"I understand your predicament. However, I cannot assist you." These were the words of Red, still ringing in my mind. I had explained to him the dangers of both Team Rocket and Cipher, but he would not help. He had said he was done with such adventures, and just wanted to stay with his Pokemon on Mt. Silver. It had been several hours since we had spoken with him, and we were now roughly halfway down the mountain again. We had deliberated for many hours, but Red would not change his mind. He had, however, provided us with information on a Cipher underground base. This was  where we were headed to after we got off the mountain.

The trip down the mountain was mostly uneventful, with only a few moments of interest. The Cipher base was near Vermilion, so we would have to backtrack through Diglett's Cave. On the trip to the cave, we stopped in Viridian City to pick up food, a few Antidotes, and several Super Repels, in  the form of bracelets, so that we were not challenged by Diglett and Dugtrio along the path.  After exiting the cave, we found the Pokémart where the Cipher base's entrance supposedly was. By using Teleport, I got into the base and opened the doors from the inside. Absol crept in first, followed by Lucario and Gallade. It was pitch black, and we couldn't risk light. so we crept on, alone with the shifting shadows.

The base had been built in a cave, so every noise made echoed almost infinitely. Ominous noises sounded near constantly around the cave. By keeping close to the right wall, we found our way around the cave to the facility. I forced open the steel door with a quick Psychic and stole my way in. I disabled all the alarms with a terminal near the door. I waved to the other three, and they followed into the white-walled hallway. I used a Light Screen to make it appear as if we weren't there, and crept toward the nearest door.

It happened to be a supply closet. I pulled out a vent cover above us, and climbed in. I motioned for Absol to stay there, and for Lucario and Gallade to follow. I crawled through the vents to the main breaker room. If their base was thrown into total darkness, it would likely throw every Cipher Peon into panic. I kicked in the vent, and with a clang it hit the floor of the room, making a louder noise than I'd like.

I jumped down to find a trap. Armed guards were sever layers deep, all pointing guns at us, all clearly a caliber above the average grunt. Still, they would be no problem. Using a massive Psychic, I threw all the closest guards into the ones behind them. All that were in a position to opened fire. I couldn't shield all of us in time, so I chose Lucario and Gallade. Suddenly I realized we were missing a teammate. Absol!

"Come on! Absol is probably captured!" Both of them nodded and together, we bolted to the supply closet.

Absol was gone.

Sorry that it's been so long since I've published, a triple combo of life, school, and writer's block brought this story to a screeching halt. However, it's now back on track, so expect a few new chappies close down the pipeline. Seeya then! Xman out.