Poke-genetics: preparing
Ash stared at her, unable to answer.
«I thought about all of this and if we don't talk now, we're not going to make it. »
He nodded slowly, holding Alex that wanted to take a close look at the strange person. That strange thing was a human, he knew that much, but he wanted to understand why his dad was so weird with her around.
Misty looked at the small pokemon with a sad smile.
«He really does look like you. » she said while stroking his head.
«He does… » Ash muttered.
«Ash… I know I can't understand what you say, but… in a way, that's exactly what I want. »
He could not hide his interrogative look.
«…What? »
She chuckled lightly and that sound was melody to Ash's ears. He just wanted things to be better, to give Misty reasons to laugh, not to cry.
«I mean that I don't want to hear anything resembling an excuse or an explanation, Brock gave me those. From you, I just want answers, crystal clear answers. »
«That's kind of hard to do when you can't understand a word I say… » Ash stated.
«Yeah, that was not crystal clear at all. But… nodding your head is good enough. »
A yes or a no. It was true; Ash was forced to give an absolute answer without any mean to moderate his words.
«Ash… do you still love me? » she asked.
«Yes. » he showed.
She felt warmth in her, a tender warmth embracing her heart.
«I love you too. » she whispered.
He felt his lungs emptied themselves. He wanted to speak, but it would be useless. He wanted to tell her again, to yell his love for her.
«I love you Misty. » he said in the same loving tone.
Their eyes were wet with tears of joy. They both felt the same way. Their feelings had not faded.
But there was a shadow in Misty's happiness.
«Ash… » she began, hesitant to break their joy. «if… no… when… you'll find your son's mother… what will you do? »
A thick silence fell on them. Even Alex stopped moving, sensible to his father's emotions.
«Will you stay with her? »
Ash breathed heavily. What would he do indeed? He could not refuse to raise Alex, but… did he have the right to refuse that to his mother?
Of course not, so what? He could not let Alex grow up without both his parents; he knew too well how lonely it is, but what could he do?
«Ash, it all comes down to this. If you are given the choice, will you change back? »
«I do not know how the ability works exactly, but… in both case, we should be able to enter the hideout easily. » Genno finished to explain.
«Hum… your idea is quite interesting I must say, but there is a big problem: if it is the latter, we would need to fight to get to the children and to your father… » Koga remarked.
«I don't have anything against a fight, but we should not engage in hundreds against eight. We need to make sure that no one notices us. At least until we get our hands on Jonathan Avery. He is the key to our success. »
«I don't know, Surge. » Blaine objected. «Team Blast lost its leader once and is as strong as before. Having their new leader might not give us an absolute advantage like you seem to think.»
«True enough, though it may be true if there is no one ready to take the job. Jonathan Avery actually plotted to become Team Blast's leader, if we can trust anything you say… Genno. »
Genno shot him a firm look. Justified suspicion was alright, nothing more.
«You can. I was there with Ash and Pikachu. Marco's subordinate betrayed him and her previous boss to give him Team Blast. It was plotted and I doubt there will be anyone else to take over if he's gone. Giovanni would have liked to, but, after being in their hands for so long, I doubt we'd recognize him even if he was just in front of us. »
«In that case, we must decide on how to act once we get there. The idea has been decided but we need to establish a much more firm plan. » Koga stated.
«We need to decide which ones of us are going on which team. » Erika said.
«We already decided on that, didn't we? » Blaine asked with a raised eyebrows.
«Erika's right. With Genno, Pikachu and Ash in our hands, there might be a need to change the teams. » Surge replied.
«You should not count Ash. He may not act if it's too dangerous. He can't leave his son alone. » Genno said.
They considered that point. In all fairness, it was completely legitimate, but it was a bit inconvenient.
«What were the original teams? » Pikachu asked, translated by Genno.
«Erika, Koga, Jenny and Brock will be the rescue team. They will find the children and the officers and free them. Me, Blaine, Misty and Sabrina will go after Jonathan. » Koga said.
«Jenny will take control of the officers and coordinate them just in case there is a fight, Brock can use his steelix to dig a way out of the hideout and escape, Koga will be needed if they need to find hiding place while they are in the wild and Erika's pokemon can use spore attacks, useful against groups of enemies in case of a chase. » Surge explained.
Both Pikachu and Genno nodded, impressed by their management, even if there was something they didn't understand.
«Why don't you ask Sabrina to use Teleport to get away instantly instead of this? »
«It's too much. There are too many people there. We tested it and Sabrina's alakazam can't sustain that many Teleport without collapsing of exhaustion. Plus, while it is true that it can transport many at a times, it's much more tiring. »
«Even with two alakazams? » Genno insisted.
«Yes. Usually, five people are a big number for Teleport. There are at least an hundred in there that needs to be rescued. »
They could see Genno clinch his fists in frustration. It would have been so much more simple if they could have use the move to escape.
«And… the… other team? » he struggled to say.
«We made it this way just to balance things up a little. Our team will go directly for Jonathan and do not need particular abilities, just strength. » Surge finished.
«I see… in that case, we should go with your team, Surge. We could not add anything to the rescue team and I'd like to be one of those that will bring my father down. »
At this last part, Pikachu looked worriedly at his friend. This was not good.
«…I guess you're right… » Surge admitted.
«Then, it's settled. Genno and Pikachu will participate in the team going for Jonathan Avery. » Brock stated.
As the gym leaders and Genno finally relaxed, done with the enervating question, a voice interrupted.
«I'd like to be in on this too. »
Only Pikachu and Genno understood.
«Ash! » they exclaimed.
He was waiting next to the door of the room he was in earlier. The former trainer had heard a good part of the conversation and made his decision.
His friends all noticed something was off. There was an empty look in his eyes and Alexchu was nowhere to be seen.
«What are you saying? » Pikachu asked, incredulous.
As he got closer, he didn't look anywhere but at the ground.
«Are you serious? » Genno added.
Ash suddenly turned to him.
«I am! »
They failed to understand.
«But… Alex… »
«…Is counting on me, I know. I understand that, but this is also something I have to do. »
«What are you saying…? » Pikachu muttered.
«I'm saying that I am going to fight for my son's future just like everyone else here. » Ash continued, not backing down.
It was then that Misty got out of the room. She looked calm, serene, but not happy. It was more of a calm acceptance.
Both Pikachu and Genno were struck by comprehension.
«Are you saying this because of your conversation with Misty? » Pikachu inquired.
Ash turned his head and crossed his arms.
«This has nothing to do with it. »
«Ash…»
«I'm serious! When I say that this is something I must do for Alex, I mean it. I have to play my part in this too! My role as a parent is to protect him, to be there for him, but also to make sure that there is a bright future ahead of him. Without both his parents, there will always be something missing for him. I promised to save his mother… I need to be a part of the defeat of Team Blast. »
They stayed silent. They could not find the right words. He was right in his own way, but they were unsure about this.
«You can't leave Alex alone. He's too young. » Genno reminded.
«He's asleep currently and he should not wake up until the end of the operation. »
«Still, you can't just let a baby like him here without anyone to look for him. » Pikachu protested.
«I know that too… that's why I ask you to stay with him, Pikachu. »
He was stunned. He had not seen it coming.
«But… »
«Please, pal, you're the one that knows how to take care of him the best and that Alex appreciates the most. Can you do this for me? » Ash solemnly asked.
Pikachu could see how important it was for his trainer to be a part of this fight. He was always that kind of person before. Refusing was not something he could honestly do to his trainer.
With a wavering voice, he agreed.