1.Ash's Story (Part 3: Hoenn)

Chapter 48

When we arrive at Mossdeep Space Center, we find Steven Stone talking to Professor Cozmo.

"Ash nice to see you again." Cozmo says.

"Same here, Professor." I say.

"Even still, thank you for coming, and you brought the Meteorite Shard with you. Well done!" Cozmo says.

"I was rather surprised to learn that you knew the professor. You really do seem to make connections everywhere you go. Now then, Professor... Could I ask you to explain once more about the current plan?" Steven says.

"Indeed... Please come this way." Cozmo says as they go to the main control room, where the others are.

"I imagine that you've heard some of the situation from President Stone already. Our current plan involves using the Infinity Energy within our rocket, combined with the life energy of humans found in Key Stones... We will start off by artificially replicating the massive energy that is triggered at the time of Mega Evolution! We will fire the energy produced from our rocket into space... And create a warp hole."

"A Warp Hole?" Minami asks.

"By creating a warp hole in the path of the incoming meteoroid, we hope to be able to transport it somewhere far away from here. As a matter of fact, this technology already exists and has been incorporated into some of our commonly used devices."

"Really?" Mark asks.

"I think you know what I mean. Those panels that spin you about and then out you come, warped to another spot. I imagine you've stepped on a few such?"

"An audacious plan... And using such technology you would... May I ask where exactly the asteroid will be warped to?" Steven asks.

"Well. We're not entirely sure, but... We do have a device that links the warp holes. We've named it the Link Cable. But there's no need to worry. Based on our theory, we can at least guarantee that we will be sending it away from our planet. However, we've realized that we will need more energy than originally anticipated to control the Link Cable properly... I'm sorry to ask this of you but with one more Meteorite Shard..."

Just then, we hear a crash. We follow the sound and see Zinnia and Aster there.

"Nice! So this is the heart of the famous Space Center everyone talks about! Pretty impressive, huh, Aster?" Aster nods at her words.

"Excuse me! Young lady! You can't just let yourself in here!" One of the staff says.

"Oh? Where's the harm in it? Don't be such a stick-in-the-mud!... Right?" She suddenly makes a cute puppy face and the staff is backing off. "Ugh..."

"Who...are you, you're no sightseer..." Steven demands.

"Oh me, we do seem to keep running into one another. You are really busy, Ash, Alice." Zinnia says.

"Wh-who are you?! What're you doing here?!" Professor Cozmo demands.

"Me? I'm Zinnia. Just your regular ol' tourist, nothing more. Dreaming of taking a little trip into space... Heh." Zinnia then looks at the plans and she reads them fast.

"Oh, I seeeeee... So this is what has come of human technology and of hope and blood and sweat and tears and... Well, the list gets kinda long and boring. But it contains everything, huh? I know all about it. About just what kinda energy you're using to fuel this rocket thing... The abominable technology humanity first thought up 3,000 years ago... So you're once again planning to claim that this is best for humanity, or best for the whole darn world... It's a snap of your fingers to repeat the sins of the past. Worse, if what I overheard is true... This time, you're about to commit an error more abominable than before!"