Chapter 75 – Aether Chaos

Aether Paradise, Alola Region…

"Madame Lusamine…"

Lusamine was just regaining consciousness when the two employees burst into the room, grabbing her under the armpits and pulling her to her feet. "I'm fine," she snapped, jerking herself free from their grip… but then almost falling back over.

She managed to grab hold of the desk, which was still intact and right way up, to support herself. "Where are those kids. They mustn't get to that Dewott first. Sound the alarm."

"Madame President, we have bigger problems," one the employees, a short haired woman said. "The breach is active again. And the radars are picking up an unusual amount of activity around Aether Paradise. I'm afraid, it could be happening."

"Never mind that now," Lusamine replied curtly as she finally managed to straighten herself. "As long as we have the Dewott Geyser, we're in control. And that means stopping those kids from getting to him first. Now sound the ALARM!" She shouted the last word making both her underlings jump…They raced out of the room.

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile…

Red alert…red alert…red alert…

The low whine of a siren along with an intermittent flashing of a red light filled the corridor which Ash, Cameron and their Pokémon were running along. Ash's heart was pounding, the blood rushing to his head. He felt the building was unnerving him. Surely, they should have encountered some personnel or some kind.

"Are you sure we're going the right way," he shouted to Zacian, who was running ahead of them, leading the way, more out of nervousness than doubt.

"Trust me," came Zacian's reply. "There's not a Pokémon I can't sniff out…"

The corridor ended in a circular room with a triangular hole in the middle, which in turn was surrounded by a low rail.

"Here we are, the elevator," said Zacian as she came skidding to a halt.

Ash nodded, remembering it from the first time he had visited the Aether Paradise. It led from the lobby at the bottom of the building, up to the conservation area.

"As far as we can see it's the only one in the building," growled Zoroark.

A small control panel sat at one of the corners, and Zacian pressed it with her nose. At once there was a wiring sound as the platform rose up to meet them. But when it arrived, it had brought somebody with it.

A man; blond, bespectacled, and dressed in a white lab coat. "Splendid," he exclaimed in an upbeat voice, as if greeting an old friend. "It's been a while, Ash! Cameron!"

[Pokémon]

Back in the conservation area…

"YOU LOST THE PIKACHU!" Guzma was used to acting tough. It was how one commanded respect on the streets. Part of the secret was to maintain composure and look cool, even in the face of bad news.

Or at least that was the image Guzma believed he portrayed. In reality he had a tendency to fly into rages when things didn't go his way. These tantrums could either be confined to shouting and feet stamping or could become violent rages.

Plumeria and the older members of the Skull gang knew how to handle this, but it did have an effect on younger recruits. Including Tupp and Zipp, who stood before him.

"It was like, not our fault man," whined Tupp, a tall skinny youth with a gaunt face.

His compatriot, Zipp, was in contrast, short, round, and pimply. "Yeah, that Pikachu woke up. Gave us an electric shock yo. We can't compete with that."

"Well, where did it go," demanded Guzma, making both boys draw closer together.

"W-we don't know."

"It jumped over the side of the walkway and vanished into the grass."

Guzma facepalmed with a groan. "And you didn't think to chase it. You realise the prez is countin' on me!"

"We can't keep up with that," complained Zipp. "It's got like, four legs."

"And its super strong," added Tupp. "We only got Slowpoke with us, and he's like a water type."

Laying on the floor beside him was a pink Pokémon with a long tail, short muzzle, wide maw, curly ears, and a vacant expression. At the mention of its name, it let out a cry of "Slowpoke."

"And there's the sign," said Zipp, pointing to a sign on the edge of the railing that read…

WARNING

POKEMON MATING IN PROCESS - DO NOT ENTER CONSERVATION AREA

This area is subject to the use of incense to simulate a mating season environment. Human interference can harm Pokémon mating patterns, as most wild Pokémon avoid humans when in heat and when laying eggs. Some species of Pokémon are known to be aggressive when pursing mates. For the safety of both Pokémon and staff, Employees and visitors are asked to remain on the walkway at all times

"I don't care about no sign or if it's got infinity legs," Guzam exploded. "JUST GET IT BACK!"

….

Ashachu smirked to himself, and his ears twitched as he listened three boys fighting on the walkway above him. Hidden in a patch of tall grass the three morons had no idea where he was. His heart was still beating quite fast, and the adrenaline not quite cleared his system.

It had all gone down in less than a minute. He had awoken, feeling surprisingly refreshed, to find himself being held in the arms of the skinny kid, Tupp. No sooner had he tilted his head back to catch sight of the youth mask covered face and caught sight of his fellow Pokémon levitating in the air, then he had let off thunderbolt and ran free.

He hadn't even been fully aware of doing it. 'Finally mastering this instinct thing,' he thought to himself his chest swelling in pride.

But it was not over yet. He still had to find Charizard, and the others again, and then find a way back to Ash. And he had to find out where he was. In all the commotion he had not had a chance to properly take in his surroundings, and even now did not poke his head out of the tall grass to see, lest he be spotted by one of the boys.

"The sign, THE SIGN," he heard Guzma yell from above. "This is what I think of the sign."

"Whoa…What the…AHHH."

There was a dull thud nearby. Ashachu couldn't help it. He raised himself to his hind legs and poked his head out of the grass. A few metres away, the skinny boy Tupp was sprawled in a heap, apparently having been pushed off the walkway above by Guzma.

"Ahh… What was that for." Slowly, he stirred and moved into a sitting position. Where he caught sight of Ashachu. "Hey there you are!"

Ashachu ran, dashing away across the grass as fast as his paws would carry him. Tupp stood up to follow, but was impeded by Slowpoke falling, or being thrown, off the walkway at the same time, and landing on his head

[Pokémon]

"You." Cameron glowered at the man as the elevator platform came to a halt and the guardrails fell away. "Why is it always you."

"Colress," said Ash. The single word was enough.

Despite the obvious dislike on the two boys faces, and the way Zacian, Flygon and Zoroark growled at him, the scientist maintained his composure, continuing to smile at them as if they were long friends he had just run into.

"Your partner's not with you. I confess it feels strange not to see you with them. You always seemed so…inseparable."

"Spill it," Cameron demanded, his hands forming into fists and his face going red. "Where are Lucario and the others." He marched forward as if moving to strike Colress.

Colress took a casual step backwards, reached into his coat and tossed a Pokéball into the air. In a flash of white light, a strange disc shaped Pokémon that seemed to resemble a UFO appeared between them. It had one large red eye, and antennae and magnets for hands.

Ash whipped out his Pokédex…

Magnezone, the Magnet Area Pokémon. Three Units generate magnetism. As it zooms through the sky, this Pokémon seems to be receiving signals of unknown origin, while transmitting signals of unknown purpose. There have been many mistaken reports of UFO sightings when Magnezone files through the night sky.

"It is curious that we keep running into one another," its trainer mused as if nothing had happened, and Cameron fell over as he skidded to a stop in front of Magnezone. "I would call it fate, were that not such an unscientific concept. Seeing as you are short on time, I will tell you that you're Pokémon are downstairs. There is a secret level at the bottom of the facility you see. Accessible by this lift, with the right key of course."

"What are you doing here!" Ash asked, as he helped Cameron back to his feet. "Weren't you with Team Plasma?"

"Madame Lusamine hired me as an Aether Branch Chief," Colress replied. "It seemed the former holder of that position had a little run in with the law."

Ash was taken aback by this, his eyes widening in surprise. An action mimicked by his three Pokémon, all of whom had taken defensive positions around him. Each sizing up Magnezone.

"Why would Lusamine make you the Branch Chief…Unless." A thousand questions ran through Ash's mind. Had Colress left Team Plasma. Or was he infiltrating the Aether Foundation on their behalf. Or was there collusion between the two entities, just like Team Skull.

He wasn't destined to find out, as before he could voice these questions, Colress continued, "I trust you to be in a hurry to save your loved ones, and, being Branch Chief, it simply wouldn't be proper for me to leave you running around here on your own. So here is my offer, plain and true. Defeat me in battle and I shall let you pass. Fail and you will be coming with me. Show me how you bring out the true power of your Pokémon…"

[Pokémon]

Ashachu ran until he had put as much distance between himself and Tupp as he could. Until he could no longer see Tupp over his shoulder and he was convinced there was no trail of the youth to follow. While the kid clearly wasn't that smart, he could have on him a Pokémon who was good sniffer.

'Probably not Slowpoke, though,' he thought.

He stopped, taking refuge under a large circular section of the walkway, out of sight. Raising back to his hind legs he took a deep breath and tried to let his heart rate slow as he considered his next move. As he had told himself a moment ago, he needed to find Chari.

He raised his nose and sniffed, drawing in a deep nose full of air. There was a mix of scents and musk and something else heavy and perfuming on the air. The combination of all made him feel slightly lightheaded, and it was difficult to tell one smell from another.

But after a few sniffs he noticed the subtle scent of earth and ashes. The smell of Charizard. He scurried off in the direction of the scent. It didn't take him long to track his mate down…

[Pokémon]

Bzt-Zzzzzzz…. Buoyed by its magnetic field, Magnezone did not drop out of the air when rendered unconscious. Instead, a black swirl appeared across its single red eye and it's magnet like arms drooped.

"Fly…" Flygon breathed a sigh of relief as he landed back on the ground. Ash stepped forward to pet his flank, which the Mystic Pokémon responded to by lowering his head and nuzzling Ash's neck.

"Good job buddy," Ash whispered to him, feeling as relieved as Flygon.

The wall and ceiling surrounding were covered in scuff marks, scratches, and burns from the battle. There were still embers fading in one large gash right above the elevator platform. Zoroark, Zacian and Cameron were hanging back to avoid getting caught in the cross fire.

Colress seemed unperturbed the battle, his smiled unwavering as he casual reached into his coat to retrieve the Pokéball to recall the unconscious Magnezone. "Well done, once again you have demonstrated what it means to bring out the true power of your Pokémon…."

There was a moment's pause, but before Ash or Cameron could speak, Colress continued, "If you are looking for your Pokémon, you may find them down stairs. Here…" He turned his back to them and strolled the control panel beside the elevator shaft.

There he reached into his coat again, took out a clear plastic card and inserted it into a shot beside a triangular shaped button. A loud beep echoed through the corridor and a green light illuminated on the panel/

"There, that will allow you to travel to the lower level." He turned back to Ash and gave him a cursory nod. "We will meet again soon, I hope, young Ash." And with that, he strolled away in the opposite direction…

Ash briefly wondered whether they should stop him. Why was he just strolling away as if this had been nothing more than a brief encounter between friends. Where was he going and who would he alert as to his actions.

But Cameron already ran to the platform, grabbing Ash by the arm and shouting, "C'mon!" Zoroark, Zacian and Flygon followed. It was with a surprising and unsettling sense of misgiving that Ash stepped onto the elevator Platform too…

[Pokémon]

Conservation Area…

"Carrr…" Lucario bit his lip and tried very hard not to whine at his state of pain and exhaustion. His muscles were on fire! His fur sopping with sweat. Hanging by his wrists in this position might not have seemed tough to someone looking on, but the weight of his body pulling him down was causing a terrible strain to his arms and shoulders.

Not only that, but the way his body was positioned was making it hard to breath. He kept having to pull himself up on the wooden frame, so his shoulders were level with his paws, in order to be able to breath normally. But it was a continuous effort to have to keep doing so, and only wore him down further. "Lu-car!"

His fellow Pokémon weren't doing any better. In fact, in poor Dragonite's case, it was much worse. The yellow dragon type thrashed and moaned continuously. "Dra-gon-ite…nite nite…" He jerked and thrashed around on the pole, sweat practically pouring off his scales like a waterfall.

The poor dragon also, Lucario notice, was sporting a massive hardon; a long pink rod poking out of his body, standing up to attention.

Charizard by contrast, remained still and motionless, his head resting on his chest, and his eyes closed. Whether unconscious or just trying to remain stoic in face of his captors Lucario didn't know. He was bigger and bulkier than any of the others, so the strain must have been far worse.

Plus, he was carrying the weight of a whole other Pokémon inside him… "Serves him right," Lucario muttered to himself…

"Well, well," squeaked a small voice, somewhere below his feet. "What have we here?"

Lucario looked down at the grass and groaned when he caught sight of the familiar yellow rodent looking up at him with a grin on his face. "Oh, really!"

Ashachu couldn't help but laugh at the site of three larger Pokémon strapped to the wooden frames, pained expressions on their faces, scaled and fur coated or mated in sweat and Dragonite thrashing about with his cock out.

"Ahh What's so funny," Lucario growled. "Electric pipsqueak."

Not to mention, Axew and Geyser tied to the posts by their hands and tails, forcibly bent into an uncomfortable looking hunched over position. Ashachu experienced a guilty pleasure as the unhappy expression on Geyser's face.

"How did you all get up there," he managed to breath between giggles.

"We were put here," growled Lucario. "Are you going help free us or not."

"I don't know," chuckled Ashachu. "Dragonite here looks like he's having too much fun."

[Pokémon]

Somewhere below Aether Paradise…

The platform dropped so quickly that Ash actually thought he might be sick. He had to hold on to Flygon, for support. The shaft was lit by blue lights that seemed to become a blur, burning itself into Ash's vision, a as they descended. Fortunately, the journey didn't last that long, and within about two minutes or so the platform slowed and came to a halt.

"Wow…" Ash's jaw dropped as he examined his new surroundings. While he had not known what to expect "Downstairs," as Colress had put it, he had certainly not been expecting this.

The platform had brought them to the end of a long white walkway, similar to the ones in the conservation area above, though much wider and with higher railings. The walkways were lit by what appeared to be a combination of street lamp on the sides of the walkway them above, and flood lights from beneath.

The combination gave the area an eerie Shadowy appearance. There were two other structures, each on the right side of the walkway. Large square buildings with a green and white visage, only partially visible in the dim light. Surrounding them otherwise, was total darkness, as pitch black as the cloak of a certain Darkrai.

"What is this place," whispered Cameron. Although his voice was low, it echoed in the dark surrounds, as though they were in some type of cave.

"No idea," said Ash. He looked back up the elevator shaft, where a small pinprick of light shone high above. "We must be somewhere underneath Aether Paradise."

"But it's in the middle of the sea. Are we somewhere underwater."

"Beneath the sea," Ash mused. "Looks like we've come down a long way."

The Pokémon were attuned to their trainer's feelings and huddled around Ash. He felt Zoroark put a claw on his shoulder, and Zacian press her nose into his side. It made him feel better.

There was rustling sound nearby, which caused Ash and Cameron to nearly jump out of their skins. Further up the walkway a group of people were exiting one of the square structures. They were dressed in the fashion of most Aether Employees in long white overalls, except their head was entirely covered in a protective helmet with a tinted visor.

"Shit," gasped Cameron, his face turning as white as the employee's overalls.

"Hide," Ash cried.

"There isn't anywhere."

Ash looked around frantically, seeing quickly that Cameron was right. The area was completely open and devoid of anything that could be used to give cover. They were completed exposed – sitting ducklets.

"So did anyone hear about the break in. What exactly is the story there," one of the employees said. His voice was distorted, presumably by the helmet, and sounded somewhat muffled, but nevertheless carried in the dark silent air.

"We're not really supposed to talk about it," said another. They both seemed to be male by the deep dulcet tones of their voices. "From what I've heard some of the research for the Type: Full project has been compromised. Some of the data on the primary computers was corrupted and the IT departments says its likely it's been copied."

"Nothing wrong with the research when I last checked it."

"They managed to restore it from back up. It's a good job, since all three living specimens have been lost."

"Any idea who broke in. I thought they fixed the security system."

"Seems to be a professional job. You didn't hear it from me, but the word is that it's linked to Marco Cosmos."

"Industrial espionage would make sense." It was the turn of the third employee to speak, who spoke in a much higher pitched voice, suggesting that she was the sole woman in the group. "Chairman Rose has tentacles spread everywhere. Wouldn't surprise me if they had support from the OSS."

"Hey…What are you doing down here!" one of the two men snapped, cutting off his fellow.

Ash's stomach churned. They had spotted. Now he had to prepare to fight. But then the man continued, "We weren't aware anyone was rostered to be down here today."

"My apologise," came, to Ash's bewilderment, a woman's voice in reply. "There's an escaped Zorua from upstairs. I think it may have come down here."

A woman with long blond hair and an attractive figure was standing in front of Ash, dressed in a white set of overalls and a hat. It took Ash a few seconds to realise what was going on. "Zoroark," he whispered. "You genius."

"That seems unlikely, given this area requires special access," said the man.

The woman added, "Escaped Zorua?"

"Yes, three Zorua," said Zoroark. "They escaped from medical while we were trying to give them their shots. My partners and I managed to round these two up." He, or at the moment she rather, gestured to Ash and Cameron.

Playing along, Zacian and Flygon nodded.

"But we're still looking for the third. He's a mischievous little fox. Managed to slip his snout in Dr. Colress's pocket while he was examining him, then slip off the table."

The three other employees exchanged looks, as though unsure of what to make of the story.

"So, what, you just need to check the labs?" one of the men asked to which Zoroark nodded.

"Yes."

"Well alright then. But don't be too long. The complex is on high alert, you know!"

"I won't be. Thank-you so much. You don't know how much trouble I would be in from them upstairs if I'd lost little Zorua. They would have had to discipline me." Zoroark winked and flicked his…her…hair back, as if showing off her form.

The three employees made their way over to the elevator platform and ascended. Ash breathed a sigh of relief.

"Zoroark. That was so clever. I could kiss you."

"Well, you see honey," the illusion Pokémon replied, as he turned back into his fox-like self. "It's all about the sex appeal!"