Chapter 100 – If I could turn back time

The Centurion…

"My life…Is over! Oh fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck…"

Ashachu was double over on his all fours, his breath coming in short sharp bursts. His mind was racing like an out of control Garchomp. Part of him still couldn't fully comprehend the situation.

How could it be ten thousand years into the future. How could he have slept for that long. Was everything he knew and loved really, truly gone forever. Ash, Pikachu, Sniveon, Nova…long dead…Turned to dust by the years.

"Ashachu," said Hunter concernedly. He patted the mouse on the back.

"Get a hold of yourself kit. It's not as bad as you think," said Blade.

"Time in ultra space is a lot slower than on earth," added Meowth. "It's probably barely been a few hours back on earth. Porygon tell 'em da t'ing about the time difference?"

"Very well Master Meowth. Observe."

Porygon beamed another holographic projection into the air. This time it was some sort of star map. The air around them became filled with tiny green spirals. Ashachu stopped hyperventilating and looked up.

"The Centurion is currently traveling across the ultra space wilds. Represented by the empty spaces in this map…"

A tiny red dot appear just above Hunter's right ear. He tried to bat it away with his paw, though it paw just went straight through it.

"orio…"

"Whist it is difficult to represent ultra-space in a three-dimensional model, each of these galaxies exist in different dimensions…."

Porygon then projected purple spheres around the different spirals.

"Each of the spheres represents a different dimension. And within each dimensions exists an array of galaxies. The Centurion has spent the last ten thousand years traveling through an ultra wormhole. This acts as a bridge between galaxies."

A tunnel like protection appeared joining two of the spheres.

"We have now entered the Ultra Space wilds. That is the name that has been given to this dimension…"

"Okay, I think I understand," said Ashachu, though really, he didn't. "But what does this have to do with time."

"Time on the earth is heavily dilated but a number of supermassive black holes at the centre of the galaxy. But the gravitational waves do not penetrate the ultra wormhole or have any affect within this dimension. So, time in the ultra wormhole and within the ultra space wilds moves much slower than in our dimension. The differential is approximately one hour of time on earth equals a week here in the ultra space wilds."

"See twerpachoo," Meowth slapped Ashachu on the back. "Everything back on earth is still just the way ya left it."

Ashachu hadn't understood a word of that explanation. But in his state of shock and fear, his tiny Pikachu mind was happy to just latch onto anything positive or reassuring. Anything that would mean he would be with his family or friends again.

"Great…"

"Yeah that's great and all," said Hunter. "But how do actually get back to our dimension. Porygon can you turn this vessel around…"

Meowth put a finger in the air. "Now dat is more a problem."

What Porygon said next robbed from Ashachu the little hope he had just recovered.

"Negative…Only the captain has destination and course privileges…"

"Then who's the captain?"

"Behold the captain…"

Ashachu jaws dropped and Hunter face palmed as an image of the captain appeared on the screen.

"Oh, you gotta be kidding me," Hunter exclaimed.

Red hair, red outfit and and an electronic visor…The captain was Aliana….

"We've been trying to work out how to turn this rig around for da past month," said Meowth bitterly. "It seems Porygon will only recognize her…"

"But…Aliana's dead," said Ashachu. "She was killed just now. Pyre broke her neck."

Porygon seemed genuinely surprised by this information. "Oh…In that case all privileges of the captain divest in the next highest-ranking officer."

"Please…You have to understand," said Ashachu desperately. "We've been kidnapped. We're prisoners on this ship and we need to get home. Can you make an exception? We're all Pokémon, right?"

"I'm sorry master chu but I can't override the program." And Porygon sounded genuinely apologetic.

Ashachu punched the monitor with his paw. "Fuck. So, we are trapped here." He turned around and looked at Blade. "You told me it wasn't that bad."

Blade shrugged. "It's not. There's a field full of berries just through the trees there and this place is actually quite nice."

Ashachu gaped at him. "That's what you meant?"

But before Blade could say anything else, something happened…the light in the room started to go out, the shadows of the trees grew longer, and a chill came over the air. Ashachu's fur stood on end…He knew exactly what was happening…

"Oh no. He's found me!"

Hunter gasped while Meowth and Blade coxed their heads.

"Fuck…"

"Who's coming?"

"Certain I found you little Hikari," a cold voice answered. "A basic Pokémon like you was never going to escape a legendary like me."

He arose from the ground. The great black billowing form for the Darkrai rose of the ground like a puff of smoke, his great red eye glaring at Ashachu.

"You know there is an old human poem, that I have always had some affinity for. Allow me to recite a version to you. It goes, one blind mouse. See how it runs. It ran after the Team Flare Whore, who cut off it's tail with the Weavile claw. Have you ever seen such a thing in yore? As one blind mouse…"

"No. NO." Ashachu turned and tried to run. But Shadow had much quicker reflexes. He reached out with one black wispy claw and seized Ashachu by the scruff of his neck.

"You are a slippery one Hikari. You certainly have a frustrating strong self preservation instinct and luck seems to favor you. But no matter. I have you now." Shadow's fingers wrapped around Ashachu's throat and he begun to squeeze, cutting off Ashachu's air.

"NO! LEAVE HIM ALONE," Hunter screamed in horror as Meowth and Blade stood their frozen. "YOU'LL KILL HIM."

He threw himself at Shadow, raising a paw to punch him. Shadow slapped him away with a flick of his free claw, sending the Riolu flying into the railing. There was a sickening crack and Hunter's head made contact with the bar.

"H-hunter," Ashachu managed to choke out. His lungs were screaming for air and his vision was going fuzzy.

"You are correct dear Riolu, I shall kill," said Shadow casually. "Death is inevitable. I simply expedite that inevitability. Hikari, feel free to fight and cling to life until the end. That won't be long."

"SHADOW! NOOOO…. What the fuck are you doing."

It was Blade who had screamed this time. This, for some reason, seemed to have had an effect on Shadow. His grip on Ashachu's throat slackened, allowing Ashachu to fill his grateful lungs with precious air.

Shadow's red eye turned it's focus off Ashachu and onto the Sneasel. To his surprise the Sneasel was glaring at him, teeth bared, and claws raised.

"Blade," he said. To Ashachu's surprise his voice had become…Softer and less threatening. Almost friendly. As if he were speaking to a good friend he hadn't seen in a while. "But…What are you doing here?"

"Let him go right now," Blade demanded.

"I cannot honor your request Blade," Shadow replied. "This tiny fuck…"

"You let him go right now Shadow," said Blade, a little more forcefully. "Or we are through. Finished. I'll never speak to you again."

At once Shadow let go of Ashachu and he fell hard on to his but. He winced as the cold metal platform made contact with his injury.

Blade rushed to his side. "You okay kid," he asked before giving him another hug.

Ashachu was too bewildered to respond.

"That piece of vermin is the reason you are imprisoned here. The reason the humans caught you," said Shadow. "Why do you seek to protect him."

Blade shook his head. "It's not the kids fault. We were ambushed by a human. Some other kid who then used us to infiltrate the Team Rocket base."

"But that Pikachu was working with Team Rocket."

"Nah his trainer's not a Team Rocket member. And in any case, I'm free from Team Rocket now. I escaped. Haven't ya noticed. Ta-dah." He gestured to his throat with his claws.

"Ahh. You are no longer wearing the collar," observed Shadow. "But if you are no longer Team Rocket's prisoner. How did you come to be here?"

"Snuck onboard," Blade replied. "Had a little help from a friend." He gestured to Meowth who had backed away into a corner, watching what was happening with disbelief.

Ashachu sidled over to Hunter and licked his face. "Hunter. You okay buddy."

"I-I thinks so," said Hunter, rubbing his temples with the pads of his paws.

"How many fingers am I holding up…"

"Errr…fifty."

Shadow's red eye narrowed. "But what reason could you possibly have for doing so. For being so reckless, for risking your life to help me, you little imbecile. What were you thinking?"

"I saw what Team Flare did to you on the beach," said Blade. "I couldn't let them. I love you man…"

"Oh, I almost forgot, one of us does have a heart."

Ashachu was genuinely at a loss. Shadow sounded…genuinely affection. He spoke to Blade the way Ash did Pikachu. Or even Hunter did him. Could it be…

"You did this...for...me. I-I...I'm at a loss for words, so allow my actions to convey my feelings."

The scowl on Blade's changed into a wide smile. "C'mere you."

And then the two of them did something that truly shocked Ashachu. They embraced and held each other close like lovers…

"No way," barked Hunter.

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile…Somewhere else…

"Huh…Pikachu…"

It was the first thing on Ash's mind as he regained consciousness. Where was his mate. Was he okay? He opened his eyes and found that he was lying on his stomach on some sort of cold hard surface. Every inch of his body ached.

Fortunately, though he spotted Pikachu immediately. The mouse was lying just a couple of inches from his face. He reached out and shook him to try and wake him up...

"Pikachu. Are you okay buddy"?

"Pi-ika…" Pikachu groaned as he wakened. He rubbed his eyes with his paws before spotting Ash. He then quickly got his feet and went to sit closer to Ash's face, giving him an affectionate nuzzle.

"Pika Pika."

Ash breathed a sigh of relief. His mate was okay. "Thank goodness…"

Slowly he sat up and observed his surroundings for the first time. "Where are we now…A desert?"

The landscape was barren a rocky. There were no trees, bushes or any other sign of life. In the distance was what appeared to be a settlement of some kind. A number of what looked like tall buildings rising out of the rocky ground.

The other thing Ash noticed upon sitting up where Oshawott and Geyser. The two otters were lying unconscious nearby, Geyser on his side, Oshawott on his back.

"Osha…"

"Dew Dewott."

The pair of otters started to stir. Slowly Oshawott got to his paws and stretched at the crick in his back. Geyser opened his eyes but otherwise remained motionless.

"Where the fuck are, we now," Oshawott groaned looking around. "Aww don't tell me. This is the distortion world isn't it That fucking thing fucking killed us and now we're in hell. Ugh." He slapped this forehead with his paw. "Please don't tell me I have to spend the afterlife with Pikachu."

"I love you too," Pikachu mumbled with a scowl.

"Is this dream," Ash wondered aloud.

Only one way to check. He reached down to Pikachu sitting by his side and pinched his red cheeks as hard as he could, before stretching them out.

"Ash…What are you doing…Stop that…PIKACHUUUUU…"

It had the desired effect. Angry and in pain, Pikachu responded by discharging a massive bolt of electricity, hitting Ash as well as Oshawott and Geyser.

Ash's entire body exploded with pain, as if white hot knives were piecing him. He convulsed and collapsed into a heap.

"Nope it's not a dream," He mumbled as an extremely pissed off Pikachu stood glaring over him.

"Pika Pika…"

"Guys…I don't think it's a dream or the distortion world," said Geyser. His voice was so faint it was barely audible at all. "I think…I brought us here."

"What." Ash sat back and gaped at his Pokémon. Geyser was still lying on his side not moving.

Oshawott sidled up to him and stroked the top of his head with his paw. "How could you have brought us here? Are you okay?"

"Pika Pikachu?"

"I don't know how I did it," Geyser replied. "I just…It's hard to explain. Back when we were fighting that monster. I just panicked. And then there was this wave of energy. And then. We were here."

"Do you think you can get us back?" Ash asked.

"I…errr…Can't move…"

[Pokémon]

The centurion…

The moment of intimacy was broken in a flash…

One moment Blade had been wrapped up in his Darkrai lovers arms and everything was perfect…

The next Shadow has released the Sneasel, causing him to drop to the floor. His ears filled with a sound more terrible and horrifying than any Blade had heard before.

Shadow was screaming…Something was hurting him. Actually, causing him pain.'

"S-shadow. What's happening to you…"

"Look! Up here," squeaked Ashachu.

"The fuck!" Blade blinked in disbelief as two flying…things, he had no idea what they where, flew from out of the trees.

They looked like flying trash cans. A metal cylinder with two arms and a domed shaped head, born aloft in mid-air by a series of tiny jet engines.

"Shadow. Can you hear me," Blade shouted desperately to his mate again, but he got no response?

"Let's get out of here," said Hunter to Ashachu, to which Ashachu replied, "agreed."

To two scurried off, around Shadow and up the metal walkway.

"Cowards," muttered Blade resentfully.

But they didn't get far…Blade heard a number of squeaks, whimpers and screams from the trees. Along with a cry of "Pikachuuu!"

Then a moment later a group of four humans dressed in red outfits emerged into the clearing. One was holding Ashachu by the scruff of his neck. He couldn't see Hunter, though he could hear the Riolu screaming from out of the trees.

"Get off me…Let me go, you freaks!"

"Shit," mumbled Blade.

"More of the fuckers," one of the humans spat.

He wasn't sure what to do. His instincts told him to run, to flee into the forest. But at the same time, he didn't want to leave Shadow. The Darkrai wasn't moving.

"Get it with the miniremo drone…"

His indecisiveness cost him dearly. He suddenly felt a massive pain in his head before losing control of his body…

[Pokémon]

With Ash…somewhere…

"What do you mean you can't move," asked Ash putting his hand on Geyser's shoulder and shaking him a little.

"I mean I'm too weak. I can't seem to move my arms or legs," Geyser replied.

"Whatever you did must have wiped you out," Ash muttered.

"Oshawott Osha." Oshawott let out a sad coo and rubbed Geyser on the chest with his paw.

It was at that moment that they heard it. A strange sound echoing across the plain. Somewhere between a wailing cry and a roar. It made the hairs on the back of Ash's head stand on edge, and Pikachu and Oshawott's fur bristle.

"Wh-what was that," said Pikachu nervously.

"No idea… But it sounded bad," whimpered Oshawott.

Ash drew a deep breath. "We can't stay here. Geyser, I'll put you back in your ball."

"Okay."

He took out the ball from his belt and returned the Dewott in a beam of red light. And then he, Pikachu and Oshawott set off across the rocky terrain, heading in the direction of the settlement.

[Pokémon]

The Centurion…

Uncomfortable and humiliating…

Ashachu now found himself bound and gagged with a tight leash tied around his neck. The Team Flare grunts who had caught them in the forest had tied his front paws together, forcing him to walk on his hind legs…Something that was difficult without his tail to balance him.

Worse they had stuffed a ball gag in his mouth and placed some sort of rubber collar around his neck that covered his electric sac, making it impossible to use electric moves. Worse still he being led along on a leash.

Hunter was in a similar state. The poor Riolu looked like…Something that wasn't appropriate to say here!

Shadow and Blade were under the control of the dreaded EM waves. Ashachu knew what those blood red eyes meant. It was eerie, seeing the Darkrai under the control of such. The creature from Ashachu's nightmares reduce to this black puppet that floated along idly behind the team flare grunts.

It was a group of five grunts whom had assaulted them in the forest. Three women and two men. All with flaming red hair, all dressed in red blazers and white shirts and all practically identical. The grunts led them along the walkway and through the trees.

For Ashachu the journey was arduous. He lost his balance more than once and found himself falling to the ground. With his paws bound he couldn't land gracefully on his all four and landed flat on his face.

"Keep moving rat," snapped one of the grunts, a woman by the sounds of her, unkindly giving him a hard prod with their foot. Another deliberate trend on his foot paw.

Hunter let out a muffled growl through his gag. This only served to earn him a sharp tug from the grunt holding his leash that nearly caused him to lose balance. And all the while Shadow and Blade just drifted along behind, staring blankly into infinity.

It took them about twenty minutes or so to reach the end of the forest. Here they found themselves faced with another wall and another door. On the other side of this door was yet another room filled with controls, nodes and dials of varying kinds. Ashachu couldn't begin to image what they all did. Beyond this room was a corridor and then finally another lift.

Finally, they arrived back in the control room…Or a control room; A giant window covering most of one side, monitors, dials and buttons covering most of the remaining space in the room, and a large armchair in the middle of the room with its back to the door.

A glance around the room revealed there were three others present; the short haired team flare grunt they'd met earlier, another random grunt who liked exactly the same as the other, and Pyre.

"Mmmmrpppp…"

Ashachu tried to cry out to him but it only came out as muffled grunts.

"Quite rat." The female grunt kicked him again.

Like Ashachu and Hunter, the Charmander was bound and gagged. His claws and foot paws had been tied together, forcing him into an uncomfortable looking hunched over position. Some sort of tight band had been placed around his muzzle forcing his jaws closed.

"Captain Idris sir," said one of the grunts. A male with a deep voice.

For a brief moment Ashachu wondered who he was address as neither the short haired grunt nor the other man in the room seemed to acknowledge him. Then the big chair in the middle of the room slowly spun around…

Sitting upon it was was yet another man in a team flare uniform. But he was very different from the others. His outfit consisted of a white jacket and trousers with a red belt. And unlike the other grunts who were all pale and kept their hair dyed red and faced hidden behind deep red sunglasses, this man was dark tan in appearance, had short black hair and stubble, and wore no sunglasses.

He may even be considered handsome or good looking by human standards…Ashachu didn't know. But he was definitely the sort of person Ashachu might have expected to see in a movie, not as part of a terrorist organization.

"Good good." The man in the chair. Captain Idris, that was how the grunt had referred to him, threw his head back and laughed as he spoke. He was grinning from ear to ear.

Oddly enough, that didn't make Ashachu more comfortable.

"You little critters have caused us quite a nuisance." Idris eyed them for a moment before looking back up at the grunts. "We found that Charmander wandering around the hyper sleep chamber. Any idea how they escaped."

"No idea," said the woman who had kicked Ashachu. "By the looks of the pods they seem to have forced their way out."

Idris frowned. "I didn't think that was possible. Now, what are we going to do with them."

The question had been asked to the room at large. Again, the lady who had kicked Ashachu supplied the answer.

"There are two spare pods in the secondary chamber. I suggest we place the Darkrai and the aura Charmander back in status. Slaughter the rest."

Ashachu felt a lurch of fear and Hunter growled – then yelped when his handler tugged on the leash.

Idris frowned at her. "I don't see why killing them is necessary Charlize. We can't build Lysandre's world of beauty if we commit violence on the bodies of Pokémon in our charge."

"And with due respect capital Idris, one of these Pokémon killed Aliana. They're too dangerous to leave conscious."

"Besides this is the aura Pichu," said another grunt.

Had Ashachu heard him speak yet. He didn't know. They all looked and sounded a like.

Idris raised his eyebrows. "Oh, so this is the famous aura Pichu. Well Pikachu now." He turned his attention back to Charlize. "Wouldn't we then be better off keeping him and his friends alive. We could use a strong buck to help us with the landing."

"Sir I believe that would be ill advised. This Pikachu has already proved to be strong and dangerous. It's partly the reason we were forced to flee the earth. We can't trust…"

"We don't need to be able to trust it. We can subdue them with EM waves. And it won;'t be able to do much fighting without a tail."

"Sir, I must…"

Idris held up a hand to silence her. "That's quite enough Charlize. Now. Ryan, Logan. Go take the Darkrai and Charmander to the secondary power chamber. Noomi, Michael, Charlize. You'll be accompanying me to the surface. Noomi I want you to keep these Pokémon out the way until we're ready to depart. Understand…"

There was a chorus of "yes sir," from the rest of the grunts.

"Excellent. Now get to it…"

Keeping these Pokémon out of the way meant dragging Ashachu and Hunter into a corner and fastening the leash to the wall. It also entailed binding and gaging Blade in the same manner. Cuffs were placed on his paws, something black shoved in his maw and he was tied at the neck it Ashachu.

And of course, in his hypnotized state, the poor Sneasel just stood there and allowed himself to be abused…It made Ashachu feel sick. He took deep breaths through his nose to fight the feeling of nausea. To keep himself from throwing up into his gag and choking.

At the same time Pyre was dragged out of the room…by his tail…by two of the grunts, with Shadow following idly behind.

[Pokémon]

With Ash, Pikachu and Oshawott…

"Hello…Is anybody here…"

"Pikaaa!"

"Oshawott…"

The howl of wind and a crackle of thunder. That was the only reply Ash, Pikachu or Oshawott received. Ash felt his chest tighten and for a brief second he struggled to breath. It was at that moment that it struck him.

They were all alone here. This place…this world, was dead. There was nothing here but rocks and ruin. And if they couldn't find a way back then…Ash couldn't bring himself to think about it.

He bent down, scooped up Pikachu and hugged him tight against his chest. He lowered his nose into the fur on the top of his head and breath in, inhaling Pikachu's scent.

"Chaaa." Pikachu cooed, enjoying being held so tightly even despite the situation. He responded by rubbing the top of his head against Ash's chin.

Neither noticed Oshawott throwing them a dirty look…

They had been walking across the rocky barren wasteland for nearly an hour and had finally reached the settlement…Or what was left of it. They were surrounded by broken, dilapidated buildings. Towers of stone and glass slowly wearing down and falling apart. Turning to dust with the passage of time.

Whoever had lived here, or whatever this place had been, they and it were long gone now…

"What is this place," Ash asked still hugging Pikachu tightly.

Neither of his Pokémon replied.

Nobody wanted to ask the most pressing question – what in the distortion world do we do now?

It was only another five minutes or so however before a more pressing – and far scarier – problem presented itself. Over the noise of the wind and thunder they heard it again. That terrible wailing roaring cry. And this time it was louder.

Ash and Oshawott stopped dead in their tracks. "What was that…"

There came a loud THUD, THUD, THUD, from behind… Ash and Oshawott snapped around and the three of them came face to face with the most terrifying monster any of them had seen.

It was basically a giant maw filled with rows and rows of vicious looking teeth. An endless void to disappeared into. The maw sat in the middle, and indeed took up most of, a large spherical body out of which sprung two enormous claws, two tiny feet, a short tail and a small squashed head.

It's eyes were pulpiness. Just four glowing blue light in the middle of its head and above the gaping abyss that was the creatures maw…And without knowing what this thing was Ash, Pikachu and Oshawott knew what it would do. What it wanted. This creature devoured. That was all.

And there was only one thing to do…

"RUN FOR IT!"

"PIKA!"

[Pokémon]

Back aboard the Centurion…

More corridors, lifts, dragging and unfortunately falling over and kicking…

Ashachu, Hunter and Blade were led out of the control room and to another part of the vessel. They were now in the briefing room – that was what Idris had called it. A small room like a classroom, with rows of desks and a lectern at the front of the room. And behind it a giant tv monitor.

Four team flare grunts - including Idris and kicking lady, Charlize – sat down. As soon as they were sitting, the lights in the room died and the screen lit up. And for the first time since those terrible events in Geosenge Town, Ashachu found himself looking into Lysandre's face.

"Greetings. If you are witnessing this, it means that humanity has reached its most desperate hour. Project Skywalker was devised many years ago to ensure that humans and Pokémon would survive if the earth were no longer habitable. In 1987 fifteen probes were launched into the furthest reaches of deep space and ultra space. Their goal was to locate habitable worlds. From the data that was sent back seven such worlds were identified. The Centurion is now in orbit around one such world."

The image of the screen change to a picture of a large sphere in the middle of space. It looked like it was filled with dark grey smoke.

"We call it the ultra plant. The planet is covered in a thick atmosphere, rich in carbon dioxide. However, readings have show that the atmosphere contains enough oxygen to support life, but we don't yet know what it looks like on the surface. You have been awoken from hyper sleep to explore the surface of the planet. The fate of the passengers of this vessel. The fate of humanity. Of all life. Rests in your hands."

The image on the screen disappeared and the light in the room came back on. Idris stood up and approached the lectern.

"Now unfortunately the data we managed to gain from the probe is quite limited. It's limited to temperature and atmospheric gases. We don't have any pictures of the surface as the camera stopped working before the probe arrived. In truth we have know way of knowing what conditions will be waiting for us down there. Ordinarily we would have launched a probe from the Centurion before sending a crew down but unfortunately the probes appear to have malfunctioned during the flight. The plan is to descend to the ultra-plant in the Katabasis. Do any of you have any questions."

Nobody raised their hands…

"Okay then…"