Chapter 33 – Countdown

Starly flittered through the air, chirping in their own tongue to the humans below. Muscles were pulled taunt under skin as the small group waited. Skies were that beautiful pastel blue that everyone enjoyed. Sun beams cut through the canopy of the forest above, lighting patches of brown earth. The air was still, waters calm and yet this small group was still nervous. At least everyone but the leader.

Saturn's dark eyes stared down at his watch. 9:57 was what the black digital lines read. Seconds ticked down, one by one. A single bead of sweat trickled its way down his neck. His breathing was quiet. A small vibration interrupted the groups concentration. Saturn pulled out his phone showing three dots in a pyramid. Before, the bottom right corner was the only dot to show green, the other two still red. Now the top was green as well. A few seconds later, the last red dot turned green. 9:58 said the watch.

The breeze coming off the sea was nice, reflected Barry. His blonde hair was tossled in the light wind. Canalave was similar in a very small way to his father's compound in the battle frontier. Similar salt smell in the air, the nice temperature. However, the water was somewhat different here, more of a grey green than the brilliant blue waters surrounding the frontier. The young blonde wasn't bothered however. He didn't exactly want to be his father, though the man was a great trainer.

Barry checked his watch again, seeing it was only nine thirty-three. He was quickly navigating his way through the port cities foot traffic towards the docks. Jill had sent him a text letting him know she was almost there. Barry and Jill were going to head to the library together to meet up with Professor Rowan who was in town giving a talk. Lucas was going to be there as well.

Getting to the docks, Barry sighted his friend just stepping off the boat. Jill waved up at the young blonde and smiled. Barry was happy to see that she seemed to be doing better. After their win at the gym Barry was feeling more like his old self. He just kind of wished that he hadn't had to push back his departure on to the next challenge. But Professor Rowan had been kind enough to give Barry his first Pokemon, so it would have been rude to ignore the invite. And as he thought earlier, Lucas was going to be there.

Cyrus sat with eyes closed in the steel room. The lights in the ceiling gave off the smallest of buzzing noises. The dark canine was curled in the corner, its eye's like its masters, closed. Cyrus' hands were connected at the steepled fingertips. Along the wall, a glow came from the TV. It was connected to a few live feeds. One such feed showed the time. 9:50.

A solid knock at the door interrupted the all but silent room. One coal red eye opened from the dark type in the corner as it appraised the newcomer to the office. Charon stepped through the unlocked door and without waiting for an invitation, sat opposite Cyrus. The Galactic leader didn't move a muscle at the new addition, eyes remaining closed. Huffing, the Houndoom closed its eye once more. Charon regarded the live feeds. Cameras were attached to a couple of the grunts uniforms, so that the leaders back at the secret lab could see the action. The lead scientist was satisfied with how things were progressing. He had brought a laptop which he opened to monitor the output of energy. This bunker should be safe, but one could never be too sure.

Charon fully believed in what Cyrus was attempting to accomplish. While most people would have been nervously talking to fill the void, neither man in this room felt the need to do so. They were aware of what they were doing. Cyrus himself was under the utmost control of his emotions. He felt nothing. There was nothing more to be done at the moment. All he could do was wait and watch the next few moments as they unfurled. The clock kept counting. 9:51.

Jill and Barry got to the library rather quickly from the docks. It really wasn't that far away. The two trainers talked about Iron Island and their training over the past few days. Barry pestered Jill about Riley when he realized that Jill had practically gushed over the man. Jill blushed at the good-natured ribbing and threw back a few comments about Lucas. They both cut their bugging short when they arrived at the library and Lucas himself welcomed them. Jill quickly checked the time. 9:53. Professor Rowan was scheduled to speak at ten sharp. And everyone knew he didn't waste time.

"What's his lecture going to be on?" Jill asked Lucas. Barry couldn't take his eyes off the other young man.

"He's going to speak about evolution" Lucas began before Barry cut in.

"Well duh, that's sort of his expertise" the young blonde said with a smile. Jill punched his arm raising a laugh from the two boys.

"I know, but this is in relation to legendaries too. We know a bit more about them now I guess, or the professor does at least. I have a feeling his trip to Kanto was to confer with Professor Oak and Red."

"Wait, the Red?" Barry asked incredulously.

"I thought he disappeared!" Jill said right behind her friend. Lucas could only shrug.

"He hasn't really told me, but I mean, he's the only one who's actually caught a legendary Pokemon right?" Lucas said looking at the other two. "It would make sense that Professor Rowan would want to talk to him about the legends. He has this theory about them being complete Pokemon."

"What does that mean?" Jill said, now looking towards the stage. The famous professor was just walking out, so Lucas, Barry and Jill scrambled to their seats just off centre near the front.

"Well I was reading some of his papers" Lucas explained. "Professor Rowan's hypothesis is that Pokemon that undergo evolution, are waiting to reach their final and complete forms. This can happen naturally of course, but when paired with a trainer, Pokemon evolve much faster and are much stronger. So, what does that mean for Legends? Are they already complete as they don't evolve? Is that why they are naturally so strong?"

"But I thought we didn't have much data on the legends." It was Barry who spoke this time, his voice a bit louder than the muted tones Lucas and Jill had been using. A throat clearing into the microphone made Lucas put his finger to his lip and point at the professor.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen and thank you…"

Saturn looked down at his phone again. Another, larger button had appeared on the phone, in the middle of the triangle. A pulsing line connected the three dots and a message popped up overtop on the touchscreen. Sycronization complete. Remote trigger ready it read. Saturn turned slightly and looked at the grunts camera over his left shoulder. The grunt was nervous but remained steady. Saturn turned and looked ahead towards where the lake was. His thumb pressed down on the middle of the touchscreen. A new timer popped up. 00:15.

Across the region, the red headed commander was smiling as she looked down at her touchscreen phone. The timer had just appeared. She watched as it flashed fifteen seconds, then fourteen. Thirteen.

Jupiter was bundled against the cold as she watched the timer on her phone begin its countdown. Snow was falling at an angle in the wind, but Charon had said that really wouldn't matter once the device was triggered. However, right now, the young commander was somewhat chilled in the northern climate. Those seconds weren't moving fast enough.

It was almost an unseen or unfelt signal. Cyrus just seemed to know when to open his flat grey eyes. The clock in the corner of the screen of the TV changed into a counter, just like the ones on the commander's phones in the field. Charon leaned forward in his seat. The show was about to begin. Cyrus only had eyes for the seconds ticking slowly away.

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