Part 2

After narrowly escaping from Mars, G45 and G46 retired to their dormitory to plan their next move. They hid underneath G45's bed (just in case Mars was still on the warpath) and whispered to each other.

"Ok, so was the Boss scared or not?" G46 asked.

"I don't think so," G45 admitted. "It did seem more like a startle response rather than actual fear".

"Yeah, I thought the same," G46 agreed. "So…should we try again?"

"I think so, yeah. Maybe the costume wasn't scary enough?"

"Or maybe it was cos it was broad daylight. Scaring him in the middle of the night would be much more effective".

So the grunts decided on their next plan. They would dress up as Drifloon, sneak into Cyrus's room at midnight, scream into his ear and then flee. They were both convinced that it would work. Sort of.

It was 23:50 at night and the grunts were walking along the corridor that led to Cyrus's room. At it was so late, the main lights were turned off and the only source of illumination came from a small torch that G45 was carrying.

"Are you sure this is frightening enough?" G46 whispered to his brother. "Drifloon do seem kind of…cute".

"Come on, dummy! They're ghost balloons! What the heck is cute about that?"

G46 shrugged. "Well, if you're sure".

Presently, the grunts arrived outside Cyrus's door. G45 switched off his torch and winced when it made an audible click.

"Shhhh," hissed G46.

"You shhhh yourself," G45 muttered back. He took a deep breath and approached the door. With the torch now off, he could clearly see a thin beam of yellow emanating from the gap at the bottom of the door.

"Rats!" G45 whispered. "He's still up".

"Maybe he sleeps with the light on?" suggested G46.

"Maybe? Let's find out". G45 got down on the floor (which was incredibly difficult, as he was wearing a Drifloon costume). Pressing his face against the gap, he peeped under the door, squinting to see better.

Cyrus was wide awake and typing up something on his computer. His Weavile was curled up asleep on the bed and his Murkrow was sitting on the headboard, cleaning its feathers.

"Yeah, he's awake," grumbled G45. "We better come back later".

G46 nodded. "Yeah. Best leave it about…say, an hour? To be safe?"

"Sounds Ok to me. Uhhh, bro?"

"Yeah?"

"Help me up of the flipping floor, will you!"

So, 1:00 am arrived and the two grunts returned to Cyrus's room. They were pretty sleepy now and both certain that this time, they would find the light out and Cyrus sleeping soundly.

Alas, when G45 switched off the torch, the same yellow light could be seen in a thin beam beneath the door. He wanted to swear loudly but was afraid Cyrus would hear, so he scowled instead.

"Maybe this time he's sleeping with the light on?" G46 asked.

"What's with you and thinking the Boss sleeps with his light on? OK, it's your turn to get down and look this time".

G46 nodded and lay down, as required. Peering under the door, he saw Cyrus, still sitting at the computer. Weavile was still asleep and now Murkrow was too.

"Nope, he's awake and working," G46 said.

"Ugh, doesn't he ever sleep!" G45 helped his brother up. "OK, we come back at 2:00 then. Agreed?"

"Agreed!"

An hour later and the two (now very tired grunts) turned up once more outside Cyrus's room. G46 could hardly stop yawning and G45 nearly dropped the torch as he fumbled to press the off switch.

Out went the beam of light, only to reveal the now familiar sliver across the floor. G45 didn't speak, he simply sighed and got down to check once more.

"He's still up," he mumbled, gazing blearily at Cyrus, still tapping away on his computer.

"Urgh, is he gonna be up all night?" groaned G46. "Here, let me see. Maybe you're hallucinating cos you're so tired".

Before G45 could protest, his brother also got down and looked under the door. Nope, Cyrus was awake for him too. Though G46 was rewarded by seeing Cyrus take a sip of water.

"Ok, so we come back at 3:00?" he asked.

"I…guess so, yeah," yawned G45.

"Alright. So, shall we get going?"

"Yeah, just gimme a minute. Here, how are we both gonna get back up now?"

There was no answer. G45 nudged his brother but the only reply he got was a small snore.

"I…don' blame him," G45 mumbled, before his eyelids drooped closed too and he drifted off.

G45 was woken from his slumber by a terrifying apparition looming over him! A huge, shadowy figure with fearsome horns and a cup instead of a hand. Too frightened to scream, he could only stare, wide eyed with horror.

G46 stirred, rubbing his eyes. "What time is it?" he muttered. In response, G45 made a choking sound and pointed at the creature.

"Here! What are you two doing, loafing around outside the Bosses' door?" it spoke. Then, said door opened, light flooded out and there was Cyrus, wearing red boxers with yellow polka dots and Buneary slippers.

This new horror was too much for the frightened grunts, who, through sheer terror, leapt to their feet and raced off down the corridor as if Giratina himself was in pursuit. Cyrus stared after them, his face emotionless as usual. Then he turned to the eldritch horror who had originally caused the commotion.

"Saturn, you have brought me my bedtime cocoa," he said, "Thank you".

"Not a problem Boss," Saturn beamed and handed over the cup of hot cocoa.

Cyrus accepted the cup and took a sip from it. "Who were those Drifloons?" he asked.

"I dunno," Saturn replied. "I guess two of the grunts?"

"Yes. They had probably been attending a late night party, returned to the HQ and became lost, possibly due to intoxication".

"I hope so," Saturn said. "It would have been a proper cheek, had they been trying to bring you cocoa. That's my job".