Pokémon XYZ: Life, Death, Order, and Chaos (book 2 of the HBoD series)

Chapter 32: Trouble at the Power Plant Pt. 1

I panted as I came to a stop. Frogadier, back to full energy thanks to the revives Robert gave me, hopped onto a rock and gazed around.

"I really wish we had a map," I rested one hand on the rock. "I thought the Power Plant would be easier to find."

"Dang," I bashed my fist against the rock, wincing at the sudden pain. "That battle with Clara took too long. Alex and Robert are probably already battling."

I looked up to see something speeding towards me. Arcanine came to a halt, kicking up red dust.

I coughed. "Find anything, buddy?"

He growled and nodded his head in the direction he had come. He looked exhausted, so I returned him to his pokeball. "You'll need your energy for later. C'mon, Frogadier."

We took off at a run, Frogadier running ahead of me. Not long later, I could see a huge building in the distance. The ground dipped ahead of me into a valley surrounded by plateaus. I came to a halt near the edge alongside Frogadier, gazing at the gleaming structure. Solar panels were installed on the outside, metal spikes surround the main building. I could see several generators around the building as well, but no signs of suspicious activity. The gate surrounding the perimeter of the Power Plant looked untouched, gate in a similar state.

"Nothing," I breathed. "But looks can be deceiving."

I glanced around and studied my surroundings. To my right I spotted a path downwards. However, close to it was a tiny metal structure, a door on the side. Running over to it, I noted the electronic keypad on it.

"Another entrance perhaps?" I wondered, stepping back. "Frogadier, Water Pulse."

Frogadier flung a sphere of water at the electronic lock, short-circuiting it. With a hiss, the door slid open from the middle. Taking a cautious step inside the small room, I noticed a panel on the wall, a single button adorning it.

"An elevator then," I said as Frogadier joined me inside. "Let's see where it leads."

I was pretty sure this wasn't where my friends went, but it could possibly lead to them. Even if it didn't, I was certain my friends could handle themselves against Team Flare. So I pressed the button. The elevator doors closed and we began descending. 

"Be on the ready," I advised. "Who knows what's waiting for us below."

Without a sound, we came to a stop and the doors slid open. A metal hallway lay before us, lit by blue lighting. At the end was a door, slightly ajar.

Nodding to Frogadier, we crept silently towards the door, stopping when we could hear voices on the other side. Peeking through the door, I saw a large room, lined with computer monitors on rows of tables and people held hostage. Scientists, Engineers, and workers. They were all on the ground in a corner, Houndooms and Mightyenas stalking around them, Team Flare grunts scattered around the room. Several were busy typing on the computers with rapid movement. Two women walked into view, both reminding me of that scientist I had met before with the green hair. These two had different color hair, one purple, one blue. They wore the same red suits, Purple wearing shorts and a purple tie, while Blue wore a skirt and a blue tie. Both wore visors, one purple and one blue.

Gripping my fist, I found that these colors annoyed me greatly for a reason I could not identify. Unhooking Corvisquire's pokeball, I crouched, other hand on the door, ready to spring. "Get ready, Frogadier. We're going in on 3, 2, 1-!"

Swinging the door wide open, I ran into the room, launching the pokeball across the room. Frogadier jetted ahead of me, taking the opportunity of surprise to slam a glowing fist into the nearest Houndoom, knocking him away.