Poke-genetics: Outsmarted
Ash was getting better. He finally got used to relying on other senses than his eyesight. It felt particularly weird to move in the middle of the woods with his eyes closed, but Pikachu didn't give him a choice. Besides, it was an interesting experience.
An hour ago, Pikachu ordered him to walk them through the forest without running into troubles. Ash was unsure of what he meant until he smelled rattatas. Proudly, he made a large detour to make sure not to enter their territory and Pikachu smiled. He also had to use his hearing to detect the faint buzzing noise indicating the presence of beedrills and they were both extremely careful not to touch anything in that part of the forest. The mankeys were harder to detect and he had to concentrate hard to recognize the scent. They almost ran into trouble, but Ash managed to choose the right way at the last minute.
They were on their way back to their «camp» as Genno liked to call it. The pikachus were afraid to come back. They were not sure due to the unknown size of the hideout, but Genno said he'd tried to be back before two hours.
They both exclaimed «Genno! » in joy when they saw their friend. Their joy didn't last.
Genno was livid. He was reading something on a few pieces of paper.
«How did it go? » Ash asked.
«… The infiltration in itself was a complete success. I have a pretty good idea of what their main base looks like and I don't think they realized I infiltrated yet. »
«Then, why are you looking as pale as a ghost pokemon? »
«I just understood what their next action will be. »
«So, does anyone here actually understand what happened today? » asked an authoritative man.
They were trembling, both of them: Captain Seriza and the guard of the entrance.
They had made a terrible mistake. They let an intruder in and gave him something they shouldn't have: information.
«We… do. » declared a bowing captain Seriza.
«Then… explain. »
«We failed to notice the presence of an unusual member and let him walk around in the base. »
«Do you know what the punishment for this is? »
They replied negatively.
«Nothing. » he said casually.
They all stared at their boss.
«Since there was no way for you to know it was an intruder, it would be unfair to punish you. She had the uniform, a member number, someone ready to vouch for her in this very place and apparently the ability to disappear out of thin air. »
He looked at them with leniency.
«I only expect one thing from you: that you improve enough for this to never happen again. »
The gratitude in their eyes told everything.
«You may take your leave. »
«We won't fail you again, sir. »
«Good. » the man smiled.
After they left his office, Janes asked.
«You're not even going to punish them? How very… humane of you. »
«They made a mistake, but not a punishable mistake. Neither you nor I would have been able to detect that intruder either with such odds against us. By being lenient enough, I reinforce their loyalty toward me. Ruling my team with fear is not even remotely interesting, not to mention risky. »
«You're no fun when you're like that. » she said as she leaned on him, one hand reaching for his chest.
«Janes. »
It was an order.
The woman gulped and got away from Team Blast's boss.
«You should know by now. Only one woman in the world will ever have the right to do what you just did. »
The look in his eyes was very different from seconds ago. Where there was a fatherly leniency there was only ferocity now. Janes knew better than to provoke him right now. She kneed and asked to be forgiven.
« That's horrible! » gasped Pikachu.
«We have to do something now! » added Ash.
«The only thing we could do right now is to try to limit the damages. »
«What? They already started this… plan? »
«Oh yes, we arrived just a bit too late. I infiltrated when their third truck went away. There are chances that they already started in some places. »
«What are we waiting for? We have to tell as many people as possible! »
«How? » countered Pikachu. «We're an hour away from Cerulean City! »
«My cellphone! » exclaimed Genno.
He literally jumped in the tent and searched frantically for it.
«This is so not the time to not find it! Guys, help me find my cellphone! »
The two pokemon rushed in the tent and searched as much, if not more, frantically as Genno.
«Found it! » said Pikachu.
Genno had to stop himself from shaking. He dialed the number of Cerulean City's police station. He begged them to answer.
«Sir, we've picked up the signal of a transmission device in the area. » Reported one of Team Blast's member.
«Where are they calling?»
«The police station in Cerulean City. »
«Do not let it reach its destination. » ordered Team Blast's boss. «Send a capture squad to the location of the signal and Janes…»
«Which one? »
«Counter-measure 2. »
«Alakazam, come out. »
Her psychic pokemon appeared at her side.
«Take number 32643 with you. He'll be the one to act. »
«Right away. »
Genno shouted when someone on the other side of the line answered.
«Quick! This is an emergency! Team Blast is preparing something and it's heading to four different … »
«Why did you stop? There's no time! » exclaimed Ash.
«My… cellphone… it stopped working. It's like there's something jamming the signal… »
«Then , let's go! We can't afford to lose even one minute. »
«Guys, pray Mew with all your might that I'll see a Pidgeot again. »
They didn't answer, they were saving their breath as they began running as fast as they could toward Cerulean City.
Cerulean City's Officer Jenny was typing on a computer her report for the mayor when a teen less than 18 years old busted in the station.
«Officer! It's an emergency! Team Blast is planning something big! »
«What? » she exclaimed as she stood up from her chair.
«I tried to phone you but it didn't work. They're planning a simultaneous assault on four cities in the whole region. »
«What kind of assault? »
«A massive one! »
«When are they going to strike? »
«It was supposed to be tonight! In two hours, three at most! »
« How did you get that information? »
«I sneaked up in Team Blast's hideout and hacked in their computers. Here, that's a copy of what I stole from them. »
He handed the papers.
«How did you… No, right now, that's not important! Which cities are they targeting? »
«Pewter City, Celadon City, Vermillion City and Pallet Town. »
«Ok, I'm calling the mayor to receive authorization for level five alerts on the entire city and for backup requests. Jason, call Pewter City. Dean, you're in charge of Celadon city. Matt and Andrew, you know the drill. Everyone else, get ready to get dispatch to one of those place. »
«Thank you, officer. You don't know how many lives you just saved from Team Blast. »
«Mister the mayor, I've received urgent news about one of Team Blast's plan. It involves attacks on many cities and I request authorization for immediate assistance to be sent… »
«… thank you, mister the mayor. »
«Jenny, Pewter City requests our back-up. »
«And we're going to answer their call. Dean, Matt, Andrew, did the other towns received your calls? »
The three officers nodded.
«Okay, everyone, get to your assigned cars, we're going to Pewter City! »
In the space of five minutes, the station was empty. In the streets, polices cars were already on their way to Pewter City.
«We're almost there! » he said between his teeth.
«Just an hundred meter left. » Ash added.
« You… should really… work out… more, Ash! You're not… in a great shape… you know? »
«I'll do that when I'll be human. For now, just continue to run. »
Genno pushed the doors of the police station and burst in.
«Officer Jenny! This is an emergency! Team Blast is planning to… » he shouted.
All three of them stopped. «It can't be…» Ash despaired.
There was not a soul in the police station.
Where were the officers?
Barry was just doing is job, watching over the factory during the night. He was thinking about his girlfriend, who was probably sleeping right now. He wished he could just finish early today.
He shouldn't have.
He heard a muffled voice.
«Who's there? » he asked while he pointed his flashlight in its direction.
« Use Hypnosis. »
Two giant glowing eyes appeared out of thin air and glared at him. He didn't have the time to shout that he was already falling asleep on the ground.
«No other sign of human activity. Factory clear, operation continues. »
Human shadows invaded the place.
Officer Jenny was watching as the police forces took position around the town. They were as stationed at every corner of Pewter City. All of them were fit trainers and were ready to fight. They'd protect the citizen of the town. It was their duty, it was what they chose to do. They were ready.
«Ash. This is even worse than we thought! No one's answering NO MATTER WHICH POLICE STATION I CALL! It's like they're all… away… »
«What are we going to do? We're days of walk away from the closest place they'll attack. Even if we could fly like last time, it'd take us hours… »
«I… don't know… » Genno said as he slid from the counter to the ground. «It's hopeless. We are too late… »
For once, neither Pikachu nor Ash had anything to say to make him feel better. They were not in the most optimistic mood either.
«My cell phone is dead… we can't contact any police station in the whole region… we're too far to get to any place they could use our help… What can we do? »
Lightning cracked the sky as if it answered his question and the rain was an echo to his tears.
They had failed… they waited.
They were not the only ones. Officer Jenny was losing patience. The time of the presumed attack was far gone. Team Blast had not showed up. Either they had been impressed by the strength of the troops the police deployed… or it was all a prank. She felt anger burn inside of her. If it was the case, she had declared a level five alert for nothing. The mayor of Cerulean City would be so mad at her. He had followed her judgment and this massive coordination of events had better not be all based on nothing or she'd suffered the consequences.
The night went on. The policemen and women stayed in position with the exception of the occasional street patrollers.
The darkness of the night faded and let the morning light takes it rightful place without a single incident.
She made a few phone calls. In all of the cities that forces had been mobilized, things had been just as uneventful as here. Officer Jenny was overwhelmed by anger. It had been a prank after all! They had waited under this rain for nothing! In fury, she gave the order to her men to return to Cerulean City.
Ash was the first to wake up. He had heard the sound of the door of the police station being opened.
«Officer Jenny! » he yelled.
Both his friends woke up instantly.
«What are you three doing here? » she asked rudely, her anger having not been subdued yet.
«Thank Mew, you're back! Listen, there is an emergency. Team Blast is…»
«What did you just say? »
Genno was troubled by her question.
«I said that Team Blast is planning something big… »
«What proof do you have?» she continued to interrogate him roughly.
«I have a plan that I stole from their headquarters. »
She was infuriated again. Was he the partner of that kid who made fun of her? She was not going to let this go unpunished!
«You, sir, are under arrest for pranking police officers. »
«WHAT? Didn't you hear what I said? Team Blast is going to… »
«I heard what you said perfectly! » she shouted.
She handcuffed him and ordered to one of her men:
«Put him in a cell for a day. That'll teach him to do stupid jokes and his little friend will think twice before doing it again. »
Had she slapped them she would not have shocked them more. Without a word, they followed the officer into the next room.
«This is insane. » repeated Ash.
Genno and Pikachu stayed silent. Pikachu didn't know how things could get worse and Genno…
Genno was so furious they were actually happy he was not talking. Pikachu remembered the time Ash jumped between Genno and Misty.
Right now, he wondered which of the two's anger was the worst.
They all recovered from the shock pretty fast. Ash kept walking in circles like a caged Arcanine, Pikachu was trying to cheer himself up for a change and Genno just got lost in thoughts.
After the first ten minutes, they noticed how furious he had gotten.
«That's it! She'll hear everything I have to say! » he took a deep breath…
«OFFICER JENNY! »
Both pikachus covered their ears. What was he doing? Was he mad?
A policeman entered the room and ran to their cells.
«If you keep throwing a tantrum, we'll have to keep you longer! » he threatened.
«Bring Officer Jenny here! »
They were all surprised by the authority in his voice.
«She's occupied… »
«Then tell her she has something more important to do! Tell her to come here! »
The man hesitated. Finally after a minute of a glaring contest with Genno, he just ran to the next door.
«Are you crazy! » Ash said. «What do you intend to do? »
«Tell her to put her ego where it should belong and do her job! »
«What! » he hissed, having lost most of his air in surprise.
Officer Jenny entered the room and she was clearly not happy of being forced here.
«What do you want? » she asked rudely.
«I want to ask you if you're a police officer. »
She turned red in fury. That kid was still trying to play with her!
«YOU ARE STAYING IN THAT CELL AND THAT'S FINAL! AND IF I HERE YOU AGAIN, YOU'LL GET A CRIMINAL RECORD! »
Her cry didn't even impress Genno. In fact, he yelled much louder.
«I'M ASKING YOU IF YOU ARE A POLICE OFFICER OR A STUCK-UP WOMAN WHO'LL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESS OF TEAM BLAST'S SCHEMES! »
She turned white with indignation.
«Listen, kid. Screaming does not make you more impressive. A teenager your age told us exactly the same thing yesterday night and absolutely nothing happened. Let me tell you something that you'd be well advised to tell your little prankster friend. Fake alarms are not funny, especially for the ones that had to travel full speed to get to a place that was never supposed to be attack anyway. »
Genno's eyes got wide in surprise and something extremely disturbing happened.
Genno began to laugh.
It was a lifeless laugh, completely void of anything even resembling joy.
«That's some trouble you went through officer… tell me this then: is it funny to break into Team freaking Blast's headquarters by yourself? Is it funny to put your safety at risk to infiltrate a lair of criminals? Is it funny to see pokemon being tortured in the name of science? Is it funny to see family members held prisoner and having no other choice than to let them suffer a little longer so you can save them in the long run? Is it funny to do all that so that the first person you tell PUT YOU IN JAIL INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO YOU? »
They were stunned.
«TELL ME! Are you proud of yourself? Instead of limiting the damages to the maximum, you chose to put us in this cell and forget we've ever talked to you. To me, police officers were always the good guys that you could count on to help you, not petty persons that refuse to act when it is the most important. Tell me, Jenny, are you a police officer or are you not? TELL ME!»
Ash couldn't blame Jenny for not answering to Genno's question.
He added in a low, dark, threatening tone that sounded like a death sentence:
«Are you going to let Team Blast put on the market thousands of coma-inducing pokeblocks! »