~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Evening, Canalave City – Gym]
Byron shouted, though there was no aggression left in him, "I didn't put them in there! I've been trying to get them out for the last six hours!"
The tension in the air didn't evaporate; it shifted. Azure stepped between Platinum and Byron, his eyes fixed on the Gym Leader as he stated, "Explain. Now."
Byron sighed, looking older than he had monts ago explained, "I was near the alleyway when I saw Sir Berlitz speaking to a woman—a shady character with purple hair and a Galactic emblem on her chest. I moved to intervene, but she was fast. Rowan arrived a mont later, demanding to know what was taking his assistant so long."
Byron gestured to the cube, continuing, "The woman laughed. She threw a device—so kind of high-tech deployable cell. It expanded in an instant, trapping them both. Then she hopped on a Crobat and vanished into the clouds before I could land a hit."
*Bang*
Platinum rushed to the glass, pounding her fists against the transparent surface, "Father! Can you hear ?"
Inside the cube, Sir Berlitz stood up, his face a mask of relief and confusion. He pressed his hand against the glass, mirroring his daughter's position.
He spoke, his lips moving, but no sound escaped. Byron explained, rubbing the back of his neck, "The cube is soundproofed and insulated. The energy levels are off the charts. I brought them here to my Gym because I have the heavy machinery needed to try and bypass the locks, but so far, nothing has dented it."
Platinum whispered, "I heard him… I heard his voice."
Azure said simply, stepping toward the cube, "The field must be fluctuating…"
He examined the shimring edges of the energy barrier, adding, "As the power source drains, the insulation thins. It's why she could hear him."
Suddenly, a muffled, tinny voice broke through, "…m-my… daughter… Platinum?"
Platinum's eyes bead, responding, "Father! Yes! I'm here! I'm safe!"
The man inside the cube looked as though he were seeing a ghost, and he uttered, "Safe? But… the video… the ransom…"
His eyes shifted to Azure, eyes widened in shock, exclaid, "Azure? How are you standing there? I saw the energy blast. I saw the building collapse on you in Veilstone. They said… they said you were dead."
Platinum stiffened, turning to look at Azure. The trio of Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum all stared at the bodyguard.
Azure rubbed the back of his head, looking uncharacteristically sheepish as he explained himself, "Ah. Right. The Veilstone incident. I didn't die. Team Galactic fired a high-output energy cannon at the warehouse we were in. To an outside observer, or a grainy security cara, it looked like a direct hit. But I had Porygon-Z on standby. We used Teleport in the literal last microsecond. We moved so fast that the displacent of air looked like an explosion. But otherwise, my death was greatly exaggerated."
Sir Berlitz slumped against the glass, his breath hitching, muttering, "They told us you were gone. They sent a ssage saying that if we didn't provide the research data for the Three Lakes and 1.5 billion dollars, Platinum would be next."
Azure's expression darkened as he apologized solemnly, "I'm sorry, Sir. I should have found a way to signal you sooner. But after the laser attack, I realized Galactic's surveillance was everywhere. If I had reached out through standard channels, they would have known I survived and changed their tactics. I needed them to think I was off the board so I could keep Platinum moving safely."
Platinum shouted through the glass, "He did, Father! Azure, Dia, and Pearl… they've protected . I've never been safer. I've even won 5 Gym Badges!"
Professor Rowan, who had been sitting calmly until now, stood up and adjusted his coat. He looked at the three young trainers with a piercing gaze, then at Azure as he stated sternly, "You kept the secret well, Azure. Perhaps too well. You've caused these old hearts a great deal of stress."
Azure, admitted with a shaless grin, replied, "I know. And I'll make it up to you once we get you out of there. Byron, what's the status on the power source?"
Byron said bluntly, pointing to a small, glowing node at the base of the cube, "It's a self-contained loop. But it's alien tech. My drills can't even scratch it. However, if the girl's right and the sound are getting through, it ans the structure is destabilizing."
Azure looked at the trio as he said softly, "Dia, Pearl, Platinum. You three look like you're about to collapse. It's been a long journey from Veilstone to here. Go. Book a room at the hotel. Get so food and a few hours of sleep."
Platinum protested, "I'm not leaving my father!"
Azure said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Platinum. You've evolved a Pokémon tonight. You've traveled across half of Sinnoh. I'll stay here with Byron. We'll use my Porygon-Z to try to interface with the cube's software. I promise you, when you wake up, he'll be out."
Platinum looked at her father. Sir Berlitz nodded through the glass, a gentle smile on his face. She said, her voice regaining its noble steel, "Fine… But Azure… if you 'die' again without telling , I'll fire you."
Azure smirked as he replied, "Understood, Miss."
As the trio departed the Gym, guided by one of Byron's assistants, the atmosphere in the room shifted from frantic to clinical. Azure released his Porygon-Z, the digital Pokémon flickering in and out of existence as it began to probe the cube's energy signature.
Byron said curiously, leaning on his shovel, "You're a strange one. Not many 'bodyguards' carry the weight of three League Championships on their shoulders."
Azure replied, his eyes fixed on the data scrolling across his Arc Phone, "I've seen how this ends if we don't play it right, Byron. Team Galactic isn't just kidnapping people for ransom. They're looking for sothing much bigger."
Byron muttered as he rested a hand over his chin, "The Lakes… from what I knew, they ca around 6 months back in the library, looking up the Lakes of Sinnoh… Rowan ntioned them before the cube went silent again."
Azure confird, gazing at his Arc Phone with Porygon-Z analyzing the cube, "The Three Lakes… The pillars of Sinnoh's spirit. And if Galactic is moving this aggressively, it ans their tiline has moved up."
/////
[Sinnoh Region, anwhile, Veilstone City – TG HQ]
The interior of the Galactic base was a stark contrast to the historical warmth of Canalave. It was all cold steel, glowing blue neon, and the hum of massive servers. Commander Jupiter walked down the central corridor, her boots clicking rhythmically.
*Click*
*Click*
She approached a raised dais where a man sat, silhouetted against a wall of monitors. She said, her voice devoid of its usual playfulness, "Cyrus. The diversion in Canalave worked perfectly, along with obtaining the funds. The researchers are contained, and the library's data on the lake guardians has been successfully extracted."
Cyrus didn't turn around. He was looking at a schematic on the screen—a device of terrifying complexity. Cyrus said, "You acted swiftly, Jupiter…"
His voice was a flat monotone, devoid of any human emotion: "Because of your efficiency, the Galactic Bomb is complete ahead of schedule."
Jupiter tilted her head, asking, "The location?"
Cyrus explained as he walked over to a holographic map of Sinnoh, "We are narrowing it down. The energy readings from the three lakes are peaking. We will deliver the payload soon."
Three points glowed with an intense blue light: Lake Verity, Lake Valor, and Lake Acuity. Cyrus finally turned his chair.
His eyes were like polished stones—hard, cold, and empty as he stated, "We shall conduct a test run next week. And then, on Saturday… the Galactic Bomb will be triggered. The old world is a cacophony of useless emotion and suffering. On Saturday, we begin the process of silencing it forever."
Jupiter smiled—a thin, cruel line replied, "I look forward to the silence."
He turned back to the window. He whispered, his breath fogging the glass, "The old world is a cacophony of useless emotion. By Saturday, the silence will finally begin."
Outside, the wind howled over the jagged cliffs of Veilstone, carrying with it the faint, ominous countdown of a world that didn't yet know it was standing on the edge of the abyss.
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Nightti, Canalave City – Gym]
Hours later, the tallic walls of Canalave Gym were bathed in the soft, eerie glow of ergency lights. Azure and Byron had spent the night examining the cube, trying every tool and Pokémon move at their disposal, all to no avail.
Porygon-Z, Azure's digital partner, floated silently beside him, its unique data analysis capabilities scanning the cube. Porygon-Z chirped, displaying complex holographic data, "BEEP-BOOP-BEEP! Analysis complete. Cube integrity will fail in less than a week. Energy dissipation rate nominal."
Azure's lips curved into a faint smirk as he muttered disappointedly, "Less than a week? That's far too long."
Byron sighed, leaning against a large rock formation in the Gym as he groaned, "A week? That's too long. We can't keep them cooped up in there for a week! The news will be all over it, and goodness knows what more trouble it will cause."
He glanced at the two trapped researchers, who were now slumped against the transparent wall, their faces etched with exhaustion. Azure told them, his voice calm and reassuring, "Don't worry. I'll have you out by the end of the day."
Azure grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a Poké Ball as he said happily, "Rotom, co on out!"
*Pop*
In a flash of blue energy, a small, electrical Pokémon materialized, its blue aura crackling playfully around it. Rotom zipped and swirled around Azure's head, its two arms ending in what looked like electrical prongs, its single, glowing eye fixed on the cube.
It cackled mischievously, a sound like static electricity, "Roooo! Rotom here to play! What's the stitch, bossman!"
Azure began, his voice taking on a persuasive tone, "Rotom, this cage seems to be powered by so sort of contained electrical field. Think you can… possess it? Take control and let our friends out?"
Rotom bobbed its head enthusiastically, its electrical aura flaring, "Roooo! Yeah, I got it, bossman! One ghostly possession coming right up!"
It let out another gleeful cackle, as if relishing the challenge. Without waiting for further instruction, it zipped directly towards the cube.
*ZZZZIIIIP*
With an electric crackle, it zipped forward, a blur of red and blue energy. It phased through the seemingly solid surface of the cube, disappearing inside. An imdiate, tangible shift occurred…
*HUMMM*
The cube began to hum, the shimring barrier flickering wildly. The cube flickered, its transparency distorting for a mont.
*Pop*
Then, on one side, a distinct, mischievous face ford – Rotom's glowing eye and two jagged-toothed mouths, now clearly in control of the cube itself.
Then, astonishingly, a familiar, mischievous face materialized on the front surface of the cube – Rotom's grin, complete with its pulsing blue eye. The entire structure seed to gain a life of its own, its tallic fra groaning and shifting.
*CLUNK*
*HSSSSS*
The cube vibrated violently, no longer with the internal hum of the energy field, but with Rotom's playful energy. The ground beneath it shuddered…
*KRRR-SHUNK*
With a sound like grinding gears and escaping steam, a section of the cube's side slid inward, creating an opening large enough for a person to pass through. And then, with a loud sound, one entire side of the glass-like cube retracted inward, opening like a giant door.
Mr. Berlitz and Professor Rowan, startled but seeing their chance, stumbled out, blinking in the new freedom, their bodies stiff from their confinent. They stumbled out, blinking in the dim light, their faces etched with relief.
*Pop*
They took a few unsteady steps, gasping in the cool, fresh air, rubbing their arms and stretching limbs cramped from confinent. Professor Rowan exclaid, a gasp of relief escaping, "We're out!"
Mr. Berlitz, unsteady on his feet, reached out, gasping for fresh air, "Oh, thank goodness we're out!"
*ZIP*
Rotom, its mission accomplished, zipped out of the cube with another triumphant cackle, "Roooo! And the day is saved by Rotom! Thank you, I'll be here all night!"
*Cling*
As it exited, the cube shimred once more, then rapidly shrank, collapsing in on itself until it was no larger than a small, tallic toy cube. Byron, quick to react, scooped it up, his expression a mix of awe and bewildernt.
Byron exclaid, examining the small cube in his hand, "Remarkable! A truly incredible Pokémon!"
Azure stepped forward as Mr. Berlitz and Professor Rowan tried to regain their footing, steadying themselves against the tallic walls. He began, his gaze assessing, "So… Now that you're free, what do you two plan to do?"
Mr. Berlitz, still shaken and clearly exhausted, looked at his daughter, then back at Azure. Mr. Berlitz began, his relief quickly morphing into paternal concern, "Azure… Now that we're free, there's sothing we need to discuss about Platinum's journey."
Professor Rowan nodded gravely as he added, "Indeed. Mr. Berllitz and I both agree: this journey is far too dangerous for Platinum. As long as Team Galactic roams the land, Mr. Berlitz cannot permit his daughter to continue traveling."
Mr. Berlitz added, stepping forward with more confidence, "In fact, she can only continue her journey after the tensions have lowered, after this Team Galactic threat is completely neutralized. We intend to have her return to Sandgem Town once we've recovered. You were hired to protect her, Azure, and that ans bringing her safely back ho."
Azure listened, his expression unreadable, a faint hum escaping his lips. Then, a slow, confident grin spread across his face, a sparkle in his eyes. He t Mr. Berlitz's gaze unflinchingly as he stated, "I very much doubt that will be happening. And not on my watch will I allow that outco."
His words hung in the air, stunning the two older n into silence. Mr. Berlitz's jaw dropped, and Professor Rowan's eyes widened.
*THUMP*
Before they could argue, however, the adrenaline that had sustained them through their ordeal finally gave way to sheer exhaustion. They slumped down, their bodies suddenly heavy, their eyes drooping.
Byron, ever observant, quickly moved forward, catching them before they hit the ground, and exclaid in a concerned tone, "Whoa there, gentlen! Easy now. You've had quite the ordeal."
He slung an arm around each of them, guiding them towards a dimly lit corridor as he said, "I've got a dorm room here in the Gym. You can rest there for the night."
As he steered them away, he looked back at Azure, a flicker of amusent in his eyes, asking curiously, "But… you really won't let them take the girl and the boys ho? Seems irresponsible, kiddo…"
Azure rely chuckled, a deep, knowing sound as he countered, "Byron, you just saw how determined she was. How she fought, demanding answers about her father, refusing help. Do you truly think she'll listen to them now? After everything she's accomplished, after everything she's seen?"
Byron paused, recalling Platinum's fiery expression, the unyielding resolve in her eyes as she commanded Rapidash. A genuine, hearty laugh rumbled in his chest. He said, shaking his head, "Bhahahaha! Fair enough, kiddo!! Fair enough."
With that, he led the two exhausted n deeper into the Gym, leaving Azure alone in the vast, quiet space, a triumphant smile on his face. The night was young, and the journey, for Platinum Berlitz and her companions, was far from over.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!
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