The sharp click of a lock echoed in the quiet hall.
"Inmate 1557!"
Officer Jenny, clad in her crisp blue uniform, swung open the door to the detention cell. A green-haired teen inside looked up, a flicker of unease in his eyes as he got to his feet.
"Someone posted your bail. You're free to go," Jenny stated, her tone all business. "But I'll remind you to stick to the conditions of your release. You cause any more trouble, and you'll be right back in here."
"Yes, ma'am! I understand," the teen replied quickly, eager to leave.
This was Pummelo Island, the jewel of the Orange Archipelago's southwest. While primarily a tourist destination, its development was sparse, with the only real town clustered around the ferry pier. The rest of the island was a vast, untamed expanse of primeval forest.
"Good. Now get out of here," Jenny said, jingling the keys in her hand. "And try not to get into any more brawls."
The teen nodded hastily and hurried out the door.
The Orange Islands were perpetually hot, but the midday sun was especially punishing. Outside the police station, a small group of teenagers shifted impatiently, wiping sweat from their brows.
"Fergus, what's taking so long?" one of them, a kid in brown beach shorts, complained. "Didn't the lawyer say he was already bailed out?"
"How should I know?" the one called Fergus shot back, running a hand through his distinct, golden-blond hair—a tell-tale sign he hailed from the Unova region. "Seriously, Kai's match is about to start. This is killing me."
Just then, the station door creaked open, and the green-haired teen emerged. A cheer went up from the waiting group.
"Let's go, let's go! Get on your bike! We'll take the shortcut back to the Recycling Station!"
With shouts of excitement, they hopped onto their bicycles and pedaled furiously toward the edge of town.
…
"Welcome, fans, to a clash of titans! The moment we've all been waiting for: the semi-finals of the Johto League Silver Conference! Today, two phenomenal trainers will battle for a spot in the finals. From Blackthorn City, we have the powerful Ryo! And hailing from the Orange Islands, the challenger, Kai! This is the main event of the day, folks, and it promises to be an unforgettable showdown!"
Miles away, at a ramshackle building on Pummelo Island known as the 'Recycling Station,' a crowd of kids sat glued to an old television. They leaned forward, eyes sparkling with excitement, their faces alight with anticipation for the battle on screen.
Their quiet focus was shattered by the sound of frantic shouting from outside.
"What's the score? Is he winning? Did Kai's match start yet?" a group of teenagers yelled as they skidded to a halt on their bikes, rushing down the hillside.
The announcer's voice on the TV took on a somber tone. "We regret to inform our audience that due to trainer Kai's failure to appear at the stadium within the allotted time, his opponent, Ryo, will advance directly to the finals by default."
A collective groan of disappointment rose from the children around the television.
The teenagers who had just arrived stood frozen, their victorious return instantly soured by confusion and disbelief.
Meanwhile, at the Silver Conference stadium in the Johto region, the atmosphere was electric with frustration.
"Are you kidding me? We want a refund!"
"This is a fixed match!"
A mob of angry fans who had paid top dollar for ringside seats now blocked the trainer's exit, their shouts echoing through the arena.
Out on the field, Ryo stood alone, his expression a mask of bewilderment. He stared at the empty opponent's tunnel, his mind racing. He forfeited? Ryo muttered to himself. What in the world is going on?
He had poured everything into preparing for this opponent, knowing Kai's strength was not to be underestimated. He'd even undergone days of grueling special training. And now… nothing. His rival hadn't even shown up. The anticlimax left a bitter taste of regret.
As the jeers from the stands grew louder, the event staff scrambled to control the situation. A staff member hurried onto the field and approached Ryo.
"Trainer Ryo," he whispered urgently, "please return to the lounge for now. We'll update you on the situation as soon as we can."
Ryo nodded, though the confusion still gnawed at him. He followed the staff member's instructions, turning to leave the field. As he departed, the tension in the stadium only intensified, the crowd's roars of dissatisfaction growing into a unified, angry chant.
…
While he should have been on that field, showcasing his skills, Kai had a much more pressing problem: this Team Rocket base was a damn labyrinth.
He'd been ambushed and thrown in here the night before last, right after a late-night training session near the Silver Conference grounds. He had since managed to take down nearly every grunt in the facility, but he still couldn't find an exit.
Seriously? All this for shutting down a few of their operations on my way here? Kai thought, finding himself back at a familiar, infuriating crossroads. He stared at the maze of identical passages. Did Team Rocket build this place so convoluted that even they get lost in it?
"Poliwrath," Kai said, pointing to a wall he'd marked earlier. "Hit this spot again with Dynamic Punch." Having exhausted every normal route, his only remaining option was to punch his way out.
Poliwrath, his steadfast partner, gave a firm nod. It stepped up to the wall, took a deep breath, and unleashed its power. A crimson light flared around its fist as it slammed into the reinforced surface with a guttural roar.
BOOM!
Fighting-type energy exploded against the wall. But as the dust settled, it revealed not a new passage but an even thicker layer of solid rock.
"Damn it," Kai sighed, rubbing his temples. "Looks like this whole base is carved deep inside a mountain. We'll have to keep searching."
Poliwrath looked down at its fists, a flicker of dejection in its eyes. Despite the setback, it stood resolute at Kai's side.
"Hey, don't worry about it," Kai said, sensing his Pokémon's mood. "This is just a minor setback. We'll get out of here, and then we still have the finals to win."
But inside, he was seething. The surprise attack had caught him completely off guard. Who would have thought Team Rocket would be audacious enough to operate right under the League's nose? To make matters worse, his Staryu-shaped watch had been smashed in the ambush, leaving him with no idea what time it was. This was bad.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble violently. A series of deep, concussive blasts echoed from somewhere far above them.
Kai glanced at Poliwrath. "What was that?"
Poliwrath just scratched its head, equally confused. It looked at its own fists, wondering if its punch had somehow been powerful enough to bring the whole place down.
An earth-shattering roar followed, and a powerful shockwave ripped through the tunnels, threatening to tear the hidden base apart.
A voice, amplified and furious, boomed from above. "TEAM ROCKET GRUNTS! THIS IS THE POKÉMON LEAGUE TASK FORCE! YOU ARE SURROUNDED! THROW DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY! THERE IS NO ESCAPE!"
With a final, deafening crash, the ceiling above Kai's head exploded inward. Debris and dust rained down. Kai stared up in disbelief at the massive hole that had been ripped open, sunlight flooding the dark passage for the first time.
Hovering in the newly created opening were four trainers in black combat uniforms, each mounted on a formidable Pidgeot. They looked down with cold authority, their expressions making it clear that the situation was entirely under their control.
Kai saw the officers raise their hands, preparing to command their Pokémon.
"Wait!" he yelled, waving his arms frantically. "Hold your fire! I'm not one of them! I've already taken care of all the Rocket members down here!"
***
(End of Chapter)
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