Chapter 4
Sinnoh Saga – Rising of Arceus
Chapter 4 'Lucario's Return'
A knock on the door interrupted Arif's thoughts.
'May I come in, Arif?' Lucario was impatient. He was standing and staring at the wooden door what seemed like forever. He could hear the hum of the computer and the sound of keys rapped on the keyboard. Lucario frowned.
Some emergency.
'Yes, and quickly.'
He opened the door into a sparsely furnished room of a log cabin made of oak. Lucario and Arif had made everything here. A table and two chairs, and a few furnishings were the only things in this room accompanying the laptop. Arif was typing across it at top speed, and he gestured to Lucario to wait.
After a few minutes, Arif handed a few printouts to Lucario.
Lucario was disappointed.
'What is this, Arif?' He reached and took the pages.
'Surely these cannot be as important as…' he stopped abruptly as he read what was on the page.
'Oh my… you hacked the team Galactic computer to get this?'
Arif spoke quickly. His voice sounded hoarse to Lucario. 'Yes, that is the reason why I recalled you. We cannot let this happen. Plus, it's time I got a normal life. Our period of hiding is over. We are going to compete against the best in Sinnoh. I have no doubt that ultimately; they will be able to trace my signal. So we have to leave, and leave quickly.'
Lucario was surprised but he said nothing and tried to conceal his excitement, but Arif noticed.
'Now, now, Lucario, don't get too excited. I have to get a normal life, and all of us – Absol, Garchomp, Staraptor, Togetic, Empoleon and you need some excitement in your lives. I'm sure that they will like the gym battles.'
Just then Absol rushed in at top speed. It appeared out of breath and started to speak rapidly, using telepathy.
'Arif, they're here, they have traced the signal much earlier than expected.'
Arif was stock still for a while. Then he spoke, quickly and quietly.
'Recall everybody. We are going to disable the attackers for a while, and move out.'
***
'Listen up, everyone; make sure that not a single target sees you. Take them out from a good distance, and use Hyper Beam of similar attacks at minimum power. That should knock them out for an hour or so. After finishing the job, we'll meet back here. Togetic will provide air support and surveillance and Lucario will finish the commander, who is holding back. They are approaching in pairs from each direction. Absol will take out the north pair, Empoleon the south; Garchomp will take the west and Staraptor the east. Maintain silence and call me using telepathy only when you miss the target. I'll take anybody who is up and running. Let's go!'
Arif was watching every pair, particularly the commander, carefully using the Aura. He knew that somebody would escape, and he had to take down any of them still conscious. The ground was hard, solid, and the spacious trees provided a good barrier for him, and for the others.'
The attack was as sudden as it was disorienting to the targets. Suddenly, seven out of the nine was down. Ironically, it was Staraptor, the Pokemon who attacked with extreme accuracy, had missed.
Without waiting for the alert from Staraptor, Arif sped towards the east pair.
'Arif, the-'
'No need to alert me Staraptor, I'm on my way.'
'No, Arif, this is Togetic. The two that Staraptor missed, they're almost to the cabin. I've alerted the others, but they cannot do anything, because they would be in plain view.'
'I'm going there now. I must get them. Tell the others to stay back and cover me – you stay for air surveillance, Togetic.'
'All right.'
Arif could see them now. They were almost at the cabin. Their features could not be told, for they wore black overalls and skin-tight masks. One was advancing, lying prone, and the other was a few meters behind, covering him.
The second of the pair, who was providing cover, must have been surprised when an Aura Sphere hit him, silent and powerful. He tumbled through the air for about ten meters, before hitting a tree and slumping on the ground, knocked out for a few hours at least.
His companion, seeing the demise of his partner, stood up and started to run. He had not even taken two steps before a second Aura Sphere hit him.
Arif proceeded to the cabin. Everybody else was coming.
'Collect all supplies and move out.'
His eyes became moist as he began the preparations to leave.
***
Four hours later.
The Team Galactic surveillance chief, a small, mousy man with gray hair, was becoming concerned about the hit team.
They have never taken so long! Just as he was thinking of alerting the chief, a spotter helicopter reported to the base.
'This is Dragonfly. The target seems to have decapitated the team. The cabin has been destroyed. Over and out.'
At these words, the surveillance chief's eyes widened. He immediately called the op Blackjack commander…
***