Episode 41: The Ghost in the Machine

Ash, Brock, and Brenda are just entering a city completely surrounded by mountains. Brock declares, "Here we are, Starcore City, the heart of the Tenno Region, and its power generator."

Ash exclaims, "Alright, I'm ready for my gym battle! Here I come Starcore Gym!"

They walk into the city. After they're gone, a power line above where they were standing begins to spark. After a moment of that, a Rotom pops out of the wire. It chuckles, "Rotom tom tom tom." It goes back into the wire and the sparks travel across the wire, out of sight.

That's right, having crossed Mt. Corona, our heroes have finally made it to Starcore City, site of Ash's next Tenno League gym battle. Ash may be ready, but is the gym leader?

Ash, Brock, and Brenda have arrived outside the doors to the gym. Ash reading a sign posted to the door. He demands, "What do you mean the Gym Leader isn't available!?"

Brock reads the notice, "Attention challengers, Neutrina, the Starcore Gym Leader, is currently unavailable. Please come again at another time. Sorry for any inconveniences."

Brenda comments, "That's too bad."

Ash shouts into the sky, "Why wouldn't the Gym Leader be in the gym? What else could possibly be more important?"

A passing by man asks, "Do you not know who this city's gym leader is?"

Ash turns to him and shakes his head. "No, actually I don't."

The man explains, "Neutrina is also the head technician at the Starcore Nuclear Power Plant. She has arguably the most important job there, as she makes sure that the reactor doesn't go into meltdown. And that power plant is the source of all the electricity in the Tenno Region."

Ash admits, "Oh…I guess that's pretty important."

The man chuckles and walks off.

Ash is bummed out now. Brenda suggests, "Hey, why don't we go check out the power plant?"

Ash suddenly cheers up. "Yeah, that's a great idea. Maybe we'll find Neutrina there. Come on!" He runs off towards the power plant, recognizable by its iconic cooling towers.


Ash is standing in front of a counter in a lobby. He demands, "What do you mean I can't go in!?"

The man standing behind the desk responds calmly, "I'm sorry sir, but Miss Neutrina is currently preoccupied with repairs to the reactor's vital systems. And it would be much too dangerous to allow a civilian in. You are going to have to wait."

"But I don't want to wait. I came here for a battle with Neutrina, and I am going to get it."

"I am sorry, but there really is nothing I can do about that."

Ash nods slowly as he seems to try to think of something. "Yeah…" He then points to a board showing a digital display of the condition of the power plant and exclaims, "Oh no! It looks like one of your reactors is malfunctioning!"

The man panics he quickly looks to the board, asking, "What, which one!?"

Ash silently chuckles, and runs through the door behind the counter. Brock and Brenda look to each other, uncertain of what to do. They follow Ash in.

The man turns back around. "I see no malfunctions reported…" He trails off as realizes Ash, Brock, and Brenda are gone. He shakes his head and sighs.

Ash and Pikachu are now running through a corridor into the interior of the power plant. Brenda calls up to him from behind, "Ash, what are you doing?"

Ash looks back and responds, "I'm going to find Neutrina, that's what I'm doing."

Brock objects, "But it could be dangerous back here. We're in a nuclear power plant."

Ash shrugs it off. "We'll be fine."

Brenda suddenly shouts, "Ash, stop running!"

Ash, still looking backwards, asks, "Why, what's-" He is cut off when he runs right into a wall at the end of the corridor.

Brenda says, "That's wrong…"

Ash gets back up and quickly recovers. He looks over the wall he crashed into. It's not a wall at all, but rather a massive metal door. Brock observes, "Well, it seems like that's as far as we can go. We better turn back."

Just before Ash responds, a siren goes off. The three of them panic and look around to see what's going on. Then the door begins to slide upwards and open. Ash cheers, "Yeah, someone must be opening the door for us."

As the door slides up, a silhouette can be seen on the other side, but its features are impossible to make out due to a bright light behind it. The figure steps out. Brenda leaps back and shouts, "It's a monster!"

Standing there is a person wearing a bulky, yellow hazmat suit. The door shuts behind the person, and the person removes the mask of the suit. The person is a woman with long black hair. She giggles. "I'm no monster, that's just my protective suit for when I'm working on the reactor."

Brenda calms down. She says with slight embarrassment, "Oh…okay then…"

The woman asks, "You three don't seem to belong here. What are you doing back here?"

Ash declares, "I'm looking for Neutrina so I can challenge her to a battle and earn my third Tenno gym badge."

The woman nods. "Is that so? And how did you get past the front desk?"

Before Ash can answer, a shout comes from behind, "Get back here you kids!" Everyone looks back to see the man from the front desk running towards them. He catches up with them and scolds, "I told you that civilians shouldn't be back here, now come with me this instant!"

The woman laughs. "It's okay, they're with me."

The man looks up to her with surprise. "Miss Neutrina…I'm sorry…I didn't realize…"

She smiles. "It's fine. Go back to your desk, I'll watch over the kids."

"Right, of course. Yes ma'am." He turns around and leaves.

Ash asks with shock, "You're Neutrina?"

She nods. "The one and only."

Ash grins. "That's great. I challenge you to a gym battle."

"I'd be happy to accept."

Before anything else can be said, all the lights around them flicker. Brenda asks, "What was that?"

Neutrina looks around in confusion. "I don't know." She pulls out a radio and says to it, "Neutrina to central control, is everything alright up there?"

A voice responds back, "No, we're having a problem. Get up here as soon as you can."

Brock asks, "What's wrong?"

"I don't know. Central control is where the computers that run this entire operation are housed. If something's going wrong up there, that's not good. Sorry, but I've got to go check this out." She turns to leave.

Ash says, "We'll go with you. Maybe we could help."

Neutrina nods. "Sure, just be careful." They follow her out.


Who's that Pokémon!?

Using the feelers on its head and tail, this Pokémon picks up vibrations in the air to determine its prey's location and state.


The four of them have made it up to the central control room. The moment they walk in everything seems to be complete chaos. Electrical discharges send electricity flying all around the room. The different pieces of machinery all seem to be going haywire. Neutrina demands, "What's going on here!?"

One of the workers replies, "A Pokémon just appeared in here and began wreaking havoc on our systems!"

Then, out of a piece of machinery on the far side of the room, a Rotom emerges. Brenda pulls out her Pokédex. "Rotom, the Plasma Pokémon and an Electric and Ghost Combo-Type. This Pokémon feeds off of pure electrical energy. It can also insert itself into electrical devices and take control over them. Does not Evolve."

Brock exclaims, "Rotom feed off of electricity, so it must have seen this power plant as an all-you-can-eat buffet!"

Neutrina orders, "We have to get it out of here right away! Before it ruins any critical systems!"

All the workers in the room nod and say, "Right," at the same time. One leaps at the Rotom and tries to grab it, but the Rotom just zips away. Another tries to grab it again, but Rotom avoids it once more. The Rotom laughs at them. It then notices the large computer system at the center of the room. It moves straight towards it and plunges into it.

One technician worries, "Oh no, this is not good. This is not good at all."

Ash asks, "What, what is it?"

Neutrina explains, "That computer is the machine that uses the most electricity in this room, so it's natural that Rotom would be attracted to it. Problem is, it's also connected to the central mainframe that monitors and controls this entire station. If Rotom messes something up, we could have a disaster on our hands." Neutrina runs over to the computer and begins to type away furiously at it. She types in a command, but it is rejected. An icon of a Rotom laughing appears on the screen, along with an error message. "This is not good. There is nothing that I can do to get Rotom out from here, it's already seized control of the mainframe."

One technician suggests, "We may not be able to get it out from the outside, but what about the inside?"

Neutrina looks to him and exclaims, "That's a great idea! We haven't tested the system yet, but I don't think we have any other choice."

Brenda asks, "What does he mean by the inside?"

Neutrina walks to the other side of the room and slides open a door, revealing a room with even more machinery, one piece of which looks like a giant glass tube. She explains, "We recently acquired an alternative method of removing viruses from our computer, one that should be much more efficient." She walks into the room and towards the glass tube. From a table next to it she picks up a Pokéball and tosses it. A Porygon appears from it.

Brenda takes back out her Pokédex. "Porygon, the Virtual Pokémon and a Light-Type. Porygon was first created in a simulation inside of a supercomputer. The simulation was so powerful that it gave rise to a living being that could exist in the real world. Evolves into Porygon2 with the Up-Grade."

Neutrina explains, "You see, as Porygon are computer programs, they can be sent into cyberspace to eliminate nay bugs and viruses using this transport system here."

Brock nods. "We've seen something like this before."

Ash questions, "We have?"

Brock nods. "Remember that time when Team Rocket stole a Porygon and made their way into cyberspace to steal Pokémon from the transporter?"

Ash realizes what Brock is referring to. "Oh yeah, I forgot that happened."

From outside a window, Team Rocket is on eavesdropping from their balloon. James comments, "You know, that entire experience had left my head too, until just now."

Meowth remarks, "Odd, considering it was such a flashy experience."

James rubs his forehead. "Of course…my head still hurts from it."

Jessie then says, "And that was the chance of a lifetime, we could have stolen so many Pokémon that day. I say we try again."

James and Meowth both agree, "Right."

Wobbuffet also appears and agrees, "Wobbuffet!"

Back inside, Neutrina is saying, "In addition to Porygon, we should also be able to send in people." She looks to the technicians. "I'll go in."

Ash then volunteers, "We'll go too."

Neutrina shakes her head. "No, it's far too dangerous in cyberspace. If something happens there, you can never return here. I'm going in alone."

One of the technicians approaches the transport device's control panel and activates the machine. He says, "Alright, you're free to go. Step inside with Porygon and I'll transport you."

Neutrina nods. "Come on, Porygon." She and Porygon enter the tube.

The machine is activated. The chamber begins to glow. Just as the transfer process is initiated, Team Rocket leaps in through the window and jumps into the tube. They are all transported. A technician asks, "What just happened!? Who were they!?"

Ash explains, "That was Team Rocket, and if they've made it into cyberspace then we're in trouble. You have to send us in too."

The technician resists, "But Miss Neutrina said-"

Ash cuts him off, "She didn't know that Team Rocket would follow her. You need to let us in."

The technician sighs. "Alright, fine. Get in the tube."

Ash, Brock, and Brenda get in. The technician begins the transport process again. Their bodies are digitized and transported.

They reappear inside the virtual world. They're standing on a floating platform in a black void. The space around them is filled with a rapidly changing sequence of the ones and zeroes of binary code. Data streams flow all over the place as well. What doesn't seem right is that all of these streams have taken on the color of Rotom. They look just ahead of them and see Neutrina and Porygon. Neutrina is on the ground, rubbing her forehead.

Ash runs over to her and asks, "Are you okay Neutrina?"

She nods and gets up. "Yeah…I'm fine. Those three clowns that came in with me knocked me to the ground as soon as we appeared and then ran away. What are you doing here?"

Ash explains, "When we saw Team Rocket come in, we decided we had to help."

Brenda adds, "Fighting them is kind of our specialty."

Neutrina sighs and nods. "Alright, since you're here anyways, you might as well help. And now we've got two problems to deal with. We have to stop Rotom and Team Rocket from damaging any critical systems."

Brock asks, "So what do we do?"

"Since Rotom has already connected itself to the mainframe, it's priority number one. We'll go after Team Rocket once Rotom is taken care of." She looks toward Porygon and asks, "Porygon, can you take us to the CPU?"

Porygon nods. It then grows several times in size. It is now large enough to carry them. Neutrina climbs onto its back, Ash, Brock, and Brenda follow. Porygon floats off.


It's Venipede!


Porygon is floating through the data sea of binary code. Brock asks, "This place is so large, how are we supposed to find the CPU?"

Neutrina points to a data stream below them. All the data in this computer must go through the Central Processing Unit at some time or another. If we follow a data stream for long enough, it will take us to the CPU, where Rotom has lodged itself." After a while more of traveling, she points ahead, "Actually, there it is now."

Ahead of them, floating in cyberspace, is a large orange bulb-like object. All of the various data streams flow in and out of it. Brenda asks, "Alright, but where's Rotom?"

As she asks this, the surface of the bulb become electrified. Two tendrils of electricity extend out of its bottom. Then two eyes and a mouth open opens on its surface. Data ceases to flow through it. It laughs, "Rotom tom tom tom!" It's a giant Rotom now.

Ash exclaims, "It is the CPU!"

Neutrina nods. "Just as Rotom can meld with electronics, it has with the CPU as well. We have to get it to separate. Porygon, you need to battle it."

Porygon nods. It flies down to a nearby platform and sets its passengers down. It then floats over to Rotom and declares in an electronic voice, "Porygon!"

Rotom looks at it and laughs again. "Rotom tom tom tom tom tom!" It then unleashes a bolt of lightning at Porygon with a Discharge attack.

Porygon doesn't flinch. Instead it emits a scanning beam and scans the bolt. Porygon's surface transforms into a ground-like texture. The Discharge hits Porygon, but does nothing.

Brenda asks, "What did Porygon just do?"

Brock answers, "It just used Conversion 2, a special move created by programmers just for it. It scans an attack and changes its type so that it resists that attack. Since it was about to be hit by an Electric-Type move, it became a Ground-Type to block it."

Rotom doesn't seem to like the fact that its attack was absorbed so effortlessly. It shouts, "Rotom!" Then, next to it, a washing machine appears. Rotom absorbs it and transforms into Wash Rotom.

Neutrina exclaims, "Oh no, Rotom is using the computer's simulation programs to create appliances to change forms!"

Rotom unleashes a powerful Hydro Pump at Porygon. Porygon scans it and transforms into a Grass-Type, with a wooden surface. However, while it is doing this, Rotom has created an oven and absorbed it, turning into Heat Rotom. It quickly attacks with Overheat. Porygon has no time to scan or dodge it. Porygon transforms back into its original form, and tumbles away through cyberspace.

Ash encourages, "Come on Porygon, you've got to bounce back!"

Porygon regains control over itself. It then uses Sharpen to make its beak longer and sharper. It flies towards Rotom and jabs its beak at it. The Pokémon engage in close quarters combat. Porygon continuously thrusts its sharpened beak at Rotom, Rotom dodges from side to side. Rotom then generates a lamp and absorbs it, transforming into a new form. Its head and face are at the base of the lamp, with a cylinder coming up and out of it. The top of it is covered by a lampshade, from which light is coming. It is surrounded by a light-yellow shade of electricity, and has two "arms" of electricity coming out from the underside of the lampshade. It's Lamp Rotom, and it unleashes a tremendous flash of light that pulses out from it, a Lightray Pulse.

Porygon is stunned by the attack and sent hurtling back again.


Back in the lab, the technicians are all watching the progress of the battle on the computer screen. The pixilated sprites of Porygon and Rotom are displayed. What seems to be a health bar is displayed next to each sprite, and Porygon's is much lower. One technician says, "There's got to be something we can do to help. Porygon is losing!"

Another technician suddenly exclaims, "Wait a second, I have an idea! When we purchased Porygon, it came with a software upgrade." He runs into the room where Porygon was held, and then returns waving a disc in the air.

The first technician says, "That's a great idea, download it right away!"


Back in cyberspace, Brenda says, "This battle isn't going well for Porygon at all. Isn't there any way we can help it? What if we used our Pokémon?"

Neutrina shakes her head. "No, Rotom has control over the CPU, it's much too powerful to fight in here for us. Porygon is the only one who can work around that advantage."

Porygon tries to go in for another jab with its beak, but Rotom transforms into Fan Rotom and uses Air Slash to blow it back away, sending it tumbling again. Then Porygon begins to glow. All of its rugged edges can be seen smoothing out.

Brenda asks, "What's happening?"

Neutrina grins. "My technicians are upgrading Porygon! They must have installed that Up-Grade we got. I had forgotten entirely about it."

Porygon stops glowing, revealing it has transformed into Porygon2. Brenda takes out her Pokédex. "Porygon2, the Virtual Pokémon and a Light-Type. Having been upgraded, its graphics are not the only thing that improved. It has now possess an AI program more powerful than before, complete with emotions. Evolves from Porygon using the Up-Grade and into Porygon-Z using the Dubious Disc."

Brock marvels, "Of course a Pokémon made in a computer can evolve by having its software updated."

Ash exclaims, "Wow, science is so amazing!"

The newly updated Porygon2 unleashes a Signal Beam at Rotom, hitting it dead on. Rotom is even angrier now. It shouts, "Rotom tom tom!" It then begins to rapidly change forms. It becomes Mow Rotom and launches a Leaf Storm, Frost Rotom and launches a Blizzard, Lamp Rotom and launches a Lightray Pulse, Fan Rotom and launches an Air Slash, Wash Rotom and launches a Hydro Pump, and Heat Rotom and launches an Overheat.

Porygon2 manages to dodge the first several attacks, but it eventually succumbs to the blitz of attacks, and is hit by several of them.


Back in the control room, a technician exclaims, "It's not enough! Even with the Up-grade Porygon2 can't defeat Rotom! We need to find a way to give it more power!"

One technician begins to say something, but stops.

The first asks, "What? What is it? Any suggestion could help."

"Well…there is always that one… aftermarket part we acquired…"

Another technician objects, "That's crazy! They specifically told us not to use that one! It hasn't gone through proper beta testing yet! It's full of bugs!"

The first technician shakes his head. "No, we need to use any advantage we can get, or we can say goodbye to this power plant."


Porygon2 is looking fairly weak. It attempts to attack with another Signal Beam, but Rotom effortlessly deflects it with a Discharge. Then Rotom immediately transforms into Mow Rotom and launches a Leaf Storm, further devastating Porygon2.

Brock observes, "Even with its upgrade, Rotom is too powerful for Porygon2."

And then Porygon2 begins to glow again. Neutrina's eyes go wide with shock. "No…they wouldn't…"

Porygon2's shape transforms completely. The light fades and a Porygon-Z is revealed. Brenda exclaims, "That's great, they upgraded Porygon again. Maybe now it can defeat Rotom."

Neutrina shakes her head. "No, check your Pokédex. This is not a good thing."

Brenda takes out her Pokédex once more. "Porygon-Z, the Virtual Pokémon and a Light-Type. A new update was developed for Porygon's software, but it was soon discovered to not be completely compatible with Porygon's program, causing glitches and bugs to manifest. Evolves from Porygon2 with use of the Dubious Disc."

Brock realizes, "So those glitches could hurt it more than its extra strength helps it."

Neutrina nods. "I told them never to use that Dubious Disc after I heard one of them bought it. I guess they decided that this was an exception."

Porygon-Z shouts in a booming electronic voice, "Porygon!" It then launches three attacks, a Zap Cannon from one arm, a Signal Beam from the other, and a Hyper Beam from its mouth. The three attacks all hit Rotom. Rotom attempts to fight back by transforming into Frost Rotom and attacking with Blizzard, but Porygon-Z launches a wave of Zap Cannons that neutralizes the attack and impacts Rotom. Without even waiting for the smoke to clear, Porygon-Z then sends a massive Hyper Beam at Rotom. The smoke clears, and Rotom has fainted. It is ejected from the CPU, the CPU transforms into a silvery-blue sphere, and the data streams return to flowing through it. The now normal-sized Rotom then disappears.


Rotom is flung out of the computer's screen. The technicians all cheer. One says, "Quickly, use a Pokéball on it!" Another takes out a Pokéball and throws it. Taken by surprise, Rotom is absorbed by the Pokéball. It shakes once… twice… The technicians watch nervously. It shakes a third time… and clicks, capturing Rotom.


Brenda cheers, "Yeah, Porygon-Z just defeated Rotom! None of those glitches even happened!"

Neutrina points up to Porygon-Z and says, "I wouldn't be too sure of that."

Porygon-Z is rapidly vibrating, and its head and arms are twitching. It then declares in an almost menacing voice, "Porygon!" It then begins to fire Hyper Beams everywhere. Destroying and disrupting data streams and other structures.

Neutrina says, "And that would be the glitches taking over. We can't let it keep this up, or it will have the same or even worse effect that Rotom would have had."

Ash shouts, "Porygon-Z, you have to stop this! You're going to destroy everything!"

Porygon-Z doesn't listen, it just continues to spam Hyper Beams.

Neutrina warns, "If it harms the CPU, then everything's over!"

Suddenly, James shouts, "Porygon-Z isn't the only thing you should be worrying about!" Team Rocket leaps down from above and lands on top of the CPU.

Jessie declares, "Alright Meowth, let's download our software."

Meowth nods. "Way ahead of you." Meowth pulls out some sort of data storage chip and plunges it down into the CPU.

Neutrina shouts, "You get away from there right now!"

Jessie laughs. She then declares, "Prepare for trouble, why would I leave?"

James laughs to and adds, "Make it double, it's time for us to thieve!"

"To upload ourselves to the mainframe!"

"To get past any wall of flame!"

"To declare all out cyber warfare!"

"To leave you with an unhealthy dose of malware!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket blasts through cyberspace at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare for a virtual fight!"

"Meowth, that's right!"

"Wobbuffet!"

"Mime mime!"

Just as they finish their motto, the CPU transforms again. It is now black and has a massive red R displayed on its surface. Meowth declares, "This CPU now belongs to Team Rocket."

Meanwhile, Porygon-Z is still glitching, not paying any attention to what is going on with the CPU.


Back in the control room, a technician declares, "No, we've lost control of the computer again! Something else has taken control of it!" Everyone runs over to look. The screen of the computer is now taken up by one massive red R. The technician adds, "And Porygon-Z isn't responding to any command I send it."

Another technician points out, "We're losing data from the mainframe! Porygon-Z's glitches must be acting up! Miss Neutrina could be in serious dangerous now."

Another asks, "How do we fix Porygon?"

"I don't know." He points to another technician, "You, research this. We need to find out if there's any way to debug a Porygon-Z."

He nods. "Right away."

"And hurry, the fate of Miss Neutrina, those three kids, this entire power plant, and maybe the whole city rest on us solving this problem."


Ash shouts, "Get off of there right now, Team Rocket! That thing is delicate!"

Jessie responds, "I think the answer I'm looking for is…no!"

Brenda asks, "Neutrina, what should we do? Do we try to stop Team Rocket or Porygon-Z?"

"We've got to focus on Team Rocket, a threat to CPU is much greater than some data loss from Porygon-Z."

Ash, Brock, and Brenda all nod. Ash shouts, "Go, Pikachu!"

Brock throws a Pokéball. "Go, Blissey!"

Brenda also throws a Pokéball, "Go, Frostcicle!"

Neutrina also pulls out a Pokéball, "Nucleaction, help us out!" Out of her Pokéball she releases a new Pokémon. It has a squat, but humanoid figure with a body made out of a metal-like material. Various parts of its body glow an eerie neon green. The front of its chest has something that resembles the grate in front of a furnace, through which an even brighter green glow can be seen.

Ash takes out his Pokédex. "Nucleaction, the Fission Pokémon and a Poison and Electric Combo-Type. Its body is powered by the force of nuclear fission, which is converted into electrical energy. Its body contains high amounts of lead, so it poses no danger of radiation poisoning to those around it. Evolves into Nucleactor at level 46."

Jessie commands of Meowth, "Make sure those twerpish Pokémon don't get anywhere near us."

Meowth nods. "Can do." He pulls out a remote control and begins to press a button. Before he does, he looks to the side and says, "Hey kids, you might want to avert your eyes. Just remember, no matter what happens here, Team Rocket is in no way liable."

James shouts, "Stop talking to yourself and push the button!"

Meowth shouts, "Hey, I'm giving the all-important disclaimer so we don't get sued!" He then presses the button. "Firing Team Rocket rockets!" On either side of the CPU, a hatch opens up, and a missile is fired. The two missiles fly towards Ash, Brock, Brenda, and Neutrina.

Ash quickly commands, "Stop them with Thunderbolt Pikachu!"

Pikachu leaps into the air and attacks. "Pikaaaaaaa chuuuuuuuuu!" Pikachu's Thunderbolt causes the rockets to prematurely explode, creating tremendous flashing.

Neutrina commands, "Nucleaction, use Charge Beam!" The Pokémon's green light begins to glow brighter for a moment, and then its hands become electrified. From them it fires a beam of electricity.

Meowth presses another button. Out of the panels on the sides of the CPU, a barrier is projected around Team Rocket, completely blocking the attack. He taunts, "It's going to take more than that!"

Brock commands, "Blissey, use Secret Power!" Blissey glows pink, and then unleashes the pink energy as a beam.

Brenda adds, "Frostcicle, use Aurora Beam!" Frostcicle attacks with a ray of rainbow colors.

Ash then says, "One more Thunderbolt, Pikachu!" Pikachu launches another attack. All four attacks are now hitting the barrier, but doing almost nothing to it.

Team Rocket laughs. James says, "You can't do anything to harm us as long as we control this CPU!"

Jessie adds, "We control the CPU, we control cyberspace!"

The Pokémon all stop attacking. Brenda asks, "What do we do? They're right, we can't touch them without Porygon's help."

Ash looks up to Porygon and shouts, "Come on Porygon-Z, you've got to snap out of it! We need your help!"

Neutrina shakes her head. "It's worthless. Porygon-Z's program is too far gone for it to recover on its own."


A technician suddenly declares, "I've got it! I've found our solution!"

Another asks, "What? What is it?"

"I've been communicating with Silph Co., the company that created Poryogn, and they said that they've successfully managed to make a software patch that fixes all of Porygon-Z's glitches! They sent it to us, so all we have to do now is download it."

"So what are you waiting for then!? Download it!"

"Right away!"


Jessie says, "Alright, let's delete these twerps' programs once and for all."

Meowth nods. "I agree. Initiating Team Rocket rocket blitz!" Loads of missiles begins to fly out of the CPU's panels.

Brock shouts, "There's too many to intercept! We've got to get out of here!"

Neutrina despairs, "That's impossible without Porygon! We can't!"

Then Brenda points up towards Porygon-Z and shouts, "Wait, what's happening to Porygon now!?"

Porygon-Z has become covered in a shimmering rainbow light. Its shape begins to change once more.

Neutrina exclaims, "They've done it! My technicians must have found a patch to debug Porygon-Z!"

Porygon-Z stops glowing. It now has grown even larger. Its body is now slanted at an angle, while its now longer beak and tail jet out in opposite directions, giving its body the shape of a Z. Its arms float freely by its side. Behind it a red and blue ring has appeared. Orbiting around the ring are four red and blue spheres. Inside the ring, data in the form of binary code can be seen scrolling down.

Ash exclaims, "That's Mega Evolution! The patch for Porygon-Z is Mega Evolution!"

Mega Porygon-Z seems to have regained control over itself. It sees the mass of missiles flying at Ash, Brock, Brenda, and Neutrina. It unleashes a massive Hyper Beam that destroys them all with ease. It then turns to Team Rocket.

Jessie and James are nervous. Jessie asks, "You don't suppose it could get past our defenses, do you?"

Meowth shakes his head with confidence. "No chance of it. Our barrier is virtually invincible." He then asks slyly, "See what I did there? Virtually, as in virtual." He chuckles. "I make myself laugh sometimes."

Despite Meowth's confidence, Mega Porygon-Z unleashes another Hyper Beam. It shatters the barrier and hits Team Rocket.

They're sent flying off. They all shout, "Team Rocket's blasting off into cyberspace!" The CPU reverts back to normal.

Neutrina shouts, "Thank you so much Porygon! Without you we never could have done this."

Brock asks, "What about Team Rocket? We can't just leave them in here."

Neutrina nods. "Of course. Porygon, do you think you can go retrieve Team Rocket?"

Mega Porygon-Z nods. It then floats backwards, into the ring behind it, which seems to act as a portal. It then floats back out, carrying an unconscious Team Rocket in its arms.

Neutrina smiles and nods. "Great, now let's get out of here."

Mega Porygon-Z floats down to them. It beckons to its portal, suggesting they step into it. They do, and on the other side is the control room. Porygon, now normal sized again, and Team Rocket come out after them.

A technician happily exclaims, "Miss Neutrina, you're safe!"

Neutrina nods. "I'm glad you found that patch for Porygon-Z, but we have to talk about using unsanctioned hardware on my computers."

The technician bows in apology. "Of course Miss Neutrina. I'm sorry."

Neutrina continues, "Now that the immediate emergency has been dealt with, I want you to call in the computer experts and have them attempt to recover as much lost data as possible, and do any other necessary repairs to the mainframe."

"Yes ma'am."

Another technician asks, "And what about them?" He points to Team Rocket lying on the floor.

As if to answer him, they suddenly wake up. They all make a mad dash towards the window and leap out of it, into their balloon that is still floating there. As they're flying away, James shouts, "Never again! That's twice we've almost been trapped in cyberspace! We're never going back!"

Jessie and Meowth both say, "Agreed."

Neutrina then turns to Ash, "And as for you, I know you want a gym match, but I have to supervise the repair of the mainframe. Do you think we could battle tomorrow instead?"

Ash nods. "I'm looking forward to it."

Neutrina grins. "So am I."

So, in their second trip to cyberspace, our heroes once again saved it from complete collapse. And with Ash's next gym battle just around the corner, you have to stay tuned.

To Be Continued…