Kate and Keith stayed low and watched the boat, trying to think of how they were going to go about their mission.
"So," Kate whispered, "What's our plan?"
"Simple," Keith answered flatly. "Get in. Defeat everyone but Rhythmi and the Pokémon. Get out."
Kate sweatdropped. "W-well, that's obvious, but what I meant was…" She laughed awkwardly.
She trailed off, though, when she saw a team of Dim Suns standing in front of the boat.
"OK!" One man, who was supposedly their captain, said. "Stand guard on the path to the boat! No one gets in or out until departure time, which is in—" He looked at his watch—"Two minutes!"
Kate panicked. "Oh, no, what do we do? We only have two minutes!" She yelped. Keith, however, didn't seem too worried.
"It's OK, I got this." He reassured. Then he stood up slowly, cupped his hands and yelled at the top of his lungs;
"RANGER ALERT!"
Kate jumped at the sudden outburst and tried to quiet Keith, but then several voices echoed out, "WHERE?"
"IN THE WATER! THOSE IDIOTS WERE STUPID ENOUGH TO JUMP IN!" Keith answered. "ME AND MY PARTNER ARE UNDERCOVER DIM SUN AGENTS IN THE RANGER SOCIETY, SO MAKE SURE YOU GIVE FULL CLEARANCE TO A RED SPIKY-HAIRED BOY AND BROWN-HAIRED PIGTAILED GIRL IN RANGER UNIFORMS!"
"OK! I'LL RADIO SECURITY AND MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS!" Another voice sounded.
"GOOD, BUT YOU GUYS BETTER GET IN THE WATER AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE RANGERS BEFORE THEY GET TO THE BOAT!" Keith shouted. Kate was trying to restrain her laughter now.
Then, one by one, the two teenagers saw Dim Sun goons jumping into the water while shouting things like, "We'll get you, Rangers!", "Dim Sun rules!" and "Yaaaarrrr!"
Keith cleared his throat and dusted his hands. "Well, that takes care of security for now." He held out an arm to Kate. "Shall we, good lady?"
Kate finally ceased her silent hysterics of laughter and allowed herself to link arms with him. They started walking towards the boat. Once they got to the ramp leading inside, the guard nodded at them, saying how he'd gotten the message of the two undercover Dim Suns who had alerted them to the intruders. He allowed them inside happily.
As they walked past the guard and into the boat, Kate leaned up to Keith's ear and whispered, "That was the most creative invasion plan I have ever seen or read about in my entire life."
Keith grinned wickedly. "Well, I am just an extremely creative invader, my dear." He murmured back with a sinful ring to his voice.
.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
"That was the worst plan ever."
"Wow, what a change of attitude. First you're all, 'Oh, that was such a great plan, Keith!' 'Oh, you were so clever back there Keith!' 'Oh, you're such a fricking genius, Keith!' And now you're saying it was the worst plan ever?"
"I never said any of that stuff! I said the plan was creative!"
"Well, I'm pretty sure you called me a genius."
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did n—"
'Both of you just shut up and run before they gain on us!'
Kate and Keith glared at their respective Partner Pokémon as they fled from another grunt that was after them. Apparently it had leaked that there were no Dim Suns disguised as Rangers in existence, and now just about every grunt on the ship was looking for the intruders, i.e., Kate and Keith. Right now the two were on the bottom floor, which was basically a huge room with large green crates everywhere which made up the maze the two Rangers were running through and a few doors here and there.
"Quick, in here!" Keith gasped, pulling Kate into a nearby storage closet. Kate yelped at the sudden action, but Keith clapped a hand over her mouth.
He peeked out the blinds to watch for the grunt that had been chasing them. Eventually he ran past the door, still yelling "FREEZE, RANGERS!" and Keith sighed in relief.
Kate, however, was less relaxed. When Keith had pulled her into the storage closet, he'd accidentally held her a little closer than he'd meant to, and now he had the poor girl pressed up tightly against his chest.
Kate's face went deep red. "K—Keith," She stammered embarrassedly.
"What?" Keith asked, but as he turned his head away from the window and towards Kate he quickly became aware of the situation as well. He felt the blood rush to his head as he immediately released her.
"S—sorry," He muttered awkwardly. Kate simply shook her head so fast her temples hurt when she was finished.
"I—it's fine!" She squeaked. But just then, another voice was heard from behind them that most certainly did not sound like a Dim Sun goon.
"Wow. The minute I leave you guys alone, you're all over each other." A female's voice laughed smugly. "What am I going to do with you two?"
The two Rangers swiveled around to see their favorite blonde Operator standing right in front of them.
"Rhythmi!" Kate screamed in joy, immediately tackling the girl in a hug. Rhythmi hugged back contentedly.
"Ssshhhh!" Keith hissed, checking out the small window to see if any goons had heard. Rhythmi looked up irritably.
"Oh, hush. None of the goons will be around now; they're all too busy with making sure this boat is running properly." Rhythmi huffed. "Now then, aren't you going to hug me too? Y'know, after my whole life-threatening experience?"
Keith exhaled angrily, but then his features softened slightly. The two both threw one seemingly uncaring arm roughly around the other. Kate beamed happily at them.
"…Well, at least you're OK." Keith mumbled.
"Nice to see you're still thinking positive, buddy." Rhythmi said brightly as she released him. Suddenly, however, her face darkened.
"I've got something to tell you guys," She said. "It's about the leader of all the goons on this ship, and you won't believe who it is. It's—"
"Hang on a minute, Rhyth, I think what these two goons are saying is important." Keith interrupted, looking out the door window again.
The two girls crowded around him as they tried to get a good look too. Kate's breath caught as she saw none other than her new friend, Galileo (Gale for short), and his partner Matilda standing in front of what looked like a huge metal plug in the floor.
Galileo was looking at the object in interest. "So, this is the Kingston Valve?" He said. "It looks a bit more like a plug to me. Not a valve."
Matilda grinned. "Yeah, that's what it is." She informed happily. "A giant plug. You pull this thing out and: 'WOOOOOSH!' The entire boat would start taking on seawater. In a way, this is kinda like the self-destruct button for the ship."
Gale nodded slowly. "OK, but what if you decided you had to plug it back in?"
Matilda looked at him weird. "Dunno why you'd wanna do that after taking it out, but I guess that's why we have a few Machoke around." She shrugged. "They've got more than enough strength to throw that thing back in."
Gale nodded again. "I see… Hey, do you think they've found the intruders ye—" He started, but froze when he seemed to notice the closet the three 'intruders' were hiding in. His and Kate's eyes met for a split second, but then he looked away hastily.
Matilda blinked. "Hm? Do you see something behind—" She asked, turning to look behind her, but was cut off by Galileo grabbing her shoulders and yanking her back to look at him.
"M—Matilda!" Gale stammered. "W-why don't we go upstairs and check on the electricity supply? I think the Electabuzz will be getting hungry about now!"
Matilda blinked again in surprise. "Um… sure?" She said uncertainly. "Jeez, Gale, you're on edge today. Something wrong?"
"Nothing!" Gale said, a little too quickly. Matilda shrugged.
"Alright then," She amended. "Let's go check on the Electabuzz, then. I feel sorry for the poor guys, working day and night without a break. Hey, let's stop by the kitchen and get some extra snacks for them as a present, OK?"
Kate blinked in surprise at Matilda's sudden display of compassion, and she thought she could feel Keith shift uncomfortably next to her also. Rhythmi also made a sound of confusion in the back of her throat.
Galileo, however, smiled. "OK," He said. "You got it, Matilda."
Matilda growled. "I told you, call me Matt when we're on board. You never know when another goon could be around, and I really don't feel like revealing my true sex."
After Galileo had gotten Matilda out of there, Keith spoke up. "…Hey… do you think it's possible the loud grunt could be a, y'know, girl?"
Kate choked on air and started to stammer on how that was impossible, but then Rhythmi chimed in too. "Yeah, it's not a bad theory. He/she just acted like one now, and when you look closely some of her features look feminine… plus, what kind of guy name is 'Matilda?'"
Kate squirmed awkwardly, which Keith most certainly did not fail to notice. "Do you know something we don't?" He asked suspiciously.
"No," Kate lied, but of course Keith didn't believe her.
"Tell us." He commanded.
"Wh… what do you mean?" Kate started, staring out the window with what she thought was apparently an indifferent expression. "I don't know… anything…"
But then Keith grabbed her chin and forced her to look him in the eyes. "You're sure? You're not lying?" He interrogated, pressing his forehead against hers.
'Aaaaaaah!' Kate screamed internally, but still she refused to kill the charade she had going on. "S-stop asking me! I don't know anything…!" Rhythmi was looking on this scene with barely contained interest.
Keith, who now had his one track mind focused entirely on getting information out of the girl in front of him, narrowed his eyes. He moved his face slightly closer to hers, and their mouths were bare centimeters apart. "I don't believe you," He muttered, "So spill it."
"…" She mumbled something inaudibly.
"Excuse me?" Keith inquired innocently.
" I said, 'The loud grunt's a girl'!" Kate said loudly, her face flaming red.
"HAH! I KNEW YOU WERE HIDING SOMETHING!" Keith yelled in triumph, bringing his face away from hers. Then he blinked.
…
"OH MY ARCEUS THE LOUD GRUNT'S A GIRL." He gasped as he fell back onto a crate. "I've been yelling at a girl this whole time?"
"I guess the idiot prince is not without his chivalry," Rhythmi muttered under her breath. "But anyways, as I was saying earlier, the leader of these guys is—"
"Looks like the coast is clear," Kate interrupted suddenly. "Let's go see if we can't get to the second floor, shall we?"
Keith nodded, but then inquired, "Hey, why do you talk so formally?"
Kate blinked. "I don't know," She answered simply. "I-I guess it's just an old habit of mine. I don't want to seem disrespectful to anyone or anything…"
Keith sighed. "Jeez, you're too polite." He muttered irritably, cuffing her lightly over the head.
Rhythmi, having already forgotten about her news by watching this scene, sidled up to Keith as they exited the closet and headed up the stairs to the next floor.
"So," She grinned quietly, "I bet you had a great time coming all the way here with only Kate."
No answer. Rhythmi blinked, but recovered quickly, adding, "I mean, you two were all alone. It must've driven you nuts."
Still no answer. He wasn't even doing that funny eye-twitch thing he did when usually confronted with this sort of thing.
Rhythmi glared at him irritably, and then she finally pulled out the ace card. "Y'know, seeing as you're obviously in love with her and all."
Then Keith said the very last word Rhythmi would have expected him to answer with.
"So?"
Rhythmi blinked. Then she choked on thin air.
Kate turned from where she was ahead of them. "Rhythmi, are you feeling OK?" She asked concernedly.
"She's fine," Keith said lightly. "She just received some unexpected news."
Kate stared. "What news?"
"Y'know, the whole incident with Pele," Keith answered. Hey, it wasn't exactly lying.
Kate nodded and turned her head back to in front of her whilst Rhythmi recovered from her sudden coughing fit.
"I'm sorry," She gasped just quietly enough so Kate couldn't catch what they were saying, "What did you just say?"
"I said, 'So?'. I believe it was an answer to your comment about Kate."
Rhythmi stared at him incredulously. Then she called, "Kate!"
"Yes?" Kate answered quickly without turning her head; she was trying to break the lock on the door at the top of the stairs.
"Did Keith hit his head while you guys were coming here? Like, really hard?"
"Uh, no. Not that I know of."
"OK, thanks."
Then Rhythmi put a hand on Keith's forehead. "…It doesn't look as if you've got a fever, either…" She muttered. Keith growled in response.
"Jeez, is it that bad I'm slightly less stupid than I was since you got freaking kidnapped?" He asked whilst Kate continued to work on the lock.
"Slightly less stupid?" said Rhythmi. "Oh, no, this is a big step backward on the stupid meter. You're still extremely stupid, make no doubt about it. But you have added some actual knowledgeinto that empty brain of yours. I honestly never thought this day would come."
"Gee. Thanks. That makes me feel so special."
"You're very welcome," said Rhythmi. "Hey, Kate, finished with that lock yet?"
"Just a little longer," Kate said, her brows drawn together in concentration. "I think I'm just about getting there."
Keith, of course, was concerned. "You sure you don't want help? I'm a pro at unlocking things, I could have that done in two seconds flat."
Kate looked up at him, her pale blue orbs stretched out in surprise, but then she smiled. "There's no need to worry, I've got it Keith." She reassured.
Keith blinked in surprise at her reply, but then sighed and bent down next to her.
"Don't be stubborn. I'll take care of this." He said.
Kate began to protest as best as she could while she continued work on the lock. "No, you don't have to trouble yourself, I've got it!" She retorted.
But she had barely even finished when Keith grabbed her small hands and pulled them away from her work.
"I said I'll take care of it," he insisted gently, not letting go of her hands. "Honestly, you need to learn to depend on others sometimes." 'Namely me.' "Just watch and learn, OK?"
Kate stared at him innocently, her pale eyes shining faintly with curiosity, but then she smiled.
"I guess so. You could get this done quicker than me anyways." She admitted.
"I said that not three seconds ago," Keith grumbled in answer, releasing her palms and getting to work on the lock.
Rhythmi watched the two work together without fighting or insulting each other—and the funny thing was, she knew they were perfect for each other. Kate's calm and shy personality cooled down Keith's hotheaded and easily angered emotions, and in contrast Keith's fiery passion and completely one-track mind kept Kate from becoming too out-of-touch with the ever-changing world around her.
It actually made her feel a little lonely.
Rhythmi shook off the sudden pang of emotion quickly, refusing to let the happiness of her friends sadden her. But still… Keith loved Kate. And like it or not, Kate somehow always seemed to be smiling when he was near her. She was an extra, a third wheel.
She always had been.
As if in coordination with her thoughts, Kate looked up at the blonde curiously. "Is something wrong, Rhythmi?" She asked.
Rhythmi blinked a few times as she came out of her reverie, but then laughed and held up her hands in reassurance. "No, no, I'm fine! It's just… I missed you guys, y'know?"
Kate stared, but then beamed at her happily. "We missed you too!" She said in return.
Rhythmi smiled back, but then looked at Keith suspiciously. "Well, one of you guys did…" She said, just loud enough for the redhead's ears to pick up.
"Hah?" Keith yelled, turning away from his work to face her. "I missed you!"
"You mean my cooking."
"No! Well, yes. But I missed you too!"
"Hey, don't get your hair in a frizzle—well, more of a frizzle than it is. I'm sure you needed a break from me to get your much-needed alone time with Kate."
"It was just a boat ride and part of the lava cave! …And part of the Ranger School."
"Ranger School? What, you guys flunked being Rangers for a day and had to go back?"
"NO! We just answered some questions then went to the library and—no, wait, scratch the last part! Never mind!"
"What? Went to the library and what?"
"I SAID NEVER—"
That was when the alarm went off.
Red lights shone down the halls, sirens started blaring and a voice on the speakers echoed, "THE TWO INTRUDERS HAVE LINKED WITH THE HOSTAGE. REPEAT, THE TWO INTUDERS HAVE LINKED WITH THE HOSTAGE. ALL DIM SUN MEMBERS ARE TO SEARCH FOR THE THREE NOW. WHEN THE INTRUDERS AND HOSTAGE ARE FOUND, THEY ARE TO BE CAPTURED ON SIGHT AND TAKEN TO THE ADMIN. REPEAT, WHEN THE INTRUDERS AND HOSTAGE ARE FOUND, THEY ARE TO BE CAPTURED ON SIGHT AND TAKEN TO THE ADMIN. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. I REPEAT; THIS IS NOT A DRILL."
The three stared around them in shock and heard the voices of Dim Sun goons shouting at each other as they began to search the boat.
"OK," Keith muttered, "now we're really screwed."
