There have been a few requests for me to start with a quick list of the Pokémon on each team. So, here's the list. I'll update it with each new Shadow Pokémon they choose to purify without the Chamber, and with each evolution as needed

Michael:

Jolteon (Nick)

Gardevoir (Alicia)

Houndoom (Erebus)

Spheal (Boreas)

Breloom (Ceres)

Trapinch (Sarah)

Liz:

Sylveon (Titania)

Teddiursa (Artemis)

Flaaffy (Voltaire)

Vulpix (Vixen)

Roselia (Not purified yet)

Duskull (Wraith)

The Wake of Destruction

Back in Littleroot, May and Brendan had just come home from the doctor. May was particularly giddy as they drove. "We're having a boy this time," she said for the fifth time since she got into the car. "Selena's going to have a baby brother."

Brendan kept smiling as they got into the house. "You know, we'll need a name. Any ideas?" he said.

"No, I'm just so happy that we're going to have a second baby. Just no more after this one, right?" May said. "We agreed to two kids."

"Yeah, I agree," Brendan said, their presence catching Gwen's attention.

So, we have another man in the house? She asked as she approached, Selena's little feet thundering down the stairs excitedly.

"Yeah, it's going to be a boy," May said, showing Gwen the ultrasound pictures. "He's already looking like Brendan."

As she spoke, the thumping of little feet echoed through the house as Selena ran to greet her parents. "Mommy, Daddy!" she called out happily, coming into view. May smiled and picked up Selena gracefully. Brendan smiled softly, falling even deeper in love with May as she held both of their children.

So, you're going to have a little boy. I wonder how Selena will take it, Gwen said, smiling at the picture in her hand. You might have your kids taking over one of the family titles.

Who knows, maybe one will go into researching Pokémon instead. Ed has been saying that he'd like to teach the first ever Professor Maple, Brendan said. That moment was when the video phone began to ring.

"Oh, who's calling?" May asked, turning to the screen.

"It's from Orre. It's probably Alicia!" Brendan said. He was promptly pushed aside by Gwen, who answered the phone eagerly.

Even though the Maples had watched Michael's battle with Snattle on Festival Plaza, Gwen still gasped. You look so beautiful, she said, starting to tear up immediately. I swear, you were only a Kirlia for a week.

Aww, thanks, Mom. I hope I'm not calling at a bad time. Michael is just getting his scooter adjusted so we can get past some sand dunes for our next mission, Alicia said with a smile.

"There's never a bad time for you to call," Brendan said. "Plus, we actually have some news. May is pregnant again. We just found out it'll be a boy." Alicia noticed Selena was looking a bit confused, having never heard the term before.

That's good, Alicia said, almost dismissively before she fully registered what had been said. Wait, seriously? Congratulations!

Michael and Liz both perked up as Alicia got excited, only having heard part of the conversation. "Wait…did we just hear that right?" Liz asked, getting up and joining Alicia, followed closely by Michael. "A new baby Maple is on the way?"

May smiled as she joined them. "Yeah, the doctors confirmed it today," she said. "But, enough about us. Michael, you're looking very healthy now. Are you feeling any better?"

Michael shrugged. "I'm still sore, and I'm a bit out of it. Otherwise, I'm okay…and ready to pay Cipher back tenfold."

Brendan chuckled. "Sounds a bit familiar. Just do yourselves a favor, and keep each other safe," he said.

"Yeah, getting kidnapped is not fun, and it makes your partner act rashly to get you back," May said.

"I won't let it happen, I can't even imagine how I'd react if Cipher took Liz," Michael said.

Or Alicia, right? Gwen asked, her tone leaving no room for disagreement.

"Of course," Michael said, sounding a bit shaky as he realized the world's most famous Gardevoir had just threatened him without really saying anything.

Good. By the way, how are your teams coming along?

Liz perked up at the chance to talk about her Pokémon. "They're doing really well, and we've purified nearly all the Shadow Pokémon we've captured. Titania and Nick are still as deep in love as ever, most of our teams have evolved since they were purified, and they've gotten some training in the Prestige Precept Center recently," she said with a grin.

"Interesting to hear. I may need to battle with one of you once the travel ban for the Orre region is lifted," Brendan said. "By the way, I spoke to Dr. Krane. He told me about the region, and about Mt. Battle. I recommend using that training facility as often as possible. The more you train, the better prepared you will be."

Michael nodded. "I was intending to go there eventually. However, I've been out of commission for three weeks. I need to make up for lost time," he said.

"Just remember to work efficiently. Don't rush in headfirst. It didn't work with Team Magma or Team Aqua for us. I doubt it will work with Cipher based on their reputation," Brendan said. "Steven Stone once gave me similar advice when I battled the Mossdeep Gym. I was rushing into a battle when I wasn't 100% ready. Don't let yourselves fall victim to that mentality.

Michael nodded. "We'll be careful. We can't afford to not win against Cipher."

Please keep that promise, Gwen said.

As she said that, a door could be heard opening. "Michael, your scooter is ready," an unfamiliar voice said, not seeing the screen.

"Thanks, we'll be right there, Perr," Michael said, turning back to the screen. "Looks like we need to get going."

Sorry we couldn't talk longer, Mom, Alicia said. I'll call next time I get the chance.

Don't worry. I'm happy to hear from you whenever you call. Just stay safe, and be sure you're still able to call again, Gwen said.

With that, the Maples said their goodbyes, and ended the call. As soon as the call ended, Selena spoke up. "Mommy, what does 'pregnant' mean?"

May inhaled a bit sharply, though Selena didn't really notice. "Well, sweetie, it basically means you're going to be a big sister," she said, keeping it simple. She wasn't trying to shelter Selena, but the girl was still only five. She could go a little longer without getting the talk. Besides, I might be able to make that Brendan's job when the time comes, she thought. Wait...who am I kidding?

Selena still looked confused, but excited as well. She'd met a few kids at preschool who had siblings, and they seemed to have fun with them. However, she didn't say much, as her questions increased the more she thought about it.

"Well, we should probably make dinner," Brendan said. "Then, I think we should go get ice cream." Selena's face lit up, as she pushed all her questions out of her mind at the mention of the frozen treat.

Well, you're awfully good at buying your way out of an awkward situation with your kid, Gwen teased playfully in a private link with Brendan and May.

Brendan just smiled at Gwen. We're still celebrating. Might as well use it to buy her silence. May stifled a giggle, falling deeper in love with the father of her children.

"Time for a test run," Michael said, getting onto the scooter, starting the engine. The hover pads lit up and the scooter lifted off the ground, without being affected by his weight. "Liz, want to hop on for this?"

"Sure," she says with a smile, getting onto the seat with Michael, the scooter didn't even shift as she boarded. Michael revved the engine slowly, getting a feel for how fast the new propulsion moved them, glad to see that it was just a little faster than when it had wheels. It was easier to control, and stopping was almost effortless as they glided back to the shop entrance.

"So, how does it feel?" Perr asked.

"It's running better than ever," Michael said. "It's even better than when I got it."

"Excellent. We'll send the bill to the HQ Lab. You guys go take care of Cipher," Perr said. Alicia got onto the bike behind Liz, holding tightly as she kept herself weightless. "Oh, and there's now a mini-fridge in the seats, if you want to use it."

Are…are you serious? Alicia asked.

Makin laughed. "No. That'd be way too expensive, and too heavy," he said. "We just wanted to mess with you."

"Well, it wouldn't be too difficult to add to a bigger vehicle. A car might work," Michael said before turning the scooter toward the exits of Gateon Port. "But, that's something for the professionals to make happen. See you guys later!"

Perr smirked as they drove away. "So, that Robo-Kyogre you brought home…"

"I have some ideas for it," Makin said. "Want to start the blue prints for a finished product?"

"Sure. It'll be awesome," Perr said.

Michael drove through the port briefly before they all saw three familiar faces. They pulled to a stop at the crosswalk where the trio was waiting.

"Ohohoho, if I recall correctly, you're Mr. Michael Orison, Miss Elizabeth Hanz, and Alicia Maple. Am I correct?" the short, smiling old man asked kindly.

"And you're Mr. Verich, right?" Michael asked. "As well as Ardos and Eldes."

Mr. Verich smiled widely, almost unsettling Alicia. "Ohoho, the new saviors of Orre remember that encounter, do they? I'm flattered," he said. "I also saw that moving battle in Phenac City. I must admit, you've definitely caught my attention as a trainer."

"Oh, thank you," Michael said.

"Have you both recovered well enough?" he asked.

"Yeah, we've never felt better," Liz said, trying to hide that she was feeling uncomfortable with two of the three men. "I even got to train with Justy for a bit."

"I see," Mr. Verich said, slightly opening his eyes. Michael could've sworn he saw yellow in the man's irises, but realized he must be seeing things. "Well, this has been a nice chat, but I must be going. But know that I will be watching both of you very closely."

With that, Mr. Verich left with Ardos close on his heels. Eldes, however, waited for a moment as he locked eyes with Michael. Wordlessly, he nodded in a show of respect before leaving to catch up to his boss.

Michael slowly started driving again. "That was…unsettling."

I got mixed vibes from that group… Alicia said. I thought I recognized the old man's voice…but it sounded too kind compared to what I heard before.

"Before as in…?" Liz asked.

Like when I was being held by Cipher… she said.

Michael locked eyes with Liz briefly, not really wanting to know the implications of what Alicia just said.

The group traveled briefly to Agate Village, heading to the Relic Stone. Alicia was enthralled in the town's liveliness and how much fun people seemed to be having. The people were mostly elderly, with a few younger people mixed in, but they all seemed so energetic. They're so blissful.

Michael looked at her. "Gives you an idea of what we're fighting for. It's no secret that Cipher wants to rule through fear. If we let them have their way, it's unlikely anybody will be allowed to so much as smile like this anymore."

Alicia nodded. I know that better than anybody, she said as they passed the cafés. I may need to sample some drinks from those places when we have the free time.

Liz smiled. "I second that, Alicia. You have no idea how much I love coffee."

Alicia made a bit of a grimacing face. Sorry, but yuck. I like tea better, she said.

Liz gave the Gardevoir a look of what almost looked like fury. "Did you just say yuck to coffee?" she asked.

Yeah, Alicia said, looking back. What's it to you?

Liz kept up the face for a moment longer then immediately softened and shrugged. "Oh well, to each their own. I can't force you to be right," she teased.

Alicia giggled. You are way too convincing with that. I thought you were actually mad there."

Michael laughed a bit, always enjoying the lighthearted atmosphere when it came up. After Phenac City, Michael had already had his fill of life-threatening situations. But he knew that it wouldn't be the last one.

They got to the cave of the Relic Stone soon after their talk. So, this is for Roselia, right? Wraith was purified while Michael was in the hospital, and Liz went to the HQ Lab to purify some of the Pokémon in the chamber?

"Pretty much, yes," Liz said as they walked into the brightly lit caverns, seeing the light illuminate the verdant roots, mosses, and flowers around them. Alicia looked around with joy. The vibrant area just filled her with warmth and comfort. The Relic Stone's aura might have been the cause of that emotion, but she didn't mind. Being in an area where a Celebi was blessing nature was something very few people got to enjoy.

They got to the stone, and Liz let out the Roselia. "Well, let's get you back to normal. You deserve to truly be happy." The brunette's warm smile was enough to get the Roselia to cooperate. They both touched the stone, and a flash of green light swirled out from the rock and into the small flower Pokémon. Roselia seemed to breathe deeply, enjoying the energy before it entered her body, purging the Shadow energy and glittering as it spiraled out. Roselia sighed and cooed, her expression toward Liz was one of care and love.

Liz just picked up the small Pokémon, hugging it tightly. "You're welcome. I'm glad to help."

Roselia then looked at Alicia, cooing again. Sure, I'll tell them, Alicia said. She wants to tell you her name. This is Lilith. She also wants to help you guys however she can to beat Cipher.

"Wow, you're really smart," Liz said. "But I guess that a great battler like you would need to be smart." Lilith blushed a bit, her cheeks looking greener as she did.

We're about to go investigate a lead on Cipher. You interested? Alicia asked.

Lilith nodded her thorny head eagerly, getting a giggle from Liz. "Perfect. Let's get going," she said, recalling the rose Pokémon.

"Sir, we've tracked Orison," a man in a red shirt with headphones and a pair of silver sunglasses. "He's going toward the desert north of Phenac. I'm guessing he's going toward where the Libra crashed."

A hulk of a man with rippling muscles nodded, making his expertly-trimmed pencil-thin handlebar mustache and long eyebrows styled to stand a good foot over his shaved head wave slightly. "Excellent. Bring me their snag machines. Team Snagem will rise to greatness again," he said.

"Roger. The Sleep Powder Method?" the smaller man asked.

"I trust your judgement, Wakin," the boss said. "You've shown that you're a better asset to Snagem than he ever was." He spoke with clear disdain for the unnamed man, looking out the only window of his office to see the massive hole that had been in the base for nearly ten years now. "Now, make it happen."

As they drove, Alicia was deeply enjoying the open air blowing through her hair. It reminded her of when she went up to the bow of the Libra at sunset the first night. This time, she was with people she loved, and she was enjoying every second.

Still…was coming to Orre really the right way to go? Alicia asked herself. Selena and I would have been able to travel in Hoenn…and there's no doubt we'd have an unstoppable bond.

Seems the evil bitch has feelings of home now? Alicia heard in her mind.

No…I don't have time for you go away! Alicia said, knowing the voice of her shadow-self all too well now.

Too bad. I certainly have time for you, the dark Alicia said, almost yanking Alicia's consciousness into her mental world. Alicia blinked as she saw the mirrored version of herself, surrounded by swirling Shadow Aura, her red eyes now glowing in a more demented expression. Now, you're stuck here until I let you out. You can't even stop me from attacking your friends while you're in here.

No, don't you dare! Alicia said, sounding brave, but feeling terrified. Besides, this is my body. You're nothing by a thought. A projection of PTS- she gasped, cutting short as the specter seemed to move closer to her like a glitching video game character, coming so close Alicia could feel the Shadow aura brush against her skin.

You think I'm incapable? I can take control of you at any moment, she said, projecting Alicia's physical face, showing her blank, lifeless eyes as she rode with Michael and Liz. I could even make you let go and fly off. They're going fast enough that it would kill you. Alicia tried to recoil, her mind reeling in fear. I'm not just a projection, and you know it. I am the last remnants of your Shadow Self. I will never let you go. Show any weakness, and I will take over again. There's no PTSD that could compare to me.

Alicia started to get angry. No…you're not powerful. You're a coward!

Tch, call it what you want. I'm never going away!

Alicia's eyes lit up. No. I am in control of this body. You're just a manifestation of my trauma. You have no control over me unless I let you. You can only exist when I have doubts!

Oh? And are you just going to click your heels and say "There's no place like home" to dispel me?

I'll do this, Alicia said, putting her hand up and generating a cage of energy, similar to the one she'd been trapped in as a Shadow Pokémon.

Her dark half looked around and smirked. You'll need to constantly put in energy to maintain this. I'll just build up power until you can't stop me…and I'll wait until the worst possible time to come out. You and Michael will never defeat Cipher while I'm around.

Alicia just glared for a moment, took a breath, and returned to her conscious mind. Hey, are we getting close? she asked Michael.

"Fifteen minutes. We're about to get off the highway and into the desert. Will you be okay?" Michael said.

Alicia nodded. I'll be fine. I'm just feeling a bit thirsty, she said, trying to avoid worrying her friends.

"We'll give you some water as soon as we find our destination," Michael said. "Sound good?"

Yeah, it's nothing pressing. But you guys need to keep me out whenever we're driving. This is so much fun!

Michael smiled. "Victoria seems to have another fan!"

Victoria? Alicia said.

"The dumb name he gave the scooter," Liz said, sounding embarrassed.

…Really? Alicia said with disappointment in her voice.

"Screw both of you, she's my ride!" Michael said.

Alicia just sighed, losing some faith in her trainer, but feeling amused.

Too bad he didn't name it after me, Liz thought, not realizing that Alicia was listening.

Ummm… Alicia said with a deep blush. Liz blushed just as deeply as she heard Alicia.

You heard…nothing, she said.

Yeah, no worries. Not gonna bring it up… Alicia said.

They got off the highway, going to an off-road ramp toward the sand dunes. "Keep your eyes open," Michael said. "We need to find a ship in the middle of sand dunes." He drove through the desert, seeing nothing for a few miles.

There! To the northeast. You can see the red hull, Alicia said, pointing. Michael followed her direction, seeing a red peak getting closer.

"Good eye," Liz said enthusiastically as Michael drove them closer to the ship. As they got closer, Michael saw an increasing amount of debris in the sand, ranging from fiberglass from the body, to massive parts of the engine. It wasn't until Michael saw the enormous hole in the side, easily big enough for a semi-truck to pass through.

"What could be strong enough to carry a ship this massive so far?" Liz asked.

I saw massive wings…but that's all I can remember, Alicia said. I barely remember anything from that night.

Michael parked the scooter near the breach, behind pieces of the debris so as to keep it hidden from Cipher just in case the organization was at the ship.

Let's go in, Alicia said, sounding saddened and a bit nervous.

"You okay?" Michael asked.

Yeah, just…remembering the good times on this ship, Alicia said. And how it all changed in an instant.

Liz and Michael looked at each other in understanding. "Want to take us through the ship?"

Alicia turned to them. I can show you around the Pokémon quarters, and maybe to the bridge. But I won't be much good with the engine areas.

"Then we'll hurry through the engine rooms and get to the living quarters," Michael said with a supportive smile. They walked into the ship, escaping the bright desert sunlight and getting some relief in the shade. Gwen immediately looked around for the stairs, seeing the way up was blocked by a few crates of food that was long since spoiled. She recalled the final night aboard the ship, remembering how she'd been without a care, other than wondering what her trainer would be like. While she'd hoped to have one like Michael, the way life had gotten her to him was less than desirable.

Would we even be a team if Cipher hadn't attacked the Libra? Alicia asked softly, using Psychic to lift and remove the food from their path.

Liz looked at Alicia as she and Michael both heard her thoughts. "Who knows…" Liz said. "I'm not sure if I believe in fate, but…I think life has a way of getting us to exactly where we need to be for our best opportunities. Even if the path is painful, it's meant to give you the tools to make the right choice."

That's…really deep, Alicia said.

"You know…it sounds a lot like the stories of the Alolan Champion, Elio Northstar, like when he took on the corrupt Aether Foundation with Hau and Gladion," Michael said. "He had to leave his home and move to Alola, and had an amazing journey that put him where he needed to be exactly when he was needed."

Alicia nodded. I guess you're right… she said as they went up the short metal flight of stairs to the next level. They found a hatch that opened to the next level, and it was mostly broken off its hinges. They passed through and saw that the hall transitioned from steel and wood over light concrete to a soft carpet over hardwood flooring.

"This is a beautiful, ship," Liz said, looking around at the decorations. It was damaged badly, but it was still showing incredible craftsmanship. "I remember when Michael and I got our Eevees from this ship. Titania was so playful when we met, and Nick was a bit aloof until Michael met him."

Michael smiled. "Dad told me that, after Nick opened up to me so much, I was obligated to bring him with me, even though I was going to bring him home anyway." he said.

Do you guys have any videos of that? It sounds really cute, Alicia said shyly.

"Our parents have them. We'll show you some of them when we go back home," Liz said happily.

Alicia smiled softly as they got to a very familiar hallway. It looked a bit different from her new height, but she knew the hall that led to her room. Without a word, she went to the door, looking around at what was left inside. The furniture was all cracked and dusty after nearly two months had passed since the ship had been taken. On the floor, however, was something Alicia had completely forgotten. Something she'd brought with her on the boat. The glass in the frame was shattered, but the picture was still in-tact. She knelt to the ground, picking up the picture from the ground, blowing on it to clear the dust.

Michael looked over Alicia's shoulder, seeing a picture of the Maple family. It had a gorgeous view of Prism Tower in Lumiose City, with Selena in the front, hugging Alicia happily, while Brendan and May smiled at the camera with Gwen in the center, smiling softly and happily. Michael, however, was focusing on Alicia and Selena holding each other. I've…never seen Alicia smile like that, Michael thought, careful to keep his thoughts private. Maybe I wasn't the right trainer for her. Selena has been her closest friend their entire lives. And I'm just the guy who happened to be fighting Cipher. Alicia smiled and held the picture close to her chest, unaware that Michael was feeling uncertain of their partnership as well.

Alicia's moment of nostalgia ended as they heard muffled thuds above them, followed by loud cursing as a smaller set of footsteps seemed to scurry away. The three of them looked up at the ceiling, then at each other. Without a word, they all ran from the room with Alicia in the lead. The stairs are this way, she said with certainty. Michael and Liz both followed her quickly, which led up to the deck of the ship.

On the deck, there was a massive, ape-like man with a red sleeveless shirt, noise-cancelling headphones, and reflective sunglasses. Next to him were two Cipher Peons, one with yellow highlights on his armor, and the other with the normal white armor. "Damn it, how the hell is that Pokémon so fast," Gorigan said.

Alicia stopped in her tracks when she saw the man in front of her. It's him… she said with fear in her voice.

Alicia? Michael asked, not going into detail as he thought the question was obvious.

He's the one in charge of changing Pokémon to Shadows… Alicia's eyes were filled with a mixture of terror and anger. I…I never wanted to see him again!

The Peons then perked up as they both noticed the new arrivals. Gorigan turned toward the trio, recognizing all three of them immediately. "Tch, seems we've got Cipher's Bane and his Bitch here to stop our fun," he said. "Just too bad I'm too busy to deal with you myself." Gorigan glared at Alicia. "As for you…hope you're enjoying your temporary freedom. You'll be a Shadow Pokémon again in no time. Smarton, Snidle, take out this trash. I need to make our report to the Grand Master."

With that, the man went to the side of the ship, climbing down the anchor's chain and going to his own car, parked beside van the Peons had driven. "Alright, you heard him, Smarton. Take care of The Cipher Bane," the standard armored Peon said, evidently Snidle.

"What? The boss said that for both of us should take them out," Smarton said with irritation in his voice.

"Yes, but think about it. If I go and get the van running, then you can beat these two, and get to the van by the time the A/C will be running. It'll save us time by 5%, comfort by 3%, and effort by 50%," Snidle said. "So, deal with this and we can all go back to the base without much trouble."

Smarton looked like he was about to protest again, but the other Peon ran off to the staircase, pushing past Michael and Liz surprisingly quickly. "Why do I get the feeling I've just been had?"

Alicia, looking a bit distressed, stepped forward. It's time to battle, she said, sounding uncertain.

"You okay?" Michael asked, taking out Boreas's Pokéball.

Yeah, I'm fine. Let's do this, Alicia said with an eager tone. Michael, however, could hear that she had been thrown off by the Cipher Admin who just left.

Smarton sighed and threw two Pokéballs out. "Huntail, Cacnea. Both of you come out," he said.

"Boreas, come out. Let's stop this Peon!" Michael said. The little Spheal came out of his Pokéball, looking eager for the battle. He even glanced over to Alicia with a glint in his eyes. Alicia smiled at him as they both faced the new enemies. One was almost a blue water snake, and the other was a short cactus with arms and a floral crown.

Michael looked at his battle monitor, seeing that Alicia was at level 33, while Boreas was level 31. Their opponents were both level 30, but they didn't seem to be too lively. Huntail seemed to already be suffering from the desert sun. "Boreas, use Ice Beam on Cacnea. Alicia, use Shock Wave on Huntail. We should make this quick so we can follow Gorigan."

Alicia took that order to heart, firing a blast of electricity at the Huntail, firing in a wave and homing in on the water type. Boreas began taking a breath, gathering icy energy into his mouth before firing a blast at the small cactus Pokémon.

"Huntail, dodge with Aqua Jet," Smarton said. "Cacnea, use Bullet Seed!" The two Pokémon began to move quickly, the water type surrounding himself with water. He then tried to launch himself away from electricity, but Alicia's attack was moving too quickly, hitting the stream of water and electrocuting the Pokémon harshly and knocking him out.

Simultaneously, Cacnea began to fire a stream of glowing seed clusters at Boreas. The Spheal just began rolling sideways, dodging the seeds, getting a chance to fire the icy energy he'd been gathering, hitting his mark perfectly and freezing Cacnea in place for a moment. The ice quickly shattered and Cacnea dropped to the ground.

Michael smirked as Boreas grew to level 32 from the combined experience of battling the two opponents. With a smile and an attempt as clapping with his flippers, Spheal began to glow brightly, his body getting bigger overall, growing what looked like a glorious mustache, as his flippers grew longer. The glow faded, revealing Boreas had fully evolved into a Sealeo.

"Alright, Boreas, you're awesome! Let's show them what you can do now!" Michael said. Smarton sneered.

"Teddiursa, Koffing, come out and battle. Do what you can do!" Smarton said, sounding beaten already.

Michael sighed. "You're not in this battle, are you?" he asked.

"Shut the fuck up!" Smarton said harshly. "This was supposed to be an easy tag battle for a win. Now you're getting stronger and I'm basically being screwed out of a job."

Liz looked confused. "Cipher pays its members?"

"More like they let us live if we don't disappoint them," Smarton said. "And occasionally they give us half edible food."

Michael didn't wait. As much as he disliked finishing off an opponent who had lost their will to fight, he couldn't feel pity for Cipher.

Alicia agreed, using Psychic to throw Koffing into the floorboards, while Boreas used a powerful Water Pulse on the Teddiursa. The water's high pressure knocking the little bear out of the battle.

Smarton growled, recalling his Pokémon and putting them on his belt. "Fuck it. I'm done. Hope you enjoy your meaningless victory. All I did was stall you." Smarton quickly ran from the deck, going down the stairs and into the ship's maze to find the exit.

Michael then ran over to Boreas, hugging the Sealeo tightly. "Congratulations, buddy. You were incredible out there," he said. Liz came up behind Michael and knelt to pet the Pokémon gently.

"No kidding. It was like you were waiting for that moment to impress us."

Sealeo gave a slight bark to thank them. They then heard some bootsteps coming toward them from the bridge and captain's quarters.

"Seems you drove those goons off," a man who looked like he was an engineer said. "Good thing too. I was worried they'd find me."

Michael stood up, recalling Boreas. "Wait…who are you? Why are you on this ship?"

The man shrugged. "Found the place while it was mostly empty, and the back-up generator on the ship is working still. Some of the food was still good, and the air conditioning works too. I just decided to stay here for a while to get some time away from it all."

"So, you're a squatter?" Liz asked in confusion.

"No, I'm just converting the place into my personal vacation home," the man said. "You're all more than welcome to come in." He looked out toward the mountains in the distance. "They always come and go from that direction, never varying. They might have a base of operations over there."

Michael looked at Liz and back to where the man was watching. "Maybe...or maybe they go that way until they're out of sight.

The man shook his head. "I've been here for about a month now. They've not seen me once in all that time," he said. "They wouldn't know that somebody was watching them from here." The man looked at Michael. "They called you Cipher's Bane, correct? I'm guessing you're causing them problems. If so, then I think you're the best one to tell. Especially with the way they've treated the Pokémon on this ship…makes me sick to think what that group is doing."

Liz nodded. "They make us sick too. All they want is power," she said.

The man nodded. "If you three want to rest a bit, feel free to come in. I've got some couches inside, and some refreshments," he said, walking toward the entrance. "Honestly, I think you'd do well with a lemonade and some air conditioning."

The three were hesitant to say the least. I get the feeling we can trust him, Alicia said. He seems largely disinterested in what we're all doing, but he's not dangerous.

Michael nodded, following the man into the captain's quarters. Liz was bit more hesitant, waiting to enter for a few seconds. There was something in the man's tone that told her he was keeping a secret from them that even Alicia might've missed.

When they got in, the man started climbing up to the bridge, but stopped when they all heard something moving around down the other set of stairs. "Oh, there's been some noise coming from down there for a while now, and food occasionally disappears randomly. Would you two please check it for me?"

Before Michael or Liz could even respond, the man was up the stairs. Might as well. It could be the Pokémon Cipher was chasing.

Michael sighed. "So much for making up for lost time," he said, walking to the stairs, heading to the lower levels. Liz followed closely. When they got to the basement, Michael could hear the pattering of small feet again.

They continued deeper, following the sound until it came to a stop in front of them somewhere. Michael looked further down the hall and saw what seemed to be a tiny bonsai tree. "What the…"

"Hey, Michael, remember the Pokémon that Nett said a family was looking for on the S.S. Libra?" Liz whispered.

"Bonsly…?" Michael whispered back.

"Yeah. That tree looks a lot like a Bonsly, doesn't it?" Liz said with a smile.

Michael nodded, agreeing completely with her assessment. "So, you're planning to go pick it up and take it to Pyrite Town before going after Cipher?" he asked.

"Exactly. But to do that, we need to tag team it so it can't run if it gets startled," Liz said.

Alicia just sighed. Want me to make it simple? She didn't wait for a response, using telepathy to levitate the little Pokémon to them gently.

It was just about to get to them when Michael's P-DA beeped loudly as a message came in. The noise startled the Bonsly awake, and it immediately began crying out and flailing. Alicia grimaced as she started to lose her grip on the Pokémon. One of you catch him! she said. Liz was already moving, holding the baby Pokémon tightly yet gently.

"You're safe, it's okay little one," Liz said softly, the crying Pokémon settling down at the sound of her voice, looking up at her with questioning eyes that eventually turned grateful. Michael watched Liz soothe the Pokémon gently, almost like she was soothing a child. In almost no time, Bonsly was sound asleep again, using Liz's breast like a pillow.

Lucky Pokémon… Michael thought privately before pulling out his P-DA to see the message that had almost allowed the Bonsly to run away. "Huh…seems Acri wants to interview us. She wants to write a book about our battle against Cipher," he said with interest. "It sounds like it could be interesting. What do you think?"

Liz looked a bit intrigued. "Acri, as in the one we met in Gateon Port? I forgot she was a writer," she said. "Hmmm…I would be okay with it, but tell her we'll do it once the battle is over."

"Couldn't agree more," Michael said, his tone a bit more jovial. "We'll either be telling her how we won, or telling how we were fools for trying to resist our new overlords."

Liz playfully swatted Michael's arm as she led the way back up the stairs. "Let's get this little guy to his people."

As they got up the stairs, the man they'd spoken to earlier was waiting. "Oh, a Bonsly was down there?" he asked. "I'm glad it didn't get hurt."

I had to be really careful with him. Flailing around like he was being attacked, Alicia said.

"Well, if you're heading out, I'd recommend moving to your scooter quickly. Never know when a sandstorm might whip up," the man said, his voice telling Liz that he knew something more than he was letting on.

"Is everything alright?" Liz asked him. "The way you're acting, it looks like you saw something, and you're scared of it."

The man looked at Liz coldly. "Trust me. It's better you don't know. Get to your scooter, and get out of here," he said, his tone now leaving no room for debate.

Michael took Liz's arm, with Alicia right beside them. "Come on. We should be going now anyway."

Liz wanted to protest a bit, but decided against it as they left the cabin. "Michael, why are we leaving in such a rush?"

"You heard it in his voice, right?" Michael said. "He knows something is coming, and he's trying to get us out of here. I wouldn't be surprised if there are black market deals going on here."

"I know," Liz said as they made it to the engine room door rather quickly. "It sounded more like he was trying to keep us from something. Something that could hurt us."

They made it to the hole in hull, stepping onto the sand and into the sunlight. They didn't get more than fifty yards from the ship before a group of men dressed in matching red vests, black pants, and matching silver headsets surrounded them. Michael didn't need to think about history books to know who this group was. "Team Snagem."

One of them stepped forward, this one wearing sunglasses like Morpheus in The Matrix. "Well, you recognized us rather quickly. Interesting that we're still so infamous in Orre, yet we've been at our low point for a while now," he said, holding a Pokéball.

"What the hell do you guys want? Wes destroyed your hideout and all of your Snag Machines. You should've been disbanded," Liz said.

"Stupid girl," their leader said. "We're here for one…or rather two reasons. And they're on your arms right now."

"You want the Snag Machines…" Michael said.

"Bingo," the Snagem leader said, opening a Pokéball and letting out a Gloom. "Nothing personal, kids. We just want revenge on Cipher for humiliating us, and your Snag Machines are just what we need to do it." Before either Michael, Liz, or Alicia could respond, the Gloom exhaled a cloud of green spores. "Sweet Dreams."

Alicia fought to stay awake, as did Michael and Liz, but the Sleep Powder proved to be too powerful. They fell to the sand, falling asleep. The last thing they felt was their Snag Machines coming off their arms.

As he drove across the desert and into the mountains, Gorigan calmly made a call.

"Hello, Gorigan," Ardos's voice said on the other end. "Anything to report?"

"Orison found the Libra. We might not be able to hide the Key Lair for much longer," Gorigan said. "Additionally, we were unable to capture the Bonsly. Smarton and Snidle proved to be incompetent, and I just scared the thing."

"I see. Then station guards in front of the Lair. Don't give them Pokémon. Mr. Orison and Ms. Hanz are too kind to ever attack other people with their Pokémon. If that and you should fail to stop him, be ready to have the Lair self-destruct. Don't consider casualties on either side. We want him dead."

"Understood, sir," Gorigan said.

"Oh, and remember to be on the lookout for Dr. Hordel. He's been on the run for a month now, and neither he nor the asset have surfaced in that time," Ardos said.

"We already have patrols looking," Gorigan said. "I'll let you know if anything new comes up."

"Good. Make sure you don't fall like your peers," Ardos said before hanging up.

Gorigan sighed. "This shit is getting to me," he muttered. "The Peons will need more than one Shadow from now on." He smirked to himself as he pulled up to the grey glass pyramid of Cipher's Key Lair. "Might be able to get a promotion if I handle Orison."

Hey all, sorry for the wait. Job issues again, and I've been working on a certain project that you all might be seeing pretty soon.

Anyway, I had a lot to fit into this chapter, so I hope you all enjoyed. Please let me know what you thought in the reviews. Your feedback really helps me improve, and I really appreciate it.

Until next time - jmoul18