Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Running On E
I met up with Jay at the agreed upon meeting place, which was a cafe close to the museum. It was already near closing time for most establishments, since after 10pm most people were already home. Seeing him sitting at a table with some coffee beverage. Once he caught sight of me he said goodbye to the waitress that looked relieved when he said he would leave. I think he might've just been sitting there for a while, and stopped them from closing early. Once he caught up to me he didn't speak and led the way to the museum.
While we were walking he finally decided to talk, "Rian thank you for coming, now take this black hair dye. Your hair is easily recognized and stands out at night. With this they won't know your identity. I also have some glasses if you want to hide your eyes." He hands me a little tin that says "black dye" and it says it can be washed out with soap and water. In his hands are two pairs of spiral glasses that look pretty nerdy.
(A/N: Glasses)
"I'll just use my headband to cover my eyes, don't worry I can't still see with it on." Which is true, I may have covered my eyesight but with my aura training I can see and sense everything around me. Discreetly moving to an ally so we can finish our disguises. We both use the dye and apply it to our own hair. He puts on the swirly glasses to complete his disguise. We both had the sensibility to wear a different outfit than what we usually wear. He's wearing a black and green plaid shirt and black cargo shorts. Meanwhile I'm wearing a black knitted turtleneck and black jeans.
(A/N: MC disguise)
The reason we're going through all this trouble is because it's Team Rocket we're dealing with. They have influence all over Kanto and even in other regions even if it's small. If you come up on their radar they'll try to deal with you either directly or indirectly. I don't know about other people but I'd prefer not to have one eye open at all times. This is the reason I chose Zorua for this secret op, she can use her illusions to change appearance to another pokemon. They'll never know the difference, and as long as she isn't KOd she can maintain her illusion. The real question is what pokemon should she disguise as… I'll probably go with Eevee, that should be more believable with her move set. Plus it's one of the few pokemon Zorua knows when she was helping me study before the sponsorship test.
With our disguises set we go into the museum, it's open 24/7. The curator had decided to keep it open because, "Knowledge should never be kept from others, and time shouldn't stop others from learning of the past." Unfortunately the staff's feelings weren't accounted for when the decision was made, having 12 hour shift rotations. Which is why the museum is well known for their cranky staff. The most ironic thing is that no one ever visits the museum at night. Although it makes it kinda like a haunted house at night. Supposedly Team Rocket will strike around 11pm, 1 hour before the next staff comes in. I don't know why they chose that time to strike, but if I had to take a gander. It would be when the staff's guard is most vulnerable, and the next shift wouldn't have appeared yet.
Having killed an hour waiting around in the museum, we didn't just twiddle our thumbs while we wait for Team Rocket to attack. We kept a visual on all the possible hostages here, there was a couple upstairs and three kids downstairs. Upstairs was just a collection of various minerals found in Mt. Moon. The downstairs is filled with pokemon fossils and their models. I wasn't going to lie to myself and tell myself I'm not interested in fossil pokemon. The only problem is that I'm not really good with rock type pokemon. Maybe I'll give it a try in the future, there are a lot of cool rock type pokemon out there.
While making my round I pretended to be a blind person and had one of the kids in the group read and describe the exhibit. A little deceitful of me since I'm not actually blind, but I couldn't read with my blindfold on, only visualize shapes. The kid, named Betty, didn't mind leaving her friends to help me. Such a kind child, made me wonder, would I ever have kids of my own??? Even though people leave on journeys at 15, teen pregnancy was a huge issue. Not that I would do anything stupid, and I wasn't one of those characters in fanfics who "loved" women and chased after every one. I couldn't help but think about Misty at this point, but I knew it wouldn't work. She's nice to me and she has a caring personality but our paths are separate.
*Ding*
[New Quest!
Oh no! Those dastardly ne'er-do-wells are up to no good once again. That's right Team Rocket has come to steal the prehistoric and not for making an entertainment land. You must stop them, not just because they're shady but think of the children. How will they be motivated if they think bad people can get away with anything? So rise up to the occasion and defeat the boss and goons. You got this, probably…
Rewards:
TM Steel Wing, 70k pokedollars, diamond-grade egg(random), superhero name/ blind enforcer, rep increase with kids]
It seems like Team Rocket is here, if the quest message is any sign. Also I don't know if it's just me, but these quest descriptions seem to be getting more expressive. I didn't have more time to think longer on the subject because Team Rocket grunts came crashing through the windows, throwing glass everywhere. Ignoring the perfectly functioning door there were 10 Team Rocket Members, 6 men and 4 women. The leader seemed to be one of the women as she was the only one giving out orders. They all wore a black outfit with a red 'R', with a black cap hiding most of their features from afar.
(A/N: Team Rocket)
She sent 4 grunts upstairs to secure the hostages there. Then the lackeys began releasing their pokemon, they had one pokemon each but the leader had 2 and hadn't sent them out yet. On the main floor it was only me facing the grunts while the 2 kids, Betty and the receptionist hid behind me. Seeing that I wasn't cowering like the rest seemed to rub them the wrong way, because they began jeering at me.
"You're already blind kid, don't tell me you're dumb too." Grunt 1 said, a man on the heftier side. He had a Raticate Lvl.18, a giant brown rat with large teeth.
(A/N: Raticate)
"Look, it's a human Zubat!" Said Grunt 2, the only other man left in the room, he was lanky in figure. By his side was an Ekans Lvl.14, a purple snake with a rattle on its tail.
(A/N: Ekans)
"He's like totally gross." Grunt 3 said with a lax expression, her vibrant two-toned hair stood out, along with her Gloom, Lvl.20. The evolution of Oddish, it was blue with orange orange petals coming out of a maroon flower.
(A/N: Gloom)
"Sister, he could be good target practice." Said Grunt 4 with a sadistic expression on her face. By her side was a Golbat Lvl.20, the large blue bat with a wide mouth that was always open showing 4 sharp fangs.
(A/N: Golbat)
"There's no point practicing on someone who couldn't even dodge, what a waste of space." The 5th Grunt said with a disdainful look. By her side was a Beedrill Lvl. 25. The yellow bee-like pokemon with two stingers for hands had a violent look in its red lense-like eyes.
(A/N: Beedrill)
Seeing that the situation was getting out of hand the leader spoke, she had the same uniform as them. The only difference from the others being her long black hair, aquamarine eyes, and the cold commanding aura around her. She obviously wasn't an aura user but all people exude an aura that could be read and used to locate them. "Quiet you fools, two of you grab the fossils on display, one of you go and keep a lookout, and the last two will watch the hostages so they don't do anything funny. Steal their pokemon if they have any, there are no rooms for mistakes in my squadron, am I understood?"
"Yes Ma'am!" They all spoke simultaneously, quickly moving to their posts. While she waited impatiently tapping her fingers on her crossed arms. Finally seeing them separated I took note of who was watching over me and the hostages. It was Grunt 4 & 5, with two of the strongest pokemon in the room. Not to mention the two unknown pokemon the leader had. Not going to lie I didn't think the difficulty level would spike this much. The goofballs that had attacked the pokemon center previously were pushovers compared to what I now faced. I would normally be worried but with Zorua's ability, dark boost, in effect her already monstrous stats are increased by 20%
[Zorua
Normal/Ghost
Lvl. 16
Potential: Diamond grade (5 stars)
Bond: 85%
HP: 60 -> (72)
Attack: 56 -> (67)
Defense: 48 -> (58)
Sp. Attack: 59 -> (71)
Sp. Defense: 48 -> (58)
Speed: 55 -> (66)
Abilities:
Illusion/ Can create and control illusions
Dark Boost/ Powers up Dark type moves. 20% increase in stats at night.
Moves: Bitter Malice, Swift, Shadow Sneak, Snarl Extrasensory, Counter, Torment, Hone Claws, Fury Swipes, Scary Face
Evolution Requirement: Bond 100%, Reaper Cloth at night]
The only worrisome element is the leader's unknown pokemon. The strongest pokemon in the room, Beedrill, is only a little weaker than Zorua. Hopefully the levels gained by taking care of her lackeys will help me overcome whatever she may have in store. Hopefully Jay will be able to handle the grunts upstairs with his Charmeleon.
Before I make my move I turn around and quietly signal the hostages to not panic and stay together. Little Betty holds my sleeve quietly telling me not to do anything. I ruffled her hair and gave her a reassuring smile. Unfortunately, my actions seemed to alert the two grunts.
"Don't think about doing something stupid, just hand over your valuables and no one needs to get hurt."
"Yes, Team Rocket doesn't mind getting their hands dirty, your resistance is futile."
Using the time they used to start their typical bad guy talk I take my collapsible wooden bokuto out of my pocket, and in my other free hand I grab Zorua's pokeball. I give her commands before I empower my body with aura. "Quick Eevee use scary face to stun Beedrill and Golbat!"
(A/N: Eevee)
As she came out her pokeball she had already turned into an Eevee. Instantly she makes an intimidating face that slows their pokemon's reactions. Using their surprise to my advantage I speed towards Grunt 4 and thrust my aura-covered bokuto into her solar plexus, which knocks her out. I instantly rotated in an attempt to hit Grunt 5's temple. But it seemed her surprise was soon over and managed to dodge by diving out of the way in time. Without the trainer their pokemon wouldn't have any directions, giving me an edge. Unfortunately I only managed to take one down. "Eevee use quick attack to pin Golbat down and end it with swift!"
Zorua doesn't know quick attack, but with her diamond grade potential, being a normal type, and having seen quick attack before, it should be easy to replicate. At least that's what I'm betting on, but I trust my partner. And she delivers, covering herself in normal type energy she speedily tackles Golbat to the ground before hitting it with a point blank swift. At the end of her onslaught Golbat is knocked out with spirals for eyes. Grunt 5 looks on with pure fury for being out in such a situation by someone she previously ridiculed. From the ground she gives her commands to Beedrill.
"Beedrill shake it off and hit it with poison jab!" Instantly recognizing its trainer's command its stringers glow purple and it sluggishly heads towards Zorua. It seems scary face is still affecting its speed, which will only make it easier to take down.
"Use quick attack to get behind it, then tackle it to the ground and finish it with fury swipes!" Even though she doesn't know tackle, it's a straightforward attack and she'll be able to learn it right away. I'm using physical attacks because Beedrill is much weaker to those than special attacks. Her Beedrill was too slow to react and with its back to Zorua it couldn't counterattack and was defeated swiftly. Meanwhile she was in shock from losing, I quickly knocked her out with a strike to the head.
This battle obviously caught the attention of the other grunts and the leader. The hostages still looked worried but you could see a trace of hope in their eyes. The grunts looked befuddled at how their colleagues were taken out by a "blind" teen. The leader looked utterly disappointed at her subordinates, but she was amused by me.
Seeing that the leader wasn't going to take action anytime soon I took advantage of the situation and took out the rest of her goons. After they and their pokemon were knocked out I finally came face to face with the leader. She had been patiently waiting for me to finish, it was a little unnerving to see her look like she had everything under control. But I felt a little more confident with Zorua who had reached level 25.
[Zorua
Lvl.25
HP: 78 -> (94)
Attack: 74 -> (89)
Defense: 66 -> (79)
Sp. Attack: 77 -> (92)
Sp. Defense: 66 -> (79)
Speed: 73 -> (88)
New Moves: Quick Attack, Tackle, Taunt, Knock Off, Slash]
As long as she doesn't send anything above Lvl.40 I should be fine. She's not even a Team Rocket Admin, she doesn't have the signature unique uniform. That makes me a little worried about the future, since she's not an Admin. How strong are they? I don't have much time to think about useless things because we're about to start fighting.
"You're pretty strong kid, I'll admit that you wiped the floor with my weakling lackeys. And normally I would invite you to join Team Rocket under my wing, but you don't seem to be the type to join. So instead I'll crush you and take your strong pokemon for myself. Destroy them Arbok!" I was expecting the poison type pokemon, but it was Lvl.34 and had a higher attack stat than boosted Zorua. The imposing purple cobra with fierce markings on its fins. This is going to be a difficult battle. I can only rely on a kiting strategy, because even though I might be able to take some hits she still has a second pokemon.
(A/N: Arbok)
I was able to finally knock out her Arbok, but she didn't seem all too bothered by it. Zorua wasn't able to dodge every attack and took some damage from a poison jab attack, using its tail as a whip made the strikes unpredictable and fast. Unfortunately she got poisoned by one of the strikes at the end, I was very anxious about her next pokemon. But before she could I pulled out a full restore and healed Zorua completely. Which soon removed the smug face she had at the damage she had done.
"You really know how to ruin a girl's fun, but you must be pretty rich to own a full restore. I'll be helping myself to your cash after I crush you. And you may have barely defeated Arbok but this charade is over."
She sent out her final pokemon the reason why she was so sure of her victory. A Nidoqueen, a monstrously large bipedal light blue pokemon. It's strong arms that could definitely crush rocks, even with its slightly comical ears the ruthless look in its eyes certainly did not make it funny. It was Lvl.40 and slightly exceeded Zorua in the stats department. Even though she's fully healed, after fighting this whole time with opponents much stronger than her she's quickly running on E. It makes sense that the rewards were so good, because this quest is currently above my level. It's too late to back away now, she definitely wouldn't let me escape. There's a way to win this, I just need to think. Think Rian, Think!
(A/N: Nidoqueen)
I think I have an idea, it's a little crazy, but it just might work…
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ReinAndHalos
ReinAndHalos I want to thank everyone for their support, we have officially passed my old novel’s collection count. You guys are the reason I write, otherwise I would just keep these ideas in my head to myself. Hope you enjoy the chapter!
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