Chapter 128 – Release, return and escape

"The computer systems prove it. There was no breach of the airship, but there was a detection of psychic energy," explained the officer, a young woman with red hair. "What you experienced was probably an illusion or a nightmare created by a Darkrai."

"Hmmm…" Ms. Cobell let out a disapproving grunt, her eyes boring into the officers.

The red-haired officer was sitting at one of the computers monitors on the main deck, with her superiors, Cobell and Miltek, standing over her. Her name was Helly, a junior officer recruited to the International Police, and one who at this moment was questioning her life choices. She had applied to work as an analyst and had graduated the academy with flying colors. But these days her roles made her more of an administrator to the director.

"That shouldn't have been possible. Don't the shields protect from this sort of thing?"

"Normally, but they were probably deactivated when the loading crane was deployed," explained Helly. "It's a glitch with the operating software."

Cobell clicked her tongue irritably, while Miltek commented, "We'll have to get that checked when we make port. Helly, make sure you put in the request."

"Yes sir…Here, take a look at the closed camera footage." Helly brought up an image of the screen of Cobell, Miltek and the Pokémon standing still like statutes in the middle of the deck. Their eyes had turned visibly white and pupil-less. "The time stand shows you were like that for about a minute and a half. It looks like you were experiencing rapid eye movement at the time."

Miltek stood up a little straighter and rubbed his chin with his left hand. He turned to his superior and said, in a low voice, "You know, this means that Inteleon might have been telling the truth. If that really was a Darkrai illusion, it could mean that Shadow is still alive. And doing the bidding of you know who."

Ms. Cobell frowned. "You know the government's position on that."

Miltek nodded. "I do. I think we should at least probe Inteleon for more information. If the reports are true, then this Darkrai is quite violent. It won't be a good look for Interpol if we're seen to have ignored the warning sign of a terrorist attack."

"We keep this internal for now," said Ms. Cobell. "Not a word to anyone outside Interpol until I say so, and only personnel involved to be informed. And have Ash Ketchum's Pokémon returned to him. We don't want this getting into the public."

"Don't you want to question them?"

Cobell pursed he lips. "The less they know the better. Anything that leaks back to their trainer could end up in the public."

"You may not have to look very far," said Helly. "I'm picking something up on the scopes now…"

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile…in the forest below

"Lucario…LUCARIO," Cameron called out breathlessly as he chased after his mate. With the Aura Pokémon's muscular and lightweight form, it was impossible for his trainer to keep up with him. His dark blue fur rendered him nearly invisible amongst the dark trees. "WAIT!"

"Cameron. Be careful." Cried Ash, as he, Pikachu, Jimmy and Zacian followed from behind.

Too late. Cameron tripped on an unseen bramble sending him headfirst into the dirt.

"Ahhh…Damnit."

"Cameron!"

"Pikachu!"

Ash and Jimmy caught up with him and helped him back to his feet.

"You okay man?" Ash asked in concern.

"You need to be more careful out here," said Jimmy.

"Yeah I…Where's Lucario going," Cameron gasped, clutching at the stitch in his chest.

Jimmy pulled out a Pokéball and tossed it into the air. "Typhlosion, we need you help."

"Ty." The volcano Pokémon appeared in a flash of light, that was nearly blinding in the dark woods.

"We need you help bud. Light up your flames and help us see."

"Ty-Phlosion." Typhlosion roared as fires erupted on his back. The forest filled with a warm light. Enough to allow the three boys to see the ground beneath them.

"Thanks bud. Can always rely on you."

"Ty."

Jimmy and Typhlosion gave each other fond looks as they set off again through the dark woods. They found Lucario standing at the edge of the forest, breathing heavily.

"Lucario," Cameron asked nervously, putting his hand on his Pokémon mate's back. "You okay."

"What was it that was coming?" said Ash. "What did you sense?"

"Dark dark aura," replied Lucario, his voice shaky. He shook his head then straighten up. "It's him…Shadow. He's back."

Ash, Cameron, Jimmy, Zacian, Typhlosion and Pikachu all exchanged looks with each other. Ash felt Pikachu tremble on his shoulder, and Zacian shook her head viciously and growled, "No…No that isn't possible. I saw him die!"

"He survived," barked Lucario. "Trust me. I'll never forget that Darkrai's aura!"

Before anyone could say another word however, the edge of the forest became bathed in a bright light…

[Pokémon]

Around 15 minutes later…

"Well…This is not somewhere you find yourself everyday," Cameron mumbled as he, Ash and Jimmy found themselves standing in the same deck of the airship where they're Pokémon had been only a short while ago.

"Mister Ketchum…"

They were addressed by Ms. Cobell with Miltek standing behind her. Even though the Interpol director was a head shorter than Ash and was speaking to him in perfectly polite tones, Ash couldn't shake off the feeling he was being dressed down.

"Unfortunately, a few Pokémon registered to you were caught up in an operation the International Police were conducting in the forest."

"It's a good job we found you when we did," added Miltek. "It isn't safe out here, you see."

"Is that because of the large Galarian Agents," Cameron asked before he could stop himself.

Ash felt the tension rise in the room as Ms. Cobell and Miltek exchanged glances. Before either could reply, Ash added "An agent we know named Looker warned us that there were Galarian agents operating in these parts." He decided honest was the best policy at this time. After all, they were not in any trouble, and this was the police. They were supposed to be there to protect them…right.

"Did he?" said Ms. Cobell. "Well, that is interesting?"

"We can't reveal information about operational matters," said Miltek. "But we can say that there are investigating reports of certain persons and Pokémon of interests in the forest tonight. Persons and Pokémon who we have considered may pose a risk to member of the public, and we would counsel caution to any trainers before venturing into the forest alone. Especially if leaving the road. As for Galarian agents…The Galar region is not our enemy but agents from both countries regularly collect local intelligence. It is nothing to be concerned about."

It felt like a very polished answer. Ash felt an uncomfortable tension in the back of his neck. He didn't like what was going on here. First Looker's warning. Then Lucario sensing Shadow. Now this. He had the sense that invisible forces were at work…Wheels within wheels. Something was happening that none of them could see.

"We'll return your Pokémon to you, and we give you a ride home," said Ms. Cobell, in a tone that indicated that the topic of discussion was now closed. "You live in Pallet Town, correct?"

"We're staying at the Oak Laboratory," Ash replied.

Ms. Cobell. "Yes, I was sorry to hear about his death. My name is Cobell, by the way. Harmony Cobell, director of Interpol. Mr. Miltek is my deputy."

She offered her hand, which Ash accepted for politeness' sake. Jimmy and Cameron were ignored. The three boys were then escorted to an area at the very rear of the airship, behind several locked doors, where they were relieved to find Ashachu, Charizard and the others. It was certainly a relief to see them.

"There you guys are," sighed Ash. "Arceus, I was so worried." It was a statement he was getting far to familiar saying. He hugged Ashachu and Thunderbolt, while Charizard pulled him into a warm hug in turn. Dragonite plucked Pikachu off Ash's shoulder in order to hug him like a plushie. Seemingly to Pikachu's exasperation. Charichu clung to Charizard's leg while Ryu watched on with a smile.

"Hey, don't I get a hug," asked Koraidon coyly.

"I'll hug you, handsome," said Dragonite, putting his arms around Koraidon. This had the unfortunate effect of sandwiching Pikachu between the two giant dragons.

He gave a muffled cry of "Pika' as he found himself pressed between musky scales.

"I'll give you a hug too," Cameron chuckled, raising his arm, causing Lucario to grumble and roll his eyes.

Ash, Charizard and Ashachu broke apart. Ash picked Thunderbolt off of Charizard and placed him on his shoulder. As Charizard stood back up, he said to Ash seriously, "he's alive. Shadow the Darkrai. He's back."

Ash went stony faced and nodded. The relief and joy he had felt when he had seen Charizard and the others again disappeared, replaced by a tightening sensation in his chest. First, Lucario had sensed it and now Charizard had confirmed it. The darkness outside the airship felt as though it were pressing in.

Persons and Pokémon who we have considered may pose a risk to member of the public.

Was that who Miltek had meant…Shadow. Why wouldn't he just tell them about Shadow. Once again, he had the sense of invisible forces operating in ways he did not understand…Wheels within wheels.

"I know," Ash replied, his voice suddenly hoarse. "It'll be okay. Come one, return." He took Charizard and Ashachu's Pokéballs from his belt and returned them. Followed by Dragonite, Charichu and Ryu.

"There's something else you should know too," added Koraidon. He came over to Ash and lowered his head so he could speak in a low voice. "There were two Galarian secret agents with us. They've put them somewhere else. That was how Charizard and Ashachu got caught up with these people in the first place. The humans put them somewhere else."

So, what Looker had told them was true…Why had Cobell and Miltek not been forthcoming about it. Especially when they had mentioned they had been told about Galarian Agents by a member of the International Police. He glanced at Jimmy and Cameron and noticed the similarly uneasy and apprehensive looks on their faces. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to be off this airship and far away.

[Pokémon]

"This is the information we have on Master Ketchum and his friends," Ms. Cobell said to Miltek, several hours later once Ash and his friends and Pokémon had been returned to Pallet Town and the Airship had ascended high above the forest. They were in her office, a secluded part of the airship behind an opaque glass door.

A large computer monitor showed a number of electronically stored documents. Police reports from seven region, trainer data and statistics from the Pokémon league, even electronic medical records accessible to law enforcement under law.

"No criminal or juvenile record at all. He's law abiding and compliant. All the same he's been flagged as a person of interest because he keeps showing up at major incidents involving terrorist organizations. He was at Geosenge Town when Team Flare tried to active the ultimate weapon. He was at the top of the Realgem Tower during the Cipher incident as well as when that giant rock exploded. Recently he was caught by Space Force after Team Rocket's Castle appeared in the Mossdeep Space Centre. His name has also come up in the Aether Foundation investigation."

Miltek raised his eyebrows. "That seems oddly coincidental. What was his involvement in those incidents."

"Oddly enough, the reports credit him and his Pokémon and companions with stopping some of these incidents," Cobell explained. "He definitely stopped the giant rock and freed Zygarde from Cipher's control. Nobody knows what happened when the Ultimate Weapon exploded, but it looks like he was the only person in that facility when the weapon exploded, apart from Team Flare."

Miltek scoffed. "That would make him some sort of trainer protégé. A real-life hero. Could he be a Galarian secret agent too," suggested Miltek. "If he keeps showing up at the right place and the right time?"

Cobell shook her head. "There's nothing connecting him to the OSS or any other intelligence service that we've been able to find. And that sort of information would be very hard to keep secret, especially from us."

"What about his Pokémon," suggested Miltek. "Could any of them be sleeper agents."

"Nothing would suggest it, but that is where things get interesting," said Cobell. She clicked on the screen bringing a list of Ash's registered Pokémon, and a police report. "Pikachu was Master Ketchum's first Pokémon. It was given to him by Professor Oak when he turned 14 and first became Pokémon a trainer. In almost every public photograph or reported sighting of Master Ketchum that Pikachu is always sitting on his shoulder or his head. There are police reports from all seven nations detailing incidents where agents from Team Rocket have attempted to steal this Pikachu from him. Sometimes involving elaborate machines and weaponry that have caused millions of Pokémon in damage to public infrastructure and private property. Always the same two agents, Jessie and James. Imagine that Team Rocket had a permanent detail trying to capture this one Pikachu."

"Must be a pretty special Pikachu," agreed Miltek.

"Indeed. Also, you'll note that we found a Raichu and a Pichu in the forest also owned by Master Ketchum."

Miltek frowned. "You don't mean…"

"That they're this Pikachu's offspring. Yes… A trainer having an intimate relationship with there starter Pokémon and producing offspring with them. Hardly remarkable these days."

Miltek permitted himself a brief smirk. "It is current year after all."

"But what is remarkable is this. Following the incident in Geosenge Town the authorities arrested a large number of Team Flare operatives. Most were grunting level and didn't provide much useful information. They knew that Team Flare's ultimate goal was to use the ultimate weapon to kill everyone other than Team Flare and cause Pokémon to cease to exist. But they didn't know the intimate details. We didn't manage to capture the four admins and Lysander was killed in the exposition. But a number we did capture said that the ultimate weapon was powered by an extremely powerful Pichu who they referred to as the Aura Pichu."

"This is where the aura Pichu rumors come from," confirmed Miltek. "I thought the aura Pichu was unsubstantiated and deemed unlikely to exist."

"It was," said Cobell. "But it does seem oddly coincidental that a trainer with a supposedly special Pikachu, and that Pikachu's Pichu offspring, turn up involved in an incident where reports of an Aura Pichu first originate."

"Not if that was the origin of the conspiracy theory. It's not like we have any other aura Pichu reports."

"No," Cobell agreed. "But we do have statements from Team Skull grunts about trying to steal an aura Oshawott."

"So, the aura Oshawott was really the aura Pichu all along."

"Or there is both an aura Pichu and an aura Oshawott. Take a look." She brought the list of Ash's registered Pokémon to the front of the page on the computer monitor and highlighted two Pokémon listed. "See. An Oshawott and a Samurott. An awful number of coincidences."

Miltek rubbed the stubble on his chin. "Are you sure we shouldn't be considering the possibly this kid or his Pokémon are spies?"

"I think it is more likely that he happens to be training powerful Pokémon who organizations like Team Rocket and Team Flare have tried to take them," said Cobell. "That he has managed to not only survive these encounters, but even bring down the teams, could indicate that he is a very strong trainer…There is one more thing that is worthy of note."

"What?"

"His companion." Cobell brought up yet another trainer profile and list of registered Pokémon. This time for Cameron. "This is Cameron Kotetsu. Friend of Ask Ketchum and, interestingly enough, the son of a high-profile government minister. Well…former minister now."

"And what's special about him?" asked Miltek.

"Him specifically. Probably nothing, but." She highlighted an item on the list of Cameron's Pokémon. "One of his Pokémon is a Sneasel. One of the findings from Heather Dunbar's Interim Report was that the Shadow the Darkrai had a relationship with a Sneasel named Blade after he destroyed that Sneasel's pack."

Miltek frowned. "Sneasel aren't exactly uncommon though. Many trainers catch Sneasel. There's no reason Cameron's Sneasel and Blade are one the same is there."

"No, but there are certainly a large number of coincidences," said Cobell. "These two trainers and their Pokémon becoming entangled with two Galarian spies."

"I thought you'd ruled out Ash as a spy."

"I have," said Cobell. "But that doesn't mean he might not be the target of an OSS investigation. Why else would those two be here."

"You mean they weren't here for Guzma," said Miltek.

Ms. Cobell tilted her head in a slight shrug. "Possibly, possibly not. I think it best that we keep an eye on him from here in. Covertly, of course."

"Will you inform the attorney general," Miltek asked.

"Not yet." Cobell closed the documents on her computer and turned back around in her chair to face Miltek. "Not until we have…" She stopped speak as she placed her arms on the desk and frowned. Her arms were damp…The surface of the desk was wet. But that wasn't possible…unless.

"Ms Cobell," asked Miltek, confused.

He quietened when Cobell put a finger to her lips. At the same time she reached under her desk and pressed a button. A second later, the glass door to her office flew open and Helly entered the room, along with Grapploct, a blue skinned octopus-likePokémon,with a yellow jagged eye-mask-like marking, suckers, and what appeared to be a breathing organ on the left side of its head. Cobell made a small nod with her head as they entered the room, gesturing to the desk. At once, Grapploct shot a small jet of ink from it's breathing organ, which landed on the desk…revealing that sobby had been sitting in the middle of the desk, listening in on every word said between Cobell and Miltek.

"Sob." The small water lizard felt the ink hit his skin, and blinked heavily. He was suddenly aware of all eyes in the room looking at him in surprise, and a sense of panic started to rise in his chest.

Ms. Cobell's eyes narrowed. "How did you get out." She pressed a button on her does and spoke into an intercom system, "Security breach. Initiate immediate lockdown and check the holding cells. We have escapee. Grapploct…Take him."

"Tel. TEL…SOB-ble…" Sobby burst into tears. Great big drops spilled from his eyes, down his cheeks and onto the desk beneath him.

Grapploct lunched at him with a pair of tentacle like arms. But immediately drew back as he approached Sobby, putting his tentacles to his faces. Like Sobble, tears were streaming down his face and he was blinking heavily. As were the three humans, each rubbing at or wiping their eyes.

"What the hell is going on," cried Helly. "Why am I crying."

"Sobble's defence mechanism. It's tears are acidic, like onions," replied Miltek.

His enemies momentarily incapacitated, Sobby leapt off the desk and shot out the door.

"TEL…"

Sobby made it out of the office and onto the main deck of the airship. A loud siren was going off throughout and red lights were flashing. It was almost overwhelming, but Sobby tried to stay in control. Until he saw a troop of Primids marching towards him.

"Ahhhh…" He could not turn invisible, as the ink was still stuck to his skin. "Help me!"

"I got ya sobby," Came a voice from above.

A pair of claws grabbed him by the shoulders and he felt his paws leave the floor. Looking up, he saw the pointed nose of Flapple above him, and experienced a strong sense of relief.

"F-Flapple."

"Ya did good kid. Let's go find Inteleon."

The Primids started to fire their weapons, but Flapple managed to dodge them, before darting down the stair case and onto the lower deck. They found Inteleon at the very rear of the lower deck, where a hatch was open in the floor leading to the ground below. A small propellor plane was hanging from a hook above the hatch. Along with the bodies of three Arcanine laying unconscious at Tel's feet.

"I guess your bark was worse than your bite, hey boys."

"Tel," Sobby cried, his heart beating rapidly.

Flapple dropped Sobby into Tel's waiting arms and they hugged. Tel even licked Sobby on the top of his head.

"I-I heard everything. Just like you told me," Sobby said, his voice shaky. "I recorded everything. It's that Ash kid. They think we might have been here to investigate him, not Guzma. He was involved with Team Flare and Cipher. And that Raichu and Pichu are aura Pokémon."

"Ha. I knew there was something suspicious about that lot," grumbled Tel. "Sobby, you've done amazingly." He kissed Sobby again on the top of the head, as the sound of marching Primids started to echo through the deck once again.

"Looks like we go company," cried Flapple.

"Time to fly. Hold on tight Sobby." Tel placed Sobby on his shoulder, spun around and leapt through the open hatch. He opened the flap on his back and glided though the cool night air, away from the airship. Flapple fluttered behind him.

"Ha humans. Never occurred to them that there were three of us…Great job staying out of sight like that Flappy."

Flapple snorted. "You should thank Shadow. Hitting you all with that Dark Void attack was all I needed to sneak around unseen. Getting aboard wasn't hard after all. And it was big mistake to have that Magmar escort you to your cell. All I had to do was hit him from behind."

They glided over the tops of the trees. The lights of Pallet Town were visible in the distance.

"Why-what's the plan now?" Squeaked Sobby.

"I think we need to have another talk with that Charizard and his friends," said Tel. "Looks like his trainer could be connected to what ever is going on. Even if they don't know anything they may still be able to help us. Then we need to find our way back into the Aether Foundation."