Chapter 38: Tag-team
The Survival Zone seemed to be the most rural area in Sinnoh, and after hours of exploring, Lucas could understand why. The terrain was difficult to cover as thick, tropical forests transformed into volcanic cliffs and slick, rocky rivers. It would make sense why the toughest Trainers in the region would choose to battle here, the natural obstacles would strengthen Pokemon and human alike. But the teen Trainer had not come to this area to improve his skills, though it wouldn't possibly hurt so close to challenging the Elite Four. Instead, he had come looking for representatives of the Pokemon League to give him some answers.
After winning his seventh badge in Snowpoint City, Lucas had learned that the location of the eighth badge, Sunnyshore City, was still shut down from all outsiders. The city had shut down several months ago because of electrical problems, problems rumored to be caused by the city's brilliant but, temperamental, Gym Leader Volkner. The Pokemon League had allowed Trainers with only seven badges to come to the normally restricted Battle, Resort and Survival Zones to either leave for the next region, or to wait until the situation had been resolved. Lucas had no intention of leaving Sinnoh without the Championship, and patience was never his strongest virtue. After exploring the Battle and Resort Zones, and strangely enough, receiving a free house from a less-than-scrupulous real estate agent, Lucas was now trudging through the dangerous and difficult Survival Zone to find someone to tell him what was going on. And after several hours and some close calls with the local, super-powered Pokemon, Lucas found what he was looking for.
After going through a patch of brambles, the teen Trainer entered a clearing with several buildings. One of those buildings was a Pokemon Center, always a welcome sight for any Trainer, but his interests were in the building right next to it. Just to the left of the Center was the Trainer's Club, where the most powerful Trainers in Sinnoh gathered to talk and fight against each other after a hard day of training in the area. Lucas remembered hearing about this place from letters his brother had sent his family. The Training Club was only welcome to past and present Gym Leaders, Elite Four Members and Champions. The tattooed young man could have waited for word from one of the bureaucratic members of the Pokemon League to explain the situation in Sunnyshore, but he knew he had a better shot straight from the horse's mouth: the League Leaders, the best Trainers in Sinnoh.
Lucas hoped that the Club wasn't heavily guarded and that he wouldn't be stopped at the door. And thankfully, that proved not to be the case. Nobody paid attention to the still rookie Trainer as he stepped through the clubhouse door. Instead, all their focus was on a man with a bright red Afro and Birkenstock sandals who was holding his hands up defensively with a sheepish look on his face. Lucas recognized this Trainer. He had seen him during the early days of Sunnyshore's closure, he was the one who looked at the gates with such disappointment. The teen invader actually recognized many of the Trainers who were focused on the hippy-like man. Riley, the powerful Trainer that helped rescue Byron in Iron Island was in front of the pack, his arms crossed and his direct manner pushing through the other young man's defenses.
"It's your obligation to do it, Flint. Volkner's gone too far this time," Riley said curtly.
"Oh, come on, man. Volkner's my best friend. Don't make me do this," Flint whimpered, sticking his hands in his pockets and lowering his head pitifully.
"Precisely. This is exactly why it's you who has to do it. It is because you are his friend as well as a member of the Elite Four, you're the one who needs to explain to Volkner why he's no longer allowed to be the Gym Leader," Riley continued, adjusting his fedora slightly as he continued his attack on the other man, "Volkner may be brilliant, but he needs to get it through his big head that being a Gym Leader is a privilege, and he does not have the right to make the residents of his city suffer just because he can't find anybody he thinks is worthy to challenge him. And to do this for this long, he has no rights to a second chance, especially when we already gave him one two years ago,"
"So the rumors are true, Volkner really is behind the problems in Sunnyshore," Lucas said in amazement. Suddenly all the Trainers in the small room focused on him.
"Hey! We still don't know that for a fact. None of us have yet done a full-on investigation!" Flint snapped back and darted his eyes towards Riley, "And that is why we can't just take Volkner's Gym away from him like that. Guilty before proven innocent,"
"Lucas, what are you doing here?" Riley asked, ignoring Flint's argument.
"Oh, right, I really shouldn't be here, should I? I'm not a Champion yet," Lucas rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, but when he saw Riley's expression was more inquisitive than annoyed or disappointed, the teen added more of an explanation, "I got my badge from Snowpoint and some Pokemon League people sent me here since I can't go to Sunnyshore. I thought maybe you guys could tell me more about what's happening than a bunch of overly-cautious PR people,"
Riley gave a small smile, "I admire your initiative. So I'll give you an honest answer. Sunnyshore's 'electrical' problems have gone unfixed for several months now. All Pokemon League representatives sent to ask about the repair status are being turned away for 'safety reasons', the Gym Leader's orders. Obviously that means Volkner did something to the electrical grid because he was bored, just like he was two years ago and doesn't want anybody to see it. And since he won't listen to reason, threats or orders, we're trying to send in Flint here to see what's really going on. As an Elite Four member, he has authority over a Gym. But this big baby doesn't believe his 'old buddy' has really done something this stupid, and is refusing to have anything to do with it,"
"I know Volkner! That's why I know this isn't his fault! Maybe at first I thought you guys were right because of what happened two years ago, but this is been going on for too long for it to be Volk's fault. And that's why I'm not going to be part of your little witch hunt." Flint huffed back.
"Fine. Then we'll get Bertha involved. She'll give Volkner his just deserves," Riley replied dryly.
"Bertha! Like he'll get any kind of justice from a ground-type master!" As the two high-level Trainers continued to bicker, Lucas began to wonder about something they were not discussing but to him seemed fairly obvious.
"Excuse me!" Lucas interrupted. The two arguing Trainers turned their attention to the boy with the Mohawk, "I don't get you, Flint. You say you're Volkner's friend, and you believe he's innocent of whatever's going on, right?"
"Of course!" Flint said vehemently.
"Okay, all I know is the city's been closed off for two months. If Volkner's not responsible for what's going on, haven't you ever stopped to think that maybe he's in trouble and that there's something wrong?"
Flint opened his mouth and paused. He closed his mouth again and stopped to think. After a moment he finally spoke, "You know, bro, I think you are totally right. Volkner's always so beast and so good at handling himself that I didn't even think that there could be anything wrong. But there's been a lot of un-groovy stuff happening recently. He could be in a tight spot and we didn't even think about it,"
"Actually, that never came to my mind either," Riley admitted, "Both you and Lucas have a point. This situation could actually have more perimeters than we initially thought. I still want you to go, Flint, but I'm coming with you. You'll need backup,"
"No way, Rile-up. You still think Volkner is a prick. If I get backup, I want somebody I can count on to help, regardless of what's happened with Volkner," Flint glared back at the steel-type Trainer viciously.
"What about me? I've been wanting to go to Sunnyshore City anyway. I still want my eighth badge, dammit. I've been waiting long enough," Lucas grinned.
Flint gave a questioning eye to Riley, but the suited Trainer nodded, "Lucas is definitely a top-notch Trainer, and good at thinking on the fly. He was a huge help in Iron Island when Lucario turned on me. I think that would actually be a good idea,"
"Alrighty, Brohawk. You're with me," Flint nodded with a smile and turned back to Riley, "Okay Riles, let me borrow that Hawaii 5-O boat of yours and we'll be on our way,"
Even with the speed of the boat, it was still approaching late afternoon by the time Lucas and Flint arrived at the docks of Sunnyshore City. It looked like the entire pier was filled with boats, stranded until they could unload their cargo, apparently also unable to enter or leave the city during this bizarre scenario. The two Trainers were quiet as they traveled from Survival Zone to Sunnyshore, the boat's powerful engine making speaking impossible as it filled the air with noise. But when Flint pulled into the dock and switched off the engine he immediately asked Lucas a question, "Hey dude, why did you immediately come up with the idea something was wrong with Volkner?"
The sudden question caught the teen off-guard but as he stepped out of the boat behind the Elite Four member he thought of an answer, "Some guys in Snowpoint said Volkner would lose the Gym for what's going on, and I heard Riley say the same thing in club. I also keep hearing all this stuff about Volkner being, like, this amazing, super-powered Trainer that's as good as the Champion. I don't think anybody like that would risk losing a Gym over something so stupid. Just didn't make any sense to me, not if Volkner's as good as everybody says,"
Flint responded with a giant smile and nodded his head adamantly, "Exactly! I've known Volkner practically my whole life. We grew up together. Everyone meets him and they assume he's this, mightier-than-thou, emo prat. And he really isn't. He's just really smart. He gets so annoyed with dumb people, and gets bored and that upsets him. He's always trying to do things to make himself better, and to find that bigger, better challenge. Whether that's at Pokemon or anything else in his life. But he would never put people in harm's way just to improve himself, because he'd think that's dumber than anything. He's a good guy, even if he doesn't always come off that way,"
"So what do you think really happened?"
"I have no idea," and with that comment, Flint's easy-going, hippy attitude seemed to vanish.
The Elite Four member and the Trainer didn't run into anybody as they left the docks and headed up the beach to enter the city from the back end. Though the sky was increasingly growing orange, there were still several hours of daylight left. The whole scenario made the hairs on Lucas' neck stand up in anticipation, a feeling shared by Gizmo as his tiny nails dug into his Trainer's flesh. He thought humorlessly about how much he had wanted to go to the city with the final Gym. Now entering the burg made him genuinely uneasy. Going past the flood wall ended the beach and started the city, and this was where the two Trainers ran into the first person they had seen in Sunnyshore. At a gate at the mouth of the first street into town was a construction worker standing guard at attention in front of a temporary traffic gate, and locking eyes with Flint and Lucas.
The two walked up to the man and he held up a hand to stop them, "I'm sorry, due to very dangerous electrical problems, no one is permitted in or out of city. I know this is very inconvenient, but this really is for your own safety,"
"I'm here on a Pokemon League official investigation," Flint said brightly.
The worker continued to block their way and shook his head, "I'm sorry, it's too dangerous, even for Pokemon League representatives. I have direct information from the Gym Leader that even Pokemon League officials won't be safe in the city,"
"Tell Volkner that Elite Four Member Flint is here to see him," Flint sounded more serious this time. He reached into his baggy shorts and pulled out a badge indicating his status. The construction worker grimaced at recognition of the symbol and weakly walked away. After several minutes the man came back, "I'm sorry, the Gym Leader says he doesn't want to see you, and you still may not come into the city,"
Flint smiled again, but it wasn't his normal, easy-going smile. It was the smile of a man who was just barely containing his anger, "Listen, brosef, I'm Elite Four, that means I outrank Volkner and anything he has to say. Now 'Simon says' let the League people in. Got it?"
The construction worker seemed very nervous now, looking around as though he were searching for someone to tell him what to do next. He hesitated momentarily before opening the gate and running away. Flint stuffed his badge back into his pocket and stepped forward into the city, Lucas following behind him. Walking into the city, the younger Trainer could see there were hundreds of construction workers, all wearing the blue jumpsuits and yellow hardhats that safety regulations required. Though the dozens upon dozens of workers were dressed correctly, there was something undeniably off about their appearance. That feeling in Lucas' spine was getting stronger, "There's something very 'Bodysnatchers' about this. I see all these construction workers but no other people. I also don't see anyone actually working. Don't hear it either. Electrical work ain't as loud as say, putting in new asphalt, but you do hear sparking and stuff. It's almost like they're marching or something,"
"Notice anything else?" Flint asked his companion.
"Like what?"
"All the streetlamps and traffic lights are working," the Elite Four member gestured with his chin towards the lights over the streets that were slowly coming to life with the growing evening.
"Could they be on generators?" Lucas asked, though he suspected he already knew the answer.
"Nope. Only way you could have the traffic lights working like this is if the main grid was up and running," Flint stated quietly as the two continued to go deeper and deeper into the city.
"That only means one thing,"
"Yup."
"There is something wrong with this town, but it ain't the electricity," Lucas could feel his senses going into overdrive now. That same, heightened awareness he always had just before going into a fight. The two red-headed men continued to walk undisturbed through the town, but both could feel it was only a matter of time before someone—or something—dropped the boom.
Flint continued to lead, his pace still deceptively easy-going as he headed decisively to a specific point in the city. Lucas tried to duplicate the Elite Four member's meandering gait, as to not raise suspicion, but his fighter's instincts made his movements stiff and determined, a coiled spring ready to react to the inevitable ambush. The teen's heightened observation noted that the 'construction workers' were steadily becoming more and more uneasy, on occasion one of two of the workers would dart away, no doubt off to tell their superiors. The two Trainers snaked their way through the town, passed shut down markets and closed stores until Flint finally arrived at what he was looking for, the Sunnyshore City Gym. The building reminded Lucas of one of those nightclubs that would be built inside of old warehouses. The industrial simplicity of a factory setting combined with the modern comforts of an entertainment area. Like the other Gyms there was a sign in front announcing the Leader. Volkner, The Shining, Shocking Star. Like everything else in town, there was something indescribably off about the building. The Elite Four member gripped the door and tugged at it, and based off the expression on his face, this seemed to be something he suspected: the door was locked. Even expecting the worst, Flint pounded on the Gym door.
Another worker, dressed in the identical blue jumpsuit, white machinist's gloves and yellow hardhat opened the door cautiously, a concerned and cautious look on his face as he refused to open the door entirely, his fingers hooked tightly around the edge of the door as he examined the two red-headed men, "What do you want?"
"We're here to speak with Volkner. Tell him Flint's here to see him," Flint stated firmly but cheerfully.
The worker didn't move, "Volkner's not here, he's at the electrical plant next door,"
Flint's smile widened and he slipped his hands into his shorts pockets, "The electrical plant isn't next door. It's on the other side of town,"
The worker's eyes widened and looked like he was about to panic. He flung the door open and behind it appeared six more workers, a more controlled look spread across their faces. Without hesitation, they reached into their clothing and pulled out Pokeballs, flinging them towards the Elite Four member and the younger Trainer. Flint was beaming now, reacting with split second timing as his hand shot out of his pockets with his own Pokeball in hand. He glanced back only momentarily towards his companion, "Alright, Brohawk. It's time to show me what made Riley so impressed, because it's go-time. Go Infernape!"
"Go Hotrod!" This was the moment Lucas was waiting for, and he didn't need Flint to tell him twice.
"A Charizard. Excellent choice. Now let's show these lamebrains just how hot we are!" Flint seemed downright giddy, "Infernape! Fire Punch!"
"Hotrod! Flamethrower!" Lucas ordered. Their opponents were two Victrebels, a Girafarig, a Shiftry, an Electrode and a Quagsire. The grass-types went down quickly, no match for the fierce fire-types. Then the Electrode went down against Flint's Infernape's powerful blows. Flint switched out his fighting-and-fire type for Magmortar against the Girafarig while Lucas summoned Donna to deal with the Quagsire. While most of Lucas' focus was on the intense battle that was going on around him, the younger Trainer couldn't help but keep checking back to what the deceptively laid-back man was doing. Flint's battle style was sheer force, devastating attack after attack giving no time for his opponent to turn the tide of battle. It made the Mohawked teen very grateful the man with the Afro was on his side of this fight. As their opponents realized their total defeat, they ran off as quickly as they could, both escape for their own safety and to no doubt warn the others of the danger in town.
Just before the last pseudo-worker could get away, Flint lunged out and snatched the man by the back of his jumpsuit and dragged him back between Lucas and himself, "Alrighty, pally, let's try this again. Volkner, where is he? And this time let's try the truth. Makes things less complicated for all of us,"
Whatever loyalty the man had was greatly outweighed by his own sense of self-preservation. Without hesitation he babbled, "The lighthouse! We're holding him there. Next-to-top floor, in a utility closet that's locked!"
"See? Wasn't that far less painful than us clobbering you with our teams? Next time, just spill before we get to the fighting part. Makes life simpler," Flint said cheerfully as he let go of the man and watched him skitter away like a startled deer. The man then turned his attention back to his younger companion, "Nice work back there, by the way. I can see why Riley was recommending you so highly. It takes just about an act of God to get Riley to give a complement. It's a good thing you can dish it out because things aren't going to get any easier from here on in. They're not going to let us waltz to that lighthouse, especially now that the goon squad is going to go tell whoever's in charge that we know that they know we know. You know?"
"Yeah, I get it. Especially since that first fight, the game is over. Even if we don't get to the lighthouse, we know this isn't electrical work, and these guys aren't real workers. They're not letting us out of Sunnyshore in one piece," Lucas agreed.
"So who do you think these guys are, anyway?"
Lucas thought for a moment about the group's methods and tactics and only one name came to mind, "This has to be the work of Team Cosmic,"
The lighthouse was on the opposite corner of town from the Gym and the elevated pedestrian walkways were heavily guarded, meaning it would require going through the ground streets to get to their target. The battle at the Gym had broken the uneasy equilibrium between Flint, Lucas and the disguised workers and now it was all chaos. The two skilled Trainers tried their best to sneak through the town, avoiding the largest crowds of the Cosmic grunts no doubt ordered to find the intruders, only battling when they had no choice. With the Pokemon Center seized and controlled by Cosmic and enemies on all sides, Lucas and Flint had to preserve and protect their Pokemon the best they could. Both young men knew once they made it to the lighthouse there was no way to avoid the fights and wearing out their teams would spell disaster.
As night finally fell on Sunnyshore City the darkness benefited the already battle worn Trainers greatly. Alleys unlit by the town's streetlamps gave them refuge and the shining beacon of the lighthouse made navigating towards it even easier. Flint was practically a native of Sunnyshore, knowing all the backstreets and shortcuts, but all the backtracking to hide from Cosmic could make even an experienced resident lose direction. After what seemed like an eternity of covert movement, the two finally arrived at their destination. Lucas did his best to hide his exhaustion behind his determined grimace, but he could feel the sweat drip down the back of his neck, chilling him in the increasingly cold air. The two were crouched down in front of the lighthouse's doors, several Cosmic grunts in their worker disguises keeping an eagle eye out for Flint and Lucas. The Elite Four member held back, waiting to figure out when to attack. Carefully observing the situation, Flint pulled out a slightly dinged-up Pokevice and used its phone feature.
"Riley, it's Flint," he said as quietly as he could into the electronic, "No, I can't speak any louder. Not unless I want a platoon of Cosmic grunts to come down on us like Custer's Last Stand. Yeah, that's right. Volkner's not behind this, it's a Cosmic plot. Volkner's being held prisoner in the lighthouse and me and Brohawk are busting him loose, but we gotta get some major backup, Riles. They've got the entire city locked down and we're entirely on our own. You get the gang together and we'll give a signal when you can go in. You'll know it when you see it," With that final sentence Flint ended the call and turned to Lucas, "Okay kiddo, get ready because this is the kill screen. I know you don't know Volkner from Adam, so you don't owe any of us anything. But he's my bro, and I'll do anything to help him. You can stay here and if need be send the signal to the Pokemon League. Or you can come with me. So what's your call?"
"I ain't never backed down from Cosmic before and I'm not about to start today. Besides, I didn't come all this way to sit on my ass in the dark and have my legs fall asleep. If I can't help now I might as well quit and go home because I plan to beat Volkner in a Gym match when all this is over and then I'm taking you out when I face the Elite Four. And if I can't fight Cosmic now I don't stand a chance against you guys," Lucas said determinately.
Flint flashed him a peace sign and huge smile, "Then let's rock and roll,"