[spoiler]IT LIVES! Yeah, bringing this back since Orre is getting closer.
Shadow Pokemon Lab
Taylor and Artemis enter the seemingly abandoned building, with the exception of the van outside. Wires and broken Pokeballs litter the floor, machines flicker on and off, the lights overhead spark all over the tiles. They come across several broken blue glass doors and elevators with their glass doors shattered, the glass littering the floor around them. Surprisingly, they all still work.
"Odd. The elevators seem to the be only thing that works around here." Taylor remarks.
She and Artemis enter one of the elevators, and descend. Upon arrival at the next floor, they find more debris strewn about the floor, more broken machinery, and broken cages, their bars bent out of shape by their former occupants.
"<No doubt this is where Pokemon were turned Shadow.>" Artemis muses.
As they look around through the different rooms, they come to a broken DNA machine with DNA samples still inside it. Unfinished files sit on the nearby desk. One is titled "CROBAT DNA TEST", another labeled "SHUPPET DNA TEST." They don't provide any information about what was being performed, giving the impression that these tests were fairly new.
"Nothing of interest here..." Taylor observes, the lab being filled with useless, broken junk from what she can see.
An elevator whirrs to life, and ascends near the room. Three figures step out, one clad in black Commander armor, another wearing a white lab coat, and the third wearing a hood that covers their face and a black lab coat. Taylor hears them step out, and rushes to a hiding spot behind the large DNA machine, with Artemis ducking behind a fallen file cabinet. However, Taylor trips over a DNA vial, and slams onto the ground, alerting the three Cipher members. They enter the room.
"Well well, what do we have here?" says the Commander, a smug grin on his face.
"Looks like a Pokemon Ranger." observes the scientist.
"Now, what would a Ranger be doing down here?"
"I bet she saw your van that you crashed into the generator up top, you idiot."
Taylor attempts to pull her P*DA out for a distress call, but a Zoroark swoops in, slicing the device in half, and returning to the black figure.
"<That ain't gonna fly with us, little missy.>" says the Zoroark, her voice cold and hostile.
Artemis studies the Zoroark, with Taylor doing the same, but with an Aura reader.
"That Zoroark's a Shadow Pokemon, no doubt." she thinks to herself.
"Like my Zoroark," the black figure says, its voice coming through a modifier, "I can tell you see what it is. Now, if you come with us, we might just let you live."
"Artemis, Blizzard!" Taylor shouts.
"Flamethrower." commands the black figure.
Artemis leaps out, and begins to attack, only to be intercepted by Zoroark's Flamethrower. The attack launches her into a cabinet, bottles and test tubes shattering against the floor as they fall out. Artemis attempts to retaliate with Brick Break, but the Zoroark seizes her advantage and knocks her back down with a point blank Focus Blast.
"You see? Your weak Weavile is no match for my Zoroark's superior speed and power," remarks the black figure, "You have no hope in defeating her, so I suggest you give up before your Pokemon is injured further. "
"Such power...I knew Shadow Pokemon were strong, but this is beyond anything I expected..." thinks Taylor, in awe at how much more powerful the Zoroark has become.
"I see you've taken a liking to my Zoroark. Maybe if you cooperate, we will just Shadowfy your Weavile, and let you live."
"C'mon, man, she's obviously not going to come quietly. Let me pummel them with my Rhyperior!" says the commander, already readying his Pokeball.
"Wait. This one is different. We could kill them, yes, but I think we should just capture them now. Let her see how much stronger Shadow Pokemon are, and why regular Pokemon can't compare. Starting with her Weavile." The black figure points to the Unconscious Artemis. "We break her, eliminate a potential threat, and spread fear. Much cleaner."
"Fine."
The Commander quickly cuffs Taylor, giving her no time to react. Taylor remains quiet, not sure what to think or do. The scientist scoops up Artemis, placing her in a portable mon cage. The two are carried back to the elevator, and down to what awaits them below.
