Chapter 43: Danger Brewing
The elevator opened to a dark laboratory, with strange machines and tubes littered about. Gladion said nothing, only glaring into space as the others wandered about.
"We need to shut off the security system. That way, we can make our way up without being seen."
Lillie noticed her brother looking rather uneasy.
"Are you alright, big brother?"
Before Gladion could answer, Type: Null emerged from its Pokeball, as if sensing where they were. Once confirming its beliefs, the chimera snorted in fury. Gladion gently stroke its fur, calming it down.
"I'm fine, it's just…"
"Is this where you met Null?"
Gladion nodded, tears welling up in his eyes.
"I was sneaking around the labs down here one night. I knew I shouldn't, that I could get hurt, but I'd been hearing strange noises and I couldn't sleep. That's when I found Null hiding in a corner, scratches all over his body and severely starved."
Everyone gasped in horror.
"At first I thought he was a recent rescue kept down here for study, so I snuck him food whenever I came down there. It took a while, but eventually I earned his trust. Then one night, I learned the truth."
The tears began to flow freely down his face as he tried to wipe them off before continuing.
"One night, one of the scientists forgot to turn off their computer. I went to turn it off, but my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to look. What I found was horrific. Type Null had been genetically engineered to fight off the Ultra Beasts and had been intentionally starved when he acted out. What's worse is what they planned to do when they had captured all of them. According to the plans, once his mission was completed, Type: Null would be automatically deleted."
Everyone could only stare I horror, not able to believe what he was saying.
"I…I couldn't stay anymore after that. If this is what mother had become, I wanted no part in it. The next morning, I snuck out on the first ferry with Null and headed for Akala Island. For a few months, I just did whatever I could find for money: delivery, matches in the Royal Avenue, even work for Team Skull when there was nothing else, but I never stayed in one place, hopping from Island to Island to keep the Aether Foundation off my trail."
Type: Null whined, nuzzling up against Gladion's leg to seek comfort. Gladion bent down and gently stroked his fur, calming down his partner.
"But what made you come back?"
"After our match on Poni Island, I went to head for the ruins when I was ambushed by Rocket grunts. After I beat them, I forced what they were doing here out of them. When I learned they had captured you, I knew I had to come back."
Lillie put a comforting hand on her brother's shoulder as he choked back tears.
"Its alright, Gladion. We'll save mother, and the foundation."
Nodding silently, Gladion removed a panel to reveal a maintenance shaft.
"We can use this to get to the penthouse undetected. If they're holding her anywhere, its going to be there."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
"We're coming mother!"
With that, the group slowly made their descent, trying their best to make as little noise as possible. The last thing they wanted was to alert the whole base to their presence.
"Yes! Breakthrough!"
"Did you finally make progress?"
"Sure did. Now we know everything we need to know to make Cosmog work his magic."
Petrel groaned is disappointment as he dropped Lusamine to the floor, the woman letting out a small groan as she fell unconscious.
"Darn, and I was having so much fun."
"Well, it's a good thing you made this breakthrough when you did."
Proton glanced up from his computer in confusion.
"Why's that."
"Because the boss just arrived."
