The Aura is With Us

Chapter 24: Round One

"You know you don't have to follow me," Amanda whispered.

We are currently in the thrones of enemy territory. Sir Aaron's insistence on me accompanying you is a wise decision.

"You know this isn't the first Rocket Base I've sneaked around, right?" Amanda said, "And I have my own Pokémon to protect me?"

All of which are currently trapped in those torture devices you carry them in. And if some were to go wrong when you summon them, your life would be lost.

Amanda rolled her eyes, "Can you at least be quiet while do this? Don't really want to attract any unnecessary attention."

I am speaking to you in a closed link, no one else may overhear do not concern yourself.

"Yeah, that doesn't make me feel better. Because while you might be in a closed link. I am not and to other people I'm talking to air like a crazy person."

Understood.

Amanda resisted the urge to sigh, honestly, it wasn't like she couldn't defend herself. She's trained in martial arts and could easily take down some rocket grunts. It also wasn't like she and Uncle Aaron were all that close. Why was he being so protective? There was no reason that he should want Lucario to be with her.

She bit the inside of her cheek, taking a deep breath. Looking stressed out would only bring more suspicion to herself.

Schooling a blank expression, she blended back into the crowd. A hand on her bag strap with the other in her pocket. She had kept her makeup on a more neutral color palette, her usual goth esthetic would draw more attention. And had swapped out her glasses for colored contacts, turning her eyes purple. With a beanie to hide her hair, and off the shoulder sweater, she looked like a different person. Just another young trainer in a crowd of fellow competitors.

Amanda had lucked out, in tournament of 24 trainers, her round one match up was number 12. It should give her some time to at least figure out the best way to access the main frame. She had already had Pichu sneak in and set the camera in the terminal room on a loop. So, security wouldn't pay much attention to it. Or at least think nothing is happening in there.

"All patrons, please proceed to the stadium the tournament is about to begin!"

"That's our que," Amanda whispered.

She had positioned herself near the entrance, that way she could follow the crowd as they journeyed deeper into the building, before slipping not into the arena, but rather the less popular stairwell near the bathroom to the second floor.

The crowds up there were thinner, but that just meant she needed to be more wary of the cameras. At least, that was what she would usually do. Now Amanda had a stow away. She signaled Lucario, gesturing towards the cameras with her eyes when he looked at her.

"Stay out of their line of sight, but don't draw attention to yourself," she murmured. Lucario nodded.

As they continued through the halls, the crowds thinned further. The tiles on the floor started to get more smudged, and the paint on the walls had more chips. Eventually, they came to a spot where the lights were flickering, and the space was empty. The door to the terminal room was unassuming. Unassuming and locked. Good thing she brought a pic-kit with her.

You know how to pick locks?

"Yep, why is that so shocking?" Amanda said.