Chapter 54: Mission One Start
"Push the damn button, always remember the mission comes first." Frost heard the all to a familiar feminine voice on the radio.
He eyed the detonator in his hand as his hands refused to move a single drop of sweat rolled down his face as he mustered the courage to reply.
"I can't do it, ma'am, I can't do it, all of you will die I refuse there must be another way there has to be another way!" he screamed in agony.
A sigh came from the women as he could hear the gunshots in the background of the radio chatter get louder.
"Listen to me boy THERE IS NO OTHER WAY if you don't push the button thousands of people could die we came here to put a stop to this and we will I know this is asking for a lot and I am sorry… sorry for everything never forget why we do this."
"We get blood on our hands so the rest of the world breathes easy." He replied but no response came.
The situation finally hit Frost and it as he placed his gaze on the device in his hand he steeled his nerves the words of his mentor echoing on repeat in his head, it was hopeless he realized as his mind gave up and he vented out his fear and frustrations
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH"
BOOM!
Frost woke up breathing heavily as he came to terms with what just happened
"Didn't have that one in a while." He justified as he glanced at the time in his Pokegear.
[4:00 AM….. damn can't seem to catch a break] he sighed as he got up knowing full well that he could not go to sleep again.
Walking straight into the shower he was glad that Luminous Pride had a 24/7 water heater as the hot water was all he needed to wash the uneasiness left from his dream.
His arm and leg were still bandaged and he tried to keep the water away from them but he could only protect them for so long as he felt the jolt of pain emit from his stitched arm when some water inevitably seeped in.
After freshening up while redressing his wounds he thought
[A bad arm, a burnt leg, and a sore back… Arceus]
The arm and leg were easy to redress but when it came to his back he realized that he had it easy when Cynthia applied ointment for him nevertheless he did it and as he tightened the bandages over his various injuries from the past few days he examined himself in the mirror still naked he could see his entire body littered with so many scars and marks.
"Yeah never could catch a breather." He joked as certain words popped in his mind again
[We do this to keep the people safe.]
Shaking his head sideways he snapped out, wrapping a towel around his waist he left the bathroom to get dressed.
His long coat hung inside the wardrobe as he ignores it since the mission was later in the night instead he opted for the usual a black suit with a white shirt and tie. Although he opted to not wear neither the tie nor the jacket of the suit leaving only his shirt and pant.
Grabbing all the essential accessories he eyed the luxury ball for a second before keeping it back in his pocket.
[Just because I Woke up soon doesn't mean she needs to also.]
Frost referred to Ninetales who was probably resting, it had taken him a long time to finish up his morning routine completely and freshen up as it was almost 5 a fact he confirmed with a quick peek.
"One day at a time Frost one day at a time." He told himself as he left his room.
The mobile HQ wasn't as bustling as usual but it still had some staff in it presumably the night shift he greeted them back as the visibly tired rangers saluted him and soon after sat on Spark's desk to get to work on the PC.
Hours went by as he examined everything literally EVERYTHING Spark had collected from the base location to even a rough map of the place.
While examining the map of the underground facility he praised the blonde's work as he knew to find even this crude layout must have been damn near impossible.
"How did you find this Sparky?" he asked the person trying to sneak upon him.
Spark hung his head in disappointment as he sighed and replied
"I broke the encryption on Brown's personal and private server got it from there, see the long tunnel on the top that is the main entrance." Spark pointed on the layout.
Frost nodded as he glanced at the whole page again scrolling through it not to miss anything.
The entire underground facility was divided into three floors total connected via a pair of elevators and a single staircase, each floor was identical with one large space connected to various smaller rooms.
"There is only one entry point…" Frost muttered under his breath.
"Yes and that is not the only bad thing for me to get access to their CCTV and other systems you guys need to manually plug me in because the entire server wired internally with heavy encryption almost damn near impossible to crack with the time frame we have."
"So we need to clear out floor one without any support from you."
"Yes I am afraid but once you plug in the key I give you I can have full access." The younger guy replied with confidence.
"I see…. Well anyway, great job finding this makes our job much easier." Frost added while standing up.
"Where are you going?"
"Wake the Champion's up to get them here by 9."
"Lance is already up training in the gym."
"You could have trained with him when was your last workout?" Frost added.
"Ah….." Spark didn't reply instead gave him a sheepish smile.
Frost sighed "Anyways just get him here and also get in touch with the police."
"Roger that boss." Spark replied as both of them went their separate directions.
I had not been long since Cynthia woke up she glanced at the time.
[7:15 Oh shit Frost could come here any minute now.] she panicked as she jumped off the bed and hurried off to complete her morning routine and after a quick shower got dressed in her casuals nothing too fancy she opted to not wear her black long coat in the morning and quickly decided on a matching pair of shoes.
Hearing the knock on her door she had any idea who it could be an opening the door just confirmed it, Frost stood there looking surprised.
"What happened?" she asked.
Frost shook his head and replied
"Nothing just didn't expect you to be awake and dressed nonetheless."
"I can be punctual as well you know." She pouted as Frost chuckled.
He raised in hand apologetically and admitted
"Okay okay don't take it as an offense, now come on let's go."
Cynthia huffed in annoyance and both of them left the suite together.
While in the elevator seeing Frost have a serious expression Cynthia grew slightly worried as she asked
"Hey, everything fine did you sleep well?"
The question caught him by surprise as he indeed did not have the best rest last night but seeing what happened in the morning he chooses to avoid the subject.
"Yeah I slept just fine it is just that I got a lot on my plate right now, we have to pull off this big thing tonight and then also send you guys back home by tomorrow."
[Send us home tomorrow….." it clicked in Cynthia's mind as she remembered today is the last day she spends in Lumious.
"Oh, right we have to go back but wait what about you?"
"I and the team would probably go back to the main HQ and wait for redeployment." He answered without making eye contact his gaze was focused on the path ahead as both of them kept walking.
"I see."
[Last day which means I won't be seeing Frost for a while…]Cynthia pondered as her heart felt a tug.
Seeing Cynthia like this made Frost react
"We will most likely be assigned to you guys again for our next mission since you all insisted on becoming rangers but that would take some time I am afraid."
"Oh that is fine I am a patient person."
"Is that correct." Frost teased as it earned him a well-deserved slap on the shoulder.
"Hey!" he protested innocently.
Cynthia didn't reply instead she just paced faster than Frost leaving him behind.
"Oye wait up," he yelled as he jogged to catch up to the champion.
"We still have some time lets go get something to eat you haven't had anything right?" Frost asked as Cynthia simply nodded not giving him a verbal response.
Frost raised his brow as he witnessed the childish side of Cynthia again.
"ALRIGHT FINE you are a very punctual and patient individual at SOME times." He apologized but this still got him a burning gaze in reply and he rephrased
"AT MOST TIMES…"
Cynthia perked up and soon replied
"That will do for now let's go now I want some pancakes." She demanded as
Frost face palmed but nonetheless followed her.
"Yes Ma'am"
By the time both of them entered the mobile HQ, it was back to being crowded with Rangers working away on computers and managing security.
"Frost did you see this."
It was Rain calling him telling him to see the map that Spark found.
"Yeah I did, he outdid himself." He replied as Cynthia exchanged her greetings with the blue-haired women.
"Where is Diantha?" Cynthia asked.
"Someone called?" Diantha said popping out from the side.
"Oh you are here, let us go find the others."
"Cynthia, could you bring everyone here while you're at it?" Frost asked.
"Sure."
As the both ladies left Frost asked Rain
"Could I ask you to sit out from this mission?"
Rain didn't stop looking at the monitor but her brow rose
"And why would you ask me that?"
"You know to stay with the champions keep then secured, and don't get me wrong I am going to make Stone stay as well." Frost Clarified.
"You making us two stay out makes me feel uneasy you sure I know everything?"
"You read my mind yesterday so you know what I think about all of this." He justified.
"And that is why I think…." Rain stopped abruptly as a Ranger walked by them.
Frost also stopped talking understanding the situation.
[And that is why I think that the Kalos Ranger's HQ having a traitor is something crazy but surprisingly believable given the current circumstances.] Frost heard the sentence complete in his mind.
The mental conversations stopped without being finished as all the rangers and Champions walked in.
Lance was dripping of sweat as Spark just dragged him out of the gym, Steven seemed calmer than he usually is, Alder was conversing with the two lady Champions about the various women he met in the Hotel and Cynthia and Diantha were chuckling at the older Champion's stories.
"Where's Stone and the kid?" Ember raised the question haughtily.
"Stone told me he would be late, he is with Ash and Pikachu but he did not say where or what they are doing," Leaf added.
"Stone being late that isn't like him you sure everything is alright," Spark asked while throwing a towel on Lance.
"Enough chit chat if he said he would be late then so be it let us get the champions up to speed." Rain took the initiative.
"Take a seat everyone," Frost asked politely and everyone gathered round taking a folding seat each.
"As you can see the lab/hideout is structured in a three-floor design and the long tunnel is the main entry, each floor is connected with a pair of elevators and stairways a team consisting of myself, Ember, and Leaf will infiltrate the structure."
"Only three of you what about the rest of us," Diantha questioned and Lance nodded.
"Rain and Stone will be assigned to you champions for safety reasons and I need all the champions to keep Team Galactic at bay outside on the streets."
"You need us to make a distraction for you all to enter rather calmly I see," Alder said while stroking his chin.
"I still don't like the fact that you won't let us go inside the base." Lance aggressed.
"Sorry it has to be this way Champion, but we can't put your lives in danger by sending you in a gunfight," Sparky said.
"But…" Diantha tried to speak but was interrupted by Rain.
"Don't worry Diantha the three we are sending inside are capable to handle it themselves."
Frost seeing the conversation die down continued.
"Sparky where are we with the Police?"
"I explained the situation to them and they are willing to cooperate." He chirped
"Good! now listen, the Police and the Rangers will be setting barricades all around the district and will be the first to announce the raid, Lance put your G-Men with them at the various exit points and tell them to make sure no one leaves the area."
"Alright."
"Once the raid begins waves of team Galactic will come from both inside and outside the base and it is here when the Champions do what they do and deal with them giving me and the others an opening to enter the hideout, Rain and Stone will be outside only but won't join your fight they will be on the watch and making sure no gunfights occur on the surface."
"So we are only a distraction that's all?" Steven questioned.
"Oye you get to be a part of the plan so what the fuck is your problem you idiot, we ask you to stay out of our way so that you don't get shot," Ember growled.
"I also don't like staying away from the real fight," Cynthia said while fixing her gaze on the map and then Frost who sighed and replied.
"I don't make the rules here Champion the higher-ups what you all out so I keep you out if you have a problem ask Goodshow."
"Wait said to keep us out?" Diantha asked surprised with this.
"Yup we can't let foreign representatives like yourself get injured." Rain added.
Cynthia thought about this for a second before smirking to herself and replying
"Alright fine if said it then so be it."
Frost who caught the smirk thought to himself
[What is she plotting this time.]
"But Cynthia we can't just let them go in alone," Diantha argued but was quickly shut down by Alder.
"Diantha is right here as well if any of us gets hurt here it would become an international incident very quickly."
"But…"
"No buts lady," Ember added.
Before the conversation could get more heated Rain stepped in again
"Look Champions you aren't just a distraction you guys getting the three of them inside the hideout is the first and most crucial step if you guys don't make your raid look believable they will expect us and make it more difficult."
Her reasoning was sound as even Steven didn't question it
"Well if you put it that way I guess it is fine." He mumbled under his breath.
"If your role is clear then please cooperate with the police and the rangers, Lance can I leave it to you," Frost asked the dragon master.
"Yes." He answered with surety.
"Good, then please rest till evening we leave at 10 PM," Frost said effectively dismissing all of them.
"Frost wait what about Stone and Ash?" Rain muttered.
"I'll go pay them a visit, here take my room key card and get my stuff down here if I take too long." He answered while leaving immediately for the same.
Cynthia wanted to follow him but she herself had a call to make a very crucial one at that so she opted out and the rest of the Champions with the exception of Ash who wasn't there and Lance who had his own task decided it was better to follow Frost's advice and take it easy for the rest of the day.
Frost tried calling Stone but when the latter didn't answer he sent him a message but still got worried.
[What the hell?] Frost thought as he went to the reception to talk to the ever so familiar receptionist.
"How may I help you today?" he asked politely.
"Have you seen Ash Ketchum leave today?" Frost got straight to the point.
"Yes, of course, he left early in the morning with one of you."
"Tall and well built?" Frost described his teammate.
"Yes."
"Do you know where they went?"
"No I am afraid but they couldn't have gone far as they refused my offer to book them a cab."
"I see thanks a lot," Frost replied as he rushed out of the reception outside with his phone in hand.
"Welcome…sir" The man said as Frost quickly left his vision.
Frost started walking the streets of Lumious bustling with crowd, as usual, he carefully weaved through the crowd making sure not to bump into anyone he didn't cover a long distance when he got a call from Stone.
"Stone what the hell is wrong with you, leaving without telling anyone where you went plus taking Ash with you," Frost yelled.
"I am sorry Leader but could you please come to the location I sent you." Stone replied as the ping from the message came.
"What happened this isn't like you?" Frost asked as he read the message Stone was calling him to the same park where he and Cynthia rested on their day out.
"I know and I apologize I will explain everything once you get here?"
"Alright," Frost said as the call disconnected.
[Well what is he up to?] he wondered as he left for the park.
Cynthia was pacing to and fro in her suite's balcony waiting for the call to connect she was partly annoyed at the long duration the call was taking to connect.
[Arceus how long is this dial tone.] she grumbled in her head but her back straightened as a voice came from the other side.
"This is Cynthia Shirona speaking can you get Mr. Goodshow on the line." She said as her lips curled into a smile hearing the reply.
Author's Notes:
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter slightly longer than my usual *wink**wink*. If you guys have anything to ask or say about the story feel free to write it in the reviews or private message me anything works. I'll try and upload the next chapter soon so until then
PEACE OUT