Team Nova - Episode 13: Rebirth

Micah watches Corva leave, a little envious. He would much prefer spending time with Scarlet and his other Pokemon than organizing what could very well be a suicidal raid on a Nova base first thing in the morning. He suppresses the urge to sigh and turns to address Steel.

"I have an idea, but it's a risky one. And it largely depends on how fast you all can move- and how much havoc you can make."

... Trump card, huh? Let's hope I don't have to break out mine...

Micah glances down to the Pokeballs at his waist, and the one containing his Salamence. Its destructive power was unparalleled, rivaling that of even a Legendary Pokemon. But the more he used Salamence for battle, the less chance he had of ever opening its heart again...

He looks back up to Steel. "I would highly recommend we don't destroy Lilycove city. So hopefully the Commander will be able to resist the urge to use her trump card for a little while longer. My plan is simple. We create a secondary diversion and make Nova think it's the real attack. Meanwhile, I sneak into the base, get the information I need, cause a little havoc, slip into a Nova uniform, start yelling the rebels are inside the base, and walk right out the front door. I know Nova procedure and base layout. I know the patrols, and I know what defenses they're likely to have. I'm also the absolute best at getting past them. The old Aqua Base hasn't been under their control for long, and it's not a priority to them, so the best defenses it will have are a few Starbursted Pokemon on patrol, cameras, and whatever tech leftover from the old occupants. My stealth field will allow me to slip past the normal cameras with ease, and I have... Ways of dealing with the Starbursted Pokemon. What you all will need to do is buy me enough time to get in and get what I need. You need to stage an attack, after the Commander's raid on the outpost is in full swing, and make it flashy enough that the Lieutenant will believe it's a real, full-scale attack, without actually damaging the city. You'll need to be quick, and retreat into the forest, so as not to draw them into a head-on confrontation. Keep an alternating line of fire. One team attacks, the other retreats, and then they switch. The Lieutenant is a fool. He will be unable to cope with the combined chaos, and we will use that to our advantage to escape. However, if we pull this off, we're going to have to fall back for a while and leave the Hornet's nest alone for a few days. As much as I want to take back Lilycove, we're all better off with a fool in charge, than someone who's actually competent. That would get real tricky, real fast. The Lieutenant would need at least a week to regroup and come after us, and we'd need to have a better hideout than this by then."

"I see," Micah says, his voice perfectly calm. "I was hoping you would have a bit more vision than that. But it seems that's your limit."

He slides his visor open and gives Steel a hard look. "There is less than a one percent chance of me being discovered. If I am discovered, and there is no other way for me to escape, I can simply blow a hole in the roof of the base and escape that way. A leader must understand what risks are acceptable and what risks are not. That is why the Commander left me in charge."

He slides his visor back down. "You have your orders. I must make preparations before we begin."

Without another word, Micah walked out of the cave. He didn't look back.

-----

Intending to try and connect with his Salamence before the mission, Micah headed to the glade south of the base. When he reached it however, he stopped suddenly upon seeing Corva surrounded by several Pokemon that were obviously hers.

"My apologies Commander," he says quickly, remembering that she had an overprotective fear that rivaled his when it came to her Pokemon. "I should have known you would be here. I won't bother you."

Micah shakes his head and bends down to hold his hand out for Espeon to investigate. He moves slowly and carefully. When the Pokemon tentatively steps forward, Micah gives a rare smile.

"No, I came out here for the same reason as you; to spend some time with my Pokemon."

He slowly retracts his hand and takes off his helmet, setting it down on the grass beside him, moving very deliberately so as not to spook Corva's Espeon, or her other Pokemon. He looks over at Corva, his expression deadly serious. "Commander, I will never do anything to harm your Pokemon. I will take the very knowledge of their existence to my grave. I give you my word. Because I feel the same as you. I know what it's like to be terrified of losing the only things you have left."

He reaches down to touch the Pokeballs at his waist. "Would you like to meet my Ninetails?"

Jude...? Must be someone from her family...

Micah hangs his head low, looking at the ground, and shifts his feet nervously, unsure what to say. The action is decidedly boyish, and he suddenly seems like the young kid that he actually is. "... I'm sorry. I meant no offense. I'll leave you alone."

Ashley accepted the headbutt and then with a "Dellllphoxx," went to go lie next to a tree.

"Greninja Ninja," G-Ninja shrugged as he sat next to Ashley.

Yuzu seeing the pair of Grace and Ribbions together filled her with much joy. "Pika Piii Pikaa," Pika said as he approached Yuzu.

"Oh don't worry I haven't forgot about you," Yuzu said landing next to Pika.

Yuzu then motioned for Grace so that only her and Grace could be alone. "So Grace why were you really nipping at me?" Yuzu asked so that only Grace could hear.

---

"Jude I am so sorry my Pokémon was being such a Bullymon (original term used by Dragon Sama credit given to him) to Grace," Carleen said. "I swear sometimes she can be such a pain sometimes," Carleeb sighed. "Geez ever since I found her as a Fennekin and G-Ninja as a Froakie, Ashley always tend to be a mischievous especially, when she evolved to a Braxien," Carleen said.

"Honestly, Physcic types can be such a pain sometimes," Carleen said.

"Fletching Fletch Fletcheon," Anna said as she was still wearing a pair of brown felt ears.

"Hey guys let me introduce you to Fletcheon," Carla said as Anna began to chirp away.

Cassandra grows quiet at the mention of psychic types being a handful.  The sight of the costume-wearing Fletchling quickly snaps her out of it, though.  "Oh, it's so-o-o cute!" she blurts out, reaching out to scratch its head.

"But... why did you...?" Jude asks with confusion.

Vern pop out from belowdecks.  "Well, that's enough working on the engine for one day, time to get started on dinner.  Catch anything, Ju-  Er, Kid?  Did you...  When did you have time to do that...?"

---

Grace shrugs.  "I dunno.  Felt like it."

---

Flareon continues to sit and stare at Lilia, though now his tail flicks back and forth excitedly.  Espeon immediately darts behind Micah, repeatedly circling to examine the new arrivals from different angles.  Leafeon slinks over to the others, laying down a few feet away and staring nervously.  Jolteon continues to eat.  Kon stretches out near the edge of the glade.  Shade decides to join in the hug.

"Hehe...  Birdy likes me now..." Corva giggles.

The soldiers watch their harasser take a few steps back toward the city, just close enough to be within earshot if she wanted to be heard, of course. The woman makes a show of angrily whipping out her phone, a charmingly outdated clamshell model that may as well have been on her person specifically for dramatic effect. She furiously dials a few numbers and looks back at the three men intently, making sure to pout and turn around as soon as one of them made eye-contact.

"Thankfully HQ says we don't have to block contact, eh? We'd never hear the end of it." One of them says.

Another one shrugs and grins a bit. "Well, I hear from a friend that they're monitoring activity closely. It only makes sense, why stop them from communicating when we could possibly catch someone being careless?"

"It's been years like this now. Don't you think anyone careless enough to use our lines has been caught already?"

"I dunno, I guess with that big display of making an example out of the Sevii Islands, our sway on the populace isn't quite what it was last year. Sometimes I wonder what was going through... well, nevermind that."

The soldier nervously glances over at the business lady, who just happened to be turning to look at them.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all!" She nearly shouts into her phone. "Thank you! No hurry, really!"

"...What a b--" The third soldier idly comments as the lady hangs up, only to be interrupted by a static-y voice over his radio.

"Unit 7! This is HQ. An off-grid signal is being picked up in your location! Do you read me? Over!"

The three look back at where the woman had been, yelling into the phone just seconds before.

"HQ! This is Unit 7! Are you still picking up the signal? Over."

"Negative. Please report. Over."

"The suspect has vanished! Requesting permission to pursue. Over."

"Pursue! Shoot first, ask questions later! What are they teaching recruits these days! It's the Nova way! ...Over."

"Uh... p-pursuing with extreme prejudice, sir! Over and out!"

"Damn grunts these days. They can't kill a single damn terrorist without waiting for orders! Barely even good for having a laugh at. Back in my day..."

---

Inside the city walls, the soldier who had been on the radio walks with his rifle ahead of him, mumbling.

"Damn HQ... with their stupid radios... and their stupid jargon... it's like they think they're... Lieutenant Surge, or somethi--"

"Excu~u~use me!" An all too familiar voice calls out. "This damn city is a mess! How can you declare a state of emergency when you can't even keep your streets in check! I'd like to report a robbe--"

The soldier spins around and points his gun at the woman, causing her to squeak in shock and throw her hands in the air.

"You! You're under arrest!" The soldier yells. "N-no funny business, or I'll shoot!"

---

The soldier prods the business lady into the door to Mauville City's detention center with his gun. She follows along until they reach a cell, where the soldier pushes her in and locks her up with an unceremonious thunk.

"I'll have you know that I'm a top executive in the Urban Planning and Commerce Bureau!" The woman growls, clenching the bars to her cell and grinding her teeth. "You can't do this to me! I've got a flight to catch tomorrow morning to Goldenrod City so that I can meet with the Board of Directors! I demand to know your Superior Officer's name so I can inform them that you are DIRECTLY IMPEDING--"

"Yeah, yeah. You can say it a third time to my officer when he shows up." The soldier says dismissively. "Shoulda' just did what dispatch told me to and shot her on sight. Sheesh..."

The door to the detention center swings open as a Nova officer enters the building, staring coldly toward the cell.

"This is the suspect...?" He asks.

"Yes, sir!" The grunt responds. "She was caught making an unauthorised call to a probable rebel agent."

"I did no such thing!" The business lady retorts.

"Hush." The officer says, looking over the prisoner. A glint of recognition seems to spark in his eye. "...Things will go much more smoothly if you speak only when prompted to. Your words can and will be used against you."

"...Y-yes, sir." She replies after a moment.

The officer turns to the grunt. "Tell me more about your first meeting with the suspect."

"Yes, sir. Myself and the drivers for squads 4 and 7 were loit--er, keeping watch by the effected zone of the recent earthquake attack when this woman approached us wearing some kind of Ninetails fur coa--"

"I approached him on the city streets to report it stolen!" The woman yells, only to get a severe look from the officer which moved her to silence.

"Continue." The officer says to the grunt.

"She began harassing us about the state of emergency and using very rude, hurtful language." The soldier frowns indignantly. "She kept babbling about how she was missing a flight and something about progress... we tried to calm her down, but she made threats to our careers and said she was making a call to our superiors..."

"And did she approach you on the city street as well?" The officer asks.

"That's right. After we caught her on an off-grid signal and gave chase, she had the gall to--"

"I've heard enough of that." The officer interrupts. "You know this woman is a top executive in the Urban Planning and Commerce Bureau, correct?"

"I fail to see how that's..." The soldier begins to protest.

"Describe the woman as you first met her in detail." The officer states. "Down to the most minute features."

"W-well... it's the woman in front of us... as she is, besides the coat..."

"Entertain me."

"Let's see... she had long wavy blonde hair, parting to the right... with pale skin and soft features... green eyes--"

"I'll stop you right there." The officer folds his arms. "Are you sure about that?"

"That she had green eyes...?" The soldier glances at the woman in her cell to double check. "I coulda' sworn... no... I guess they're blue..."

The officer takes out his radio. "This is the CO for Unit 7, reporting in. I'm calling to resume the hunt for a suspect caught communicating with terrorists. I believe the suspect is using a ditto and may take on any identity. If you see any suspecious persons, StarBurst or shoot on sight. Over."

Micah smiles and leans his head against Latias's side. She coos happily and turns to nuzzle his hair. "It's hard not for her to like someone," Micah explains to Corva. "She's empathic, so she can feel a person's heart. As long as you have at least some good in your heart, she'll be nice to you. Right, Scarlet?"

Latias coos again and turns to nuzzle Corva. Lilia's ears flatten and she slowly backs away from Espeon, but Micah kneels down and wraps his arms around her neck. "Shh, girl. It's okay. They're friends. You're safe here."

His Ninetales calms down almost immediately and licks his cheek. "Niiiiiine!"

Laughing, Micah lets her go and stands up, and Lilia immediately goes to sniff Espeon. Her large bushy tails start to whip back and forth excitedly.

Micah smiles as he watches the pair start to dance around each other, and his hand instinctively goes to rest on his other Pokeballs. His smile immediately fades and he stops himself, his expression turning sad and troubled.

"I originally came out here to spend time with my Salamence," Micah says quietly. "But with all your Pokemon here, that's probably not a good idea. I don't want to scare them."