Chapter 95 – Lift off!
"Well boys I bid you goodbye! When this rocket blast off I will be leaving you in your own private crematorium. A fitting end, I think. You burn in hell while Team Flare ascends to the heavens…"
Those had been Mable's last words to our heroes…
That was before six more grunts had untethered them from the gantry, forced them into a van, and driven them out to the primary launch pad. They were then bound at the hands and feet and made to sit directly below the Space Shuttle.
Worse still, they had left our heroes Pokémon partners; Pikachu, Typhlosion, Lucario, Nova, Oshawott and Charizard, still under the influence of the EM waves, to stand guard. The intention being that when the Shuttle lifted off, they would all be incinerated.
"Don't worry. The EM waves will make them run before ignition," one of the grunts had explained. "They can then get to live out the rest of their days without you, their loves, in their lives."
The statement had made the six of them snigger. A cruel joke that made Ash's blood boil and run cold at the same time…
It wasn't just our heroes bound and gagged beneath the Space Shuttle. As they were being unloaded from the van, they found Jessie and James of Team Rocket already bound there, along with James' Noibat. The poor bats wings and been tied together and a bag tied over its head.
"A little warning. It might get a bit warm under here," one of the grunts said as the six of them climbed back into the van, followed by more of that blood chilling laughter from the others.
Ash felt a wave of panic threaten to engulf him as the van drove away. He forced himself to take deep breaths through his nose to calm himself (his mouth having been gaged). There was only one way they were getting out of this…
He fixed his eyes on Pikachu. Those horrible red eyes, angry and hate filled, stared back at him. 'Pikachu buddy,' he thought. 'I know that if I concentrate, our love is so strong you can hear my thoughts. Please Pikachu don't do this. Come back to me!'
[Pokémon]
Meanwhile…
"My fellow members of Team Flare. Our home is on fire. We are here today because our home is on fire…"
The members of Team Flare had gathered in the hangar, all standing in rows like soldiers in a military parade. A sea of red suits and hair. Flanked by two white suited Team Flare admins, Mable stood a top a makeshift platform, six oil drums with planks of wood placed on top, addressing the crowd.
"There are no gray areas when it comes to survival. Now we all have a choice," Aliana boomed, her voice echoing throughout the hangar. "We can create transformational action that will safeguard the future living conditions for humankind, or we can continue with our business as usual and fail. That is up to you and me."
"Hurrah…" There was a cheer from the crowd at her words, the assembled grunt each raising their right fist in unison.
"Our great leader Lysandre knew that the only way to safeguard living conditions was to reduce the number of living things."
"Hurrah…" The crowd gave another hearty cheer.
"But his vision was destroyed those meddling kids."
The crowd begun to boo and jeer. Aliana smirked.
"I will say their names. Ash Ketchum. Cameron Kotetsu. And the aura Pichu. "
More boos and jeers.
"There are so few of us left now. You have all undergone hardships and sacrifices for our causes. Many of our fellow have been incarcerated or killed. But I promise you, that this day, all of your sacrifices will be rewarded…"
And the crowd cheered again and chant of, "Team Flare. Team Flare. Team Flare," broke out…
"In the heavens above us is the Centurion," said Mable, continuing for Aliana. "A vessel that will carry us to salvation, just as the ark was for Noah and his sons' generations ago. Aboard it will shall ascend to the heavens and take our place among the stars."
The chat continued. "Team Flare. Team Flare. Team Flare!"
And I promise you that your children will live in beauty forever…"
"TEAM FLARE!"
The assembled grunts concluded their chant with the Team Flare pose. One hand raised above the head, and the other at chest height, so that they formed an F.
"Now you've each been given a number. Find you pod and prepare for the journey," Aliana instructed.
The crowd dispersed, everyone making their way towards the glass capsules, sitting in the middle of the hangar…
[Pokémon]
'Pikachu…If you can hear me. Come back. If you don't come back buddy, we'll all. We'll all die. And Ashachu…Please Pikachu. Come back.'
It wasn't working. No matter how much Ash concentrated on his mate, begging him internally to snap out of it, Pikachu just continued to stand there, ridged as a board, gazing at him with blood red eyes.
He turned his gaze to Oshawott. 'Oshawott. Listen to your heart. Come back to me.'
But the otter too remained ridged and red eyed…
'I love you. I love both of you…'
"Launch in T-minus 15…"
T-minus 15. How long did that mean they had until lift off. 15 hours. 15 minutes. 15 seconds. Ash had no idea.
He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath through his nose, trying to fight back tears. He wasn't going to give Team Flare the satisfaction of seeing him cry.
'It's now or never guys, I guess. If you can hear me. Pikachu, Oshawott. And you too Charizard. I want you to know that I love you. Now and always.'
If Ash had opened his eyes at that moment, he may have noticed Oshawott blink. And for a split second his eyes shift from red back to their usual black.
"Launch in T-minus 14…"
T-minus 14. That probably meant 14 minutes to launch. How long had it been since T-minus 15? The countdown was a grizzly clock, sounding out how long he had left to live – how long they all had left to live.
Ash wondered how the others were taking this. Cameron, Jimmy, Jessie and James. Scared…defiant…panicked…A hot feeling of guilt trickled down the back of his neck to join the dread in his stomach. He'd got Cameron and Jimmy into this mess.
He was the one who'd gone bursting into the Space Centre without thinking. This was all his fault…Well partly his fault. Team Flare took most of the blame…Team Flare!
Ash would curse that name until for as long as he lived.
"Launch in T-minus 13…"
Which wasn't going to be that long…
"Osha…Oshawott."
And then Ash heard it. Oshawott's voice. Soft as if distant. He opened his eyes and noticed the otter trembling, his eyes shut, and his paws clenched into fists. Was he fighting the EM waves? Was it working?
"Mrrphrhrhr…" He tried to shout words of encouragement to the otter but couldn't through his gag.
But Ash's heart sank as Oshawott's eyes suddenly snapped open, and he saw the color of his pupils had turned back to blood red.
"Launch in T-minus 12…"
'Please Oshawott. You can do this. I know you can do this…'
"Launch in T-minus 11…"
"Launch in T-minus 10…"
At ten minutes to spare Ash hear a loud mechanical whirring above him. His heart stopped. Was this it. Was ignition…and death… imminent.
Then he saw them. The glass capsules he had seen in the hangar. They were flying toward them. Towards the shuttles. He only managed to get a brief glimpse of them coming out of the hangar, before they disappeared above the engine.
How were they flying?…They didn't seem to be supported by anything.
'Launch in T-minus 9…'
His heart started to thump. As if it knew the end was coming and was trying to get a lifetime of beats into the next nine minutes. He gazed back at Pikachu and Oshawott with pleading eyes. Then…
"OSHAWOTTT!"
Oshawott let out a violent cry, closing his eyes before sprinting towards Ash.
"Mmmmhrrpphf."
"OSHA!" He drew his Scalchop and slashed. Ash's bonds were broken. The ropes around his hands and feet fell away and he could move. The first thing he did was remove his gag. The second thing he did, was to warp his arms around Oshawott.
"You did it Oshawott." He kissed the otter on his forehead. "I knew you could do it."
"Osh." Oshawott looked up at him. His eyes were isolating between black and red. The EM waves were still having an effect, and Oshawott had to fight hard to resist them. There was a pained look on his face.
There was a series of muffled sounds from the others around him, as well as growls from the other Pokémon. Ash swallowed hard as he looked up. Pikachu was on his all fours in a battle-ready stance, his tail low to the ground. His cheeks sparked and he let out a warning growl.
"Chuuu."
"Osha." Oshawott turned and jumped out of Ash's lap to face Pikachu. He held his Scalchop aloft like a sword and let out a warning growl of his own. "Oshawott!"
"Launch in T-minus 8…"
They didn't have much time left. They had to get clear of the shuttle.
More than that, Ash did not want to have to battle his own lover. Not like this.
He sprang to his feet and held his arms out in a non-threatening gesture. "Pikachu. It's me. Ash. Your Pikapi. Please listen to me."
"Pika." Another threatening growl.
"Oshh." Oshawott hissed at him.
"Oshawott, free the others," Ash said to him in a low voice, hoping the instructions would get through.
To his relief he did. Oshawott ran around the circle cutting Cameron and the others free.
There was a squeal of "Lucario" and a clatter of footsteps. Ash looked over his shoulder and saw Cameron run and embrace Lucario in a tight hug. He bit his lip waiting for Lucario to react. To throw the boy off.
But it didn't happen. Lucario let out a grunt and raised a paw. But like Oshawott he was trembling, seemingly fighting whatever force had them.
"Launch in T-minus 5…"
T-minus 5… Where had 7 and 6 gone.
They were out of time. They had to get away from the shuttle.
"Guys we have to get out of here," Ash shouted.
"We can't just leave our Pokémon," said Jimmy, his voice way higher than usual.
Ash bit his lip. Then an idea formed in his mind. He reached for a pokéball…
[Pokémon]
" Launch in T-minus 4…"
"T-minus 4," Mable said with a sigh to Alaina. "You'd best get aboard. I'll oversee the rest of the loading."
"Are you sure? We've still got time."
"It's fine. The launching should be complete at two. Doors close at one. There's a delay of about half a minute before ignition sequence. I'll go up with the second wave.".
Aliana gave her fellow scientist a smile and touched her on the arm. "See you up there old friend."
They shared a brief hug before Aliana turned and strolled away, towards the entrance to the hangar.
"Launch in T-minus 3…"
What happened next, happened so quickly Mable didn't have time to process what was going on.
Something came at her…Some overwhelming force struck her hard and pushed her to the ground. She felt a ringing pain in the back of her head as she smacked into the concrete. Through eyes watering, she looked up and saw some great blue and white beast standing over her, with long fangs.
She grunted and attempted to raise her right hand wearing the control gauntlet. But the creature took hold of her wrist. Those long fangs in that wide maw crunched down on the glove and ripped it off her hand…She should have grateful it didn't get the hand too.
"Great job Oshawott."
The creature backed away giving Mable enough time to scramble backwards. Putting some short distance between themselves, she saw for the first time the creature was a Samurott, with dark blue fur.
There was a strange gold and purple ring floating behind it…Which she recognised as a Hoopa ring…
"No…NOOO."
"Team Flare give it up."
Four people and six Pokémon burst out of the ring…
[Pokémon]
Ash stepped through the Hoopa ring and into the Hangar.
He examined his surroundings. Mable was lying on the floor where Oshawott had thrown her. Two other Team Flare Grunts were already rushing over to help her.
In front of her was Oshawott. The remnants of the control gauntlet in this mouth. He hopped that was the end of the EM waves.
A short distance away he noticed the glass cabinets he had seen earlier. One by one they were each rising into the air and floating out of the hangar. Looking over his shoulder he saw they were flying to the launch pads; the rear cargo hatch of the shuttle having been opened to permit them to be loaded on.
But how were they flying…Each was surrounded by a pink aura. The tell-tale sign of a psychic move. The cause was a Grumpig, a grey pig like creature, standing nearby.
"Good job Oshawott," he said stepping forward and rubbed the top of Oshawott's shell covered head.
"Pikapi."
He then something crawled up his back and press its warm furry body against his cheek. His heart felt suddenly as if it were about to burst.
"Pikachu," he said rubbing his mate's head. "What a relief."
The two Team Flare grunts pulled Mable to her feet before taking out a Pokéball.
"You're going to pay for what you've done here today," declared an extremely pissed off Cameron. "Now where are Hunter and Ashachu."
The grunts didn't say anything but instead tossed the Pokéballs into the air. Ash and his friend quickly found themselves confronted by a Leipard and Toxicroak.
Mable, quickly regaining her composure, let out a cold laugh. "A hahahaha. You want to know where you're little friends are. Look behind you!"
"Look behind…" Cameron spun around looking perplexed for a moment before it set in. "They're on the shuttle. No."
"Oh, and you've only got two minutes until lift off," Mable added. "Sorry boys, but you're out of time!"
"No. You call of that launch right now!" Ash bellowed at her. "Or else."
Pikachu, Oshawott, Charizard and the other Pokémon let out warning growls, but it didn't seem to perplex Mable.
"Oh please. EM waves or not we still outnumber…"
CRASH…
There was the violent sound of breaking glass. Everybody turned and saw to their horror that the cases where falling out of the air and breaking apart on the ground…
"YAHHH."
Everybody, Ash, Cameron, Jimmy, Team Rocket and Team Flare ran, trying to get away from the shards of glass flying across the room, and took cover agonist the wall.
It was only then that they noticed each container had held a Team Flare grunt. The middle of the hangar was suddenly full of a trial of bodies; cut up, bleeding and lying limp.
"Grumpig," Mable shouted. "What the…"
But she was cut off mid-sentence. She double over, clutching at her chest, where something had just stabbed her.
"Oh."
Ash stared bewildered. There was a tiny black figure standing in front of her, holding a long sword. A tiny black figure with a red eye.
"What the!"
"Oh my."
As he watched, four more of these things, whenever they were, appeared. Rising from the ground like smoke. Two of them promptly plunged swords into the other Team Flare grunts. While the others slit the throats of Toxicroak and Liepard.
"Let's get out of here! Hoopa create another portal," Ash demanded…
The Djinni like Pokémon took a hoop off its horn and threw it, creating a portal through which Ash and the others were able to escape, just as Mable collapsed.
"We're under. Initiate the launch sequence. NOW!"
Those were the last words the Team Flare scientist Mable would ever say, spoken into a communicator, as she lay bleeding out on the floor…
[Pokémon]
"What. The fuck. Was that," panted Cameron after they'd scrambled through the ring.
It had taken them back outside the Space Centre to the front gate.
"They were attacking Team Flare," said Jimmy. "So, they can't have been on their side."
"Whatever they were," said Ash. "We've gotta get on those shuttles. Ashachu and Hunter are…"
Just then it happened.
A light so bright that for a brief moment it turned the world of blackness into one of white. And an explosion so loud that it sounded like a hundred voltorb exploding at once, or the Hyper beams of thousand Salamance.
"Piikaaa." Pikachu let out a scream and clutched at his sensitive ears, feeling a horrible painful vibration.
They all turned and saw three pointy objects rising into the sky, flames scorching from behind, standing on a pillar of smoke. Though they were some distance away, Ash and Pikachu could sense their majesty.
It was too late…The Byzantium had launched, stealing Ashachu and Hunter away from the world.