tO eXPLAIN iN dUE tIME
cHAPTER 5

[I tried so hard]

Though he was used to it, the winds seemed more fierce than usual. Shigeru squinted against the winds, and looked back to Satoshi. "Where did they take Pikachu again?"

"The power plant," Satoshi said, staring down at the portable radar device. "It looks like they've stayed there. The signal isn't moving anymore."

Shigeru thought Satoshi sounded a little pained, but he ignored it and urged Mara to move faster. With a roar, Hiroshi's Charizard snapped its wings to keep up with the swift Dragonite.

The swift flying Pokemon ate up the distance between Masara and the power plant, which was on the edge of Route 12. Soon enough, Shigeru could see the twinkling lights of the power plant. It looked peaceful, but he did not discount the fact that the three members of Rocketto Dan were taking shelter in it. A lone Pokemon hovered at the main doors. A Wheezing.

"Satoshi, look down there," Shigeru said, pointing at the lone pokemone. "Isn't that one of Kojiro's Pokemon?"

Satoshi peered over Shigeru's shoulder, then nodded. "Yeah, and it's easy to take care of, too."

Hiroshi guided his Charizard close to Mara, "Shigeru, I think we should land our Pokemon at the edge of the tall grass and the canal."

There was a lengthy patch of tall grass that edged up to the power plant, and came close to the main doors. Shigeru had caught his Electabuzz there five years ago. The canal that snaked around the power plant made the building inaccessible to young Trainers. The only way in was by Flying or Water Pokemon.

Shigeru nodded, and let Mara follow the Charizard. They landed swiftly in the tall grass, and dismounted from the Pokemon. Kasumi walked over to Satoshi and handed him a Pokeball.

"What's this?" He asked, taking the minimized sphere.

"It's an empty Pokeball." She said, her words carefully spoken. "Satoshi, I know Pikachu hates pokeballs, but it would be good to have it as a backup."

Satoshi stared down at the red and white orb. "This is the pokeball Pikachu came in." He looked up at her. "How did you get it?"

"Ookido-Hakase gave it to me," She smiled. "Just in case."

Satoshi smiled, and pocketed the pokeball. "Just in case."

Shigeru rolled his eyes, "Are you guys ready yet?"

"Patience, little Shigeru," Kasumi said, "Now make sure you don't move."

Hiroshi recalled his Charizard, and said, "There aren't any Pokemon in this area of tall grass anymore. The employees of the power plant made sure of that."

"How?" Shigeru asked, not that confidant in Hiroshi's statement.

"Just trust me, okay?" Hiroshi said. "The biggest thing you might encounter is a stray rattata."

"You guys gonna take long?" Shigeru asked, giving Mara a rubdown with a chamois. "Because I have things to do."

"Sure," Kasumi said, "We'll be back in five or ten minutes." And with that, they were gone, doing the hero thing.

"Sure," Shigeru said, "More like you'll be back in five or ten pieces."

As the four crept towards the main doors, they noticed that the Wheezing was asleep. It hovered slightly up and down, but its eyes were closed. Kasumi looked at Takeshi. "Do we take it out? It seems kind of unfair."

"It was also unfair of them to take Pikachu," Takeshi said softly. "We take it out, but quickly." He glanced at Kasumi. "Just to be fair."

The Typhlosion was called out, and within seconds, the Wheezing had been tackled into unconsciousness and the three were on their way into the building. Hiroshi didn't recall the Typhlosion, and it walked softly beside him.

The lobby of the building was pleasant with off white walls and several potted palm trees. A fountain trickled merrily in one corner, and the recessed lighting glowed softly. Using the radar, Satoshi led them down a corridor, and through a few rooms. The closer they got to the location the radar said was Pikachu's, the louder they could hear…

"Snoring?" Takeshi looked surprised. He looked down at his watch. "It's only ten at night!"

Hiroshi shrugged, the flickering light from Typhlosion's flames glinting off his blond hair. "Let's make do with what we have!"

With a simple command, Typhlosion melted the doorknob and the door swung in to the room, its hinges silent. The room beyond was someone's private office, and by the furnishings, it had to be someone high up. A broad mahogany desk took up the far wall, a leather chair behind it, and a top of the line computer on it.

On the left side of the room was a large leather sofa, with a few leather-sitting chairs flanking it. To the right was private bar, the frosted glass shelves on the wall stocked with many bottles of liquor. Sleeping on the sofa was Musashi with Nyaasu at her feet. Kojiro was sleeping upright in one of the chairs; his feet propped up on a leather-surfaced ottoman.

"This is going to be so easy!" Hiroshi grinned, "Look, Pikachu is on the desk!"

And so it was. Pikachu was sitting in a cage that had its metal bars wrapped in some sort of rubber. The electric mouse looked miserable. Satoshi was ecstatic.

"Pikachu!" He said aloud. Too loudly.

"Satoshi!!" Hiroshi, Kasumi, and Takeshi hissed in unison. From the sleeping trio, there came a snort and a snore.

Takeshi held Satoshi's mouth shut, and the taller man whispered something in Satoshi's ear. The younger man paled and nodded. Releasing Satoshi, Takeshi fingered the Pokeball Ookido-Hakase gave him. "I don't think we'll need Steelix. What we'll need is for someone to get that cage."

It was then that Pikachu noticed the four at the door. The small pokemon got on its hind legs and scratched at the bars. "Pikapi!" It cried out quietly. Luckily Satoshi's Pokemon had more sense than its master did.

As quietly as he could, Satoshi darted over to the desk, the thick carpeting muffling his footsteps. With a quick look at the sleeping thieves, he whispered to Pikachu, "I'm going to try to get you out of here. If I can't, then I'm gonna have to use this." He showed Pikachu the pokeball. The little mouse grew still, and its eyes widened. "I know you hate it, but if it's the one thing that can save you, then I'll use it."

Pikachu sighed, then nodded.

Satoshi studied the cage, then shrugged and picked it up. Suddenly a spray of water doused him, and with a shout of surprise, Satoshi dropped the cage.

"Satoshi!" He heard Kasumi cry out.

He grabbed the cage, then noticed the thin wire attached to the bottom. Looking up, he saw the upturned bucket, and he grimaced. "At least it was just water."

"Who..who said it wash jusht water…" A feminine voice slurred.

Satoshi spun around to see Musashi grinning at him from her spot on the couch. She reached over, picked up a glass, and drank from it. "Aaah, that'sh good vintage!"

"What's going on?" Satoshi asked. "Are you drunk?"

"I'm not as think as you drunk!" Musashi hiccuped. "Now, put down that Pikashew."

"Hiroshi!" Satoshi wailed, "This is too pathetic!"

"Now now, Satoshi," Hiroshi said, walking over to the dark haired boy, "No Shigeru attitude. Let's just get Pikachu and go."

"Yesh, go," Musashi said, "Chew go, far far away, and leave ush alone."

From the chair, Kojiro giggled in his sleep and said, "Ooh, not like that Mr. Pitt, go lower…What? I should call you Brad? Okay, Brrrrad…"

Musashi glared at her partner, but waved the good guys on. "Go ahead, twerpsh. We're bored with catching pokemon anyway." And with that, she fell into a drunken stupor and passed out.

"The electric guys are gonna be in for a shock when they see these three," Satoshi said, freeing Pikachu from the cage.

"Maan," Kasumi whined, "No battle? How boring."

Pikachu, freed from the cage, cocked its head and looked up at Satoshi. "Pikapi? Pi chuchu pi.." And the small Pokemon fell over, totally unconscious.

"Whaa? Pikachu, what's wrong?" Satoshi quickly picked up Pikachu. "Guys, something's wrong with Pikachu!"

Takeshi peered down at Pikachu. "It looks like he was poisoned!"

"What?" Kasumi looked over as well, "What's with all the poisoning? Don't they have any other ways of harming people and pokemon?"

As if in answer, a flash of lightning was seen from the three windows that lined the wall. A second blast of light, pure white, flashed in response. Then the building shook violently.

"What's that?" Hiroshi asked.

"It's a battle!" Satoshi said, "It's a Pokemon battle! That was a Thunder attack being countered by a Hyper Beam!"

The three just blinked.

"How do you know these things?" Kasumi asked.

"How would he not know things dealing with Pokemon?" Hiroshi countered. "It's his thing."

"And our thing is to go, now!" Takeshi said, running out of the room. "Don't forget that we left Shigeru out there!"

They followed Takeshi, and Hiroshi heard Kasumi muttering, "Oops, I guess I forgot."

Oh no, it looks like Shigeru could be in trouble. Is Pikachu really poisoned? If so, how bad off is the little rat? All this and more in the next chapter of...tO eXPLAIN iN dUE tIME!