Chapter 2: Headquarters, and Old History
(DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN POKÉMON OR BEN 10! POKÉMON BELONGS TO NINTENDO/GAMEFREAK! AND BEN 10 BELONGS TO "MAN OF ACTION"!)
(Later the group is in Paul's Car as he has Hip hop music playing. They arrive at a destination, a place called, "Pallet Town Mechanic's Shop". Paul parks his car, and the group gets out to walk inside the shop as Ash tells the group).
Ash: This whole thing is wrong from top to bottom.
Paul: Yes, starting with that crazy biker babe girlfriend of yours. (Mightyena then chimes into say).
Mightyena: And that Slithery Serpent Snake of hers.
Pikachu: Let it go Paul and Mightyena.
Ash: Jessie's not my girlfriend, Paul. We were, like, 13.
Pikachu: And something about this just is not sitting right with me here. And let us not forget about Lillie. (Iris then goes to point out something to Ash and Pikachu).
Iris: Her story does not add up, Ash. Why sell Pokémon tech on the illegal market just to find the Ultra Rangers when her father used to be one?
Fraxure: You must admit that Iris does make a good point Ash. (Ash stops in front of the Shop's doors to counter what Iris said telling her).
Ash: She said that something happened to her dad back when they lived here, and we did not end up learning the truth about it. lf that is the case, Grandpa Mohn has quite serious explaining to do.
Pikachu: And Zoroark too. (Then the group goes to enter the shop following Ash and Pikachu).
(Inside the shop, a Man with a nametag that says "Mr. Parker" was dealing with a pair of customers at the desk).
Mr. Parker: l'm sorry, that old girl's gonna need new pistons. There is no getting around it. (Ash and Pikachu walk past the man, greeting him with a smile as they say to him).
Ash: Hey, Mr. Parker.
Pikachu: How is it going? (Recognizing the trio and their Pokémon, he greets them with a smile saying).
Mr. Parker: Hey, guys. (Paul and Mightyena then say to him).
Paul: Gotta grab something out of the back.
Mightyena: You do not mind, do ya? (He gave a light nod to say it was okay with him. Then One of the customers, a girl who the group recognized as a Schoolmate named Giselle, then says to Ash and Pikachu).
Giselle: Hey, Ash, Pikachu, you are going to the game tomorrow? (Ash stops when he hears what the girl asked them).
Ash: Uh... l hope so, Giselle. Just ended up hit with a couple of serious, uh, homework.
Pikachu: Let us see what happens. (Unknown to Ash and the others, a duo was watching them through a window. As Paul and Mightyena tell Ash).
Paul: You know Ashly, all work, and no play. (Paul then takes a bite of a slice of pizza from a fridge that he just opened).
Mightyena: Means no fun happens. (As Paul and Mightyena follow Ash, Pikachu, Iris, and Fraxure they could have sworn they saw someone for a second, but they just brush of it as part of their imagination before they follow the others. But unknown to them, a duo was indeed watching them before they disappeared).
Mr. Parker: Seriously, look that is the best l can do for you. l does not make the price; l just fix the cars. (Paul and Mightyena catch up with the others, as Ash now is working away at something while Iris is examining the Microchip Ash collected from the Warehouse).
Iris: lt does not look familiar, and l really do not like it.
Fraxure: I have never seen anything like it either. (Ash, having finished what he is working on, turns to Iris and says).
Ash: Me neither. Sooner we get that under the scanner, the sooner we can hunt down that creep and his army of flying chips.
Paul: Do you mean the chips your gal friend illegally had in her possession?
Mightyena: Along with her Purple-esque Phosphose of a Partner. (Even if Iris and Fraxure are not as trusting of Jessie and her Arbok, they are a little tired of Paul and Mightyena's jokes about them).
Iris: All right, Paul. l think he gets it.
Fraxure: So, how about you give it a rest? (Then Ash and the others watch as the wall opens revealing a secret elevator. The group steps inside as Paul takes a sip of a Soda Pop, he also ended up taking from the fridge along with the Pizza. Seeing this, Ash sarcastically says to Iris).
Ash: l cannot get what you see in him. (Iris and Paul, however, just roll their eyes at Ash's inquiry of them being, "What Does She See in Him?". Then the group hears a couple of snickering giggles and realize that Fraxure and Mightyena were the ones giggling before Fraxure laughs saying to Mightyena).
Fraxure: Lover boy. (Then for extra emphasis, Fraxure licks his hand and runs it down the back of his head pretending he had hair there to slick back, seeing this makes Mightyena laugh even more then he already was).
Mightyena: Too true. (Paul just rolls his eyes at this as the elevator door closes).
(A couple of minutes later, the group is no longer in the elevator and are walking thorough an underground area of the Mechanic Shop, which also functions as a cover for the Ultra Rangers Headquarters. Then Ash says to the others).
Ash: System is up. (Then an AI Computer Voice says in response to hearing Ash's Voice).
Computer: Good afternoon, Ash. Now activating all partitions. (Ash takes a seat a desk as Pikachu goes to stand beside Ash on the desk before Iris asks Ash).
Iris: Ash, did you ask Grandpa Mohn if we could use the Comm Center? (Ash responds by rhetorically asks them).
Ash: Do you wanna start solving this thing, or you wanna go looking for a permission slip? (Then Pikachu chimes in to say).
Pikachu: In other words, do you want to waste time doing things that surely will not matter in the end? (Iris realizes that Ash has a good point and lets Ash get down to work to examine the Microchip they got. Iris, Fraxure, Paul, and Mightyena all work together on deciphering the workings of the Microchip from a separate set of computers. As a Computer AI voice says).
Computer: Engaging comprehensive interior and exterior scan. Biological and inorganic matter detected. Molecular density is inert. (From this information, Iris tells the others as she is looking into a high-tech examination device, while the lone microchip has a scanner device scanning it).
Iris: Austenitic, ferritic, and martensitic phase microstructure. Both organic and inorganic materials. (Ash tells Iris having a vague understanding of what she was saying with a bit of sarcasm).
Ash: Iris, you are a credit to the science club. (Iris Smiles at Ash for his praising of her. From his Computer, Paul says to the group).
Paul: l've never seen anything like this. l means, it is tech, but it is also a carbon silken based life form. (Mightyena does not understand what Paul means by this asking him).
Mightyena: What are you saying Paul? (Ash, however, deduces what he is saying).
Ash: So, they are alive. Man, l'm liking these less and less.
Pikachu: You are not the only one not liking this, Ash. (Paul then informs Ash of something else about the Microchips).
Paul: Well, they were alive, kind of. Now they are in Pokémon chip heaven. (From that Iris says having an idea that may hopefully produce the results and answers they are hoping for here).
Iris: Let me see if l can trace where they came from. (Iris then uses her Aura Energy on the Chip to hopefully find out where the chip came from. But after a moment, Iris stops and tells the group of what happened).
Iris: They are completely inert. l cannot pick up any energy signature. What now? (Fraxure tries to cheer Iris up telling her).
Fraxure: Hey you tried Iris; you gave it your best shot; we will figure this out. (Paul has an idea of something they could try).
Paul: Well, hopefully l can jumpstart an energy pulse, but it will take forever, and it will be a total pain in the... (But then he sees the look that Iris is sending him, and he gives in and decides to do it). All right, l'll get right on it.
Mightyena: I will give you hand Paul. Or should I say, a "Paw"? Ha! Get it? (The others roll their eyes at Mightyena's joke. They knew that Paul was Brilliant, but Lazy with how he was intelligent as them, but often complains about the amount of work the team must do. And that with their Four-Temperament Ensemble, Iris was the extroverted, and short-tempered one while Paul was the Melancholic and is often in a bad mood (unless he is with Iris) but was good at solving problems).
Ash: Or, we could just find Jessie, her Arbok and ask them where they came from.
Pikachu: It would not be the worst idea in the world. It is not like they are going to show in the next couple of minutes. (Iris then fires back at Ash for his suggestion asking him).
Iris: What makes you think that she would tell you the truth? She could have set us up.
Fraxure: I hate to say it Ash, but I do not think she is a friend to any of us here. Not anymore. (But Ash and Pikachu refute this from Iris and Fraxure, saying to them).
Ash: She is one of us.
Pikachu: I still do feel that she needs us to help them. (Iris then corrects Ash on his assessment of their friendship with Jessie).
Iris: She was one of us. You have no idea who she is now. You cannot trust her.
Fraxure: Especially not since she got that Poison Phosphose of a partner.
Pikachu: Her Partner is an Arbok get it Fraxure? (Ash then fires back at the two of them saying).
Ash: Obviously, l cannot trust anyone. l cannot even trust Mohn or Zoroark. (As if Ash was Calling Parents by Their Name, Mohn and Zoroark then showed up with Mohn having a bowl of food in hand, as Zoroark walked beside him. Mohn only heard a part of what Ash just said as he and Zoroark walked in, with them asking).
Mohn: Trust me to do what?
Zoroark: What is going on here? (The others turn to see that Mohn and Zoroark are here, with Iris and Fraxure greeting them).
Iris: Hey, Grandpa and Zoroark. We cannot trust you to make soup without putting baked hummus, or Salazzle gizzards in it.
Fraxure: Good to see you two here. (Mohn and Zoroark smile at seeing the group here as Mohn thinks of the suggestion that Iris just made).
Mohn: Hmm. That Sounds like A Quite good combo. (Then Mohn asks them about the purpose of their visit here). What are you folks doing down here in the hole on off hours?
Zoroark: But we are happy to see you all here.
Paul: Uh, we had a little situation.
Mightyena: Something that needed a bit of tech help. (Then a Computer AI Voice said as it began doing something).
Computer: Beginning scan.
Mohn: Hey, what is that? (Mohn sets his food down on the counter as he and Zoroark look at the computer screen which begins showing a detailed Scan of the Microchip). Looks familiar. l've seen that somewhere before.
Zoroark: Yes, me too. But I cannot remember where we did last see it. (This gets the groups attention as Iris asks them).
Iris: Wait You have? Where? (Mohn and Zoroark do not respond to Iris' question as Ash says to them).
Ash: Mohn, Zoroark, there is something you both need to explain... (But before Ash can say anything else, an alarm begins going off as a Computer AI Voice says as an "Alert" Icon begins flashing on the computer screen).
Computer: Unidentified intrusion at entryway three.
Mohn: Sounds like we have an uninvited guest. Paul, punch up a tracker on the complex.
Zoroark: There is no time to lose. (Paul begins to do just that before Iris has her eyes glow with her pink energy along with her hand also glowing with her Aura Energy).
Iris: No need. l've got 'em.
Fraxure: Who would dare try to intrude on our secret base?
Pikachu: There is only one way to find out.
(Now the group is heading down a hallway with Iris leading them, as she tells them where the intruder is).
Iris: They are in Mohn's office!
Mohn: They better not touch my model train set! (Mohn then prepares a Blaster to use on the intruder, if necessary, while Zoroark readies his claws to attack as well). l just painted the caboose!
Zoroark: And my Black Glasses are there too! I just finished shining them! (A part of the group just rolled their eyes at Mohn and Zoroark's Skewed Priorities. Iris leads the group to an area with a desk and a bunch of machines before Iris tracks down the intruder's energy telling them).
Iris: Over here, guys. (Ready and hoping for a little action here, Paul says to the unknown intruder).
Paul: Whoever you are, you picked the wrong place to break into. You are gonna be one (Paul puts his hand on a nearby metal table, absorbing its contents giving his hand a metal covering) fried, roasted, and baked... (But then appearing from behind the table was an unintimidated Jessie and Arbok) babe? (The group surprised to see that Jessie and Arbok were here and to discover that they were the intruders all along. Ash sees that Mohn and Zoroark looked displeased with seeing the two of them here, as Ash goes to lower Mohn's arms since he was still holding the blaster up to them).
Ash: lt's okay, Mohn. You may not recognize her, she is... (But Mohn interrupts Ash to tell him with an angry look on his and Zoroark's faces).
Mohn: lt's not okay. lt's a Stone. How would you get in here? (Zoroark is equally angrily at seeing Jessie and Arbok here).
Zoroark: Because this place is top secret and off-limits to the overall Public and that includes the both of you. (Rather than answering, Jessie holds up a wrench with a Key Chain attached to it that has a Key at the end. Causing Paul to sarcastically respond saying).
Paul: lt's time to get Mr. Parker a pair of Glasses.
Mightyena: Oldest trick in the book. (Then Jessie greets Mohn and Zoroark).
Jessie: Been a long time, Mr. Ketchum. You too Zoroark.
Arbok: Good to finally meet you both. Heard a ton about you. (Then Fraxure whispers to Pikachu).
Fraxure: Pikachu, remind me, who was it that said, "It is not like they are going to show in the next couple of minutes"? (Pikachu hates that Fraxure was using his own words against him like this, muttering to himself).
Pikachu: Why did I have to say that?
Mohn: You should not have come here, Jessie. You or your Arbok.
Zoroark: Neither of you are welcome here. (Iris then informs Mohn and Zoroark of something that happened to them earlier).
Iris: Mohn, Jessie was the one who set up the sale of those weird chips.
Fraxure: Leading us into a Trap. Like the Slithery Snake her partner is. (This causes Mohn and Zoroark to remember what it was they had forgotten).
Mohn: Of course. l knew I had seen those before. lt's time for you to go!
Zoroark: Trust me. You do not want to end up on the receiving end of my claws. (But Jessie and Arbok defend their actions telling them).
Jessie: Mr. Ketchum, l had to do that. l needed help, and it was the only way l could think of to get it.
Arbok: We were dessssperate. (Arbok said with a hiss). Pleasssse Help ussss. (But Mohn and Zoroark are quick to refuse their request for help).
Mohn: You know the rules! (Jessie and Arbok do not back down to their refusal to help them).
Jessie: lt's my father! He has been a victim of kidnapping from whoever, or whatever made those chips. l knew that only the Ultra Rangers could help.
Zoroark: We are not going to help you, Jessie! Now this your last warning! Get out before I get both of you with my claws!
Mohn: Get her outta here! (It was clear to Ash and Pikachu that it was Hate at First Sight for Mohn and Zoroark too especially with they both Took a Level in Jerk. Ash and Pikachu could not believe that they were refusing to help Jessie and Arbok too saying to them).
Ash: You are not serious. She needs help.
Pikachu: She is our friend. (But Mohn and Zoroark refuses Ash and Pikachu's idea for them to help Jessie and Arbok telling them).
Mohn: That is an order!
Zoroark: Do not pick a fight with me you two. You will regret it! (Then Paul and Mightyena intervene saying to Jessie and Arbok).
Paul: You heard the man.
Mightyena: And the Fox Pokémon. Let us go. (Then Iris and Fraxure come to Jessie and Arbok's side telling them).
Iris: l does not know what is going on, but he means it. Come on, Jessie. (Iris drags Jessie away as Fraxure leads Arbok away. Before she can leave, Jessie gets out of Iris' grip and tells the group directly what was going on).
Jessie: Then l'll tell you what is going on, Iris. Your sweet old Grandpa and his Zoroark turned his back on us three years ago... Threw us out on the street when we needed his help, lied to you to cover his tracks. Now my father is in serious trouble, and Mohn nor Zoroark still will not help us. (Then Arbok chimes in to give its two cents).
Arbok: And you will not hear ussss out. (Ash and Pikachu were in shock to hear that their own Grandpa Mohn and Zoroark would do such a thing, asking them after processing their "The Reason You Suck" Speech).
Ash: ls that true? Can't we just talk to her?
Pikachu: At least give them a chance to tell their side of the story. (Once again, Mohn and Zoroark refuse to budge even an inch on the matter of hearing what Jessie and Arbok have to say).
Mohn: No, Ash. Anything she said would be a lie. (Iris and Fraxure look down disappointed with Mohn and Zoroark's attitudes here). Paul. Mightyena.
Zoroark: Get out of here now! Because I am feeling the need to dig my claws into something, or should I say, someone's. (Paul and Mightyena go to lead Jessie and Arbok out only to stop when Jessie tells them sounding unenthusiastic like she did upon revealing herself to the group for the first time in a long time).
Jessie: Thanks for the help. You all are real heroes. And, Ash, thanks for being a real friend. (Paul then comes up and grabs Jessie by the arm to drag her out, but she breaks free of his grip and goes to leave by herself as Arbok tells them).
Arbok: We will seee oursssselves out. (With that the Phlegmatic Jessie whose whole mission is to save her father and tries to clear her name while also clearing things up with the Ash's family goes and leaves, having given them her two cents and her "The Reason You Suck" Speech. Paul and Mightyena go to make sure the two of them leave the base. Then Ash and Pikachu, feeling mad with how Mohn and Zoroark treated Jessie and Arbok, turn to them asking them with Anger in his voice).
Ash: What is wrong with you two?
Pikachu: That was completely uncalled for! (Mohn and Zoroark defend themselves telling Ash and Pikachu).
Mohn: There is nothing wrong with me, but there is a ton wrong with her. She is Mr. Joseph Stone's daughter.
Zoroark: And she is the enemy plain and simple. (Iris and Fraxure have had enough of their grandfather and Zoroark's behavior asking them).
Iris: Okay, we are sufficiently stumped. What is going on here?
Fraxure: Let us try to discuss calmly and rationally.
(A Couple of minutes later, the group was together around a computer, as a computer file opened as a Computer AI Voice said).
Computer: Dr. Joseph Stone. Ultra Ranger I.D... (The Screen Showed a File that said, "Ultra Rangers Service Record" with Joseph Stone's full name listed as "Dr. Joseph Stone" with a Red Box below it that says, "DISAVOWED" with other information below showing Joseph' age of 48, height, weight, spoken languages, and country of Origin. Next to the Record File was a full 3D image of Joseph Stone that rotates every couple of seconds. Then Mohn and Zoroark begin telling the group about Joseph Stone).
Mohn: Mr. Joseph Stone was the best Ultra Ranger we ever trained. We stopped more than our share of invasions. We trusted Joseph with our lives. We wanted to trust the running of this place to him. Until he betrayed us. (Ash and Pikachu have trouble believing this asking them).
Ash: What?
Pikachu: How did they betray you two?
Mohn: He ended up caught stealing Pokémon technology from our vaults. Tech that he swore he would protect the Earth from. He ended up getting a dishonorable discharge. A traitor. (Then Paul and Mightyena return having shown Jessie and Arbok the door).
Paul: Traitor's daughter and her snake left the building.
Mightyena: And will hopefully be long gone soon. (Then Iris asks her grandfather and Zoroark).
Iris: What did he steal?
Mohn: Same stuff Jessie was dealing. (Then Mohn and Zoroark turn to Ash and Pikachu asking them with a clearly angry frown on their faces). You still think she is the girl you know?
Zoroark: The same one that you would dare call your friend?
Ash: She told us the Truth about one thing, you lied to us.
Pikachu: We never thought that you could do such a thing to us. (Mohn and Zoroark defend themselves from that accusation of Ash's telling them).
Mohn: We did that for your own good. You were too young to understand. (But Ash and Pikachu are not satisfied with that excuse from them telling his grandfather and Zoroark).
Ash: l still cannot understand. You cannot judge her by what her father did.
Pikachu: It is not fair of either of you to do that. And it is also completely uncalled for. (Mohn then tells them, wanting to be perfectly clear with them).
Mohn: Ash, Pikachu stay away from her and that Arbok of hers. We "blacklisted" the Stone family. There can be no interaction between them and the Ultra Rangers. (Then Zoroark glares at Ash and Pikachu as he asks them while sounding profoundly serious).
Zoroark: Do we make ourselves clear?! (But Ash and Pikachu make their positions on the matter clear to them
Ash: That is the way you and Zoroark see it. The way we see it, a friend is in trouble. And she is the best link we have to those chips and the freak who is controlling them. A whole lot more people could end up in trouble besides Jessie, Arbok and her father.
Pikachu: And we are going to help them no matter what it takes to do it. (With Ash and Pikachu Having made themselves out to be the Sanguine ones of their Four-Temperament Ensemble since they are ready to help whoever and whenever, Mohn and Zoroark are feeling displeased to hear this telling them).
Mohn: That is why we are going to analyze those chips and take care of this crisis by the book! l am not gonna boot up (Feeling fed up and frustrated with this plan of theirs, Ash begins to walk off) this whole operation on the word of that one girl. (Seeing Ash leaving without Pikachu, Mohn calls to Ash). Ash. That is my decision!
Zoroark: Do you understand us!? (But Ash clearly is not with them on their Honor Before Reason approach to this matter of theirs. Since Mohn and Zoroark seem to care more about following protocols, which from their point-of-view, Joseph broke, thinking that he was stealing them. As he tells Mohn and Zoroark).
Ash: Well, it is the wrong decision. (Ash then turns to Pikachu who was on the Desk next to the computer they were using, asking him). Pikachu are you with me on this? (Pikachu smiles confidently at Ash telling him).
Pikachu: Gladly. (Then Pikachu goes over to Ash's side, climbing and perching himself on Ash's Shoulder. Giving him a proud and confident smile and nod to show that he was on Ash's side all the way. But Mohn and Zoroark were getting Angry with Ash and Pikachu's refusal to listen to them telling point blankly).
Mohn: l order you to stay away from her.
Zoroark: Do not dare disobey our Orders Ash! (After a moment of silence between everyone, Ash shakes his head telling Mohn and Zoroark).
Ash: Sorry, Mohn, Zoroark, l'm not following that order.
Pikachu: Man, I cannot believe that all of you are not as willing to help Jessie as we are. But I guess that makes us a House Divided. We are going to help Jessie and Arbok whether you all like it or not. (Then Iris and Fraxure try to stop Ash and Pikachu from leaving telling them).
Iris: Ash! You cannot break Ultra Ranger ranks! (Then she turns to Mohn and Zoroark begging them to do something to keep Ash and Pikachu from leaving). Mohn, do not let him do this.
Fraxure: You gotta do something. (But Mohn and Zoroark refuse to do anything, knowing that it will not work, with them having given up on trying to convince Ash and Pikachu not to do this).
Mohn: lt's not up to me. He has made his choice.
Zoroark: And for the record, I do think they made the wrong choice here. (Ash then turns to Paul and Mightyena asking them where they will stand on helping Jessie and Arbok).
Ash: Paul?
Pikachu: Mightyena? (The group turns to the duo, who does not move from his spot telling them their position here).
Paul: Somebody's gotta stay here and look after the old man.
Mightyena: And his Partner Pokémon. And I will not leave Paul's side. Sorry guys but good luck on your own out there. (Iris and Fraxure shout to them begging them to stop Ash and Pikachu from leaving).
Iris: Paul! Stop him!
Fraxure: Mightyena! (Only for Ash and Pikachu to dismiss their worries letting them know it will be okay).
Ash: Do not worry. We can manage ourselves.
Pikachu: We will be okay. (With that Ash and Pikachu left, feeling disappointed in all of them, wondering to themselves, "What the Heck, Hero" since they were not wanting to help Jessie and Arbok. And wondered when they all Took a Level in Jerk. But if they did not want to help them with Jessie and Arbok's problems, then fine. They would do it alone without them. Leaving the others, especially Iris and Fraxure to worry about Ash and Pikachu, as well as worrying about what the two of them were getting themselves into).
(Meanwhile, getting further and further away from the Ultra Ranger's Base was Jessie on her Red Motorcycle. Her Arbok was back in its Respective Pokéball. She ends coming to a Stop on her motorcycle when she sees Ash coming her way on his own Motorcycle with Pikachu hanging onto his shoulder. They park their Motorcycles close to each other before shutting them off and remove their helmets, with Pikachu also removing his helmet, as Jessie asks them, sounding annoyed to see them here).
Jessie: What do you want?
Ash: The same thing as you. l wanna help you find him. (While a bit surprised to hear this, she then asks him about a problem they had earlier).
Jessie: What about your Gramps and Zoroark?
Ash: Not too thrilled about it.
Pikachu: But we do not care what he or the others say about this. We are going to help you, Jessie. Because you are our friend.
Jessie: And you are helping me anyway? (Ash shrugs his shoulders at this. Then Jessie takes notice of his vehicle). Nice bike. (Ash then confesses to her saying).
Ash: lt's Mohn's really. Cannot get any angrier with us than he and Zoroark already are. (Hearing this, Jessie feels regretful for getting them in more trouble with Mohn and Zoroark).
Jessie: l'm sorry. That is my fault. (But Ash dismisses this telling her).
Ash: No, it is his and Zoroark's. Let us find your dad. First stop... wherever you got those chips.
Pikachu: And on the way you can tell us your side of the story. (With a smile on her face, Jessie puts her helmet back on, as does Ash and Pikachu. Before they ride off with Jessie leading the way, to begin their investigation into the Microchips).
(Back in the Ultra Rangers Base, Paul and Mightyena were hard at work. With Paul working away at the computer while putting his feet up with the keyboard on his lap as he has music playing in his earbuds. Then Iris and Fraxure enter the room calling out for Mohn and Zoroark).
Iris: Grandpa. Zoroark. (Iris and Fraxure see what Paul and Mightyena are doing, and roll their eyes, not at all surprised by this behavior of theirs, as they walk over to them. Iris takes a seat in the chair next to Paul, before taking one of his earbuds out, getting his attention while Fraxure goes and stands beside Mightyena). Am l interrupting something? (Rather than Answering her Question, Paul responds with his own question for them).
Paul: Find your wayward cousin?
Mightyena: Or his Electric Mouse Pokémon? (Iris answers a bit hesitantly, feeling a bit of worry for her cousin and Pikachu).
Iris: He will be back... alone, hopefully.
Fraxure: Without the girl or her snake. (Seeing that it was just them now, Paul and Mightyena take this opportunity to ask them about the Ketchum's boys' history with the traitor's daughter).
Paul: Yes, so what is the 4-1-1 on those two?
Mightyena: And what is going on with Ash's head here? (Paul then takes his remaining earbud out and sets them on the table as Iris gives Paul and Mightyena a bit of explosion on Ash and Jessie's history with a bit of a smile as she fondly reminisces on their history with Jessie).
Iris: Jessie was Ash's first crush. (Paul scoffs amusedly at this). She was the only girl on his soccer team in Middle School, and Ash could not kick a ball (Remembering this causes Iris and Fraxure to let out a small laugh as they remember that) in a straight line when she was around. (Paul and Mightyena let out a small laugh too). He became really bummed out after she moved away.
Mightyena: Wow, I feel kinda bad for Ash. That must have been quite tough for him. Now I feel a little bad for how I treated Jessie earlier.
Fraxure: It was like she was one of the boys, and I do not blame you for not being able to Remember the New Guy here. But she was Ash's former schoolmate in middle school. Although technically speaking, she was not Ash's first crush, it was in truth Lillie Hymes. Granted, considering how their relationship ended, I would not blame you for not remembering her. (After processing this, Paul sarcastically says to them).
Paul: Great, so now it is puppy love.
Iris: Cousin Ash is growing up. lt had to happen eventually.
Paul: Yes, l'll believe that when l sees it. (Deciding to put their concerns of Ash, Pikachu, and Jessie off to the side for now, Paul gets back to work, typing away at the keyboard. As he and Iris go back to being the Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl they are, while hoping that no one would see his relationship with Iris as that of a Henpecked Husband. As Paul types something on the keyboard, the Computer AI Says to them).
Computer: Invalid codec. Access to mainframe denied. (With a textbox flashing those words the Computer AI said on the screen. Leading Iris and Fraxure to ask them).
Iris: Paul, what are you and Mightyena doing in Mohn and Zoroark's office?
Fraxure: Why are you here anyway?
Paul: l wanted to know what intel we already had on those chips. lf Stone took them from a vault, they should be in the system.
Mightyena: Make sense right? (Iris and Fraxure see what they are saying, as Iris asks him).
Iris: And?
Fraxure: Did you find anything?
Paul: All the files have a seal on them. (Then Iris sarcastically tells him).
Iris: Well, then you should just ask Mohn and Zoroark.
Paul: We tried that. They were not open to discussion.
Mightyena: It was a big no sell Iris. (From that Iris asked them while sounding intrigued).
Iris: So, you just came in here and opened his personal files? What did they say?
Fraxure: You did find something right?
Paul: They are sorta locked. (But then Paul casually mentions to Iris and Fraxure). l could figure out the password?
Iris: That would be a huge violation of trust.
Paul: And regulations. (Paul then leans back in his chair with his hands hand behind his head). Well, l guess Ash is really on his own this time. l'm sure he will be fine, l mean, he is all grown up now and everything.
Mightyena: And Pikachu will be by his side of course. Along with Jessie and her Arbok. (After processing what the Brooding boy and his Partner just said for a moment, Iris gives in and tells them).
Iris: Break the code.
Fraxure: Do it Paul. (With that Paul gets back to work, typing away at the keyboard to find out the password to Mohn and Zoroark's Encrypted Files as the Computer AI Voice says to them).
Computer: Now implementing search for variable internodes based on random numeric ciphers. (Now Paul and Iris' investigations into the Microchips has truly begun).
Replies to my reviewers:
Ashpoke55: Thank You and I hope you enjoy what I do with the story. Regarding which of Charizard's Mega Evolutions I will be using. Let us just say that it will be the Mega Evolution that I consider to be Charizard's one true Mega Evolution. Because the other Mega Evolution, is one that I would never use. (To be clear, I am talking about never using said Mega Evolution in a Pokémon battle in the games, in stories I could consider using it).
Please Review
-To Be Continued-
Next time on ... Ash 150 Pokémon Swarm:
Ash and Jessie's investigation