Starring Zane, Hanso, and Penance! The three stooges warriors!
The Gengar's eyes disappeared as the Deceiver left, so Hanso just stopped, closing his eyes as he waited for the confusion to wear off. Except he couldn't just stand there; he could sense the minds of a few Ancients heading in his direction. Hanso half-turned and fired several Psycho Cuts in their direction, having to rely on the position of the Ancients' minds. His head still felt dizzy.
A roar met his ears, and Hanso opened his eyes as he turned around to find a Machoke and several soldiers smashing into other Ancients. "You all right, sir?" Vanni asked, a ThunderPunch landing in a Kabutops' face.
"Waiting for confusion to wear off," Hanso answered, closing his eyes again. It was clearing up, but a new message in his head felt ear-piercing.
"What happened, SharpEye?"
"Deceiver confused me before taking off, Genevieve. He said he'd see me on the inside."
"Well, a group of elites entered the torturehouse a minute ago. Are you going with them, dear?"
"Don't call me that." To Vanni, Hanso said, "Thanks for the help. Keep it up." The Gallade turned and began running through the fray, avoiding Ancients where he could and fighting through those he couldn't. It was taking too long... Hanso vaulted off the back of a Rampardos and grabbed the talons of an Aerodactyl, imposing onto its mind the need to fly to the torturehouse.
About a minute later, Hanso let go and landed before the doors. Memories came streaming back, reminding him why he hated these buildings. If Zane and his group hadn't come along and freed him and the other prisoners, it could have been so much worse...
Time's a-ticking, better move it, don't you think?
You better have been doing something better than sitting back, Varren. Hanso shook his head to clear up the memories and walked through the open doors. As he proceeded deeper, he diminished his connection with the outside until the only line left was to Genevieve. She would know Hanso had gone in.
The screams were not a welcome reminder. Hanso's arm-blades remained unsheathed as he sent out mental sensors to locate the other elites. It didn't take long to find them, and those that were surrounding them.
This is what Penance meant, isn't it...
It was around that time that Penance had started to run off that he caught sight of the Gallade. "Hanso! Buddy boy! Number one, I told you so. Number two, come with me. We need to find Deciever and get rid of him, he's the prime suspect causing all of this, so let's run and chat eh?"
Malphus nodded, "We need to move! The sooner we find him the sooner this can end!"
Penance, Lashire, Malphus, Zane, Sword and Shield, the Keeper, Gallant. Marked. Hanso didn't want to fight through the citizens; he attempted to teleport to Penance's side in order to pass them up. Nothing happened.
Oh, for the-- Something was blocking his teleport attempt. The Gallade began running around the possessed Pokemon, heading for the Golduck's location.
Penance sighed, "Actually go back Hanso!" He shouted out to him. "Just find a stair case and go up! There are multiple hallways!" Penance and Malphus turned about and ran down the corridors of hallways and reached out to the minds here.
Well this is lovely isn't it? Just like I told you Hanso! Anyways, let's talk a bit. How about these guys eh? Why take them over now and not before? I mean the head honcho had tons of guys under his command and in the cities, why not possess them as well? Oh by the way Hanso, Deciever has some of that smoke that possess pokemon with him. That means he could possibly try and use that smoke on us. That means guess what? We could end up possessed. Zane can't be in two places at once you know, either he helps down here or helps us not get possessed.
Anyways, that's that. And by the way, Snype is with us along with that little Jolteon of his. He's so insecure! Doesn't want me to tell anyone. Hehe. Well he must have known about this so I say screw that!
And then Hanso would hear a thought all by his own,
You know... there is someone else in there. What? You didn't think the underground WOULDN'T be laced with psychic traps to read minds and such? When one sends all their psychics to cities, they must leave traps to protect themselves. I can't WAIT to meet the other person you have in there!
Hehe, nice to meet you, rogue commander! Varren said, somehow reaching through to Penance's mind.
Been wanting my own impression of you, this boy here has had some very--
Not now, Hanso interjected, overriding Varren's words. He was already running up a staircase, keeping track of Penance and Malphus as he looked for a corridor that would let them meet up.
I'd tell you to keep quiet on this, Penance, but you have your own agenda. Inside his own head, Hanso added to Varren,
Can't you keep your mouth shut for once?
I would have, if Mister Rogue there hadn't figured out I was here.
Laughter echoed across the torturehouse. Sometimes, it sounded like it was far away. Yet moments later, it felt as though it was right next to the Pokemon. It didn't seem to have any origin, probably a tactic the Gengar was using to throw them off. "Heeheehee!" He cackled. "Noisy little Pokemon shouldn't be speaking so much, even in the mind! It's not safe anymore for you, not at all, heeheehee!" The Gengar laughed away, continued to pressure the group forward. At the sound of his laughter, as if some sort of trigger, the possessed Pokemon attacked the group, firing all manner of attacks from elementals to physically slamming into them. They were wild, crazed, uncaring for the state of their own bodies as they unleashed everything they could upon them.
For a moment, the Deceiver appeared from above in all of the confusion, firing another Confuse Ray upon the group.
Penance and Malphus kept running along on the second floor, glancing around for any signs of the Gengar. Penance could feel Hanso was rather close... but the walls were twisting and turning and prevented him from getting to him.
Well Hanso, we'll meet up whenever. Anywho how are ya Deciever? I'm fine and dandy, but you know now that you are a puppet now, like those down there. Hehe, guess your mind is in a fog just like Scar's was eh? Yeah.. I get what your feeling... almost like a dream isn't it? Well we all are like that, every now and then, but you'll die by Auron's hand or Arceus' once he comes down and destroys the planet and has to restart everything again. So you get about two years of fun and then dead. I guess if you want to die that much I suppose it can work... anywho we'll find ya and kill ya if we have to Would have loved to see how you were before you were possessed, but I guess I won't now huh?
"Hehehehehe...HAHAHA!" The Deceiver howled with laughter, the echoes so loud now that there was no question that he was hanging around at a close distance. "Look at the smart Golduck, having all the answers! He knows more than the rest! He knows more than I do probably! But you know, I don't care anymore! Heeheehee! I'm having too much fun to care!" The Gengar swooped down again, sending a group of Shadow Balls at the group. For a moment, his eyes changed color to a deep purple, and so too simultaneously did the possessed Pokemon. They attacked once more, throwing their bodies carelessly at the intruders.
There was no point in talking to the Deceiver if bringing him out of the crystal's possession was the goal. Though apparently that wasn't possible with the remaining Sentinels. No, it sounded more to Hanso like Penance was talking simply because he was...Penance. As he rounded a corner, Hanso skidded to a halt as several possessed Pokemon stood in his way. Without hesitation, they charged him with attacks, forcing the Gallade to throw out several Psycho Cuts to deflect the ranged attacks.
A Pidgey and a Mienfoo were moving in for direct hits. Hanso blocked the bird's dive with a brief shield of Dark energy and backed up as he deflected the Mienfoo's punch. There was another corridor behind him, empty for now. Throwing out several illusions himself in a Double Team to try distracting the citizens, Hanso turned and ran the other way. Some yards ahead was another corner; Hanso skidded to a halt in the middle of the joint as he looked ahead.
What do you know, you found the rogue Golduck. Bravo, and all that.
Penance braced himself as the ball hit into his chest. Likewise Malphus skidded back as well. And just luckily behind them came some of thse crazy citizens.
"Malphus... needs of the many."
The Marowak gripped his bone, "Outweigh the few." With that Marowak ran up to a Bulbasaur and had no qualms with smashing its head so hard that the skull broke open. As that one fell he turned his sights onto a Tyrogue and slammed his bone against his jaw, the sound of teeth shatting reverberated and was quickly followed up with slamming the bone into the throat with the sound of the spine snapping accompanying.
As the Marowak fought back the citizens Penance shout a Water Pulse up at the Gengar. "Hehe, I see that he has full control now? I know who you are! I've known since Cape. Hehe... actually a bit before you know. If you want slaves then you REALLY should have chosen more sturdy ones."
Zane, Gallant and Sword and Shield ran through the torturehouse, avoiding all possessed Pokemon they could, but they eventually couldn't avoid them, and so they had to start blocking some of their attacks, running from them whenever they could find and opening, and in some case fighting back, but only to knock them out. He didn't want to do any permanent damage, and judging by the way his fellow brothers fought, he could tell they felt the same way.
All the while, they tried to follow the cackling of the Gengar. The Keeper tried to guide them through, but he mumbled something about his mind being too jambled, like too much was going on. Zane felt a similar feeling inside of him, probably due to all of the effects of the Silver Crystal around. Still, he could see the Keeper trying to slowly wiggle free some of the possessed Pokemon, but he wouldn't be able to push back the corruption all on his own. He was a powerful Psychic, but he needed some assistance.
They headed up the passage, the cackling of the Gengar far in the background. A group of possessed Pokemon now stood in their way. A Rattata, Wurmple, and two Poliwag were in front. The three Gold Tribe members engaged, neglecting to use their attacks and instead focused on pushing them out of the way and proceeding forward. From the distance, they could hear the fighting of another group. "Penance!" Zane shouted, seeing if he could get a response.
By this point Malphus had given up on trying to kill the pokemon and instead worked to cripple pokemon. It was tripping them and when necessary breaking kneecaps to get them to fall on top of each other and thus build up a sort of wall that others would have to climb while those under them would struggle under the weight.
Penance shot out a Confusion at the Gengar and shouted on back, "Yeah yeah, get in here already gold guy!" He remained on the balls of his feet, ready to dodge a attack that would eventually get thrown at him.
That hadn't taken long for them all to meet up again. Hanso backed up toward Penance and Malphus as the citizens whom he'd met came around the corner, running into a face-full of Psycho Cuts and Dark blasts. There was no going around the fact that Hanso had to use lethal force in order to stay alive. Unless...
"We actually gonna try freeing these citizens or not?" Hanso mentally asked the others, deflecting part of a Water Gun with crossed blades.
Zane and the rest of the Gold Tribe ran over to where the action was happening. About two dozen of the citizens were in the immediate area, and Zane could feel the Deceiver close by as well. The Keeper approached Zane for a moment, tapping his shoulder, he gave him a smile, then tapped the Gold Crystal around his neck. A bright gold energy was held at his fingertips, then he released a confusion attack all across the area, but instead of going for a damage-centered attack, the confusion targeted the possessed Pokemon's minds. Almost all at once, the Pokemon began to hold their heads from the infiltration, but the Keeper knew it was not enough. Some of the Pokemon still struggled forward, as if two polar opposite thoughts crawled into their skull to give them opposite commands. "I cannot do it alone, help me purge the corruption!" The old Alakazam implored the other Psychics.
Meanwhile, Zane, Sword and Shield, and Gallant held off any of the possessed Pokemon still trying to attack, buying time for them to prepare to free them. They also kept a watchful eye out for the Deceiver.
As the Keeper spoke, Hanso was already joining up with him to target the citizens' minds. Many of them had stopped, so he wasn't needed up front with Zane and the two Tribesmen. Hanso spread his effort across the gathered Pokemon, feeling the strain of trying to free many at once.
Watching for the Deceiver as well, aren't you?
Stop talking so I can.
Penance paused and sighed, "Fiiine." He closed his eyes and held up his hands while he helped the Gallade and the Keeper with their work. Meanwhile Malphus kept up his bone, still doing his best to halt any advances made by the possessed mon. Lashire postioned himself in front of the Keeper, the young Pawniward keeping his eyes out for the Gengar.
The possessed Pokemon struggled in their minds. The Keeper found penetrating their minds much easier than he anticipated, as they were only recently tainted by the effects of the Silver Crystal. He went inside, purging all the effects of the crystal he could find. A bunch at a time, the Pokemon found themselves being cleansed of the effects of the crystals. But where some were saved, more came to take their spots and attack. Zane and his brothers pushed them, back, hoping the Psychics could do their handiwork fast enough for however many were coming, but as Zane saw, plenty more were on the way. It would probably be a big strain on the Psychic's minds if they would be able to pull it all off.
"Just how many citizens did they bring in?" Zane wondered aloud to himself. Right after he said this, a scream came from above him, from the Deceiver, but not as a laugh.
"NOO! You're ruining it! You're ruining everything!" He fired a group of Shadow Balls at the group below, angrily.
As Malphus had been trained to do, he dodged right into Penance to take the hit for him. Likewise Lashire acted by jumping up and slamming against the wall as the ball aiming for the Keeper hit him. Unfortunately Surge was too lazy to protect Hanso.
Still Penance smirked, "Don't like it eh?" He chuckled darkly, "Makes you squirm eh?" He pressed on with his mind, "I bet you're squirming so much."
The Gallade jumped to one side before a Shadow Ball could hit, but Hanso wasn't the one who'd reacted in time.
Time I stepped in while you're busy, hm? His left eye turned a brighter red while his right swirled into a mix of gray and red, and the Gallade's body took on an undertone of black. "Guess who!" Varren grinned as he fired spears of Dark energy at the Deceiver.
Meanwhile, Hanso could only watch as it finally happened. The only thing going for him was that Varren had done it in the interest of keeping the Gallade alive. That's what it seemed like, anyway. Now that he didn't have to watch out in the physical realm, Hanso doubled his efforts in cleansing the possessed citizens.
Penance grinned and even though he was busy on his side he crackled with laughter, "Hehe! I am the rogue leader indeed! Go ghost boy! Possess that body like a boss!" He looked over at Zane, "Oh, sorry, thought you knew there was someone else in there. Well now you do!" He crackled at the event and the thought that Hanso would be angry that another had control over his body only fueled up Penance's engerness so he worked double time to get these citizens cleansed.
Zane, completely clueless about the situation, eyed the altered TrueStriker and Penance while simultaneously holding back possessed Pokemon who would try to attack the other Psychics, though it seemed by the way that Hanso was acting that he wouldn't need it. It appeared as though there was someone else inside with him, from what Penance was talking about, but the nature of the Pokemon eluded him. He would have to ask him about what was going on after. For now, he focused on the citizens.
The Psychics seemed to double their efforts and were rewarded by the cleansing process being increased, even as more citizens were coming at them. Many fell to the ground unconcsious, while others fell back and clutched their heads. As they continued, it looked like most of the Pokemon brought before them in the large room were either being cleared by the Psychics, being affected by them, or were already free. They were making progress. And that didn't sit well with the Deceiver.
Deceiver narrowly avoided the spears set towards him, twirling his body in a circle to avoid each one as it flew to him. In the darkness of the corner, he begrudgingly retreated into the metal, and seemed to once more disappear, only to reappear when he saw fit.
Varren chuckled some more as Penance spoke, continuing to fire spears at the Deceiver until the metal got in the way. "I'm sure this secret-keeper would have told you sooner or later, Goldie-boy. But no, he had to focus on training first."
"Stop distracting them, Varren," Hanso retorted, his words reaching the minds of the others. He'd allow a moment to speak up as it became clear that most of the citizens present were more or less cleansed now. Hopefully he'd be able to take back control once they had only the Deceiver to worry about.
Penance felt the darkness dissipating and smirked as he gently lowered his psychic powers. "Hehe, he would have... eventually. Anyways how's that bod? Bet you can't wait to try it out by smashing that Gengar's face in eh?" He winked at the possessed Gallade, "Just leave some action for me." Penance then grinned as Hanso broadcasted the ghost's name. "Varren eh? A fine name I must say myself! Hehe, Hanso can be such a stick in the mud you know! Lighten him up a bit I say. I'm sure he won't mind if you pilot around for a bit like that. You've been in the back for far too long!"
He chuckled, "So then, i guess Hanso is fuming now that I'm talking to ya eh?" He glanced around as Malphus and Lashire formed back up to defend the psychics. "Can't wait to get to know you better after this is all done!"
Varren? Zane overheard as Penance and the different Hanso speak, and the name seemed to register somewhere in him, though he wasn't sure where. He thought he had heard it before. Ignoring the thought, he looked on ahead, noticing Sword and Shield holding back two more possessed Pokemon, but beyond that, most inside the torturehouse were being taken care of. In fact, it was humourous how in this clearing piles of the citizens now lay, most free from the control of the silver crystal. Many of them now were unconscious, yet some managed to avoid slipping entirely into darkness and were still bewilderdly looking about.
The Keeper placed his hands down, now stopping his Psychic flow of energy and approaching the downed citizens. He looked back at the others. "An excellent job, young ones," He began, before his face seemed to sour and become serious once more. "But there is still another to deal with, before we can go onwards."
The Gallade stretched his arms as he made an exaggerated show of loosening up. "Yeah, yeah, librarian. I'm sure Hanso will wait until we deal with the ghostie before blowing up." Varren continued to do a few stretches and exercises in place, trying out the body he had possessed, grinning all the while.
...Not gonna let go without a fight, are you?
Nope. Unless you want your body to suffer from the internal struggle, you'll have to let me have my time.
Now that the battle was done, for the moment, he walked on over to the Gallade and watched the show, "Hehe, a good body you have there Varren. Well now that we've formerly met, I can say that I like you far more than Hanso. Have some fun in that body while you can! I'm sure Hanso will fight as hard as he can to take control of it back." He rubbed underneath his bill. "Hanso, if you can hear me, I say let the ghost have his fun! He doesn't have his own body, and you must have let him in, so live with the consequences!" He grinned widely at the Gallade, "Glad to know ya Varren. And glad you're on our side!"