32
"Lens, go to standby mode," I commanded. "Loop the 'Camping Highlights' reel for the fans. We're going dark for an hour."
The Clandestine Meeting: The "Salty Dog" Tavern
We met Sidney in the back office of a dimly lit tavern near the Slateport shipyards. He didn't look like an Elite Four member; he looked like a punk-rocker who had seen too many street fights. He was leaning back in a chair, spinning a Poké Ball on his finger.
"Steven told me you were sharp, kid, but he didn't mention the 'Human Pokedex' you're traveling with," Sidney grinned, nodding toward May, who was currently trying to ignore a very loud Krabby in a nearby tank.
"We have intel," I said, leaning over a map of the shipyard. "Archie is moving on the Explorer 1. If he gets that sub, he doesn't need the Seer's blood to reach the Trench. He can just brute-force his way down."
Sidney stopped spinning the ball. "It's worse than that. My sources say Aqua has been 'recycling' Magma's old thermal tech. They aren't just going down; they're going to try and trigger a localized pressure blast to crack the Silver Orb's seal. It'll cause a tsunami that'll wipe Slateport off the map."
The Plan: Sidney would coordinate a "security drill" to move most civilians out of the splash zone. Meanwhile, my team would be the "ghosts" inside the shipyard to disable the sub's engine core.
Midnight Training: The Iron Whip
While Sidney handled the League logistics, we used the privacy of the back docks to finalize the team's new tech.
Jerry had been frustrated by his lack of "weight" in the Roxanne match. I had him focus on his tail—not just for balance, but as a primary weapon.
The Technique: Jerry practiced spinning at high speeds, using the centrifugal force to harden his tail.
The Result: Iron Tail. His tail shimmered with a metallic, silver sheen.
The Combo: The Iron Whip. I had him pair it with Tail Whip. He would lead with a distracting, high-speed wag to lower the opponent's guard and defense, then instantly transition into a crushing Iron Tail strike. "Quite the 'weighty' argument, wouldn't you say?" Jerry squeaked, smashing a shipping crate to splinters.
May's Adjustment: I noticed her bandana was getting loose. "May, tie that higher, over your hair. Keep it tight. In a real fight, someone's going to use that to pull you off balance." She nodded, tucking it firmly under her hair—ninja style.
The Shipyard Infiltration
As the moon reached its peak, we approached the Devon Shipyard. The massive hull of the Explorer 1 sat in the dry dock, surrounded by Aqua guards.
"Kage, Genji—you're the scouts," I whispered. "Jerry, you're our 'lockpick' with those teeth and that new tail. Raven, keep the telepathic link open. If I tap my radio twice, the stream goes live to 'expose' them to the world. Until then... we're ghosts."
Suddenly, the ground vibrated. A low hum started coming from the submarine's hull.
"They're ahead of schedule," Sidney's voice crackled over the private comms. "They're prepping for launch now. Jake, move!"