Chapter 15: The Man with the Plan
Whoo, was that a close one! Kevin said to Duo-Cevan. I thought he would've figured it out!
Umm, Kevin? Duo-Cevan quickly interrupted. What is the rule that you're breaking this moment?
Kevin stopped running and looked around. Kevin found that he was on a wide path, between the water and the forest.
Kevin slapped his forehead. Blast it! He thought. In my mad dash, I must've gone onto the main route! He then looked toward the forest. Maybe I can still get in there…
"Hey, mister!" Kevin heard a female voice say. Kevin could guess it was directed to him. "You're a Pokémon trainer, aren't you?"
Double blast, Kevin thought. He then rapidly thought up of something to say and turned to face the source of the voice.
A girl half his size stood before him, wearing green camping gear. She apparently was an experienced outdoor person, as well as a trainer, due to her belt with Pokéballs. Without any sudden movements, Kevin faced her. "That depends," He said calmly. "What kind of trainer are you looking for?"
"Huh?" the girl said, giving Kevin a strange look. "What do you mean, 'what kind of trainer?'"
Kevin put his plan into action. "Well," he began, "you could be looking for the daring trainer, who charges into battles without thinking. Or the cautious trainer, who thinks twice before making an action. Or the smart trainer, who—"
"All right, all right!" The girl interrupted, throwing her hands into the air. "Look, do you want a battle or not? It's a simple yes or no question. I won't be broken-hearted if you don't want a fight."
"Really?" Kevin looked at her in awe, glad she couldn't see his expression in his hood. "Well, I'm rather in a hurry, so if you don't mind, I'd like to be on my way."
"All right, I understand," the girl replied. She then gave Kevin a cold look. "You know, you almost give the notion you don't even want to fight." With that said, she walked off.
Kevin heaved a sigh of relief. Two close calls in the same hour! I must be getting rusty, he said to Duo-Cevan as he made for the side route.
Rusty?? I call that careless! Duo-Cevan remarked. All this rushing into new areas seems to blind you sometimes.
Either that, or something else is occupying my mind, Kevin added.
What exactly do you mean by that? Duo-Cevan wondered. This melody has been breaking up my ability to read your thoughts.
It's about the Psychic's name, Kevin said, moving on to Goldenrod City along the side route. It's been bothering me ever since Barks told me about it.
Does it sound too familiar? Duo-Cevan asked as they slashed down a bush in the path.
Yeah. I've heard it before, but I can't seem to pull from my memory where I heard it. Maybe you could search my mind for me? Kevin wondered.
Are you deaf in the mind?? Duo-Cevan said in surprise. I just said that the melody is breaking my ability to read your mind. There would be no way for me to search your memory for a simple name!
Good point. Kevin slashed through another tall bush and stepped out into the open, looking into a city. Well, here we are, Kevin declared.
Kevin blinked his eyes and looked at the city again. To Kevin, this wasn't a city, it was a gigantic corporation ground. The tall towers stood everywhere within Goldenrod, which Kevin, at first glance, was fooled to believe they were office buildings.
Do they normally build cities this big? Duo-Cevan asked.
Not to my knowledge, no, Kevin answered. Yikes, what in a Cubone's helmet do they do here?
* * *
Kevin was only surprised by seeing the city. Now that he was actually inside Goldenrod, he was overwhelmed. People moved about in crowds, and Kevin almost had to fight his way through the busy roads.
Great red Rapidash! Duo-Cevan commented in bewilderment. This isn't a city, it's a megalopolis!
Well, in that case, we better ask for directions, Kevin said. Turning toward a glass door, he walked in.
"Hello, good sir!" two men suddenly greeted, appearing in front of him. "We're the Haircut Brothers! Are any of your Pokémon in need of a good haircut?"
Kevin fought the urge to say something other than what he had come in here for. "Umm, no," Kevin said. "I came in here to find directions. Perhaps you could tell me how to get to the Goldenrod Radio Tower?"
"Sure. It's to your left just as you leave the door," one of the brothers said. "You can notice it by the multiple satellites and communication towers. But are you sure that your Pokémon don't need a haircut?"
"Sorry, but I have a Scyther," Kevin said before opening the door and walking out. "Thanks for the consideration, though!" Kevin turned the corner and walked from the building.
Kevin almost shoved his way through the energy-filled crowd toward the direction the Haircut Brother showed. Sure enough, the tower itself was noticeable.
Now the trouble is getting there, Duo-Cevan commented. And there's no way we can fly. It's too noticeable.
Kevin looked around a bit at the layout of the city. Some of the buildings were nearly sitting next to each other. Following the train, Kevin planned how to move about. Heading down an alleyway, Kevin made sure the coast was clear. Then, when no one was looking, he leaped onto a fire escape route on the side of one and began climbing it, making sure that each window he passed had no watchers.
* * *
Only thirty more flights, Kevin stated, after 15 minutes of climbing and window dodging. He knew that if someone noticed him climbing the catwalk that he would be in serious trouble, and so scaling the building was taking longer than he thought. The areas that he traversed while climbing, though, were dark enough that with his suit he could not be seen from the ground, so he had no worries of someone seeing him from the alley.
We're high enough, Kevin, Duo-Cevan said. Why don't we just fly to the roof?
I don't know if we should risk it, Kevin sighed, dodging another window. He was glad that the other building on the opposite side of the alleyway had no windows on that wall.
We don't exactly have to risk it, Duo-Cevan said.
What exactly do you mean by that? Kevin wondered. If you're thinking about using smokescreen, it's far too noticeable!
What about mist?
Kevin stopped in mid-step on the catwalk. :Mist,: he thought, :I had completely forgotten about that attack. I almost never used it in battle while a champion… What was its use again?:
Well? Why don't we use mist? Duo-Cevan suggested.
A moment later, a very light mist now enveloped the remaining flights that Kevin had to traverse. Though the mist was not enough to block someone's view from seeing him, it was now less likely for him to get spotted. Leaping up into the air, Kevin flew the remaining distance and landed gently on the roof. Now that he was on top of the buildings, he charged across them, leaping the gap of the alleyways in between with ease.
How did you know about mist? Kevin asked Duo-Cevan as he dashed across the roof. I thought you couldn't read my mind.
Don't assume that being a Scyther doesn't allow me to know what different attacks are, Duo-Cevan explained. Of all the attacks we've learned so far, I know them all. The only thing I don't know about them is how to use them, and that's when metronome kicks in.
So if you weren't a hybrid, then you could use any attack? Kevin wondered.
Yes and no, Duo-Cevan responded as they leapt across another gap. Yes in the sense that I could use any attack, and no that I wouldn't be able to harness it. I think it's because you are also a part of us that overrides the random selection of what move we would use.
I see… Kevin stopped dashing after reaching the last roof and stared at the tower. Well, here we are.
After studying the Goldenrod Radio tower structure a little, Kevin dropped from the roof to the alleyway and hid next to the corner of the building. Then, peaking around the corner of the building, Kevin watched the enterance. Two men were standing by the front doors, seemingly as guards.
Dang, Kevin thought, Security. There's no way I'll be able to get past them unnoticed, and if they're Rogues…
Why don't we just charge in? Duo-Cevan suggested.
Duo-Cevan, there are innocent people in there. Unless they know what I'm there for, even they will try stopping me, and I wouldn't want to hurt them. Plus, I wouldn't want to make myself look like a criminal—
Their conversation was interrupted by a voice suddenly coming from the Radio tower's entryway. "…You better be back in an hour, or else!" was all that Kevin could make of it.
As Kevin watched, a man in a blue dress suit and wearing a green visor that concealed his eyes came from the front doors. A security guard turned and faced the man. "What happened now?" the guard asked.
"Fell down the stairs and hurt my foot," the man replied. "I'll be back in an hour after I get the crutch." He limped away from the door and started walking past Kevin's place. Kevin hid himself by concealing himself in the shadows of the building he stood next to.
Must be someone trying to skip work, Kevin thought. That's the second most pathetic limp I've ever seen!
What's the worst? Duo-Cevan asked.
Kevin thought for a moment. Actually, I think that is the worst limp I've seen.
* * *
The limping man slowly made his way back home. Arriving at his front door, he heaved a sigh. "Man, something is definitely up with that vice-director," he grumbled. "I'm glad that I'm out of his presence right now."
Kevin, who was following him, came up from behind. "I don't exactly think that's such a good reason to skip work," he said.
The man, startled, spun around, the visor hiding his expression. "Who in blazes are you?" he asked, obviously sounding angry.
"Someone who could be your worst nightmare," Kevin growled, "unless I get answers."
Kevin had struck where he intended. While he could not see the eyes, the man's voice slightly changed, showing his fear. "W-what do you want from me?" the man stammered.
Good, Kevin thought, this man is obviously not from Team Rogue. Kevin then began to speak. "I apologize. I see you are not accustomed to fear tactics. I only wish to know about a few things in the Goldenrod Radio tower."
"So first you scare me, then you want my help?" the man wondered. "Frankly, I don't see why you're even interested in me if you want the Goldenrod Radio tower."
"I was observing the entryway when you came out," Kevin replied. "What makes me wonder is how the security guards were fooled by bad limp acting. Obviously, there is something you're trying to get away from if you expect me to believe that you fell down some stairs."
The man faced Kevin for a few seconds, his expression still somewhat hidden under the visor. He then turned toward his front door. "All right. You want answers? Then come in," he said, opening the door. "But you'll have to tell me something about you first, and why you're so interested in the tower."
Entering the front door, the first room Kevin came to held a relaxing environment. Sofas and cushioned chairs lined the walls, matching the green paint. The carpet itself seemed to sink under Kevin's weight, then spring back up when the weight was removed. The only thing the room was missing was a window, but it seemed as bright as day with a basic chandelier in the middle of the room.
"Seat yourself," the man said, motioning to the chairs. "I'll be back with something to drink."
"If anything, water will be fine to drink," Kevin said before the man walked through the door on the opposite side and turned the corner. Kevin then began eyeing the sofas.
This man certainly seems to have something with green, Duo-Cevan commented.
Kevin sat in one of the corners of the room while waiting for the man. Looking up, Kevin then noticed a picture up on the wall to his left. Getting up to take a closer look, he saw the picture was of a boy, probably of 12 years, holding a pose with a Pokéball in the outstretched hand. Off to his sides were three Pokémon: a Charizard, a Golem, and a Raichu.
"Ahh, so I see you've noticed my old trainer picture," the man said as he walked back through.
"You used to be a trainer?" Kevin asked, not turning around.
"And a very intense one, too, I must say," he said in a voice that seemed to be in a cheery mood. His voice suddenly changed. "Shame that I never got to fight Kevin a second time…"
"Who?" Kevin spun around after hearing the name.
"The Lost Trainer Kevin," The man said. He handed Kevin a glass of water, then appeared to become lost in thought. "Now he was a man. If you were ready to face him, you were ready to face anyone. I thought I was, until I went up against his Scyther."
"What about his Scyther?" Kevin asked, still holding the glass while attempting to make out the man's emotions through his visor.
"His Scyther, named Cevan, was the most powerful Pokémon I had ever seen. It took down nearly my entire team if my Golem hadn't backed us up. Those three Pokémon you see in that picture?" the man motioned to each of them in order, from Charizard. "That is Ayeiah, he is Stoano, and that Raichu is Riki. Man, they had power! I had three other Pokémon when I went through the Pokémasters' Squadron, and I only used my others against that Scyther."
A switch suddenly seemed to flip in Kevin's head. "Wait," Kevin interrupted, "Aren't you Efalno?"
The man came from his daze. "Yes," he confirmed. "How did you know?"
"I remember you! That team in your picture was the very team that went completely through the Pokémasters' Squadron!" Kevin laughed a little. "I was actually surprised that you managed to pull through all of the members with only that team. Shame that Cevan had to deal with you in such a way."
"Wait, you're Kevin?" Efalno said in a surprised tone. "Why in blazes did you disappear, and what are you doing all the way here?"
Kevin sighed. "It's a long story…"
* * *
"…and that's why I'm here," Kevin finished. He, of course, left out the stories involving any of the 'exceptional' Pokémon he had run across.
"Sounds like you had quite a trip," Efalno said. He then sighed. "Well, since your current target seems to be the radio tower, I guess I could help you out."
"How can you help out, exactly?" Kevin wondered. "Is there a back door to the place?"
"No, but you did say you could transform, right?" Efalno repeated. "If you can, you could transform into me, use my suit for a disguise, and do my job!"
"What exactly is your job?" Kevin asked.
"Paperwork, mostly," Efalno answered. "The only things you really need to do are deliver papers to the vice-director or the director. Most of them head to the vice-director, though." The man heaved a sigh. "Ever since we got the new one, though…"
"Times have been tough," Kevin finished for him. "I gathered that when you mentioned about him before we had fully met."
"Yes," Efalno sighed again. Much to Kevin's surprise, Efalno took off his visor after the words. "Something about him frightens me. Thank goodness for this visor, though. I can actually hide my true expression from him without his knowing. He almost acts as if he's trying to tire out people with scare tactics."
"Scare tactics?" Kevin's voice went into a growl. "Burning Fire Blasts, the Rogues must have positions all over the place…!"
"And that's not the worst of it, either," Efalno exclaimed. "I've seen some of the workers during our breaks, and they seem purely wiped out. They would probably leave the position if they didn't actually enjoy their job, and if what you say is true, my gathering is that they probably would strike now."
* * *
Arguelles paced his study in an impatient rhythm. Every time he passed his desk, he wondered if he should pound on it or snap it in two with his own mind. Instead of doing either, he resumed his pacing.
Finally, he could take it no longer. Arguelles furiously slammed his fist down on the wooden surface. "Bother, Patrael, what in a pink Butterfree's wing are you doing?"
Arguelles decided to ask that through his Pokémon. Swieten, what in toppled towers is going on? he shouted.
They haven't executed the plan yet, Swieten answered. They seem to have something else in mind.
Tell that ninny to call me right now! Arguelles growled. And make sure it's a private connection!
Arguelles cut the Psychic connection and began pacing again. He didn't stop until his phone rang on his desk.
"Patrael!" Arguelles shouted into the phone. "What is taking so long to execute the plan?"
"We're attempting to make it as secret as possible," Patrael answered. "An employee fell down the stairs and we need him back in. Today seems to be the best day, as none of the employees are missing save for that one."
"Why do you even care for that one man? The entire plan is resting on a cliff, and it will topple over if Kevin figures out how to stop your plan!"
"Which is why we need this last employee," Patrael said. "If Kevin finds this one employee before he gets back—"
"I don't care!" Arguelles exploded. "If you can't get that broadcast out by the next hour, I'll… I'll…" Arguelles couldn't find anything appealing enough. He instead slammed the phone down and hung up.