Above the tall, Jovian-styled museum building, up over the white-crowned ledge of the roof, three sets of binoculars stared down at the scene unfolding just down the street from where they were. All three binoculars belong to a familiar set of heads—two human, one Meowth.
"Do you think the twerp knows about a meeting like this? Do you think he even gave twerpette permission for this little meet-up?" asked Jessie. Her bright red lips chewed silently, her brow low and disapproving.
"Something is most certainly illicit about this. This is some high-profile drama for some children," said James.
"Jeez, she cries a lot," said Meowth.
Where Clemont and Serena were on the bench, they quickly got up, Clemont looking at either side of road before crossing. He looked back to Serena, beckoning her to come close. They both scurried across the street, heading over towards a clearing at the corner of an intersection. A brick-paved clearing took up a triangular space on the corner of an intersection, with benches and large, trimmed tropiaries taking up the center.
Clemont set his backpack down, laying it flat on it's back on the smooth brick. As he kneeled down, he unzipped a fabric pocket, flipping it down like a panel and revealing a smooth, metallic surface. He pressed in on the top, making the metal panel pop out on a metallic hinge, the glowing numbers of a keypad appearing on the surface. He quickly typed in a code. Immediately, a set of legs sprouted out, the large curved top of his backpack popping open as a platform rose from the middle, reaching up a few feet before expanding into a lengthwise table. Several shelves appeared, sealed storage containers stacking on shelves as well as various lab equipment.
Standing up, Clemont positioned himself in front of his portable workbench. He slid open a panel on the metal surface, opening up a computer console stored inside, starting it up. In one of the drawers on the stacked work bench, he opened it up and slid out a small bag.
Jessie, James and Meowth all watched from the rooftops, watching Clemont work at the portable workbench, showing something to Serena and talking, their conversation hidden by distance. They all looked at each other, confused.
"It seems a dorky chemistry set is the way to her heart, who knew?" quipped James, focusing his binoculars.
Jessie slowly lowered her binoculars. Something seemed off about what was happening.
Serena fidgeted by Clemont's side, seeing him setup various pieces of equipment and make himself at home in the middle of the clearing. She had stopped crying moments earlier, now looking on with concern with red, puffy eyes.
"You... You still have it, don't you...?"
Clemont reached for the sealed container by his side. When he opened it up, he lifted out a small, plastic bag, holding it up for Serena to see. He looked at the bag too, his expression faltering. It was just as bad as he had remembered, making his heart sink.
Serena gasped quietly, coming alongside him to see the bag.
In the bag were two halves of a Pokeball, the hinge destroyed. Though they had been cleaned, there were faint traces of mud on the surface of the Pokeball shells, clear signs of damage from the incident. The insides were lined with chrome-like metal, shiny slats and channels designed towards a central, capturing needle in the center.
Choking up quietly, Serena lowered her head slowly. She turned, leaning against Clemont's shoulder, weeping again. Reaching for his arm, she squeezed it tightly, burying her head into his shoulder deeper.
Clemont slowly set the bag back on the workbench. He stared down at a display on the terminal computer, a window showing a graphical scan of the insides where Sylveon was asleep.
"Well, I guesses smawty here didn't do's so hot with twerpette. Doesn't look like's there's much more to see's here," said Meowth.
"I suppose we could go hunt out Pikachu now," said James.
James held a black backpack. He threw his binoculars in, waiting for Meowth and watching as he struggled to get the strap for the binoculars up over his melon-shaped head. Once both were in, he zipped the backpack up over his shoulders, getting himself up and crossing the length of the roof towards a raised fire escape ladder.
Though Jessie got up to follow, she waited at the roof's edge, continuing to gaze down at where Serena and Clemont were hundreds of feet away, across the street and in the miniature park space. She hesitated, staring down at the bag that lingered on the portable workbench. She silently connected dots in her head.
Clemont sighed. He shook his head gently, stepping away from Serena's side, heading over towards the bench and throwing the bag back in a drawer. He powered down the computer terminal.
"Serena, we need an expert to fix this. I've... I've got a few ideas," he said. He gave a passing glance over his equipment, looking at the bag and the turning graphical representation of Sylveon on the screen. "I... I just want to be safe... And I know someone who can really help us."
Wiping away a few tears with her fingers, Serena gently raised her head to look up at Clemont, meeting with his face. She searched him, considering what he was saying.
"Clemont... You promise this person is safe...?"
Clemont smiled. He nodded, forcing his eyes shut. "Yes, I guarantee it. She's the best."
Serena still looked skeptical, despite Clemont's glowing endorsement. "How do you know this person...? Who is she...?"
"Well... Let's just say that Ash isn't going to be too happy that I'm ruining this surprise."