AN: I almost scrapped this chapter entirely since my brain went off on a tangent but I will roll with it for now. Bit short but has some action in it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or any of the characters. Just the random plot bunnies that my mind creates.

Chapter Warnings: Language, semi-torture I guess?

Chapter 16 - Explosion

The small group lands in a swirl of dust behind the lab. Ash immediately jumps off of Fearow and rushes inside to find the Professor. He spots him in front of a large monitor showing something that looks like it was once alive.

"Professor Oak! We need your help!" Ash calls out to grab Professor Oak's attention.

The older man turns around with a raised eyebrow at his panicked tone. His eyes widen once they fall upon the injured pokemon and sparking collar.

"My goodness! What happened?" The man questions as he rushes over. Ash briefly explains their trip to Vermillion as the older Oak begins to examine Pikachu's collar.

"We had a battle against Vermillion's Gym Leader. Raichu must have damaged the collar with all of its strong electric attacks or something because it won't stop sparking. Pikachu is injured enough without this causing more damage."

Prof. Oak designed the collars under League orders so he has to be able to fix them. Right?

Ash's hope falls the longer the Professor stares at the collar. He tinkers with a hidden control panel but quickly pulls his withered hands away when he gets shocked. The electric type whimpers in pain.

"I don't know Ash. The state it's in...it needs to be removed to be fixed. But if you try to remove it, it will explode. Killing Pikachu and most likely you in the process. The military tasked me to design them to not be able to come off so that is what I had to do. I can try to create a device that will disrupt the current long enough for it to be removed by force but that will take time. Time that I am afraid Pikachu doesn't have based on the increasing frequency of sparks.

Ash looks down in desperation as the little yellow pokemon in his arms. There must be SOMETHING they could do?!

Scenarios fly through his head, each being quickly discarded. Is there really no way we can get it off without killing Pikachu in the process? Brown orbs drift to his belt where a certain fire type's ball sits. Hope flares in him once more. "Charmander got his off well enough though. If he can do it again, then Pikachu will be alright!"

His desperation ignoring the small part of his brain that supplied that Charmander's actions almost killed itself as well by melting its collar off.

Ash fidgets as the Professor falls silent once more. He can practically see the professor run calculations and percentages behind those knowledgeable eyes.

"Might as well try it Gramps. Pikachu won't make it if we leave it on. It at least has a small chance if we try to take it off. Charmander is proof of that." Gary chimes in from the side.

Ash throws a thankful look towards his partner. Gary is right. This is the only way Pikachu even has a chance. With a large sigh, Professor Oak picks up a few instruments and walks toward the door leading outside.

"We will do it outside then, just in case."

The soldiers quickly follow after him. Sensing the stressful situation and the pain of their comrade, the pokemon gather around them. With a pointed look from his trainer, Charmander steps forward reluctantly.

"Charmander, I need your help. Pikachu is in trouble. The collar is malfunctioning and needs to come off or he will die. Professor Oak says there's no way to remove it without exploding but you got it off. Can you help him?"

The lizard nods slowly as it looks at the sparking collar. It's getting worse. Releasing electricity more frequently.

Noticing the burst of electricity, Gary steps forward and places a large tan hand on his grandfather's shoulder. "Tell us everything you know about these collars Gramps. Quickly."

The Professor stiffens at his grandson's question. A haunted look overtaking his face.

"It was about 3 years after you two were taken. I didn't want to make them, you know. Outright refused even. The League threatened to take you two out of the Academy and put you in jail as well as stop all funding for the lab if I didn't make them...Pallet and the Lab were still undergoing reconstruction from the attack and you two were just beginning your soldier training...so I designed them."

Professor Oak pauses, face filled with sorrow, as he gazes at the device around Pikachu's neck. Ash fidgets impatiently.

"I am sure you both learned the basics in class." The Professor continues. "The main component delivers the shock if the subjugation word is spoken by the trainer or the pokemon tries to remove it. It will explode if it senses a continued attempt to remove it to protect the soldier from a provoked pokemon from attacking him or her. The device itself is high grade steel that has a threaded metal cord that extends around the neck when being placed and locks on the other side. There are no safety features or disarm button...I have caused so many pokemon unimaginable pain. All for just some money to further my research."

Ash watches in silence as his partner comforts his grandfather, head bent slightly to whisper to him. Ash speaks up to lend a hand.

"You did what you had to do Professor. You and what little pokemon that you had here were Pallet's only line of defense. You needed money to repair and strengthen that defense. As much as we hate the collars, we don't place any of the blame on you."

Pikachu cries out in pain once more. The wounds from its earlier battle start to reopen from the sporadic shocks released from the restraint around its neck. The bandages around its torso begin to drip red.

Wiping away tears, Professor looks back up even more determined than he was before. "Blame is not important now. We need to get this off as soon as possible. Charmander, aim for that connection port there that is damaged. As hot as you can go please. And you two better have your pokemon back in their balls and put them in the lab just in case. An explosion might injure them."

The soldiers quickly follow the Professor's orders as Pikachu lays upon the neatly cut grass. The older Oak attaches an energy probe to the collar to carefully watch the output for unsafe levels.

Once all preparations are complete, Ash kneels down next to Charmander and Pikachu, ready to do whatever he can to help at a moment's notice. The Oaks stand a few feet away, gazes alternating between the trio on the ground and the portable monitor in the older man's hands.

"Go ahead Charmander." Ash quietly speaks to his pokemon.

The fire pokemon grabs its tail and focuses hard. Its small orange body shaking from the strain. The flame at the tip of its tail grows larger and brighter. Now a blazing white flame. Releasing a small growl, it squeezes its small eyes shut and tenses.

Ash eyes widen in amazement as the flame bursts into a raging blue fire. The size of the fire quickly dropping to a contained blaze. Just like a welding torch. How the hell did Charmander do that?

With labored pants, the fire pokemon steps forward towards its fallen comrade. Pikachu screeches in agony once the orange tail comes in contact with the collar. Ash's hands bunch up into his pants and his jaw clenches at the sound of his pokemon's agony.

Just as the flame almost gets through the corded metal, Ash hears a voice yell over his yellow pokemon's cries.

"Ash the levels are in the red zone! Abort now!"

NO! It's almost through!

The screaming stops abruptly. Charmander pauses before continuing at a faster pace. A sob catches in Ash's throat.

Pikachu is silent. No sounds, no movement, nothing.

Everything is moving in slow motion. He sees white light start to emanate from the main portion of the collar. He can hear his partner calling to him, arm outstretched to reach forward and grab him. He can see Gary's grandfather holding him back.

Ash quickly rips the collar from his pokemon's neck, the metal being warm enough to be pulled apart with force. He chucks the contraption as far away from them as he humanly can. Pulling his small pokemon close to him, he shields them with his body as he spins around.

The collar explodes.

Pain. Burning. Fire.

xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx

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Next up: Chapter 17 - Pain