Chapter 364: The Boss Makes His Move
~Third POV~
[Sevii Islands, Hours Later, Three Island]
The salt-laced wind of the Sevii Islands typically carried the promise of tranquility and quiet solitude. But on Three Island, often affectionately dubbed "Kin Island" due to its connection via the graceful arch of the Bond Bridge to the smaller, "child" landmass, that silence was about to be savagely broken.
On the peaceful, sun-drenched path leading toward the famous Berry Forest, a roar of engines shattered the afternoon calm. A gang of rough-looking Bikers, clad in worn leather and mounted on customized, high-powered motorbikes, screeched to a halt.
One of the members grunted, a scraggly member, pointing to a weathered sign indicating the forest boundary, "So this is it, boss. They call this place Kin Island, the bigger one connected to the little one. And this area? It's prime for picking."
The leader, a hulking man named Jaxon whose face was hidden beneath a scarred helmet, revved his engine, the sound vibrating through the earth. He asked curiously, "The Berry Forest, huh? Heard the haul here is worth a fortune. Get ready, boys. We take every last one, then we torch the place. No witnesses, no trace."
His decree was met with enthusiastic, destructive cheers. They were already spreading out their machines, preparing to dismantle the security fences, when a sudden, high-pitched squeak and a flash of brown interrupted their aggressive preparations.
*Rustle*
A young girl, barely into her teens, burst out of the dense undergrowth, her eyes wide with predatory focus. She was chasing a small, segmented Pokémon that zipped across the path just feet in front of the lead bike.
She yelled, completely oblivious to the leather-clad wall of trouble she had just run into, "Gotcha, Dunsparce, you little sneak!"
*THUD*
Jaxon slammed his brakes, the front wheel of his bike stopping inches from the girl's outstretched hand. The sudden stop threw him forward.
He yanked up his helmet's visor, revealing a face contorted with rage. Jaxon roared, dismounting his bike with powerful, heavy steps, "Hey! Watch where you're going, you lousy brat!"
He towered over the girl, who finally realized her precarious position as he continued, "You just cost me a clean stop. You got a problem, huh? You interrupt our business, you're gonna find out how tough real trouble is!"
Jaxon raised a thick, gloved hand, clearly intending to strike. The girl flinched, covering her face, clenching her Dunsparce tightly.
*SCREEEE*
Before the violence could land, the air itself seemed to crackle. A low, guttural screech, entirely unlike any natural Pokémon cry, echoed from the same patch of high grass the girl had emerged from.
In a flash of crimson and white, a creature materialized. It was humanoid but utterly alien, composed of sinuous, segmented limbs and a large, singular orb where a head should be. Its body was a vibrant, alarming red.
It was Organism No. 2, the entity known in scientific circles, and soon to be known globally, as Deoxys. The alien Pokémon didn't hesitate.
*ZOOOM*
*SMACK*
It moved with impossible speed, a blur of telekinetically-charged fury. One of its tentacle-like arms lashed out, striking the nearest motorbike with the force of a wrecking ball. The engine exploded in a shower of sparks and mangled metal.
*BOOOM*
The Bikers gasped, dumbfounded, as Deoxys went on a rampage. It wasn't attacking them directly yet, but focusing its immense power on their livelihoods.
*Shiii*
Bikes were lifted, twisted into knots, and flung into the Berry Forest signs, shredding them. One Biker tried to send out his Koffing, only for the Pokémon to be instantly paralyzed by an invisible psychic field.
Jaxon, momentarily forgetting the girl, stumbled backward and roared, "What in the blazing Magikarp is that thing?!"
Deoxys turned its single, focused eye toward the gang. It emitted another terrifying sound—a high-pitched shriek of pure, alien hostility—and psychic energy rippled outward, "DEOOOO!!!!"
The remaining Bikers were instantly lifted off their feet, their bodies tossing and turning like ragdolls before being slammed hard into the dirt several yards away. The chaos subsided as quickly as it had begun.
The girl, shaking but unharmed, watched in stunned silence as the red creature stabilized, its form humming with residual energy, before vanishing back into the tall grass. The only evidence of its visit was the wreckage of six high-powered motorcycles and the terrified whimpering of the Biker gang.
/////
[Sevii Islands, Meanwhile, One Island – Pokémon Net Center]
Meanwhile, miles away on One Island, the heart of the Sevii Islands Network Center pulsed with frantic, if quiet, activity. Inside the technical hub, known for its sprawling computer equipment and the distinctive, slightly eccentric aroma of Bill the PC genius, work was underway.
Bill himself, known for his perpetually rumpled lab coat, maneuvered a bulky diagnostic unit while his faithful Farfetch'd clutched a pair of specialized pliers in its beak. Bill muttered, "Steady, Farfetch'd. We need to recalibrate the input matrices before we can fully restore the Storage System. This whole 'invisible attack' business really gave the core programming a headache."
He paused, sighing heavily as he helplessly lamented, murmuring under his breath, "I still wish Red and Blue hadn't rushed off to train with Ultima on Island Two. They disappear for intense training the moment things get hairy. It's always the way with those Dex Holders. One trouble after another."
He shrugged, recognizing he couldn't change the unstoppable intensity of rival prodigies. Bill continued his path toward the main server banks, which led him past the temporary medical and resting quarters the team had set up.
He passed a doorway that was currently guarded by a magnificent, muscular Arcanine, whose noble face rested patiently on its paws, though its eyes were half-open, perpetually alert. Inside the quiet room, the scene was one of carefully maintained peace.
Green, the Dex Holder specialized in evolution, lay deeply asleep in the bed, recovering from shock and exhaustion. Sitting beside her, maintaining a silent vigil, was Azure.
Azure was not physically imposing in the way Red or Blue were; he was lean and composed, but the air around him conveyed an unnatural, soothing sensation. He was a veteran Ace Trainer and had experience far beyond his years in this world.
He didn't want the spotlight; he wanted strategic positioning. His team was resting around him, a testament to coordinated power and deep trust.
The Arcanine at the door was an anchor of fire and loyalty. A sleek, Shiny Gengar, normally mischievous, floated quietly near the far wall, its eyes glowing faintly. Gengar didn't need typical sleep; it was currently playing with Azure's Arc Phone, running silent system checks, acting as an intangible, invisible sentry.
On a separate bed, Azure's massive, Dragonite snored softly, looking more like an oversized, friendly plush toy than a terrifying pseudo-legendary. Nearest to Green, perched atop Arcanine's thick, fiery mane, were Azure's two oldest partners: Pikachu and Eevee.
Both were nestled comfortably, their own exhaustion evident. And finally, perched on the headboard of Green's bed, its metal shell gleaming, was Scizor, its pincers crossed over its chest, utterly motionless—the epitome of a dedicated, silent guardian.
Bill sighed in profound relief. Azure's presence was a stabilizing force.
He had been the one to intercept the greatest threat the islands had recently faced: the terrifying, alien attack that had targeted the Network Center, later revealed by Azure's Viridian Force to be Deoxys.
Bill recalled the frantic hours just after the assault. Azure, drawing on his knowledge and deep strategic reserves, had managed to track and engage the extraterrestrial Pokémon. It had taken the full, synchronized effort of his elite team to subdue and eventually capture the impossible creature.
He had won the encounter, but the strain had been visible, and he had been left severely depleted. Bill thought, observing the quiet devotion in Azure's posture, 'He's taking this seriously. He hasn't left her side since…'
He made one last attempt to alert the other Dex Holders. He raised his own Rotom Phone and dialed the number for Island Two to call Red or Blue.
*Beep*
The call was answered almost instantly by a severe, synthesized voice that answered, "Hello? Ultima speaking."
Hearing the call, Bill began to explain the situation of what occurred hours ago, "Ultima, it's Bill. I need to get a message to Red and Blue. The Network System is damaged, and Green is recovering from a major incident—The threat—"
Ultima's voice cut in, sharp and uncompromising as she rudely interrupted, "Negative, Bill. They are deep in the Flow. They are undergoing the final stages of the Ultimate technique training. No distractions. No news. I will contact you when they are ready."
*Beep*
The line went dead, leaving a frustrated Bill staring at the disconnected screen. He shook his head, then turned back to the room where Azure was keeping watch.
The scene of the quiet trainer, surrounded by his sleeping, impressive arsenal, next to the recovering Green, sparked an entirely different thought in Bill's usually technical mind as he thought curiously, 'He beat a legendary alien Pokémon just to protect her, and now he's guarding her sleep with a team worth two Champions.'
Bill couldn't help the sly grin that spread across his face. Azure was famously private, dodging the public eye despite his unparalleled skill, but this level of possessive protectiveness was something else entirely.
Bill mused internally, filing away this new piece of information with delight, 'I bet they are dating. I last heard Green kissing him on the cheek years ago during the Tenth Pokémon League Tournament. And seeing this… maybe I'm on to something.'
He knew Red was obsessed with battling and Blue with traveling, but if Azure Sky—the enigmatic veteran who refused accolades—was smitten, the potential for teasing material was infinite.
Bill's moment of levity evaporated abruptly when Celio, the Network Center's other main technician, rushed out of the server room. Celio exclaimed, panicked, "Bill! We're done with the core fixes, but you need to see this! Go to the Network Machine! We're still getting weird interference! The system is detecting a massive, localized energy field coming from Three Island, but there's no known source! It's spiking the scanners!"
Bill instantly sobered, all thoughts of romance forgotten. He nodded sharply and hurried to the main console as he thought, concerned, 'An unknown energy field, just as they thought they had secured the islands?'
Hearing the news didn't help Bill feel the sense of unease about this situation. He hurried to Ceilo to understand more of what's going on…
/////
[Sevii Islands, Mins. Later, Three Island]
Back on Three Island, the wreckage of the Biker gang's vehicles smoldered. The Biker leader, Jaxon, staggered to his feet, nursing a throbbing neck.
He immediately spotted the large, red humanoid form of Deoxys hovering momentarily above the Berry Forest treetops. It glanced down at the ruined scene, its body briefly shifting into a leaner, more aerodynamic profile form, before it rocketed away, leaving a sonic boom in its wake.
Jaxon wheezed, rubbing his bruised throat, "W-what was that?"
The creature had lifted him effortlessly before tossing him aside like refuse. He looked around wildly, seeing his gang groaning in the dirt. Suddenly, he noticed movement near the Bond Bridge entrance.
A solitary figure was walking toward the scene. The man was impeccably dressed in a pristine black suit, radiating authority and cold competence.
Jaxon, surprised, desperate, and terrified, saw the newcomer as a potential rescuer as he yelled for help, "Hey! You! You gotta help us! A monster—a Pokémon—it wrecked everything! It tried to kill us!"
The man in black stopped about ten feet from Jaxon. His expression was utterly devoid of empathy, his eyes sharp and analytical. Without a word, he simply raised his hand and delivered a sharp, backhanded smack across Jaxon's face.
*SMACK*
The Biker leader stumbled back, spitting blood and disbelief. He roared in anger, being bitched slapped, "What the—?! You think that's funny, wise guy? You must be with that thing! You're helping that monster!"
Rage, fueled by fear and humiliation, boiled over Jaxon's terror. He fumbled for a Poké Ball, hurling at the man, "Fine! If you want a fight, you got one! Magmar, torch this guy!"
*Pop*
A thick, duck-billed Pokémon erupted from the Ball in a flash of light, its shoulder flames instantly igniting. Magmar let out a challenging roar and began charging a massive Fire Blast to incinerate the man.
*SSSS*
The man in black remained perfectly calm. He didn't flinch at the heat pouring off the incoming attack. He merely reached into his coat pocket with smooth, unhurried precision and released his own Pokémon.
The man said coldly, his voice deep and commanding, "Nidoking. Dispense with this triviality. Rock Tomb."
*RMBL*
The massive, purple beast that materialized was a brute force of natural power. Before Magmar could even unleash its Fire Blast, Nidoking merely slammed its mighty fists into the ground.
*RMBL*
A cluster of massive, jagged boulders, imbued with terrifying speed, shot up around the Fire-type Pokémon. Magmar was instantly ensnared, flattened, and crushed under the weight of the Rock Tomb.
The attack was swift, precise, and immediately devastating, rendering Magmar unconscious before it could even cry out. Jaxon stared in horror at his defeated partner, then back at the man in black, who now stood amidst the wreckage, surveying the damage with calculated composure.
The man finally spoke, his voice measured and chillingly superior as he stated, adjusting the cuff of his coat, "You will have to try harder if you want to be a bad guy. You claim to be evil, so why not go all the way? Pathetic."
He walked past the immobilized Biker, his polished shoes crunching over the shattered remains of the motorbikes. He paused just before entering the Berry Forest path, glancing back at Jaxon, who was still frozen by the sudden, overwhelming defeat.
The man added, his eyes narrowing slightly at the cowering Jaxon, "And for the record, that 'monster' that attacked you is no mere creature of chaos. It is a Pokémon known as Deoxys. And it is a remarkable specimen indeed."
The man was Giovanni, the shadowy leader of Team Rocket, and his presence on Three Island cast a long, dangerous shadow over the Sevii Islands, a shadow Sky had already anticipated, but now found himself unable to prevent. The alien threat had departed, but a far more familiar danger had just arrived.
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A/N: Reach the goal of 100 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!