Episode 42: Gone Fission!

Ash and Pikachu burst out of the doors of the Pokémon Center filled with energy and bravado. Ash declares to the world, not caring who hears him, "Here comes badge number three!"

Pikachu adds excitedly, "Pika pi!"

Brock and Brenda come running out of the Pokémon Center behind him. Brenda's awkwardly hopping as she tries to put on a shoe while following Ash, and Brock is struggling with his backpack.

That's right, the time has arrived for Ash's battle with Neutrina, the Starcore Gym Leader. It's only a matter of time until Ash earns his next gym badge…or fails trying.

Ash runs into the gym, its doors now open. The room inside is mostly taken up by a battlefield. The battlefield seems cold and sterile, as it if made out of metal, fitting considering it's next to the nuclear power plant. Neutrina is standing on the far side of the field. She's still wearing her hazmat suit. She grins and says, "I hope you don't mind, I didn't have a chance to change after work."

Ash runs up to the position opposite of her on the field. He shakes his head. "I don't mind at all."

Neutrina nods. "Good, are you ready for our battle then?"

Ash nods back. "You bet I am. We've been training hard for this moment."

Brock and Brenda have taken seats off to the side. Brenda seems to cringe at Ash's mention of training.

Neutrina states, "Then let's not waste any more time." Ash nods in agreement.

One of Neutrina's technicians is the referee. He declares, "In that case, this will be a three-on-three battle. First to knock out all of their opponent's Pokémon is the winner. Also, only the challenger may substitute Pokémon. Are these rules agreeable?"

Ash nods. "They sure are."

The ref nods. "In that case, battle begin!"

Neutrina tosses a Pokéball. "Let's do this Noxic!" Out of her Pokéball appears a Pokémon that seems to be a small and wispy cloud of purple and green gas. On its surface is a simple face.

Ash instantly pulls out his Pokédex. "Noxic, the Noxious Gas Pokémon and a Poison-Type. Noxic form in areas with heavy air pollution, where the various chemicals and toxins mix together to form the Pokémon. If Noxic begin to form in an area, it is a sign that pollution has gone too far. Evolves into Hazeard at level 26."

Ash nods, thinking to himself about what to do. He then pulls out a Pokéball and throws it. "Turtsol, I chose you!"

Turtsol appears. "Sol, turtsol!"

Taking the first move, Ash orders, Turtsol, use Sunny Day!"

"Turtsol!" Despite Turtsol's efforts, nothing happens.

Brock comments, "I suppose even after all that training, Turtsol still can't use Sunny Day on command."

Brenda nods. "It's a shame, Turtsol is a lot stronger under the sunlight."

Neutrina observes, "It would seem that your move didn't work. I appreciate the attempt at strategy, though."

Ash shouts, "There are still other things we can do! Use Flamethrower!"

Neutrina grins slyly. "Use Volatile Gas." A cloud of barely visible gas floats out of Noxic's body. The moment Turtsol's Flamethrower makes contact with the gas there is a sudden explosion, which hurls Turtsol backwards.

Ash is shocked, he has no clue what just happened. He looks to Turtsol, who is lying on the ground several feet away from where it started. Noxic appears unharmed.

Brenda asks, "What just happened, Brock?"

"The move Neutrina just used, Volatile Gas, it's a type of trap move. You use it, and then if a move of a certain type is used, the trap is set off. If a Fire or Electric-Type move is used while Volatile Gas is active, then it explodes, causing damage."

Ash asks, "Are you okay Turtsol, can you keep on going?"

Turtsol gets up and nods. "Turtsol!"

"Great, in that case let's try a Rapid Spin this time!" Turtsol pulls itself into its shell and flings itself at Noxic while rotating.

Neutrina counters, "Noxic, slow it down with Smog!" Noxic blows a gust of smog from its mouth, the force of which significantly slows down Turtsol. Turtsol falls to the ground. Neutrina nods. "Great, now use Smokescreen." A miasma of smoke covers the field now.

Ash observes the smoke. "Alright, there's no way you're aiming another Rapid Spin in that. Let's try a Flamethrower, sweep the entire field."

Neutrina then declares, "Your mistake. Use Volatile Gas!" Suddenly all of the smoke from the Smokescreen is blown away by the resulting explosion. Turtsol is once again caught up in the blast.

Brock nods in understanding. He comments, "Very interesting."

Brenda asks, "What? What is it?"

"You see, Turtsol is a Steel-Type Pokémon, so none of Noxic's Poison-Type moves can damage it. Instead she's making Ash deal the damage to himself. By using Smog not to attack, but to block his only non-Fire-Type move, and make it impossible to aim, it's impossible for Ash to use anything else but a move that will set off Volatile Gas. Neutrina is very clever."

Ash is frustrated. Turtsol is standing, but it appears weak. He says, "Sorry Turtsol, but we're not going to be able to accomplish anything like this. Return." He pulls back out its Pokéball and returns it. He pulls out another Pokéball and throws it. "Go, Falcoknight!"

Falcoknight appears. "Falllllcoknight!"

"Alright Falcoknight, it attacks using gas-based moves, so let's just blow them all away!" Falcoknight nods in agreement.

A group of three scientists are standing at the entrance to the Starcore Nuclear Power Plant. A female one with red hair asks, "Remind me exactly what the plan is."

A male, blue-haired one seems confused as well. "Yeah, I'm not sure I understand what the point of coming here is."

The third one, a short one, replies, "The answer is simple. Think about how powerful our robots and machines could be is they were nuclear-powered. Forget Pika-power, we'd be 100 times as efficient. All we need to do is steal one of their nuclear cores." Obviously this is Team Rocket.

Jessie nods. "Alright, that does sound like a good idea."

James still doesn't buy it. "Sounds great, but do you really expect us to be able to just walk into this building, take what we need, and then leave?"

Meowth responds, "Don't worry about that one bit. Back when we were inside their computer, I managed to leave some data behind. We're now on their registry as top-ranked nuclear physicists, and they're expecting us to come for an inspection today."

Jessie is impressed. "Wow, that's some massive foresight."

James, equally impressed, nods. "Great job Meowth. You're earning your pay for once."

Meowth asks, "Pay? What pay? I haven't seen a cent out of Team Rocket in years."

"It's a metaphor. Now come on, let's go." They stroll into the building.

Who's that Pokémon!?

If its cloak is broken in battle, this Pokémon quickly remakes the cloak with materials nearby.

The referee declares, "Resume battle!"

Neutrina instantly orders, "Noxic, use Smog!"

Ash counters, "Use Gust to blow it away!" Noxic sends a cloud of polluted air at Falcoknight, but Falcoknight simply flaps its wings, the wind from which dissipates the gas. "Great job, now go in for a Sky Uppercut!" Falcoknight flies strait at Noxic with a burst of speed and uppercuts it with its wingtip. Noxic is sent hurtling into the air.

Neutrina nods. "It would seem that you've turned the tables on me. Before you couldn't touch my Pokémon. Now it seems like the reverse is true. You made a good call."

Ash proclaims, "I sure did. Let's wrap this up Falcoknight! Get above it with Aerial Maneuvers, and then send it back down to the ground with Talon Grapple!" Falcoknight flies up towards Noxic, disappears, and then reappears above it.

Right before Falcoknight thrusts its talons at Noxic, Neutrina orders, "Use Toxic Haze!" A purplish gas is released from Noxic. Falcoknight is caught up in the gas but doesn't pay it any attention. It rapidly thrusts its talons at Noxic. Eventually Noxic falls to the ground.

The referee declares, "Noxic is unable to battle, this round goes to the challenger!"

Ash cheers, "Yeah, way to go Falcoknight!"

Falcoknight declares triumphantly, "Fallllllllconknight!"

Neutrina returns Noxic to its Pokéball and pulls out another. "Very good, a smart switch at the right time allowed you to pull off a victory. But how will you fair against my next Pokémon? Go, Koffing!" She sends out a Koffing.

Brenda looks at it curiously and pulls out her Pokédex. "Koffing, the Poison Gas Pokémon and a Poison-Type. Most of this Pokémon's mass is made up of the toxic gases held within it. It can consciously mix different ratios of different gases to create specific types of gas to be used in battle. Evolves into Weezing at level 35."

Ash says, "It attacks using gases too, that means we can use the same strategy. Alright Falcoknight?"

Falcoknight agrees, "Fallllllcokinght!"

Neutrina orders, "Koffing, use Clear Smog!" Koffing launches a breath of white smog at Falcoknight.

"You know what to do, blow it away with Gust!"

Falcoknight is about to, but then it is suddenly covered in purple zaps of electricity and cries out in pain. "Falllllco!" This distracts it long enough for it to be hit by the attack. It's knocked to the ground.

Ash asks with worry, "Oh no! Falcoknight, are you okay!? What happened?"

Neutrina explains, "What you just witnessed was the effect of the move I used earlier, Toxic Gas. My Noxic filled the air around it up with a potent and poisonous gas. Any Pokémon that comes in contact with the user of Toxic Haze becomes Badly Poisoned afterwards. I'm afraid that your Falcoknight is now feeling it."

Ash looks to Falcoknight with worry. He asks, "How do you feel Falcoknight, can you keep on going?"

Falcoknight struggles to get up, it then looks to Ash and declares with determination, "Falco." It is then overtaken by the Poison again. It falls to the ground and cries out in pain.

Ash pulls out its Pokéball. "That's enough! Falcoknight, return!" He recalls Falcoknight. He grunts as he plans his next move.

It's Burmy!

Team Rocket is casually strolling through the power plant, trying their best to blend in. A worker walks past them. Jessie nervously greets, "How do you do?" Another worker passes them, she greets, "Great day, isn't it?" a third worker passes them by and she says, "Hello fellow nuclear…person…"

James whispers to her, "Alright Jessie, enough of that. We don't need to greet everyone we pass by. Just walk." Jessie nods.

Meowth points to a door ahead of them. He says, "That's our objective. Through that door is the entrance to the main nuclear reactor."
They step up to the door. James reaches for it and pushes it open. The moment he does an alarm goes off. James leaps back and swears, "I didn't do it!"

Jessie says with some panic, "They must be on to us!"

Then a technician runs by them and sees them. He exclaims, "You three must be the nuclear physicists visiting today. I'm so glad you're here. Due to recent troubles, our nuclear core is destabilizing. We could really use your expert help. Please, follow me." He runs off.

Jessie, James, and Meowth look to each other. Meowth suggests, "I say we make a run for it now." Jessie and James nod in agreement. They begin to run off in the opposite direction of the technician.

The technician notices this though, turns around, and calls to them, "You're going the wrong way, it's this way you need to go!"

Team Rocket freezes nervously in their steps. They have no choice now. They reluctantly turn around and walk towards the technician.

He urges, "Come on, we need to hurry!"

Ash looks to Pikachu. "Alright buddy, it's up to you now."

Pikachu nods. "Pik." It then leaps down from Ash's shoulders and runs onto the field.

The referee declares, "Resume battle!"

Ash orders, "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaaaaaaa chuuuuuuu!"

Neutrina declares, "Koffing, block it with Sludge!" Koffing launches a ball of gunk at Pikachu's Thunderbolt. It stops the attack. "Great, now use Sludge again!" Koffing launches several more sludge balls at Pikachu.

"You've got to dodge them Pikachu!" Pikachu leaps out of the way of several of the attacks, but the final one manages to hit it.

"Koffing, go in for a Gyro Ball!" Koffing begins to rotate about it axis rapidly. It plunges towards Pikachu like this.

"Quickly Pikachu, deflect it with Iron Tail!" Pikachu's tail turns to metal and leaps up into the air. Koffing's body slams into Pikachu's tail. The two moves cause the Pokémon to bounce off of each other. They keep at it though. Again and again they ram into each other, only to be hurled back.

Right before they're about to collide again, Ash says, "Something's got to change, use Electro Ball Pikachu!"

"Chu pika chu!" Pikachu slams Koffing with its Iron Tail once more, but this time also with an Electro Ball that has been generated on its tail. Koffing is blasted backwards and knocked to the ground.

"Get back up and use Clear Smog!" Koffing floats back into the air and expels its attack.

"Pikachu, leap into the air and use Thunderbolt from above!"

Pikachu leaps up and over Koffing's attack. It now hangs in the air above Koffing. "Pikaaaaaaa chuuuuuuu!" It unleashes its electrical attack, which hits Koffing. Koffing falls to the ground.

The referee declares, "Koffing is unable to battle! Pikachu is the winner!"

Ash compliments, "Great going Pikachu, I knew you could do it!"

Neutrina recalls her Pokémon. "I can sense that the two of you share a strong bond. It's time that I show you the Pokémon that I have the strongest bond with. Go, Nucleaction!"

Neutrina sends out the Pokémon she used previously in cyberspace. It declares in a metallic and echoey voice, "Nucle!"

"Alright Pikachu, let's finish this battle and win that badge! Use Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaaaaaa chuuuuuuu!"

Neutrina makes no order of her Pokémon. Not even to dodge. When Pikachu's attack hits, it is absorbed into Nucleaction's body harmlessly. Ash and Pikachu are surprised. Neutrina explains, "Nucleaction is both a Poison and an Electric-Type. It is a walking nuclear generator. Of course an electric attack isn't going to do much damage against it." She looks to Nucleaction. "Now let's use Irradiate."

Nucleaction nods. Then, from its furnace cover, it releases a wave of luminescent green energy. That energy flies into the air, and then covers the field. For a moment, the ground glows green, and then stops as the energy is absorbed.

Brock shakes his head. "This is not good for Ash."

Brenda asks, "How come? It looks like whatever that attack did wore off quickly."

"No, that attack, Irradiate, causes the field to become radioactive. Now Ash's Pokémon will be taking continuous damage from it."

Right as Brock finishes explaining, the ground glows green again beneath Pikachu. It cries out in pain, "Pik!" Then the glowing stops and Pikachu looks better.

Ash says, "We're just going to have to fight through it. And since we can't use your electric attacks, let's use Iron Tail!"

"Chu pika!"

Neutrina orders, "Block it Nucleaction!" Nucleaction raises its hands in front of it and blocks Pikachu's Iron Tail.

The moment Pikachu's Iron Tail makes contact with Nucleaction's hands, there is a flash of green light and Pikachu cries out in pain again. It falls to the ground.

Brenda asks, "What was that Brock? Pikachu wasn't even touching the ground when it got hurt, so it wasn't Irradiate kicking in."

"I was afraid that this would be the case. Nucleaction's ability is Radioactive. Whenever it touches Pikachu, or Pikachu touches it, Pikachu will take damage."

Brenda is startled. She looks back to Pikachu. "That's not good at all. The only moves that Pikachu has that don't require it touching Nucleaction are Electric-Type."

Neutrina grins. "Let's add to the fray even more! Nucleaction, use Poison Gas!" Nucleaction sprays a purple mist out of its furnace at Pikachu, enveloping it in the mist.

Pikachu begins to cough. "Pik! Pik! Pik!" When the gas clears, Pikachu is suddenly overtaken by the same purple electricity that covered Falcoknight. It cries out, "Pika!" As soon as that ends, the ground around it glows green and it takes damage from Irradiate.

Ash shouts, "Pikachu!"

Neutrina then declares, "Finish this off with Tackle." Nucleaction rams itself into Pikachu. When it does, it glows green, activating the Radioactive ability again. Pikachu faints.

The technician has lead Team Rocket to some sort of operations room. It's full of machinery, control panels, and computers. He declares to all the workers, "Don't worry, I've found them! Surely these three experts can save the system from melting down!" All the workers cheer with joy. He turns to Team Rocket and says, "Alright, do your stuff."

All three of them gulp nervously. James asks in a whisper, "Meowth, I don't suppose you know anything about nuclear power plants do you?"

Meowth shakes his head. "Not a bit…"

Jessie suddenly steps forward. "Come on, we might as well try." She marches up to a control panel and begins to press buttons. James and Meowth follow her reluctantly.

Meowth asks, "What are you doing Jessie?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm randomly pressing buttons and hoping something works. Do any of you have a better idea?"

Wobbuffet appears. "Wobbuffet!"

Jessie returns it. "I don't want any of your ideas."

James joins Jessie in her button pressing. He asks, "Which buttons should I press?"

Jessie scoffs, "How should I know? Just pick some, it's not rocket science."

Meowth chuckles. "Yeah, it's nuclear physics, so much better." After thinking for a moment, he then says, "Hey, I've got an idea." He whispers, "Why don't we take this opportunity to have them bring us to the nuclear core. We say we can fix it from in there. Then we grab the core and run to safety."

Jessie and James nod. James says, "I like that plan. Let's do it."

Meowth then turns to the workers and declares, "Alright, in all of our genius, we've figured out how to fix your power plant, but we need to get to the nuclear reactor immediately."

The technician nods. "Of course, I'll lead you there right away."

And he does. Team Rocket is now wearing hazmat suits, and they are inside the nuclear reactor room. Meowth types a commands into the side of the pod holding the nuclear core. He then says, "Open sesame," and a hatch swings open. "And there you have it, one nuclear core ready to power the next generation of Team Rocket weapons."

James begins to complement, "Great job-" but is cut off when an intense glow suddenly emits from the hatch.

Jessie asks, "Is it supposed to do that?"

Meowth shrugs. "How am I supposed to know?" As soon as he says this, a blast of energy comes out of the hatch, blasting Team Rocket through the roof and into the sky. They shout, "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"

Watching from the safety of another room, the technician exclaims, "They did it! They saved the plant!"

A worker asks, "What did they do exactly?"

"They vented all of the built up energy in the core! They were even willing to risk injury to do so. Those three might just be the greatest nuclear physicists to ever live."

The referee declares, "Pikachu is unable to battle! This match goes to Nucleaction!"

Ash runs out onto the field. "Pikachu!" He picks up Pikachu and cradles it. "Are you alright Pikachu?"

It looks up to him meekly and answers, "Pika…"

Ash walks over to Brock and asks, "Can you take care of Pikachu while I finish this battle?"

Brock nods and takes Pikachu. "Of course I will."

Ash walks back up to his position on the battlefield and begins to think deeply.

Brock pulls a medkit out of his bag for Pikachu. He comments, "Neutrina has a great strategy. She just imposes several different methods of dealing damage over time, and she barely even has to attack to begin with." He pulls out a Pecha Berry from the kit and feeds it to Pikachu.

Brenda points out, "Well Ash still has two Pokémon so he should be able to pull this off still, right?"

"I don't know. He could, but don't forget that Turtsol is weak from its battle with Noxic, and that Falcoknight is already Badly Poisoned. Meanwhile Nucleaction has taken almost no damage. Things don't look good for Ash right now."

Ash finally makes a decision. He pulls out a Pokéball and tosses it. "Let's give this another go Turtsol!"

Turtsol appears. It still looks weak and damaged from before. Despite that, it declares, "Turtsol!" with determination.

Ash says, "Alright Turtsol, she can't Poison you since you're a Steel-Type, but you've still got to be careful about not touching Nucleaction. Let's see if a Flamethrower will work this time." Turtsol unleashes a breath of fire at Nucleaction.

Neutrina counters, "Use Charge Beam!" The two attacks meet midfield, equally matched.

"Keep it up Turtsol! You can win this!"

The two Pokémon continue their attacks, neither gaining anything on the other. Then the ground beneath Turtsol glows green. Turtsol cries out in pain and its concentration lapses just long enough for Nucleaction's attack to gain enough momentum to hit Turtsol, knocking it back.

Brenda exclaims, "Oh no, Irradiate is still active!"

Turtsol struggles to get up, but then falls to the ground. The referee declares, "Turtsol is unable to battle!"

Ash recalls Turtsol and puts away the Pokéball. Then he pulls out another. He says to the ball, "It's all up to you now." He throws it. "Falcoknight, I chose you!"

Falcoknight appears. Despite still being Badly Poisoned, it cries out, "Falllllllcoknight!" in challenge to Neutrina's Pokémon.

Neutrina doesn't wait this time. "Use Charge Beam!" Nucleaction fires a beam of electricity.

"Dodge it, Falcoknight!" Falcoknight banks to the side. "Since your best attacks will activate Nucleaction's ability, we'll have to make sure we make those attacks count. Go in for your strongest Sky Uppercut!"

"Fallllllcoknight!" It dives down and flies straight at Nucleaction. Halfway there, it is suddenly overtaken by the purple electricity of the Poison. It grimaces in pain, but does its best to ignore it.

Ash shouts in encouragement, "Come on Falcoknight, you can take it! You can do this!"

Still taking damage, Falcoknight hears Ash's encouragement, and it resonates with it. Falcoknight cries out, "Fallllllcoknight!" and suddenly the purple sparks around it break, and are replaced by a red aura. This shocks Neutrina and Ash. Falcoknight delivers its Sky Uppercut with massive power, sending Nucleaction flying into the air.

Brock suddenly stands up and says with excitement, "That was Guts!"

Brenda asks, "What do you mean?"
"Neutrina isn't the only one who can use abilities to their advantage! Falcoknight's ability Guts just activated! Now that it's inflicted with a status condition, all of its moves receive a massive power boost!"

Ash grins. "I like the sound of that. Let's get above it for a Talon Grapple now!" Falcoknight instantly flies upwards, overtaking Nucleaction, which is still being sent up from the Sky Uppercut. Once it's above Nucleaction, it attacks with a rapid series of jabs from its talons. Each jab may activate the Radioactive ability, but Falcoknight fights through it. Ash then shouts, "Now, one finishing Talon Grapple!" With all of its strength, Falcoknight jabs its talons down, sending Nucleaction slamming into the ground.

Neutrina looks anxiously at the dust cloud created by her Pokémon hitting the ground. The dust clears, revealing that Nucleaction has fainted.

The referee holds up his flag and declares, "Nucleaction is unable to battle! That means that Ash, the challenger, is the winner!"

Ash cheers, "Way to go Falcoknight! We did it! We just won our third Tenno Gym Badge!"

Falcoknight flies down to Ash and cheers, "Falllllllcoknight!"

Brock and Brenda come running towards him. Brenda congratulates, "That was great Ash! You too Falcoknight!"

Brock says, "You really did great in there." He then remembers something. He pulls out a Pecha Berry and holds it out. "Eat this Falcoknight, you'll feel better.

Falcoknight happily plucks the berry out of brocks hand and swallows it whole. The traces of Poisoning disappear.

Neutrina walks across the field to Ash. She grins and says, "That was a great battle Ash. I really must thank you. I'm not sure if I've enjoyed a battle that much in quite a while. All of my strategies will overwhelm the normal trainer, but you didn't freak out. Instead you came up with counterstrategies and knew when to fold."

Ash grins. "Thank you."

Everyone is now standing outside the gym. Sunset is approaching. Neutrina asks Ash, "Do you know where you're heading next?"

Ash shakes his head. "I have no idea."

She chuckles. "Then I would suggest you head to Versal City next. You'll have to cross Mt. Corona again to leave the city, but Versal City is the closest city with a gym to here."

Ash nods. "Alright, that's where we'll go next."

The referee/technician walks out holding a box. Neutrina says, "Ah, here we go." She opens it up and pulls something. "It is my pleasure to present you with the Radioactive Badge." She presents the badge to Ash. It's shaped like the symbol used to denote radiation.

Ash excitedly takes it. He holds it up into the air and declares, "Alright! I just got the Radioactive Badge!"

Pikachu, Turtsol, and Falcoknight all join him, cheering, "Pik pika pi!" "Turtsol turt!" and "Falllllllcoknight!"

It looks like Ash's training has payed off, as he is now the proud owner of a Radioactive Badge. Now that our heroes are setting out on the next leg of their journey, what could be coming next? Stay tuned.

To Be Continued...