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Eddies

Chapter 64: End Game

DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

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SPOILER ALERT:

**If you're new to the story, this is the end of things.

Read this now, and all the Eddies in the space-time continuum will be for naught.

Plus, you won't have a clue what's going on!**

If you're a long time reader, and forget what's happened thanks to all the delays, go back and read it again first ;) A lot of loose ends are being tied up here, and without a refresher, will likely just be confusing!

For everyone else, thanks for waiting. It's sure been a trip! J

Eddies 64

“It's great how you so successfully managed to avoid inflicting further damage to the already terminal portal equipment, Ranger!" Entei muttered sarcastically, glumly examining the smoking equipment with a frown.

Ignoring the pokemon's dark mood, Sin Barklay stepped past his pidgeot partner, Connor, who was ruffling his feathers nervously at the proximity to the unsettling machine, to examine the shot up equipment carefully.

“Yes, well Entei, we didn't exactly come here with that in mind. In fact, we came here specifically to see if we could help you out of a tight spot. Given your shot up hide, I think the assistance was warranted. If not to deal with the twenty soldiers who had already made it through to here, but the other sixty we dealt with first back home."

Rolling his eyes, Entei grunted. “Alright, Ranger, fair enough. It could not have been avoided. But I think we're even more in the shit than we were earlier, I'm afraid. It's hard to say, but I'd give it no more than a few hours before things go bad. Real bad. In its present state, it's self-sustaining, at least while the power remains connected, but the control systems are fried on this end. We cannot do anything but hope we can still disconnect it from our world when the time is due. Once it's off, it's going to stay off."

'Hmm…" Barklay pondered, turning to the young policeman who was clearly in charge of the local troops in the room. Already in an animated conversation with J.B, Bill had filled in his old boss with a quick rundown on what had occurred to date, but couldn't help but eye the large humanoid pokemon who hovered so close to J.B. somewhat nervously."

Rolling her eyes, Destiny gave him a wry look, and said “I won't eat you, I promise!" baring her long teeth in a warm smile that had him gulp regardless.

Shadow snickered loudly. “Skitty!" she teased, causing him to chuckle abruptly, the tension suddenly abating.

“Yeah, well, it's been a bit of a full day so far already, Kitten, so you'll have to pardon my nerves."

With a cough, Barklay interrupted the group, causing Bill to jump; a move that had both Destiny, Shadow and Sin's own pokemon, Connor, giggling.

“Yes, well, if we're done exchanging life stories, we need to decide where we go from here. We now have control of both sides of the portal; at least control from a security point of view. We can't contact Scott's group, and have no real clear view on where they are or what they're doing, so will have to trust they're doing what needs doing. That leaves your friends outside as a complication needing to be resolved."

Suicune, who had approached to listen in, muttered “That is an understatement. They will not give up unless they are neutralised."

“Nor will we, Suicune" Barklay grunted, and the pokemon's ears rose hopefully.

Entei stepped closer, wincing as his wounds ached with the movement. “If we attack them directly from the front, they're likely to continue blasting the building with that tank thing. It wouldn't take much to bring the structure down. We know they'd do it again, if they felt it necessary. What we need is an indirect attack from the rear."

Bill pondered the reply. “If we can get the cargo entry doors over there open, we can get out into the streets behind the building the same way they normally bring the supply trucks in; circle around them and sneak up from behind. It'll be pretty public though. There are media crews everywhere."

“Tough shit!" rumbled Entei. “I'm over pandering to the petty, immature attitudes of a human population too scared in its own shadow to be able to shit without reassurances. This entire situation could have been avoided if we simply acted decisively in the first place. I will not hide any longer."

“Nor I!" piped up Suicune, giving Bill a glare, which the policeman fobbed off with a shrug.

“Not my concern what you do. It never has been. You don't answer to me at all. But I agree, Shadow and I both. No more hiding. No more secrets. We deal with this, in the public arena, and to hell with the consequences."

Shadow nodded firmly, while J.B gave Barklay a wry look. “Can't help but agree with the kid, Sin. I have no intentions of staying behind closed doors, either."

Barklay chuckled deeply. “Given it's not my world, I cannot comment. But I do not disagree. So, let's see what we can do about getting those access doors open, and ending this situation permanently!"

“About time too!" Suicune agreed, walking to the huge doors in question and taking a deep breath, ready to unleash everything he could against them. However, he let out a surprised huff as Bill stepped in front of him, stopping his actions.

“Or, perhaps we could try and open them with the controls?" he said dryly, pointing to the wall mounted panel.

“That'd probably work, too!" the pokemon said, eyeing the buttons carefully. “My way would have been more satisfying, however!"

As the huge doors slowly rolled upward, Entei rolled his eyes at his brother, but didn't hesitate as he followed Bill, his team, and the bulk of the Ranger forces down the long entrance corridor and out into the bright morning sunlight.

After the main group slipped out into the deserted rear streets behind the facility, Barklay and J.B stood with the Ranger's science officer, examining the controls of the portal.

“I'm sorry, Sin, but Entei was essentially correct. These are beyond repair. Even pulling the power now might not shut it off. The only hope will be to turn it off from our end. Ever since we formed the preliminary assessment of that ancient portal Scott rediscovered, we've feared just how dangerous these things can be. More of a worry, if it blows here, what will happen in our world? Will it just shut down, or feedback through and cause huge issues back home? We just don't know enough about them."

“That'll be a problem for Entei and his brothers, at such time as we need to deal with it" Barklay shrugged, not willing to dwell on a situation beyond his control. “We can only leave it be, and hope they get back in one piece to do so."

Destiny gave her trainer a worried look, and was about to ask what she could do help, when the chime of an elevator startled the entire group into silence. All eyes turned slowly as the doors to the hidden elevator in the corner of the huge room opened, spilling light as a tall, thin man in a poorly fitted suit stepped from the lift, eyes on his clipboard oblivious to the surprised looks he was receiving from a dozen pair of Rangers. He'd taken several paces into the area before the silence around him sunk through and, with a start, he looked up with shock to behold the Ranger's filling a room supposedly under the control of Sinnotech staff, surrounded by the slaughtered remains of the company's soldiers.

“Oh, shit!" he gasped, dropping the clipboard and spinning to make a dash back to the closing lift doors. He hadn't a chance, as Destiny leaped forward, speeding past the man to cut off his chance to escape. As he shrunk back from the hulking zoroark, he shivered, turning to confront the Rangers who were slowly approaching, weapons trained on him unerringly.

As they stepped forward, cautious of any surprises, J.B muttered to the Ranger chief “I don't recall anyone mentioning that lift being there, earlier?"

Sin shrugged, eyes fixated on the stranger. “Quite a good concealment, I would say. Now those doors are closed, I'd be hard pressed knowing that lift was there. It does beg the question where it goes to, doesn't it? Regular staff have no need of such a mode of transport."

Confronted by the hulking form of the Ranger chief, the man turned ashen. “You… You aren't supposed to be here!" he stammered, eyes flicking between Sin and J.B, before fixating in dread on Destiny. “Who let you in here?"

Chuckling, the laugh not reaching his eyes, Barklay shot out a meaty fist, grabbing the man's shirt front tightly and twisting, constricting his breath as he pulled him close.

“I let myself in here, my friend" he smiled darkly again, staring into his face as the man blanched even further. “Now, what I want to know is what you are doing here?"

“Me?" he forced out with difficulty, eyes darting around frantically, but no one friendly was there to come to his aid.

Sighing, Barklay released his grip slightly, letting the man gain some needed air, before he said in a calm voice. “I need some information quite badly, and I simply do not have the time to ask it from you in a reasonable manner. Instead, I am going to give you to the count of three, after which I am having my friend's zoroark here slice you into small, bloody ribbons. There will be no second chance. You will give me the answers I need, or you will die very painfully. Am I making myself understood?"

Destiny turned wide eyes to J.B, mind speaking only to him “But Papa, I wouldn't….!"

Not taking his eyes off the confrontation, J.B reassured her. “It's alright, sweetie. He understands that. But our friend here needn't know that."

Blinking, she pondered his reply, then turned to the man and brought her fist up, grating her claws together in a hideous rasp that echoed through the chamber. Her act was convincing, clearly, as the man nearly fainted, casting frantic looks between the zoroark and Ranger chief, who began his countdown. “Three… Two…"

“Alright!" he almost shrieked, pulling away from those terrifying claws. “OK, what do you want to know?"

Barklay gave him a smug, satisfied smile, leaning close to hiss “Everything!"

Pushed into one of the abandoned console operator chairs and facing his Ranger captors, the man spilled the beans.

“I'm Jim. Jim Pascoe. I.. I'm the personal secretary to Chairman Von Grimm."

“Von Grimm?" Barklay interrupted, causing the man to gulp nervously. “You mean Magnus Von Grimm?"

Nodding nervously, the man stuttered. “Yes, that's his name, although he never lets anyone use his first name. It's always Mr Von Grimm, or Chairman."

J.B gave Barklay a scant look. “You know this guy, Sin?"

Nodding dryly, Barklay rumbled “Oh yes, Mister Von Grimm and I go back an awful long way. On any manner of occasions, I had hoped to get my hands around the slimy bastard's neck, for crimes ranging from racketeering, corporate espionage, extortion and even kidnapping and murder, although the last two were inferred only. We had a good idea the prick killed his own parents for the money and power, but we were never able to pin anything on him. Had a real habit of slipping through the cracks, he did, thanks to a bevy of slimy lawyers who seemed unusually good. In hindsight now, they were likely imported from this world. At one stage, we thought we'd nailed him, after that explosion that nearly killed Scott and Storm, not to mention a number of my best Rangers, but he vanished without a trace during the investigation. When he didn't resurface, I'd assumed someone had done something positive and put a bullet through his head, but I guess that was too much to hope for."

“Real nice guy!" J.B muttered, as Pascoe shot his glance between the pair nervously, before continuing.

“Well, when the cameras went dead down here, Mr Von Grimm knew something was happening, so he sent for reinforcements from your world. When they didn't call in to report, and with the security cameras still offline, he sent me down here to see what was delaying things. He doesn't like things he can't fully control, you see…" he wound down into silence, as the Ranger and policeman stared at him scowling.

“You came directly from his office then? That elevator is his private lift, directly to his office?" Barklay demanded, getting a frantic nod in reply.

“Yes! He wanted direct access to the portal at all times. Only a few of us know about it!"

A tight smile breaking his features, Barklay looked at the man coldly and said “That is the best news I have learnt all morning. I guess you will live after all. Now, tell me the rest of it, before I change my mind!"

Pascoe did just that.

*___________________________ *

When Scott stepped back beside Storm, the typhlosion muttered quietly “This guy is a fucking nutter! What do we do?"

“Placate him until we think of something!" Scott murmured back, not taking his eyes off Von Grimm, who had resumed his restless pacing, knuckles tight on the trigger grip of the detonator as he polished off his whisky, dropping the empty glass back on the bar surface.

“What is taking that imbecile so long?" the Sinnotech Chairman demanded under his breath, giving the lift in the corner a dark look.

“First sign of madness, talking to yourself, Von Grimm!" Storm laughed harshly, unable to help himself. Receiving a muttered curse from Scott, the typhlosion shrugged, teeth bared as he crossed his arms again.

“Fuck pandering to this crazy cunt! Look at him! Guy's losing it completely!"

Von Grimm spun on Storm, thrusting out the detonator and raved “Shut your fucking mouth, animal!! I fucking swear I'll set this thing off!"

*Storm was past caring, ignoring Scott as the human Ranger grabbed his partners harness desperately. The typhlosion's burners erupting sent him staggering back from the intense heat, which enveloped the pokemon in a flaming conflagration that had the group retreating rapidly to avoid its intensity. Seemingly oblivious to their discomfort, Storm took a step forward, then another, crazed eyes fixated on the source of his lifelong torment as he reached forward, claws bared menacingly. *

“Go for it, arsehole! See if I give a fuck! You're a gutless piece of shit coward, ready to pick on kids and pokemon who can't protect themselves. You have all the balls of a castrated Chansey! You snivelling, pathetic excuse for a human!! Go on! I fucking dare you!"

Almost foaming, Von Grimm's hand tensed as Scott and Raikou, seeing the situation spiralling out of control, readied themselves to lunge at him in a last ditch effort to stop him, even if they hadn't a hope of making it in time.

Behind him, the lift chimed, as with a hiss the door opened.

Distracted, Von Grimm didn't break Storm's gaze as he shrieked over his shoulder “What kept you, you imbecile?"

A gruff, deep voice replied “I didn't know we were expected?"

Truly shocked, the man spun, as a hulking grey blur sped across the intervening room to slice with wicked claws, severing the limb holding the detonator above the wrist in a spray of blood.

Gasping in disbelief as his dismembered arm struck the plush carpet, he gaped up at the snarling zoroark, her eyes gleaming as she towered over him until, with a cry of pain that sent him reeling backwards, her mental voice overlaid with the deeper tones of Arceus's power, overwhelmed him.

“I am Destiny. I am here to fulfil the prophecy. It is just fortunate I am not of this world, you bastard!"

She reached out again to grab him, but in a fit of desperation, Von Grimm shrieked again, lunging for the revolver lying on the desk.

**He never had a chance.

Storm reached him before he'd taken a few steps.**

Claws circling his throat, Storm thrusts the man backwards, his shoulders striking the glass windows behind him. Ignoring the blood sizzling as it drenches his fur, Storm clenched his paws tighter, Von Grimm's skin starting to blister as the man struck out wildly with his free arm, desperate fingernails clawing at the pokemon's face.

Sneering at the human's pitiful attack, Storm hissed “Seems I need to give you a hand, bastard!"

Flailing wildly, Von Screams “I will not be denied my birthright by a pack of filthy fucking animals like you! Darkrei will save me!"

Laughing harshly, Storm thrusts the man backwards, shattering the heavy glass pane and pushing him through to dangle helplessly over the abyss.

Staring right into his eyes, Storm's voice calmed abruptly, claws tightening as the man's throat collapsed, his remaining hand scrabbling against the restriction encircling it. The pokemon paused, cocking his head to savour the moment, before he shook his head sadly.

“You see, my friend, it's this sort of negative attitude that has lead to your being in this unpleasant situation in the first place. Unfortunately, it really is unacceptable. So, it's with sadness, I've reviewed your position with the company, and find it untenable."

Pulling Von Grimm's face to inches from his own, Storm smiles widely, baring his teeth in a hideous grimace of triumph as he snarls “I'm afraid we're going to have to let you go…"

With that, he releases the man, thrusting Von Grimm from him into the abyss to plunge screaming and flailing into the ranks of the army personnel far below.

Staring down at the shattered corpse of his nemesis, Storm snorted a cloud of smoke, his burners cooling rapidly as Scott rests a cautious hand on his partners arm.

“Good riddance!" the typhlosion muttered darkly, before turning back to join his friends.

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Across the intervening space, one small, daredevil media crew had managed to penetrate into the bowels of a building opposite the action, avoiding the military and police security keen on keeping the media embargoed from the action.

The crew were as oblivious to the reasons behind the aggressive event. All information they'd managed to canvass from their superiors suggested this was an unauthorised action of a military general gone rogue. Why this had occurred, or the target of his angst, remained a mystery.

Regardless, it was news worthy of a Pulitzer, and they weren't going to miss the action for any reason!

Straightening his shirt behind the bulletproof vest he'd donned, the reporter checked his microphone, readying himself. Turning a sombre face to the cameraman, he nodded, as the footage went live.

“This is James Forthright, with a Channel Six exclusive. We are presently perched in the eighteenth floor of the Towers Heights building, overlooking the violent scenes taking place in what would normally be a bustling commercial district. Initial reports was that a large police contingent had cordoned off the area in the early hours of the morning, refusing to reply to all questions as to the nature of the emergency. This then skyrocketed out of control with the arrival of a division of military personnel, under the authority of General Jobes. A controversial figure at best, General Jobes's fall from grace back in 2007 while in Afghanistan made international news, when personnel under his control were caught executing potential terrorists clandestinely. Since then, he effectively disappeared from mainstream military command. Why he has now gone rogue, ignoring the demands of his superiors to take such drastic, unauthorised action is beyond the understanding of anyone with knowledge of the situation."

Directing the cameraman to move forward to the open window, the reporter continued.

“The military under his command were seen entering the building opposite about an hour ago, assisted from within by unknown individuals in full military kit. Shortly afterwards, heavy fire erupted from within, smoke and explosions echoing through the shattered glass frontage of the building as the army and what remained of its allies beat a hasty retreat. What happened next was unthinkable, as Jobes himself directed heavy artillery fire from the tank you can see below to penetrate the building foyer, rocking the entire structure. At one point, we feared he planned on bringing the building down, but after three explosive projectiles were sent into the building, the army retreated to their present position a half block away. Since then, things have been quiet, and we're unsure what has since happened within the building…. Wait a moment…. Something is…"

Pointing frantically to the offices opposite, the reporter gestured to the cameraman to raise the lens. Within, several shadowed figures could be seen struggling against the glass which, with a shatter audible across the intervening street, showered fragments into the street below.

“Something is happening. There's a… What the hell? There's a… thing! A huge, hairy thing, on fire! Yes, that's what I said, it's on fire, all over its back, and it's holding a man out the window by his throat. Wait… Oh God, it's let him go! He's falling, screaming…. Oh, shit! He's fallen to the ground in the midst of the army troops. He's... Oh, Gods, it's a mess…!"

The cameraman, having followed the falling man, quickly raised the camera back to the shattered glass. Zooming in hard, he started when he met the glowing red eyes of the creature opposite, who stared directly into the camera for a long moment before flashing long fangs, and turning to move out of view within the building.

“What the fuck was that!" he muttered, audible enough to be heard in the reporter's microphone. Wincing, the reporter hated to think what his editor would say, but as he resumed his running commentary, he smiled inwardly, knowing his future in media was assured.

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Securing the detonator, Scott leaned against the bar with a sigh, pouring several glasses of scotch which he passed to Storm, Cameron, Rodney, and Barklay. J.B had taken Destiny to a corner lounge, and was sitting huddled beside her, her paw in his hands as he stroked her claws soothingly. Chris had managed to find some bottled water, and with Skyy's help, had taken Jimmy and Azil across the room away from the shattered window. His brother's face, still pale in shock, gave a tentative smile, and Chris sighed, knowing it'd be a while before he'd be over such a horrific situation.

*Raikou stepped across to join the human adults, coughing quietly as he sighed. *

“It is not over yet, I'm afraid", he said, sitting back on his haunches to point a paw out the window.

Barklay grunted, downing his drink before resting the glass back on the marble surface.

“It will be, Raikou, and very soon."

Cameron left his drink besides the Ranger's chief, untouched.

“I don't want unnecessary casualties!" he warned, eyeing the Ranger Chief appraisingly, but Storm snorted.

“Do you really think Jobes will quit without a fight? He needs to be brought down, since his superiors are too gutless to take him on. It's up to us to oblige."

Sighing, Cameron nodded reluctantly. “Alright, but I expect control."

Giving Storm a wry grin, Barklay said “You do understand that Entei and Suicune are down there right now, don't you?" causing Scott to start in disbelief.

*“You let those two out there alone?" he demanded, as his boss shrugged. *

“Bill is with them, but tell me, Scott, do you think you could have stopped them if you tried?"

Rolling his eyes, Raikou said “Good luck with that. I have been trying for millennia", getting a loud laugh out of Rodney.

“Yep. Them brothers gonna sort that prick out good and proper, I think! Gonna be a blast!"

Groaning, Scott slapped his forehead. “That's what I'm most afraid of!"

In the corner, J.B eyed his charge searchingly. Her face, however, maintained a serene look.

“Are you OK, sweetie?" he muttered, receiving a warm smile as she squeezed his soft hands reassuringly.

“Yes, Papa. I'm alright. I knew then, it is what I was meant to do. I felt him, inside of me, I mean. He told me it was what I was destined to do. What he had always meant me to do."

Confused, J.B looked into her eyes, trying to comprehend the incomprehensible.

“Who do you mean? Who meant you to do this?"

Smiling warmly, she dropped his hands to grab him in a warm hug, face buried in his shoulder as she sighed happily and said “Why, Arceus, of course."

J.B had no answer for that, but simply hugged her tightly to him in return.

*______________________________ *

Keeping to the shadows of the surrounding buildings, Suicune, Entei and Bill's team crept closer to the army position, wary of alerting the sentries to their presence.

“Why don't we just go straight in and get them?" Suicune hissed in Entei's ear, causing his brother to snarl with a start.

“Because I have already been shot three times, and I'd really rather not have any further opportunity of ending up as a colander, Suicune!" Entei shot back, shaking his brother off.

“If you two would kindly shut the hell up, it'd be appreciated! We're trying to creep up on them here!" Bill snarled from in front of them, as he hunched down behind a dumpster trying vainly to ignore the pair. Shadow rolled her eyes as he glanced at her, causing a wry grin to flick across his face, but it dropped soon enough as the seriousness of the situation reasserted itself.

One of his officers dropped back, tapping his shoulder. “Radio's back on!" he hissed, sending a genuine smile across Bill's face.

“About bloody time!! Now, let's get this party really started!"

The first Jobes knew of the counter attack was when a massive concussion rocked the area, as the tank exploded in a huge fireball. Screaming out for his officers to attend him, he wasn't heard in the ruckus which sent soldiers diving madly for cover.

Nor did he have an opportunity to organise any initial response. Scanning for a source to the attack, he dived for cover himself behind a sandbag barrier as a massive fireball flew through the air where his face had been moments earlier.

“Shit!" He muttered, retrieving his firearm but reluctant to expose himself again. He spotted several of his men sprint across for cover nearby, only to fall as razor sharp shards of ice spearing through their bodies, their armoured vests offering no protection to the deadly attack.

An armoured vehicle rounded the corner, tyres squealing as the soldier in the turret sent rounds of machine gun fire into the hazy carnage before him. He blinked, spotting a blur of blue and black racing through the smog and brought the weapon to bear, only to duck again to avoid shrapnel as it sent a thundering charge of electricity through the air to strike the vehicle, sending it careening out of control to crash through the frontage of a building opposite.

Realising his present position was untenable, Jobes bolted for a more secure location, tracer rounds flashing past him as he avoided the shots fired by a group of policemen in the distance. He sent several shots back, striking one who fell with a cry, before he threw himself behind another barrier fronting a tarpaulin-covered area earlier used for briefing.

Several of his officers were there, attempting to direct their men to counter-attack, but as the dense smoke continued to build, just getting their bearings was increasingly difficult.

Unfortunately for the army, the enemy attacking them didn't seem to share the same disability.

His men dropping like flies, Jobes had his officer's call on everyone to retreat back to his present position to regroup. A scant few staggered into shelter to join them, while the cries of many others gave clue to their beleaguered state. Cries than became pitifully few until, with a final distant explosion, melted into silence only broken by the crackling flames of nearby burning debris.

With scarcely a half dozen men left, an ashen faced lieutenant confronted him. “We have to surrender, sir!" the man gasped, lungs struggling for air as the acrid smoke tore through his lungs.

“Yes, you'd better surrender, Jobes!" A hated voice hissed through the darkness as Jobes spun looking for its source. “I would need one hell of a breath mint to get the rotten taste of you out of my mouth after I ate your face!"

“Show yourself, you cowardly bastard!" Jobes screamed, gun raised as he fired several random shots into the murk. He spun again as the voice returned from a different direction.

“I bet you taste like chicken. I'd need a lot of sauce, however, and a mountain of bread. I doubt Jobes chicken sandwich will be a favourite menu item for most people without it."

“Shut the hell up, you fucking animal!" Jobes roared, as his men blanched again, looking for his tormentor.

He fired again, and again, until the magazine in his Glock clicked empty. He struggled to replace it, but staggered back as a huge blue shape erupted from the smoke, pinning him against the concrete barrier with a huge paw crushing his chest.

Teeth bared, Suicune snarled down at his hated enemy. “Time's up, Jobes! Now you get what you deserve!"

A scream erupted from the General's throat as the massive head bore down, gaping mouth spread wide and hot breath enveloping his face, before a world of hurt smashed him unconscious as Suicune head-butted him full force with his horned forehead.

“That's for Tony, you arsehole!" he muttered, releasing the limp human to collapse onto the bitumen beneath him. Turning to face the General's men, in an almost conversational voice, the pokemon said “I do have taste, you know. I don't just eat any worthless piece of flesh that annoys me. However, if you do not surrender immediately, I will have my friends kill every last one of you, and devour your carcasses. What is it to be?"

One of the officers reached across for a radio, stuttering “We will surrender, sir!" before calling to the troops to lower their weapons.

After the remainder of the officers dropped their firearms and held up their hands, Suicune turned to meet the gaze of Entei, Bill and Shadow, who had melted out of the diffusing smoke to stare at Jobes unconscious form, expecting the worst. When the man groaned and shifted slightly, Suicune rested a paw on top of him, pressing him down while tilting his head back and letting out a tremendous roar, blue ice sheeting upwards into the morning sky in a triumphant blast.

Satisfied, he turned a beaming grin on his friends and said to Entei “I love it when a plan comes together!"

At Bill's incredulous look, he winked and said jovially “I saw that on television, you know. Your world really does have its moments!"

Kicking Jobes hard with his front leg, he giggled in satisfaction and muttered “Oh, and isn't this just one of them!"

_______________________________

As the police took into custody the remnants of the army, medics treated the injured from both sides, including General Jobes who, while restrained on a stretcher, was cursing up at the ambulance officer, demanding to be released.

The man ignored him, binding his head with little sympathy.

With the smoke cleared, the devastation wrought by the police team and pokemon was evidence. Deep scars blackened the building facades surrounding the plaza, and few panes of glass had survived the onslaught. Wrecked vehicles still smouldered everywhere, with the slagged remains of the tank destroyed by Entei a molten mass embedded deep in the pavement.

It was into this that Cameron and Scott's group arrived, the police chief giving the apparent war zone a dark scowl.

Raikou rumbled from his side “I guess the situation has been dealt with now, by my overzealous brothers. Still, it could have been worse!"

“Worse than this?" Cameron demanded, as they paused to let yet another wounded soldier be stretchered to a waiting ambulance.

Snorting, Raikou replied “We both know how much worse this could have gotten, my friend. Let's be thankful that the casualty rate appears so light."

Sighing, the police chief shrugged, letting the matter drop as they approached Bill, Suicune and Entei, where the young officer was handling the clean-up operation.

Bill saluted his superior warily, but relaxed as Cameron gave his hand a shake, and said dryly “Encountered a little trouble, did we?"

Shadow snorted in amusement, as a nervous medic bandaged her paw from where she'd cut it on some debris during the attack. When he'd finished, he nearly fainted as she rubbed her face against his head in gratitude, letting out a loud purr.

Chuckling suddenly, Cameron called over Scott and Storm, from where they were having their own debriefing with Sin Barklay. The Ranger chief was positively beaming with the success of the operation to bring down Sinnotech, but Cameron sighed inwardly, knowing the amount of fast talking he'd be doing to various higher authorities when the first jubilation subsided, and the death toll was finally tallied. The Ranger chief's almost absolute authority back home meant he didn't have the same restrictions.

Still, as the big pokemon said, it could have been much, much worse.

His musings halted abruptly when the stretcher carrying General Jobes was wheeled by, the almost frothing man cursing his confinement.

“You won't stop me, Marskhe! I'll be back, and when I do I'm going to make you and your animal friends pay! You'll pay for this, Markshke!!" he shrieked finally, eyes wide until his voice was cut off as the ambulance door closed on his ravings.

“I think he means it" Scott sighed, shaking the commissioners outstretched hand as Cameron nodded sadly.

“He won't let this go. Never, I'm afraid. He's renowned for his pig-headed attitude, and there are enough idiots out there in authority prepared to listen to his crazy ranting to cause you all a lot of trouble."

“You should have eaten him when you had the chance, Suicune!" Storm spoke up, slapping the big pokemon on the shoulder. Smiling, Suicune shook his head, and said “No, I'm glad I didn't. I think he would have tasted dreadful."

** Grinning broadly, Storm clapped an arm around Chris's shoulder, getting a smile in reply. With Skyy and Rodney looking after Jimmy, the young man had the opportunity to breathe a sigh of relief without having to worry about them. **

Pondering, Scott said “Still, he has a point. He won't let this go, and the longer we remain here, the higher the probability we'll encounter someone we can't handle so readily. It's not an option to go blow up everyone who gets in our way."

“Satisfying as that may be!" Storm muttered, as Rodney laughed.

“They're not our only problem" J.B said, after speaking to another officer who had held a hurried conversation with him a moment earlier. “It seems that there was a media crew filming from the building opposite when you threw that prick out the window, Storm. It's all over the world news. While many think it a hoax, and the police were able to grab the news crew who were filming it clandestinely before they sent anything more incriminating through, the damage has been done. If you lot hang around, there's no telling where it'll lead."

Sighing, Chris turned away, a glum look on his face. “We won't be going home any time soon then?" he muttered, as Storm gave his shoulder a squeeze sympathetically.

It was at that moment that the ground lurched, throwing many of those in the area to the ground as a dull boom echoed from beneath their feet.

“Entei!" Raikou roared, as his brother hurried over, a deep scowl on his whiskered face.

“Yes, I felt it. The containment is failing! We don't have long… perhaps only minutes!"

“Shit!" Scott swore, calling out to Rodney to bring the group together. As he hurried over with Jimmy, the Ranger gave his boss a concerned look. “We can't leave them here. Not with the pokemon!"

“I'm not leaving Azil!" Jimmy cried, a call seconded by Chris, who gave the Ranger a frank stare. “Nor am I, Scott. We've been through too much shit, Skyy and I, and he's not going anywhere without me!"

Barklay made to interject, but Storm rested a hand on the Ranger chief's shoulder. “Sin, we promised their parents we'd take care of them. They have to come. There's no other choice."

Scowling for a moment, the Ranger chief finally sighed. “Alright, but they're your responsibility; both you and Scott's, understood? No bitching later you can't handle the stress of it!"

Chuckling, Storm poked Chris's shoulder with a claw and said with a wink, “Oh, we'll manage, I reckon."

“I'll be going too!" Rodney interjected, broad smile lighting his face, and Barklay shrugged as Scott nodded. “Your funeral, my friend. We'll find a place for you somewhere, I'm sure."

Worried frown on his face, Bill sighed, turning to Scott to say “I'm staying, and so is Shadow. I have a life here, and she and I are bound to it together. I can't leave."

“You'' be in danger, Bill…" Scott began, pausing as Cameron interrupted.

“No, he won't, I swear, Scott. If it takes the entire police force to protect those two, they'll be safe, on my word."

“We're staying too" J.B said, giving Destiny's hand a squeeze as the pair looked on. Barklay sighed, as he'd hoped the pair would travel back and join the Rangers, but after shaking his friends hand firmly, he gave the surprised zoroark a big hug, arms wrapped around the pokemon as she let out a meep of surprise, followed by a broad, toothy smile.

“I'll keep papa out of trouble, Sir!" she said, and Barklay laughed, shaking his head doubtfully.

“I think you'll have your hands full there, love. But still, I know you'll do your best."

J.B sighs, giving his friend's hand a hard squeeze. “I need to get Tim back to his family, Sin. I can't leave it to strangers; we'd been partners too long for that. But I promise, if I ever get the chance, we'll return to see you."

Barklay nodded, releasing the hand to envelope J.B in a shoulder hug. “You do that, my friend. The offer of a place in the Ranger's will be there, when you need it. But while I remember…"

Reaching into his vest pocket, he retrieved an unused pokeball. Giving it a quick check, he tosses it to Bill, who caught it in surprise, an expression echoed by Shadow.

“I think you'll be needing this, young man. You take good care of her. But the same offer is open to you. If you ever need us, and the way is clear, there'll be a position in the Ranger's for you both."

Another rumble rocked the ground, longer and harder than the first, and Raikou growled “We need to go, now! The portal is increasingly unstable. If we do not leave immediately, and the portal is not closed, this world will suffer."

“I'm not going!" Suicune said softly, his brothers spinning on him in surprise.

“What do you mean? You cannot stay here!" Entei cursed, ready to force his brother to accompany them, but was forestalled by Raikou, who shook his head at Entei, before turning tired eyes on Suicune.

“I have to stay, Raikou!" Suicune whispered, sadness clear in his face as Raikou stepped forward, pressing his forehead against his brothers.

“I understand. I will explain it to father." Raikou nuzzled him back, before Suicune was grabbed by Entei, who locked arms around him affectionately.

“Be careful, then, princess!" Entei muttered, releasing him to storm off for a moment alone, as his brother smiled slightly in reply.

*On their hurried return to the basement, there was no mistaking the portal was in dire straits. It's normally placid, rippling surface was contorted, waves of darkness spearing throughout as the structure holding it in place sparked alarmingly. *

Barklay had already sent the bulk of his Ranger's through, followed by Scott, Storm and Rodney, who gave a cheerful wave before plunging into the surface with a broad grin. Jimmy, hesitant in approaching the torrid surface, had his hand grabbed by Azil, who dragged the reluctant youth through with a cut off yelp as they disappeared within.

J.B stood with Destiny besides the coffin of his friend, the polished timber draped in the green and gold Ranger's flag, remembrance of Tim's efforts on their behalf. Bill, Shadow and Cameron stood with him, watching the proceedings sombrely.

After a final farewell rub, Raikou and Entei left their forlorn looking brother behind, stepped through to follow the others. With a nod to Skyy, understanding his partner's need for a moment alone, soon only Chris remained of those ready to return to the pokemon world.

Stepping up to Suicune, he stroked the soft cheek fur softly. “Are you sure you won't come? We'll miss you, you know."

Smiling down at his friend, Suicune sat on his haunches and nodded slowly, reaching out to grab Chris tightly in an embraced returned by the young human, before releasing him with tears streaming down his face.

“I am sure, Chris. But we will meet again, I know it. Until next time…"

Pushing Chris towards the portal with a heavy paw, Suicune sighed as he disappeared. With the controls on this side destroyed, it was a hesitant wait until the equipment was disconnected from the far side and, with a final boom, the portal surface disappeared, never to return.

As the small group regarded each other with tired eyes, Cameron said softly “Well, that's over, then. Now the fun starts."

Confused, Bill gave him a searching look, as J.B nodded in understanding.

“Yeah, now we get to try and explain all this shit to everyone."

Chuckling suddenly, he grabbed Destiny around the waist with an arm, bringing her close and said to Bill and Cameron “Damn, if there was ever a time when the phrase 'sucks to be you' was relevant, I think this is it!"

Destiny giggled, and nodded profusely.

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