Chapter 164: Classroom chaos

Chapter 164: Classroom chaos

Gengar and Haunter led us into the building, with Gawain and Hypnotoad following behind them.

Outside, the building had blended in with the valley wall, with a few sparse windows that initially looked like cave entrances. From closer up, I could see that they were large sunlights that allowed light to filter down into a much larger structure.

Much to my, and the others' surprise, even with Sabrinas map, we didnt instantly walk into a building, however.

Instead, we walked into a long hallway of narrow, uncovered tunnels that caused us to walk single file. I instantly didnt like it.

It was like walking through a trench, only the trench was too deep to allow you to peer out of. It was, in fact, a chokepoint. Shrek, hop up there, I said, jerking my head upwards.

Gengar noticed the order and turned. Geng, gen, gaaaaar! he said mockingly.

I frowned and shook my head. Im not sure I follow."

Jenny stepped up. I think Gengar is saying that hes already cleared out the Team Rocket members that would have held this chokepoint.

Jennys announcement of what we were walking through caused a few of the police officers to stiffen. They quickly threw some pokeballs up onto the upper level. A few Machoke got on their knees and tried to lift up their trainers, only for the gap to be too tall.

I hummed and started looking along the tunnel walls.

The open tunnel was a trick Id heard Surge mention once about allowing defenders to have the high ground while limiting the flow of attackers. According to him, there would be hidden ladders in the walls that would allow defenders to reach the upper level, where they could launch attacks.

Check the walls for inbuilt ladders! I called, moving further along. After twenty metres, I found a door embedded in the wall that I couldnt open from my side. Get one of the Machoke I started to say, only for the door to click and open to reveal the pleased face of Gengar.

He waved me on, and I followed up a circular staircase that allowed me to walk out onto the raised level overlooking the entry tunnel. I found a number of snoring Rocket Grunts lying to the side where Gengar lounged, floating in the air with feigned nonchalance.

Done this before, have you? I asked, eying the ghost.

Gengar pointed at me like Id won a prize, and I could only nod. For all that Surge had told me about these sites, I had no doubt Agatha and her pokemon had actually done this probably a lot, considering how useful she and her team would be at phasing through walls.

I glanced around and realised just how much open space there was in this cavern. The building itself was a few hundred metres back from the valley wall and where beams of light shone down a number of gardens had been set up.

The building itself was modern in every sense. It had bright lights all around it that made it as bright as walking around under the sun for what looked like a multistory school complex. Large antennas extended up from the roof of the school into the cavern with support pillars rising up in certain areas to hold the overhead structure. It was a phenomenal work of engineering.

I had to shake my head and wonder how Team Rocket had managed to get all the work done on it. Was there a secret evil building corporation they could contract with for this sort of work?

It was an impressive setup and more than I had been expecting.

All of this for a school to teach criminals out of? I said with a shake of my head.

Jenny sighed. The lengths that criminals will go to so that they can have an edge she shook her head as she cuffed the hypnotised Rocket Grunts.

A rumble from outside caused me to frown as a section of wall on the far side crumbled. I watched the rocks tumble down, only for them to suddenly glow and shift to the side. A giant Onix appeared, and it stared at us as we in turn looked back. Then it roared, causing a number of the G-men to shift and bark orders for their pokemon to get ready to fight.

I scowled at the pokemon that was revealed. Hold your pokemon back, I called. Thats Brunos Onix, I said, recognising it from matches Id observed on Battlecast.

Sure enough, the Onix drew back and Bruno appeared a moment later, followed by a floating Sabrina who was scowling at Bruno. Bruno didnt seem to care as he merely walked on.

Sabrina swept her gaze over our group and locked onto me. She lowered herself into a walk as the rocks that Onix had knocked from the wall rose and wedged themselves further into the wall.

I glanced at it. Good to see you; that was a strong entrance, I said grinning only to falter as Sabrina gave me the flattest expression Id ever seen.

Sabrina stared at me like a woman who was just so done with today.

You alright? I asked.

Sabrina just shook her head. No. Her eyes flickered towards Bruno before coming back to me.

She rubbed at her temple. We were delayed in our entry due to Lances group losing track of the Executives and some of the Grunts that attacked his group. They were disguise specialists, and Lance wasnt sure how to proceed, so he called me in to find the woman and her lackeys.

She was hiding as one of the G-men? I said leadingly.

No, she said, giving me a confused look. She had burrowed into the ground and was escaping with a pokemon that knew how to Dig. She was close to getting out and Teleporting when I intercepted her.

Sabrina tilted her head and inspected me. Is that what happened to your group?

I nodded. Yeah, but Looker is something of a savant when it comes to disguises,; plucked him right out of the crowd.

Sabrina frowned and a lightbulb seemed to go off as she perked up. I had best go and secure him then, there were a number of devices that we found on Executive Sham that would allow her to break captivity. She pecked me on the cheek and then marched away quickly.

Good luck with Bruno, she said over her shoulder.

I blinked as she hurried away quickly. What was that about?

Alright! Attack! Bruno said, causing me to snap my head around, realising that Bruno had moved past me to the front of the group and was now pointing straight at the underground building.

Hey, wait what?! I said. We needed to clear the field first and check for traps first!

Bruno ignored me. You all heard me! Lets go! Follow my lead! He popped a few pokeballs and a pair of pokemon were revealed. Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, get in there and start busting skulls! The faster we get this done, the faster we can get back to training! he barked.

The pokemon sprinted away and I could only gape as they jumped through a window instead of the main entrance. The sound of fighting soon broke out.

Woah! Bruno! What are you doing? I said, inserting myself in front of him and putting my hands up to block him.

When he kept walking I dug my heels in and glowered at him.

We need to secure this site, not destroy it! I growled.

Koga and Agatha can handle that; Ill take out the threats, he said.

If you destroy the building, that wont help! Team Rocket are notorious for trapping their buildings! We need to be smart about this! I said just as an explosion went off in the room Hitmonchan had leapt through.

It wont break from a few lovetaps. Bruno cracked his neck right and left. It might draw out any other strong trainers, though. He seemed all too interested in this line of thought. It did, however, cause him to stop pushing against me, so that was good.

I relaxed a little and ran through what hed said. It somewhat made sense, even if it was only barely logical.

Well I said trying to conjure up an argument that would appeal to him. You should probably stay out here with a few people then! Chances are a strong trainer will come to pinch us off here! You need to stay here and I searched for the right words. Be a threat they cant ignore! I said aloud while mentally designating him as securing the line of evacuation if things turned ugly.

Hmmmmmm, he said, rubbing his chin in thought. He nodded slowly and then unclipped two more pokemon. Im going to have to think about that Machamp! Heracross! Get in there! he shouted.

I whirled around but could only watch as the pair of pokemon charged across the open ground without setting anything off.

Bruno! We have a guide pokemon to get us past some of the traps! You dont need to do that! I said, indicating the Gengar lying to the side. It waved lazily and turned back to watching Machamp and Heracross.

The Machamp leapt through another window while the Heracross went to the rooftops where a fight started to break out.

I felt a throbbing build in my head. Was this what Sabrina had been forced to deal with for the last it couldnt have been longer than half an hour, surely? Id been with Bruno for no more than two minutes and he was already causing me a headache.

Shit! They found us! Launch the ordinance! shouted a voice on the roof.

Everyone in our group snapped their heads up as a wave of pokeballs were launched with a choom into the air.

They released Graveler, Weezing, Electrode, and other pokemon that I could recognise as all being capable of using Explosion or similar moves.

BRACE! Pokemon out and knock them back! I shouted releasing the pokemon Id withdrawn into their pokeballs once more. The air suddenly filled with rocks that acted like anti-air.

Bruno grinned and released his own team. Knock em flat! Hoo hah! he said.

He then raised his hands wide as though he was welcoming the wave of pokemon arcing towards us.

His pokemon roared along with him and unleashed their own barrage.

Most of the Pokemon fell short, while others, capable of hovering, proceeded to slowly drift down towards us. Others hit the ground and rolled. Some of them began to glow as they did so. The threat of them exploding in our midst caused warning sirens to ring out through my mind.

Selene moved before me and glowed, causing a huge sweep of psychic energy to radiate out of her and push back the falling pokemon.

Some detonated early and a wave of force washed over us. A number of people stumbled and fell back, but none were harmed, with the explosive pokemon never getting close to us.

Bruno laughed. Ha! That was great! He cupped his hands around his mouth. Got any more? he shouted to the rooftop Rocket Grunts.

I, and a good number of the rather frazzled-looking G-men, glared at Bruno.

When Team Rocket launched another barrage, the glares intensified. Bruno just laughed.

I stepped back and took in the situation. The rooftops of the academy all played host to a team of Rockets that were firing what looked like mortars with pokeballs up into the air. I wasnt sure how much ammunition they had, but I didnt want to allow them to keep arcing exploding pokemon at us.

I pointed to a few G-men. Circle some pokemon around and get them up on the roof to join Brunos Heracross! We need those mortars taken out!

Sir! said the pair. I scowled. If I hadnt left Zephyr and Don outside, I might have had the perfect pair of pokemon to take out the bunkers. Instead, I had to delegate and endure the wave of pokemon that were being launched at us.

Inspecting the actual threat made me realise wed been fortunate to not have advanced closer to the academy when we emerged from the tunnel.

If we had, wed have been in the firing range of the mortars.

Bruno, for all that hed leapt without considering or conferring on how we should approach this, had triggered a rather dangerous trap before anyone could truly be threatened by it.

Another rumble behind me had me looking back to see Lance knocking his own entrance into the side of the valley to lead his group in. He made sure to take a moment to stop with the light behind him.

Having some trouble, Gym Leader? he said as his cape flapped around him grandly.

I huffed. Stop posing and get in here. Brunos forcing Team Rocket to up their game, and we need the firing teams on top of the Academy taken out.

Lance inspected the issue, ignoring how various pokemon from Team Rocket were being piled up as they exploded and knocked themselves out. I grimaced, knowing that the callous use of explosive pokemon in this fashion would see many of them not getting back up.

Ever.

The knocked-out pokemon were being blown around by subsequent explosions too much.

A window of information appeared with a much more detailed picture of the pokemon. Dont do that! The screen is touch! snapped the woman but she leaned in to read what had been revealed. Gible? Ive never heard of that pokemon before she muttered.

I sighed. Its a pokemon from a different region Ive encountered texts about it before Its from a place called Sinnoh, which we lost contact with.

The woman looked interested in what I was saying, but the man was eying the Gible. Look at this! Theyve even got information on who they stole it from? This one was a wild capture from a nest? Damn Team Rocket thats cold! This is a baby pokemon he said, tapping on another pokemon next to Gible and a Tentacruel was revealed.

Stolen from Mark Jnr two years ago? he murmured.

Hey! Go back to the other pokemon! snapped the woman, tapping on the screen.

I wasnt done reading that! said the man, tapping back, only for his hand to be slapped away.

Because of this, his hand hit another button to the side as Gibles information was brought up. Another prompt came up.

Withdrawing pokemon.

A noise whirred as, behind us, one of the server banks whirred to life.

Shit! what did you do? wailed the woman, tapping on the screen to stop it only for the man to get in her way.

Stop! I barked, making them freeze. Just let it play out, and we can see what happens. Smashing our faces on the keyboard wont help, I said firmly.

The pair nodded contritely.

I ignored the woman as she jammed an elbow into the mans ribs. Next to the computer, a chute appeared with a raised receptacle. A noise like a ball rolling came from the chute, and a moment later, an ultra ball appeared.

Huh, it deposits the pokem was all I got to say before the ball popped open and a small pokemon appeared. It tottered from side to side as though dizzy before sneezing, causing itself to fall onto its back where it tottered on its back before rolling around.

Daaaaw! Its ador was as far as the woman got before the Gible smiled at her, revealing its sharklike teeth.

Gib? said the little pokemon with a tilt of its body.

The woman froze, while the man screamed in surprise. Gible stiffened at the sudden noise and then turned and sprinted away.

Gible wove its way through the server banks, dodging as people sprinted to find out what was going on, causing more noise and further frightening the tiny pokemon. It made for the door only to be denied by a Machoke.

It turned and threw itself into a small space at the bottom of one of the servers where it made tiny growling noises.

I stood, listening to people shout orders and suggestions. I clapped my hands together once and silenced everyone. Alright, lets calm down. Gible is a rare pokemon from another region but its just come to, in less than ideal circumstances. Give it some room! I said moving towards where everyone had gathered. Check your security points as well!

That got everyone hurriedly striding back to where they were supposed to be.

Jenny eyed the bottom of the server where the Gible was hiding. You got this? she asked.

I nodded, reaching into my pouch to pull out some pokemon food and a collapsible pokemon bowl which I filled with water.

I put both into the server cubbyhole, ignoring as Gible flinched and nipped at me. I made sure to strengthen myself with rock aura to allow me to ignore the tiny bite.

Hey little one, I said, recalling what Id seen of the Gibles information. Youre scared and confused. I would be too. Youre a long way from home, arent you? How about you have some food and water and calm down?

Gible didnt say anything and I sat down, content to let things deescalate. A few moments later, the sound of food being devoured could be heard and I smiled. When Gible was done the bowl was pushed around a bit causing scraping noises to fill the room as Gible tried to get every morsel of food it could.

Want some more? I asked.

Gible paused at that and stepped closer to the edge to look me over.

I raised an eyebrow at it. Brave little one, arent you? I said calmly.

Gible continued out and glanced around. When it noticed all the eyes on it it backed up and I chuckled drawing its attention back to me. Youre alright, were the good guys. We just beat up the people that took you away from your home, and found you. Sorry for pulling you out like that but wed never seen a pokemon like you before.

Gib? it said.

I shrugged. Well, youre pretty rare around here. Youre in a different region. This is Kanto, specifically the northeast part, not that it will mean much. I put a hand on my chest. My name is Brock. I waved a hand, and Selene floated down. This is Selene, shes part of my pokemon team and is very strong and nice. Could you let her talk with you?

Gible ventured a little more out and began speaking with Selene.

My pokemon nodded along with whatever was said. I hummed and pulled out some more food, causing Gible to turn away from its conversation. It shifted from foot to foot and looked me over.

It apparently liked what it saw as it strode up to me, hopped in my lap and began to quickly devour the offering of food I had. I snorted. This was just like a baby pokemon or a little kid.

When Gible was done it yawned, its giant mouth stretching wide before it turned in a circle a few times before settling down in my lap. It reached out with a tiny hand and grabbed my shirt. I looked into the single eye visible as it watched me. Gible? it asked quietly.

I raised a hand and gently ran my hand over its fin. Youre safe, I said gently.

Gibles eye closed shut, and it began to slumber.

I sighed. Well, that pulled on the heartstrings a bit.

I remained seated and endured a wave of G-men patrolling past me and smiling at the sight of me sitting quietly with the tiny pokemon in my lap with Selene resting at my side.

Jenny inched up and smiled. Hes certainly different from the local pokemon, isnt he? She leaned a little in and took a picture of him and I together. He alright? she asked.

I shrugged. He might be a she. I have no idea of its gender I tilted my head. Unless it says so on the information about Gible? I asked.

Jenny shrugged, and I hummed. Something to work out later. Well, Gible was pretty stressed out. I think sleep is just its way of dealing with the stress of finding itself in another region away from its family. I dont think the rest he got in the storage system was quite right for him. I accepted the Ultra ball and settled in to wait for Gible to wake up.

Jenny went over to the storage device and brought up the past information to learn what she could after twenty minutes she reported her findings. Gible was a male. Jenny stared at her notepad. He had been caught in a cave system so hes probably rock-type, she said with a nod.

I almost spoke up and corrected her, before realising I would have no way of justifying said knowledge. So I stayed quiet.

In the end, Gible remained asleep for another thirty minutes when Lance and Sabrina walked in and found me sitting on the floor still.

I waved. Hey, we had a little incident, I said.

Lance tilted his head while Sabrina merely raised her transceiver and took a picture.

Lance sighed. So, this is where youve been. I was wondering if youd chased after Bruno. I raised an eyebrow, and he waved the statement off. Instead, he directed his gaze to the pokemon slumbering in my lap. Is that a trainers pokemon?

Wild pokemon that Team Rocket got from its nest in Sinnoh from a cave, I said. I felt an idea form. Jenny thinks its rock type, which is why it likes me. I knew otherwise. Food and treating it kindly had done me a lot of favours.

Lance clicked his teeth. Damn, proper confirmation that they do have access to another region. Weve found some notes in the main offices, thanks to Sabrina.

Sabrina inclined her head and crouched down to inch her way towards me. When she reached me she crouched down and extended a hand towards Gible. Gible opened his mouth and Sabrina twitched before continuing to reach forward. No. Biting. Me, she said, making sure to enunciate her words.

Gible stilled and watched her hand slowly move forward to lightly brush against his skin. Hes rather coarse? she said. She continued to rub his head lightly. Hes very small, Sabrina said.

Baby pokemon, I said, causing the scowl to deepen on Lances face as he remained standing, looking about the servers. He got withdrawn from the pokemon storage system when some G-men unlocked it and realised how many pokemon there were. They found this guy and got curious.

He looked to the side and saw the computer. Good work on securing the computer! Lance barked.

This caused Gible to stiffen in surprise and snap his mouth closed. Sabrina didnt withdraw her hand, she must have realised Lance had merely startled the little pokemon. She shot Lance a flat stare.

Lance coughed sheepishly. Well, seeing as thats not a stolen pokemon and I dont want to put it back into the servers Gible cowered at the mention of the server. Lance nodded. Brock, can you take this one in? he said with a smirk, knowing I wouldnt reject it.

I dont think we should give out pokemon like that, I said, more for appearance's sake than any true objection. Mentally I was laughing with glee. Lance had no idea!

Lance waved it off. It needs a nurturing environment, and your Gym has a good record for taking in young pokemon. He nodded his head to the side.

I frowned, to keep selling the act. Well, alright. I suppose I could take him in.

Sabrina paused in stroking Gible to eye me. She knew me well enough to know something was happening here but she wasnt sure what.

Lance smirked like hed gotten one over on me. Heh.

I rolled my eyes at him. So, this is all wrapped up, and we can go home until we raid the next place?

Lances smirk grew. Oh, weve actually not stopped raiding sites.

I blinked.Huh?

Lance chuckled. Ranger Hank has been rallying the rest of the pokemon Rangers and some of the new Frontier Leaders have also stepped in. Team Rocket has had a number of other sites raided. All at the same time, Lance announced with a certain level of glee.

Weve raided a number of other bases and discovered a lot of equipment, such as giant robots and submarines, that weve confiscated. We dont yet have the true executives, it would seem, but their days are numbered. Were going to keep tightening the noose, dont doubt that Brock!

Any hint on the Rocket Brass? I asked, hoping that Lance knew who his real enemy was.

Lance hummed. We have some ideas, but were not going to say anything more here.

He glanced around and I felt a surge of hope. Well talk more back at the League, he said carefully.

If things played out as I hoped, Giovanni was soon going to have some people knocking on his door.

Gible shifted in my lap and warbled up at me. I fed him again and glanced down at my newest pokemon?

When Lance moved off to check something else Sabrina tapped me. What has you so smug? she said firmly.

I grinned and leaned in to whisper in her ear. Gible are ground-dragon type, not rock type.

Sabrina shot Gible a surprised look and then laughed darkly. I merely chuckled.

I certainly wasnt going to say no to a pokemon that evolved into Garchomp, a signature pokemon of Cynthia, one of the all-time strongest Champions around.

He was also a pseudo-legendary.

While Lance was patting himself on the back for his clever ploy, I was going to take home a real prize today.

Well, this certainly wasnt how I was expecting to finish out my weekend, but I certainly wasnt complaining.