Turn 24: The Vampire of Team Rocket
Location: Nimbasa City
Time: 1:32 PM September 30th
Condition Clear
Rummaging through the city and its inners and outers Xingke and all other members of Team Plasma were on a desperate search to find and apprehend the notorious Executive Archer Bradley. All other Team Rocket members in the City Proper had already been dealt with they just needed to find their leader.
"Perimeter guard, what's your status?" Lelouch asked.
"Nothing to report." Blake's voice called back.
"Sky unit, has the condition changed?" Lelouch continued to ask.
"Team Plasma is the only thing moving down below and nothings getting past us." Kallen reported back.
"Search unit, I want you to report anything that may even be a clue to Archer's location." Lelouch ordered.
"We're still coming up blank over here." Xingke reported.
Lelouch closed his eyes and breathed. It was more than a little likely that Archer was the only one in the city with a Houndoom so he searched through all the signatures to try to find at least one that was congruent with that typing. For some reason he just couldn't find anything from all the pokémon signatures in the entire city, maybe he escape somehow.
"Chris." Lelouch spoke into his transceiver.
"Yeah?" Chris responded.
"Has anyone entered or exited the subway station since this assault began?" He asked according to his hunch.
"Nope, no one's come and no one's left. With the power out they wouldn't be able to get far anyways." Chris explained.
"Dang it." Lelouch grumbled.
"Perhaps he stole one of your guy's uniforms and escaped that way?" CC suggested lazing about on a nearby rooftop in human form.
Lelouch then felt something. He turned to the northwest skies. "West perimeter, is there anything in the Northwest skies?"
"It looks like…" The man paused as if checking. "It's the Knights of the Round, their headed right for Nimbasa City."
"Dang you Suzaku." Lelouch tightened his fist. In any other circumstance Lelouch might have welcomed the challenge that the Knight possessed but after nearly getting floor by Regice, CC just wouldn't be able to defeat Albion. "Everyone, get into hiding positions immediately."
Fleeing into hiding the members of Team Plasma all placed normal clothing over their uniforms and placed their hats in bags to hide them. Just like that the city went from under Plasma's control to only having people roaming the streets. The power remained off.
By the time the Knights entered the city, the streets were empty. Kyouhei was the first to land and he immediately shot for the Nimbasa Radio Tower. The other Knights started to sweep the city area.
Before Kyouhei could reach it a fire wall erupted around the tower. "Uh, uh, uh." Archer could be seen from a nearby window wagging a finger at Kyouhei.
"Archer." Kyouhei grumbled.
Archer pulled out a random citizen into view with him and held a knife up against his throat. "Not another step or else I'll kill everyone in this building."
"Oh really?" Kyouhei didn't seem to believe him.
"No Kyouhei." Suzaku ran up to stop him. "Do you know who that is? You do not want to test him."
"Suzaku Kururugi, it's so nice to see you. We missed each other so many times in Sinnoh. And to think that we'd actually meet for the first time here in Unova?" Archer almost laughed before carrying the victim into the building. "Now if you don't mind I've got important things to do."
"Dang you Archer." Suzaku breathed. "Knights we've got a new objective, surround the Radio Tower, Team Plasma can wait."
"Are you sure about this Nii sama?" Kyouhei asked.
"I'm not sure." Suzaku said. "But right now Lelouch doesn't have a building full of captives he's threatening to kill. We need to come up with some sort of strategy."
The Knights all gathered around and released all their pokémon making a large circular radius around the building. At the entrance of the tower, Suzaku and Albion stood guard. Kyouhei watched intently for any sign of movement. He peered deep into the windows hoping to catch some glimpse that Ruri was okay.
He was so focused that he almost jumped when he heard his x-transceiver ringing. He immediately turned it on hoping beyond hope that it was somehow Ruri.
"Kyouhei Kururugi," He was disappointed to hear Lelouch's voice. "I believe we have a common enemy, if you want help then come to the Silph Co. Building immediately."
The call ended as suddenly as it began. Kyouhei quietly gestured for his pokémon to stay put as he snuck away hoping no one would notice his absence. When he was sure he was free he bolted for the Silph Co. Building.
Standing in front of the entrance was Lelouch and CC as if waiting for him. Before he could take a step closer he was suddenly surrounded. Zangetsu, Chiba, Asahina, and Urabe were all around him. "I understand that you're having troubles getting into the Radio Tower."
"What do you know about it?" Kyouhei asked.
"I understand there is someone in there your rather fond of." Lelouch held up a photo of Ruri.
"What do you want?" Kyouhei demanded.
"I want you to get me along with the four surrounding you past the Knights so we can get into the building." Lelouch said.
"And get everyone in there killed?" Kyouhei didn't seem to believe he could do anything.
"I know the locations of every single grunt and pokémon in that building and as you can see we are quiet adept at being unnoticed." Lelouch pointed out.
Kyouhei wasn't sure what to do. This wasn't just a breech in protocol but if they failed it could wind up in the deaths of dozens of people one of them might even be Ruri. On the other hand if they wait too long they might find some way out and the chase will cost casualties. What was he supposed to do?
"Perhaps you'd like me to explain to you why Archer is referred to as the Vampire of Team Rocket and his fondness for a particular kind of person." Lelouch said rather ominously.
His mere wording sent undesired shivers down his spine in such a way he wasn't sure he even wanted to hear it. Kyouhei clenched his fist and looked down into the pavement below. "Okay, but under one condition."
"What might that be?" Lelouch asked.
"I want to go in with you." Kyouhei demanded.
Lelouch sighed as if this wasn't what he wanted to hear. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"I don't care; I want to make sure that nothing's happened to Ruri san." Kyouhei explained.
"Fine," Lelouch threw an earpiece at him. "But you must swear to follow my every command, do I make myself clear?"
"As mud, now what's our first move?"
Panting in a darkened hallway of the Radio Tower, Lelouch and Kyouhei were both taking a breather. "I thought for sure that they were going to spot us."
"What now?" Kyouhei asked standing up.
"Now we wait." Lelouch told him.
"Wait?" Kyouhei let out a hushed yell. "Wait for what?"
Kyouhei's question was answered when he heard a flopping sound. Following it he saw a Rocket Grunt and a raticate lying on the ground unconscious. Standing over them was Urabe and Asahina. "Zangetsu and Chiba has gone ahead, it'll just be a few more meters at the end of this hallway."
"Come on Kyouhei." Lelouch said walked through the hallways.
"Wow, you guys are fast." Kyouhei blinked before following Lelouch.
They reached the end of the hallway rather quickly. "Are you ready?" Lelouch asked grabbing onto a door handle.
"Mm-hm." Kyouhei nodded.
Lelouch quietly opened the door into a dark uninhabited room. When Kyouhei saw it was empty he walked right in and inspected the area before turning back at Lelouch. "What is this? I thought you said that they'd be in here?"
"Shh." Lelouch hushed him.
Kyouhei glared at him but remained quiet when he heard it. "Hay, you over there has anyone responded to our S.O.S.?"
"I'm receiving something… It looks like a plane has just set off from the main Silph Co. Building in Saffron City." Another voice called back. Kyouhei followed the noise to just beneath his own feet. They were directly above them.
"The HQ at Saffron? Seriously?" The first voice called back.
"What?" They heard Archer's voice now. "That's impossible. Are you sure it's headed here?"
"Not exactly sir. If they keep up their trajectory they'll wind up somewhere north of Icirrus." The Second voice explained. Lelouch recognized the site they were speaking of, but why would they be headed for the Dragonspiral Tower?
"What are we waiting for?" Kyouhei asked.
"Go ahead and release whatever pokémon, so long as they don't make a sound." Lelouch told him.
Zangetsu and Chiba walked up to the two of them. Asahina and Urabe had somehow disappeared in the time they were listening in on the Rocket's below.
Ignoring this Kyouhei simply released Mako his smallest pokémon. "Now then, on the count of three we're going to break through this down into that room."
"But won't that get people hurt?" Kyouhei asked.
"Trust me, whatever harm we may accidentally inflict could be better if Archer gets the chance to make a move." Lelouch explained.
"Fine." The more Kyouhei agreed the more dirty he felt.
"One.
"Two.
"Three."
On one corner of the room Chiba slammed down with her clawed fists. On an opposite corner Mako drew her blades and slashed them through the ground. In the center Zangetsu slammed into the ground sending the entire floor down on the people below, and everyone with it.
Once they landed Kyouhei realized that the room they were in was smaller than the one below and only landed in the center. All the hostages seemed to be tied up against the wall so they were easier to be seen. This meant that none of the hostages were harmed in the operation.
"Zangetsu, Chiba, night slash!"
"Mako, shell razor!"
They went around the room taking down the three remaining foes before they could move. They had done it. Asahina and Urabe swooped in and started to release the prisoners. "There are other prisoners in the next room over."
Everything seemed to be running smoothly. Everyone was escaping but as they headed for the next room something thing was troubling both of them. They had heard him speaking only moments ago but where was Archer?
They then heard a malicious laugh. Emerging from the shadows along with his Houdoom was Archer. "Very good little children, very good. But you're little tricks won't stop me."
"Zangetsu. Arial Ace!" Lelouch commanded.
Leaping forwards Zangetsu flung a mighty gust of wind in the shape of the blade. Quickly stepping out the Houndoom took the hit but the residual winds blew past regretfully only messing up Archer's hair a bit.
Archer then began to quiver as he reached his hand over his head. He felt the little standing hair and his face went grim. "You ruined my hair you insolent little brat!" Archer glared while removing his perfectly while glove and pulling up his sleeve to reveal a mega ring. He pressed the stone on the ring causing the Houndoom to mega evolve. "It is on."
The houdoom became much more jagged looking with not only two horns on his head but two very similar tusks emerging from his shoulders and curving forward like ramming heads. His collar was thick and jagged with four spikes pointing upwards from his neck. More of his spines became prevalent and even began to stick out from his back like an exoskeleton.
"Houndoom obliterate them with inferno!" He shouted.
Exploding from all around him houndoom sent waves of flame and smoke in every direction hitting all four of the pokémon. Lelouch's and Kyouhei had even had to jump behind some of the rubble to dodge the massive explosion.
"Hehehe, that's right grovel at my feet like the worthless worms you are." Archer laughed. "Now disappear!"
"Mako, use retaliate!"
"Zangetsu, mega evolve and then use x-scissor."
Lunging forward first Zangetsu turned into a mega absol before slashing at the Mega Houndoom with a crossing strike. Houndoom shrugged it off rather well and sent out another massive explosion burning everything around them up.
Even though it wasn't all that effective Mako seemed to take the hit pretty harshly. Disregarding it, she lunged forward and slammed him with a super effective revenge.
"Great now follow-up with a Shell Razor!" Kyouhei ordered.
Drawing her shell blades, she crossed them before dealing a finishing blow on the Houndoom. It flung back and reverted back to its form as a normal Houndoom.
"Hmhmhm, think that's the end of it? Oh no, the nightmare's just begun." Archer let out another pokémon. This one looked was a completely black pokémon minus its blood-red collar and its white hair which flowed upwards like smoke. Its sinister blue eyes were surprisingly relaxing to look at.
"Darkrai?" Lelouch was shocked to see it here.
"Like it? I picked it up in Sinnoh. I thought he and I shared similar tastes." Archer gave a cruel smile. "Now let's finish this off with Dark Void!"
A completely black orb started to grow from Darkrai's right palm. He then waved his hand and the darkness blew in every direction putting both Mako and Zangetsu to sleep.
"Dang it." Lelouch grumbled. "Chiba, Asahina, get him now with bug buzz and close combat!"
Lunging forwards first was Asahina delivering a horrid screech which dealt terrible damage to the Darkrai but not nearly enough for it to be serious. Darkrai then attack both of them with a dark pulse knocking both of them back.
"Mako, come on wake up!" Kyouhei shouted. She shook a little before snapping awake. "Great now get in there with another revenge!"
All together Chiba and Mako leapt forward delivering a massive barrage of super effective fighting attacks. The damage still didn't seem enough to take down Darkrai who emanated evil as much as his master did.
Darkrai stood there for a moment as if he was going to attack before flopping forwards onto the ground defeated. "What?"
"Now Archer," Lelouch stared as he was surrounded by Asahina, Chiba, and Urabe. "You're coming with us."
In a flash Lelouch, his pokémon and Archer all disappeared. Running over to the next room over he saw several hostages tied up. In the very back was Ruri. His heart rate almost dropped to a normal pace when he saw that she was alright minus the binds. He ran over and began to untie her.
"Kyo chan, I'm so happy to see your safe." Ruri reached up to hug him tightly. "When I heard what happened in Opelucid City I was so worried you were somehow caught up in in everything."
"I was, but I wasn't in any danger." Kyouhei explained while hugging her back. "It's alright now Ruri san, everything's alright."
It couldn't be determined which of the two was more relieved to see the other. Perhaps as they shared their warmth with each other their relief combined into a universal gladness.
"Excuse me young man." The director wormed up to the two of them. "That other guy who just helped save us would you happen to know how to get into contact with him?"
"You want what?" Kyouhei blinked at him.
On the top of the roof Archer hung on the very ledge the only thing keeping him from falling was Chiba's sharper then knifes talons. He whimpered helplessly as he looked down at the ground beneath him.
"Ask anything, I swear you'll get it." Archer whined. "Just don't let that thing drop me."
"Thing?" Chiba didn't like the sound of his tone. "You'd be dead now if it were up to me little man."
"Calm down Chiba." Lelouch told her before turning to speak directly to Archer. "I only have one request."
"Anything." Archer exclaimed.
"I want to know who it was that Giovanni sent to assassinate my family." Lelouch asked.
"That's it?" Archer asked.
"Tell me now!" Lelouch ordered obviously annoyed.
"Fine, you want to know. It was some guy he met at Fuchsia City." Archer explained. "What was his name, oh yes it was Koga."
"Koga?" Lelouch seemed suspicious. "The gym leader?"
"Yeah, he takes jobs from pretty much anyone who has money. But thanks to Team Rocket's dominance he's only had us to take jobs from. He's actually here in Unova somewhere. I hired him to kill you and Proton." Archer explained.
"So he's here is he?" Lelouch was pleased by this news before walking away. Kallen and Guren swooped by the ledge to pick up Lelouch.
"Wait, aren't you going to let me go?" Archer asked.
"Oh yes." Lelouch agreed. "Chiba let him go."
"With pleasure." Chiba swiped up with her talons cutting right through his suit sending him flailing toward the ground. He cried in anger the whole way down.
"Did you just?" Kallen stopped mid-sentence.
"It was less than what he deserved." Lelouch explained. "Let's get out of here."