POV: Cynthia / LOCATION: Veilstone Galactic HQ
Has the sky always been this blue? This is the first time I've woken up feeling completely refreshed, filled with a great love for life and the outdoors. My spirits are so ridiculously high that I end up skipping down the sunlit corridor.
As I trounce down the third floor, B-2 catches my eye, and he waves. I'm feeling so generous that I actually stop for conversation.
"Someone's in a good mood," he whistles. "Your dream came true or what?"
Wow. Someone is awfully observant today. "It sure did," I say.
"Great for you, Cynthia. I'm still waiting for my promotion." He heaves a long sigh. "Imagine: Commander Uranus. Then I'll be the fifth—no, fourth planet orbiting the sun."
I leave B-2 to his unattainable dream and exit the fortress. He was right: my dream did indeed come true. I had gotten preemptive revenge against my foe. Shame I only burnt him to a crisp though. What's more, the evidence I needed was right before my eyes the entire time—just hidden underneath those bandages.
Between the attack on Celestic Town and my waking up in Veilstone, Cyrus was indeed the last person to have seen me alive. My original plan was to trick him to take me to the beach. Instead of going to Valor Lakefront, I'll sock his crotch, drag him to the League, and let Lucian mindcrush him with Alakazam. He'll confess to his crimes, Galactic will get exposed, and everyone will live happily ever after.
If only it was that easy.
Cyrus is crafty. Meticulous. If I want the element of surprise, I'll have to advance cautiously… which sounds exactly like something Lucian would say. If I was left to my own devices, I'd probably charge in without regard for the consequences.
Once I make sure that no one is following me, I meet up with Flint and Volkner at our rendezvous point at Hearthome City. I really appreciate their checking up on me…Flint mostly. Volkner doesn't act all that concerned. Flint assures me that Volkner does care; his way of emoting is just a bit unconventional.
Today, Flint seems more charged up than usual. As greeting, he throws himself at me.
"Cynthia! Great news!"
"Has Lucian finally come up with a game plan?"
"He did! Even better, he found reinforcements!"
Volkner watches as Flint and I celebrate the news of Cyrus's imminent demise, his guarded expression revealing nothing. As we climb onto our Pokemon, I catch him staring at the passing clouds.
"What's wrong?" I say.
"I wonder..." Then he tosses me a crooked smirk. "Nothing. Anyhow, back to the League we go."
Lucian is waiting for us outside. As soon as Garchomp stops, I hop off and grab that wonderful nerd into a hug.
"You did it again!" I shout, throwing a kiss to his cheek.
Whatever Lucian had planned to say dies on his tongue. Instead he just stares at me, his glasses sliding haphazardly off his nose bridge, his magnificent brain short-circuiting.
"O-Oh," he finally sputters. "O-Of course. I was simply doing my job—"
"I LOVE YOU, DUDE!" Flint throws himself at his colleague, planting a wet smooch to the same cheek. Lucian turns as green as a rotten vegetable.
A snickering Volkner strides inside, motioning for me to follow. The four of us walk under the glass chandeliers of the ballroom, around a velvet staircase, and emerge to the private conference room hugging the exterior of the castle.
Bertha nods when she sees us. "You're here! Come, the agent is waiting for you!"
"Agent?" I echo.
"Or so he claims," Lucian murmurs.
"What do you mean? Didn't you seek him out?"
"Actually, he came to us. Once word got out that we were investigating Galactic Energy, that man called us immediately and scheduled an audience."
"He's really cool!" Flint says. "I saw his badge and everything!"
Lucian shrugs. "I'll let you decide his credibility for yourself, Cynthia."
There are two people in the conference room: Aaron and a man with a beige overcoat.
"Huzzah!" he says, holding up his triangular juice pouch like a toast. "My name is—" Then he trips on his coat. A bunch of cheap-looking gadgets spill out, yet he trips again when he tries to collect them.
Lucian reads my gawking expression, and he sighs. "Correct. This is the agent. Cynthia, meet—"
"Looker!" exclaims the clumsy oaf. "That's my code name! I am an International Police officer! The genuine article!"
"This nutcase is Interpol?" Volkner grunts.
Beside me, Lucian merely sighs again.
"So you are the legendary Cynthia!" Looker continues. "Wow, you are prettier up close! Are all Champions as beautiful as you?"
Lucian clears his throat sharply. I also notice that he has sandwiched himself between me and the detective. "Detective Looker, please. We are wasting time."
Looker flushes. "Y-Yes! I've prepared in advance—" And he freezes. "Where's my briefcase? I have all my confidential documents—"
"Right here," Bertha says sweetly. "Aaron, won't you come with me to the front? We need to let visitors know that the League is closed."
Looker waves the two of them out. "Thank you, kind citizens! Now—"
"Hold up," I say. "First, we don't know much about you, other than you claiming to be Interpol. Second, you need to get your shit together. Third, how do you know about Team Galactic?"
Looker raises a quizzical eyebrow. "Why, of course I am an Interpol agent, Cynthia! Look at my badge! And my crime-fighting equipment! Look, I brought handcuffs!"
"He checks out," Lucian murmurs to me. "I called the Sinnoh Police to make sure."
Good old Lucian. I never have to worry about the League burning down with him around.
"Your second question," says Looker, "is irrelevant to the mission! This is how I operate, hahaha!"
Then he drops his voice. "Now, regarding your third question… Interpol does have reason to probe into Galactic Energy, the front for Team Galactic. Outside of their not-so-smart Grunts and their penchant for petty mischief, we are well aware that they pose a great threat to Sinnoh."
Looker opens a new pouch of juice while we hang on to his every word. "Cyrus, Team Galactic's leader, plans to extract the energies of the stolen Pokemon. Disturbing machines are being built underneath Veilstone HQ as we speak… one has been confirmed to be a bomb capable of vaporizing an area as large as Jubilife City.
"What's more horrifying, however, is his motive. He wants to use the harnessed energy to destroy this world, then reshape it into a universe of his ideal. I've heard that he was seeking an incredible power outside of our understanding to accomplish this feat."
A crisp green leaf falls outside the sun-streaked window. Looker sets down his juice pouch.
"He wants to play god," he grunts. "And he will not hesitate to destroy anyone who stands in his way."
Heavy silence follows Looker's grim revelations. The atmosphere is so tense that when Flint breathes, it sounds like a bomb going off in a lake.
In the corner, Volkner tucks his hands into his pockets. Is that the faintest of smirks on his lips? He turns away before I can confirm what I thought I saw.
"I also couldn't believe it when I first heard it," Looker says. "It sounds so… out there. Like something from science fiction. But as an officer of Interpol, I refuse to let harm befall on the citizens I've sworn to protect! I have been dispatched to Sinnoh to end Team Galactic's reign of terror! Please, let us work together and apprehend Cyrus!"
The detective's faithful proclamation rekindles a burning passion in my heart. I know how he feels. As the Champion of Sinnoh, I too can't stand aside while some madman takes everything and everyone I love away from me. He has no right to do anything of that.
"We're with you," I say.
Looker beams. "Great! Luckily, we have formulated a foolproof plan that has been approved by higher-ups: a raid on Galactic HQ, first thing at dusk tomorrow!"
"T-Tomorrow?" I gasp. "That's so soon!"
"We need to capitalize on the element of surprise! They won't know what hit them!"
I glance at the only unconvinced person in this room. Lucian sighs in defeat.
"Thank you!" says Looker. "I owe my promotion to all of you!"
As everyone absorbs the recent developments, I can't help but feel like I'm missing something. It's great that we'll finally put a stop to Cyrus's ambitions, yet…
Then it hits me. "Looker," I say. "How do you know all this? Galactic's records are kept spotless…"
"Ah hah! Thank you for reminding me, Cynthia! Fortunately, I brought my informant with me to meet you!"
"Informant?"
"Yes! He used to work for Galactic, so he knows all their sinister secrets! When I was assigned to investigate Cyrus, my partner generously provided me with the intelligence!"
Lucian crosses his arms. "I… was not made aware of this. Is this informant trustworthy?"
Looker looks appalled at Lucian's accusation. "Of course! He's under special protection in case Cyrus plans retaliation. I'll bring him in right now."
With a speedy phone call, Looker summons his informant. The door opens, and in he enters.
Suddenly, I am filled with an inexplicable repulsion, a psychological allergic reaction to this old man's presence. Gooseflesh explodes down my neck, and I automatically step back, bumping into Lucian's chest.
A pair of crimson glasses slide down, revealing a pair of glinting eyes. The informant smiles at me—a creepy slit of the mouth, revealing rows of teeth.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, young lady," he says. "My name is Charon. I simply cannot wait to tell you all about Cyrus's sordid little secrets, hehehe…"