From the medical camp behind the front lines, everyone is working as hard and as fast as possible. Brock, Erika, her assistants, Professor Sycamore, Mairin, Chespie, Bonnie, Dedenne, and all the doctors and Nurse Joys from both the Kanto and Johto regions are struggling to keep up with the many Pokemon trainers that are lined up to have their Pokemon healed before going back to the fighting. The doctors and nurses are moving around left and right, bringing damaged or unconscious Pokemon to their healing machines, carts full of medicine, or barrels of berries as quickly and efficiently as possible. From the farthest side of the camp, Bonnie and Dedenne are taking care of giving berries to anyone who needs them.
"Bonnie, I need 2 Oran Berries," a Nurse Joy says, holding a Gloom.
"Got it," Bonnie says, taking two Oran berries out of one of the barrels and handing it to Nurse Joy before she leaves.
"Bonnie, I need a Pacha Berry stat!" A doctor says hurriedly while carrying a poisoned Radicate.
"Right away," Bonnie says, giving a Pacha Berry to the doctor.
"Bonnie, I need three Cheri Berries for thi, Chameleon, and Weezing," Professor Sycamore says with the three Pokemon behind him.
Bonnie turns to the many barrels and calls out, "Dedenne, three Cheri Berries!"
Dedenne pops up and picks the Cheri Berries out of one of the barrels farthest from the little girl and brings them to her as fast as the little antenna Pokemon can carry them. Bonnie gives then to the professor before he feeds them to the Pokemon, and they leave.
Bonnie sighs in relief, thankful to have a moment of peace. She takes off Serena's hat and uses it as a fan.
"I don't know how long I can keep this up, Dedenne," she moans. "It's getting chaotic over here."
"De, ne, ne," Dedenne groans in agreement.
"I sure hope the battle is somehow going better than it looks over here with all of these hurt Pokemon," Bonnie says. "And I really hope Clemont and all of our friends are doing okay."
"So do I."
Bonnie turns around to find Brock and his Chansey heading towards her with Brock having a serious look.
"Hey, Brock. Got some berry requests?" Bonnie asks.
"Yes. I need 7 Pacha Berries, 9 Persim Berries, and 15 Enigma Berries right away," Brock answers.
"Coming right up," Bonnie says as she and Dedenne gather all of the requested berries and place them in Brock and Chansey's arms.
The tan-skinned man and his Pokemon carry the berries to the other side of the camp where a couple of Nurse Joys and doctors take them and feed them to several Pokemon. Brock sighs in relief and is about to find something else to help when he hears a loud voice.
"Help! Somebody help!"
He turns around to see a woman with blonde hair covered by her hat and wearing a zipped jacket and a long skirt. She runs over to Brock in a state of panic and grabs his shirt.
"You gotta help me!" She exclaims. "My Pokemon is in trouble."
Brock looks at the woman sympathetically and says, "I'm sorry, but you're gonna have to wait in line."
"You don't understand!" The woman begs with tears in her eyes. "It's not just unable to fight! It's in serious, critical condition! If nothing is done about it soon, it might...might…"
The woman lowers her head and starts crying loudly. Brock looks at the woman concerned, understanding what she is implying. In his heart, he knows he can't refuse a Pokemon that might be in a terminal condition.
"Okay, okay, we'll help," he says comfortingly. "Where is your Pokemon?"
The woman keeps crying for a moment before it abruptly stops, and she looks up at Brock with an evil look on her face.
"Right behind you."
Brock is confused until he looks behind him just in time to cover his eyes as a bright light appears to reveal a Claydol. Before Brock has a moment to speak, the woman points at them and shouts, "Destroy everything in sight!"
Without hesitation, the Claydol starts firing several Psybeams at different locations of the camp. Doctors and nurses scream in panic as they run away to avoid getting hit by the beams that destroy their equipment left and right. Bonnie and Dedenne move away to avoid getting hit while the Claydol uses Rapid Spin to destroy the barrels of berries. The trainers waiting in line to have their Pokemon healed all run away in fright. Brock watches in horror before turning to the woman.
"What are you doing?!" he yells.
The woman lets out a loud, evil laugh before she takes off her hat and jacket to reveal Domino in her Team Rocket uniform.
"Domino!" Brock growls.
"Aw, you remember me. I'm touched," Domino says sarcastically. "I admit I'm not a fan of using Pokemon as opposed to my tulips, but this Claydol is brutally effective. Apparently, it used to belong to some old hermit or something on an island far from here."
Brock takes a moment to think before he asks, "You mean Spenser?"
Domino scoffs and says, "I could care less what his name is. I only care about how powerful his Pokemon is and how much it can destroy your cute little camp."
Brock clenches his teeth and growls, "Not if I have anything to say anything about it. Chansey, use Secret Power!"
Immediately, Chansey waves its hand, and it releases a pink cloud from its body all around it. But Claydol teleports again and appears right behind Chansey to hit the egg Pokemon hard with Rapid Spin, sending it several feet away. Mairin and Bonnie look at each other and nod before they make their own attempt to hit Claydol.
"Chespie, use Vine Whip!" Mairin shouts.
"Dedenne, use Nuzzle!" Bonnie commands.
The two little Pokemon use their attack, and they hit their opponent directly, but the clay doll Pokemon is immune to Nuzzle and is too strong for Vine Whip to take any effect. Mairin and Bonnie whimper in fear as Claydol fires another Psybeam that sends the two girls and their Pokemon flying.
"Mairin! Bonnie!" Professor Sycamore shouts.
Domino lets out another evil laugh that makes the Kalos professor angry.
"My, my, I really am glad to use a Pokemon for once," she says. "It's just so easy. I can have this powerful Pokemon destroy this place as much as I want, and I don't even have to tell it to do anything."
"You're going to find that to be a serious disadvantage," Professor Sycamore growls while taking out a Pokeball. "Garchomp, come on out!"
He throws the ball, and his loyal Garchomp comes out, giving a loud roar at Claydol. Professor Sycamore takes out a keystone and touches it, making it glow.
"Garchomp, time to Mega evolve!" He shouts.
Garchomp roars again as the Garchompite around its neck glows. But as Professor Sycamore's Pokemon is mega evolving, Caydol fires Psybeam at Garchomp and knocks it several feet away, interrupting its Mega Evolution. Professor Sycamore looks at his partner in shock before Claydol prepares a mighty Hyper Beam and fires it at Garchomp, instantly knocking it out.
"Garchomp!" He cries out.
Erika and Brock take out some of their own Pokeballs and throw them.
"Tangela, Victreebel, Gloom, come on out!" Erika shouts.
"Geodude, Crobat, Sudowoodo, Croagunk, let's go!" Brock yells.
Erika and Brock's Pokemon appear from different sides around Claydol. Domino merely smirks, confident that this won't go well for her enemies.
"Victreebel, use Power Whip! Tangela and Gloom, use Stun Spore!" Erika commands.
"Geodude, Gyro Ball! Crobat, Wing Attack! Sudowoodo, Feint Attack! Croagunk, Brick Break!" Brock orders.
All seven Pokemon prepare to use their respective attacks, but right as they are about to use them, Claydol uses Teleport again. The Pokemon don't realize what just happened before they have already used their attacks. Croagunk misses completely, Victreebel's vines get knocked back before Geodude rams the flycatcher Pokemon with Gyro Ball and Tangela and Gloom accidentally use Stun Spore on Sudowoodo and Crobat, paralyzing them. Erica and Brock look in shock before Claydol appears behind Tangela, Victreebel, Geodude, and Gloom before it uses Psybeam on all of them. The psychic move knocks out Erika's two part-poison-type Pokemon, leaving her to gasp as she sees Victreebel and Gloom lying on the ground. It then uses Rapid Spin to knock Tangela and Geodude back before turning to the rest of Brock's Pokemon.
"Looks like you're the ones with a disadvantage," Domino mocks. "Good thing I ordered it to attack or dodge from anything it sees attacking with its multiple eyes. Nothing can stop it now."
Brock looks at Claydol angrily, determined to save the camp.
"Crobat, Geodude, Wing Attack, and Gyro Ball again!" He shouts.
Both of his Pokemon charge toward their opponent only for Crobat to stop because of electric sparks appearing all over its body and for Claydol to disappear again, making Geodude miss. The clay doll Pokemon reappears beside the Pokemon and uses Psybeam to instantly knocking out Brock's poison and flying type Pokemon.
"Tangela, Vine Whip!" Erika shouts.
Tangela extends two of its vines in an attempt to strike its opponent, but Claydol knocks the vines away using Rapid Spin before hitting it with Psybeam. With the powerful psychic attacked use twice against it, the poor vine Pokemon is knocked out, leaving Erika unable to keep battling. Brock begins to order more attacks only for a black tulip to hit him in the stomach, and volts of electricity shock him. He shouts in agony and falls down on his back, feeling the electricity flow over his body from top to bottom. Domino laughs out loud as she walks over to Brock and kneels down with a cruel look on her face.
"As much as I find your persistence to be amusing, I still have a mission to complete," she says. "I'm going to reduce this medical camp to dust, and when I am through, it's only a matter of time before we crush your army for everything that it's -"
"Beedrill, X-Scissor! Wigglytuff, Headbutt!"
Domino frowns in confusion and looks up to see Claydol getting hit by a bug attack. Before Domino has a moment to react, she feels something ram her hard on the stomach, and she tumbles to the ground. She groans in pain as she slowly gets up to see a Beedrill, Wigglytuff, Probopass, Farfetch'd, Peliper, and Toxicroak surround Brock with a livid auburn-haired woman taking out the black tulip out of him.
"Get away from him!" she barks.
Brock moans in pain with his eyes closed before he slowly opens them to see the woman who just rescued him and stares at her in awe as if he is looking at an angel.
"Ho...Holly?" he mutters.
Domino growls and gets up, glaring at her attacker.
"That was a big mistake," she snarls before coming toward Holly and her Pokemon with her gymnastic skills.
"No, you're the one who made a mistake," Holly claims. "Pelipper, Surf!"
Pelipper summons a large wave of water at Domino, who just smirks. When the wave of water gets close enough, she jumps high into the air and does a flip, easily dodging the attack. The Team Rocket agent grins as she is about to land perfectly on the ground only to see Holly throw the black tulip used on Brock in the direction that Domino is landing. Her eyes widen, and she tries to dodge, but she inevitably lands, and the weapon hits her square in the chest. She cries out in pain and falls on her back while her own gadget shocks her.
"Taste of your own medicine," Holly says with a smirk before she turns to Brock with a worried look on her face. "Brock, are you okay?"
Brock remains lying down, still mesmerized by the sight of Holly before he robotically lifts his hand so that Holly can help him up. Holly gives him a sweet smile before she looks around in confusion.
"Where's Lucy? Is she not with you?" she asks.
Brock opens his mouth so answer while his arms begin to reach out to tightly embrace the woman of his heart, but his daze is completely interrupted by the sound of Claydol going back to destroying more of the medical equipment. The two adults turn to the brainwashed Pokemon and frown, mentally knowing that they need to focus on taking it down.
"Pelipper, use Wing Attack! Farfetch'd, use Peck! Wigglytuff, use Pound!"
"No, wait!" Brock shouts.
Pelipper, Farfetch'd, and Wigglytuff run toward Claydol with their respective attacks, but Claydol once again disappears. The three Pokemon look around in confusion until Claydol appears beside them, preparing to use Hyper Beam.
"Geodude, Sudowoodo, get Pelipper, Farfetch'd, and Wigglytuff away from there!" Brock yells.
Sudowoodo grabs Pelipper while Geodude grabs Farfetch and Wigglytuff with both arms. They bring Holly's Pokemon back to her side just as Claydol fires it's Hyper Beam at where they were.
"It knows Teleport?" Holly says, surprised.
"It does," Brock says seriously. "It's been using it to dodge all of our attacks before attacking our Pokemon. I'm the only person who has any Pokemon left apart from you."
Holly frowns, realizing the gravity of the situation. But then her eyes widen as something clicks in her mind, and she turns to Brock.
"Wait, how many times has it used Teleport?" she says.
Brock looks at her, confused, and says, "A few times. Why?"
"Do you think we can have it use it enough time to have it tire from using it?" Holly asks.
"That's a nice idea, but we can't sacrifice our Pokemon to get that chance," Brock says.
"We don't have to," Holly says with a smirk. "Probopass, use Magnet Bomb!"
The eyes of Probopass' mini-noses glow orange, and they fly off towards Claydol. The psychic-and-ground-type Pokemon disappears again and reappears several feet away only for the mini-noses to fly straight that way. Claydol then disappears again to dodge only to find the noses heading in the direction where it reappears. The clay doll Pokemon uses Teleport again and again, only for the mini-noses to keep following it in whatever direction it's at before Claydol uses Teleport again. Brock watches the process, amazed with what Holly's idea.
"You're using the noses to have Claydol use Teleport enough times that it will eventually tire out," he says.
"I am," Holly says proudly while watching Claydol constantly using it psychic attack to dodge. "And when it's unable to use it anymore, we can attack it together with all of our Pokemon."
Brock turns to Holly and smiles fondly at the idea of him and the woman who has his heart taking down their opponent together with their Pokemon. Without thinking about it, he takes Holly's hand, and she turns to him, confused.
"Together," Brock says.
Holly smiles and nods before the two of them turn to face Claydol, who is still teleporting all over the camp. Domino watches the progress while still being electrocuted by her own tulip. Finally, after one more Teleport, Claydol appears in the middle of the camp and stands there groaning, feeling tired from constantly using the move. Propopass' mini-noses finally get close enough to the clay doll Pokemon and explode, making Claydol fall down.
"Now, Toxicroack, use Poison Jab!" Holly shouts.
Brock realizes what she's doing and shouts, "Croagunk, use Poison Jab too!"
Both of their poison and fighting type Pokemon charge at Claydol with Croagunk's fingertips and the large claw on Toxicroack's hand glowing purple. They jab Claydol, making it groan in pain, but Domino just laughs out loud through the pain.
"Y-y-you...I-I-I-imbeciles," she says while still getting shocked. "D-d-d-don't...y-y-you...k-know...i-i-it's...r-r-r-resistant...t-t-t-to...p-p-p-poison...m-m-moves?"
The Team Rocket agent smiles through the pain until she sees purple bubbles appear around Claydol's body. Brock and Holly smirk at each other, thinking the same thing.
"Resistant…" Holly begins.
"But not immune," Brock finishes.
Domino growls, and with all the willpower, she can muster, grabs the tulip on her chest, and takes it out. She takes large breaths of relief before she stands up and looks at Claydol angrily.
"Get up!" She screams. "Get up and take them down, you stupid Pokemon!"
Claydol is still groaning in pain before it slowly levitates back up. But by the time it's about to attack, Holly makes another call.
"Wigglytuff, use Sing, now!" She shouts.
The balloon Pokemon quickly starts to sing at its opponent, and Claydol slowly becomes drowsy. Eventually, it stops levitating and just stands in the middle of the camp, asleep with purple bubbles still appearing all over its body. Domino growls and starts to throw tulips at Brock and Holly from the side.
"Farfetch'd, use Air Slash!" Holly shouts.
Farfetch'd jumps into the side of the two adults and starts cutting all of the tulips down with its attack. Domino keeps throwing her arsenal at them in desperation while Brock makes an order.
"Geodude, use Gyro Ball on her," he commands.
Domino realizes what Brock just commanded in mid-throw before she turns to where Geodude is coming. The rock Pokemon rams into her, knocking the wind out of her and sending her falling to the ground. The blonde woman holds her gut in agony while Brock and Holly turn back to Claydol.
"Let's finish this," Holly says.
"Let's finish this," Brock agrees. "Sudowoodo, Feint Attack! Geodude, Gyro Ball! Croagunk, Brick Break!"
"Pelipper, Hydro Pump! Probopass, Rock Slide! Farfetch'd, Razor Leaf! Wigglytuff, Headbutt! Beedrill, X-Scissor! Toxicroak, use Brick Break too!" Holly commands.
All nine Pokemon use their attacks at the same, and with Claydol unable to move, they all landed their attacks. The clay doll Pokemon groans in its sleep as Wigglytuff, Geodude, and Sudowoodo, ram into it with Headbutt, Gyro Ball, and Feint Attack, respectively, with the third attack seriously damaging it. The ground-and-psychic-type Pokemon's body grows even weaker with Hydro Pump, Razor Leaf, Rock Slide, and X-Scissor. Even having Toxicroak and Croagunk use Brick Break together caused some damage despite Claydol being resistant to fighting moves. Once the Pokemon are done with all of their attacks, Claydol is covered with serious scratches and bruises all over its body. Domino slowly gets up and grins confidently at Brock and Holly while still holding on to her stomach.
"You see?" She boasts. "You can't take it down with all of your Pokemon. You're wasting your time."
"I beg to differ," Brock says with neither him or Holly looking at Domino.
The Team Rocket agent looks at the two of them confused before she turns to Claydol, who is still standing straight as it is asleep. The purple bubbles appear all over the clay doll Pokemon's body, and it groans one last time before it falls down with swirly eyes. Domino looks in shock before turning to Brock and Holly with an angry face.
"Don't think that just because you took down that Claydol, your camp is safe," she snarls. "All I need to do is summon another psychic-type Pokemon and -"
But as she's in the middle of threatening Brock and Holly, she feels two sharp stings of pain coming right up her behind. She lets out a painful yelp and plummets to the ground on her front. Brock and Holly turn to where Domino is lying down on the ground with Croagunk and Toxicroak standing behind her with their fingertips and large claw glowing, respectively. The two Pokemon let out low chuckles as they grab Domino by her legs and drag her away.
Brock and Holly can't help but smile at the two poison-and-fighting-type Pokemon with Brock particularly thankful to see Croagunk use Poison Jab on someone else for a change. Their moment of amusement is short-lived, however, when they frown and look to see most of the medical camp wreaked. Professor Sycamore tries to comfort Mairin and Bonnie as the two girls cradle Chespie and Dedenne, respectively. Erika frowns sadly to see her three Pokemon lying on the ground, unconscious. All the Nurse Joys and doctors start to walk back to camp, looking devastated at all the machines and equipment that have been destroyed. Holly feels guilty as she turns to Brock apologetically.
"I'm so sorry," she says, putting her hands together like she's praying. "If I got here sooner maybe they won't have caused so much -"
"It's not your fault," Brock says seriously, as he looks at the damage. "All we need to focus on now is salvage what we can. The battle is still going on out there, and we need to heal as much Pokemon as we can."
Holly stares at Brock and nods in agreement with her own serious look.
"I'll help," she declares. "Tell me what I need to do."
Brock turns to her and sees the sincerity in her eyes. A part of him wants to tell her right now how he feels, but he decides against it, knowing that there are more important things at hand.
"Okay, why don't you help pick up all the berries that are still good while I help the doctors and nurses pick up the medicine," Brock says.
"You got it," Holly says before turning to her Pokemon. "Farfetch'd, Wigglytuff, come with me. Beedrill, Pelipper, Probopass, stand guard in case Team Rocket attacks again."
"Good idea," Brock says before turning to his remaining Pokemon. "Geodude, Sudowoodo, come help me."
Thus, the two of them go in different directions with their Pokemon to clean up the mess. As Brock helps a Nurse Joy with a damaged machine, however, he mentally prays that Team Rocket will ultimately lose the fight so that he can get another chance with Holly.
Coovers, Serena, Pikachu, Gary, Koga, and Agatha wait patiently as the elevator goes up. Serena and Pikachu feel like the elevator is going slower than it actually is, eager to reach the floor that will lead to everyone rescuing the International Police before they can save Ash. Both of them want nothing more than to embrace the raven-haired once again. The rest of the team hold their hands close to their pockets, ready to take out their Pokeballs at any moment.
Finally, after what felt like hours for the entire group, the elevator makes a loud "ding" and the doors open. They immediately race out of the elevator and run down a long hall except for Agatha, who is using her cane.
"Hang on, everyone," she calls out. "I can't run as fast as you."
The rest of the team stops and turns to Agatha, with Gary getting impatient.
"Come on!" he complains. "I thought time is of the essence here!"
"No offense, Agatha, but I'm with Gary on this one," Coovers says hesitantly. "Maybe he or Koga could carry you or something?"
Agatha frowns and asks, "Are you saying I'm holding everyone back because of my age?"
"It's nothing personal, Agatha," Coovers says. "It's just that -"
"Wait!" Koga says sharply. "Someone's coming."
The rest of the team immediately turns to where Koga is looking. They all take out a Pokeball, and Pikachu hops off of Serena's shoulder, getting ready to fight. They stand still for a moment until they see three figures passing by from the left of the hallway. It takes a moment before Serena recognizes them as Jessie, James, and Meowth, who are walking by without noticing them. But then Meowth glances at where the tram is and lets out a panicking yelp, pointing at the group. Jessie and James turn to where Meowth is pointing and squeal in fear as a few Pokeballs are thrown their way.
"Klinklang, come on out!" Coovers shouts.
"Braixen, let's go!" Serena yells.
"Blastoise, get ready!" Gary shouts.
"Golbat, emerge!" Koga commands.
"Gengar, come out," Agatha says.
All five Pokemon come out of their containers and appear beside Pikachu. The trainers are about to make their first calls when Jessie, James, and Meowth get down on their knees and put their hands up.
"We surrender!" Jessie shouts.
"Please don't attack us!" James whines.
Gary looks at the trio skeptically, remembering the times he's had to deal with them.
"Why should we believe you?!" He barks. "I oughta have Blastoise use Skull Bash on the three of you right now!"
"Blaaaaasssss," Blastoise bellows menacingly.
The trio whimper and Jessie and James take out their Pokeballs and rolls them over to Coovers, Serena, Gary, Koga, and Agatha.
"There, we're completely defenseless," James says with a nervous smile.
Serena inspects their Pokeballs on the floor and says, "There should be three Pokeballs between you two containing Gourgeist, Inkay, and Wobbuffet. Why are there only two?"
Jessie frowns sadly and says, "Our boss said I had to give up Wobbuffet for the cause because it's a psychic-type. Poor Wobbuffet is probably out there mindlessly fighting outside right now."
"Well, doesn't it stink to be you?" Gary says mockingly. "And now it looks like you're completely useless without your Pokemon. We should just knock you out right now."
James squeals and begs, "Please don't! We can help you!"
"That's right," Meowth says. "We'll tell ya everything you ask and do anything ya want! Just don't hurt us!"
Agatha raises an eyebrow and says, "I remember you trying to kidnap Pikachu a couple years ago. How do we know you don't have something up your sleeve?
"You can frisk us!" Jessie answers. "You can check to make sure we don't have any gadgets or anything!"
The five trainers look at the trio skeptically before Serena turns to Coovers.
"Can we do that?" She asks.
Coovers hesitates before he says, "Well, I am trained to do that as a policeman, so I might as well."
Serena, Gary, Koga, and Agatha nod at their leader as Coovers walks over to the trio. Before he starts checking for anything, however, he turns to his Klinklang with a serious look.
"You know what to do if they try anything," he says.
"Klinklang," his Pokemon replies.
Coovers then starts frisking Jessie and James and then frisks Meowth for good measure. The trio hold their breath the whole time until Coovers turns to the others.
"They're clean," he announces.
"That's all well and good, but what are we going to do with these cowards?" Agatha asks.
Meowth sees Agatha's question as a chance to prove the trio that they have a change of heart.
"Ya here to save those policemen, Ash and the Gieldanstone, ain't ya?" Meowth asks. "We can show you the way to all three of 'em."
"No dice. We don't need help if the police are here," Gary says. "And we already know what floors Ash, and the Gieldanstone are."
"But the police are guarded by several Team Rocket members including Butch and Cassidy," James counters.
"That's right," Jessie says. "If you're going to free the police, you should be aware of what you're up against. The only reason we're not there is because we were ordered to guard the perimeter."
The team looks at the three of them suspiciously, still tempted to use their Pokemon against them. After half a minute, Coovers decides to take a chance.
"How many guards are there apart from Bert and Cassidy?" He asks.
"Five not including Agent Basker," James answers.
"How many Pokemon?" Coovers asks.
"Butch and Cassidy have five Pokemon each, and Agent Basker has a whole party," Jessie answers. "The other guards have just one Pokemon each."
"Any brainwashed psychic Pokemon?"
"Yes, a Gardevoir. Da boss also has Mewtwo and Mew in his new office," Meowth says.
"Mewtwo?" Serena, Gary, and Agatha ask at the same time.
"Hmmm. I've never heard about this Mewtwo, but it sounds like we can take the guards down easily even with their Pokemon," Koga says. "But what do these three get out of this?"
The three members of Team Rocket look at each other and sigh, knowing what they have to say.
"Da thing is we've been regrettin' helping da boss get da jewel and Arceus," Meowth says. "With him commanding Arceus against its will and torturing it just to brainwash Pokemon like Wobbuffet, we've been feeling guilty for what we've done."
"Likely story," Gary says with his arms crossed.
"There's more," Jessie says. "When the machine to use was complete, Dr. Zager and Agent Basker discovered that they can only control whatever Pokemon type Arceus is as opposed to all Pokemon types."
The team look at each other confused.
"So when Giovanni said he was going to take control of all Pokemon though Arceus, he was bluffing?" Coovers asks.
"Not entirely," James says. "The boss told Dr. Zager to eventually adjust the machine used on Arceus so that if it separates all eighteen elemental plates from itself, they can then control all of the Pokemon."
Coovers, Koga, and Agatha's eyes widen with this news.
"But...but they can't make it do that!" Agatha exclaims. "If Arceus is separated from all of the plates, it will perish!"
"We know," Jessie says. "That's why we want to undo what we've done."
Gary frowns and says, "I don't care what you say. You've been causing trouble for years trying to kidnap Pikachu and other Pokemon. There's no way we can believe you, even if anything you say is true."
"I believe them."
Everyone turns to Serena, confused. Even Pikachu and the other Pokemon turn to her, dumbfounded.
"What did you say?" Gary asks.
"I said I believe them," Serena says calmly. "Don't get me wrong, I have just as much reason to distrust them as you do. When I was traveling the Kalos region with Ash, Pikachu, Clemont, and Bonnie, there was rarely a day where we didn't have to deal with them trying to take Pikachu or other Pokemon. But I've been thinking about what they've said about worrying for Arceus, and it adds up."
Koga raises an eyebrow and asks, "How do you figure?"
Serena looks at Jessie, James, and Meowth silently for a moment before she answers.
"Ash told me how Meowth desperately wanted Ash to revive the Pokemon Magearna when we were trying to save it and a lot of other Pokemon from a group of people worse than these three. He also told me how they helped him save the world a couple of years ago when an evil man almost doomed the world by capturing the legendary birds. They even saved his life in the process. And when Team Flare also attempted to destroy the world, who else but these three were there to give Mairin and me a chance to rescue Chespie."
Coovers, Gary, Koga, and Agatha stare at the honey blonde girl, taken aback by her explanation. Jessie, James, and Meowth have a look of hope in their eyes as Serena continues.
"I do remember Ash saying things like that a while back, Serena, but the two of you and Brock have told us how they've caused more trouble than good," Coovers says.
"I'm not saying that this cancels out everything they've done. Not by a long shot," Serena says. "But I've seen and heard enough to know when to believe them when they say they want to save someone like Arceus or the whole world."
Coovers frowns and turns to the trio skeptically again.
"You realize that if we win, Team Rocket will be destroyed." He states.
The trio frowns and bow their heads.
"We know," Meowth says. "And as much as I can't believe I'm saying this, we are okay with that."
Gary scoffs and says, "Yeah, right."
"No, Meowth is telling the truth," Jessie says. "It's true that our lives have been devoted to the Team Rocket cause for as long as we can remember. We've taken pleasure in our attempts to steal Pokemon or other valuable things, whether it was to get rich, benefit from whatever valuable thing might possess, or doing whatever it takes to please our boss and gain glory from our achievements."
"But after we've seen what the boss is doing to Arceus and how much he truly sees Pokemon including ours as just tools, we realized we can't stay true to our cause anymore," James says. "We are as guilty as him for not caring about the feelings and well-being of other Pokemon, but after what he's done recently, we cannot deny that we at least care for our own Pokemon as living beings. All of the Pokemon we ever had throughout the years are our dearest friends, and they mean so much to us. If all of them are used as nothing more than tools like Wobbuffet, we don't know what we would do."
"We haven't done anything to betray the organization until now because we were afraid of what the boss and everyone else in the organization would do if they found out," Meowth finishes. "But now that you're here, we have a chance to make things right after everything we have done in the name of Team Rocket."
The hallway is silent for several seconds. Serena, Gary, Koga, and Agatha turn to Coovers, who is still staring at the trio.
"You are the leader of the team, Coovers," Koga states. "What's your call?"
Coovers stays still, looking at Jessie, James, and Meowth judgmentally. The three of them stay on their knees, asking for a chance to prove themselves with pleading looks in their eyes. The man from Unova has a good mind to pulverize them in any way he sees fit, but after a long moment, he sighs before he picks up the Pokeballs and puts them in his coat pocket.
"Show us to where the police are, and maybe we'll decide whether or not to trust you," he commands. "Our Pokemon will keep an eye on you three. You so much twitch the wrong way, they will deal with you. Understand?"
Klinklang, Braixen, Pikachu, Blastoise, Golbat, and Gengar all glare at the trio. Jessie, James, and Meowth nod vigorously before they stand up.
"Ya won't regret this," Meowth promises.
"I doubt it," Gary says. "Now, where are they?"
"The police and guards are with the science lab," James answers.
"Hmmm. Looks like Serena guessed right," Koga says.
"Yes, but why would they be there?" Serena asks.
"Long story short, the brainwashed police were used as slaves to rebuild the machine meant for Arceus," James answers. "Dr. Zager decided to keep them in his lab so that he will be ready to use them when it's time to adjust the machine after the battle. Dr. Zager, Agent Basker, and their team don't believe they need to be protected, but the boss ordered Butch, Cassidy, the other five grunts, and us to guard them as a precaution while the battle is going on."
"Show us," Coovers orders.
Jessie, James, and Meowth nod vigorously again before they turn around and gesture the team to follow them. Coovers, Serena, Gary, Koga, and Agatha carefully follow the trio with Pikachu and the rest of the Pokemon following behind, ready to attack if Jessie, James, and Meowth try anything. The three of them lead the team to the end of the hall, where they hear voices coming from a large door. James puts his finger on his lips, telling everyone to be quiet before he and Jessie carefully open the door slightly and back away. Coovers silently gestures Gary, Koga, and Agatha to keep an eye on the trio with their Pokemon before he, Serena, and Pikachu peak through the opening. They spot Looker and the rest of the International Police wearing headbands and standing like zombies beside some science equipment.
"What's with them all having headbands on their heads?" Serena whispers to Jessie.
"The headbands are electronic gadgets that are used to control them," Jessie answers quietly.
"So, do we need to just remove them to set them free?" Coovers asks.
"That's right," Jessie answers.
Coovers nods, and he, Serena, and Pikachu lean closer to hear the voices on the other side of the room.
"Augh! I hate waiting for the battle to end!" One voice exclaims.
"For the last time, calm yourself down, Basker," an older voice growls.
"How can I calm down when I can't have my vengeance against Durbin right now," Agent Basker complains.
Serena looks confused and quietly asks, "What does this Basker guy have against Timothy?"
"Oh yeah, Agent Basker is Trent Lane," Coovers answers.
Serena gasps sharply and says, "You mean the same Trent as in -"
"Yes, the guy who bullied him and became a member of Team Rocket," Coovers answers. "Before we were saved by the Pokemon Giovanni was with at Indigo Plateau, we found out that he is still alive."
"Oh, my," Serena says before she realizes something. "Wait a minute. Meowth, you said that there's a Gardevoir in there, right?"
"Yeah, so?" Meowth questions.
Serena turns to Coovers and says, "Do you think that particular Gardevoir inside might be Shockwave?"
Coovers eyes widen, and he says, "I think it is. If Trent is so determined to get revenge on Timothy just like he did before with kidnapping Electchu and Poliwrath, it would make perfect sense to have Shockwave by his side, knowing that it's Timothy's Pokemon."
"If that's true, then we need to rescue it from this Trent fellow," Agatha says. "We may not be able to free it yet, but at least we can keep it away from this fiend."
"I agree," Serena says before she realizes something else. "By the way, Coovers, you said this psychic Pokemon that saved you was beside the leader of Team Rocket, and we just found out that Mew and something called Mewtwo is with the leader ask his office. Does that mean Mewtwo is the one who saved you guys?"
Coovers hesitates nervously, trying to figure out a way to avoid the question for the sake of his promise to keep Mewtwo's identity a secret. But before he can try anything the dodge the question, Agent Basker's voice is heard again.
"Why do we even have these schmucks 'guard' us during the battle anyway?" He rebukes.
"Hey, we hate not getting to fight as much as you do!" Cassidy barks.
"Yeah, we should be making dozens of pathetic tweeps cry as we beat and steal their Pokemon!" Butch growls.
"I'm with them. Why should we stay here when all eight of us have Pokemon that should be out there fighting right there?!" A female voice shouts.
"Yeah!" Several other voices exclaim.
Coovers and Serena look at each other, realizing that the female grunt just confirmed how many of them with Pokemon in the room are there.
"Enough! All of you!" Dr. Zager. "The boss wants us to make sure we are protected in case any of our enemies get to our base. As long as we are still needed to upgrade the machine to that we can control all Pokemon with all of the elemental plates, we and our slaves must be protected. You may get your chance if we still need to conquer the next region before we get that done, but until then, he wants us guarded."
Coovers and his team turn to Jessie, James, and Meowth, who smile slightly, knowing that the doctor unknowingly proved more their intel to be legitimate.
"Seems like you have been honest with us," Koga says.
"But how do we know that those guys aren't just acting it out to make it seem like these three told us the right stuff?" Gary asks. "I mean, these dweebs tend to be deceitful."
Coovers raises an eyebrow and turns to Jessie, James, and Meowth, saying, "Excellent question."
The trio grows nervous, and out of desperation, Meowth says, "You can open the door a little more so that you can see all of them. Just make sure you don't open it enough that they won't notice."
Coovers and Serena look at each other, uneasy with the suggestion. They both know the risk in the idea, but they admit that it would give them a better look at the inside the room. Deciding to take a chance while the rest of the team are keeping an eye on the trio, they open the door a little more so that they can see more of the room. They look at the center of the room where they see several machines with a few scientists standing next to them, along with an old man with poofy whiteish hair and a large mustache. Beside the old man is a Gardevoir and a man with burn scars on his face, and a robotic left eye and arm with six Pokeballs on his belt. In front of all of the scientists and the Pokemon are Butch and Cassidy standing impatiently with five Pokeballs on each of their belts and five grunts with one Pokeball each.
"Looks like Jessie, James, and Meowth told us the truth," Serena says.
"I agree," Coovers says. "And that really is Shockwave in there."
"How do you know?" Serena asks.
"I may not be its trainer, but I've traveled with Timothy long enough to know Shockwave when I see it," Coovers answers. "That and it's specifically standing next to Trent, so it's obvious he's holding it close to him like it's some kind of trophy."
Serena stares at the cyborg and says, "So that's Trent himself. That would explain the scars and the mechanical eye and arm."
"Yes, it would," Coovers says. "In any case, we should close the door and come up with a plan."
Serena nods, and they carefully close the door before turning to everyone else.
"These three have told us the truth," Coovers says, pointing at Jessie, James, and Meowth.
The trio sigh in relief while the rest of Coovers' team look at him befuddled.
"Are you sure?" Koga says.
"Yes," Serena says. "Everything they described is in there. Shockwave, the people in there, the amount of Pokeballs each of them have, everything."
Gary blinks and scoffs.
"Huh. Will wonders never cease?" He says. "So, what's the plan?"
Coovers scratches his head for a moment before he turns to Koga and Agatha
"Koga, Agatha, your Golbats know Screech and Supersonic, respectively, right?" he asks.
Koga nods plainly while Agatha simply says, "It does."
Coovers turns to Gary and says, "And you mentioned that your Nidoking knows Earthquake and Your Arcanine knows Flame Wheel, right?"
Gary raises his eyebrow and says, "Yeah. What about it?"
"Okay then, here's the plan," Coovers begins. "Time is of the essence, and we don't know how long our friends outside can keep fighting, so we need to do two things at once. We're going all the way back to the elevator so that Gary, Koga, Agatha, and I can take out all of our Pokemon without them hearing us. Then we go back and attack."
Serena frowns and asks, "What about me, Braixen, and Pikachu?"
"Pika," Pikachu agrees.
"Yeah, and what about us?" Jessie says, point at herself, James, and Meowth.
"You three will escort Serena, Braixen, and Pikachu to where Ash is imprisoned on the next floor," Coovers commands while giving a communicator to Serena. "While we take out the people in the lab and free the police, you will free Ash. If we do both at the same time, we can just simply meet each other at the top and take down Giovanni and get the Gieldanstone. If Gary, Koga, Agatha, and I charge in with Koga and Agatha's Golbat using Screech and Supersonic, respectively, that will distract the enemy inside long enough to knock some of them unconscious using Earthquake before they can take out their Pokemon. I have a Krookodile, which is a part dark-type, so if I have it use Dark Pulse while Agatha's Gengar use Hypnosis and Gary's Umbreon uses Shadow Ball on Shockwave, that will keep it from using its psychic attacks against us. From there, we will just use the rest of our Pokemon to take down the rest of the grunts and any Pokemon they manage to take out, and then we free Looker and the police just like that."
Everyone listens to Coovers' plan carefully and thinks about it for a moment before Agatha answers.
"Quick and efficient. I approve," she says.
"As do I," Koga says.
"I'm game," Gary says.
Serena and Pikachu look at each other before the former says, "Well, no one is as eager to save Ash as Pikachu and me."
"Pika," Pikachu says with a nod.
"Good. Then let's move," Coovers commands.
Thus, they walk quietly through the hallway again all the way back to where the elevator is. Gary takes out his Umbreon, Electivire, Nidoking, Arcanine, and Dodrio while Koga and Agatha take out both of their Golbat and Coovers takes out his Samurott, Krookodile, Braviary, Zoroark, and Chandelure before turning to Serena. The two of them look at each other with sad looks in their eyes before they hug each other.
"Be safe," Coovers says. "Contact me with your walkie talkie when you've rescued Ash."
"I will," Serena replies. "And you be safe too."
The two of them break their hug, and Serena presses the button, and the door to the elevator opens for her to go inside with Braixen and Pikachu back on her shoulder. Jessie, James, and Meowth are about to join her when Zoroark and Krookodile step in front of them menacingly with their claws ready. The trio whimper in fear before Coovers steps in with a wrathful look.
"If you betray her or cause any harm to her, Braixen, Pikachu, or Ash, you will scream for mercy while I have my Pokemon pummel you in whatever way I see fit," he growls. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal," Meowth squeals.
"Good," Coovers snarls. "Now, get in."
Immediately, the trio get in, standing behind Serena, Pikachu, and Braixen, whimpering as they stand. Serena gives the rest of the team a small smile before she presses the button and the doors close.
After a few seconds of silence, Coovers turns to everything else with a determined look.
"Right," he says. "Let's go save the police while I still have a job to save."
Everyone nods before they hustle back to the entrance to the lab. Coovers grabs the handle to the door while Agatha and Koga position their Golbat to be right behind him and Gary's Nidoking standing behind them. The rest of the Pokemon get in position, ready to attack. Coovers slowly counts to three with his fingers before he pulls the door open, and everyone charges in.
"Golbat, use Screech!" Koga shouts.
"Use Supersonic, Golbat!" Agatha shouts.
Both Golbat use their respective moves, and both the grunts and the scientists cover their ears in agony.
"Nidoking, use Earthquake!" Gary commands.
Nidoking jumps into the air and slams into the ground, causing it to shake violently. Many grunts and scientists lose their balance and fall down.
"Gengar, use Hypnosis on Shockwave!" Agatha shouts.
"Krookodile, Dark Pulse on Shockwave!" Coovers yells.
"Umbreon, Shadow Ball on Shockwave!" Gary orders.
Gengar, Krookodile, and Umbreon prepare to use their respective attacks, but they suddenly stop, looking confused. Agatha, Coovers, and Gary look at their Pokemon, also confused and turn to find neither Shockwave or Agent Basker anywhere in the room.
"Where is Shockwave and Agent Basker?!" Coovers shouts.
"You should worry about yourself!" Cassidy shouts as she gets up and takes out all of her Pokeballs. "Raticate, Houndour, Sableye. Granbull, Tentacruel, go!"
Butch also stands up and throws his Pokeballs, shouting, "Primeape, Cloyster, Hitmontop, Mighteyana, Shuckle, take them down!"
The grunts also get up and throw their own Pokeballs that open to reveal an Ivysaur, Murkrow, Pupitar, Venomoth, and Arbok.
"Looks like we got so distracted that we gave them time to get up," Koga points out.
"Duly noted," Gary says. "So, what do we do now?"
"We fight," Coovers says seriously while looking at his opponents. "Fifteen Pokemon on their side and fifteen Pokemon on our side. This makes this a fair battle. Let's show them we are stronger."
"Right," Gary, Koga, and Agatha say at the same time.
With that, everyone starts giving orders, and all of the Pokemon from both sides start fighting each other. The scientists find places to hide while the police stay still in their spot like statues as all sorts of moves hit the walls. But as the Pokemon are fighting, Dr. Zager takes out a key and inserts it into one of the machines. The big, red button beside the keyhole starts flashing, and the Team Rocket scientist immediately slams it down while grinning mischievously.
Serena, Pikachu, and Braixen wait eagerly for the elevator door to open. Serena's heart is racing, knowing that she is practically minutes away from seeing Ash again. Jessie, James, and Meowth are also eager to guide the honey blonde girl to Ash so that they have a chance of redemption by freeing the boy. Pikachu and Braixen act ready to fight in case there is a trap or any guards that the trio didn't mention.
The elevator stops, and another loud "ding" is heard before the doors open. Serena, and Braixen race out of the elevator with Pikachu still on Serena's shoulder. Jessie, James, and Meowth are about to exit too when a loud noise is heard from the elevator. Everyone covers their ears, and Serena turns to the trio who are still inside the elevator.
"What's going on?" She shouts.
"I don't know!" Jessie shouts back. "This has never happened before!"
Before Serena can reply, the doors to the elevator suddenly close, trapping Jessie, James, and Meowth inside. The noise is muffled with the doors closed, and Serena, Pikachu, and Braixen let go of their ears, and they hear the elevator go down with the trio. They stare at the elevator doors, confused about what just happened.
Dr. Zager grins evilly as he watches the screen next to the red button that confirms the elevator is now locked beyond his floor. The Team Rocket scientist feels a moment of pride for carrying out Giovanni's orders, not knowing that Serena, Pikachu, or Braixen got into the floor above him before the deed was done. As he grins at the machine, Butch, Cassidy, and the five grunts struggle to keep battling against Coovers, Gary, Koga, and Agatha. They grow fearful and desperate to overcome their enemies.
"Samurott, Hydro Pump! Krookodile, Dark Pulse! Klinklang, Zap Cannon! Braviary, Steel Wing! Zoroark, Night Daze! Chandelure, Night Shade!" Coovers shouts.
"Blastoise, Hydro Cannon! Umbreon, Psychic! Electivire, Thunder! Nidoking, Tackle! Arcanine, Fire Spin! Dodrio, Drill Peck!" Gary commands
"Golbat, Air Cutter! Gengar, Shadow Ball!" Agatha orders.
"Golbat, Wing Attack!" Koga commands.
Cassidy's Raticate and Houndour get knocked away by Hydro Pump and Hydro Cannon. Klinklang and Electivire zap Tentacruel and Cloyster hard with Zap Cannon and Thunder respectfully. Despite being a part dark-type, Sableye falls down like a lifeless doll upon impact of Krookodile's strong Dark Pulse. Zoroark mercilessly creates a shockwave that blows Raticate away. Umbreon lifts up Arbok with Psychic and sends it flying into a wall on the other side of the room. Gengar knocks Venomoth out of the air with Shadow Ball. Hitmontop spins toward Chandelure only for Chandelure to fire several crimson rings, and they hit the handstand Pokemon, and it tumbles to the ground with its body surrounded in pale purple. Arcanine mercilessly burns Ivysaur, with Fire Spin, instantly knocking it out. Braviary's Steel Wing sends Pupitar back against a wall and falling on top of Arbok. Murkrow took enough damage before to be easily taken out by Wing Attack. Agatha's Golbat proved strong enough to easily knock Granbull out with Air Cutter. Finally, poor Shuckle does nothing but whimper in fear as the mighty Nidoking tackles it and sends it flying toward Butch's stomach, knocking him off his feet.
Once the fighting is over, the grunts, Cassidy and a scientist excluding Dr. Zager, stare in shock as Coovers' team grins triumphantly.
"Heh, barely worth the effort," Gary boasts.
"Yeah, no wonder you weren't sent to fight in the big battle, Bert," Coovers mocks.
"I-I-it's Butch…" Butch moans while still on the ground with his fallen Pokemon lying on his stomach.
"Whatever. It's time to do what he came here to do," Coovers declares, turning to Looker and the rest of the brainwashed police. "Zoroark, cut off those ridiculous headbands with Fury Swipes."
Zoroark grins and races toward the brainwashed police with its claws ready. The imitation Pokemon starts cutting headbands left as right like they are made of bed sheets, and Looker and the other police start groaning and struggling to keep their balance. Looker rubs his head where his headband used to be and slowly opens his eyes like he's waking up from a deep sleep.
"Wha...where am I?" He mumbles.
"Looker," Coovers says, walking over to his superior.
"Coo...vers?" Looker says, slowly coming to. "What's going on?"
"We came to save you, sir," Coovers answers.
"Save me?" Looker asks.
He turns around to see the entire International Police slowly coming to after Zoroark has freed all of them from the devices on their heads. Looker checks his surroundings and sees Gary, Koga, Agatha, Butch, Cassidy, Dr. Zager, the grunts, the scientists, and all of the Pokemon in the room.
"Coovers, what in the world is going on?" Looker asks.
Gary decides to step in and says, "The short version is you all got brainwashed while Team Rocket used the Gieldanstone to put Arceus in a machine. They used the machine to take control of all of the psychic Pokemon in the world, and Giovanni gave us a month to decide whether to give up our Pokemon or fight. We chose the latter, so everyone from both Kanto and Johto banded together, and right now, they're fighting Team Rocket's people and all of the psychic Pokemon outside. We snuck in here to rescue you guys, and now we just need to go up the top of this large building, take the Gieldenstone from the leader of Team Rocket, use it get Arceus out of the machine before we destroy it thus saving the world."
Looker stares at Gary befuddled for several seconds before his mind fully gathers everything the teenage boy said.
"Okay, I think I get the picture," he says. "So how far up is Giovanni and the Gieldanstone?"
"Just a few floors," Coovers answers. "We're ready to move out with some of our people staying behind to watch these scientists and grunts whenever you're ready, sir."
Looker smiles and nods at Coovers. But before he can give an order, Dr. Zager lets out a low, evil cackle. Everyone turns to the head Team Rocket scientist with Gary giving him a glare.
"What could possibly be funny?" He asks.
Dr. Zager keeps laughing before he answers, "You're not going anywhere near our leader or the jewel."
"What do you mean?" Agatha says with a threatening look.
Dr. Zagar grins and points at the machine he used.
"You see that red button?" He asks. "I just pressed it a couple minutes ago. It activates a failsafe that prevents any elevator in this entire building from going higher than this floor. The staircases are also blocked from going higher than this floor, as well. There's no way for you to get to the top floor or even to where we're keeping that boy imprisoned."
"You're bluffing," Koga accuses.
Dr. Zager giggles and says, "Feel free to try to get up there if you can."
Coovers and his team hesitate to test the scientist's claim, but their thoughts are interrupted by Jessie, James, and Meowth bursting into the room. Everyone turns to see the trio panting heavily with Coovers giving them an angry look.
"Where is Serena?" he demands.
"She...on the...next...floor," James pants.
"What?" Coovers asks.
"What do you mean?" Agatha asks.
Meowth takes a deep breath and says, "We were taking her to where da twerp - er I mean Ash is being held, but as soon as da doors opened, she, Pikachu, and Braixen exited the elevator before there was this loud noise coming from the elevator and it suddenly closed with us still in."
"We tried to get it to open, but the elevator just went back down to this level," Jessie finishes. "When we went back to this floor, we tried to get it to go back up, but it wouldn't do anything."
Butch and Cassidy stare at their rivals and angrily shout, "Traitors!"
"If that's the case, then we really can't get up there," Agatha says, ignoring Butch and Cassidy.
"That's right," Dr. Zager says triumphantly. "No one can go anywhere past this level. You'll never get to our leader, and even if you did, you wouldn't have a prayer with Mewtwo and Mew by his side."
Coovers frowns before his eyes light up and asks, "So you designed this place to keep anyone from going past here, but someone who is still up there like Serena and Ash can still make their way up to Giovanni?"
Dr. Zager opens his mouth to counter Coovers' idea before his confident face slowly melts away. Realizing what Coovers is saying, he starts running toward a holocommunicator on the other side of the room, but Gary figures out what he's up to.
"Umbreon, Psychic!" he commands.
Umbreon's eyes glow blue, and Dr. Zagar gets trapped in a blue aura. He tries to reach the communicator in vain while Gary smirks.
"It's a good thing you don't have to be a psychic-type to use psychic attacks," he says.
"Agreed," Coovers says while taking out his communicator. "Serena, come in. Serena, do you read me?"
It takes a couple of seconds before Serena's voice is heard.
"Coovers? Coovers, what happened?" she asks worriedly. "I was just about to find Ash with Jessie, James, and Meowth when the elevator suddenly closed."
"We just found out that the scientists just activated some failsafe that keep anyone going higher up than the floor we're on right now," Coovers explains. "Bottom line, there's no way we can get to you. You're basically gonna have to find Ash, take down Giovanni and free Arceus on your own."
Dr. Zager suddenly laughs even louder than before, and Coovers has an uneasy look while he turns to the scientists still in Umbreon's control.
"And what is funny this time?" he queries.
"Oh, nothing special. Just how even if you all found a way up to our leader, your efforts would be futile," the evil scientist answers. "Even if by some crazy miracle you defeat Mewtwo, Mew, Giovanni's Persian and take the stone away from him, you can't free Arceus. We have specifically adjusted the machine so that even if someone were to take the Gieldanstone away from Giovanni, Arceus would not be able to get out of the machine even if it was ordered to through the jewel. There's also no way to switch off the machine. It's completely self-sustaining, and you can't destroy the machine without it causing an explosion that will kill Arceus and anyone around it. You basically came all the way up here for nothing."
Dr. Zager starts laughing maniacally, and the other scientists, the grunts, Butch and Cassidy, start doing the same. Everyone else contemplates what was revealed to them, devastated.
"You are very clever to have made it this far, but you are fools to think you can stop us all the same," Dr. Zager boasts. "In the end, you will still bow to the will of -"
"Gengar, use Hypnosis on these goons!" Agatha snaps.
Gengar uses the move, and all of the members of Team Rocket in the room fall asleep. Agatha sighs, glad to not have to hear anymore laughing and mocking from the enemy before turning to Coovers.
"What do we do now?" she asks.
"I don't know," Coovers asks. "Serena and Ash are up there, but they do not have the Pokemon equipped to take down their leader. And even if they did, they can't free Arceus if what he said is true."
"But we can't just take his word for it," Gary protests.
"Yes, we can," Looker says with a serious look on his face. "He wasn't lying about the failsafe, so there's little reason to say he was lying about this."
"Ugh, there's a girl that likes Ash, and the deceitful Team Rocket are telling the truth. The world has gone mad," Gary grumbles quietly.
"But surely there must be a way to free Arceus," James says.
"But even if we can, Giovanni will just use Arceus against us as long as he has the Gieldanstone," Coovers points out. "And Dr. Zagar is right about Mewtwo and Mew. If Ash and Serena had my Zoroark or if Serena's Absol was strong enough, maybe they would have a shot against those two powerful psychic Pokemon. As it stands, they probably can't do anything with just Pikachu and all of Serena's Pokemon."
"So that's it? We're giving up?" Gary asks angrily.
Everyone stays silent, unwilling to answer Gary's question. No one wants to admit that they may have fought in vain, but they don't know what else to do.