After entering (after Arven got held back fighting more future Pokémon) they found Professor Turo, just sitting there.
"Human presence detected within the Zero Lab. Deactivating Sleep Mode," he said as his eyes glowed and he walked up to them. "Hello Ashley and Penny. Thank you for coming."
"Rrraaawwwrrrrrr!" the second Miraidon said, showing up as Ashley and Penny switched back to their true forms and prepared to fight.
"No, back to your ball," Professor Turo said, returning it. "That one is far less tractable and far more aggressive then the one you've traveled with. Your Miraidon fled Area Zero because it lost to the other one in a territorial struggle… what the! Why do you two look like futuristic forms of Zorua and Eevee? Those species haven't even been brought to this time?"
"Same reason that me and Chloe have an Iron Valiant," Ashley said, showing first the recorded memory of the two Kirlia evolving into Iron Valiant, followed by the recording of what they saw when they evolved.
"I see, so the four of you naturally evolved into future forms of Pokémon due to the circumstances and in addition to Iron Valiant your names are Iron Trickster and Iron Soul," Professor Turo said, "I'm afraid there is something for which I must apologize. I am not the true Professor Turo."
"Then who are you?" Penny asked as they retook human form.
"I am an artificial intelligence the Professor created, imbued with his memories and knowledge. In short, I am an AI-powered robot. The real professor passed away during the incident that destroyed research station no. 4."
"The incident?" Ashley asked worriedly.
"The pokemon was not to be blamed," Professor Turo said, "It was the original professor who failed to accurately judge it's full power. I believe the Professor wanted nothing more than for Miraidon to survive and thrive. That is why he threw himself in front of your Miraidon in an attempt to protect it. From the time I first reached out to Director Clavell and asked to be put in contact with you...I was never more than an AI. Ashley, Penny. The reason I asked you to come to me is because I have one last thing to do here at the Zero Lab and I desire your help. In short… I wish for you to put a stop to the time machine the original Professor created. Any questions can be addressed as we make our descent. Follow me. This elevator will take us down to the lower level. Step inside."
"If we stop the time machine won't that stop Akari from getting back to her boyfriend?" Penny asked.
"I can ask Celebi or Dialga for help getting her back there," Ashley said, making Penny remember what she saw when she and Ashley shared their memories as a way of bonding after becoming Iron Soul and Iron Trickster, and after the incident with Team Satr was done.
"Oh right," Penny said as they entered the elevator,
"Ashley, Penny. It truly is a great relief to me that you came." Professor Turo said. "I will answer any questions you may have. Is there anything you wish to know?"
"What is this time machine?" Penny asked.
"The time machine is a device that the original Professor and I worked on together," Turo said, "It sends pokeballs to a different point on the timeline to catch pokemon there and it can then draw them back here to the present. When he was alive Professor Turo had a great fascination with pokemon from another age - what you might call future pokemon. Even as we speak the time machine continues to automatically draw future Pokémon to this time. Is there anything else you wish to ask?"
"What is it you really want?" Ashley asked.
"The original Professor had a dream… of a world in which future pokemon might live alongside present-day Pokémon in harmony. Something you have achieved by accident. But these Pokémon have gained a strange power due to their adaptations in the distant future… and this power has proved too terrible. Unlike you, Penny, and the two Iron Valiant that evolved with you, their adaptations, which you have not had yet, makes it so their very existence brings destruction tomthe ecological balance of this current age. The original Professor would say that such destruction is a natural part of life, AI present, the barrier around Area Zero is still working to keep the future Pokémon from escaping into the rest of Paldea. But we've begun to see pokemon that can break the barrier-such as Iron Treads. Eventually they will break free of this walled garden known as Area Zero and run rampant across the Paldea Region. And when they do, the rich and varied ecosystem of Paldea will be trampled beneath their coming. I may have been created as a copy of the Professor and yet… I cannot seem to find the logic in allowing such a tragedy to occur. But any hope of preventing it would require overcoming the greatest AI that the original Professor ever devised. Ashley, Penny, you two have become formidable trainers. Now use that strength you have gained to destroy… the dream Turo once cherished."
"Very well!" they agreed.
"I… appreciate your willingness to help," Turo said as they arrived. "We have reached the lowest level."
With that they left the elevator seeing a beautiful room with crystal walls and a machine at the back.
"Behold," AI Turo said by the machine. "This is the time machine we perfected using the power of the Terastal phenomenon."
With that they came closer.