True to her word, the moment the skies cleared, Sylveon was gone. While I do wish she would have stayed to help, I can't blame her. No one should have to go through that kind of betrayal. Regardless, we still have a mission to complete. With the clock ticking we work to prepare as much as we can. Much of that time was spent getting familiar with what Ninetales could do.
As it turns out, she is a formidable fighter who prefers swift, decisive strikes. Against single targets she is exceptionally dangerous. As such, we tried to ensure that Growlithe would be able to divide enemy groups so she can have those chances. As they practiced, Mewtwo and I rehearsed tossing Thunder's pokeball onto the roof of the house. While throwing something onto a roof seems easy enough, it becomes significantly trickier when doing it from a mile away. Eventually we got it down, coordinating my throw and Mewtwo's psychic boost to cross the distance. Mostly, anyways. To help Thunder along I paint the ball sky blue to make it less likely an observant lookout spots it as it flies.
Inevitably the time comes to make our move. We're all nervous. We all worry that we didn't do enough. That we're still ill prepared. But I remind them, and myself, that no matter the outcome, we all did our best. Arceus permitting, that will be enough.
The drive to the Rustburo industrial district puts on display the effect Rocket has had on Hoenn. The roads are sparce and mostly empty. The handful of people who feel brave enough to go outside have pokemon walking in lockstep with them, eyes vigilant for any sign of trouble. I even spot several groups of people flagrantly waring Rocket colors as if daring the law to take them in. Rustburo is paralyzed in fear. I can only hope that ending Project Mewtwo will be the first step towards ending this madness.
We park a few miles from the building in question and put the first steps into motion. I grab the pokeball before glancing at Mewtwo. "Alright. Link us up." Almost immediately I feel the presence of the rest of the team eking out a small place in my mind.
Alright. Testing. We all connected? I think.
I can hear you. Mewtwo's voice echoes.
All good here. Thunder thinks.
Loud and clear. Growlithe confirms.
It's working. A curious sensation... Ninetales muses.
It does take some getting used to. You ready Thunder? I think.
As much as I can be. Let's do it. He replies. I take his pokeball and put him inside, nodding to Mewtwo. On the count of three I lob the ball as hard as I can. Mewtwo hits it with a psychic blast, giving it enough speed to cover the rest of the distance. Soon its painted exterior blends with the sky and I lose sight of it. I have to wait for Thunder to land and report in.
The wait feels intense. Worries nag in the back of my mind. Maybe he was found. Maybe I missed and he was released on the street straight into traffic. Or worse, he landed right in front of a Rocket goon.
Alright. The sound of his voice sends a wave of relief through me. I've landed. That was quite an experience. I'll have to ask Chatot if that's what flying feels like.
Do you see an entrance? A skylight or ventilation unit?
Yeah. A big boxy metal thing. I go in that?
Yes. It should lead into a network of vents. Watch out for fans.
Right. I'm going in. Wish me luck. With Thunder in position the rest of us get back into the car and drive up to the building in earnest. Growlithe and Ninetales crouch down in the back to stay out of sight while Mewtwo and I disembark.
I just left the vents and am now inside... Oh my... Alex, They've got all the Mew here. Hundreds of tiny tubes of them. As if being in the same facility as a portal wasn't enough, we're in the same place as all the kidnapped Mew. It's like they're trying to make the most tempting target possible.
Understood. Any sign of a junction box?
Not yet. I'm going to keep looking. Buy me as much time as you can.
We'll try. Before long we're close enough to see the entrance to the warehouse. In front of the door I spot two figures dressed in what looks like repainted riot gear with automatic weapons trained on us. As if pistols weren't bad enough... Things have gotten a lot more complicated. They've got rifles and armor.
Rifles? Thunder asks.
Streams of bullets instead of one at a time.
Oh for Arcues' sake...
It would figure that they'd try to make any rescue as difficult as possible. Ninetales thinks.
We're in too deep to back out now even if we wanted to. We're just going to have to adapt. Mewtwo, how much of their fire can you control?
Not a lot of it if you wish to retain the connection.
If it comes down to it I'd prefer losing the telepathy over losing one of us.
I understand.
The two guards approach us, keeping their weapons pointed at us.
"This way. No tricks." One of them says.
"No tricks." I lie. One gets behind us while the other leads the way inside. The door opens to the sight of a warehouse brimming with elicit goods from weapons to narcotics. And among them are hundreds of Mew trapped in what seem to be some kind of small stasis tubes set on tall metal racks, just like Thunder said.
I see you guys. I'm still looking. Thunder thinks.
Please hurry... I respond.
"Alex Russet..." A feminine voice calls out. I see none other than Siana herself. On either side of her are Jackson and Josh, bound and gagged with armored goons holding guns to their heads as well as numerous other guards posted on either side of us, weapons at the ready. Time to stall.
"It's been a while. Though I can't recall ever giving you my name the first time we met."
"Once we learned about your friends here it was fairly easy to-"
"You better not have hurt them to get that information." I interrupt. I consider too late that it may not have been a good idea.
She lets out an annoyed sigh. "They're fine. Suffice to say once we made the connection we learned quite a bit about you."
"Then you should know better than to stage the handover at a place like this. Right in the heart of your little science project."
I catch the barest hint of frustration in her eyes. "Rocket's head, Giovanni, felt it was best that you see just how far we've come as we take away any means you have of stopping us." I catch her muttering under her breath. I can only catch the words "theatric" and "moron."
"You don't agree, do you? You see this as a security risk."
"Don't try and 'save me from this life.' I know how you self-righteous self-proclaimed 'heroes' work. No more talk. Hand over the prototype. Now. Or we end their lives."
That's as much time as I can buy you. we're doing the trade. I think.
I think I'm close. I'm seeing a lot of wires here. Wait... I found something. Big, metal, rounded top, I think something's spinning inside. And it's got that symbol you mentioned.
A generator! Perfect! Zap it! Mewtwo and I walk up to Siana. They step ahead as though ready to go through with the trade.
Nothing happened!
Crap... Hit it again! Siana nods and the goons shove Josh and Jackson towards me. Jackson looks at me incredulously. I give him a wink, hoping to clue him in.
"One more thing." Siana says. "You are going to show us how travel in that pokemon dimension undetected."
The idea makes me scoff. "That wasn't part of the deal."
"I'm the one with the guns here, Alex. It's a part of the deal now. Cooperate or we kill all three of you."
Still nothing!
We're out of time. Pump everything you got into it!
"You have three seconds to decide Alex. One..." Come on Thunder... you can pull through...
"Two..." I close my eyes instinctively. I don't want to see what comes next.
"Th-" A distant explosion disrupts her and in an instant chaos erupts.
The lights go out and guns start firing. The psychic connection severs and the pink light of Mewtwo's powers illuminates the area. Guns are being ripped out of the hands of the guards and smashed into the ground. We've taken the initiative. I take the arms of Josh and Jackson, rushing towards the door.
"Go! Hurry! I have friends outside! They'll help you!" Jackson clearly wants to retort, but the gag keeps him quiet and he relents. I usher them out of the door just as emergency lights snap to life. The guards have been disarmed and Mewtwo has them all held in their psychic grasp.
"Well done Mewtwo."
"Thank you."
I spot Thunder headed our way jumping from stacks of crates before leaping onto my shoulder.
"How close was it?" He asks.
"Very. Though that seems to just be the way of things." I turn to address Siana. "It's over, Siana. We hold the cards now. You are going to release the Mew and return them to Pokemar."
"Well aren't you presumptuous." She smirks knowingly "Beta! Attack!" Something slams into Mewtwo, sending them careening into the corrugated steel wall. And then into the floor. Something has them in a chokehold. It takes me a second to identify them. Another Mewtwo. One with a green tail. They must've been working on another one after Mewtwo escaped.
"Alex! Siana!" Thunder warns. I turn around just in time to be punched square in the face. Next thing I know I'm sprawled out on the floor. I look around and see Siana pinning me to the ground and a Persian keeping Thunder occupied.
"The prototype is not the only successful clone we've made, Alex." She kicks me in the jaw. The taste of blood starts to seep into my mouth. "Should've just cooperated. Could have lived. But no, you just had to play the hero, didn't you?" I grab her leg and pull her to the floor, following up with a series of punches. Some connect but she manages to get back up and kicks me in the head again. "Whatever. You and your friends want to die? We'll oblige."