Chapter 18: Leader Of The Nine (Part 1)

Okay, I'm doing a double update today since I had tons of spare time. I've decided to have fun with the next few chapters by making them a parody of a certain film trilogy. If you couldn't guess from the title, I'll tell you later. Anyway, here's chapter 18!

Cyrus had heard through the grapevine what had transpired over the past two days. He was greatly alarmed by the jailbreaks and intrusions. It was particularly disturbing to think of who had gotten wise to them. This did not bode well.

He slowly exhaled. It was time, he knew, to get the next phase – summoning the legendaries – started. The events of the past two days were a wake-up call to him, saying he'd better act now, or all would be lost. He sat upright and sent an email to all his scientists.

From: Team Galactic Head Boss Cyrus

Subject: Legendary Energy

Text: The time has come at last. We've delayed long enough. Be sure Dialga and Palkia are properly connected to the machine before they awaken. When they do, they'll surely try using their powers to escape. I want you, my elite researchers, to make the appropriate adjustments so that their combined powers may act as a homing signal to all legendary Pokémon. It is time to get this show on the road!

The sun awoke everyone at the Pokémon center early that morning. As they were about to begin discussing their plans for that day, the center's sliding double doors opened and a figure stood in the sunlight. As he stepped closer, his dark grey khaki pants, blue and black jacket, and long purple hair became visible.

"Paul! You're here at last!" Ash shouted, not realizing how immature he sounded right now.

Paul walked over to the group. His expression was of anything but joy. He quickly took an empty seat with the rest around the circular table in the center's lobby.

"Humph. Can't say I'm surprised you weaklings would call upon me to handle these goons."

"We're not weak! We were just caught off guard, that's all!" Ash said angrily.

Paul just slouched in his seat. "Right…and what exactly do you have in mind to deal with this situation."

Dawn spoke up. "You may remember me calling you a few days ago to…make a deal for you. You will assist us in thwarting the criminals' plans, and you will have a chance to show off your potential to the world."

Paul's face screwed into a look of confusion.

"What's wrong?" Dawn asked.

"What's wrong? Who're you?"

Dawn's face immediately went red. "Excuse me, your rudeness, but we've spoken several times before! The name's Dawn! And I'd appreciate it if you could do something about your short-term memory!"

Paul looked thoughtful, then said, "Hm…don't remember."

Dawn's eyes glowed red with rage. "YOU THINK YOU'RE FUNNY, DONTCHA? Listen here, you rude, selfish, mean-spirited – "

Dawn got up to physically assault Paul, but before she could, Brock stood up and, placing him arms under her armpits and bringing his hands up to her shoulders, lifter her a few inches off the ground. Dawn shouted and kicked at Paul, who paid no further attention to the commotion. May, Max, Drew, Misty, and Tracey all sweatdropped. Once she had calmed down, Brock set her down in her seat before taking a seat himself.

Everyone took turns explaining to Paul what all had happened and why they were here. Ultimately, they decided the best way of foiling the enemy's plans was to find a way of releasing Dialga and Palkia. At the conclusion, Paul looked thoughtful.

"So, let me get this straight. We're going on a suicide mission to free two legendaries from the clutches of four criminal masterminds. And how do I know that I won't get locked up like a bunch of you?"

"You don't. You're just gonna have to trust us on this, Paul," Ash said.

"Guess you're right. I mean, it must take a seriously weak person to get locked up twice!"

"Paul…" Ash seethed. Although the extra person was a plus, Paul's personality left something to be desired.

And so it was decided. As soon as every trainer/coordinator had his/her Pokémon and was in the right frame of mind, they set out for the enemy's lair: the dread office building!

There were four guards standing at the doorway to the building's entrance. Specifically, there were grunts from Teams Aqua, Magma, Galactic, and Rocket. They sent out a Vaporeon, a Flareon, a Magneton, and a Hitmontop. However, they were quickly overpowered by the strength of the nine heroes, who entered the building immediately after.

Inside, they were attacked by several criminals who were in the area, but the heroes also made short work of them, though the enemy's Gyrados, Salamence, and Steelix proved worthy foes before being bested. Before more could head their way, they started heading towards the elevator. Just as they got there, the door opened, and Maxie stepped out.

"I expected you would all be here. I have a duty to ensure you go no further!" With that, Maxie tossed six pokéballs onto the floor, which opened. They were now faced by a Charizard, a Typhlosion, a Blaziken, an Infernape, a Magmortar, and a Camerupt.

Paul, who was fixing on taking on these six fire types by himself, told everyone to go on ahead without him.

"No, Paul! You can't win this alone!" Ash shouted.

"Just go, Ash! I'm stronger than you think!" Paul replied as he sent out his Electabuzz, Ursaring, Murkrow, and Gliscor. Just as the eight other heroes crammed into the elevator, they saw Paul's newest Pokémon (Gliscor) unleash a small earthquake attack.

The elevator strained under the weight of all eight passengers, becoming disabled on the second floor. They sighed, realizing they'd have to climb to the ninth floor on their own.

As expected, they were ambushed by yet more grunts. Although not as numerous as what they'd faced in the lobby, their Pokémon were considerably more powerful. More discouraging yet, every time one wave was defeated, another seemed to advance out of nowhere.

In frustration, Ash said, "I think we should just get going and let any others chase us to whatever end we get!"

"But, Ash, they'll try to stop us before we get to the ninth floor! I'll tell you what: You, May, Max, and Drew should continue on. Me and Tracey will stay here and make sure no one follows you," Misty declared. Ash nodded, deciding she was right, and took the three others to the stairway.

From the third floor to the fourth floor, they battled their way around, their Pokémon seeming to be energized with each victory. However, the Aquas on this floor unleashed wave after wave of water and poison-type Pokémon. Since Drew's Roselia and Max's Metang had a type advantage here, they offered to stay here to fight for the same reason as Misty and Tracey. Ash wished them luck, and May hugged them both before joining Ash in the stairway.

Oddly enough, the rest of the way to the ninth floor seemed tranquil, with only a few adversaries to fight against. Eventually, Ash and May were able to exit the stairwell and enter the ninth floor. It didn't take them long to find the lab. What they saw transfixed them.

Cyrus was standing by a table, looking on as his Team Galactic grunts pressed buttons, pulled switches, and turned knobs on several different control panels. In the machine, Dialga and Palkia were alert, and seemed to be trying their hardest to escape the machines, which would punish every such attempt with a shock that stole some of their energy with every step outside of a particular electrode under their feet. This caused them to step back in pain, but they continued their escape attempts nonetheless.

Suddenly, what appeared to be a gauge on the machine became filled. Just as quickly, a multicolored energy field enveloped the machine, appearing the head up through the ceiling. Ash and May guessed that the beam was then launched from an antenna on the rooftop, where it would supposedly attract numerous legendary Pokémon. They had no intention of letting it get that far, however.

"Hey, what're you doing?!" Ash shouted to the ignorant Galactics. The grunts paid Ash no heed, merely glancing at him before turning back to their work. They were so close at this point, their presence didn't matter now. Cyrus, however, turned to face the newcomers.

"You two…well, I must say I'm impressed the two of you actually managed to make it this far. But alas, you're too late! The homing energies of Dialaga and Palkia have already been tapped into! What could you possibly do to stop us now?" Cyrus chuckled.

Ash didn't reply, instead having Pikachu jump to the floor.

"Pikachu, thunderbolt that gauge at the top of the machine!"

"Pika-CHUU!" There was a brilliant flash as the electrical attack landed on the machine's gauge, which exploded after a few minutes. Unable to see the power levels of Dialga and Palkia, the Galactics frantically worked the hardware in front of them, only to experience catastrophic results.

The entire machine shot out electrical sparks. Dialga and Palkia gave one more attempt to free themselves. As they ripped out cords, smoke started spewing from the machine's bowels. After a loud whirring sound, the machine short-circuited and died out. Meanwhile, the two legendaries crashed through the sealed elevator doors, then flew up and out of the building through the elevator shaft. Where they went was anyone's guess.

The dismayed Galactics began heading towards the stairway, running out of sight. Shortly after they passed, Ash and May began to chase them. When they came in sight of the stairwell, they saw Maxie running upwards, followed a few steps behind by Paul.

"Come back here, you coward! I'm not done with you yet!" Paul shouted as he raced up the stairs chasing Maxie.

"Alakazam, hypnosis!" Cyrus's voice called behind them. Ash and May turned around to see that Cyrus had summoned an Alakazam, whose eyes now glowed an eerie blue color. Before they could react, the two of them (and Pikachu) became rigid and stiff. Their eyes became glazed over in appearance. They were now in a zombie-like existence, where they were alive, but their consciousness was not their own.

While under the state of hypnosis, Cyrus led the two up the stairs with him to the rooftop, where a helicopter was waiting. Paul lay unconscious on the ground. He'd beaten Maxie in the lobby before chasing him here, only to be overwhelmed by Giovanni and Archie.

Cyrus pushed the two mindless youths in before he climbed into the chopper. Maxie hopped on board just as the helicopter began its ascent into the air.

Nothing needed explaining. Giovanni and Archie had been on the tenth floor when the assault began. When they became aware of Ash's presence, they sent their men to hold them off while they prepared for the worst. Thank goodness they'd prepared for the worst! And that didn't just include a getaway vehicle! No, they'd thought of this back in the beginning. Should the worst happen here, they'd relocate to a more remote area and start again. They didn't know what to do with the young individuals who were unconscious on the floor. Cyrus had entranced them, and though they didn't know why he was keeping them, they knew their peer had something specific in mind.

Of course, that was exactly what Cyrus was planning. He wasn't necessarily using them as bait. No, they'd serve a greater purpose – they would be infused with the spirits of the legendaries, and become the vessels of unspeakable power!