Chapter 48 Getting into the Base
When Ash and Saphira rush to the second floor, they see that Delia is with the children and Laura is by their side.
Saphira: (Rush towards Laura) Laura, are you hurt?
Laura: No, we're fine. Two of the orderlies came up here, but Ms. Ketchum and I were able to defeat them.
Ash: (Smiles) I'm glad that both Noel and Anna are safe. I was scared that they got captured again.
Delia: We're safe up here. What about the girls downstairs?
Saphira: Who was downstairs?
Laura: The twins hid up here, and Charlotte and Shelly were downstairs.
Saphira: That man said Sigmund had captured two. And if you're fine, then... (Gasps)
Ash: (Grit his teeth) He has Charlotte and Shelly...damn it...
Saphira hears the name as she gets angry, she turns away and walks toward the stairs.
Laura: Where are you going?
Saphira: Where else? I'm going to get her back.
Laura: I'll go with you.
Saphira: (Stops Laura) No. You're staying here.
Laura: (Protests) But...
Saphira: Charlotte was already taken. I'm not risking you getting hurt too. However, Ash is coming with me. (Turns to Ash) You were in charge of defending Charlotte, right? So you're going to help get her back.
Ash: You don't have to force me, I am going to get them back as well. Shelly is like a sister to me as well.
Laura: Oh, um...A little while ago, people started adding all of that machinery to the mountain. I think maybe that was Team Meteor working out of there?
Saphira: (Nods) Good. Then meet me at Tanzan Mountain, Ash. Revenge will be swift, and succulent. But it is a dish that is best served now. (Leaves)
Ash: (Turns to Delia) Mom, I trust you to take care of Noel and Anna, right?
Delia: You don't need to tell me twice, I'm not going to let any Doctor or Team Meteor take them away.
Ash nods as he also leaves the Belrose Manse, and he rushes towards Tanzan Mountain with Pikachu after him.
Ash is now inside Tanzan Mountain, and he finds a gate where Saphira is waiting for them. On the way, Ash also feels the shaking as he knows something is not right here.
Saphira: This must be it. Let's go. (Sends out Dragonite) Dragonite. Tear it down.
After Dragonite tears the door down, Saphira is already rushing forward. When Ash finally arrives at the base, he can see that both of the grunts are lying on the ground without any breath.
Ash: Saphira really doesn't hesitate to kill when it comes to her family...
When they finally get inside the base, he has been ambushed by some grunts, but Ash manages to defeat them with ease as he arrives in a room with a lot of colors on the ground. When he steps on one, he gets teleported to another room, and stepping again gets him back.
Ash: This is confusing...
As he and Pikachu continue moving, they manage to open two gets and get out in the other room. After battling some grunts on the way, he gets into a room and finds another PULSE dex.
PULSE 07 Abra: Psychic and Steel Type. Ability: Magic Guard. An experiment testing the effects of PULSE systems on unevolved Pokemon. Its function is seamless transportation. Its body seems to reject all machine input, at the apparent cost of its psyche.
Ash: So Spinel Town and Chrysolia Forest's mess was caused by the PULSE Abra...Mom was right all along!
When he goes into another room, he finds the cell where Shelly and Charlotte are. After defeating the guarding grunts, both of them notice Ash.
Charlotte: Hi again, Ash.
At the same time, Saphira also comes into the room.
Saphira: There you are, Ash. Thought you'd scampered off.
Charlotte: And hello, sissy! All right, now let's get out of here!
Saphira: (Turns to Charlotte) No. Not yet.
Ash, Shelly, and Charlotte are confused, and Saphira sighs.
Saphira: These cells are locked by a key that, as I understand, only Sigmund has. And more importantly, you're safe in there. At least for now. I can't promise the same if you're out here.
Charlotte: Awh, c'mon, we can take care of ourselves, right Shelly?
Shelly: (Frightened a little) Um... Um, r-right...
Charlotte: Thanks for the convincing response.
Saphira: (Turns to Ash) We need to get that key from Sigmund. And like the bloody coward he is, he's holed himself up at the top of this facility with the Meteor Admins. It's sealed behind the mid-way gate. So, they have a control room across the way.
Ash: What's your plan?
Saphira: The plan is you distract them, I hack that gate down. Hurry. (Leaves)
Ash also chases after Saphira until they finally arrive at the Control Room, on the way, Ash has to fight some grunts and knock them out instead of killing them as Saphira did.
Saphira: The security here is actually pathetic. Give me just a moment, I'll have that gate open in no time.
Just then, two grunts arrive as they are going to stop them, and Saphira asks Ash to buy her some time, and Ash nods as he battles the grunts on his own. Once Ash manages to defeat both of them, Saphira also opens the atrium gate.
Grunt: Blast! We couldn't stop them.
Saphira: That's right. You can't. Now, are you going to run, or do you need to be burned to a crisp?
The grunts are now in fear after Saphira walks toward them, and Saphira just goes for a "Boo!" And that is all it needs to scare them off.
Saphira: Pathetic. (Turns to Ash) Let me heal your team after that. (Heals Ash team, which takes a little time) Great, now let's get a move on.
With the gates open, all Ash needs to do is to press 3 more buttons before they can find Sirius and the others behind the gate. However, some grunts and scientists are blocking their way, much to his annoyance. But when he gets to the third button, Ash recognizes the grunt guarding the button is no other than Simon, the same one that befriends Charlotte back in the Yureyu Building.
Simon: We meet again, Ash. Stow your hands, I'm in no condition to fight. This entire base, and force, has been reduced to a pathetic set of workers, because of that woman. You know, the one with the Dragonite.
Ash: So?
Simon: You heard what happened, right? She attacked us as we were crossing the lake. We each came on individual rafts. Pairs grouped up, partner with partner. Tara was with me, of course. And that witch decided, "Hey, what if we shot the sitting ducks on the pond?!" She swooped down from the sky and started shooting us down two by two. There wasn't anything we could do but sit there and take her attacks. And... Tara is dead, Ash.
Ash widens his eyes, he can't believe that his partner Tara is dead.
Simon: That woman killed her. Tara, and four others. Most of us were able to swim back to shore. But...I couldn't save her. That's twice now, that I... Ugh! (Punches the ground) I'll have my revenge on her! Somehow! Someday... Until then, leave me. Go. I won't try to stop you or anything. I just need to be alone. Like I was when all of this began.
Even though Ash feels pity for the man, a part of him thinks that Tara deserves it because he sides with Team Meteor and they have captured their family. The same part also agrees with what Saphira's doing. But Ash decides to ignore all the thinking and head towards the control room with Saphira.
Saphira: (Notices Sigmund and glares at him.) Sigmund. You're going to let the girls go.
Sigmund: And why would I do that, Saphira? One is in my legal care. You know this well. The other has violated the law of the city and will be apprehended.
Saphira: Because you care so much about laws, Doctor. Those little tricks you pull with your Electivire are outlawed and you know it.
Sigmund: You wouldn't understand.
Sirius: (Rushes into the room) Doctor? Is something the matter? (Notices Ash and Saphira) ...You again! (Shakes his head) ...No. There are more pressing concerns right now. Step aside.
Ash and Saphira are confused, as Ash also notices that ZEL is also here with an Abra that is attached to the machine.
Sirius: ZEL, I've just received a communication. Lin will be coming here shortly to observe our progress.
Sigmund: (Stares at Sirius after the mention of the name) Lin...
Saphira: (Has the same expression as Sigmund) Why does that sound familiar?
Sirius: Probably because nobody in this godforsaken team can find it in their heart to shut up about her. Lin this- Lin that. How many promotions in a row has she gotten now? I swear, even Solaris answers to her by now.
Ash is surprised at what Sirius has said, that means Lin is stronger than Solaris and maybe she becomes the leader instead of Solaris. But he also remembers Shade's predictions, and he just hopes that it happens quickly.
ZEL: (Happy girl voice, but scared expression) She's coming n-now though? Abra still won't listen to us...
Ash: Why would Team Meteor care about an Abra of all things?
ZEL: (Happy girl voice but blushing after seeing Ash again) Well, um... We need to get into a certain place, but it's sealed tight, so... Lin thought, maybe if we amplify Abra's power, and ask it nicely... Maybe it could teleport us there. (Changes into male voice, and the blush gone) Unfortunately, this stupid thing won't listen to a single one of our damn commands! It's just been causing trouble constantly!
Saphira: Amplifying teleportation powers... So that explains the mess Spinel Town is in.
Ash: And Chrysolia Forest as well...those teleportations are messing things up...
ZEL: (Smart girl voice) Correct. Although, unlike previous operations, our objective was not to disturb the nearby areas. Any oddities or damage the town and surrounding area may have incurred have simply been a side-effect of Abra's unfocused power.
Sirius: That's enough, ZEL. Focus on getting that thing tamed, otherwise, Lin is going to have all of our heads.
Saphira: Hey, we're still busting up this party. Don't think you can just ignore us.
Sirius: In that case, you can be our test subject. Go ahead, ZEL.
Saphira: Allow me to finish what I started on the lake!
As Saphira charges at Sirius, she is suddenly teleported away, much to Ash's surprise.
Ash: Hey! Where is Saphira?
Sirius: (Smirks) Goodbye, Saphira. I'll enjoy not meeting you again. And the other, ZEL?
Ash suddenly feels teleported away along with Pikachu, much to their surprise.
Sirius: Very good. Where did you send them?
ZEL: (Happy girl voice, but frowning after Ash is gone) Um, I- I don't think they actually know... (Smart girl voice, but neutral) It could be anywhere.
Sirius: Work on it. We need to have Abra focused to perfection. Our time is running thin. (Leaves)
Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, Ash and Saphira have begun their raid on the Team Meteor's Tanzan Base, however, they are teleported away by the PULSE Abra. Where did they teleport to? When Sirius also mentions Lin, both Sigmund and Saphira are also surprised at the mention of the name, what does that also mean? I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the conclusion of the raid.
