~ Chapter 79 ~

Team Galactic Rematch

"Team Galactic's plans for attacking Lake Acuity seemed hairbrained, but they were far more complicated—and completely out of left field—than we had imagined. We arrived at Lake Acuity in the middle of a small attack launched by a group of wayward grunts. A distraction. Not even the real attack plan, something to keep us all off guard. If we had known at the time, we would have acted differently, but as with all the best people, our overconfidence was our downfall. Because we assumed we had defeated Team Galactic, we let our guard down long enough for them to sneak around us. But that, is a tale for a little further along the line."

Palmer, Nilama, Barry and Lou stood by their crudely made fort on the banks of Lake Acuity.

Several of Lou's ranch hands were coming back from a patrol of the lake's parameters, and were returning to the makeshift encampment.

The encampment was simple, just a palisade of wooden spikes, once trees that were sharpened to a point, which surrounded a small encampment of portable buildings and tents.

A fire roared at the centre as Lou and Palmer debriefed with the ranch hands, but the results were still the same as before—nothing.

Not a sign of Team Galactic.

Not even a footprint or a Pokémon; it was as if they simply disappeared.

According to Jeremy and Alyssandra's two Lucario, they had not sensed anyone from Team Galactic or other malicious auras in the area.

They had however, mentioned that a small group with a Lucario—likely Sam and his friends—were on their way towards Lake Acuity right now, and should be here shortly.

Palmer sipped his coffee. "Nothing from Lake Verity either?"

Jeremy's Lucario shook its head as it opened its eyes. "Not a word from them, and I sense nothing either."

Lou scratched his beard as he ran his hand through his hair. "I don't get it."

Palmer shrugged. "I don't trust the quiet," he stated, "It's like they want to unnverse us, get us off our guard."

"All it's done is made us more paranoid," muttered Nilama as she limped up behind Palmer, her walking stick leaving holes in the snow.

Palmer grunted in response.

The last week with Nilama had been…bristling and awkward.

She didn't seem to hate him, but she dug at him every opportunity she took. To be fair, she was Cynthia's grandmother. It made sense.

Gardenia came up behind Nilama, with Barry running up behind her. "How do you think until they'll get here?" she asked, talking about Sam.

Lucario paused for a moment. "Not long now. We should take down the gate and post a watch, they're close enough."

"I don't know if that's wise," noted Nilama, "What if that's what Team Galactic wants? Wait until we let our guards down for a friend, and then come barging in while our defences are down?"

"Lucario would've noticed them if they were anywhere near here," argued Palmer.

"Likely, yes," noted Lucario, "I think it's safe to open the gate for them."

Nilama grunted, but acquiesced.

The barricade of logs was removed, it was slow going, but the hope was that by the time it was finished, Sam and his friends would hopefully be near enough that the gate wouldn't be open for long.

Nilama was right about one thing, Palmer had to admit; if Team Galactic attacked now, they'd be hard pressed to defend the gateway to the palisade depending how many attacked.

It took them twenty minutes just to remove the barricade to the entrance, putting it back together would take even longer with most of the people helping before fighting off Team Galactic.

They would be prime targets for being overrun, and their fort taken by Team Galactic.

From there, they'd have a clear way to the Legendary Pokémon at the middle of the lake.

This was a risk.

Nilama wasn't wrong…but Palmer had a point to prove to her—or at least he felt like he did.

He had broken Cynthia's heart, to the point Cynthia would barely talk to him except to reject him…the past week had been the most contact he'd had with Cynthia in years…and even then she chose to ignore him.

Palmer sighed. He bounced on the balls of his feet, trying to keep warm. He could see his breath forming before his face.

Then, a rumbling sound—something in the distance—hit Palmer's ears. It was the low hum of an engine. How?

"Lucario!" cried Palmer.

Both Alyssandra's and Jeremy's Lucario appeared instantly, seemingly coming out of nowhere.

Nilama was there behind them, not long after.

"You hear that?" asked Palmer.

Everyone in attendance nodded.

Nilama grunted.

Palmer ignored her.

Both Lucario closed their eyes, trying to figure out where the humming sound was coming from, but their eyes shot open immediately.

"We can't…sense anything, how?" asked Alyssandra's Lucario.

Jeremy's shook its head.

Palmer reached for a Poké Ball. Whatever it was, it was coming in fast.

"They aren't coming by car, are they?" asked Gardenia as she and a few others from the encampment came up behind Palmer.

"They're still fifteen minutes out…nowhere near where that sound is coming from," confirmed Jeremy's Lucario, "No vehicle with them."

Shit.

"I warned you, Palmer," noted Nilama, "But there is no changing fate…what is to happen, is to happen. This was all pre-ordained."

"You know I've never believed in that junk," smirked Palmer. He tossed an Ultra Ball, and released a Rhyperior.

The great black and red Pokémon roared.

Not a moment too soon, as from the ridge of the nearest hill came a massive tank-like truck. It was coated in layers of heavy steal, roaring like a dragon, and emblazoned with the Team Galactic emblem.

Rhyperior charged at the massive truck, slamming into it with its massive horn and fists.

The truck rattled, spinning out in the snow, before it was completely toppled over.

Nilama released a Garchomp, while Lou let out an Infernape.

Barry sent out a Gallade, with Gardenia following up with a Roserade.

The Team Galactic grunts were quick to bail from the snow smoking machine as the Lucario came in to join the fray.

They released their own Pokémon.

Golbat, Purguly, and Toxicroak en mass; several of each Pokémon, being released from Poké Balls to combat the Pokémon attacking their trainers.

The ground rumbled as Rhyperior unleashed its rage, and the armoured van began to catch fire.

The fighting continued, Team Galactic pressing the advance, pushing their way closer towards the entrance.

Despite their strength in numbers, the small group defending the fortress was being pushed back.

Palmer tried to press the attack but couldn't get an opening as two grunts at their Toxicroaks team up on his Rhyperior.

Team Galactic was almost at the fortress, they didn't have much longer, even the Lucario were beginning to tire, and the grunts were sending out more Pokémon with every foot they gained.

Shit.

Nilama recalled her Garchomp, the Pokémon nearly fainting on her.

Roserade was swapped out with a Turtwig by Gardenia, and Barry's Gallade wasn't doing well.

Suddenly, a loud neigh, a resounding crack, and blood hit the snow, hissing as the hot liquid touched the cold frozen crystals.

One of the grunts cried out and fell, unconscious in the snow.

Sam stood there, a wooden club raised above his head, stained with the blood of the grunt he had struck from behind over the head.

The grey ashen flames of his Pokémon billowing out behind him as the remaining Rapidash carrying his friends, and Sam's Lucario, stepped up behind them, clubs in hand.

There was a war cry from Sam, and the Rapidash charged, aiming for the trainers, the Galactic Grunts, before they could release more Pokémon.

Wooden clubs swung left and right as Palmer and Lou pressed the attack, charging the Galactic Pokémon back to their trainers.

It didn't take long with a two-front assault to push Team Galactic back and capture the grunts and their Pokémon.

As everyone tied up Team Galactic, and returned their Pokémon to their Poké Balls, hauling them back into the camp for questioning, Sam and his friends pulled their Rapidash up to the gates.

"Lucario said you guys were under attack, so we rushed over as fast as we could," explained Sam, "We grabbed the nearest sticks we could find and ran over."

"They attacked us not too long ago," explained Palmer, "We could hear them but…even Lucario couldn't see them."

Sam's Lucario nodded as it examined the burning wreckage. "I could not see them until they appeared out of nowhere either…now I know why."

"Spiritum," noted Alyssandra's Lucario as she knelt next to her brother, "There's no mistake."

"But how? We don't give it out in large quantities," noted Jeremy's Lucario, "Let alone to people like this."

"I have no idea," added Sam's Lucario.

Sam maneuvered his Rapidash over to the Lucario. "What do you notice?"

Sam's Lucario answered. "It's Spiritum Steel, also known as Aurium. It's special steel mined and found only on Iron Island. The Aura Tribe refines it and smiths it ourselves, and we don't often sell it to the outside world. The greatest of our heroes and champions were gifted armour and weapons forged of Spiritum."

"What makes it so special?" asked Sam, "Besides it only being found in Iron Island."

"It can channel Aura through it, but more than that, Spiritum Steel masks Aura. Those who wear it are invisible to anyone who can see with Aura. It's why we couldn't see Team Galactic coming in this truck, they were invisible," noted Lucario with worry, "I have no idea how they got it…or where they got it from."

"Or if they have any more vehicles coated in this stuff," sighed Lou, "They could sneak up on us from any direction and we wouldn't know until it was too late. We barely made it this time."

"Lucky you guys showed up," laughed Barry, "I was just about to get serious."

Nilama whacked him over the head with her cane. "You should always fight as strong as you can, especially when defending the fate of the universe."

"Jeez, lady, was that necessary?" asked Barry, rubbing his swollen head.

"Universe, huh?" laughed Lou, "Never thought I'd get involve in the fate of the universe. I wish dad were alive, he'd know what to say."

"Probably something profound and witty at the same time," laughed Sam, remembering his grandfather, his namesake.

"So what do we do now?" asked Gardenia.

"Well that's obvious," piped up Niya, "Double the watch, we'll stay here with you guys—Sam's going off to Snowpoint to get reinforcements from Candice. Lyss already made it clear she's going with him. It's only a day's ride, and in the mean time, Jeremy and I, and our Pokémon, can help you shore up defences."

Everyone looked at Sam, who had kind of become the impromptu leader since his arrival on the back of his Rapidash.

"I left her with my plans for reinforcing this fort," he explained, "Niya knows what she's doing."

"We need a double palisade," explained Niya, "And we'll use our Flying type Pokémon for aerial reconnaissance. We'll double the guard on the outside, sending two or three patrols out in a wide berth around the lake and the camp, incase they send another magical armoured truck after us."

Niya continued rattling off Sam's demands as Sam turned to Alyssandra and Palmer.

"You sure you want to come with me?" asked Sam, "They could use the bodies. I feel bad as it is taking Lucario with me. But I need him to monitor things and communicate with the camp here—plus, he's an asset against Candice and her Ice Types."

Palmer winked at Sam. "We can stand to lose one person," he smiled, "And you could use some watching yourself. Always good to have a partner with you on the road—in case Team Galactic tries to ambush you."

"Fair point," sighed Sam.

"There's no stopping me now," smiled Alyssandra, "I'm coming with you. This is final."

"We should be gone no longer than a few days," explained Sam, "It's about a day's ride to Snowpoint, and I've got my Gym Battle with Candice as soon as I show up. I'm going to use that as an opportunity to get my badge, and warn her about Team Galactic. She may need a day to mobilize, and then another day back. Do you think you can hold off Team Galactic until then?"

"Hey, are you kidding?" joked Palmer, "I'm the Tower Tycoon. If me and my Pokémon can't hold off a couple of pissants like Team Galactic, then I'm retiring tomorrow."

"Don't over do it," warned Sam, "Be safe, everyone. I trust you guys. Don't forget to question those grunts for everything they know, put a little pressure on them if you need to, but don't be cruel."

"We know, we know. We trust you too," smiled Palmer, "Now get going. You're burning daylight."

"I'm sorry we can't stay longer. And don't forget—" started Sam.

"Go!" cried Palmer.

Sam nodded, smiling, and him and Alyssandra spurred their Rapidash forward, off towards the woods that would lead them to Snowpoint City.

Sam could feel a sinking feeling in his gut as he looked back, and saw the fortress by the lake start to shrink out of view.

Something in him said he would not see it again.

Something in him said that this mission was doomed to fail.

But the die had been cast, the decision was made, and doing something was better than doing nothing at all.

He had to have faith in his friends, and faith in their Pokémon, that they could do this.