The Plot Thickens
#3 of Burning Embers
(POV Wesley)
The next day, we reached the compound deep in the forest. It was a pretty basic looking building: just a large, concrete block about one story tall. It wasn't very impressive, especially since I knew Team Blaze had access to massive aircraft carriers.
"You think they'd be a little more consistent on how they built their command centers," I whispered to the group.
"What do you mean?" Logan asked, confused.
"I mean, why do they have a supposedly important base with supposedly important plans sitting out in the middle of the forest, not hidden at all, and it's just a dull concrete box?!"
Maybe that's what they want us to think, so we would pass it by, Morgana said.
"Or maybe they want us to think that's what they want us to think, so we think it isn't a trap or something, and then it turns out that it is, indeed, a trap." I heard Lilly say behind us. We all turned and stared at her a moment as she blushed slightly, until I broke the silence. "Can we stop being so analytical and just go in?"
I watched from some trees as Logan and Lilly scouted ahead, tiptoeing around the unconscious guards. Damn, I am a good shot with this thing, I thought, placing my crossbow on my back and jumping from the tree. I whistled quietly into the bushes, and Morgana gracefully emerged and followed me to the door. I grabbed one of the guards as I passed and pressed his hand on a scanner by the door. There was a pneumatic whoosh as the door opened into a long hallway lit with fluorescent lights every few feet. Logan took the lead as we ventured into the building.
"So, random question, you mentioned yesterday that I reminded you of a friend of yours?" Logan asked me softly. I nodded. "Yeah, his name was Steven. I helped him destroy a Team Blaze carrier and rescue his Delphox girlfriend, Vix. They left the other day, hoping to find a place to live a normal life."
"He must have really loved her, if he was willing to go into the heart of a carrier to get her." Logan said, surprised.
"Well, he did have supernatural powers and help from a bunch of people, so it wasn't as hard as you would think." I stopped when I saw a door leading to a room full of computers and one solitary scientist. I quickly dispatched him with a concussive dart, and then sat down at one of the terminals. I concentrated on the computer, allowing myself to become familiar with its functions. I traveled to another, already logged on terminal somewhere in the base, and found the administrator password. Ever since my vision, I noticed I had gained not only the strange focusing ability that made time seem to slow around me, but I also found that I could astral project myself, in a way, into electronic systems and imitate the program. When I had the password, I logged on and started looking through the files.
I started looking through a list of documents on the main terminal's hard drive, when I happened across one titled "Project: Eternal Darkness". I double-clicked this and started to read the latest entry.
Phase One is complete. After Silus went rogue with Yveltal, we feared we would not be able to recover it to continue the project. Fortunately, a young boy with extraordinary powers was able to stop him and destroy his carrier. We have regained control over it, as well as several other legendary Pokemon. I have looked into the boy's power, and learned that he is bound to a demon of great power. I am certain that this is the one we have been looking for. I will keep an eye on him for now, to see if my assumption is correct. Silus was a fool, trying to change humanity into Pokemon; humans don't deserve a chance to better themselves, and Pokemon are imperfect. Demons will rule, just as they did before the Creation, and everything will be as it was.
END OF LOG
I stared at the screen for a long time. This changed everything; Silus wasn't working for Team Blaze, but rather, all of his followers were brainwashed into thinking he was. He wasn't even their leader! I noticed there was a folder attached titled "Surveillance". I opened this and gasped. Inside were several pictures of Steven and Vix at what I assumed was their new home.
I turned sharply to Logan, who obviously understood what was going on. "We have to get out of here and warn him." I said quickly, just as the doors to the room slammed shut and locked into place. I heard a siren go off as the balcony above us was filled with Team Blaze grunts, all holding rifles of some kind. One of them stood out among the rest, who was wearing a white lab coat and wire-rimmed glasses. He looked rather young, maybe about 20, with messy brown hair and pale skin.
"Glad you could join us, Wesley and Logan." I widened my eyes as he continued: "Oh, yes, I know who you are. We've been watching you just as much as we have been watching Steven. That log is a few days old, so you can guess I know that Umbra is no longer bound to Steven."
"So now you can't proceed with this plan." I said defiantly, stepping forward.
He looked down and chuckled. "Oh, no, we can still get him. It's actually going to be even easier now. You see, when a demon is bound to a human, that person becomes a permanent beacon for demonic energy. If we get him, we can summon Umbra."
It was Logan's turn to argue now. "Wait a second. Umbra helped Steven kill Silus. What makes you think he will help you?" he shouted. As he said this, I slowly reached into my pocket. Before we had gone into the building, I had placed a receiver pad for my teleporter in the forest. If worse got to worse, I could use it. The only problem was it could only work on three people, and there were 3 of us; one of us was going to stay behind."
"Morgana, stay close to Logan" I whispered softly. She took a step back and looked at me worriedly.
"He helped Steven because he was bound to him. He had no choice but to do as Steven said. Now that he is free, he will do whatever he wishes, and all demons strive for shrouding the earth in darkness.
"There is one problem, though: the pictures we have of Steven are from before he disappeared, so we currently have no idea where he is. But..." he said, motioning for the soldiers to take aim, "you can lead him to us."
I threw the teleporter at Logan's feet, and they were enveloped in a bright light.
"Don't turn back! Find Steven, warn him, and most of all," I looked up slowly and lowered my voice, "take care of Morgana."
There was a loud zapping sound, and suddenly they were gone. Showtime, I thought as I pulled down my mask and grabbed my daggers. I jumped for the catwalk and vaulted over the railing, figuring the soldiers wouldn't shoot me if I was close to their allies. They pulled out combat knives and advanced on me, so I pulled out my daggers and charged.
It may have seemed like a one-sided battle, but I pulled through. It was down to me and three soldiers when I felt a sharp pain shoot through my spine, causing me to fall over. I saw the scientist standing over me, wearing a metallic gauntlet that sparked with electricity. As my consciousness left me, I heard him say "Prepare him for reformatting. I'll do it myself in the long run; I have a special plan for what he will become."
Then everything went black.