AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings, readers! Here is chapter 79 of the continuing adventures of Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu as they continue their journey through the Johto region. I decided to base this and the next chapter on the player's experiences at the Team Rocket Hideout in Mahogany Town, but in the anime's terms, I'm imagining this will take place after the incident at Lake of Rage; this occurs just after Lance captures the red Gyarados and helps save Mahogany Town while arresting Tyson and some of the Team Rocket Grunts in the process. Well, I hope you enjoy.
TEASER: Tristan and Hillary finally make it to Mahogany Town, but Lance needs their help to clean up the mess Team Rocket made at Lake of Rage when they used their Evolution Inducement Wave. However, for Tristan and Hillary, they must overcome many obstacles, including Pokémon traps and surveillance cameras in the hideout.
Chapter 79: CLEANING UP A MESS, PART 1
(Music Cue: Opening Mo1B 1997-1998)
Our heroes have finally made it to Mahogany Town, where Tristan hopes to compete for his seventh Gym badge. But little do they know that someone will need their help.
Tristan and Hillary walked by a river on the outskirts of Mahogany Town the next morning.
"Awesome! We're finally here!" said Tristan excitedly. "Ready to earn our next badge, Pikachu?"
Pikachu nodded excitedly.
"You're certainly fired up today, Tristan," remarked Hillary.
"That's because we're on a hot streak," replied Tristan. "And we're not gonna lose."
(Music Cue: Team Rocket Appears (as heard in "Hatching a Plan"))
Presently, they saw a group of men in black uniforms with a red letter "R" on them. They were carrying boxes and headed north out of town.
"Tristan, look there!" gasped Hillary.
"Ugh! Team Rocket!" exclaimed Tristan disdainfully. "I wonder what they could be up to this time."
"You can be sure it's nothing good," replied Hillary.
Presently, they heard a voice calling out...
"Stop! Come back!"
A man's voice was heard as he and a Dragonite flew overhead. He had a cape that seemed very familiar.
"Look, it's Lance!" said Tristan.
"No way! Lance here?" replied Hillary. "But what could he be doing here of all places?"
"Who cares? We gotta help!" said Tristan. "Come on!"
"Right!" agreed Hillary.
And together, they set off to help Lance.
Meanwhile, Lance was hot on the Rocket Grunts' trail. "Give it up now while you can!"
Just then, a man in dark purple attire rushed onto the scene. He had purple hair. It was Petrel, one of the Team Rocket Executives in the Johto region. He then took out a Poké Ball and threw it.
A Koffing emerged from the white light that shot out of it.
"Koffing, use Smog attack now!" ordered Petrel.
Koffing unleashed a green cloud of thick smog and enveloped Lance and Dragonite in it, causing them both to shut their eyes and choke.
"Come, my fellow Rockets, now's our chance to escape," said Petrel.
And they disappeared in the thick layer of smog.
Presently, Tristan and Hillary arrived on the scene.
"Look at that smoke!" exclaimed Hillary.
"Croconaw, I choose you!" shouted Tristan as he threw his Lure Ball into the air.
Croconaw emerged from the white light that shot out of it.
"Croconaw, blow the Smog away with your Water Gun attack!" commanded Tristan.
Croconaw unleashed a powerful blast of water from its mouth and cleared up the Smog in no time at all.
A moment later, Lance and Dragonite opened their eyes and landed safely on the ground.
"Boy, that sure was a close one," sighed Lance. Then he noticed that Petrel and his team of Rocket Grunts were gone. "Rats! They got away."
"Lance!" called Tristan as he and Hillary approached. "Are you okay?"
Lance turned around and saw them. "Oh, Tristan and Hillary! Long time no see!"
"Yeah, same here," replied Hillary. "What were you doing chasing those guys?"
"I was trying to arrest them after I saw them carrying those boxes," explained Lance. "I have a strong hunch that it's part of their backup plan in case their Project "R" plan failed."
"What's Project R?" wondered Tristan.
"It's short for Project Revolution," answered Lance. "Their plan is to force any nearby Pokémon to evolve so they could create a strong Pokémon army."
"But that's interfering with nature!" protested Hillary. "Real evolution needs both a Pokémon as well as a Trainer!"
"That's right!" agreed Tristan. "They're a disgrace to Pokémon Trainers everywhere!"
Pikachu and Togepi agreed.
"Well, I had just met Ash and his friends, Misty and Brock, who all helped me in stopping Team Rocket's original plan," said Lance. "And now, since Team Rocket had lost the main source of power in Mahogany Town, it's quite obvious that they want to initiate their backup plans here as quickly as possible, although it won't be as dangerous as their original plan was." He then turned in the direction of Mahogany Town. "It shouldn't affect the town's residents. However, since Ash has already gone off to have his Gym battle with the Gym Leader, I'm going to need you two to help me."
Tristan and Hillary looked at each other. Then they turned to Lance again.
"How can we help?" asked Hillary.
"I had just received word from Officer Jenny that two Rocket Executives had been assigned by Professor Sebastian to keep us from thwarting their backup plans to make sure they maintain some kind of control in Mahogany Town," explained Lance. "That's where I need you two to come in. We'll have to work together to take them down by splitting up once we get to their hideout. And it could be a good warm-up for your next Gym match. What do you say?"
Tristan and Hillary thought about it.
Then Hillary said, "You've got a deal, Lance."
Tristan agreed. "Yeah, you were kind enough to help us, so it's our turn to help you."
"Great," smiled Lance. "Then let's go."
(Music Cue: You Have to Earn Respect)
They got to the laboratory a few minutes later.
Thin smoke could be seen from the top of it. A large antenna was lying on the ground next to it. It, too, had a letter "R" on it.
"What happened here?" asked Tristan.
"Team Rocket used that antenna to broadcast their Evolution Inducement Wave to not only try and artificially evolve the Pokémon living on the lake, but it also made all the Pokémon feel sick," explained Lance.
"That's just sickening!" exclaimed Hillary. "No pun intended."
"Now, let's get inside the lab and take those guys down," said Lance. "Follow me." And he led them inside the laboratory.
Sure enough, there was a machine that had been destroyed in the process. Computers had damaged screens, and the equipment was nonfunctional.
"Whoa, did that machine somehow do this?" asked Tristan.
"Yes," answered Lance. "Seeing as how there was no switch, I had no choice but to destroy it. And Dragonite's Hyper Beam was the only way to shut it down. I'll keep searching for more clues and get in touch with Officer Jenny. You two see if you can try to find those two executives."
"Agreed," replied Hillary. "Let's go, Tristan."
"Right," said Tristan as he, Hillary, and Pikachu ran off to find them.
A few minutes later, Tristan and Hillary found themselves in a hallway down in the basement.
"This place sure looks deserted," remarked Hillary. "I wonder if Team Rocket fled the scene, knowing that they've lost."
"It's possible, but not certain," replied Tristan. "Actually, I've been having this feeling that we're being watched since we got here."
"But who'd want to watch us anyway?" It was then that Hillary noticed Pokémon statues. They were shaped like Persian. "These things look like beautiful replicas, don't they?" She then touched one of the statues, but as she did, its eyes glowed red, and suddenly an alarm blared.
"Now what?" asked Hillary in alarm.
(Music Cue: Raid! (as heard in "Shell Shock!"))
Presently, one Team Rocket Grunt came as fast as lightning. "Hey! Intruder alert!"
Tristan and Hillary turned around and gasped in surprise. They weren't expecting a Team Rocket Grunt to show up out of nowhere.
"Go, Drowzee! Go Zubat!" shouted the Grunt as he threw two Poké Balls.
Both Pokémon emerged from the white lights that shot out of them.
"Hey, two against one's not fair!" accused Hillary.
"Remember, sis, Team Rocket'll do anything to win. Who said they were fair? Croconaw, I choose you!" He took out and threw his Lure Ball.
"Squirtle, you help out, too!" commanded Hillary as she threw her Poké Ball.
Squirtle and Croconaw emerged from the white lights that shot out of them.
"Water Gun now!" ordered Tristan and Hillary together.
Both Pokémon shot powerful blasts of water at Zubat and Drowzee, scoring direct hits on both of them, causing them to instantly be knocked out.
The Rocket Grunt sank to his knees in defeat. "Dang...I failed." And he and his Pokémon suddenly disappeared.
Tristan and Hillary were surprised.
"You don't think they learned how to use Teleport, do you?" wondered Tristan.
"No, I don't think they know how to use it," answered Hillary.
Just then, the alarm blared again.
(Music Cue: Danger! Pikachu! (as heard in "Mild 'n Woolly"))
An instant later, a second Rocket Grunt came just as fast as the first one did. "It's my turn! There's no escape! Rattata, Zubat, Grimer, go!" he shouted as he threw three Poké Balls.
Zubat, Grimer, and Rattata emerged from the white lights that shot out of them.
"Croconaw, blast them with your Water Gun attack!" commanded Tristan.
"Squirtle, use your Water Gun, too!" ordered Hillary.
Once again, Squirtle and Croconaw shot powerful blasts of water from their mouths at Zubat, Grimer, and Rattata, scoring direct hits on them, knocking them out just like they had with the first Rocket Grunt.
The second Rocket Grunt sank to his knees in defeat. "The surveillance cameras are in the statues. We'll keep appearing until you trip a secret switch." And with that, he and his Pokémon disappeared.
Soon, there was nothing standing in Tristan and Hillary's way.
"The coast is clear," whispered Hillary. "Let's move on."
"Right," agreed Tristan as he, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi raced ahead.
But as they advanced through the hallways, they passed yet another Persian statue, which caused the alarms to blare again.
(Music Cue: Kanto Wild Pokémon Battle (as heard in "The Grass Route"))
Presently, one Team Rocket Grunt came as fast as lightning. "Hey! Intruder alert!"
Tristan and Hillary turned around and gasped in surprise. They weren't expecting a Team Rocket Grunt to show up out of nowhere.
"Go, Drowzee! Go Zubat!" shouted the Grunt as he threw two Poké Balls.
Both Pokémon emerged from the white lights that shot out of them.
"This is like déjà vu!" remarked Hillary. "As soon as one disappears, another takes its place!"
"Well, then, we'll just have to take him down again," replied Tristan. "Croconaw, hit 'em with your Water Gun!"
"Squirtle, use your Water Gun, too!" ordered Hillary.
Squirtle and Croconaw emerged from the white lights that shot out of them.
"Water Gun now!" ordered Tristan and Hillary together.
Both Pokémon shot powerful blasts of water at Zubat and Drowzee, scoring direct hits on both of them, causing them to instantly be knocked out.
The Rocket Grunt sank to his knees in defeat. "Dang...I failed." And he and his Pokémon suddenly disappeared.
Just then, the alarm blared again, and an instant later, a second Rocket Grunt came just as fast as the first one did. "It's my turn! There's no escape! Rattata, Zubat, Grimer, go!" he shouted as he threw three Poké Balls.
Zubat, Grimer, and Rattata emerged from the white lights that shot out of them.
"Croconaw, blast them with your Water Gun attack!" commanded Tristan.
"Squirtle, use your Water Gun, too!" ordered Hillary.
Once again, Squirtle and Croconaw shot powerful blasts of water from their mouths at Zubat, Grimer, and Rattata, scoring direct hits on them, knocking them out just like they had with the first Rocket Grunt.
The second Rocket Grunt sank to his knees in defeat. "The surveillance cameras are in the statues. We'll keep appearing until you trip a secret switch." And with that, he and his Pokémon disappeared.
Soon, there was nothing standing in Tristan and Hillary's way.
"Didn't we just do this already?" wondered Tristan.
"Now that you mention it, we did," answered Hillary. "And I think I know why this keeps happening."
"How?"
"I'm not sure, but I bet it has something to do with the switch that the Rocket Grunt mentioned. Come on."
And Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi all rushed through the hallway. A moment later, they came to what appeared to be a column of strange tiles.
"I wonder what's in there," said Tristan. "Maybe this has something to do with the secret switch that Team Rocket was talking about and..."
"Wait, Tristan, don't go in there!" shouted Hillary.
But the warning came just a little too late, for just then, a group of several Pokémon emerged from the floor below.
(Music Cue: Flying Poké Ball Chaos (as heard in "Current Events"))
They were a group of Geodude, Voltorb, and Koffing, and they didn't look happy.
"Me and my big feet," grumbled Tristan.
"We stumbled into a trap!" cried Hillary. "Three traps for the price of one!"
Sure enough, they had stumbled into a group of three groups of sinister Pokémon, who had evil smirks on their faces.
"What are they?" gasped Hillary.
"Voltorb, Geodude, and Koffing," answered Tristan. "I wonder if Team Rocket planted this trap to try and stall us. But why those Pokémon? They don't seem like too much of a threat."
"There's only one way to find out," said Hillary. "We'll have to battle our way out. All right Squirtle, do your thing!"
Squirtle leaped in front of Hillary and prepared to battle the horde of onrushing Pokémon.
"You get in there, too, Pikachu," said Tristan.
Pikachu nodded and leaped into the battle to join Squirtle.
"Squirtle, use your Water Gun attack!" commanded Hillary.
"Pikachu, help Squirtle out with a Thunderbolt!" added Tristan.
Squirtle launched a powerful blast of water from its mouth while Pikachu unleashed a strong yellow bolt of electricity from its body.
The two attacks collided, creating an explosion that scored direct hits on the Koffing and Voltorb, who lay bruised and battered after the double attack.
Then the Geodude came rushing forward.
"All right, the Geodude are the only ones left," said Tristan. "Pikachu, finish 'em off with Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu unleashed another bolt of electricity from its body on the Geodude, but Pikachu's Thunderbolt had no effect at all.
"That's right," grunted Tristan. "Electric attacks don't work on Geodude."
Just then, all the Geodude began lighting up at once.
Then the Koffing and Voltorb recovered and all started lighting up, too.
"Uh-oh!" exclaimed Tristan. "They're all gonna explode!"
"Come on, we'd better run for it!" cried Hillary as she grabbed Squirtle and Togepi and ran from the scene as fast as she could.
Tristan, Pikachu, and Croconaw all quickly followed.
Just as they left, the Geodude, Koffing, and Voltorb all started exploding violently, causing everything around to shake.
A cloud of smoke was seen from every one of the Pokémon that blew up as Tristan and Hillary hit the dirt.
The explosions went on for what seemed like hours.
When the smoke cleared and all was quiet, Tristan, Hillary, and their Pokémon opened their eyes and stood up.
"Boy, that was close," sighed Hillary. Then she saw a large button on the floor. "Tristan, look!"
"What is it?" asked Tristan. He then saw that he and Hillary were standing right next to something that looked like a large switch. "Do you think that this is the secret switch that Team Rocket was talking about?"
"There's only one way to find out," replied Hillary. "Let's press it together."
And so they stomped on the switch together. As they did, they heard a loud...
CLICK!
...and suddenly, the eyes of the Persian statues seemed to go dark.
"Look! The Persian statues somehow deactivated!" said Tristan. "Now we won't have to worry about Team Rocket ambushing us."
"True," agreed Hillary. "But now, we need to find Lance and help him out. Let's get going."
And so they raced ahead.
Downstairs, Lance got anxious after feeling the explosions from up above. "I hope Tristan and Hillary are all right up there."
"Lance!"
"We're coming!"
Lance turned around and was greatly relieved to see Tristan, Hillary, and their Pokémon coming down the stairs. "Hey, guys! I'm glad you're both all right."
"We are, too," replied Tristan. "We never expected Team Rocket to set all these traps for us."
"First we get ambushed by statues replicas of Persian, and now we had to deal with regular living bombs," added Hillary. "I've had enough excitement for one day."
"Well, unfortunately, we're all gonna have to deal with a little more," replied Lance. "See that room? We can't go in there."
Sure enough, there was a room not too far from where they were right now, but it had been sealed tight by a steel door.
"How do we get in?" wondered Tristan.
"The only way to get into that room is to enter two passwords," explained Lance. "But I don't know where we can find them."
"I guess the only way to find out is to find Team Rocket, and have them spill the beans," said Tristan.
"But we can't just go and ask them nicely for the passwords," protested Hillary. "They'd be on to us like white on rice."
"Then we'll just have to force them out of them," said Lance. "Tristan, Hillary, I'm gonna stick around and see if I can find any clues about this place. You two find those punks and battle them for the passwords."
"You got it," agreed Hillary. "We'll get the passwords in no time at all. Ready, guys?"
"Ready!" said Tristan.
And together, they split up in different directions to try and find the Team Rocket Grunts.
Just inside the locked room, Petrel and Ariana, the two Team Rocket Executives had heard everything.
"That's just great," grumbled Petrel. "Those kids have gotten wise to us."
"Once they figure out the password, we're done," added Ariana.
(Music Cue: Ash's Decision to Fight (Decision))
"But not if there's yet another password that even the kids don't know about," replied Petrel. "Murkrow!"
A Murkrow appeared and hovered beside Petrel, who handed it a piece of paper.
"Take this password," instructed Petrel. "It might come in handy." He placed the password in Murkrow's beak and it flew off as he and Ariana gave evil smirks.
With their plans of Project "R" foiled, what is the agenda of the two Team Rocket Executives? And what are the passwords that our heroes have to enter? This adventure is just beginning, so stay tuned.
► TO BE CONTINUED