Test Chamber

Stratus: <Easy, you're still a bit hurt. Let me see if I can get something to heal you up fully.>

Opening Lake's bag, Stratus begins to dig through it to see if he can find any healing items as Lake blinks wearily, examening his surroundings.

Lake: <...Where are we?>

Stratus: <A test chamber. Not that far from the arena, though. Ah! Okay, hold still for a second...>

Pulling a Hyper Potion out of the bag, Stratus begins to carefully spray it on Lake's injuries, if a little awkwardly due to the fact that the spray bottle wasn't designed with Dragonite in mind.

Lake: <Ooh...wait. You got us out of there?>

He blinks in surprise, his strength beginning to return to him.

<...Then that means.>

Stratus nods, a proud look on his face.

Stratus: <Yeah, I showed that Mewtwo who was boss.>

Finding the energy to pull himself up to his feet, the Feraligatr gave Stratus a stunned look.

Lake: <Even I didn't think I would be able to beat him, and yet you took him down without my help! I've gotta' say...>

He grins.

<...I'm really impressed, buddy. Way to go.>

If Stratus had been a creature capable of blushing, his cheeks would have gone as red as a Tamato berry there and then.

Stratus: <Thanks, Lake. That means a lot coming from you.>

Lake: <No problem! Now, what's goi- OH!>

He notices that a certain Tyranitar is clutching his scarf of all things.

<My scarf! You got it back!>

Lake: <Ah-heh...it is kinda' hard to tell Feraligatr apart unless you know what you're looking for.>

Taking the scarf from Igneous, Lake wraps it around it's rightful place on his neck.

<Alright, so what's the situation now, then?>

Stratus frowns.

Stratus: <You know PEFEdoS?>

Lake: <...Yes...>

Stratus: <Well, somehow, she's gotten back into the systems, so as well as Corrn, we have to deal with her, too.>

Lake: <...You're kidding me, right?>

Stratus: <She's a darn slight better than Cornn at designing test chambers, though! Oh, that reminds me, Lake, she's making us do some test chambers.>

The Feraligatr frowns at this.

Lake: <Oh. What a surprise.>

Lake: <He played to our strengths, I'll give him that. So...>

He tilts his head at Stratus.

<You seem like you were handling things fine while I was out, so...what's the plan?>

The Dragonite rubs his chin in thought.

Stratus: <Dunno' really. All I've got so far is "Keep doing tests until we can find a way out of here without getting killed.">

He gives the two a shrug.

<Not the best plan, I know. But it's worked for us before.>

Stratus: <Yeah, that's the problem here. We have a plan, we just don't know how to execute it.>

Lake: <Hmm...we need to find a way out of these modules somehow. Then we can try and make a break for it. These things aren't indestructible. If we can punch a hole in a wall...>

Stratus: <Whoa, is that really a good idea? These things are rather high up, and there's no way I can carry both of you!>

Lake: <...Oh.>

Lake hadn't factored Igneous into the plan. Considering how heavy he was, he doubted Stratus would be able to carry him even without riding him as well.

<Okay, I guess that's not going to work...>

Lake: <...>

Stratus: <Okay, that is awesome.>

Flying with wings was cool, but there was something inherently awesome about flying with a what essentially amounted to a natural jet engine. Perhaps it was because it took less effort?

<Alright, if I carry Lake on my back, then I can carry you in my arms and use those flame jets of yours to give me an extra boost, then we just might be able to fly to safety. Or at least out of the testing track.>

Lake: <I think I'm gonna' have to hold on tight for this one...>

Lake: <I don't think we'll need to worry about that part. Me and Stratus have beaten legendary Pokémon. I don't think a module wall is gonna' stop us. Or you for, that matter.>

Stratus: <Normally, I wouldn't feel so confident, but I just beat a Mewtwo! I feel like there's nothing I can't do right now!>

Lake: <Yeah, we're pretty much set.>

Stratus: <Oh, right. Anyway, my turn!>

Flapping his wings, Stratus lifts into the air, then rushes at the dented wall with great speed, slamming into it with great force.

Stratus used Dragon Rush!

The impact dents the wall even further, cracks beginning to spread across it's surface.

<Oof...I think another hit will do it!>

At that point, another voice chimes in via the P.A system.

PEFEDoS "Test subjects are to be reminded that attempting to escape the testing chambers is grounds for termin-"

Buzz!

Cornn: "Ignore her! Keep escaping and I'll lead you to my much better and less deadly test track!"

Buzz!

PEFEDoS "Test subjects are also reminded not to listen to any morons who use this channel, which is also grounds fo-

Buzz!

Cornn "How many times do I have to tell you? I. AM. NOT. A. MORON."

Stratus blinks at the argument, giving Lake and Igneous a blank look. shrugging, Lake cloaks his tail in water, then swings it at the badly damaged panel.

Lake used Aqua Tail!

The impact shatters the panel, leaving a hole overlooking the empty space between the modules, the floor of the facility stretching far below.

Lake: <There we go!>

Cautiously, Stratus peers over the edge down at the ground.

Stratus: <Wow, it's a long way down...>

Lake: <Hey! Just what I was thinking! Are you ready to go, Stratus?>

With a nod, Stratus bends down to let Lake climb onto his back, before hovering into the air and wrapping his arms around Igneous.

Stratus: <Alright, ready when yo- ACK!>

The Dragonite is alarmed to see the roof of the module suddenly open, only for claws to lower turrets into the chamber, placing them on the floor nearby.

Lake: <Uh-oh!>

PEFEDoS: "This is your final warning; proceed to the next chamber, or I shall use your corpses as fuel for the incinerator."

With those words, the turrets activate, pointing their lasers at the two as they prepare to fire.

Turret #1 "Target acquired."

Turret #2 "Preparing to dispense product."

Faulty Turret: "So...we're all supposed to be blind, right? Not just me?"

Stratus: <IGNEOUS! STEP ON IT!>

The three escape the chamber just as the turrets open fire on their position. Escaping via a hair's breadth, the three rocket out through the wall at high speed and into open space.

Lake: <WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!>

Stratus: <HOLD TIGHT, LAKE!>

The Dragonite didn't want the Feraligatr falling off, especially at the speed they were going.

<WHICH WAY DO WE GO?!>

Lake: <DOWN TOWARDS THE DEPTHS! THEY'LL HAVE A HARD TIME REACHING US THERE!>

Stratus: <ALRIGHT!>

The Dragonite makes to dive towards the floor...only for a Module to be moved into their way, the roof opening up to catch them.

<WHOA!>

Lake: <PULL UP! PULL UP!!!>

Stratus does so, just barely avoiding landing in the chamber and being caught.

Cornn: "No! Don't fly off! There's cake in that chamber! And...and Blitzle! You like Blitzle, right?"

Lake gives Stratus worried look, fearing that the temptation of cake would be enough to make him consider actually going back to the chamber. Noticing this, the Dragonite gives Lake a cocky smirk.

Stratus: <I don't need your cake! You wanna' know why? Because I STILL have that cake the nice Magcargo gave to us back in Treasure Town!>

Lake blinks, shocked.

Lake: <You didn't eat it?>

Stratus: <I wanted to, but I actually forgot about it until just now.>

Lake: <...Oh.>

Stratus: <Oh, well...>

The Dragonite looks somewhat Mareepish.

<I knew Lake's Birthday was coming up, and I wanted to save if for him. The only reason that I didn't give it to you on your Birthday was because I forgot.>

Lake: <...>

Stratus: <Yeah, it's embarrassing...>

Lake: <No, it's actually pretty sweet...Thanks Stratu- WHOA!>

Before can finish expressing his gratitude, another module rises up in front of them, the roof opening as several platforms rise up from inside. Platforms lined with turrets.

Turret #1: "Hello there."

Turret #2: "Dispensing..."

The turrets paint the three with their laser sights as they prepare to fire, leaving Stratus no time to go over ot under them without getting blasted.

Stratus: <Quick! Protect! Safeguard! Bubble Shield! ANYTHING!!!>

Igneous' Smokescreen shrouds the three in a cloud of smoke, confusing the turrets.

Turret #3: "Target lost."

Turret #4 "Are you still there?"

This allows them to fly past them safely, the guns unable to turn around and track them.

Lake: <Phew, that was close!>

Lake glances down at Igneous to answer his question.

<I suppose would could have, but it's not terribly polite to use another Pokémon as a shield, even if they are bulletproof. Mostly.>

As they continue onwards, a certain A.I's voice comes in over the P.A system.

PEFEDoS: "Have any of you stopped to think what your parents would say about this misbehavior? In fact, why don't we call them right now and find out."

BEEPBOOPBEEPBEEP!

RIIIIIIING.

"Operator:" "The birth-parents you are trying to reach do not love you. Please hang up."

BEEEEEEEEEEEP.

PEFEDoS "Oh, that's sad. But impressive. Maybe they worked at the phone company."