"To think they wouldn't even wait a day to act much less the night!" Fern exclaims, the three running towards the lab. "Whoever they are, they really want Absol and Eevee."
"Where's Absol and Eevee now?" Relon asks.
"According to Jenny, they're being transported outside of the city."
"Separating the two from the many. That's a smart move." Sabrina notes.
"Masq, Masq!"
"But won't the villains notice that if another group stays for surveillance?"
"Not unless the first convoy is a bait." Sabrina answers for Fern to smirk.
"Exactly. There are only a few safe places in the city. The police station, the center, and here." At her words, both trainers widen.
"They're coming here?!" Relon widens.
"Obviously they'll be too busy battling the trainers and police so their remaining forces will most likely come here once they figure out they've been duped. Masq, be a dear and let everyone know we got intruders on the way."
"Masq, Masquerain!" It responds flying off her head and into the distance.
"What about us?"
"You, Relon, are taking the two and the workers into the tunnels where the Form Rock is. Sabrina and I will stay here with the police and take care of these jokers." She explains opening the back door for Relon to stop.
"But-"
"Relon, you're not officially a trainer nor do you have any pokémon to battle with. End of story."
Holding his tongue, they continue through the lab departing outside to the front.
"We all have a job to do." Sabrina speaks gaining his attention. "Whether you're a trainer or not doesn't matter."
"... Thanks, Sabrina. I understand." Nodding at his words, the three look ahead to see two cards coming their way.
Opening the garage door, they all pack inside.
"They're already attacking both the center and the station!" One of the policemen notifies stepping out of the car.
"They attacked both at the same time?!"
"Yes ma'am. Officer Jenny and the rest of our forces along with the trainers are fending them off but their numbers may be too great."
"More came in by other vehicles!" Another says for the three to widen.
"A pincer attack?" Fern mumbles in thought.
"In no little time no less." Sabrina adds.
"Relon!" Fern calls over tossing something to him.
"Huh?" He wonders, catching the object to widen. "A pokédex?"
"In case you have to battle, it's better to know what moves the pokémon knows. Alright, Relon, get to it!" Fern orders.
"... Right!" He says looking as Absol and Eevee are placed on stretchers. "This way!" He departs with the two policemen behind him.
"Shall we?" Sabrina wonders.
"Yes. Let's head out back though."
Doing so, the group turns to the lab for Fern to pull out a single button before pressing it. To Sabrina and the policemen's shock, a metallic barrier lifts from the ground encasing the lab as it then descends into the ground revealing the road ahead of them.
"Why…?"
"Because although it's sturdy, it is not impenetrable. Not to mention there's no where to escape to." Fern answers.
"Whoa…" Relon awes looking over his shoulder.
"Masq, Masq!" Looking back ahead, he finds Masquerain flying over past him.
Understanding its words, Relon nods his head.
"Thanks, Masquerain!"
Looking ahead to all of the pokémon at the edge of the forest, they make an opening for Relon's group to run through. Some pokémon keeping pace all around them.
"All these pokémon…!" The officer pushing Eevee says in awe.
"This land is their home. Aunt Cecily and I are family in their eyes." Relon says ahead of the two. "You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us! There's the cave entrance!"
Reaching the cave, they continue on as the pokémon stop to set up around it. Relon noting the maps gone for a swoobat to appear.
"Swoo, swoo!"
"You guys took care of all of the maps in the other entrances?"
"Swoo!" it nods.
"Good! Take us to the center!" It flaps taking off with the group behind it.
Above Ground (Clearing)
"What do we do now?" Sabrina asks.
"Masq, Masquerain!"
"Ah, good work Masquerain. We hide and wait." She says walking into the forest with Sabrina and officers close behind.
Entering through the brush, the group notices the many pokémon lingering along the edge of the forest.
"It's like we're preparing for war all over again." Fern mumbles.
"Huh?"
"Oh, nothing. Just thinking out loud." She dismisses for a whirring sound to gain their attention.
Looking up to take sight of the aircraft come to a halt above the field as too does numerous black vehicles screeching to a halt.
"Over a dozen vehicles, huh? You guys weren't joking about their numbers."
"This isn't no simple attack like Team Rocket has done in the past. This is and all-out siege!" Sabrina narrows.
"Good thing we have home advantage." Fern quips, the large black aircraft now recognizable as a carrier of some sort lands.
Watch the dozens of men and women in all black pile out, the hidden group notices more depart from the aircraft. All lining up to stand at attention for Fern and Sabrina to narrow as one last figure comes walking out of the aircraft's ramp. A young man with blue hair styled like a sideways crescent moon and bangs.
"That's Saturn of Team Galactic." Fern widens at the realization for Sabrina to look to her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I remember reading about it in the news a few years back. There were some recent rumors that not just Galactic but other villain organizations were becoming active again. Looks like it all was true."
"But what is he doing here in the Uni Region?"
"That's the million dollar question." She stands placing her hands in her pocket as Masquerain lays atop her head.
"What are you-"
"Wait for my signal." She orders already walking out into the open.
"Hm? Hey, look!" A grunt points, Saturn and the rest doing so for a smile to grace the young man's features.
"Professor Fern." He greets as the woman comes to a halt holding a stoic expression. "Leading pokémon professor in the study of DNA as well as ex-military. It is an honor to meet you." He bows.
"I wish I could say the same, but considering you all for some odd reason believe you can just waltz onto my home and property with these vehicles, all of it has left a really sour taste in my mouth." Her calm demeanor narrowing daggers at the once Galactic commander.
"Understandable. No, a pity really. I was hoping we wouldn't have to resort to more conflict." He speaks walking through his men to raise a hand, said men pulling out pokéballs and guns.
Widening, Sabrina remains still.
Guns too? This is different. Much. Different!
"Eevee and the woman, where are they?"
"Girl? Whatever are you talking about?" She wonders rolling her eyes and head to return her glare on the blue-haired man.
"Ah yes, she is still recovering so she's reverted to her pokémon form." At this, Fern widens. "Surely you know this already, no?"
"Hmpf. Of course. A pokémon with the ability to become human. DNA doesn't lie and I'll admit, I was quite shocked when I first saw it. Heck, I was in disbelief more than anything." He allows a chuckle to escape. "But regardless, you're not getting either of them back."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Indeed it is, Saturn."
"So be it." He lowers his hand halfway, the men tossing out their pokéballs for dozens of pokémon to materialize.
Rhyperior, Magmortar, Golem, Liepard, Tangrowth, and a bunch more. Most of them are Sinnoh native. Fern mentally notes.
"Last chance."
"So you've went from simple crimes to all-out murder, huh? Well, good thing this isn't the first time I've had a gun pointed at me." She shrugs.
"Do it." he says flatly lowering his arm as the men take aim.
"Haze." Fern orders, the tip of Masquerain's head sprouting a fog.
"Tch" The gunmen click in annoyance. "She's getting away."
"Air Slash!" The voice of Fern shouts for the men to widen, Saturn holding a stoic demeanor as blades of air rip out of the fog cutting the guns into pieces as their owners are knocked off their feet.
Watching his men recover, his eyes remain on the haze rolling away to reveal Fern having not moved an inch. Masquerain landing back atop her head.
"No guns allowed on my property unless I say otherwise." She gives a fake smile.
"Amazing…!" One of the officers gasp in awe.
She didn't so much as flinch. Sabrina thinks. Using haze to take away their sight made them have to guess if she would stay or run. Not to mention the accuracy Masquerain had with the Air Slash. Professor Fern is more than meets the eye.
"Now then, what say you all leave while you still have the chance?"
"Why you…! Porygon-Z, Tri-Attack!" A grunt orders, the program-famed evolution line jittering and rotating its body parts before launching three spheres of fire, electricity, and ice towards her.
"Fine then." She sighs, snapping her fingers, Saturn looking up in time to see a figure unleash a beam striking the ground stopping the attack as it continues towards them.
"WATCH OUT!"
Rolling out of the way, he ignores the numerous explosions occurring as a quadruped green creature with large leaves for wings and a long neck with bananas lands behind the woman.
"One thing I should remind you, Team Galactic. Here in the Uni Region, we often do tag battles if not doubles so you have only yourselves to blame for not seeing this coming." She says rubbing the creatures's neck. "Thanks, Tropius." She smiles.
"What a Solarbeam!" The other officer widens.
So that's what she meant when Masquerain left. Sabrina realizes.
"There goes your means of transportation so what say we get to know each other, hm?" Masquerain flying off her head as with a mighty flap, Tropius takes to the sky.
"I hate it when a plan doesn't go accordingly." Saturn sighs. "Very well. We'll entertain you as well as the pokémon around us." He speaks for Fern to smirk.
"Figured you knew. Alright, let's have some fun!" She points to the sky where Tropius is, said pokémon releasing a loud cry as from the edge, dozens upon dozens of pokémon flood the clearing.
"So many!" Some grunts exclaim.
"What do you expect when you land in a professor's backyard?" Saturn muses. "Toxicroak, Weavile!" He calls tossing two pokéballs out for two creatures to materialize.
The first a dark blue and teal, bipedal frog. It has three fingers and one large red claw on the back of each hand. The second a bipedal with a pale, gray body that resembles both a cat and a weasel. It has a bright red crown.
Running to stop next to the professor, Sabrina readies herself as do the two policemen.
"Reinforcements? No matter. Shall we begin?"
"Espeon, assist me!" Landing, the purple twin-tailed cat lets out a cry as it readies itself.
"Tropius, survey the area." Fern orders for Sabrina and Tropius to look to her.
"What are you saying?" The gym leader wonders in confusion. "The fact that he still has that calm look is bugging me. No transportation, their allies are busy in town, and they're surrounded yet he doesn't look worried. That tells me something else is going on. Tropius!" Nodding, it flies away.
"Shadow Ball." He orders, Weavile throwing an orb of darkness at it for Tropius to sense the attack as it bats it away with a wing before continuing on.
"Hmpf, quite the pokémon you have." He says placing a hand at his hip.
"I have known it all my life so it has to be in order to put up with me." She says, rummaging in her lab coat to stop looking over to the girl.
"Sabrina, care to help me out?"
"I would be insulted otherwise."
"Let's get this over with." He sighs. "Attack!"
With that, the battle has begun.
Underground
"Finally made it." He says taking in the beauty of the Form Rock and its inhabitants.
"We'll set them both over here." One of the officers informs pointing to the dense shrubbery.
"Okay." He nods, his eyes on Eevee and Absol both still asleep before they are out of sight.
Feeling something vibrate in his pocket, he withdraws it to be his pokédex.
"Huh?" He wonders touching the screen to read a message.
[You may have unexpected company joining you. Be careful. - Fern]
Rereading the message a second and third time, his eyes widen.
"Already?! No, wait, calm down." He covers his mouth going into thought.
Auntie Fern and Sabrina, not to mention the pokémon have whoever occupied. I doubt their forces could have broken through them and the pokémon guarding the entrances. Which means… Looking up, his eyes narrow. There are other forces. Could it have been by air? No, they would have seen it. Water? No, the pokémon would have stopped them with their sheer number. That leaves… by foot…
Above Ground (Tunnel Entrances)
"F-Fer…ali…gatr…" The final evolution croaks as it falls to the ground unconscious.
"Finally done with that." A woman with purple hair along with a group of villains in back clothing mutters clicking her earpiece. "Group B, ready to infiltrate. Mars, how are things on your end?"
"We've secured an entrance, Jupiter." A young woman with red hair responds dryly.
"Alright. While Saturn deals with the others, we'll get back what's rightfully ours. See you inside."
"Right. You heard her, soldiers. We're heading in."
"Yes, ma'am!" They salute before hurrying inside leaving their commander.
Lingering on the group, her eyes become crestfallen as she walks over to kneel before one of the defeated pokémon. Gently rubbing it, she bites the insides of her bottom lip.
"I'm sorry." She murmurs standing back up before she looks to the tunnel.
This life… Did I really make the right choice in coming back? She thinks walking into the underground labyrinth. Honestly, I don't know…
Flying having seen the girl head in, Tropius turns back flying towards the clearing.
Above Ground (Clearing)
Chaos. That is the only word that comes to Sabrina's mind as she gazes at the fighting and destruction. The ship and vehicles now acting as a ginormous bonfire to help both sides see in the now dark.
"Weavile, Icicle Crash!" Raisin its hands channeling a large icicle, Weavile drops its hands as so too does the frozen spear.
"Espeon, use Psychic to redirect it!" Eyes glowing, it stops above the four as it careens towards the villains.
"Tch. Toxicroak, crush it!" Obeying, it lunges past Weavile embedding its red claw crushing
"Masquerain, Bug Buzz!" Vibrating its wings, the bug type unleashes a soundwave for Toxicroak to wince and Weavile cover its ears.
"Now, Espeon, Shadow Ball Weavile!"
"Weavile, Protect. Toxicroak, Poison Jab."
Launching the orb of darkness, Weavile puts its hands up for a green forcefield to rise blocking both attacks. Landing, the bipedal frog rushes through the blocks of ice for the two, its red claws glowing purple.
"It's fast!" Fern notes to look up, noticing Tropius give a nod to grab Sabrina's wrist. "Masquerain, Haze!"
"Huh? Wait!" Sabrina exclaims.
"Masq!" The insectoid shouts releasing another fog, Toxicroak diving in to stab at nothing.
Running out of the fog sliding to a halt, Fern let's go of Sabrina.
"Why did you-"
"You need to get underground!" Fern cuts off. "More of those guys have already infiltrated the tunnels!" She says gesturing up for Sabrina to take note of Tropius silently soaring in the air. "Sabrina, I need you to help my nephew."
Looking into her fierce eyes, something clicks.
Those eyes, they're the same my parents had back then. So full of care…
Redirecting her attention to the fog dissipating showing the silhouette of Toxicroak, Sabrina nods.
"Espeon, return!" She calls, the cat retreating into its pokéball in a beam of red light. "Good luck." She bids running into the forest circling the clearing.
"Luck? Heh, I've never exactly been a lucky woman." She murmurs, the fog swatted away showing Saturn with his pokémon.
"Where did the girl go?"
"I told her to run." She shrugs. "I don't want to be liable for someone getting hurt because of me."
"You're putting yourself at a disadvantage, no?"
"Haha, I like those odds. Solarbeam!"
Looking up squinting his eyes to widen, he has no time to give the command as a beam of light crashes into Weavile. As it simmers to a halt, the pokémon falls to a knee before it drops unconscious.
"Tch." He returns it as Tropius lands with a mighty thud alongside Masquerain.
"You should really learn to keep an eye on your surroundings both in the day and at night." She smirks.
"Hmpf. Wise words. I think I'll use them! Drifblim, go!"
A creature resembling a large balloon ready to burst floats off the ground. It has a large, spherical, purple body with the lower quarter of its body being a lighter purple. The colors are separated by a repeated semicircle pattern all around its body. On the top of its head is a puffy, white mass, which closely resembles a cloud. In the center of its body is a large yellow "X."
"Ready, you two?" Fern calls for her pokémon to shout in response.
"Go." Saturn orders, Drifblim vanishing into the ground as Toxicroak bursts forward.
"Tch! It's using Phantom Force. Both of you, into the sky!" She orders, both doing so for Saturn to smirk darkly. "Who ever said I was going for your pokémon?!"
Widening to see Toxicroak in front of her, she jumps back to bump into Drifblim.
"Damn!" She exclaims, its arms reaching towards her.
"Arcanine, Flamethrower!" A burst of flames crash into the ghost type sending it up and away by an Air Slash from the bug type.
Turning to the familiar voice, Fern smiles at the approaching Jenny.
"Sorry I'm late! A lot happened!" She informs hopping off her Arcanine.
"I know! Right now, we got work to do!"
"More and more keep coming." Saturn mutters under his breath raising a hand to his ear piece. "Hurry it up, you two."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Keep distracting them." Jupiter responds. "We're almost there."
"As are we." Mars responds.
"Hmpf, I can't wait." Jupiter's voice of excitement makes it easy for the two to imagine her grin. "All these years of waiting… Team Rocket, Magma, Aqua, Galactic, Plasma, and Flare are united! Team Chaos has finally emerged!"