A/N: As much as I want to have fast updates, they are nevertheless going to be slow. It will take a little time for each chapter and I thank you all for your continued patience. On the bright side, the group is finally getting somewhere! If there's any specific character you want to see more of (since there are a lot), feel free to request so in a review! Without further ado, R&R and enjoy the story!
Chapter 5: The Team Rocket Base: The Three Gates
Tracey stopped the lone car in front of a fence labeled 'No trespassing'. It was far past midnight with pitch black surroundings once again. Both the ground and the air were laden with snow as a chilly breeze swept through the dark sky. But this time, there was no friendly Pokémon Center greeting them, just a cold, metal fence with a faint building light in the distance. The fence marked Team Rocket's territory; they had to get past the fence before even entering the building.
"All right everyone, let's go!" Tracey said.
"Wait!" Clemont said. "Everyone stop, there's something that needs to be done first. Tracey, open your door and go outside and make sure the coast is clear. Then use the disabler to unlock the automated gate."
"Ok, I'm on it," Tracey replied.
Tracey swiftly opened the gate. When it was completely open, then everyone could come out.
"We're good! Come on everyone, let's go!" Tracey said.
"Nice catch, Clemont!" Serena complimented.
"Thanks," Clemont said.
After passing through the gate, the 12 of them had to walk down a path leading to the building. They were all dressed in cozy winter clothes to make sure they were warm, but they would come to know that it wouldn't be enough.
"Aaaxxxeewww," Iris's Axew shivered.
"It's ok, Axew," Iris said, who was also cold. "Just wrap my hair around you as a blanket."
"It's cold out here!" Max said. "I sure know how you feel, Iris!"
"Well at least the Team Rocket building will be warm," May said.
"Doesn't mean it's a good place to be," Brock responded.
"That's because Nurse Joy isn't in it!" Bonnie teased.
"Point taken," Brock said in return.
"It's getting cold, Tracey," Misty said to Tracey.
"That's ok. If we stay closer, we'll be warmer!" Tracey replied.
"Good idea!" Misty said while nestling close with Tracey.
"You're right," Cilan said. Everyone huddled side-by-side as they were walking.
"Hey look, we're here!" Ash pointed out.
"Let's get inside!" Dawn said.
"Right," they all said in unison.
As soon as they disabled the front camera and main entrance, they were relieved to be in a warmer environment. They used the disabler to unlock the front door so the group finally made in inside the building.
"That's so much better," Iris blurted.
"Keep it down," Cilan whispered. "We're in enemy territory now."
"Plus we don't want to get caught," Dawn added.
"That's for sure," Ash said.
"There's barely any light though," Serena attested.
"That's why we have our scouters on," Clemont said. "Now is a good time to use the night vision that's on them."
So they all agreed to put the night vision over their eyes.
"I can see so much better!" Bonnie said.
"Yeah, me too!" Max cheered.
"Hush, you two," May whispered. "We have to be quiet now."
The front lobby was completely silent and dark as the twelve looked to what was ahead of them. Just as Clemont had said, the forward path split into three different hallways.
"So this is where we split up," Brock said.
"Yeah, this is the place," Tracey said.
"It's a good thing we're in groups," Misty pointed out.
"Ok, from here out we will split up into our groups," Clemont stated. "We won't meet together as a whole until the courtyard, so make sure your scouters are working. If you encounter any problems along the way, tell me through the walkie-talkie system on the scouter."
"Do you think these hallways will take a while?" Ash asked.
"It should take no longer than 15 minutes total if we don't get caught, so remember to stay as quiet as possible. Also remember to just keep on walking straight without turning to the left or the right. When you get to each gate, I will ask Tracey, Ash, and Brock in order, 'Are you ready?'". Then on the count of the three they will push the button and point the antenna to the center of the door, which should theoretically open it. Sounds like a plan?" Clemont whispered.
"Sounds good!" everyone whispered back.
Misty, Tracey, Iris, and Cilan went down the left hallway. Ash, Dawn, Max, and Bonnie went down the middle. And finally, May, Brock, Serena, and Clemont trekked down the right passage.
Right POV: To Gate 1
"Wow, it's pretty dark in here," May whispered. May, Brock, Serena, and Clemont were quietly tiptoeing across the hall.
"That's why we have night vision, so we can see better," Clemont whispered back.
Brock saw rooms on both the left and the right. "So these must be their bedrooms?"
"I guess," Serena said, "but just to be sure, we should ask Clemont."
Serena had to get close and personal behind Clemont's shoulder to talk to him. "Are these rooms their dormitories?"
"Yes," Clemont whispered, "so we have to be extra quiet."
"We definitely don't want to get caught here," May said.
"You got that right," Brock said.
The hallway was about 13 feet tall and 13 feet wide, just like all the others. But the hallway went on for quite a while, so they continued sneaking across the stone floor. Serena had a personal question to talk to Brock about while they walked on. Clemont stayed quiet the rest of the way before the first door.
"Umm, Brock?" Serena asked.
"What is it?" Brock said.
"If you need help, I can help also," May added.
"There's this boy I really like, but I don't know what to do about it," Serena told them. "I thought you guys might be able to help."
"That's simple one," Brock said, "just put your heart out on the line!"
"Well, I don't know," May hesitated.
"Come on, May!" Serena pleaded. "I know you get roses all the time so must have some experience!"
"She sure does," Brock said.
"Well," May said, "you're a starting trainer right? Then maybe you should make sure that he is the one before being serious. And don't forget to consider all of your options as well; you never know who you'll meet!"
"Or who you've already met for that manner," Brock added.
"Cool!" Serena said. "But as of right now, he is the one. I may consider that later, though." She looked over at Clemont and she was concerned why he wasn't saying anything.
"Something wrong, Clemont?" she asked.
"No, it's all good!" Clemont replied with a little guilt.
The four of them finally made it to the tightly shut solid wall as expected. But everyone knew that it was actually a door.
"We're here," Clemont told the other two groups.
"That's right," Brock said, "we have to make sure the others made it as well."
"We're good," Ash and Dawn said from the middle group.
"Good," Clemont said. "Tracey, do you copy?"
"We're still walking," Tracey's voice said, "but we'll be there!"
"Ok then, we'll wait," Clemont whispered. "Brock, do you know how to use the disabler?"
"If I remember, you press the button when the antenna is pointing at what you want to disable," Brock said.
"Correct," Clemont whispered in return. "In this case, you point it at the square area in the exact center of this wall door. I'll have to tell that to Ash and Tracey also."
May's map wasn't turned on, but she decided to just now.
"Hey, I didn't know the map showed all three of our groups," May whispered.
"Cool," Serena said, "it looks like Tracey's group has pretty much arrived at their destination.
"Ok," Tracey's voice said, "we're here."
"Good," Clemont responded, "now listen up Tracey and Ash. Point the antenna on your disabler towards the square area in the exact center of the wall in front of us and leave about a foot of distance in between. And Brock, you do the same."
"Got it," Tracey, Ash, and Brock replied.
"All right, let's count to three together quietly and push the button." Clemont said.
"One…..two…THREE!" they said quietly in their own hallways.
"Ah!" May and Serena said. The doors in front of them opened up automatically with ease.
"Ok, let's keep walking forward," Clemont said to everyone.
"One down, two to go," Brock said. "Then we can get Pikachu. Right Ash?"
Middle POV: To Gate 2
"Right, Brock," Ash replied.
"It's a good thing we're getting through this undetected," Max said.
"Yeah," Ash whispered.
"It sure is," Dawn also whispered.
"It's kind of scary in here," Bonnie trembled.
"Don't worry," encouraged Ash, "we'll be fine!"
Ash and Dawn were steadily walking in front while Max and Bonnie stayed behind them. Dawn used the time as a chance to catch up with Ash.
"So Ash," Dawn asked, "how did you do at the Unova League?"
"I got into the top eight," Ash answered, "so it was not as good as I did in Sinnoh."
"Top eight isn't too bad," Dawn said.
"Remember the guy with the Riolu we saw after the Junior Cup?" Ash asked. "It was him I lost to in the Unova League."
"Wow," Dawn replied. "Who would have known?"
Max and Bonnie were watching the two interact from behind.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Bonnie slyly asked Max.
"Yeah!" Max said. "You know it as well as I do!"
"No need to worry," Dawn said, "I'm sure you'll do better in the future! You've been in the top four before and you have a bunch of Pokémon at Professor Oak's to use!"
"You're right," Ash said. "Thanks!"
"I think it's better that we stay at least a little quieter," Max whispered.
"Oh that's right," Dawn quietly said.
"Okay," Ash whispered.
The hushed walk to the second gate felt longer than the first. Ash and Dawn were more alert together as they scanned both sides while advancing to make sure nothing would randomly burst out. They had to protect Max and Bonnie after all. But neither of them were scared now; they had each other.
"So your brother is the gym leader of Lumiose City?" Max asked Bonnie.
"That's right," Bonnie replied. "He's really strong, but all of his electric types are back at the gym!"
"Cool," Max said. "Did you know that my dad is a gym leader?"
"No way!" Bonnie said in shock.
"Yeah!" Max said. "He specializes in normal-types at the Petalburg Gym! Slaking is really strong!"
Ash and Dawn shared a silent moment while walking together, but either way they couldn't relate to what the younger kids were talking about; they didn't have their fathers around much.
"So how about your father?" Max asked. "Does he know you're here?"
"Yeah we said goodbye to him before we left," Bonnie said.
Ash was the first to break their silence. "Do you have a father, Dawn?"
"Well, he wasn't exactly around when I left…" Dawn depressingly said.
"Yeah, same here," Ash sighed.
"That's ok," Bonnie perked, noticing their sudden intimacy. "You have each other!"
"And all of your friends," Max added.
"And your Pokémon!" Bonnie continued.
"Yeah," Dawn said, smiling at Piplup.
"Guess you're right," Ash said.
"But we still have to get your Pikachu," Dawn told him.
"Right," Ash said in return.
Their hard walking was finally rewarded with the sight of the second gate.
"Hey look, we're here!" Ash said looking at it from a couple yards away.
"I'll beat you to the door!" Dawn playfully said while running off.
"Not if I get their first!" Ash said back while also running.
"Wait for us!" Max and Bonnie said.
The four of them were finally in front of the solid wall ahead. As always, they needed to make sure everyone else had also arrived.
"Brock! Clemont!" Ash said over the microphone. "Are you there yet?"
"Yes," Clemont replied.
"We're here," Brock said.
"How about Tracey?" Ash asked.
"I don't know," Clemont truthfully said. "Tracey, are you there?"
All of a sudden, loud bursts of yelling could be heard from the headphones.
"Who do you think you are?!" Iris's voice angrily resounded.
"Who do you think YOU are?" Misty's voice boomed.
"Girls, break it up," Cilan said trying to stop them. "We have to be calmer than this!"
"Hmph," both girls said, temporarily breaking their feud.
"Sorry about that," Tracey told Clemont. "But yeah, we're here."
"Ok, on the count of three, let's push the button on the disabler like last time," Clemont told Ash, Tracey, and Brock.
"One…two…THREE!" they all whispered.
And as if it were magic, the hard metal wall in front of them opened up.
"All right, everyone, move forward!" Clemont commanded.
Walking through the opened doors, Max told Ash and Dawn that things could have been better. "I think you and Dawn could have been a little quieter back there."
"Sorry," Dawn replied.
"At least we weren't Tracey's group," Ash said. He started wondering how they were doing so he talked to Tracey over the scouter. "Was everything all right back there, Tracey?"
Left POV: To Gate 3
"Yeah, it's all good!" Tracey innocently responded.
"If only it were so…" Cilan added.
Even after the second gate, Misty and Iris were extremely infuriated at each other for a very small incident that happened. Tracey and Cilan tried to calm them down, but the two girls just wouldn't stop. The fighting continued as they were walking down the left hallway.
"I can't believe you had to step on my foot, where are your manners!?" Iris madly pointed.
"For your information, your shivering got in MY way so YOU'RE the problem here," Misty defended. "And with the way you are right now, you deserved it!"
"No I did not!" Iris retorted back to Misty. "If anything YOU should be ashamed for hurtfully stepping on people! You hurt people out of lacking self-control, just like a kid!"
"Urrgghh," Misty grumbled.
"She does have a point," Tracey said to Misty, "you did step on me when I teased you for being scared of bugs!"
"WHY YOU?!" Misty yelled while slapping Tracey across the head.
"Owww, Misty!" Tracey said in pain.
Cilan tried to soften Iris on her side. "Come on Iris that was no big deal. Just try to let it go."
"But the cold bothered me, even if it was a little warmer than outside," Iris said. She also noticed how Misty slapped Tracey. "See, didn't I tell you Cilan? She has no self-control, just like a kid!"
Misty's fuming head turned to face Iris. "The only kid in here is you, Iris!"
"Actually, my kid-o-meter says you're wrong," Iris responded. "Look Cilan and Tracey, Misty's kid level is 1006!"
"Hey, that was Clemont's invention!" Tracey said.
"I knew you of all people would put it to good use," Cilan commented.
"Give me that!" Misty sneered, snatching the device. "You need to look in a mirror!"
Misty pointed the kid-o-meter directly at Iris. "Your kid level is over 9000! You're more of a kid than I am!"
"What?" Iris doubted. "You were the one who stepped on my foot!"
Tracey and Cilan were just laughing at the whole thing.
"Can you believe these girls?" Tracey laughed.
"I know right?" Cilan said.
Misty and Iris glared at Tracey and Cilan respectively. "What was that?" the girls said to them.
"Nothing!" Tracey and Cilan answered with a humorous guilt.
The four were so into the moment that they already made it to the third gate. In fact, this section was a shorter walk for everyone.
"We're finally at the last gate," Tracey said.
"You're right," Cilan said.
"Tracey, I'm sorry for slapping you back there," Misty apologized, touching Tracey's shoulder.
"It's ok," Tracey replied. "And I'm sorry for teasing you."
"Thanks Tracey," Misty said.
"Aww," Iris said, watching them cuddle.
Cilan asked for the other two groups through for Tracey. "Ash, Dawn, did you guys make it to the next gate?"
"Yep," Ash said.
"We're here," Dawn replied.
"Clemont, Brock, did you guys arrive?" Cilan asked.
"Yeah," Brock said.
"We're here too," Clemont responded.
"Tracey, do you have your disabler ready?" Cilan asked.
"It's right here," Tracey said.
Clemont's leading could once again be heard. "On the count of three, let's press the button!"
"One…" Tracey, Ash, Brock, and Clemont said.
Just then, Iris accidentally stepped on Misty's foot.
"Oww, what was that for?!" Misty said.
"Watch it guys!" Tracey said.
"Two…" Ash, Brock, and Clemont continued.
"Stay out of my business!" Iris said, pushing Misty into Tracey.
"No!" Tracey said with the disabler knocked out of his hand.
"…THREE!" Ash, Brock, and Clemont finished.
In the middle and right hallways, the doors were opened. But Cilan had to desperately catch the disabler and press the button a few seconds later.
"…THREE!" Cilan said, pressing the button.
"WHAT?!" Ash said.
"You're supposed to press it at the same time as us!" Brock said.
"Sorry," Cilan said, "but Misty and Iris just had to get in the way!
"Never mind that, everyone move forward, quick!" Clemont hurriedly said.
After everyone passed through the doors, the doors of the third gates closed behind them within five seconds. They already knew what sound would come next.
"Oh no!" Misty screamed.
"See, look what you guys did," Tracey said. "If it weren't for you two, we wouldn't have this problem!"
"Hurry up and run!" Clemont said in a rush.
The door to the courtyard was in visible sight, but the alarm in their particular section of the building was going off. In each hallway, a Team Rocket member came out of their room to meet each respective group of four in battle. But these weren't ordinary members, these were Team Rocket Executives!
"Get ready for battle, guys!" Clemont told everyone in their own hallways.
"They won't stop us!" May stated.
"Let's do this!" Ash yelled.
"Yeah!" Dawn said.
"We'll do whatever it takes…" Cilan began.
"…to save Ash's Pikachu!" Tracey finished.
The executives' faces weren't visible yet, but they would be as soon as the light turned on.
To be continued…