Capítulo 10: Unpleasant surprise
Anais, her heart pounding with anticipation, skillfully maneuvered through the undergrowth, the dancing shadows of the trees concealing her progress.
Her loyal Pokémon, Arbok, moved silently at her side. The night intensified the dark and cold aspect of its scales, perfectly blending them into the surrounding darkness. They were approaching the secret base of Team Rocket, a semi-underground facility that had managed to elude the watchful eyes of both the police and the gym for far too long.
Anais paused to inspect one of the base doors. She took a computer from her backpack, connecting it to the door with carefully arranged cables. After a few minutes, the door unlocked without drawing the attention of Team Rocket members. She took a deep breath before slipping silently inside, closing the door without making a sound.
The first guards were barely on the horizon, and Anais knew she had to avoid them at all costs. She blended with the shadows, camouflaging herself in the surroundings.
"Did you feel a draft?"
"The door isn't far. Someone must have opened it to enter or stepped out for some fresh air; it's stifling in this building. Don't worry; let's talk about the Rhyhorn I swiped from a trainer. You should have seen his face at that moment, haha."
The grunts chatted and joked casually, completely oblivious, never suspecting for a moment that they had been infiltrated.
Anais continued her path, avoiding groups of guards. She encountered Skarmory gliding through the hallways, Honchkrows. As she delved deeper, numerous Pokémon revealed themselves: Nidoking, Beedrill, Raticate, Fearow. All sorts of Pokémon were mobilized to defend the base.
She arrived at a slightly ajar metal door, behind which she could hear muffled whispers and the soft hum of computers. With caution, she pushed the door, slipping inside without making a sound. The room was lit by the pale glow of computer screens. Some Team Rocket grunts were busy at their stations, presumably monitoring different parts of the base or processing information collected by their associates during the day.
Anais, like an elusive specter, closed the door behind her with extreme discretion, avoiding drawing any attention. She melded into the darkness of the room, moving with feline agility to a dark corner that offered a privileged view of the communication center. It was the nerve center that allowed contact with the outside world. She silently released her Seviper, which appeared without making the slightest noise to avoid alerting the grunts.
The Seviper remained alert, its eyes emitting a subtle glow as it blended into the shadow next to Anais. In an instant, she analyzed the layout of the room, detecting five grunts busy at the computers.
Her loyal Arbok was by her side, ready for action. Anais intensely stared at the grunts, mentally devising her strategy. Choosing the opportune moment, she discreetly signaled to Seviper, who silently approached the command center, ready to disable external communication and thus prevent potential reinforcements.
Without wasting time, Anais slipped behind the nearest grunt. Her attack was swift, a precise punch that sent the grunt to the ground, completely caught off guard. Arbok, a complicit spectator, observed the scene with amusement, aware of his trainer's impressive skill.
Alerted by the noise, the other grunts turned to face Anais. Close combat ensued, each movement calculated and executed with disconcerting precision. Anais, accompanied by Arbok and Seviper, methodically neutralized the grunts who desperately tried to push them back.
Faced with their imminent defeat, the grunts decided to call upon their Pokémon to turn the tide. Poké Balls were thrown into the air, releasing a series of determined Pokémon intent on protecting their territory.
Golbats, emerging from the heights of the room, swooped down on Arbok and Seviper. The clash between the Pokémon was inevitable. Though disoriented, the grunts assumed their positions, ordering their Pokémon to attack.
Fierce combat erupted in the dimness, the Pokémon's attacks echoing through the surveillance room. With exceptional mastery of Pokémon battle, Anais agilely dodged the assaults, simultaneously giving precise orders to her two snake Pokémon.
Arbok stood against the Golbats, using its Poison attacks to keep the opponents at bay. Seviper, on the other hand, swiftly maneuvered between the Golbats, disrupting their coordination and causing them to attack each other. The coordination between Anais and her Pokémon was remarkable, revealing perfect synchronization between the trainer and her loyal companions.
Despite the fierce opposition, Anais and her Pokémon managed to maintain the upper hand. The Golbats, under the effect of the combined attacks, fell one by one, leaving behind an oppressive silence.
The room, plunged once again into calmness, bore witness to Anais's victory. She quickly approached the computers, inserting her USB key to retrieve crucial information. Once the transfer was complete, she erased any trace of her intrusion, leaving the room in silent darkness. She also recalled Seviper into its Poké Ball.
Anais left the communication room, carefully closing the door behind her. She continued her infiltration at a quicker pace, though with less caution. The other grunts in the base would soon discover that something was amiss.
Her agile silhouette once again blended into the darkness, skillfully evading the prying eyes of the surrounding cameras. Every step brought her closer to the heart of the Team Rocket operation. Then, suddenly, she heard a massive explosion on the surface. Glancing at her watch, Anais realized she had been infiltrating for an hour, and the explosion must be the work of Azurion, who had begun to take action.
After several tens of minutes of running and searching through various rooms, she arrived in front of the surveillance room. Anais took a deep breath, quickly scanning the situation inside through the glass door. Multiple screens displayed images of the base, showing scenes of Pokémon fighting and battling, while the grunts, each equipped with a microphone, coordinated patrol teams and reported the location of the Dragon Pokémon wreaking havoc.
Determined, Anais cautiously opened the door, ensuring not to make any noise. She entered the room undetected, blending into the shadows like a ghost. Her senses were alert, ready to respond to any potential threat.
The grunts, immersed in their tasks, only became aware of Anais' presence when the door closed behind her with an automatic click. A grimace appeared on Anais' face. A fraction of a second of confusion marked the grunts' faces before it transformed into surprise and suspicion, connecting the unfamiliar face to the invasion by the powerful trainer on the surface.
However, Anais didn't give them time to react. At the speed of a panther, she pounced on the nearest grunt, delivering precise and devastating blows. Her exceptional agility allowed her to easily evade the clumsy counterattacks of her opponents.
Arbok, closely following her, prepared to defend his trainer against any Pokémon the grunts might hastily release. The confrontation in the surveillance room intensified, combining Anais's martial arts mastery with Arbok's venomous attacks.
The grunts, disoriented by the efficiency of the intrusion, attempted to counter with nervousness. However, Anais, drawing on her close combat experience, anticipated every move. She systematically incapacitated the grunts, rendering them unconscious with disconcerting ease, not even giving them time to call out their Pokémon.
The sound of battle echoed in the room, but Anais and Arbok were in control. The overwhelmed grunts began to realize that they were no match for this determined trainer and her formidable Pokémon.
Finally, Anais stood alone in the middle of the surveillance room, unconscious grunts at her feet. The worried voices of other grunts echoed through the microphones, inquiring about what was happening.
Anais approached, observing the destruction caused by the Gym Leader's Pokémon and how effortlessly they annihilated their enemies.
"Damn, it's incredible," she murmured. She noticed Azurion's gaze fixed on the surveillance camera but decided to ignore it.
"Sssss," Arbok hissed, warning his trainer to stay focused, as the danger was not yet averted. Anais refocused on her mission.
The trainer unfolded her laptop and skillfully connected a special device, initiating the hacking of the Team Rocket base's security system.
Meanwhile, Arbok slithered near the control center, his venomous presence blending with the tense atmosphere. The serpent Pokémon used its skills to disable the remaining alarms and disrupt internal communications, ensuring a silent retreat.
As Anais swiftly worked on her computer's keyboard, hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor outside the surveillance room. The grunts, alerted by the commotion, were heading towards them.
"Sssss," Arbok hissed warningly. Anais accelerated her efforts, knowing their time was limited. The screens flickered as she erased any trace of her intrusion, eliminating compromising data.
The grunts burst into the room, surprised to find their colleagues lying on the floor. Before they could react, Anais and Arbok fled, their figures passing by them like ghosts.
Anais guided Arbok through the labyrinthine corridors of the base, avoiding grunt patrols as much as possible. They sprinted through dark hallways, silently climbed stairs, and skillfully evaded guardian Pokémon. The tension was palpable, but the determination in Anais's eyes did not waver.
Suddenly, powerful flames cut off their path. Anais quickly dodged backward, a part of her hair singed. She found herself face to face with an imposing Charizard, which stared intensely at her. The atmosphere it emitted was impressive, putting pressure on Anais and her Arbok, who positioned itself in front of her protectively. However, despite the intimidation, the Charizard was adorned with jewelry and carried an oversized backpack, giving it a rather comical appearance.
Tesoro, standing at his towering height of two meters, scrutinized the petite Anais from head to toe. He recognized her, but as a subordinate of his trainer, he couldn't strip her of her belongings. He sighed, regretting having wasted his time, and continued to move forward.
Fortunately for Team Rocket and luckily for Anais, those who were chasing her were spotted by Tesoro. His eyes gleamed at the sight of them, and he charged towards them, raising the temperature with his flames.
Anais cast a final glance at Tesoro before resuming her frantic run, eager to escape this hellish place as quickly as possible. Arbok followed her, its body covered in sweat. If Tesoro hadn't recognized them, they would have been in serious trouble, and even though he wouldn't hesitate to defend his trainer, he would have been overwhelmed.
Finally, they reached the exit of the base. Anais cast one last look back, satisfied with the accomplishment of her mission. Arbok, ever vigilant, scanned the surroundings with its gaze.
"Let's go back to the rendezvous point," Anais murmured to her loyal companion. They discreetly moved away from the Team Rocket base.
As they put more distance between them and the base, Anais couldn't help but reflect on the devastating power of Azurion's Pokémon. The battle on the surface raged on, and although she couldn't see the details, she knew that her crucial role in the infiltration had contributed to weakening Team Rocket's defenses.
Ace, alongside Azurion, suddenly received a message from Tesoro through the psychic link they had established. Glancing quickly at Azurion, he relayed the message.
"mmh? Tesoro? He crossed paths with Anais trying to get out? It seems she's done, and that's good because we are too. There's not much left to do." Azurion observed the surroundings with a certain sadness, aware that this was the price to pay as a dragon trainer.
"So much devastation." After an hour of uninterrupted destruction, the base was unrecognizable, completely devastated. Flames consumed the remnants of the buildings, the corpses of humans and Pokémon littered the ground, bearing witness to the fury of the clashes. Part of the base had been lifted by the seismic attacks of the Pokémon, revealing debris and remnants of the past. The walls were stained with dried blood, a grim reminder of the brutality of the battles that had unfolded.
Dragon-type Pokémon were often portrayed as villains in comics, and the reality of this battle only reinforced that perception.
Although the sight of the massacre saddened Azurion, it didn't mean he regretted it. They were the ones who had provoked it first. Whether in this world or his previous one, he knew that if you didn't set boundaries, people would take advantage of you. In the world of Pokémon, those boundaries had to be drawn brutally. What gym leader didn't have hands stained with blood? Criminals, poachers, wild Pokémon, deranged trainers – all required an unyielding force to maintain order. Azurion firmly believed that if someone wasn't willing to get their hands dirty, it would be the populace bearing the weight of justice. And if they took justice into their own hands, society would fall into anarchy, a state conducive to crime, thus creating a dangerous cycle.
Azurion sighed, then turned to Ace.
"All right, send a message to the others, fall back. That's enough, we're stopping here. We need to regroup with Anais." Ace's eyes glowed mysteriously as varied responses flooded into his mind: affirmations, growls, protest howls. Although most of the Pokémon seemed unhappy about ending the attack, they immediately obeyed the given order.
After about ten minutes, the Dragon Pokémon surrounded their trainer, some complaining about the brevity of the encounter.
"All right, we're heading back to the rendezvous point. Stop complaining; you might still have something to enjoy." The roars of pleasure from the Pokémon echoed in the air.
Azurion mounted Momo and then flew towards the rendezvous point. Suddenly, he ordered everyone to stop.
"I forgot something. We can't leave it like this." Azurion frowned and turned back towards the base, which was in a deplorable state. A few Rockets, still alive and severely injured, were trying to escape.
Azurion debated internally for a few seconds, then reopened his eyes. Stretching his arm toward the base, he declared in a cold and emotionless tone:
"Listen to me, this base... never existed." Seven Hyper Beams were charged and launched simultaneously at the former base, creating an explosion visible for miles around.
After a few seconds, once the light had dissipated, the base that was on the seaside had completely merged with the water, and the plot of land on which it was built no longer existed. In simple terms, the island's surface had been reduced by a small margin. The number of survivors was unknown, but most likely nonexistent.
Back at the rendezvous point, Azurion and Anais reunited. Their eyes met, and then they smiled simultaneously.
Anais, out of breath but satisfied with the success of her mission, began to report, casting a discreet glance at Tesoro, who was inspecting his loot. "The infiltration mission went as planned. I managed to obtain crucial information, but, Azurion, Team Rocket has some bases within our gym's jurisdiction, but also scattered in remote locations. I discovered the presence of facilities in other parts of the region, but I only have their approximate locations. Team Rocket remains quite secretive, even with its own members. It seems that each base is only aware of a few other bases."
Azurion furrowed his brows. "Other locations? This complicates things. This matter could become serious, even escalate into a national conflict if we don't handle it correctly. Neither we nor Team Rocket want it to come to that."
Anais nodded. "Yes, but we must act quickly. The destruction of this base was just the beginning. We can deduce the locations of a few other bases, then transmit the information to other concerned gym leaders."
Anais pulled out a detailed map of the regions where the bases were presumed to be. "I marked the locations I discovered. Some are close, others more distant. We can coordinate our attacks with other Pokémon League leaders to maximize the impact after locating the bases under their jurisdiction?"
Azurion declined. "I don't think it's a good idea. Team Rocket probably has many other unknown bases. If we attack simultaneously, we may deal them a significant blow, but it won't be enough. Team Rocket might take it as a declaration of war and attempt to counterattack. They won't remain passive after our attacks. The destruction of a few bases won't be enough to deliver a devastating blow, and losses from a hastily and unpreparedly provoked conflict cannot be ignored."
Anais frowned. "Well, in that case, can't we take our time and attack later?"
Azurion looked at the horizon, thoughtful. "We have to face the reality; it's impossible. Tonight's attack will alert Team Rocket, and they will likely know that the location of some of their bases has leaked. A few months is enough for them to relocate everything. In fact, starting tomorrow, our information won't be reliable anymore."
"It's frustrating."
"Yes, but when it comes to the bases under my jurisdiction, I will show no mercy. Team Rocket knows they provoked me and expects retaliation. Even if I destroy all their bases on the nearby islands, they won't do anything for fear of further provoking my anger, and they can withstand that loss."
"Well, let's prepare to attack the others now." Anais powered up her computer.
The two trainers got to work planning their next series of attacks. The fight against Team Rocket was just beginning, and it was time for the Dragon Pokémon to show how formidable they could be as a force of destruction.
Azurion examined the map of Team Rocket's bases, mentally marking the locations of future attacks. He understood that the massive presence of Pokémon in each base was not simply due to a specific problem but rather a deliberate strategy on Team Rocket's part.
"The Team Rocket invests heavily in its secret bases," Anais remarked as she looked at the map with her. "They know that each base must be an impenetrable fortress to maintain their control over these regions. That's why they have so many Pokémon in defense."
Azurion nodded. "Their approach is rather defensive, but that means nothing to my dragons. We can create openings in their defense."
Anais pointed to some distant bases. "These are particularly strategic. If we catch them off guard, we could significantly weaken their network. Also, I believe their central command under our jurisdiction must be in one of these bases."
Azurion thought for a moment. "Then, let's attack these bases first. If we manage to destabilize their command center, it will create major confusion in their ranks. They will definitely notice the loss of communications from several bases."
The more significant bases will be the primary targets, while the smaller bases will face simultaneous attacks.
Azurion ordered Ace to relay the plan to the other Dragon Pokémon, who were already preparing for the next series of assaults. Unlike before, each Pokémon would have the right to destroy its base alone, eliciting roars of euphoria from Yama, Zero, and Tesoro, while Mavis, Momo, Kaido, and Neptune remained calm and did not get excited like wild ones but were also happy.
As night fell, the group set out. Everyone knew that this battle would be crucial. The Team Rocket might have erected fortresses, but the Dragon Pokémon were ready to reduce them to ashes to protect the dignity of their cherished master... or simply for fun?
The next day, after a restless night, Azurion and Anais returned to Cinnabar Island with their Pokémon, exhausted from the recent conflicts. They hoped to find some respite and information on the state of things.
Upon arrival, a tense atmosphere hung in the air. They were greeted by curious looks from the island's inhabitants, who seemed to exchange worried whispers. Azurion frowned, wondering what could be happening.
Approaching the city center, they noticed a gathering in front of the Cinnabar Gym. A man in uniform, evidently an inspector, was in discussion with the former Gym Leader, Blaine. Both appeared engaged in a serious conversation.
Anais approached Blaine with a concerned expression and questioned him, "What's happening here, Master Blaine?"
Blaine looked up, displaying a calm expression. "This morning, a Pokémon League inspector arrived on the island. He claims to have received concerning information about the security of the Cinnabar Gym, so he came earlier than agreed upon in the letters sent to Azurion. He said he wanted to conduct a thorough inspection."
Anais cast a worried glance at Azurion. It was likely that Team Rocket was behind this maneuver, seeking to cast doubt on Azurion's capabilities. This meant they had discovered the destruction of the bases and reacted so swiftly that an inspector had been dispatched on an express mission, even before they had finished destroying all the bases.
The inspector, a stern-looking man with graying hair, approached them, fixing his gaze on Azurion. "You're the Gym Leader, I presume. I'm Inspector Harris, and I'm here to ensure the safety of every Gym in the region." He extended his hand.
Azurion nodded and shook hands in return, skillfully concealing his true emotions behind an impassive expression. "Of course, Inspector Harris. We're always ready to cooperate to ensure the safety of the Gyms. Please, come in; let's discuss this in my office." Inspector Harris seemed satisfied with the response and followed Azurion into his office at the back, accompanied by the exhausted Anais.
Once in Azurion's office, Blaine and the inspector took their seats, while Anais remained standing behind Azurion.
The inspector began to speak. "I appreciate your willingness to cooperate readily. We need to ensure everything is in order as soon as possible. I plan to start now; I hope that won't be a problem?"
"Unfortunately, that won't be possible," Azurion refused, eliciting surprise from Blaine and the inspector.
"How so? Is there an issue?"
"Yes, you've rushed here from the League; you're probably tired. I'll arrange a place for you to rest. As for me, I'm also exhausted, as you can see, dirty and tired. I just returned from a long and arduous mission, and I haven't slept all night. I also have Pokémon battles with trainers in the afternoon. I didn't clear my schedule for the day considering the nature of this rather sudden visit."
"Indeed, I can see you're in an exhausted state... However, I've received concerning information about your Gym; I need to assess it as quickly as possible." Azurion furrowed his brow, irritated by such an insult to his Gym.
"If you want to investigate something you deem urgent, I authorize it. Go ahead, it will be without me but with one of my top trainers, probably Jordan."
"Impossible, you must be with me during the investigation."
"I didn't say I wouldn't be there; I only authorize you to check in a situation you consider urgent, according to your 'concerning information.' However, regarding the rest of the investigation, I don't permit you to conduct it without my presence." Azurion declared in an authoritative tone, slightly surprising those around him who are used to seeing him easygoing outside of missions.
"That might be problematic; it doesn't follow the protocol." Inspector Harris was in doubt about the course of action.
Azurion raised an eyebrow, staring at Inspector Harris with determination. "Protocols are important, but I am exhausted, and my Pokémon are even more so. If you have immediate concerns, you can examine them with the assistance of my head trainer, Jordan. Your visit wasn't scheduled, and the schedule of all Gym Leaders isn't as freely planned as Giovanni's. But don't worry, for the rest of the investigation, I'll personally ensure that everything complies with the standards."
Inspector Harris seemed displeased, but after a moment of consideration, he reluctantly agreed. "Fine, we'll follow your protocol as much as possible. I'll inspect the Gym with Jordan. The rest of the visit will be done with you as the Gym Leader." Azurion used the phone on his desk to contact an employee and asked them to tell Jordan to come to his office quickly.
In a few minutes, there was a knock on the door, and the surprised inspector looked in the direction of the sound.
"That was fast."
"We like efficiency in my Gym." The inspector said nothing but nodded.
After Jordan entered, a briefing of the situation was given to him, and this short mission was entrusted to him.
Jordan accepted the mission, ready to follow the inspector to address any concerns once they both left.
Meanwhile, Azurion took a moment to talk with those remaining in his office.
"Anais, go get some rest. You've been running all night, and your Pokémon are injured."
"But... what about the inspector?"
"Don't worry about him; I'll handle it." Anais hesitated, but fatigue finally caught up with her, and she agreed, then left the office, leaving only Blaine and Azurion.
"What's going on? Why did he conduct an early visit? This kind of case is very rare." Blaine looked at Azurion, his eyes slightly obscured by his white Borsalino hat. Azurion let out a deep sigh, slumping into his chair.
"We spent the night destroying Team Rocket bases with Anais. That probably triggered their desire for revenge. Nothing is more detrimental to a Gym than receiving a visit from an inspector. They surely used their connections to dispatch the inspector as quickly as possible, catching me off guard."
"You attacked Team Rocket bases?"
"Yes, the police discovered a base, I got the coordinates, and I destroyed it. I also obtained other locations on the way and went there, clearing all the islands around Cinnabar of Team Rocket presence."
Blaine sighed and replied nonchalantly, "It's futile; Team Rocket will rebuild other bases on uninhabited islands. These are not monitored, and they're close to the island, a perfect strategic location. They will never give up on such places." He disapproved of the action as futile.
"So I should have done nothing? While they caused deaths on our side?" Azurion retorted, a stern look in his eyes.
"No, I think instead of destroying the bases, you should have tried to trace that executive. What's his name again? Atchoo?" Blaine reinforced his position.
"No need to debate, old man. What's done is done, and we can't turn back time. Anyway, I didn't find any information on Archer in the bases. They have no information on the executives, to be honest."
Tension filled the room as the two men held divergent opinions on the best course of action. Azurion, worn out from the recent series of events, felt the pressure mounting within him. He ran a hand over his forehead, suddenly appearing overwhelmed.
"Whatever, Grandpa. We're just going in circles. I need rest; I can't make clear decisions in this state. Take whatever measures you want; no one will oppose you anyway. I still have a lot to do. I need to report on the remnants of the Team Rocket base we found to the police. I have to contact Cassandra to ensure everything is in order administratively and financially, to make sure Team Rocket hasn't planned anything that could harm me during the inspection. Finally, I could sleep, but not for long because I have battles this afternoon." Azurion regained his composure, leaving Blaine to cool off.
"Very well, I won't do anything. You're the Gym Leader; you make the decisions, and I won't interfere. If you need anything, feel free to ask. I'll be in my lab." Blaine stood up and left the office, leaving a exhausted Azurion, not at all ready for the long day ahead.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
o0Zero0o
o0Zero0o The chapters I'm currently working on serve as introductory chapters for me. In these chapters, I introduce the characters and Pokémon that I plan to feature later in the story. While it might seem moderately interesting, I consider this passage essential for a thorough understanding of the story.
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I'm not entirely satisfied with this chapter; I feel like I may have overlooked some elements. Tell me what you think
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