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"We can't be certain about the details," Gary said, shaking his head slightly. "Misty and Brock didn't actually witness what happened during the process. However, I did hear that when they were pursuing Zapdos in Power Plant, Ash apparently tried to stop Team Rocket at some point."
The problem was that neither Misty nor Brock knew exactly what had transpired during those crucial moments. This lack of information was the most troubling aspect of the entire situation. Professor Oak's expression grew increasingly grave as he listened to Gary's account.
"Zapdos?" Professor Oak's voice carried a dark undertone as he processed this information. Although their ultimate purpose remained unclear, Team Rocket had always made it their business to capture rare and powerful Pokemon. The fact that they were attempting to capture one of the legendary Three Birds was deeply concerning.
For an operation of this magnitude - capturing a legendary Pokemon like Zapdos - the team members involved couldn't possibly be ordinary Team Rocket grunts. These would have to be elite operatives. Professor Oak contemplated this troubling development for several moments before speaking again.
"Here's what we'll do," Professor Oak said, his voice taking on a more decisive tone. "You need to contact the police immediately, and I'll reach out to some people who might be able to help us." Despite his concern, Professor Oak managed to maintain his composure. He wasn't allowing himself to panic completely.
Based on his extensive knowledge of Ash's character and abilities, Professor Oak believed that the young trainer should be capable of protecting himself in most dangerous situations. The most critical task now was to determine where Team Rocket had taken Ash before they could mount any kind of rescue operation.
"Understood! I'll get right on it," Gary replied with a slight nod. There really wasn't any other viable option at this point.
"Well... I'll be staying on Cinnabar Island temporarily," Green interjected after listening to their conversation. "If you receive any news about Ash's whereabouts, please contact me immediately. I want to help in whatever way I can."
Green had originally planned to continue her journey after obtaining her latest Gym Badge, but after hearing about Ash's predicament, she decided to postpone her travels. After all, if she left the area now, she wouldn't be able to maintain contact during her journey, and she might miss important developments.
"Absolutely! I'll contact you the moment we learn anything new," Professor Oak assured her. With that understanding established, all three of them ended their phone conversation.
"Team Rocket..." Professor Oak muttered under his breath after hanging up the phone.
The professor's expression had become as dark as storm clouds. Team Rocket had been increasingly active in recent years, causing significant trouble for trainers throughout the region. Their operations had become more brazen and their targets more ambitious.
Professor Oak had encountered Team Rocket's activities before during the incident in Porta Vista, but at that time, he hadn't been overly concerned about their capabilities. The situation had seemed manageable then.
He never expected that this time, they would succeed in capturing Ash. This was an entirely different level of threat.
After considering their options for several minutes, Professor Oak seemed to reach a decision. He picked up the phone again and dialed a specific number - one he hadn't called in quite some time.
After a brief wait, the call connected.
"It's really unusual for you to take the initiative to contact me," came a voice from the other end.
A figure soon appeared on the video screen. When the person saw Professor Oak, their tone didn't sound particularly welcoming. From the voice, it was clearly a woman, though her face wasn't fully visible on the screen.
Her voice suggested she was relatively young, but there was an unmistakable aura of authority and power in her tone - the kind that came from years of experience and considerable strength.
"You haven't changed a bit after all these years," Professor Oak observed, looking somewhat helpless as he let out a small sigh.
"Hmph! If you don't want to see me, then don't contact me," the woman replied curtly. "You never call unless you need something. What is it this time?"
After listening to Professor Oak's comment, the person on the other end clearly didn't want to engage in pleasantries. Her temperament seemed quite fiery, and she appeared unwilling to waste time on casual conversation with Professor Oak.
"I'm afraid I have a serious situation here," Professor Oak said with another slight sigh, seemingly accustomed to dealing with the other person's difficult personality. Despite her consistently hostile attitude, Professor Oak didn't take offense at her sharp temper as he explained his request for assistance.
"A child has been kidnapped by Team Rocket in Neon Town. His current whereabouts are unknown, and I was hoping you might be able to help locate him."
The person on the other side seemed genuinely surprised by this information. Her eyes shifted noticeably when she heard Team Rocket mentioned. Despite her naturally volatile temperament, there was even a hint of cold anger in her gaze. However, she gradually composed herself when addressing Professor Oak directly.
"Team Rocket?" she said, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "Team Rocket members are causing chaos everywhere these days. There are countless trainers who have been hurt by their actions. Why should I specifically help you with this case?"
The woman seemed to be deliberately making things difficult, as if testing Professor Oak's resolve. Professor Oak fell silent after hearing her challenge.
"Honestly!" the woman continued, her voice growing more heated. "You've been like this since the old days. I told you to stay away from me back then, but you insisted on getting closer. Now you've gone off on your own path and suddenly come back asking me for help?"
"Let me remind you - you didn't have to ask me for assistance originally. You're the one who chose to abandon Pokemon training to pursue research instead. In the past, you could have handled this kind of situation yourself without needing anyone's help."
She seemed to become more talkative as her emotions intensified. When facing Professor Oak, her tone carried what sounded like a deep, long-held grudge. Professor Oak slowly raised his head after listening to her accusations.
"What happened in the past is in the past," he said quietly but firmly. "I know you're dissatisfied with the decisions I made afterward, but I want you to know that I have never regretted my original choice to pursue research."
"Then why don't you handle this rescue yourself? Why come to me?" the woman's temper seemed to be escalating, and she appeared to be pushing Professor Oak to justify his request. "This is your protégé, not mine."
"If you don't want to save this particular child," Professor Oak said after a moment of silence, "then let me ask you this: if this were that person's child, would you save them?"
When the figure on the screen heard Professor Oak mention "that person," her previously calm demeanor began to change dramatically. Her entire posture shifted, and her expression became more intense.
"The one who was taken away... was that man's son?" she asked, her voice now carrying a different quality entirely.
"That's correct," Professor Oak confirmed.
"Furthermore, from what I understand, he was captured specifically because he tried to prevent Team Rocket from capturing the Three Legendary Birds. I believe you'll agree that this isn't a small matter - not for you, and not for anyone who cares about the balance of power in our world."
Professor Oak seemed to have anticipated that the other party would make things difficult for him, but he had come prepared with this crucial information. While Team Rocket's general activities of wreaking havoc and stealing Pokemon were certainly problematic, the situation involving the capture of legendary Pokemon like the Three Sacred Birds was obviously much more serious in scope and potential consequences. He knew she wouldn't be able to ignore a threat of this magnitude.
"Hmph! Really, just like that guy - you're both impossibly troublesome people!" the woman said, though her complaint now carried less venom and more exasperation.
"That's all I have to say about the situation," Professor Oak concluded. "It's entirely up to you whether you want to help save him or simply stand by and do nothing while events unfold."
"There's no need to use such obvious provocation tactics on me," the woman replied, though there was now a note of resignation in her voice. "I can tell the difference between serious matters and trivial ones. I will investigate this situation thoroughly and take appropriate action."
She paused for a moment before adding, "But if he really is that person's son and he can't handle this kind of challenge on his own, then maybe he deserves whatever fate awaits him!"
Immediately after delivering that harsh final statement, the woman abruptly terminated the phone call. Professor Oak watched as the screen in front of him went dark, and he let out another quiet sigh.
"She really hasn't changed at all," he murmured to himself.
However, despite his seemingly casual observation, there was a trace of genuine self-reproach visible in Professor Oak's eyes. But he gradually composed himself and regained his typical calm demeanor. After all, this was not the time for dwelling on past regrets or emotional complications. Ash's life hung in the balance, and his fate remained uncertain.
The weight of responsibility settled heavily on Professor Oak's shoulders as he contemplated their next moves. The legendary Pokemon researcher had called in a favor from someone with a complicated past, someone whose abilities he knew well despite their strained relationship. Whether this gambit would pay off remained to be seen, but for Ash's sake, he had to try every option available to him.
Time was running out, and somewhere out there, Team Rocket was advancing their mysterious plans involving both Ash and the legendary Moltres. The stakes had never been higher, and the outcome would depend on whether old alliances could overcome past grievances when it truly mattered.