Chapter Nine: Conversion "Hey Uiru," Pittman asked when they got back to the chopper. "Where was Sunder when the lights went out?" "In the dark," Uiru replied. "Nick, let's go back to Saffron." "We might need help," Thomas inturrupted. "Lavender's been under their control for a long time. It may only be a small town but they've got a big base there, and a bunch of soldiers. In addition to that, since Lavender is so close to the Rock Tunnel, they hide backup troops in there, both as a guard and as means for a sneak attack." "Maybe we could... No, that woudn't work," Jessica remembered. "What is it?" Pittman asked. "Well... I was going to say we get Haunter to get some of it's Ghost buddies to help us out, but..." "How would it do that?" Geoff asked. "The Pokémon Tower," Jessica answered. "It's where all the Ghost Pokémon in this country live." Leah snapped her fingers. "Of course. Ghost Pokémon have no real weaknesses, so they'd be the perfect ally." "Not nessessarily," Jessica replied. "Gastly, Haunter and Gengar are weak against Ground and Psychic attacks. They're part Poison." "Really?" Robert asked. "They aren't just Ghost?" "No." "Wierd." "Well, none of the trainers in Lavender use Psychic or Ground type Pokémon," Leah continued. "So we need to get Haunter back," Uiru declared. "And the others as well." "Will you guys make up your minds about where you want to go?" Nick shouted. "I'm going to run out of fuel soon, and it's so expensive over here!" "Land at Viridian," Uiru said. "We need to come up with a plan." Fire Strike and company were discussing their next move at the Viridian Pokémon Center. "Sunder could be on the next planet over for all we know," Erin stated. "How are we supposed to find him? He usually finds us." "Well, where was he going last time we saw him?" Eric asked. "Celadon. But he had left by the time we got there," Robert replied. "Maybe we could go look around Celadon," Matt suggested. "Something could turn up." "Celadon is huge," Pittman complained. "We'd never be able to find anything on him." "Do you have a better idea?" Matt asked. The table was silent for several minutes. Allison brought her fist down on the table. "OF COURSE!!" she shouted. The others jumped. "What?" Nick asked, holding his ear. "Think about it. Lauren said that if we ever found Sunder's new base, we'd kick ourselves," Allison explained. "So where's the last place we'd expect to find them?" "One of their old bases?" Uiru asked. "The Flame Force's old place?" Jessica asked. "One of Flame Force's old bases?" Patrick asked. "No no no- *our* old base! We left it completely unguarded when we came after Sunder!" "What?! All our stuff is there! They've been at all our junk for a week!" Nick complained. The others voiced similar complaints. "Okay, we gotta go right now! There's enough juice in the chopper to get us over Mt. Moon. From there we can refuel and get right to Charteruse." "I never thought we'd have to storm our own base," Geoff declared. "You guys are going to tell us what the hell you're talking about, right?" Pittman asked. "Later," Matt said. "I have an idea," Uiru declared. "While we go rescue Haunter and the others, you six go to Saffron and prepare for the attack." "Can you drop us off first?" Heidi asked. "It's really far from here." "And don't forget my Graveler," Pittman reminded. Uiru nodded. "It'll take us at least a couple of days," Nick announced. He handed Eric a PLM credit card. "Here. Use this to get yourselves some transport to Saffron." "There's a business in Pewter that flies people back and forth by heli," Thomas stated. "We can use that, right?" Uiru nodded. "Set everything up, but don't make a move until we get back," he instructed. "But if they attack, give 'em hell." "You bet!" Heidi shouted. As Fire Strike headed out, Jigglypuff waved. Neither group of trainers noticed the short little man grinning at the earful he had just recieved. Doug smirked to himself as he snuck out of the Center. "Well, shall we go?" Robert asked. "I think the bus leaves for Pewter soon." "Sure," Eric decided. He looked at the card. "Do you think the PLM would mind if they bought us dinner?" "We shouldn't waste it," Leah scolded. "They're probably going to get in trouble for giving it to us anyway. We should just use it to get to Saffron. Now come on, let's go!" At Magenta Park, Uiru phoned Booster while Nick refueled. "Hey, Uiru!" Booster shouted. "I've been trying to get in touch with you for a week!" "We've been real busy," Uiru replied. "Anyway, we're on our way to our base. We think Sunder might be there." "That's what I've been trying to tell you!" Booster shouted back. "Those sons of bitches just dropped right in and made themselves at home. When we tried to retake it, they sprung a trap on us. He's taken Ivory Lake too, it's where his soldiers are coming from." Geoff heard this. "What!?" "Is it safe to just fly up and attack?" Uiru asked. "They took Jessica's Haunter as well as a bunch of our other Pokémon. We need them back so we can liberate Lavender." "For you guys, maybe," Booster replied. "I'll order my troops to draw as many of their men away from your base as I can. When will you be getting here?" "All done!" Nick shouted. "Not long," Uiru answered. "We're on our way now." "All right, good luck!" Booster hung up. Uiru headed back for the chopper. "Uiru..." Geoff started. "Save it 'til we're airborne," Uiru replied. "We don't have much time." "I know what you're going to say, and the answer is no," Uiru answered the next time Geoff spoke. "Why the hell not?" Geoff demanded. "This time it's my hometown you aren't letting me fight for?!" "Geoff, what did we tell you on the mountain?" Jessica asked. "And what did I tell YOU on the mountain?" Geoff retorted. "Geoff, think about it," Uiru inturrupted. "Booster can handle Ivory Lake. But right now, Fire Strike and the guys are the only hope that country has. If we stay to save Ivory Lake, they might take Cerulean or Saffron or something. We have to get Haunter and get back over there as fast as we can!" Geoff glared at him. "Erin, you aren't buying this load of crap are you?" he finally asked. Erin was also from Ivory Lake. "Uiru's the leader," she answered. "Besides that, he's right. The PLM is getting stronger every day. They can handle Sunder Force here. We're needed back at Saffron." "Unbelieveable," Geoff snapped. "We fly in, grab our six, and fly out. That's all there is to it," Uiru declared. "We won't be staying long enough to even secure our base. You want to do some Sunder thrashing, you can do it when we meet up with Eric and the others." "Look, I don't care if you're with the Pope- you aren't shutting down any city power without the President's say-so." The power plant manager was adamant. "Okay, fine, where's the President?" Eric asked. "On the top floor of Silph Co., where else would he be?" the manager replied. "It's about 20 minutes on foot down the street." "What a bitch," Robert complained when they got outside. "I hope these stupid cards work better at Silph Co.," Eric stated. "You can't really blame him," Leah stated. "It's not every day a group of kids marches in and tells them to turn off a city's power." When they got to Silph Co., the receptionist was quick to show them to the elevator after they flashed their cards. "As luck would have it, the President isn't meeting with anyone right now," she informed them, "so you can just go right up. I'll tell him you're coming." "Okay, great," Pittman acknowledged. The ride up was uneventful. It is an elevator, after all. It didn't take as long as they had thought to shoot up to the top of the building. When the door opened, they were presented with the President's spacious office... as well as Doug and Lauren! "You! What are you doing here?" Lauren demanded. She whacked Doug in the back of the head. "You told me they were all headed for Charteruse!" "They must be here to tell the President not to listen to us," Thomas reasoned. "Yes, that was the general theme of what they've been telling me," the President replied. "If you six are trainers, could you please remove these ruffians from my office? I believe we have something important to discuss afterwards." "That's right," Pittman declared. "Okay, we don't want to trash the place, so pick them carefully," Leah declared. "Cubone, go!" "Ivysaur, go!" Pittman called out his Grass type. "Charmeleon, go!" Lauren used her favorite Pokémon. "Tentacruel, go!" Doug summoned his giant jellyfish. Charmeleon opened up with a Flamethrower attack on Ivysaur, which Cubone blocked with it's Bone Spin shield. Tentacruel shot Acid at the two but missed. Ivysaur generated a Razor Leaf attack, which Charmeleon spat fire at and was disappated. Cubone threw it's Bonemerang at Charmeleon, but Tentacruel shot it with a Water Gun, knocking it off course. "This battle is going nowhere," Leah stated. "Eevees, go!" Heidi shouted. She summoned both Eevees at once, and ordered them to attack Charmeleon! They jumped on their target, Biting and Slashing away, while it flailed at them. While Charmeleon was distracted, Ivysaur lashed Tentacruel with Vine Whip and Absorb attacks. When Charmeleon finally knocked the Eevees away, it charged Ivysaur only to be intercepted by Cubone. It soundly thrashed it with Bone Club. "Return! Electrode, go! Explosion!" "Oh crap! Onix, go!" Leah shouted. "Wrap Electrode, quick!" Lauren's plan for escape was stymied by Onix when it covered Electrode's body with it's rocky shell. When Electrode popped, Onix took little damage. "Now, Wrap them up!" Onix grabbed the two, crashing them together. They couldn't escape. "OW! Let us go!" Lauren demanded. "Well, that battle's over," Eric declared. "The cops should be here soon, right?" The President nodded. "Yes, thank you for capturing them. Now, I believe you're here to discuss shutting down the power in Lavender." Leah nodded. "We aren't doing it right now, we're just setting things up." "All right. Call me at this number when you're ready," he said, giving Leah a sheet of paper. "I'll call the power company and they'll turn it off." "Thank you, sir," Leah replied. They turned to leave. "Wait a second," the President continued. "You lot saved my office. Stop by R&D3 for a little gift from me. It's two floors down." "Okay, thanks!" The police were there to arrest Doug and Lauren. Leah recalled Onix, and they headed for the elevator. "What do you think it is?" Heidi asked. "I have no idea," Eric answered. In the spacious lab area, the President's order had already come through. One of the workers presented them with a Poké Ball. "Pokémon, come out!" the worker shouted. The Pokémon appeared on the table. It was Porygon! "What is it?" Thomas asked. "This is Porygon," the man replied. "I've been told to give it to you." "What kind of attacks does it have?" Eric asked. "Psychic attacks, as well as a few odd ones." "It's a Psychic type then, I should take it," Eric said to the group. "Go ahead," Pittman declared. Heidi looked at it. "I've never seen a Psychic type like this before." "Well, technically, it's not," the man answered. "But it learns moves like PSY Beam and Recover, so it's close enough. Here, read this." He handed Eric a clipboard. "What's this?" "It's details outlining Porygon's Conversion attack. It's hard to use, so you should learn how." Heidi looked at another clipboard. It seemed to be a report about evolution stones. She apparently read something very interesting, because she quickly put the clipboard back and pretended to have done nothing. ] "Porygon, return!" Eric declared. Porygon returned to it's Poké Ball.