't see the sky.

"A Pokemon that errors the energy of darkness within its body... That is Darkrai. It is the most beloved of all my Pokemon!" Blake laughed.

Slowly, a black hole opened up in the ground. I backed away as it got bigger. I saw a figure rise through the hole. It was black, with red and grey markings. As it rose, the hole got smaller.

"Go on, Darkrai! Invite this hero-fixated child to your world of darkness!" Blake Hall shouted. It took me a second to realise he meant me.

"Kate! Are you ok?" Sven and Wendy voice mailed me, but I could barely hear them from the static.

"Yeah, I'm good right now, but there's this weird Pokemon here..." I said.

"We're gonna try to get closer! Try not to get into trouble!" Sven said before cutting the line off.

Darkrai looked at me. I realised that although, it was being controlled like all the other uncaptured Pokemon, it had a look of sadness in its eyes. It stopped when it raised its arms though. The black hole reappeared underneath Darkrai, and the hole was growing. When it reached me, I didn't know what would happen. I just sort of backed away until I couldn't anymore. When it finally reached me though, it felt like quicksand.

"Lumi! Buizel! Get out of here!" I told them. They wouldn't move from my shoulders, so I told them again. Lumi shocked me after that.

"You guys have to go! I don't know what's happening!" I told them. The darkness was up to my waist now, but the Pokemon refused to leave me, so I tried harder to get out. Unfortunately, it was a lot like quicksand in the fact that the more you struggled, the faster you went.

"Ranger Kate! Go! Go into the world of darkness!" Blake laughed. Heath looked uncomfortable and kept staring between me, Blake, and the stairs to get off the rooftop.

The darkness was almost at my shoulders, when I heard a familiar voice.

"KATE!"

I'M BACK! Sorry for no updates for a while, but I was stressed out from school.

Not many chapters to go now! Be prepared for some surprises 😉