"I hope everyone is alright…" The voice of Relon murmurs, his eyes gazing at Absol and Eevee still resting.
"We'll need to inject another dosage of anesthesia soon." One of the officers notes.
"Shouldn't we hold off on that?" Relon asks. "What if whoever's out there comes in here? We'll need all the help we can get."
"Both pokemon are beyond exhausted and too weak to battle at this moment, son." One of the officers explains. "We each have only two Pokémon in total. If things escalate to the worst, we'll hold off the criminals while you retreat with the two patients."
"What about you two? I can't just-"
"Listen to us, kid. Whoever these people are planned this attack in advance and we cannot risk having either pokémon return to their hands."
"Please try to understand." The second officer places a hand on Relon's shoulder. "This is our job. We signed up for this type of danger. You're the next generation after us. Our job is to ensure you kids can grow and guide the generation after yours. To do that, you need to survive the night."
He hated this. This feeling of helplessness. He wasn't a trainer, he had no pokémon to fight with like Sabrina. He had nothing but his own arms and legs. With that feeling of frustration evident in his core, he could only nod.
"Yes, sir…"
The officer knew full well what that face Relon wore meant, but there was nothing that could be said that'd change it. It was something many had to deal with at a point in their lives.
"Here." He digs into his pocket pulling out a small case.
"What is it?"
"Syringes for those two. If we get overwhelmed and you're forced to leave, then inject both with these. If things get out of hand. Can you do that, son?"
"... Yes. Officer…"
"Olivert. Just Olivert will do." He smiles.
Taking in the man's appearance, Relon can tell he's different unlike the other officers including the other one currently with him. He's young, seeming to barely be in his 20's though there's a reassuring air around him. He has blonde hair tied into a short ponytail, violet eyes, and is wearing a red variant of the common blue officer's uniform.
"Officer Olivert, I'll do what I can."
"That's all any of us can ask for." He smiles. "I suggest you situate an escape route."
"Oh, yes, sir." Relon nods dumbly walking off.
In doing so, his glance falls upon Eevee and Absol hiding by the shrubbery before returning to the Form Rock.
I know they want Eevee and Absol but… what if they also want the pokémon here too? What if they plan to steal the Form Rock? Shaking at the thought, his pace quickens for numerous bat pokémon to swarm the cavern from all entrances.
"What the?!" He exclaims for a tremor resound as rocks descend from the ceiling.
Looking in all directions, his eyes refocus on the nearest entrance to see various pokémon alongside people in black outfits enter as do more from every other entrance.
"No way…! How did they figure out the tunnel passageways?!" He exclaims hunkering behind a tree with some pokémon.
"Hehe, nowhere to run!" A woman with purple hair shouts. "Hand over the Absol and Eevee and no one will get hurt! You're surrounded so don't even bother trying to run!"
Clicking his tongue, his eyes scan back to barely make out the officers hidden in the shrubbery with said pokémon.
"Playing stubborn, huh? Fine then…" She grins maniacally, her eyes tracing to a group of pokémon. "Skunktank!" She calls, large skunk leaping with its claws at the ready.
Panicking, the group of pokémon disperse for a lone fox-like pokémon with light gray fur along with red and white accents.
"Oh no!" Relon exclaims kicking off his feet to grab the fox narrowly avoiding the skunk's claws.
"Bingo."
"Erk!" He winces to peer an eye open at the shocked pokémon in his arms. "You… okay, Zorua?" He winces once more, holding his leg.
Weakly looking lifting his hand, he sees a slight gash along the side of his left knee.
"My, my. That looks like a nasty flesh wound, kid." The purple-haired woman walks with a hand at her hips.
"Zorua, run!" He breathes letting go of the fox for it to move back looking in worry. "I'll… be fine! Go!" He exclaims for the fox to slowly walk back before retreating.
Slowly turning in the direction of the woman, he clutches his leg.
"You people… causing all of this destruction…! Why?! It can't simply be to retrieve two pokémon!"
Watching her smile coil in more and more, he can swear he can make out the malice from this woman. The sheer evil intent as clear as the blue sky in her eyes.
"We're sending a message. Any who defies our organization, regardless of trainer, officer, Elite Four, or even the Champion and they all shall suffer our power!" She lifts him up by his shirt. "Now. I'm only going to ask once or else your leg won't be the only thing cut, kid. Where. Are. They?"
"Jupiter!" Another female's vice snaps gaining both of their attention.
Taking in her attire consisting of an upgraded black outfit similar to the now known Jupiter's, the woman seems to be around their age with red hair. Arching an eye, the redhead continues.
"They're in here. All units, fan our and locate the specimens!"
"Yes, ma'am!" All the soldiers resound fanning out and attacking the pokémon.
"N-No!"
"Come on, kid. You can stop." Jupiter whispers lowering him to eye level. "Just tell us and we'll be gone."
"Along with… those pokémon that ran from you in the first place!" He roars for Jupiter to drop him as he hits the ground with a thud.
"Hmpf. Suit yourself." She walks off as the red head eyes him before departing alongside her cohort..
"Sir, we're at a disadvantage."
"I know." Olivert nods. "Relon's injured and is being held captive, the enemy has secured all the exits, and it won't be long until they find us."
Panting, Relon winces as the stinging sensation from his leg increases.
It hurts…! So much! He mentally cries. Come on! Slowly flexing it, he grits his teeth as rolls over putting his weight on it. Come…. Ooooooooooon! He gets on both feet stabilizing his wobbly legs with his hand.
"Stop it…!" He growls, gaining the villains' attention.
"What's he doing?! That idiot is putting too much pressure on his wound! He needs to lay back down! We need it-"
"Wait!" Olivert cuts off.
"Huh? Did you say something?" Jupiter arches an eyebrow as both look on.
"I said… STOP IT!" He roars. "LEAVE THESE POKEMON ALONE!" He bears the most angriest look he can muster. "OR ELSE!"
Blinking, Jupiter allows a cackle to escape before she hides it.
"Acting like the hero now, are we? Ah, how long will that last? A minute? A few? Men, deal with him."
"Long enough… TO STOP ALL OF YOU VILLAINS!" He slowly steps forward towards the woman for a fist to make contact against the side of his face.
Unmoving, Jupiter shrugs turning back to searching.
"I… SAID… STOP!"
"Ugh, seriously?" She groans to take in the boy weakly getting on his arms and legs.
"Shut him up, please." She orders, another grunt kicking at Relon's abdomen as he flies through the air to land with a thud.
"Sir?!"
"He's stalling." Olivert mutters.
"But at this rate, he'll…!"
"Done yet?"
Unresponsive, the sight of his hands pulling against the dirt makes the woman groan in annoyance.
"I… refuse… to… give… up…" He pants on a knee getting back on his feet glaring at the woman. "As long as… I'm breathing…these… pokémon… won't… has their lives… taken by villains like you!" He hollers with every bit of strength he has left as he falls onto his knees catching his breath.
"Stubborn little…! Then perish! Everyone, take him out!"
"Crobat! Garbador! Houndoom!"
"Zor!" Hearing the familiar call, Relon's tired head lifts to the sight of Zorua in front of him.
"Zorua…?! No, get away!"
"ATTACK!"
"Sir!"
"Damn, let's-" Cut off by a blur rushing past them, both officers widen as a second zooms past them unleashing a purple crescent along with a Shadow Ball canceling out the attacks resulting in an explosion.
"What the hell…?!" Relon groans hunkering down with Zorua.
"Finally." Jupiter smirks.
As the dust settles, Relon takes in the two familiar pokémon in disbelief.
"Absol?! Eevee?! No, why are you both here?! You should be hiding!" He exclaims noting of the bandages around their bodies.
"Eev, Eevee!" The brown fox turns as if arguing with Relon.
"Well, well, well. Finally decided to show up, did you?" Jupiter grins as she and Mars walks forward along with the soldiers. "Now then, be a good pokémon and come with us."
"Ab, Absol!"
"Eevee!"
"They're… not going anywhere!" Relon winces standing.
"Zor, Zor!"
"Huh…?" He tilts his head as Zorua takes its place on Abol's other side. "You… want to fight too?"
"Pyroar, Hyper Beam!" All snap in the direction to see a lion-like pokémon unleash a powerful orange beam towards a group of pokémon and villains.
"Escavlier, X-Scissor!" Following suit, a bug with metal and two lances strike at Skuntank for the woman and skunk to avoid it as both officers rejoin Relon.
"You're way too hasty, kid!"
"Complaints for later!" Olivert dismisses. "We need to ensure an escape route!"
"Escape route? Ha! You lot aren't going anywhere! Surround them!" She orders for the sounds of numerous pokémon to chatter in unison. "What now?!" All can only look as the cavern's pokémon migrate around Relon.
"They're forming a protective wall around the boy?" Mar eyes in surprise.
"This definitely is getting more irksome by the second." Juniper twitches an eye.
"Everyone…!" He widens to smile, noticing Ponyta before it turns fierce back at the two commanders. "Let's show them what happens when they mess with us!" He chants, all the pokémon hollering in response.
"These are better numbers than before! Pyroar, get ready to engage the enemy!"
"Escavalier, we'll cover Pyroar!"
"Eevee, Absol, Zorua, let's go!"
Above Ground
Running through the woods, Sabrina gives chase alongside several pairs of footprints having led into said direction from another aircraft. Finding pokémon after pokémon unconscious and wounded, she can only clench her teeth in frustration. Seeing innocent pokémon hurt. She would make the culprit suffer from their transgressions if it is the last thing she does.
Relon…! She mentally worries to come to a halt at a pile of pokémon all battered and downed in front of a tunnel leading into the ground.
"Fer…ali…"
"Don't speak. Save your strength." Sabrina eases to refocus seeing the footprints head in. "Hang on, I'm coming!"
Cavern
Chaos. That would be the best word to describe the rapid escalation that soon followed. So many attacks happened at once that numerous soldiers were littering the cavern with Olivert and the other officer facing off against Jupiter and Mars leaving Relon and the others on the other side with the resident pokémon.
"Zorua, dodge! Eevee, Shadow Ball!" Jumping over Garbodor's elongated arm to land on its face, Zorua leaps off right as the trash pokémon attempts to pry it for a ball of darkness to hit it. "Nice!" He grins.
"ARGH!" Looking behind, he sees Absol take down a Bisharp and Crobat along with their trainers.
He had to note how amazing Absol was. As soon as the battle started, it bursted through the pokémon attacking Skuntank before running off gathering the attention of other soldiers which led to the follow-up chaos that ensued. He had to hand it, Absol was amazingly strong. Even though it went off on its own and disregarded his suggested team-up, it was holding its own ensuring no other grunts interfered with them.
"Get him!" The voices of more grunts sound as he refocuses.
"Here comes the next wave! You two ready?" Both chirp in response.
We just need to hold out a little longer!
"Go!" Both throw out pokéballs for two Pangoro to roar as they land.
"More fighting types." Relon mutters as a bead of sweat forms.
"Hammer Arm!" They order the two fighting pandas who swing through pokémon after pokémon before reeling back as it nears the two.
"Eevee, jump back! Zorua, take it!" He exclaims for Eevee to quickly run away as Zorua rushes in for both to slam into the ground as a plume of smoke erupts.
"Got 'em!" One of the grunts smirks for both him and the other to buck wide. "What the?!" In front of their Pangoro, a third with their fist also embedded in the ground.
"No way! Which is which?"
"Idiot, step aside. Pangoro, hit the one on the right!" Complying, its arm glows white as it hits the Pangoro sending it skidding in between pokémon to land in the lake.
As it resurfaces, spirals fill its eye sockets.
"YOU IDIOT, THAT WAS MINE!"
"Absol!" Relon calls, gaining the grunts' attention as they see Zorua revert to normal with a cheeky grin for a white blur to rush past Relon.
Embedding its glowing horn into the remaining Pangoro, it's sent off its feet towards the two for the three to crash into a tree tumbling over onto another group of villains.
"Nice one!" Relon cheers for his smile to lower as a sharp pain comes from his leg making him fall to the ground. "Damn, my leg…!" Just as he collapses, so too does Absol for Eevee to hurry over in worry as does Zorua. "Hehe… Good thing I read about Hisuian Zorua being a ghost type." He pants, Zorua relieved by his joke.
Looking to the fighting elsewhere.
My head feels like it's going to black out at any moment. I need to stay awake at all costs!
"Purugly, Giga Impact!"
"Skuntank, Flamethrower!"
"Pyroar, use your own Flamethrower!"
"Retaliate with Iron Head!"
"They're on another level…!" He widens as the four pokémon return to their stalemate.
"Zoru, Zorua!"
"Huh?" He furrows in confusion for something moving to catch his attention.
Looking ahead past Absol lying on the ground, his blood runs cold at the sight of one of the grunts raising a ball to throw it.
From the light emerges a serpentine pokémon with a silvery-gray body made up of rock-like sections.
"Oh no…" He widens at the sight of Steelix nearly reaching the ceiling of the cavern.
Looking all around, its body crashes into the walls and trees and numerous tremors resound.
"No, no, no!" He widens as his urge summons newfound strength sending him off.
"Zorua!" The fox calls chasing after.
"STOP IT!" Relon screams with arms out in front of Absol. "DON'T DESTROY THIS HOME ANYMORE!" Taking sight of the boy, it releases a bellowing roar before rushing towards him.
"EVERYONE, MOVE!" He shouts turning and struggling to life Absol.
"Ab, Absol!"
"SHUT UP! I'M NOT… LEAVING YOU!"
Diving into the ground, the earth begins to shake as Relon is knocked to his feet.
"Come… on…!" He grunts rolling back to pick up the upper half of the pokémon.
"Steel!" The serpentine pokémon roars emerging from the ground with its maw wide open.
"Tch! SPREAD OUT!" He shouts, leaping towards the shore, the impact of Steelix sending a shockwave in all directions for Relon's grip on Absol. "Ab- Ack!" He gasps from his back colliding with the Form Rock as he plummets into the water.
"Watch out!" Olivert exclaims as Steelix rips through their pokémon before submerging once more.
"Who was the idiot that released their Steelix?!" Jupiter growls. "Damn it! We need to fall-"
Hearing a splash cut through the chaos, both officers and commanders turn their sights to something diving into the water.
"What was that?!"
"Pyroar, Hyper Beam!"
Purugly! Dodge and use Slash once more!"
"Olivert, the kid's in the water!" The other officer exclaims running towards the edge.
"Oh no you don't! Skuntank!"
"Damn it! We can't get through!"
As his vision begins to blur, his body slowly rotates from the dimly lit surface towards the dark watery depths.
Crap… I can't feel my body… I used all my strength to push Absol… Speaking off, did Absol make it out…? What about… Eevee and Zorua…? Olivert and… the other officer… We need to stop… Steelix… from… from…
As he succumbs to the darkness, he roles his head to see the refracting light as his body goes limp. The last thing he sees is the silhouette of an individual coming towards him.
Hurrying through the dim tunnel, another tremor sounds for Sabrina to hug the wall in support.
"What's going on down there? Damn!" She curses taking off once again to see a light at the end. "There!" Coming out, her eyes widen not only to the chaos all around but rather to Relon. A small pool of blood forming from a noticeable cut, yes, but also a young woman around their age pressing her lips to his. Releasing from the contact, she places both hands atop the other before pressing over his chest. Dressed in only a white gown currently dripping wet, the woman currently has furious red eyes with her hair splitting between a denim-color ending at her chin and pure white ending below her neck which covers her other eye.
Surrounding her, the familiar Eevee in bandages and a Zorua. On the other side of the cavern, the two familiar officers and more commanders dressed similarly to Saturn albeit in a female attire.
"Absol's reverted back to her human form!" Mars exclaims.
"That's it!" Jupiter growls. "Go, Drapion!" She calls for a large purple scorpion to appear. "Cross Poison!" Shooting forward, it crosses its arms unleashing an x-shaped projectile which hits the surprised Pyroar, sending it crashing before Olivert.
"Pyroar, no!"
"Skuntank, flamethrower!" Opening its maw, a jet of flames strike head on at the equally unexpecting Escavalier to land unconscious before the other officer.
"Escavalier!"
"All troops, capture the target!"
Snapping at the order, the woman looks all around as the pokémon begin to be defeated for more and more grunts to surround them.
"Espeon, assist me!"
Cut off as the pink, two-tailed, feline appears before them, the woman takes in Sabrina coming to a halt in front of them.
"What are-"
"Questions for later!" Sabrina snaps. "We'll cover you so make sure Relon is fine! Psychic!" Acknowledging her command, Espeon's eyes glow as a group of the grunts and their pokémon are sent flying away.
Looking at the psychic for only a moment, her focus returns to Relon.
"You dumbass, don't you dare die on us!"