A/N: Sorry it took this long. But here is the big conclusion to Take and Fake! Check it out!
Take and Fake: Part 3
After a few minutes of wandering around, the two Runners and three spies regrouped where they had landed.
"Okay, other than some frozen people and creatures, this is the creepiest world I've ever been to," Clover said as she shivers upon seeing the whole city.
"Actually, Lumiose City is never a ghost city nor the creepiest. Heck, Kalos region is full of lively people and Pokemon," Jordan said.
"Pokemon? What's that?" Alex asked in confusion.
"Pokemon are these cool creatures with special powers derived from elements, also known as types!" Jordan explained in excitement. "And the creatures you saw right now are some of them! That green furred baby goat is Skitto and that furry dog is Furfrou!"
"Nice names, but that still doesn't answer our question about what these Pokemon are?"
"They are many species of creatures that inhabit my world. There are over 718 different species currently, though there may very well be more out there. Inherent to them are several fantastic powers that most real animals from Jordan's world and your world cannot demonstrate, such as such as the manipulation of electricity or fire. They are used in battling (for entertainment of course), research, rescues, and many other different purposes, even for just being pets."
"How did you know all those stuff than Jordan?" Clover asked in confusion.
"Well in this world, I'm the Pokemon Professor in the Kanto region and the expert on all Pokemon," Oak answered.
"Wow," Sam said. "Then how'd you end up in Jordan's world."
"Well my world, or most of it apparently, got captured just like yours, and I was the only one to escape. It's a really sad story."
"We're sorry," Alex said.
"Well, what the hay happened here?," Clover asked.
"Well, all we know is that there's no sign of those Black Tundra footsoldiers I've encountered the first time we met," Sam said as she does another scan of the city.
"But then why is everyone turned into stone or something?" Alex wondered as she leans on the wall. "I mean, it's like some sort of other-worldly force totally-"
Before she can finish her sentence, Alex got sucked into the wall, which the others noticed her short scream.
"Alex? Alex? Where did she go?" Clover asked to the others.
Before they can guessed, Jordan and Oak's RunComs start to beep, which they noticed.
"Huh? What's with your RunComs all of the sudden?" Sam asked to them.
"That sound usually means that a Data Core is nearby," Jordan answered. "And BTW, the Data Core is the heart of the world. When a villain gets in it, we're in big trouble."
"But the question is, where is it?"
When they searched around for the Data Core while the Water Runner checked on the wall, Jordan screamed in horror as Alex's head pops out and says, "Hey guys! Check this out! I think I found an UFO!"
Everyone followed Alex into the wall, down a long stairway. At the bottom they found themselves in a blue and white room, with lots of computers, screens, and technology and a glowing white orb in the middle of the room.
"This is the -Data Core-," Jordan said as everyone looked at the screens, one of which said: POKEMON WORLD: KALOS REGION – STATUS: STASIS MODE.
Upon seeing the words on the screen, Sam says, "-Stasis Mode-? Hmm.. Judging from those words, I bet it has something to do with the region being frozen."
As Oak checks the computer of the core, Jordan asks, "So, did you find any intruders, viruses, or something?"
"Nothing. The Core's frozen, too. Despite this, I say there are no malicious programs or viruses found inside it," Oak answered.
"Seems to me that somebody froze the Kalos region like this," Jordan theorized. "Maybe to prevent the Tundra from taking control like the rest of the world."
All of the sudden, a strange device suddenly pops up from the computer, much to the others' shock.
"Whoa, what's that?,"Clover asked.
Upon taking a closer look, Jordan says, "These slots look like game cartridges slots. GX Portable card slots to be exact! Which made me realized something!"
She then pulls out a small case and grabs a Pokemon White 2 card out of it.
"Maybe that by putting this game onto the slot, the world return back to normal! In that case..."
She then puts the game card in a dramatic manner.
"My Pokemon White 2! Restore the world back to normal!"
However when she puts it in, nothing happens, much to Jordan's confusion.
"Huh? What the heck?!" she exclaimed in confusion. "Nothing happened!? Well then, my trusted Pokemon Black Version, help White 2 restore Kalos!"
But as she puts another game card, still nothing happens.
Jordan tried putting in card after card, but still with the same result, eventually becoming very frustrated at what was happening.
"WHY…WON'T…IT…WORK?!," she growled.
"Calm down, Jordan," Oak said, putting his hands on her shoulders. "We'll figure this out another time. Let's just go back to Elemental Gardens for now."
"Oh, okay," Jordan groaned. Oak then created a portal, and he and the girls quickly jumped into it, flying through back to the real world.
But as the portal disappears, a mysterious, but familiar figure just saw the Runners and the spies left as it holds some kind of rapier.
Back at Fils-Aime Moffit School, in the supply closet, Bren, Kani, Itzal, and Andre had tied Slips to a chair were searching for any records of Slips and his phony hall pass dealings.
"Where are your records, Slips?," Bren asked.
"Come on you really think I keep records of what I do around with me?," Slips asked.
"Yeah, so you'll know who to collect debts from if they're owed, or something else," Itzal said. "Now where are they?"
"Give me one good reason why I should tell you!"
Bren roughly grabbed Slips and snarld at him, "Because a good friend of ours was framed for having them in her possession."
"Who?"
"My cousin, Calla Gale," Kani said.
"Huh? I never sold any passes to her," Slips said confused.
"Then prove it," Bren snapped. "Tell us where your records are, or I swear, if she get's into trouble because of this, I will peel you like a banana!"
"Okay, okay! In the red cabinet, middle drawer."
Andre opened the said cabinet drawer and found a folder.
"That's it."
"Okay then, let's see," Andre said as he flipped through the book, looking for Calla's name, but couldn't find it anywhere. "Hmm, I don't see Calla's name anywhere, so I–Hold the phone!"
"What is it?," Itzal asked as the three Runners approached him.
"Calla's name's not in here, but look whose is."
They all look to see: Baker, Lena. Passes: 10. Payment $30.
"Lena bought fake passes?," Kani asked.
"Yep, and the same amount that was found in Calla's bag."
"I see what's going on," Bren said. "She bought those passes from Slips and at some point slipped them into Calla's bag to frame her."
"But why?," Itzal asked.
"Maybe she'll tell us once we catch her," Andre said.
"But how are we gonna catch her?," Kani asked.
"I have an idea," Bren said as he turned to Slips. "And it involves you, Slips."
Slips gulped nervously at the quartet.
Back at the apartment, the Runners and the spies just arrived from Lumiose City as they continue their conversation about it in the hallway.
"What was that all about?," Sam asked.
"We wish we knew," Zeus said.
"Apparently, somebody managed to preserve the Kalos region from takeover by the BT," Jordan said. "And we're gonna find out who and why, or we aren't the -Twilight Star- and the -Quest Queen-."
"Wait, hold up!"
Everyone stopped walking as they saw Alex frozen in shock.
"You mean to tell me that you're both the -Twilight Star- and the -Quest Queen- from the Black and White Union?!" she asked in shock.
The two looked each other before Jordan answers, "Uh, yes. I'm guessing you play or saw ULO, right?"
"ARE YOU KIDDING?! ULO has some unique things to show about in my favorite show, Universal Spotlights!" Alex explained in excitement. "I didn't know you two look familiar until now! Not only I saw Crystal Aquilla's successful quest treks, but also Zeus Starr's famous finishing move in some of his PVP matches!"
She then imagines herself as a chibi samurai as she slashes her katana and shouts out, "Supernova Slash!"
"Wow, you must really be a big fan," Jordan said.
"You know it!"
Just then a woman with brown hair and wears a normal white blouse, grey jacket, and green skirt walked up from the elevator.
"Hello, Sonny," she said.
"Hey Dana," Oak replied. "That's my neighbor her, Dana Green. Sonny is an alias I use in my real life form."
"I stopped by your place about 30 minutes ago, but you weren't there."
"Oh, I stepped out for a minute. What did you need?"
"That landlord of ours. He's thinking of raising the tenants' rent."
"Say what? But we pay him $1050 a month already."
"Me and the others are having a meeting in Vinny's apartment to discuss a protest to this tonight."
"I'll be there."
"Good see ya then. And still wearing that same old lab coat, huh?," Dana asked as she entered her apartment.
"HOLD THE PHONE!"
Everyone turned around to see Clover shouted and says, "Are you saying that Prof. here wears that same lab coat everyday?"
"Yeah, so?," Oak asked.
Hearing this, Clover puts some kind of parking ticket that says, "FASHION FAILURE" on Oak's head, much to his shock and confusion.
"Hello! It is total redundancy," she said to him. "Can you say lame Mad Scientist chic?"
"Hey, he might not be as fashionable as you, Clov, but he's still a great guy," Jordan snapped at Clover.
"Yeah, Clover, no need to be rude," Sam said in agreement.
"Hey, I'm just saying he needs a little change in outfit." Clover said. She then turns to Jordan and asks, "Hey Waters, this world's LA is similar to ours, right?"
Confused, Jordan answers, "Uh, yeah. Why do you-"
Before she can finished, she, Sam, and Alex saw Clover dashed off with Oak.
"Ask?"
With that, the girls followed them in worry.
Later, the girls arrived at the men's clothing store at the nearby shopping district, they saw Clover near the fitting room.
"Clover what are you doing?," Alex asked.
"Just finishing giving our friend a make over,"Clover said as she got ready to pull the curtain back. "Everyone, meet the new and improved Professor Oak!"
With that she pulled the curtain, and everyone was stunned to see Oak wearing a white jacket and gold shirt with white pants and gold and white shoes.
"Wow, Professor, you look…sort of hip," Jordan said with impression.
"You think so?," Oak asked.
"Me too," Alex said.
"Yeah, it really suits you," Sam put in.
"The Queen of Fashion saves the day again," Clover said. Just then on a nearby TV in the store, they see a news report going on and watch it.
"And today, Mitchell Jensen, CEO of ZenTech Games, held a press conference today about the unveiling of his company's newest invenstment, created by one of his interns…" the reporter said as a picture of Mitchell and another person, whom Jordan seemed to recognize.
"Hey, I know that guy with the CEO," Jordan spoke up.
"You do?" Oak asked.
"Yeah, that's Clifton Bailey. In ULO, he's also known as Tenro Zania, a Level 35 Rogue and Blader."
"How did you know him?" Clover asked.
"Because, he formerly competed against me in that difficult quest. We battled our way to recover an in-game item, but I managed to win before he can. Then, from another quest to another, he start competing against me for more quests as my rival, but despite his strong weapons and limited edition items and accessories, I managed to win several times," Jordan explained. "But for some reason, he stopped joining quests or going online to battle me after I moved here a month now."
"Then how do you know his real identity, Jordan?" Sam asked next.
"It's because he's also my rival at TCG games. He first battled me in a Yu-Gi-Oh match, learning about my ULO identity as we battled. But as always, I win because his deck is not actually good. After a few battles with him, he battled me in a Cardfight! Vanguard match, but with same results."
"Wow, he's not actually a good player, isn't he?"
"Tell me about it. To be honest, I haven't seen him in person after I moved from New York one month from now," Jordan stated when she saw something familiar on Bailey's vest. "Hang on, that pin on his vest looks familiar."
She then turns on her RunCom and opened up her inventory app, which she is shock at what she has found.
"Z, this -Custom Coin- with the crescent moon logo we found is the same as Bailey's pin," she declared.
Upon taking a closer look, Oak realizes that Jordan's right as he says, "You're right. It's just like the one in the -Hexro- district. You don't suppose he could be involved in the funny money scandal?"
"I dunno. We'll have to go to -Hexro- to find out."
"Hang on, why didn't you two went into that -Hexro- district?" Sam asked in confusion.
"Because -Hexro- maybe a popular entertainment district, but it's a dangerous haven for hackers and cheaters alike underground," Jordan explained. "Even if you have the evidence and a strategy, it's not enough to take on their custom security system."
"Well technically ZenTech is a rival to CodeX, right?," Sam said.
"Yeah. And I heard that for sometime they've been trying to make a game similar to ULO, but without success so far," Oak said.
"Hmm...you don't think they sent Clifton in to set this counterfeiting operation to bring the game down?," Clover asked.
"Or worse, have it as a cover to steal game data?," Alex suggest.
"I dunno," Jordan said. "But we best find out."
"Agreed," Sam said. "How about you head to -Hexro- in the game, while we check out ZenTech here in the real world."
"You read my mind," Jordan said. "Come on, Professor."
With that, Oak, changed to his avatar from and he and Jordan headed to find computers, while the spies headed to ZenTech to investigate.
In ULO, the two Runners are heading to -Hexro- district to check out their theory so far.
"Hmm... The district is empty so far," Zeus said.
"Yeah. I double check the schedule and says there's no events in -Hexro- this week," Jordan added when she stops and saw something. "But that strange crowd contradicts the schedule."
When Zeus saw the crowd, he says, "You're right about the crowd. Get down!"
They quickly hide behind the trash can and peeks to see the crowd entering the wall without problem, much to their shock.
"Uh, walking through walls means one thing," Jordan said. "We're in hacker central."
"Yup. One problem is their custom security system," Zeus asked to her as he saw some lasers and some hacked monsters in the wall. "Got any ideas?"
"The new EMP App," Jordan said as she activated an app on her RunCom, and aimed it at the wall. An electric pulse generated from the RunCom and the lasers. "Good thing Tina added this. That should shut the system down long enough for us to sneak in."
"What about the monsters?," Zeus pointed out.
"Easy," Jordan said. Which that, she pulled out her sword and staff.
"Aqua Freeze Blast!," she whispeed loudly as she quickly froze all of the monsters.
"Cool. No pun intended," Zeus said as the two entered the wall.
Inside the wall, the Runners quietly sneak into some kind of hallway as they quietly followed the crowd.
"All I can say these thugs managed to made one big map mod," Jordan whispered. "That's short for 'modified'."
"Agreed. Whoever made this is a genius," Zeus whispered back. "An evil genius to be exact."
And when they entered some kind of light, they find themselves in some kind of processing factory, which they hide behind the boxes.
"Are we some kind of a factory?" Jordan asked.
"Considering we're dealing with the counterfeit currency, I'm saying we are," Zeus whispered. "What's in these boxes anyway?"
Using her X-ray vision from her avatar eyes (thanks to Tina's legal modifications), she saw some kind of codes of 1s and 0s inside the boxes.
"Judging from it's contents, it must be the generated codes for the counterfeited -Keys-. Question is, where's our bad guy?" Jordan asked when they heard a 12 year old boy's voice. "Hey! What's with your late arrivals, you dunderheads?! Can't you see you four will get caught if you hold those codes for a long time!"
As they take a peek, they saw a boy in a black overcoat, red shirt with black skull on it, black pants, black sneakers, a red deck box strapped to his hip along with two sais, and a sword on his back, scolding three boys and a girl in delinquent clothing.
"Well, sorry boss," one boy said. "But the admins, security avatars, and Crowd Control Runners, have increased the patrols around Schwartz. They're everywhere!"
"Yeah, we had to take it slow, to avoid getting discovered," the girl added.
"Look Gavin," Tenro said to the first boy. "I brought you, Rose, Manitoba, and Vin in on this because you proved to be one of the best."
"Yeah, but even the best have to be careful," Vin said.
"Better safe than sorry, sir," Manitoba said.
The leader groans in annoyance and says, "Look! If those admins managed to detect those codes, our town will be dead! And to prevent that, you need to print the codes into the computer just like I instructed to you four! That way, the code will be gone and go undetected even if our customer will add in the -Keys-. So don't get all tardy again, get it?!"
"Looks like we're right. Clif- I mean Tenro is behind all of this," Jordan whispered.
"Only question is why is he doing this this," Zeus asked when he felt something vibrating and checks something. "Jordan, the girls managed to sneak into the ZenTech company."
"Good, we just have to wait until they get something," she suggested. "And we'll simultaneously ambush Tenro and his goons once we ha-"
However, they quickly heard a loud alarm as red sirens covered the entire factory.
"What?! Intruders in my factory?!" Tenro asked in shock.
"Jordan! I thought you disabled the whole security system!" Zeus asked in anger.
"I did. And we put the ComLinks in vibrate, something must have triggered something else!" Jordan said in confusion.
"Look boss, up there," Rose said as she pointed up at where Jordan and Zeus were. Now discovered, the two jumped down from their hiding places and faced Tenro and his minions.
"Well, well, my old acquaintance Jordan Waters, aka Crystal Aquillia, aka the -Quest Queen-!"
"That's right Tenro, it's me," Jordan said. "And my partner and I are onto you and your scam."
"That's right, you're counterfeiting days are over," Zeus said.
"Well see about that. Get them!," Tenro shouted. The four minions drew their weapons and charged at the two Runners, who drew their own swords and charged at them. The Runners clashed and parried blades with them, and despite the minions outnumbering them, they were no match for them, and soon the four lay dazed in a pile.
"Now for you, Zania," Jordan said as she turned around. Suddenly two mechanical claws suddenly grabbed them. Tenro cackled and smirked.
"What about me, Crystal," he snickered evilly.
Later, the Runners are now trapped inside a glass dome as Tenro is staring at them with an evil grin.
"Alright, Tenro, what's the big deal?!" Jordan asked in anger. "You know that revenge on me for beating you offline and online isn't exactly a perfect motive."
"I know. I'm doing this not only for me, but also to the other players who are sick to the currency system of this game!"
"What are you talking about, Zania?" Zeus asked.
"I'm talking about players spending their hard earned money for something so virtual just to become strong and powerful! And for those who don't do good enough to complete the challenges to get the -qubos- for new items and weapons and stuff to accomplish this, in my opinion, are throwing their cash in the trash buy up those stupid -Keys-!," Tenro explained in anger.
"Yeah, so the boss and us are gonna create our own special city," Gavin said.
"Indeed. A city run entirely by hackers, where players can so players can play without spending a dime in real-life to get more in-game currency, weapons, or items. No restrictions no boundaries, no nothing. And best of all, no more of those stupid -Keys-! From now on the codes we generate will keep the city running."
"Tenro, let me be the first to say that you're the CRAZIEST HACKER I'VE EVER MET!" Jordan said in anger. "I don't know about how MMORPGs are created, but all I know is that they managed to keep the game alive by funds and with the help of those top-up cards, they managed to keep MMORPGs such as ULO up and running. And I know I may be sound selfish, but without those cards and -Keys-, ULO will slowly die out with the lack of money to develop more updates and soon, it will closed out! So if you're going to eliminate the -Keys-, you're going to kill ULO, too!"
"And plus while the idea of creating a city where everyone can be powerful and having unlimited money sounds pleasing, once it's done, it will get boring really fast," Zeus added.
"Well those are chances we'll just have to take," Tenro responded.
"You won't get away with this," Jordan said. "We have some friends, who will-"
"You mean these friends?," Tenro said as he pressed a button on his remote to switch to a footage of a laser cage, inside revealing...
"Sam! Clover! Alex!" Jordan said in shock.
"I was amazed on how you were able to pass through my security mod, Fountain. But these girls managed to detect two of you thanks to the hidden alarm on my desk," Tenro explained.
"That explains why the alarm gone off earlier! The spies must have unknowingly triggered it!" Zeus guessed.
"Very good, Starr. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go check on another one of my counterfeiting factories. Meanwhile, I hope your stay here is a crusher!"
Tenro then pressed a button and the dome began to shrink all around the two Runners. Tenro cackled as he and his minions left the two Runners to their fate. Jordan and Zeus drew their swords and tried to slash the dome open, to no avail.
"What do we do?," Jordan said. Zeus thought quickly as the dome continued to rapidly shrink around them.
"I got it! Cover your ears!," Zeus said. Jordan did just that, and Zeus scratched the glass with the edge of his katana, creating a loud ear splitting noise, that caused the machinery controlling the dome to suddenly spark and short out. He continued to scrape the glass, the dome eventually cracked and broke open, freeing the two.
"Nice job! But how-," Jordan asked.
"Remember that incident where I got kidnapped by Team Rocket for information about Pokerus?" Zeus asked.
"Oh, now I remember! Nice job on that recreation," Jordan complimented him. "But what about the girls?"
"Don't worry, I found a Data Core," Zeus said as he shows a materialized and beeping RunCom.
Inside the said Core, Zeus runs to the computer as Jordan asks, "And what's so important about the Data Core? Only Black Tundra are interested on them, not Tenro."
"That's because the Black Tundra aren't the only group of people who can manipulate the Core," Zeus answered as he types something on the computer. "You might wanna go back outside."
Confused, Jordan exited the Core as Zeus pressed -ENTER- and says, "ACTIVATE CORE CONFIGURATION."
Suddenly, the lights inside the Core disappear as the database and the other computers shut down, leaving the room inside the Core in total darkness.
Then, lights start to shine behind Zeus as everything in the Core turns on by itself, which it create a flash of gold and white light.
Back in the real world, the spies were still trapped in the laser cage that was enclosing around them. Just as it was about to completely engulf them, the lasers suddenly shorted out and the cage opened.
"Huh?," they all gasped.
"What happened?," Alex asked. "Sam did you do something?"
"No, not me," Sam replied.
"Me neither. Clover?"
"Wasn't me."
"Then who killed the trap?"
Back in ULO, Jordan was shocked at what she saw at Tenro's camera footage and asks to Zeus, "What the heck just happened?!"
"I rewrite reality to turn that working death trap into a malfunctioned hunk of junk," Zeus explained.
"I never knew you were able to do that," Jordan said in awe.
"-Core Configuration- is only used as a last resort in escaping or stopping the villain's plans, so I don't recommend using it often, except some little revenge pranks. Don't tell Ms. Reyheart about that last part."
"Promise. We better -Convert Log Out- to ZenTech and explain everything to the spies."
"And after that, we'll go back here to stop Zaina from destroying the -Keys- even further. Let's go!"
Then they quickly log off after that.
Back at Fils-Aime Moffitt School, Slips sat waiting in an empty classroom for someone. Suddenly the door opened and in walked Lena.
"What is it, Slips? I have a manicure appointment in two hours," she said.
"It's the hall monitors," Slips said. "They're starting to believe that Calla Gale was framed for possessing some of my hall passes."
"And that concerns me why?"
"Duh, I never sold any to her. But I did sell them to you, her best friend-turned-worst enemy. And now I'm starting to realize why you bought them from me. It was you who planted them."
"Yeah, so? No one calls Lena Lenore Baker's fashion sense 'expired' and gets away with it!"
"Yeah well I don't want Lena Lenore Baker's actions leading back to Vincent Peter Swann, aka Slips, aka me? Understand?"
"Relax, they have no proof on you, and they certainly won't find any clues to implicate me. Nope, not one single clue."
"I'm afraid it's too late for that," a voice said. At that moment, Itzal, Bren and Andre emerged from the classrooms closet, while Kani walked in with Calla and Principal Roenick.
"What's going on here?," Lena asked.
"A sting operation," Itzal said. "And you're busted, Lena."
"For what? Having a personal conver-"
"Save it, Ms. Baker, I heard everything," Roenick said.
"That's not possible."
"Oh, yeah. Amica?," Kani called out. Amica then emerged from under a desk wearing a wire.
"Wire mics, gotta love'em," Andre said.
"How could you do this to me, Lena? You set me up, all because I said something bad about your fashion sense?!"
"No one disses my fashion sense, no one!," Lena screamed.
"Nonetheless, you're in big trouble, Ms. Baker," Roenick said. "I'd like to see you and Mr. Swann in my office."
"But I-"
"Right now!"
As Lena and Slips walked out the classroom, Roenick turned to Calla, and said, "Ms. Gale, I am sorry for the misunderstanding. Consider your detention sentence overturned. And I'll call your parents and clear this whole mess up."
"Thank you, ma'am," Calla replied as Roenick left. She then turned to her cousin and friends. "Thank you guys so, so, much!"
"Hey, what are cousins for?," Kani asked.
"And friends too," Bren added.
"Yeah, I love you guys," she said as they all embraced each other in a big group hug.
Back in ULO, a Trader wearing black clothes is guiding 4 avatars near -Hexro-, with the avatars now impatient at it.
"Hey, XT! Are you sure your boss is going to give us those codes?!" one of them shouted.
"Relax," Rose said. "We have plenty of codes for everyone."
"And we have an even bigger special surprise in development for you all in the future," Gavin said.
"A new city where you will be able to have as much strength, items, weapons, and privileges as you want!," Vin added.
"No rules, no limits, no restrictions, no admins, nothing, but free, free, FREE!," Manitoba put in.
"And it's all coming very soon!," Tenro finished. The crowd, enamored at this began to cheer loudly for the hacker.
"Sorry, Tenro! But your hacks are up!"
Hearing that familiar voice, Tenro was shocked to see Jordan and Zeus at the shop's roof.
"You've escaped?!" he asked in anger.
"Plus set our spy friends free in the real world, too," Jordan said. "Unfortunately for you, your hacker dream is going down in the toilet!"
"And so does your counterfeited -Key- codes!" Zeus added.
"Well try as you may, because you're about to know the meaning of data corruption! You four, PK those Runners down to Level 1!"
"Gladly," Gavin said as he and his friends drew their weapons, which then glowed with a dark aura.
"Corrupted data weapons," Jordan said, recognizing the aura along with Zeus.
"We best be careful," Zeus said as they and the minions charged in at each other. They clashed and parried slashes and blows, trying to avoid getting hit by the weapons. Despite the Runners outmatching them in skill, the minions pressed on the attack knowing that all they needed was one direct hit to infect the duo.
Jordan then decided to stop Tenro's minions once and for all as she summons her staff and shouts, "Boreas's Blizzard Star!"
Her staff then fires a charged-up blue magic to the thug avatars, creating a blizzard that envelops them and freezes them in ice.
"Looks like I put these hackers on ice!" Jordan quipped.
"Now it's Tenro's turn to cool down!" Zeus added.
Seeing that his minions are incapacitated, Tenro became angry as he pulls out a remote and says, "Oh, you think so?"
When he pushes the button on the remote, a pit filled with corrupted data appeared beneath Jordan and Zeus's feet, causing to fell into it.
"What the?!"
"Like my Elimination Pit? I was hoping to debut it when my dream hacker city is open, but to be honest, I do need a few test subjects," Tenro said and evilly laughs as the Runners try to struggle free from the pit. "This is what you get when you defy my skills, Waters!"
In the ZenTech company, Sam, Clover, and Alex burst into a room filled with computers and electronics, much to their shock and awe.
"Now what?," Clover asked.
"Split up, see if you can find the main computer," Sam said.
The trio then went in three separate directions, looking to find the main CPU in order to shut down Bailey's operation for good.
"Anything, Clover?," Sam asked after a while.
"No," Clover said. "You?"
"No. Alex?"
"AHHHHHH!"
Hearing Alex's scream, Sam and Clover rendezvous with her and became shocked in horror to see a live footage of Jordan and Zeus trapped in a corrupted data pit.
"Is that Jordan and Zeus?!" Clover asked in shock.
"Yes! And they will be goners unless we do something!" Alex answered.
"Uh, I thought it's only a game. Maybe they can fix their game character-things later."
"HELLO?! It's a psuedo-virtual reality game! And if we don't get them out of that corrupted pit, they'll be psuedo-dead!"
"Well, they saved us. We'll save them," Sam said in determination as she approaches the computer. "If these computers are able to control Bailey's modifications and hacks, I might able to control that pit."
Sam quickly rushed to the keyboard and typed in some codes. As she did, back in the Unitas world, Jordan and Zeus were hanging on to pieces of the landscape for dear life, when suddenly, the pit began to close up.
"Huh?," Jordan said.
"Quick, climb up!," Zeus said. The two then quickly climb up and out of the pit just before it closed completely.
"What?!" Tenro exclaimed in shock, seeing that the pit disappears.
"Way the go, Sammy!" Alex said in relief and joy.
"All that's left is to destroy these computers so he can't hack and hurt anyone in the game again," Sam suggested.
"But how do we do that?" Clover asked. "The only gadgets to do that are the Barret Bombs and we can't risk destroying a part of the building."
Suddenly, Rotom appeared in front of the girls, shocking them.
"How did Rotom get here?" Sam asked in shock.
Before they can guess, Rotom suddenly went into one of the CPUs and starts to mess it up.
"Whoa! Did that Pokemon trying to destroy the computers?" Alex asked in awe.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but whatever it's doing, keep going!" Clover said in determination.
Back in ULO, Tenro snapped in dismay and anger, "I dunno how you did that, but now you're gonna pay big!"
He pressed a button on the remote, only for it to suddenly spark and short out.
"What?!"
At the same time the counterfeit -Key- codes also began to spark and fizzle as they became negated, much to all the buyers' dismay.
"What's happening? No, no, NOOOOOOOO!"
"Looks like the girls managed to bring down Tenro's hacking operation," Jordan said when she saw Tenro escaping. "But the devil himself is getting away!"
"You will pay for this, Waters! And your blond friend, too!" Tenro cursed to his enemies when he heard a girl's voice.
"Illusionary Field! Open the door to Room of Judgement!"
Suddenly, Tenro found himself in some kind of courtroom with sword decorations around him.
"Wh-What's this?!" he asked in horror.
It was then revealed that Tenro was inside a black dome, which Jordan and Zeus are shocked at what just happened, until they heard a familiar girl's voice saying, "Nice job on stopping his counterfeiting operations, Runners!"
They turned around to see Lilith Shroud at the top of the shop rooftop as she continues, "I'll handle Mr. Zaina in your place."
"Go for it, Lilith!" Jordan said in determination, which Lilith jumps into the dome and appears on the judge's bench in front of Tenro, much to his shock as he saw the Black and White Councilwoman appears very angry.
"Wait, Ms. Councilwoman! I can explain!" Tenro panickly pleaded to Lilith.
"You can explain all you want in your penalty trial, Mr. Zaina. But it's time for you to confront your crimes in the real world!" Lilith said as she raises her rapier in the air, causing the sword decoration to rise up in the air and aims them at Tenro.
"No, please! Don't log me out! Have mercy!"
But ignoring his pleas, Lilith shouts out, "Shadow's Rain Blades!"
With the swords fell down on Tenro like rain, he screams in pain as his starts to disappear in black data.
After seeing a reversed portal-like cutscene, Tenro, now in his real-life 27 year old form, Clifton, found himself in his office, now panicking at what Lilith said to him earlier.
"Those darn Runners! I can't believe the Councilwoman log me out because of this!" Clifton mumbled in anger as he tries to get out of his own office. "I've got to get out of before-"
But as he opens the door, he was suddenly confronted by the spies, waiting for him to open the door to bust him.
"Before somebody found your counterfeiting operation in real life? Too late," Sam quipped when she puts the handcuffs on Clifton's wrists as Rotom behind them laughs mischievously.
Seeing that he's busted, Clifton hung his head in defeat.
Back in Schwartz, the Crowd Control Runners are cleaning up the mess in -Hexro- district as Jordan and Zeus just finished their call to the spies.
"According to the Sam, they were able to capture Clifton Bailey before he gotten away," Zeus explained to Lilith. "I still can't believe my Rotom managed to destroy his hacking equipment all by itself."
"I can't believe the girls were able to save us from the corruption pit," Jordan added.
"I still can't believe the girls and your Pokemon were able to help you stop Mr. Zaina. Regardless, congratulations on a mission well done," Lilith said.
"So what's going to happen to Bailey now?" Jordan asked.
"Well, in here, for what he's done as Tenro, he facing the termination of his account and being banned from the gamesite for life. Out there, as himself, he's looking at multiple state charges of counterfeiting goods and federal charges of illegal hacking, which carry stiff prison sentences."
"Serves him right," Zeus said. "That'll teach him not to scam our system."
"Yeah, and one thing's for sure," Jordan said. "I won't have to put up with him at anymore conventions."
"Once again, excellent work, Runners," Lilith said.
"Thanks," Jordan said she turned around and prepared to log out. However, Zeus suddenly remembered something and stopped her.
"Wait, Jordan. What about the Kalos region?," he reminded
"Oh, right. Lilith, we need to-," Jordan said as they turned around. However, Lilith was already gone.
"So much for getting answers," Zeus said in dismay.
"We'll get them. You'll see," Jordan said, trying to comfort him.
Meanwhile, at Taka's Desert Shop, the Runners were celebrating their recent victories against the recent injustices.
"So Bailey's in jail and kicked off ULO forever," Jordan said.
"His counterfeit -Keys- operation is history and all involved are being punished," Zeus said.
"And my name is cleared and Lena and Slips are both doing long detention sentences," Calla said. "This couldn't get any sweeter."
"A toast…to justice," Itzal said as he and the others raised their ice cream sundaes in a toast.
"To justice," they all said as they clinked their bowls.
"Oh, by the way, Z," Jordan said as she took a box out. "I got something for you."
She gave it to Zeus who opened it to find…
"A GX Portable?! And Pokemon White 2?! Why-," Zeus asked stunned at this.
"It's a gift to show you that I'll always be by your side, and to remind you to never give up hope no matter what."
"Really?"
Jordan nodded.
"Thank you."
"Well that's very touching," Tina said as she suddenly approached them.
"Ms. Reyheart!," the Runners and company said.
"What are you doing here?," Jordan asked.
"Just to thank you two for your help and to you should know, Bailey will never be a problem in ULO again, and all who bought his counterfeit -Keys- are under investigation."
"Good riddance," Itzal said. "Like we always say, true winners never cheat…"
"And true cheaters never win," Bren finished.
"Well, I gotta get back to work. Have a nice day, Runners," Tina said as she left. However, Jordan and Zeus remembered about the Kalos region and ran out of the shop.
"Wait, Ms. Reyheart," the former shouted stopping her as she was getting into her limo. "We have to ask you something important."
"What, about the Kalos region?," Tina asked. Jordan and Zeus were stunned that she knew.
"How'd you-," Zeus asked in shock.
"I saw you both in the Data Core room, with the spies. If you must know, the reason that it's in -Stasis Mode- and not taken over like the rest of the world is because each region in the Pokemon world has its own individual auxiliary Data Core. All the regions cores connect to the world's Master Core, and unless they're all corrupted, the Black Tundra cannot have full control over the said world."
"So that's why you put it in -Stasis-, so that way there'd still be a bigger opening to save my world," Zeus said in realization.
"So the Pokemon world has more than one Data Core?," Jordan gasped in amazement. "Are there other worlds that have the same Core system just like it?"
"Oh, you'd be surprised," Tina said as she entered her limo. "There is far more between this game and the universe than you could possibly imagine."
With that, Tina shut the door and drove off, leaving the Water and Light Runners puzzled at her words.
A/N: Well, all's well that ends well. But what does Tina's words mean? And what else in the universe could connect it and the game together. Stay tuned to find out soon!
Well, first off, I would to say some rants, or properly trivial things about this episode. It was inspired by some counterfeiting-related episode on some TV shows such as Fillmore! and Famous 5 on the Case and also, I was inspired by using those top-up cards for the MMORPGs a few years ago. As for the subplot's inspiration, I'm going to say I have to thank to my partner, NashWalker for the subplot.
Anyways, since the UR special, The Other Side of Arcanum is going on, we guess this is a perfect time to put this series a hiatus. So after we'll released the next UR Spotlight, this series will be in hiatus. As for resumption date, it will after the special is finished. We promised, we won't break them.
Until then, review and we'll see ya soon!