"Thank goodness you're all okay!" Lance was relieved about Kamon, Crystal, and Bill's safety. Even Axel and Spike were all right.

---

Sandy looked at the speeding car suspiciously. "Those kids sure were in a hurry."

"Just what were they doing that they don't want us to find out about?" asked Conner.

Sandy pondered this. "Something suspicious..." Something wasn't right. Sandy couldn't place her finger on it, though, but something definitely wasn't right.

"Maybe he released one of the prisoners when we said no?"

"We didn't say no; we just lied to him saying, 'there's no one here by that name.'" recited Sandy. She then realized that Kamon didn't believe them, and that he and Bill explored the hideout anyway. "He must have released Crystal Caliduct, and run off to Blackthorn City!"

"Let's go call Kamon and tell him to come back here," said Conner.

Suddenly, thunder boomed in the sky, and the clouds were turning gray.

"I'll schedule calling him via his cell phone for tomorrow," said Sandy.

---

A flash of light illuminated the dark sky as night began to fall and the car drove into Mahogany Town, parking at what appeared to be a large library. All six occupants exit the vehicle and head into the hall. Spike yelped out in shock when lightning flashed, and Crystal took him inside, running all the way in.

---

The room was large, with a high ceiling, murals with legendary Pokemon painted on them on the walls, such as Mew, Lugia, and Ho-Oh, and a chessboard style floor. Duncan was present, and when his eyes focused on the wet group, a warm feeling overwhelmed his entire body. Kamon, Bill, Crystal, Lance, Axel, and Spike were all okay! He ran up, hugging them one at a time.

"I'm so glad you all made it in one piece!" exclaimed Duncan. "Silver, I was worried something awful would happen to you."

"Hey, Gold, my captors are my dad's friends," said Kamon.

"Really? That's a surprise!" cried out Crystal. "You could have used your connection to release me!"

Kamon at that moment slapped his face in embarrassment. Guess I should have told Conner and Sandy that Crystal was my friend, Kamon thought. Ah, well. If they come by here, I'll tell them that Crystal's my friend, and any crime will be dropped.

"I hate to interrupt," said Lance, "but there's no time to lose! The plans Bill gave me will help us to put an end to that tyrannical organization once and for all. Tomorrow, we must hold the meeting and get ready to begin the final showdown!"

The big day was about to begin; it was the point of no return. There was no abandoning this Pokemon quest.

---

Professor Elm was on the phone. "Y-yes, Lance?" he said nervously, hoping that Roger and Lisa wouldn't find out about their kids getting captured by Team Rocket.

"Professor Elm, don't worry. Kamon's safe, and so are Duncan and Crystal," said Lance. "They're with me at Blackthorn now."

Elm breathed a sigh of relief.

"And I'll be informing Kamon's uncle that he's safe with me."

"Thanks, Lance!" exclaimed Elm happily. "You're a real lifesaver!"

"It's my job."

"What about Duncan and Crystal? Are they ready to go home now?"

"Team Rocket might get them there," said Lance. "No, I think they'd better stay here, in Blackthorn."

---

At the meeting room, all sixteen Kanto and Johto Gym Leaders, were seated, with the Elite Four on the stage, and Lance on the podium. All the Gym Leaders were the same as last year, except for Fuchsia and Viridian. The new Fuchsia Leader was 16-year-old Janine Kilojice, whose father became a member of the Elite Four. The new Viridian Leader was Kevin "Blue" Oak. Next to him were Karl "Red" and Hadley "Green" Caliduct, the cousins of Duncan and Crystal.

The Elite Four consisted of Lorelei, Karen, Will, and Bruno. Agatha's resignation resulted in Karen becoming a member of the Elite Four. In addition, Lance's election to governor of Kanto resulted in him being replaced by Bruno as the Elite Four leader, and Will taking Bruno's original place.

"OK, I brought you all here for a very critical bulletin," emphasized Lance. "As you know, the criminal syndicate Team Rocket was terminated a year ago. Let's bring an applause for Red, Green, and Blue for such patriotism."

The audience clapped in applause.

"If not for these heroes, the world would have fallen into disaster," proclaimed Lance. "Strangely, at the same time, the reclusive gym leader of Viridian City has disappeared. Even I don't know his identity. So Blue is now the Gym Leader..."

"What about Team Rocket?" asked Kamon from backstage. "We don't have time for your rambling."

"Oh, yeah! Anyway, back to Team Rocket," apologized Lance. "Anyway, it's been a year since Red, Green and Blue caused Team Rocket to disband. But this syndicate has appeared to resurface. They took over Slowpoke Well, stole the Pokemon from National Park, abducted some teenagers, forced Magikarp to evolve, and they've got other plans up their sleeves."

Everyone in the audience gasped in fright.

"There is no running away from this problem. We need to face our fears," stressed Lance. "We must get mobilized and shut down Team Rocket once and for all!"

---

After everyone headed to the Blackthorn Hotel, Lance, in his hotel room, picked up the phone, and dialed Kamon's house. Norman will be pleased to hear that Kamon's safe, Lance thought. After a few seconds, the dial tone stopped.

"Hello?" was the voice from the receiver.

"Hi, is this Norman Stelldox?" asked Lance.

"Yes, who's this?"
"Norman, this is Lance Envimorph. I got Kamon out of Team Rocket..."

"Team Rocket!" cried Norman. "I told him not to leave the house!"

"If he didn't leave the house," said Lance, "he'd still be abducted."

"Well, then, in that case," Norman's tone softened, "He did the right thing. I'm so proud of him."

"He's safe with us, and he'll be coming home soon."

"Thank you," Norman said in a breaking tone. "You really helped our family."

Lance hung up. Somehow, he knew that Kamon, Duncan, and Crystal's part in this adventure wasn't done. Team Rocket had plans to take control of the Radio Tower. If they could do this, they would send a message all over the nation especially for their old leader. This person might come back to restore command. There was no telling what they'd do if that happens, but it wouldn't be a nice idea.

---

"Silver, I'd like to thank you for saving me," said Crystal softly. "You're... really nice." Crystal and Kamon were lying on a bed in a hotel room.

"Well, Crystal," said Kamon. "I couldn't leave you hanging. I can't imagine anyone hurting you."

Their faces began to move closer. "Could we go out to the Goldenrod Mall once this Team Rocket business is done and over with?"

"Well, I..." But Kamon was interrupted by the ring-tone of his cellular phone. "Wait a second..." he went out into the hallway. "Hello?"

Kamon heard Conner's voice. "Kamon, where are you?"

"I'm at Blackthorn City."

"What were you doing in the headquarters?" asked Conner.

Kamon began to tense up. "I wasn't doing anything suspicious! I swear!"
"Do you know 'Crystal Caliduct'?"

"Well, yes, I do," said Kamon tensely. "My uncle's worried about me, probably, and I really want to go back home. Maybe we should call off the whole Team Rocket thing."

"Now, come on," insisted Conner. "you can't just weasel out of this. Now could you please head back here?"
"Never again!" Kamon blew a fit. "I'm heading straight home when I leave! I've had it with you guys!" He immediately ended the call, turning off the phone. "What a bunch of losers," he muttered to himself.

"What was that all about?" Crystal wondered what Kamon had gotten into.

"Don't even bother asking..."

---

"...And so I secretly recorded Team Rocket's conversation with you and Clair."

"Where's the tape?" inquired Lance.

"Let's see... it was in my pocket..." he rummaged through his pockets and bag. "Shoot! Team Rocket took my tape recorder! And the tape was in it!" Team Rocket had ripped him off. How embarrassing...

"I hate it when that happens," murmurs Lance.

---

Duncan headed into the Mineral Triad's room in shame. "I can't believe Team Rocket took my tape recorder. The tape was in it."

"What tape?" asked Kamon.

"The conversation with Team Rocket, and Lance & Clair," responded Duncan. "Apparently, they took it when I wasn't looking. Looks like we're stuck now..."

"No we're not," said Kamon happily. "Conner and Sandy will invite you into their house. I'm sure they will. I'll call them."

---

"Hello?" asked Sandy as she picked up the phone.

"Sandy? It's me! I've gotten over my temper, and decided to come back! Crystal and Duncan, well, I call him Gold, are just my friends. They're nothing to worry about."

"Did they release any top secret..."

"No," interrupted Kamon. "They didn't actually know anything."

"OK. They're fine with us after all. Well, remember to get here as soon as possible!" Sandy hung up.

"That was Kamon," Sandy told Conner. "He's decided to come back after all, and those two kids are actually his friends."

"I'm sure they'll make good allies for him," said Conner menacingly.