Poke-genetics: battle
They were operating the new computers. Since that incident with the pikachu, they had to replace every single data file previously owned. The big problem was that most of them were completely lost. Jonathan, however, didn't accept that answer, demanding that they somehow find a way.
They sighted. Jonathan was a competent leader, but he lacked some of Marco Blaze's charisma.
Nonetheless, they continued to work, hoping that their previous leader would soon be well enough to return.
The operators were suddenly blinded by a flash of light. Before their sight returned, they heard a man's voice.
«Thunder! »
Lightning filled the computer room, destroying the machines for the second time.
An alakazam floated to the middle of the room. It shot a look at the unconscious members and turned to the others. He nodded slowly before he disappeared again.
Surge, Blaine, Sabrina and Misty cautiously examined their surroundings. Surge's raichu knocked out all the members in the room and the computers were all unusable. They called out their pokemon.
In a few seconds, a magmortar and another alakazam appeared at their sides.
After a second Teleport, all the gym leaders, Jenny, Genno and Ash were in the computer room.
They had a brief talk. Surge gave them a last second reminder.
«Okay, everyone, we need to speak quickly. Rescue team, Pikachu said he smelled younger humans in that direction. Sabrina, remember that you must keep your Alakazam healthy enough to use a powerful teleport if necessary. Koga, you are responsible for the stealth of your team. It is crucial that no one finds you before it's too late. Our team will make sure that no one we meet gives off the alert. No matter what happens, each team must carry out their objectives. Let's go! »
They separated into their respective teams immediately. Genno, back in Ash's body, and Ash, as a determined pikachu, were heading toward the door on the other side of the computer lab.
As he looked at the fried machines, Genno felt a wave of satisfaction rush into him. It was the second time that they destroyed Team Blast's database. He also breathed a single sight of relief. He knew for sure he could use Teleport while he was an alakazam, but he had no idea if it would allow him to bring everyone to a place he had only been as a human. Luckily for them, it worked… just like the time they escaped that way.
Surge was the first to reach the door. Without a single moment of hesitation, he swung the door open, revealing another enormous room.
They stopped when they saw that there were a dozen of doors on their right and left. Right in front of them, there was a single black and red door.
«Which one should we take? » Genno asked with urgency. «It's not supposed to be this obvious, right?»
The former soldier frowned. This reminded him of something…
Ash took a deep breath. This attracted Genno's attention, thinking Ash was trying to calm down to think.
He was wrong. Ash had learned to use his pikachu senses to his advantage.
He pointed to the black and red door.
«Your father's definitely behind that one... and …! »
«What is it? » Genno urged.
He received his answer when said door opened. A slim blond woman sneaked out of it.
Janes.
When she saw them, she expressed surprise for the first time. It only last a second however, afterward, her usual predator smile returned.
«Oh my, it seems like a few rats found their way in. How did you do it? »
«If you think we're stupid enough to tell you, think again! » Surge replied rudely.
«You probably didn't use the ventilation system again… not with the new booby traps inside… » she pondered as if she hadn't heard Vermillion City's gym leader.
Her fake pensive look disappeared when she realized a lightning bolt was heading for her.
With her extraordinary strength, she jumped out of the way, avoiding the hit by a few inches.
«Aggressive, aren't you, Ash? Do you miss that poor female that much? »
A yellow blur flashed in the leaders' eyes as they saw Ash sprint toward her.
«Sabrina! » Genno yelled.
The gym leader just nodded and both her pokemon's and her eyes turned blue.
Both Ash and Janes stopped moving at the same time. They had been paralyzed by the psychic powers of Sabrina and of her alakazam.
In midair, Ash was furiously trying to get control of his body again. That woman… It was that woman! She had taken his son's mother! He had to get her!
With colossal effort, he managed to struggle a little and a pinch of pain stung his neck.
Shocked, he looked down and gasped. Janes was holding a knife toward him. Had they not stop him…
They moved him back, not letting go of the psychic attack. While Genno and Misty stayed where they were and grabbed him, Surge, Blaine and Sabrina went over to Janes.
«I'd normally say that we've got a valuable hostage, but… I've heard a lot about you, missy. » Surge said, looming over her.
She looked back at him with a mocking expression. No doubt that she'd have laughed at them had she been able to speak, but the control over her body was complete.
Or was it?
Pouring her strength into that single thing, she whispered with an extremely authoritative voice:
«Dragonite… waste them! »
The three gym leader were sent flying backward. The dragonite came out of his pokeball with a rumble of thunder.
«MISTRESS! » he roared.
And he shot his most devastating Dragon rage at Sabrina's pokemon.
Concentrated, the psychic type couldn't dodge in time.
«Don't look awayyyy… » a cheerful voice said to the other gym leaders.
Three more flashes of light came from her position.
Her team was standing next to her and she had her hands to her neck.
«That's one stiff neck I'll get because of that psychic. Why don't you pay her back, along with all her little friends? » she asked her pokemon.
«Like we'll let you! » yelled Surge. «Raichu, THUNDER! »
As the raichu charged his power, he was tackled by Dragonite.
«Raichu! »
«Magmortar, now! » Blaine ordered.
The fire type launched a bunch of fireballs toward Janes which barely gave them any attention.
«Tyrannitar… » she said simply.
It promptly moved and intercepted the attack with a powerful Flamethrower.
«Now, now, don't tell me that's the best you can do… » Janes taunted.
«No, it's not! » yelled someone from the back of the room.
They all turned toward Misty.
Their eyes opened wide in surprise. Her Gyarados was howling in rage.
«Hydropump! »
«Ash! » Genno said as he morphed.
His friend nodded and both pikachu yelled:
«CHUUUUUUUUUU! »
The attacks combined, creating a torrent of water furiously spinning and carrying electricity.
Janes suddenly looked less confident. She quickly gave her order.
«Dragonite, Tyranitar, Hyper beam! »
The two pseudo-legendaries opened their mouth and charged their attack.
«Raichu! Now! » urged Surge.
«You too, Magmortar! » Blaine added.
They both sent their attack, hoping to stop Janes's pokemon before they could counterattack.
«Alakazam! » Janes yelled.
The lightning bolt and the fire balls slowed in midair and stopped.
«Counter it, Alakazam! » Sabrina shouted.
The attacks suddenly accelerated.
«Too late. » Janes smiled.
The Hyper beams were launched and headed toward the electrified Hydropump.
While everyone's eyes were turning to the devastating attacks, Janes reacted.
«Tyranitar, Sandstorm! »
It immediately obeyed, blocking Raichu's and Magmortar's assault just in time.
The hydropump and the hyper beams clashed, creating a devastating explosion. Ash and Misty covered their eyes, unable to see through the screen of smoke that had resulted. When the smoke finally faded, the gym leaders could see a small tornado of sand moving around Janes's team.
Under the raging sound of the wind, they heard a distinct order.
«Tyranitar… stop holding back. »
The sandstorm looked like it exploded. A wall of sand flew toward them, knocking them back a few meters.
In the middle of a cloud of dust, Ash heard a distinct noise: rapid steps.
A few meters away, Genno was looking at his surroundings with his ditto eyes.
«Holy…! MISTY! LOOK OUT! »
Unable to see, Misty only heard a pikachu screaming.
Then she felt strong arms holding her.
The dust fell down, almost all gone, finally letting the gym leaders see. A terrible sight awaited them: Janes was holding Misty hostage, a knife under her throat.
«Ah, such nice expressions on your faces… I love it. » she noticed with ecstasy.
She shouldn't have. It distracted her long enough for Ash to jump behind her. Janes only heard the buzzing noise too late. She moved instinctively.
The Iron tail hit her on the left shoulder and she let go of Misty.
«Take that! » he yelled, preparing for another hit.
Janes rolled on the floor despite her shoulder, this time dodging completely. Ash was not going to let her go; he charged some electricity in his cheeks.
As he released it, a blur of orange stepped between them and blocked the attack.
«Move! » Ash ordered.
«I won't let you near my mistress! » the dragonite roared.
Unbeknownst to the now fighting pokemon, Surge made a sign toward Blaine who nodded.
At the same time, both gym leaders ran toward the door Janes had gotten out of. Their pokemon ran at their side, racing to the door.
«How naïve. » Janes commented.
A veil of sand appeared in front of them, effectively stopping right in their track.
«Tch. Raichu, Hyper beam! » Surge shouted.
The attack went through the sandstorm, hitting Tyranitar perfectly.
«Good, now let's… WOAH! »
A glowing tail swiped Raichu and almost got him at the same time. He ducked before the tyranitar's tail could hit him.
«What? »
«Did you think you could take her down with one hit? » gleefully asked Janes.
«No. » Surge replied with a grin.
«Fire Blast! » Blaine ordered his magmortar.
«Dark pulse! » Janes said.
The attack clashed.
Sabrina used this opportunity to try to get into the office, but Janes's alakazam appeared in front of her, using psychic. Her pokemon counterattacked with its own psychic and they stared at each other, their eyes glowing with power. They had reached a stalemate.
While Dragonite was faring off against Ash, Misty and Genno, Janes ran to her other pokemon's sides, defending her boss's office.
«I'm afraid I can't let you pass, Jonathan hates unexpected visits. » she explained almost politely.
Surge was attending to his raichu while Blaine was still trying to overpower Tyranitar.
«Seems like they're evenly matched… » Janes observed.
«Not for long! Raichu, thunderbolt! »
The electric attack shocked the tyranitar and the magmortar finally got the upper hand.
The fire blast attack detonated and the explosion actually caused Janes to let out a single scream of pain. At that, Dragonite immediately stopped fighting and flew toward her at full speed.
Genno turned to Ash.
«Now is our chance! »
They poured their strength in their lower body and launched themselves like rockets with Quick attack.
Janes only caught a glimpse of two yellow flashes followed by white as they slipped through her guard. She was even hit by Ash's Iron tail as he passed her by. The hit made the right side of her face red and she felt a little dizzy. Before she could get back her balance, Genno had already transformed and opened the door, most probably locking it behind him.
The remaining trainers all bore face of triumph.
«We did it! » Misty said.
«You've failed, Janes. » Surge added, rubbing it in her face.
They saw her falter. She looked shaken, as if she didn't understand the meaning of those words. Then, she began to chuckle. A light, joyful, crystalline chuckle at first... but in seconds, it turned into a mad laugh that brought shiver to her opponents.
When she was finished, she wiped a tear off her cheek and looked at the gym leaders.
«I've failed? It depends on the point of view I guess. Your goal was apparently to reach Jonathan… and make him… your hostage… or stuff like that I suppose. Now then… if that was your objective, what is mine? » she asked with a dangerous smile.