----
The base continued its rapid ascent toward the ocean surface. Kai didn't know what Team Rocket was planning—but whatever it was, he couldn't let it succeed. Without hesitation, he gave the order.
"[Gengar], [Gardevoir] attack!"
Ash, Misty, Ritchie, Brock, Erika, and Ritchie's partner all jumped in as well, their voices commanding their Pokémon.
Ash sent out [Pikachu] and [Heracross]; Ritchie followed up with his [Pikachu], and his [Charmeleon]. Misty deployed [Poliwhirl], Erika called on [Leafeon], and Brock released his [Forretress].
In a flash of movement and color, a barrage of moves slammed toward Team Rocket.
Jessie and James were completely overwhelmed. They had no chance of holding their ground they fell back quickly, letting their Pokémon take the hits. Despite the chaos, the two weren't panicked. Their goal was never to win just stall for time.
And time was ticking.
Within just a couple of minutes, the base had climbed so high that sunlight now shone through the windows. The darkness of the deep sea was gone, replaced by a shimmering orange hue from the setting sun.
They were nearing the surface.
---
Above the waterline…
Shu sat in the speedboat, anxiously watching the waves.
He leaned forward, trying to glimpse something anything beneath the water, though he knew it was hopeless. Still, he couldn't shake the worry gnawing at him.
Suddenly, the surface began to churn.
"…What the—?"
Foamy whirlpools erupted as the sea split open.
Shu's eyes widened.
He quickly backed the boat away as massive currents began swirling. With a thunderous splash, a giant metallic fortress surged out of the ocean like a surfacing submarine.
Water crashed against the hull and sent shockwaves across the sea.
Shu barely kept the boat upright.
He stared, stunned. "Is that… the Rocket base!?"
---
Inside the base…
Kai and the others continued their charge. They passed through another corridor when suddenly a warm beam of light broke through.
They turned in awe.
Sunlight.
They had broken the surface. The orange glow of the setting sun washed over them, serene and stunning amidst the chaos.
For a moment, they all froze.
And then—another alarm blared.
This one was sharper. Harsher. Urgent.
A robotic female voice echoed through the intercom:
> "Warning: Auto-destruct sequence initiated. Five minutes until detonation. All personnel must evacuate immediately. Warning…"
Kai's face hardened. "Self-destruct?"
Even Jessie and James went wide-eyed.
"What the hell—!?" Jessie gasped.
"That old creep!" James shouted. "He tricked us! He's blowing up the base!"
Jessie gritted her teeth. "He sent us here to stall them... just to leave us behind and cover his escape!"
Their fury was matched only by their fear.
"Run!" Jessie grabbed James by the collar and sprinted down the corridor.
And just like that, they vanished—fleeing in a panic.
The grunts, already demoralized, followed instantly. The halls were suddenly empty.
Only the alarm remained.
"Did… did they just abandon us?" Ritchie blinked.
Ash turned to Kai. "We need to get out of here. Now!"
Kai's expression was grim. "They're actually blowing up the entire base… That's insane."
He clenched his fist. "They'd rather destroy everything than let us expose it…"
No one disagreed.
They turned and ran in the direction the Rockets had fled, weaving through the chaotic base. Grunts were stampeding in every direction. No one was fighting anymore—everyone was running.
But as they ran, something tugged at Kai's mind.
Something… didn't add up.
Why lift the base to the surface at all?
If Rocket really wanted them dead, they could have detonated it underwater. That would've limited escape routes and trapped everyone.
So why bring it to the surface first?
Was it just to let their own agents escape? But then… where were the scientists?
As they passed through more rooms, Kai noticed something else strange.
No researchers. No scientists. Just grunts.
Even the computer rooms and labs were empty.
They're gone… already gone?
He didn't have time to think it through.
They finally reached the main exit. A flood of grunts was already leaping into the ocean, swimming away from the base like it was a sinking ship.
Jessie and James were nowhere in sight clearly among the first to flee.
Kai reached the edge of the hatch… and stopped.
Misty turned. "Kai? Why'd you stop? We have to go it's going to explode!"
Kai hesitated. He stared at the interior of the base.
"I'm not leaving. Not yet."
"What!?"
"I feel like something's off. This whole setup… doesn't sit right with me. You guys go ahead I'll catch up."
"Kai—!"
----
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