34
The chaos of the shipyard was slowly replaced by the rhythmic strobes of League security teams and the distant sirens of Slateport's emergency services. We retreated to a secluded Devon warehouse nearby, the air still smelling of ozone and salt.
Part 1: The Booty Reveal
Tammy was practically vibrating with feline smugness. She hopped onto a stack of crates and, with the flair of a professional stage magician, began emptying her "finds."
"Alright, gather 'round, boys and girls," I said, signaling the team. "Let's see what the 'Street Queen' liberated from the depths of Team Aqua."
The Crown Jewel: The Submarine Control Module. A sleek, waterproof tablet humming with encrypted data. This was the "brain" of the Explorer 1.
The Intel: A set of Night-Vision Goggles (stolen from a senior grunt) and a Team Aqua Tactical Map showing secondary landing zones along the Hoenn coast.
The Personal Touch: A gold-plated Luvdisc Compass—Tammy whispered that she swiped it right off Shelly's belt during a "Hone Claws" pass.
The Wildcard: A strange, glowing Water-Resistant Tube containing a sample of deep-sea sediment.
"You really did it, Tammy," I said, scratching her behind the ears. "You didn't just stop the sub; you gutted their logistics."
"Meow-nificent, wasn't it?" she purred, batting around a stolen Aqua insignia.
Part 2: The Aftermath
The heavy metal doors of the warehouse slid open, and Steven Stone walked in, flanked by Sidney. Steven looked at the pile of stolen tech, then at the team. He looked remarkably calm for a man whose region almost just faced a tsunami.
"I've seen Elite Four operations with less coordination," Sidney said, leaning against the wall and lighting a cigarette (which he quickly put out when Steven gave him 'the look'). "That 'Voice' trick May did with the forklifts? Scared the hell out of the Aqua grunts. They think she's a ghost."
Steven picked up the Submarine Control Module, his eyes scanning the code. "This is invaluable, Jake. With this, Devon can pinpoint the Explorer 1's location even in the deepest trenches. But..." He paused, his face turning grave. "Our win here has forced a reaction."
The Bad News: "While you were busy at the shipyard, Team Magma launched a synchronized strike on Mt. Chimney," Steven explained, projecting a map onto the wall. "Maxie isn't waiting for technology. He's gone to the source. They've occupied the cable car station and are preparing to use a stolen Meteorite to force the volcano into an eruption."
The Reality Check: "Archie is licking his wounds in the deep, but Maxie is about to set the sky on fire," Sidney added. "We're split thin. I need to stay here to secure Slateport's docks. Steven is heading to the capital to coordinate the League's air response."
Steven looked at me. "Jake, you and your 'Titans' are the only ones close enough to reach the mountain before the Meteorite is primed. You're also the only ones Maxie doesn't have a specific counter-strategy for yet."
[Chat Log (STILL PRIVATE)]
Steven_Stone: The Anomaly is the only variable Maxie can't calculate.
Sidney: Let 'em go, Steven. The kid's got a fire-breathing marshmallow and a ninja lizard. He was born for a volcano.
I looked at May, who was currently translating Blaze's complaints about the "smell of wet Sharpedo" on the stolen goggles. Then I looked at Kage, Jerry, and Genji.
"Pack it up," I said, gripping the Titan Key. "We're going to the mountain."