Poke-genetics: evil meeting
«Okay, we are close to Team Blast's hideout and as far as we know, Giovanni hasn't been transported here yet. Now what Ash? » Genno asked.
Ash looked at the friend occupying his human body. Since he might have to morph to get into Team Blast's place anyway, he figured he'd change after the infiltration.
«Now, we look for the ventilation system's entrance. When we entered with the police the other day, I noticed the vents on the ceiling. Since it is underground, the base was bound to have some big enough for great quantity of air to get inside. » Ash explained.
«Where are you going with this? We can't obstruct the ventilation system. Think of all the hostages! »
«Genno, you're not thinking outside the box… » his pikachu friend said mockingly. «We're going IN the ventilation system. »
«Oh come on, Ash! This only works in movies. In reality, they're way too small for someone to…»
He stopped when he saw that Ash and Pikachu were rolling their eyes. He then realized what he just said.
«Ok, scratch that. »
«Looks like I got used to think like a pokemon after all, right Pikachu? »
«Yup, you're getting better. »
They began their research.
Stan Folklow was trying not to move too much. It was uncomfortable to have his hands tied, but he did not struggle at all. If he so much as moved a muscle, waves of pain would fill him. He was not in a good shape. He had been beaten up brutally by a bunch of members. Once again, he had refused to take part in an experiment that disrespected the value of life.
Another stupid experiment on a living pokemon, without any kind of pain-killer.
«I swear, one day, these monsters are going to get their just dessert. »
George Greenwood was being more and more inhumane during the experiments, as if he had discovered some kind of twisted pleasure in having a life in his hands.
Not that he would be touching anything for a few weeks after what he did to him.
Stan Folklow always thought of himself as a good fellow, but captivity showed him how violent of a man he was. Most of the time, he was showing Greenwood though.
To Marco Blaze, that was a bad thing, but he would not have minded it normally. Sometimes, the horrible scientist was getting on his nerves too. The problem was that three of the remaining five poke-genetics were following his example. Marco could accept a scientist causing troubles, not four. His first order was to make sure that Stan could not come anywhere close to Greenwood… by making sure he would have trouble moving.
Luckily, he was the only one to get this treatment.
Stan suddenly felt furious. There was another poke-genetic down here that was getting a special treatment. Jonathan was still fully cooperating, sometimes even actively participating in the disgusting experiments. What was he thinking? Did the cells got to him that much? How could he forget himself like that?
Stan Folklow couldn't do anything, so he gritted his teeth, waiting, furious.
«I think I found it! » Genno said.
Ash and Pikachu ran toward him and saw their friend on his knees, pushing bushes asides.
«Look here. I saw something glimmering. »
There was an iron grille on the ground. It was fixed to a metallic plate and held by four screws. If you didn't look at it from the right angle, the woods would naturally hide it.
«Hum… it's not really that big… » noticed Ash.
«Well, I was right for humans not being able to enter the place through them. »
«Yes, you were… » Ash conceded, not without a sarcastic accent. «Anyway, it's big enough for what we're planning. »
«Pikachu, the screws are not loose enough for me to take them out. Use iron tail on them please. »
«Okay. »
After one good swing of Pikachu's tail on each screw, Genno could take out the grille.
«There's one problem… » he said.
«What is it? »
«It's going down straight for all three levels… »
« Great… » was all Ash could think of.
Giovanni saw the entrance to Team Blast's hideout before the man that kidnapped him. For a second, he hoped he would miss it, but he didn't even have the time to formulate his thoughts that the Pidgeot began to head for the ground.
«I think there's a way. » Pikachu declared. «We're actually lucky the vent is small. »
«Why are you saying that? »
«Otherwise, it would have been impossible to hold ourselves against the walls. »
«Dear Mew… » muttered Genno, paler than a ghastly.
«Wait, you mean as in slowly going down by pressing our backs on a side of the vent and our feet on the other? »
«Yes. »
Both Ash and Genno looked at each other in despair.
«Can't I just… turn into a flying type or something? »
«Well, if you intend to fly in a ventilation system too small for a person to get in… feel free. »
Genno just fell on his butt. His knees were too weak to support his human body. Just thinking about what they had to do was making him shiver.
«Don't worry, Genno. I'll go down first and Ash will be the second to go. That way, even if you lose your footing, we'll catch you. »
«Pikachu, I don't think I'll be good enough to catch him if something happens… it's more likely that I'll fall too. »
Pikachu was getting annoyed. Weren't they the ones that insisted to come her?
«Ash, you've been a pikachu longer than Genno. You're much more used to this body than he is.»
Ash didn't have anything to respond with.
«Genno, it's time for you to transform. »
«Yeah… give me a minute… »
As his friend glowed, Pikachu went down in the vent.
Janes was in an excellent mood. That police officer was always so fun to play with. The man… «What was his name again: Jerry? »… probably didn't see it that way. After all, it was hard to agree when there was a knife in your shoulder.
«Ah, what a glorious day to play with some human toys. » she claimed like a kid.
«Janes, you look so happy today. Did the boss plan another assault on the towns? » another woman asked her.
«Well, Elizabeth, he did have a few ideas, but it'll wait until after he has a private little interview with Giovanni. »
That was another thing that was making her mood better than ever. With the capture of Giovanni, a lot of things would change.
Janes entered the elevator with the intention to go to the lowest floor and meet her boss. As the door closed, she laughed like a madman. Oh, things were going to be ecstatic from now on.
«Ouch, that's my head Genno! » complained Ash.
«Sorry, my foot slipped. » he apologized.
«How is it going up there? » Pikachu asked.
«Genno keeps hitting me. »
«I'm not doing it on purpose! »
«Ash, get lower if Genno hits you so often. »
«No way! If he misses the wall again and he falls, I don't want to be too far. It won't hurt as much. »
«Then stop complaining. » ordered Pikachu.
«Seriously, Genno. » Ash said toward him only. «It wouldn't be so bad if you didn't shake so much everything you have to move a foot away from the wall. »
«Ash, I didn't like flying! What makes you think I'm going to be comfortable when I'm going down a narrow vent as a mouse? »
«It's not worse than fighting near a cliff or something. You make a mistake there and it's no better than here. »
«Ash! I'm not a fighter! How many times do I have to tell you? I've never been in a pokemon battle in my whole life, okay? »
Unfortunately, because he was angry, he wasn't as cautious as before. His small pikachu foot slipped and he fell.
Normally, this wouldn't have been too much of a problem…
Normally.
As Genno fell, Ash had been moving his foot as well. So when his friend fell on him, he wasn't stable enough.
They both fell.
Pikachu was focusing on his grip. He was getting closer to the bottom of the vent. In a few minutes, he would no longer need to hold himself against the walls.
«I hope they aren't having too much trouble up there… » he thought as he looked upward.
He almost lost balance. His two friends were falling.
Immediately, Pikachu concentrated all his strength on his hold.
«That's going to hurt. »
When they fell on him, Pikachu had the impression of being tackled by an onyx. His gritted his teeth as the impact pushed him downward. They could even hear a screeching noise as his claw scratched the metallic walls.
During a moment, it looked like Pikachu would let go.
He didn't.
«Guys… are you okay? » he asked.
«I… think. » answered a groggy Ash. «You? »
«Alright… but… you better… not stay… on me… like that… for too long… »
«Sorry, Pikachu, my foot slipped. » apologized Genno.
«You'll say… you're sorry… later… just… grab the walls! » he urged them.
They quickly obeyed and Pikachu could breathe again. The rest of the descent was uneventful and, just like Pikachu predicted, less than five minutes were necessary for them to reach the bottom of the vent.
«Where should we go now? » Genno asked both his friends.
«I suggest that way. » pointed Pikachu. « I can hear some voices. If we want to spy on them, we should go where there's someone, right? »
«Sounds good to me. » replied Ash.
Genno didn't object and the three pikachus explored the vent the way Pikachu suggested.
Marco Blaze was patiently waiting. He would finally get his revenge on that wretched man. He had mocked him at the time, humiliated him and worse of all threatened the one thing he should have never threatened.
His thoughts were interrupted when Janes entered his office.
«What are you doing here? » he asked.
«Oh, but for nothing would I want to miss such a passionate exchange. » she declared.
Marco sighted. That woman could give him a headache in a matter of seconds.
«Fine, you can stay, but be quiet. »
Before she answered, a member entered with Giovanni.
«Leave us. » Marco ordered.
His anger subdued and turned into arrogance.
«Well, what do we have here? Is it the powerful Giovanni? Not that you look remotely powerful right now. »
«It's been a long time… » Giovanni said.
«It certainly was. I think the last time we saw each other was when you laughed after you revealed your plan to me. Do you remember? It was the time you mocked me for being a stupid sentimental weakling. Does that ring a bell? »
«It does. And I still believe it, though you are less of a weakling now. »
«Are you surprised? I told you at the time that families are the one thing a sane criminal shouldn't try to destroy. Whoever is left will crush you. I must say it gave even better results than I thought. Did you feel it, Giovanni? Did your body get paralyzed by fear as the angry mob destroyed your mansion? »
«You had such a bright future as a Team Rocket member. » the mafia boss plainly stated.
«I'd say I graduated from that quite well. » Marco answered, amused.
Janes, who listened to the exchange, sat on her boss's desk. It was fascinating to hear those two leaders discussed about motives just like they'd talked about the weather.
«Anyway, Giovanni, what do you think I'll do with you? »
«Beat me to death, forget me in one of your cells or turn me into a pokemon of some sort and use me as a slave. » he enumerated with a complete lack of emotion.
«Well, you seem to be cool about it. One could admire your courage. »
At that, Giovanni chuckled.
«Is there anything funny? » Marco wondered.
«Courage? That has nothing to do with it. I'm just confident it won't happen. »
«Oh… and why is that? » he inquired, genuinely curious.
«I knew I shouldn't completely underestimate you. When you formed your Team, I sent you one of my most competent members to become a mole. »
«And who might that be? »
His question was answered when a knife appeared under his throat.
«That… would be me. » a cheerful voice replied.
«Janes… »
Marco was being held firmly by the woman and the knife was very close to his throat. Seeing this, Giovanni straighten and his own arrogance became crystal clear.
«You see? All your talk about feelings is worthless. One good backstab is all one need to win a war. »
«Boss. » she protested in a whining tone. «This isn't backstabbing. My knife is nowhere near his back. »
The man smiled slightly at the joke.
«Victory is mine. » Giovanni said. «Good job Janes. »
«Thank you, boss. »
«You've earned yourself a colossal reward. I'll get your money as soon as I take over this pitiful organization. »
Stunned, Marco Blaze asked a weird question:
«Wait! Did you say that Janes earned a reward that consisted of money? »
«That's right. Loyalty is nothing compared to greed. »
At this answer, Marco reacted in a curious way. He laughed. Not just a chuckle, he laughed like he had never heard anything that funny. The woman even had to loosen her grip or he'd have cut his own throat open. Between his tears and two laughs, he managed to say:
«You… actually… thought that… Janes… would do… something for money… that's ridiculous! »
It took him a few minutes to calm down. After that, he looked much more serious.
«Janes is a woman that loves inflicting suffering and despair. She would never be the subordinate of a man like you. »
«Nice try, Marco, but I can still see her knife on your throat. »
«In that case, why didn't you find Jonathan Avery? »
«What do you mean? »
«The person that told me how to get him was Janes. Was that part of your plan? »
Giovanni was clearly startled by that. He turned in confusion toward Janes.
«Why didn't you inform me? »
The treacherous woman just smiled… and took a test tube out of her pocket.
«Sorry, Marco, but you were right. I love chaos, so I followed you… But you only wanted to stop Team Rocket from going to Pallet Town. Now, that this is done, you're going to get boring. »
As she finished her statement, she dropped the liquid on him and jumped back.
Shocked, Marco didn't say a word as he began to feel the effect of the DNA sample. He just looked with disbelief at Janes.
«I just chose to follow the one person that seemed interesting. »
She turned to Giovanni.
«And just looking at you greedily stealing is not interesting. »
She dropped a pokeball.
«Tyranitar, use Hyper beam. »
The mafia boss was thrown against the wall.
A few seconds later, the door of Marco's office was opened and a man walked in. The treacherous woman declared to her two former bosses.
«So… that's why I'm going to follow this man. Right now, he seems deliciously mad. »
In the vent, Ash, Pikachu and Genno were holding their breath. They witnessed Janes' betrayal, completely stunned. They observed Marco slowly turn red, then melt into a mass of red goo. They saw a human get turned into ditto. They saw Giovanni get hit by the powerful attack.
And they saw the man entering the office in triumph.
As Pikachu and Ash gasped, Genno whispered crazily:
«No… that's impossible… it can't be… not… Dad! »