The two groups split up, the admins, Owari and Sayako, heading toward the volcanic mountain, while Ash led the so-called B team, Jay, Enid, Domino, and Helena, toward the hidden lab.
Jay was still riding the high of Ash's earlier praise, practically bouncing on his feet.
"So, we get the lab mission, huh?" Jay said, grinning wide. "Stealthy infiltration, high-tech gadgets, maybe some laser traps?"
"No, but I have my own equipment," Ash replied calmly, pulling out a sleek black portable computer. He tapped a few keys, and moments later, a soft buzzing filled the air.
The group looked up just in time to see three sleek drones descend from the shadows, their rotors humming as they expertly navigated back into the carrying case on Ash's back.
"Wh—since when do you have drones?!" Domino asked, eyes wide.
Ash adjusted his scarf. "Since before the mission. It's not like I have to tell you everything I have on me every time I do something."
Enid raised a brow, arms crossed. "Of course you don't," she mumbled. Then, in her head, she thought, Of course a side character like you would have something like that to make a main character like me look worse.
Ash ignored her and pressed a few more keys, pulling up a full map of the area. "I sent these out, and I think I found where this so-called lab is. Look here: security cameras, infrared sensors, electromagnetic locks. Pretty standard, if it wasn't for the fact that this place was supposed to be abandoned."
"Oh, I see, so they're hiding something," Helena nodded.
Domino leaned over, looking at the map. "Can we bypass the locks, or do we need to crack them on-site?"
Ash's fingers tapped thoughtfully on the keys. "Yeah, I'm a hacker, remember? I can disable them. The problem is, if I leave them off for too long, they'll know something's up. So we'll have, I think about five minutes before they get suspicious. But that doesn't include whatever's inside the lab. For that, we're going to have to move fast."
Jay rubbed his hands together eagerly. "I've always wanted to do a real infiltration! Like, actual break-in-and-hack stuff, not just running in and punching people."
"Didn't we do one and Enid fumbled by pressing the alarm?" Ash asked casually.
Enid's eye twitched. "That was one time, and it was an accident!"
Jay snorted. "It literally had a label that said 'ALARM.' In capital letters."
Ash didn't look up from the screen. "And yet you wanted to be dramatic and slam your hands against the control panel. Like, what did you think would happen?"
"Okay, enough," Domino cut in. "Focus. We've got a five-minute window, not five hours to bicker."
"Right," Ash said, shifting the map's view to an overhead schematic. "There's a blind spot in the southwest perimeter. That's our entry point. Then I'll deactivate the cameras. But there's still a real chance we could get caught. If we do, we're fighting our way out."
"Aye aye!" Jay saluted as they started moving.
—
{Meanwhile, at the mountain}
Owari adjusted his gloves as he and Sayako climbed the rocky slope, hot steam hissing from vents around them. The volcanic mountain rumbled faintly underfoot, the air thick with sulfur.
Sayako narrowed her eyes toward the summit. "Do you think the boss is really up here?"
"Do you have any better intel? After all, D got this directly from that grunt's mouth. That's as good a lead as anything we've got."
"I suppose not. I just wonder what they could possibly be trying to do in a volcano…" Sayako mumbled.
Owari shrugged. "I guess that's our job. And who knows, maybe there's nothing here and we can just go meet up with the others."
Sayako lit up at that. "Now you're speaking more my language. Let's hurry so we can get back to D," she said. Then, realizing what she'd just said, she quickly added, "And the others, of course."
Owari didn't even question it. They were literally on a volcano, they had bigger things to worry about.
As they continued climbing, they reached the top of the mountain. Carefully, they lifted their heads over the ledge, peeking to see what was happening, and what they saw was exactly what they feared.
There were two people standing there. Across the volcano, a Camerupt was strapped to some strange machine that was humming with power. It looked like it was pushing the Camerupt past its limits, and not in a good way. Lava oozed from the volcanoes on its back, coating its legs, and the poor Pokémon looked like it was going to explode. No, that wasn't just an expression, the Camerupt was trembling violently.
One of the people was a boy, maybe around the same age as them, with his head down, clenching his fists as if he didn't want to be there. He had red hair and wore a red, uniform-like outfit.
The other figure was much older, at least in his 40s, tall, wearing a long trench coat. His long hair was tied back into a ponytail that almost reached his lower back. From the reports they had, they knew immediately: this was Solaris.
He stood calmly, watching the Pokémon pulse and shudder.
Sayako's breath caught in her throat. "That Camerupt… it's not just overheating. It's being overcharged. Forcefully."
Owari's eyes narrowed as he studied the machine hooked into the Pokémon. "And it looks like it's overheating, how is that even possible?"
"I don't know…" Sayako muttered under her breath. "We have to do something."
"Agreed," Owari said, voice low and steady. "I don't care if you call for backup, but I am going to do something. This goes against my code."
As if on cue, Solaris turned his head slightly, not looking at them, but clearly aware. His voice rang out, calm but commanding.
"You can come out, you know. I knew someone would come eventually. I just didn't expect it to be children."
Sayako swore under her breath. Slowly, they stepped out, hands nowhere near their Poké Balls… yet.
The red-haired boy turned, startled. His expression was conflicted, pained, even. His eyes lingered on them for a moment, then darted quickly away.
Solaris didn't flinch. "Just so you know, I am not doing this for an evil reason. Yes, once it is fully charged, unfortunately, this Camerupt will be unable to cool down and will die. But his sacrifice is necessary, for he will be the catalyst for purification."
Sayako stepped forward, her expression stormy. "Purification? That Camerupt is alive, Solaris. It's not a tool. You're killing it."
Solaris turned to face them fully now, his coat billowing slightly in the rising heat. "Sacrifice is the root of creation. Pain is the crucible in which purity is forged. You speak of life as if it were sacred, but it is decay that blankets this world."
Owari gritted his teeth. "And you think turning a living creature into a living bomb is righteous?"
The red-haired boy flinched. He took a half-step back from the machine. "He doesn't… have to die, does he? There has to be another way."
"Cal," Solaris said without turning, his voice like iron. "Do not falter now. Your doubts betray the cause."
Cal's face fell. "Y-yes…"
"You're not going to get away with this, you hypocrite," Owari snapped, grabbing a Poké Ball. "Because we're going to stop you right here, right now!"
"How amusing," Solaris said, tilting his head slightly. "I writhe in fear at what you yapping pups could possibly do." His voice darkened. "I warn you: if you keep going, don't blame me. You'd better be prepared to die."
Owari released his Crobat, wings slicing through the hot air. Sayako followed, letting out her Absol, its crimson eyes glinting.
Solaris exhaled softly, almost disappointed. "Very well. But do not say I did not offer mercy. Garchomp."
The ground shook as Solaris's Garchomp emerged, snarling with controlled fury. Even the volcanic earth itself seemed to tremble, because now, they were facing a losing battle.
—
{Back at the lab}
The group approached the perimeter wall quietly, crouching low in the tall grass just short of the blind spot Ash had pointed out.
"All right," Ash whispered, pulling the drone controls up on his screen again. "Cameras deactivating… now."
A faint buzz of circuits powering down hummed through his earpiece.
"Five minutes," Ash said flatly. "Clock's ticking."
Domino moved first, lithe and efficient, slipping through the gap like a shadow. Enid followed with smooth, practiced grace, though she shot Ash a pointed glare before sliding past him. Jay rolled in last, far too enthusiastic, whispering "covert ops!" under his breath like an overexcited kid playing superhero.
They slipped into the facility through a maintenance access hatch. Inside, it was quiet, until the hallway lights flickered, revealing a faint red glow deeper within.
"Infrared sensors up ahead," Ash warned, checking the map on his wrist display. "We'll have to crawl. Jay, please don't trip anythi—"
CLANG.
"Too late!" Jay yelped as his elbow knocked a loose metal grate to the floor, the sound echoing like a gunshot.
Domino hissed sharply, eyes narrowing. "Jay, I swear—"
But Ash was already typing, fingers flying across his wrist screen. "I've got it. Looping the security feed and jamming the noise sensors. Let's go."
They sprinted past the cameras, Ash carefully reactivating the systems behind them. If the feeds stayed down too long, the whole security grid would trigger, and they really didn't want to burn their element of surprise if they still had it.
Exactly five minutes later, they slipped into the inner lab, closing the heavy door behind them. Ash reengaged all systems, his drones quietly sweeping the perimeter as the group glanced around.
The lab was… empty.
Scattered papers littered the room, terminals blinked on standby, but there were no people. No guards. No scientists. It was like nothing had ever been here.
Domino squinted, slowly advancing. "Okay, this is way too quiet," she muttered under her breath.
Helena was already rifling through the scattered papers. She froze. "Hey, D. look at this."
Ash moved over, taking the paper she handed him. Across the page, typed in cold, clinical font:
—
PULSE 06 — Camerupt
Type: Fire/Ghost
Ability: Sturdy
PULSE Read-out: Created as a catalyst for purification. Its function is limitless amplification. Its body resonates with nearby heat, inciting reactive power. After eruption, it is unable to cool down and will perish.
—
Ash's frown deepened. Inside, he was screaming, this was exactly what he'd feared. That meant the Camerupt outside was that. But outwardly, he kept his face carefully neutral, the lower half hidden by his scarf.
"Interesting," Helena murmured, peering over his shoulder. "I have no idea what that means."
"Me neither," Ash said smoothly, folding the paper and tucking it into his jacket for later.
He moved over to one of the terminals, scanning its data, but there was nothing useful.
"Looks like this place was a dud," Enid smirked, crossing her arms. "Maybe that girl gave you the wrong info." She smirked wider. "Guess your 'seduction' wasn't as good as you thought, hmm~?"
Ash ignored her. Instead, he walked over to one of the large machines and ran his hand thoughtfully along its side.
"No," he murmured, eyes narrowing. "I think we just need to look a little… out of the box."
He raised his hand, and with a sudden surge, Muk shot out of its ball, wrapping its gelatinous body around the machine and hurling it aside with a squelching thud.
Behind it, concealed in the wall, was a narrow hatchway leading down, a secret door to an underground passage.
Jay's eyes lit up. "Ohhh! Secret underground lab entrance? Classic villain movie. I love it."
Ash didn't say a word. He simply stepped forward, fingers hovering over the biometric scanner next to the hidden door.
"Domino, tulip me," he murmured.
Without hesitation, Domino pulled out one of her signature Black Tulips and handed it over. Ash adjusted his grip, aimed carefully, and flung it into the scanner. Sparks crackled as the overload surged through the system, the panel let out a sharp bzzt and the lock clicked open.
"Let's go," Ash said calmly, moving down first. The others followed close behind.
At the bottom of the narrow passage, they hit a dead end, a smooth wall with nowhere to hide. No choice but to go old-fashioned and confront whatever waited ahead.
They stepped through, and froze.
Four grunts were stationed around the room. But more notably, there was a fifth figure lounging casually against a console: a boy about their age, with messy dirty blond hair, a red scarf loose around his neck, and an unmistakably laid-back vibe. Taka.
The boy turned lazily as they entered, lifting his head with a long, exaggerated sigh.
"Ohhh nooo," Taka drawled dramatically. "We have company. That's probably not a good sign for us."
Jay blinked. "Huh. Didn't think I'd meet a grunt with a sense of humor today…"
Taka raised both hands in mock surrender, still slouched comfortably. "Technically, admin, actually. Name's Taka. Nice to meet you." He gave a half-lazy wave. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna fight unless you make me. Honestly, I was hoping today would stay uneventful."
Enid crossed her arms, skeptical. "You're Taka? We heard a little about you… didn't expect you to be like this."
"That's me." Taka gave an exaggerated bow, stuffing his hands back into his hoodie pockets. "Welcome to our not-so-abandoned secret lair. I'd offer tea, but, well…" He flicked his gaze toward the grunts, who were all tensed up, hands on Poké Balls. "These guys are a little trigger-happy."
The grunts stiffened. Taka sighed again, clearly unimpressed.
"Really? You're gonna start a fight over this? I mean, come on, they already found us. Might as well say hi, maybe swap recipes, you know?"
Ash stood perfectly still. His eyes scanned the room, from Taka, to the grunts, and back again. His scarf shifted slightly with his breath, masking the lower half of his face but not the sharp, unreadable focus in his eyes.
"We don't want a fight," Ash said at last. "Not unless someone gives us a reason to. So… are we really doing this?"
Taka shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. "Meh."
Enid's eye twitched. "Meh? What do you mean, meh?"
"I mean meh," Taka said casually. "I don't really care. The Camerupt thingy upstairs? The whole point is to make it erupt. After that, well… you can guess the rest. That's one pocket of civilization wiped off the map, and one more checkmark on the 'to-do' list. Maybe it's not everything, but hey, good enough for Dad, apparently."
Jay's face paled slightly. "Wait… hold up. Solaris is your dad?"
"Surprise!" Taka said with fake enthusiasm, throwing up his arms half-heartedly. "Yep. The official disappointment son of Team Meteor's walking apocalypse."
"Yikes," Jay muttered under his breath. "And here I thought my family situation was bad…"
Taka shrugged again. "Yeah, everyone else here's all about flashy shows of force, you know, 'send a message' or whatever, like those noobs in Hoenn and all that." He smirked faintly. "Speaking of which, you did kinda waltz in here, so… yeah, that's a thing."
Ash's voice stayed even. "So… are we going to fight?"
Taka let out an exaggerated sigh, eyes rolling as he fingered the Poké Balls on his belt. "I guess I have to. Now that I told you what's happening, I'm supposed to stall you. Or capture you."
He tapped thoughtfully across his belt, as if still deciding which partner to pick. "Don't suppose you'd be nice and use a Fighting or Water type, huh?"
"...No," Ash replied flatly.
Meowth, perched on his shoulder, gave a huge yawn before leaping down lazily, stretching out her claws.
"Yeah, I feel that," Taka said, nodding to Meowth with a smirk. Finally, he plucked a ball from his belt and spun it once in his fingers.
"Okay, I guess we're doing this." He flung it up dramatically. "Goooooo!"
The Poké Ball burst open, and with a sharp trill, a Chatot fluttered out into the air, singing brightly.
The bird Pokémon fluttered in place, tilting its head and mimicking a word that Taka used a lot.
"I guess we're doing this~!" it chirped musically.
Helena blinked. "That's… kind of adorable for a villain."
Taka shrugged. "She's got flair. Gotta respect that in a world full of Garchomps and death cults."
Ash shook his head and sighed through his scarf. "Domino, Helena, Enid, Jay — just take the grunts. I'll handle him."
"Yeah, okay, seems about right," Helena muttered as Stephen came out of her shadow.
"Fine, let's just get this over with," Enid muttered as she let out her Ursaring.
Domino let out her Weavile, and Jay released Tod the Meowth, as the grunts each threw out their Pokémon.
Ash's attention stayed on Taka, whose Chatot fluttered forward, ready to battle. Meowth stretched lazily in front of Ash, her claws gleaming faintly in the dim light. Despite her size, she looked utterly fearless.
"Ready?" Ash asked.
Taka sighed. "About as ready as I am for my dad's lectures. Alright, Chatot, [Chatter]."
The Chatot's wings buzzed with sound before it let out an explosive burst of garbled speech, half song, half sonic assault, aimed straight at Meowth.
Meowth's fur ruffled from the soundwave, but she danced nimbly aside. Ash didn't flinch.
"[Fake Out]," he said quietly.
Meowth was a blur. One flash forward, a loud slap echoed in the room, and Chatot reeled back, flapping awkwardly, stunned.
Taka winced. "Oof. Yeah, saw that one coming."
"Come on, let's get things started," Ash smirked under the scarf.
—
{Back at the summit}
Owari's Crobat darted past Garchomp's jaws with inches to spare, launching a [Cross Poison] that barely scratched the dragon's side. Garchomp roared and retaliated with a [Stone Edge], shaking the already unstable volcanic edge as it launched stones toward the bat, hitting it out of the sky.
Sayako's Absol dashed forward, horn gleaming with [Psycho Cut], aiming for the same spot Crobat had hit, but Garchomp raised his arm, blocking it as sparks danced against his hard scales. He retaliated with a [Dragon Claw], slashing Absol down.
Sayako's Absol collapsed hard, eyes squeezed shut in pain as Garchomp's claws withdrew.
Sayako gritted her teeth. "Absol, stand!"
But Garchomp was already moving, claws glowing again as it stepped forward, looming over the fallen Dark-type.
Across the ridge, Solaris stood still, his long coat rippling faintly in the mountain wind, eyes sharp and unreadable. He just watched them squirm, arms crossed, silent.
Garchomp raised its claw, ready to finish Absol off, permanently.
Until another voice rang out, fierce and commanding:
"Incineroar, [Darkest Lariat]!"
A powerful Incineroar burst onto the scene, roaring as it spun, slamming its dark-cloaked fists into Garchomp's neck and pushing the dragon back a few paces. Garchomp snarled, barely staggered by the hit, but Solaris narrowed his eyes slightly, the first flicker of interest showing on his otherwise calm face.
From the mountain path, a girl appeared, black hair, dressed in a kimono patterned with yin and yang symbols on each side. She ran forward, and stood next to Owari, ready to fight
Cal's eyes widened. "Victoria?!"
Victoria glanced his way and let out a breath, her shoulders easing just slightly. "Cal, you're safe. That's good… but wait, were you defeated already?"
"Uh… about that…" Cal muttered, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"Ahem." Solaris's voice cut through the tension like a knife, a sharp sound that immediately made Cal fall quiet. Solaris's eyes flicked toward the newcomer, assessing. "So… another child is here. How typical."
Victoria huffed, stepping forward, eyes flashing as she glanced toward Owari and Sayako. "You two are fighting against him? Guess that means we're on the same side."
"Huh, I guess so," Owari muttered, already pulling a fresh Poké Ball from his belt.
Victoria clenched her fists and squared her stance. "I'm not letting you lay a finger on these two, on Cal, or on anyone else in the towns nearby!"
"How amusing," Solaris murmured, a cold edge creeping into his voice. "Very well. Let's see if the three of you can even defeat one of my Pokémon. But don't blame me… for what happens next."
With a snap of his fingers, Garchomp lunged forward, wrist blades glowing to cut them down
---
remember if we get to 1500 we get another chapter