Draco: If I can be totally honest... Deep Colosseum is a bit poorly-handled. Rematches for the Cipher Admins are all well and good, what with Shadow Pokémon being tied to the trainer in Colosseum, but the Deep King is largely just to provide a motivation to go down there if you've caught the beasts and Sudowoodo already. Making the player fight through a series of #BonusBoss gauntlets just to Snag 'em all? It's a bit rude.
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Chapter 13: The Laboratory
Wes' concerns about the safety of two complete novices trying to drive a train were thankfully unfounded; the Shadow Liner was an automated shuttle that took them to their destination with the press of a button, rather than requiring them to get there manually.
A pair of Cipher Peons were waiting on the platform, and as Rui stepped out first, they took defensive stances. "Who are you!?" one demanded. "Where's Lady Venus?"
"Was she expected?" Wes mused, coming out of the subway as well. "I thought she was just running away."
The other Peon raised a finger. "Wait, I've seen your faces before..." Then, slamming his fist down on his palm; "That's it! The blacklist! You're the Snagger and the girl who can see Shadow Pokémon! How are you two here?"
His partner shook his head. "It doesn't matter how they're here! We can't let them into the Lab!"
Wes was anticipating a battle, and his hand was halfway to his belt when the Peons turned and dashed off. "Wait, what?"
The automatic door didn't open quite quickly enough, causing the guy in the lead to bounce roughly into his partner. As they recovered, Wes saw something fall from their pockets before they dashed through.
"Huh," Rui muttered. "You'd think if they wanted to keep us out, they'd try and fight-"
BOOM!
An explosive tremor shook the station - and one of the automatic doors was knocked off its hinges in the process. Wes and Rui took cover behind the Shadow Liner as it tumbled forward; thankfully, it came to a stop on the other side of the platform from the tracks, but that didn't do much to alleviate their concern. The two of them made to follow suit, and Wes was terrified by what he saw.
"Take that and weep!" one Peon taunted as they stepped in. It looked like a basement of some sort, but a sizeable chasm had been blown open across the floor - too wide to jump across, too deep to jump down into, and a series of broken power lines made the idea of climbing down and then up a bad one.
The other Peon seemed a little less enthusiastic. "Don't you think that might have been overdoing it a little?" he asked. "Isn't that gonna knock out the power to the lab?"
"Nah, it's fine," the first Peon insisted, starting up the stairs on the other side. "The only thing that's powered by this is the station and a couple of the doors; they're designed to fail open."
"O...kay then," his partner murmured.
Rui sighed. "Overdoing it or not, it's certainly effective," she admitted. "How are we gonna get in now?"
Wes' gaze fell to the ground, where he'd seen the Peons drop something. One looked to be an NFC tag, like Silva had given them; the other seemed to be a keycard of some kind. He knelt down and picked them up, looking over the keycard and finding it had Main Gate printed above Cipher's emblem. "Here," he mused. "This looks promising."
"What is that?" Rui asked.
"Two hundred pd says it'll open the gate we couldn't get through before," Wes proposed. Then, drawing out his device for the UFO Controls; "And this should give us more maneuverability on the Under platform."
He touched it to his device, and the screen lit up; the existing Forward and Rightward options were now accompanied by an Upward option.
+x+x+x+
Taking the Shadow Liner back to the Under deposited Wes and Rui at the bottom of the elevator that Venus had taken; as they arrived back at the studio, Wes saw something on the counter before the backdrop - a binder.
"That wasn't there before, was it?" he wondered, picking it up.
"I think it might have been," Rui observed, "but we must have missed it in the commotion." Wes opened it up, finding the header to read Ein File 4: Origins of Shadow Pokémon.
I first discovered the possibility of endarkenment during studies in my adolescence. On a field project at the shores of Orre, I experienced a close encounter with a black Pokémon the likes of which I had never seen. It had come from across the ocean, and departed on the same course afterwards.
My readings afterward indicated an unfamiliar energy coming from the black Pokémon. Once I was made Administrator of Technology, I strove to recreate these readings, eventually developing a synthetic darkness that matched the energy detected. Although invisible to the naked eye, it can be detected by scientific means, as well as by Pokémon and humans sensitive to auras, such as Riolu and Lucario.
Another member of Cipher realized that the darkness could be used to close the door to a Pokémon's heart, and was afterwards promoted to Administrator of Endarkenment. By her specifications, I prepared generators for the synthetic darkness to be used in the creation of Shadow Pokémon.
"So that's how Shadow Pokémon came about," Wes murmured.
"That's concerning," Rui observed. "I thought Shadow Pokémon were Cipher's creation. Did this happen naturally to some poor Pokémon in another region?"
Wes closed the binder. "If it did," he mused, "let's hope someone in that region managed to figure out how to purify it the way we did."
They made their way back to the UFO platform, bringing it back to its original position before directing it upward. Wes was surprised when it kept ascending, until they were technically back in Pyrite - level with the ridge of the gorge. Their platform was right up against the back of the windmill, with only the narrowest of footholds; Wes was about to direct it back down when Rui stopped him.
"Look," she insisted. "Do you see that?"
Wes followed her gaze, and there he saw it - a familiar shape in silver and gold, half-buried in the dirt.
"Is that... a Time Flute?" Wes exclaimed. "Another one?"
Rui gripped the barrier on the UFO and reached forward, managing to pick it up without leaning too far. "That's two chances for us to try and summon the Time Traveller," she observed. "What do you think? Do we take Entei and Suicune to the Relic Forest, and use the other one after we've checked out the Lab?"
After a long moment, Wes shook his head. "I'd rather not," he insisted, tapping at the UFO controls again. "Let's save them."
"But, Wes," Rui protested, "if we keep holding on to them-"
"This Lab," Wes insisted. "It's the place where they're making Shadow Pokémon. And Venus said the guy responsible was thorough enough that he didn't call a 'result' until it was repeatable. I'll bet you anything he's kept a list of the Shadow Pokémon they've created."
"And if we have a list of what Shadow Pokémon there are," Rui realized, "we'll know which ones are worth calling the Time Traveller for."
Wes nodded. "I don't want to heal two legendary Pokémon and discover they've got three more."
"Right," Rui agreed. "We'll do it your way."
The platform deposited them at the town entrance; as they made their way back towards the elevator leading into the Pyrite Building, they found Silva had managed to free himself from the cage, and was nowhere to be seen.
+x+x+x+
Upon Wes' bike, they made a trip to Agate to purify what Shadow Pokémon were ready for it, then detoured by the Outskirt Stand to stock up on Poké Balls; with their supplies full, they drove off to the Shadow Pokémon Lab.
Wes brought the bike to a stop outside the paved area, not wanting to risk getting too close to the laser fence and risk discovering its lethality. He drew out the keycard as they approached the entrance reader, swiping it across; sure enough, the gate opened.
"That's one bet I'm not sorry to lose," Rui observed.
The building was divided into two structures; one had a shutter door that was too heavy to open by hand, and the other had a very short antechamber containing a door with a card reader - which did not respond to the key he'd used on the main gate. The latter did, however, have a control room, where Wes managed to open up the shutters in the former, allowing them inside; the interior contained several large containers, arranged rather haphazardly, and a PC.
"What's your plan?" Rui asked as Wes approached the PC.
"If this place is where the Shadow Pokémon are endarkened," Wes observed as he set his Poké Balls into the slots, "there's going to be a good number of Cipher members here with Shadow Pokémon. Snagging is our priority right now. Once we've scrubbed this place, then we can focus on purification."
Rui nodded as he started to switch out his Pokémon. "Tactical team, then. Just like in Pyrite."
"Kind of," Wes admitted, "but this time it's deliberate instead of out of ignorance."
Behind the haphazard containers was a staircase leading downstairs, and after a worrying number of empty rooms, they found a curious figure working on what looked to be a wiring panel. A man in a dark ensemble, with a tool belt around his waist and a pair of heavy-looking gloves on his hands; his ears were covered by what might have been protective muffs or headphones, and a pair of goggles rested over his eyes.
"Of all the times to send me down here," he muttered to himself. "We're so close to finishing that project, and she makes me double-check the wiring because the Peons overreacted to an intruder!" He pounded the wall next to the panel. "Why did they make that reckless fool Admin anyways? She's always skirting precautions and pestering him to speed up the process! Just because she figured out what his recreation can do, doesn't mean she's responsible enough to oversee it! I'm far more capable and thorough, I should be in charge of the Shadow Pokémon project!"
He seemed to finish up at this point, slamming the wiring panel closed; then, to Wes' bemusement, he hunched over, bracing himself on his knuckles like a Darmanitan. On seeing him and Rui standing there, the Cipher yelped, stumbling backwards. "What the-!?"
"Sorry," Rui snarked, "but you seemed like you were in the middle of something."
"You're the blacklisters!" the technician snapped. "What are you doing here?"
"What do you think we're doing here?" Wes asked. "We're here to put a stop to you guys."
The technician huffed. "As if I'd let you run off," he retorted. "This is my lucky day! I'm not about to pass up on the chance for another promotion if you're standing right in front of me!"
"Another promotion?" Rui echoed. "You must be one of those Advisors."
"Yes," the man confirmed. "I'm Gorigan, Technology Advisor and second to Ein, who runs this lab!" He pounded his fists against his chest. "Now, prepare to be crushed!"
You are challenged by Cipher Promote Gorigan!
Wes reached for his belt as Gorigan threw a couple Poké Balls forward; a Lairon and Sealeo appeared, prompting him to send out Plusle and Lucario. Rui popped open her pocket watch, touching the Key Stone to set off Lucario's Mega Evolution - the sooner they could force out Gorigan's Shadow Pokémon, the better off Wes' team would be when it arrived.
Lairon stomped the ground as Lucario was charging forward, unleashing an Earthquake that shook the room; Sealeo seemed to come off worse for it than Lucario and Plusle did, and the Plus Pokémon quickly leapt into the air to throw an Electro Ball down on the Water-type, hitting hard. Sealeo retaliated with a Water Pulse aimed at Lucario, who endured it and closed the distance to bombard Lairon with a Bone Rush hard enough to knock her out.
Gorigan withdrew the Iron Armor Pokémon and sent out a Slowking to take her place; Lucario leapt back, taking a defensive stance as Plusle positioned herself between the two Water-types and unleashed a Discharge. The voltaic outburst still managed to shock the Aura Pokémon, but Sealeo and Slowking took a hard hit; as the former was knocked out, the Royal Pokémon retaliated with a Headbutt that was a bit too much for Plusle to take.
Wes withdrew her, sending out Jumpluff in her place as Gorigan sent out an Ursaring; the Cottonweed Pokémon promptly hit Slowking with a Mega Drain, knocking her out as Lucario hurled an Aura Sphere at the newcomer. Ursaring managed to endure the blow, stomping for another Earthquake; this put Lucario over the edge, and as Wes made to withdraw him, he saw the Mega Evolution subsiding.
"Guess it's too much to ask you to hold it up through something like that," he observed.
"If you liked that," Gorigan snapped, "you're gonna love this!"
He hurled out his last Poké Ball, sending out a Diggersby - and Rui reacted. "Wes-!"
"Got it," Wes confirmed. "Paralyze it!"
Jumpluff released a cloud of Stun Spore - and though it connected with the Shadow Pokémon as Wes sent out Umbreon, it wasn't enough to stop Diggersby from Bouncing into the air. Umbreon decided to focus on clearing the field, charging towards Ursaring before the Hibernator Pokémon could attack as well; his Assurance had barely connected before Diggersby came down hard on Jumpluff, knocking her out.
Wes withdrew her, sending out Espeon to take her place. "Alright, you two, Hold Back!"
Nodding, the Eeveelutions charged towards Diggersby; the Digging Pokémon brought its hands together before slamming its ears to the ground, and shadowy spikes ripped out of the ground from beneath his attackers. The two managed to fight through the onslaught, connecting simultaneously with weakened blows; Diggersby was sent reeling as they made to withdraw. Wes cursed as they made to patch up; its multi-target attack posed a much greater threat, and the Digging Pokémon was already righting itself as the ephemeral sun and moon appeared above the two Eeveelutions.
It raised its ears threateningly... and then halted. Jumpluff's paralysis had managed to inhibit him.
Wes pumped one fist, his other hand reaching for his Poké Balls as Espeon and Umbreon went for another go. Diggersby was ready this time, bracing himself as their attacks connected and then retaliating with another Shadow Rave while they were still retreating; the spikes sent the Eeveelutions tumbling as Wes converted an Ultra Ball at his side and hurled it forward.
The Snag Ball opened up, and enveloped the Diggersby before falling to the ground.
Shake... Shake... Shake... Click!
Rui grunted uncertainly as the Ball bounced back towards Wes; Gorigan was outraged, slamming his fists to the ground. "No! You-!" He growled, shaking his head. "Don't think you're gonna get away with this! This place is packed with Shadow Pokémon! They'll crush your whole team flat!"
He stormed past the intruders faster than Wes thought a human could move on all fours, leaving Wes stumbling as he shouldered the Snagger aside. "...Okay, then."
"Guess your theory's sound," Rui observed. "Wait, what's...?"
Something was sitting on top of the wiring panel that the Technology Advisor had been tending to; a bemused Wes stepped up to it and picked it up, finding it to be a keycard printed with Laboratory. "Another one?"
"He must have set it down while he was working and then forgot about it," Rui suspected. "Think that'll get us through the other door?"
"Here's hoping," Wes mused.
+x+x+x+
After patching up his Pokémon at the PC and making some party changes, Wes and Rui discovered that Gorigan's card did indeed get them through the door - although Wes soon wished it hadn't. On the other side of the door in the structure with the control room was an elevator; Rui and Wes made to step into the elevator... and promptly found themselves leaping back as a Cipher Peon dropped into the box.
"What the-!?"
The Peon rolled his head on his shoulders. "You know, I was gonna drop down as we hit the next floor," he observed, "but these things barely have enough room for two standing. I think we're all better off with me fighting you up here, no?"
You are challenged by Cipher Peon!
Wes bit back a curse as the Peon flung a pair of Poké Balls forward, releasing a Watchog and Alomomola; Ampharos and Jumpluff were sent out in return. The Caring Pokémon barely had time to raise a Safeguard field before a Thunderbolt and Mega Drain connected with him, knocking him out; Watchog retaliated by charging at Jumpluff, connecting with a ferocious Slam that sent the Cottonweed Pokémon reeling.
Withdrawing Alomomola, the Cipher Peon quickly sent out a Castform to take its place; the Weather Pokémon regarded the Electric-type and the Grass-type before twisting around, causing clouds to manifest that brought with them a shower of hail. As the icy weather transformed its summoner, Wes' Pokémon turned their attention on the Watchog, Ampharos invoking Power Gems as Jumpluff charged forward and bombarded the Lookout Pokémon with Acrobatics.
The light subsided from around Castform, who was now draped in an icy fog as the Peon withdrew Watchog; a Jellicent was quickly sent out to take her place as Ampharos hurled another barrage of Power Gems at Castform. The hail was coming down hard on everyone else as the Weather Pokémon was knocked out; Jellicent proceeded to sweept her tentacles forward, an Ominous Wind howling forward to strike her opponents.
Jumpluff was the first one to recover; a glowing light of Mega Drain emerged upon the Floating Pokémon, leaving her reeling as it pulled away. Ampharos promptly moved in to follow through with another Thunderbolt, and the Electric-type attack was too much for Jellicent to handle, falling to the ground as the aftershocks faded out.
The Peon groaned, withdrawing his Pokémon as Wes did the same. "Not bad, Snagger," he mused. "But don't count on that luck lasting you through everyone!"
He took off out the entrance, prompting Wes and Rui to give him a wide berth. "He's right, you know," she observed. "You Snagged the Advisor's Pokémon on your first Ball."
"Aw, snap," Wes muttered, glancing at his Snag Machine, "you're right. Let's hope my bad luck hits me before we find the Admin in charge of this place."
The two of them stepped into the elevator; as the Peon had reported, there was barely room for two to stand in here and give each other their space. Rui glanced up as Wes hit the button; the elevator had just started to move when she asked, "How was he hiding in here?"
"Huh?" Wes looked up; the roof of the elevator was low enough that he could reach up and touch it. "Woah," he gasped. "That's, like, no room at all."
"Not even that," Rui insisted. "There's nothing for him to hold onto. Was he just clinging up there with sheer friction?"
Wes looked forward as the elevator came to a stop. "...I thought that one that dropped down in the cave at Agate was just an eccentric," he admitted. "This isn't gonna be fun."
Draco: Was about to recreate the elevator Peon from XD when I was reminded how tight Wes and Rui look in the elevator and had to alter the plan.