Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.
Hi all,
Here's the next chapter. Things get a little crazy as Giovanni's plan for Zapdos is revealed.
Chapter 48
Lance stepped outside the Celadon City casino, shivering as a cold breeze blew past him. He tightened his jacket around himself. Due to the bitter cold, he had abandoned his usual uniform and cape in favour of warmer clothing. He needed to get himself a better-insulated uniform.
Breathing in the crisp night air, Lance noted the unusual darkness that enveloped the city, a stark contrast to its usual vibrant lights. The city had been severely impacted since the energy mandate went into effect, and it now needed to manage its energy consumption.
There was a lot of activity around him as the local and International Police went about their business. The streets were cordoned off, but even at this late hour, onlookers were gawking curiously at the commotion, holding their phones up to record the scene.
A Flygon emerged from the building and hovered next to him.
"I was gearing up for an epic battle, Yoshi, but it turned out to be a letdown."
"Did you honestly expect it to be any different?"
Lance frowned. "Don't use logic on me. Why else would I be up at this ungodly hour if not for exciting battles?"
"Thank goodness for that. Your lack of restraint would have brought the entire building down upon us."
"I didn't bring my heavyweights into battle," Lance protested.
"That's because they wouldn't fit through the door."
He and his team had just raided the hideout and captured the Team Rocket members inside. Sadly, those they caught seemed to know little about important Team Rocket operations. They were just grunts left to guard the hideout at night. After questioning them, it became clear they had no useful information to share.
"I should have insisted on hitting the hideout during the day. We would have caught some bigger fish instead of the minnows."
The prime minister chose to attack the Team Rocket hideout at night to keep the operation secret and prevent alerting the organisation's leader. At the same time, Lorelei's team was leading a secret mission against Shido Masayoshi, the prime minister's political rival. Their goal was to capture him and search his home for any links to Team Rocket. Although there wasn't solid evidence yet, Shido was already under scrutiny for misusing government resources to back Project Inception.
His main goal for the operation was to disrupt Team Rocket's activities and gather evidence connecting the organisation to Giovanni. The prime minister wanted the operation wrapped up by dawn so he could give an official address to the public.
Lance took out his phone and dialled a number. When the person on the other end picked up, he didn't waste time with small talk.
"Prime Minister, our initial search didn't reveal any critical operations or plans. There's a computer in the main office, but the technicians are struggling to access the data."
"You have my permission to use it," Shichiro said. "I want everything on that computer, no matter how insignificant it may seem."
"I understand," Lance replied before hanging up.
Lance walked back into the main office and sent the technicians out, shutting and locking the door behind him. He reached for a pokeball on his belt and pressed the button to release the Pokemon.
"Porygon!"
The Pokemon looked around with curiosity. Having spent most of its life in a lab, everything felt new, and it found happiness in even the smallest details.
This was Lance's second meeting with the Pokemon and he was still struck by its odd looks. Porygon had a pink, duck-like shape, with a body made of straight lines and sharp angles. Its large, round eyes gave it a robotic, modern feel. The blue beak and feet added a nice touch of colour to its pink and white design.
Porygon's artificial nature and technological abilities make it a valuable asset. Lance was surprised that the prime minister let him use it. He really must have an axe to grind with Team Rocket. Although the Pokemon was officially researched and developed by the Silph Company; it was the Kuroi family that funded the entire project.
One of Porygon's most remarkable abilities is its capacity to navigate through cyberspace. The prime minister envisioned leveraging Porygon's unique talents to revolutionise the internet, shielding it from the pervasive threats of data breaches, malware, viruses, hackers, identity theft, phishing, and scams. With just one Porygon at the helm, the internet could be safeguarded from these perils, ensuring unparalleled security for users worldwide. However, the path to realising this vision was fraught with obstacles that demanded foresight and careful planning.
Given the far-reaching implications of deploying Porygon, the prime minister understood the importance of obtaining consent and cooperation from the world's governing powers before unleashing its transformative abilities. The inherent complexity of this endeavour required a delicate balance of diplomacy and collaboration to navigate potential geopolitical sensitivities while aiming for universal protection and benefit.
Furthermore, the prime minister had to deal with the critical issue of ownership and control over Porygon. To ensure the integrity and impartiality of Porygon's operations, no individual or government entity should be granted exclusive authority over it. To address this issue, a neutral pokeball was created specifically to prevent a bond from forming. It ensured its autonomy by protecting it from external influence or exploitation.
Lance pointed at the computer. "I need access to the computer's files, Porygon. Would you mind?"
"Porygon!"
Porygon rolled forward and delicately touched its beak to the computer case. Lance observed in awe as a decryption programme seamlessly installed itself onto the computer, the logo displaying a digitised Porygon. The programme initiated, revealing the passwords to every protected file and unveiling their content for anyone to explore.
"Thanks, Porygon," Lance said, settling into a chair to delve into the uncovered information.
In just a few minutes, he found the employer files for Team Rocket headquarters and quickly printed them. He intended for the police to carry out swift raids on their residences in the city, leaving no opportunity for the members to flee. He also uncovered profiles of Team Rocket members located in different towns and cities throughout Eastern Kanto, expanding the reach of their upcoming operations.
His eyes grew wider as he uncovered the extent of Team Rocket's illegal activities. They were involved in black markets, underground fighting rings, and gambling operations. The sheer scale of their crimes was shocking. The evidence he had gathered could significantly impact their operations in Eastern Kanto.
Lance noticed that there was hardly any data about Western Kanto, which used to be the Johto region. It seemed like Team Rocket had set up a separate base there to protect their activities. It suggested they had created a backup plan in case one location was compromised. He thought the members who got away would either hide out or make their way to the second headquarters.
He continued his search, and his attention was drawn to a particular entry. His brows knitted together in concern as he delved deeper into the contents. The more he read, the more troubled he grew.
Taking out his phone, he promptly called the prime minister again. "We have a serious problem."
Giovanni sat at his desk, reading a report, as the first light of dawn illuminated Viridian City beyond his window. Normally, he would take a moment to sip his coffee and enjoy the serene view from his office. However, he couldn't bring himself to relax today because his mind was preoccupied with some important matters.
A soft nuzzle against his leg drew his focus downward to Persian, whose presence offered a comforting distraction. Setting aside the report, Giovanni settled back in his chair, running a hand through Persian's fur as the Pokemon purred contentedly.
"I need to bring forward my plan," he said aloud to the attentive Persian. "Zapdos caught me by surprise. I didn't expect him to appear so soon. The cruise ship was supposed to reach its destination with the stone to give me more time to prepare."
The Persian tilted its head, curious.
"Zapdos has begun meeting the requirement. If it continues like this, it will be done in just a few hours."
Persian didn't respond. Even though Persian was bonded to Giovanni, he was too predatory and full of wild instincts to develop the ability to communicate telepathically. It had no interest in communicating with others either, as it saw most people as prey. Giovanni needed to keep Persian under control; otherwise, it might go on a murder spree. He made certain that Persian's appetite was satisfied by allowing it to hunt some individuals that he had already sentenced to death.
The phone on his desk rang, and he answered it.
"The authorities raided the headquarters in Celadon City several hours ago," a voice informed him.
Giovanni froze. Despite his connections, he had no idea a raid was happening.
"How was it compromised?" Giovanni demanded.
"I don't know."
"Did you ensure it's clean, Archer?"
Archer hesitated. "The personnel on the night shift are nothing but scrubs, so there isn't anything to worry about in that regard."
"What aren't you telling me?"
"I didn't get much of a heads up before the operation went down, so there was a computer left in the main office. But the authorities won't be able to access the files."
Giovanni's grip on the phone tightened. "Are you confident in that assurance?"
"I had our best scientists work on its security."
"Your answer doesn't inspire confidence. Who led the raid?"
"Lance of the Elite Four."
Giovanni's finger drummed on the desk. "Very well. Evacuate the city and relocate to Mahogany Town. Alert all members to do the same. I will catch up to you once I have gotten what I need at the Power Plant."
"Are you sure that's the right decision?"
"It's a risk I'm willing to take. Just follow my instructions." Giovanni ended the call. He swivelled his chair and gazed out the window.
"You may have scored a victory, Shichiro, but this is far from over."
Giovanni exited the office and rode the elevator down to the basement. Only a handful of people were allowed on that floor. It boasted security measures so tight that even the prime minister would envy them.
He entered the lab and asked the lead scientist, who was watching the tank, "How is he doing right now?"
"He's stable as always," the scientist said. "He's calm and compliant. The new slave collar is doing its job well."
"I wonder how long that compliance will last."
As Giovanni approached the tank, he marvelled at the unique traits of the biologically engineered creature he had brought to life.
The Pokemon floated in a tank filled with liquid, equipped with a breathing mask. Years of research and countless resources went into creating this legendary Pokemon. It was the mega-evolved version of Mew, known for its superior strength and intelligence, now under its control.
Mewtwo was a striking creature that combined humanoid and feline characteristics. Its tall, athletic frame was covered in sleek grey skin, complemented by rich purple colouring on its underside and tail. A distinctive tube extended from its head, arching over where a neck would be before connecting to its upper spine. The Pokemon's torso featured a sculpted chest and broad shoulders that appeared almost armoured, like natural body armour. Its hands and feet were streamlined, each bearing three rounded digits. From its lower back emerged a powerful tail that started thick at the base before gradually narrowing to end in a small, bulbous tip.
The Pokemon had a device placed over its head. This special collar was created just for the legendary Pokemon. Even with all the research behind it, Giovanni still doubted its full reliability. Still, he needed to make do with what he had until a better option came along.
"I would have liked more time before revealing you to the world," Giovanni said. "Unfortunately, I have to start early because of things I can't control. Let's hope everything goes smoothly."
After taking a moment longer to appreciate his work, he walked over to a nearby table where a scientist was examining a device.
"Is it ready?" Giovanni asked.
"It just needs to be calibrated to match your brain waves," the scientist confirmed.
"Excellent." Giovanni seated himself, allowing the scientist to secure the device on his head. After some adjustments, the device was deemed ready.
"Mewtwo, can you hear me?" Giovanni mentally reached out to the Pokemon in the tank.
Mewtwo's eyes flickered open, emitting a brilliant purple glow.
Lucas and Sabrina felt exhilarated as they sailed through the skies on Saphira's back. Sabrina was sitting in front of him, and he had his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her close as they felt the rush of the wind against their faces.
His eyes were fixed ahead as he guided Saphira through the clouds. They were wrapped in warm clothing because the temperatures were much lower in the sky than on the ground. But the mild discomfort was worth it for the experience they were getting.
Now that Saphira had evolved into Dragonair, he felt a new sense of freedom. While using Dante to teleport was handy, it came with a cost—he often missed out on the journey itself. If he could just find a Pokemon that could traverse both land and water, he would truly experience the ultimate freedom.
They were headed to Saffron City for the prime minister's State of Address. Earlier that morning, they learned that Team Rocket members had been arrested during a raid. Shichiro's political arrival was also in custody. Shichiro planned to capitalise on this success and formally declare war on Team Rocket.
Saphira's warning rang through the air. Sabrina gasped and pointed to their right, her body trembling in Lucas' arms.
Lucas was taken aback as he beheld Mew, flying parallel to them, a mere hundred feet away. The legendary Pokemon seemed oblivious to their presence but was heading in the same direction.
"We need to get out of here!" Sabrina exclaimed.
"It's okay," Lucas reassured her. "Mew won't attack us."
"How do you know?"
"Because this is not the first time I have met Mew."
Sabrina turned her head to look at him, her expression bewildered. "Come again?"
"I will tell you about it later," Lucas said. "But Mew is probably the only legendary Pokemon who will not attack someone without a reason. Do you remember the report about how the scientists on Cinnabar Island were able to approach and interact with it?"
He felt her relax in his arms. "That is true."
Mew followed them almost to Saffron City before splitting off to the east, towards the ominous thundercloud hovering over the power plant in the distance.
"Do you think Mew is heading to confront Zapdos?" Sabrina asked.
"I don't know," Lucas replied. It wouldn't be the first time Mew engaged in a fight with one of its siblings. "Maybe it's heading there for another reason."
"Isn't Mew a psychic Pokemon? Why doesn't it just teleport there?"
Lucas shrugged. "Maybe it wants to be seen for some reason."
Saphira touched down outside the city. They walked through the city streets to City Hall, where a stage was ready for Shichiro's speech. He intended to address the audience directly, drawing inspiration from Professor Oak's method. The speech would also be broadcast so others could watch it.
The streets were crowded with people. Sabrina was going to stand alongside her uncle on stage, so they had to fight their way to the front of the crowd. When they reached the barricade holding back the crowd, Sabrina was recognised by security, and she was escorted up onto the stage.
As the crowd erupted in cheers, Lucas realised they were celebrating Sabrina's arrival. Sabrina must have realised the same thing, as she nearly stumbled while climbing the stairs. As a result of the city's anti-church sentiment, people began to rally around Sabrina again.
Her tumultuous relationship with the church was well known. Besides that, she still had a large number of fans who remained loyal even after she was suspended from her job. There was also the fact that she was the prime minister's niece, and he was enjoying a surge in popularity after news of the arrests broke.
Shichiro stepped onto the stage, accompanied by Lance, and raised his arms to the crowd, which roared in response. Shichiro hugged Sabrina before he stepped up onto the stage.
"I wish you good morning, my dear citizens," Shichiro began. "Thank you for coming out on this cold winter day to hear me pontificate about a subject near and dear to my heart. I realise this is not the best time. After the incident with the church, you are probably tired of hearing about criminals and corruption. But there is another piece of news I need to share. Shido Masayoshi, a government employee working in the Pokemon League department, has been arrested for misusing government resources and being in league with Team Rocket. Because of the nature of the crimes, he will be held in jail until he can be tried."
It elicited murmurs throughout the crowd. Some of them were likely familiar with his name, as he was Shichiro's main political opponent during election campaigns. Shichiro had held the position of prime minister for more than three terms, but he still faced strong opposition to keeping it.
"In addition, the authorities raided Team Rocket's headquarters earlier this morning. The information we were able to obtain from it resulted in dozens of arrests and information on many of their illegal activities."
"Down with Team Rocket!" The crowd chanted.
"The real reason I came here today," Shichiro continued, his expression grave as he scanned the crowd. "Is to declare war on Team Rocket. Although we have struck a decisive blow today, there is still much to be done before—"
A muffled explosion reverberated, causing the crowds to scream and instinctively duck their heads. Lucas swiftly pivoted towards the east, homing in on the origin of the blast. A furious screech pierced the air, followed by an ominous rumble of thunder across the skies.
"It's coming from the power plant," Lucas yelled, leaping over the barricade and bounding up the stairs to the stage.
Security personnel attempted to stop him, but Shichiro gestured for Lucas to be let through.
"Do you think Giovanni is brazen enough to try it?" Lance inquired of Shichiro.
For the moment, Shichiro disregarded Lance's question and addressed the unsettled crowd. "Unfortunately, we must cut short today's speech. Please make your way back home slowly and safely. There is no cause for alarm."
Despite his assurances, pandemonium ensued as the crowd erupted into a frenzy, scrambling to evacuate the street.
Shichiro lowered the microphone, muttering, "I should have anticipated this."
"What is Lance referring to, Uncle?" Sabrina asked.
Shichiro nodded, granting Lance permission to speak.
"While perusing the files on the headquarters' computer," Lance began, "I stumbled upon notes detailing Giovanni's research on the legendary stone."
"You mean Mew's legendary stone?" Lucas interjected.
Lance nodded. "That's right. In his quest to create Mewtwo, Giovanni discovered that the legendary stone served another purpose besides triggering mega-evolution. Under certain conditions, the stone could be used to birth another legendary Pokemon. It could have spawned another Mew."
Lucas's eyes widened in astonishment. Was this Arceus' true intent when he created the legendary stones? Not only to increase legendaries' power but also to ensure their lineage continued if something happened to them.
Although legendaries were already technically capable of reproducing, given what he discovered while examining Articuno, what were the chances that a legendary would dare to produce an egg with a Pokemon far inferior to itself? And it probably wouldn't produce an egg with one of its siblings, right?
"Wait," Lucas said. "If that were the case, why did Giovanni invest so heavily in creating Mewtwo instead of birthing another Mew?"
"Because he couldn't meet the requirements," Lance explained. "It necessitated Mew's involvement, and Giovanni wasn't willing to risk losing the stone by trying to cooperate with it. Even if he could reach an agreement, how was he supposed to contact Mew in the first place?"
Lucas' gaze shifted to the east as a dawning realisation struck him. "Is that why Zapdos is draining so much electricity from the power plant? Is he going to use the legendary stone to make another of its kind?"
"That's our suspicion," Shichiro responded gravely. "In some respects, I preferred it if Zapdos was self-serving, using the stone solely for its own empowerment. If every legendary Pokemon followed suit like Zapdos and began creating more..."
Shichiro's voice trailed off.
"You believe Giovanni intends to seize the egg?" Sabrina asked.
"No one knows if it's possible to form a bond with a legendary Pokemon inside its egg," Lance explained, his tone grave. "Because there has never been one before."
"Giovanni originally had Zapdos' legendary stone," Lucas muttered. "But he wanted Zapdos to take it back. Did he plan this all along? It sounds like a huge gamble. How could he predict how Zapdos would react? Why not just try and create another engineered Pokemon from the stone?"
"Because Mewtwo took a decade to engineer, and that was on top of the work already done in the Pokemon Mansion," Shichiro explained. "Giovanni probably didn't want to wait that long."
Lucas grimaced. "He's going to use Mewtwo to fight Zapdos. How is he being controlled? Probably some kind of slave collar. Is that even going to work?"
"That's likely why he's after the egg," Lance told him. "It serves as insurance in case Mewtwo manages to break free from his control one day."
"We must make our way to the power plant," Lucas urged, a sense of urgency sparking within him.
Sabrina arched an eyebrow at him. "What could we possibly do to thwart him if he has Mewtwo in his grasp?"
"Have you forgotten about our ally who journeyed with us here?" Lucas whispered to her. "I have a hunch that we might be able to turn the tide if given the opportunity."
"Well, I'm going," Lance said, taking out a pokeball and summoning Dragonite. "It's my responsibility to stand against villains like Giovanni."
Lucas mirrored his actions, calling forth Saphira to stand alongside Dragonite.
"What a stunning beauty!" Lance stared at Saphira with admiration.
The ominous dark thunderclouds cast a shadow over the area, enveloping it in a cloak of darkness. A dramatic showdown was about to unfold in the skies above the power plant. Mewtwo, the genetically altered psychic-type Pokemon, exuded an aura of immense power. His psychic energy crackled around him like a brewing tempest. Down on the ground, Giovanni relayed messages to him.
Giovanni recognised that he was in a precarious position. Even though he was surrounded by his team, they would be unable to protect him if Zapdos decided to attack him. He was feeling greedy, however, because the prize was almost within his reach. If he could obtain Zapdos' egg, he would be set for life.
It went beyond simply having a legendary Pokemon under his command. Even if he decided to use its power to dominate others through sheer force, there was no guarantee that the other legendaries wouldn't interfere. Furthermore, he was a businessman. What he desired above all else was wealth.
What did Zapdos represent? Limitless energy. Zapdos could easily generate thunderclouds continuously so that electricity could be stored and used as energy. Imagine if he could power an entire region, or even several regions, with a single Pokemon. He could monopolise energy and charge exorbitant fees for people to access it.
Across from Mewtwo, Zapdos crackled with electricity, his majestic wings outstretched as sparks danced along his formidable form. Above it, a luminous ball of lightning glowed incandescently, drawing power from the power plant below. Within its depths, an egg-shaped object could be seen, enveloped in a protective shroud of lightning. With a vigilant gaze, Zapdos safeguarded his unborn offspring, ensuring its safety from any potential threats.
One such threat was hovering in the sky opposite it. As the tension escalated between the two legendary Pokemon, a silent vow of battle passed between them, setting the stage for an imminent clash of titans.
Mewtwo unleashed a torrent of psychic energy towards Zapdos, but the electric bird agilely evaded the assault, retaliating with a thunderous bolt of lightning. A sudden psychic barrier intercepted the attack, altering its course towards the ground.
The lightning bolt threatened Lavender Town but was stopped by a barrier that appeared out of nowhere, diverting the impending danger. It didn't come from Mewtwo.
Giovanni frowned when he witnessed the sight. Was there another player on the board?
Mewtwo countered with a powerful psychic blast that knocked Zapdos backwards, but the electric-type Pokemon was unfazed. With a sharp cry, Zapdos summoned a storm of thunderclouds, unleashing a barrage of thunderbolts that lit up the night sky in a stunning display of power.
Mewtwo's psychic barriers shimmered, deflecting the onslaught of lightning strikes with precision as he unleashed a barrage of psychic attacks in return.
"Attack the ball of lightning," Giovanni instructed. "I need to grab that egg."
Mewtwo acted as if it hadn't heard him. It was too preoccupied with Zapdos.
As the battle raged on, both Pokemon pushed themselves to their limits in a relentless exchange of blows and counterattacks. Already, the workers at the power plant and the residents of Lavender Town were evacuating. The silent guardian continued to protect them, deflecting any attacks that came their way.
Mewtwo changed tactics. He teleported around the sky, strategically laying the groundwork for a series of Future Sight attacks that had a delayed activation. Once the first one was triggered, the psychic onslaught unfolded relentlessly, overwhelming Zapdos as each attack surged forth with deadly precision. Despite the legendary bird's speed and agility, evading all the assaults proved a challenge.
Enraged by the relentless barrage, Zapdos unleashed a colossal Thunder attack, illuminating the skies with a dazzling display of lightning bolts that rained down upon the surroundings. Amid the chaos, a few of Mewtwo's attacks found their mark, one even managing to disrupt the protective shroud surrounding the ball of lightning.
Zapdos screeched in outrage.
Amidst the chaos, Lucas, Sabrina, and Lance arrived on the scene, riding atop their Pokemon, They opted to maintain a safe distance from the battle between Mewtwo and Zapdos, recognising the danger.
Lance searched the ground and was surprised to find Lavender Town unharmed, despite the devastating attacks being thrown around.
"How come Lavender Town is still standing?" Lance asked incredulously.
Lucas followed his gaze, only to see a barrier form to deflect another attack. He smiled. "I believe we have a third legendary Pokemon on the scene, which is protecting the town."
"What?" Lance looked puzzled.
"It's Mew," Lucas explained. Despite Mew's previous statements about allowing humans to suffer the consequences of creating Mewtwo, he ultimately chose to protect them.
Lance blinked. "Well, I am glad one of them is on our side. Now where is... there's Giovanni!"
They saw Giovanni on the ground, standing on a small plateau between the power plant and Lavender Town. He had a strange device on his head, and his Pokemon team was surrounding him.
"He must be using the device to control Mewtwo somehow.," Lucas realised.
"Leave him to me," Lance said, guiding Dragonite as it began its descent towards the ground.
As the group prepared to confront Giovanni, a sudden cry from Sabrina diverted Lucas's attention. His gaze followed her outstretched arm, only to witness a harrowing sight—Zapdos' egg was plummeting from the skies, no longer suspended in the air. The legendary bird, embroiled in a fierce battle with Mewtwo, was unable to intervene, leaving the egg in imminent danger of shattering upon impact with the ground.
A sense of urgency enveloped Lucas. "Saphira, go!"
Saphira responded with a trill and soared towards the falling egg.
Lucas spotted another flying Pokemon racing towards the egg. It was a Crobat, one of Giovanni's Pokemon, closing in to claim the prize for itself.
"You aren't getting your greedy mitts on it, Giovanni."
The race to protect the precious egg from Giovanni's clutches was now on, a perilous endeavour amidst the tumultuous clash of legendary Pokemon above.
So, what do you think? What is the conclusion to the epic showdown going to be?
Patrons get access to advanced chapters for all of my stories. Read my profile for information on how to join if you are interested.
Thanks for reading.