Chapter Seventeen - Operation Brighton! A Test of Friendship! (pt I)

Keith, Buizel, Alexa – still with her support bandage on her left elbow, her bandage around her right forearm and with her bandage around her head – and Ryder – still with his tail bandage and chest bandage – ran into the Altru Park and looked up at the sky.
"Whoa…it's like a nightmare tower," Keith observed. There were three layers of light around the top of the tower; yellow, pink and blue. Dark clouds were also forming on the top of the tower.
"Look at that darkness…it's heartbreaking to think that this eyesore is going to cause so much suffering to Pokémon if nothing is done tonight," Alexa stated.
"But we can't let how it looks get in our way!" Keith exclaimed. "Everyone's counting on this operation to succeed!"
"You're right. It's time for us to see what we're truly made of!" Alexa declared. Ryder looked up at her, smiling confidently.
I'm right behind you, all the way! He declared boldly.
"Bui-bui!" Buizel looked up at Keith bravely. Keith and Alexa faced their respective partner Pokémon and then formed a square between them.
"Okay, everyone, if what Chairperson Erma said is true, then our friendships will be tested here," Keith began. "So let's make a quick promise right here, right now. We stick together until we get to the top area of the tower!"
"And help each other out along the way!" Alexa added, holding out her right arm. Keith held out his right arm and rested his hand on top of Alexa's.
"I can agree to that!"
"Bui!" Buizel rested his paw on top of Keith's hand.
No matter what, we're all in this! Ryder rested his paw on top of Buizel's. The foursome then ran towards Altru Tower.

Outside the Altru Building…

"Is this some sort of joke?!" a male employee asked angrily. "The company can't fire us without warning!"
"Don't treat us workers like we're disposable!" a second male employee scolded. "We demand to know why we're being fired!"
"What's going on?!" Keith asked loudly. He, Alexa and the Pokémon arrived on the scene quickly.
"Sorry, there's no admittance unless you have authorisation," the Dim Sun admin stated.
"Of course we have authorisation!" Keith smirked.
"We have the authorisation to kick your sorry asses out of the company!" Alexa added, also smirking.
"Rangers with clearance to enter? Don't make me laugh!" the admin scolded. He took out a Miniremo and a hypnotised Yanmega flew onto the scene.

"Capture on!" Both Alexa and Keith fired their capture discs at the large bug Pokémon. Buizel fired a small bubble from his mouth and Ryder fired an Aura Sphere from his paws; both attacks hit their respective partners' capture discs, allowing Keith to slow down Yanmega and doubling the power of Alexa's capture disc. Combined, the act of capturing and redeeming Yanmega was quick and effortless.
"Gah! You meddlesome Rangers!" the admin fled into the building while Alexa and Keith reclaimed their capture discs.
"Let's go, Alex!" Keith exclaimed. He, Alexa, Ryder and Buizel ran into the building.

Inside…

Alexa and Keith looked around as they walked, while Buizel and Ryder were slightly further ahead. The four of them suddenly noticed two minions blocking the entrance with two metal barricades.
"There, that ought to keep those law-abiding employees and those annoying Rangers!" one of the minions said happily.
"A-hem!" Alexa and Keith cleared their throats loudly on purpose. The two minions faced them and became horrified.
"What're Rangers doing in here?!" the second minion asked the first.
"Run away!" the first one exclaimed.
"The barricades are in the way!" the second one cried. Alexa sighed as she, Ryder, Keith and Buizel headed for the elevator.

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!

An alarm set off, startling Alexa and Keith. Ryder covered his ears, annoyed about the noise, and Buizel shut his eyes, annoyed at the flashing red light. The alarm and red light ceased when a female admin and two minions exited the elevator.
"Kindly explain to me how Rangers could get this far?" the admin asked pompously.
"You're not getting away with anything!" Keith cautioned angrily.
"This is where your time in the spotlight comes to an end, Dim Sun!" Alexa promised furiously.
"Ewww, you're so pushy and primitive! Make them go away, minions!" the admin commanded.
"Your epic adventure ends here, Rangers!" a male minion stated. He and a female minion each set up a Miniremo. A hypnotised Weezing and a hypnotised Skuntank entered the scene.
"Alex, I'll take care of Skuntank, leaving you with Weezing, okay?" Keith asked.
"That's fine with me, mate," Alexa agreed as the two young Top Rangers readied their stylers.

"Capture on!"

As Weezing and Skuntank were relatively easy Pokémon to befriend, the capture discs didn't take long to redeem them of the Miniremo's grasp.
"You won't stop Mr Hall! I won't allow it!" the admin fumed, setting up her own Miniremo. A Shiftry and two Nuzleaf were summoned, all of which were hypnotised.
"I take Shiftry, you take the Nuzleaf?" Alexa asked towards Keith.
"No problem, buddy," Keith approved.

"Capture on!"

Alexa's capture disc aimed for the lone Shiftry while Keith's capture disc set course for the two Nuzleaf. It only took approximately one and a half minutes for Keith to capture the Nuzleaf, so he allowed his capture disc to assist Alexa's, ultimately allowing her to capture Shiftry. Alexa and Keith high-fived as the three Pokémon flee with their freedom.
"Oh, you're good! But beating me with your captures won't get you passed me!" the admin scolded. "Minions, grab them!"
Alexa and Keith stood back to back as the minions started to advance on them. Buizel stood in front of Keith while Ryder stood in front of Alexa, both protecting their partners.
"You have no honour!" Keith fumed.

TARGET…

The Dim Sun squad, as well as Alexa and Keith, looked around in confusion.

CLEAAAR!

BANG!

"Alexa! Keith! Are you two alright?!" Barlow asked loudly. Keith and Alexa – as well as Buizel and Ryder – were happy to see who broke into the building; the Vientown Troupe of Barlow, Crawford and Luana. The threesome approached Alexa and Keith as the minions made way in fear.
"We Area Rangers got the call to support your Operation Brighton," Barlow explained. "You two need to keep going, let us deal with the dead weight!"
All of the Dim Sun people were petrified as the five Rangers – and two Pokémon – advanced on them. Luana, Crawford and Barlow rounded the Dim Sun people into the nearest corner. Alexa and Keith headed towards the elevator.
"Alexa!" Barlow called. Alexa stopped and faced him in confusion; he looked at her with a smile. "I told you we'd be working together again." Alexa smiled warmly at him and nodded at him. She went into the elevator with Keith.

Inside the elevator…

"Eh? This elevator hasn't got any buttons," Keith stated. "How is this thing supposed to work?"
"Keith, look!" Alexa pointed to a small computer-like device next to the elevator doors. Keith went over to the strange device.
"It must be one of those password protected things," Keith assumed. "Hey, Isaac had access to this building! He should have a password!"
"Let's try it and see," Alexa established.
"Okay, let's get into an Isaac state of mind…" Keith said to himself. "Hey, maybe…mushroom?"
"Um…no?"
"Okay, um…what about glasses?"
"Keith, you know as well as I do Isaac doesn't wear those."
"Oh, okay," Keith laughed. "Hey! What about Melody?"
"Perfect!" Alexa confirmed. Keith typed in the password and stood next to Alexa in the middle of the elevator.
"Okay, we're going to the 9th floor from here," he stated. "That Isaac…he really does adore Melody. He's a good guy to care so much about his sister."
"I know," Alexa sighed. "I should really tell him about my own little sibling…I should tell him that I have my own little brother."

CLUNG!

"Huh? The elevator's stopped!" Keith observed.

CLICK!

"Aagh!" Alexa had become taken aback at the sudden blackout.
"Are you alright in there? I'm here to rescue you," said a mysterious voice. "Hold on!"

PUSH!

"Whoa!" Keith felt something pushing him forwards. The lights suddenly came back on.
"Hah! I lied!" a male Dim Sun admin laughed. Keith turned around and found Buizel and Ryder growling at the admin. When he faced the admin, Keith found out why; the admin held Alexa captive, with his left hand clasped over her mouth. Alexa appeared to be taken aback, but was otherwise unharmed if her previous – and bandaged – injuries were excluded.
"Hey! Let her go!" Keith demanded. "What do you want from her!?"
It's Blake Hall, I know it is! Ryder's growling intensified and it became snarling. His fangs were clearly visible, which made him appear to be intimidating.
"I don't; it's the boss's orders. But this is the end of the road for you!" the admin set up a Miniremo and a hypnotised Dusclops entered the elevator. Keith readied his styler. Alexa looked at him worriedly.
"Don't worry, Alex, I'll save you! Capture on!" he fired his capture disc at the Dusclops. Despite the Dusclops's habit of disappearing and reappearing at random times, Keith eventually succeeded in capturing the Dusclops. It then fled from the area.
"N-nooooo! Please don't hurt me!" the admin pleaded.
"Let my friend go and I won't!" Keith threatened.
"O-of course!" The admin released Alexa, and she ran over to Keith. Ryder hugged her happily.
"Alex, are you okay?" Keith asked with concern. Alexa looked up at him happily.
"I'm fine. Thanks for saving me, Keith."
"Oh, I know! I have a rope ladder here! Please, feel free to use it!" The admin stepped aside while Alexa and Keith headed for the ladder. Keith went up it first with Buizel on his shoulder. Alexa followed on, and then Ryder followed her.

Keith climbed out of the elevator and helped Alex up onto the roof of the elevator. Ryder joined them instantly after Alexa was pulled up. Buizel tapped Keith's shoulder and pointed to another ladder.
"Looks like we can climb up," Keith stated. He, Alexa and Ryder headed for the ladder. Like before, Keith went up first, then Alexa, and Ryder in third place.
"By the way," Keith began. "Ryder assumed Blake Hall was behind that guy's actions. Why does Blake Hall want you anyway?" Keith asked. Alexa seemed reluctant.
"Keith…I really need to tell you this now," Alexa sighed. She and Keith had ended up on the next level, but they encountered another Dim Sun admin.
"Fwaaaaah! I'm worn out from waiting for you!" he fumed. "Heath was saying you don't look much in the way of intimidating."
"Oh come on! Did he even say anything about how I almost kicked his ass?!" Alexa asked with frustration.
"His eye is better, thanks," the admin said sarcastically. He dished out a Miniremo and summoned two hypnotised Gabites. "Oh, and he's given me orders to obtain a certain Ranger that gave him the black eye."
Keith immediately stepped in front of Alexa protectively. He readied his styler as the Gabites prepared to attack.
"I won't let you take her that easily! Capture on!" he fired his capture disc and it spun around the two Gabites. However, one attacked the capture disc to defend the other, much to Keith's frustration.
"Capture on!" Alexa's capture disc flew passed Keith and it circled around the second Gabite.
"Huh?" Keith looked over at Alex in confusion.
"I won't let them take me that easily either!" Alexa stated in corroboration. "Besides, we're in this together!"
Keith smiled at her before he and Alexa focused on the captures. It wasn't long before both Gabites were captured at the exact same time.
"Urgh…Heath told me wrong! You're all ridiculously powerful!" the admin panicked as he jumped down to the lower level.

"Did…did he just jump down?" Alexa questioned.
"Never mind, let's keep going," Keith suggested. They climbed up the next ladder in the same order as previously. "By the way, what was it you were wanting to say earlier?" Keith asked.
"Oh yeah. I need to tell you Blake kissed me on my hand...twice," Alexa replied in a sigh. She climbed up onto the next level and looked at Keith in confusion; he looked frustrated. "Keith?"
"Look." Alexa faced whatever it was annoying Keith.
"I knew it had to be you!" one of the two female admins scolded. "Don't pretend you don't know us, we're the Dim Sun Crimson Unit!"
"Oh, what a shame! And here I thought were dealing with Ice's troupe!" Alexa said playfully.
"Back then, we used to be minions! Now we're admins!" the second one declared. "Our wizardry in makeup brought us promotions!"
"Yeah, yeah, that's very nice of you," Alexa muttered. "Cheap!" she coughed; the cough itself was fake to hide her use of the word cheap.
"Now we're returning the humiliation you gave us at the Boyleland Volcano back to you!" the first admin said angrily.
"Sorry, I don't do refunds," Alexa said mockingly. The two admins set up a Miniremo each, summoning two hypnotised Gengars.
"Are these to apprehend Alex as well?!" Keith asked interrogatively. Alexa faced him in confusion.
"Keith, let's save that for when they're not here!" Alexa suggested. "Capture on!" her capture disc was released at the two Gengar.
"Capture on!" Keith fired his capture disc at the second Gengar. With a combined effort, the captures took less than a minute.

"Oh, my makeup's ruined again!" the first admin complained.
"You'd better not forget this! Even though we may never meet again!" the second one scolded. The two of them then jumped down to the next level.
"Let's hope we don't, because I don't want reminding!" Alexa yelled mockingly towards the two admins.
"What do you mean, he kissed your hand?" Keith asked quickly. Alexa faced him in confusion.
"Well, uh…" Ryder tapped Keith's arm, getting his attention. He took Alexa's right hand before looking up at him.
Perhaps it's better explained with a demonstration, he sighed. He didn't officially do it, but he imitated Blake's gesture by pretending to kiss the back of Alex's hand.
"That's what he did?" Keith asked.
"Yeah, Ryder was there for both times," Alexa answered. "Anyhow, we can't stand around, Isaac and Melody are still in danger!"
"Oh, right!" Keith, Alexa, Buizel and Ryder continued on their way out.

The exit was in sight, but another male admin got in their way. Alex and Keith readied themselves.
"Hello, Rangers. I'm under orders from Ice to treat you with the utmost courtesy," the admin stated.
"Courtesy?" Keith asked, slightly laughing.
"You guys don't know the meaning of the word," Alexa taunted.
"I can offer various grades of guest services, including Courses A through C," the admin continued. "But, for you Rangers, I think the very best will do; the S Course. The S being squashed, of course!" He set up a Miniremo. Nothing came out yet. However…
"Alex, look out!" Keith sharply pulled Alexa away from the area as a hypnotised Mamoswine made its speedy way towards her. Ryder became frustrated, so he destroyed the Miniremo with his Aura Sphere. The Mamoswine soon left, as did the admin, out of frustration. Keith, Alexa, Ryder and Buizel exited.

They found themselves inside a ventilation system. They followed the path until they saw an open hatch in the floor. They jumped through the hole and bounced their way down the junk pile underneath the hole until they got to the floor.
"Urgh! Smells fierce in here!" Keith complained.
"Why is there a junk pile right underneath the vent?" Alexa questioned. "It seems so out of place." She, Keith and the Pokémon cautiously exited the room.

They entered an open corridor. They saw three Dim Sun admins outside something that resembled a locked gate, and another one between the lock and the door it was guarding. They quickly hid behind the nearest corner and eavesdropped on the conversation.
"Is the Yellow Gem secure?" a fifth admin asked. "I've received word that Rangers have infiltrated the building!"
"The Yellow Gem's secure in the back here," one of the admins replied. "The gate won't open easily, don't worry about it."
"Our Miniremo's are the keys to the gate," another admin began. "Unless they're destroyed, that gate's staying shut."
"Alright, remember what to do?" the admin behind the gate asked. "If we spot any Rangers, we nab them, then bind them up a smidgeon on the tight side. That done, we'll march them to Ice and file our report. Got it?"
"What about that girl the boss wants?" the female admin asked. "What should we do if she's one of the Rangers here?"
"Easy," the gate admin began. "Once the report's done, we'll hand the gift-wrapped Ranger girl over to him!"
"Okay!" the four admins scattered. Keith pulled Alexa away from the view of the admins and waited for a few seconds.
"Okay…at least we know where the Yellow Gem is…" Keith began quietly. "If we can destroy the Miniremos that unlock the gate, we can get the gem back."
"Easier said than done, you heard what they said!" Alex exclaimed in a whisper. "If they catch us, it's game over! And I don't think I fancy being gift-wrapped myself, if I'm honest!"
"I still can't understand why the boss is keen to nab you," Keith began quietly. "But I won't let that happen. I promise. Just stay close to me."
"Okay. You know I trust you," Alexa smiled, offering her right hand to him. Keith took her right hand in his left.

The two Rangers – hand in hand – snuck passed the locked gate and they went through the door next to the gate, ignoring the door with the steel frame in front of it. Keith closed the door behind him, but Alexa noticed Buizel and Ryder snarling angrily. Keith and Alexa soon found a female admin standing at the far end of the room.
"Hah! You walked right into my trap!" the admin laughed, setting up a Miniremo. "I'll capture you and take you in! Mr Hall will be impressed!"
No he won't, Ryder sighed. Without any effort, he fired an Aura Sphere from his right paw, destroying the Miniremo.

HWHOO!

"Huh? That's odd," the guard outside began. "One of the shield plates is gone. When did that happen? Malfunction?"

"Urgh…this could mean trouble for the gate…" the female admin left the room. Keith and Alexa faced Ryder.
"Why did you use Aura Sphere on the Miniremo?" Keith asked.
Easy; to speed things up, Ryder answered.
"Speed things up, huh? Nice idea," Alexa complimented. "Let's move onto the next one."

In a second room…

Alexa and Keith entered a bathroom with a smoke alarm at the far end of the room. They heard quiet sniggering.
"Those Rangers will never know I've taken refuge in here," a male voice sniggered. "Oh shush! Not so loud, me!"
Alexa and Keith sighed silently. They then saw Ryder and Buizel sneaking towards the cubicle at the far end of the room. Ryder knocked on the door three times.
"Um…it's occupied!" the man inside stated.
"Ryder, Buizel, get away from there!" Keith warned in a whisper; he and Alexa appeared to be panicking. Buizel knocked on the door three times; he and Ryder appeared to be enjoying themselves.
"I said it's occupied!" the man said with frustration. Ryder knocked on the door twice. "Look, I said it's occupied! Unless it rains in here or something, I'm not coming out!" Ryder faced Alexa.
That's it! He stated in a low murmur as he pointed up at the ceiling, causing Alexa and Keith to look up. We can set off those sprinklers to get this clown out!
Alexa and Keith looked at one another in confusion. They nodded and snuck over to the smoke alarm.
Since I have a pseudo-flame attack, I should do the honours. Ryder moved close to the smoke alarm and opened his mouth; the green fire that was Dragon Pulse developed in his gaping jaw. He held the attack until the red light on the top of the smoke alarm lit up.

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!

The smoke alarm set off, causing the sprinklers to activate, releasing water all over the entire room. The Dim Sun admin ran out of the closed cubicle.
"It's raining in the toilet?! You've got to be kidding me!" he gasped in horror. He suddenly noticed Alexa and Keith. "Pokémon Rangers!? You're behind this downpour?! What if I catch a cold?! Ever think of that?!"
"Yeah; at least you'd be getting a few days off from work," Keith said sarcastically. The admin set up a Miniremo, but Ryder – having readied it in advance – fired an Aura Sphere at it, destroying it.

HWHOO!

"Huh? Now this isn't right," the guard began. "Another shield plate is gone! There're two more left, so I think it'll be alright…"

"I'm soaked and chilled to the bone…this is just the worst…!" the admin complained. He sneezed as he left.
"Well we're soaked, but you don't hear us complaining," Keith sighed. "Two more to go now."

In the third room…

Alexa and Keith entered a darkened room. Neither one of them could clearly see in front of them, hence they failed to notice the wild Scyther nearby until…

SLASH!

"Aaaaaagh!" The wild Scyther struck and attacked Alexa's right knee. Ryder quickly attacked the Scyther with Dark Pulse; Ryder hit the Scyther perfectly due to his incredible aura sensing abilities.

CLICK!

Buizel managed to turn on the light in the room. Alexa was sitting on the floor, with her right knee bleeding due to the Scyther's attack; her knee had a large cut across it, which caused her knee to bleed a rather large amount of blood, which dripped down her leg. Keith hurried over to her.
"Alex, you okay?!" he asked. "What happened?!"
"That…that Scyther attacked me!" Alexa exclaimed in shock. The shock was more from seeing the unconscious Scyther rather than the actual act of it attacking. A male Dim Sun admin revealed himself from the pile of boxes at the far end of the room.
"Well done, finding me. I'm impressed, Rangers," he began. "But I'm not giving up that easily!" he set up a Miniremo, but Ryder used a swift Dark Pulse to destroy it.

HWHOO!

"Hah? There's only one plate left?!" the guard exclaimed in horror. "Oh, what's the fate of the gate with only one shield plate?! Not even rhymes can help me now!"

"A crushing defeat…I'll take full responsibility for it…by running away!" the admin panicked, fleeing from the room. Keith went over to the water cooler, got a cup of water and splashed it over Alexa's knee and leg. He took out a familiar-looking cloth and wiped the cut gently.
"Wh-where did you get that?" Alexa asked, trying her best to endure the pain.
"You gave it to me, remember? It's the one you had in the Chroma Ruins," Keith answered as he started to wipe away the blood that dripped down her leg.
"Oh, the one I rubbed the Lavender oil into?" Alexa questioned. Keith – after cleaning the blood from her leg – tied the cloth around the cut and helped Alexa back onto her feet.
"That's the one. You gave it to me because I hadn't prepared for Skuntank's stink in advance," Keith smiled.
Let's get to the final Miniremo before the Scyther wakes up again, Ryder suggested, pointing to the door.
"You're right, let's go," Alexa agreed.

In the fourth room…

"I had time to tidy the room, waiting for you interlopers to come along," the male admin began. "Now I'm going to make tidy work of you!" he declared, setting up a Miniremo.
I don't think so, Ryder huffed. He took a deep breath, allowing the Dragon Pulse to form in his mouth and he fired it at the Miniremo, destroying it.
"I…I got closed down!" the admin panicked, fleeing from the room.

HWHOO!

"Aiyee! The gate's been completely breached!" the guard panicked as the large gate opens up. "You're forcing me to do this! I'm going to stand in your way with my arms outstretched!"
"Doesn't look like it from where we're standing," Keith taunted. He, Ryder and Buizel approached the guard casually. Keith was supporting Alexa due to her injured knee; her left arm was over his shoulders, and he held her up by her waist.
"Yeah, well, I'm the gate now!" the guard fumed. "Try getting passed me!" he challenged, setting up a Miniremo.
I can do this all day, and I'd enjoy it. Ryder fired another Aura Sphere at the Miniremo, destroying it.
"Oh, no…it keeps getting worse!" the guard fled, allowing Ryder, Buizel, Keith and Alexa into the room ahead.

Inside…

"Look!" Alexa exclaimed happily; the Yellow Gem was inside a protective force field.
"Yes! It's the Yellow Gem!" Keith cheered.
Allow me. Ryder deactivated the barrier with a small Aura Sphere attack. Ryder then collected the Gem.
"Now we've got everything we need for Operation Brighton!" Keith said happily.
"Thank you, Ryder!" Alexa thanked.
"Rangers!" the scientists in the room approached Alexa and Keith. "Please rescue Professor Isaac!"
"His sister Melody is being held hostage! They're threatening her with harm to make Professor Isaac comply!" another one explained. "He's being forced to complete the programming for the tower's software!" Alexa looked angry.
"That Lavana…! I won't forgive her…!" she hissed.
"Professor Isaac should be on the 10th floor," another scientist explained. "I'll unlock the door right now!" the scientist went over to a control panel and typed in a command. "There, the lock's open now, you can get to the 10th floor!"
"Thanks! Alex, do you think you can keep up the pace?" Keith asked with concern.
"Even if I can't, I have to," Alexa replied bluntly. "Our roles are important, we can't back down, no matter what!"

To be continued…