Chapter 91: Project S

Power stones please? Let's try reaching back over 500!

*

Several moments later, three figures soon exited the perfumery Erika was in charge of. A fourth and fifth figure then appeared behind them.

"Thank you for your patronage. I hope you three will continue to use our brand. These special concoctions of mine today is free of charge. Also, I look forward to battling you three on Monday.", Erika said with a smile.

"Leafeon!", Leafeon also responded in confidence.

"Are you sure we don't have to pay for this? What if we never come back?"

"Of course. Just treat it business intuition. You guys will definitely come back in the future, even if its not through our main store. Otherwise I would have misjudged you three.", Erika answered.

"Thank you very much.", Lillie responded.

Hearing that, I went quiet for a moment. I then spoke out, asking Erika a question.

"Say Miss Erika, can I ask you a hypothetical question?"

"Oh please just call me Erika. And sure, what is it?"

"Let's...say we happened to come across you like we did today. If we said your perfumes smelled terrible and were over-priced, what would happen?", I decided to ask.

Hearing that, we saw Erika close her eyes into a crescent pattern, tilted her head a bit and placed her palm on her cheek before answering.

"My, if that were to happen, I would have thrown you out of my store myself and deny you entry into my Pokemon Gym.", Erika replied, which caused us to shiver a bit.

I then let out a dry laugh.

"Haha. Well, anyways, I look forward to trying out what you gave us, Erika. See you on Monday.", I said.

"Me as well. Have a nice day.", Erika responded back, before heading back into her store with her Leafeon.

Once Erika left, I let an inwardly sigh, and turned around, only to look up at the sky.

'Good luck, Ash.', I retorted in my mind.

"Itsuki?", Lillie asked, seeing me turn quiet.

"Say, why did you ask that last part? Don't tell me something like that is actually going to happen?", Serena also asked. "Who knew Erika has such a side to her?", Serena said.

"Maybe. But it's probably nothing. Let us head to the Pokemon Center.", I said, shrugging it off.

"Yes.", Lillie nodded, only for Serena to follow.

We then enjoyed sightseeing the tall buildings all around us as we made our way to the Pokemon Center.

Meanwhile...

Deep within a sandy canyon, filled sandstone and steep cliffs. It was located inside a vast desert, which appeared as if it had been dried up of its lifeforce, a wasteland. This canyon is known as Eclo Canyon.

If one had a quick glance, one would think no life would persist here. It was completely void of Pokemon as well. Not even those that could survive in sandy conditions were here.

However, that didn't seem to be completely true. Deep within the canyon's crevice, at its very tip, some sort of run down structure could be seen, built into the towering cliff itself. Perhaps it appeared run down and torn apart to make those think this place was void of people.

And yet, a few miles out from this building, lots of sand could be seen constantly getting knocked up into the air. If one had a close look two fast speed machines could be seen moving at a fast rate, which were the cause of the sand getting knocked up.

These two machines were vehicles, and two motorcycles at that. Their engines roared loudly in the desert around them. The engines themselves were visible and located at the front end the bike.

However there was one key difference from these two motorcycles from other ones. These two only had a singular wheel at the very back. The rest of it may seem very cyberpunk, and it probably was. The rest of it was high tech, making them equivalent to hover bikes.

And in these two bikes were a beige-silver hair colored man and a spiky red-auburn hair colored man. Not only that a singular Pokemon could be seen sitting in each of the bike's sidecars.

"Wes, it looks like the intel we got is true. There really is something out here. Those bastards really hid themselves under the radar."

"Of course the intel we got it right. Don't underestimate the connections our boss has. We must recover the asset at all costs. Understood?"

"Yes. But to think what we've heard of so far, I thought what's been happening were only rumors...The file we received in the briefing too...Project S, is it?", Michael asked.

"Weird Pokemon have been popping up lately. Even in cities, they quickly become aggressive and will attack anyone in sight. These bastards also seem to have started getting their power under control. The news have started to call these weird Pokemon, Shadow Pokemon.", Wes continued to say.

"Shadow Pokemon...Do you think it's true that these bastards actually managed to close the hearts of Shadow Pokemon?", Michael asked.

"...That remains to be seen. For now we are to assault this facility and recover the asset. Team B will do the same and handle the other facility.", Wes explained.

"There really are two facilities? To think they'd even spread their influence to Kanto. Sigh...", Michael responded. He let out a sigh and turned quiet.

"That is right. You know one of the members of Team B, don't you? Well, it was thanks to his connections that we were able to reach this far. Boss might be a bit aloof at times but she does well. So much she has that huge corporation under her feet.", Wes explained.

"Yes...I'm surprised how quickly this went up the ladder without him even being informed, but I guess he will be tonight. We chatted a few times over the years but we haven't seen each other since ten years ago. Makes me wonder how the others are doing too. We were thinking of setting a get together reunion soon, but with these Shadow Pokemon incidents on the rise, I fear that may not happen..." Michael responded back with a hint of worry.

"Well, then we need to make sure this mission is a success. Even if Project S has started, if we can retrieve the asset, it will give us a way to fight back. Normal capturing doesn't work on these Pokemon."

"We will ensure it is successful. You're ready, right, Vaporeon?"

"Vaporeon!", Vaporeon, who was in Michael's sidecar, responded back in confidence.

"Heh, Good. You're up to the task too, aren't you, partner?", Wes also asked letting out a chuckle.

"Umbreon.", Umbreon responded calmly.

Seeing this, Wes nodded his head and saw the two were fast approaching the building. As for Michael, he locked back up into the sky and uttered in a soft voice.

"Two facilities. Two assets. Failure is not an option. Knowing who your partner is, I feel your side will be more in control, but good luck out there, Itsuki...", Michael uttered.

After that, in the next moment, they arrived. The two brought their bikes to the left side, making sure it blended into the surroundings. The two then got off, letting Umbreon and Vaporeon jump out respectively. Wes then out his visor in, while Michael did his. Wes's was metallic while Michael had a blue visor.

"Commence the operation. Umbreon use Shadow Ball and tear down the door. Our target is on the third floor!"

"Right!", Michael acknowledged.

Wes and Michael had officially begun their assault on the Team Snagem Hideout!

*

Any guesses on who will partner with Itsuki? Hint: Itsuki met this character at least once already.

Also, want to see one more chapter of the actual assault on the hideout?