Chapter 539: Attack on Galactic (5)
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Meanwhile, Veilstone City – Galactic Building]
The sterile hum of machinery blended with the low thrum of the Galactic Building's energy core, a sound that usually soothed Cyrus, but today, it grated. His gaze, colder and sharper than the frost of Spear Pillar itself, was fixed on a complex holographic projection hovering in the center of the room.
It depicted a swirling, crimson mist, slowly, agonizingly, coalescing into what appeared to be a fractured chain link. The Red Chain. Cyrus's voice, devoid of inflection, cut through the quiet, "Still moving at a snail's pace, Charon."
Charon, hunched over a console nearby, his spectacles glinting in the holographic light, adjusted his grip on a stylus and replied, "Indeed, Master Cyrus. As predicted. The psychic energies of Azelf and Mesprit are potent, yes, but without Uxie's full contribution to the tri-spectrum, the formation remains… incomplete. The fragment suffers from a conceptual instability, a lack of intellectual cohesion."
He gestured to two containment units shimmering with faint pink and blue light, where Azelf and Mesprit floated in a state of tranquil slumber, their energies being siphoned, but not fully synthesized. Charon added, "We are harvesting what we can, but the ultimate link demands true unity. The chain itself is a construct of will, emotion, and intellect. We have the first two, but not the third in its purest form."
Cyrus's lean face hardened, a muscle twitching almost imperceptibly in his jaw. His grand vision, a new world free from emotion and spirit, hinged on this. The Red Chain was the key to bending the legendary Pokémon of time and space to his will.
*Thump*
A slight tremor ran through the building, barely perceptible, but Cyrus caught it. A faint thump from the floors below. He narrowed his eyes, then a small device on his wrist chirped, displaying an incoming communication.
He accepted the call. Mars's fiery visage appeared, followed by Saturn's more placid, but equally grim, expression. Static crackled. Cyrus demanded, "Commander Mars, Commander Saturn. Report."
Mars's voice was tight with frustrated fury, "Master Cyrus! Intruders! They've bypassed Route 214 and entered Veilstone. A veritable circus of pests!"
Saturn interjected calmly, but with an underlying tension added, "Confirmed, Master Cyrus. Our sensors indicate multiple high-level threats. The Elite Four, Aaron, Lucian, and Bertha, are engaging our forces on Routes 214 and 215. Gym Leaders Candice and Maylene have also been sighted, pushing through the perimeter."
Cyrus scoffed, a soft, dismissive sound that was more chilling than any roar uttered, "Pests. Unnecessary distractions. We will not waste Galactic resources on such trivialities. Our focus remains singular."
He turned his back to the projection, his gaze now fixed on a schematic of Mount Coronet and, specifically, Spear Pillar, as he added, "Azure Sky has Uxie. He believes himself clever, baiting us. But he merely plays into our hands."
His voice deepened, infused with a cold certainty, "Mars, Saturn. You are to depart immediately for Mount Coronet. Proceed directly to Spear Pillar. Collect Uxie. The first fragment of the Red Chain will be forged here, but the second will require Uxie's full, unadulterated essence. I will meet you there shortly."
Mars's eyes gleamed with renewed determination replied, "Understood, Master Cyrus! We will not fail!"
Saturn nodded and replied resolutely, "As you command. We shall secure Uxie."
*Click*
The communication clicked off. Charon, who had been listening intently, pushed his spectacles up his nose and asked curiously, "So, the first chain will be formed here, Master, and then the full extraction there? Excellent. The components are nearly ready for the initial synthesis."
Cyrus affirmed with a nod as he said coldly, "Precisely. You will oversee the final preparations and the creation of the first Red Chain. Once complete, you will follow the Spear Pillar. I trust you can manage the… annoyances?"
Charon's lips curved into a thin, predatory smile, a rare sight. He chuckled, a dry, almost wheezing sound as he said happily, "Oh, yes, Master Cyrus. The Grunts are more than capable of holding the line. And I confess, I find myself rather eager to test the combat efficacy of my latest… experimental Pokémon. A delightful distraction, indeed."
His mind was already envisioning the chaos, the screams, the perfect data collection as his battle-hardened, vacant-eyed creations tore through the intruders, 'Let them come. I want to test my experimental weapons on those trainers. Who needs emotions or freewill when you can command to fight with no fear or consequence?'
With a final, imperious nod, Cyrus turned towards a nearby airlock, the metallic hiss of its opening a prelude to his grand departure as he said, "Good. See to it, Charon. I will depart on my airship. It is time to finally realize my plan. And to end Azure Sky's interference once and for all."
He took a step, fully intending to stride through the airlock, to ascend to his personal airship already idling on the rooftop landing pad. The hum of its rotors was faintly audible even deep within the building.
*CRASH*
The sound was like a thunderclap ripping through the usually contained silence of the HQ. The massive, reinforced wall directly opposite the airlock, a solid slab of steel and concrete, exploded inward.
Shards of metal shrieked as they were torn from their moorings, dust and debris billowed, scattering across the polished floor. Through the gaping, jagged hole, silhouetted against the pale afternoon sky, descended a formidable silver-colored Pokémon.
*Thud*
Its multi-limbed body gleamed, and its glowing red eye sensors fixed directly on Cyrus. Riding atop its metallic head, a figure in a sleek, dark uniform landed with a soft thud, even amidst the showering debris.
Her green eyes, sharp and intelligent, scanned the room, settling on Cyrus with an almost palpable satisfaction. She wore a confident, almost mischievous smirk, her short brown hair framing a face hardened with purpose.
She said, her voice clear and strong, cutting through the din of the settling dust, "Well, well, well. Took you long enough to show your face, Bossman. I've been waiting for this moment. Finally caught Team Galactic's leader, have I?"
Cyrus, his departure abruptly halted, stared at the massive Pokémon and its rider, his face a mask of shock that swiftly melted into a gaze of cold assessment as he asked, "And who, pray tell, are you, to crash through my headquarters with such… insolence?"
The woman chuckled, a sound full of self-assurance as she explained, "Insolence? You've barely made an appearance at your own satellite HQs, first in Eterna, then here in Veilstone. Had to wait for your little commanders and grunts to clear out to get a moment alone, didn't I? But now that the stage is set…"
She dismounted her Shiny Metagross, landing lightly next to it, straightening her uniform. She introduced herself, "The name's Leaf Green. And I'm an Interpol Police Member. Consider yourself apprehended, Cyrus."
Cyrus's eyes narrowed further as he thought, 'Interpol. Another meddler.'
He flicked his wrist, and a Poké Ball materialized in his hand, a dark, ominous gleam in his expression as he replied, "An Interpol agent. How… inconvenient."
*Wooosh*
Without another word, he threw the Poké Ball as he commanded, "Honchkrow! Take care of this nuisance!"
*POP*
With a battle cry, a large, dark bird Pokémon with a fedora-like crest and a menacing glare appeared, its sharp eyes immediately locking onto Green, "Honch!"
Green, unfazed, mirrored his movement as she declared, "Nido! Let's show them what Kanto Trainers are made of!"
*POP*
Her Poké Ball flew, and with a flash of light, a powerful, purple bipedal Pokémon, Nidoqueen, materialized, letting out a challenging roar. The air in the damaged HQ crackled with the sudden tension of impending battle.
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Meanwhile, Veilstone City – Galactic Building]
Far deeper within the labyrinthine corridors of the Galactic Building, away from the clash of wills on the upper floors. Diamond lay tucked away in a shadowed alcove...
His heart hammered a nervous rhythm against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat that echoed in the oppressive silence...
*Bdmp—Bdmp*
He was alone, his Poké Balls secured, for now. Tru, his Torterra, and Kit, his Lickilicky, were not with him.
His Munchlax, Lax, remained within its ball, a comforting weight at his side. He watched, motionless, as a Team Galactic Grunt shuffled down an adjacent, brightly lit corridor, whistling a tuneless, off-key melody.
The Grunt's pace was slow, his attention clearly elsewhere, lost in the monotonous routine of patrol. Diamond thought, 'This is it, Diamond. Now or never.'
Taking a deep, shaky breath, Diamond subtly reached for a small satchel at his waist. With practiced, silent movements, he uncinched it and began to, not spill, but carefully arrange a scattering of brightly colored Oran Berries, Sitrus Berries, and Pecha Berries along the floor of the Grunt's path.
The sweet, fruity scent filled the air, an odd contrast to the metallic tang of the building. The Grunt rounded the corner, his whistling dying on his lips as his eyes widened, catching sight of the unexpected bounty. He took another step, his gaze fixed on the fruit, and then his foot hit a particularly slick puddle of crushed berries, muttering to himself, "Huh? Berries? What's this doing here…? Oh shit! Oof!"
*THWACK*
With a comical yelp, the Grunt's feet flew out from under him. His arms windmilled wildly, a futile attempt to regain balance before he landed on his backside with a resounding smack sound, his head hitting the unforgiving floor with a dull clunk. His eyes rolled back, and he slumped, unconscious.
Diamond winced. He hadn't intended to knock him out so hard, but it was effective. Swiftly, he emerged from the shadows, his movements fluid and quick. He relieved the unconscious Grunt of his uniform, hastily stripping off his own clothes and donning the Grunt's standard-issue jumpsuit.
The fabric was rough, smelled faintly of stale sweat and cheap detergent, and was a bit too large, but it would have to do. The helmet was baggy, obscuring part of his face, which was exactly what he needed.
He withdrew Lax's Poké Ball, securing it safely within the Grunt uniform, then slipped seamlessly into a procession of other Grunts marching down the main hallway. His heart still hammered, but now it was a drum of adrenaline rather than pure fear.
He kept his head down, mimicking the slouching, indifferent gait of the others as he thought cautiously, 'Don't draw attention, don't draw attention.'
He noted with a nervous gulp that the Grunts paid absolutely no attention to each other, each seemingly lost in their own thoughts or boredom, making his disguise surprisingly effective, if terrifyingly precarious.
Diamond, seeing he blended in, thought cautiously eyeing the Grunts, 'Okay, step one done. Now, to find them. Azelf and Mesprit. Where are they holding them?'
His primary goal, the driving force behind this risky infiltration, was to locate and free the Legendary Lake Pokémon. The procession of Grunts eventually diverged. Some peeled off into a brightly lit room with the distinct sounds of Pokémon training – grunts of effort, the thwack of sparring partners.
Others veered into a soundproofed battle room, where faint roars and explosive impacts could be heard. The rest, including Diamond, shuffled towards a large, metallic elevator. Diamond observed, his mind racing, 'Training room? Battle room? No, that doesn't make sense. They wouldn't keep the Lake Guardians in plain sight or in a place where they could accidentally get hurt.'
He dismissed those options, knowing the elevator was his best bet, but even that felt too obvious. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he almost missed it. One of the Grunts ahead of him paused, glanced back. Their vacant, hooded eyes seemed to linger a moment too long on Diamond.
His nerves, already frayed, threatened to snap as he thought panicked, 'Did I stand out? Am I walking differently?'
Before the Grunt could say anything, or before Diamond could decide what to do, he saw a shimmering hexagonal platform on the floor to his right. Without thinking, his instinct to escape, overwhelming his caution, he stepped onto it.
*WHOOSH*
The world blurred, a kaleidoscopic swirl of color and light, and then, with a dizzying lurch, he was somewhere else. He blinked, disoriented, only to find himself standing directly in front of the very same Grunts he had just been with, who now looked at him with an even greater degree of suspicion.
One of them barked, "Hey! Where'd you just come from, ya weirdo?!"
Diamond's mind screamed, 'Oh no! I warped back!'
He looked down. Another hexagonal platform. He must've stepped on one that led in a loop as he thought, 'These must be shortcuts… or traps.'
He quickly stepped back onto the platform, hoping for a different outcome…
*WHOOSH*
Another disorienting warp. This time, he landed in a different section of the corridor, seemingly empty. Diamond thought carefully, 'Okay, okay, maybe these can work. I just must figure out the right path.'
The thought of getting hopelessly lost in this maze of warp pads, or worse, repeatedly landing in front of hostile Grunts, made a cold sweat prickle at his skin. He clutched his Poké Ball-laden jumpsuit nervously.
He didn't come here to play hide-and-seek with warp pads. He came to rescue his friends. He steeled his resolve, took a deep breath, and stepped onto another platform, hoping for a clearer path as he thought, 'Right. No time for hesitation.'
*WHOOSH*
This time, the sensation was even more jarring. He landed with a stumble, almost losing his balance. Before he could fully recover, a shrill, piercing cry erupted directly in front of his face, "CHAAAT!"
Diamond flinched, reeling back from the sudden noise. His eyes snapped open. Perched on a nearby railing, flapping its musical notes-shaped tail feathers, was a familiar Chatot. Its bright blue plumage and white face were unmistakable.
He exclaimed in shock, "Chatler?!"
Diamond breathed, utterly astonished. It was Pearl's Chatot!
Chatler chirped excitedly, hopping off the railing and fluttering around Diamond's head, rubbing its head against his cheek, "Chatler! Chat!"
It was a chaotic, joyful reunion. Diamond laughed, a wave of relief washing over him as he asked, "Chatler, it's really you! What are you doing here? Did Pearl send you? Are Pearl and Platinum close?"
Chatler landed on his shoulder, then nudged a small bag strapped to its back with its beak. Diamond looked and saw two Poké Balls jingling inside. He recognized them as he thought, 'Tru's! And Kit!'
Diamond exclaimed, his voice cracking with emotion, "Tru! Kit! You brought them! Chatler, thank you!"
He carefully took the Poké Balls, his heart swelling with gratitude. This wasn't just good news; it was a game-changer.
Chatler trilled proudly, "Chat-chat!"
Diamond immediately sent his partners out. With two bright flashes, Tru and Kit materialized, looking around with a mix of confusion and determination. Tru stomped a foot, sensing the tension, while Kit, the Lickilicky, looked ready for anything, his long tongue flickering.
But their eyes quickly sharpened when he saw Diamond. Diamond whispered, a genuine smile spreading across his face, even as he was still wearing the ill-fitting Grunt uniform, "Guys, I'm so glad everyone's here! We must be careful. We're deep inside Team Galactic's HQ."
Before he could explain further, a smooth, unctuous voice drifted from down the corridor, "Well, well, well. What have we here? A Grunt with a sudden interest in… companion Pokémon, perhaps?"
Diamond's blood ran cold. He spun around. Standing there, flanked by his ever-present Slowking, was Charon.
The scientist's expression was an unsettling blend of curiosity and malice, a thin smile on his lips. Slowking, its shell-crowned head held high, regarded Diamond with an intelligent, almost knowing gaze.
Charon continued, slowly approaching them, "And not just any Grunt, I observe. Your disguise, while… adequate, fails to mask the distinct aura of a Trainer of considerable, if unrefined, potential. And with such an assortment of Pokémon. I must say, I find myself rather delighted. I was just contemplating the lack of worthy opponents to test my latest marvels upon."
He paused, then his smile widened, a glint of predatory satisfaction in his eyes, asking, "You are here for the two Lake Guardians, no doubt. Am I correct?"
Diamond remained silent, his gaze unwavering, but his mind raced. Charon knew. He knew everything. Anger simmered beneath his fear.
Charon chuckled, a dry, rattling sound. He gestured with a dismissive hand towards a reinforced door at the end of the corridor, emblazoned with a peculiar, glowing word 'EXPERIMENT ROOM' as he said calmly, "They are in there, you see. In my 'science room,' as the Grunts so quaintly call it."
Diamond demanded, his voice suddenly firm, losing all trace of his earlier nervousness, "What are you doing to them?!"
His Pokémon instinctively shifted, ready to protect. Charon scoffed, a look of mild amusement on his face as he explained, "Doing to them? Hardly anything so crude. We are merely… extracting the necessary psychic crystals. They are quite comfortable, I assure you. Asleep, in fact. We wouldn't want them thrashing about and damaging the precious materials, would we?"
His eyes gleamed with cold calculation, adding coldly, "And that, my boy, is precisely why I cannot permit you entry."
*Clap*
He clapped his hands together, his voice sharp and commanding as he declared arrogantly, "Come forth, my magnificent creations! Show this boy the true power of Team Galactic's ingenuity!"
*Rumble*
From shadowed alcoves and side passages, three formidable Pokémon emerged, their forms imposing, their eyes disturbingly vacant, devoid of any discernible emotion or will. They moved with a chilling, almost mechanical precision.
First, a massive Onix, its rock segments gleaming, but its usual fierce expression replaced by a blank stare. Then, a Staraptor, its sharp talons flexing, its crest rigid, its eyes like black beads. Finally, a Drapion, its scorpion-like tail twitching, its pincers clicking menacingly, its face a mask of empty aggression.
These were not wild Pokémon; these were tools, honed for destruction.
Charon commanded, his voice filled with glee, "Onix! Screech!"
*SCREEEEE*
The gigantic Rock Snake Pokémon unleashed a deafening, metallic screech that vibrated through the very bones of the building, causing Diamond to wince and cover his ears. His Pokémon, too, reeled from the sonic assault.
But Charon didn't let up as he commanded boldly, "Drapion! Poison Fang on the turtle! Staraptor! Brave Bird on Lickilicky!"
*CRUNCH*
The Drapion lunged, its venomous fangs glinting, snapping down on Tru's protective shell. Tru cried out, a jolt of purple energy spreading from the bite mark.
*THWACK*
Simultaneously, Staraptor plummeted from above, a fiery comet of feathers and force, smashing into Kit with a powerful aerial slam of Brave Bird. Kit cried out, staggering, already showing signs of exhaustion.
Charon crowed, watching the brutal display as he arrogantly proclaimed, "Hah! Pathetic! Our plans are nearly complete, child! We still need to extract the remaining psychic crystals from Azelf and Mesprit. But once we capture Uxie from Azure—a certainty, I assure you—we will have all the components. The first Red Chain will be forged here, and with the combined power of all three Lake Guardians' essence, the second, even more potent chain, will be crafted! With Cyrus's power over Legendary Pokémon, imbued by these constructs, no one, not even the combined might of the Champions and Elite Four, would be able to stop him!"
Diamond, seeing his Pokémon hurt, feeling the venom and impact from Charon's cruel creations, clenched his fists. The fear was gone, replaced by a searing, righteous anger.
He growled, his voice hoarse, "I… I don't know what you're trying to do with these 'Red Chains' or whatever you call them, but if you're going to hurt innocent Pokémon like this, I promise you, I will stop you!"
Charon threw his head back and laughed, a shrill, unpleasant sound that echoed in the corridor in a mocking tone, "You? Stop us? Look at your Pokémon, boy! They lack skill, they are exhausted! They are clearly unprepared for true, cold, calculated battle!"
*BEEP—BEEP—BEEP*
But just as Charon finished his taunt, a faint, rhythmic beeping sound reached Diamond's ears. It was a familiar sound, one he knew intimately. The sound of three Pokédexes, close by. His friends Pearl and Platinum are coming.
His heart soared as he thought, 'They were here!'
Pearl and Platinum, his best friends, were in the building. A surge of renewed hope, hot and fierce, coursed through him. Charon might have his battle-hardened Pokémon, but he had something even better: friends.
His smile returned, wide and unshakeable, a stark contrast to Charon's sneer.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!