Chapter 60: Reversal
Team Cosmic was back. That was as good as official. The grim lab and active device in Granite Cave were no mere flukes. The reporter Gabby all but confirmed that fact when she revealed that a second sonic device was responsible for the closure of the Rusturf Tunnel. But now Lucas, Skyler, his ex Marcia, and Gabby and her cameraman huddled in the hidden corridors of New Mauville, the power plant that supplied the now blacked out city of Mauville, trying to figure out a way to rescue a group of the plant's employees, being held hostage by a group of Cosmic grunts and their scientist masters.
Time was of the essence, as at any moment, the commander in charge of the still mysterious operation would arrive at any moment to start 'phase two', putting the employees and their confiscated Pokemon in unknown danger. Lucas and his team had used a blueprint of the plant's plan they received in Mauville to sneak in a back way and avoid the Cosmic grunts, but now that they had found the employees, Lucas was at a loss as to what to do next.
Marcia seemed to sense her ex boyfriend's concern, and saw exactly the odds they were up against. Sarcastically, she turned to the red-haired teen, "So what's the plan?"
Lucas shot a glare to the girl and ran his hands through his Mohawk. He let out a frustrated sigh, "I have no freaking idea,"
"He'll think of something. He always has so far," Skyler snapped back at the girl. The Dragon Tamer's confidence in his friend was exactly the shot in the arm Lucas needed. So what if he didn't have a plan? He never did before. Even when he would have a basic strategy to face Gym Leaders and Trainers, it was thinking on the fly that would capture victory. Lucas' greatest strengths were his trust in his Pokemon and his adaptability.
The teen turned to the other people in his crew, Gabby and Ty. The journalist was whispering to her cameraman, who nodded in agreement as he kept the camera pointed at the grate, capturing the hostile situation going on in the break room. As Lucas watched the two, he flashed back to their encounter in Granite Cave, and the seeds of an idea formed, "Okay, I think I might have something. Ty, you know quite a bit about electronic equipment and electricity, right?"
The normally quiet man nodded, "Yeah, sure. I mean, I couldn't dismantle an atomic bomb or anything, but I know my way around wires and stuff,"
Lucas pulled the schematics again out of his vest pocket and spread it on the floor in the low light, "According to these plans this corridor hangs a louie around the front of the room—right where that big device is. Obviously there's still power in the plant, they just shut down everything to look like there was some kind of big accident. That means they are getting power through that wall. Do you think you could cut the power?"
"Should be pretty easy, there might even be a breaker switch over there," Ty replied.
"Awesome. Skyler, I need you to go with him, cover him in case of anything," Lucas ordered.
"On it. Whatever you say, Lucas," Skyler nodded. Lucas tried to ignore the blood wanting to rush to his face.
"I'm going too!" Gabby snarled, "Where Ty goes, I go,"
"Whatever. Ladies' choice," Lucas shrugged. He next turned his attention to Marcia, "Now the two of us are going to circle back so we can get out of the corridors and go through the kitchen. Then you're going to get those people out of there and back into the corridor,"
"And what are you going to do while I play tour guide to 'Escape from Alcatraz'?" Marcia said snarkily.
"Easy. I'm the distraction," Lucas smirked. He got up off the floor and crammed the plans back in his pocket, "Everyone clear on what we're doing?"
Everyone nodded except Marcia, "Lucas, this is like, way too dangerous. I still think we should go back and get help. We're not the good guys. We're not the cavalry,"
"This will work out perfectly. Cosmic has a big ol' yen for me and as soon as they spot and recognize me, they're not gonna care about those workers anymore. Besides, weren't you the one that always said I look hot when I fight? Well baby, prepare to be turned on," Lucas cracked his knuckles, and for the first time in days, Gizmo leapt to his shoulder.
Skyler gripped Lucas' shoulder and nodded a farewell as he, Ty and Gabby disappeared into the darkness to get closer to the device. Marcia scowled again, but kept pace with Lucas as they went back several yards from where they entered the corridor. They opened the passage way and found themselves in the massive kitchen, industrial sized sinks and refrigerators lining the walls. Lucas hugged the walls and gestured the all-clear to his reluctant companion. The attractive teen girl puffed a strand of her hair out of her face and with a less subtle creep caught up to her ex. Lucas patience for Marcia was all but worn out. He would have much rather be with Skyler at the moment, but he needed a strong Trainer with strong Pokemon to keep Gabby and Ty protected. As much as he wanted to help the people, making sure the device failed was far more important. Carefully, the teen opened the door from the kitchen to the break room a crack, the scene in the cafeteria unchanged as the grunts stood around impatiently for orders and the captured employees sat tensely, watching the actions of their captors. Thankfully, the tables with the hostages were closer to the kitchen door than to the device, if they worked quickly and Marcia didn't flake, all of them could run to safely before Cosmic would realize Lucas' plan. Then Lucas could nab the Pokemon while Ty disabled the device, and run for freedom. It may not have been the teen's best plan, but given his circumstances he didn't think there was much different he could do.
He gave one final, quiet order to Marcia, "When they spot me, motion to the hostages and get them all out of here. When they are all in you can run out. Run for the exits, fly to Mauville. Don't worry about what happens to me,"
"Fine. Whatever, Mr. Big Hero. God, you changed a bunch since I left Cherrygrove," Marcia replied.
Lucas entered the break room unseen, stealthily jumping from behind table to table to trashcan as to divert attention away from the kitchen door and give Marcia a clear path. Now it was time, all hell was going to break loose. With a deep breath to steady his nerves, Lucas popped out from his hiding place and confronted Cosmic, "It figures you assholes would be here, after I wiped the floor with you guys in Sinnoh. But just like everything else I'm gonna bust up this plan, too,"
The grunts reacted immediately, a mix of confusion, disbelief and then finally, recognition.
"Hey! How did you get in here!"
"Did we miss one?"
"Wait, I know that guy! That's Lucas, he's with the Pokemon League!"
"Get him!"
Though turning a new leaf and leaving behind his life as a criminal had dulled his fighter's skills, he was still strong, fast and vicious enough to hold back most of the tide. Mauled grunts changed places with fresh bodies and the melee quickly turned from a street brawl to an out and out Pokemon battle. But before Lucas could summon out his own Pokemon an authoritative voice called out above the crowd, "ENOUGH!" The chaos ended instantly as the grunts parted to make way for one of the scientists. It was the same one Lucas and the others had seen at the plant's entrance, the severe looking one with the thick frames and sharp features, "Ignore him, there isn't anything more he can do. The commander is here and we can begin phase two. Finally."
Lucas knew it would have been too good luck to beat the commander to the plant this entire time. He wondered who he would have to fight next before Skyler and the journalists would succeed. He only hoped that it wouldn't be Major Mathias, the Cosmic officer who made passes at the teen any chance he got. Just thinking of the man made his skin crawl. But nothing could prepare him for who stepped out from behind the scientist.
"Oh my God, Rochelle, I couldn't help it. There was a killer storm last night and I got stuck in this weirdo house. Besides you should have not started phase one without me, hello! We could have had more time. Now we have like, another hour, max, before they finally get into Mauville and then come here," A wave of disbelief washed over the teen as Marcia sashayed from out behind the scientist.
"M-marcia?!" disbelief and shock strangled Lucas' outraged voice.
"Actually, it's Captain Rose now. I've always hated my first name, it made me sound like I was from the freaking Brady Bunch or something," Marcia reached into her purse and pulled out a billed blue cap with the Team Cosmic crest on the band and placed it on top of her dark green hair, "You should see me in my full uniform, Lucas, it's so sexy,"
"That's why you kept trying to send us back, telling us we shouldn't go here. You were trying to keep us from stopping you," Lucas growled.
"Well yeah, I mean, you heard what those Mauville dweebs said, every Trainer there was completely tapped out. Even if you went back, by the time the Pokemon League losers got here we'd be done with our project. But no, you had to get all smart and stubborn all of a sudden. I remember dating you for your body, not your brain," Marcia shrugged. She then turned to the largest male grunt and ordered, "Oh, before I forget, there are all these hallways in the walls and stuff and right behind the device is a hot guy and two old people trying to screw with it. Be a hunk and drag them out here, will you?"
"Marcia, how, how could you do this? Join these lowlives?! Don't you understand what they're doing? What they're planning?!" Lucas snarled. All attempts to hold back his violent temper evaporated.
"Captain Rose. Anyway, I don't know why you seem so surprised. I've always told you, Lucas, I'm attracted to power and those who have it. Cosmic is the wave of the future. The Pokemon League is so stupid, and Training is so boring and dumb. I mean, traveling around on foot all the time and constantly going through the grass and dirt? Just being given the strongest, best Pokemon is so much easier. I told you, Team Cosmic isn't a bunch of losers who are going to be stomped by some junior Champion-in-training. Besides, I get to have my own freaking army," The grunt had returned with two others comrades, Skyler, Gabby and Ty squirming in their grasps, "It would so suck for me if you guys actually succeeded in ruining the experiment. Also, take that guy's camera and destroy it. Lucas was right when he said we work better in secret. Less messy."
The girl gestured to the grunts and scientists to begin. The people in lab coats swarmed the giant device, flipping switches and checking monitors while the grunts brought in the boxes from outside. There was a wail of protest from the previously silent hostages as some of the grunts grabbed the Pokemon from the other table and started feeding them into the machine. Lucas looked all around him, still unable to process his wrath. Gabby let out a cry of anguish as Ty's camera was set on fire by a Arcanine, and Skyler gave Lucas an apologetic look for failing his friend. The teen couldn't meet his gaze, feeling the failure was entirely his own.
As the activity continued, Marcia approached Lucas again, "Cosmic has put me in charge of all Hoenn operations, including experimentation and recon. But I was also put under special assignment: to recruit you. Cosmic wants you, Lucas, and I want you. When that geezer, Mathias, failed, I told them I wanted the job because we have history. I know you've turned me down before, but now you can see how much I can offer you. Baby, I screwed up when I cheated on you, and I was such a dumb bitch to leave you. I can make this up to you, Lucas, this time I can,"
"Did you get your head knocked against a headboard so hard that you finally lost all your senses? There is no way in hell I'd join Team Cosmic. I love Pokemon, you know that, and these people's whole existence is to wipe Pokemon out!" Lucas bellowed.
"Just the stupid, icky ones. They'd give you the best Pokemon there are. You could wipe the floor with your brother without even breaking a sweat. I know you loved me Lucas, and I mean it with all my heart: you were the only guy I've ever been with that was good to me," Marcia's voice and face softened. It was the first time he had ever seen the tough, sexy gang member seem vulnerable.
"I must have been high the entire time we dated or you were a goddamned contortionist because I can't remember a single damn thing I ever liked about you." Lucas hissed every single word. Marcia's face shifted from shocked and hurt to cold and bitchy as she stormed away from her ex.
She turned back to the woman scientist, "Speed up the operation. We don't have a lot of time left. And get the detonator ready. When they come here it needs to look like an accident killed all the employees,"
"And the newcomers? They couldn't have been caught in the explosion as well." Rochelle asked.
"Lots of wild Pokemon around here. Get creative," Marcia said coldly.
For the longest time Lucas was furious at Marcia. Furious for making him look a fool, for taking advantage of him during their relationship, and finally for breaking his heart in such a cruel way. But as much as he disliked Marcia, he had never grown to hate her. But that all changed. Marcia was gone. She may have been snide, manipulative and self-centered, but small memories reminded him that she still had some humanity to her. A few hours ago he would have even believed her kindness towards him was sign there was some good in her. But he knew all that was a lie now. All that was left was Cosmic officer Captain Rose, a young woman caught up in the evil team's philosophy of destroying weakness. That screwing the leader of a rival gang to get ahead and become powerful was just foreshadowing of the depths Marcia would go. Nothing was too far for her to do. And nothing was too far for Lucas to stop her. The gloves were off.
While he was surrounded by Cosmic grunts, none of the men or women had chance to restrain him during their brawl. And it was time to finish off where they got started. Lucas gave a small indication with his head to Gizmo, and subtly reached down to his belt, "Go, Steelix!"
With a roar the massive steel and rock type raged into the room. The Pokemon thrashed its body, knocking dozens of startled Team Cosmic members to the ground, including the three who were holding Skyler, Gabby and Ty. The three rushed towards their friend, the Dragon Tamer body-checking a grunt that got in his way before reaching down to his own belt and summoning his own Pokemon, "Go Celes!"
As the Dragonair slithered to meet up with the Steelix, Skyler made it back to Lucas' side, clasping his friend's hand and nodding. Not to be outdone, Ty and Gabby summoned their own Pokemon out. The four's monsters knocked more humans out of the way, causing the grunts to switch focus. As the all-out battle began again, a teen girl's voice shrieked above the chaos, "Use the Tyranitar! Take them out!"
Lucas anticipated this would happen. It was only a matter of time before that behemoth would come into play and he was ready for it. The super strong Pokemon's first attack caused his Steelix, Skyler's Dragonair, Ty's Magneton and Gabby's Exploud to go flying across the room and shook the whole power plant. While the Pokemon tried to recover, the teen Trainer sent out his trump card, "Gizmo! Let's do this!"
The tiny Eevee had been hiding in the middle of the chaos, waiting for his Trainer's signal. The small Pokemon had gone unnoticed for the longest time but now appeared before the massive ground type and growled a tiny 'vii.' The other Pokemon regarded his opponent blankly, as he had the other four Pokemon he had just attacked. Marcia smirked, "Oh goody. You stomped my heart so I'll stomp that stupid little lap dog you've been dragging around. Tyranitar, get it!"
This is what the tattooed Trainer had been hoping for. He gave his signal to his comrades and concentrated on the fight, "Gizmo! Do what I told you!"
As the Tyranitar heaved rocks and balls of black energy at the normal type, Gizmo deftly dodged them, weaving between tables and Cosmic grunts, causing everything in the way to get destroyed by the powerful Pokemon's barrage. Marcia grew visibly more and more irritated as she ordered the giant to keep firing at the particularly speedy Eevee. But Gizmo just kept dodging, obeying his Trainer's commands as he dove left and right. He kept running through the crowds and equipment before climbing up the sonic device in the back of the break room. He shook his head from the ultrasonic waves, but stood stock still. Furious, the Team Cosmic captain let out a hasty command, "Tyranitar, Hyper Beam!"
It was only then that the teen girl realized her mistake, but it was too late to take back the command. A ball of glowing energy formed in the dark type's throat before transforming into a beam of concentrated light that shot at the powerful device. Gizmo leapt safely from the machine at the last second before the energy made contact and sliced it cleanly in half. The device sparked spectacularly as tubes exploded, live wires were exposed and small fires started around ruined monitors. Marcia shrieked in fury, "NO! TYRANITAR KILL THAT THING!"
Marcia's command went ignored for two reasons. One was that Pokemon could not be killed in battle, the other was that the Tyranitar was now spent, using its own energy to fuel the previous attack and was now forced to rest. This was the opportunity the Trainer was waiting for, "Steelix! Iron Tail!"
"Celes, Ice Beam!"
"Magneton! Metal Shot!"
"Exploud! Rage attack!"
The four Trainer's attacks careened into the dark and ground type, knocking the Pokemon out for the battle. With the largest threat gone and the device destroyed, Marcia realized that the tide of battle had turned. The plant employees were freed and most reunited with their Pokemon and now fighting back against their captors. Scientists were frantically and pointlessly trying to get the machine operational again and Marcia turned to her former lover, "How? How did you do this!"
"I told you, babe, I was the distraction," Lucas replied smugly.
The Team Cosmic captain opened her mouth again but before she could speak the door to the break room exploded open as a large Metagross skittered unnervingly into the room. Following behind was a familiar Trainer leading a team of police officers, paramedics and dozens of Pokemon League officials.
Marcia saw her operation collapsing all around her, and now the Pokemon League and one of its most powerful Trainers had arrived. All resemblance to leadership or power evaporated as the Team Cosmic member starting running for the other door out of the break room, screaming to her minions as she fought to save her own hide, "It's over! Run for it!"
The rest of the grunts and scientists followed without question as they stampeded behind their commander, abandoning all tools, Pokemon and paperwork they had brought with them. The police followed after them. As the chaos ended, Lucas turned to the Trainer who had lead the cavalry. Coolly the Trainer crossed the room in a tailored suit with flattering stainless steel jewelry, matching steel gray eyes and a surprisingly mischievous smile. It was Steven, the CEO of Silph/Devon Inc.