Valeria and Franklin moved into the cave mouth, their steps quiet against the cold stone. The air grew colder, carrying a faint, metallic scent that was not natural to the preserve. Water dripped somewhere deeper inside, making a hollow sound.
Beldum and Lunatone maintained a silent watch. Beldum's red eye glowed, scanning the shadows for any movement. Lunatone orbited softly, its psychic senses reaching out into the darkness.
Ralts' red horns pulsed with discomfort. It sensed a forced emptiness, a deliberate quiet that felt wrong in a place that should hold echoes of life. The Pokémon pressed closer to Franklin, its small body trembling slightly.
They peered deeper into the darkness. A dim, flickering light pulsed from within the cavern, casting dancing shadows on the rough walls. Several figures moved within the light.
These were not the casual poachers Batgirl described. Their movements were too precise, their equipment too advanced.
The figures inside the cave were clearly poachers, but their gear was unfamiliar. Each wore a dark, form-fitting suit, and carried sleek, black devices that hummed with a low, steady sound. They moved with a practiced, efficient rhythm.
One of them held a struggling Luxio, its blue fur crackling with faint, desperate sparks. The Luxio cried out, a muffled whimper, as a poacher applied a device to its neck. The device clicked into place, and the sparks around Luxio's fur faded.
"They're putting a collar on it," Franklin whispered, his voice tight with outrage.
Valeria's eyes narrowed, a cold calculation replacing her usual analytical calm. The sight of the subdued Luxio, its sparks extinguished, stirred a deep indignation within her.
Another poacher spoke, his voice low but clear in the quiet. "Secure the creature with the others. Extraction happens soon."
"We have to stop them," Franklin hissed, his hands already glowing with a faint cosmic energy.
Valeria grabbed his arm, a firm grip that cut off his impulse. She knew his power, but also his tendency to rush.
"Not yet," she said, her voice a low command. "We need to know where the rest of the Pokémon are."
Beldum's eye scanned the poachers, calculating their numbers and positions. Lunatone pulsed with a cold, psychic disapproval. Ralts shivered, sensing the Luxio's fear.
Valeria understood the bigger picture. A single rescue would not be enough. They needed to find the main holding area, then free every captured Pokémon at once.
Val and Franklin followed the poachers into a larger cavern. The damp walls of the cavern reflected the dim light.
Cages lined the cavern, rows of dark, metallic bars. Inside, many Pokémon huddled together, their eyes wide with fear and confusion.
Each Pokémon wore a sleek, black collar around its neck. A Zigzagoon twitched, trying to move, and a small electric shock coursed through its collar. It whimpered, a soft, painful sound.
The current was a cruel, silent warning against resistance. Valeria's gauntlet registered faint energy readings from the collars, confirming their suppressive and punitive functions. These devices were designed for control.
Franklin's anger solidified. These people were not just stealing; they were tormenting. He looked at Ralts, whose face was hidden by its green hood, its psychic energy radiating quiet distress. The sheer number of captured Pokémon was startling.
Dozens of cages were stacked against the walls. They held familiar Pokémon like Oddish and Pidgey, alongside others Franklin didn't recognize. Their silent terror filled the air, thick and heavy.
Valeria's gaze hardened. Her analysis confirmed the scale of the operation. This was an industrial-level capture, cold and systematic. Her previous encounter with Batgirl's report now made chilling sense.
"This is messed up," Franklin murmured, his usual cheer replaced by a hard edge.
He thought about the tiny Zigzagoon, its shock of pain. His own powers, usually so much fun, felt like a burden when he could not use them.
"These aren't just poachers," Valeria stated, her voice tight with suppressed anger. "Their tech, their organization. This is a full-scale operation."
She knew this kind of setup. It hinted at a far more dangerous foe than a few greedy individuals.
"Who would want to do this?" Franklin asked, his brow furrowing with genuine confusion.
He imagined the joy of the wild Pokémon in the sanctuary. These people were stealing that away.
"Someone who sees Pokémon as a resource to be exploited, not life to be respected," Valeria answered.
The snake-like symbol from the earlier camp flashed in her mind. She needed to confirm her suspicions.
"We need to get closer," she decided, her eyes scanning the cave for an entry point. "Beldum, keep an eye on our flank."
The poachers moved among the cages, checking the collars and logging data on handheld devices. Their voices were low, professional, devoid of emotion. They treated the Pokémon as cargo, not living beings.
Lunatone floated a little higher, its single red eye sweeping over the scene. The subtle flicker in its gaze indicated it was processing the information, its cold logic calculating possibilities. Beldum, meanwhile, was perfectly still, a silent, metallic sentinel.
Franklin and Valeria hid behind a cluster of large rocks, their Pokémon partners pressed close to them. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the metallic tang of fear. They overheard fragments of the poachers' conversation.
A gruff voice cut through the cavern's quiet. "Transport vehicle ETA: fifteen minutes. Get everything prepped."
Another voice, sharper and colder, replied, "Make sure the re-education protocols are active. We need these specimens compliant for new applications."
Franklin's blood ran cold at the words "re-education" and "new applications." He thought of the serpent symbol and the cold, precise methods used by these poachers. This was far beyond simple greed.
Valeria's gauntlet pulsed with collected data. She realized the sheer scale of the operation. The collars were not just suppressors; they were instruments of psychological conditioning. This was no ordinary poaching ring; it was something far more organized, far more dangerous.
The extraction was imminent. The fate of these Pokémon, now under the control of this unknown, ruthless organization, hung in the balance. Valeria knew they had to act now.
***
Give power stones to support this book.
Advance chapters in P@T0n Najicablitz.