Zakk Steuermann ¦ Chapter 6 ¦ Ancient Pokémon Part 2
Zakk's current team:
Zakk ducked down and turned away from the rock. It seemed this was as far as he could get.
"Onix, Rock Smash!" A voice called out behind Zakk. The giant rock snake Pokémon reared up and shattered the boulder falling towards Zakk. Zakk quickly looked around and found a small alcove, where the man he'd heard previously stood. The man recalled his Onix as Zakk scurried over, his head beneath his hands. Zakk stood to catch his breath for a moment, before offering his thanks to the man, who simply shook his head modestly.
"Don't mention it. I'm Ace, by the way." The man said, and held out his hand. Zakk had to catch his breath for a few moments more before shaking it.
"Zakk" His voice shakily let out. The two stood for a few more seconds until the avalanche settled down.
"What do you suppose could have caused that?" Ace asked, scratching his head. Zakk shrugged, creeping out from the alcove, and looked around. Zakk came to the edge of a cliff that extended a long way down. There was a light down there, but Zakk couldn't make out anything, other than something very large standing quite still.
"Over here." Zakk called to Ace, who trotted over.
"Woah dude, that's a long way down!" Zakk nodded in agreement, then looked at Ace.
"We should do something and find out what that is. That is very dangerous." Zakk suggested. Ace turned to Zakk as if he was mad.
"Sorry buddy, but I have to see my relatives in Pewter City! I'm not going to risk following a stranger into a dangerous place. Good luck if you go though!" And with that, Ace walked off, Zakk watching his back disappear. Zakk waited a few moments, then began to search for a way down towards the lights. It wasn't hard to find a ladder that took him down. As Zakk descended, he noticed that the cave gradually became colder, and walls increasingly damp.
Upon reaching the bottom of the ladder, Zakk found himself among some narrow passageways that circled around each other and looked as though someone had been mining the walls for something. Zakk turned a corner and almost crashed into two men shady figures walking the other way.
"Hey!" Called the first.
"Watch it mate!" Called the second. Zakk scratched his head in embarrassment, before noticing the large red '
R' on their uniforms. The two men observed Zakk for a second, before realising he wasn't one of them. The two men were quite weedy in appearance, and seemed almost rodent like in demeanour. "Hey, this guy isn't Team Rocket! He's a lost little birdy, fallen from the nest." The second grunt sneered. Zakk felt his temper rising.
"What are you doing down here?" Zakk asked. The grunts laughed.
"We could ask you the same! Besides, we don't have to tell you nothing!" The first one jabbed. Zakk tilted his head slightly.
"So you have to tell me something then." Zakk remarked. The grunts looked puzzled, and then angry.
"Alright kid, we've had just about enough of you. Prepare to feel pain!" The second one growled and pulled a Pokéball from his waist. He threw it in the air and out came a small rat Pokémon; Ratata. Zakk called out Shinx, sensing the perfect opportunity for more practise.
It didn't take long for Shinx to defeat both Rocket grunts, as both only had a weak Ratata which matched their appearances. Zakk stepped up to the now intimidated grunts.
"What are doing down here?" Zakk asked, the anger in his voice very present.
"We-we're mining fossils!" The first called.
"Why?" Zakk leaned in slightly closer.
"We need them to add to Team Rocket's-" The first began to answer again, before the second cut him off.
"We can't tell him that, we need to get to Proton and tell him about this brat!" The two then proceeded to scuttle off down the narrow passageway, before Zakk could interrogate them further. It seemed to Zakk then, that the only option was to move forward and find out what was going on on first hand.
After a short walk through the damp, dark passageway Zakk stumbled into a wide, open area, shaped like a dome. It was incredibly large, a path circling around the edge sloping down the bottom, a long way down. Zakk could see many figures moving about, some wearing black Team Rocket uniforms, and some in white outfits that he presumed to be scientists of some sort. Zakk began to walk down the slope towards the bottom taking note of the holes in the wall, and the incredibly large drill in the centre of the pit. As Zakk got lower Zakk could make out a group of scientists standing by the drill, looking at a computer screen and discussing something avidly amongst themselves, whilst the Team Rocket grunts scurried around, carrying what looked like Pokémon bones to and fro. In the centre of the pit Zakk could see the two grunts from before talking to a Team Rocket member in a black uniform, with knee high white boots, and long white gloves. He was clearly the one in charge of this operation. Zakk didn't take long to put two and two together, and stormed up to the boss, who was already watching him with an amused expression on his face.
"What have we here? A lone ant that has lost its way. I presume you didn't see the signs saying keep away?" The boss said, quite sarcastically.
"No, I managed to miss those." Zakk replied, nonchalantly. "What exactly do you think you're doing here? This is a danger to the people trying to pass the mountain above you, and is disturbing all the Pokémon that call this mountain home!" Zakk became louder and louder as he shouted at the boss, who simply raised an eyebrow at Zakk.
"Why do I get the feeling I know you from somewhere?" He asked, absent-mindedly. "No matter. My name is Proton, and you appear to be an ant who has strayed too far from the nest. So, let me show you what happens to ants who stray too far away, and disobey their queen's orders! Go Zubat!" Proton cried, and out of a Pokéball whipped into the air came a purple bat-like Pokémon.
"Fine. Come on out, Shinx!" Shinx appeared eager to fight, sensing Zakk's frustration and anger.
Although Shinx has a type advantage, we must be careful. Zubat can fly around and out-manoeuvre us. Zakk thought. He looked around quickly, and found a stack of crates that could be used to get up high, and attack Zubat from there. "Alright Shinx start with Swift!" Zakk called, and Shinx obeyed, using the move to batter the Zubat with stars. But it was tough, and took the attack lightly. Zakk could see this being a tough match.
"Zubat, use Wing Attack!" Proton called, and Zubat flew in, attempting to batter Shinx with its wings.
"Dodge left Shinx!" Shinx did so, barely avoiding the Zubat's attack.
"Now Zubat use Leech Life!" Zubat bit down on Shinx, absorbing some of Shinx's energy.
"Shinx, Spark!" Shinx charged herself, and attempted to batter the Zubat, but it flew high, causing Shinx's attack to miss. "Shinx, run around to those crates!" Zakk called. Shinx did so, dodging another attack from Zubat along the way.
"Zubat, hit it with Wing Attack now!" Proton called. Zubat battered Shinx again, who responded with a Tail Whip, followed by a Tackle. Shinx then managed to climb the crates, before Zubat responded. "Zubat, Supersonic!" Called Proton. The Zubat screeched a strange, disorientating tone that confused Shinx.
"Shinx, Spark!" Zakked called out, realising what was happening too late. Shinx tried to use the move, but fell off the crates instead, hurting itself. Proton smirked, and Zakk cursed. Shinx wobbled trying to stand, and Zubat battered her with another Wing Attack. Shinx looked very tired, but Zakk knew that with the type advantage Shinx held, it would only take one strong hit with Spark to end it. He had to snap Shinx out of her confusion. Zakk threw her Pokéball and recalled Shinx, barely avoiding the Zubat's attack, before sending her back out in front of him. The Zubat charged at Shinx, and Zakk commanded her to use Spark. She did so, and hit the Zubat full on, knocking it backwards and out of the battle. Proton growled, recalling Zubat, and sent out Koffing to replace it. Zakk recalled Shinx after petting her and congratulating her, and sent out Bagon in her place. Bagon was also eager to fight, and began the fight without a command from Zakk. He tried to attack with a Headbutt to start but when Koffing rose above him to avoid it, he turned and blasted Koffing with an Ember. Koffing responded with a Smokescreen.
"Now Koffing, use Poison Gas." Proton called out, and a heavy purple gas mixed with the black Smokescreen which would surely poison Bagon.
"Bagon, Hydro Pump!" Zakk called in response, and Bagon did so, blasting away the smoke, and hitting Koffing too. Koffing used Tackle, and Bagon recoiled, and returned the hit with a well-placed Headbutt which knocked out the Koffing. Zakk congratulated Bagon, before Proton sent out his final Pokémon, Archen.
"Time to see what these fossils can actually do for Team Rocket. Archen, use Wing Attack!" Proton began. The ancient bird Pokémon moved quickly, and hit Bagon before he could respond, knocking him backwards. He got up, and fired an Ember attack at Archen, who dodged it with ease. "Archen, now use Ancient Power!" Proton ordered, angry at Zakk's success so far. Archen did so, but Bagon managed to avoid it, before the thrown rocks hit him.
"Bagon, try another Ember!" Zakk called. Bagon did so, but again the Archen dodged with ease. Archen then used Scary Face as Bagon was repositioning and slowed him down. It then took the opportunity to hit him with a Rock Throw. Bagon was beginning to get more and more out-matched, panting harder and harder with each new development. Zakk cursed. They couldn't lose here, it wasn't an option.
Archen flew in for another Wing Attack, landing it spot on, sending Bagon flying back. He struggled to get up again. Zakk saw the Archen flying in for what appeared to be a finishing blow. He couldn't let that happen. Not here, not now. The Archen got closer and closer, and Zakk panicked and cried out.
"Bagon!"
Zakk jumped forwards and used Headbutt, knocking the Archen backwards, stopping its attack. While it recovered, Zakk used a Dragon Dance to gain some extra power and speed, and dashed around the Archen, towards the drill. Upon reaching the drill, Zakk noticed the Archen had recovered, and quickly began to climb the drill. The Archen tried to use Ancient Power against him, but Zakk was too high, the rocks just missing his stumpy legs. Zakk climbed a little more, then turned and charged a Hydro Pump, releasing the torrent of water from his wide jaws. In his field of view Zakk's big grey nose stuck out, but he could still see the Archen blasted by the torrent of water. Another Dragon Dance followed to quickly power Zakk up some more. As Archen tried once more to attack Zakk, Zakk jumped, spinning in mid air charging a Headbutt and slamming the Archen hard on the way down. The Archen crashed heavily into the floor, and Zakk landed on his feet, before collapsing, tired.
Zakk suddenly returned to his own body and shook his head, dizzy.
What the hell was that? He thought, his head pounding. Proton was staring at him, his eyes wide with shock.
"Yes... I remember where I've seen you before. You were in the Rocket Labs... You were the test subject we had to abandon!" Proton let out, astounded. "What a coincidence we should battle here. I can now inform Giovanni of these developments. He will be pleased! I'll leave here, we've collected enough fossils anyway. Team Rocket has plenty of new Pokémon to use and sell. Pack it up boys!" Zakk was too confused to even realise what was going on as Team Rocket packed away their equipment and began to head out of the mountain. They left a different way to the way Zakk had entered however. As Proton began to leave, Zakk called after him.
"Hey! You know about me... Tell me, what am I?" He asked, his head still pounding, still confused. Proton's lip curled into a smile.
"You're a huge success." And with that, he left.
