Chapter Twenty-Two:
Backroom Brawl

Disclaimer: I do not own the series Pokémon. Like, at all. It and all its respectable characters are © to Game Freak and Satoshi Tajiri. However, all writing contents and semi-plots here are © to me; unless it is stated otherwise. All shows/ books/ video games/ songs that are mentioned in this chapter are all © to their respective owners, I do not own them.

Notes: Happy New Year! We are in a new decade, and I have a warm, fuzzy, hopeful feeling for the year 2020 as being a really good year!

Current Team: Keno the Marshtomp, Sela the Poochyena, Ambrose the Kirlia, Faye the Taillow, Breela the Shroomish, Luna the Skitty

Badges Won: Stone Badge, Knuckle Badge


Oh yeah! It was like lightning
Everybody was fighting
And the music was soothing
And they all started grooving

Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah

And the man in the back said everyone attack
And it turned into a ballroom blitz
And the girl in the corner said boy I want to warn you
It'll turn into a ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz
—"Ballroom Blitz" by The Sweet


Archie. Archie was here.

Archie. Was. Fucking. HERE.

That alone spiked her heartrate, never mind the way it hitched Shay's breathing up a few levels short of hyperventilating.

And here I was hoping to avoid a stupid story's plot, she absently thought as she clenched her fists at her side, taking in the sight of the man.

It was difficult to mistaken him for someone else. Broad-shouldered with a stocky build, he sported a meticulously trimmed and crafted beard, while he hid his head of hair with a royal blue bandanna that bore the Team Aqua logo. His face, however, was another story. Shay found her eyes drawn to the scars marring his face, crisscrossing over the bridge of his nose like the bottom half of an X, and she wondered if it formed a full one beneath his bandanna. Regardless, the scar itself was paler than the rest of his rich teak-coloured skin. And then there was his outfit.

It was nothing like the gaudy jumpsuit and semi-skirt that reminded Shay all-too-much of Riku from the first Kingdom Hearts, when he and Ansem had joined together at the climax of the game. No, Archie wasn't wearing that outfit at all. His coat draped down to his knees, covering the tasteful dark blue collared shirt, whilst his charcoal grey pants were tailored to fit him. Scuffed work boots adorned his feet, a swirl of pale sky blue wrapping along the outer edges in a style reminiscent of waves curling in on themselves. The only vague remnants he bore from his game design was a rather surprisingly tasteful and sizeable anchor charm made of beaten gold that hung from a gold chain around his neck.

The cannon fire in her chest seemed to lessen as she slowly stamped out distracted thoughts rampaging through her head, but just barely. A flush of warmth gathered in her chest, slowly but surely, spreading a calming effect through her body until all bouts of disquiet and fretfulness dimmed down completely. Shay snuck a glance at Ambrose, recognizing the faint shimmer of light outlining his form before all too quickly, it faded.

Shay affixed her gaze back on the three people opposite her.

Archie's lips tugged into a faint smile as he coolly observed the half of the room opposing him: Harold, Captain Stern, and herself. His gaze, however, seemed absorbed with Captain Stern just beyond her. Shay…Shay was an afternote worth ignoring. She didn't exist, as far as he was concerned.

Or, more importantly, the parts that Captain Stern had only just received were more significant than anything else. Frankly, it was insulting she was being overlooked.

He's been waiting, Shay realized. He's been waiting, and it didn't matter if President Stone had sent the package through his usual shipping methods or a private courier. Archie was determined to meet his end goal.

Itch-shiver-scratch went the back of her thoughts, and the vague reassurance of Ambrose's mental presence coated her mind as he carefully interjected himself.

'He's been watching Captain Stern quite carefully for the last several weeks. Even with President Stone's care and caution…it hasn't matter much in the end.'

I was just thinking the same thing, Shay replied absently, her fists clenching tightly at her sides as Archie took a few steps forward, closing distance between himself and Captain Stern—but in the interim, halving the distance between himself and Shay even more.

Even without a nudge from any of her team, Shay found herself moving, whether out of instinct or other powers beyond her own, it was all the same in the end. Archie stopped rather suddenly, as though realizing that there was another obstacle in his way beyond that of mere distance and cast his gaze upon Shay. Surprise slowly began colouring his expression as he took her in.

"What's this? Have you hired some young pup to stand in my way, Captain Stern?"

Archie laughed, and it was a laugh that originated deep from within his belly, boiling up before releasing up into his throat and out his mouth. It was hearty and amused, genuine even. The moment he tried moving past Shay, however, Keno moved to intervene in lieu of his trainer, shoving the Team Aqua leader back.

The two grunts behind him twitched and moved forward in response, their amused expressions melting into abject annoyance. They froze in an instant as soon as Archie raised a hand; the only sign of his mercy. For the moment, anyway.

He gazed down at Shay, dark eyes examining her face, as though he was searching a weakness he could exploit.

Eventually, his attentions drifted back to Captain Stern, his expression wholly unreadable.

"You really think you can stop us? Stop what we're aiming for?"

"Nobody even knows what you truly want, so how would I know?" Captain Stern sounded off behind Shay. Gruff annoyance and exasperation; that's what she heard. And yet there was something else…fear. Captain Stern was terrified of this man.

It was enough for Shay to step in his way once again. Never mind 'plot reasons'. Never mind 'because that's the way it's supposed to go'. It was the right fucking thing to do, plain and simple. There was a dangerous air crackling around the man, one that made the hairs on the back of Shay's neck stand on end.

Archie huffed, conceding ground by stopping his advance altogether, and instead stepped back quite a bit, giving them all some breathing room. The goons behind him twitched into action, looking ready to leap at a moment's notice, but just as suddenly, they stopped as Archie raised a hand, as though sensing their agitation.

He stared down at Shay, as though he was seeing her for the first time.

His gaze didn't shift at all. She was nothing more than a gnat in his path, a minor step to be overcome. She was nothing compared to his overall objective. His eyes were hard, deep blue slates of stone that refused to give way to pressure as he stared her down, expecting her to back down on her own.

Shay would have crumbled, if weren't for the gentle touch of Keno, of Ambrose and Sela, Faye and Breela and Luna, giving her support. The clutch of paws on her shoulder or arm; the faint brush of fur and warmth against her pants leg…

Their support solidified her conviction. Shay tilted her chin upwards, the muscles in her jaw clenching tight as she stared back at Archie, offering a silent challenge he most likely hadn't been expecting.

The man considered her a moment longer, taking her in, before a smile split his face.

"If that's the way this is going to go, then by all means. Have at it." He shot a look over his shoulder, and the two Team Aqua grunts sidled forward, grinning like a pair of jackals. Already, hands plucked up pokéballs from their belts. The woman surged forward a half-step more than her colleague, staring down Shay with a sneer painted across her face.

"You're going to regret this, little girl."

"Miss, I can't ask you to do this—" Captain Stern's voice rose up behind Shay, but he stopped short as Shay lifted a fist into the air, calling for silence. She hated that she flinched at the sound of it. She didn't dare take her eyes off the three individuals across from her.

"Harold, Captain Stern…do either of you have any pokémon on you at all?"

"I…I don't. My team's…not here. And neither is Captain Stern's." There was a tremble in his voice as he hesitantly added, "I'm sorry."

Great. Fan-fucking-tastic.

"Captain Stern, keep a good hold on your package. And both of y'all…stay behind me."

Shay glowered at Team Aqua, not daring to tear her eyes away from them, not even for a second. The woman's face coiled into a mockery of sympathy before it broke with a cackle.

"Poor little baby! Guess you'll have to face us by your lonesome. How sad."

"Keno, would you please put Breela down so we can teach this shriveled up bitch a lesson?" Shay barked. The amusement in the woman's face dried up in the blink of an eye. Her companion's humour was far from drained, however, as he cracked up behind her. The woman whirled to glare daggers at him, and the age-old adage of "if looks could kill" immediately came to Shay's mind. Keno stepped forward in the meantime as the woman turned back to her, a snarl painted on her face as she tossed her one and only pokéball.

"C'mon out, Pygos. Let's teach this little shit a thing or two about respect from her betters!"

Out of the light energy's twists sprang forth a Carvanha, in all its toothy, twin dorsal-finned, bright-coloured glory.

It took Shay a long moment to recognize why it just looked so…wrong.

Carvanha's a fish pokémon. But it's…

Floating. It was honest-to-goodness floating, just a few inches above the linoleum-tiled flooring, scowling at her with cherry-red eyes that seemed to burn into her. The Carvanha was staring her down, as if it really wanted nothing more than to sink its needle-sharp fangs into her, like a predator that was hyper-focused on a select piece of meat it sorely wanted.

Breela waddled forward, and beside her Keno sucked in a sharp little breath and from the corner of her eye, Shay could see him shifting his gaze between the Shroomish and Shay.

"You sure about this?" Keno remarked very softly to her. Shay inhaled deeply, squaring her shoulders back.

"Type advantage helps, buddy."

A part of her was curious as to how and why Carvanha—a dark and water duel-type—was able to somehow float mid-air the way it was. She also doubted she'd gain any answers anytime soon.

"Pygos, get in there with an Aqua Jet and then a Bite attack! Tear that stupid mushroom to pieces!"

"Breela, use Headbutt and launch Leech Seed!"

The Carvanha, by whatever powers that allowed it to float, seemed to have its limits. Pygos used its Aqua Jet attack in order to navigate when out of its natural element, and it used what it had effectively. Water jettisoned out of its maw in quick bursts as it swiveled its entire body, like a jet propelling something forward. Pygos twisted back around, jaws still dripping wet as it hurtled rapidly towards Breela.

The Shroomish, despite her stubby and stunted legs, packed a wallop within them. She moved a mite bit quicker than Pygos—at least, it seemed that way to Shay—and aimed her mushroom-capped head forward. The two collided, with Breela's momentum and the Carvanha's canceling one another out. Pygos, however, remained floating upright, keeping them both aloft. For a heart-wrenching moment, Shay felt a scream burning up in her throat as things settled.

The Carvanha's mouth was wrapped entirely around Breela's cap, needle-sharp fangs slowly sinking into Breela. The Shroomish squealed, legs kicked spasmodically—and then just as suddenly, the Carvanha released, twitching uncontrollably. Roots quickly shot out of its jaws, sprouting tendrils wrapping viciously around teeth, propping the Carvanha's mouth open. Whatever powers that kept Pygos aloft wavered, its belly scraping the floor until the fish flopped completely onto the ground, twitching uncontrollably. All throughout, the little sprouts grew on, some of them even creeping out through the Carvanha's gills.

Breela slowly tottered upright, trembling all over. The wounds around her mushroom cap, ugly marks that trickled green ichor, began to close over themselves until they were completely gone.

The female Team Aqua grunt muffled her scream—a mixture of agony, disbelief, and rage—behind her hands before common sense seemed to kick in and she recalled her pokémon back.

Breela stood stock still for a moment, frozen to her spot, before she turned her entire body to look back at Shay.

"Was that good?"

Relief and pride collided with one another inside Shay's chest, like a breath of fresh air, as she nodded to the Shroomish.

"You did good, girl. You okay for another round?"

Breela gave a shiver as an answer before shaking herself. "No, I think I'm done. Is that okay?"

"That's okay, Breela. C'mon back, then. Faye, you want to take over?"

"Gladly," the Taillow replied, taking off from Shay's shoulder. She swooped down and gently plucked at the top of Breela's head as she tottered her way back to her trainer. Keno scooped her up before Shay could and he nodded forward.

"Focus on Faye. I've got her," he simply remarked with an encouraging smile, his tiger-orange eyes bright.

'Look at that. You've got more than twenty seconds of insane courage in you, after all,' Ambrose's voice whispered, glib amusement dripping from each word. A tail twined around her calf, and the vibration from Luna's low growling traveled up her leg, while her yellow eyes glared intensely. The woman across them retreated, scowling in the wake of her defeat.

The other grunt snorted, muttering something to the woman, to which she rebuked with a wordless snarl and a clenched fist waved in his direction. Archie rumbled a word or two to them both, his words indiscernible. The male grunt stalked forward, plucking a pokéball from his belt with practiced, almost lazy ease, a sly smile perking his lips up.

Without any further preface, he tossed his pokéball, and a Zubat sprung from its innards, haphazardly fluttering in the air, jaws shivering as it chattered softly.

Faye, who had been preening her lengthy flight feathers, took pause to survey her opponent with a tilt of the head.

"Supersonic! Scramble that little bird's brain real good, Vesper!"

"Got it, boss!" The Zubat crowed back, teeth bared seconds before jaws pried open to unleash a hellish, high-pitched scream aimed right at Faye. Shay flinched and clenched her teeth as a ringing began to pulse inside her ears.

"Move outta the way Faye!"

The Taillow didn't bother sticking around, taking instantly to Shay's shout. In the blink of an eye, she took to the air, whipping around overhead. The grunt across from Shay scowled, nose wrinkling in distaste as he tried following Faye's movements while she darted about above.

"Dammit, get up there and uaw Wing Attack; knock that feather duster out of the air already!"

"Use Aerial Ace, quick Faye!"

Faye was quicker on the draw, swifter than a Wild West gunslinger. She tucked her wings in to dodge the incoming Zubat, diving down to get underneath her opponent. She snapped her wings open as silvery wisps of power engulfed her, rising rapidly to smash into Vesper. The Zubat screeched when struck and went spiraling toward the ground before crumpling as he crash-landed without so much as a grunt. Vesper struggled to pull himself upright, trembling visibly with the effort before collapsing completely with a soft, pathetic whimper of pain.

The silence dragged on for only a few seconds before the unconscious Zubat was pulled back into his pokéball, and a Carvanha was sent out in his place.

This one was just as snub-snouted and needle-fanged as the last one had been, bearing the same cherry-red glare. This one also levitated under mysterious powers that Shay still couldn't figure out.

'Dark-types are a mysterious bunch in general. If we psychic-types can't figure them out, I doubt you humans will, either. Not for a long while, anyways.'

Thank you for that not-so-helpful exposition, Ambrose, Shay replied back, tensing as the Carvanha moved in with its jaws hinging open as its red gaze swiveled upward to focus on Faye above.

"Aqua Jet! I swear, you'd better knock out that fucking bird, Serras, I'm not kidding around!"

The trainer across from Shay shot a nervous look over his shoulder at Archie.

Shay almost forgot he was even there.

Almost.

He was quiet throughout the entirety of the battles, dark eyes watching as events unfolded before him, a silent bystander radiating pure intensity. She turned her attention back to the battle, focusing on the Carvanha as it tried aiming and hitting Faye with its Aqua Jet attack, only to fail consecutively.

Our luck won't hold for much longer at this rate, Shay thought, even as she watched, captivated at Faye's movements. The Taillow was dipping and diving with such grace, it made Shay's heart flutter at the sight. She was a gorgeous little bird, and Shay wasn't a fool to not be able to admire and admit as such.

"Dammit, Serras, hit that bird! Hit it out of the fucking air!" The Team Aqua goon screeched, his voice pitching up several octaves, his face pinched with rage. Shay almost burst out laughing at how rattled he appeared, like he was ready to burst apart from the seams. Whatever aloof airs he had been putting on earlier, it had all quickly evaporated the moment he began to lose.

We need to finish this, Shay thought. She followed Faye's movements with her eyes, frowning. We need to finish it with a bang and with something that'll show we're not fucking around or pushovers.

As much as it pained her to be resorted to this, she knew it was good for a finale.

"Faye, use Brave Bird!"

There was a small gasp from behind her, but Shay wasn't completely sure whether it came from Harold or Captain Stern. She didn't have the time to figure it out as she watched Faye skim along the high ceiling before tucking her wings for one last dive. A familiar pale blue aura engulfed her, wild and hot as the air screamed with undulated energy emanating from the Taillow. Faye let out a primal shriek as she slammed into the Carvanha. The air itself felt superheated as the energy blasted outward upon impact. The ground shook beneath them all, as plaster and dust rose in a cloud, obscuring their vision.

Shay could just barely make out the silhouettes of the three across from her, but nothing of the pokémon in the center of it all. It took several seconds longer for it all to clear.

Something moved in the heart of the dust cloud, shaking themselves. Keno made a soft noise of discontent, while Luna and Sela quietly muttered amongst themselves, wondering who should go to check on Faye's condition.

Beside her, Ambrose chuckled softly.

"She's fine. You'll see."

True to his word, Faye shuffled forward, unsteadily at first, but she winged it into the air as she stabilized herself and fluttered back to Shay's shoulder. She leaned heavily against Shay's neck and cheek, breathing hard but clearly.

"He's down for the count. I checked," Faye said quietly, as the dust cleared entirely, revealing the cracked flooring, with the Carvanha in the epicenter. Fractures splintered into branches like lightning frozen in time. Serras twitched several times, but otherwise, didn't make a move to right itself or get up.

A breathless moment passed before Serras too was recalled. Nobody moved for a long while. The grunt finally did so and moved to sidle up to his female cohort behind Archie, looking just as worn and beaten as her. All the while, Archie said nothing. The silence from him was almost unsettling, yet Shay felt emboldened by her victories as she glowered at him, a quiet and defiant challenge in her gaze.

"You next? I ain't got all day, so hurry the fuck up and stop wasting my time."

Keno brushed against her side as he stepped forward with Breela in his arms. Sela, Luna, and Ambrose altogether joined the tight throng, the press of their bodies against hers bolstering her courage. Her resolve solidified further with them standing with her.

Archie huffed a sigh and shook his head several times as his hands flew to his hips…and then he burst out laughing. It was an explosive sound, one that startled Shay. Her shoulders tensed up and Faye squeaked her annoyance, nibbling gently on Shay's earlobe in protest.

"You're quite the fierce little scamp, aren't you, girl?" he said when he'd finally calmed, dark oceanic eyes surveying her more closely. "But I also suspect you're too naïve to understand the gravitas of our mission, our goal to save this world, and most especially the seas, from the likes of humanity. We all came from the sea and instead of treasuring our ancient forebearers, we humans trash it, dumping our garbage and litter and Arceus knows whatever else into the waters. And who suffers from all this? Can you tell me?"

It was like working through peanut butter and molasses to pry her mouth open. Shay wanted nothing more than to glare in silence like a stubborn child, not entirely trusting the words that might fly out of her, and yet…

Who gives a flying fuck about what you think? The oceans were precious, don't get her wrong. But these mad stunts and mindless actions weren't helping anyone at all.

If anything, it was hindering things to the extreme. There were better ways to helping the ocean, and everything that lived in it.

"I really don't have time for your eco-terrorist psychobabble bullshit, buddy. I do have an inkling of an idea just how important the oceans are to every living creature on this planet. Yeah, people can be trashy and that sucks when you're a little more self-aware than the person next to you might be, but conducting theft of private property or someone's pokémon? Throttling said stolen pokémon and threatening to kill them? That's fucked up, even you have to admit that."

Archie's brows, while hidden beneath the folds of his bandanna, most likely raised judging by how his eyes widened several fractions. He glanced at his subordinates, and they cringed under his piercing gaze, not daring to meet Archie's eyes.

"And how do I know whether you're telling me the truth of these…abusive allegations?"

"Try talking to their little buddy Jay-Jay. He snatched up a pokémon off the streets in broad daylight and tried wringing her neck when she wasn't cooperating with his thieving ass a couple of weeks back in Rustboro."

The two grunts kept their eyes averted still, fidgeting under the intense stare aimed their way.

"I'll be sure to look into that. We're trying to save pokémon, especially those that call the sea their home." Archie remarked, mildly surprising Shay with his sudden declaration. He turned back to face her, lips curling upwards. "I shall have to reprimand my subordinate, if these allegations turn out to be true. In the meantime…I suppose we'll bow out for the time being. You've put up a rather spectacular fight and it wouldn't seem fair to tarnish your victory, as it were, and I will look into these claims you have dropped at my feet."

Without further preamble, he twirled a finger in the air, signaling to his subordinates that it was time to take their leave.

Shay's muscles didn't ease from their rigid tension as she watched Archie and the two Team Aqua grunts retreat. As they disappeared from the room, all that was left was the sound of their footsteps, and soon after that, there was a ringing silence left in their wake. The only thing she could hear was the gentle croon of music playing from the radio, but even that seemed muted. Shay strained to listen, but it was Faye who quietly declared that they were gone.

Only then did Shay allow herself to breath and with a rush, air spilled into her lungs like it was first fresh breath she's taken in a long time. It left her vision reeling for a few short seconds before it cleared up and she slowly turned back to face Harold and Captain Stern. They looked about as relieved as she felt.

"Are you guys okay?"

"Other than worrying about the damage done to our work room…we're fine," Captain Stern answered, his voice steady and even as he greeted her expectant gaze. Harold was already darting around the room, muttering to himself as he surveyed said damage, agitation clear in his movements.

"Unbelievable! You just had to battle it out in here, didn't you? You couldn't drag those people out of here, help protect our work?!"

The young man whirled on his heel, pointing an accusatory finger at Shay as he stalked forward.

"Harold, don't you start with her. We were lucky she was even here to help waylay those criminals!" Captain Stern barked back at Harold, and to his credit, the young man winced, although he still held a fair amount of defiance written plainly across his face.

"You can't be serious, Captain Stern. They wouldn't have come here if it weren't for her. She practically dragged them in herself."

Shay bristled and there were murmurs of dissent spreading from her team as well. Sela, in particular, had her hackles raised as a snarl drew back her lips to reveal her teeth at Harold in response.

"Keep talking, just see what happens," she growled softly.

"That is enough!"

Captain Stern's voice echoed off the walls, loud and ringing. Harold clamped his mouth shut and appeared more abashed than he had moments earlier. Sela settled as well, her maraschino-bright eyes wide with surprise.

"She was contracted by President Stone to deliver these goods to us. If you really want to start assigning blame, why not him? Why not me? I ordered the parts, he provided them. If anyone is truly to blame, it should be me."

"She…she broke in—"

"Now that's unfortunate. I don't condone what she did," Captain Stern said, shooting Shay a rather firm look, before alighting his attentions back on Harold. "But she was trying to do her job. I can't fault her for that, even if I'm none too happy in how she went about doing it."

"Sorry," Shay muttered to the older man, a feeling of self-consciousness washing over her. "I did try the front desk, but the women manning reception up there were being cagey. I didn't see any other way of getting this stuff to you."

"I'm sure I can overlook your methods in lieu of your stellar performance and willingness to step in when the need arose. Harold might not show it very well, but he is just as grateful for your assistance in keeping our parts safe and sound as I am." Captain Stern smiled at her, the skin around his eyes crinkling as he did. "I'll be sure to contact President Stone later today to let him know we received our parcel from you, Miss Courier. In the meantime, I'll walk you out. Harold, please secure the parcel's contents, and be sure to contact the police to let them know what has just transpired. I'm sure they'll be very interested to know that Team Aqua's higher up just graced us with his presence. With any luck, they'll be able to catch him before he can flee Slateport."

"Sure…okay, Captain Stern."

Harold said nothing more as he moved back toward the worktable, while Captain Stern led Shay out into the winding hallway, with her team trailing on either side of them.

"You'll have to excuse Harold, he's a good kid. He takes things very seriously, especially when deadlines are approaching rather rapidly, and our upcoming expedition is no exception. He's worried, and it tends to bleed out in how he treats people."

"I'd say it's fine, except he was practically trying to paint me as some kind of villain in cahoots with Team Aqua."

"It is unfortunate that he decided to show up. I was hoping they'd give up the ghost after a few days, but I suppose that was too much to ask for."

"Why didn't you call the police when they started showing up?"

"We have, when they began for the last week or so. But since they weren't causing any disturbances beyond being overbearing, there was little they could do beyond crowd control if things got out of hand."

Shay mulled on his words, and remembered what Ambrose had told her earlier on, about how some of Team Aqua's ranks had conducted unsavoury acts in their pasts. It made her wonder all over again if they had hurt people, or worse still, while under the banner of Team Aqua.

"Aren't Team Aqua on the League's radars, though? Or at the very least, shouldn't they be?"

Captain Stern shook his head at her prodding, tightness forming around the edges of his eyes. "I can't speak for the League. I'm not sure who is and who isn't on their radar at this point in time, honestly, and I don't have the time to keep track of all that. I have my work, and it occupies my attentions enough as it is."

He sighed as he dragged a hand over his face, shaking his head. "But I'll be sure to give them a ring later on today as well. Perhaps they can assist the police, if things escalate as far as priorities go for them. I hope it does, based on what had happened today. In the meantime, I'm sure they'd appreciate a statement from you on the matter—"

Whatever else Captain Stern went on about, Shay barely heard him at all. The moment he turned the matter to reporting the police and mentioning her giving a statement, her stomach curdled sourly and the taste of bile coated the back of her throat, nervousness making her heart flutter unevenly.

More cops. Great. Almost every fucking town I end up in, I have to talk to the authorities, and deal with them trying to wrongfully arrest me. Do I have something tattooed on my forehead that all but says "SEND ME TO JAIL" in big, bold print or something?

Her thoughts muddled further as she dwelled on the prospect, but she caught snippets of comments from Captain Stern as they made their way out of the hallways to the museum proper, down the second floor staircase to the first floor and toward front reception area. All the while, it was relatively quiet and clear as they progressed through, the earlier crowds that had filled the Oceanic Museum of Team Aqua members no longer there. It was as though they had never been here at all.

As they approached the front doors that led outside, Captain Stern took pause with a heavy sigh.

"Well, this is where I must leave you, Miss Courier. I have quite a workload to get back to, and a number of calls to make, and chances are I won't be making it home tonight."

"May I make a suggestion, Captain Stern?"

"Hmm? What is it?"

Shay looked him square in the eye, hoping he didn't just see a young face staring at him and dismiss her. She hoped he would take her words to heart, and seriously so.

"I'd beef up security around here and increase the safety protocols it takes to get to your back rooms here at the museum, and anywhere else you frequent for good measure." She took pause, gathering her next words with care. "I am really sorry I had to break in like I did earlier, and I'm grateful you didn't just kick me to the curb on the matter. But if I was able to get in that easily, it was no wonder Archie was able to do the same thing. Increasing the procedures it takes to get back to your offices and beefing up your security personnel might be a pain, but it'd definitely be more secure in keeping your work out of Team Aqua's hands. Or at the very least, it'd make it much more difficult, and take them longer to get around, which might give you that much more time to call the authorities and get them here."

Captain Stern said nothing at first, and simply studied her face with curious intent, as though he was trying to scrape up something more from her without using words.

Slowly, he offered his hand to her and Shay glanced at it before taking it in her own. He squeezed tightly, and she did the same.

"Thank you. I'll take your advisement under serious consideration. After today, I'd be a fool to not do so."

Shay nodded, pacified at the truthful sincerity of his words.

"Ah. Right. If the police wish to contact you, where should I…?"

Those words allowed any last goodwill she had left in her to wither. A part of Shay wanted nothing more than to tear her hand away and scream "fuck the police" at Captain Stern. She swallowed down the urge, tamping down on it for good measure as her shoulders sagged. Sensing the sudden change, the older man gently extricated his hand away from hers.

"I'm staying at the Slateport Pokémon Center for the time being. I would highly appreciate it if you emphasized that I wasn't involved with their schemes at all, and that I was helping you."

"Um…all right?" Captain Stern blinked at her, confusion so evidently coated upon his face. Shay hesitated, and the urge to oversimplify and explain overcame her before she could filter it out.

"I've had some bad run-ins with law-enforcement recently. Every time I've ran into Team Aqua, the authorities have wrongfully tried to tie me to their criminal activities and attempted to arrest me on a number of occasions. It's like they can't believe someone has the balls to stand up to them when push comes to shove and I just…really don't want to have to depend upon the goodwill of a bystander to step in and vouch for me after the handcuffs are clamped on, you know?"

Understanding lit up behind his eyes and he nodded slowly.

"I'll be sure to emphasize just that, if that's the case. If they do need to speak with you—and to be frank, they most likely will—I'll direct them to the Center for the time being. And Miss Courier? Please be safe on your walk back. It's getting late, and I doubt these Team Aqua people have completely dispersed from Slateport yet."

In spite of the exhaustion riddling her, worming its way deeper still into her body, Shay had to girdle up and brace herself for the worst that may come yet. All she and her team could hope for is the best possible outcome.

"I'll be waiting for them, then."


Additional Notes: I am aware, that in most game art models, Archie's skin appears on the lighter side. However, based on ORAS depictions, he looks a whole lot darker. So, I have decided to forgo the lighter skin tone, and take to the ORAS game art depicting his darker complexion. Viva la résistance!

On another note, thank you to all my new readers and subscribers! I'm so happy that you've found my story, and for those who have stuck it out with me, thank you for continuing along this journey with me. I'm so grateful for all of you!