An Unexpected Gift

The sound of victorious laughter echoed throughout the Magma base as a horde of grunts as well as their admins paraded through the entrance. A shiny, dark-blue sphere was held firmly in the leader's hands.

"The blue orb is ours." Maxie smirked, stroking it gently, unaware that his action started to make it glisten slightly. "Our plan is running smoothly."

"We should leave it in the lab where it can be analyzed." Tabitha suggested. Maxie stopped short, causing the rest of the Magma team to bump into each other. Making a "shooing" motion with his hand, the grunts dispersed leaving the two admins to stand before him.

"Not tonight." He replied. "There is something curious about this orb that I want to investigate first. I found some fascinating myths about it that piqued my interest." Tabitha raised an eyebrow before the sudden look of shock appeared on his face.

"You don't mean-"

"Calm yourself, Tabitha. I'm rather certain the laws of nature coincide with these myths and as I'm sure you're aware, I have a Y chromosome. However perhaps can ask someone else for my assistance…" His red eyes glanced over to Courtney, whose stern eyes met his.

"It is my duty as an admin to help facilitate you in your endeavors." She held her head up high as Tabitha rolled his eyes.

"Kiss-ass" He thought.

"Tabitha, you could learn something from Courtney. Since you're so eager to claim my position, perchance you would want to follow your co-admin's example." A tiny smirk crept on his face as Tabitha sighed.

"Good luck with your experiment, boss." Shaking his head, he began walking to the admin bedrooms. Blowing off Tabitha, Maxie led Courtney to the back rooms. Nobody was allowed there except for the leader and occasionally the admins. It was the only place in the whole base where their leader could have the slightest peace; his office and bedroom section. Once they entered, Maxie flipped a switch next to the door and light suddenly filled the room. Inside the room was only a desk with the "M" symbol on the front as well as a giant whiteboard on the wall, full of equations and blue orb theories written on it. On the desk, next to the few stacks of paperwork and Groudon research, was a little placeholder for the orb. After placing it down in its appropriate place, Maxie turned to another door, leading to his bedroom.

"I'll only be a moment. Please, get comfortable." With an outstretched hand, he offered Courtney one of the leather chairs across from his desk. As she waited, she looked around. There wasn't really much in the office except for the desk, the whiteboard, a large map of Hoenn, a filing cabinet and an oddly placed window.

"Hmm…needs a bit of a woman's touch…" She wondered. "But that won't be a problem once I take over. I'm already on his good side, perhaps I can push it a little further…" A sly smile started creeping onto her face but it quickly faded when Maxie returned, in nothing but a red velvet robe, sporting that same old "M" on his front side and little Groudon slippers. Courtney stood up, trying not to appear too eager.

"Please excuse my appearance. It's just that it's quite a bother to have all those layers on, especially that constricting turtleneck. I suppose it wasn't a smart idea to choose to wear that particular ensemble while residing near a volcano. But I digress." Courtney nodded, seeing that as an opportunity to work her charm. He sat in front of the orb, observing it carefully, adjusting his glasses. "Please, sit." He gestured again to her.

"With all due respect boss, I'd rather stand." She continued to keep that stern look.

"If you so choose to." He cleared his throat, as per usual when he would start his 11 AM lectures. "To continue, from the research that I have gathered, aside from this orb controlling Groudon, apparently it has the ability to absorb itself into anything holding it." Courtney pretended to listen as she slowly walked to the side of his desk, bended over, and placed her elbows onto the desk top, propping her head in her hands. Maxie questioned what she was doing but still continued on. "Now, I did some research of my own and came across a fascinating discovery. As you know, there are ancient journals that bring up this myth – that this orb is, in fact, an extremely rare pokemon egg."

"Indeed. Which is why you want me here. To see if I can channel that power and bear whatever creature is inside." Maxie nodded in agreement before she stood up straight again. "But – I'll need something from you first." She moved behind Maxie, massaging his shoulders.

"What is your proposition?" He tensed up, suddenly realizing what her motive was. She leaned in and whispered into his ear, in a seductive yet dark tone of voice,

"make me your co-leader. We shall rule side-by-side. I will bear your precious beast and we'll take over together." A bead of sweat began dripping down the side of his face as she snaked her hands downward, moving closer to his groin inch-by-inch. Maxie jumped up, shocked, then quickly returned back to his composure.

"Courtney, let's take a few facts into consideration. First, you are not permitted to do such flirtatious acts at such inappropriate times. Any magikarp can figure that out." The look Courtney gave her superior was a mix of shock and complete humiliation. "And second, even if the timing deemed impeccable, I'm afraid I am not and cannot be into what you're…offering." Courtney's jaw dropped. "Ahh…finally. I've managed to get another expression out of you." He joked sarcastically as he sat back down in his chair.

"You're…you're not into women?"

"Indeed. Mm…now perhaps you should consider finding some self respect before stepping back into my office again." He held his glasses and brought them down so that he was looking up at her from above the frames. "Is that clear?" Courtney just stood there for a few more seconds before she recollected herself and nodded. "Good. See yourself out. At the moment you have made it quite obvious that you are not ready for this sort of task and my instructions will only render useless if I were to proceed." Courtney huffed before strutting out, showing a different side that she before refused to show in front of her leader. "Hmm…showing her true colors now…" He said to himself as he brought back his attention to the blue sphere. He picked it up, looking closely at its almost transparent form. He could almost see something inside of it, like a faint, floating object. "This must be what's inside. Perhaps it's Groudon's offspring?" He rubbed it with his thumbs curiously as it began glowing, almost like it reacted to his energy. Fascinated by this response, he continued stroking it as it glowed brighter. "What could this mean?" Before he could think of an idea, the orb suddenly levitated out of his hands and pulled him up out of his chair, like some force was connecting with him. A tingling sensation was felt throughout his whole body before residing in his abdomen. "No…that's impossible…" At this point, the redhead was floating completely off the ground as the orb moved closer to that uncomfortable spot. Maxie watched as his prized artifact absorbed into the said area as he gently fell back down into his chair. Pulling back his robe, he saw his stomach was still glowing light blue for a few more seconds before fading and the feeling of a slight weight replaced the tingling. "Am I…" He continued to stare at himself before looking up to see a moving figure at his door.

"Boss…" Tabitha stood, his face of concern and surprise matching Maxie's.

"Get the scientist." He ordered, carefully lifting himself out of his chair and into his bedroom.