From where they were hiding, Akira was able to see that there were three guards at the entrance to the base as well as two groups of four patrolling the perimeter. "There are too many guards too for an outright attack though I don't like the idea of leaving them alive to block our exit..." Akira contemplated as he continued to examine the area around the base.
Knowing that they were at a disadvantage in the upcoming battle, the leader of this group of Tamers turned to their only advantage. "Mikey. Is there a back entrance into the base?" Akira questioned.
Before Mikey had even answered him, Akira could feel that Lady Luck had abandoned them for now which was only confirmed when he saw Mikey shake his head to inform the group that Akira's question was negative.
Now that he knew that they wouldn't be able to sneak into the base, Akira decided that he would ask if his team had any ideas on what they should do. "Ash. Forrest. Do either of you have a plan on how we can get inside without alerting the whole base too our presence?"
Akira didn't have to wait too long for both boys to give him options he could use for an attack. "We could have our Pokémon use stealth to assault the guards." Ash suggested. Though the option that Ash gave him was one that they could use if it came down to it, Akira still would prefer if they found a way that wouldn't put their Pokémon at risk.
Both Forrest and Ash could see this and as such, Forrest was quick to give his own battle plan. "If Mikey would be willing to do this then we could have him take some of the guards down the path that would lead to the bodies of those Team Rocket Grunts and when they get far enough in, we could ambush them."
Akira was quite pleased with the battle plan that Forrest had come up with though they still had to get Mikey's consent before they could put their plan into effect. With this in mind all three Tamers turned towards the boy in question.
While Akira was going to ask Mikey if he was okay with their plan, he was unable to do so since Mikey started to speak first. "I am not opposed to your plan though I want you to promise me that you wont let Team Rocket recapture me or let me get killed within your ambush." Mikey informed the group.
This was something that Akira was hoping that they would be able to promise Mikey especially since he didn't plan on leaving any survivors with this ambush. "That shouldn't be a problem Mikey..." Akira told the brown haired boy before turning to his other two companions. "...Forrest. Ash. I want you two to go farther up ahead and wait until Mikey gets passed you to commence your part of the ambush." Ash informed the other two males.
With Akira's orders given, both Forrest and Ash went back the way they came so they could get into position for their ambush.
Once his team was gone, Akira unhooked two of his Pokéballs from his belt. Though unlike the usual way of calling out his Pokémon he pushed the button on both Pokéballs so he could call them out quietly.
"Natsu. Inari. We are going to be having a battle soon so i want you too be prepared for it." Akira explained to his Pokémon. Both Natsu and Inari could sense that this situation didn't require them to give a verbal acknowledgement on their master's words and as such they just nodded their head.
Once this was done, Akira waved Mikey on so he could begin the ambush and soon it was just Akira and his Pokémon hiding behind the forest brush. Akira peered through the foliage to ensure that Mikey would be able to pull of his part of the plan and from what the young Tamer was able to see, it was going quite well since seven of the guards were running after Mikey. Wanting their plan to succeed, Akira waited until the coast was clear to follow after them.
Akira and his Pokémon followed after Team Rocket for what felt like an hour though he knew it could only have been about five minutes or so. From his position behind the group Akira was able to see that Mikey was quite a ways from the guards that were trailing him though he also saw that one of the guards had stopped as they were trying to catch their breath. Seeing that this guard was stopped caused Akira to want to take them out of the fight before it even began though he was fearful that he would give the ambush away by doing so though this train of thought was quickly dashed when Akira heard what sounded like fighting coming from up ahead.
Not wanting to allow any of the guards to escape and warn the base, Akira went on the offensive at the rear of the guard. Equipping two of his throwing knives, he sent one immediately at the guard that was straggling behind the others. As the blade sliced into the guards spine a sense of accomplishment came over him.
"I'm getting quite good at this." Akira concluded as he watched the guard crumble to the ground. Just as Akira was about to send another knife at the downed guard when he saw two more guards come running towards him. "Get them boys!" Akira ordered his Pokémon who were quick to do as they were commanded. Knowing that both Natsu and Inari could handle themselves for the moment, Akira focused on the guard that he had already taken down since he was wanting to collect the knife that he had thrown at the guard.
As Akira reached for the blade he could hear groaning coming from the body which told him that the guard was still alive. Not wanting to leave any survivors from this skirmish and as such Akira plunged his remaining knife into visible section of the guards neck. Within seconds the guard stopped making any noise at all while their blood flowed onto the forest floor.
Now that he had ensured that the guard has indeed passed onto the next life, Akira removed both his blades from the guards body. Once done Akira turned his attention towards his other enemies.
Akira could tell that his Pokémon were able to hold their own against those that they were fighting which was evident from the many wounds that littered the guards bodies.
Wanting to ensure that his Pokémon survive this battle he decided to join them in their battle. Akira charged at the Team Rocket member that was currently engaged in conflict with Inari since somehow the two had switched positions and now the guard's back was facing him. Within a few steps Akira was on top of the guard and was slashing his knife across the guards throat and from the blood spray that coated the forest, Akira could tell that the blow was a fatal one. As the lifeless body collapsed to the ground Akira flicked his eyes towards the remaining guard who was now trying to fight off both Natsu as well as Inari.
As Akira was watching his Pokémon battle he saw that Natsu had left himself open and from the guard's gaze, Akira could tell that they had also spotted the opening as well. Without a moments hesitation Akira threw a knife at the remaining guard which took the female Team Rocket member in the chest. The force of the impact caused the guard to fall back, she would have came crashing to the ground were it not for the tree that was standing behind her.
Akira watched as the guard slid down the tree and from the glint in her eye, he knew that she was still alive. "End her Natsu!" Akira ordered of the fire type Pokémon and the moment the words came fluttering out of his mouth, Natsu acted. With a slash of his claws Natsu ended the females life with a strike to her throat.
Not wanting to put his Pokémon at more risk than they have already been, Akira recalled both Natsu and Inari back into their Pokéballs. "You did great guys. Now both of you take the rest that you deserve." Akira whispered into the Pokéballs before clipping them both back onto his belt.
Once again Akira made his way towards the body of the fallen guard so he could collect his weapon from her body which only took him a few seconds. As he was finishing cleaning the blood from his knife with the help of the guards clothes, he heard a branch snap which came from the direction that the other members of his team were. Though before Akira could go on the offensive, he heard a familiar voice.
"It's just us Akira. Those four that we fought were pretty easy to dispatch and we were able to find plenty of Pokéballs between the four of them." Ash informed his team leader.
By the time the raven haired boy had finished speaking, Akira had turned to watch his friends approach him. When Ash and the others got close enough they handed Akira a bag that he assumed to hold the Pokéballs that they had collected from the dead. "Thank you. I haven't been able to search these three yet." Akira replied as he placed the bag within his backpack along with the others.
Though Akira had never explicitly told them too search the bodies, Ash and Forrest knew that he wanted them to and quickly did just that. During their search they were able to find three Pokéballs between the three of the guards.
Akira was quickly handed the Pokéballs that the other two Tamers had collected, though just before he put them inside his backpack along with the others a thought came to him. Figuring that Mikey might not have anywhere to go after they finish with this, Akira decided to give him an offer.
"Mikey, if you want we will take you with us once we finish our mission..." Akira informed the other boy who after a few minutes of consideration nodded his head in acceptance of the offer. "...then you will need to choose one of these three Pokémon." Akira explained as he called out the Pokémon from their Pokéballs.
Now in front of Akira stood the three Pokémon that Akira had just called out. Two of these Pokémon were small purple rodents while the other one was a Sandshrew which Akira knew the name of since he had one of his own. Though as Akira was watching Mikey, he saw out of the corner of his eye that Forrest's face had lit up when he saw the Sandshrew.
"Damn...that must mean that Forrest would like to have this Pokémon." Akira deduced as he continued to wait for Mikey to make his decision.
Though before Mikey could make a choice one of the rodent Pokémon started towards him and before anyone knew it, the Pokémon was within Mikey's arms.
Everyone knew from watching the interaction that the decision was already made and as such Akira recalled the remaining rodent Pokémon. Once the creature was safely within it's Pokéball, Akira placed it within one of the bags within his pack. When this was done, Akira turned back towards Mikey. "Here is your Pokémon's Pokéball..." Akira called out as he tossed said item towards the brown haired boy. Though even before he was sure that Mikey had caught the Pokéball, Akira was already turning towards Forrest. "...and Forrest. You can have the Sandshrew."
Authors notes: Thank you to everyone who read this chapter. To anyone who is curious, Mikey is not an original character but one of the Eevee brothers from the original anime. Though I didn't give him an Eevee to start with I do plan for him to eventually get one throughout the story. As always please review and comment with your likes, dislikes and other general comments. Until next time!