Chapter 24: Genetics Lab
Happy and Charles had woken up to Vanilla and his three associates, ready to beat them up. Vanilla and his three associates were tasked with keeping the two at bay, only for them to be stronger than they thought. However, they were lulled back to sleep, with Vanilla being the only one to watch over them. Meanwhile, as the search continued in Zamenza's case, Moody's predicament was...strange to say.
The leader of the Dirty Delinquents was revealed to be Senior Head Barbeque, a Braviary who seemed to strive for world liberation by breaking societal rules and restrictions imposed on them by the Pokemon World Government. However, the organization itself will have challenges. A Pokemon of the Military was called into action to deal with the situation that plagued the world as of right now.
Back at the Dirty Delinquents main base somewhere in the world, two figures with gray cloaks having the shades symbols on them entered the office of Senior Head Barbeque, standing in front of the desk where the Senior Head himself was behind. They lowered their hoods to reveal their faces, which felt like the appropriate time to do so. The one on the left was an orange Hitmonlee with blonde hair and blue eyes, whilst the one on the right was a Hitmonchan with a deep purple body color and having the same blue eyes as the Hitmonlee. They appeared to have something to say.
Barbeque: Ah, gentlemen. What brings you here?
The Hitmonlee was the first to speak.
Hitmonlee: Senior Head, we wish to give a report.
Barbeque: Report, then.
Hitmonlee: Sir, we are receiving some cargo that was on a small island. They shall arrive in the next hour.
Barbeque: Wonderful.
The Hitmonchan then had something to say.
Hitmonchan: Sir, we also have received some reports that the Military is having trouble with some of their members. They are now being taken over.
Barbeque: *chuckles* Excellent. We are unstoppable. Soon, we'll overthrow the World Government, and with the rally of the citizens, we shall reclaim the living we were meant to be.
The Hitmonchan wasn't done, however as he continued with…
Hitmonchan: ...We also have another problem, and that is Glopol.
Barbeque began to scowl, which was something he didn't want to hear.
Barbeque: ...Damn. I completely forgot. It seems their spying agency is going to infiltrate us. Lee Way...Chan Way...You know what to do.
Lee Way: *salutes* Yes, sir.
Chan Way: *salutes* We shall not disappoint you, sir.
They exited through the door, leaving the Senior Head to himself. However, they decided to go into another room to speak privately before heeding their order with a very serious expression.
Lee Way: ...Brother. You know as well as I do that the Senior idiot is striving for a goal that will be nigh-impossible.
Chan Way: Tell me about it. But what can we do? At least we are not Hummus.
Lee Way: True. But I think the old bird's grasping at straws. There's no way that the World Government can be overthrown. Not unless...he's going to sacrifice some of us to achieve it…
Chan Way then pondered for a moment as the words began to bother him. However, he shrugged it off as if it was just pure nonsense.
Chan Way: ...Let's not think that way. For now, we carry out orders. World liberation is getting ever so closer for us…
Lee Way: *chuckles* Amazing...Let's get Glopol down to their knees, first. I'll get some bases from the eastern and northern side of the world to prepare for incognito.
Chan Way: Then I'll get the bases from the western and southern sides to prepare with guerrilla warfare. They won't know what hit them.
...
From within the Dirty Delinquents main base, a small, cloaked blue figure made its way down to a place with the sign titled "Genetics Lab" over the door along with a green glowing bar below the sign and flashed the shades logo at the scanner, which opened the door. From the inside, it really suited the name. Within the dim-lit room, there were large glass tubes with green fluids containing recently not-fully-developed creatures made from DNA of certain Pokemon and other kinds of material. However, there was one tube in particular that was by itself as it didn't contain any fluids and had a Pokemon in it, somewhat in stasis.
The Pokemon in question appeared to be a red Metagross with galvanized rocks on its legs and bore a yellow star over its face, seemingly different from a red one. Its eyes appeared to be pitch-black, as if it was in shutdown. A keyboard was in front of its test tube, but with a warning saying "Do Not Release!" on it. Pokemon scientists appeared to be working on testing new DNA combinations in the background at other test tubes, with one scientist who seemed to be the head division of the lab as he stood in front of the glass containing the red Metagross.
The Pokemon appeared to be a Spinda wearing a white hat with the gold shades logo on it, along with the white cloak similar to the ones the scientists wore. However, unlike most cloaks the other ranked members wore, the Spinda had the logo but did not have the initials within like the hat did, similar to the ones the other white cloaked Pokemon wore. The Spinda's color was somewhat red and snowy white, and had a star over his left swirly eye and one on his right ear. He also had a goatee under his mouth similar in red color to his body and appeared to grin to himself as he stared at the Metagross within the tube, knowing that it was something he considered to be the organization's most useful thing to possess.
Spinda: *chuckles* Project Meta, you've been nothing but mere trouble for my ancestors. I wish you could adopt your killer tendencies instead of that foolhardy kindness you cling on to. I don't know how you acquired it, and even my great grandfather times eight, Dr. Frappe couldn't understand it. It's the damnedest thing, actually…
The blue cloaked figure addressed itself as it spoke to the Spinda saying…
?: Dr. Sorbet.
The scientist turned to the cloaked figure, somewhat unsurprised as he kept a straight face. The blue cloaked figure then lowered its hood, appearing to be a female Helioptile with green skin and red eyes, not even surprised by the scientist's demeanor.
Sorbet: Ah, Colonel Hummus. I assume that the Senior Head sent you to check up on Project Meta, correct?
Hummus: Yes. Do you think he's ready?
Sorbet: ...Well, he's still being tested on. To be honest, we don't know why he acts this way. It's been going on since after my great-grandfather-times eight made him. We wanted a killing machine that could obey us, not a machine with a heart and mind of its own! It makes no sense!
Hummus had a disappointed expression, knowing full well what she was expecting.
Hummus: ...So it's not ready yet. You do know that we are taking our steps towards world liberation, right?
Sorbet: Do you think I'm not aware of that? It's not like I sit around here in this lab all day! Sometimes I need some fresh air!
Hummus: *sweat drop* R-Right…
Sorbet: But...during my trips outside the lab, I managed to come up with an idea. If I can't get Project Meta to become a killing machine for us on his own, I've designed a remote that controls his brain function, turning him into a soulless machine under our command! *laughs*
Hummus: ...As long as it works.
Sorbet: Are you doubting me and my inventions?
Hummus: Not really. It's not a secret that your "inventions" failed us before. Remember that other project called "E-Raticate"?
Sorbet: Don't talk about that project. I'm glad it's dead.
Hummus: Oh, really? I think I saw it a couple of times whenever I come in here, and some of your scientists are still working on it to this day. Speaking of, I hope those other projects are capable of assisting us in this endeavor, unless they're not ready?
Sorbet had an irked expression, seeing Hummus as nothing more than mere annoyance but tried to keep it to a minimum around her.
Sorbet: ...You know, I hate you.
Hummus: Nice to know we have common ground.
Sorbet: ...Anyway, tell the Senior Head that Project Meta and some other genetically enhanced Pokemon shall be ready within the next hour or so.
Hummus: ...They'd better be. We'll be expecting it.
She left the lab and headed in an elevator, where she spotted two gray cloaks walking down a corridor meant for secret refuge, which was strange to her. But, despite this, she left through the right hall and entered an elevator, pressing the button to go up.
Hummus: (...What are those two doing…?)
...
At the office where great forces gathered, the mustachioed brown Ambipom received another Roto-Phone call, which was strange to him. Of course, he answered it, awaiting for what kind of responses his subordinates had for him.
Ambipom: ...Hello?
The male voice on the other line sounded like he was panicking, which actually took the Ambipom by surprise as he shouted...
?: S-Supreme Allied General, sir! We have a problem! It appears that there are members of the Dirty Delinquents within our ranks!
Ambipom: W-What?!
?: Several Military officers are now held hostage by them! We're completely defenseless against them!
Ambipom: Well, what do they want?
He then heard an explosion on the other line followed by screams from multiple voices, which meant that the situation was getting worse.
Ambipom: Admiral, what's going on?!
?: They just sank our ship! We're done for!
Ambipom: Call for backup, Admiral! Have some-
Before he could finish his sentence, he heard the Admiral scream, followed by faint voices saying "Capture the branches and take them in!", which were those not from the Military at all. Then, sounds of yells followed by silence as the other line appeared to have hung up.
Ambipom: ...Admiral? Admiral?!
The Roto-Phone then addressed the Ambipom with...
Roto-Phone: Zzt-zzt! The other line hung up!
Ambipom: ...I see.
He hung up the Roto-Phone, now concerned about how drastic the situation has turned.
Ambipom: (...They were right under our noses, and we didn't even know about it...I'm definitely going to establish some background checks for the Military next time around…)
...
Thirty minutes later at a place where actual intelligence was, a phone call was received by a somewhat bulky Inteleon who had a scruffy voice and a goatee on his chin, picking up the Roto-Phone to answer it.
Inteleon: Hello?
The other line was female and sounded somewhat panicked, albeit calm in her voice she said...
?: Chief, we have some news. Apparently, as we were to invade some Dirty Delinquent bases, we were ambushed without warning. Some of our members are now dead from the attack. The western and southern bases were ready for us, and as for members of the northern and eastern, some of them were attacked in secret.
Inteleon: *growls, slams fist on desk* Dammit! What blasted malarky is this?! We are Glopol, goddammit! There's no way we should be taken down so easily! Especially by hooded rat rebels!
?: Sorry, Chief, but it appears that they used "guerilla warfare" on our incoming ships from the air and disguised themselves to invade some of our bases nearby the kingdoms. Now half of our members are taken in by them.
Inteleon: ...Alright. Tell the rest to fall back. We can't risk any more damage to our organization as is.
?: Yes, Chief.
The other line hung up.
Inteleon: ...Hmm...No doubt that this is going up to the Pokemon World Government. If they find out we didn't do as we should, then we would be diminished completely. Not unless they're going to be lenient since those rebels might target the Terrabenie…
...
Back where Happy and Charles were, they were still in their slumber, to which Vanilla was now trying to find a way to get them to headquarters. He could fly over to the next island where another base was and contact headquarters to escort them, but this wouldn't work, as his subordinates were down and needed someone to keep an eye on them in case they woke up again.
Vanilla: (...Dammit…! I need to get these brats out of here…! Even if I woke my subordinates up, I can't guarantee that those kids won't knock them out again when they get up…! What to do...What to do…?)
He pondered for a moment until he thought of something.
Vanilla: (...Wait a momes...I think I've got something...Those brats are nothing but children...It's not like they know how to swim…) *grins* (...I...guess I can leave them for a bit...Even if my subordinates wake up, at least they can keep those brats busy...What's the worst that can happen…?)
He went towards his purple cloak and put it on, leaving only his wings exposed as he flew off into the southern direction. A few minutes later, Happy and Charles woke up, trying to recollect what happened to them earlier as they rubbed their eyes.
Happy: *groans, yawns* ...What happened…?
Charles: ...I think we were...Oh! That's right! That Pokemon with those blue wings! He flapped a breeze to put us to sleep! But...
He then looked around, noticing that Vanilla wasn't around.
Charles: ...Where is he?
Happy: Maybe he ran away from something?
Charles: That isn't likely. Other islands are surely to be under their influence…
Happy: Oh…Huh…?
Happy then heard something, or rather someone from nearby. It seemed to be in distress, which was something that was new to Happy.
Charles: What's up, Happy?
Happy: ...I hear...someone…
Charles: You do? What does it sound like?
Happy: I...dunno. I hear it gasping or something along with some hiccups and sniffing…
Charles: Huh…?
Charles also heard the sound, which was…
Charles: It...sounds like that Pokemon is crying. Think you could lead to it?
Happy: Sure!
He led Charles towards a pond, in which the sounds grew louder.
Charles: Hey...I hear it now. It definitely sounds like crying.
Happy: Is that what it is?
Charles: Yeah. It's a...sad thing.
Happy: I'll go down there and see it.
He dove into the water, to which the crying was louder, but was also petering out. It was getting closer to his left, and as Happy followed his senses, he saw a Poliwag with a green bow hidden inside a small hole. She was somewhat around Happy's size nonetheless. The Poliwag immediately saw him and tried to hide, thinking that he was a threat. At this point, Happy could see that she was shaking like a leaf, which was something he could understand.
Happy: Hey, are you...crying? If so, I can help.
Poliwag: N-No! Please! *sniff* D-D-Don't hurt me!
Happy: It's okay. I heard you were crying, and I wanted to know if it was you.
Poliwag: I-It was...me… *sniff*
Happy: What happened?
Poliwag: M-My...My daddy... *sniff* ...He and my family were...were taken by those Pokemon in cloaks…I'm the only one left… *sniff*
Happy: Well, we're gonna kick their butts! My name's Happy. What's yours?
The Poliwag began feeling much better, which was something Happy wanted to see.
Poliwag: *smiles, giggles* ...Polly! Your name's funny, Happy.
Happy: So's yours! *laughs*
Polly: *giggles* I like you. But why do you want to kick their butts?
Happy: Because they took my Grandpa and my friends.
Polly: Oh, how awful!
Happy: That's why I want to do it. *grins* Me and Charles are gonna kick their butts!
Polly: …"Charles"...? Is that a friend of yours?
Happy: Yeah! I'll take you up to meet him! And then we can kick butt together!
Polly: Oh...I can come to the surface, but that's about it.
Happy: Huh? What do you mean?
Polly: Well, I'm a small Poliwag and...I don't think that I can walk just yet...I've practiced walking since I saw my father do it, but I don't even know if I can survive breathing on land…
Happy: You won't know until you try. Just take deep breaths as you do it. And if you can't walk, I'll carry you. How's that?
Polly: ...I'd like that. I've always wanted to see what it was like out there. Maybe...I could learn a lot more about the world.
Happy: Then let's go!
He swam up to the surface, with Polly following suit. Charles was there, just as Happy said as he surfaced.
Charles: Did you find out who it was?
Happy: Sure did. It's a Poliwag.
Polly then surfaced, noticing Charles and trying to understand what he was.
Polly: Oh, wow! So you're Charles?
Charles: I am.
Polly: What kind of Pokemon are you?
Charles: I'm a Charmander.
Polly: I've never seen a Charmander like you before.
Charles: And I've never seen a Poliwag before.
Happy: Hey Polly, I just noticed something. You're wearing something on you. It's green.
Polly: It's a bow. I wear it because my daddy gave it to me. *blushes* I'm one of his appealing daughters!
Happy: ...What's a "daughter"?
Charles: A female child of a family.
Happy: In other words...You're a…
Polly: *nods* Mhm! I'm a girl.
Charles: I can see that you can swim, but can you walk?
Polly: I'd like to see if I can walk on land and...breathe in it…
She knew it was a big step for her, so she took some deep breaths like Happy said and swam towards the grass. As her feet touched land, she tried to stand up, although she was struggling for a bit before she fell flat on her stomach. She also noticed that she was quickly losing air, but taking heed from Happy's words allowed her to take some deep breaths.
Happy: You can do it, Polly!
Charles: Don't give up!
She decided to try standing up again, even taking quick breaths as she struggled doing so, and she kept trying until she managed to stand up, if only for a moment.
Polly: *rapid breathing* I...I'm...standing…! Is this..how you guys...do it…?
Happy: Yeah! You did it!
Charles: You're definitely doing it!
Polly: T...Thank you…!
She felt her feet buckle under her and fell on her face again.
Happy: How about I carry you?
Polly: T-Thank you…
He picked her up with ease, holding her as if she was a baby.
Polly: Y-You're very strong…
Happy: We trained a lot.
Charles: So, can you fight, Polly?
Polly: ...I don't know what that is.
Charles: It's like...uh...beating up other Pokemon.
Happy: Yeah! Like bad guys wearing cloaks!
Charles: Yeah, like that.
Polly: W-Well...I'll try…
Happy: Then let's go!
Polly: But, shouldn't we find someone who can take us there?
Charles: Sure, when we're going to the next place they've infiltrated.
Polly: Alright.
Happy: Here we come, Grandpa! We're going to rescue you and our friends!
...