Chapter Twenty
"Four caves, so, four teams of two?"
Roark stood by his Father, man nodding.
"Yes, but we need to make sure we vary Pokemon types, just in case we run into trouble."
Byron, being the eldest immediately took charge, none arguing.
"Roark and Wake, opposite types, their only joint weakness is Grass."
The men mentioned nodded, standing next to each other.
"Volkner and myself?" Man scratched scruff. "The two of us are weak to Ground, though..."
"I'm not."
Gardenia stepped forward.
"Precisely. Gardenia and Volkner. Fire will hurt you, but not him."
Volkner stood there, awkwardly, Gardenia standing near to him.
"Fantina and Candice? Would that be alright?"
Ice and Ghost type leaders agreed, younger gluing herself to older's side.
"Maylene, with me?"
Maylene nodded, sending out her Lucario, creature scouting out Oreburgh Gate's cave.
Roark went to protest, given this was the city he vowed to protect, but his Father merely held up a hand.
"Roark, the reason I want to explore here is so you can stop blaming yourself. You could not have known, had no hand in this. I worry you'll grow frustrated, angry, if you remain here, on home turf."
"You're right. Amber?"
"The Police are with her, and I will keep checking up. I wouldn't let her get hurt, Roark, I assure you."
His son's face morphed into the frightened little boy, waiting outside Oreburgh Mine for his Dad to finish work. He hated being alone, sky darkening around him closing space, claustrophobia setting in
Byron had no idea, Roark hadn't told him.
He didn't tell him until he hit seventeen, just before he was offer the gym leader position, Byron despising how hard he worked, it took a toll on their relationship. It took years for them to rebuild something, vaguely resembling 'family.'
Man was determined to change that, change dynamic.
That day
Celia got out her purse, placing bag on the couch.
"My card was declined."
Piers raised brow.
"Hunh? Did you try mine?"
"Yes. That was, too. Luckily, I always keep money in my purse, something my Dad taught me to do." Woman sat, looking at the floor. "I haven't be earning much, since the incident."
"I 'aven't been for months, love. This isn't your fault. I need to get me arse in gear. Kick me up it, would ya?"
Celia shook head.
"You don't need to work."
"Yes," Piers' face morphed into beleaguered, "yes, I do. Seriously. I thought we agreed both o' us would work, to teach Sylvain tha' gender roles mean nothin'..."
"And we have taught him that."
Boy in question popped head around wall.
"Are we skint?"
His parents hadn't heard him enter space.
"Yes," Celia sighed, "we are. Not for long though, darling, I assure you."
"Celia...," Piers huffed, "you can assure him. A graceful soul such as yours will always get work, but I've barely written anythin' in four months, an' it ain't funny, anymore. I feel bloomin' well 'opeless."
"Is this an argument?"
His Mother laughed, Father snorting.
"No, sweetheart. Your Dad is correct, and I am being stubborn. I am sorry you had to hear that, though."
Sylvain waved his hands.
"Its fine. Good to know you aren't tearing out each other's hair. Seriously, it'd be EVERYWHERE..."
Piers walked to son, hugging him tightly.
"Ya mad boy...no one else's child would come out wit' THA'."
"If I wasn't mad, would I survive?"
"Bunch of nutta's, us."
"That, we are."
Piers let go, Celia turning son to face her.
"I assure you, we are okay. We just need to watch the pennies..."
With those words, none could deny the sadness in Sylvain's eyes.
"Does that mean Scott, Elijah and Granddad can't stay, anymore?"
"If we are careful, yes."
"I am sorry, Sylvain. I 'ave completely failed you an' your Mum."
"No."
Celia agreed with their son.
"Pardon?"
Sylvain cleared throat.
"No, you have not done that, Dad. You aren't sitting on your arse, waiting for money to just roll in. You are working, I do read your work, remember? How could I know, see the edits, otherwise?"
"Sylvain..."
Piers took deep breath.
"Ya little star." His son grabbed notepad and pen, handing it to his Dad. "Brainstorm?" Sylvain nodded. "Alrigh'."
Celia's heart grew at the scene.
"I need to head to work, staff meeting. I believe in you, Piers, that has never wavered. We have each other, that is the most important thing. I love you."
Celia grabbed keys and phone from her purse, leaving the house, putting worries aside, placing them into box, sealing it, temporarily.
"Here."
Volkner handed Looker a package, full of papers, evidence by the bucket-load, filled to the brim, zip threatening to bust open.
"Thank you."
Roark adjusted his glasses.
"We destroyed the machines, they weren't just in caves, either."
Looker paled.
"What?"
"Out-buildings, sheds."
Electric type leader walked away, confusing detective.
"He isn't much of a talker. Comes across as a loner, bit blunt, but he's a decent guy, really. Under Veilstone's Gym, we found a stash of what appears to be controllers? Same in Solaceon Ruins. Looks like Team Plasma were rushed, they hadn't properly sealed the entrances. You can imagine Maylene was livid. She almost never leaves the city, too. The latter was less noticeable, smaller location."
"Thank you, Roark. I need to get back to the..."
Looker's phone rang.
"Excuse me."
Man excused himself, turning on heel, walking away.
He sprinted back to gym leader.
"Henry has escaped from the hospital. We placed a tracker in his phone, but my colleagues just found it, smashed on the ground, not far from the building..."
"Okay." Roark patted Looker's shoulder. "I will get in touch with the gym leaders and Elite Four. We will find him, Looker."
Man sighed, hopelessly defeated.
"We should have more officers on the beat, but with the cutbacks, we lost half our force. There are ten of us to cover Unova and Sinnoh."
"Ten?!" That stunned younger man.
"That's why we can't get there on time, random trainers do our job, for Arceus' sake..."
"Right. I will sort it. Keep Amber safe, Scott, Celia and Piers, Sylvain too, please."
"Trust me. We will do that. I will head straight to their home, then the school, to retrieve Scott. Take care, Roark."
"Thanks. You too."
Looker made several calls, quickly heading for Jubilife.