My imagination has been on fire for this story! Yes, it's a bit discouraging that viewership has been declining, but hats off to those of you who read the whole way through!
Chapter twenty-six: City of Darkness
Looker and Croagunk recovered earlier than Acht expected.
For that reason, the pair accompanied him to Unova since they were back in active service. Acht had arranged a debrief with Mars and Emma at Anville Town, and wanted Looker to be up to speed. The International Police had an unsuspecting office in Opelucid City. Gardens and trees decorated this city, giving it a natural appearance.
Naturally, it would have made sense for the office to have picked Nimbasa City as its base, since Nimbasa City had roads that could reach anywhere in Unova. Yet Opelucid City was chosen for its inconspicuous appearance. The IP office itself was underneath a respected two-storey museum in the city, which seemed to blend well with the city's classical appearance.
It was bright and early the following day. And when Looker and Croagunk were escorted into the museum, noting the Tokiwa supercar parked outside as they walked in, they were taken to the elevator by an IP agent. When they had walked in, the IP agent pressed a button that would take the elevator below. The button was coded to recognise all IP agents working in this office, plus Acht, and armed guards would be ready to detain anyone otherwise.
The elevator doors opened with the armed guards greeting Looker and Croagunk with a nod. Here, the IP's Unova office consisted of a single room and clerks, assistants, and researchers each at a desk. There was a map of Unova projected on a giant display on one wall of the room with real-time updates on local police and IP activity every half hour.
No one registered any surprise at Acht's arrival but neither they have to. In Looker's opinion, perhaps they were used to it or that Acht was expected.
"Are you feeling better, Looker? Don't push yourself," Acht said.
"I'm ready to go back to the field, thanks," Looker replied. Even Croagunk looked fired up to get back to active service. "We can't stay in bed forever. We have work to do!"
So Acht led Looker and Croagunk to a conference room. It really did look like an administration room like the ones in the museum upstairs. Upon entering, Looker saw Mars and Emma sitting at the table, with Emma's Mimi sitting on the morning.
"You're back already, Looker? That was fast!" Mars remarked.
Looker ended up smirking and scoffing. "I'm not easy to get rid of, let's be honest. I'll take a knife in the back but I'll be up and running the next day."
Emma rolled her eyes. Looker had been literally stabbed and now was talking as if he was invincible, or at least was cool with stabbings regularly. Then again, he was ready to return to active service.
"Let's get down to business."
The word came from Acht, and on saying that, Looker took a seat. Acht remained standing. Briefly, Acht explained to Looker about how Mars and Emma infiltrated and investigated the Nealcoda Premier Fuel offices, and also what they had discovered.
"So we have good news and bad news. Let's start with the bad news," Acht added. "The PRU meets in two days and we are nowhere close to finding those reactors. Granted, as you all should be aware, the International Police can start acting today, but I fear it may be too late by then.
"The good news is that thanks to you three, we know what's going on and we have two days to act. The circumstances surrounding Nealcoda and the missing fusion reactors seems coincidental," Acht concluded. "And from what Mars and Emma each discovered, Nealcoda had possession of them for a time but not anymore. But there is no surprise either."
He used their real names, but it was permitted by the Code. Mars and Emma weren't in the field either, and it made them wonder what Looker's real name was. Looker had sat down with arms crossed as he took in the briefing. He was not in the least unimpressed from what Mars and Emma had gone through while he was away. It seemed they had been more productive because he was absent!
"Do we have any leads?" Looker asked.
"That is exactly that, thanks to Mars," Acht said and nodded in Mars' direction. "It may be a huge coincidence too, but as Mars had deduced that Nealcoda had possession of the reactors for a time, she worked out something else. In retrospect, we found that 'Nealcoda Premier Fuel' was really an anagram. If you decompose the letters, it spells 'Pure Freedom Alliance'."
Emma remarked. "So that's our missing link with the Driftveil shipment, and confirms your suspicions, boss."
A dead silence fell in the room and Mars crossed her arms just like Looker. It was beginning to make sense to her. As Acht suspected earlier, the accident at Driftveil was likely staged since the Pure Freedom Alliance likely sabotaged their own ship, so that they had time to smuggle the reactors ashore. The fact that the reactors were detected at Nealcoda was probably proof enough, and it had slipped through their grasp again!
And a sudden chill swept over Mars. She hadn't expected the criminal syndicate to have staged something like this. It certainly wasn't like a robbery like she had done at the Sinnoh Valley Windworks before. This was more complex, and perhaps more deceptive than Team Galactic could ever be. Neither could Mars imagine Fiera reforming like Team Galactic did.
Acht moved onto another item of discussion. "Emma was able to access one of Nealcoda's computers, thankfully, and that gives us a lead. Apart from confirming the presence of the reactors, Emma found a lead where they might have gone to.
He pulled up a picture of a high-tech-looking city with dark towering skyscrapers each with vibrant lights lining each of their frames. It looked nothing retro-like, in sharp contrast to Opelucid City. Then Acht looked at Emma. "You're certain you heard them talking about a black market in Black City, correct?" When Emma nodded back, Acht looked at Mars and Looker as well. "It's known that prices in Black City, from food to accommodation, are well above price ceilings. If, however, a black market is responsible for smuggling our thermal fusion reactors around Unova, we need to know."
Mars and Emma nodded, with Emma adding, "I heard for certain that the black market 'received the reactors as scheduled', so they would likely be there, right?"
"Exactly. It's a safe assumption, and this is what I want you to do," Acht ordered. "Because of that probability, you three are to raid that black market with an IP team and search for evidence of the reactors, if any. We still have time before we go ahead with the raid, so take this time to prepare while I apply for a warrant from the courts. Go to Black City, set a perimeter and a command post, and await further instructions."
Mars and Emma stood up, with Looker doing the same. They knew what to do next.
Unfortunately, Looker's coffee addiction got the best of them. When they got into Mars' police car, the Tokiwa GT-R45, Looker insisted they get coffee at some restaurant or diner before going to Black City.
"I need it!" he insisted.
Mars rolled her eyes. "If you think coffee somehow could miraculously heal your wounds, you'd be wrong."
Sadly it was not to be. Looker had been so persistent that when Mars drove the GT-R45 over the Village Bridge east of Opelucid City, Emma had enough. She pointed out there was a certain sandwich shop at the Village Bridge they could stop by to get Looker a coffee and something to eat.
Mars didn't mind that.
She parked the car outside the restaurant, locked it, and then followed Emma and Looker in.
The baker looked a little surprised to see three well-dressed people walk into her shop, though it was an odd combination. Two teenaged girls plus an older man, who could have looked like a business executive, walked in. Plus, the redhaired girl was wearing a red tie. An apprentice or pupil, maybe?
"Welcome. What can I get you?" she greeted.
"Two Hondew berry sandwiches," Mars asked. "And a coffee." She took out a handful of Poké and paid for the order.
The baker went to prepare Mars' order and Mars went to rejoin Emma and Looker at a corner table. Such was an appropriate time to plan how they would take on the black market and navigating Black City itself. To get things started, Looker brought out a map of the city.
"This is the approximate target area." He marked a certain set of offices. "We'll need to first set up the command post close enough to monitor what's going on in there. In those offices, we'll see if we can find our reactors, and possible shut down the black market if there is one there."
"I have something too," Mars added. "Before we left Opelucid City, I got in touch with my friends at the IPI and it appears those buildings are under the guise of an export-import exchange. But it's probably a cover the black market. We'll have to make do with finding the reactors or evidence at least, and time is against us."
Emma nodded. "A good base of operations should be inconspicuous. That is obvious."
Mars smirked at Looker. "So you finally stated the obvious, eh?"
"What do you mean by the obvious?" Looker said, raising an eyebrow. "You said the obvious just now?"
"Which was what?" Mars said.
"About that black market cover. That's the obvious. Congratulations, Eclipse. You're allowed to state the obvious."
"But it is obvious!" Emma added. "Looker, the obvious is before us."
"Very good, Essentia. You're allowed to say the obvious too."
"Looker… The obvious is not about stating the obvious," Emma said. "I mean, what we're talking about now is obvious."
"But Essentia, it's not about talking about the obvious. It's about seeing and doing."
"Looker, what does that mean?"
"You will know, once the obvious is done."
"You sure you're not over your head?" Mars facepalmed. Looker's case was more drastic than she thought. "I mean, I have to state the obvious because it must be done."
"Yes, yes, stating the obvious must be done." Looker nodded approvingly.
"Wh-WHAT? No! That's NOT what I meant!" Mars' eyes widened. "It's exactly the opposite!"
"Which is not stating the obvious? You are a tricky one, Eclipse," Looker said.
Mars buried her face in her hands, as if facepalming wasn't enough. From watching that, Emma understood Mars was more easily flustered than she thought. But to Mars' credit, Emma thought, Looker was becoming a stubborn case.
"The obvious… is doing what must be done, which is outside the obvious," Emma remarked.
"Ah yes! The obvious has arrived," Looker said. "I must thank you, Eclipse. This wasn't obvious, but hey, you paid for it. So it is gratefully and obviously accepted."
A steaming cup of coffee was place at the table by the baker, along with the Hondew berry sandwiches. Looker immediately picked it up and took a hearty sip. His eyes lit up. Emma opted to share half a sandwich with Mars.
"If there's even one thing that's obvious, you need to eat, Eclipse," Emma said.
Mars took a bite to get her mind off things, annoyed.
The Tokiwa GT-R45 pulled into Black City well into the afternoon. And for Mars and Emma at least, the city was nothing like they had ever seen. There was a lot of sunshine but it felt like the city itself was swallowing up the light in the streets. Never had Mars seen such a highly developed city and its infrastructure would put Jubilife City to shame. Emma shared the same opinion with that of Lumiose.
Still helping Mars navigate from the passenger seat, Emma looked at the surroundings. "Well, we won't have to worry about standing out. Seems everyone here drives a supercar."
Mars didn't need to be told twice about that. She wore a flat smile seeing one supercar after another parked on the side of the road. She had heard a rumour once that Black City residents were impossibly wealthy but the city was as secretive as it looked. A city driven by greed behind black-tinted windows and, Mars speculated, anti-competitive behaviour.
That was a huge contrast to the small town Mars was living in right now, at Floaroma Town. Even then, Mars knew that Floaroma Town was driven by a modest family-friendly community. Such was a community who welcomed her in, and even took to liking her berry business.
Black City felt nothing like that.
Dark, gloomy, and on edge fit the city's mood. But to its credit, the city was highly developed. She dared to imagine how the black market behaved here, let alone its citizens.
Still driving on its main road, the landscape was skyscraper after skyscraper, almost identical in design and shape. And grouped together with their black-tinted windows, the landscape was a black wall. The only thing separating them was pillars of light lining each building's corner, stretching to their rooftops. The pillars of light kind of gave Emma the impression of technologically advanced city, but it did nothing to stop the intimidating feel of the city either.
No one could fail to notice the enormous skyscraper in the heart of the city too, towering above the other skyscrapers. Beams of light ran through its edges and windows like veins, making the tower the unofficial beacon of the city.
"And we're completely inconspicuous! You see, we blend in perfectly," Emma added.
Mars continued driving at low gear, the low rumble of the Tokiwa GT-R45 engine echoing through the streets. One or two people paused to look at her as she drove by, and Mars guessed they had never seen a car with a design like hers. Besides, no one was supposed to know it was occupied by three International Police agents.
Emma eventually directed Mars to drive toward a set of office buildings. Looker had made sure which ones were designated targets and also guided Mars and Emma where the command post would be. After driving past the export-import exchange and taking a brief glance at its doors, they wondered what was behind them.
"Any kind of information helps," Looker said to Mars. "Drop me off here. If we're fortunate, we may have enough evidence to obtain the warrant."
Mars nodded. "We'll set up the command post. Now I know nothing here comes for free in this city, and we can't risk compromising ourselves. So I'll establish one at the Pokémon Centre. It's the last place anyone would suspect."
Looker was then let out of the car and Mars drove away quietly. She didn't have far to travel and her car was still within eyesight of Looker. Frankly, the Pokémon Centre wasn't that far away. Using the parking space behind the centre, Mars and Emma began conducting a perimeter check. It wouldn't be long before International Police officers would be arriving with the gear to properly establish the command post. But for the city of darkness, nothing was left to chance.
Looker was being careful. Aside from his patched wounds which could rupture, it was difficult to stay unsuspecting while trying to find something tangible to convince the courts to issue a warrant. He hadn't a lot of time either because the incoming reinforcements were expecting a warrant before they could move. And Looker was limited to the exterior of this export-import exchange.
So Looker had an idea. He put on a wig to change his hair to red and was wearing sunglasses when he walked into the exchange. Plus, Croagunk was safely in his Poké Ball, so Looker would not stand out at all! Save for the red hair.
If this exchange really housed a black market as intelligence suggested, then why not pose undercover as a potential buyer? Looker walked into the exchange, seeing people talking about at sales counters and exchanging cash – large sums of cash, Looker noticed – for goods. Evolution stones, luxury clothes, and even gold could be bought. It looked legitimate, but this was only the front-facing part of the exchange. What about the back?
Someone, a clerk, approached Looker. "Can I help you?"
Looker chose his words carefully, thinking how to make the best of the situation. "I'm interested in a service if you have that. I need someone to make a delivery."
The clerk raised her eyebrows. She quietly took Looker aside. "Do you wish to pass something through the exchange here? Export or import?"
Looker replied, satisfied he wasn't sounding suspicious, "I've heard that this market can supply anything and can supply them anywhere. Is that correct?" When the clerk nodded, Looker added, "Let me see the goods. I want something shipped to Opelucid City."
He faked a look a greed in his eyes, and it convinced the clerk.
So he was brought to the back and greeted by a plump man wearing a t-shirt and a moustache. Looker glanced at his surroundings, noting the various items lining the shelves like gold nuggets and star pieces. Where did these all come from?
The plump man said, "Whatever it is people want, we supply. What do you need?"
Looker thought about asking about the thermal fusion reactors, but surely there was something less obvious. Oh gosh, did he have to bring up that word again? But then his eyes fell on a bag of coffee beans imported from Alola. "Those! I need more of them, and I'll pay you to not ask any questions."
Even the plump man was puzzled. "Why would you come to the black market for…? Never mind. I'll make the arrangements, so let's agree on price."
"Arrangements? You have contacts then?" Looker said, probing the matter. He had a hunch.
"I have my sources. People who will bring things anywhere from us around the world. But I'll give you a discount since you're shipping something locally."
Looker nodded eagerly. "I look forward to it."
Mars and Emma were not impressed that Looker had taken so long, and were thoroughly annoyed that Looker had even paid the black market to deliver coffee beans.
"Did you use public money to buy those?!" Emma said through gritted teeth. "Are you crazy?!"
"Oh come now. You're overreacting!" Looker replied. "You'll understand perfectly."
He was met with cold unconvinced gazes from the girls, especially from Mars.
The dark buildings around them felt like they were swallowing the daylight itself. Only the vibrant lights on each building and on the roads were the beacons that gave Black City its distinctive flavour as a sprawling metropolis. Looker met Mars and Emma at the space behind the Pokémon Centre where the Tokiwa GT-R45 was parked.
"Okay, fine. It's a sunk cost now." Mars' voice was beyond frustrated. "Now what?"
"We wait for coffee! Easy as that," Looker replied. "I've treated Acht to some too. I'm positive he'll like it. Oh come now, don't be like that!" Looker added quickly, seeing the still-unconvinced glares from the girls. "It's a win-win for all of us! Acht gets coffee, I get coffee, and we still get our warrant. I would say, that is an effective use of public money." He looked right at Emma.
And Emma's eyes widened. "So you DID use public money!"
"For shame!" Mars said.
Looker grinned. "You'll understand, you two." And then his communications device rang like a ringtone. He picked up the call and put it on speakerphone. "We're all here, sir."
"Glad to hear it." It was Acht. "Well done, Looker. Your coffee beans have arrived at our doorstep as expected and we have detained the smugglers who brought them in. I have to say, hats off to you. You are more devious than you make out to be.
Devious? Yeah right, Mars thought. Looker was anything but devious!
"I swore the coffee beans in as evidence to the court, on top of Eclipse's findings on the fusion reactors and Essentia's data on the black market. The court has issued a warrant for the IP to use, so I'll deploy the Unova counter-terrorist team as scheduled, along with more agents," Acht explained. "Keep that command post area secure. A raid won't be long."
"Thank you, Acht," Looker said, then hung up the call.
And the unconvincing glares that were once on Mars and Emma's faces were suddenly replaced by surprise and speechlessness. What more could be said now? Somehow. Somehow. Looker's coffee obsession had landed them a warrant.
Thanks to Emma's efforts in retrieving computer data from Nealcoda Premier Fuel (analysed to prove its connection to Black City), Mars' assertion that the reactors had been at Nealcoda once, and the shipment of Alolan coffee beans at the rendezvous point in Opelucid City, Acht had sworn in evidence that seemed enough to convince the court to award the International Police a warrant.
Apart from the 'overwhelming evidence' that Acht had sworn in, the court justice raised eyebrows at the Alolan coffee beans. Then again, the justice had seen enough weird things in his time in court that it came as little surprise. One time, a police officer had sworn in a takeout lunch order of a hundred ramen bowls as evidence to prove a house was running as an illegal restaurant. That was something the court justice wouldn't forget.
And considering the scale of the International Police operation, he figured the coffee beans were just as likely. Plus, they likely hadn't passed through customs either. But Acht elected not to get into those details. After some deliberation, the justice issued the warrant.
The Unova counter-terrorist team had been waiting in Nimbasa City for deployment, since it was the most strategic place to get to anywhere in Unova. When the word came from Acht that the warrant was issued, they immediately moved into Black City via an unmarked armoured van. Some other vehicle could have been less conspicuous but Acht was certain this was the best cover.
Since the van was black, it perhaps blended into Black City too well. No one looked at the van twice and by the time it got to the back of the Pokémon Centre, it was as if the van had melted into the environment around it. The only thing keeping that from happening was the Tokiwa GT-R45, being white, red, and black.
Aside from being a transport vehicle, and Acht knew this, it was a mobile command post. Computers, monitors, and other equipment were set up inside the van to support police operations nearby. And for Black City, the timing couldn't be better.
When Mars and Emma looked inside the van, they figured it was more cramped than they would have liked but it was more than enough for their use. Only Looker would be inside the post while they initiated the raid with the counter-terrorist team. He may have gotten credit for getting the warrant but he was still injured. Besides, he managed to get coffee out of it.
But they had a briefing in the van before anything happened. There was little space considering the armour the team was wearing. Then again, comfort wasn't expected in this line of work either.
The team leader was a man who looked younger than Looker by several years, whose name went by Icirrus. At first, Mars thought it was a codename, like Eclipse was for herself, but accepted they were just nicknames. Mistralton, Striaton, and Nuvema were the other members, which led Mars to wonder, were they locals of their respective nicknames? They looked just as old as Icirrus.
"Alright, listen up!" Icirrus said to the team, plus Mars and Emma, pointing at the monitor behind him. Looker had taken the liberty of pulling it up, showing a layout of the floor map. "We have obtained a warrant to raid a potential black market posing as this export-import exchange. However, as you may not know, that's not our sole reason for being here.
"Our three friends from the International Police–" Icirrus glanced at Mars and Emma, "–are hunting two thermal fusion reactors that have very likely been smuggled into Unova from Hoenn. The smugglers reportedly have connections with this particular black market. In case if you don't know, these two reactors can supply enough energy to power Nimbasa City alone. Agent Eclipse here concluded they were responsible for powering bomb production in Hoenn, but it was already too late to seize the reactors before the IP could act. They're not much bigger than an office desk, for the record.
"That's why we're here, and we don't have a lot of time," Icirrus continued. "Our priority is to search the black market as fast as we can. Detain or knock out whoever you come across, but use your discretion if it must escalate to lethal. We have to find the reactors if they're here. We don't know what's being planned with them and the IP is trying to think of something as we speak, but the sooner we find the reactors, the better.
"Finally, our plan of attack is to take the direct approach." Icirrus pulled up what could have been a fire escape map of the building. "We'll be ramming the back door, seeing other IP agents will cordon off the front while this is happening. In fact, the IP is blocking off the entrance as we speak. Once we get in, you know what to do. Lastly, one more note, the two young ladies with us will provide us with backup. Mind you, they're more lethal than you'd expect."
Icirrus put on his helmet. "Let's move."
The rest of the counter-terrorist team put on their equipment and headed out, leaving Mars and Emma in the van.
"It's roomier in here than I thought, now that I think of it," Emma said, now putting on her Expansion Suit helmet.
Mars took out her Poké Ball. "Indeed it is. You'll be alright, Looker?"
"With me and my Alolan coffee, you are in safe hands," Looker replied. "Good luck, Eclipse." He downed another cup of coffee, stored in a thermos, and went to work. So did Eclipse and Essentia.
Next chapter: the raid!