Chapter 282: Destruction
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Nighttime, Lilycove City – Team Aqua's Base]
Shelly and Amber split off from Matt as they checked other sectors of Team Aqua's Base as concern etched on their expressions. Each of them splits off as Matt leaves to get the Grunts into formation.
Matt's eyes immediately snapped to the flashing red light on his comm, listening to the automated voice blare, followed by panicked shouts, "Commander Matt, intruder alert! Multiple breaches, main entrance compromised!"
*SMASH*
He slammed his fist on the button, cutting off the noise, but the urgency had already seeped into his bones. He snarled, throwing on his uniform, "Dammit! I hope Shelly and Amber check on the other sectors in the base!"
*BOOOOM*
*ZAP*
He could hear the commotion echoing through the base – explosions, the crackle of electricity, the sounds of Pokémon battling. This wasn't some petty thief.
This was a full-scale assault. He grits his teeth as he mutters, "Who the hell would be stupid enough—"
*BOOOM*
He burst out of his quarters, encountering a handful of disoriented Grunts. Matt barked, his usual swagger replaced by a snarl, "What are you idiots doing standing around?! Rally! Form up! Protect the valuable assets! Don't let them get to the Submarine!"
He saw the fear in their eyes, the chaos in their movements as he thought bitterly, 'This wasn't going to be easy.'
He knew Shelly and Amber would be up too, but they'd have their own duties. He had to contain the main force, push them back as he barked orders, "Let's go, you scrubs! Use your Pokémon! Show them what Team Aqua is made of!"
*Pop*
He summoned his Sharpedo, its powerful jaws already chomping menacingly as he roared, "Sharkpedo, use Aqua Jet! Drive them back!"
/////
[Hoenn Region, Nighttime, Lilycove City – Team Aqua's Base]
Amber's mind always went to the logistical heart of things. When the alarms shrieked, his first thought wasn't combat, but preservation.
He muttered, pulling his headband back, "The captured Pokémon!"
Team Aqua kept several valuable Pokémon, some for research, some for their operations, some simply because they were in the way of their grand plan. Losing them would be a significant blow, a waste of resources.
He moved with an efficiency that belied his slender frame, navigating the now-chaotic corridors towards the Pokémon Storage facility. The sounds of battle grew louder with every step, the distinct roar of a Metagross shaking the very foundations of the building.
"META!!!!"
*BOOOOM*
*SCREECH*
He chanted, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach, "No, no, no! It can't be him, not Steven, then…!"
Amber didn't have time to consider who came. He arrived at the storage bay, his eyes widening in disbelief.
The reinforced door, designed to withstand a self-destructing Electrode, was not just open but torn clean off its hinges, lying mangled on the floor. Inside, the rows of secure containment units, now empty, gaped like hollow eyes.
The air hummed with residual energy, a faint scent of electricity and earth. His gaze swept across the room, finally falling upon a gaping hole in the back wall, large enough to drive a truck through, leading directly to the outside.
He whispered, her voice barely audible, "They... they released them all."
Not only had the intruder breached their defenses, but they'd systematically freed their captives. This wasn't just an attack; it was a deliberate dismantling of their operations, a humanitarian statement amid destruction.
This wasn't some petty criminal wanting to steal their tech. This was someone with a code, someone who understood the value of Pokémon, and who considered Team Aqua's methods an abomination.
The sheer audacity, the power required to do this, sent a chill down his spine. He uttered in a fearful voice, "Who... who did this?"
/////
[Hoenn Region, Nighttime, Lilycove City – Team Aqua's Base]
Shelly despised alarms. She preferred the quiet hum of the ocean, the rhythmic lapping of waves against the shore.
This cacophony was an insult to her ears. She scrambled, her face a mask of annoyance that quickly morphed into cold fury as she roared, "An intruder?! In my base?!"
Her mind raced through the possibilities as she thought, 'Rival gang? Rogue trainer? Whatever it was, they would regret it.'
She pulled on her uniform, her gaze hardening. Her Ludicolo and Vibrava would make short work of anyone foolish enough to invade.
She moved swiftly through the corridors, bypassing the initial chaos where Matt was trying to rally the terrified Grunts. She had a more strategic approach in mind; cut off the head, or at least identify it.
The sounds led her deeper into the base, away from the initial breaches, surprisingly. She found herself in a less-frequented research section, vital for their data, but not heavily guarded.
The lights here flickered erratically, the air charged with a strange blend of ozone and something fresh, like a spring rain. And then she saw him.
He stood amidst the wreckage of a data terminal, a Trainer radiating an almost unnerving calm. His back was to her, but the sheer presence he exuded was palpable.
Beside him, unfurling its ethereal fins, was a Pokémon Shelly knew intimately. A Milotic she knew personally.
Her breath hitched as she uttered, "No... it can't be."
The Milotic, captive for days, had been a prize catch, its beauty captivating even for Team Aqua's pragmatic scientists. But it had been a defiant creature, suffering a jagged, ugly scar from a struggle during its capture – a mark of its spirit, a testament to Team Aqua's ability to subdue even the most majestic.
Yet, as the Milotic turned its head, Shelly flinched, not just at eye contact, but at the impossible. The scar, that angry, livid gouge along its side, was gone.
Faint, almost invisible lines remained, but the flesh was whole, healed. It was a miracle, a testament to phenomenal healing the likes of which she'd never witnessed.
As she stared, the beautiful creature's eyes, usually clouded with defiance and pain, sharpened, focusing on her with an intensity that made her instinctively take a step back. She recalled it took 3 Admins to capture it.
There was no pain now, only a raw, undiluted hatred. A hatred so profound it felt like a physical blow.
The Trainer, Azure Sky, turned slowly, his gaze meeting hers with an unsettling calmness. He didn't speak, but the message in his eyes was clear: 'You laid hands on this beauty. Now, you will answer for it.'
Shelly felt a cold dread creep up her spine, a sensation she hadn't experienced since her first brush with a wild Gyarados as she thought bitterly, 'This wasn't just an intruder; this was something far more dangerous.'
Someone who didn't just fight, but healed the wounds Team Aqua inflicted, and then unleashed their fury. The Milotic let out a soft, almost imperceptible hiss, its healed body shimmering under the flickering lights, a silent promise of retribution.
Azure merely regarded her, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk playing on his lips. His voice was calm, almost conversational, yet it resonated with an iron will that chilled her to the bone, "It seems my Milotic remembers you, Admin Shelly. Perhaps you would like to have a word with me, face to face."
Milotic, no longer captive, no longer scarred, moved with a grace that masked its immense power, slowly advancing towards Shelly, its eyes burning with a vengeance that promised a difficult and painful encounter.
The fight for Team Aqua's base had just become deeply personal. Shelly gritted out, her voice laced with venom, her face darkening, "You… You freed it. This wasn't just an attack; it was personal."
Azure Sky simply regarded her, his expression unreadable. He offered no verbal response, merely a subtle nod towards the Milotic, whose serpentine form shimmered with a potent, focused aura.
Shelly's teeth clenched. She hurled her Poke Balls to stop him, "Ludicolo! Vibrava! End this quickly!"
*Pop*
From their Poké Balls, Ludicolo burst forth, its sombrero-like head wobbling, its goofy grin usually infectious, now seeming unsettling in the tense air. Vibrava zipped into existence, its dragonfly-like wings beating a rapid rhythm, creating a droning hum.
They were formidable opponents, known for their speed and unique type combinations. Azure's command was soft, yet resonated with absolute authority, "Milotic. Use Dragon Pulse."
The Milotic, needing no further instruction, coiled its magnificent body. A swirling vortex of multi-colored energy coalesced at its mouth, growing rapidly in size and intensity…
*PEW*
… It wasn't just a move; it was a release of pent-up fury, a payment for past torment. The Dragon Pulse screamed across the chamber, a blinding, destructive force.
*BOOOM*
Ludicolo, caught mid-dance, had no time to react. The attack slammed into it with concussive force, sending the Water/Grass-type spiraling into a wall, unconscious before it even hit the ground.
*PEW*
Vibrava, faster, attempted to dodge, but Milotic's aim was true, still fueled by the hate-filled glare. A secondary, concentrated burst from the dying pulse grazed Vibrava's wing, sending it tumbling.
*BOOOM*
Before it could regain its bearings, Milotic followed up with a focused Hydro Pump, a geyser of pressurized water that knocked the Ground/Dragon-type out cold.
*SPLASH*
Shelly stared, aghast. Her two Pokémon, defeated in less than ten seconds by a single attacker.
The Milotic, now serene once more, except for the burning intensity in its eyes, returned to Azure's side. Shelly gulped, realizing her failure, 'It took all 3 Admins to defeat it. It was supposed to be given to Archie, but… But with a Trainer – '
*Shiver*
She didn't even need to finish her thoughts. Just seeing the cold expression on Milotic's face told it all how fucked she was. But…
*Tmp*
… Just then, Matt and Amber burst into the chamber. Matt, his face flushed with exertion, skidded to a halt, seeing Shelly's defeated Pokémon and the triumphant Azure.
Amber, his eyes wide with shock from his discovery in the storage bay, processed the scene – the liberated Milotic, the defeated Admins, the calm, imposing intruder. Matt boomed, his voice a mixture of anger and disbelief, "Shelly, what happened?!"
*BOOOOM*
Before Shelly could stammer a response, a colossal, earth-shattering explosion ripped through the very foundations of the base. The ground lurched violently, lights flickered and died, and a rain of dust and debris cascaded from the ceiling.
*RMBL*
A secondary, rumbling boom followed, confirming the initial blast was not an isolated incident. Then, from the swirling dust and the chaos…
*Shiii*
… Gardevoir materialized, her elegant posture unblemished, and perched on her shoulder, a jaunty, electrified Pikachu, its cheeks sparking faintly. Pikachu, with a triumphant cry, pumped its tiny fist into the air, "Pika-CHU! (We've done it! Mission accomplished!)"
Gardevoir, channeling Azure's calm, simply stated, her voice clear despite the din, through her ability Telepathy said for all to hear, 'Mission complete. The submarine has been… decommissioned.'
Matt barked a disbelieving laugh, a strained, desperate sound as he openly mocked, "Decommissioned? You destroyed our submarine? Don't make me laugh, punk! That's impossible!"
Amber, however, felt a fresh wave of dread. The explosion.
The specific, targeted destruction this Trainer was enacting. It felt… plausible. Too plausible.
As if to confirm their worst fears, a lone grunt, his face smeared with grease and terror, stumbled into the chamber, clutching his head as he yelled, "Admins! It's true! The main sub bay… It's gone! Torpedoes. Reactors. The whole thing! Blown to smithereens!"
The words hung in the smoke-filled air like a death knell. Matt and Amber's faces, already pale from the shock of the attack, drained further, turning ashen.
The sheer audacity, the precision, the devastating success of this lone Trainer… it was unprecedented. They weren't just under attack; they were being annihilated.
Their very operational core had been obliterated. Realization dawned, stark and horrifying: they were in serious, irrecoverable trouble.
Azure Sky, sensing their plummeting morale, didn't relent. He saw the flicker of despair in their eyes, and he pressed his advantage, his voice cutting through the ringing in their ears as he ordered coldly, "Milotic… Strong Style Hyper Beam."
*SHIIII*
Milotic, as if relishing the opportunity to further dismantle its captors' operations, began to glow with an intense, golden light. Energy surged, swirling around its form, coalescing into a terrifying sphere of raw power at its snout…
*CRACK*
The very air around it crackled, distorting slightly under the immense pressure. Amber screamed, snapping out of his momentary paralysis, "Defend yourselves!"
*Pop*
He threw out a Carvanha and a Mightyena, while Matt, roaring defiance, sent out a Sharpedo and a Walrein. Their Pokémon, however, dwarfed and insignificant against the looming threat.
*PEW*
With a deafening roar that vibrated through the very bones of the base, Milotic unleashed the Hyper Beam. A colossal, blinding torrent of destructive energy tore across the chambers of Team Aqua's base.
Matt, Amber, and Shelly, along with their Pokémon, instinctively threw themselves behind a remaining section of reinforced wall, their bodies tensing for impact. They all ordered, "NOW!! PROTECT!!!"
*BOOOOM*
The Hyper Beam, a force of nature, slammed into the opposite wall, tearing through concrete and twisted metal like it was paper. A huge section of the base buckled, groaning under the strain, then imploded, sending a fresh wave of debris and a thick, choking cloud of dust and pulverized rock billowing outwards, engulfing the entire command center in an impenetrable shroud.
*RMBL*
The whole Team Aqua Base rumbled as it was hit by a fully powered Hyper Beam. One nearly or almost similar to how Lance unleashed a Hyper Beam that destroyed a city while Azure controlled his Milotic's power to a whole operation facility.
When the dust began to settle, revealing only glimpses of the devastation, a collective groan escaped the Team Aqua Admins protected by they're Pokémon Protect. Their ears rang, their bodies ached, and their base was now a structural catastrophe.
Matt gasped, his voice hoarse, wiping grit from his eyes, "He… he's gone."
They peered through the lingering haze, trying to find any sign of their attacker, but there was nothing. The space where Azure Sky had stood was empty.
*WEEEEE*
*WOOOO*
*WEEEE*
Just as the first faint wail of distant sirens reached their ears, growing steadily louder, Gardevoir's emerald eyes flared one last time. With a silent command from Azure, who had already retrieved his Pokémon amidst the chaos, they vanished.
*Shiii*
Gardevoir's Teleport ripped through the fabric of space, taking Azure and his victorious team not just out of the base, but out of Lilycove City entirely, leaving behind only the wreckage of Team Aqua's ambitions.
The sirens howled, closing in rapidly. Police sirens. Coast Guard sirens.
The sound, coupled with the gaping hole in their submarine bay and the ruined command center, struck a chilling clarity into the hearts of the Team Aqua Grunts and Admins alike. Matt, Amber, and Shelly exchanged despairing glances, their faces mirroring the same grim realization.
Their carefully constructed stronghold, their pride and joy, was not just damaged, but utterly compromised. Panic began to ripple through the surviving members of Team Aqua as they paled at the situation.
A few of the Grunts, those with Staryu or Starmie in their possession, desperately fumbled for their Poké Balls, hoping to mimic Azure's escape. But Teleportation required focus, an ability most of them lacked under such extreme duress.
The game was up. With the realization of jail real one of the Grunts uttered, "EVERY MAN FOR THEMSELVES!!"
*Pop*
*Pop*
*Pop*
Multiple Grunts decided to abandon Team Aqua outright. The Admins grit they're teeth as Matt raised an arm out, "Why, you son of a – "
*Tap*
But he was halted by Amber as he bitterly said, bringing his Starmie out, "Matt! We need to leave! NOW!!"
Matt grit his teeth but bore with the humiliation. Shelly commanded, bringing out her own Starmie, and ordered, "Every Grunt escape! Get out and return to our rendezvous point at Lilycove City TV Department! Waterworks Department! Or Homes! Your objective is to escape hurry!!"
Hearing her commands, the Grunts nodded they're heads as the Admins prepared to leave with grim expressions. They all clenched their fists tightly as Starmie began to glow in psychic power and…
*Wumwum*
… vanished into thin air. The rest of the Grunts followed as the police, Pokémon Rangers, and lifeguards approached the ruins of Team Aqua's Base, left with questions of the sudden attack and unfilled answers…
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!