strictlysupreme Chapter 972: Evacuation
Chapter 972: Evacuation
Chapter 972: Evacuation In a moment when no one was paying attention, Jackie stealthily entered the Team Aqua's experimental base. However, as soon as he entered, he noticed that the temperature inside was much lower than outside, and he couldn't help but shiver.
Despite being in the midst of summer, the temperature in the base was almost like winter.
The base had a complex network of corridors, and faint voices could be heard in the background. Jackie didn't know which way to go, so he randomly chose a direction.
Before he proceeded, he took out a Poké Ball and released a small-sized Kecleon, saying, "Kecleon, I'll need you to stay alert."
The Kecleon nodded, gradually becoming transparent, disappearing in the blink of an eye. However, it hadn't truly left, as the red patterns that flashed across the walls indicated that the Kecleon was still guarding Jackie.
As an experienced elite Ranger, Jackie possessed strong stealth abilities, and it didn't take long for him to infiltrate deep into the base.
Here, he observed many sealed laboratories, each containing bizarre and deformed creatures.
For instance, there was a creature resembling a Seaking, but with malformed and unsightly blue scales. There was one resembling a Slowbro, yet it had a pair of eerie eyes covering most of its face. Another creature, similar in appearance to a Horsea, had a limp, boneless body as though lacking bones.
All these strange creatures lay lifeless in their pools, which were filled with eerie green fluid. If not for their bodies slightly moving, one might think they were already dead.
As a rangers who protect Pokémon and ecosystems, Jackie couldn't help but feel his chest had become a volcano ready to erupt when he witnessed such a hellish scene.
Passing by several more labs, Jackie suddenly came across one where a repulsive, wart-covered Swampert was violently convulsing and rapidly decomposing, ultimately succumbing to death.
At that moment, a person in a white lab coat entered the lab. They glanced at the decaying corpse of the Swampert and then activated a communicator. Soon, the screen on the lab's wall displayed the image of a white-bearded man.
"Doctor, subject number 32 has perished," the person in the white lab coat reported to the elderly Mediterranean man.
Upon hearing the report from the person in the white lab coat, the elderly Mediterranean man replied indifferently, "Don't worry about those experimental subjects. The results of the experiments in this base have already been obtained. We will be leaving soon, and these experimental subjects serve no further purpose."
The person in the white lab coat then inquired, "What about experimental subject number 18?"
The elderly Mediterranean man pondered for a moment and said, "Well... handling experimental subject number 18 is indeed a problem. Taking it with us would be challenging, and leaving it here would be wasteful. I'll think of a solution."
The person in the white lab coat nodded and said, "Understood."
Afterward, the person in the white lab coat left the laboratory.
Once the person had left, Jackie quietly emerged from his hiding place. He glanced at the abandoned and lifeless body in the lab, his thoughts in turmoil.
After careful consideration, Jackie decided to conceal himself and gather information before the reinforcements arrived. He knew that he couldn't rescue these Pokémon on his own.
However, as he was about to turn and leave, the invisible Kecleon suddenly revealed itself. It extended its long tongue, coiled it around Jackie's waist, and flung him to the side. Immediately afterward, a powerful explosion erupted where he had been standing.
In the instant he was flung away, Jackie knew that he had been discovered. He quickly got back on his feet, entering a defensive stance. The invisible Kecleon swiftly leaped from the wall and positioned itself in front of Jackie.
In Jackie's line of sight, a burly man in blue attire, none other than Archie, walked in slowly. By his side was a fearsome and imposing Crawdaunt, the Pokemon that had attacked Jackie earlier.
This Crawdaunt was clad in dark-red armor, and its massive pincers exuded an intimidating aura. It was evident that it was something that not easy to be mess with.
"It seems that a little bug has infiltrated the ba
While Rangers could capture wild Pokémon for use, those Pokémon sometimes had limitations in strength and abilities.
Rangers, in addition to their own training, are indeed required to cultivate their own specialized Pokémon. These numbers don't have to be many, but the key is that they should be elite Pokémon, including Water, Land, and Flying types. These three are essential for Rangers.
Lanturn was a Pokémon that provided to Rand by the Ranger Union after he became a Ranger.
After successfully becoming a Ranger Trainee, Rand graduated from the Youth Training Camp. The Ranger Union assigned him a mentor, who was none other than Jack Walker, whom Yuga had meet.
With Yuga's assistance, Rand and Lanturn quickly regained their consciousness. When Rand opened his eyes, he saw Yuga and Brawly.
"Rand, how did you end up here in such a state?" Yuga inquired with concern, not understanding how Rant had made himself so embarrassed.
"Yuga?" Rand was still a bit groggy from just waking up. "What are you doing here?"
Yuga explained, "I had some business on Dewford Island, and I happened to see your Lanturn carrying you in the sea. What about you? How did you end up here?"
Upon hearing Yuga's question, Rand immediately thought about his mission to call for reinforcements. He proceeded to explain the entire situation to Yuga in detail.
After listening to Rand's story, Yuga and Brawly learned that Rand and his mentor, Jack, were the Rangers sent by the Ranger Union to deal with the Pelipper and Wingull situation.
"You say you discovered the Team Aqua's base?" Yuga asked in surprise.
Rand nodded and said, "Yes, Jack is still there, gathering information. We need to get there with reinforcements quickly; otherwise, Jack might be in danger."
Having clarified the situation, Yuga turned to Brawly and said, "Brawly, take Rand to the police station. I'll go to the uninhabited island that Rand mentioned to meet up with Jack."
Rand immediately chimed in, "I'll go with you and guide the way."
Yuga shook his head and said, "Leave the guiding to your Lanturn. You go back with Brawly first, and then guide Officer Jenny and the others."
Rand understood that now was not the time to be stubborn. After a brief moment of silence, he nodded in agreement.
Given Rand's injuries, Brawly released a Hariyama to carry him back.
Once Rand and Brawly had left, Yuga, riding his Dragonite, followed Lanturn's lead to fly toward the uninhabited island.
Meanwhile, on the uninhabited island, Matt was already back. After informing Archie about his failure to capture the escaping boy, Archie did not get angry. Instead, he immediately sought out the Mediterranean old man.
"Professor, this place is exposed. We need to leave quickly, or the League will send someone here soon."
The Mediterranean old man was a helper sent by Team Rocket to assist Archie, and Archie had great respect for him.
Though Archie held a grudge against the League, he knew that the current Team Aqua was no match for the League, and he couldn't competr with the League's elite trainers. He had to reluctantly choose to retreat.
"I understand. I'll get my team to pack up right away."
After thinking for a moment, he said to Archie, "Division Leader Archie, could you please get your team to prepare the 18th experimental subject? I intend to take it with me."
Archie also understood the situation regarding the 18th experimental subject and nodded, saying, "I've got it."
Yuga's Dragonite was incredibly fast. By the time he flew over the uninhabited island, Archie was already leading his team in transferring equipment onto a submarine.
Upon seeing Yuga, Archie's expression immediately changed.
"It's him who's come!" Archie muttered under his breath.
"Professor, are we ready? League's people are here," Archie urged the Mediterranean old man.
The Mediterranean old man also noticed Yuga in the air and asked, puzzled, "Isn't he just one person? Division Leader Archie can handle him directly, right?"
The Mediterranean old man was well aware of Archie's strength, even though he carried a heavy responsibility. He didn't want to rely on his seniority.
Archie shook his head and said, "It might not be that simple. He is Shimizu Yuga."
The Mediterranean old man was taken aback, "He's Shimizu Yuga?"
Shimizu Yuga was a well-known name, and the Mediterranean old man was also familiar with him. He held a high position within Team Rocket, and he knew some things that others didn't, such as the fact that their boss once had tried to recruit him.
"Yes," Archie confirmed with a nod.
The Mediterranean old man pondered for a moment and said, "It seems we won't be able to take the 18th experimental subject with us today. It's a good opportunity to test its strength. Release it and have it hold off Shimizu Yuga."
Yuga saw that the Team Aqua was about to leave the island and he was ready to intervene. But then, the sea's surface churned, and the temperature in the vicinity suddenly dropped rapidly.
Next, a terrifying Pokémon rolled its body and emerged from the sea.
" This is..."