Chapter 75: Cosmic's Last Stand
The first thing he registered was the beeping sound.
After the nothingness of the blackness, sensation came back slowly. At first, the beeping felt far away, he felt far away. Was breathing always so hard? Did it always hurt this badly? He also felt as he was swimming in disconnected thoughts the distinct feeling of someone holding his hand. He started opening his eyes. It never felt like such a burden as it did in that moment, but difficult as it was, he refused to be defeated.
Light. Then color. Hazy shapes slowly went into focus and the beeping had context. Other noises of murmuring, whispering and gasps of relief as Lucas blinked his eyes and came back to the world. He was in a hospital, the beeping was from the machines monitoring him. Skyler was sitting by his bed, gripping Lucas' hand as though if he let go he might lose him. Morgan looked pale and distraught and there were distinct tear trails down Ashley's face.
"What..happened? Where am I?" Lucas croaked in spite of the effort.
"Oh thank God!" Skyler's shoulders sagged and his head sank, as though the last piece of energy that was keeping him going finally let out. He held Lucas' hand even tighter and seemed as though he himself would start weeping.
"You're at the hospital in Lillycove City. You've been unconscious for three days. The doctors said...the doctors weren't sure after that much time if you'd ever wake up," Morgan, in spite of her bitter persona, couldn't hide the relief in her face.
"I'm going to go tell the doctor!" Ashley said but as she ran out of the room, fresh tears rolling down her face.
"Do you remember what happened?" Morgan asked.
Lucas closed his eyes again. Both to rest from the effort of coming back and to try to reconstruct how he ended up so hurt in the first place, "Marcia. It was a trap. Everything else is really hazy,"
"That's right," Skyler then started filling in the rest, "As soon as I saw you run off I called to the others and we followed you. We lost you around the docks when we heard all the commotion. You were absolutely outnumbered. There must have been fifty, sixty people. You were going for a Pokeball on your belt when Marcia struck you on the back of the head. There was no time. None of us could stop her,"
"We summoned our Pokemon and the police came moments after. But I'm afraid most of them got away again. We're not sure now. The docks should have been a dead end," Morgan continued.
Ashley stepped back into the room with the physician, "You are an incredibly lucky young man. A head injury like that could have done permanent damage. Your brain scans were so weak we weren't even sure you'd be able to wake back up," The doctor flashed a light into Lucas' eyes and made him follow his finger, "The strike on the back of your head caused a hematoma—a large collection of blood—to cause a great deal of pressure on your brain. The shaking around also caused a rather severe concussion. You also have three broken ribs and contusions on almost every part of your body. After that much trauma I'm afraid you are going to have to stay in here a good long time,"
"Guess I'm lucky I'm so hard headed," Lucas joked, but smiling made all the cuts on his face hurt, "Sucks that Marcia got away again, especially after I promised Steven I had her this time. I'll make her pay for this time, though I was pretty effing stupid to fall for her trap like that. So where are Gizmo and the others? Am I allowed to see them?"
The room went silent. Morgan, Ashley and Skyler all exchanged nervous looks.
Even in spite of the head injury, haze of the painkillers and the throbbing of the trauma, Lucas immediately understood what was happening. But he refused to believe it, "Guys, where are my Pokemon?"
Ashley bit her lip and picked up Lucas' other hand and squeezed it. He felt on her palm the special necklace that was normally always around his neck. The one he bought in Eterna City that allowed a Trainer to attach a Pokeball to it, "When we finally got to you after the big fight between the Lillycove police, our Pokemon and Team Cosmic you were bleeding so badly. I almost didn't see it at first, but the Pokeball you keep around your neck was gone. They stole them, Lucas. I'm so sorry. Team Cosmic has Gizmo and the other Pokemon that were on your belt,"
"No!" In spite of the blinding pain and weakness the Trainer shot up. Both Ashley and Skyler tried to hold him down, but pure emotion made him thrash against them, "I have to save them!"
"Lillycove Police is combing the city. There isn't anywhere else for Cosmic to hide! Every other island, cave, abandoned building and shrine in Hoenn is being monitored. Lucas you have to calm down! They will find your Pokemon!" Skyler urged.
"They haven't found them yet! Cosmic has been dodging the Pokemon League for MONTHS! New Mauville has been busted for ages, the entire Region knows about them and they've still been doing operations! If they got away it means there's some place no one's looking and IT'S NOT IN LILLYCOVE! They have my Pokemon! They have Gizmo! I have to find them! I have to save my team!" Lucas felt the rage and anguish bubbling in his chest and tears stream down his face. Skyler embraced him but the pain just wouldn't end. He had to get out of that bed. He had to find Cosmic.
"You're not going anywhere!" the doctor ordered, "And if you don't calm down I'll give you a sedative for your own good. I don't want to risk putting you back to sleep after you've been unconscious for so long, but if you don't stop yelling you won't give me a choice,"
Lucas reluctantly obeyed. Ashley continued to pat his hand while Skyler held him and gently stroked his face. Gizmo. Diablo. Franky. Stella. Kazza. His Beautifly. They were gone. Gone because he was stupid enough to fall into Marcia's trap. Gone because of Cosmic. He let the pain and grief sweep over him.
When visiting hours were over, Ashley, Morgan and Skyler were forced to leave the room. It would be night soon and the medical professionals insisted that he get some rest. It would be the first time in a year that he would be going to bed without Gizmo on his chest, so sleep wasn't going to come. He knew he couldn't rest until he got his Pokemon back. And Marcia would pay for what she had done. When the doctors' rounds were over, and the nurses were busy with other patients, Lucas carefully unhooked himself from the monitors and found his clothes in a set drawers on the other side of the room. Without the steady ebb of medicine that had been dulling the injuries, the pain slowly but steadily intensified. Lucas ignored it. With pure determination he crept out of the room and made his way towards an exit.
Waiting in one of the outside halls was Gabby and Ty. They were leaned against a wall talking casually when they noticed Lucas trying to keep his head down. There was a triumphant glint in the woman's eye, and as inconspicuously as possible, she caught up to the Trainer. She kept her voice soft. In spite of her professionalism, there was a note of concern in her tone, "Lucas, are you alright?"
"You're really trying to interview me now? Jeez lady, was your mother a Carvanha or something?" Lucas grumbled.
"That wasn't Gabby the reporter asking. I might be a journalist first, but I'm still a human being. I read all the police reports about what had happened. You're lucky to be alive. Believe it or not, I actually quite like you, you're a fun kid. No one's been able to dodge me this long and I admire that," Gabby responded, "I am covering your story, but we don't have to talk until you are ready,"
"If you know what happened then you know Cosmic has my Pokemon. I have to get them back," Lucas held his ribs and grimaced, then stepped towards Gabby with a defeated sigh, "I'm actually glad you're here. You said you're the best investigative journalist in Hoenn. I want your help to find them,"
Gabby and Ty exchanged astonished looks, "Lucas, I'm good, but no one knows where Cosmic is-"
"Don't give me that bullshit! Aside from bugging me I know you've been covering Team Cosmic's activities since their experiments in Rustburo, maybe even longer. If anyone has a lead into where those bastards are hiding, it's going to be you," Lucas bit his lip and added, "Please, if you know where they are, you have to tell me. I'll do anything to get my Pokemon back. I'll even agree to your stupid interview."
The woman ground her teeth but Lucas refused to break eye contact with her. Ty gave her a look and nodded his head, "I don't have any tips or leads. The League is absolutely stumped by this. Hoenn is vast, but well documented, and even the smallest islands can be easily investigated. I do, however, have a theory about where they might be. Six years ago when Aqua and Magma were tearing the Region apart, they stole a submarine and held a base in a large underwater cavern. The area is littered with them, but there are some that are too deep and difficult to get to by Trainer or most Pokemon, and the rest are all monitored by the League. There haven't been any reports of submarines being stolen or being docked at any of our ports,
"But, Team Cosmic is a paramilitary group. Not a bunch of frustrated kids. Not organized crime. They are nothing like our government has ever faced. They are exceptionally well trained and well equipped. It's not impossible to believe that not only do they have their own sub—maybe even their own fleet—that they can maintain and keep equipped without ever having to use Hoenn facilities. It's my personal hunch that they are using Team Aqua's abandoned headquarters under the straits,"
"If you knew about this, why didn't you tell someone in the League?! Cosmic could have been crushed by now!"
Gabby shook her head, "I told you, it's just a hunch. I don't have any witnesses or corroborating evidence. A journalist may not have the same burden of proof the government needs to make an accusation, but I'm still a professional. As soon as I have even the slightest shred of proof, I'm going public,"
"Thanks. I'm going to keep my word. When I come back we'll sit down and do that interview. You can ask me whatever you want," Lucas nodded and began walking down the hall again.
"Hold on a second. What makes you think I'm staying behind?"
"It's too dangerous,"
"Exactly. Somebody needs to watch out for you. And you're delusional if you think I'm going to miss Cosmic's final take down. I'm already furious I missed the big fight at Mt. Pyre,"
Lucas shook his head and gestured for the two to follow. There was no point arguing and he knew he was running out of time. He had no idea what the evil organization could be doing to his Pokemon, and the pain and damage to his body was rapidly catching up with him. The doctors were right that he needed rest. But he couldn't rest until he knew Gizmo and the others were safe. Besides, if Gabby knew specifically where Aqua's old hideout was, having her along would save more time in the long run. Lucas waited until the nurses' station was clear and moved as quickly as he could out the back exit. As he tiptoed out the back alley, he discovered he had been found out.
"Pay up Ashley," Morgan scoffed as she gestured to the shorter girl. Ashley, Morgan and Skyler were standing by one of the hospital's loading docks, all waiting for him.
"You guys were betting that I'd make a break from the hospital?" Lucas huffed indignantly.
"No, we knew you were going to try to leave against the doctor's orders. What I was betting on was that you were stupid enough to try to do it by yourself," Morgan responded dryly as she snatched the wad of bills from the Coordinator's hand, "For such a fast thinker you can be a slow learner. Doing shit by yourself is what got you into this mess to begin with,"
"Cosmic is able to do what they do because they can rely on each other as a team. We have no chance of stopping them unless we act the same way. I see how much you count and trust your Pokemon. We're asking you do the same with us," Ashley added.
"I'm sorry, it wasn't that I don't trust you guys, I just am used to doing everything by myself. And now that I have so much to lose, I don't want to risk seeing you get hurt. This is my fight and my mistake," Lucas stated defiantly.
"I'm not about to stand by and let you get hurt again. No matter how stupid and pigheaded this idea even is," Skyler glared. In the dark it was hard to see his friends' faces, but now that he spoke Lucas could tell how furious the Dragon Tamer was that his boyfriend didn't think to include him in the mission. But he could also see Skyler's body language soften, "But I also can't say I'd do anything differently if it was my Pokemon who were stolen. Which is why I'll stay by your side, even if you take me to the gates of hell themselves,"
Lucas smiled, "It won't be the gates of hell, but it'll be pretty close. According to Lois Lane's evil twin, there is someplace that Cosmic is hiding that the League isn't thinking to check, but it's going to be pretty damn hard to get there,"
"Impossible challenge against an evil organization where we are vastly outnumbered? Must be Thursday," Morgan quipped and then Lucas explained his plan.
Completely unarmed, Lucas stopped by the Pokemon Center and brought out a new team to recover his old one. He was still careful to not draw attention to himself, as he was sure the hospital was now more than well aware he was gone. He was grateful he had spent so much time diversifying and Training more than just a few of his Pokemon. Blobby Bob the Wailord, Hotrod the Charizard, Donna the Espeon, Jaws his Garchomp, his Tentacool and his Haunter were all withdrawn for the upcoming battle. The next step was to once again call the Pokemon League. Ashley was right that they'd have to be just as organized as Cosmic if they had a chance at stopping them. According to Steven there were no submarines at the Lillycove ports that Lucas and his friends could use, and it would take several days before one could be brought in, but he had an alternate plan that could work, especially since Lucas had a Wailord.
Lucas, Skyler, Morgan, Ashley, Gabby and Ty all waited at the helipad where Steven had told them. A Silph-Devon chopper appeared in the sky above them with a pod-like device attached beneath it. The young CEO leapt a few feet down from where the helicopter was hovering and approached the injured Trainer. He shouted above the roar of the blades, "It's good to see you Lucas. I'm sorry about what happened. The rest of the Gym Leaders and the Elite Four will be showing up soon, but we need you guys ahead to start the mission. That's worked really well so far in the past,"
"And I'm sorry too. I was stupid to try to face Marcia by herself. I should have seen she was not going to fight fair. It's my fault Cosmic got away again," Lucas shouted back.
"This was never going to be an overnight operation. Over months we went from having them keep Hoenn in a stranglehold to them being on the run. That's largely because of you Lucas, which is why I trust you with getting into their HQ,"
"And how are we going to do that? You said you can't get a sub here for days. And what's that thing hanging under the chopper?"
Steven smiled the impish grin that always made Lucas so worried, "This is the reason why I asked if you had a Wailord. Wailord are one of the few Pokemon that can handle the depths the HQ is at, as well as being big enough. That is an undersea lab. It can handle the same pressures a submarine can, but it doesn't have any way of propelling itself. However, it's small enough to bring on a helicopter, and small enough to fit into a Wailord's mouth,"
Lucas was getting the plan, "Blobby Bob is going to be a jury rigged submarine. We ride in the lab, it goes in his mouth,"
"Precisely. That's what the rest of us are going to do as well. There are seven more labs on route that are going to show up with the cavalry,"
"Then let's get this party started," Lucas smirked. While the pain in his ribs and head were overwhelming, the adrenaline of the upcoming mission were going to keep him going. After all, there was nothing any more that was going to stop him from saving his Pokemon.