Chapter 24 – The Beginning of the New
Cyrus walked through the R&D floor of his Galactic corporation. To all outward appearances, it was exactly what it was stated to be. The three floors were completely dedicated to pushing currently technology to its limits and expanding what was previously thought impossible. Top scientists vied for jobs within the corporation all the time. What none of them knew however was of the basement. The CEO of the company stepped into an elevator few scientists had access to and pressed a button. The doors silently shut and the elevator started moving down.
This basement floor was far more important to Cyrus' plans than anything the people upstairs were working on. Few people could rival his company in terms of how they had arguably made the world a better place, but it was still far from perfect. People were simply too unpredictable with their emotions. They would see this world torn apart once more simply for the satisfaction of seeing others fail. Cyrus could not abide by this. Silently he moved forward through his basement labs. Most who saw him ignored the CEO. They had their jobs to take care of, for it was on this level that Cyrus' plans would be achieved.
"How close are we to being ready?" Cyrus finally spoke when he came up beside the man he recruited in front of three large tanks.
"I would guess a few weeks at most. It could possibly be as little as two. That's just for the holding cells however. You'd best speak to Mars about the ordinances" Charon replied not bothering to look up from his computer screen.
"We will not be moving forward until you are prepared to receive the items."
"It's getting there. I still have to find a way to activate the chain in a stable manner." Charon tilted the screen towards his boss who looked down at the monitor. It showed graphs with undulating lines and various power imputs.
"What am I looking at?" Cyrus asked without inflection. He was not annoyed or impressed. His voice was simply monotone. No inflection or cadence. Charon still marveled at the fact that a man who spoke without inflection in his voice could still inspire so many to follow him. Granted, the corporation wasn't picking the best of society for this operation. Rather the more violent, those who would get things done no matter what.
"This here is the estimated power levels" Charon explained pointing at the largest and most varied graph. Cyrus noted that the energy output could be higher than anything they had attempted to control before to completely inert.
"How do you propose to get a constant energy output? If our research is correct, we will need a higher output to summon forth the beasts."
"I believe that the crystals are the source of what we require."
"Not the specimens themselves?" Cyrus asked.
"If we can activate the energies there without them then no, we would not require the specimens there. I have already begun changing the housings so that we may extract the crystals. Through those, I believe they channel the correct psychic energies which should act as a loadstone to the beasts. They won't be able to ignore that sort of intrusion."
"And I will be able to control them once they appear?" Cyrus inquired.
"If my calculations are correct then yes. However, I would still advise wearing the uniform when they manifest. I cannot guarantee that they won't attack once they've come into this dimension." Cyrus turned to inspect the outfit Charon had created. The fabric was still flexible, but the suit itself was larger, more akin to a spacesuit of sorts. The wiring running along it gave a futuristic look. Mars and Jupiter had already modified theirs and had taken to wearing them more than other clothing these days. Cyrus had noticed that others had followed his commander's lead and were wearing the standard issue suits which were designed to protect the wearer from potentially lethal attacks from the legendary beast Palkia. Cyrus' research had shown that this beast was able to manipulate space and cause rifts in it. Charon and Saturn had in turn researched and theorized that Dialga, the master of time, would be a lesser problem in terms of temporal disturbances. While they could be lethal, there was nothing one could wear to prevent them from being moved in time. Quantum physics were not Charon's specialty and it was a miracle that he had managed to create a suit to help against spatial rifts.
Cyrus turned at the arrival of Mars. She was looking pleased with herself which was a change after her loss at the valley Windworks. While they had managed to plant the bug and were siphoning off electricity to power this lab, she had still lost to a rookie trainer due to overconfidence. Another emotion which Cyrus detested.
"Sir, we are ready to move the test bomb to the site" she reported. Cyrus looked to Charon who was still wearing a slight smile on his face as if there was always something just a tiny bit funny happening.
"You're ahead of schedule Mars" Cyrus noted. The ordinance was not supposed to be ready until the end of this week. It was only Wednesday.
"Yes sir, but I suspect that it will take at least three days to transport it safely and without notice." Cyrus nodded, the most affection he was likely to ever show. Mars glowed at her perceived boss' happiness.
"And we have someone who can arm the device?" he asked. Mars nodded and looked behind her. Two grunts had followed the commander and one stepped forward when prompted by Mars.
"Hello sir" the man said as he saluted Cyrus.
"Your name?" Cyrus said.
"Groves sir. Leslie Groves."
"You've been briefed?" the CEO asked.
"I have sir and I've reviewed the ordinance. I'm prepared." Cyrus nodded.
"Then begin the move. I want to be kept informed at every step from here on out. We will now begin our way forward to a new world." Even without emotion in the statement and without anything on the CEO's face, chills were sent down those listening. Their moment was here.
Yellow gleaming eyes pierced through the night, taking everything in. The grass was soft underfoot, silencing any approaches. Footfalls were kept light still as an extra precaution. Dull thuds could be heard if one was keen enough to pay attention from the other side of the clearing. The air was brisk, bringing with it many different flavours of the forest and lake. Firelight kept away most wild Pokemon, as fire meant one of two things; first it could mean a wild fire type Pokemon who would be more powerful than most who called the forest home. Secondly it could mean the presence of a human which wild Pokemon in these parts had come to know to be wary of. Rangers patrolled the woods thoroughly on this side of the lake due to some type of building.
The predator was not stalking prey however this night. Instead he stood in the shadows watching as a grass type sent leaf after leaf into a fallen tree. Without even a whisper, the blue shape detached from the shadows and padded over. When he was within pouncing distance, the grass type stopped.
"Did I wake you?" it asked. Caladan turned his head to look at Chase. The lynx could only just make out the grass starters eye as his shell was growing more and more making it more difficult for Cal to maneuver.
"No I was awake. What exactly are you doing though here bushes?" Chase asked looking back forward at what his friend was attacking.
"Practicing" the grass type replied calmly.
"Didn't get enough training today? Are we taking it too easy on you? Bet I could wind up little miss dragon breath for you." Caladan chuckled. Everyone knew that while Sphyrna was powerful, she was also a little headstrong. All out attacks worked great on weaker opponents, but on those who could weather her storm, she was in trouble. Caladan was one of the team who could withstand a few of her attacks and push the dragon back, something Sphyrna hated.
"I think I will pass" Caladan replied slowly. His voice spoke of the earth, something that the team found immensely comforting. He was the rock upon which they centred themselves. Chase had noticed even Jill used Cal's support from time to time when they all stopped to train.
"Not sure we need more firewood. Our fiery little pony doesn't want to burn the forest down she said." Chase was just chatting at this point, which Caladan was used to. Other than himself, Chase was Jill's oldest companion. His mouth kept moving, but he was a stalwart friend. Caladan instead went back to focusing his razor leaf on the tree in front of him.
"I just wanted to keep practicing my accuracy." Chase watched as Caladan threw razor sharp leaf after leaf at the log, hitting the same spot constantly. After about a minute, there was a snapping sound and the log came apart. Chase was impressed. Caladan's attack power was ever muted but arguably the strongest on the team. Finally, the grass type turned around and began lumbering back to the firelight. He looked upon the team that Jill had assembled. Epona was sleeping, legs tucked up underneath her. Jill was resting up against the horse, not using a tent anymore on nights like tonight where the moon and stars danced through the heavens. Sphyrna was on the other side of the flames; body elongate out but arms tucked in. Her shape in the darkness was enough to send chills down the spines of opponents. The sleek look and dorsal fin showed her as a top predator. Urim was sleeping close by the dragon, a soft glow emitting from him. Then there was Icarium sleeping in a sitting position, looking more like he was meditating rather than sleeping.
"Not a bad team she's managed to assemble thus far" Chase commented. Caladan grunted in agreement. The starter knew Jill had managed to earn everyone's loyalty here. They would fight with her no matter what. Eventually they would become stronger than even the man they had lost to. "Any idea what's up ahead?" Chase asked.
"No idea. Jill was doing some research on the next gym I think. Sounds like you and I will be used once more" Caladan said. "Are you going to be ready with your new look?" Caladan looked sideways at his friend who had rather recently evolved during a training stretch on their way to the next city. Chase had grown taller and was now up to Jill's shoulders on all fours. His fur had grown as well and kept a strong charge of electricity. His eyesight was also more powerful, and his stealth even better. All in all, Chase was shaping up to be a rather impressive Pokemon.
"I'm more than ready to take down anything!" Chase growled proudly. Chase padded silently back to the shadows where he settled down and closed his eyes. Caladan lowered himself down as well and pressed his senses down into the earth. It was becoming easier to feel things through the ground, a tactic that Jill told him was useful in battle. It was also something that Torterra were able to do apparently so they both assumed that meant that Caladan was getting close to evolving. This excited the grass type, as it would fulfill his dream. And he owed it all to the young woman fast asleep just beside him.
Flint finally got away from the bustle around him. People were preparing a large move, something important. He had spotted the commander Mars shouting at people to move things and prepare. Base labour was running around scared of the ill tempered woman in control. The problem with this scenario was that Flint had no idea what was on the move. It also appeared that it was a small team who was leaving first, meaning that this was happening in phases. He needed to call it in, however, the person who needed to know the most wasn't answering her phone.
"Hello?" an older female voice answered. Flint was relieved to finally get a hold of someone at the league.
"Bertha finally someone picked up!" Flint exclaimed. "Where is everyone?"
"Flint dear what's the matter?"
"I need to find Cynthia. I've got a lead on something important here."
"I'm afraid I don't know where she is at the moment, but if she's here at the towers I can find her. Lucian is around here somewhere as well, coordinating with the International Police. They're following up on some possible leads here. Aaron I think has gone back to the underground however." Bertha was walking through the halls towards Cynthia's office. It was strange that the champion wasn't answering her phone. It could only mean she was meeting with someone important as Bertha knew there was no challengers here.
"Please find her and tell here that something is on the move to Pastoria. Don't know what, or really anything more than that, but this place just became a combee-hive of activity. Something big has started underway."
"This isn't good. You'd best get yourself out of there Flint and come back to the league. We're going to have to coordinate what's happening and get all of our information together." Bertha walked around the corridor and found the woman she was looking for, speaking with none other than her grandmother. "I've found Cynthia" she relayed.
"Good, just pass along what I've said. I'm going to need to get out of here asap before I get caught up in whatever the hell it is that's going on here" Flint said looking around to make sure he was still alone. Everyday it seemed the stress level was ramping up more and more.
"Are you alright?" Bertha asked. She knew the positions both Flint and Aaron were putting themselves in and she worried about the two men. They had become good friends, and while both were powerful in their own right, they weren't invincible.
"I'll be fine Bertty. I'll get out of here and see you soon alright?" Flint replied, using his pet name for the older woman. Even in an undercover and stressful operation, Flint still managed to keep things light.
"Just get home safe" Bertha replied as the line went dead. She looked back up at the two women standing in the corridor.
"Bertha, it's been some time!" Cynthia's grandmother said.
"It has Carolina. Here on business?" the elite asked.
"I am" Carolina sighed. "I needed my granddaughter's assistance however, just as she's needed mine. But I must go now. It was good to see you again" the professor said as she shook Bertha's hand. Both woman smiled and Bertha stood aside to let the famous professor pass by. Then she turned to look at the champion.
"Bertha, you seem troubled" Cynthia said. Bertha nodded before passing along the information Flint had told her.
"He doesn't know what they're moving but he said it was worth investigating." Cynthia nodded looking far away.
"I'll leave for Pastoria then. Make sure to coordinate with Lucian and the IP. And debrief Flint when he gets back. I have to head down that way anyways now. Perhaps we'll finally get a lead." Cynthia turned back into her office and collected a few items as well as taking off her longer coat and replacing it instead with a travelling windbreaker. Bertha waited while the champion readied herself.
"Be safe Cynthia. I don't like the feeling of whatever it is this team Galactic has planned."
"Neither do I Bertha, but we need to know what's going on." Bertha nodded at the champions assertion. Both woman left the office and headed off towards their destinations, preoccupied by the thoughts of what could be happening.