RESCUE

The Elinor Anderson project.
Directed by Laurence Anderson, Produced by Callan Young,
Ft. DJ Thomas Benoit and John Sullivan

"She's coming." Doug said at Lars' query, staring at the map before them with a pensive look.

Lele didn't usually do as he wanted, which had him mildly worried about her priorities.

But it didn't matter.

As long as she didn't get in the way— they didn't need a legendary's strength to get the job done.

"How's 'bout Mr. Young and I go?" Doug said, turning to the Head Ranger. "I think Ms. Elinor would 'ppreciate seein' ya in these circumstances."

He turned his gaze over to Callan next.

"Do we know what sort of prisoners are kept here?" He asked. "Any reason we shouldn't free anyone we come across?"

Next, his gaze dragged back to the map, digits fleeting over the two red spots on each end of the upper layer.

"These two are completely isolated from others." In their elevated positions, they were primed to catch sight of any intruder on deck level. "If we can take'em out silently, we could probably deal with the rest without any of 'em even having time to get their pokeballs."

Then they could raise their own racket without worrying about getting too outnumbered.

Doug considered himself fairly capable in a fight, even when out numbered— he liked to think his bouts during the meteor fall were proof enough— but it wasn't his life alone at stake here.

Better to be too careful than too reckless.

For reasons unknown to her Team Rocket had decided to move her. As always they seemed extra cautious about it whenever they did. They made sure she saw nothing, as she would have stumbled alongside the guards that accompanied her.

Had it not been for the sound of waves, and Wingulls, she would not even have known that they had taken her onto a ship. She deduced it had to be a huge ship as they led her all the way through, placing her at the furthest down cell. Where they left her.

When the Rocket members left her in the cell, they did not deign to even remove the cloth covering her eyes nor the chains tightly locking her hands behind her back. And so, she could do nothing but sit uncomfortably on the wooden bench clad in her prison clothes, long pink hair strewn about, frayed edges and all from the lack of care, all while the sensation of itchiness that had become a constant companion edged her on.

She ignored the itchiness as best she could, she had to. She knew it’s source wasn’t here. She knew Zev Harcourt’s Banette was not working its torturous magic on her. She knew because she was alone.

All alone in this cell.

So very alone.

Had the League forgotten about her?

Had her friends forgotten about her?

Had Laurence Anderson forgotten about her?

LOCATION: Rocket Prison Transport (The furthest down Cell)
TAG: Callan Young / Laurence Anderson / John Sullivan

RESCUE

EXTRACTION OF LEAGUE CAPTIVES

"I second Doug's opinion." Callan said, "We can cause the distraction, Elly needs you right now." And at present, he was sure his own appearance in front of her would cause more harm than good. No, it had to be Lars.

As John explains his approach, Callan looks towards the map. It was a sound strategy, given the breadth of experience both Doug and he had over the Rockets, they could also pincer in the team and cause chaos without being overwhelmed. "Yeah, solid plan. I'll take the Eastern end, you want the tower?"

Callan sends out his Marshadow. The spectre slips into his shadow, hiding from plain sight. "We can take out the two guards quietly, then on your signal, we can wreak havoc, draw the guards out from the lower deck and have Lars slide in to free the prisoners."

Callan taps the side of his head, "I'll be on comms, let's get our councilwoman free."

And with that, Callan's body sinks into his own shadow, as a PHANTOM FORCE, warps the trainer from his current position to just behind the eastern tower, away from the vision of the western tower.

For a split second, there is a momentary blackout on the eastern side of the barge, just out of view from the tower. A SPECTRAL THIEF steals into the night, engulfing the ship head's Rocket, as it sinks into its own shadow, a body would later be found floating by the Sootopolis harbour, still in rocket uniform.

"Alright, that's my side done. Lemme know when you've handled your side Doug."

FOR YOUR NEXT POST

John Sullivan

• Take out the Rocket on the Western end.
• Commence a joint attack on the Rockets at the center to draw them out. Callan will attack Rockets from the East on your signal.

Laurence Anderson

• Wait by the lookout location.
• When Doug and Callan draw out the attackers, sneak into the lower deck.

---

DEADLINE: JUNE 10, 2023 11:59 PM

RESCUE

Elinor Anderson, Laurence Anderson, Callan Young

"It's done." Came through to Callan Young's comms a moment later.

At the backend of the ship, Doug cuffed the unconscious rocket's hands behind their back, his Accelgor melting into the shadows behind him.

"Well done." He muttered, plucking the rocket's hat off their head. "On my mark."

Moving to stand near the glass windows, the youth put the rocket hat atop his head before releasing an Orbeetle, the psychic bug expanding its senses as it hid behind him, its eyes aglow.

He observed the rockets below silently. A foreign presence reached out to his mind a few moments later— Callan and Laurence Anderson would feel much the same, an unknown entity's psychic call.

A foreign thought; a sudden, seemingly photographic memory. They would find the ship's schematics perfectly replicated at the back of their minds, dots moving about it— the rockets.

Nodding at his Orbeetle, Doug raised a hand to his ear.

"Let's go."

RESCUE

EXTRACTION OF LEAGUE CAPTIVES

The telltale click of a Pokeball releasing its inhabitant resonated in the quiet scene, Callan's Marshadow withdrawing with an ethereal flicker. The ghostly Pokemon gave way to Bowie, a Toxtricity. Bowie mirrored Callan's readiness, the duo positioning themselves stealthily behind a tower.

Suddenly, an unseen force invaded Callan's consciousness, the intrusion delicate but firm.

It was a psychic thought, mapping out the labyrinthine layout of the ship, a mental blueprint forming piece by piece in his mind. Callan's gaze instinctively shot upwards, meeting the figure of Doug and his Orbeetle. The connection was made; the plan was clear.

Without the need for spoken instruction, Callan's command echoed in his mind. Overdrive, Bowie.

As the command was given, the atmosphere charged with energy. Bowie leapt into the fray, materializing a potent electric guitar, fingers deftly dancing across the strings. Each strum of the guitar released a piercing bolt of lightning, the electrifying notes slicing through the air, striking the unsuspecting Rocket soldiers with a thunderous assault.

Their surprise attack was met with immediate retaliation. Poochyenas and Houndours sprang forth, their trainers following suit. The eastern flank was soon swarmed with Rocket soldiers, their focus drawn to the electric onslaught caused by Callan and his Toxtricity.

As the chaos raged above, Lars descended into the bowels of the ship.

Unseen in the labyrinth of corridors, the silence was broken by a feeble cry, "Hey, stop!" A lone Rocket member, with a Weezing at his side, made a desperate stand. His plea echoed in the dimly lit hallway, a last-ditch effort to prevent the intruders from infiltrating further into the heart of the ship.

FOR YOUR NEXT POST

John Sullivan

• Help Callan by flanking the Rockets being drawn to the east.
• Find a way to help take out the remaining Rocket grunts on the upper deck.

Laurence Anderson

• Wait by the lookout location.
• Take out the Rocket grunt guarding the door.
• Find Elinor.

---

DEADLINE: JUNE 13, 2023 11:59 PM

RESCUE

Elinor Anderson, Laurence Anderson, Callan Young

The commotion began, drawing attention and manpower from west to east. He counted the seconds as the red dots moved through the mental map.

Finally, enough had gathered.

"Garo." Doug said as he let a netball drop, a Shedinja appearing behind him and immediately generating a spectral gate around him. "Mega Evolve."

---

The phantom force dropped him several paces across from Callan, his Orbeetle rising in the air as the several with its eyes aglow.

On one end, an Elite 4, on the other, an avatar.

No matter where the Rockets went, nothing but a bad time awaited.

Not that they had even that false choice afforded to them.

G-Max

Gravitas

Gravity suddenly seized them all up without warning, raising them and their pokemon in the air, stunning them all as they found themselves with little to no control, lunches beginning to rise back up.

"Our schedule's tight. Please understand." He said simply to the men and pokemon floating above, tipping the hat to them.

RESCUE

EXTRACTION OF LEAGUE CAPTIVES

Lars' Gallade, swift and precise, brings down the first grunt and his Weezing with a deft strike. The ship's layout pulses in his mind, guiding his steps down the stark corridor. Three approaching blips - a potential surprise attack, lie in wait on the other side of the door.

His street fighting skills, honed in the alleys of Alto Mare, serve him well. As he opens the door, Lars is quickly assaulted, but the grunts fall, one after the other, their surprise turning into unconsciousness.

After dealing with the Rockets, the full view of the prisoners could be seen. Elinor Anderson, her wild hair framing a tortured face, blindfolded, and teetering on the edge of consciousness.

Other prisoners mirror her state, defeated and barely clinging to hope. From the pockets of a fallen grunt, Lars would be able to find a set of keys to set them free.

Above deck, Doug's MEGA-ORBEETLE shows no mercy. G-MAX GRAVITAS descends, drawing grunts and their Pokemon helplessly into the air.

Callan, still psychically connected to Doug's Orbeetle, anticipates the incoming force. Bowie reacts quickly, forming a barrier of illumina energy, a SPOTLIGHT that refracts the Z-move back towards the Grunts.

The barrier shatters under the impact but shields them from the gravity, leaving Callan and Bowie grounded while their opponents float helpless. "Nicely done Colonel." Callan whistles.

With the field leveled, Toxtricity sends a SLUDGE WAVE at the remaining Pokemon that still pose a threat. They fall, unconscious, their threat extinguished.

Suddenly, the static buzz from the nearby communications system prickles their skin. "Reinforcements inbound." Callan hisses, checking as the hacked phone he had signalled that Team Rocket have gotten an alert on both Sootopolis Prison and on the Prison Barge. Thomas Benoit 's work meant that there were less being sent here.

Time is running out. The deck will soon be swarming with stronger, more ruthless Rocket members. They need to act, and fast.

"Lars? Is Elly safe with you yet? We have to go-- quickly." He pauses, "You got a Teleport ready to go?"

FOR YOUR NEXT POST

dorian westcliff

• Lead the wave of reinforcements to stop the League members from escaping.

John Sullivan

• Prepare to intercept the reinforcements alongside Callan to buy time for Lars and Elinor.

Laurence Anderson & Elinor Anderson

• Free Elinor Anderson
• (Optional) Free the other prisoners.
• Find a way to get off the ship.

---

DEADLINE: JUNE 17, 2023 11:59 PM

Lacking sight, sharpened her hearing. At first she heard nothing but the murmuring of other prisoners nearby.

But then something else. At first she didn’t quite believe it. The sound of fighting didn’t make sense. She knew Team Rocket was organized enough to not suddenly devolve into fighting among each other. So it had to be something else. There was only one thing that came to her mind, and that thing fanned the small embers of hope with gentle winds.

It didn’t take long before she heard the cutting of prison bars. Not long after she heard the rushing steps of her cousin alongside his voice.

She didn’t dare believe it to be right.

Tears started rolling, her body started trembling. Happiness.

She felt her chains removed, the cloth covering her eyes alongside them. She saw her savior, and it was Lars. Her prayers had been heard.

She felt her freedom acquired and as Lars made to pick her up, she flung herself around him, hugging her cousin as tightly as wounds and energy permitted as she kept pouring her tears into his jacket. Not a single comprehensible word left her mouth.

The time for keeping up appearances was not now.

Now she was safe to let her feelings out.

And yet some small voice in the back of her head edged her on, telling her that this was not real, that this freedom would be taken from her soon enough… She did not listen. This had to be real.

The Laurence Anderson she had slung herself at had to be real.

LOCATION: Rocket Prison Transport (The furthest down Cell)
TAG: Callan Young / Laurence Anderson / John Sullivan