Bending the Bars Part 3
"Hello." Humans
"Pika-chu." Pokémon addressing Human
"Hello." Pokémon addressing Pokémon
Professor Oak sighed as he parked the jeep along the sidewalk. Between having to calm down Mrs. Ketchum and trying to figure out where his assistants could have gone, the evening had put a strain on the old man. Furrowing his brow, he shook his head as he got out of the jeep.
"All right, Delia. Tell me again what you heard Ash and Lillie say after dinner," he demanded firmly.
"I overheard them say something about helping a friend break up some kind of illegal Pokémon fight club! Oh Professor, I'm worried! What if they get hurt?!" Delia cried out in concern.
Letting out a dee sigh, Professor Oak put a hand gently on her shoulder. "Delia. Please calm down. I'm sure they didn't get themselves into too much trouble. Even they have a limit," he explained firmly.
Delia sighed. "I hope you're right, Professor. I really do…" she sighed, trying to remain calm.
Before either of them began their search, a police car rushed by them at blinding speed. Professor Oak held onto Delia to steady her as they were hit by a gust of wind from its passing. Then another police car rushed past. Then another. Then another. Until they then heard a large cacophony of sirens further down the street.
Delia glared at Professor Oak at that. "What was that about them 'not getting themselves into too much trouble,' Samuel Oak?!" She snapped out at him in concerned rage.
Professor Oak felt a bead of sweat trickle down his face, a nervous chuckle leaving his lips. "Eheheh… I have been known to be wrong before, Delia…"
Swiftly, the two ran towards the sound of the sirens. The blaring sirens grew louder and louder until they found a large ring of police cars, ambulances and fire trucks wrapping around a large warehouse. Police and firefighters stood about, talking amongst themselves as more emergency vehicles arrived by the second. Before they could get any closer, they were stopped by one of the policemen.
"Unfortunately, we can't let you two through, Professor. Official police business." The officer told them.
"We are looking for my lab assistants and their friend. They said something about going to break up an illegal Pokémon fighting ring," Professor Oak explained, stepping in front of the distressed Delia.
The officer gulped nervously as he and one of his colleagues looked at each other. "We'll take you to the captain…"
"Thank you, officer," Professor Oak replied before looking back at Delia. "Just keep calm for me, okay?"
The officer swiftly waved the pair past the slowly establishing perimeter and led them deeper into the maze of emergency vehicles. Soon they made it into the heart of the swirling mass of cars, officers, and sirens to find Headmaster Kong standing next to a middle-aged female police captain. She stood out among the rest, with black combat boots clashing against her dark blue and teal uniform. Her tight blue skirt and striking blue hat equally clashed against the harsh look her amber eyes cast upon the men before her. She brushed a strand of teal hair out of her eyes before taking a sip from a white coffee cup. Once composed, she addressed the officers before her.
"Alright, you mugs! I want you to set up a tight perimeter around this joint! And a perimeter around that perimeter! If a Pidgey so much as poops on a car, I wanna know about it!" Captain Jenny bellowed out with her coffee in hand before tossing it to the ground with a clatter and glaring at one of the officers. "And you! Get me a coffee that doesn't taste like a Grookey's butt!"
The officer saluted her. "Yes ma'am, captain!" He cried out before running off to fetch another coffee as the other officers scrambled to finalize the first perimeter before starting on the second one.
"We need to get in there now, officer! If my students are in there, it is my responsibility to ensure their safety as their Headmaster!" Kong barked, his short stature forcing him to look up at the officer as he spoke.
"No can do, Headmaster! This is my bust; we do this my way! You're not heading in without an armed escort! Once we have this place locked down, then you'll be going in with my men!" Captain Jenny insisted.
Professor Oak stepped forward and cleared his throat. "I believe you are the chief officer in this case? I am Professor Oak. I have reasonable evidence that my lab assistants, as well as Headmaster Kong's students, are in that building." He explained firmly.
Captain Jenny looked at Professor Oak and narrowed her eyes before sighing. "Of course, kids got themselves involved. Don't worry, Professor. We'll get them out unharmed. And where the heck is the Pokémon Rescuer assigned to this case?! I swear, if that bum went in half-cocked without backup, I'll make sure the higher ups hear about it!" She barked out, looking around for any signs of said Rescuer.
The Professor's eyebrow raised upon hearing that and turned to look at Headmaster Kong. "Headmaster. Do you have any Pokémon Rescuers among your current students?" He asked sternly.
"Just young Jericho, Professor Oak. He's a magnificent student who genuinely enjoys his job." Headmaster Kong explained.
"Jericho?! That's the name of the Pokémon Rescuer assigned to this case! That moron better not have recruited civies for this!" Captain Jenny growled before looking at the officers. "Hurry up and get those perimeters set up! And I'm still waiting for that coffee!"
Delia pushed past Professor Oak, trying to hold back tears in her eyes, grabbed hold of the Police Captain. "You have to do something! My son and his friends are in there!" She wailed.
Captain Jenny took a deep breath and gently placed her hands on Delia's shoulders. "Calm down, ma'am. We'll handle this. No harm will come to those kids on my watch." She calmly told the concerned mother.
"Captain! Bad news!" An officer called out.
Captain Jenny turned to look at the officer. "Speak up, rookie! What's the situation?!" She snapped out at him.
"The heavy assets aren't coming! They got called onto another case! We have no reliable way of breaking in!" The officer explained.
Captain Jenny growled furiously. "What the hell, chief…?! Fine! Just focus on getting those perimeters set up!" She barked before turning to look at Headmaster Kong and Professor Oak. "Headmaster, Professor. It looks like we'll be needing your help with this bust after all."
"Not another word, Captain. Let me handle this. I got the perfect way to punch a hole in a wall." Professor Oak replied with a small smile as he pulled a Pokéball off his belt.
Captain Jenny nodded. "Good. I'll lend you both some of my men for the initial break in." She told Professor Oak before turning to continue organizing the officers.
The Professor turned to look at Headmaster Kong. "I hope you're not too old for some action?" He asked with a smile painted across his face.
Headmaster Kong smirked in response. "Just try to keep up, Samuel." He confidently replied while pulling out his own Pokéball.
The two then threw out a Pokéball each and lit up the night in twin flashes of bright light. From Professor Oak's ball burst forth a large orange dragon with massive wings, stout legs, and a tail ending in a roaring flame. Its boxy horned head scanned the scene as several officers backed away. Kong's ball let out his imposing Annihilape, its dark fur practically adsorbing all the light cast on it.
"Stand back, people! Char, use Fire Blast on the metal door!" Professor Oak cried out, throwing his hand forward.
With a roar, Char inhaled deeply before exhaling a massive blast of fire shaped like a five-pointed star. The attack slammed into the door with an explosion that blew the door wide open, melting the metal on impact from the intense heat. Turning, Professor Oak looked at the officers and Headmaster Kong standing behind him.
"Alright, let's head in!" Professor Oak called out.
"You heard the man, people! Let's move! Go, go, go, go, go!" Kong bellowed as the officers all filed in through the gaping hole where the door once was.
Meanwhile: Inside One of the Storage Bays
"Get 'em, boys!" A Team Rocket grunt cried out as multiple Pokéballs were thrown out.
Multiple bright lights flashed in the dim lights of the bay, revealing multiple Rattata and Koffing. Ash and Jericho stood shoulder to shoulder as Gary rushed up next to them, with Lillie staying behind them. Pikachu, Seed, and Squirtle also stood shoulder to shoulder, glaring at the foes before them, while Snowy stood close to her trainer.
"Rattata, use Tackle!" Multiple grunts all called out.
"Rattata!!" The rat-like Pokémon all called out as they rushed in.
"Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!" Ash called out.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu called out before unleashing a large blast of electricity.
Many of the Rattata got shocked as they were launched back, slamming into their trainers. Their trainers cried, out in pain as they got shocked with their Pokémon. However, not letting up, more grunts and their Rattata took their places as the rat-like Pokémon charged in. Dodging through Tackle attacks, Pikachu used Double Team to confuse them before dashing around inside the crowd with Quick Attack and going into multiple Iron Tail attacks, knocking Rattata into their trainers left and right.
"Squirtle, back Pikachu up! Hit 'em with Water Gun!" Gary called out.
"Squirtle!" Squirtle called out before spraying a compressed blast of water from his mouth.
The jets of water slammed into the various Rattata and Koffing with explosive power and surprising accuracy, hitting anyone that tried to ambush Pikachu. Nodding, Pikachu continued his close-quarters assault as Seed then jumped into the fray.
"Seed, use Vine Whip!" Jericho called out.
"Snivy!" Seed called out before releasing a pair of green vines.
The vines lashed, whipped, and wrapped around the enemies, smashing them down left and right. However, no matter how many they knocked down, there seemed to be no end. They just kept on coming and coming. Ash turned to look for the Charmander in the cage frantically, only to see many of the cages gone. As if they were never even there.
"Dang it," He muttered, clenching his fist in frustration.
"Focus, Ash!" Gary cried out.
"Koffing, use Poison Gas!" One of the lead grunts called out.
"Koffing!!" Multiple Koffing called out as they inhaled.
"Cover your mouths and noses!!" Jericho cried out as he and the others brought one of their arms up to cover their faces as best as possible.
As soon as the Koffing began to exhale, a voice called out. "Blaze, Use Ember!" The familiar voice roared.
A barrage of small fireballs erupted in the direction of the Koffing as they exhaled their Poison Gas attacks. As soon as the fireballs contacted the gas, it ignited and exploded violently. the explosion blew back multiple Grunts, Koffing, and Rattata, creating an opening.
"You guys need some backup?!" The voice bellowed to them as the smoke from the explosion slowly began to dissipate.
"Isaac!?" Lillie cried out in shock, before coughing dreadfully from the bits of lingering gas.
They all looked to see at the entrance to the hallway was their friend Isaac, illuminated in the glow of the lights from the arena. Perched on one of his shoulders was Ruffian with a rather pleased look across his beaked face. Blaze stood at his left, her mouth still smoking from the Fire-Type attacks she set out. And to Isaac's right stood a large, scarred Male Nidoran that reached up to his knee. With a vicious look in its eyes and stamping the ground with its feet.
Isaac smirked down at the massive Nidoran before him. "Ready for some payback, Caesar?" He asked the clearly agitated Poison Pin Pokémon.
"Nido, Nidoran! Ran!!" Caesar bellowed, snorting out hot, visible breath from his nostrils.
"Then let's give them a taste of your Rock Smash!" Isaac called out, throwing his hand out.
"Niiii-DOOOOOOO!!" Caesar roared out as he glowed orange before he slammed his foot hard into the ground.
With earth-shattering force, rocks rose from the ground as the earth beneath our heroes' feet shook. Caesar then smashed into the rocks, sending them flying and slamming into the Rattata, knocking them hard into their trainers. Smirking, Isaac then threw his hand forward.
"Blaze, use Flame Charge! Caesar, use Facade!" Isaac called out.
"MAAANDER!" Blaze roared as she caught herself ablaze and rushed through the enemies with increasingly explosive speed.
"NIDOOOOO!!" Caesar roared as a burning, fearsome orange aura surrounded him, glaring at the enemies as he dropped into a running stance.
Charging in, Blaze and Caesar plowed through the enemies with tremendous force, trying to clear a path for the others. As the brawl continued, the Rocket Grunts' numbers slowly began to thin. Bit by bit, they found themselves being whittled down as our heroes made for the hole left behind by the Rhyhorn.
Meanwhile: Across the Warehouse in Another Bay
Meowth frantically rushed about, waving his arms and screaming at everyone he could get ahold of. Trying to get everyone to pick up their pace.
"Move it, you's guys! Load up as many Pokémon into da truck as possible! We gotta get dis off to the boss!!" He screeched at the top of his lungs.
"You don't have to yell so loud, Meowth!" Jessie cried out. "Now hurry up and get in the truck already!"
"I'm not running a midnight taxi service, you know!" James' voice chipped in annoyance.
Gritting his teeth, Meowth rushed past many of the workers and grunts lifting cages full of Pokémon into a large box truck. He barely stopped himself from running into a small cage containing a Charmander and turned to look at the worker.
"Watch it yah mook! Or a'hll make sure ya' diggn' ditches in the country for the rest of yah life!!" Meowth snapped, shaking his paws furiously at the man before him.
"S-Sorry, sir!" The grunt nervously replied as he loaded the Charmander's cage in.
"Oh. Not yet, yer not. But I ain't got time for yah,"
"Meowth!!!" The combined voice of Jessie and James cried out through the loading bay.
"I'm comin,' I'm comin' here!!" Meowth snapped, before rushing over to the cab of the truck, leaping over James' waist to sit between him and Jessie.
"What took you? And you better not say it's your short legs." Jesse huffed as James turned on the engine to the truck, creating a rumbling growl that filled the cab.
"Yah know what? Not gonna dignify dat with an ansa," Meowth huffed out indignantly, crossing his arms and turning away from Jessie.
"All loaded up! Just drive! Cops are on us!!" One of the workers cried out.
"Don't have to tell us twice! Floor it, James!" Jesse demanded, smashing her fist on the dashboard in front of her.
"Right, I'll… wait a minute. Meowth, you drive," James said frantically before opening the driver's door.
"Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Jimmy?!" Meowth cried out in shock.
"I have to get… MY CAR!!??" James screamed, before his voice fell eerily silent, staring off into the distance.
Jessie and Meowth looked out the windshield to see that, to their shock, the parking lot looked like a bulldozer ran across the pavement. However, the strange part is that the other cars were untouched. Only James' burgundy Cadillac had even suffered a bit of damage. More than that, it was flattened like a metal pancake. As if the bulldozer had somehow jumped and smashed down on top of it.
"You did have insurance on that… right?" Jessie asked dumbfoundedly, unable to take her eyes off the sight before her.
"Company insurance…" James whimpered tearfully, crying in despair.
"Should we tell 'im?" Meowth asked, turning to look at Jessie.
"Let him find out for himself," Jessie answered.
"Alright. Floor it, James!!!" Meowth yelled.
With a heavy heart, James closed the door to the truck and slammed his foot onto the accelerator. The truck's engine roared and wailed as it began to pick up speed. As they drove off into the night, with their ill-gotten bounty in tow.
Back with our Heroes
"Seed, use Vine Whip!" Jericho cried out, smirking as a couple of guards were taken out by the Snivy.
"Squirtle, hit 'em with Water Pulse!" Gary called out as Squirtle shot out pulsing orbs of water from his mouth that smashed into the enemy guards and Pokémon.
"Pikachu, Thunder Shock attack!" Ash called out as Pikachu electrocuted multiple enemies.
"Blaze, Caesar! Use Flame Charge and Facade!" Isaac called out as the flaming Charmander and the burning aura-covered massive Male Nidoran charged through and slammed into enemies.
As the four clashed with Team Rocket, Lillie did her best to help guide the remaining scared Pokémon through the hole in the door made by the escaped Rhyhorn. Snowy walking through the hole first to show that it was passable to the other Pokémon.
"Come on, little ones! This way!" Lillie said as calmly as she could.
"We'll take it from here, kids! You get these Pokémon out!" A voice called out to Lillie and the others.
Lillie looked out through the hole to see several police officers rushing over with several Growlithe running by their side. Seeing this, she smiled and felt her heart race.
"I'm trying, officers! They're scared! Can you please turn off your sirens!? That might be scaring them!" She replied as loud as she could over all the noise.
"You heard the girl! Get those sirens turned off! Agent Jericho, you and your friends get those Pokémon safely out of there!" Captain Jenny bellowed out into a megaphone.
The sound from the megaphone caught Ash, Jericho, Gary, and Isaac off guard, but slowly complied with the order. Their Pokémon were still engaged with Team Rockets; they could not make a speedy retreat. That was until a group of four Ratatta got hit with a large five-pointed star of fire, sending them flying. The sudden appearance of such a powerful move caught everyone off guard as Professor Oak, Headmaster Kong, and the rest of the police came in from the other side of the bay, trapping the Team Rocket members.
"Stand down and put your hands where we can see them! You are under arrest!" One of the officers cried out as his Growlithe snapped at the remaining illegal trainers and Pokémon.
All the opposing Team Rocket members raised their hands up, and their Pokémon stopped fighting. Yet as the police officers made their arrests, Pikachu noticed something. A group of Squirtle with sunglasses and black Team Rocket jackets were attempting to escape.
"Not on my watch!" Pikachu called out to the squad of Squirtle and blasted them with electricity.
Caught in a sudden surge of electricity, the Squirtles all cried out in pain before they were consumed in a cloud of black smoke and a loud explosion. When the smoke and dust cleared, they were gone, save scraps of fabric.
"Really gonna do that on sight, huh?" Gary's Squirtle asked with a side eye.
"Oh, relax! They were the enemy!" Pikachu replied frustratedly.
15 Minutes Later: Parking Lot
"You four scared me to death!!" Delia cried out as she hugged Ash, Lillie, Gary, and Isaac tightly. Too tightly.
"Mrs… K… can't… breathe…" Gary gasped out, trying to escape her grip.
"Delia. It might be a good idea to let them breathe." Professor Oak said, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
With a heavy sigh, Delia let the four go, causing them to fall to the pavement in a gasping heap. As they caught their breath, Jericho and Seed walked over to them. A smile on his face as he offered them a hand off the ground.
"I came here to thank you all for the help. I couldn't have done this bust without you." Jericho said gratefully as he helped them up one by one.
"Don't worry about it, Jericho. We were happy to help." Isaac replied with a smile as Caesar nuzzled him, causing Isaac to pet him.
"Snivy." Seed chipped in, turning her nose up indignantly.
"Oh, don't be like that, Seed. We got out alive," Jericho replied, petting his partner's head gently.
Then, Jericho was nearly knocked off his feet by something pushing up against him from behind. Turning, he saw a familiar face. A Rhyhorn nuzzling at his legs and hip, with the exact same chips and scars in its grey armor as the one he let out.
"Hello there. What are you doing back here?" Jericho asked the Rhyhorn, patting its head gently.
"I think she wants to go with you, Jericho," Ash told him with a smile on his face.
Jericho smiled softly before looking the Rhyhorn over. Quickly, he noticed a piece of burgundy metal in one of the chips in the Spike Pokémon's shell and gingerly pulled it out.
"What's this doing in there? Oh well," Jericho mused before throwing the piece of metal over his shoulder. "Would you like to come and join me?"
"Hooorn!" The Rhyhorn roared happily.
"Do you need a Pokéball?" Ash asked.
"No, I don't use them. But thank you for offering." Jericho said before turning to look at them all again. "Well. I guess I'll see you all in class, then. We should probably all go and get some sleep."
"AFTER you four explain to me why you all thought this was a good idea!!" Delia sternly asserted, putting her hands on her hips crossly.
"Uh oh…" Ash nervously gulped as a noticeable bead of sweat down the side of his forehead.