Three days after the last chapter... ''Here, Mom. Eat the Herb. It will help.'' I begged, trying to feed my mother. She had gotten sick the day after that strange man named David Carter appeared. She was getting worse every day. Now, Latias and I took turns feeding her, making her bed, and giving her pieces of the Healing Herb. She had refused the Herb for most of that time, and had gotten to the point that her survival looked bleak. Her Axew sat next to her, immune to the disease, crying most hours of the day for his Trainer. Neither Latias or I knew what had gotten to her, as neither of us had an education. Latias couldn't even talk. ''No.'' she said weakly, pushing the spoonful away as best as she could. ''I know that my time now is short. Please, don't try to delay it any longer. And please, whatever you do, always remember that family is the most important thing in anyone's life. Take care of Latias for me. Do what you know is right.'' Her head relaxed on the bed, and her arm fell. I backed away, knowing immediately that she was gone. I was too shocked to say anything. The only human who ever cared for me in my messed-up life was gone. Latias and I were now alone, neither of us having any living friends or relatives. I remembered the business card, and took it out. Latias saw me take it out, and nodded. We knew our only hope rested on that strange man in the black clothing. I also noticed a paper clutched in my mother's hands. I took it out carefully. It was a note, in my mother's shaky, almost illegible writing. _ l Luke. Please, don't despair for my death. I have left you my life savings. They are l l buried under the failed potato harvest from last year. Split it with Latias, and do l l what you need with it. I also give you Axew. He was never captured. I hope he l l brings you great fortune. Goodbye, my son. l l_l Axew looked up when he heard me read the letter, and sadly wobbled (he was disoriented from crying) over to me. ''Ax.'' he said sadly, rubbing a tusk halfheartedly against my side. I held him gently. We both had lost the one we considered our mother. Axew had seen her as his mother as soon as she had taken him from the Dragon Village. He knew it was hopeless to stay, and I was now his only chance for survival. Starving Axew generally don't survive very long in the slums of Forein Town. All our hopes rested on Pokemon Facilities, T.M. Amy and I found a pay phone, which I put a quarter (nearly half of my inheritance) in, and I dialed 1-800-765-3666. I hoped that it wouldn't break, or lose connection, or he wouldn't deny me, or-... Sorry. Bad luck just happens to come up my way. After a terrifying second, the other line clicked. ''Hello, welcome to Pokemon Facilities, T.M. To what do I owe the pleasure of talking for?'' a kind-sounding man's voice with an underlying hiss said. I recognized the voice as that of David Carter. ''I called to ask to enroll in a job. I'm the kid from the street.'' I said, carefully choosing my words. Of course, I wasn't very good at carefully choosing my words. ''Ah, so you decided after all! Very good. I have a perfect job for you. Just come by next Tuesday, and you can get your initiation test. It won't be that difficult, for a brave and clever person as yourself.'' David said. Another voice, a female's, could be heard through the line, but I couldn't hear what it was saying. David shifted, judging by the shuffling sound on the phone, and covered his mouthpiece. He shouted something, but I couldn't hear it either. He got back on. ''That was my, er, colleague, Doctor, um, Jasmine. Sorry. I have so many colleagues, I sometimes forget their names. Anyway, she's an expert in our Rare Pokemon sector of the research facilities. I have an opening for you in a different section. Do you like field work?'' ''I'll do anything if it means providing for my family. Or, what's left of it.'' I said, and I heard a timer go off in the phone. Only five more seconds, and it would shut off. ''Ax ew.'' Axew agreed, nibbling on a tiny piece of the last of the Healing Herb. ''Good. I think you'll find our openings very...satisfying.'' David said. The phone shut off, requiring more money to work longer. I backed away, happy that I had seemingly finally gotten a paying job with no complications. If only I knew then... I was already at the Pokemon Facilities T.M. (Why do I keep writing the 'T.M.', you ask? Because it's one of the most important details in the story, that's why) building before it was even opened. On an unrelated topic, Pokemon Facilities T.M. opens at five in the morning every day. I saw David walk up to open it up for the day. ''Hi, Luke. You're here early. I wasn't even expecting you here for another ten hours.'' David said, ''Can you wait one second? I have to open everything up, and Pokemon Facilities only allows members in. And I don't know if you'll try to leave before you're registered.'' David's voice grew sterner, as if daring me to disobey him. I frowned, but nodded. David's face softened. ''Look, I'm sorry. I'm just not myself until I'm in my office, just listening to the buildings' mechanical movements. Subtle, yes, but perfectly relaxing. I would go into field work, not having to miss the relaxation, but I'm the boss of the entire complex.'' David had opened the door, and had flipped a huge switch. The entire complex lit up, and machines began to turn. I could hear footsteps as workers already started to come. ''Alright. Come with me to the registration room. Your 'family friend' can go on ahead to the workers' apartments. They're the big, yellow building to the left-front-center of the complex. Return your Axew. It doesn't need to go to either building, as it has a Pokeball.'' David said. Amy reluctantly left to go to the apartments, escorted by two workers who both wore the same black outfit as David, only theirs had a large, prominent PF TM logo on their shirts. The 'F' was being attacked by a small asteroid. The 'P' had a crater for the center hole. ''Ax?'' Axew questioned. He knew he had no Pokéball. ''Uh...The thing is, well, I don't, really, have any Pokéballs. Axew was part of my mother's inheritance. He never was captured. I don't even have a Trainer's license.'' I said uncomfortably, sure I had just ruined my last chance at salvation. But David just sighed. ''Well, then, I can get you a license. I have plenty for cases like yours. I guess you can bring your Axew. It seems very attached to you, in any case.'' David said. He was right. Axew was clinging to my neck just like he had my mother, before she and my dad had gotten married and were still travelling together as friends. David beckoned for me to come in, and I decided to forget his strange comment for now. In the registration room... ''Here are some papers for you to sign. Just fill out your name here, and write down any major talents you have.'' David said, handing me two stapled sheets of paper. The first was a contract, which I signed after reading, seeing no legal problems (just because I was poor didn't mean I was stupid) with the sheet. When I flipped the page, I got a paper cut from the edge of the sheet. ''Ow!'' I cried, jumping back. It had been a while since I had felt pain from cuts or bruises. Fights were rarer than you'd think in the alleyways of Forein Town. David rushed towards me, holding a vial to catch a single drop of blood. ''Sorry. I forgot to mention we need a DNA sample. We have things here that most other companies would die to get their hands on. They're all a bunch of lying, stealing places that give false products for a huge price.'' David said, corking the vial before placing it in his black jacket pocket. My cut had healed now, the slice being very small. I finished the sheet, and handed it back to him. He took it and placed it in a computer. It beeped and whirred as it processed the information. ''This computer will register you, give you a nickname, which all of my employees have, and give you a license for being our special kind of Pokemon Trainer. Just so you know, once you are entered, this job stands until you die.'' The computer beeped again, signalling that it was done. David took the printed card (which had the Pokemon Facilities T.M. logo on it) and read the contents. He seemed to like what he had read. ''Yes. This will work.'' he said, giving me the card. I took it, and looked over it. Lucas Ketchum,T.M. Employee, Field class Pokemon Facilities, T.M. Talents: strong senses, powerful mental capabilities, easily Pokemon Facilities, T.M. undetectable Chosen Nickname: Ares As I read the card, I knew I had finally found my home. ''Thank you, for allowing me to stay.'' I told David, who got up. ''Come with me, Apollo. I need to tell you something in a new room.'' he said, walking out the door. I eagerly followed, ready to take in more of my new workplace. We walked into another room, which I could immediately tell was soundproof from the lack of sound. David locked the heavy steel doors behind us. I was beginning to worry. Why had he locked the door? ''Sorry for the door. I just can't let any spies hear what I'm about to say.'' David said, making me worry even more. He seemed taller and scarier in this room, alone with me. ''W-what is it?'' I asked, my voice shaking. ''Don't worry. I won't hurt you. I had to tell you exactly what you are dealing with.'' David said. My worry melted into curiosity. Something in his voice made me want to trust him, to listen to his words. I relaxed, sitting in a soft leather chair that I had just noticed. David remained standing. ''Now, I'm sure you're probably wondering what the 'T.M.' in my company's name stands for.'' David said. I thought for a second. ''Trademark?'' I asked, remembering the abbreviation from company billboards placed occasionally throughout Forein Town. I began feeling a little homesick, despite the fact that nothing there was worth missing. But it was my birthplace. That should count for something. ''That's what my company wants people to think. The true answer is Team Meteor.'' David said, ''And I am its boss, Black Death.'' He let that sink in, patiently waiting. He and I both knew he had plenty of time. I blinked. ''You're joking.'' I said. ''I am telling the absolute truth. And you are now a part of the world of an outlaw organization. You may never leave your post. If you do, I will kill you. On that happy note, it's time for breakfast.'' David, Black Death, said, opening the doors. I followed him, my turbulent thoughts rattling my already amazed mind. Team Meteor? As in the Team Meteor? This is the worst situation I've ever gotten into. I thought as Black Death lead me to another building. This building was full of workers, who I now knew were Team Meteor agents, so I can now write the facility as Team Meteor. Black Death got food for me, guiding me through the crowd of talkative agents to a seat. He ate his food heartily, while I barely touched mine, despite the fact that I could eat one of those sundaes that are three feet long in five seconds (a trait I inherited from my father). He noticed me refusing to eat. ''What's wrong?'' he asked, trying to sound caring. It was obvious he wasn't used to sounding like that, because he kept faltering. I looked at him, my dark brown eyes flashing green and blue with stormy emotions. ''Where's Latias?'' I asked, refusing to answer his question. He had lied to me, saying this was a research lab. He had tricked me into living in his world. Axew jumped off my shoulder and walked toward my food. ''Ax?'' he asked pointing at a biscuit. I nodded, knowing he was hungry, despite having eaten most of the Healing Herb when we had it. He took the biscuit, but didn't eat it. Instead, he gave it to me, after sniffing it to make sure it was safe. I accepted it, knowing how stubborn Axew could be. I subconsciously ate it while I sorted my thoughts. Neither of us knew what would happen next here. I personally had believed throughout my life that Team Meteor (the most clever and logical crime syndicate) agents were always as silent as death, waiting to strike at every corner. I was never prepared for the talkativeness of the agents. A hand tapped my shoulder. I looked at who it was, and Amy pulled me into a hug. She looked full, not as thin as she had been since as long as I can remember. Black Death looked at us, and I could sense a watchful aura around him, seeing everything and storing it in his mysterious mind. Nobody who wasn't in Team Meteor had seen him and lived to tell the tale. I didn't break that streak, as I was apparently in the club now, so to speak. Amy let go of me, and silently scolded me. Whatever she had been doing while I was gone, someone must have told her what I was doing. ''I-I'm sorry, Amy. I had no idea what this place was until after I had registered. What have you been doing?'' I said. ''I mainly sat in the apartment room and read a book. How could you have joined Team Meteor?'' Amy asked, and began to lightly cry. She stopped when realization dawned. ''I-I can talk.'' she said, I ended up being the one who was speechless. Now, after all the bad things that had happened, something good had come along. Both of us forgot her question as we processed this new information. Axew burped lightly when he was full. He had eaten most of my food without realizing it, and now sat contentedly, stomach distended for the first time in ten years. Has it already been ten years? Time seemed to fly when we were poor. ''And now, to discuss your first assignment.'' Black Death said.