Nothing but silence filtered through the speakers, not even the barest crackle of static.
"So, they're back," said a womans voice, her screen black enough to be confused for off.
"Not necessarily. It could simply be a splinter group, or a new group capitalizing on the name's reputation," the ninja said.
"They're not a threat, it was only four of them and they were trying to harvest Slowpoke tails. Not enough money in it to do anything worthwhile with, even on the underground," grunted the warrior dismissively.
"What I'm more interested in is that... Silver. He stole a pokemon and then fights Team Rocket? Maybe they were indeed a splinter group, one that he was tasked to eliminate," the masked man drawled.
"What idiot takes on Team Rocket with that party? They don't exactly branch out much when it comes to pokemon useage, and he had absolutely zero tactical advantage whatsoever," the woman said with disdain.
"You forget that he was also winning with that party, and in addition managed to elude a group consisting of both a gym leader and Kurt. He had everything planned and ready to go, and his pokemon were tightly disciplined. Need I remind you that few enough of us had that much success against the Rockets?" the ninja pointed out. There was silence as the group digested this.
"Which raises another point. What was Kurt doing there? He hasn't been active in anything in decades. It is very unlike him to suddenly develop a sense of civic duty," the masked man asked, picking at a fingernail thoughtfully. Another silent pause before the swish of a cloak brought them back to attention.
"Talk to Kurt. Talk to Oak. Seperately. Something's happening. Something deliberately being hidden from us. Go."
They went. The screens went dark. Lance sat back down, running a hand through his crimson hair. He stared into the darkness for a while, then nodded.
"Well Agatha, guess it's time to wake you up again."
The fairy danced around him, chirping and squeaking happily. They danced, spinning in circles and then falling down, dizzy. Mewtwo looked down at them, expressionless. Finally the man put his forehead against the fairy's.
This is the one I told you about. A new friend. Help him, and he will protect you as I have.
Celebi floated up to Mewtwo. She peered at him curiously, studying him intently. He shifted, uncomfortable at the scrutiny. She chirped, and pressed her forehead against his. His world turned to light, and for a time, that was all that mattered.
"I got to be a gym leader because I know my pokemon better than anyone else in the world," he said, his Scyther as always standing rather menacingly behind him," and hopefully that's what you'll be able to say when you're done here as well. Get to know your pokemon. Learn about them. See what they can do, what they can't. Try new things. Explore possibilities. Let them grow. We have research facilities almost as good as Silph has, feel free to use anything you want. In order to get my badge, you have to submit a comprehensive thesis on one of your pokemon. I want everything to be in there. Lab reports, case studies, psych studies, examinations, everything. By the time you're done, you should know your pokemon better than you know yourself. That is how you will become great."
Ethan was excited. This was his speciality. Research, that he could do. He again shunted aside his lingering terror at the events in the well and his grief at not being able to find Kris in favor of his mission. Stepping into the lab was like stepping into a different world. Outside the gym, Azaela Town was very much like New Bark. Small, quiet, peaceful. But inside, inside was a different story.
"So you new here huh?" a man asked him, smiling broadly, shaking Ethans hand.
"Yeah, just getting settled in," Ethan replied, shifting his backpack so both shoulder straps were on.
"Good good, this is a great place. What are you gonna be studying here? Your Quilava there?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess. Not really a whole lot of other options yet," he replied sheepishly.
"That's a good pokemon. Rare. Saw a battle a Typhlosion was in once. Powerful pokemon. Versatile. You ever done research before?"
Ethan blinked at the sudden topic change.
"Well yeah actually. I'm from New Bark, and I worked with Elm. He was basically my entire education."
"Really! Wow, that's impressive. He's a great scientist, very good. I've read several of his papers, top stuff top stuff. How did you like it?"
"Oh it was great. I really enjoy stuff like that, reading up on things, experiments, whatever the latest stuff is."
"Excellent, excellent. Hey how would you like to do that full time?"
"...What do you mean?" Ethan said cautiously.
"Well, I represent a pharmacutical research company based out of Cianwood. We're always interested in upcoming talent, and are currently recruiting for various positions. I'm sure that with your background you'll fit right in with us!" the man said, his smile impeccable.
"Oh... um... well that's not really something I've ever worked in before... and I'm really just here to get my badge..."
"Of course of course. There's no rush at all. And like I said, we've got various positions open, there's lots of aspects to our work that most people wouldn't think of at first. Tell you what, you just do your thing, write your thesis and let me take a look at it. I've been here for a while, I can help you out on what kind of stuff will really impress Bugsy. Then after you've gotten your badge, we can talk again about you coming to work for us," the man pushed a button on his gear and tapped it against Ethans, "There, now you have my information, feel free to give me a call whenever!"
"Uh, yeah, thanks," Ethan said, pulling back from the man and hurrying off, somewhat unnerved by the experience. He quickly grew accustomed to it though, as he was approached by three more 'representatives' on his way to his assigned room, all eager to recruit a former student of Elm's.
"I'm going to have to start wearing a disguise," he said out loud as he finally got to his room, shutting and locking the door against any more enthusiastic suitors. Aaron sniffed around the room a bit and instantly settled on the bed, rumpling the sheets. Ethan went over to the rooms computer and called his mom.
"Oh hi honey!" she said, smiling brightly.
"Hey mom," he said tiredly.
"You look terrible dear, are you ok? Have you been eating right?" she asked, worried. He looked at her for a moment, tears welling up in his eyes. He wiped them away and told her about the past week, all about the well, about how Kris was gone, how everybody was trying to get him to work for them. It didn't take long for his words to die down.
"Well, obviously you need a real meal," she finally said, focusing on the problems she could fix with the singleminded determination only a mother could muster, "I'll transfer some money to your account baby, go out and treat yourself on me, ok?"
He laughed and she smiled at him, forcing happiness through her worry and anxiety.
"Thanks mom, I love you," he said, forming a heart with his hands.
"Love you too darling," she said blowing a kiss at him before hanging up. She sat there quietly for a while, the clock on the wall ticking, her hands curled in her lap, one inside the other. Suddenly she threw her head back and screamed, a banshee wail of grief and pain. The sound ripped out of her throat, leaving her breathless and sobbing, ears ringing. She curled up on the couch as the tears struggled to come out, pulling out a picture of her son and gazing at it. He was her everything, her only. All that she had left. She hugged the picture close and prayed the prayers of the desperate.