Michael and Walkin hurried to the top of the factory after taking down a few more Cipher members, who Michael snagged some Pokemon from, they saw some stairs leading to the top.
"It should be up there. Come on!"
They hurried up the stares to see the console they were looking for. A lone scientist was making adjustments. "Okay…Now, all there's to do is adjust the voltage…Let me see…where's the System Lever? Huh?" He fished into his pockets to no avail. "Whoops! I left it on my desk! That's not smart…"
He turned around and saw Walkin and Michael. The younger man had the lever in his hand. "Uh…"
"Oh, hey! That's the System Lever! You went and got it for me! Thank you!"
"Um…yeah!" Michael replied. "Thought you might be needing this."
"I sure do! Whew! Master Wes would have let me have it!"
"Hey, can I adjust the voltage?"
"Er…I dunno…It's kind of a delicate process…"
"Come on man! Let the kid have a little fun!" Walkin smiled.
"Hmmm…Master Wes would be cross if he found out…Ah, what the heck! What he doesn't know can't hurt him! Plug it in kid!"
"Thanks!"
"Be careful! We need it turned down! If the voltage goes up even a little, the computer controlling this whole facility will shut down! And, oh my gosh! If that were to happen, the Shadow Pokemon production software could be destroyed!"
"Okay!" Michael pushed the lever in until it clicked. "Did that do it?"
"Yup, it's in place. Fire away!"
"Whatever you say." Michael pushed it all the way up. "Oh, sorry, did you say up or down?" he asked with a smirk.
Suddenly the whole console started to vibrate.
"WHAT?! I said down! DOWN!…Wait! Who are you anyway?! You don't belong here!"
"Ahem." The scientist turned around to see Walkin with a smirk and a Gloom."Just let him have his fun." The Gloom shot a blast of sleep powder, knocking him out. Suddenly the console glowed red and made an alarming amount of noise as the ground shook. "Let's move!" Walkin said as he flung the unconscious scientist over his shoulder. "She's gonna blow!"
Both he and Michael jumped over the railing and to the floor a short distance under. They covered their ears waiting for an explosion. But all they heard was a loud zap. Then silence.
"Is…that it?" Michael asked.
"What?! Come on! No laud boom?!" Walkin asked. "Not even a pop?! What kind of lame self destruct was that?! Man, I feel ripped off!"
Just then a Cipher Peon ran up to the roof with Gorigan close behind.
"What's going on?! The production line's stopped! The control computer's not responding!"
"What the heck's going on out here?!" Gorigan asked. "I finally chased out all of those Snagum runts out of the place and now this?!"
The Peon then spotted Michael. "Oh! You're that punk from the S.S. Libra! You're behind this aren't you?!"
"Oh sure, pay no attention to me!" Walkin grumbled.
"Oh, no! What the blazes?! The Shadow Pokemon production software's been deleted!"
"Ha! Then good bye and good riddance!" Michael laughed.
Gorigan roared in rage. "Urrrgggh! In wrecking my factory, you smeared dirt all over my good name and standing! You've done it now! I'm steaming mad, and there's no forgiving that. Ever! Be prepare to drop!"
Walkin glanced at Michael. "What do you say kid? Two on two?"
Michael gave him a thumbs up. "Sounds like fun. Let's do this!"
"Espeon, return!" On Wes's command his Pokemon returned to its Pokeball. "Now go Hariyama!" The bulky fighting type came out.
"I'm surprised, Wes." Gonzap said. "I'd think Cipher's new boss would have had a Shadow Pokemon."
"You know I despise the concept of Shadow Pokemon."
"And here you are helping the production of them! Why are you doing this?! What's the point?!"
Suddenly a scientist appeared on the monitor on the end of the room. "Master Wes! Something has happened to the control computer! The Shadow Pokemon production software has been erased!"
Gonzap smirked to himself. "Nice work you two."
Wes didn't reply.
"And that's not all! Two creeps broke in and took the last Shadow Pokemon we managed to produce!"
"What? Who were they?"
"I-I don't know! One of them had hair like a mohawk…the other had hair like a ball."
Wes went silent again.
"Master Wes, we can't produce any more Shadow Pokemon! What do we do?!"
"Prepare for parodical, Citadark."
The scientist was dumbstruck. "W-what?!"
"You heard me. Make sure preparations are made. I will activate it myself when the time comes."
"Y-yes sir…"
The screen went black.
Gonzap looked back at his opponent. "Well, Wes, that's it. Cipher can't make Shadow Pokemon anymore. It's over."
Wes turned back to him. "No. Not yet."
"Sheesh. Eager to go down with the ship? Seriously Wes, give me a straight answer already! What started this?!"
The younger man looked down briefly. "Forget it." He said returning Typhlosion. "Even if I did tell you, it wouldn't change the fact that I have to do this." He then took out a Ultra Ball.
"Attack, Ledian! Go Brick Break!"
Michael's bug-flying type slammed its hand into the Peon's Ursaring, knocking it out.
"Gloom, sleep powder!" Walkin's Pokemon shot a green powder at Gorigan's Shadow Hypno. The Pokemon fell asleep. "Ha! Some hypnotist! Take your shot kid!"
"You got it!" Michael replied, putting a Ultra ball in the Snag Machine. "Go, Snag ball!" He caught the Shadow Pokemon with ease. "Gotcha!"
"Ugaaaah! You got lucky this time!" Gorigan yelled before running off.
"M-Master Gorigan!"
The Peon ran after him.
"Well…that's that." Walkin said. "Let's make sure Gonzap is doing all right."
"Okay."
Walkin approached the door near the staircase. As soon as he opened it he heard a yell.
"GAAAAH!"
Gonzap was sent hurling into Walkin. Both were collapsed to the floor by the time Michael ran up to them. "Gonzap! What happened?!"
Walking grunted as he pushed the larger man off of him. "Wes, sir?"
"Nnnngh…I can't believe it…the kid's still too strong for me…but...not as strong as when I last fought him though…"
"What do you mean?" Michael asked.
"I…I think he doesn't have it in him to go all out like he used to…I don't know it it's guilt or something else, but…I think you might be on to something kid. The Wes everyone thought of as a hero might still be in there…and I think you might be able to pull him back."
"Gonzap…"
"There they are!"
A bunch of Cipher grunts charged up the stairs.
"Michael, go after Wes!" Walkin said. "I'll take care of this!"
"But-
"Kid, you're the only one who can get through to Wes!" Gonzap said, grabbing Michael's arm. "We did all this to get you this far so don't you dare screw this up!"
Michael clutched his fist. "…Alright. I'm on it!" He hurried inside. He saw Wes standing in he middle of the room with his P*DA. "Wes!"
"So, you made it this far…"
"What happened to you Wes? How could Orre's greatest hero sink this low?"
"Hero? Please. I assume if you ran into Gonzap, you know all the details of my past."
"More or less."
"So, you see? I was part of a criminal organization that stole Pokemon. I'm no hero."
"That may be true, but I also know why you quit Snagum. They were going to turn your Pokemon into Shadow Pokemon."
"That's…not the only reason."
"What?"
"When I first joined Snagum, the team only stole Pokemon from trainers who abused them. Or those who used them to hurt others. People who deserved it. In our eyes we were doing those Pokemon a favor. Every time I stole a Pokemon I told myself I was freeing it into a better life…just like what Gonzap did for me that day…" Wes stopped typing before he continued. "But ever since Cipher got involved things changed. Gonzap started stealing from ordinary people. Even little kids. As things escalated, I felt worse…suddenly I started trusting Snagum less…so I decided to put a listening device in his office to see if I could get a clue on what he was really up to…then I heard what he wanted to do to Umbreon and Espeon. That was the final straw."
Michael was taken aback. "Is that why you stole the Shadow Pokemon from Cipher? You wanted to relive those days of steeling Pokemon to help them?"
Wes nodded. "Granted it was a friend's idea, not mine…at first I only stole this Snag Machine to make sure Snagum could never use it. But that means nothing now. Like I said before: things change. You shouldn't be surprised. I changed from a criminal to being what people called a hero. Who's to say I can't change back?"
"You're wrong!" Michael said. "You're still a hero! And if defeating you is the only thing that can bring you back to your senses…I'll do what I have to do!"
Wes laughed as he stepped forward. "Is that what you believe?"
"It's what your friends believe too! So for them and for you, I'm putting a stop to this! The Shadow Pokemon plain is dust! I took out all of your Cipher goons! Now all I have left to do is save you!"
Wes looked at his P*DA and the message he typed on it. "Friends huh?" He then hit the send button. "Alright kid, give it your best shot. Truth be told, I've been looking forward to this. Let's see just how powerful you've become." Both held out two Pokeball's in front of them.
"Umbreon! Espeon!"
"Ledian! Primape!"
The four Pokemon came out ready for battle. "Alright! Primape, attack with Shadow Blitz!" The Shadow Pokemon rushed towards Umbreon.
"Umbreon, return!" The Pokemon went back into it's Pokeball. "Go, Hariyama!" The new Pokemon intercepted the Primape, blocking it with it's hands. "Cross Chop!" It swiped its hands in a x shape, smacking the Pokemon hard. "Espeon, psychic!" His other Pokemon, hit it with a telepathic attack, knocking it out.
"Primape!"
"You thought you could best me with a Shadow Pokemon you just caught? Have you learned nothing?"
Michael returned his Pokemon. "I'm just getting started! Go, Gardevoir!" He sent his psychic type out next. "Ledian, Aerial Ace! Gardevoir, Psychic!" Ledian swooped into Hariyama. While it was stunned, Gardevoir took the advantage of it to strike the fighting type while it was weakened. Being especially vulnerable to flying and psychic attacks, it had no chance to resist fainting.
Wes grinned as he returned it. "Much better…it's been too long since I had such a battle…Typhlosion!" Next was Wes's Fire type. "Flame, wheel!"
"Gardevoir, Shadow Ball!"
Wes's Pokemon attacked Ledian the moment, Michael's attacked Espeon. Both took heavy damage, but endured. Both their trainers knew they were one hit away from defeat. They had to make it count.
"SWIFT!"
Both Espeon and Ledian shot stars at each other. Some of them collided into each other but most of them slipped past each other, hitting their targets in a bright blast. Both of them fell to the floor.
"A double KO…" Michael said as the Pokemon were called back. "Don't see that very often…"
"Indeed…" Wes said. "Metagross!"
"Ninetales!" Both of them sent their next Pokemon. "Alright, now for the- Michael then noticed one of Wes's Pokemon went missing. "Hey…where'd his Typhlosion go?" He then heard a rumble under him. "What the heck?!"
WHAM
Typhlosion burst out of the ground and rammed into the Ninetales. "Dig?!"
"Metagross, Meteor Mash!" The steel-psychic type smashed it's fist into Gardevoir, knocking it back.
"Hang on guys! Fire Blast! Psychic! Ninetales shot a star shaped flame at Hyper Beam. Gardevoir launched another mental attack at Typhlosion.
"Typlosion, Flamethrower! Metagross, Hyper Beam!" Both of Wes's Pokemon prepared to attack.
"Move!" On Michael's orders Gardevoir side-stepped away from the flames. Ninetales leapt away from the Hyper Beam.
"Ninetales, Quick attack! Gardevoir, Psychic again!"
The fox Pokemon rammed into Typlosion. Using the provided opening, Gardevoir, finished it off. "Not bad, kid…" Wes said returning his Pokemon and taking out an Ultra Ball. "But this is where it get's interesting…Go Suicune!" Wes sent out the legendary beast. It glowed in a majestic blue light as it came out.
Michael was dumbfounded. "Is that…a legendary Pokemon?!"
"That's right. You have done well to put me against a wall like this…It's been so many years since someone was able to give me a real challenge." Wes grinned. "This is the greatest battle I've had in a long time!"
Michael noticed he was slightly shaking…but not out of fear. But out of excitement. He smiled himself. "Yeah. I feel the same. Alright! I'll give this battle everything I got!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Suicune! Hydro Pump!" The water legendary roared and shot a torrent of water out of it's mouth. It slammed into Ninetales, knocking it up against the wall.
"Ninetales!"
After slumping to the ground, it tried to get up…but it's strength ran out and it dropped to the floor.
"Meteor Mash!" Metagross hit Gardevoir so hard it left a huge dent into the wall in it's shape from the impact, before collapsing to the ground.
"Gardevoir!"
"Oh, and another thing. Metagross is one of the most powerful Shadow Pokemon I ever caught. Let's see what you can do against one of my strongest combinations."
Michael returned his Pokemon before bringing out his last two. "Then here's mine. The first Pokemon I ever owned, and the first Shadow Pokemon I ever caught…Jolteon! Ursaring!"
Wes watched as his last two Pokemon came out. He stared at the Jolteon. "It's you…"
"Here we go! Jolteon, Thunder!" The electric type shot a bolt from it's face at Suicune. The legendary was sent backwards slightly.
"Suicune, Hydro Pump! Take Jolteon down quick!"
The water type shot another blast of water. But Ursaring ran in front of Jolteon and took the hit. "Ursaring?!" The bear fell to it's knees. Both Michael and Jolteon were shocked. "Ursaring…why'd you do that?!"
"Interesting." Wes smiled. "Any good Pokemon trainer has Pokemon that trust him…but for that trainer's Pokemon to trust each other this much…you have all been though a lot together. And with the struggles you were put through you have all developed a deep bond…You're good Michael. You're all good. One in a million in fact."
Ursaring roared as it rose to its feet.
"Looks like it can still fight. Metagross!"
"Ursaring!"
Both Pokemon roared as they charged each other. Metagross shot its front arms forward. Ursaring caught them in it's paws. While they grappled, Suicune charged up another Hydro Pump.
"Oh no you don't! Jolteon, Tunder!" The yellow Pokemon cried into the air and a dark cloud formed above the legendary. With a loud boom, a very powerful bolt came down on it. Ursaring threw Metagross onto Suicune, knocking the legendary out. Then it charged for Metagross again. "Return!"
"Meteor Mash!"
Metagross and Ursaring threw their fists at each other. Both hit each other in the face and knocked both of them to the ground. Wes returned both of his Pokemon. Michael did the same for his defeated Ursaring. "This is the first time someone brought me down to my very last Pokemon like this." He said looking at his last active Pokemon. "Alright…let's go Umbreon!" He threw the Pokeball and the Eevee evolution came out again. It stared at Jolteon in the eyes.
Michael looked at Jolteon and smiled. "You know Wes? Remember when you asked me why I wanted to be a hero?"
"I remember you not having an answer."
"Well, now I do. At first it was so I could be like you but…now it's more. I want to keep other Pokemon from suffering. I want to protect this region and its people. But most of all…I want to protect my friends! And to do that I'll take Cipher down once and for all!"
Wes smiled. "Alright then. Prove it. Show me that your resolve is as strong as mine was! Umbreon! Faint Attack!" The dark type rushed up and rammed its head into Joelton.
"Thunder!"
Jolteon shot a burst of lightning at Umbreon sending it hurling back. It got up as another stream of thunder came at it and ran to the side, with the bolt chasing it close behind. "Bite!" It then closed in on Jolteon and bit it in the back.
"Double Kick!"
The electric type shook the attacker off and kicked it with its hind legs. Umbreon was shot a good distance but flipped into the air and landed on it's feet. Wes and Michael both knew the next attack would decide this battle.
"QUICK ATTACK!"
Both of them charged at each other with intense speed. They collided briefly and dashed past each other. There was utter silence as they both stopped.
THUD
Umbreon dropped to the floor.
At first Michael was shocked into silence. Then an exited smile grew across his face. "Yes…YES!" Michael ran over to Jolteon and hugged it. The Pokemon licked his face. "We did it! We beat Wes!"
The older man withdrew his Pokemon. "Heh." Michael looked up as Wes finally pushed his shades up and off his eyes letting them rest above his forehead. His golden eyes finally visible. "This is the first time I lost a battle since Gonzap first trained me…it's strange. It feels…nice."
Michael stood up as he approached. "Wes…"
Wes smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. "Well done Michael. You've become a true trainer." The then kneeled down to Jolteon and patted its head. "And you Eevee…no, Jolteon. I'm proud of you. This wasn't what I had in mind for you…but I knew it was right to trust you with my friend."
"Your friend? You mean Eagun?" Michael asked.
"I left Eevee with him because I knew the path I was taking was far too dangerous for the little guy. Michael, thank you…for taking care of him."
Michael chuckled nervously. "Well…That's what a trainer's for right?"
Suddenly the monitor on the end of the room turned on. Michael and Wes were averted to the sound of clapping. "Bravo. A most splendid battle indeed."
Michael was at a loss for words. There was a familiar man on the screen in a floating chair. "Huh? You're-
"Hohoho. We meet again. You do remember me, don't you?"
"Mr. Verich?!"
"No." Wes replied. "Greevil."
"What?"
The elderly man laughed. "Yes, Indeed! I am Mr. Verich. Or perhaps I should say Greevil, the Grand Master of Cipher."
Michael was in utter shock. "Grand Master…? No way! I though Wes was the leader!"
"No." the man said looking away. "I'm just a figurehead."
"Figurehead? What do you mean?"
"Wes here was simply acting as Cipher's leader." Greevil grinned. "You see, Edvice, the leader Wes defeated five years ago was only Cipher's leader in Orre. However, nobody was afraid of Cipher after his fall. So, in order to make our comeback, we needed a terrifyingly strong trainer to "convince" members to join us. And who better than the "Hero of Orre" himself."
Michael turned back to Wes. "But why? Why did agree to this?"
"Why don't you ask him?" Wes asked before turning to the monitor with a glare. "She had better no be hurt."
"Hohohoh! Of course not. She is our guest after all."
Suddenly the camera shifted to the left. Wes and Michael then saw a girl. She had orange hair in pigtails, a blue jacket over a dark purple top, a white skirt, and pink boots. Her ankles were tied together with rope. Her upper body was tied to the chair she was sitting in with her wrists tied behind her back. Finally, there was a strip of tape over her mouth. The girl slowly looked up to the camera and her eyes went straight to Wes. "MMMPH!"
Michael looked at the girl for a second. Then he remembered the picture at Eagun's house. "Wait…isn't that girl Eagun's granddaughter?!"
Wes looked straight at her face. "Rui..."
"Indeed, Michael." Greevil laughed. "She proved quite useful. With her not only could the hero here not stop us, but we could get him to do whatever we pleased."
"THAT'S why Wes resurrected Cipher?! You were using her as a hostage against him!"
"I must say I am taken aback. I never once imagined that you would destroy our factory or defeat Wes. But that's not important. Even though the mass output of Shadow Pokemon has ended, our plan itself is unharmed. We still have XD001. Now I shall prepare to finish it's final tuning."
"XD001? That Shadow Pokemon that's supposed to be immune to purification?!"
"That's right. With it, conquering Orre-No! The world will be a simple task!"
"Well, forget it! I'm not letting that happen!"
"Do you honestly think you can stop me? I shall be at Cipher's HQ it is on Citadark Island off the coast of Gateon Port. It is an impregnable fortress that repels all with cruel waves and thick clouds. No one can reach it!"
"That's not going to stop us! Right partner?"
Jolteon growled at the monitor.
"Come if you dare. I'll enjoy waiting for you. Hohohoho! Oh, yes. And Wes, thank you for all your help. You just have one last job to do."
Wes looked straight at the monitor. "I know. And after that you'll let her go."
"But of course. That was our deal, was it not?"
Wes looked at Rui, who's face was painted with fear. He gave her a sad smile. "Rui…if you can hear me…those days we spent on our adventure together…they were the greatest days of my life. Thank you."
Rui screamed into her gag as the monitor shut off.
"I can't believe this." Michael growled. "How long have they had her?"
"One year. Three months. Twelve days."
"Darn it! We can't let them get away with this!"
"I'm sorry I wasn't the hero you took me for. They would have hurt her if I told anyone."
"What?! Wes, none of this is your fault! You had no choice! And you know what? Seeing all you sacrificed for your friend makes me realise how much of a hero you truly are!"
Wes turned his head to look at Michael directly. "But I never wanted to be a hero. Remember when I told you that being a hero might not be worth it? Well this is what I meant. It leads to you being a target! And if not you then the people you care about!" Michael stared at the grief in Wes's eyes as he continued. "After we defeated Cipher I just wanted to get away from it all and start over. Rui insisted she stayed by my side. We went on a journey around the world. Trying to find a purpose for ourselves. Then one day it happened."
"What happened?"
"Rui and I where in Hoenn. I wanted to go try out the Gym, but Rui was still tired because she was up late playing with a kid and her Pokemon outside, so I placed a note in the room at the Pokemon Center and left so she could sleep in. I won the Gym badge easily and was heading back to tell her but then…"
"Let me guess. Cipher."
Wes nodded. "By the time I got inside the place was a mess. Nobody was hurt except for trainers that tried to fight back. The nurse told me some shady people barged in and took Rui. I desperately looked all over the region. Then after two weeks of tireless searching…Greevil contacted me. He told me he wanted Cipher rebuilt and me to lead it in his schemes. And if I didn't comply, Rui would suffer for it…That's how it happened. My fall to darkness."
"Wes…"
"It's so pathetic." Wes said with his hands leaning on the desk. "If I just waited for her to wake up and took her with me none of this would ever have happened! She wouldn't have been taken! Those Pokemon I stole wouldn't be suffering! Maybe…I could have found out about Greevil on my own and stopped him. You wouldn't have gotten involved in any of this."
Michael stepped up. "Wes…Do you think I regret going on this journey? Because I don't. And believe me, Jolteon doesn't either! We were never forced to go after Cipher! And I doubt you were either! I did what I thought was right! And you know what? If I had to go thorough a few hardships, then fine! I think they're what made me stronger! And now look at me! I've become strong enough to face Snagum and Cipher! I've been all over Orre and have made so many friends…including you!"
Wes turned his head to Michael in surprise. "What?"
"Look…I really hate to say that the old creep was right about something, but one time Mr. Verich said to me that heroes represent hope. That's what you meant to me ever since I heard stories of you. And that hope supported me whenever I felt lost! And just now…we had the best battle of my life. Even if you were forced to work with Cipher…I still have more than enough reasons to consider you a friend."
Wes stared at Michael straight into the eye. "A friend huh?" He then turned to face him completely. "If that's the case…I have a favor to ask…as a friend."
"Yeah?"
"I don't trust Greevil to let Rui go. Ever. The only way is to reach Citadark Island and rescue her." Wes then put his hands on Michael's shoulders. "I'm asking this well aware of how dangerous it is and that I have no right to ask anything of you after all this. Please…Save Rui! Otherwise everything I have done until now will have been for nothing! Can I count on you to make sure it happens?"
Michael nodded. "I will. I'll never let Cipher win!"
Wes smiled. "Good." He then walked over behind the desk and started typing on the keypad.
"So, how do we reach Citadark Island anyway?" Michael asked.
"It will take more than an ordinary ship." Wes replied. "Flying there is out of the question, you can never know when and where lightning will strike. But I'm sure there is a way. If anyone can find it, it's you."
Michael was surprised at the faith Wes was putting in him. He smiled, out of joy that he was trusted by the man he looked up to. "Thanks." Wes pressed a button and part of the wall behind him opened up. Behind it was a glass tube, with a glowing green circle pad underneath. "What's that?" Michael asked.
"A warp pad. It can take you out of the factory." Wes said pressing another button. The glass pod lifted up. "Get in."
Michael and Jolteon hurried over and stood on the pad. "Okay then. Let's go! We can take down Cipher and save Rui together!"
Wes displayed nothing on his face, looking at the screen he was working with. "Michael?"
"Huh? What's up?"
Wes gave him a bright smile. "The battle we had just now…it was the best of my life too…I couldn't have asked for anyone better…for my final opponent. My Pokemon feel the same."
"Huh?"
Wes pressed another button and the pod slammed down, trapping Michael and Jolteon inside. Michael banged on the glass. "Hey! Wes, what are you doing?!"
"Greevil said there was one more thing I had to do." He then entered something else into the computer. It started to glow red.
INITIATING PROTOCOL CITADARK
Suddenly sirens started to blare. Red lights filled the room.
"What's going on?!"
Wes held down a button as he spoke into a speaker. "This is Wes. We are commencing protocol Citadark. All staff and Pokemon are to be evacuated immediately."
"What's happening?!"
"I'm destroying the Factory. In just a few minutes it's going to explode."
Michael's eyes widened. "What?! Well, come on, we have to get out of here!"
"I'm not going."
"Why the heck not?!"
"Greevil's orders are that I go with this place. That way the public will think that Cipher's main base and its leader are gone for good. Then he can take them by surprise. He'll send ships to collect the rest of Cipher to gather at Citadark, where he'll plan his attack on Orre."
"NO!"
"Be careful once you reach Citadark Island! It's swarming with trainers, carrying some of the strongest Shadow Pokemon we have produced. But as long as you and your Pokemon all believe in each other, you can do this."
"Wes, open this thing! Right now!"
"And another thing…tell Rui that I…" Wes paused for a moment before sighing. "No. Don't tell her anything. I've hurt her more than enough."
Michael's hands here pressed against the glass. Jolteon was scrapping it with it's paws whimpering. "Wes! WES!"
The man reached for the keypad while looking at Michael with one last smile. "Michael…Jolteon…Goodbye my friends. Thank you." He pressed a button and the pod started to glow.
"WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!"
Both Michael and Jolteon disappeared into the bright light.
The factory started to shake as Wes simply stood there. He reached into his pocket and took out a photo. The photo that had all his friends with him in front of the fountain at Phenac City. "Nett…Bitt…Megg…Secc…Maeica…Perr…Dunking…Silva…Eagun…" A lone tear slipped from Wes's eye. "…Rui…I'm so sorry…"
Greevil sat in his levitating chair looking at a monitor. It displayed, Wes, standing in the factory alone. Rui's face still showed fear as she saw the room he was in shake. She tugged fiercely on her bindings and shouted into her gag. Ardos smirked as he stared at the screen. Eldes displayed nothing on his face. Wes didn't move at the room kept shaking.
Then the image shut off.
"It's done." Ardos said. "He didn't attempt to leave. Wes along with the factory have been blown off the map."
Rui couldn't believe what she just heard. Her eye's widened in shock.
The man in blue walked over and ripped the tape off her mouth. Rui grunted in discomfort. "Do you see now girl? Your futile efforts to stop Cipher have lead to nothing. Your friend…and one of the only threats to us next to you is gone. Such is the fate of those who defy us."
Tears welled up in Rui's eyes. "No…"
"No. There is still the boy." Greevil said. "Perhaps we should have demanded that he stayed behind as well."
"With all due respect, Grandmaster, do you truly think a mere child could find his way here?"
Rui didn't even listen. Tears started falling down her face. She started breaking into sobs. "No…Wes…Wes!"
"Perhaps, you're right." Greevil smirked. "As soon as XD001 is complete…this world will be ours! Hohoho…Heh, heh, heh…AH, HA, HA, HA!"
Rui's tear-filled eyes squeezed shut as she screamed. "WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!"
From a cliffside in the distance, not far from where his scooter was parked, Michael stared at the rising smoke where the factory once stood. Jolteon was crying at his side. He looked down and clutched his fists.
"They took away what was most precious to you…they took advantage of your friendship with her…they manipulated you and casted you aside when they were done! They won't get away with it. I won't rest until Cipher is taken down!" With his eyes squeezed shut and leaking tears he yelled into the sky. "I'll MAKE THEM PAY FOR THIS!"
Yeah, I know it's kinda lame that Greevil is still the one REALLY behind everything, but I honestly think they would make him the real villain in the end, with Wes being the focus on Cipher until his reveal. I mean we spent nearly all of Colosseum thinking Nascour was the villain and then they throw Edvice at us at the last minute. At any rate I hope you enjoyed this chapter and look forward to the next.
