Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.
Hi all,
Here's the next chapter. Someone gets their comeuppance, and Lucas is trapped on a ship that is quickly sinking.
Lucy held a towel to her bleeding head as she watched her men work on the safe. Their working conditions weren't ideal, as the ship had capsized on its side, creating a confusing situation in which the floor was no longer beneath their feet.
Magmar was breathing a superheated stream of fire into the side of the safe to create an opening. Even with the heat it was generating, progress was slow. Despite the ship's precarious situation, she was unable to leave without the container locked in the safe, as it was too valuable.
After all of her plans failed due to an incompetent fool and nature's unpredictability, Lucy was in a bad mood. She had used one of the ship's engineers, who was secretly a member of Team Rocket, to temporarily cripple the ship, giving her and her subordinates enough time to rob the passengers and escape the boat with the spoils. However, the engineer made a mistake, and rather than partially crippling the engine and preserving some functionality, he managed to cripple the entire ship.
It wouldn't have been an issue if not for the storm. How did a perfectly fine day with a favourable forecast turn into one of the worst storms she had ever seen? It was unsurprising that the ship capsized in such conditions.
One of her subordinates approached her. "We should be able to pry open the safe in about five minutes."
Lucy let out a frustrated growl. "What's taking so long?"
"The safe's locking mechanism was damaged when the ship capsized. Magmar is working as fast as it can, but the safe was designed to keep both humans and Pokemon out."
Lucy threw the towel on the ground, no longer concerned about her head wound. Her stomach was filled with anxiety. Even though her subordinates would have abandoned the ship once they had stolen from the passengers, her mission was to stay on board and ensure the container arrived in Vermilion City.
Because Team Rocket owned a stake in the cruise ship, they used it to smuggle items to other cities, but none were more important than what was in the container she was currently safekeeping. To be honest, she had no idea what it was, but the instructions that her boss had given her indicated how important it was to him.
Which is why she shouldn't have gotten greedy and tried to steal from the ship. She didn't get orders from the boss to do so, and she imagined he wouldn't be pleased when he found out. He was more concerned about the container, but she couldn't help herself when the opportunity presented itself to make some easy pokedollars. If she didn't recover the container and get it safely to the city, then she was a dead woman. Even if she survived, she would have to explain her actions and face punishment.
Her men breached the safe a few minutes later and extracted a heavy metal container inside.
Fortunately, it wasn't easily damaged; otherwise, their efforts would have been in vain.
"Is our boat still in position?" Lucy questioned one of the subordinates.
The man nodded. "It has received a beating, but it's still seaworthy. It's about two hundred feet away from the ship, waiting for your orders."
"Blow a hole in the hull," Lucy instructed. "It is the quickest way off the ship."
The man walked away to deliver the orders.
Lucy nervously fiddled with her pokeball. She didn't want to fly out in the storm, but she didn't have a choice. She consoled herself with the fact that she wouldn't have to fly very far before she was safely aboard her boat.
A few minutes later, a small explosion erupted on the ship's side, resulting in a large tear in the metal. Fearow flew out of the ship, carrying Lucy and the container on its back. It frantically beat its wings, attempting to gain altitude and combat the fierce gusts.
"Mistress, I feel an overwhelming power coming from the skies above us," Fearow reported to his trainer.
Lucy frowned and looked up at the sky. She shielded her eyes from the rain with her arm as she searched for the source of Fearow's concern. Her eyes widened when she noticed the yellow bird, shrouded in electricity, looking down at her. A wave of shivers ran through her body as she was confronted with the most horrifying sight. She opened her mouth, desperately trying to give a command to Fearow, but fear made her unable to speak.
Fearow didn't require instructions. When he saw the terrifying Zapdos hovering above him, he realised just how much danger they were in. He cawed and flapped his wings frantically as he flew away from the ship.
Zapdos shrieked. A flash briefly illuminated the night sky, followed by a loud rumbling noise. A bolt of lightning struck Fearow. Lucy didn't even have time to scream before hundreds of millions of volts of electricity coursed through her body, killing her instantly. Fearow didn't fare much better, dying a few seconds after his trainer.
Their lifeless bodies began to plunge into the sea. A moment later, Zapdos appeared beside them, its talons latching onto the container strapped to Fearow's back. It freed the container from its constraints and began ascending back into the sky. A moment later, the legendary Pokemon vanished into the clouds.
Lorelei had witnessed the entire scene from atop her Cloyster, and could readily admit she was terrified. Even with her entire team, she wouldn't be able to defeat the legendary Pokemon. Fortunately, after retrieving the container, it departed. She had no idea what was inside, but if it was sufficient to summon Zapdos, it must be something significant. Team Rocket was insane to think they could mess with legendaries.
"That's not something you see every day," Lorelei said to her companion. "I am curious why there are so few sightings of the legendaries."
"That's because not many people who see them live to tell anyone."
Lorelei nodded in agreement. While the legendaries didn't actively target humans unless they screwed up majorly, their sheer power meant that they could kill without even meaning to. Zapdos was one of the legendaries who was a little more unpredictable. It took little to set it off, and the consequences could be disastrous.
Lorelei surveyed the scene around her. She knew the passengers had fled to the ballroom, but that wouldn't have kept them safe when the ship capsized. There were probably many injured people who needed medical attention, but she couldn't worry about them right now because she had a more pressing issue. The ship was sinking faster than expected because of the rough waves. Typically, the ship should be able to remain afloat for at least several hours.
She was in the engine room talking to the engineers when the wave capsized the ship. Cloyster reacted quickly, freezing her boots to the floor, allowing her to escape relatively unscathed. After checking on the engineers, she made her way to the ship's deck. She was fortunate to have Cloyster. He couldn't fly very high or fast, but he could float in the air easily enough.
The nearby boat caught her attention. Even though it was pitch black outside, there was a light on board that broadcast its location. This had to be a Team Rocket vessel that the woman would have used to escape.
"We need to get on that boat," Lorelei said. "Go down."
Cloyster obeyed her command, and when they got close to the choppy waves, she summoned her Lapras. The Pokemon ferried her over to the boat, which didn't appear to be in a rush to leave. Zapdos had killed one of their comrades, leaving them unsure of what to do.
Because it was so dark, they were most likely unaware that she was approaching them. If she could get on board, they might have a radio she could use to call for assistance.
She looked up as the rain and wind suddenly ceased, and an unnatural calm followed in its wake.
"Zapdos was probably the cause of all this crazy weather," Lorelei realised.
A few minutes earlier.
A loud rumble echoed in the passengers' ears, causing some to cry out in fear.
"What the hell was that?" Lucas looked up, as if he could see through the walls to the outside.
It sounded like thunder had broken loose inside the ballroom; it was so loud. Lucas waited a moment, but when the sound didn't return, he turned his attention back to the Pokemon, who were carefully demolishing the wall. They needed to gain access to the upper deck, which housed the medical bay. A Scyther and Machoke worked together to create the opening. Max also assisted them in removing the debris.
The people who were able to move had regained their bearings, and they were now working to establish a makeup ship triage in preparation for the arrival of medicine to treat patients. They were sorting patients based on the severity of their injuries. Some moved the deceased to the far corner to avoid upsetting the other passengers.
Lucas examined the egg resting in the harness. Although the egg appeared to be unharmed when the ship capsized, he couldn't stop worrying and had been checking on it frequently. He didn't want to lose the Vulpix now, after all the time and effort he had put into it.
The floor beneath him lurched, and he stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. It took Lucas a moment to realise the entire ship was shifting, which wasn't a good sign. Everyone else seemed to realise the same thing, as they fell silent, waiting for the ship to stop moving. After what seemed like an eternity, the movements stopped. As everyone exhaled in relief, Lucas scowled. They shouldn't be celebrating yet.
"We are so screwed," Meowth whispered into his ear from atop his shoulder.
"Maybe," Lucas replied. He approached Brock, who was helping to organise the patients, and tapped him on the shoulder. "I'm going to check out the situation outside."
Brock raised an eyebrow. "How are you going to get the doors opened?"
"With my Pokemon, of course."
"Alright. We need to know if the ship is sinking."
Brock understood what the ship's movements could mean for all of them.
Lucas approached the main doors. They hovered about twenty feet above him. It would take some effort to climb up there, but he had something better. He retrieved Icarus' pokeball and summoned him.
"Pidgeotto?" Icarus tilted his head as he assessed the situation around him. He looked at Lucas, wanting an explanation.
"I don't have time to explain," Lucas said. "I want you to fly up and open the door. If the conditions are safe, fly outside. Meowth, you're going to ride Icarus and report back to me about what you see. In particular, the ship's condition."
'You're talking crazy," Meowth protested. "There is no way Icarus can fly in the weather out there."
As if in response to Meowth's protest, the wind and rain outside abruptly ceased.
Meowth scowled. "Me and my big mouth."
Meowth climbed onto Icarus, clutching his feathers tightly. With a beat of his wings, Icarus flew up until he was hovering next to the doors. He used his beak to pull on one of the handles, and the door sprang open. Lucas watched as Icarus vanished through the door, hoping nothing would happen to them.
A thud from behind him caused him to spin around. Captain Harrison was standing over the unconscious body of one of the guards.
"I caught him sneaking up on you," Captain Harrison said, wobbly on his feet. A piece of wood protruded from his arm, and he fashioned a makeshift bandage to halt the bleeding.
"Thanks for the help," Lucas said, looking down at the guard. "He probably wanted to leave now that the conditions have improved outside."
A few people standing nearby seemed to have the same idea, as they kept glancing at the doors. It would be wrong of them to abandon the ship when there were so many injured, but he didn't blame them for thinking that way. All they wanted to do was survive. In any case, their presence was unlikely to have much of an impact on the overall situation.
"Are there any other guards wandering around here?" Lucas inquired, scanning the ballroom
Harrison shook his head. "The rest of them are either severely injured or deceased."
Lucas nodded, then reached down and removed the guard's pokeballs from his belt. "I will have someone watch him. Meanwhile, you need to rest. Let me help you find a place to sit."
"I need to take command of these people," Harrison insisted. "Based on the way the ship is settling, we don't have much time before it sinks."
"Let's worry about it only when we need to," Lucas said. "We can devise a strategy once we assess the situation outside."
Ten minutes later, they broke through the wall and into the upper deck. Lucas was considering being part of the search party, as it would allow him to explore more of the ship. They were looking for more than just medicine; they also needed things like water, food, and blankets to stay warm.
At that moment, Icarus flew back through the doors, but someone was following him. Lorelei was riding her Cloyster.
As she descended to the ground, Lucas moved over to greet her. Meowth jumped and landed on his shoulder.
"The ship is doomed," Meowth whispered. "We should get out of here and leave these yahoos behind."
Lucas frowned but didn't respond to his comment.
Lorelei climbed off her Pokemon and looked around to assess the state of the ballroom.
"What is the current situation?" Lorelei demanded.
"Hello, nice to see you are all right," Lucas said dryly, but rushed to continue when he received a sharp glare. "So far, twenty-one people have died, and an equal number are in critical condition. The rest suffered minor or moderate injuries, and some people escaped unscathed. We have just broken through to the upper deck, which houses the medical bay. We'll need medicine if we want to save some of these people."
Lorelei nodded. "I'm afraid we may not have enough time to save these people. The ship is rapidly sinking, and water will soon surge into the ballroom."
"Dammit," Lucas sighed. "We can't just abandon these people."
"We aren't going to abandon them," Lorelei stated, although she didn't appear too confident. "Rescuers are on their way, but it will take some time for them to arrive. Fortunately, the storm had passed, so they should arrive relatively quickly."
"How do you know that?"
"Team Rocket had a boat following the ship," Lorelei explained. "After stealing from the passengers, they most likely planned to use the boat for their escape. I managed to send a message to the mainland. They were already preparing for a rescue, which I find strange, but I'm not going to complain."
"But it's not going to be fast enough," Lucas said. "Is there enough room on the boat for all the passengers?"
Lorelei gave him a derisive look. "Not even close."
Lucas thought furiously, trying to devise a plan to save the sinking ship. After more than a minute of racking his brain, he nearly gave up, overcome by the seemingly insurmountable circumstances. But then his gaze fell on the Cloyster, which triggered a wild idea in his mind.
"How many Pokemon do you have with you?" Lucas asked.
Lorelei blinked at the random question. "My whole team. I don't go anywhere without them. Why are you asking?"
"You are an ice-type specialist, right? What are the chances of getting your Pokemon to freeze water around the ship and form a seal that keeps it from sinking?"
Lorelei didn't immediately dismiss the idea. She looked down at the pokeballs on her belt, as if calculating her chances of successfully carrying out his plan. Because her Pokemon were so powerful, Lucas knew the idea was feasible. If they were on par with her Cloyster, they would be able to produce a lot of ice. The only potential issue was how long it would take to create enough ice to hold up the ship.
"It's a risky plan," Captain Harrison interjected. "There is a good chance that the weight of the ice will cause the ship to sink even faster if you aren't careful."
Lucas was well aware that the captain had far more experience than him, and that his plan was devised on the fly, with a lot of potential flaws. "So, what do you suggest we do?"
"You need enough surface area to counterbalance the weight of the ship," Harrison answered. "I would suggest that you start working from the outside. That way, when the ice reaches the ship, you will already have the foundation you need to support it."
"That might even be too much work for even my Pokemon given the time frame," Lorelei said.
Lucas snapped his fingers. "How about asking for some assistance? There might be some people here with Pokemon that can use ice-type moves."
"You are just full of ideas. I like you!" Lorelei exclaimed. She raised her voice to address the entire ballroom. "Listen up. I am Lorelei from the Elite Four. We don't have much time before this ship sinks."
That statement sparked an uproar. Those who couldn't move due to their injuries cried out in despair, while those who could walk appeared to want to bolt for the exit. Lucas shook his head. Couldn't Lorelei have communicated it better?
"We have a plan," Lorelei said. "I need everyone with Pokemon that can perform ice-type moves to volunteer their services. I intend to freeze the water around the ship to form a seal and prevent it from sinking. This should provide us with sufficient time for the rescue team to arrive."
A crowd of people approached and offered up their Pokemon. Lucas guessed that her authority convinced them. If someone else had proposed the plan, they might have called the person insane. They had to summon their Pokemon, explain the plan, then return them to their pokeballs and hand them over to Lorelei. She had a huge job on her hands to coordinate all of the Pokemon's efforts, but she appeared unfazed by the responsibility.
Lorelei climbed back up onto her Cloyster. "I will take care of the ship. Make sure you get that medicine and care for the passengers."
The woman vanished through the doors, and Lucas hoped she would be successful. If she failed, he would have to figure out how to survive on his own. These people were strangers to him, so he wouldn't try to be a saint and save everyone at the expense of his own life. Brock was the only person he would consider saving, given how quickly they had formed an unlikely friendship.
The rescue team was already flying towards the cruise ship. There were flying Pokemon in the front with moves that produced a lot of light, allowing them to navigate despite the darkness of the night. A ship followed them, but at a distance, having only left the harbour when the storm passed. If they could rescue the passengers, they would transfer them to the ship on their way back.
Sabrina huddled in the saddle as the Pidgeot beat its powerful wings, flying at breakneck speed. She was cold, but not as cold as when the torrential rain drenched her.
When the storm subsided an hour ago, she almost broke out into a cheer. The conditions were terrible, and she had several times questioned whether she had made a mistake in flying out to rescue Lucas, but she persisted.
Behind her, there were dozens more flying Pokemon, each carrying their trainer on their back. She rallied the troops before leaving the mainland, realising she couldn't save the passengers on her own. It had taken some time, which made her impatient, but she had a duty to all citizens, not just Lucas.
Before they moved out, they received an emergency transmission from Lorelei of the Elite Four. She reported that Zapdos had arrived, which alarmed the rescue team. There was no way they were going to fly into an area where a legendary Pokemon was hanging out. Fortunately, Zapdos had disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared.
The government had asked Lance, the strongest of the Elite Four, to join the rescue mission, which was fortunate for her. When it came to legendary Pokemon, they needed the most powerful trainers available. Team Rocket's actions had caused quite a stir this time, and she didn't expect the government to react so passively. When you mess with a legendary Pokemon, disaster is likely to ensue, affecting the entire region.
Lance, on his massive Dragonite, was flying behind her. With just this one Pokemon, he would be able to carry over a dozen passengers on his back. They may need to, considering the state of the ship. She just hoped that Lucas was okay.
Lance flew forward, signalling that he was transferring to the Pidgeot. She yelled at him to stop, infuriated by his recklessness. He jumped gracefully into the saddle behind her, his cape flapping in the breeze.
He maintained his distance, aware that she disliked physical contact. He was like an unwanted big brother, meddling in her affairs. She tried to get rid of him, but he was extremely persistent.
"What is it?" Sabrina asked.
"Who is this mysterious boyfriend you are going to rescue?" Lance smirked.
"None of your business."
"Sabrina," Lance whined. "I am worried about you. No one gets close to you because, to put it kindly, you are completely frigid. But then you leave for a few weeks and happen to meet someone who has broken through your defences. Who is the bastard that messes with my little sister?"
She didn't even bother to respond.
"Pidgeot, would you mind shaking off the insect that is clinging to my saddle?" Sabrina inquired and received an affirmative chirp from the massive Pokemon.
Lance cursed and had to leap back over to his Dragonite as Pidgeot began performing some daring aerial aerobatics. Despite being a dragon-type specialist, he struggled with his fear of heights. He usually relied solely on his own Pokémon for transportation. It was his fault for being nosy, which led him to come over to speak to her.
"I am going to meet Lucas and see if he is good enough for you," Lance yelled. "I will throw him overboard if he isn't up to scratch."
Sabrina was seriously considering setting Salem on him, as he was getting on her nerves.
After another hour of flight, they finally spotted the ship. Sabrina's breath caught in her throat as she witnessed the breathtaking scene before her: an ice shelf encircling the capsized vessel, preventing it from submerging beneath the waves.
However, the ship wasn't completely safe. The spectacle had drawn a large number of Pokemon, and she could see dozens of them moving across the ice towards the ship. A large chunk of ice had been bitten off the ice shelf, and a massive form could be seen moving just beneath the water's surface.
"Go check on the passengers," Lance instructed her. "The rest of us will take care of the wild Pokemon."
Sabrina raised her hand, indicating that she received the message. She ordered Pidgeot to descend towards the ship. According to Intel, the passengers were in the ballroom, just above the ice shelf.
When she reached the open door, she asked Pidgeot to hover while she peered inside. The scene before her was chaotic, but there was a semblance of order, and she could see several people receiving treatment. She expected some casualties given the destruction, but she desperately wished Lucas wasn't one of them.
Pidgeot was too big to fit through the doorway, so she summoned Alakazam and had him levitate her down into the ballroom. Before her feet had even touched the ground, someone swept her into his arms. She didn't have to look up to recognise him, as she buried her head in his neck and inhaled his scent.
"Hey, we are meeting a lot sooner than expected," Lucas said, smiling into her hair.
Sabrina raised her head, frowning. "Don't even joke about it. Do you realise how worried I was about you?"
"I have an idea based on how you are squeezing me," Lucas joked.
She tried to escape his embrace, but he tightened his grip on her. He raised her face and brushed a kiss on her lips. The contact was brief, but it left a trace of warmth on her lips. Her eyes widened as she raised her hands to his chest, pushing against him. This time, he released her, and she took a few steps back. She touched her lips, wondering how the cunning bastard had so effortlessly snatched her first kiss.
"How did you know I was in trouble?" Lucas asked. "Lorelei said that the rescue team was already ready when she contacted emergency services."
Sabrina took a moment to reply. "I woke up with a bad premonition. It was so overwhelming that I couldn't ignore it."
She expected him to question her further, but Lucas only nodded.
"Well, I am glad that you arrived so quickly. This has been a crazy night. I didn't get to see Zapdos, though," Lucas complained, pouting. "That would have been a sight to see."
Sabrina placed her hand on his forehead. "You don't appear to have a fever. Maybe you are just insane."
Lucas wore a satisfied expression. "I like how you are more forward with me."
Before she could respond, Lorelei approached them. "Well, Sabrina, you aren't who I expected to see here. I guess that explains why the rescue team was so quick to respond."
Sabrina nodded. "I was glad to help. It was a good idea to use the ice like you did."
Lorelei gestured to Lucas. "It was your boyfriend's idea."
Sabrina looked at Lucas in surprise, although it wasn't unexpected. He had already demonstrated his intelligence to her on several occasions.
"Where is the rest of the cavalry?" Lorelei asked.
"Outside," Sabrina replied. "They are taking care of the wild Pokemon that are converging on the ship."
"I should have known that would happen," Lorelei sighed. "How are we going to move the patients?"
Sabrina considered her question. "We can't fly some of these patients out considering their condition. The ship appears to be stable so we will stay here until the ship following behind us arrives."
The ship arrived without incident the following evening. It had pushed its engine to its limit to arrive so quickly. They transferred all the passengers to the ship, which had better facilities for their care. Lance and the majority of the rescue team remained behind to investigate the scene, but they sent Sabrina away since they didn't need her. They needed to find clues as to what Team Rocket had been transporting and why it attracted Zapdos' attention. In the coming days, the cruise line was going to receive a lot of scrutiny, as it was obvious that they were involved in the incident to some degree.
After receiving a room, Lucas immediately took a hot shower to relieve the chill in his bones. Standing under the spray, he contemplated the unfolding events and wondered why he kept finding himself entangled in them. Maybe it was his fault for not remembering what happened in the canonical events with the S.S. Anne, and he should have stayed well away. Despite this, he emerged unscathed. He met Brock, and he also found some nice rewards.
He had joined the group that went looking for supplies and managed to find a few more hidden items. Although he didn't believe he had obtained all of the items on the ship, it was a good effort given the circumstances. When he calculated his gains, they more than compensated for the fifty thousand Pokedollars he spent to level up his ItemFinder skill, which didn't include the vitamins he found.
After taking a shower, Lucas collapsed onto the bed and was out like a light. The next morning, he entered the dining hall to get some breakfast and found Sabrina sitting down at one of the tables.
Lucas sat down next to her, and Meowth took the menu and began browsing through it.
Sabrina watched Meowth with interest. "The more I see of him, the more intelligent he seems."
Meowth gave her a thumbs up, indicating his approval of her comment.
"Have you given him a name yet?" Sabrina asked.
"He doesn't want one," Lucas replied. "I must have tried a hundred names, and he rejected them all."
"A lot of trainers don't give their Pokemon names."
"Can I ask you something?" Lucas reached out to grab one of her hands.
Sabrina didn't pull away. "What is it?"
"What is your relationship with Lance?"
"Did he do something to you?"
"He interrogated me for twenty minutes," Lucas complained. "It felt like it would have been longer if he wasn't so busy with the investigation."
"Ignore him. He has given himself the role of my older protective brother, and he takes it seriously."
Lucas shuddered. "He's pretty difficult to ignore when a massive Dragonite is standing behind him. Do you know how intimidating that is?
"I can imagine," Sabrina replied, her lips curving.
"You are enjoying this far too much," Lucas grumbled.
"Lucas!" Brock came running to their table. "When were you going to tell me that you have such a beautiful girlfriend?"
"Never."
Brock sat down and introduced himself with a bright smile. "Hello, Sabrina. If you ever get tired of this fellow, give me a call."
"Ignore him," Lucas said, seeing Sabrina become overwhelmed by Brock's enthusiasm.
They ordered breakfast and began discussing their plans when they reached Vermilion City. Lucas would immediately travel to Saffron City to join the Alchemist's Guild. He also needed to find an auction house to sell his potions as he figured he could make a lot of pokedollars if he sold a few growth potions.
"I don't have any plans after leaving the ship," Brock confessed. "Do you mind if I stick around for a while?"
"Sure," Lucas said, shrugging. "I don't see why not."
So, what do you think? It's a slow end to the chapter, but things will pick up in the next chapter when Lucas visits Vermilion City.
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Thanks for reading.