Ten Years Later
"Really, Gary? And you've confirmed that it is the activity of a new Pokémon poacher that is skulking around the Sinnoh Pokémon reserve?"
"Definitely grandpa. Nothing else can explain the consistent disappearance of first half of our Tauros herd, and then most of our Fearow flock. Now one by one, our Houndoom and Mightyena packs are dwindling in number as well, not to mention one of her Mamoswine has completely disappeared. And you can't just attribute a gigantic Pokémon like Mamoswine getting lost!" Gary Oak said heatedly from the other line over the video call, and Professor Samuel Oak rubbed his chin, before sighing, finally admitting that his twenty two year old grandson was probably right.
At first, he didn't want to admit that there was another Pokémon poacher roaming the lands, not so soon after they've finally managed to eradicate Hunter J and put her in jail for good. For many years, the police and officials worried about the hunter's existence even after her ship exploded. They wouldn't rest easy until a proper ending was given, and that ending happened just two years earlier, when Ash and his cohorts finally managed to capture and put Hunter J permanently behind bars.
And now what was this? Did that ruthless Pokémon hunter manage to train a protégé while she was down? And Professor Oak couldn't even rely on Ash or any of his friends for help this time either, they having gone off to explore even newer regions of undiscovered lands. "I'll send someone I trust is able to help you over as soon as possible. She's a highly qualified Pokémon researcher, and she concentrates on the habits and behavioral patterns of Pokémon, as well as an ex-Pokémon Ranger. She should be of great help to you."
Gary didn't even manage to say a word as his grandfather cut off the call, leaving the guy's words half muttered as the screen went blank, and the twenty two year old scientist huffed an impatient sigh, running hands through his brunette hair. His gaze switched from the empty screen to an open window, and the worry that lingered constantly was brought forefront again. The sight was peaceful, of his greatly reduced Tauros herd grazing, and a flock of Pidgey just taking flight. But everyone in his research lab knew of the troubles, and none of them could sleep well until it was resolved.
And to make matters worse, the lab just got a Shinx in with a mysterious sickness that none of the Nurse Joy's seem to be able to decipher or solve. While the lab's got the little electric cub holding on with a constant supply of super potions and nutritious vitamins, Gary ached to cure the little thing soon. The worried look in his features only tightened when one of his lab assistants ran up. "Professor! The Shinx…"
His forehead creased, and Gary didn't even need another prompt before he began briskly walking towards the cub's recovery room, hands tucked in to his lab coat. He needed to solve all of it, and he needed to solve it fast.
"What's with the urgent call, Professor?"
"I need your help. My grandson has run in to some major problems at his lab, and he isn't able to handle them all by himself. Usually, I would ask Tracey to help him, but he's gone off with Ash to some new region, and none of them seem to be contactable."
The girl's features changed for a second, a split second that had Professor Oak frowning in curiosity, before she broke in to an easy-going smile and nodded. "No problem. I'll head to Sinnoh immediately." She chirped up, and the Professor grinned again. He's had her over at his lab a few times, mostly just to borrow his equipment, but he knew Catherine was a responsible girl, who had a bright future as a Pokémon Professor, and he couldn't help but grin approvingly as the dark haired female quickly made her way out of the lab.
But beneath the quirky steps, her features had changed from bouncy to contemplative… a hint of apprehensiveness even, as the glass doors swished to a close behind her. Picking out the Pokeball attached to the belt she wore was automatic, and a flash of red light had her Stapraptor stretching its large wingspan, just before she walked up to him. "I need to get to Sinnoh, Staraptor. Think you can get me there?" she murmured, her smile a little more wistful then before. The question had the bird type's feathers ruffled, and the offended screech he gave had Catherine laughing as she rubbed a hand along the smooth feathers, and then swiftly jumped on.
"Okay then, let's get going." Was her soft command for the Staraptor to take flight in just a couple of swishes of his strong wings. And as the ascended the skies, apprehension only grew within Catherine's chest. It's been ten years; would he still be the same? And more importantly… would he remember?
The Shinx had suddenly descended in to what the machines seem to detect as a frantic nightmare when Gary had arrived in his room, but with a couple of Soothe Bells and the help of his assistant's Chimecho, it had been put back to its discomforted, but at the very least stable condition. But all of that had happened two days ago, and now Gary stood observing the small amount of Dwebble left scrounging around in the mineral and rocky outlay the team had built for them.
Ever since Ash had returned from Unova, Gary had dedicated a great part of his lab in nurturing and studying the Unova Pokémon he had brought back with him, along with his friends. The rare few Unova Pokémon provided for the lab were prized, and highly protected. The fact that a couple of his Dwebble had gone missing was now beyond frustrating, and sometimes Gary wished he could actually speak to Pokémon, if only to understand where they were going.
If it were any other time, Gary would've gone out to actively search for them. But he couldn't now, not when the Shinx's condition was deteriorating day by day. He even slept over at his office a couple of nights, if only because he fell asleep trying to put together theories, reasons, studying what could be happening to the poor Shinx, but even till now, all his efforts were fruitless. And his team's efforts in protecting the area were equally futile as well, if the missing Dwebble were any indication. Not that he was a man prone to reprimanding his workers, but at this point Gary felt ready to reprimand anyone, as long as his Pokémon on the reserve would stop disappearing.
"And no one saw anything?" he questioned again, voice controlled and leveled. The young intern next to him shakily shook his head, and Gary sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. While he didn't mean to scare the young trainee, he couldn't help it. Frustration was not a pleasant emotion.
"It's fine. Go back and tell them I want to meet them all, in half an hour in the meeting room."
Scuttling off with the instructions, Gary watched the retreating back of his assistant, and then focused his shortening temper at the emptying horizon. Where was that low wit of an assistance his grandfather had promised to send him? Arceus knows he could use some help at about now, but it's been close to three days and there was still no sign of any… ex-Pokémon Ranger, who was supposedly a Pokémon Researcher. Truly at his wit's end, sighs were just about all you heard from Gary Oak these days, as he summoned his Dodrio with a whistle. "Let's go see the rest of the reserves, and just hope that no one else has gone missing, shall we?" the guy finally spoke softly to his Pokémon as he got on, and laughed as he got a loud, rather unladylike screech in return.
Flying for three days, with only minor breaks for sleep and food in between, was no easy feat. So by the time Staraptor's clawed feet touched the sandy beaches of the Sinnoh region, both trainer and Pokémon were glad at the end of their trip, and Catherine fondly thanked her Staraptor before recalling him for a nice long rest. In its place, a magnificent, gray maned Rapidash was released instead, his diamond hard hooves stomping on the sandy ground as he threw his head regally, glad to be released of its confines. "Hush now, Zeus. I need to get to the research centre, pronto. I'm probably late already, so full speed ahead, alright?" she instructed, and the shiny Rapidash gladly obliged. Headstrong and agile, it took hardly any time at all before they finally got there, and Catherine grinned at the seemingly endless energy her Rapidash had as she descended from his back.
"You don't want to go back in?" Catherine questioned, pausing halfway through pulling his Pokeball out, and the Rapidash's reaction was instantaneous, loudly calling his dislike for being called back in to the Pokeball. And laughingly, Catherine conceded, pushing the ball back in to its catch on her belt, before rubbing her Rapidash's strong neck. "Alright, you go and stretch your legs. But come when I call you, alright?"
With his agreement, the storm colored Pokémon dashed off to race the suns, whilst Catherine entered the seemingly quiet lobby, frowning as she noticed no one around. Didn't Professor Oak tell her the lab was usually full of assistants, all running around to do Gary's bidding? The Professor was visibly proud of his grandson, and Catherine was always amused at his stories of Gary and his innumerable achievements in the Sinnoh region. But whilst Catherine understood that sometimes Professor Oak could perhaps exaggerate his grandson's actions… surely someone must be around to man the counter?
Curious at the emptiness, the girl ventured further forward, and her ears finally picked up voices through a slightly opened door. Heading towards the voices, picking up words was not a problem as she eventually ended up standing in front of the doors.
"What else can be done? We can't just sit back idly while our Pokémon gets taken from under our noses."
"But sir, we've set up midnight watches, even went to check every half an hour ourselves, but we can never notice any disappearance. It isn't until mornings when we do the first feed and check of the day, do we realize something or someone is missing."
"Then we're just not looking hard enough! What time do you check last, before the morning feed?"
"At about 6.30a.m, and then none of us have the time to check for an hour and a half until eight, because we're busy setting up our equipment and Pokémon for the day."
"Then something's happened between that period of time." Catherine finally spoke up, as she pushed her way in. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail for the duration of the flight, and as such her forest green eyes meant everyone else's with a steadfast confidence as she made her proclamation. "And whoever's taking your Pokémon, they know your schedule well, because they only make themselves known during that time."
A murmur of consideration and partly agreement drifted through the masses of scientists and lab assistants seated around the table, but at the same time, curiosity filled each of their gazes as well as they took in the short girl, cladded in denim shorts and a shirt, who did not look like much, but who definitely exuded an aura of confidence that belied her looks. Each of them wondered who she was, but only Gary didn't bother wondering. He knew who she was.
And just the sight of her made the insecurity, feelings of anger and betrayal from ten years ago come flooding back, as he took in her more matured, more developed form. She had changed, but then so had he. But while appearances differ, what he felt for her had never wavered. And what he felt right now, and from ten years ago was exactly the same; that he hated the fact that she had left, that she had betrayed him and his trust by leaving him; that he still found her undeniably attractive and craved for her company, even if he would never admit it. Saying he had never thought about her for the past ten years was a lie, but then again whoever said Gary Oak wasn't averse to a little lie every now and again?
His breath caught in his throat when her eyes met his, and he couldn't decide if he wanted to smile at her or strangle her with his own hands as she grinned at him, and then spoke. "Hey Gary, it's been awhile."