Seventeen: World Revolution

As the team waited for something to happen, they distinctly heard the sound of something similar to a jet, flying overhead towards their location. They all looked up, and were surprised to find the Light Elemental machine headed straight for them, in all its pseudo-angelic glory. Not totally surprised by its sudden appearance (after all, it had been the only machine that wasn't destroyed), Butch and Cassidy braced themselves.

"Here it comes," he said, his voice overflowing with anxiety. The machine slowly landed on the surface, looking no less intimidating than it had been before, and cleaner and less scarred from battle as well. As the large team watched and waited to see what would happen, a hidden hatch in the Angel's chest area opened up, revealing the very last and perhaps strongest remnant of Team Rocket, the tall and powerful Morrison Glidden.

"So it was you who were committing all these acts of rebellion, Butch and Cassidy!" he snarled, baring his steel teeth. "How could you betray us like that? And you've even managed to gather together a few lousy gym leaders to fight with you! I never expected that those little nuisances that Marion and I fought so many times before were in this as well, though. I guess you're just like a cockroach: you just can't stay dead. Well, I'm here to crush you for good!"

"Give it up, Morrison!" shouted Cassidy angrily. "Team Rocket is almost completely gone! Your bases have been destroyed, the main headquarters is rubble, and most of the agents are either dead, imprisoned, scattered, or else against you! The Pokemon you captured have been safely returned, and with the destruction of the headquarters, that Master Ball blueprint and the Pokemon radar are destroyed as well!"

"Not while I still live," he gloated darkly, proudly holding up the very items she had talked about. Cassidy gasped in horror, and quickly turned to Koga and Meowth.

"Tell me you at least freed all those Pokemon!!" He firmly nodded his head.

"Why else do you think I was gone so long?" The redheaded former Rocket sighed wearily, as if she had learned that something very terrible was now false.

"Well, that's a relief. I'm glad they escaped. So it's just us and you then, eh Steel Mouth?"

"What about Marion?" he grumbled. "As long as the two of us are still alive, none of you can ever hope to win, not even with your numbers."

"I hate to break this to you," replied Butch, "but Marion Burke is no longer on the mortal world. She was brutally murdered, probably by members of Team Rocket that opposed your new order." Morrison froze solid as he heard the sudden and tragic news of his partner's death, and could barely even move, so great was the shock. Marion had been an unstoppable killing machine, capable of cruelty and malice that few humans could ever dream possible. She was also thoughtful, and lethally calm, with a sharp beauty to her and a heart twisted by some past trauma. It was just not possible…

"No," he croaked, his deep voice straining to be heard, "it isn't possible… Marion can't be dead… she wouldn't let anything stop her. That was not a human; that was a force of nature! How could something so strong and great suffer at the hands of the Reaper?"

"She had everything thrown at her and more!" shouted Ash. "Aside from fighting us and nearly getting smashed by that Demon machine, she must've been shot fifteen times by those other people! There's no way that she could've--"

"It's not true!!!!!" he roared, his loud voice sending the heavens trembling. "It's impossible! You can't prove it!!"

"We can and we will!" shouted Jessie. "Morrison, her last words were full of regret! She admitted that the pursuit of power only leads to destruction, which was what the old boss told both you and her before you killed him! She felt sorry that she couldn't be by your side in her final moments! She regretted ever having started such violence, but still wondered what course of action was really the right way to go!"

"So is that the way things went?!" he boomed. "Did Marion really wonder whose way of conquering the world was best? Did she really contemplate whether our way was good; whether the way of force and fear was best? Did she want to see who was right, you or us? So, that's what was on her mind when she died…" He grumbled to himself, shaking his head wearily, the burden of his partner's death sagging his strong shoulders down and the remnants of her last thoughts striking delicate chords in his mind.

Marion… we both wanted this world to be at peace… and we thought that the only way to do it was to make humans so afraid of further violence that they would never reenact it again…

"Humans are nothing more than advanced primates, fighting selfishly for everything except each other," he murmured quietly, his voice ragged and harsh. "We are just foolish creatures, greedy and selfish, never wanting to think of others and always too eager to fight to think of anything else. The only way that humans can learn is if they are taught to fear--if they experience violence. That's the only thing we humans know, violence--so what better way to attain peace than by the one universal concept!!!"

"But that's not how to do things at all!" shouted James, standing up against the final obstacle. "Haven't you yet realized that violence only ends in more violence?"

"A pathetic response!" growled Morrison. "Are you referring to the state the world was in right after Marion and I took over it? All that rebellion? Yes, I admit that our actions caused more actions--but that also was the doing of other humans! If only they had abided by our rules and wishes, they would have lived in peace and wouldn't have suffered. It was your group that brought the war upon the world, not us! All we wanted to do was end the anarchy!"

"But look at the means in which you came to that conclusion!" insisted Lenneth. "You used that which you were fighting against in your quest--violence cannot bring peace!"

"Ah, but it has!" growled Morrison. "The blood of human beings cannot bubble forever without releasing somewhere. This release is called war: where human beings are allowed to be savages again, and to let go of all their hate and frustration upon their own kind! Hate in times of 'peace' continues to rise and rise, until it overflows and spills out like lava! Wars, violence, the endless killing… once it's all over, people come to their senses and realize how foolish they were, and wish to be at peace again. So what I say is true!"

"That's absurd!" shrieked Lenneth. "War only causes sadness and grief! It's terrible how people hurt each other! It brings out the worst in everybody, even those not involved! How can you justify a world that relies upon making other people suffer? Doesn't that sound barbaric?"

"When humans learn that wars are truly pointless, it will be then that they realize that only peace can make them happy," he replied softly. "When people are exposed to the greatest amount of violence and control they have ever witnessed, they will be so afraid to fight that they will never revolt! And then, through suffering, comes the birth of harmony!"

"But people will still revolt!" shouted Brock. "You saw what happened! Our group stood up against Team Rocket! You were committing so many horrible atrocities that even your most loyal members were forced to flee! They had to take a stand against all the injustice they saw, even those who performed unjust acts not too long before! Your way of doing things will make people want to be freed from oppression!"

"And then they spiral back into their old habits of fighting each other once they're tired of peace!" he snapped haughtily. Morrison laughed out loud, baring his steel teeth for the team to look upon, and snarled at them like a lion. "You see, we're having a little war right now, you and I. We can't see on the same line, so to resolve our conflict, we will fight. This is the base desire of all humans--resolving everything with a battle and allowing fate to decide who is right."

"But I refuse to fight!" shouted Ash, joining his friends. "I won't raise a finger unless you attack us first! We'll defend ourselves if necessary, but I refuse to be part of this stupid cycle you're talking about! Peace is worth fighting for, but we don't fight so we can have peace! I know it doesn't make sense, but… surely there's another way."

"…Maybe," snorted Morrison, "but Marion believed in it, and now I must honor her noble death. We shall see once and for all who is right, through what I hope to be our very last battle on this planet. Let the world see what the suffering of war REALLY is, and then it will decide what to do!!"

"But you can't do anything!" replied James. "We outnumber you, and there's no way even that machine can win against all of us! Why don't you just give up?" Morrison only laughed.

"Ha! You really are stupid, my predecessor! Didn't Giovanni teach you anything about these machines? There's six of them, and they're very powerful on their own… but together, they're unstoppable!"

"Together?!" blurted Misty in shock. "What do you mean, 'together'? You're not thinking about…"

"We already destroyed those other machines, so whatever you're planning will be a waste of time!" shouted Butch. Morrison chuckled darkly.

"Ah, Giovanni… he really wanted this ultimate power to be a secret. He didn't even tell his closest agents… but I figured it out just by examining the creatures. As long as one of them still lives, I can resurrect all the others and create the Absolute Machine, the bearer of the Seventh Element, the Cosmos Machine!" Morrison pressed a series of buttons that had been in the Angel machine's cockpit, and extended his arms out as if to part the world.

"Absolute Machine, bearer of the Seventh Element, Cosmos! ACTIVATE!!!" Upon his command, the five other machines that had been destroyed suddenly rose to life, their blasted remains gathering together once again to create a mishmash of their former selves. Quickly, the destroyed machines rose up out of the ground, and blasted their way across the world towards the Team Rocket Headquarters, like stars shooting towards a single point in the sky. As everyone looked on in wonder, the five familiar machines arrived and began to reform themselves around the Angel machine, new parts and pieces fitting here and there until the entire machine was covered. It began growing in size as more and more was added onto it, and slowly, it towered over the very forests that surrounded the annihilated base.

As the final pieces were being added to the enormous sentinel, it began to resemble a vaguely humanoid monstrosity, as tall as a mountain and bearing traits and appearances of all six of the machines. Every person way down below on the surface gawked in astonishment as they saw the construction being completed, and once the very last fixing was in place, the giant raised its arms above its head, declaring supremacy over the entire world.

"Behold!" shouted Morrison's voice from deep inside the creature. "The true form of the six legendary machines, the Ultimate creation: the Cosmos Decimator!!" Gary, so petrified that he was almost a block of stone, summed up everyone's feelings in only two appropriate words:

"Oh, crap…"

----------

The machine took a single step forward, sending the entire earth trembling from just one step. It took another, gaining unbelievable distance in just two strides, and released a bit of its power upon the world. A flash of light came out of its forehead, scorching the forest around it and turning trees into ashes instantly. After destroying the woods, it turned its large head around, and with a single slap, it felled even more trees, sending them falling to the ground with a crash. The tiny team members could barely dash out of the way of the falling woods as they desperately struggled just to take that very next step.

The Cosmos Machine lumbered forward again, destined for a mad, mindless rampage on the entire forest and the miniscule specks that scurried at its feet. Inside, Morrison grinned gleefully as he piloted the Hercules-like machine through the woods, flattening dozens of trees with every stomp. He raised the monster's hands, spewing out flames and blasts of lightning from the palms and a barrage of gunfire and missiles from the fingers. There were also several pairs of wings on its backside, available to spread out and carry the abomination into the sky, where it would be unstoppable in its quest for global rule.

Those far beneath it did not allow it the chance to do so, however. Every single one of them released every Pokemon in their inventory, weak or strong, large or small, and commanded them all to attack the machine. Those that could shoot projectiles and waves of energy concentrated high on the machine; those that attacked with their physical bodies rammed into its legs. The Cosmos Decimator shuddered under the combined might of all the tiny creatures, but even their efforts did little more than dent it.

"You think it's going to be that easy!!" bellowed Morrison. With a shout, he guided the large hand of the machine towards the group, and prepared to fire a devastating blast. An eruption of ice and water came gushing out of the palm, instantly turning everything it touched into a glacier. The spray of frost was large, enveloping a huge chunk of the forest, so there was no way anybody could've escaped.

"Oh no! I've got to do something!" shivered Blaine. He ordered all his Fire Pokemon to try and melt the ice, but even that barely did anything. Morrison laughed, and aimed the machine's palm again.

"So you want fire, huh?" A scorching blast of heat erupted out of the machine's palm, incinerating the area that had been frozen just three seconds before. The blast was so powerful that had it not been for Sabrina's quick thinking, everything would have been reduced to dust.

"Alakazam! Are you okay?" The creature weakly affirmed its status, almost completely drained just from shielding them all from that one attack. Enraged, Sabrina turned her sights to the machine, but a sudden shockwave of psychic energy, perhaps three times greater than Mewtwo's, blasted everyone away before they could launch any offensive.

"Maybe I forgot to tell you, but this Cosmos Decimator has the powers of all the other six machines!" shouted Morrison haughtily. "And, of course, since it bears traits of the all-powerful Seventh Element, it can destroy anything and deflect any attack! Just watch if you doubt me!"

"Oh no!!!" screamed Lance, still weakened by the blast. His face exploded in horror as he saw the enormous monstrosity power up for a really big attack, and ordered all of his dragons to carry everyone to safety. The noble beasts flew away with their cargo at a shattering speed, going so fast that the blood in their veins was stilled. As they sped away, an illuminating light covered the entire forest, perhaps even the entire continent, and a shuddering wave of incredible power erupted from out of the Decimator. It was as if the very stars themselves were now fighting against the small rebels.

"NO WAY!!!!" shrieked Gary, who had dared to look behind him to see what kind of devastation the monster was up to. An enormous crater, enveloping the entire forest so that not a single tree stood out, was all that was left of the frightening blast--and of course, the Decimator remained, flying overhead like the angel of Ragnarok, ready to deliver ultimate annihilation.

"That was… terrible!" whispered Butch, too petrified to even think. Brock quickly shook himself loose and began to formulate a plan.

"Look, if I know anything about machines, it's that it can't possibly perform that attack too many times. It might be the most powerful machine in existence, but it's still just a machine! It'll need time to cool off and recharge, and that's when we'll get it!"

"And how do you suggest we do that?" demanded James angrily. "In case you haven't noticed, it was pretty darn powerful before that blast! We don't stand a chance!"

"But we have to try!!!" exclaimed Brock, shouting so loud that the dragon he rode groaned from the noise. Brock softly apologized, and guided his mount over to where the Decimator waited. Thinking their headstrong comrade was positively nuts, Butch and James followed him into the pits of Hades once again. Lenneth smiled warmly.

"Brock… you're definitely a brave man…" She followed his example, and soon all of the dragons were soaring towards the machine in what was perhaps the most insane and desperate attack ever.

"Okay, Pikachu!" shouted Ash as he psyched his friend up. "This is it! Give it everything you have!" The cute little rodent squealed out an affirmative.

"You too, Arbok!" said Jessie. "And Wheezing! We all need to be at our best!"

"That's right! Together, we can do it!" James smiled proudly, and as soon as his dragon was within range of the large machine, he leaped off and called Wheezing. The polluted creature belched out a ball of black slime across the machine's face, blinding it and mucking up any kind of offensive capabilities the head had.

"Great! We can do it!" shouted Erika. She ordered all her Grass Pokemon to run circles around the machine's feet, tying them together with their vine whips. Of course, Morrison was not so dense that he didn't notice, and sent a razor-sharp blade spinning down from the Decimator's arm to cut the vines. To add injury to insult, he cruelly unleashed a fireball on the Grass creatures, striking them with a near-fatal blow. Erika gasped in horror as her beloved friends were injured, and stared up at the machine as it continued its endless rampage.

Lance, Lorelei, Agatha, and Bruno stood facing the monster, all their Pokemon lined up and ready to fight. They struck simultaneously, diverting all their power and every to a single source in hopes of at least debilitating the machine. Meanwhile, Butch and Cassidy had joined their archrivals and were attacking the other side. Soon, the gym leaders of the world were all surrounding it, using their Pokemon to attack from all corners so that no matter where it turned, it was facing a new attack.

"This has gone far enough!" snarled Morrison, somewhat strained by all the attacks. The machine trembled, and slammed its foot on the ground, sending a massive shattering of the earth towards every direction. Everyone was thrown back as the planet trembled; the skies were soon covered with lightning as the Decimator summoned a great bolt from its reserves. Brock quickly sent every Rock and Ground Pokemon he had to absorb the blast, but the Decimator's cruelty knew no end as it fired a hidden hydro rocket at the creatures, flooding them to the ground where they stayed and did not move.

"We have not yet begun to fight!" shouted Gary, mounted on Arcanine. With Ash on Charizard and Blaine commanding Magmar, the three unlikely allies surrounded the backside of the machine, commanding their Pokemon to blast with all their might. Three columns of flame shot out and incinerated the Decimator's backside, and as it tumbled forward suddenly, a victory seemed inevitable.

"Keep firing!" shouted Tracy. "We're going for its head! Just keep surrounding it with attacks! We can slowly wear it down if we just keep being persistent!" Lenneth and Ritchie, who were with him at the time, nodded their heads in agreement and helped their older friend attack, one using Pikachu and the other using an unusual source of energy not found in normal humans. The Cosmos Decimator was actually petrified briefly as Lenneth commanded her unusual gifts, but it did not last.

The poor silvery-haired woman collapsed after holding the giant for only a minute, even though during this time, plenty of people and Pokemon had recovered and fought back. Of course, Brock was right at her side, asking if she was okay.

"Yes…" she managed with a smile, "but I'm very weak. That machine is far too big for me to hold on my own. I was not powerful enough… forgive me…"

"No, you did fine!" he whispered, taking her hand in his. She gave him her warmest smile, and thanked him for caring. As Brock stayed by her side, many others fought and fell just as bravely and easily, some getting back up and starting all over again. There was no way to really describe the machine's power; the best way would be to think of a nuclear reactor that could move and fight. It seemed to have limitless power and energy, and even after getting struck by every attack that the team could conceive, there were little more than dents to show for all the hard work.

And it still moved on, fighting as fiercely and mercilessly as ever, utilizing the strengths of all types of Pokemon in its dangerous rampage. It spewed fire, it gushed water and ice, it made the earth tremble and it slashed and cut with razor leaves and vine whips. It shattered the air with waves of dark energy, and blasted everything away with psychic energy, and some attacks it pulled out seemed to be a combination of every single Pokemon type out there: the Cosmos Element, it seemed.

As she laid dying, Marion Burke had warned the witnesses to her demise that her partner was even deadlier than she had been, and only now were a few people realizing this to be true. Marion had been a ferocious, demonic, insane force of raging nature that would not stop even for Death's call, but if Morrison could control the Cosmos Decimator, which was as true to its title as anything, then he was infinitely more dangerous.

And yet those that rebelled against Team Rocket and their creed, or those who just wanted to avenge their losses, all fought together despite the rising odds against them. Ash and Gary cooperated, perhaps the first time ever; former members of Team Rocket, whether they despised or trusted each other, worked hand-in-hand with people that they had fought against not too long ago. The gym leaders united for one single cause; the Elite Four stood up to declare their own challenge, and many of the fighting team felt that, if it were possible, the entire world would have fought along with them.

Gone were the Team Rocket helicopters that had been crucial in destroying the main base. They had all been taken out and destroyed long ago by the machine's wild rampage, and in a twisted show of cruelty, very few of their pilots escaped to tell about the tale. Those that did were advised to find cover, or else help in the futile struggle against the greatest threat in the world. Needless to say, said struggle was not going very well.

It seemed that every time some advantage was gained, three more were lost as the Decimator bounced back and retaliated. One by one, regardless of their strength, the rebels were thrown back and defeated, their energy waning and dropping each time they stood up. A very powerful eruption from the machine flattened everyone during one instant, slamming them to the ground only to have them tossed again as the earth shook.

"This is madness!" screamed Misty. "I don't want to sound pessimistic or anything, but there's no way we can beat this thing! It just can't be done! We'd need a miracle!"

"We can't rely on miracles, Misty!" shouted Ash, his voice sounding a hundred times more determined and mature as he stood up to face the monstrosity again. "We have to fight this thing ourselves! Remember, it's our duty to keep this world safe! Misty, what's the entire point of raising and capturing Pokemon if you can't use them for a good cause--this very cause right here!! I think this is what we've been training for all our LIVES!!!!!"

"Ash…" Misty stared back at a person who looked like Ash Ketchum and had his same name, but she knew that when he spoke and stood up against the abomination, it was not the same whiny, impatient, thickheaded boy she knew. Stirred by his words, she got to her feet despite her pain and rallied beside him.

"You're absolutely right!" she shouted (she had to, because such a commotion was going on). "We have to keep trying! Though we may fail, if we don't stand up now, then… what will happen?" Gary, also stirred by the words of his rival, stood up and supported him.

"I don't want to think about it, so I'm with you, Ashy-boy! Let's work together and take this little nuisance down for good!"

"It's a deal!" The two boys clasped hands, and stood defiant against the beast, the wind gusting out of it unable to topple them. Everyone else struggled to stand despite their injuries and the apparent hopelessness of the situation, and prepared to dive back into the fray once again, perhaps for the final time.

A thunderous explosion rocked the Cosmos Decimator, catching it off guard and sending it lurching forward.

"What in the world was that!" gawked Brock. His skin crawled with a sudden surge of adrenaline as a familiar voice came over his radar.

"Well, well… the battle of the century, and I wasn't invited?! You lads and lasses oughta be ashamed of yourselves!"

"Aaah! It's the Captain!" exclaimed Ash. "But how--"

"Hahahaha!!" The gang suddenly spotted a familiar-looking flying machine tear through the clouds, looking a thousand times stronger, more proud, and faster than it ever had been. Through their walkie-talkies, they could overheard the conversation going on at the bridge, and were filled with hope anew as the voices of Red Thatcher, Jennifer, and Joyleen gave them hope.

"Captain, nearing Team Rocket headquarters! All systems are nominal and are working at maximum efficiency!"

"Our last shot was a direct hit! Preparing the guns for another strike! Launching missiles!"

"Take that, you monster!" A barrage of missiles came out of nowhere, streaming towards the machine and crashing into its head, creating massive explosions of smoke and fire. Morrison screamed in shock as the Decimator trembled under the powerful blow, and yelled out as the Dreadnaught Euphrates returned to the scene of battle.

"Wow! The crazy barbarian really came through for us!" squealed James. He and Jessie hugged each other, squishing poor Meowth in the process, who was utterly lost. Butch and Cassidy laughed out loud, Lenneth and Brock cheered, and Ash, Misty, and Gary smiled proudly as their leader and friend finally joined the fight.

"Captain, how'd you do it?" asked Tracey. "I thought the Dreadnaught was--"

"ARRRG! If there's anything you learn in this life, boy, it's that you can't keep an old sea-dog down! Didn't I tell you before that I have the best crew in the whole bloody world?! We got to fixing this thing the moment we could, and we even got Professor Oak and a few other crusty old geezers to help us out! We just got the ship back up to full power and came over as fast as we could!"

"Nearly killing ourselves in the process, sir!" snapped Jennifer bitterly. Thatcher only laughed.

"Hahahahaha! Arr, but what a glorious entrance, eh?! Now, you scurvy son of a sea slug, feel the full and mighty wrath of the uncontrollable Shark of the Skies! Jennifer, Joyleen! Prepare to fire… The RED CANNON!!!!"

"Captain, you're joking!"

"That thing's never been tested before! It could blow this entire ship apart!"

"And it could also blow that durn machine apart!" pointed Thatcher boldly. "Now what're you girls waitin' for? When your Captain gives you an order, he expects you to obey it!" The Officer and the Nurse were silent for a while, then sighed.

"That's our Captain, all right. Everything he does has to be big and grand. I swear, sir, you're going to get us all killed one of these days."

"NAWW!!!" he bellowed, laughing like a lunatic. "We'll all live to be a hundred an' eight! Now prepare the Red Cannon! And keep firing!"

"Sir, if we do that, the engine will overheat and the guns will melt!"

"BLAST IT, Officer Jennifer, I don't bloody care!! We got the firepower; we may as well attack with everything we got! Hit it with everything, everything, EVERYTHING!!!!!" The Officer and the Nurse shrugged, and gave the order for everyone else aboard. A powerful wave of fire erupted out of the Dreadnaught, a whole salvo of salvos aimed solely at the monstrosity. Morrison screamed as the Cosmic Decimator shuddered under the flood of blasts and explosions, and it actually looked like it was backing away from the mad assault.

"Wow! What an attack!" gawked Tracey. "If only I had my pencil and pad!"

"Take a picture; it lasts longer!" replied Meowth. Lance suddenly came to his senses and turned towards the awestruck troops.

"Hey, guys! Our esteemed leader's giving that thing everything he has, but what are we doing standing around with our mouths hanging open!? Let's go and help the crazy guy!"

"Never has a better word been said!" growled Jessie happily. As the hundreds of guns on the Dreadnaught showered the Cosmos Decimator with thousands of bullets and missiles, the troops below brought out their weary Pokemon, and goaded them to give everything they had for one last final attack. The creatures, noticing that a new hope had came to them in the form of the Dreadnaught, were filled with strength again and attacked like they had never fought before.

Snarling and shrieking madly as he was being tossed and turned around, Morrison could only hang on as the machine was being assaulted from every side conceivable--and there was even more to come once the Dreadnaught's secret weapon was ready to fire. A few violent minutes passed, and the Pokemon grew weary of fighting while the Dreadnaught screamed out.

"Captain! We're losing power! Our guns are overheating! We've got to let them cool down!"

"It'll be fine, trust me!" he shouted. "I love this ship to death, but I'd give it up if it meant beating that monster and getting some sanity back in this world! Heavens to mercy, lad, why else do we got those guns for? Now keep firing!"

"Sir!"

"I know what I'm doing!" he exclaimed happily, smiling that same dashing, charming, carefree smile of his. There wasn't a person alive who could stay doubtful of the Captain as he grinned at them like that, so everyone obeyed his command and kept firing, despite the alarms. Officer Jennifer, who had been keeping tabs on the hitherto-unused Red Cannon, finally saw that the ship's ultimate weapon was ready to fire.

"Captain, it's ready!"

"AAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!!!!!!!!" he screamed, more insane and happy than anything that had ever lived. "Let's do it, let's do it, let's do it, let's do it! Everybody, brace yourself like it's the end of the world, cuz' the RED CANNON is about to blow!!! Ready?"

"It's all yours, sir!"

"Aim!"

"We're aiming right at its core, sir!" Captain Red Thatcher, so giddy that he was literally squealing with delight, shed a tear of joy and screamed out the command.

"FIRE THE RED CANNON AND BLOW THAT SCURVY DOG OUTTA THE WATER!!!!!"

"Yes, sir!!" The immensely large and immensely powerful Red Cannon erupted out of its hiding spot on the ship, and shivered so much that the Dreadnaught was nearly thrown off course. It belched out its powerful blast, a beam with so much energy that it pushed the mighty Euphrates almost a kilometer away, just from recoil. The very atoms and molecules in the air were burned to a crisp as the beam sailed from the ship towards the machine, and a fabulous explosion of astounding proportions erupted from where it struck. Captain Thatcher yelled his very soul out.

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!!!!!!!!!!"

The Cosmic Decimator crumbled to pieces as the indescribable blast sliced right through it, carving a huge hole in its stomach and blasting almost all of it apart. Thatcher danced and shouted for joy as his beloved cannon struck true, and both Jennifer and Joyleen gave him a hug of congratulations.

"Captain, you did it!! We never doubted you for a second! Wonderful!!"

"G'aww, what a day it's been! Oh, crud, look! The bloody thing's still alive! Jennifer, Joyleen, this ain't the time to get mushy! We still got a fight on our hands!"

"What a shame!" smiled Joyleen brightly. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were having the time of your life!" Thatcher smiled at her warmly, that loveable twinkle of mischief glimmering in both his eyes.

"My dearest Nurse, that is the understatement of my lifetime. All right, let's do it! You down there on the surface! See if you can't help us out!"

"We're giving it everything we've got, Captain!" replied Lenneth, screaming into her walkie-talkie. "The Pokemon are almost wiped out, but we're almost there! That was some blast that came from our ship!"

"Yeah, you like it?" he chuckled proudly. "That was my baby, the famous Red Cannon!"

"So that was the Red Cannon! Gosh, Captain! No wonder you didn't pull it out until now!"

"Yeah… Actually, I couldn't. It took all those old fogies like a year just to build it! It's barely off the assembly line and I already used it! Hahaha!"

"That's our Captain!" she exclaimed, smiling proudly. A thunderous quake distracted her from the conversation, so she wrapped it up as quickly as possible. "Whoops, that was a nasty explosion! I'd better turn this thing off before one of us goes deaf! See you later, sir!"

"Right, over and out! Good luck, Lenneth! Let's show this creep what the invincible crew of the Euphrates is all about!" Lenneth smiled and shut the transmitter off, and turned her focus back to the Decimator, which was currently receiving a taste of its own medicine. As the firepower from the Dreadnaught rained down on it, and the blasts from the Pokemon encased it in a blanket of destruction, explosions spewed out everywhere as the machine's life finally came to an end. And with one final, great, colossal blast, the machine fell to the ground and was reduced to a smoldering waste of scrap metal, flames, and smoke.

Morrison, who had been tossed out by one of the last explosions, weakly grunted as he watched everything die away…

To be continued…