Pokémon Home stood quietly on the busy New York City street, its bright colors a stark contrast to the concrete jungle. Inside, Latias and Pikachu waited patiently, but the atmosphere felt a little heavy. Business had been slow lately. Despite the initial buzz from Orion's HeroTube videos, Pokémon Home struggled to convert that online interest into actual sales. The high prices of the lottery Pokémon, coupled with the difficulty some customers had befriending Pokémon in the Sanctuary, created a barrier.
Orion sighed, checking the stock of Moomoo Milk. "We're running low on groceries," he says. "Latias, Pikachu, can you watch the store for a bit? I need to restock."
Latias smiled warmly. "Of course, Orion," she replies. "We'll handle things here. Enjoy your walk."
Pikachu nodded, puffing out its cheeks in determination. "Pika!" it chirped, its tail sparking reassuringly.
Orion grinned. "Thanks, you two. Just charm anyone who comes in. I'll be back before you know it." With a wave of his hand and a Poké Ball cane, Orion stepped out of Pokémon Home and onto the bustling sidewalk.
He bought his groceries, a mix of everyday essentials. As he walked back toward Pokémon Home, a wave of shouts and sirens echoed. Rounding the corner, Orion found himself in the middle of chaos. The H.I.V.E. Five, in all their mismatched glory, were attempting to rob the First National Bank of New York.
"Alright, H.I.V.E. Five, let's move, let's move!"
Gizmo barks from within a hovering drone, his voice sounding small and distorted through the comms system. The diminutive villain, barely reaching the height of an adult's waist, sat inside a complex drone, his goggles reflecting the flashing lights of his own tech. More drones zipped around him, diligently setting up shimmering energy fields to ward off any unwanted interference.
"Mammoth, quit standing around and bust through that wall! See-More, blind those cops so we can make a clean getaway! Billy, clog the streets and create a diversion! Jinx, work your magic and make sure our escape route is nice and clear!"
Jinx, with a dramatic cackle that echoed through the street, waved her hands in an elaborate gesture. Her magenta-pink hair swayed as she cast her spell. A nearby police car tire spontaneously deflated with a loud bang, sending the vehicle swerving wildly and narrowly missing a hot dog stand. A streetlight flickered erratically, then died with a spark, plunging a significant section of the street into an ominous shadow.
"Oops! My bad luck is so contagious, it's practically a public service!" she giggled, clearly enjoying the chaos she was creating. Jinx had a smug grin on her face, her pink eyes gleaming with mischief.
Mammoth, true to his name and size, grunted as he charged headfirst at the bank wall. The sheer size of the musclebound teen was a sight to behold, towering over everyone.
"Door slow!" he grunts, his voice deep and gravelly, before slamming his massive fist into the aged brick. The wall crumbled instantly under the force of his blow, creating a gaping hole in the side of the bank. Dust and debris cloud the air, obscuring the interior.
See-More's giant visor swivels rapidly, targeting the quickly arriving police officers. The single, enormous eye on his visor shifts through various filters and magnifications as he scans the scene.
"Incoming! Incoming!" he shouts, relaying the updated information to Gizmo in real-time. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashes a blinding flash of light from his visor, completely disorienting the officers and causing them to stumble back, momentarily blinded. "Visual superiority never loses! You can't catch what you can't see!"
Billy Numerous cackles maniacally, splitting into dozens of identical copies of himself in an instant. The street instantly floods with red-suited teens, each chanting in unison,
"More Billy equals more winning! Which me are you gonna punch? Wrong one!" The police are instantly overwhelmed by the sheer number of Billys, unable to distinguish the real Billy from his duplicates. The numerous clones run amok, causing mayhem and confusion.
These five aren't your typical run-of-the-mill crooks, oh no. They're the H.I.V.E. Five, a ragtag team of young supervillains known for their chaotic heists and over-the-top personalities. They are graduates of the H.I.V.E. Academy, and more often than not, they are the thorn on the sides of the heroes. More often than not, the group are less about serious crime and more about creating a scene.
Orion, carrying his groceries, is caught in the crossfire. Before he knows it, several Billys grab him, pulling him toward a growing crowd of civilians.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Orion shouts, struggling to keep his grip on the grocery bags. Eggs break in their cartons as they are being jostled around.
Gizmo's shrill voice cuts through the chaos. "Alright, you knuckleheads! Time for Plan B! We need some human shields! Round up those civilians and bring them into the bank! Quickly!"
The Billys, now understanding their new objective, grab more bystanders, herding them toward the ruined bank entrance. Jinx casts a spell on the bank doors, causing them to slam shut and become reinforced with glowing purple energy. The crowd of hostages, now numbering over twenty, including Orion, are shoved inside the bank's echoing interior. Fear hangs thick in the air, mixing with the lingering dust from Mammoth's demolition. The H.I.V.E. Five now holds the First National Bank and its unfortunate occupants, including the owner of Pokémon Home, hostage.
Gizmo's voice crackles through the bank, amplified by one of his drones. "Alright, listen up, meat-brains! Nobody move, nobody talk, and especially nobody try to be a hero! You do anything stupid, and you'll regret it. Got it?"
The hostages huddle together, their faces etched with terror. Some whimper softly, others clutch at their loved ones. A few stare blankly ahead, paralyzed by fear. The atmosphere inside the bank is thick with tension. The air smells of dust and the acrid scent of ozone from See-More's attack.
Amidst the palpable panic, Orion stands out. While others tremble, he remains calm. His posture is relaxed. He is not scared or panicked at all. His blue eyes are serene, and his blonde hair is unruffled. He holds his broken grocery bags, leaking eggs, with a gentle smile.
Oh dear, Orion thought. This is quite the pickle.I'm going to have to go shopping again, and the ice cream will melt
***
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