Akira's patience was running thin as he was getting tired of scouring through this godforsaken structure. Besides running into a few prisoners that he then promptly released, Akira had yet to find a sign of Gilbert anywhere within Team Rocket's base. Even asking the prisoners that he released gave Akira nothing as they were too scared to tell him anything.
Since none of the captives were able to give him any information, Akira was left with only one real option; to get the information from a member of Team Rocket.
Wanting to inform Forrest on their new plan but wanting to do it in a way that kept them both safe, Akira decided to find a safe place to hide before divulging his plan. With his plan in mind Akira started to scan the hallways that they were going through for any room that they could have a conversation in.
As the two boy were making their way down yet another hallway, Akira spotted a room that upon quick glance looked safe enough to converse in and as such Akira made his way inside followed by Forrest. Once inside Akira turned towards Forrest to let him in on the plan.
"Since we have been unable to get any information from Team Rocket's prisoners, I have decided that we should capture a member of their group and question them. Do you have any objections to the plan?" Akira spoke out towards that darker skinned boy.
Akira waited a brief moment before he received a reply from Forrest. "No, I don't have any objections to your plan though I would like to suggest that we interrogate the individual over there." Forrest muttered out before pointing a finger behind Akira.
Hearing that there was a member of Team Rocket standing behind them caused Akira to turn towards the direction that Forrest was pointing with a speed that he has only felt in a midst of a battle. As Akira was completing his turn towards the Grunt, he had one of his swords unsheathed and was ready for the battle he felt was coming. Now that he was able to see who he would be facing, Akira saw that the Grunt that he previously feared was a danger to them proved to be a young boy who was shaking in terror. This boy looked to be around Akira's age though he wasn't quite for sure.
Seeing this terror caused Akira to briefly hesitate on threatening the Grunt though this hesitation was quickly dashed as Akira thought back on all the times that Team Rocket has preyed on the weak and innocent. With each step that Akira took towards the Grunt, he could see that the other male's hand was trembling which caused the Grunt's own weapon to shake. "Sto...stop where...you ar...are!" the Grunt stuttered out.
Akira could see that the other male was trying to make himself sound as threatening as possible but with the way the words came out, it sounded almost comical. "I will stop wherever I damn well please and if you would like to get out of this alive then I would suggest that you drop that weapon and answer any questions that I may have!" Akira growled with every ounce of venom that he could muster.
Hearing that their was a chance to get out of this situation alive, the Grunt was quick to comply with what Akira wanted him to do.
Akira stopped where he was as well as waited for the sound that the Grunt's weapon made to die down and once it did he started to speak. "Now I want you to tell me where they are keeping the Mayor of Pallet Town's son!"
Akira waited once more though this time he was waiting to hear the Grunt's voice. Both Akira and Forrest could see that the young Grunt was still quite terrified which only intensified upon hearing Akira's question. Though eventually the Grunt was able to contain his fear enough to respond to Akira.
"I'm not for sure...on who they are keeping in there but if you keep going down this hallway you will come upon one that goes both left and right. Go to the right and continue until you reach the end and...there will be a room on the left. That room is always guarded." the Grunt explained to his captors.
Akira heard no deception within the boy's voice and as such Akira decided to believe the Grunt. Now with his interrogation done, Akira once again started moving towards the Grunt he was just previously questioning. Though just to ensure that the boy wouldn't try to attack him while he came upon him, Akira kept his sword drawn.
Seeing Akira advance on him caused the Grunt to scurry away from him in fear. "You promised that you would let me live!" the Grunt cried out as he backed himself into a nearby wall.
If Akira had planned on executing the Grunt then his job would have been made easier since the young man had trapped himself. It didn't take long for Akira to complete his trip across the room and was now standing in front of the trembling male. "Relax. I don't plan on killing you. I am just going to knock you out so you wont become a problem for us later." Akira explained to the frightened male. From the smell that was wafting from the boy, Akira figured that the Grunt's bladder had failed him. Shaking his head to clear the thought from his mind, Akira raised his sword so he could bring the hilt down on top of the boy though before he could he was interrupted.
"Or you could take me with you. I could be your prisoner or whatever else that you wanted me to be. Just don't leave me here...if...you do then I am as good as dead anyway." the Grunt stuttered out, hoping that his pleas would be accepted.
Akira didn't know what to say to the Grunt though he could understand why he didn't want to be left here. Knowing this Akira nodded his head in acceptance of the boy's surrender. Using his sword to cut a swatch of fabric from the Grunt's shirt and used it to bind the boy's hands. With his prisoner now secured, Akira turned back towards the exit of the room to see both Ash and Mikey bolt inside.
The two separate cells had once again became one and though Akira had already heard what Ash had learned and though it did bother him to think that there could be traitors among their people, they had other things that they had to do before they could worry about that. Akira and the others had already reached the area that his prisoner had told them about and currently they were waiting for the right moment to strike.
Like usual Akira had chosen to equip two of his throwing knives since he had a good idea that they would be in use soon. Eventually the moment that Akira had been waiting for appeared as two of the four guards made their way inside the room. This made it easier for the group of Tamers as their enemies were now cut in half.
Once the door was firmly shut behind the guards and Akira was sure that they weren't coming back out, he took his shot. The first blade embedded itself within the first guard's side which knocked them into the other guard. Both Grunts came crashing into the ground which gave Forrest his signal to charge at the downed guards.
Forrest was quicker than anyone else thought and was soon cutting his sword across one guards throat and into the others chest.
Now with the only barrier that was keeping them from entering the room dealt with the remainder of the boys moved to be in front of the door. Though the noise from the brief encounter must have traveled to those within the room because soon the door was opening and though this took the boys by slight surprise they were able to recover quick enough to strike at the guards without alerting the whole base.
Akira took on one Grunt while Forrest took on the other and after only a few heated moments, Akira and his team walked inside leaving the Team Rocket Grunts in a pool of their own blood.
Though Akira didn't walk away unscathed as he could feel his own blood slithering it's way down his left arm but since he sighted the reason that he had come to this base in the first place, Akira pushed his injury to the back of his mind for now.
"Gilbert!" Akira cried out as he sped towards the boy that was both bound and gagged in the center of the room. Akira could see from the flash within Gilbert's eyes that he recognized him. "We are here to take you home, your father is worried sick over you." Akira whispered to him as he used his knife to cut the Gilbert's binds off him.
Authors notes: Thank you to everyone who once again choose to read this chapter of the Tamer Saga. As always please review and comment on your likes, dislikes and other general comments. Until next time.