Chapter 17
"A-are those Pokemon?" stuttered Latias.
Ash and the gang had found themselves in a large corridor. What was really horrifying were the glass cases of Pokemon lining the walls. Each was filled with some purple liquid and had clear tubes hooked up to each of the Pokemon. The Pokemon, however, did not look like normal Pokemon. Their eyes were vacant and lifeless, as if their soul had been sucked out of them, and their bodies emitted pure evil.
Ash gulped. "Man, I wish we could do something about this,"
"Oh we will," said Pikachu, "I'm gonna blast whoever's behind this into the exosphere."
"Hmm," said Latios, "I know we can just sneak around invisible, but what about Pikachu?"
Ash glanced nervously at Pikachu. "Um..."
"How about we use some of those clothes as a disguise?" asked Pikachu.
"What clothes?" asked Ash.
Pikachu pointed to what looked like a dressing room. Inside was a closet with several pairs of uniforms hanging on a rack.
A few minutes later, which involved Ash trying to find a uniform that fit over his clothes, (that and actually putting it on) Ash looked like any other Team Void grunt. Only he had a certain electric mouse on his shoulder. Latios and Latias remained invisible and Ash began to walk through the strange-looking hallway.
"Halt! Who are you and why are you walking by yourself?"
Ash's eyes darted to the side as a man who looked like one of the commanders walked out of an adjacent hallway.
"Uh, I'm Ashius, and my team left me," replied Ash, quickly thinking up a name. Then remembering something he hastily added "Sir,"
"And why did your team leave you?"
"They, uh, were sent for by commander Crypto," replied Ash.
"Crypto, eh?" mused the man, "That idiot doesn't need any more help, he just needs an actual brain." he turned back to Ash, "Well, Ashius, get on your way, but don't go wandering around anymore,"
Ash nodded.
"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some very important business to attend to," the man walked away down another hallway.
Ash sighed in relief.
"Ashius? Seriously?" chuckled Latios telepathically.
"Hey! It's the best I could think of," retorted Ash.
"Hey Ash," said Pikachu, "I think we should follow that guy,"
"Why?" asked Ash, "He might get suspicious if he notices us following him,"
"Didn't he say he had important business to attend to?" asked Latias, "It might be helpful to us,"
"Alright," said Ash, "let's get going,"
Outside Team Void's Base...
"Is it just me or did the twerp just disappear into that mountain?"
"That's no mountain, James! That's obviously the hideout of those Team Void freaks!"
"Well, how are we supposed to get in?" asked James.
"I think da twerp knocked out some of those Team Void guys before he went in," said Meowth, "we can use their outfits to disguise ourselves and get in!"
"Perfect!" said Jessie, "Then we'll show those goons who's the better team!"
"Wobbefett!"
"We've been walking for a long time," telepathed Ash, "shouldn't we have gotten somewhere by now?"
"This base underground," replied Latios, "it could be miles big,"
"Hold on," said Latias, "he stopped walking,"
Ash glanced at the Team Void commander from behind a wall. He had stopped his seemingly endless walk and knocked on a nearby door. The door quickly opened and closed as soon as the man stepped inside.
"How do we get in?" asked Ash, "I doubt we can just knock,"
"Latias and I can try to get in while you stay here with Pikachu," replied Latios.
"Alright," telepathed Ash, "just be careful,"
"We will!" said Latias.
"Ah ha! I found it!" exclaimed Meowth triumphantly as he held up a key card he had found while they were rummaging through the Team Void grunt's pockets.
"Alright!" said Jessie, "Let's bust in!"
"Imagine how the boss will reward us once he finds out we smothered his competition!" said James excitedly.
"I can see it now," said Mewoth dreamily, "he'll look out his window every morning, just to see the entire world free of all competition! He'll say; 'Ah, how nice it is to have the world under my command! And it's all thanks to those three who helped me accomplish my goal!' Then he'll shower us with wealth and riches until we can't possibly take anymore!"
The trio imagined the scene dreamy-eyed.
"Right!" said Jessie, "If we're going to get that money, we have to destroy Team Void first!"
"So let's get going!" said James.
Upon entering the room, Latios and Latias looked around, having slipped through the door when another member of Team Void went inside.
"What's that thing brother?" asked Latias.
"One sec," replied Latios, concentrating on Ash's mind so that they could use sight sharing, "what is it, sis?"
Latias pointed to a large machine in a corner of the room where several members of Team Void were gathered.
"Well, is the machine ready?" asked one of the commanders, "The boss received word that you finished it,"
"Of course it's ready! Do you doubt my work as a professional scientist?" replied another man who was wearing a white lab coat.
"Alright then, let's see if it works,"
"What Pokemon would you like me to test it on?" asked the scientist.
"Test that Magikarp, it's useless anyway,"
The scientist took a Pokeball from the shelf and put it on top of the machine. Instantly, the machine began to shake, and strange dark particles were shot into the Pokeball. Then, as soon as it started, it stopped, leaving behind a seemingly unchanged Pokeball.
"Well?" asked the man Ash had run into earlier.
The scientist smirked and threw the Pokeball. Latios and Latias recoiled in shock when they saw what had happened.
???
"Sir, the kid found our base!"
"He did? Well, I guess that makes things a little more, shall we say, fun,"
"What do you mean sir?"
"That kid has thwarted not only Crypto but Apex as well," replied a man wearing a dark suit, "I first sent Crypto to him with the offer to join us, but I had a feeling he'd refuse,"
"But sir, that kid thwarted our plans at the Silver Conference and defeated both Crypto and Apex, some of your best agents!"
"It would appear so. However, he has yet to face our most powerful force,"
"The shadow Pokemon sir?"
"No, the shadow Pokemon were simply a test to see what we could do with dark energy, the real, full potential only comes out when the Pokemon's soul is completely obliterated. Of course, that also means their power levels skyrocket."
"One more thing sir,"
"Yes?"
"I've observed two people and a Meowth on the security cameras who look very suspicious."
"And?"
"They seem to be sneaking along corridors trying to find something,"
"Well, if they cause any harm, send some grunts to take care of them, they are the least of our concerns,"
"As you wish, Master Nigel,"
There's the chapter!
I tried to make this one a bit longer than the other ones, but I seem to have failed...
Don't worry, I'll try to kick out updates a little faster to keep this plot moving.
Anyway, if you liked this chapter, be sure to leave a review and check out my discord server! (link to server on my profile page)