Chapter 2: Mission and reunion
May crawled and weaved through the ventilation system of the Devon Corp building, her slender body easily moving through the tight spaces. As her first mission May was determined not to fail especially since this one was arguably the most important. She had snuck into the building from the rear unnoticed and was tasked to navigate the ventilation system and plant a virus into the Devon Corps main frame that would block them from identifying any of the channels or frequencies that New Magma would be using so they could finally communicate across radio and satellite instead of tedious letters. She would repeat this with all the police stations in every town she was assigned to cross however Devon Corp had another important aspect to it.
The main computers held most of the limited data research teams collected after the original Team Magma and Team Aqua awoke Kyogre and Groudon and May's mission was to make sure no one used it against New Magma when Groudon was awakened again. In order to avoid suspicion May wouldn't simply destroy the data, she would place an undetectable sleeper virus in the computers documents and when the time was right activate it so no one would be able to access it at the time New Magma used the powerful legendary.
May remembered back when she herself was involved with the original Team Magma and Aqua. Ash, Max, Brock and herself were in the thick of it when the ancient Pokémon awakened and threatened the whole region. Even today May remembered the awe-inspiring power each one possessed, if let out of control either one of them could of destroyed an entire continent.
May banished the thought from her mind the original Team Magma acted out of selfish desires, New Magma was different, they planned to help others.
As May approached her objective she readied herself by going over the details in her head.
"Step 1: Take out the cameras. Step 2: Make sure no one sees you. Step 3: Upload the virus. Step 4: Get out. Simple."
May turned over on her back and placed a probe on the roof of the vent. Of all the cameras in the room only one would be able to see her enter from the vent all she had to do was hack the camera and get it to stop recording long enough for her to enter and upload the virus. She took hold of the controls and brought the small bug like drone to life.
Tiny little legs extruded from the drone and clamped onto the vent, like a miniature Caterpie it could hold onto any surface and as May watched her screen to get the drones perspective she raced it outside the vent and to the camera. With lightning fast movements the drone took no time to place itself onto the fixed camera and hack into it. Once in the small machine took a few seconds of footage the camera was taking then looped it so all the camera picked up was its own ten seconds of footage instead of the room in front of it.
"So far so good." May told herself using the drone once again to quickly scan the room making sure no one was present, nobody was.
May crawled further up and opened the vent looking around the room herself to make double sure, seeing only lines of computer systems May crawled out and crouched down to the nearest port. May was well trained in hacking and it didn't take her long to get past the surprisingly simple security measures and begin to upload the first virus. It was hot in the room with all the motors running and being in her skin tight tactical insertion suit didn't help but she ignored the slight discomfort. After a while of kneeling and watching the program do its work the first virus was uploaded now she had to go for the files. Fortunately the Devon Corp had all the information in one large file, she copied all the data and then placed the sleeper virus. While it uploaded she scanned the information hoping to find something that might help New Magma even though she knew the eggheads at HQ would go through it.
The data was less substantial then she thought, most of it was common knowledge and the parts that weren't they already knew anyway, there was nothing here that was of any use.
May huffed loudly, annoyed she had come so far for nothing though was thankful that the Devon Corp and least didn't have any useful information to begin with. As the virus finished uploading May packed up her kit and climbed back into the ventilation system, she called back the small droid that upon unlatching itself returned the camera back to its normal state. May crawled her way back along the path she came. First mission was complete, at the rate she was going she could easily finish every one of them and have plenty of time before the final plan was initiated. She had gone over everything time and time again and could see nothing slowing her down.
"Pikachu we can't slow down now we're almost there." Ash shouted over his shoulder at the electric type who was struggling to keep up.
Ash had walked most of the previous day and only rested briefly during the night and was now running to get to the city quicker despite Pikachu's objections.
"Pick up the pace buddy." Ash yelled.
"Pikachu!" The mouse yelled as he jumped forward and latched onto Ash's shoulder making the trainer topple briefly.
"Alright I'll do the running then." Ash grumbled as he finally entered the cities limits.
Ash continued to run along the streets not sure where he was going, more relying on his instincts then anything. Suddenly realising this tactic was getting him nowhere Ash grinded to a halt remembering one important fact.
"Pikachu, how are we meant to find May in this city?" Ash asked.
Pikachu stared at his trainer with a look of puzzlement, before slapping himself in the forehead.
"Damn it on the entire trip here I didn't even think about how I'm going to find May! Why do I keep doing this?" Ash shouted making multiple onlookers stare at him.
Pikachu's ears dropped in embarrassment, sometimes thinking things out wasn't Ash's strong suit.
"Alright Pikachu we've got to figure out how we're going to find May in this place." Ash spoke as he scratched his head.
Pikachu jumped to a bench and rather loudly voiced his anger of nearly being driven to exhaustion.
"Don't dwell on the past just help me figure out what we're going to do." Ash countered.
"Pikachu continued to complain, since the two had spent so long together Ash had little trouble understanding what Pikachu was on about.
"I don't know we just have to brain storm and look in the right places I guess." Ash responded getting annoyed which only made Pikachu more frustrated.
"If you've got a better idea please, I'll all ears." Ash threw his hands in the air.
"Pika, Pika Pika-chuu." Pikachu grunted.
"What the heck does that even mean?" Ash threw his head back in annoyance.
May slipped out of the vent and onto the small toilet block she used to change into her infiltration gear at the start of the mission. Getting back into the stall she undressed and got back into her normal clothes. She had started before the sun came up and by far the longest part of the mission was the climb up the ventilation system, now that it was mid-morning May was getting tired and decided to head back and make her report, this time over the phone.
May exited the bathroom and walked to the main street making sure no one saw her. She could hear a small argument on the street but didn't bother to look even as a young man shouted "Don't give me that attitude!" May ignored it, her mind still on the mission.
That was until she heard a loud blast of electricity followed by a pain induced cry that sounded eerily familiar. May turned around thinking she imagined it, after all what were the chances he would be here of all places after all this time.
There on the path in front of Devon corps main entrance lying on the ground as sparks fazed along his body lay the boy she met when she was ten and spawned a life changing friendship with, and just to confirm it was him was the same Pikachu standing on top of a bench staring angrily down at him.
"Ouch, now you see if you did that in our last battle you might not have come up short." Ash grinned making Pikachu get angry all over again.
"Ash is that you?" A familiar voice asked.
Ash and Pikachu both turned and to their amazement saw the very girl they were arguing about.
"May? I mean yes it's me!" Ash exclaimed as he got off the ground and dusted himself off.
May had mixed feelings about Ash being here. On one hand she was happy to see him, more than happy she was thrilled. One the other hand his presence could complicate her mission especially if he wanted to travel with her again, this she could not allow.
"Um Ash, what are you doing here?" May asked quietly.
"Well officially I'm on holiday so I decided to explore Hoenn again, but I was hoping to run into you." Ash explained.
"Oh well it was good to see you but I've got to get going, have a safe trip." May smiled and suddenly walked off.
"May wait." Ash called out a little shocked.
May halted in her tracks, she didn't want to leave him like this however she had to report in.
"I was hoping we could catch up, maybe grab a bite to eat?" Ash asked slowly as Pikachu stood at his side.
"Ash I want to but now isn't the best time you see-" May was interrupted by her phone going off.
May swiftly pulled out the phone and looked at the caller ID, no number or name came up which meant only one thing.
"Sorry Ash I've got to take this, just wait right there I'll be back." May then hurried back to the alleyway leaving a bewildered Ash speechless.
As soon as May was out of sight she answered the call knowing that Captain Gregson would be on the other end.
"This is May Maple specking." She spoke firmly.
"Excellent work Maple you got communications clear on this area." The Captain's deep voice came through the speakers. "Any issues to report?"
"No sir, no problems to report." May replied.
"Really, then who was that boy you were talking to just now?" Gregson asked sternly.
May froze and looked around wondering how he knew so quick, had he been monitoring her the entire time? May wearily responded "He's-just a friend."
"Give me a name Agent." Gregson spoke lowly.
"Ash Ketchum from Kanto." May answered a part of her wishing she hadn't.
"Standby agent." Gregson could be heard typing into his computer before grunting to himself.
"Is this the same Ash Ketchum that is a backup member for Kanto's Elite Four?" Gregson asked.
"Yes he is." May tried to remain calm.
"What is your relationship with this person Agent Maple?" Gregson asked slowly.
"He's just a friend I haven't had contact with him for over a year since he got his position as a backup." May told Gregson.
Gregson remained silent on the line making May nervous with every passing second till he suddenly spoke. "Agent I'm currently with Head of New Magma Master Fane, he is now aware of the situation."
May swallowed heavily knowing that her fate and possibly Ash's was now hanging in the balance.
"Miss Maple" Fane spoke. "I'm sure you realise the threat a member of the elite four represents to our plan should he get involved?"
"Yes sir" May replied.
"It is possible if you leave him he will leave Hoenn, however if he doesn't he will walk around unmonitored and unchallenged." Fane continued.
"Tell me Miss Maple, do you believe you would be able to subdue Mr Ketchum or defeat him in a Pokémon battle if necessary?"
May nearly froze at the question, Ash was obviously a strong trainer May herself was no push over but she hadn't considered it ever coming to that. It made sense though, if Ash saw a Pokémon in need he would help it no matter what. Right now she had to answer the question.
"Yes sir I'm confident I can beat him." May spoke as assertively as she could.
"Very well, you will have Ash Ketchum accompany you throughout the rest of your mission and if he intervenes you will restrain him, is that understood?" Fane asked.
"I-um sir, if Ash accompanies me he could seriously slow down my current mission." May responded before Gregson cut her off.
"Listen here agent, you have plenty of time to complete your assigned duties and if you cannot complete them then you will be replaced and your status as top agent will be taken is that understood?" Gregson spoke harshly.
"Yes sir" May gave in.
"Then get to work." Gregson hung up.
May put down her phone and cursed the fact Ash had to turn up now of all times and jeopardise her mission, she had no choice in the matter though and would have to make the most of it.
"Wonder what May is doing Pikachu." Ash asked while slumped in the chair.
Pikachu was about to respond when he saw the girl walking over to them with a slight smile on her face.
Ash got up mentally prepared if May pushed them away again.
"Ash would you like to come travelling with me?" May asked as soon as she walked up to him.
"Um well yes I would but didn't you just say we couldn't even grab a bite?" Ash asked slightly confused.
"Don't worry that phone call just cleared everything up, one thing though you have to keep up with the schedule I have planned ok?" May smiled
"I guess that would be alright." Ash scratched his head.
"Great I know a good café where we can catch up." May spoke cheerful.
Ash nodded at the prospect of food and followed behind May, happy that the odd turn of events had turned in his favour.