Medicham hadn't exactly known what to expect from Gladion's team, but what she saw was unexpected all the same. Two fliers, a Crobat and a Charizard, the former said to be only born out of a strong bond with a Trainer, the latter a fantastically rare Starter Pokemon desired across the world for its power. A Porygon-Z, another rarity, an artificial Pokemon created by Silph Co. in Kanto-Johto and said to be exclusive to only a few Trainers. The Weavile and Zoroark were more familiar, though Medicham reflected that might be because of her recent association with so many Dark-types; Zoroarks were rare outside of Unova and Weavile, the most common of the bunch, was still difficult to evolve due to requiring a Razor Claw.
But it was the sixth member of the bunch that shocked Medicham the most. Nowhere in her wildest dreams had Medicham considered Gladion, of all people, would own a Lucario. And yet there it was, its stocky blue-and-black body wreathed with Aura as it slammed a swift paw-strike into the chest of one of the Aether Foundation employees, sending him to the floor gasping before he could release any Pokemon.
The other employee managed to send out a Lurantis and an Alolan Graveler, but the rest of Gladion's team reacted quickly to the threat. Porygon-Z and Weavile had already taken care of the two Oricorio, and their backs were to the Lurantis, but Charizard landed between the Lurantis and his teammates. "Ruinous Flame!" A massive blast of Fire energy exploded out from the maw of Gladion's Charizard, sending the Lurantis flying into a nearby pillar.
The Alolan Graveler's body flared with Electric energy; rage pulsed in its eyes as it sought to avenge its fallen comrade. "Take this!" the Alolan Graveler snarled, unleashing the blast at the Charizard, who had seemed to pause at the defeat of the Lurantis.
But as the blast passed right through the Charizard, who flickered out of existence, Medicham realized that it had been a ploy; the Zoroark was standing a few feet to the side, claws flexing as he dispelled his illusion, and the flames had been from his mouth. The Alolan Graveler barely had time to realize his mistake before the Crobat swooped in. "Draining Fangs!" Grass energy surged forth as Gladion's Crobat clamped its jaws down on the Alolan Graveler, who howled in agony and thrashed wildly, trying to shake the Crobat off. But the real Charizard now came in from the other side, ripping shards of rock out of the Alolan Graveler's side with a Dragon Claw. Caught between two enemies, the Alolan Graveler quickly fell; his Trainer was not far behind as Gladion's Lucario once again landed a quick blow to the temple, knocking him out cold.
Their efficiency was as unnerving as it was impressive. Medicham had known they would have to face the employees of Aether Paradise. Even if they weren't actually in league with Team Skull, unlikely considering the location, they were still obligated by the nature of their employment to defend the premises against intruders. But it almost seemed like Gladion's team had enjoyed defeating the two employees, excitement glittering in their gazes at the successful engagement. Even the Lucario, known across the world for their calm in the face of any situation, was grinning with an anticipatory gleam in his eyes.
Shouts quickly arose from elsewhere; the element of surprise had worked for these two employees, but now at least two dozen more were rushing from all areas of the dock, releasing teams of three Pokemon as they ran. "Intruders! Stop them!"
"Three Pokemon?" Serena wondered openly.
"These are employees, not fighters," Gladion informed without turning his head. "They've got squads of three each, and most don't even have Abilities. Team Skull will be more difficult."
"Right," said Connie, "then let's get to it. Which way, Gladion?"
"She won't be anywhere near the Pokemon sanctuaries," Gladion responded, a biting tone in his voice. "Wouldn't want to hurt the poor Pokemon, after all. But that means we're going to have to go through there." He pointed to a door on the far side of the docking area; between them and the door were about half a dozen employees, a motley bunch of mostly Alolan-native Pokemon running alongside them.
"Elio, Hau, with me," Gladion growled. "We'll clear a path through the employees ahead. Marcus, you and your Gym Trainers defend our flanks."
"Right." Marcus nodded. "Connie, Serena, left. Theo, with me, we'll defend the right."
A few quick nods in answer were all the prospective Gym Trainers could muster before a flurry of ranged attacks flew from the Aether employees' Pokemon, and the battle was on.
One of the Aether employees in charge of watching Lillie lowered his communicator, frowning. "Lusamine? The employees at the facility's dock are saying that we're under attack."
Snowy's ears perked up as Lusamine and the Ultra Recon Squad turned to face the employee. "Ultra Beasts?" Zossie's tone was grim.
"No." The employee sounded puzzled. "It's a bunch of…teenagers?"
Lusamine's eyes narrowed. "Would this group happen to include a blonde long-haired male with green eyes?"
The employee nodded.
Lusamine sighed. "I suppose it was too much to ask that he would stay away…" She shook her head irritably. "Fetch Guzma. Tell him that we have intruders and to head to the main facility to fend them off."
"Lusamine," said Dulse, "would it not be prudent to keep Guzma back? After all, he will be coming with us."
Lusamine rounded on Dulse, looking as if she were about to protest, but after a moment she nodded. "Yes, you're right. Plumeria and one of our Type: Fulls should be enough."
"Are you joking?" Zossie asked incredulously. "We can't afford to waste any of our Legendary-level fighters dealing with an incursion of teenagers!"
"On the contrary," Lusamine said coldly, "any one of our Legendary-level fighters will be more than sufficient to fend off such an incursion. In fact, the only reason I am not insisting we send all of them out is because of the exact waste you claim will be the result. I would rather have only one of our Legendary-level fighters down a bit of energy than all of them."
"Would you not rather use no Legendary-level fighters at all?" Dulse asked.
"The problem there," said Lusamine, "is that we cannot underestimate Gladion and his allies. With Wicke still comatose, the only real fighters we have among our defense force that are not coming to Ultra Space are Plumeria, Faba, and Xerosic, the latter I wish to keep out of the fight due to other concerns."
"Plus your employees and Team Skull," Zossie protested.
"Aether employees are meant for corralling wandering children and dealing with rowdy wild Pokemon," said Lusamine, "not dealing with an enemy invasion. And the Team Skull Grunts are just that: Grunts. We'll be lucky if those two forces combined take down more than a couple enemy Pokemon. And I doubt Faba and Plumeria can deal with the rest on their own. No, we must commit one of the Type: Fulls, or risk even more resources being bled dry."
Dulse and Zossie sighed, but nodded. "Very well. We have forty-five minutes until the portal opens. This incursion had better be resolved by then."
"Believe me," said Lusamine, the icy tone of her voice setting even Snowy to shivering, "they will be."
"Siht si diputs," Xerosic's Malamar grumbled. "Ew evah a yltcefrep lanoitcnuf maet, dna tey ew era desoppus ot tsuj tis ereh?"
BELIEVE ME, I KNOW. Kecleon raised his hand, forming the words in the sky. BUT THEY HAVE A POINT. WE ARE FUGITIVES, AFTER ALL.
"Faba, can't you talk to Lusamine?" Xerosic stared at the Aether Branch Chief. "My team wants to fight. We've been planning this for ages!"
Faba, who was inspecting the five Pokeballs containing the present members of his team, looked back at Xerosic. "Which is exactly why you need to stay behind," said Faba. "Not only must you stay out of sight, but you must be ready to initiate the next phase of the plan."
"But does my team?" Xerosic asked.
Kecleon and the rest of the team turned towards Faba. The Aether Branch Chief nodded slowly. "No, they don't," he admitted. "And eleven Pokemon will certainly be better than five…yes, you have a point, Xerosic. Recall your team. I will bring them into the battle. And bring them back, if they are defeated."
"Thank you," said Xerosic. "I will remain here, as instructed."
"Of course," said Faba. "And do not worry about any hostilities. They will be handled."
"I expect nothing less," said Xerosic, turning back to his team. "Go. Fight. And do not falter. This incursion runs the risk of destroying all of our preparations. Do not let it."
YES, MASTER, Kecleon skywrote. The others chorused the same, with the understanding that Kecleon spoke for all of them.
As Xerosic recalled them and handed their Pokeballs to Faba, all six members of Xerosic's team shivered with anticipation. They had failed their master at Geosenge. They would not fail him here.
"Down!" Houndoom barked. Liepard swiftly ducked, allowing Houndoom to release a Flame Tongue over the furs of her back that sent an enemy Alolan Dugtrio stumbling away, ablaze.
"Farceur: Imitateur!" A flash of Dark energy flitted between Houndoom and Liepard, and an identical Flame Tongue flew from Liepard's jaws and slammed into the Alolan Dugtrio as it staggered, knocking it to the ground unconscious.
"Dark Surge!" Houndoom released a blast of Dark energy in all directions, hurling a Gumshoos and a Minior away and giving him and Liepard a bit of breathing room.
"You know," Liepard said, darting to Houndoom's side, "it occurs to me that we haven't had a chance to talk much. The plan is that we will be on the same team, oui?"
"I don't think this is a very good time!" Houndoom snarled. "Flame Storm!" The Minior, arcing back in for an attack, had to bank away as the flying Embers filled the air before it.
Liepard tucked her hind legs and leaped over Houndoom, cannoning into the Gumshoos with both front paws. "Tellement ennuyeux. On the contrary, I think this is a perfect time." She ducked the Gumshoos' gnashing teeth and slammed a paw into its throat, doubling it over.
Houndoom twisted and knocked it flat with another Flame Tongue. "What could possibly be so important that you need to address it during-" He was cut off as the Minior fired a barrage of Rock energy-formed pellets at him, forcing him to roll out of the way. "Solar Surge!" he snarled, forming the Solar Beam before the Minior could launch another barrage. The Minior sailed away with a rapidly disappearing scream. "During a battle?" he finished.
"Oh, nothing much," said Liepard. "It's just…I have a history with my Trainers…not working out. And to be quite honest, this seems like a circumstance where my Trainer won't work out."
"If you had a problem with this, you could have said something earlier," Houndoom growled. "Flame Surge!" A roiling Inferno flew from his jaws, but irritatingly the Jangmo-O he'd aimed for fired off a barrage of Dragon energy-wreathed scales in retaliation, matching and deflecting the incoming flames.
"Farceur: Imitateur." Liepard ducked around Houndoom and unleashed a copied barrage of flying scales. The Jangmo-O fell under the supereffective hit. "It's not that I have a problem. Notice that I came along without complaint. I have no intention of showing disloyalty to Marcus. But I can't say that I expect this to succeed."
Houndoom sighed, summoning a Thunder Jaws as he beheld an Araquanid rushing him. "Keep those thoughts to yourself. Right now, let's focus on the fight."
"Fair enough." Liepard lunged to the left as Houndoom streaked to the right, and then the Araquanid was on Houndoom and he paid no more heed to his compatriot.
Seeker-Of-Endings swept his horn across the chest of an enemy Alolan Marowak. The Fire/Ghost-type raised his bone, but too late; the attack hit home and the Aether Pokemon gurgled, letting go of his bone and putting his hands to his chest. Seeker-Of-Endings fired a flurry of Pursuit rays at him to finish him off, then twisted to see a Torracat coming at him. Quickly, he manifested several Double Team clones, dodging sideways as he did so, and was relieved to see confusion fill the Torracat's eyes as its gaze flicked between the clones, unable to recognize which one was real.
His gaze found Marcus, standing near the docks and calling out orders to team members that needed it. Even in the thick of this battle, he could not forget his true mission. If Marcus were attacked, Seeker-Of-Endings needed to be there.
The Torracat hissed and lunged for a target, but was disappointed as the Absol it had chosen dissipated under its flaming jaws. Seeker-Of-Endings whirled, slashing down at the Torracat's shoulder and carving off a chunk of flesh and fur. A snarl came from behind Seeker-Of-Endings as a Mimikyu launched itself at his back, aiming for the correct target amongst the copies by sheer dumb luck. Seeker-Of-Endings slipped into a Detect, dodging the flying Fairy/Ghost-type, and sent a barrage of Pursuit rays after it. The Mimikyu collapsed to the ground.
A grunt sounded from Seeker-Of-Endings' side as the Torracat, whirling for another attack, was caught by a flying blade of Rock energy from Connie's Tyranitar. The massive Rock/Dark-type was a towering pillar in the midst of the battle, a localized sandstorm surging from his body and battering at every Aether Pokemon near him as he launched powerful blasts of Rock and Ground energy at anyone who got close. Connie's Scrafty and Shiftry darted across the battlefield, bringing down anyone who escaped Tyranitar's blows with terrifying speed, while her Zweilous, Skuntank, and Thievul sent blasts of Dark energy into the enemy mob. on Seeker-Of-Endings' other side, Meowstic and Delphox were combining their Psychic energies to hurl a squad of Aether Pokemon away, while Sylveon and Jolteon fought side by side, blasting at a pair of Lurantis with Electric and Fairy attacks. Altaria swooped overhead, dueling a towering Alolan Exeggutor, firing Dragon-type attacks at it while dodging its attempted retaliations with her greater speed.
The horde seemed almost endless, and yet clearly the two teams were thinning it out. As Seeker-Of-Endings spotted a Shiinotic coming at him, he felt a surge of anticipation. It had seemed so distant - it still seemed so distant - and yet at this moment, it crossed Seeker-Of-Endings' mind that they might just have a chance.
Drapion chuckled as he sent a Ribombee flying with a Poison energy-imbued tail swipe. Gladion had been right. Team Skull were much tougher than this.
A Steenee rose up in front of him, only to swiftly fall to a Pierce. A Salazzle, sidling up towards him with flames wreathed around her mouth, was tackled mid-stride by Theo's Mightyena, allowing Drapion to spin, see a Passimian launching itself at him, and intercept it in midair with a Protect. As the Passimian tumbled to the ground, Drapion reared and slammed both forelegs down upon it, eliciting an agonized howl.
"Hey!"
Drapion twisted to see a Crabominable glaring at him. "Get off him and come fight someone your own size!"
"Heh…ya think yer tough?" Drapion released the Passimian, allowing the Fighting-type to scurry away, and lunged straight at Crabominable.
"Iron Fist: Ice Hammer!" Crabominable raised his massive hammer-like fists as they shifted to a silver color and flared with Ice energy. With a snarl he brought them both down on the onrushing Drapion. "Battle Armor!" Drapion growled, raising his own arms to meet them. The fists hurt, but he gritted his teeth and forced his arms to stay up, holding back Crabominable's attack.
"Ah guess ya are tougher than the others 'round here," Drapion snarled. "But ah faced someone with that same Ability just a day ago. And yer nothin' compared ta him."
With a grunt of effort Drapion shoved his arms upwards, throwing Crabominable's fists off. "Tail!" he snarled, twisting to slam his tail straight into Crabominable's face. Blood sprayed, along with one of Crabominable's teeth, as the Ice/Fighting-type staggered under the blow.
"Iron Fist: Vicious Hammer!" Crabominable recovered surprisingly quickly, lashing out with a swift blow at Drapion's exposed side. "Block!" Drapion retorted; the blow glanced off a Protect, and Drapion retaliated with a Blast, knocking the Crabominable onto his back.
Again Crabominable rose, though he was looking tired. "Enough of this!" the Ice/Fighting-type roared. "Iron Fist: Hundred Hammers!"
Crabominable reared and lunged, his massive fists blurring as he punched them forwards. "Block!" Drapion cried again, but Crabominable did not bounce off the Protect this time; instead, his hammer-like fists slammed into the barrier again and again, a flurry of blows that would likely have felled any of the other Aether Pokemon in the battle.
But Drapion was no Aether Pokemon.
"Battle Armor!" As the Protect failed under the straight, Drapion lunged straight into the flailing fists, forming a barrier of chitin around his head. The blows were hefty to be sure, and Drapion felt pain burst forth as several impacted, but he pushed through, opening his jaws wide. "Fire Rend!"
Crabominable howled as the supereffective attack ripped into his body. Drapion twisted, hurling Crabominable away. "Blast!" he snarled, and Crabominable couldn't rise in time to avoid the attack. He crumpled, and this time he didn't get up.
Drapion grinned at his victory, and then a pair of Rockruff came at him and it was back to the battle.
Trevenant found it strange how few enemy Pokemon came at them despite the massive amount of enemies they saw. Maybe it had something to do with how they had activated Ingrain and were sending surges of vines through the floor wherever they could reach, grasping at any Pokemon they saw and entrapping the enemies in crushing tentacles wreathed in Grass energy, then finishing the Aether Pokemon off with their multitude of Ghost-type-moves, all while cackling wildly, their laughter echoing amidst the enclosed space.
Yes, they reflected as they concentrated on a nearby Stufful entrapped in their vines and afflicted by a Leech Seed, watching as the Grass energy-formed vines drained the Normal/Fighting-type of energy, grinning as its desperate struggles grew weaker and weaker, its cries for help muffled by the vines wound tightly around its mouth. Maybe that was it.
It felt like Tsareena had been unable to do anything but watch for the past day. She'd watched as Kriesh, a Pokemon she'd known for less than an hour singlehandedly fought back a trio of enemy Salandit with a Hyper Beam while she stood uselessly. She watched as her compatriots, both on Elio's team and the team of that other Trainer, Marcus, fought through Team Skull while she struggled to get up from that Fraxure's attack. She'd watched Kriesh again as she fought a losing battle against the same Golisopod that had taken four members of Elio's team to bring down only the day before. She'd watched as Hau recounted his failure to protect Lillie.
Tsareena was tired of watching.
"Queenly Majesty!" Tsareena threw out a wave of power, catching four Aether Pokemon; they all relaxed, staring at her with admiration in their eyes. She reveled in it. Before Elio had caught her, she'd enjoyed capturing wild Pokemon with her Ability, forcing them to treat her as their ruler. She'd never seen it as wrong. After all, if she was meant to be their ruler, what was so wrong with convincing them of that with her Ability instead of her words? Then Elio had come. She'd fought back, even called Pokemon in her thrall to fight alongside her, but ultimately the attacks of Elio's team had weakened her too much, and she'd been unable to resist the grasp of the Ultra Ball he caught her with.
At the time she'd been furious. She was a queen! How dare someone capture her? But looking back, it had been a much-needed reality check. Elio's Incineroar, then a Torracat, had none too gently informed her that she'd been playing pretend the whole time. That those in her thrall had been glad to see her leave.
She remembered the conversation as if it were yesterday.
"That can't be! They served me without complaint for months!"
"Because you forced them into it. Look at me, Tsareena. Do you know why Elio caught you?"
"Oh, I know. Because he wants to use me in battle. Like a common soldier. Why should I fight for him?"
"No. Elio didn't catch you because of that. He caught you because he felt you had potential. Potential that you've been wasting dominating the minds of random wild Pokemon. Tell me, Tsareena, how much satisfaction does that give you? Looking back, did you ever feel fulfilled in any way?"
Tsareena had been forced to admit that she hadn't. And in the days after that, she'd realized that Torracat and Elio were right. She'd had potential that she'd left untapped for so long, resting on her laurels and dominating wild Pokemon. And under Elio's tutelage she'd gotten stronger. Strong enough that, unlike the beginning, she no longer was utterly reliant on her Ability to win battles.
Still, she reflected as Incineroar dove in from the side, wrapping one of the Aether Pokemon she'd dominated in a fiery bear-hug and bringing it to the ground, it was nice to have a partner help out with the actual hitting.
"Strong Vine!" Tsareena lashed out at another enemy Pokemon, an Alolan Raticate, grasping it around the midsection with one of her vine-like arms and pulling it hard to the ground. A crack sounded as its huge front teeth hit the stone floor and it groaned, struggling to break free of Tsareena's Queenly Majesty. Tsareena stepped sideways. "Strong Vine!" A Brionne gagged as her other arm wrapped around its throat. The Brionne was not at all heavy, and its struggles were fruitless as Tsareena lifted it up and swung it sideways into the Alolan Raticate, knocking them both to the ground. The Brionne was knocked out cold, but the Alolan Raticate still stirred.
Until Incineroar leaped in from behind. "Power Punch!" The crack as his fist hit the Alolan Raticate's head told Tsareena all she needed to know about the Aether Pokemon's level of consciousness.
"Swift Vine!" Tsareena lashed out a vine arm, slamming into the Aether Lycanroc who'd been attempting to rush Incineroar from behind and knocking it to the ground.
"Thanks!" Incineroar growled, spinning to face the enemy Pokemon. "Darkest Lariat!" His paw reached out and grasped the Lycanroc around the midsection. Fire and Dark energy played across his body as he spun, once, twice, and on the third time he flung the Lycanroc to the floor so hard that it cracked the stone.
"Don't mention it." Tsareena lunged forwards, and Incineroar leaped alongside her as they raced to confront their next opponents.
Cloyster twisted in his shell, unleashing a Wave Blast that knocked a Turtonator off Theo's Cacturne. "Thanks!" Cacturne cried, following up with a swift Dark energy-infused strike with his needle-like arm to send the Turtonator reeling.
"No problem!" Cloyster leaped forwards. "Ice Flurry!"
"Spine Salvo!" Together, Cacturne and Cloyster let fly with a barrage of Grass and Ice energy-tipped spikes, forcing several Aether Pokemon to recoil before them. "Looks like we're running low on enemies!" Cacturne noted.
Cloyster glanced around. Indeed, many of the Aether Pokemon on the left flank had fallen, and several of the few remaining were entrapped in Trevenant's vines, thrashing as the Grass/Ghost-type finished them off one by one. As Cloyster watched, Medicham knocked a Mudsdale flat with a pair of Aura Blasts, while Pangoro punched a Dhelmise clear across the room and into a faraway wall with a Dark energy-enhanced strike. Cloyster spotted a Wishiwashi, summoning a horde of identical Wishiwashi around itself, pressing Kriesh with a barrage of Water-type attacks, but before he could move towards Kriesh Theo's Crawdaunt leaped in from out of nowhere and clocked it in the face, dispelling the school of copies and sending the real Wishiwashi flying.
"Skill Link: Ice Blast!" Cloyster launched a duplicated Ice Beam at the enemies in front of him, hurling a Trumbeak and a Palossand backwards. Cacturne leaped to take advantage of the hole; with a cry of "Spine Slash!", he sent an Oranguru staggering, then deflected a lunging Comfey with a Spine Shield. Cloyster followed up with a Spike Flurry, knocking out the Comfey, then turned towards the remaining foes.
This wave was almost done. Cloyster knew it wouldn't be the last. But it would be good to get a moment of respite.
Kamado felt frustration pulse at him. Even though he'd been training, honing his new Rock Attack and his reflexes in combat, Marcus still did not consider him strong enough to join the rest of the Pack in battle.
Kamado knew Marcus was right. The Pack-Leader only wanted what was best for his Pack. And they both knew Kamado would be out of his depth in such a wild fight. But it still irked him to watch as the other members of the Pack fought. A few took blows that made Kamado wince, not just with the pain he imagined they were feeling but with the wish that he could have been there to stop those blows.
But as Kamado surveyed the area, he was satisfied to see that the Pack had essentially won this battle already. On the left flank, Marcus and Theo's Packs were cleaning up the remainder of the enemies in ones and twos, and several of the employees were already running, their Pokemon unconscious in their Pokeballs. On the right, Connie and Serena were doing the same, their Packs working in perfect harmony to tear apart what few Aether Pokemon still fought. And in front, the trio of Alolan Trainers formed a vicious squad, their Packs driving the Aether Pokemon before them back with ease. As Kamado watched, the last few Pokemon fell or were recalled; bereft of Pokemon, the employees turned and fled, leaving the seven teenagers standing alone on the docks.
"Okay," said Gladion. "Let's get off these docks. If I'm correct, Lusamine and Lillie should be in the mansion on the other side of Aether Paradise. If we hurry, we should be able to get there before long."
"I'm afraid that's where you're wrong."
Kamado's eyes widened at the sight of the strange human that had just exited out of a nearby door onto the docks, nearest to Marcus and Theo's Packs. He was clad in a white suit and wore a set of green goggles with massive lenses that seemed to cover half his face. Fully eleven Pokeballs occupied his belt, and he leered at his adversaries with confidence in his gaze despite being so badly outnumbered. A Hypno stood at his side, pendulum swinging slowly to and fro as it gazed at its numerous opponents.
"Faba," Gladion snarled.
"You've been a very, very naughty boy, Gladion," said Faba. "Very naughty indeed. It's getting late. Children like you should be in bed and not interfering with our work!"
"Gladion, go," said Marcus. "Take Elio and Hau with you. We'll handle this."
Gladion nodded and, with Elio and Hau at his heels, made a run for the door. Faba snapped his fingers. His Hypno sent a blast of Psychic energy in the direction of the fleeing Alolans, but Connie's Zweilous reared and sent out a pulse of Dark energy that intercepted Hypno's attack.
Faba sighed. "Fine, fine, whatever. Plumeria will handle them." He turned to the four Dark-type Trainers arrayed against him. "As for you...clearly you misunderstand the situation. This is the site of a highly volatile experiment, and I do not need a gang of rowdy teenagers interfering with it."
"Cut the crap," said Theo. "We know you're working with Team Skull, and we know they've kidnapped Lillie. We're here to rescue her, not to interfere in any so-called experiments."
"As I said, you misunderstand the situation," said Faba. "Lillie hasn't been kidnapped. She's been returned to her rightful place."
"A place she definitely didn't wanna go back to," Connie retorted. "You don't even care 'bout what she wants, do you?"
Faba shook his head, letting out an irritated sigh. "Why do I bother wasting my breath on fools like you? Fine. If you want to save her so badly...then you're going to have to get past me."
"All right," Kamado heard Drapion saying. "Playtime's over. This is the real fight."
Faba released his remaining ten Pokemon: Bruxish, Slowking, Claydol, Alolan Raichu, Malamar, Kecleon, Jellicent, Crobat, Smeargle, and Gengar, an assortment that at once charged at Marcus and Theo's Packs with his Hypno at the head. Connie and Serena's Packs leaped to their support.
Once more the battle was joined. And, as Drapion said, this time it was the real fight.
The world came back into being just as quickly as it had disappeared. Betrayer-Of-Kin wasted no time in scanning her new surroundings, both with her eyes and with Future Sight. Quickly she ascertained that no immediate threat would come within the next ten minutes, or at least not if said threat wasn't Psychically shielded on a ridiculous level. With her eyes, though, she spotted what looked like a large laboratory, the tables around Betrayer-Of-Kin piled high with vaguely scientific-looking detritus.
The labels on several of the pieces of equipment told her exactly where she was. "Nidoking," she said authoritatively. "What are we doing here?"
"Xerosic," Alakazam greeted. "Where is Master Faba?"
Turning, Betrayer-Of-Kin spotted the familiar visage of Team Flare's head scientist. She recalled some headline or other about his escape from the custody of the International Police; had this Alakazam been part of that as well?
"Alakazam," said Xerosic, scanning the other three Pokemon as he did so. "I was told there would be one representative, not three."
"These are affiliates," Nidoking growled, pausing to allow Alakazam to translate. "Alakazam asked you a question. One I am curious to know the answer to as well."
"The facility is under attack," said Xerosic. "A group of teenagers."
As he said this, Betrayer-Of-Kin cast out her future sight, searching for the teenagers in question. She spotted them immediately; they weren't Psychically shielded at all.
Her eyes narrowed. "Marcus…" she whispered under her breath.
Ripper heard. "Is the Fearow here?"
"Not now, Ripper," Betrayer-Of-Kin growled. To Nidoking she asked, "Does this change the plan?"
"No, Aether's resources should prove enough to deal with a group of teenagers," said Nidoking. "You two will receive your mission soon enough."
Xerosic cleared his throat. "I was told that you would have something for me?"
"For Faba," Nidoking growled. "Not you. He's the one who's been in contact with my Trainer. My Trainer will speak with Faba, and no one else."
Xerosic nodded slowly as Alakazam translated. "Anyway, Alakazam…we'll need you for translation, so could you please-"
"Do not deign to give me orders," Alakazam replied; in the next second, he had disappeared from the room.
Betrayer-Of-Kin turned to face Nidoking. "I beg your pardon," she said. "I consider myself a fairly patient individual. But back in the forest, you said that my aid would be beneficial to the successful completion of your task. I have been hiding out in Alola for a week and have not found anything that would require my skills. So I request that you tell me what my so-called mission is. Because out there, fighting in Aether Paradise, is my current target. And unless I hear differently from you, I plan to wait until Aether's forces have dealt with him and his allies, and then hunt him down and kill him while he is defenseless. So tell me what is so important that I should prioritize it over dealing with Marcus?"
Nidoking sighed. "All right, I guess it's fine for you to know now. The thing is…right now, Lusamine is heading off to an alternate dimension on what is effectively a suicide mission. Likely she will not return, in which case Aether Branch Chief Faba will take over. I am here as an emissary from my Trainer to negotiate an arrangement with Faba to supply my Trainer with Aether technology in return for funding. The problem with that arrangement is the Aether Assistant Branch Chief, Wicke, who is highly unlikely to support this arrangement, has quite a bit of popularity among the Aether staff, and will certainly go to the police if she learns of anything problematic. Once Lusamine departs for her mission, your job is to…ensure her voice is silenced."
"You want me to assassinate her," said Betrayer-Of-Kin.
"Precisely," said Nidoking. "It should be even easier than initially thought, actually; due to a recent attack on Aether Paradise by a being known as an Ultra Beast, Wicke and her team are currently comatose."
Betrayer-Of-Kin sighed. "Nidoking, all of my victims have one thing in common," she said. "They are relative unknowns. Not movers and shakers. The demise of unknowns will draw the attention of their families, possibly the local police force. And my assassinations are made so that those who encounter the bodies will assume it was a wild Pokemon attack. Assistant Aether Branch Chief Wicke is not an unknown, is very much a mover and shaker - as you said, she is very popular among the Aether Staff - and, as I am seeing right now, is currently ensconced in the Aether Paradise medical bay guarded around the clock by at least two employees."
"So you can't do it?" Nidoking growled.
"Oh, I can certainly do it," said Betrayer-Of-Kin. "I envision a 97.7% success rate, and the remaining 2.3% are wild alternatives that could only happen due to practically cosmic coincidences. But there is quite literally a 0% chance that the death will not be investigated - in case you don't understand, that means that in every single possible future that stems from the point where I would kill Wicke, her death will be investigated, putting me in a far more volatile position than before. And all for a human that isn't even on my list of targets. No, Nidoking, it is not that I can't do it. It is that doing utilizing my normal method would be inadvisable for me."
Nidoking glared at her. "My mission is more important than yours."
Betrayer-Of-Kin chuckled. "I certainly doubt that. But…let me continue." She turned to Ripper. "Perhaps you might have a use here. Your Static. How exactly does it work?"
"I can send Electric energy into a being's body with merely a touch," said Ripper. "Then I can activate it at any time to lock up that being's muscles, preventing them from moving part or all of their body. It requires concentration on that Electric energy-"
"Muscles, hmm?" Betrayer-Of-Kin asked. "Tell me, have you ever thought of the more lethal applications of your Ability. With a jolt of Electrical energy, you can lock up muscles…did you know, by any chance, that a human breathes by tightening and relaxing the muscles of their rib cage? Could you not, say, paralyze a human's diaphragm? Or maybe, for a simpler approach, you might be able to paralyze one's heart? Prevent it from beating? She is in a coma, isn't she? It would be a shame if her heart or her breathing just happened to stop. No suspicion, for no one saw anyone enter or leave. Faba would be beneath suspicion, as he is currently dealing with this incursion of teenagers elsewhere. So, Ripper. What do you say?"
Ripper looked surprisingly uneasy. His eyes flicked from Betrayer-Of-Kin to Nidoking and back. Sensing the hesitation, Nidoking took a small step forward. "She asked you a question. Are you in or not?"
Ripper took a deep breath. "I've never used Static like that before," he said. He glanced at Nidoking once more, then swallowed. "I could learn. I'm in."
"Excellent," said Nidoking. "But remember, we must wait until Lusamine has departed. Otherwise her suspicion might be drawn, and that is the last thing we want."
"Then I'm going to kill that Fearow," Ripper growled at once.
"Ripper," warned Betrayer-Of-Kin, "do not be hasty. Stay here and wait for the right moment. You will have your revenge once his team is shattered."
"Screw waiting," Ripper snarled. "His team's engaged in a fight for their lives. There's no better time. I'm surprised you aren't going after him right now yourself."
"I have not lasted years in this life by taking unnecessary risks," said Betrayer-Of-Kin.
Ripper growled in frustration. "Then stay here if you want. I'm going. Don't try and stop me."
The Manectric turned and dashed off, hurling himself through the door to the laboratory and disappearing from sight, his pounding footsteps echoing down the corridor.
"You didn't try and stop him," Nidoking growled.
"Neither did you," said Betrayer-Of-Kin. "If he wants to try, and fail, he can be my guest. At the very least it might knock some sense into him."
"Agreed." Nidoking leaned back against one of the tables, and together the two Pokemon and one human waited for a change.
"Master," Bringer-Of-Visions greeted.
"Bringer," said Darkrai. "What is the situation regarding Betrayer-Of-Kin?"
"She has once again disappeared from our sight," said Bringer-Of-Visions. "But with Marcus in Aether Paradise, we must assume that she will make an attempt on his life there. We cannot properly Psychically shield the area due to none of our operatives being there. She will know his exact location and who is protecting him."
"Yes, Aether Paradise is a dangerous place for him to be," said Darkrai. "I have been doing my own investigations into the mysterious beings there. I doubt you needed confirmation that Keeper-Of-Memories' statement was accurate, but it is. They are appearing in the timeline where they have been, and as a result I can ascertain that they are in a large room in Aether Paradise with Lusamine, her daughter, a couple employees, and the strange nebula-like creature that you…encountered. But when I look forward in the timeline, I only see Lusamine, her daughter, and the employees." Darkrai sighed. "The existence of these beings still worries me. Especially since I could not locate the nebula creature anywhere in the Dream World. Bringer, what countermeasures have you put in place?"
"I visited Medicham," said Bringer-Of-Visions. "Ensured that she would…retain her devotion to our mission. She now knows of Betrayer-Of-Kin's proximity, and I am confident that she will continue her usefulness as a pawn. Aside from that, Seeker-Of-Endings is also there, as part of Serena's team."
A brief moment of silence filled Oblivion before Darkrai spoke once again. "Good. Are you sure no other Heralds can be dispatched to the area?"
"Even if a Herald could evade the security cameras," said Bringer-Of-Visions, "it would be almost impossible for them to locate Betrayer-Of-Kin, and furthermore, the nearest combat-capable Heralds are an hour away at least. As long as that Nidoking and Manectric are with her, at least a half-dozen high-level Heralds will be required to deal with Betrayer-Of-Kin. We will have to hope that Seeker-Of-Endings can at least provide some protection."
"Does he know about Betrayer-Of-Kin's escape?" Darkrai asked.
"No," said Bringer-Of-Visions. "He will learn after the battle. We do not need him distracted."
"Can you not provide support?"
"I will watch from afar," said Bringer-Of-Visions. "And in an emergency, I will teleport in and attempt to protect Marcus if possible. But if it becomes unfeasable to protect Marcus without compromising the Heralds…I'm just saying that we may need to move on to other possibilities. Begin manipulating the destinies of other Trainers. We've been putting far too many resources into Marcus. If Betrayer-Of-Kin successfully eliminates him, we have no other Trainers currently set on their paths. We cannot allow that."
"Indeed," said Darkrai. "You are right. Protect Marcus if you can. If you can't…I will understand."
"Thank you, Master," said Bringer-Of-Visions.
The figure grinned as he continued to watch the security camera feed. "Impressive. Quite an efficient assault, if a little haphazard. And now it's four on one. I suppose this will be a good time to see what Faba can do. And is that Xerosic's team I see as well? Quite interesting, quite interesting indeed."
A small ding sounded beside the figure.
The figure turned, his eyes gazing upon a small device in his hand. "Ah. It appears Nidoking has reached his destination. He will, of course, wait until Faba has returned…but just in case, Porygon?" His eyes swiveled to the small Porygon lying on the table in front of him. "Please prepare the channel. The last thing I would want is to be so rude as to be late for our meeting."