Chapter 10
The following morning, Summer and Starly and Luana and Bunny headed out. The man from the forest still hadn't said anything and was being kept in the Pokémon room. Barlow and Crawford had told the other Pokémon Partners to keep an eye on the man, and make sure he didn't try to leave the Base. Luana had come up with the name Ollie for the man because of the oil all over him. He hadn't said anything about the name, but the brief smile on his face said it all.
Three hours later, when they were about halfway to Pueltown, Summer and Luana Captured two Doduo to take them the rest of the way. As they reached the town a familiar sound reached Summer's ears.
Luana stopped her Doduo and turned to Summer. "Hey, is that the sound from the cave?"
Summer nodded. " 'Fraid so." She looked around some more. "I hope the Pokémon aren't hurting too much."
The two urged their Doduo forward, and the Twin Bird Pokémon ran.
"Hey, Luana!" called a male voice.
Luana turned to the source. "Hey, Brook!"
A copper-haired man waved at Luana from a building that looked the same as the Base. "Please tell me you're here to handle the Pokémon. They've totally gone berserk!" Then he noticed Summer. "Is this the new Ranger?"
Luana nodded. "Yep. Brook, this is Summer Montgomery."
"Howdy, Summer. I handle the bridge north of the town. But the way things are going, the bridge is the least of my worries right now."
"Have you seen anything weird that might be causing the Pokémon to run amok?"
"I'll say. I spotted some shady characters carrying around these giant..." Brook waved his hand around, trying to think. "I don't know what to call them; mailboxes is the best word I can think of."
Summer and Luana exchanged a glance. That was the same thing Professor Hastings had said.
"Don't worry, Brook; we're on the case," said Luana. She got off her Doduo, and Summer did the same. They then did their Ranger Poses, and Luana turned to Summer.
"We should probably split up and seek out those machines. If either one finds one, we Voicemail the other; got it?"
Summer nodded. "I'll search the east side first."
"And I'll look over the west," Luana agreed. "We can meet back at the Ranger Depot after." She turned to Brook. "Can you lift the bridge until all this is over?"
"Did it after I saw those shady characters," Brook said proudly. "No one's going to be escaping that way anytime soon!"
Luana beamed. "We can always count on you, Brook; see you two later. Let's go, Bunny!" Ranger and Pokémon Partner ran off.
Summer and Starly waved at Brook as they set off.
Fifteen minutes later, Summer's Styler went off. She answered, and Luana's face appeared.
"I found one," she grinned. "It's the same color as the one at the Base. Crawford used a Water-type move to short it out, right?"
Summer nodded. "I haven't found any of these things, but I'm sure I'm going to find one."
Cries of several Pokémon rang through the air. Summer looked up from the screen and grimaced. "Terrific."
"Found one?"
"I believe so; I'll let you know." Summer turned off the Voicemail and ran in the direction of the cries.
Four Pokémon were running around in a circle, similar to the Pokémon in Marine Cave. This time, they were running around a little girl.
Summer came close to the circle, and her eyes widened. It was Melody, Isaac's little sister!
Melody kept looking around the Pokémon, hoping to find a big enough gap to go through. Every time she tried running past them, they only knocked her back, and she cried more.
"Melody!"
The little girl looked up and sniffled. "Summy! Help me!"
"You're okay, sweetie; just hang on." Summer scanned the area to find one of the machines. She soon spied one at the bottom of the nearby stairs.
"Starly, stay with Melody, okay?"
Starly nodded and flew to Melody's shoulder. When Summer got to the bottom, she stopped and stared at the machine. It looked the same as the other machine, except it was blue.
"What the..." Summer Voicemailed Luana. When the other Ranger's face popped up, Summer turned the screen to the blue machine.
"This is new," Summer said. "It's a different color this time."
"I see." Summer turned the Styler back to see Luana's face. "Wonder what it means."
"Well, I'm going to see if I can still short it out. Be back." Summer turned it off and turned to the Bibarel beside her. She had gone back into the forest to find a Pokémon with a Water-type move in case the machines had been the same kind. One of them had been, and now the Pokémon in that area of Puel Town had returned to normal afterward.
"Bibarel, use Water Gun!"
The Beaver Pokémon complied and shot a stream of water from its mouth. As it hit, the blue machine spun a little faster but didn't short out.
"What?!" Summer got closer to the machine and looked it over. It was still on and working well. And if anything, it seemed to be enhanced by Bibarel's Water Gun.
"Dang it!" Summer stomped her foot. "Why didn't that work?"
The Styler rang, and when Summer answered, Luana's face creased with annoyance.
"I found another machine, but this one's green," she said. "The Bibarel I Captured tried shorting it out but got nowhere."
"And my Bibarel's Water Gun just seemed to power up my machine," whined Summer. "Do you think we'd have to use a different kind of move on the machines that aren't red?"
Luana looked thoughtful. "Hm..." She bit the nail of her index finger. "Maybe. Try Capturing another Pokémon with a different type and check. I'll do the same with my green machine."
"Got it." Summer told the Bibarel to stay with the machine, then quickly ran in the Ranger Depot's direction. After she had shorted out the red machine near the depot, the Pokémon there had returned to normal. Maybe one of them could be useful. When she got to that area, she spied an Elekid and a Growlithe nearby.
The two Pokémon didn't notice Summer as she started Capturing them both. They looked at her with surprise after she finished.
"Follow me, guys; I need your help."
The Ranger started sprinting back to the blue machine, and the Pokémon followed. Bibarel stepped away from the blue contraption. Summer commanded Growlithe to use Fire Fang, but nothing happened to the thing. She then told Elekid to use Shock Wave. After hitting the machine, the top spluttered to a stop, then fell apart.
"Yes! You got it!" Summer jumped in the air, pumping her fist. She turned to the Friend Pokémon. "Come on, everyone, we've got more of these stupid things to take down."
The three Pokémon followed Summer up the stairs. She Voicemailed Luana and told her what had happened. The other Ranger was ecstatic when she heard the news and quickly signed off to look for her own Fire and Electric types. Summer ran faster to short out the other machines. It took five more minutes, and she was soon back to Melody.
The Pokémon that had surrounded Melody were gone. Starly flew off the little girls' shoulder as she ran to Summer.
"Thank you, Summy!" Melody grinned, giving Summer a hug.
Summer laughed nervously at the nickname. "No problem, Melody. But please, don't call me Summy. I don't really like that nickname."
"Okay!" Melody chirped.
"So, you okay? Any scratches, burns?"
"I'm good. Only bumps from the ground. I think those Pokémon were really confused."
"I'm afraid they were. Something was making them act that way." Summer didn't elaborate any further.
"I saw some bad-looking people going to the harbor. Did they set the things up?"
Summer blinked. "The harbor?"
Melody nodded and pointed east. "It's that way. Are you going to make them apologize for making the Pokémon confused?"
"Yeah, I am. But after I take you home."
"You don't have to." Melody pointed to a house a few yards away. "It's just over there. I'll be fine."
"All right." Regardless, Summer watched Melody as she jogged to the house. When the little girl went inside, Summer quickly Voicemailed Luana.
"Lu, I got them!"
Luana's face broke into a grin. "Excellent job, Sum. I got mine, so I'm on my way to the Ranger Depot."
"I also got some info that the jerks who set these things up are heading for the harbor."
"Oh, that changes things. Do you still have your Doduo?"
Summer scratched her cheek. "Um, I left it back at the Depot."
"Well, get back there as soon as you can. Then we can get to the harbor and hope those shady people haven't gotten away."
Summer nodded and signed off. She and the Pokémon ran as fast as they could to the Ranger Depot. Luana and the Doduo were waiting for her there.
"Make sure to follow me. I don't think you've ever been to the harbor before," said Luana as she climbed her Doduo.
Before getting on her Doduo, Summer released her Friend Pokémon. Luana urged hers, and the two Rangers headed for the harbor. When they got to some crates and a boathouse, Luana slid off her Doduo.
"Thank you for your help, Doduo."
Doduo nodded and ran off. Summer followed Luana's example, got off her Doduo and released it.
"Now we search for those people," said Luana. She pointed to a nearby alleyway. "I think the people who set those machines up would probably hide in there."
Summer started for the alleyway, Starly flying by her side. Luana and Bunny followed. A few minutes later, Summer came to a stop, and Luana almost ran into her.
"Do you see them?"
"Uh-huh," Summer nodded. "Five of them."
Luana looked over Summer's shoulder as they hid behind a crate. Five men were surrounding another one of the machines, only golden-yellow in color. They also wore black and purple uniforms, although only four of them wore the same color bandanna. The fifth man, with no bandanna, was scowling at the others.
"And all because you idiots took your sweet time setting the Gigaremo units," growled the fifth man, who had red hair. Since he wasn't wearing a bandanna, Summer believed he was the small group's leader.
"It's not out fault those things are so heavy. It took all four of us to move just one!" complained one of the men.
"Gigaremo? Is that what those machines are called?" Summer whispered to Luana as the men kept arguing.
Luana shrugged. "Apparently."
"At least we got some data from the experiment," the red-haired man sighed, rubbing his temples.
Summer bristled. 'Experiment? Putting all of the Pokémon in pain all for the sake of an experiment?!'
"Since we did, can we ditch this backwater place before those Rangers find us and we get in trouble?" another man begged.
"You mean in trouble with us?" Summer growled as she stepped from behind the crate, her arms crossed.
"Summer!" hissed Luana.
"Hey, you're the vandals who wrecked the Gigaremo machines! Treat our stuff with respect," one of the men reprimanded.
Both Rangers ignored him. "May we ask who you people are, what those machines do, and what this experiment of yours is?" Luana asked sweetly.
"We're Team Dim Sum," a third man supplied, thinking he was being helpful. "We came to Pueltown to experiment with our Gigaremo machines to see if they could let us control Pokémon like puppets."
The red-haired man went to the other and slapped him over the head. "Why'd you tell them anything, moron?!"
The third man whined and rubbed his head. "I'm sorry! I'll go ahead and make them forget with a little persuasion. Go get them, Team Rattata!"
A small group of purple Pokémon ran to Summer and Luana. The Rangers quickly captured the five Mouse Pokémon. The Rattata shook their heads dizzily and left.
"Sound the retreat," sighed the red-haired man. He turned to a Pokémon that Summer just barely noticed. "Distract them, Toxicroak!"
The dark blue-and-teal Toxic Mouth Pokémon leaped forward. While Summer and Luana tried Capturing it, the men grunted as they carried the Gigaremo away.
Toxicroak kept trying to attack Summer and Luana head-on. Their Partner Pokémon used their attacks to keep the Poison and Fighting-type away from the Rangers. It took several minutes for either one to Capture the Pokémon. When they did, Toxicroak left in the same way as the Rattata.
Summer groaned when she saw that the men had disappeared. "Great."
Luana pointed towards the end of the dock. "That's the only other direction to get out of here. They're not going to get anywhere else."
At these words, the girls heard the horn of a boat.
"Unless they have a boat that they docked in the harbor," Summer deadpanned.
Cringing, Luana started for the end of the harbor, Summer and their Pokémon following. As they got to the end of the dock, everyone saw the golden yellow coloring of the Gigaremo on the back of a boat heading out to sea.
"Dang it!" the Rangers cried in unison.
Five hours later, Summer, Luana, and their Partner Pokémon arrived back at the Ranger Base. The Rangers had Voicemailed the details of their Mission on their way back, so everyone there was up to speed.
When they entered the Base, Elaine and Professor Hastings were looking over the red Gigaremo. Vanessa was behind her desk, and Barlow, Makuhita, Crawford, and Budew kept an eye on Ollie.
"Reporting back for duty," said Summer and Luana.
"Starly star!"
"Bun, bun buneary!"
"Welcome back, you two," greeted Barlow, turning away from Ollie. "And good going on your Mission."
"I don't see how we did a good job if we let those Team Dim Sum creeps get away," Summer grumped.
"Especially since they got away with that last Gigaremo machine," Luana added sadly.
Barlow waved a hand dismissively. "Aw, don't be too glum. As rookies, you did more than enough."
"Still, a second-year Ranger like myself would've at least gotten a bit more done," Luana complained.
Summer thought Luana was acting too hard on herself. If anyone should be hard on themselves, it should be Summer herself. She had been voted the class rep at Ranger School for crying out loud! The Capture on that Toxicroak shouldn't have taken as long as it did.
"In any case, it's a Mission Clear!"
Summer and Luana put on a happy face and did their poses. Starly and Bunny cried their delight.
"Meanwhile, Professor Hastings has looked over the Gigamori machine, and he and Elaine are taking it apart now."
"Gigaremo," Summer corrected.
"Eh, you know what I meant," Barlow once again waved his hand dismissively.
"I just wish we knew what Team Dim Sum is all about," Summer voiced. "Like what their experiment was exactly." She eyed Ollie and stepped toward him. "You were helping them out with that red Gigaremo thing in the forest. You wouldn't happen to know, would you?"
Ollie calmly shook his head. Summer turned to Barlow and Crawford.
"Still isn't talking?"
"You would be correct."
"That head shake is the closest he's come to," Crawford added.
Summer sighed and started for the door. "I'm going to patrol the area."
As Summer and her Starly patrolled Vien Town, she was flagged down by Little Tim, Big Bertha's husband.
"Ranger, would you mind helping me out?"
"Sure, Tim, whatcha need?"
Little Tim wrung his hands. "Well, Bertha had an errand to run, so I got told to do the milking."
Summer understood immediately. While Big Bertha was well known for being the strongest in town, Little Tim was famous for his fear of Pokémon. "Deathly a-scared" as he put it.
"Our kids would help out, but our Miltank is acting all sorts of feisty and contrary. So, I need someone to come to the farm and calm it down."
That was not what Summer had expected. Still...
"Of course, Tim."
"Thank goodness," Little Tim sighed with relief. "That's a heavy load off my mind. Well, come on. Time's a-wastin."
Little Tim led the way to the Milk Pudding farm, even though Summer already knew the way. The farm wasn't that far from the Ranger Base, only about eight minutes away. It was usually Summer's first stop whenever it was her turn to deliver the Vien Tribune. When Little Tim reached the edge of his farm, Summer saw the Miltank pacing back and forth, an irritated look in the Pokémon's eyes.
"That the Miltank?" Summer asked.
"Yep. She's been like that all day, and we couldn't milk Miltank this morning. So, I got to thinking that a Ranger would know what to do and maybe calm her down."
Summer cracked her neck. "With a Capture; that always calms a Pokémon down." She jumped over the fence surrounding the farm and headed for Miltank. "Just give me a minute or two."
"Careful, Ranger!" Little Tim yelled.
At his shout, Miltank turned around and glared at the approaching Summer. Summer whipped her Styler out of her pocket and aimed the Capture Disc at the Milk Cow Pokémon. The Ranger wondered if Miltank was going to attack. Fortunately, she did nothing of the sort. But she did start walking toward Summer.
"Capture on!" Summer shouted.
The Capture Disc was released, and Summer began to circle it around Miltank. The Milk Cow Pokémon seemed surprised, then stared at her. Summer just kept looping the Disc around Miltank over and over. Finally, for what felt like forever, the Capture Line stopped glowing, and Summer heard a loud 'POP!'
"Capture complete," Summer declared, swinging her Styler to the side.
"Mil!" Miltank smiled and ran to the fence. Little Tim smiled as well upon seeing the change in personality with Miltank. When the Pokémon got to where Tim was at the fence, his smile disappeared as he stepped back out of habit.
"That's done it," he stated. "Thanks for coming to my rescue, Ranger."
"Not a problem, Tim." Summer jumped back over the fence. "Good luck with the milking."
There wasn't that much that went on afterward. When Summer returned to the Base, Elaine and Professor Hastings were still disassembling and looking over the red Gigaremo device. Ollie was watching them do this, apparently curious about what the inside of the machine looked like, all while Barlow and Crawford were keeping a Pidgeot-eye on him. Summer offered to take over keeping an eye on Ollie and did so until it was time for everyone to head for bed.
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