Sorry it took so long to update, I've had a lot of stuff to do and just couldn't get around to it. Anyways I hope you guys enjoy this chapter as much as the others and I hope you will continue to read the chapters as they come. Please Review! Thank You!

-Brianna

What the...?

I woke up to something odd, round and fluffy on my face. This has happened before though. Kate had brought in a bunch off pokemon into the inn when we were kids and I found like three Sentret curled up on my face and a Doduo lying on top of me in bed. But this was different, I mean it's not winter and I don't think Kate is even here. Kate was often assigned morning patrols with Luana and I took evening patrols with Crawford. I struggled to open my eyes but it was hard considering this ball was on my face. I gently picked it up and sat up, as I began to sit up the ball, which I now determined was a pokemon, squirmed. When I finally rubbed the sleep from my eyes and saw this pokemon I almost died.

"Pichu!" I screamed as I pulled my old friend into a hug. "What are you doing here?!" I cried in extreme happiness before Luana walked in laughing.

"Professor Oak just sent her pokeball over so I decided to let her surprise you." she giggled as I released Pichu from my crushing hug. Luana pet her on the
head, then me and left.

"Well this makes today a whole lot better!" I said happily to Pichu who now realized my burned arm. Instantly her face turned into a look. I guessed it meant "this is what happens when leave you alone?" I pet her gently, just trying to avoid getting glared at for the rest of my life.

I quickly took a shower (which was a bad idea), it hurt so much! Then I got dressed and went out to the main part of the base. When I walked out with Pichu sitting on my good shoulder I looked at Elaine who looked scared for me. Uh oh... This can't be good.

"Samson!" I flinched as I remembered the incident from yesterday. It was like in a horror movie when you see the monsters shadow coming down the hallway. You could hear Barlow's fury, that's how mad he was. Yikes! I ran outside, without thinking and made a B-line for Nabiki Beach.

"Maybe I can hide in the Marine Cave for a while or something!" I thought as I ran as fast as I could. I stopped in my tracks and turned around. "Better plan!" I ran behind the base and went into Vien Forest. When I came to the source of the forest fire from yesterday I slowed down and started walking at a normal pace.

Pichu jumped down from my shoulder, which she had desperately held onto while I was running, and sat down on a log by Lookout Ridge. I sat down for a minute before a high pitched ringing sounded and I had to cup my ears to try and stop it. Pichu's ears bugged her too so we started walking back towards Vientown and eventually the ringing stopped.

"What the hell was that?" I held a hand to my head trying to stop a wave of dizziness that I felt coming on. The last time I heard a ring like that was in the cave, coming from that machine. This time it was worse and I knew that if it was the same sound that something was bound to happen.

VOICEMAIL VOICEMAIL!

I looked at my styler and Barlow's face showed up. I was expecting a big long speech from him as soon as I answered but instead I got an apology.

"Sorry Samson I would love to give you one of my famous lectures but I need you to meet up with Professor Hastings in Vien Forest to escort him back. Got it?" I nodded and he immediately hung up. Saved by work. Never thought that would happen.

I looked around to see if I could spot my grandfather and saw nothing. A few minutes later I see him... jogging? "Ah Alexa my dear!" He called out as he slowed down and gave me a hug. "Barlow thinks I need an escort?" He chuckled as we separated from the hug.

"Yep! He thinks you can't take care of yourself Gramps!" I joked, he cocked a brow and then laughed.

"You sound just like Keith!" he said amused as we started walking to the base.

"Keith?" I can't remember how long it had been since I saw Red's goofy grin.

"Yes. The other day I phoned his base to check on things with everyone down there. You know like I do for almost every base. Anyways I saw Keith in the background and he greeted me with that grin of his and did just as you did, called me Gramps." he chuckled as he looked up. It was sad that I barely remember what he looks like now...

"And of course he asked about you." I looked at him and he smirked at me.

"R-Really?" I stuttered as I could feel my face heat up. It made me feel good that he asked about me.

"Yes of course! I told him all about your little adventure with that machine that Barlow told me about. And how your ranger uniform suits you so well. I felt bad that I was bragging about you but I don't think he minded too much." He laughed for a little bit before I saw Vientown come into view.

"Hey Gramps?" I said with a mischievous look on my face. I looked towards the base and then back and my grandfather. Instantly he broke off in a full out run, which was impressive considering his age. "CHEATER!" I called after him as I now broke into a run.

"AGE BEFORE BEAUTY!" He called as he made it to the doors. That's my grandpa. No matter what situation he can always prove to me that in some way we are related. I eventually got to the base and we walked in together. Barlow looked from the professor to me and then back to the professor.

"Welcome sir! Right this way and I'll show you the machine that our rookies brought back from the Marine Cave." He said, directing Hastings over to the machine which sat untouched thanks to the constant supervision that we had to keep on it. Elaine still drooled when she looked at it...

"I'm the one who brought it back!" Crawford tried to take credit.

"Um no. Bertha carried it back. You tried and failed." Kate mocked as she came to greet my grandfather. Crawford just walked away, too embarrassed to counter. My grandfather stopped looking at the machine for a second to shake hands with Kate before continuing to examine it.

Luana began explaining how they controlled pokemon and how they found remains of these machines during the Vien Forest fire. My grandfather seemed informed about it so I was also in danger of a lecture from him. He pulled out a small notepad from his lab coat and began taking notes on the exterior then we released the Elaine and allowed her to disassemble the machine. After they had done all the research Barlow said he would escort my grandpa back to the Union and have Bertha bring the machine tomorrow when it was done being put back together.

"I get to put it back together too?!" Elaine cried in delight before grabbing her tools, sitting on the floor in front of the pile of parts and starting to put it all back together.

"That girl..." I sweatdropped before my grandfather came up to me and gave me a hug goodbye.

"Oh and just so you know Alexa, I'm aware of what happened in the fire, but I'm not mad. Burns, wounds, scars. They are just another badge of bravery that you get." He hugged me once more. Even if those scars are not always visible..." he whispered before saying goodbye to everyone else and leaving with Barlow.

I stood there for a while, mauling over poignant memories that those few words brought back to the surface. Kate stood by me for a while before walking me to our room and then closing the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

My mom's death. That's all I could think about. It had left deep wounds in my heart that recently turned to scars. Sometimes those scars would open up. Just enough that it hurts... I shook my head around trying to escape my own flashbacks and turned on my computer.

"I need a distraction." I said to myself and before I knew it Rhythmi called. Her cheerful face popped onto the screen as I replied.

"Hey Alexa! How are you?" she asked in her usual tone. I sighed, gave a 'fine' and then rested my elbows on the desk where my laptop sat. "Alexa?" she asked with a look of concern.

"Huh?"

"What's that on your arm?" she asked.

I examined my arm and realized that the burn was visible. I forgot about it completely and now I have to explain this to Rhythmi. Great... Kate came in, overhearing me talking to Rhythmi, and explained it for me.

"Oh. Well at least you're okay!" Rhythmi said, returning to her usual cheeriness. "Have you told Keith yet?" she asked and I sat back.

"Why would I tell him?! He would get so mad that I kept going even though I was injured!" Rhythmi looked at me, she was very conflicted with this. "You can't tell him Rhyth! Please!" I plead, hoping that she would just let it go. She sighed deeply.

"Fine... I won't go and tell him but if he asks and it happens to slip out, I am not responsible!" she shouted. I knew she would try her best but eventually its going to get out. I mean Crawford already told my aunt and uncle who weren't impressed.

"Thank you Rhyth..." I muttered before laying down on my bed.

"Well I see someone's tired so I'm gonna head off! Bye girls!" Rhythmi chirped. We said goodbye and closed my laptop.

"He's gonna figure out at some point." Kate assured me and I sighed.

"And let's hope that I at least have some time before he does!" I stated, clasping my hands together as if to pray. Kate giggled as she sat down on her bed.

"You can't blame him for caring." she said. I really can't, I mean I would do the same. Kate saw me starting to get lost in thought and excused herself before going out into the main base.

After she left I picked up a newspaper that was sitting on the floor and examined it.

"Brave Rangers Of Fiore Chase Off Dim Sun."

I browsed the article before I looked at the picture. There on the front page was a picture of Keith fighting a Gyarados. A smile came to my face as I saw him. "I'm glad he's doing so well." I muttered. I was about to put the paper down when something caught my eye. A Buizel, suspected to be his partner pokemon. It was the same Buizel he caught when we were on the 1-day internship.

"So that's where that little guy went. Haha" I laughed as I threw the paper to a table along to wall. Without getting up I used my "amazing skills" to get my pj's on and I fell asleep.