Chapter 88 – Sky Wars – the pursuit of Necrozma!
In the skies above the Alola region…
"Remember to keep my boobs in the shot….And we're on in five, four, three, two…"
It was an inside joke between the reporter and her two cameramen. A brief murmur of laughter ran through the helicopters tiny cabin as the cameraman lifted the oversized camera onto his shoulder and pointed it at the journalist, and the boom operator held out a microphone.
"One…This is Chloe Talbot with Global News Network. We're here live above the Alola region where an unimaginable scene is taking place before us. Hours ago, the Aether Paradise was attacked by mechanised flying vassals belonging to two rival organised criminal gangs, Team Rocket, and Team Plasma. A third vassal appeared from out of a wormhole that just randomly appeared in the sky. This was followed by the appearance of a Lunala, Pokémon thought only to be a legend here in Alola. Now it seems like the two mechas might be preparing to attack each other. Some type of forcefield has formed around the vicinity of Aether Paradise so this is the closets our GNN news copter can get, and…"
"WHOA….What's that!"
The cameraman gave a shout, shifting the camera and zooming in on something happening in the distance. Chloe shifted and looked through the open door. The helicopter was a Bell 407 with a sliding rear door. A favourite of news stations, able to bring journalists and camera equipment quickly onto the scenes of breaking stories, or view traffic conditions from above.
Far below, Chloe could make see Aether Paradise. The very large floating structure, with the large Rhombus shaped building on top, with its steel and concrete rose, out of the ocean like the ruins of an ancient sea temple. A pillar of smoke was rising from the top of the building, and fires were visible on the roof and the upper levels.
"L-Ladies and gentlemen," Chloe said breathlessly, as she tried to keep one eye on the camera and one on the events unfolding on the sea below. "There's just been an explosion in the Aether Paradise. I'm looking at a burning hole in the roof and…and something is climbing out. Ethan, can you get a close up shot of that…I'm being told that it's a quadrupled creature, but it doesn't look like any Pokémon I've seen before. It's black with a golden mane. It's quite bright. I…."
And that was when something very strange happened. It has been the middle of the afternoon on a bright and clear Alola day. The sun was visible in the sky, with only the occasional wispy cloud drifting in front of it. But now it had started to turn dark. Not dark as though night were falling, where the sun would set beneath the horizon turning the sky a range of different colours from pinks to reds to deep purple until it finally when black and the first twinkling stars started to appear.
No, this was like somebody had used a dimmer switch on the sun. The ball of light in the sky gradually got fainter and fainter, as though it were shrinking, and a veil of shadows were falling across the sea. It quickly became hard to see, and lights flicked on in the helicopters cabin.
"L-Ladies and gentlemen," Chloe stuttered in disbelief. She had no idea what to say but was determined to keep the news feed going. And besides, as a reporter and commentator, she knew how to continue to talk without saying anything. "I-I can't describe what his happening. The sky is literally going black. The sun is disappearing. It's like its fading from the sky. The only light is coming from whatever that Pokémon is down there in Aether Paradise. In all my years of reporting I have never seen..."
"FUCK!"
Ethan and the boom operator both swore as another explosion lit up the now dark sea. The entire westside of Aether Paradise went up in flames as it was hit by an energy beam from above.
"And it looks like Team Rocket's giant Mecha has fired some type of energy weapon at the creature. This could be about to get ugly."
No sooner had she spoken than a blue beam was fired from the Plasma Frigate, striking Aether Paradise in the same place. The fires extinguished, replaced by a sheet of ice.
"Now Team Plasma is reacting. Whatever weapon they have up there, it appears to have frozen part of the Aether Foundation's facility. It's just like what happened in Opelucid City back in….wait…The pilot has just told me that…."
"THIS AREA IS DANGEROUS! PLEASE LEAVE IMMEDIATELY!…"
Chloe's commentary was cut off by a booming male voice that rang out over a very loudspeaker. Looking out the other side of the aircraft, she could see two police and an air-sea rescue helicopters approaching. Each was armed with a large search light that helped illuminate the now darkened skies and was blinding as it shone at the helicopter. Chloe and her news team felt the familiar g-forces pressing them into their seats as the helicopter pulled back and started to retreat away from the forcefield line. Chloe continued her commentary.
"Alolan Police have just informed us that a no-fly zone has been established over the Alola region. We've been ordered to return to..." As the helicopter turned around, she caught sight of the black creature leapt off the top of Aether Paradise and dived into the sea. "Wait I've got a visual. The creature is on the move. It's leaving Aether Paradise and heading towards Poni Island..."
The camera continued to follow the creature through the water as it saw. It was a surprisingly agile swimmer, despite having the appearance of a quadrupled land-based Pokémon. It tore through the waves like a Samurott or Sharpedo. The two sky vassals overhead begun to rain down a fire of energy beams. The cannon at the hull of the Plasma Frigate fired it's beam of blue energy, which created ice bergs in the middle of the tropical ocean as they struck. The red beams from the Halberd either blew them apart or sent columns of water rising high into the sky.
"SHIT..."
The helicopter swayed this way and that as the air became more and more turbulent. It's passengers would have been thrown out were they not strapped in. Below the creature managed to jump from out of the sea and onto one of the icebergs created by the Frigate. Ethan aimed his camera down and managed to get a good shot of it as it climbed up a bobbing pillar or ice and threw itself into the air.
The police helicopters repeated their warning. "WE REPEAT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AREA. YOU ARE DIRECTED TO RETREAT TO SHORE AND LAND YOUR VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY."
"We're getting a close up shot of the creature now," Chloe said into her microphone. "It resembles a Pyroar, only it's body looks like it's made from some kind of crystalline structure. It seems to have no visible facial features. Its eyes and nose are visible only as blue lights. The mane seems to glow from within. It's bright, like...WHOA!"
For the viewers watching the feed live on GNN the feed had gone black, forcing the programmers to cut back to the newsroom. A beam from the Plasma Frigate streaked through the air just above the chopper. Not close enough to hit it, but enough for ice to form in the rotary mechanism. It was very quick. The blades couldn't spin properly, sending the helicopter plunging towards like a rock. An effective steel cage thrown into the dark waters below. A fireball erupted from the surface of the ocean. The police and rescue copters scattered, flying in formation back towards Akala Island. There was nothing more for them to do.
[Pokémon]
"We have a clear visual on Necrozma.," the watchman called out. "It's behaving exactly as Colress predicted it would. It's making for Mount Lanakila." The watchman was Aldrith, a high-ranking Plasma grunt. The commander immediately below the Seven Sages.
The Plasma Frigate was commanded, as it usually was, by Zinzolin. The right hand to the leader Ghetsis and one of the Seven Sages. He stood at the helm of the Frigate, dressed in his characteristic purple robes and hat, gripping the wheel in both of his hands.
"You remember our orders," he barked. "Lord Ghetsis was explicit. Necrozma must not fall into Team Rocket's possession. Aldrith, bring up an image on the scopes."
The bridge sat below the Frigate's solar sails. It was shaped like a half circle and consisted of dozens of computers, manned by six black clad Plasma grunts. The scopes referred to monitors directly above the bridge's windshields. They allowed whoever was at the helm or sitting in the captain's chair to read important information from any of the computers onboard.
"So, this is Necrozma in its Dusk Mane form," Zinzolin mused as he looked up at the image displayed. "The Aether Foundation managed to capture not only Necrozma, but also Solgaleo. An interesting development."
"Sir, we've got incoming. Team Rocket is within range and preparing to fire," shouted Barret. He was seated to Zinzolin's right and occupied the position of radar operator."
"Increase shields to max power and arm the broadside cannons," ordered Zinzolin in response. "But remain on course. We will not allow ourselves to be deterred by a third-rate organisation. I repeat we must not allow Team Rocket to Capture Necrozma. They are magnificent and powerful Pokémon that must be protected at all costs!"
"Shields to full power sir," Barrett replied.
"I'll keep an eye on Necrozma's movements," said Aldrith.
The door to the bridge slid open with an electronic whir, and a blond bespectacled man in a white lab coat strode up to Zinzolin.
"Master Colress on deck," announced one of the grunts.
"Ah Master Colress," said Zinzolin without turning to look at him. "You managed to escape Aether Paradise!"
"The power of a Beheeyem to teleport has enabled me to escape almost every unfortunate situation," the scientist replied with a grin. "Unfortunately, the situation is not good down there. Team Rocket managed to infiltrate. It seems those young trainers who were involved in that debacle in Geosenge are also involved, as is a Pokémon rescue team. Team Rocket have captured them all."
Zinzolin let out a sound somewhere between a snort and a laugh. "Well, at least Team Rocket have taken care of one problem for us. In any event, you're just in time. We have Necrozma in our sights. It's heading across the sea in the direction of Poni Island. It is behaving exactly as you said it would."
"That island is the place it landed when it first came to this world," explained Colress. He looked up at the monitor to examine the image of Dawn Mane Necrozma. "It is there we will sees its true power unleashed."
"Assuming we do not capture it first," added Zinzolin.
The outer edges of Colress' mouth twitched into a smile. "Assuming...once again, the Colress machine is working perfectly. The N-Solarizer has made it possible to fuse Necrozma with Solgaleo but has made it even more powerful."
"SIR," Barrett called out, his loud voice filling the cabin. "They've commenced firing. Shields at maximum! Recommend evasive action!"
[Pokémon]
The battle that followed between the Halberd and the Plasma Frigate was intense. Laser beams and plasma projectiles filled the now darkened skies creating a breathtaking light show visible from the shores of the nearby Alolan Islands. Both villains were determined to be the first to capture Necrozma.
Almost like a kite on the wing, the Plasma Frigate managed to weave up and down, avoiding the missiles and beams firing from all sides of the Halberd. Being smaller in size it was the far more agile of the two vessels.
"This is a message to all Frigate crew members," Zinzolin bellowed into the Frigate's communicator as the ship entered a steep climb to avoid being hit with a massive blast from one of the Halberd's cannons. "Unless you are a gunner, take your seats and fasten your safety restraints. This is likely to be rough." For his part, Zinzolin was having enough trouble remaining on his feet at the wheel.
Only Colress seemed unaffected by the rough flight. He had taken a seat in the captain's chair and sat calm with an almost bored expression on his face.
"Sir," shouted Barrett. "Recommend offensive mauver. Position the Frigate behind the Halberd and strike at its engines. If we can freeze part of it, it may lose momentum."
"Negative," Zinzolin replied through gritted teeth. "We can't lose sight of Necrozma. If we move behind, we will be unable to block any attempt to capture it...here we go."
The Frigate banked hard to the left dropping down by the Halberd's port flank to avoid being split open by a massive burst of firepower from the Halberd's second main cannon.
"And fire!"
Flying near perpendicular to Team Rocket's vessel, broadside cannons aimed and fired smaller beams of ice. They were incapable of fully penetrating the Halberd's forcefield and seemed to evaporate before coming into contact with the vessel.
"Looks like they're better protected than we thought," cried Barrett.
"There has to be a weak spot," shouted Zinzolin. "The main goal at this juncture is to avoid being struck before we can capture Necrozma. Look alive men, I'm bringing her in..."
In the midst of it all, the lion like form of Necrozma darted through the ocean. Weaving between or jumping onto and over the icebergs that formed on the water's surface every time it was hit by Team Plasma's ice cannon. The fused legendries almost seemed to anticipate each ships movement and managed to just stay out of reach.
As the Frigate dived low enough that it was only a few meters above the surface of the ocean, and a net descended from its belly, Necrozma dived down below the waves, allowing the Frigate to pass overhead. It only resurfaced when a blast from a Halberd cannon forced the Frigate to climb to higher to safety once again.
Zinzolin cursed his bad fortune. "Curses. It's craftier than most trained Pokémon."
On the Halberd, an increasingly frustrated Gozu was standing on the secondary flight deck, behind the Monferno and Thwackey operating the weapons system. He watched the chase through the windshield and then, as the Frigate rocketed upwards to avoid a hit from one of the Halberd's lasers, he lent over Thwackey and brought his fist slamming down on top of the console. The grass type flinched while his fire type partner gritted his teeth and sucked in his jaws, annoyed but not willing to show it.
"Damn it," he bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the cabin. "As long as they keep darting around in that over sided model ship in a jar, we can't get a decent aim at Necrozma. All that effort planning to steal this contraption, and its not better than if we'd used one of that mangey cats designs."
"This contraption isn't designed for dog fights." Matori was standing behind him, her arms folded and an impatient look on her face. "It's a transport and heavy artillery vassal. Patience. We'll get them eventually, and Necrozma's got nowhere to go. Though I have to say, I'm disappointed with Rocket intelligence. We were led to believe that the Necrozma the Aether Foundation were holding would attempt to fuse with Lunala. But it seems that it already fused with Solgaleo."
"Our spied infiltrated the Aether Foundation," explained Gozu. "We were informed that Necrozma had been captured on Ula'ula Island and imprisoned in a secret facility below Aether Paradise. They did not report that Solgaleo had been captured as well."
"Clearly the Aether Foundation was better defended that we thought," Matori concluded. "But no matter. We have Lunala. Solgaleo and Necrozma will soon be ours."
It did not take Necrozma long to reach the shore of Poni Island. It made landfall on Poni Beach on the Western side of the island. It's lion like paws made contact with the ground and it sprinted out of the waves and onto the sand, before bounding into the Poni Wilds. It was faster on land than in the water, and within a moment or so had managed to put some distance between itself and the two sky vessels. The Plasma Frigate fired ice cannon after ice cannon at it, canvassing the path and surrounding scrubland in ice.
"Zinzolin sir," called out Aldrith, back aboard the Plasma Frigate. "I'm continuing to track Necrozma. It's entered the Vast Poni Canyon."
"Ah exactly as I predicted." Colress put the tips of his fingers together, as he sat back in the captain's chair. "At the end of the canyon leads to the Altar of the Sunne and Moone. The place where Lunala and Solgaleo landed when they first came to this dimension."
"I'm going to bring the Frigate down and into the top of the Canyon," said Zinzolin. "We should just fit. Men, increase speed as we enter. We'll keep Necrozma covered from behind."
"But sir," cried Barrett. "The passage is too narrow. We can't mauver the frigate in that space at that speed."
"THAT IS AN ORDER!"
Barrett sighed, long and hard. "Yes sir."
"Sir," came a voice over the Halberd's intercom. One of the Team Rocket grunts working the scopes and radar one the primary flight deck. "Necrozma has entered the Vast Poni canyon. The Plasma Frigate is descending towards the mouth of the canyon."
"DAMN!" Gozu slammed his fist into the console once again.
"The Halberd is too large. We won't be to get closer while it's under cover of the gorge."
"No wait," said Matori. "We can make this work to our advantage. Show me a map of the island."
A holographic projection of Poni island appeared above the heads of the two Pokémon gunners. Unlike the other three islands of Alola, Poni island was sparsely inhabited. It had only one village on the western coast. The oldest of the Alola Island, it had once been a giant volcano, which over the years had been eroded by wind, rain, and storms to form a maze of gorges and canyons.
"There we go." Matori pointed to the small red dot that represented Necrozma heading to the centre of the island. "There's only route through the centre of the mountains. Once Necrozma's inside, it's trapped. We can cover it from above."
"I say we fire up the main cannon," rumbled Gozu. "Blast Team Plasma out of the sky!"
The Altar of the Sunne and Moon was located at the very north side of Poni Island at the end of the Vast Poni Canyon. It was a temple carved into the rock on the face of the canyon wall, accessible via an incredibly long and steep staircase. A renowned historical and sacred site in Alola, few came here save for those trainers completing an Island challenge. Indeed, the site and the canyon were off limits to most trainers.
"Necrozma is ascending the stairs," Aldrith called to Zinzolin. "Now's our best chance."
"FIRE," cried Zinzolin.
The Plasma Frigate cannon fired off again, however this time not directly at Necrozma. The icy beam struck the stairwell directly above and below Necrozma as it ascended the stair case. As soon as its paws made contact with the ice sheet now covering its path, it slipped. A terrible cry echoed through the canyon as Necrozma slid backwards down the stairs.
"We've got it now sir," said Aldrith. "Necrozma is right where we want it."
"Take the shot," ordered Zinzolin.
The Frigate fired its icy beam again, directly at the back of Necrozma's neck. Only this time the creature was unable to jump or avoid the attack due to being unable to grip the ice's ground beneath its paws. The beam struck in his lower back. It was unclear whether Necrozma could feel anything, but it quickly became aware that it was being encased in ice. It thrashed around for a brief moment, trying to break and throw off the ice quickly entombing it before being rendered immobile.
"Prepare to beam it onboard," snapped Zinzolin as a cold smile crossed his face.