Shattered Reality-Part One
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. I'm not making money from this.
Chapter One: Where angels dare to tread
"Wake up slave! Or you can kiss your ass goodbye." Ash Ketchum's eyes slowly opened. He had almost convinced himself that this was all just a bad dream. But no such luck. Without a word he dragged himself off the dingy floor and walked out of the cell. "You're in the boiler room today. Aren't you lucky?" The guard mocked. Great. They must finally be ready to get rid of him. You don't come back from the boiler room. But death sure would be better than living in this hell hole. But that was the whole point of converting Alcatraz Prison into a fate worse than death.
Ash made the lonely trudge to the boiler room. He had never imagined dying in a crappy place like this. He had always imagined a huge funeral, complete with a 21-gun salute. Not getting thrown in a hole. But that was only if he was lucky. Most ended up as that week's gruel. "All right. In. And so long." The guard said with a laugh. Oh well. Everything happens for a reason. But it still sucked.
Upon entering the boiler room, Ash discovered why nobody ever came out: There was no boiler room. Instead there was an office. And a very comfortable looking one at that. And unfortunately, it wasn't vacant. "Ah, Mr. Ketchum, I was wondering when I'd get the chance to meet you. I hear you were a very successful general back in the Wars. In fact, I heard you almost captured the League's castle. Too bad I interfered, eh?" A voice said with a laugh. Ash knew that voice. He would never forget it. It was the same cold, heartless voice that had captured every city on Pokemon Island. "Icarus. What are you doing here? I thought you only had power on Pokemon Island." The sound of his voice surprised him. He hadn't used it in so long that he had forgotten what it sounded like. "You really thought I would stop there? I already control half the United States! And I didn't even have to get my hands dirty! In this part of the world, businesses control everything. And the people don't even realize it. I could have just sent in my Pokeforces, they wouldn't have stood a chance, but this way is so much easier!" It took a second for it all to sink in. And Ash wished he had just shot him.
"So you're going to take over this world without getting your hands dirty? You're such a coward!" Ash shouted. "Of course not. I will have to do a little fighting. Not everyone is as gullible as people who take their freedom for granted are. The dictated countries will require force. But not very much. Very soon I shall control it all." Ash was horrified. How could these people be so blind!? "Why are you telling me all this? Why not just kill me?" Ash asked. "You would like that, wouldn't you? The answer is simple: You are much more useful to me alive, Ash. Or should I say X-51?" That name...it was familiar somehow. Ash thought hard. His dream. The one he had the night before the Wars started. That was where he had heard it before. "What are you talking about?" Ash shouted. "I see that old fool Prof. Oak erased your memory before he was terminated."
Chapter Two: The Icarus Agenda
"What? Professor Oak? He's still alive!" Ash exclaimed. "My agent posing as him is, yes. But the original died quite a while ago. He was too damn stubborn to hand you over to us, so he was terminated." Professor Oak? An enemy agent? "No, I don't believe it! You're lying! He couldn't be with the League!" Ash exclaimed. "You are right. He's not with the League. He is one of mine. And soon you will be too, my dear X-51." What? Icarus controlled the League! But Ash didn't have time to contemplate this. If he struck now, he could at least take Icarus down with him! Even with his shackles, he could take him on. Ash charged forward, striking at the figure behind the chair. Ash overpowered him easily, knocking him out. But to his surprise, a guard sat behind the chair. This was the mighty Icarus? "That was a good try, but I never appear in public. Phycic control over a lowly guard is so much safer. Too bad. It was such a good effort. I bid you farewell, Mr. Ketchum." What? Farewell? Ash felt an electric shock in his back, and everything went black.
"Gary, Misty, we have to get moving. The League is getting too close." The two looked up in unison. "Okay. Gather the troops together and I'll report to Lance. Get moving." Gary commanded. The trooper saluted and left. "Man, the League's really heating up the search. I thought we would be able to stay for at least a couple days." Misty complained. "We'll be able to rest all we want when we get to HQ. They can't attack us there. Just be patient." Gary assured. "Well at least there's one place we're safe." Misty said, rising to her feet. "No place is safe from them, they just can't attack it yet. Mainly because they don't know where it is, but also because we outnumber them in this area. We still have to be on our guard." Gary also rose to his feet. "Let's get moving." Their break over, the two generals went to their duties.
Ash's eyes opened slowly. He felt like he had been hit by a truck. "Where am I?" He asked groggily. "So you are finally awake. I was starting to wonder. I wanted you to be awake for this. Even in prison I'm sure you've heard about the Pallet resistance. Quite the thorn in my side. But not for long. I've sent a large number of troops over there, headed by an old friend of yours, I believe. I wanted you to see them level Pallet Town. You are entitled to some entertainment while my scientists break your programming code." Ash tilted his head up to see the League and resistance troops and Pokemon going head-to-head. The resistance actually seemed to be holding them off. But suddenly a green blur whizzed through the rebels' barrage, destroying everything in it's path. The rebels didn't stand a chance. And something was flying over the battle, pouring Stun Spore onto the battle below. The rebels were losing bad. The blur came to a stop revealing a Scyther. And the thing in the air landed, turning out to be a Venomoth. "Good job. That was easier than I thought. They barely put up a fight." With horror, Ash realized who that voice belonged to. "The Pallet forces are eliminated, Master Icarus. Your Orders?" He asked. "Very good Tracey. Destroy the rest of the town, I want to set an example." Ash couldn't believe it. Tracey? A traitor? "Sir, the code is broken. We can begin the download."
Chapter Three: The Daedalus Encounter
"Very good. Proceed." But just as the scientist began to give the command, the lights went out. "What the hell is this? Get the power back on!" But when it did, Ash was gone. "FIND HIM!!!" Icarus shouted.
Ash awoke in a room full of computers. "What the..." Ash started, but was interrupted. "Do not be alarmed. I brought you here. I need for you to escape. Take the pistol on the table and get ready to run. I can cut power for only a few seconds without being detected. Get ready."
Ash picked up the pistol and ducked down by the door. The lights went out, and Ash took off. When the lights came back on, Ash had made it to a closet. "I can't be seen, or I'll just get caught again." Ash whispered to himself. " You need to get to the armory. Then arm yourself. If you are going to escape, you must be well armed. " Ash looked around. Where had that voice come from? " I am transmitting directly to your head. This message is not audible to anyone else. Get going." Ash opened the door silently and slipped out in a crouch. He looked up at the signs on the wall. 'Armory to the right.' He noted. Sticking to the wall, Ash moved down the hallway. "Be on your guard, man. I hear one of the convicts busted out of his cell." Ash froze. "So what? What can one guy do to us? He'd need an army to escape." Ash loaded his pistol. 'I'll show you exactly what I can do.' He thought. Leaping around the corner, he fired madly. Caught off guard, the two troopers were easily eliminated. "Easy enough." Ash commented. He then trudged on.
It was a hot July day in Fuchsia City, the kind where most people stay inside with the AC blasting. The streets were mostly abandoned, but a keen eye could see a small group of people slinking through the alleys trying not to be seen. "We should have left at night, Gary." Misty whispered harshly. "Couldn't wait. Besides, it'll be night in a few hours. You don't want to end up like the force in Pallet, do you?" Gary replied. A tear came to Misty's eye. The mention of that place always reminded her of...him...but she couldn't get soft now. Not when so much was at stake. "We're almost there. But keep your guard up. This part of the city's under Marshal Law." Gary warned as loudly as he could risk. 'It figures the city we have to go through would be under strict Marshal Law.' Gary thought to himself. The worst part was that nobody knew the people that inforced it. They weren't from the League, Rocket, or any other organization he knew. The one thing he did know was that they were armed to the tee. As dusk grew near, the rebels got a move on, hoping this wasn't the last place they would see.
Ash was starting to get discouraged. So far he had not found the armory, but he had found a bunch of guards. And he only had one bullet left. Sneaking a look around the corner, he found the break room, thankfully devoid of any troops. He spied a candy bar on the table. He pounced upon it like a rabid animal, quickly devouring it. "Ah, I haven't had one of those in years." Ash sighed. Looking around, he saw a security terminal in the corner. He stepped up to it. "Sure hope my hacking skills aren't too rusty." He said to no one in particular. Fortunately for him his hacking skills were still mediocre, and within a couple minutes he had hacked his way into the security network. "Okay, the usual stuff. Cameras, automated turrents, and a few security bots. Easy enough." He quickly disabled them and logged out before he was detected. He made his way toward the door, only to discover it locked. "Damn. There must be some way out of here..." He scanned the room. "Bingo!" He exclaimed, eyeing an air conditioning duct. He climbed in, shutting the grate after him. " You are almost there. Just a bit further." Ash had almost gotten used to the transmissions from...whoever it was helping him. Not paying attention, he bumped into another grate. He pressed himself against the duct, praying no one had heard that.
- Chapter Four-Armed and Dangerous
"So have you found him yet?" Icarus asked calmly. The trooper gulped. He knew his life depended on his answer. Or at least how he phrased it. "We have pinpointed his approximate location, it's only a matter of time, sir." He prayed he had made that sound good. The truth was that they had no idea where he was, he could be on the other side of the compound by now. "That was well phrased. And for your sake I hope you were not exaggerating. For your sake. But time is something we don't have. Find him. NOW." He turned back to his computer screen. The soldier got out of there as fast as he could without it looking suspicious. "You are very resourceful Mr. Ketchum. I like that. But he could not have done this on his own. Someone is helping him. I just have to find out who."
After a minute, Ash relaxed a bit. He worked up enough courage to peek through the grate. He mentally sighed with relief. Through the grate was the armory. And with the camera and gun turrent bypassed, only a guard stood in his way. 'This is gonna be tough with only one bullet. I better make this good.' He thought. He slowly opened the grate and took careful aim. Ash's finger slowly inched toward the trigger.
"Hmm?" The trooper spied something out of the corner of his eye. Looking up, he saw the...the escaped convict! Leveling a gun at him! The guard's sudden movement caused the bullet to whiz harmlessly by his ear. Panicking, Ash chucked the gun at him. "Ahhh!" The guard wailed. Ash leaped down from the duct. He ran toward the guard, sticking out his arm and clotheslined him. The guard fell to the floor, clutching his face. Ash administered a karate chop to the back of his head, knocking him out. Ash picked up his pistol and dusted himself off. "Man, when they say armory they mean armory!" There was almost every kind of weapon known to man in there. Ash walked over to a shelf, taking an assault rifle, mini-crossbow, sniper rifle, a silenced stealth pistol, a combat knife, a plasma rifle, and he even found his old nano-keyring with all his stored nanite keys still stored in it. "Can't believe they kept this." Ash remarked. He proceeded to take the guard's clothes. "This'll help. I just hope they don't know everybody's face. " Very good. Now head to the command center." Ash loaded up on ammo and stepped out into the corridor.
Gary sneaked a look into the street. All clear. The group moved as stealthily as they could. They now had the cover of darkness, making it a lot easier. But as soon as they got near the street, Gary wished he had looked harder. Troops with Venonat and military bots roamed the street. "All clear, huh?" Misty harshly whispered. "Slight miscalculation." He replied. "Veno! Veno! Nat!" Cried one of the Venonat. "Shit! Scatter!" Gary quickly commanded. "Come out where I can see you!" Commanded one of the troopers, firing warning shots. "Go! Gyarados!" Misty commanded. The huge water dragon emerged in a flash of light, towering over even the bots. "Hydro Pump!" She commanded. The ground exploded, huge jets of water coming out of the ground, sweeping the guards off their feet. "Go! Espeon!" Gary commanded. The phycic Eevee emerged in a flash of light. "Use Physhock now!" Espeon started glowing purple, then let out a huge burst of purplish lightning at the water. The water easily conducted the phycic electricity, electrocuting the troopers. But the bots were not so easily dealt with. Misty and Gary recalled their Pokemon and ran. The military bots were the most heavily armored and armed bots, but they were slow. The bots fired WP rockets in their direction, incinerating everything around where they hit. "You just had to get impatient didn't you!" Misty shouted.
Ash tried to look casual as he walked down the hallway. He felt like he stuck out, but he had passed a few troops without any difficulty. Help me. Please... Ash jarred. That wasn't the guy who had been contacting him. In fact, it was somewhat familiar. Detention Center... Ash looked to his right and saw the door to the Detention Center. 'Might as well..' Ash thought. He turned to and walked toward the Detention Center.
- Chapter Five-Blast from the past
'Oh great. Security keypad.' Ash mentally complained. Ash felt around his uniform, finding a lump in one of the pockets. He reached inside the pocket and pulled out a datacube. He activated it and words projected themselves in front of him. It read:
"Johnny, the damn security system is screwed up again. The temporary code for the Detention Center is 4358, and the cells are 4592. The Command Center is 6827."
"Perfect." Ash punched in the code and the door opened. "Finally. I thought my shift would never be over. You're a lifesaver." Said a guard sitting at a desk. "Uh, yeah. My shift now. Damn." Ash replied. They both laughed and the guard left. Ash let out a sigh of relief. Last cell on the left. Ash started toward the cells, thinking how much he was listening to weird voices was probably going to get him killed. He entered the code for the door and it opened. Ash gasped. There was a huge containment device looming over him, with a plasma field around the prisoner and EMP bolts big enough to shut down a whole building bouncing around. "Oh great. I knew I shouldn't have listened to all these voices in my head." Ash whined. Computer... Ash looked to his left and saw a personal computer terminal near the wall. Ash carefully made his way to the terminal. Login: Icarus Password: Reindeer flop. The voice said. 'You have got to be kidding.' Ash thought. But sure enough, the passwords worked. Ash clicked on 'deactivate containment field'. There was a whirring sound as the containment field deactivated. A cat-like Pokemon was being held in the field. It broke it's shackles and stepped out. "YOU?!" They both said in unison.
End Part One