33
"Alright, team," I whispered into the comms, my eyes scanning the heavily guarded Explorer 1. The hum was getting louder, the massive sub practically vibrating in its dry dock. "This isn't a stealth mission anymore. This is a controlled burn. Let's give Archie a show."
[Chat Log (PRIVATE - Steven & Sidney only)]
Steven_Stone: All three at once? He's either brilliant or suicidal.
Sidney: Nah, he's a 'Chaos Lord.' This is his element. Look at the analytics on his previous 'giga-brain' plays.
The Grand Symphony of Sabotage
Phase 1: May's "Voice" and the Automated Mayhem
"May! Your turn to talk to the machines!" I pointed to the security cameras and automated forklifts.
May grinned, the Shell Bell on Genji's neck vibrating in sync with her. She closed her eyes, and a faint indigo glow emanated from her. "Hey, little metal dudes!" she broadcasted, her "Abyss Breath" extending to the electrical currents. "These blue guys are bad news! They're gonna steal your friends, the submarines! Let's show them what real security looks like!"
Suddenly, the shipyard erupted. Security cameras swiveled wildly, blinding Aqua grunts with their spotlights. Automated forklifts, usually moving crates, began to ram into Aqua's vehicles and block their paths. Alarms blared, flashing red and drowning out Archie's shouted commands.
[Chat Log (PRIVATE - Steven & Sidney only)]
Steven_Stone: The girl... she's influencing electrical currents? This isn't just a Primal resonance; it's bordering on a latent Psychic ability.
Sidney: Nice. Chaotic neutral. My kind of girl.
Phase 2: The Deck Brawl and the Diversion (Kage & Raven)
With the shipyard plunged into automated chaos, Kage and Raven launched their assault on the Explorer 1's main deck. Kage, now faster and more agile, used Sun Breathing: Fourth Form – Flash Step, appearing and disappearing to disorient guards. He'd tag them with quick Leafage strikes, forcing them to turn their backs.
Raven, cloaked by the blinking lights and blaring alarms, became a true disaster. She would emerge from the shadows with a Night Slash, her horn crackling, then vanish, sowing panic. Her goal wasn't to defeat them, but to herd them toward the angry forklifts.
"We have an Admin!" Raven's telepathic shout echoed in my mind. Shelly, Archie's cunning second-in-command, had arrived with a Sharpedo.
"She's too fast!" Kage grunted, deflecting a Hydro Pump.
Phase 3: The Engine Room Sabotage (Jerry & Genji) & Tammy's Swiping Fest
Meanwhile, Jerry and Genji had already squeezed through a maintenance vent, their path lit by Genji's bioluminescent frubbles. They navigated the cramped, humming guts of the Explorer 1.
"Genji, water shuriken the coolant lines!" Jerry squeaked, his Iron Tail already smashing control panels. He followed with a Tail Whip to lower the defense of the main power conduit, then slammed his hardened tail into it. Sparks flew, and the hum of the submarine sputtered.
Tammy, the Ghetto Purrloin, was in her absolute element. While Aqua grunts were battling forklifts and dodging Solar Flares, she was a blur of motion. She snatched comm devices, wallet chains, and even the keys to Archie's personal jet ski. She pulled a Submarine Control Module right off a console.
"Got the booty, Boss!" Tammy chirped over the comms, holding up a sparkling pair of night vision goggles she'd just liberated.
The Climax: Archie's Fury
The Explorer 1 coughed, its engine dying down. The automated defenses of the shipyard had turned the tide.
Archie's enraged roar echoed across the shipyard. "IMPOSSIBLE! SHELLY! GET THE SUBMARINE SECURE! EVERYONE ELSE, FOCUS FIRE ON THE ANOMALY!"
Shelly, seeing the chaos, made a tactical retreat onto the sub. "Archie! The engine is compromised! We need to pull back!"
"NO!" Archie thundered. He leaped onto the deck of the Explorer 1, his uniform torn, his eyes blazing. "You think a few robots and a couple of brats can stop me?! SHARPEDO! CRUNCH!"
His lead Sharpedo launched itself at the still-open engine room, aiming to devour Jerry and Genji whole.
"KAGE! SOLAR RASENGAN!" I yelled.
Kage appeared at the engine room entrance, his hands glowing with a focused ball of solar energy. He slammed it into Sharpedo's open jaws, forcing the beast to retreat, howling.
[Chat Log (PRIVATE - Steven & Sidney only)]
Steven_Stone: Remarkable! They stalled the launch and disabled the sub.
Sidney: And got half of Aqua's intel in the process. This kid's a nightmare to plan against.
Archie stared at the disabled submarine, then at us, his face a mask of furious disbelief. "This isn't over, Anomaly! You've bought Slateport a day, but you've sealed your own doom!"
He slammed his fist against a hidden panel on the sub, activating an emergency jettison. The entire Explorer 1 detached from the dry dock, sinking into the ocean, its damaged engine emitting a trail of bubbles. Archie and Shelly vanished with it.
"He got away," May said, panting.
"Yeah," I replied, looking at the sinking sub. "But we just gave the League enough time to prepare. And we just stole his ride."