Hello, guys!

So, I'm going through all the stories that I have finished off (and have yet to finish), and I realize that I'm done with this story and have all the material done for the next one...and I want to get the second one up as soon as possible. So that basically means that I'm going to be updating at least twice a weekend until the end of May - which isn't all that far away - and then once a day when I can get to the internet.

Just figured I'd let you guys know. I started last week by putting up chapter 15 early, so if you missed that, go back and read it!

And for those who did read chapter 15...onto the next one!

Chapter 16 - Down Time, part 1

::Raze. Raze!::

Khrista groggily lifted her head from the pile of blankets. She blinked blearily, then widened her blue eyes and moved her left hand to the corresponding ear. "Jo-"

::No. Call me Boggart - I'm piggybacking on the Galactics' comm signal, and I don't know if they're listening in or not::

"Then why did you make a comm link in the first place?!" Khrista demanded as she started to get to her feet. She looked down at her shirt, grabbing the hem and pulling it out while watching the color change from gold to red. The shirt's original color was starting to look kinda dull...

::I had to because I wanted to be able to keep in contact with you and anyone else who might be in our position. Where are you now?::

"In hiding." Khrista looked around the empty storeroom. "Kinda was taking a nap, Boggy."

::That's Boggart:: Joshua sounded irritated. ::Make sure you use the full code name::

"Yeah, yeah." Khrista flopped back down in too the blankets and straw. "Is there a reason you decided to hunt me down?"

::Yeah. I've been hearing the Galactics complain about a recent increase in wild Pokemon activity. There could be a chance that there are Pokemon out there who are fighting against this::

"It kinda looks like that bad future thing in one of the non-Trainer games," Khrista remarked. "I was out there when I got dragged in."

::Really?:: Joshua sounded actually surprised.

"Yeah. It's pretty bad."

::...this is worse than I thought:: Joshua's voice faded for a moment, but Khrista could still hear him somewhat. ::Mist, come in!::

The response was immediate - and loud. ::What now, you little -::

::Enough with the insults already. It doesn't suit you::

Khrista heard grumbling on the louder line. ::Fine. What's going on, Boggart?::

::Raze said the outdoors look like the paralyzed planet::

There was an interested noise. ::Oh. Now that makes sense. Especially since it feels like different speeds of time are taking place at once::

"I don't feel that very much," Khrista spoke up.

::You're not the one who came herself:: snapped an irritable reply.

"Came by -"

::This isn't something we can discuss now:: Joshua spoke up seriously. ::We have to figure out a way to collaborate and take this citadel down::

::Boggart, if it's just the three of us, we won't be able to even make a dent::

Khrista sat a little straighter against the wall as an idea started to come to her. "I think that we might not have to be the only ones. I've heard there are groups outside."

There was a pause on the other ends of the communication link.

::Raze, that knowledge is dangerous:: Joshua said darkly.

::Where'd you hear about that?:: Mist demanded. ::This isn't stuff that you should have -::

::I think I know:: Joshua let out a sigh. ::There are eyes and ears everywhere - both their side and ours. I wouldn't be surprised if...::

::If what?::

::I'll tell you later - when we're on a more secure channel. Boggart out::

::Mist out::

"Raze out," Khrista muttered. She dropped her hand from her left ear and collapsed her weight fully against the wall behind her. "Well."

There was a bright flash in front of her, and two figures materialized.

"We're back!" Gangrene called out as she and Alak materialized in the storeroom. Her grin faded slightly into a frown when she saw the exhausted look the was on Khrista's face. "What's up?"

"Joshua just contacted me," Khrista replied. "Same with some kid named Mist. Any idea who that is?"

"Mist is another child who is not under the effects of Cyrus' control," Alak replied calmly. He made a motion with one hand, and a pile of five boxes hovering next to him flew off and landed in an unused corner. "She has insisted that she be called that because she dislikes the number she was given. No one knows her real name except for herself."

Khrista blinked, raising an eyebrow. "Really? Huh."

Gangrene nodded, but then her grin suddenly widened. "I went down to have a quick peek at what the...well, what the other groups are up to. You will not believe what's going down!"

Khrista blinked, not quite sure what the Gengar was talking about. Then, a moment later, she remembered what the Ghost/Poison-Type had been talking about some time ago.

"What's going on?" Khrista asked, frowning. "Are they starting to get ready to move in on this place?"

Gangrene let out a cackle. "No! Not even close. But we've got two groups together, and it's starting to hear up down there! I think they may be planning something, though, especially if old man Birch is at the head of it!"

Khrista blinked in confusion, but she didn't receive an explanation for Gangrene's choice of words. Instead, the Gengar continued to talk about what had happened.

"The Elite Fours and Champions are finally showing up," Gangrene stated quickly. "They've got a couple disgruntled Trainers and a lot of angry Pokemon on their side, so it'll only be a matter of time before this whole place goes crashing to the ground!"

The Gengar cackled again, clearly pleased with herself.

Khrista's eyes widened while the Pokemon. "Whoa. We'd better get ready and figure something out before they start in on us."

"We don't need to rush things," Alak replied calmly. "Joshua is considering his options and is deciding on possible actions as we speak. I doubt that anything you could say or do anything that could assist him at this point in time."

"I'm the only human who's wandering around freely," Khrista responded. "He's going to be talking to me occasionally in order to figure out as much as he can. If I can help my cousin in any way, I will. He can't come up with anything just by crunching numbers in his head - which he does when he isn't trapped on another planet. It's his way of solving a problem after getting all the information."

Khrista motioned to the room around them and added, "And I don't think that we have all the information."

The two Pokemon looked at each other, considering the brown-haired teenager's words.

"At this point in time, there is not much that we can do about that," Alak stated with a shake of his head. "Gangrene can come and go as she pleases because of who she is. If I leave this citadel, it may set off more alarms than you coming into this world."

Khrista frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Not too long ago, after we got up here, some moron decided that they needed a sensor to let them know when Pokemon Teleport in and out," Gangrene explained with a scowl. "And not just regular Pokemon - Psychic Pokemon."

"Just Psychic Pokemon?" Khrista repeated, frowning. "Why just Psychic Pokemon?"

"It has a lot to do with something Mewtwo pulled a while back." The Gengar was grinning again.

"Mewtwo pulled something?" Khrista repeated, frowning. "I didn't think he pulled anything."

"All Pokemon are capable of 'pulling' something," Alak replied. "Even if they're Legendaries."

Khrista blinked, taking this information in. "Huh. Never thought they'd have it in them."

"Then you haven't lived!" Gangrene howled in laughter. "Oh, I should introduce you to -"

"We can't run introductions now," Alak cut her off. He looked over at Khrista. "We should make sure that you're improving in your abilities while time passes."

"Do you think we can start looking into Psychic attacks?" Khrista asked, somewhat hopeful.

The Alakazam looked somewhat amused. "I believe that is the only thing I have left to teach you." He motioned for Khrista to follow him, and he walked over to an abandoned corner of the room. Khrista followed after him.

Gangrene stood with her arms crossed, scowling after the two of them half-heartedly.

"I'm getting her next!" the Gengar called after them.

"You're the only one who can!" Khrista replied with a laugh.

Yeah, I know - this is kind of a filler. But some people do need a quick breather now and again.