DISCLAIMER: Pokémon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri and Nintendo. My oc's belong to me.
Sunlight's Return
Chapter 26
"The Skies Have Fallen"
"What kind of- of OUTRAGEOUS lie is this? Stop lying to me, Sam! Tell me the truth! I want the truth about Jayce! None of this nonsense about some mythical bird or Mt. Hideaway! I want the REAL story!-"
"That is the truth, Delia! I swear on every legendary that has ever existed that what I've said IS true! Jayce has been in danger this entire time. All because of Team Rocket and their warped obsession with Ho-Oh! He had the feather, and they were after him for it! First Madame Boss, and now her son! Giovanni was going to KILL you and Ash if he didn't comply. Jayce had to leave. He had no choice but to NOT tell you. He didn't know how else to protect you-"
"I- I- I don't believe you! I CAN'T believe you. None of it is believable... Nothing makes sense-"
"Delia, please! I know this difficult to take in and understand! And I am so sorry for keeping you and Ash in the dark for as long as I did. It pained me immensely! You have no idea how desperately I wanted to tell you-"
"Don't speak to me anymore, Samuel! Don't you DARE look at me."
Ash's eyes gravitated to the pavement.
He didn't know what to believe.
Yes, it had all been processed, in one sense or another. Prof. Oak's rehashing of those events ten years ago regarding the now known Madame Boss; the apparent real, but baffling encounter with Ho-oh; the general secrets Jay had been hiding, and why he had to protect him and Delia...
Shockingly, Ash sat in complete silence. His back was supported by the far wall of his cell as his arms rested on his propped knees. His face was fixed in a cold hard stare with dark bangs hanging rather disheveled as he glared past the bars that ensnared him like some helpless wounded bird in a cage.
He wanted to scream. He wanted to scream so loud that it would deafen any noise around him, that it would nearly break the sound barrier-
And Prof. Oak's hearing, too.
But not to drown out the his mother's regretful, bewildered, and hysterical bawling. At the start of the professor's explanation, Delia interrupted with warranted questions which soon turned into incredulity, and then morphed maniacally into angered denial. Then, the stream of tears began to flow. None of it made sense to her. Even when she tried to grapple what she had been told, the extreme notion of it all left the woman frustratingly shell-shocked. The guilt plagued her heart immensely- recalling the exact accusatory words she threw her husband's way... Telling Jay he was selfish, that he had changed, that he didn't care about Ash, about her...
When Prof. Oak had finished his longwinded and beyond boggling conclusion, Ash would give a noticeable glower in the direction of the man in between his mother's weeps.
Damn him.
Damn Professor Samuel Oak for lying to his poor mother's face, for keeping his father's outrageous secrets hidden for nearly a decade. Damn him for listening to Jay and not telling the truth. Something could have been done. If one soul had spoken up, Ash was certain that things wouldn't have escalated as far as they had. He would have done something. He would have intervened! He didn't care how young he was those years ago, or that he was still a child in some respects now. None of that mattered.
But what exactly did matter?
In the end, Ash didn't know what to feel. He was overcome by an immense numbness of shock, and intensifying anger pleading to be released. Out of the current feelings he was experiencing, he didn't know which one should be dominant or if any of them even deserved an ounce of his energy. Fury. Hatred. Sorrow. Disbelief. Confusion. Desperation. Loss. Betrayal- Which one was it? And who was he supposed to feel contempt towards? Prof. Oak was a given, but what about his mother?
And wasn't he supposed to exert his anger towards Jay?
Constricted with so much emotional intensity at once, Ash couldn't decide whether to empathize with Delia or feel just as much anger towards her for keeping secrets from him since his birth. Everything he was enduring was all swirling inside his gut, mingling together into something unfamiliar but somehow familiar and painstaking. It felt so ugly and chaotic, Ash wished for it to dissolve and fade away into something hopeful, something he could easily reach and understand-
But it wouldn't leave. No. It stubbornly stayed put, content on causing him misery in his rampaging woes.
He had to accept that rationale wasn't going to save the day. He had to accept the reality before him, regardless of whom he was furious with and for what legitimate reasons. Maybe not at this very moment, but much sooner than later. He, his mother, Prof. Oak, and Dr. Strayer were captured. Captured, by the largest criminal organization in all of Kanto, which was led by one of the most notorious and devious leaders of their region. From Ash's own personal experiences with characters like Team Rocket, time wasn't on their side. As much as he wished to hash things out with Prof. Oak, he knew it wasn't practical. As desperately as he wanted all his questions answered by his mother about his dad, about Richard's affair- now wasn't the time. For one: he was too inwardly scared of their impending doom; and two: he knew his mind was better concentrated elsewhere. Like deciphering a plan to remove themselves from harm. Somehow, someway. So they could live and so that he could get the answers he craved.
Even if the trainer was feeling utterly disoriented and submersed in complete shock.
It was fight or flight at this point. No turning back. And, as expected, Ash was choosing to fight.
Fingers coiled into tight fists. Dim chocolate eyes closed. Then, they looked to the shaking, crying figure beside him.
"We aren't giving up."
Ash's voice was quiet, but shrouded in enough determination for his mother to take notice. Perking up, Delia's equally exhausted face looked to her son's. "Wha?-" she started numbly.
"We aren't giving up, Mom." Ash's voice rose adamantly. "We're gonna get out of here, we're gonna find a way to stop Giovanni- and we're gonna see Dad."
While that all sounded hopeful, it was more than overreaching. At least to Delia, everything felt impossible, for she could barely understand what was occurring around her. In her youth, she had attended Prof. Oak's afterschool program, and was somewhat aware of legendary Pokémon and the myths behind them. But that was years ago, and while Delia cherished raising her Pokémon, she never sparked an interest in the mysteries of these creatures as her husband had. So attempting to carefully listen to and digest the wild and outlandish story Prof. Oak relayed to her nearly left the woman both shell-shocked and in total disbelief.
Just the thought alone, the replaying in her mind of what transpired between her and Jay that stormy night he left... Delia couldn't forgive herself. If what Sam was saying was true, then all the woman could do was blame herself. Outwardly she attacked Sam and inwardly she ripped herself apart. Those daring, horrible accusations she chucked at Jay- to call him out as if he was betraying her, walking out on her after everything they had been through... Behaving as if Jay no longer loved her...
Those accusations bitterly mingling with Emily's biting words.
And then there was the letter. The letter that had hinted at everything... and she missed it all.
What I said to him- what I made him go through and he was only trying to- Oh my God!
She hated herself.
Delia closed her eyes and breathed in shakily. "Ash, please-"
"No, Mom," her son cut her off without hesitation. "Giovanni's not going to win! He's already taken so much from all of us!-"
"But Ash, listen to me!" she shot back with just as much gusto. Now her whole body quaked. "It's not going to be that easy! We have no idea what might happen. We hardly understand what's happening now-"
"I know that," Ash admitted. He seemed strangely calm about this. "But I think I've thought of a way to at least give us a head start. Dr. Strayer?" The call of his name caused Michael to give the teenager his attention. Ash continued. "Those two clowns that came in earlier, Jessie and James?"
"What of them?" he asked.
"I think they could use a little session with Dr. Creud, if you know what I mean?"
Michael squinted. "Ash, I think you're referring to Dr. Freud," he corrected. "And actually, his tactics are very outdated, very perverse in fact-"
"You get what I'm saying, though!" Ash cut to the chase. "Jessie and James would make perfect clients for you."
"Are you suggesting for me to manipulate them?"
"Whatever it takes for you to get them to let their guard down. As awful as they can be...they have this- other side to them. At least that's what it seems like. They're usually pains to deal with, but I don't think they've totally lost what it means to be human. They each have some sort of tragic past to them. If you can distract them, and get them to believe that you really do want to listen to them, then maybe, we can trick them and escape!"
It sounded like a shoe-in...if one discounted the plain fact that they were being held captive by Kanto's very own crime boss who forever managed to go undetected by authorities. They weren't just going to have to outsmart these Jessie and James characters...their leader was their ultimate enemy, and from what Michael understood by Giovanni's reputation alone, tricking him would be nearly impossible. Plus, none of them had a clue where they were. There were no obvious signs to indicate their current location, and as to where they would find a convenient exit...
"But then what?" the psychologist argued logically. "Even if I do succeed in what you're asking me to do, who's to say Giovanni won't send other agents after us? We have no idea what he's capable of nor where we even are. And we have no Pokémon to help us. No weapons."
"That's just one of the reasons I need to find Pikachu," Ash replied, his eyes showing a glimpse of desperation. "Please, Dr. Strayer, this might be our only shot. Jessie and James are screw-ups, so don't take them too seriously. They talk big, and I bet if you butter them up, we'll have a much greater chance of getting out of here in one piece. Together."
It was Delia's turn to return her son's optimism with an unsure look. She hated being a pessimist- especially at a time like this- but what Ash was conjuring up sounded like wishful thinking. As challenging as it was to process everything Sam had told her, Delia at least comprehend the jeopardy they were in. What could happen to any of them if they took one wrong step...
"Ash," she started slowly, "I don't know how I feel about this-"
"I can do this, Mom," he insisted. "I've been in just as bad of situations-"
"I don't care about that!" she abruptly boomed. "You may be a Pokémon trainer, you may have gotten yourself out of sticky situations in the past, and you may be a young man now, but you're still my son. First. I'm not going to just allow you to jump into the line of fire! Not without me being there to protect you."
He hesitated for a moment, but pressed anyway. "Mom, I don't think you can-"
"Ash, you may not think I'm capable of a lot things, and perhaps I can't fight to the extent that I wish I could. But I am not going to just sit by and let you get hurt, and watch your father's mistakes unravel as I do nothing. I'm not some helpless woman. If I was, we wouldn't be where we are! I mean with our life- before this happened."
Her passionate reminder caused Ash to fall silent, eventually eyeing Delia with careful words of consideration. "Mom, I know how strong you are. But this is something you've never experienced before-"
"And you've experienced being kidnapped?" she fired back.
Ash winced. Perhaps he shouldn't have let that one out of the bag. "Kinda. But obviously nothing this bad."
Petrified chestnut eyes closed with a shaking head. "I- I can't handle knowing right now. If anything's for certain it's that you will get out of here," Delia retorted.
"We'll get out of here," Ash emphasized with a gentle touch of his hand through the bars.
In return, Delia squeezed her son's soft grip, fighting off another urge of tears wishing to fall. Ash knew how impeccably strong his mother was, but he was also aware of how fragile she could be at times. Anything involving Jay demonstrated the kind of thick and sturdy motherly armor she was able to produce. Naturally, however, on the inside, when she wasn't diligent in shielding her son, Ash could see how likely she was to emotionally break down. Especially after the devastating and baffling news they had been given by the disheveled professor. The professor, whether he liked it or not, was going to have to cooperate with him if they were going to locate Pikachu and escape alive.
Soft chocolate eyes turned stern as they tore away from Delia. "When was the last time you spoke to my father?"
With pathetic eyes, Sam glanced up and acknowledged the cold question from the trainer. "Days ago. He had left Lavender Town with the others. They were forced to take the long way for- various reasons. They are trying to reach the Indigo Plateau, though I pray Tracey and Brock had gotten a hold of him to tell Jayce what has happened to us."
"Or the police," Michael chided in, stating the obvious.
"I'm sure people are looking for us," Ash said with certainty. "They have to be." They just gotta be. Holding onto that hope reminded the teenager of his family and friends. Ash couldn't even begin to imagine how they were feeling, what they were left wondering, how they were processing their disappearance...
"But if you haven't spoken to Jayce, Sam, who's to say they haven't been caught as well?" the psychologist foreboded depressingly.
Slowly, Sam closed his eyes, almost appearing to smirk to himself as he formulated his reply. "Michael, if I know anything for certain, Jayce has an uncanny way of escaping trouble time after time. What I worry about, is if he finds out about what has happened to us."
Ash wrinkled his forehead. "Why's that?"
Sam leveled him with a lugubrious look. "Because it'll kill him."
Their legs ached with an incredible intensity, as sheer willpower to keep moving forward was wavering drastically.
Except for Jay.
Not a single glance was given their way as Misty and Molly tiredly collapsed to the ground, calling their strenuous hike to a halt. Drake noticed the evident exhaustion upon the pair, as he too was feeling a very similar fatigue. His brother, however, while he was surely experiencing just as much pain, refused to stop walking. This was not basic determination- this was fear driving Jay. Insistence that he'd reach Pallet to save his family at a somehow faster rate.
After that terrorizing night, Jay fell into a state of shock. Almost sedate, complemented by dead eyes and a ghost-like complexion. His eyes cast a hue of desolation, the only thing showcasing his inner thoughts. After all, he had barely uttered a word since. While they didn't know for certain what had happened in Pallet, Jay seemed insistent that Giovanni had succeeded. He was dead-set on that, and no one, not even Drake, could talk him into holding on to hope. Just for a bit longer...
Not only that, but Drake feared what Kelly had informed his brother of wasn't helping, either. For as short of a time as they had known him, Kelly's death seemed to have affected Jay to the point of anger someone would only experience at the loss of a loved one. Whatever transpired between the two of them, Drake deduced rather quickly that Kelly, or just his words alone, had moved his brother in one way or another. Jay knew something, and being less talkative meant he was keeping it to himself.
"Jay," Drake started, coming to his side. "Jay?" A simple beckon of his name wouldn't suffice, for the islander had to physically step in front of his older brother. "Jay, hold on a minute! Stop!"
He froze at Drake's request before giving him a cold stare. "Get out of my way, Drake."
A firm hand reached for Jay's shoulder and clamped it. "No," Drake replied adamantly. "You need to stop this. The girls can't handle much more, and neither can you. If you keep traveling, you're going to make yourself sick-"
"And take longer in reaching Delia and Ash?" Jay held his younger brother's gaze. His eyes darkened. "You don't know what physical discomforts I've had to endure, Drake. This is nothing."
Forcefully with a twist of his shoulder, the master shoved his brother's hand away. Drake narrowed his eyebrows. Fair enough. He wasn't going to argue that. Not with all the evidence of Jay's outrageous tales of being hunted down. But there was something he was overlooking, and Drake felt the need to remind him of such.
"Fine," he began with a huff. "Maybe it is nothing to you, in a physical aspect. But I know what this is doing to you mentally- emotionally. You're on the brink of driving yourself crazy, Jay. Trekking forward like you're some invincible force isn't going to get us any closer to Pallet or to Delia and Ash. Accept the fact that you can't fix what's happened, Jay. At least not now. We need help. More than all of us combined could provide. And in order for us to get help and save Delia and Ash, we need to take care of ourselves first."
His logical side heard his younger brother loud and clear. Everything Drake uttered made perfect sense without question. On any given day, if it was any other circumstance, he'd take heed of his advice without much a struggle. But this...this was something entirely different.
Drake didn't get it. Jay didn't expect him to, and he didn't necessarily feel like explaining his inner woes for the hundredth time. Coming to terms with the fact that Jay could not indeed undo what had happened the night before was heart-wrenching enough to make himself curse his very existence every time he took a step. After ten years of running, after leaving everything he knew and loved, Jayce had faced his worst nightmare: he failed Ash and Delia. After all his selfless efforts to keep them safe, he had, in desolating irony, failed the only two people that made him want to live. It was impossible for anyone to comprehend what he was experiencing. It was easier to recoil, to become hardened, to feel hate for himself and for everything around him.
At this point, it didn't matter to the master if he was literally driving himself into madness. He had already crossed the point of no return. There was no turning back, especially after that ominous warning Kelly had given him with only those limited options...
He will tempt you with the things that you hold close to your heart. Don't let him reverse what was meant to be...
The temptation felt so real, so hard to resist.
Cold eyes shot back at Drake. "Rest if you insist. I can't."
He walked past the islander without giving a second look before disappearing into the threshold of trees. Drake breathed heavily through his nostrils.
Can't or won't?
The Kleenex box had been nearly emptied.
In a dimly lit room, Deputy Chief Jenny Anderson sat across an interrogation table from Mr. and Mrs. Parker. The couple, among several others, had been instructed to come down to the Viridian Police Station for a formal interview involving the highly prioritized missing persons' case. Diligently, Jenny's officers were beginning to work with the knowledge they had acquired, while some were sent out to look about Pallet's area in case the missing individuals were taken in the general vicinity. Regarding her new and much higher position, Jenny listened in on the interrogations, gaining a full sense of the characters involved and the reasoning behind the crimes. On occasion, she would step in, and this case in particular was one she decided to be in the middle of.
With help from those closest to the victims, the chief hoped she could piece together some of the puzzle for the Parkers, Ketchums, and the Oaks. Three predominant families in that small, forgettable town that somehow seemed to be more intertwined than she expected...
"Mr. and Mrs. Parker," Jenny started evenly, leaning forward in her seat, "when was the last time you spoke to your daughter?"
Leah was noticeably sniffling, the very one who had taken to the tissues for comfort. Ernest sat close by his wife, rubbing her back gingerly as she tried to collect her wits. He hadn't mentioned the blood he discovered in the living room before dialing 911 to Leah. Neglecting that detail was for obvious reasons, though he knew he'd have to tell her. But as of now…
"It was late last night," she breathed with another sniffle. "Must have been ten, I think."
"And you, sir?" Jenny posed.
"Closer to eleven," the farmer replied, equally drained. "She called to let me know Ash came home and that she'd talk to us and him in the mornin'."
"About the incident at the inn?" the chief assumed.
"Correct."
"Can either of you think of anyone- anyone at all who might have held a grudge against Delia, or someone she had a confrontation with in the past?"
"No, no," the older woman shook her head first. "I can't think of anyone."
"What about Ash? His relationship with Garreth Oak in particular?" posed Jenny. "I understand your grandson got into a fight with him last night at your party. Are they friends or just the opposite-"
"He's Delia's nephew by law," Ernest quickly clarified. Then, his eyes hardened with a scoff. "And no. He and Ash ain't friends."
His tone was definite for Jenny to take note of. It was now coming to light that Ash and Gary were never fond of one another, which only furthered Jenny's pondering, as if the focus of the investigation might lean towards the battered teenager himself, not the mother...
The chief nodded in return. "I see. Considering your grandson's recent scuffle...has he ever been prone to violent behavior or tendencies?"
This inquiring caused Leah's gaze to shoot up with an incredulous look. "Are you suggesting that my grandson hurt my daughter?"
"Ma'am, we have to cover all our bases," Jenny hurriedly explained, before a quarrel broke out. "People sometimes do things in the heat of the moment they wouldn't normally do. Perhaps they were arguing about what happened at the inn and-"
"No, no, NO!"
Not only was Jenny taken aback by Leah's declaration, but her husband was as well. She sucked in another deep breath after her outburst, finding the tears impossible to hold back as she rattled on which such adamant certainty. "Ash is a sweet boy, he'd never hurt his mother! He'd never hurt anyone! He loves her! She's all he's had since he was six."
Either this was a case of a distraught grandmother in denial, or Jenny could check Ash off the suspect list. By the subtle nod Ernest gave the chief, she recognized he agreed full heartedly with his wife. So, as composed as she could, Jenny carefully asked for clarification.
"What do you mean Delia's all Ash has?"
"Delia's husband, Jayce, walked out on them when Ash was little," Ernest elucidated, continuing to affectionately comfort his wife with more rubs to the back.
That information now made things clearer for Jenny. She had noticed Delia's marriage status on her profile, but had wondered as to where exactly the husband was. His status was obviously absent, but was it warranted for him to be reported as missing?
"He wanted to be a travelin' Pokémon trainer," the farmer went on, before mumbling, "Never amounted to much-"
"None of that matters!" Leah interrupted fervently with watery eyes. She didn't understand what her estranged son-in-law had to do with this disappearance, nor did she have the patience. "What matters is finding my babies-"
"Mrs. Parker, we're doing everything in our power to find your daughter and grandson as quickly as possible. But I'm going to need both you and your husband to cooperate and answer these questions.
"I know this is beyond difficult, and I know you're worried over your heads, but we have to check everything off before we can go forward. No one is making accusations here, but I have to speculate in order to make sure we don't miss anything. I'm doing everything in my power to find them, and I will continue to. Okay?"
Even with her serious and assertive tone, Jenny reached out a kind hand to the shaky Leah. In return, the older woman soaked in the chief's words and dabbed away another set of stray tears. Ernest, too, acknowledged the sincerity in Jenny's voice and nodded for her to proceed with her questioning.
Focusing her attention back on Leah, Jenny could see the willingness to cooperate in the innkeeper's eyes, but knew the sheer shock of it all was rattling the woman to hysteria. "Now," she started once more, calmly, "I think knowing a little bit more about Jayce might actually help. Do either of you know if he's ever communicated with your daughter or grandson since leaving?"
Leah's forehead wrinkled. "Not as far as we know. He's never called or anything."
Jenny took notes, continuing her questions. "So was Delia not keen on Jayce leaving?"
A brief moment of silence passed as Leah swallowed. "She didn't want him to go. She begged him to stay, but he wouldn't."
"Why?" Jenny implored.
Leah and Ernest glanced at one another in unison. This time, he answered. "That's the thing- we don't really know. I don't even think Delia's ever had a clear answer."
"Besides him wanting to become a trainer?" the chief proposed.
"That's what we assume. Delia told us that the last couple of months Jayce was with her, he was actin' different. Secretive almost. He wouldn't tell her much, and he was doing things that made Delia believe he wanted to train and collect badges. It was somethin' he wanted to do when he was younger, but decided not to when he married our daughter.
"And after all that..." He snorted sardonically. "Some promise he made."
Again, Jenny nodded thoughtfully, taking in Ernest's words with a careful listening ear. She had her own wonders swirling in her head; the word secretive being used provoked the detective in her to need to dig a little deeper. It was a hunch, a near random and possibly empty hunch. Even so, she felt the need to go down that rabbit hole...just in case.
"Do either of you know if Jayce has a history of domestic violence of any sort?"
"No, never," Leah answered for the both of them. "We first met Jayce when he and Delia were in high school and I didn't find him to be that way at all. He always treated our daughter well. I just- I just can't think of Jay being capable of doing something like this," she announced, catching on to Jenny's assumptions. "Maybe he wasn't cut out to be a father or husband after all, and maybe he is selfish, but I can't bring myself to believe Jay would hurt Delia or Ash. He loved them. That's why- that's why no one could make sense of any of it."
Amber eyes shifted very quickly once catching sight of the very faint shaking of Mr. Parker's head. Intrigued, Jenny arched an eyebrow. "You don't feel the same way?"
Astonished, Leah turned to her husband with a hiss. "Ernest-"
"I ain't sayin' he's a villain or a saint," the farmer clarified before any bickering broke out. "But somethin' wasn't right with that boy," he carried on, wagging his finger adamantly. "You don't just act like you're a carin' husband and father, and then up and leave them just for the hell of it! I don't know what got into Jayce, but how Delia was after he left... It took her a long time to come to grips with being abandoned. And all we could do was try to clean up the goddamn mess Jayce Ketchum made for the sake of our family. So no, I'm sorry, Leah, but I ain't discountin' he had nothin' to do with this."
Before Jenny could get a word in edgewise, Leah looked to Ernest with thunderstruck, cloudy eyes. "Ernest, please, you know in your heart Jayce didn't do this! How could he? He hasn't been anywhere near here! This is just you still being bitter-"
A loud knock on the interrogation door led to it being swung open. The couple instantly fell silent at the sight of another officer entering, requesting for Jenny to speak with them regarding an update on the search. She answered she'd be with them momentarily, before turning back to Mr. and Mrs. Parker. She would usher them out shortly, and inquire how the interview went with their daughter Ophelia and their family friend Michelle.
Until then, Jenny had to ponder over what information she managed to gather, and if leading up on the prospects of the apparent missing husband was anything worth searching into.
Finally, things were falling to place.
After ten long painstaking years of playing cat and mouse through vast and wildly different regions, Giovanni's ultimate goal was at last making headway. It was the first time in so long he felt oddly...satisfied. It was a sensation he only experienced at brief intervals, when much smaller schemes succeeded. But this...this thrill, this tantalizing excitement building up within- it was an exhilarating high, and because of its uproar, the crime boss was all the more eager to pursue his endeavors at a faster rate. Of course, if there was anything Giovanni had learned from concocting his wicked plan of world domination, it was patience.
And apparently, he would need just a little bit more.
But that was fine. He was content with the sacred downy matter resting in his hands. There was one observation the criminal took note of, however. One he was not anticipating. The glimmer of the feather was not nearly as strong as Giovanni presumed. The expected vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and green appeared dull. They tried to almost flicker when touched by shots of sunlight, but as quickly as they appeared the cast of glitter faded instantly.
His frown tightened at this, the lines forming deeper creases as he flipped the feather over. Dark eyes went on examining every bristle. It was surreal to be holding such a rare artifact. A reminder that all his mother had sacrificed hadn't been for nothing. Not when he had a chance to redeem himself, to unlock the myth of resurrection...
But Giovanni wasn't about to count his chickens before they hatched too soon. Ketchum was still needed. If he was aware of his family being held prisoner, then Giovanni was convinced he'd turn himself over. They were his motivation after all.
A knock and presence proceeding into his office led to Giovanni's attention being drawn away from his thoughts. Barely glancing over his shoulder, he discovered his personal reporter.
"Suicune is on its way as we speak, sir," the grunt informed. Then, his voice fluctuated. "Though, unfortunately, Jayce Ketchum-"
"Escaped," Giovanni finished. I despise the feeling of becoming so numb to this! He placed the feather gently down in the secured glass box upon his back chest of drawers. With his back still turned, the crime boss listened to his lackey's report. "What sort of wreckage did he leave behind on this occasion? Was he aware of his family's capture?" he jumped to inquire.
"At least half of the agents sent out were killed. We are unsure if the agents who were killed told him. Agents Cassidy, Butch, and a few others managed to make it out unscathed, though none of them revealed the kidnapping to him. However, there was an- unexpected encounter during the chase."
It was the first time Giovanni appeared surprised, as he twirled around. "With what?"
"A whom, actually. It seemed Dr. Kelly aided Ketchum in his escape. Luckily, the surviving agents took him out."
Could this be true? The man who studied philosophy of Pokémon origin had at last been located? And taken out, to boot? It almost sounded like a dream come true for the twisted criminal, only if the desirable object was recovered.
"And the book?" Giovanni went ahead and asked, almost emphatically.
An eyebrow rose. "Pardon?-"
"The book of creation and resurrection!" he snapped. "The book that was supposed to be mine."
"No, sir, nothing of the book was discovered."
Then Ketchum must have it... He was certain of it. Kelly may have been a feeble old man, but he wasn't a fool. He was intelligent, a slippery shadow who had a knack at hiding- very much like Ketchum himself. Kelly's death was a victory, but essentially meant nothing to Giovanni if the book was nowhere to be found.
Now wasn't the time to lose his cool over the loss, however. Sooner than later, Ketchum would break, and the book would fall into his possession if his agents persisted their chase. Keeping things in perspective, after all that had occurred, he supposed it was a fair trade- he now possessed Ho-Oh's feather with Kelly's death to top it off, and Ketchum got away for another time. Yes, ultimately capturing Ketchum and having all the players together would have been ideal- but with some live bait, the crime boss knew he'd come. Soon enough, he'd appear on his own.
Besides, there was the necessary need to adjust Suicune, find Entei, and then there was the issue of terminating Cassidy and Butch...
"Are the hostages awake yet?" Giovanni questioned. He had been so preoccupied with the feather, he had nearly forgotten about his imprisoned guests.
"Yes," the grunt said, and then, oddly, he paused. "But in regards to that, there's just one thing, sir, that I should, um- address."
"Hmm?" he replied with a sharp, impatient eye.
The agent gulped. "The thing is, sir, when the SWAT team went to capture Prof. Oak, they, um, acquired...an extra captive."
Giovanni's frown wrinkles deepened. Now what? "Dare I ask you to elucidate?"
"He's a psychologist. A man by the name of Dr. Michael Strayer. They had to take him as well. Otherwise, killing him would have left a possible trail."
"A psychologist, you say?" Giovanni mused quietly.
The name Strayer rang a bell from Jayce's personal file. Perhaps he, too, would have to look into that. All the other hostages had been studied thoroughly, so a crash course on this psychologist was vital. And dealing with plenty of hiccups within his plans, the crime boss supposed another hostage wasn't necessarily a problem...as long as his less-than-favorite trio kept themselves in check, for Strayer might have the most potential to derail everything he had worked towards.
"Yes. Apparently, he's a colleague of Samuel Oak's," the agent explained. "They attended Celadon University together. They were even roommates."
He nodded as if engaged in the discussion at hand. For a few moments, he appeared to ponder, then had no further questions. "Very well. That will be all for the time being. Report to me immediately when Suicune arrives, and research anything you can find on Dr. Strayer, as well as any possible connections to both Oak and Ketchum. Until then, usher in Jessie, James, and Meowth."
"Yes, sir."
Immediately after the agent took note of his orders, he left the vicinity, and escorted the trio in as instructed. Jessie, James, and Meowth were then left alone in the dim, chilled room. They stood before their leader with giant lumps in their throats, anxiously waiting to hear of their fate. After how well the plan was executed, prayers of jovial praise were silently said instead of the typical yelling Giovanni would exhaust his lungs with.
Studying the agents momentarily, Giovanni's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Despite capturing an unnecessary captive, I must say I am..." The three winced, anticipating the worst as if conditioned by the natural reflex. "...pleased."
Their eyes burst open, taken aback. Did they hear Giovanni correctly? By the faint smile he dared to release, Jessie and James shared a glance of befuddlement then looked down at their furry companion. Meowth gave an equally shocked expression, all of them finding it impossible to appropriately respond to the boss's mild praise.
"R-really?" Jessie bravely croaked.
Whatever smile there was, it disappeared. "Don't get too excited. Of course, the SWAT team was mostly responsible for the success. Even so, I must say it was rather refreshing to see you three actually be of use. For your standards, your efforts regarding your undercover work have been far better than that of your fellow grunts."
"Who do you mean?" asked James.
"No one you need to concern yourself with," their boss dismissed. That was another matter he would have to deal with shortly. "In any case, you three have secured your posts."
That alone was enough for them to fall down and kiss the ground before them. On too many occasions their jobs had been threatened, but to know that their positions were to stay intact and that Giovanni was for once satisfied with their efforts... It was all rather pleasing. But, above all, was the sheer fact that they won against the twerp. The notorious blundering agents, who were not so secretly picked apart by their fellow grunts that a score board was kept in their honor of all their failed attempts at any evil doings... At last, they proved everyone wrong. They did it. Just like they always intended.
Well...they didn't technically fulfill their original goal of capturing the electric rodent, but who was keeping score on that? Nevertheless, the three grunts were ecstatic to see their hard work had been recognized.
The idea of Giovanni simply acknowledging their endeavors caused the euphoria to be delayed. But rather soon, James could vividly see Jessie's heart, in particular, was elated at this. It was a long time coming- their dream that is- of Giovanni for once giving them a pat on the head for their hard work. So many countless times, James had imagined what kind of sensational experience the feeling of gratification could give. He was supposed to be enduring some kind of pleasant high that would make him feel as if he was the king of the world and that nothing could take away the rapture that he had craved for. The agent anticipated for his fingertips to jolt with glee, but nothing of such nature emerged.
Strangely, he felt something else. Unlike his partners, James didn't feel any warmth or thrills. He couldn't sink in the concept of Giovanni glowing with pride over their one and only accomplishment. Was it just the surprise of it all having difficulty wearing off, or was it something else entirely?
It was evident Jessie and Meowth neglected to notice James's different reaction to the congratulatory remarks. A small smile graced his lips, but nothing that truly warmed him inside. Nothing swelled with pride and gluttony for endless praise. Something was nagging at him. Someone. A voice he had heard on occasion, but had usually suppressed.
The voice hurriedly faded as James focused on Giovanni's sharpening tone.
"Your mission isn't through just yet, however. From here on out, I want you three to keep an eye on our captives. I don't need them concocting some elaborate escape plan that will ruin any chance of me finally having Jayce Ketchum right where I want him. By any circumstances, do not let them out of your sight. Not for one minute. Is this understood?"
"Yes!" Jessie said first.
"Most certainly!" Meowth exclaimed.
"And you?"
Blinking green eyes unsteadily focused their attention on Giovanni's testy expression. James's posture stiffened and he nodded, very promptly. "Um, yes, sir. Whatever you ask for."
With the cold, analytical stare he was receiving, it was challenging for James to meet those dark piercing eyes. Eventually, James's neutral expression was enough to break Giovanni's penetrating glare.
"And one more thing," the criminal started wryly. "Don't entertain that Dr. Strayer fellow. Say nothing to him."
"Why not?" Meowth piped up.
"Is it too hard for you to comprehend a simple request without having an explanation?"
The hair rising on the back of their necks, Jessie hurriedly came to the rescue by assuring their boss. "Uh, no, sir. No not at all!"
A faint smile cracked. "Good."
It wasn't until they heard the door shut behind them did grins fully burst with the following enthused squeals. James walked beside his partners, observing them jump about giddily while he remained distant, keeping his thoughts to himself.
"Can you believe it, Jess?" Meowth began with a toothy smile. "Da boss was proud of us!"
"What did I tell you, Meowth? In time, the boss would see our potential!" She had wanted to inquire about the possibility of a raise, but didn't want to exploit the moment too much as she knew Giovanni was not someone to push. Simply having him not disgrace their very existence was enough for the time being.
Their gleeful laughter persisted, until Meowth noticed one distinct voice was missing from the cackles. Looking up, he gave his partner an inquisitive look. "Aren't ya happy, too, Jimmy?"
The words spoken from the Brooklyn accent snapped James's attention back once more. "Oh, yes. I suppose..."
Jessie arched a well-teased brow as she watched his eyes drift to the floor. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. "James, don't tell me you're feeling guilty?"
His cheeks slightly reddened, though he tried to make himself face Jessie. "I don't want to feel guilty, Jessie," he started to express. "I want to be happy, really, I do. It's been a long time coming, and we deserve the recognition. But something inside me is preventing me from celebrating."
"You're probably just in shock," Jessie tried to quickly reason. It seemed like a lame excuse, but she had to say something to convince her partner otherwise. "We've worked so hard and have suffered so much that we deserve the boss's approval, James. We all do."
Yes. It should have felt that way. But what made Giovanni's approval so valid and necessary to acquire? Was what Meowth said days ago true? Had Pallet's wholesome and warm atmosphere cleansed his mind? Made him see the appeal of normalcy? Of humanity? Even after how the world he once knew treated him...
"Don't let the twerp and his mother stand in the way of that," Jessie urged. "He's caused us enough aches and pains for a lifetime! Think of it as payback."
But this payback was affecting others, not just the twerp or his parents. Others were potentially in harm's way, and knowing what his boss was capable of...
James tried to shake that thought off.
It was evident Chad had been crying.
He hadn't allowed the shock to succumb him to complete distress when law enforcement informed him of his father's kidnapping. Mustering what courage had survived the initial trauma, he, like the Parker family, willingly complied to go to the police station, and pressed through the questions as evenly as he could. Staying strong for Annie and Gary was Chad's highest priority, next to the obvious, which was cooperating with the police to find his father and Dr. Strayer. Despite him and Prof. Oak having a rocky relationship, none of Chad's past grudges of emotional neglect and resentment towards the man prevented him from doing what was necessary.
But to endure sadness and the overwhelming nausea of confusion setting in... To say the least, the prior night and this very morning had been one hell of a ride.
Across from him and his wife sat Liam, who, under Jenny's order, was left with the duty of asking the Oak couple the typical tough questions. Specifically, on the professor and the psychologist. With luck, he and Jenny prayed they would be able to piece together some idea of how these four people might be connected.
Adjusting himself in his seat, Liam initiated the conversation. "Mr. Oak, can you think of anyone who would want to harm or kidnap your father? Someone who might hold a grudge against him or his work?"
Chad shook his head, appearing rather rugged and tired by the bags under his eyes. "Not off the top of my head. I mean, my dad has disagreements with colleagues all the time but none of those guys would do something like this. My dad doesn't have any enemies. None that I can think of. I mean, he supports Pokémon welfare, so I don't know if someone against it would want revenge on him or somethin'."
"Chad, what about those people who broke into your dad's lab?" Annie brought up, looking between her husband and the lieutenant.
"When was this?" Liam inquired, perking up with interest.
"Uh, a few years ago," the man tried to recall, rubbing his forehead. "Some Team Rocket agents tried stealing the Pokémon at the lab. Gary took care of them, though. At the time, Dad didn't seem too concerned about it. Said they were kind of a joke. None of the, uh, Pokémon were stolen along with my dad, were they?"
A pause bloomed. Eventually, Liam leveled them with sympathetic eyes. "I can't disclose that as of now," he answered blatantly.
It would make sense- to a point. It was a stretch, but from what Liam gathered, Prof. Samuel Oak was someone the likes of Team Rocket would consider an enemy. Then again, no Pokémon were stolen from the lab. And Ash's pokebelt, aside from Pikachu, remained untouched... It was a thought to consider nonetheless. Something he felt relevant enough to run by Jenny.
Jotting down notes, Liam moved on to the other person at hand. "What about Dr. Michael Strayer? What's he like? Did he have any run-ins with Team Rocket, too?"
"None that we would know about," Chad answered first.
"Dr. Strayer is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet," Annie sincerely interjected. "I can't see him getting mixed up in anything involving Team Rocket."
"Yeah," her husband agreed. "I mean, I kinda gave him hell in high school, but, uh- since I've grown up, I gotta agree with Ann. He's a good person."
Liam appeared puzzled. "What do you mean since high school, Mr. Oak?"
"Dr. Strayer was a counselor at our high school back when we were there," Annie replied for the both of them. "I think he does both child and family therapy now at his own practice. At the time, our family was going through a lot of rough patches, and he was there for my brother."
It was then that the lieutenant fell silent, again, seeming twice as quizzical as before. "Your brother was a patient of his?"
Annie huffed softly at this, staring down at her hands. "I don't know if you'd call Jay a patient, but he tended to visit Dr. Strayer once a week during afterschool hours."
"Ash's father, right?"
"Yes. I guess you should know Jay hasn't been around for...a long time," the woman sighed somberly. "I swear our upbringing has something to do with that."
It was faint, but Liam picked up Annie's muttered words. His expression had changed drastically, almost as if he was contemplating something. Something neither Annie nor Chad picked up on.
After a few more standard questions, Liam cut to the chase, asking the most vital question of all. The one Jenny had asked him to inquire about when they arrived back at the police station. Inwardly, he prepared himself. He had handled defensive and distressed parents before. Enough occasions for him to be able to count them on his fingers. But the lieutenant could already see by their restlessness that a confrontation might erupt if his word choice wasn't meticulously selected and articulated.
Leaning forward, Liam adjusted his throat. "Mr. and Mrs. Oak, with your permission, we would like to speak to your son about the incident at the inn involving Ash. Perhaps there's something he could tell us that could be crucial to our investigation. Something Ash might have shared with him?"
At first, it appeared as if Chad was about to comply without any questions, until Annie narrowed her eyebrows with a wrinkled, befuddled nose.
"But you-" She studied Liam's face. Then gawked. "You don't really think Gary had anything to do with this just because he fought with Ash? Because he didn't. He didn't hurt anyone! Gary was with us the whole night-"
"Mrs. Oak, we're required to speak with anyone who made recent contact with the abducted-"
"He didn't do anything wrong!" the blonde woman belted, protectiveness blooming brilliantly. "Gary was with us immediately after the fight. He went home with us, he wasn't out of our sight the entire night!-"
"Annie," Chad cut in sharply.
Steadily, Annie recoiled, eyeing her husband, astounded. It was rare to see Chad on edge. Too laid back by nature, he hardly ever raised his voice, nor was he easily excitable. His usual goofy and carefree demeanor disappeared quite quickly at the seriousness of the situation.
Looking back at Liam, he returned the man a firm nod. "You have my permission to speak with Gary as long as we're present."
Annie immediately grappled Chad's arm with persistence. "Chad, no. He's already in enough shock. He doesn't need to be interrogated like some criminal!-"
"Annie, my dad is missing-"
"I know, Chad-"
"And so are three other people. Friends, family-"
"You don't need to remind me!" Her shriek was the catalyst for tears to commence. She had no shame of letting them fall, though, as she carried on, finally allowing the delirium to take hold. "I know what's happening, Chad! I'm worried sick about them! But Gary had nothing to do with this!-"
"Annie! Our son got into a fight with Ash, and then Ash turns up missing? And now Gary's not telling us what they fought about? I hate to say it- but it can't be a coincidence. Maybe Gary does know something Annie. Something he's scared to say.
"Please, Annie." A hand caressing hers followed soon after, as did Chad's evenness through his soft green eyes. He swallowed, trying not to lose perspective while comforting his wife. There was no denying how strenuous it was not to lose hope, not to panic. But Chad knew he needed to remain strong for Annie and Gary. And she, in turn, needed to stay strong for them.
"Of course I know Gary didn't do anything intentional to hurt anyone. But if there's something Ash might have told him, anything to help, we gotta let the police do their job so we can find my dad and everyone else. Okay? I know you're scared, babe. So am I. But it's gonna be okay. We're gonna find them."
A few sniffles emerged as Chad brought Annie's smooth hand up to his lips. He ran his strong fingers over hers once more, quietly easing her heightened emotions as she attempted to collect herself.
No one needed to remind her that Chad was on Gary's side. That he believed his son had nothing to do with their family's and friends' kidnapping. They were all bound to feel uncomfortable during this investigation, and awkward questions might be asked. But after how harsh she had been reprimanding Gary, the last thing Annie wanted was for her son to feel isolated. As if everyone was pointing the blame at him, like the whole world was against him over one single fight. As far as she knew, Gary wasn't involved. However, as much as she hated thinking it, Chad was right. No one could discount the scuffle that had taken place the night before. Especially when their questions were still unanswered.
Watery blue eyes melted as they met that of her husband's, nodding reluctantly before turning to the awaiting officer.
"Okay. If you need to talk to our son, Lieutenant, you may. But please, I want to be in the room."
A very faint smile of relief graced Liam's lips, and he thanked Annie for her patience and cooperation, insisting it was mandatory. Nothing personal. But before he could go any further, a knock at the door prompted the lieutenant to glance over his shoulder. By the knock alone he could tell whom it was.
"Excuse me for a moment, will you?"
Leaving the couple to cool down, he exited the room to find Jenny, as expected, on the other side. She glanced about for a moment, before drawing in close to his ear.
"I need to speak with you."
Liam silently permitted as the pair waltzed away, entering an empty room nearby. Jenny closed the door behind them as Liam leaned against the table with his arms folded across his chest.
"What is it?" he asked, wondering if she had a lead.
An arm reached out as Jenny handed her partner a folder. Liam peered at her strangely before opening it up. Then, it made sense.
"Delia Ketchum's husband, Jayce, left them ten years ago to become a traveling trainer and hasn't been heard from since," Jenny started to explain as Liam went through the man's file. "Apparently, his behavior had changed drastically the last couple of months he was with them. And get this. He was a student of Prof. Oak's afterschool program."
Liam snorted, not in a condescending fashion, but in irony. "Funny you say that, 'cause he was also a patient of Dr. Strayer's."
Jenny gave him a look. "You're kidding?"
"Nope."
A pause was anticipated, but Liam didn't expect Jenny's expression to turn so stark. Amber eyes widened as she thought to herself, her words trailing. "Then it...makes sense," she said.
A wrinkled forehead returned at her a-ha moment, Liam listening closely as Jenny began to elucidate. "You've got a mother and her son, a world-renowned professor, and a psychologist who uses Pokémon in his practice- and what do they all have in common? Him," the chief emphasized, as if she had connected the dots. "Jayce Ketchum is what they have in common, Liam. The obvious being his wife and son, Prof. Oak his former instructor, and Dr. Strayer being his high school psychologist."
Liam wasn't completely convinced, however. He accepted the information Jenny gathered, and listened to the Oaks' statements. There was no disputing the obvious, especially when it was right in front of them. He too was compelled by what the Oaks had told him, and had very much intended on relaying that information to Jenny. But what Jenny was presuming was nothing more than a hunch. A plausible hunch to assume Ketchum may be involved by his vivid connections to the victims. But still...it seemed a bit outlandish. Not one of them had made any contact with him, and by the quick glancing through his file, Ketchum had no criminal record. Nothing to suggest he had any deviant behavior. Nothing that would peg him to be the type to break the law. And there was no physical evidence to suggest Ketchum was anywhere near either vicinity when the attacks happened.
Besides, the sob story sounded a little too familiar.
Sighing, Liam removed himself against the table. "Jenny," he started, setting the folder down on the table, "I hear you, but we've seen cases and reports like this time and time before. People running off to fulfill unreachable goals as trainers- to live out some kind of childhood fantasy while all along they were wasted at some motel wallowing over their failed attempts. Ketchum could be just one of the many men who've left their families for out-of-reach, selfish endeavors. And this is a small town. Everyone's bound to know each other somehow."
"And I think there are too many coincidences to think just that, Liam," Jenny challenged, holding her ground. "Ketchum is somehow connected to every person who has gone missing. And they're all significant to him in some respect. Maybe one of them or all of them knew something that Ketchum didn't want let out. I know it's a long shot, but...I need you to check Ketchum's records."
When Jenny was certain about a lead, Liam knew she had a reason to pursue it, even if it didn't always seem logical or have any evidence to back it up. No one had really bothered to bring up the father until asked. And from what Liam understood, no one spoke very highly of him, either. Besides, presently they had no other suspects, and Annie herself suggested something on the line of him having flaws...
Hearing out Jenny and looking into the conjecture wasn't the problem. It was the simple fact that they didn't have time to waste. They didn't have time to go on any wild goose chases just to cross it off the list when four lives could be at stake. In the end, though, she was his superior, and like she had proven several times before, Jenny's hunches had led them to some kind of an arrest. Some kind of a lead... It was what aided her in acquiring the position she had now.
It took him another minute or so, but Liam complied. "Anything we're looking for in particular?" he eventually asked.
A breath of relief seemed to seep out. "I want to know where Ketchum's been in the last forty-eight hours, if he's collected any badges, any credit cards he's used recently, and if he's made contact with any of our missing persons. Check all their phone records. Even the victims' family members. Maybe Ketchum tried contacting one of them. Anything you can dig up on him. I also need to view every security tape from the last month from all the Pokémon Centers in Kanto."
"That's a large order," he declared.
These people weren't just missing- they appeared to be kidnapped. Taken hostage. Jenny knew from plenty of experience, when victims of such a heinous crime went missing for longer than forty-eight hours, usually the worst nightmare anyone could ever imagine began to sink in. And unfortunately, the result tended to be tragic.
"We have to," she exhorted.
The lieutenant glanced up at her once more, recognizing the passion and persistence in her eyes. The gaze that made her the real officer that she was. "All right," he replied quietly. "I gotta interview the Oak kid, but I'll get Brenda on that before I head back."
"Great... Thanks, Liam. Really."
A hand was already beginning to twist the doorknob when Liam's mouth opened, beckoning for his friend to wait as he gently reached for her arm. "Jenny, wait." She froze, looking at him. "Are you really suggesting that Ketchum did this?"
Her eyes diverted away momentarily, as if wondering how to translate what the little voice in her head was telling her. "Jayce Ketchum could be out there, Liam. I don't know how to explain this, but- something in my gut tells me he didn't do this. The kidnapping, I mean. But my gut is also telling me that he knows more than anyone here could tell us."
The good ol' gut was something easy to trust and admire. But was it reliable? Not much thought was given to that, or else Liam may not have been able to ask Brenda to do all that digging Jenny had requested. Not only that, but he also requested for the young officer to look into any past reported break-ins at the Oak Lab executed by Team Rocket. If Jenny wished to pursue her own lead, then who could deny him from looking into his own?
It took him a while, but once he got her and few others settled on the various tasks, Liam was able to go back to the Oaks. He was anxious to find out if he could be the one to get Gary to talk. To discover if that brawl truly had something to do with the missing persons, if Ash had known anything, or said anything...
A band of teenagers sat in chairs by the interrogation rooms, waiting for their turn. Gary sat by his lonesome on one side, while the other row of chairs was occupied by Brock, Dani, Harper, and Tracey. As he drew closer, Liam hadn't seen it, but Brock intensely glared at Gary across the way.
No communication was needed for Gary to comprehend the message the college student was sending his way, though. He already could see Brock knew of his little lie to Ash. And so he wondered, if, under the pressure by the stereotypical dim Hollywood lighting and the intimidating officer looming overhead in the interrogation room, he or Tracey would break.
Confess what they knew.
After all, they were aware of much more than Gary himself.
A sudden voice from above caught the seated Gary off guard. He was met with a friendly smile from Liam. "Hey, Gary? You mind if you, your parents, and I talk for a little bit?"
Author's Note: Hey, everyone! :) Hope you all are doing well! Can you believe it's already spring? Time has gone by so fast! Nonetheless, I'm happy to be able to post this chapter for you all to enjoy.
Thank you to those who have been patiently waiting for this update. I apologize for the long absence. I just started school this quarter (and have already submitted a research essay), so I will do my best to update as often as time allows me. Though this story has taken me longer to complete than I anticipated, I truly appreciate your guy's continual understanding and support. As we all know, life is very unpredictable and I've been dealing with a lot lately, but when I have a chance to sit down and write, it reminds me of why I love creating stories!
And my mind has been preoccupied with usual responsibilities, that I was in a bit of writing slump the last couple of months. Nonetheless, I finished it and my beta reader and I combed through it multiple times, discussing the chapter as a whole in-depth. I'm glad I worked through it thanks to all her AMAZING help! You're always an inspiration to me! Thanks girl for your continual kindness and feedback/critics! :)
Much more regarding, well, EVERY character's feelings into the matter will be showcased heavily in the next couple of chapters. Things are about to get pretty heated in the cells, as well as for the crew back in Pallet AND of course for Jay and co. So stay tuned!
Anyhow, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and thank you so much for taking the time to read! :D