Alex and Sable rested in their private cabin while the frigate dived into the depths of the ocean. The only thing they could see was darkness through the portholes.
"I guess this is why Captain Blackwake was never caught," Alex said. "Between the Gyarados, this ship that can dive, and an underwater base, he can operate freely in these waters."
"Are you sure about this, Alex?" Sable whispered with concern. "My Pokémon can't swim, you know."
"Like I said before, I'll take care of everything. Just play your part and bring me along wherever you go."
Alex's plan was relatively simple. Sneak in, kill Blackwake, loot the place, then teleport out. He was no stranger to underwater battles, even if his Pokémon were at an overall disadvantage. As long as he managed to kill Blackwake, his Champion ranked Gyarados wouldn't be as much of a problem.
Their journey deep underwater continued for a day until Alex saw a pair of red eyes through the portholes.
"Kyaaa!" Sable screamed when she saw what Alex was staring at. "What is that!?"
"Looks like a Gyarados, but weaker. It might belong to one of the crews."
The pair of red eyes drifted away, but no sooner had it faded than more pairs appeared. There were hundreds of red eyes staring back from the abyss. It was clear, they had ventured deep into a Gyarados's nest.
"Now that I think about it," Alex said to the hyperventilating Sable, "it makes sense for a Champion ranked Gyarados to have a nest of its own. Even more so if the location started out as Captain Blackwake's personal base."
Gyarados like being in nests because it reminds them of their time as Magikarp, huddling together for strength. That instinct stays ingrained throughout their lives, so if a Magikarp from a nest evolves into a Gyarados, it follows the same nesting patterns.
"This might complicate things," Alex said.
"Complicate? What complicate? We're going to die here!" Sable exclaimed, her panic renewed.
"It isn't that bad," Alex replied. "It'll get complicated, but it's still workable. Besides, we can always teleport out if needed."
"I say we teleport out right now."
"Not until you've played your part."
"I got you within spitting distance of him."
"But not the base."
Sable sulked, unable to respond. Alex was crazy if he thought he could just waltz into someone's base and start killing everything. Clearly, he cared little for either of their lives.
With a sigh, Alex approached Sable on the bed and placed his hands on her shoulders. He began rubbing and kneading them, massaging her until she started to relax.
"Don't worry," Alex said. "Just play your part, and I'll take care of everything. You'll be safe. Just trust me."
"That's what got me into this mess in the first place," she mumbled.
Alex continued to help Sable relax until they finally made it to the underwater base. He could see that it was different from Team Dominion's usual underwater bases. This one wasn't formed from Ground type moves that sealed a dome. Instead, it was an actual underwater cave that led into a spacious cavern.
Alex noticed that the passage followed a natural underwater current, guiding them forward until they reached an open chamber filled with air. This section of the base appeared to have been dug out and sealed, creating a breathable space amid the surrounding water.
The ship began to surface once they reached the air pocket, revealing the full extent of the cavern. Glowing moss clung to the walls and ceiling, casting an eerie, greenish light across the space. Strange aquatic plants released oxygen into the air, keeping the cavern breathable despite its distance from the surface.
The cavern was alive with activity. Small farms grew enough food to sustain the crew and their Pokémon, while simple houses dotted the area where the crew lived. A mansion in the center stood apart from the rest, clearly the captain's home. Nearby, a newly built shooting range sat beside an open area for the Pokémon, a clear sign that training and combat readiness were priorities here. The cavern combined functionality and natural beauty, a hidden world beneath the waves.
"It's strangely beautiful," Sable said once she got a good look. "You wouldn't know we were underwater with a view like this."
They departed the frigate after the captain announced their arrival and took a better look around. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of earth, salt, and farmland. The beauty of the place was unmistakable.
"You have a beautiful base," Sable complimented.
"Hahaha, thanks," the captain laughed boisterously. "We do our best with what we have."
They made their way to the mansion, where Sable and Alex were shown to their rooms. It was a modest guest room that was properly cleaned and prepared for them. It even had a woman's touch to it judging by the sheets, drapes, and decorations.
"Something's not right," Sable said. "This place doesn't look like the base of a cold-blooded pirate."
"My farm is roughly the same," Alex said. "Yet it belongs to me, a cold-blooded bounty hunter."
"Are you still going to go through with it?"
Alex looked at Sable with a questioning look.
"Weren't you there when he and his men started killing and robbing people on the ship whose rudder he destroyed?" Alex asked incredulously.
"Oh, right. I see your point," she said, slightly embarrassed by even mentioning it.
"Besides, I'm a bounty hunter. It doesn't matter if the person wanted is a saint; I will still capture them and hand them over to whoever posted the bounty. It isn't my place to determine who should and shouldn't be hunted."
"What about me?" she asked. "Are you not hunting me?"
"In exchange for your services, I could be persuaded to look the other way," Alex said, with a suggestive smile and a raised brow. "Also, your case isn't particularly serious. There's still a chance for redemption. Blackwake, however, is different."
"What if he offers you a better deal?"
"The only deal I would take is if he offered a service in exchange. Money and items would be useless, since I could claim them depending on the severity of their crimes. In his particular case, I wouldn't be surprised if he were executed, given the number he has killed over the years."
A few hours later, they were called over for dinner by one of the pirates with a stern warning.
"No matter what, do not disrespect the missus," he said with all seriousness.
Alex and Sable shared a look before easily agreeing. This wasn't their house and it was only natural to be respectful.
They made their way through the halls of the mansion before arriving at the dining area. It was a hall lined with long tables crowded with pirates. At the center was a longer table with the captain at its head, and beside him sat the most massive woman the pair had ever seen. She didn't sit on a chair but on a couch, and she took up three seats at the table by the captain's side.
Alex schooled his expression like a professional, looking away in embarrassed restraint to play his part, while Sable stood like a deer in headlights, eyes widened. It took Alex elbowing her side to finally get her moving toward their seat at the captain's table.
Beside the captain and his wife, there were also a few other women, presumably part of his harem, who were on the chubby side yet not as massive. There were also a few children who ignored their guests and simply continued eating.
"Welcome, guests," the captain said. "Come, have a seat and dig in."
"Thank you for the hospitality," Sable replied, while Alex simply bowed his head.
The pair took their seats and began putting food on their plates.
"So, Sable, I heard you would help us with our mining problem."
"That's what I'm supposed to be here for, but I was never given any additional details. What problem exactly?"
"Well, we're underwater, as you know, so we can't just dig around without care. We need an expert to navigate the digging and make sure we don't accidentally drown our home."
"I can handle that. My Pokémon can assess the structural integrity of the ground and tell if it's about to collapse, so they know where to dig to ensure your home stays intact. We'll even add supports to make sure the cavern doesn't give way under any additional stress."
"Excellent. What materials would you need?"
While the captain and Sable discussed the specifics of their project, Alex minded his own business while scoping out the place. Overall, it wasn't as much of a threat as he had expected.
The pirates were mostly Expert ranked, with a few Elites mixed in, while only the captain was a guaranteed threat. The fact that the captain had family in the base was also a bonus, as it would guarantee his cooperation. It was cold-hearted to use family against the man, but Alex wasn't about to let this weakness slide.
He himself understood how easily family could be used against someone, so he made sure his own were always protected. This man, however, had failed in his duties to his family, and it was Alex's job to remind him how to be a proper protector.
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