Apocalypse Bug, Deploy!

Inside a quiet room, the even breathing brought a sense of calm.

"Yoji…"

Larvitar curled up in its favorite round container—which looked like a cup or Poké Ball but was actually a bed—it insisted on bringing everywhere. Smacking its lips, a faint "crunch" could be heard from its teeth grinding. It was clearly dreaming of something delicious.

Ceruledge sat cross-legged in the center of the room. Unlike Charcadet, it didn't glow red, but the flickering bluish light from its body kept the room comfortably warm.

Whoosh… whoosh…

Urshifu had its eyes closed. A big snot bubble swelled and shrank from its nose as it repeatedly punched the air.

At first glance, it looked like it was just casually throwing punches. But anyone skilled in martial arts would instantly recognize—each punch was fast and silent, not even disturbing the air. It was as if the very air was being swallowed.

"Draaa…"

Dragonite lay on a soft mat at the foot of the bed, breathing with its mouth open. It scratched its belly, emitting a sound like metal scraping. Its wings twitched slightly, and a milky-white aura seemed to wrap around its body subconsciously—helping it flip over silently in its sleep.

Tinkaton's hammer lay by the bedside while it lay sprawled out on the bed, one leg on the pillow, the other… on Johan's forehead. With a casual kick, Johan almost rolled off the bed.

Thankfully, he was used to this. And with Ninetales cuddling him, he didn't fall off.

Indeed—feeling the disturbance, Ninetales lifted her head slightly, glanced at the skewed Johan, then at the spread-eagle Tinkaton. With a light tail flick, she pushed them both back into proper positions.

Not that it would stay that way for long.

Yawning, Ninetales nestled into Johan's chest again and dozed off.

As for the "eldest brother" Gengar…

For once, it was behaving, tightly clutching its spirit cloth blanket with two worn corners. While scratching its butt, it flipped over in its sleep.

Buzz—

Suddenly, a vibration jolted Gengar awake. It shot upright, hanging upside down in surprise.

Rubbing its eyes and yawning, it checked around and looked toward the Rotom Pokédex.

"Ka-kaah?"

The alarm face on Rotom Pokédex popped up.

"Not me, Loto. Seems like the phone."

The phone?

Gengar's gaze shifted to Johan's phone on the nightstand, where a flashing message icon could be seen.

So it was the phone.

Who'd message Johan this late?

Could be urgent.

"Ka-kaah…"

Gengar's eyes spun slyly and it let out a mischievous chuckle.

Just one peek… just one.

Unlocking Johan's phone with practiced ease, it was almost startled into dropping it by the message it saw.

[Gengar's Little Fanboy]: Father, why are you still awake?

WHAT THE—!?

Rubbing its eyes again, Gengar confirmed the sender was actually Porygon-Z's account.

It has its own account!?

Well… not that hard for it, to be fair.

Gengar sighed in relief.

Thank Arceus it wasn't here in person—just a message.

It pretended not to see the "father" part and scrolled up, quickly spotting the earlier message Porygon-Z had sent Johan:

[Gengar's Little Fanboy]: Their coordinates changed. They're moving.

"They"?

Gengar tilted its head thoughtfully.

"Ka-kaah!"

Must be the Pokémon on the island—the ones that sent out a distress call!

Now they were on the move?

Just then…

"Gengar."

"Ka-kaah!! w(°ｏ°)w"

Startled again, Gengar raised its hands in surrender, dropping the phone—which was luckily caught by Johan, now awake and giving him a suspicious look.

"What are you doing messing with my phone in the middle of the night?" Johan grumbled.

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar pointed to the screen, pretending to be firm and righteously alert.

Johan glanced down and soon spotted the message. He realized the "Gengar's Little Fanboy" was Porygon-Z. As for the movement—

Johan sat up. The dim light of the phone screen illuminated his face.

The Genesects were moving?

Was it like the movie—on the run?

Or… had his intrusion at the P2 Lab triggered Colress to relocate the Genesects?

The second scenario seemed far more likely.

Otherwise, Porygon-Z wouldn't still be getting messages from them.

That decisive?

Just a few hours… and they bolted?

Abandoning the P2 Lab?

[Grain in the Field]: Can you track their location?

Soon, Porygon-Z sent a coordinate link.

"Rotom."

"Here, Loto!"

"Pull up the map."

"On it, Loto!"

After inputting the coordinates, a moving blip appeared on the map.

The speed wasn't slow—but also not as fast as a Genesect should be capable of.

Which meant…

Colress, realizing Johan had discovered the lab, packed up and fled the same night.

"Tch."

Johan rubbed his forehead, masking the trace of helplessness in his eyes.

Not much he could've done.

Knowing it was the P2 Lab, Johan had no confidence going solo. He had no clue what might be waiting.

Could be enhanced Pokémon under Colress's control.

Could be five Genesects.

Could be… Kyurem.

The risk was too high—not just for him, but for his Pokémon too.

He had immediately alerted the Unova branch of the International Police. They rushed in from Mistralton. Even Champion Alder came.

But it was already night.

The unknown of a nighttime forest and possible ambushes… one wrong move, and there could be serious casualties.

Attacking in the morning had been the safest call.

Still, Johan didn't expect Colress to respond so quickly.

Just up and left—ditching the whole lab like it was nothing.

Cross-legged on the bed, Johan's mind raced.

Colress left, sure. But he couldn't have taken the whole lab.

He probably left people behind—crucial evidence for the League and International Police.

So P2 Lab still needed to be taken.

The strike team had to stay.

But Colress had to be tracked.

Because Johan couldn't be sure how long the signal from Porygon-Z would last before Colress cut it off.

"We'll have to split up…"

Without hesitation, Johan threw off his blanket.

If Colress had taken the Genesects, the lab's threat level had dropped considerably.

Now was the time to strike—before Plasma could destroy evidence in desperation.

And Johan would go after Colress.

If it came down to it…

He'd call in some allies.

That same night, he woke Alder and Schultz.

Alder, who napped often during the day, was unfazed. Schultz… looked a bit groggy.

But neither complained—they knew Johan wouldn't do this without a good reason.

"I just got intel…"

Johan explained his deductions.

Alder and Schultz exchanged glances—and agreed.

They needed to strike P2 Lab now—before anything else changed.

But both were concerned about Johan going after Colress alone.

Not because they doubted him.

Just… they didn't know what Colress might be hiding.

Alder wanted to go with Johan, but Johan insisted he stay behind—P2 Lab still held threats, and they needed someone strong to lead the charge.

The priority was clear:

Take the lab. Secure the evidence.

"I'll send someone to support you."

Alder finally agreed to stay—because he trusted Johan's strength and judgment.

"Once you lock down the target, let me know. I'll have someone nearby assist."

He smiled slightly. "Unova's got its share of talented Trainers."

Alder had scouted plenty of rising stars over the years.

Plus—Unova still had its Elite Four.

"Alright."

Johan didn't refuse.

The more allies, the better.

And so—

Under the night sky, Johan rode off on Dragonite, leaving Lacunosa Town.

Meanwhile, Alder, Schultz, and the International Police prepared to storm P2 Lab.

"Dragonite, easy. We're in a hurry, but don't rush…"

—

Inside the Plasma Frigate…

Colress lounged in his chair, toying with his tablet. One finger swiped across the screen.

A message from the Sage Zinzolin appeared:

"Colress."

"I know, I know. Don't panic."

Colress smiled as he tapped away.

Bzzzt—

In a lab aboard the Plasma Frigate, five sealed pods slowly opened. Mist swirled as five Pokémon—part machine, part insect—stepped out.

The lead one wore red armor. The others, purple.

They looked around, dazed and confused, chattering in strange tones.

But all soon turned to face the red one.

Then…

As a faint hum sounded from a device in the lab—

Their eyes turned blood-red.

The Apocalypse Bugs. Deploy.

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates