Chapter 14: Saving Face

About two hours of resting and four packs of ice later, Alexander decided the time was nigh to go and meet Lady Venus.

Megg seemed terribly unhappy about it.

"Do you have to meet her?" she asked, tugging at the back of his belt insistently as he tried to buckle on his second one.

Alexander sweatdropped, and turned to give her a nervous smile. "Sweetheart... you need to quit that," he pleaded, trying to tug free. "You'll pull my pants down, or something..."

Megg blushed, and quickly let go. "I'm sorry..." she apologized. "But... Lady Venus is bad! She gives away Shadow Pokémon!"

More of those Shadow Pokémon... So, it seemed Team Cipher was behind them. Question was, how and why? "I'm not afraid," Alexander assured the young girl, adjusting his belts resolutely. He also patted his right jean pocket to insure that the letter he had been instructed to deliver was still there. "Trust me; I know what I'm doing. And this is going to help me learn more about the inner workings of Team Cipher."

Megg nodded, although she still didn't look very pleased. "Ok... I understand..." she mumbled. "I just have one question."

"What's that?"

"Well..." Megg hesitated for a moment. "You're not... part of Team Cipher... Are you?"

Alexander's face went pale. "Wha—? What... what makes you ask a question like that?" he stammered, mind racing furiously to the memories such a question invoked...

"Well... you're wearing that," she explained, pointing at the gold, moon-shaped necklace that Alexander was wearing. "That's... the Team Cipher logo. Except, it's also supposed to have a T and an S on it, too. Because Team Cipher made an alliance with Team Snagem."

"What?" Alexander blurted. "...Cipher's with... Team Snagem?"

Megg nodded, too startled to say anything.

Alexander's face lowered, and for a long while he didn't say anything. But Megg could see the way his fist tightened at his side, and the unspoken fury and frustration welling up within.

"Damn you, Nascour..." he hissed to himself, although Megg could hear every word. "How could you...? You knew... but I guess... I guess it doesn't matter now... Damn, if you would only understand..."

Megg's face pricked into fear. "What? Do you... know Nascour?"

The young mercenary raised his eyes slightly. "Do you?" he asked.

"We know he's an important person in Team Cipher... The leader, probably. But how do you know him?"

"...It's not for you to find out."

"Isn't it?" Megg cried, tears coming forth as she stared up into Alexander's eyes. "Who are you? Are you a friend or not?"

"Miss Megg... I swore to you I was..."

"Then what is it you have to hide?"

Alexander turned away, his voice tight with anger. "If I thought... If I thought I could tell you without hurting you, then I would," he said, through gritted teeth. "Just know... Team Cipher is a part of my past. That's it. Ok?"

Megg nodded, even though he wasn't looking at her. "Ok... But... What is it they've done to you...?" she couldn't help but ask.

Alexander didn't reply.

"...Alexander? I... Are you ok? I'm sorry..."

"...No. You needn't be sorry. I'm the one who's sorry. For wasting his life, and throwing away who I once was... Miss Megg. You have every right to ask me such questions. But..." He turned around, smiling gently at her. "...Some things are best left unspoken."

"...Ok."

Alexander shook his head sadly, before going to Megg and kissing her on the head. "I'll be back before I leave The Under. Promise."

Megg beamed. "Ok," she said, sounding happy again. "And, um... Alexander?"

"Yes?"

"...You might want to be careful when you talk to Lady Venus."

The young mercenary cocked his head, some of his aqua-green hair tossing its way across his face from the movement. "Why's that?" he asked.

"...Because... Well, first of all, because she hates rude people. They say she has those who are rude to her killed. So you have to be polite."

"I'm always polite," Alexander grinned. "Worry not."

Megg giggled. "I know... but also... Well, since you're cute..."

"Since I'm cute? Whatever do you mean by that?" he questioned, a slight blush finding its way across his cheeks.

"See... Lady Venus likes to charm guys. She flirts with the really cute ones. And all the guys in The Under love her. So, um..." Megg blushed, and fidgeted for her next words. "...I think you're probably the cutest guy I've seen here in The Under. So you might want to be careful..."

Alexander stared blankly at her for a moment, something between charmed at Megg's frank compliment, and dumbstruck by the sheer irony of the situation. What irony? Anyone in Johto keeping tabs on its most-wanted criminals could tell you that the "pirate prince of Johto" was notorious for his habit of shameless flirting with the ladies. So Lady Venus liked playing games with the opposite sex, too? This would be interesting...

Just thinking of the... er... interesting conversations the two could have made Alexander suddenly burst out laughing. Startled, Megg could only look at him as if he were crazy; after all, Lady Venus was the most powerful person in The Under. "What's so funny?" she demanded.

"...Um... nothing at all... It's just... um... never mind. I'll be all right."

Megg put her hands on her hips and glared up at Alexander, trying to look in authority. "You're a strange person," she said. "But you're nice. I'm glad we're friends."

"And you're a very smart, caring, sweet little girl," he replied delicately, bending to kiss her on the cheek this time. "Now I'm really going... Wait for me, all right?"

"Ok," Megg replied, with a tiny, half-hearted smile.

With a turn that gracefully whipped his ponytail back behind him, Alexander climbed back up the stairs to the first floor of Megg and Nett's house, and departed out into the dark, ruggedness of The Under.

Into another round of disaster... or something close to it...

After an eventful afternoon of beating down mobs and narrowly escaping being run out of town, you'd think Wes would be ready to call it a day.

Not by a long shot.

"Let me get this straight," Cail said, after listening to what Wes had to say, about ten minutes after Johnson had trudged off in complete and utter confusion. "You're gonna heal your Pokémon... then you're gonna battle the rest of the trainers in Duel Square?"

"Precisely," Wes said, in a rather self-satisfied way.

Rui gave her friend a half-worried, half-exasperated look. "I don't know if we should," she warned. "They might get mad."

"They're already mad."

Cail smirked, before putting his hands up in surrender. "All right, all right. Not my problem, after all. There should be a healing machine inside the Colosseum over there," he said, pointing out the decrepit-looking dome that stood out above the other buildings.

Wes nodded in approval. Things were looking good... "Cool. Thanks a lot, Cail," he replied casually, starting on down the street towards the Colosseum.

"But... you're gonna have to go through Duel Square to get to the Colosseum," Willie warned.

"...Your point?"

"Um... none really, I guess. Just thought I'd let you know..."

Wes didn't reply, but as he turned back to Rui, she could see the wry smile that flitted its way across his face. "Let's go," he said to her. "While we're at the Colosseum, maybe we can find the answers to some of our questions..."

His voice trailed off, and his gold eyes met her blue ones in a strange gaze; one Rui had never seen before. As Rui stared into Wes's eyes, entranced, it suddenly dawned on her that it was a pleading, apologetic gaze he was giving her. He was sorry; sorry for his irrational mood swings, his dark impulses, and for being who he was. Rui could not explain how she knew all this just from gazing into his eyes, but she did. And it was ok.

"Ok," she replied, a smile lighting up her face. I forgive you, Wes. I understand why you've acted the way you have... It's ok...

Wes's eyes brightened at her unspoken forgiving of him, and without another word, he slowly strode down the street towards the Colosseum.

Feeling a lot better, Rui smiled brightly and bounded happily after him. "Bye Willie, bye Cail!" she chirped to the two watching them go. "Thanks for everything!"

"Later, babe," Willie bid, with a casual wave.

Cail smirked, crossing his arms. "See ya."

Once again... Wes and Rui were off...

At precisely 4:30 pm, like clockwork, all eyes were on the video screens scattered here and there throughout The Under. Waiting—perhaps from awe, from respect, from curiosity, or something else—for an all-too-familiar voice and face. One that dictated each and every one of their lives...

"Hello, everyone! Welcome to The Under Time! With me, your Lady Venus!"

Everyone watching gaped at the beautiful young woman that appeared on the screens. Her long, silky, brown hair, curled delicately around her face. The golden eyes hidden behind long eyelashes. The perfect face—with perfect soft skin, blushing cheeks, and laughing smile partially covered by a pink veil—beaming coyly down at them. And as if that weren't enough... she wore a silken pink and white dress with crystals woven into the bottom of it, a golden hairpiece that held her gorgeous hair back, and a crescent-moon shaped attachment fixed to the back of her dress, which could be taken off at anytime she pleased. This was Lady Venus Celestia, the self-proclaimed ruler of The Under.

She also happened to be the 3rd Admin for Team Cipher.

"How are we today?" Venus asked the waiting crowds, smiling all the while. "Have you missed me? I'm so sorry I haven't been coming on as much as I used to!"

"It's ok, Lady Venus!" the crowds replied back in unison, as if under her spell.

Venus giggled, and placed a hand over her mouth. "Oh, I do hope you all will forgive me!" she continued.

"We forgive you!" the crowds roared back.

Venus smiled, and then proceeded to tell everyone in The Under of how busy she had been lately with Team Cipher, and how happy she was to be back with all her adoring fans. In this lawless underground city, Team Cipher and Shadow Pokémon were as natural as sand in Orre's deserts. Venus was not afraid to speak freely about such things, because she knew she had every citizen of The Under in her complete power. Everyone loved her! They would never do anything against her. Over the past two years, since she had first come into power in The Under, Venus had slowly conditioned the people to do her every whim. It came from a natural ability to manipulate deep within her, one that had earned Venus both adminship and respect within the ranks of Team Cipher.

"...So that's what I've been busy with lately!" Venus concluded, still smiling to everyone. "It's been soooo much work... But that's why I need your help! I need all of you to make sure my little secret doesn't get out to the police or anything. That would ruin all our plans, and that would make me so sad!" She pretended to shed a tear at the thought.

Her audience (but particularly the guys, of course) goggled at Venus's "sad" expression. "Don't cry, Lady Venus!" one man cried.

"We won't let the cops know a thing!" yelled another.

"...But I'm sure you all are willing to help, though. Thank you so much!" Venus continued. "We also have to keep improving our battling skills! We need lots of skilled trainers helping our plans in Cipher! That's what the Under Colosseum is for, right? The best of the best trainers who compete not only get a really strong Shadow Pokémon as a prize... but they also get to meet me in person! Doesn't that sound like fun?"

An old man practically drooled. "I'll win for you, Venus!" he cried.

Venus winked. "Remember that, ok? I look forward to meeting all of you! Until next time... I'm your Lady Venus! Bye everyone!"

"Bye!" everyone chimed, as the screens blinked off once more.

As soon as the cameras were switched off in the TV studio, Venus stopped smiling, and turned to leave. A crowd of attendants all instantly swarmed around her, offering this and that and everything in between, but she quickly waved them away. "I don't feel like talking to anyone," she said, sounding irritated. "Tell everyone to go away."

Disappointed, most of the attendants left, as Venus headed down the stairs of the studio into the area of the Colosseum that she lived in. The few that remained—her loyal direct subordinate, Kloak, and several other Peons and members—followed her quietly. As they approached Venus's room, however, Kloak cleared her throat softly.

"Milady," she said, causing Venus to turn. "I received this message from the Colosseum..." Kloak held up a note. "It says that someone requests permission to speak with you..."

Venus pouted. "I don't want to talk with anyone!" she insisted. "I'm so tired... and most of our Shadow Pokémon haven't arrived yet! How am I supposed to give Shadow Pokémon away if I don't have them?"

"But Milady, the visitor says he brings a message from Master Ein..."

As soon as Kloak mentioned Ein, Venus jumped. "Oh! From Ein, is it?" Venus asked. "If that's the case, I suppose I'll see him..." She motioned everyone to leave, except for Kloak. "Take me to our visitor then, Kloak. I'm very interested in what Ein has to say."

Kloak bowed. "This way, Milady. He's waiting in the meeting room."

Venus smiled, and smoothed her dress absently as she followed Kloak down the halls to the small meeting room in the north end of the Colosseum building. She was anxious to hear from Ein; she hadn't heard anything from him in a long time. Not even when Sierra had stopped by to deliver Venus's own personal Shadow Pokémon.

And besides... she rather liked Ein.

So he wasn't buff or anything like that. And he liked to think of things in too-scientific terms. And, ok, he was really pessimistic. But Venus found a certain attraction in that. He was slightly pale and thin with lack of physical exercise, but that did nothing to detract from the handsome soul hidden behind his dark glasses.

Venus giggled at herself. So many guys around her, all equally desperate to win her heart. And the one man she really wanted was Ein Noviena. The mad scientist of Team Cipher who, no doubt, had little interest in romance or anything of that nature. But that's what Venus liked about him. He was a challenge. And Venus liked challenges.

Already she was planning out her return message to Ein...

Alexander yawned; this job was really getting boring.

There had been no challenge at all in passing himself off as a Cipher member. No challenge in persuading the guards and flunkies to let him see Lady Venus. Now he was waiting in a small meeting room, leaning back in a chair with his feet on the table, for Lady Venus to arrive so he could deliver this message.

Alexander wasn't even sure what the message said. It had never occurred to him to peek and find out. It was in a sealed envelope, though. It would be difficult to get around that, and make it look like he hadn't touched it. It was possible, but not with the resources and time he had available. So he had just let it be. Must not be that important anyway, if they had let him deliver it in so casual a manner...

"Wonder if this Lady Venus is cute...?" he murmured softly to himself.

Just as the door to the room opened inward, and Lady Venus herself entered.

Alexander hastily fell forward in his chair and scrambled to his feet, not wanting to appear rude in front of her. So maybe she was one of the bad guys. That didn't mean Alexander had to be any less polite. After all, it was sort of a trademark of his to beat his enemies into the ground while still being courteous to them...

Venus waved Kloak away, and stepped further into the room. "Greetings," she said softly, a smile creeping upon her face at the sight of Alexander. "My my... I didn't realize such a handsome young man was one of Cipher's members."

Alexander blinked, taken aback by how lovely Venus really was. Ok, so she isn't cute... she's gorgeous. No wonder she likes to charm the guys... At the thought, a devious look slowly stole into his eyes. Smoothly, he moved across the room to where Venus had taken her seat, and bowed. "Well... I certainly didn't realize how beautiful you really were in person, my Lady Venus," he replied eloquently, taking her hand and placing a delicate kiss on it. The two's eyes met, and they both instantly saw the intent hidden away behind the gold and azure irises...

My... such a ladies' man, this one. I can tell already... Venus thought, her eyes glittering.

Already I can see that this'll be fun... Alexander thought, with a sly smile.

"What's your name, if I may ask?" Venus questioned, taking her hand from his and placing both of her hands neatly in her lap.

The young mercenary considered, then shrugged. "Alexander," he replied, sitting on the edge of the table next to her. "I've brought a message on behalf of Master Ein." He pulled out the envelope and handed it delicately to her. Venus took it and carefully tore it open, pulling out the letter inside and reading it. Alexander patiently watched her eyes scroll back and forth over the paper, taking note of each and every expression that momentarily crossed her face. Finally, Venus put the letter back into the envelope, a pleased look on her face.

"Pleasant news, I take it?" Alexander asked.

"Yes. I thank you very much for bringing this letter to me."

"It was nothing, my Lady Venus. Anything for you."

Venus put a hand over her mouth lightly to cover a giggle. "My, you're so polite. You're a lot different than most Cipher members I've encountered."

Alexander shrugged. "I'm not like most people you've ever encountered either, I take," he countered.

"...That's true," Venus replied slowly, her gaze falling upon Alexander's long, aqua-green ponytail hanging down his back and resting upon the table top. She reached a hand out, and curled the ends of the ponytail around her fingertips. "My... such nice hair you have."

"Thank you."

"How long did it take to grow so long?"

"Hm..." The young mercenary considered briefly. "The last time I cut it, not counting trimming the ends and such, I was about eight years old. So I guess... ten years?"

Venus looked impressed. "My... How lovely," she murmured. "So, you are 18-years old, I take it?"

"Yes."

The Cipher Admin giggled yet again, and Alexander began to grow just a mite uneasy... He was a ladies' man, true enough, but he did know what types of girls he liked. And he wasn't quite fond of the way Venus was trying to break down his guard with her giggling and smiling. That was his job, after all. But, it was an interesting change. No doubt about that...

Venus's eyes went next to the sword on his belt, and she put forward another "curious" question. "Where did you get that?" she asked insistently.

Alexander's eyes barely flickered. "I once was a traditional mercenary," he replied, without missing a beat. "Although I'm now with Team Cipher, I find I just can't let go of my blade..."

"Ah. Like Master Nascour," Venus noted, finding that fascinating.

"Precisely."

"Can I... see it?" asked Venus meaningfully.

Alexander raised an eyebrow, before wordlessly drawing his longsword out and presenting it to her. She touched the large sapphire in the hilt curiously, before allowing him to take it back. "Lovely," she purred.

"I have quite an attraction for lovely things," Alexander said, brushing some of his hair from his eyes. "Sometimes I find that the attraction's too obvious, though..."

Venus giggled. "That's not necessarily a bad thing," she said, leaning closer to him with a smile. "I, myself, have an attraction for handsome things..." She put a finger to her lips, smiling coyly. "Isn't it interesting, how our interests go together...?"

Alexander casually lay down sideways on the table before her, still attempting to read Venus's next moves. "Very interesting," he remarked.

Through the awkward silence that followed, the two continued to smile forcibly for a few moments. After a while though, Alexander decided that this show of pretense was getting to be silly. "It's not quite as fun as I thought it might be," he finally murmured.

Venus made a face. "What's not? Being with me isn't fun?" she pouted.

"No, not that. Playing with you like this isn't fun. It's so much more fun when the other person isn't aware you're trying to play with them," the young mercenary explained. "That's all."

"Oh, is that it? I'm sorry..." Venus pretended to consider things for a moment. Then, a devious smile crossed her face. "Perhaps we should cut with the playing, then?"

Alexander cocked his head. "Oh, really? What do you propose instead?"

Venus smiled, before leaning close to his face and touching his lips. "I should expect you to know how to kiss a lady," she said, slowly lowering her veil. "Care to prove the point?"

A small smile tugged at the corner of Alexander's lips. "My, aren't you a forward one?" he breathed, his lips brushing her cheek. "I thought the men were the hasty ones?"

"I just know what I like," Venus replied, before she turned her face to kiss his lips gently. Their lips lingered on each other's for several seconds, before Alexander tilted his head slightly to the side, running his tongue lightly across her lips. As Venus's lips parted in a gentle sigh, Alexander captured her mouth in a passionate kiss that lasted even longer than the first. After a few moments, Venus pulled back slightly, a sly look in her eyes.

"You're so cute," she teased, running a finger along the scar on his face.

Alexander shrugged. "So I've been told."

"You kiss rather well, too."

"I've had experience."

Venus giggled again, before kissing him on the cheek. "So have I," she replied, before she put her arm around his neck and pulled his face to hers again, taking him into a passionate kiss of her own that surprised even Alexander.

Alexander closed his eyes, momentarily wondering if he should feel ashamed of himself or not. Well... this certainly isn't what I had in mind... he thought. But then again... I'm not complaining...

It took endurance of multiple death threats and evil stares, but Wes and Rui crossed through Duel Square with little trouble at all, despite Willie's worries. Once through, Rui paused for a moment to take note of several structures nearby.

"Look, Wes," she said, pointing to a large windmill to the left. The blades rotated slowly in the dry breeze wafting through the town, grinding all the while. "A windmill."

Wes looked up at it, shielding his eyes with a hand from the sun. "Yeah. I think it's supposed to generate power for the Colosseum," he said, trying to remember what he had heard about Pyrite Town in the past. "Every time it turns, it generates electricity."

"Really?" Rui replied. "I didn't know that..." She looked to the right this time, and pointed to a decrepit, abandoned-looking building. "And what's that?"

"That? Beats me," Wes replied, running his hand through his hair with a sigh. "Guess it's an old, run-down building."

Rui blushed. "Oh, ok," she said. "And so... I guess that's the Colosseum." She pointed to the large dome on the other side of a narrow bridge, looming over the rest of the town with its size. However, it certainly looked as if the structure had seen better days, for it looked worn and uncared for. Several holes were ripped in the structure's roof, and some of the support beams—rusted over, quite predictably—showed through. All in all, it looked about as bad as most of the other buildings in the town did.

"I guess you're right," Wes murmured. "Pyrite Colosseum..."

Continuing onwards, the two approached the start of the narrow bridge spanning a chasm that cut the town in half. Wes barely gave the deep chasm a second thought, and began to cross the bridge without worry at all. However... upon spying how dark and deep the chasm was, Rui wailed, and grabbed one of the support poles near the beginning of the bridge in fear.

"Waahh!" she cried, squeezing her eyes shut. "I'm not going! No way!"

Wes looked back at her as if she were crazy. "What's the matter?" he questioned. "Wait... don't tell me you're afraid of heights, Rui."

Rui looked up tearfully. "No... It's just the bridge doesn't look safe," she replied defensively.

"Oh, come on..." Wes sighed, turning and going back to her. "It's fine. I promise."

Rui shook her head. "No. I don't wanna!" she cried.

Wes glared at her. "You can either cross the bridge with me, or stay on this side by yourself and wait with all the Duel Square trainers," he snapped meaningfully.

"Huh? That's not fair!" Rui whimpered. "It's so far down..." She stood back up, and peered down at the endless shaft of black leading down into the bowels of the earth—or at least, that's what it seemed like to her. Her stomach lurched, and she wailed again. "Wes! Please... I don't wanna go!"

Wes gritted his teeth together, and seized Rui by the wrist. "Come on..." he sighed, pushing her in front of him onto the bridge. "Close your eyes."

Rui closed her eyes tightly, her hands gripping the sides of the bridge. "Ok..." she said, her breath shallow with fright.

"Now... take my hands. Here, and here." Wes placed his hands lightly on hers, and one by one, she transferred her hands from the bridge into his hands. "Do you trust me to lead you across the bridge safely, Rui?"

Rui nodded. "Yes..."

"All right, then. Start walking forward. I've got you."

Slowly, Rui began to walk forward across the bridge, Wes walking slowly behind her with her hands in his. As they continued further and further, Rui grew more relaxed, and walked faster with each successful step. Needless to say, it wasn't long before the two of them were across the bridge, safe and sound.

Wes stopped, and turned Rui around to face him. "Ok, open your eyes," he instructed.

Rui opened her eyes, and gasped to see that they were across. "Wha—? Did we really cross the bridge that easily?" she asked.

Wes sighed. "Like I said, it was fine. No problem," he said. He then smiled at the dumbstruck look on her face. "Sheesh, you're not afraid to look for Shadow Pokémon, but you're afraid to cross a bridge? You're strange, Rui."

At his teasing comment, Rui finally giggled. "Ok, I admit, that wasn't so bad," she said, slapping Wes playfully in the shoulder. "But didn't you even notice how deep that is? It's practically a bottomless pit! Can you blame me for being scared?"

"Oh, it's not bottomless..." he assured her, taking another glance back at the chasm. "It goes down into The Under, an underground city that was once a mining town. So you'd end up somewhere..."

"...And go splat!" Rui finished, trying to sound angry.

Wes held up his hands in surrender. "Sheesh, I'm sorry," he said, trying to make her feel better. "I was only teasing..."

Rui giggled. "I'm not mad, Wes!" she laughed, hugging his arm as they turned back to the Colosseum. "You know I'm only kidding... I could never be mad at you, Wes."

Wes smirked, and nudged her playfully. "Really, now? I could fix that..."

"I don't even wanna know what you mean by that!"

"Sure? I mean, you said you could never be mad, right? Never's such a strong word..."

Rui barely had time to shriek before Wes grabbed her and swept her off her feet.

Alexander already knew he was in trouble the instant he arrived back at Megg's house; when he was greeted by first a horrified look, and then a disgusted look from the younger girl.

Not that he could really blame her, though. With his hair completely disheveled, and lipstick marks all over his face and neck, he supposed Megg would have good reason to be mad.

"What in the name of Ho-Oh did you do?" was the first question that came forth from Megg's lips. She crossed her arms, glaring up at him accusingly.

Alexander shook his head in a protesting gesture. "Sweetheart, I know what it looks like..." he began.

"Um, yeah. I don't need to hear more," Megg interrupted, turning and heading back into the house.

"But I didn't do anything with her!" Alexander insisted, following her inside and down the stairs. "...Aside from all this. But that's it! I swear!"

Megg glowered at him. "Are you sure?"

"Positive!"

Megg didn't look very convinced, but she shrugged anyway. "Whatever..." she grumbled. "Did you get what you were looking for?"

Alexander sweatdropped. "Er... um... yeah. I figured out a little bit more about Team Cipher..."

"I'm sure you did..."

"Stop it! I didn't do anything!"

"Sure you didn't..."

"I swear to Jirachi I didn't! I have more honor than that!"

Megg just rolled her eyes.

Alexander groaned, and collapsed into a chair. Boy, did he feel foolish. Maybe he should have attempted to put his hair back up before he came back. Or clean the lipstick off his face. Anything so it wouldn't look like he had made out with Venus and then some.

Being a bishonen mercenary wasn't as fun as it was cracked up to be...

Rui had to admit, she was sort of peeved at Wes.

Tickle tortures were no fun at all!

But it was an interesting change of pace... after all; who knew Wes was capable of playing around?

There was a soft spot in the young Snagger after all...

The two entered Pyrite Colosseum; Wes pretending to be as serious as ever, and Rui glowering at his back accusingly. Taking a casual glance around the small lobby, Wes handed his belt of Pokéballs to Rui, and waltzed up to the counter, leaning over it meaningfully.

"Hello there," the receptionist greeted. "Welcome to Pyrite Colosseum. How can I help you?"

"I was just curious about the competitions they have here," Wes replied.

"I'm sorry to say this, but there's already a knockout competition underway. You'll have to wait to enter the next one tomorrow."

"That's all right. But, I've heard that prize Pokémon are given away to the winners. Is that true?"

"Why, yes it is," the receptionist replied.

"...Is there anything particularly special about the prize Pokémon?"

The young woman's eyes grew confused. "Special? ...Nothing in particular. Why?"

Wes shook his head. "No reason. Thank you anyway."

"Would you like to register in advance for tomorrow's competition?"

"No thank you. Maybe later." Wes turned around, and glanced at Rui healing up his Pokémon at a healing machine. He walked over to her and sat down against the wall nearby, breathing an exasperated sigh.

"Anything?" Rui questioned, handing Wes his belt back.

"Nope. Nothing," he said, buckling the belt back around his waist underneath his coat. "This is starting to get frustrating."

Rui frowned, and kneeled in front of Wes. "I know what you mean... I wish we knew more about these Shadow Pokémon, but..." She sighed, resting her head on his knees. "Maybe we should have asked Cail if he knew anything about them..."

"You know Cail?" asked an unfamiliar voice, making Wes and Rui look up. They saw a man, one of the Hunters (whose job it was to search for any and all rare Pokémon—or just wild Pokémon in general), looking down at them curiously.

"Yeah, we know Cail," Wes replied, eyeing the Hunter suspiciously. "Why?"

The man shrugged. "Oh, I don't know. I just thought that if you were interested in the prize Pokémon for the Colosseum, he'd be first on your list to talk to."

"Why is that?" asked Rui.

"Don't ya know? Cail won an awesome Furret at the Colosseum last month. He was amazing... I was in the competition that month, and he totally blew me away!"

Wes grew interested. "So Cail got a prize Pokémon from the Colosseum, too?"

"Yeah. Really strong one, too."

Wes and Rui exchanged looks. "Well, I didn't know that," Wes said. "Maybe we should go and ask him about it. Thanks for telling us."

The Hunter shrugged. "No problem... I guess..."

Wes nodded at Rui, and the two got up and left the Colosseum. Once outside, Rui gave Wes a questioning look. "Are we going to go all the way back to Cail again and ask him about his Furret?" she asked.

"Not quite yet," Wes replied. "We have a lead, but it wouldn't make much sense for us to go to the Colosseum, then come straight back questioning Cail about his prize Pokémon. Nah... we'll wait a little bit."

"Wait? But what will we do in the meantime?"

Wes got an all-too-familiar devious look in his eyes. "Well, for starters..." he began, slowly reaching into the pack on his belt for the Pokéballs Willie had given him. "...How about we have a battle or two to pass the time? Snagging a few Shadow Pokémon here and there... Fun, huh?"

Rui sweatdropped. "...Wes... you have strange ideas of fun, let me tell you that..." she grumbled, following Wes back to the bridge towards Duel Square again.

Wes smirked. "Can't deny that one..." he murmured to himself, gold eyes flashing as his gaze traveled across the chasm to one of the trainers—Bandanna Guy Divel, was it?—as his first target. "...Can't deny that at all..."

Later that day, after a couple hours talking with Gonzap (which hadn't taken terribly long at all, considering Sierra was still sore at the Snagem Head) and enjoying a can of soup Travis had managed to dig out of the kitchen (one of the few cans that hadn't been buried in a foot of debris and plaster), Sierra and Travis retired quietly to a poorly-lit, dirty room to spend the night. It was only after Travis and Sierra had chosen which of the two beds they wanted, that Travis realized this was the same room he and Wes had shared during their time in Team Snagem. It seemed so long ago since he'd been here last, and yet... It seemed as if he hadn't been with Team Cipher all that long. What kind of paradox was that?

With a sigh, Travis glanced over to the other bed, where Sierra was sitting with her laptop in her lap, her brow furrowed in deep concentration as she analyzed the screen before her. Judging from her annoyed expression, whatever was there didn't impress her much.

"Anything, Miss Sierra?" he asked.

She glared up at him, and shook her head. "No. What kind of credentials are these?" she asked scornfully, snapping the laptop shut furiously and plopping back onto her bed. "I could have the entire Team Snagem wait on Nascour, and he'd kill them all one way or another in a week. This is pointless."

Travis gave her a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry..." he murmured.

"Don't you know anyone who might be good for this spot?" Sierra asked, her eyes meeting his across the room. "I mean... Anyone?"

"...You really want to get out of here, don't you?"

"Hell, yeah. I hate this... Gonzap is a creep, and... I don't know. I miss home."

"Home?"

"Realgam Tower... the lab... It's all home to me now. Team Cipher is life for me now, and I don't want it any other way."

Travis smiled with amusement. "You really love Cipher, hm?"

"...I guess." Sierra looked away with embarrassment.

An awkward silence.

"Guess I'll take a shower now," Sierra finally mumbled, sitting back up and giving Travis a meaningful look. "Ok?"

Travis blinked, before hastily blushing, nodding, and leaping to his feet all in one gesture. "I'll... um... wait outside," he stammered, motioning to the bathroom for her, and stumbling over himself towards the door out to the hall. Sierra watched him practically fly out the door in his haste and slam it behind him.

"Poor Travis..." she murmured with a slight smile, before heading into the bathroom to wash up.

Out in the hall, Travis sat nervously with his back against the door, painfully trying not to think of the fact that Sierra was taking a shower somewhere in the room on the other side of the door... He mentally slapped himself for such thoughts, before heaving a sigh and closing his eyes. The hideout... it didn't feel like home anymore. Although it hadn't been so very long since he'd left Team Snagem (relatively speaking), the hideout was now alien to him. But then, how could you feel otherwise about a place that had been nothing but bad news the day of arrival?

Leaning back against the door, Travis was just about to close his eyes and rest a little bit... before he heard footsteps. Clacking footsteps that immediately indicated that someone in heeled boots was making their way towards him. He frowned; those footsteps sounded rather familiar...

"Travis?"

He froze, slowly lifting his eyes towards the voice. "Kimberly...?" he whispered.

The teenage girl nodded slowly, her expression never wavering. "Travis... it's good to see you again..." she whispered.

The two stared at one another for a long while, before Travis finally got it into his head to stand up and go to her. "Kimberly... It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Yes..." Her eyes welled up with tears, before she slowly began to cry. "Ah... I'm sorry... Travis..."

Travis shook his head. "No, don't cry, Kimberly," he whispered, taking her into a hug and holding her close. "It's ok... I'm fine, you're fine, we're both fine. There's nothing to be sad about, see?"

Kimberly sniffed, and a rare ghost of a smile tugged at her mouth for a moment. "It's just... I've missed you, Travis. And... since Wes left... I've been so alone..."

"You're fine... You don't need us..." Travis muttered. "...Has Gonzap been kind to you since we left?" He held her back from him to examine her pale young face.

She looked away. "If kind is what you would call it... then I suppose so."

The two didn't speak for a while.

"Travis... I needed... to tell you something..." Kimberly murmured after a while. "Gonzap... wished for me to tell you some things..."

Travis's eyes darkened. "Wants me to go behind Team Cipher's back, no doubt..." he grumbled. "That bastard...What does he want?"

Her green eyes lowered, almost ashamed, and she began to speak...