"AND NEXT UP, WE HAVE! THE RANGERS!"
The applause sounded. The crowd roared. The stadium shook. The entire nation is watching and waiting for us to make our grand entrance.
"Alright, remember the plan! We move out the moment the gates are opened!" Pyral barked, getting our attention immediately. It's not just us, the other squadrons around us are also getting into position, ready to move out and evacuate the audiences at a moment's notice.
I'm riding on Crown, who is standing regally on the ground with his wings tucked. That will change the moment the gates are opened. I have no doubt he will take off as soon as he sees a single gap between those heavy metal gates.
"Boss? Is the gate supposed to open anytime soon?"
"I'm checking in with Command." Pyral confirmed as he radioed a message to Command, only to end up with a frown on his face.
He ended up shouting his queries over to Lieutenant Colonel Sophia of the Yellow Squadron, who is at another end of the room.
"Sophia! What's going on?!"
"Your comms are down too?!"
Another shout came in from somewhere within the room.
"This is Red Squadron Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Ridge! I'm experiencing the same problem!"
"Blue squadron, same issue!"
"Green squadron, comms down! I repeat, comms down! Command had gone dark!"
"Everyone, comms check, now!"
The stadium where the celebrations are being held is the exact same stadium that Indigo uses for its annual Pokemon League Tournament. During the months where the stadium isn't used for holding the annual League tournament, it is used for many other events. Be it Pokemon Contests, concerts, pokemon exhibitions, or other forms of tournaments. Any event hosted in Indigo that is pokemon related and requires a large audience seating, you can bet that this stadium is the go-to venue for it.
Thus, the entire stadium is built with the sturdiest materials the world has to offer. In fact, the stadium has many rooms built into it that are meant to house and contain large and potentially destructive pokemon. The room where we Rangers are gathered at is one of the largest ones and also the one with the highest security available, be it to protect us from outside forces, or to protect the people outside from what is within. Many large gates and shutters are built and positioned at strategic positions within the stadium as the stadium's own defense system. If a pokemon went berserk for whatever reasons and cannot be properly contained immediately, the gates and shutters can be activated remotely to trap said pokemon within an area of the stadium, minimising the overall collateral damage caused.
Meaning to say, the gates that separates us and the audiences are either near indestructible, or cannot be brought down in a short amount of time. And right now, the gates are not opening. To add on, our comms were suddenly down when it was working fine just a minute before.
We do not need to be geniuses to know that something has gone really wrong.
Comms are down in the room we are in and we are trapped. If anything were to happen to the audiences right now, we cannot be there to save them. We are royally fucked. In just one move, somebody had just disabled the entire Ranger forces that were meant to evacuate the stadium right now. Somehow, someone, had just impossibly hacked into the stadium's computer network and immobilised the entire network, jamming our comms, and controlling the shutters and gates leading in and out of the stadium.
And that someone is very likely from Team Rocket given what we were just briefed about. The only thing that is working in our room is the large screen that is showing us what is happening outside live in the stadium right now and already, there are confused murmurs going on within the audiences on why the Rangers had not appeared yet.
Nobody had realised that we are all trapped. No, I don't think we are the only ones who had the stadium's defense system turned against us. If I am Team Rocket and I already have the capability to trap all the Rangers stationed in the stadium within one area, I would not stop there. All STAR forces, the police force, anyone from the Indigo forces who are hiding out of sight in one of the rooms, I will trap them in too in order to take away their numerical advantage in one fell swoop, turning the defense system of the Indigo Stadium against us through hijacking and controlling those near impenetrable gates and shutters within the stadium.
And then, the largest screen within the stadium itself flickered to life. It's obvious that this isn't part of the planned program if the expression on the emcee's face is anything to go by. Not only that, the enormous foldable roof of the stadium that was previously folded away is now starting to fold back in, trapping everyone within the stadium in an impenetrable dome.
The entire network and defense system of the Indigo Stadium had been hijacked. That is the only explanation that made sense.
"Greetings, citizens of Indigo."
A tall man with short teal hair appeared on the largest screen within the stadium. I cannot tell if this video feed is live or recorded prior to this, but that is an unimportant detail compared to the large red 'R' imprinted on the left side of his shirt over his heart.
Team Rocket
"Happy National Day!" The man on the screen exclaimed in mock joy. "Five hundred years of our founding, built upon lies and oppression! It is an event to celebrate about, isn't it? Happy National Day everyone! Happy National Day!"
The stadium is deathly silent.
"I am Executive Archer of Team Rocket! And today, on behalf of the organisation, I have come to deliver the perfect birthday gift for our nation! What is the perfect gift, you ask? Why, the truth, of course! Nothing but the undeniable truth! Starting from our very own President, Kain Briggs! Everyone, give him a round of applause please!"
On screen, Archer clapped happily. The stadium remains eerily silent. One of the smaller screens within the stadium then flickered on with a live camera focusing on the President, who is sitting on his seat with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Do you know how Indigo prospered? Do you know how we earn our money, enjoying the riches that we enjoy today? Do you know who we have to thank for that? It's President Briggs! Mr President, do you want to share with us your secret to success?"
A separate screen which is linked to the camera filming our President live on TV continues to film him. The President's face now has his lips in a tight curl. His face is slowly contorting into a furious scowl and his fists clenched.
"No? It's fine, I understand. You are just shy, aren't you? In that case, let me do it for you! Kain Briggs, the man who defied the impossible and became the leader of a nation at twenty-two years of age! The youngest President to be appointed into office in Indigo's history in its most turbulent times! Never losing a single election, the man adored and respected by both regions that made up the Indigo! Now, how did you do that? It's impossible!"
Archer's face morphed into a grin.
"It's simple. You are an expert manipulator, in more ways than one. Your empire is built upon illusions upon illusions, lies after lies! In fact, Team Rocket would never have existed if it wasn't for what you did two decades ago! Today, we are here to tear down your lies and expose the truth to the whole world, live on TV! Right on the day of our nation's founding!"
Without us realising it, even us Rangers were captivated by what we are seeing on the hijacked screen.
"Today, I will tell you the truth behind the founding of Team Rocket, starting from the great economic depression two decades ago! Starting from the extermination of some of the greatest and most loyal minds Kanto has to offer! Many of you here present would have heard of the event, the extermination of SKIP! Separation of Kanto from Indigo through Peace! That was us! That was what Team Rocket was before we were forced to become Team Rocket! Forget everything you thought you know about SKIP! None of that was true, lies spun by our dear Mr President in his last ditch attempt to hold onto his seat of power and we have the evidence to prove it! Today, let me tell you our story!"
Archer took a brief pause before he continued.
"Let me start off by telling the world the story of how our President publicly ordered a genocide in Kanto without the world knowing about it, the genocide that gave birth to Team Rocket."
This is fucking insane.
I won't go into the details of the fuckery that Archer had revealed to the goddamn world, live on TV. To keep it simple, Team Rocket had just presented indisputable proof that Indigo prospered through Johto's oppression of Kanto, be it economically or otherwise. It's a fucking mindfuck and a half that got the entire stadium in an uproar and somehow, everyone of us felt compelled to believe it. The evidence is so damning, the reasonings behind it so logical, every single thing can be easily fact-checked if we put our minds into it to piece the puzzle together that it is not even remotely funny.
And if Archer's words are anything to go by, Team Rocket had somehow broadcasted the entire proceedings live on TV to the whole world. The entire world is seeing this, right now.
And Team Rocket didn't stop there. Archer had only talked for about five to ten minutes and it wasn't enough to supposedly expose each and every of Kain's wrongdoings. To truly expose Kain to the world, Team Rocket did something drastic.
Team Rocket had created a website for the sole purpose of documenting every single evidence of Kain's alleged crimes. The way Team Rocket is doing it reminds me a lot of the WikiLeaks from my previous world. Even the name sounds familiar. SKIPedia, that is the name of the website. Many of the files uploaded there are confidential or classified files that are undoubtedly previously stored in the government's databases, only privy to the eyes of a select few. Now, all of these are free for all to see.
If what the files uploaded there are indeed true, then Kain is seriously fucked and Indigo is going to be shamed for decades. This is the largest scandal to have ever happened in Indigo's history and it has to happen on the day of our nation's founding. We are going to be the butt of the world's joke for decades to come. This day is definitely going into the history books. Team Rocket had definitely chosen the perfect time to reveal the truth to the world.
However, that is not the immediate concern right now.
Remember what I said about Team Rocket hijacking the entire stadium's defense system? Nobody could go in or out of the stadium right now, especially when the foldable roof of the stadium is now properly folded in. With that, even flying types cannot fly in or out, and for some reason even psychic types cannot teleport out of the respective sectors of the stadium that they are trapped within the stadium. Every single audience here are now effectively being held as hostages.
Including us Rangers.
Team Rocket's masterplan didn't end there. They also used this opportunity to reveal their latest creation and masterpiece, Mewtwo. They are using Mewtwo to hold us hostage against the Indigo. Archer had claimed that right now, Team Rocket is on their way to reclaim what is rightfully Kanto's. Their armies are marching to Johto's cities as we speak. If the Gym Leaders there tries to do something about it, then someone within the stadium at Indigo Plateau will die, through Mewtwo.
Meaning to say, as long as one of Indigo's Gym Leaders tries to do anything to resist, someone here at Indigo Plateau will die, starting from Johtonians.
"Goddamn it!"
We tried everything we could. We brought out our most destructive pokemon, fired the most devastating attacks, and yet the gate that barred us from saving lives only had a small dent to count for our efforts. The Indigo Stadium's defense system is too damn good.
"Fuck! Is there even a way to communicate with anyone outside of this damn room?!"
"Try using psychics!"
"That's a negative! Something is blocking their telepathic abilities! They cannot link their minds to anyone outside of here!"
"Just keep trying! One of our psychics may just be able to do it!"
"Roger!"
"Report! Incoming! Nine o' clock, left side of the room!"
Every single one of us that are trapped in the large room tensed up and so did our pokemon, ready to go into battle at a moment's notice.
We weren't expecting to see him. I wasn't expecting to see him.
He appeared from within the shadows, a powerful looking gallade beside him. I recognised that move, that was Shadow Sneak. Does that mean that although moves like Teleport are being hindered, others like Shadow Sneak could work?
"I am Volkner Tide of Sunyshore, the previous Sunyshore Gym Leader. I'm here to help on Lance's orders. Who's the commanding officer?"
It's him, Volkner. Everyone here knows him on sight, he is a famous figure even after his retirement.
Pyral stepped up and reported to Volkner immediately. The other four squadron commanders quickly gathered around as well, signalling to the rest of us to hold our positions.
"This is Lieutenant Pyral Furnes of the Johto 1st Ranger Regiment, Commander of Black Squadron. General Hartatter is the CO of this operation. He's supposed to be overseeing it from the command post until the stadium's defense system is being used against us. Before he left he transferred the control to us squadron commanders."
"I got it. Alright, five squadron commanders, right? I only have less than three minutes to tell you the updated plan. Sectors G, B, and O where the Indigo forces are standing by are locked in just like you guys. Pillars have been mobilised to take down the gates and shutters to help free you guys so that you can do your job. Clear so far?"
Volkner didn't bother to mince words or lower his voice. Every Ranger in the room could hear him.
"We are going to synchronise our time." Volkner said as he raised up his left arm, showing us the poketch he is wearing on it. Our commanders quickly did the same as they raised up their watches, their fingers hovering over the necessary buttons.
"The time will be 10: 28 in 3, 2, 1. 10: 28." Volkner initiated a time synchronisation as we all readjusted the time on our watches to his, which isn't much since the time displayed on our watches are pretty accurate to begin with. But if Volkner deems a time synchronisation to be necessary, then it means timing is a very crucial factor in stopping Team Rocket.
"At 10: 30 sharp I will break the gates down, and so will the other Pillars here that have been mobilised to free the remaining STAR and Police forces. You guys will go and do your thing as per the original plan. Teleporting within the stadium may be impossible right now, but the moment you get out of the stadium your psychic pokemon should be able to teleport properly to anywhere away from the stadium, so Psychic Specialists should use that to your advantage. Comms should also be up soon. We Pillars will go handle the unknown pokemon floating in the middle of the stadium. Try not to get too close to our battles, that pokemon is believed to be created to be on the level of a legendary pokemon, we are not joking."
Volkner's words elicited many murmured curses and shocked gasps. I grimaced. Mewtwo. Volkner and the other Pillars present, whoever they may be, will be fighting Mewtwo.
"Protocol M is being approved, so relevant personnels please take note. If you deem the situation dire enough to use it, then use it."
"But sir! Protocol M is class-"
"Classified won't save us now, won't save them now."
Volkner pointed to the screen which is still showing the situation at the stadium in real time. Many of the audiences are scared. Children are crying.
"This is Lance's orders. He will handle the aftermath of using Protocol M in public. Forget about secrecy if need be. Understood?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Time now is 10: 29. We have about 30 seconds left." Volkner recited out loud as he looked at his poketch once more and made his way to stand right in front of the massive gates blocking our way forward.
"I'm going to make preparations to bust down the gates. Everyone, make way if you don't want to end up as collateral damage. I mean it."
We all wisely did as Volkner mentioned. In one single motion, Volkner released what I assume is his entire team around him. I counted 19 pokemon in total.
Nineteen pokemon. He really is amazing. Not many people in this world can boast to be able to properly tame so many pokemon and train them to be Pillar-level strong.
Our gaze met for a short second. I'm pretty sure I caught him sending me a smirk even if it disappeared fairly quickly because he refocused his attention back onto the gates. I watched as he pulled up the sleeve of his blue jacket a little, revealing a queer little marble-like stone embedded in a bracelet he wore around his wrist.
"Puddle."
The massive monster that is Volkner's gyarados lowered its head enough for Volkner to jump onto it. The gyarados raised its head once more as it gave a loud bellow before glowing a startling white.
My eyes widened. That gyarados, it's… evolving?
Impossible.
Everyone watched as right before our very eyes, the gyarados grew bulkier. The fins on its cheeks grew longer and started to gain a yellow tint. The crest on its head grew larger and turned black. Fins and spikes grew along specific parts of its body. The most distinctive features are the two humongous fins growing on its back.
The light eventually died down, and a gyarados that does not look like the conventional gyarados that we know of announced its appearance with a savage and bloodthirsty roar. Even just by looking at it, we can all tell that this gyarados is now a lot more ridiculously powerful, like it had gained a power spike as compared to its earlier form.
"Oi, Black Squadron commander, you do the countdown!"
"Roger Wilco! Time now is 10: 29: 48! 49! 50! 51!..."
We do not need any hints from our commanders to prepare ourselves and get ready. Crown gave a low growl as he readied himself for flight and so did my flying types. Around me, my fellow Rangers are doing the same, already organised in their squadron's formations.
Meanwhile, Volkner's pokemon are beginning to charge up their power. The intensity of the power that they are giving off is suffocating at this distance, especially the Hyper Beam forming at the front of the evolved-gyarados' opened jaws.
Just what is this gyarados?
"57! 58! 59! 60!"
Volkner's pokemon fired their attacks. The resulting light that was produced as a by-product was so glaring that we all have to cover our eyes. We all heard a deafening boom not just right in front of us, but all around the stadium. The other Pillars must have also used their power to free the trapped Indigo forces within the Indigo Stadium right at the same time Volkner did.
I struggled to open my eyes among the bright light. When it died down enough for me to finally open my eyes, Volkner was already gone. He and his pokemon had vanished in streaks of yellow lights.
Most importantly, the gate is no more. We are free to do what we are supposed to do.
"MOVE! GO GO GO!"
I don't know who shouted the order, but it pulled our minds back into working order as we all zipped through the pair of destroyed gates at the same time. We reached the stadium within seconds.
Chaotic doesn't even begin to describe what is going on.
Right in the middle of the stadium, Lance is battling Mewtwo in a deathmatch, supported by Karen and Elesa from Unova. All around the stadium, chaos had erupted. Rocket members that were stationed around the stadium are now trying to contain the situation only to find themselves face to face with members of the STAR or police forces that had finally broken free of their confinement. Somehow, the gates and shutters that were previously shut are now opened. People are now in a mad rush to get out of here, pushing each other out of the way in a desperate gambit to save their lives.
It's a battlefield out here.
"DON'T FALTER! DON'T HESITATE! JUST DO WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO! WE ARE THE RANGERS OF THE 1ST RANGER REGIMENT! EVACUATE THE CIVILIANS IN OUR ALLOCATED SECTOR TO AREA LD155!"
As if sensing our fear and doubts, Pyral barked those words to us over the din as we flew across the stadium towards our assigned sector, bringing our focus back to where it should be at. We all heard him loud and clear.
A Rocket with a steelix tried to get in our way just as we were flying over to our allocated sector of the stadium.
"KEEP GOING! DO NOT STOP! THE STAR FORCES WILL TAKE CARE OF HIM!"
True to Pyral's words, members of the STAR forces appeared almost immediately to meet the Rocket in battle, clearing the way for us.
It's like what we were briefed about before we were thrown headfirst into the shitfest. The STAR forces will do their thing, the police will do theirs, and we will do ours. Three different forces, each having a different role, aiding each other to do our job.
The faster we evacuate the area, the easier the STAR and Police forces can do their jobs. In that case, then we shall evacuate the civilians as fast as we possibly can.
Through any means necessary.
Name: Skye Bale, 16, Female
Affiliation: Indigo Ranger Force, Johto Region, 1st Ranger Regiment
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Code Name: Zephyr
Pokemon Team:
1. Pidgeot (Crown), male
2. Gliscor (Glide), male
3. Skarmory (Dia), female
4. Crobat (Beats), male
5. Jumpluff (Cotton), female
6. Dragonite (Tino), female
7. Noivern (Echo), male
8. Emolga, (Emi), female
9. Hawlucha (Hawk), male
10. Sigilyph (Cosmo), female
11. Aerodactyl (Aria), female
12. Masquerain (Heli), male
