Chapter 6

Rock and Steel

January, 3029

Because of the vast diversity of size and body shapes between the hundreds of Pokémon species, combat equipment provided to Pokémon serving as Pokémon Rangers must meet the needs of each specific Pokémon build. Professors of the past who worked alongside the PRA had developed a specialized, form fitting helmet for Pokémon of all shapes and sizes. The makeup of this helmet comprised of an elastic casing with moldable, attachable pads which can be placed anywhere on the casing's Velcro-like surface. Some of the pads can attach a bullet-proof visor with its own elasticity to protect the eyes of the wearer. For the eyes are a universal weak point throughout the Pokémon kingdom.

For the bodies of the Pokémon, they operate uncovered. When executing attacks, Pokémon discharge their energy through the surface of their hides or skin. Any armor placed somewhere besides the head would be a disadvantage to the wearer, rendering them unable to release energy through important areas of the body. This is also a universal handicap among the Pokémon species.

As they traversed the mountain forest, Gallade's confidence surged with this special helmet molded to his head. As he carried Kade on his back, he put in extra effort to match the pace of his seniors. Magnezone carried Gino while the trainer held onto handles attached to Magnezone's armored cover which was wrapped around the topside of his body. A bullet proof screen was affixed over his singular eye. Along with Gino, he carried packs of communication devices and a dozen steel rods strapped to his side.

On the ground, Empoleon surfed smoothly across the rocky terrain. Discharging energy below his feet, he rode a perpetual wave that was constantly generating and collapsing. This technique is a reserved form of the commonly developed ability Aqua Jet, a manuever taught to many combat-ready, water-type Pokémon. Empoleon wore a harness while he surfed. Attached to his harness was a retractable line which Clay was connected at the other end. He wore a black wingsuit, allowing him to glide through the air as Empoleon pulled him along like a kite.

Kade, however, could not shake his fear away. The utility vest, the bulletproof helmet, the night vision goggles he wore only added to his anxiety. He rubbed the band around his wrist, trying to find calm from the shield hidden inside. But the constant passing of trees and boulders around him only told him they were getting closer. Getting closer to conflict.

They reached a ridge above the tree line. Gino and Magnezone lowered to the ground as Clay and Empoleon stopped at the very edge of a cliff. On the edge of the overlook, the team knelt down to the ground as Clay surveyed the distant environment with long distance binoculars. Kade heard only his own heartbeat as Clay observed in silence.

"Confirmed." Clay's choppy voice through everyone's earphones made Kade flinch. "Movement. 1300 meters out, 80 meters below our position." Clay said in a calm, focused tone. He peered upward slightly. "Two buildings with lights on at the site." He conveyed. Kade looked in the same direction. Sure enough, twinkling like the faintest star he could see a white spec against the distant black mountain side.

Clay peered back down. "The movement is in that ravine you mentioned, Gino. Their pattern is consistent, heading up through the ravine towards the site." He commented. He paused again, as a mountain breeze blew softly down the frosted slopes, sending a chill down Kade's back.

"Here's the plan. I'm going to the top of the ravine with Empoleon and intercept the unidentified group before they reach the site. Gino, lead Kade to the site and sweep the area, then go up the mountain and investigate the shelters. Make sure they're still there. After sweeping the site and the mountain, find me again at the gravel lot where we drove into earlier. You guys understand?" Clay asked.

"Affirmative." Gino replied. Kade's hand shook at his side as he grasped the strap of his vest. He couldn't feel himself breathe as he tried to respond. But he then felt Gallade's hand clasp his shoulder. The anxious breath left him at Gallade's touch, as new revitalized air entered his lungs. "We're ready." Kade said, forcing confidence into his words.

Clay stepped down to him. "I'm in your ear at all times. Follow my instruction, and you will succeed." He turned away as he faced the distant mountain of unknown intentions. "Break!" Empoleon darted over the edge of the overlook with a wave carrying him beneath his speed. Clay spread his wingsuit, before the line connecting him to his Pokémon snapped taut, causing him to fly away from the overlook, disappearing into night's darkness.

"Kade. Let's move." Gino hopped onto Magnezone's back and the two flew off into the sky. "Right! Right!" Gallade picked Kade up before darting along the mountainsides after their airborne allies. Within only a few minutes, the two duos reached the edge of the site. Gino and Magnezone lowered to the ground. Gallade stopped, letting Kade hop down from his back.

"From here we're going in quiet. Kade. You and I are on foot. Magnezone will carry Gallade up into the sky. They will hide in the air. We will approach and clear each building one at a time." Gino whispered as he equipped his AR. "Stay silent."

Magnezone and Gallade then left as the two Pokémon quietly hovered upward. Kade looked up, seeing Gallade wave to him briefly before the cloaking sheet installed on Magnezone's underbelly rendered the Pokémon invisible from below. Kade huffed, raising his own rifle as the two men began walking through the rocky outcroppings, towards the construction site outpost.

Through his night vision goggles, Kade could tell that the cloud cover just hundreds of feet above had rendered their surroundings in total darkness. He watched their back as Gino took lead around boulders and into divots in the ground. Each time they came upon decent cover, the two men would hide while Gino surveyed the area around them through a camera attached to Magnezone.

"We're here." Gino finally whispered into his helmet's microphone. "Copy." Clay replied in a low voice, against the wind blowing at his location to affirm that he both could hear, and that he was still active. Sure enough, in two outpost buildings there were lights on. The two men approached the closest one, their guns held at the ready.

They made no noise going up the steps. Kade held his breath, focusing on every possible sound he could hear. Gino then swung the door open, quickly yet quietly. The two men rushed in, taking in the contents of the room all at once.

No one was there. It was empty, with just some scattered documents resting on one of the foldout tables. Gino promptly stepped over and turned the light off. "Watch windows." Gino took position at one, while Kade stepped over to window at the opposite end.

A minute passed and they saw no movement in the dark outside. Gino checked his camera on Magnezone. Nothing. He lowered his weapon and turned to Kade. "Next." He said. All this nothing so far made Kade wonder if they were working under a false alarm. The two men exited the building quietly and assumed their tight formation again.

They came upon the next building even quieter than before. Gino swung the door open. Nobody was inside yet again. He turned the light off and the two investigated their surroundings through the windows, checking to see if maybe now an assailant would approach from outside. But still, after several moments, nothing. "Gino, what did you see on your cameras back home?" Kade asked, still scanning the dark outside. "Focus up. We're not done." Gino said.

They left and swept the rest of the basecamp. More empty cabins and construction equipment. No sign of anybody anywhere. As they were almost done, Clay called in. "Give me an update." He said. "No contact." Gino replied. "Understood. Keep going." That was all Clay said before radio-silence.

As the two men cleared the last empty truck, Gino looked up towards the many shelters built on the mountain side. They were still there, but he noticed a distant spec through his goggles seem to shift in place towards the mountain's peak. "Come down, Magnezone." Gino ordered. Out of nowhere, Magnezone and Gallade appeared beside the two men.

"From here our Pokémon will take us up the mountain. Keep watching below us as we head up." Gino instructed. "Right." Kade said, feeling partially relieved after confirming the empty base camp. Gino climbed onto Magnezone while Kade got onto Gallade's back again. With a quickened pace, they ascended the main mountain.

"Update. I've made contact." Clay's static voice said in their helmets. "Do you need help?" Gino asked. There was a pause as they stopped their ascent momentarily, listening for Clay's reply. "…No. Keep your course. Your hunch was right, Gino." Clay said before going quiet. Gino and Kade looked at each other. "You heard him." Gino said before beginning their ascent again.

Kade now had Gigalith on his mind. 'What's going on? What does Gigalith know that's happening here?' He thought. His anxiety transferred from fearing his own life to fearing Gigalith's. They passed by the empty shelters they had set up just hours ago. Kade remembered Gigalith's innocence and work ethic. He remembered how much Gigalith liked talking about rocks with him. Now he just hoped his coworker was somewhere safe.

Clay and Empoleon crouched behind an excavator at the edge of the construction site near the ravine. Clay held a digital tablet in his lap. On the screen he had a topographical map of his surroundings where groups of white dots could be seen in motion. "One group of people and one group of Pokémon. The people might know where we are." Clay analyzed.

Just then, something exploded 20 meters away. The sound of raining rock followed for a few seconds before returning to silence. "Never mind, they don't know where we are." Clay whispered. He fastened a camera device on a pole attachment, clicking a button to turn the camera on. He then pressed a button against his goggles. Instead of seeing in front of him, he now saw the camera's perspective through his goggles. He steadily held the pole out and around the excavator, getting a view of the other side through the camera.

He activated a thermal filter through the camera and scanned the area. Eight glowing heads of warm body heat could be seen scattered on the mountainside. They were all in a hiding spot, keeping careful watch of the spot that had just blown up. "Must've thrown a grenade or something…" Clay commented.

Upon confirming that the enemy's focus was fixed on a position other than theirs, Clay gave his first order. "Mist." Empoleon took a deep breath and exhaled an icy fog. No sound was made, and the mist formed unnoticeably under the dark of night. The treads of the excavator became obscured as the mist spread. The slow breeze slightly moved the mist cloud beside the excavator, all the while Clay watching through his camera to make sure no one had moved.

Clay then slowly crawled along with the mist as it moved, until he was out in the open, but still shrouded. He clicked the button on his goggles to switch back to his point of view, keeping his thermal vision active. Then, with his suppressed rifle, he began firing at his assailants.

*bip* *bip*

He was able to eliminate two before the rest of the group noticed what was happening. Two more rushed to the ones he had shot and crouched down, attempting to hide. Clay shot them as they were still.

*bip* *bip*

The remaining four assumed new cover. Clay paused, letting them reevaluate their positions in their panic. He waited until they were all still again. Three were still visible to him, poking out from their rocks. "Stupid."

*bip* *bip* *bip*

Clay couldn't see the last one. They had hidden themselves correctly. "On me." Clay said. Empoleon dashed to Clay's back as they emerged from the mist and advanced towards the mountainside.

Silently, Clay and Empoleon came upon the bodies of their prey. They all wore shabby winter clothes and ski goggles. Some of them appeared to have already been afflicted by frostbite on their ears and fingers. The quality of their equipment matched the readiness of their winter wear. Cheap guns and homemade bombs. They were tools to cause damage and nothing more. Clay gloomed over them, disgusted to his very core.

Suddenly, the last shooter sprung from their hiding spot with gun in hand. To their surprise, Clay had put two bullets in their chest before their arm was steady to aim. They crumpled to the ground, coughing and gurgling. Clay ran up to them, now knowing the area was clear. He pulled off their goggles, helmet, and ski mask.

His intention was to question them as much as possible before they passed, but as he revealed the face, he took a step back, partially speechless. Terrace's life-draining eyes gazed at him. "The… Security guy….?" Terrace coughed. "Right…. You're a ranger…. They told me…. You guys don't fuck around…." He heaved with every word, spitting blood as he fought for each breath. "Doesn't… matter…."

Clay grabbed Terrace by his jacket and lifted him up to his face. "Who got you into Triple C? Are there more of you in the organization?" Clay interrogated. "I… won't…." Terrace's neck went limp as he died in Clay's hands.

Clay pushed Terrace to the ground in frustration. He turned to investigate the rest of the bodies further. No familiar faces, no objects of interest. Altogether they just looked like amateur skiers with assault rifles instead of ski poles. Clay took pictures of all their faces and left them, heading towards the ravine with Empoleon.

Through his thermal goggles, Clay could see a horde of Pokémon nearing the top of the ravine. They climbed in a disorderly fashion, tumbling over each other, screeching, and yelping as they clawed against the frosted rock. Clay let out a pitiable sigh. He sat at the ravine's ledge and watched the cluster slowly get closer. "There's no human to lead." Clay muttered.

Empoleon stood at attention behind Clay. The regiment captain seemed to exude relief, as calmness filled his tone. "Over the years I think I've caught on to the method of their madness. I feel like a scientist replicating experiments with toxic chemicals." Clay said, eyes rising towards the distant horizon lit aglow by Lumiose City. "My plan is made. Execute them."

Empoleon leapt down from their ledge. Clay still relaxed where he sat, as he watched his Pokémon partner decimate the Pokémon horde below. The Pokémon horde retaliated in disarray, shooting blasts of energy of all types in all directions. The interior of the ravine lit up in many colors from all the abilities released. But through every strike, Empoleon countered, slicing each assailant in two.

Clay could see Empoleon exercising his order with each flash of light reflecting from the blades on each of Empoleon's wings. With each Pokémon cut down, the Flamethrowers, Electroballs, Hydropumps, Icebeams, all began to taper out. It didn't take long for the lightshow to end. With speed and gruesome efficiency, Empoleon singlehandedly destroyed the invading Pokémon force.

The snow became deeper as they climbed higher in altitude. This was only a problem for Kade and Gallade as a gap began to widen between them and Gino and Magnezone. However, having passed the cloud cover, the snowy mountainside now glimmered in the moonlight, illuminating their surroundings. Kade flipped his goggles up briefly, looking towards the open horizon where distant mountain tops poked out from the sea of clouds.

"Kade! Movement!" Gino announced through Kade's earpiece. "Oh shit." Kade flipped his goggles down again, scanning the snowy peak. He saw a figure move frantically towards the top. After his eyes adjusted back to the light of his goggles, he made out the familiar shape.

"Shit! Gino! That's Gigalith!" he shouted into his mic. Gallade quickened his pace up the mountain, looking for anyone else climbing the mountain. "Gigalith?" Gino asked. "I worked with him on the mountain! He works for Triple C!" Kade shouted more.

Gino sat hesitantly on Magnezone's back. "Kade. Nobody is supposed to be here." Gino said. Kade was now panting as if he himself were running up the mountain. "I don't know why-!" They were close enough now that Kade could see Gigalith looking down at them. Kade heard him roar with fear.

"Scizor! Help me!"

When receiving the sounds made by Pokémon, Kade didn't suffer the common weakness of human perception when it came to conversation. Sometimes certain stimulus can get in the way of someone's reception of words spoken to them. They either mishear them, don't hear them, or block them out due to a distraction occurring nearby. But for Kade's innate ability to understand pokemon's language, words always came through crystal clear, whether he wanted them to or not.

A request from Gigalith to Scizor. A third party. An unknown name. Kade took this into consideration immediately upon hearing Gigalith's cry. This is why before the unknown Scizor's claws could pierce Kade's neck from the side, he had deployed his shield from the band on his forearm and blocked the fatal blow an instant before it could land.

The force behind Scizor's lunge knocked Kade off Gallade's back, sending him flying down the mountain side. The motion was so quick he didn't even know he lost his grip on his Pokémon until he was dozens of feet in the air, soaring over the sheet of clouds below. He twisted his body in the air, looking below him. Now he could clearly see the Pokémon that attacked him. Scizor, the bug-steel type Pokémon. They're murderous gaze fixed upon Kade in the sky, as they darted across the snowy terrain.

"Kade!" Gino and Magnezone turned to see Kade and Gallade gone from their position below them. Gino looked up to see Gigalith just reach the top of the mountain. The rock type Pokémon let out a mighty grunt before slamming the ground beneath him. Rock and snow blasted apart from the thud, and an avalanche formed, rolling down the mountain.

Seeing this, Gino assumed the plot taking place. "Magnezone. We have to stop Gigalith." With this, Magnezone shot upward, passing above the rolling wave of snow and rock. Upon matching elevation with the rampaging Pokémon, they made their first move. "Zap Cannon!"

A beam of light emitted from Magnezone's hide, traveling at supersonic speed towards Gigalith. The onslaught of energy collided with Gigalith's rock-hard body, as he ate the attack like a light punch. Gigalith roared, lifting rocks from beneath his feet and launching them like a swarm of cannonballs at his flying opponent.

"Maneuver." Gino ordered, locking his arms through his handles as Magnezone began twisting and turning to avoid the rocks thrown towards them. The G-force from the movement made Gino pass out for a few seconds. Magnezone was aware of this, timing his evasions so as to not shake his trainer's consciousness away for good.

As the volley of rock ended, Magnezone rushed towards Gigalith before he could attack again. He flew low by the mountain's summit, letting Gino leap down from his back. He stood still momentarily, letting the blood flow normalize before moving. Magnezone then veered up, shooting a barrage of lightning at Gigalith. Gigalith tightened up, letting the lightning bolts fizzle against his stone carapace. But once the light show dissipated, Magnezone slammed into Gigalith, spinning rapidly. His short, steel arms pummeled into Gigaliths hide, causing his rock-hard exterior to crack.

Gigalith cried from the pain. Magnezone flew into the air again, high above Gigalith. Gigalith reoriented himself and focused on his opponent above him. But from the snow drift behind, Gino emerged over the summit, aiming a wide-barreled weapon at Gigalith. He shot the Pokémon with a large, wired net. The net wrapped around Gigalith, hindering his movement. Gino then pressed a button on his weapon, causing the net to remotely tighten, its metallic netting digging into Gigalith's body. Gigalith let out another roar.

"Thunderbolt! Now!" Gino called to his Pokémon. Magnezone projected a single, powerful bolt of lightning at Gigalith. The instant the bold touched the net, the intense amount of electricity traveled all over and through Gigalith's. Magnezone smote him again and again. With each strike Gigalith shrieked, unable to retaliate as the steel net bound him tightly. Eventually, the pokemon's wails died down as he lost consciousness. Despite Gigalith's innate resistance to electricity, one can only withstand powerful strikes of lightning surging through their body for so long.

The rock Pokémon toppled over in the snow. Magnezone returned to his trainer. Gino looked down the mountain, seeing what he could of the aftermath from Gigalith's avalanche. "Clay. We made contact." Gino panted. "I can tell. An avalanche destroyed almost everything in the site, from what I can tell." Clay replied. A jolt went through Gino's body as he remembered. "Kade! Where are you?!"

After the blow he blocked from Scizor, Kade held his shield below him to break his fall. He landed in the deep snow and began sliding down the side of the mountain, using his shield as a sled. He dug his boots into the snow, slowing himself until he stopped roughly against a boulder. "Hot damn!" he brushed away the pain in his backside as he sprang to his feet.

"Okay, okay…" He studied the mountainside quickly. Already he saw Scizor dashing towards him from above, bounding from rock to rock. He stood steady, holding the shield in front of him. His block was prepared, but as Scizor descended upon him, the Pokémon quickly reached around his shield and clamped down on Kade's bicep with their viscous claw. "GH-!"

With their claw still clasped, Sizor spun and threw Kade into the mountainside behind them. The wind left Kade's lungs as he crashed into the snow-covered rocky incline. Still holding his ravaged arm, Scizor reeled with their other claw about to strike, while Kade watched helplessly through snow covered goggles.

He then saw Gallade's foot bury itself in Sizor's face as the two then disappeared from his vision. Kade clutched his bleeding arm and staggered to his feet. "HOLY SHIT!" Kade put all the focus he could into the fight between Gallade and Scizor. The second he saw them he called out, "Zone! Close Combat!"

Gallade heard Kade's orders and acted. He engaged Scizor as offensively as possible, all the while positioning himself so that Kade was always at his back. Scizor struck Gallade with their razor sharp claws, trying to get him out of their way. But Gallade's tough arms, conditioned for close combat scenarios could take the crunching as he sliced back at Scizor.

After landing a few successful hits, Gallade was able to keep Scizor from slipping away. However, this was to his disadvantage. Scizor then put all focus on him, matching his ferocity in their duel. Sizor's claws were much larger and had more edges than Gallade's blades for arms. Yet she could swing just as quick, if not quicker, landing many blows in quick succession. It was clear that Scizor outmatched Gallade with experience.

Scizor threw Gallade down the mountain and pounced on him, never letting up. Slashing in an 'X' motion, Scizor was able to break through Gallade's defense and pummel him into the dirt. But Gallade was persistent. He punched and kicked upward every chance he got. He eventually made Scizor reel back from one of his blows. With all the energy he could muster, he slashed towards Scizor with his Psycho Cut technique.

The arcs of energy lit up the area in a flash. Scizor imbued their claws with energy to deflect Gallade's projectile attack. The force behind them still pushed Scizor back a considerable distance. As Scizor recuperated, they noticed the distance between them and Gallade and turned away to fly up the mountain and finish off the injured Kade.

But as Scizor turned, they weren't expecting their prey to be right behind them, throwing his fist into their face. Kade smashed Scizor square in the jaw with a long stone he picked off the ground. For half a second, Scizor lost consciousness. The bug-Pokémon then lunged forward towards Kade before feeling something strike at the back of their head.

Gallade had punched Scizor from behind. Scizor whirled around with a kick at Gallade, but Kade struck again, this time with his shield. Kade and Gallade were now both wailing on this Pokémon relentlessly. Scizor could barely think as punches and kicks were coming from all angles. In a desperate motion, Scizor spread their arms wide, spinning and scraping against anything in the way of their large claws.

Gallade dodged effortlessly but Kade didn't move back quick enough. He caught one of the spikes from Scizor's claws across his left cheek. Kade crashed to the ground as Scizor flew up into the air and fled, disappearing into the night sky. Gallade stood over Kade, looking around to see what Scizor was planning. But their assailant had escaped, nowhere to be seen in the night sky.

"Ghhhh! Fuck me, man!" Kade recoiled from the pain in his arm and cheek. Gallade picked him up and carried him in his arms, constantly looked around him as he ran back to the construction site. "That… That Scizor. She was pissed about something, man…" Kade panted. Gallade scoffed, telling him to shut up.

They arrived at the site to find it completely trashed by the avalanche. Gino and Clay were standing outside one of the outpost buildings that was unaffected. Tied up at their feet was the unconscious Gigalith. Gallade dashed over to them and set Kade down to his feet. "I got fucked up, guys." Kade said.

He looked down at Gigalith. "I see you guys caught…" Upon closer inspection, Kade felt his chest freeze as he took in the sight before him. Gigalith was dead. His head had been cut clean through. He knew only one Pokémon that could do that. He looked at Empoleon glowering beside Clay.

With what strength he had, Kade stomped over to Clay. With his good arm he grabbed him by the collar of his vest. "What the fuck's going on?" he growled. Clay looked down at him and grabbed his arm, overpowering Kade's grip and slowly forcing his arm down. With a low, powerful tone he spoke. "Cool it."

Clay moved Kade beside him. "Gino, get Kade and Gallade back to the house. I need to connect with the other three in the city. After finding what was here tonight, I'm sure they'll need our help." He said. Gino retrieved the net still wrapped around Gigalith's corpse. "Clay. I'll be staying at the house. I'll support you through surveillance. But I need to find what got into my security system." Gino commented.

"Clay." Kade spoke harshly. He was kneeling over Gigalith with Gallade next to him. "I thought we were stopping bad guys, Clay. What the fuck's going on, Clay?" He couldn't take his eyes away from the ooze seeping from Gigalith's severed, rocky skull. He had never seen a rock-type Pokémon like this bleed.

Clay grabbed Kade by the back of his collar and brought him to his feet. "You need to go home. Patch up. Then we'll talk." Clay said sternly. "No, listen to me! This Gigalith worked for-!" Kade began. But Clay spun Kade around to face him again, gripping his shoulder. "You fucking listen to ME. The mission isn't over. Our team in the city is in danger and needs our support. Triple C had spies, and now they've made their move. What we have to do now is prevent our enemy from gaining any more advantage over us. So get moving."

Gallade took a stance behind Kade giving Clay a look of intimidation. Seeing this, Clay pulled Kade closer. "If you want to keep your anger that bad, be ready to die for it." Clay said. Gallade looked left and saw Empoleon concentrating on him. His focused gaze shook him to his core, causing him to step away. Kade back away silently. "We're leaving." Gino said as he hopped on Magnezone's back. Without another word, they all left Clay and Empoleon in the ruined basecamp.

Clay hurried to one of the remaining outpost buildings. Inside, he found the table with papers scattered all over, a few also having fallen on the floor. Without reading them he retrieved them all and stuffed them in his pack. He cleared the room of anything he deemed sufficient evidence and then left. 'If it were so simple, I would tell them everything.' He thought. He returned to his Pokémon partner. "Empoleon. Let's head to the city."