Chapter 24 - Plotting

"Our apologies for being late," Merlin stated as he and the other members of the trio appeared above a group of humans and a select few Pokemon.

"You're fine, old friend," Rowan replied gruffly. "We were just about to discuss he new addition which entered the Underground some time ago, as well as whatever strategies we might be able to deploy as a result." The Sinnoh professor nodded to Professor Elm, who happened to be standing across the room from him with a laptop in hand.

"Lance said that the amount of weaponry on the roof leaves little to no openings for attack," the Jhoto professor explained. "They don't seem to have anyone operating them from up there, so it's possible that they're run on computer systems. If they're not, there's a likely chance that there's a room somewhere deep in the building that contains the controls needed to operate them."

"Meaning we'll have to rely on Pokemon to take 'em out," Birch remarked thoughtfully. He looked down at Linoone, who was sitting to his right and eyeing everyone in the room expectantly. "The Avatar and Elite Four teams may have Pokemon that would be more than capable of going up there and removing the threat."

Linoone smiled. "Oh, yes! Ray will pack such a punch to those cannons!" His tail wagged, but that only caused it to look like the entire Normal-Type was shaking.

The Lake trio exchanged glances.

"Depending on what is going to occur in the near future, they may not be the only ones who could attack the roof," Jewels stated carefully.

Professor Oak frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Our...newcomer, as you so aptly put it...may gain the ability to assist in the attack from the outside," Merlin explained. "It may take some time, but perhaps, in the near future -"

"You can't be serious!" Elm gulped. "The child has the ability to -"

"She is exhibiting it presently within Deep Coronet," Lien replied calmly. "Vapor made it a point to gather members of his evolutionary line to assist her in her beginning training stages."

Linoone frowned, then cocked his head. "What do you mean?"

"My dear friend...your Trainer is here, and she has changed drastically in the energy she gives off," Merlin explained in a calm manner. "She is as much a human as she is a Pokemon, thanks to the circumstances that brought her here."

Birch's eyes widened. "You can't be serious, Merlin. A human - part Pokemon?"

"Need I remind you of what White has exhibited during her journeys in Sinnoh and Unova?" Merlin asked in response. "Birch, like it or not, Khrista may have more connections to White than we may know."

Birch frowned at the trio and crossed his arms over his chest while Linoone looked like his eyes were going to pop out of their sockets.

"All the same, you can't keep thrusting these abilities onto Trainers!" the Hoenn professor stated.

"It hasn't been us, believe me," Jewels replied. "There are others who have more control over time and space than we so, and higher powers who aren't under Cyrus' control at the moment."

"What are you saying?" Juniper asked, speaking up for the first time during this meeting.

"He is saying that Arceus is merely a stand-in for a higher power," Merlin replied. "One which cannot be caught, despite what has been said of our present 'gods'."

"While this discussion is all well and good, we have problems of our own to take care of," Rowan stated. "For instance, what are we to do with Khrista out here and Joshua and Mist in there? Something must be done in order to be able to make proper contact and actually set things in motion for the double attack that has been suggested so many times."

Merlin nodded in agreement. "Her abilities are key in this plan," he stated. "Once she has gained control of them, we'll send her back and jump-start this whole ordeal." He looked over at Professor Birch. "However, we must first get a plan together." With a wave of his hand, a hologram of the skyscraper appeared on the table the Professors were standing around. "Obviously, we are capable of attacking anywhere on the skyscraper's surface."

"But we still have to be cautious of those weapons," Oak added.

"Indeed," Lien agreed. "However, there is another way we can attack, though it will be tricky. By digging upward, we can reach the lower storage facilities of Cyrus' little home."

"He leaves Plasma grunts down there," Jewels added. "They're the lowest of the low, in his opinion."

"I'm sure Cheren would agree," Juniper remarked. "But we won't be able to fit everyone through a hole in his basement. I find it likely that our Trainers will be outnumbered."

"There are the numbers of the Pokemon population to consider, as well," Oak continued. "If anything, they'll be outnumbered when compared to the multitudes we have down here. And then, there are the children that can be rescued through our efforts."

Birch, who had been lost in thought for some time, now, suddenly suggested, "We need, at least, a two-way front." He pointed at Merlin's hologram in certain places as he continued, "Those with Flying Pokemon can attack from above and attract the attention of whatever defensive weapons this guy has. Everybody else can invade from down here and work our way up, that way, his followers' attention will be divided." After a moment, he added, "Khrista will be of great help, as well, if we get her back inside the way she came out, and then join forces with Joshua and start something that could cause major chaos."

"I believe she was planning on doing that before she came down here," Lien murmured. "She'll be more than happy to assist us in our endeavors against the man who brought her here in the first place."

Azelf nodded. "Her excitement and eagerness to do so are so overpowering, it will be a simple matter for us to point her in the right direction!" Looking around the table, he added, "As we have already stated, Khrista has become part-Pokemon herself, with power on par with a Legendary the size of a Rayquaza."

Oak's eyes widened. "Power on par with..." He trained off, shaking his head. "That's impossible."

"Says the man who made categorizing Pokemon the opposite," Birch remarked playfully. "Honestly, this sounds pretty believable, considering what else we've seen around here recently." He looked over at Azelf. "Have you seen her in action yet?"

The Azelf shook his head. "We will soon enough, if this works. When do you purpose a battle plan will actually be ironed out? I'm more than eager to start looking into that."

Rowan and Birch exchanged glances.

"I already have something in mind," Rowan answered.