~ Chapter 29 ~
Eterna's Tower
"Team Galactic had been up to their schemes again; but this time we got to understand just what Professor Rowan was talking about when he said that they were capable of horrible things. We've battled a lot of bad people in our travels, but never have we seen people as horrible and twisted as Team Galactic. Their captives were starved; the Pokémon confined to cages and shocked every time they acted up…we knew Professor Rowan only allowed us to break our promises to him that one time in Jubilife City…he didn't know that we continued to try and stop them. He didn't know about the Valley Windworks or the past few days; we hadn't spoken to him since we arrived at Floaroma Town. No, Professor Rowan didn't find out until much later on in our travels. And for so long we wondered what he would have said if we told him before Team Galactic's final defeat…would we still be the heroes?"
Looker led the group quietly around the corner and into the alleyway. They had snuck past the several guards that protected the front entrance and were about to break in through the back door. Rounding the corner, Sam, Jeremy, Alyssandra and Niya fell in close behind the detective.
"All right," whispered Looker as they ducked behind a dumpster, "The coast seems clear, so we're going to sneak out from behind this thing. I'll crack the lock and we'll head inside. Once there we'll split up into groups of two, leaving me to go alone. We'll try to free who we can along the way—let them escape and then move towards the command Centre. If we're lucky we can stop some of the higher ups before they escape and arrest them. Understood?"
Everyone nodded, not daring to speak lest a guard hear their voices.
Looker understood their silence and gave a small motion with his fingers to instruct the group that they were going to ambush whoever was there, quickly, and quietly.
Counting down to three, the group jumped from behind the dumpster, and everyone let out a scream as they noticed—not a grunt—but a young girl, younger than Sam, Niya, Alyssandra and Jeremy, with short red hair and clothes best fit for gardening.
Looker placed his hands on as many mouths of possible, and the red-haired girl soon followed suit.
"Who are you?" hissed Sam, "Why is she here? She's just a kid."
"So are we," added Niya quickly, "Besides who are you to make judgments."
However, Looker did not respond, but only smiled as if he knew something the group didn't, though granted he probably did.
Looker was very selective with the information he possessed, to an almost unhelpful extent.
"Calm down. This isn't just any other kid," laughed Looker, "This is the local Gym Leader, Gardenia."
Sam scanned over the girl, realizing that she was his next opponent on the path to the Pokémon League. She didn't seem like something to be afraid of, but if there was something Sam learned recently, it's that looks don't always define something's strength, and things aren't always what they seem.
"Well, I guess it's nice to meet you then," said Sam slowly, extending his hand to shake.
Gardenia ignored his hand. "No time for formalities," she said simply, "But it is nice to finally see that Trainer that Roark told me so much about."
"Wait, Roark spoke of me?" asked Sam with surprise.
Gardenia smiled, her orange eyes looking Sam over. "Of course," she giggled, "We Gym Leader's talk, you know. I hope you're as prodigal as he made you sound, otherwise our battle later on is going to be very boring."
Sam smiled at the challenge. "I assure you, my tricks weren't all spent on his battle," he said, "I have plenty saved for you."
"Hey, can we keep the conversation to a minimum?" asked Jeremy with an anxious tone, "Looker's getting the door open now."
Sam looked over at the detective just in time to see him crack the lock and swing the door open.
"Are you coming Gardenia?" he asked.
Gardenia nodded. "I'm am Eterna's Gym Leader; I haven't spent the past few days hiding out, so I could keep hiding. I'm here to defend my city, just like my job says. It's my duty."
"Very well, you'll come with me then," he explained, "I have no Pokémon on me currently, they were taken when they came for Nurse Joy."
"Don't worry, my Pokémon will protect you," giggled Gardenia as she and Looker entered the building and headed towards the left side of the hallway.
Looker paused once everyone was inside and looked back at the group. "You remember the plan?"
Everyone replied with a confident, "Yes," and with that, they were split off into groups.
With Looker and Gardenia taking the left, Niya and Sam taking the middle, while Alyssandra took the Centre with Jeremy at her side.
"I've missed travelling with you," joked Niya as the duo walked down the silent hallway.
Sam laughed. "It has been a while, hasn't it?" he said, "When was the last time we went off together like this?"
"Jubilife City, I believe, at the coffee shop" said Niya, "You went with Alyssandra in Oreburgh Gate, we all went together through the Ravaged Path, and you went with Alyssandra to the Fuego Ironworks while Jeremy caught up with you later—I'm not letting you guys forget that by the way—and we all travelled together until the Old Chateau, well, minus Alyssandra."
"Yeah, sorry about that by the way," said Sam apologetically, "I didn't know Jeremy would come after us—I expected him to still be back at camp. Though, in our defense, it wasn't our fault, it was those Ambipom—they took each of our Pokédexes, not my fault they couldn't get yours."
"Yes, because that makes up for it all," sighed Niya, "I guess now I just have to blink my eyes and the feeling of being left out will go away."
Sam rolled his eyes. "Stop messing around," he smiled, "We need to find the people Team Galactic kidnapped."
Niya froze in her tracks as they turned the corner. "No need," she said in a horrified tone, "I think we just found them."
Sam looked around and noticed she was right.
And Niya was also right to be so terrified.
People lay in cells with small, cramped quarters and too few beds and benches. Some were passed out on the ground, others looked roughed up, they all looked sleep deprived and hungry.
Sam scanned the captives, seeing Nurse Joy, Officer Jenny, the police force, the Poké Mart operator, a professor, and several civilians, even small children who had probably done nothing but question some grunts about where their families were being taken.
Sam clenched his fists and jaw alike, knowing full well that this is what Professor Rowan meant about Team Galactic's ambitions. "This is just horrible," he said, "I can't believe they can do this to people."
Niya grabbed Sam by the arm and dragged him into a nearby closet.
Sam looked at her, surprised, but she hushed him by placing a finger to her mouth and pointing out the door.
Sam peaked through the crack in the door and noticed a short, squat man with wild grey hair and glasses that sat on the end of his nose walking up to the glass of the cells.
"Look at them," he said wickedly, a dark smile on his face. He must've been talking to someone, but whoever it was Sam couldn't see.
"They're like animals," cackled the old man, "How long do you think it'll be before they eat each other?"
"Not for a long time," said a deep voice, "Perhaps weeks. Months."
The deep voice seemed oddly familiar, to the point where Sam was annoyed he couldn't place it.
"Pity," said the old man, "By then we'll be all finished here…do you think the boss will let me take some back with us to test my theories and use in my experiments?"
The deep voiced man chuckled. "I don't know, Charon," he said, "The boss is a very strict man, and his Lordship is a whole other story. I don't know how they'll react to your little 'pet projects.'"
"They're more than pet projects!" snapped the man known as Charon, waving a wrinkled hand at the other man, "Far more than that…they are my toys, my play things. You know how much I love my toys. But more than that, they reflect humanity at its worst. Trapped…alone…no food or water for days…they slowly go mad. It reflects how on the inside, we are all at our basest nature. It just takes a little…push…to getting us going."
Charon stared wickedly through the one-way glass windows, evil visions dancing in the reflections of his eyes.
"Well, I don't know about that," said the deep voiced man sympathetically, "But I'm sure you can ask the boss if it means that much to you. Don't expect much though; and don't try to smuggle them out like you did the last experiment."
"It would have worked had it survived," said Charon defensively.
"And it would have survived, and stayed silent, if you had cut its vocal chords like I suggested," said the deep voiced man, "Then the boss wouldn't have heard it."
"Actually, tests show it was the multiple arms, several vital organs that…went missing, and Pokémon brain that caused it die—the body just couldn't support itself, so it was practically dead long before the boss had me kill the poor thing," said Charon darkly, "Now you had best return to your men, the boss and his Lordship will be expecting results from your most recent search. He's hoping that you of all people will be able to draw these kids out from their little hiding hole!"
"Let's hope," said the deep voice with a sound of strain and exhaustion, "I tire of how they constantly ruin our plans, all it does is make us take even longer to get to the truth, and I'd much rather see my research pay off sooner than later."
"Well then, you'd best hope you catch them," said Charon, and with that, the two men walked off in different directions.
Sam slid back and let the door close softly with a light click as Charon walked by.
Sam looked back at Niya, who was even more horrified than before. Her hand was over her mouth, and though she wasn't tearing up, Sam could see the sadness in her eyes.
"This is a horrible place," she said softly.
Sam knew that for Niya to be disturbed like this, it had to be something really bad. Even Sam, known affectionately as "The Lion" back in Twinleaf Town amongst the kids in his childhood, was scared of what might happen if he and Niya were caught. More so he feared for the others, Alyssandra and Jeremy, and Looker and Gardenia.
Sam placed his arm around Niya, and hugged her gently, trying to comfort her.
"Those poor people…those poor Pokémon…" she said gently.
Sam knew she wasn't talking about the people in the cells, not entirely anyway. She meant the ones Charon and the other man had spoken of before. The ones who had several arms, a Pokémon brain and were missing several vital organs.
Sam could only imagine the sick chimera-like creature that had been created as a byproduct of science, and even the fact that he could imagine it scared him.
"Come on," said Sam softly, "Let's get going, we'll bring them down and stop this."
Niya had regained her composure and was now filled with a burning desire to defeat Team Galactic at all costs.
"Let's go," she said simply, and the two left the closet.
The people in the cells didn't even notice them as they walked past, mainly due to the one-way mirrors. But Sam could see everyone clearly.
Most were sleeping or passed out from hunger or dehydration, but those that were awake, or had been there long enough, only looked at them with hollow eyes that didn't even really see them. They were staring in his and Niya's direction, unaware that someone was on the other side.
"What did they do to them to make them like this?" asked Sam; "They've only been in there for a week at the most, a few days at the least."
"They're all alone, Sam," said Niya gently, not even wanting to look at these people, "I wouldn't be surprised if the rooms are sound proofed. The walls are definitely thick enough that they wouldn't notice someone in the next cell, and judging by how abandoned this hallway is, it can only be assumed that even that Charon guy barely comes by. They're going crazy from their solitude."
Sam shivered; he would hate to be stuck in a cell alone, with no friends or contact to anyone else. He would go crazy too.
"Come on, let's just keep going," said Sam, taking Niya by the arm and leading them from the room. They needed to keep investigating the building and find the control room that kept the cells locked.
They continued down fairly empty hallways, ducking into shadows or a closet or another hallway whenever a grunt or researcher came by, but for the most part they were alone.
Sam could only assume this was because all of the grunts were out looking for Sam and his friends in Eterna Forest, it probably didn't occur to them that they had already reached town.
Team Galactic probably thought they would have noticed…and still, Sam wondered why they hadn't just placed guards at the city entrance then?
Perhaps they were so sure they'd catch them in the forest? Or maybe they didn't want to make it obvious that they were in control now—the less attention they drew from travelers the better for their plans.
Whatever the reason Sam figured it was a big risk to take if he and his friends were so crucial to remove.
Finally, after climbing several sets of stairs and searching almost every inch of the building, Sam reached the roof.
Niya was close behind him, doing much better than she had when they were in the room with all of the cells, though there had been one point where they came by Pokémon being strapped down in cages, barely fed, or watered and shocked any time they moved.
She almost broke down in that room; Niya loved Pokémon, to see them treated like that must've killed her.
He could only have imagined Alyssandra's reaction to all of this had she seen it…she wasn't quite as strong willed as Niya, and even Niya broke down…or perhaps Alyssandra had already come across rooms like this?
Sam changed his thoughts from that to what was at hand. He looked around the highest floor of the building. Glass windows, that looked over the entire city, boxed it in, and to the far end was a large screen mounted on the wall.
Several lab tables appeared in the middle of the room, and they looked recently used.
Standing at the other end of the room stood a familiar face, and next to her what Sam and Niya could only take for another Galactic Commander.
Mars and a woman in a full body jumpsuit with magenta hair that was put up into a high ponytail and a low bun stood there, as if waiting for something.
Mars had her Purugly by her side, gently mewing as he stroked it between the ears.
"Are you sure it's them?" asked Mars, "I'd love a chance to speak with them again; I bet they were so ashamed last time…such a newcomer mistake, letting the bad guy talk herself out of a bad situation."
Sam knew she knew, right then, and he knew that they had allowed him and Niya to get that far into the building. What was worse, she was mocking their failure last time; the pain and shame felt by Sam during that defeat was still fresh, and it was a wound he did not allow reopened so easily.
"It's them all right," said the magenta haired woman, "They've been walking through our halls, thinking they're being stealthy—they forgot to factor in security cameras."
"Where are they now then?" asked Mars with a girlish smile, "I can't wait to shame them again."
"Calm down, Mars," said the other woman, "Don't get ahead of yourself or you're going to lose this time. Besides, they're right there on the stairs. That's right—" The woman turned around, Mars following her gaze as they fell on Sam and Niya "—We know. You can come out now."
Sam and Niya walked up the remaining steps and entered the large room. Mars was smiling like a mad woman at the sight of them, but the other woman kept her cool and didn't even seem all that interested in them as she spoke.
"You've caused us a lot of trouble," she sighed, "And now we have to take you down."
"Not so fast," said Mars, "I want to know first, how you got into the city without being noticed?"
Sam shrugged, knowing this time he had to play along. "Your grunts tread wide trails, too many gaps in between," he explained, "They're easy to slip through—and they avoid the Old Chateau like the plague, something about it being haunted."
The magenta haired woman only smiled. "Gutless," she said simply, "As to be expected. But no matter, we have you now and they shall be punished for their foolishness later."
"I can't wait!" shrieked Mars.
She seemed different than the last time they spoke, noted Sam, as she was much more…wild and erratic this time, not so calm and collected, but last time had been a farce in order to distract him and his friends. He supposed this was Mars' true personality.
"First, you'll have to deal with us, though," said Sam as he placed his hand to his Poké Ball belt and drew a Poké Ball.
"I've been waiting for this," said Mars.
She jumped forward, and her Purugly hopped in front of her, purring with a ferocity that made it sound more dangerous than it probably was.
The magenta haired woman raised her hand, however, and stopped the battle before it started. "Leave this to me, Mars," she said gently, "Start packing up what we haven't already; get everything into the helicopters and the trucks and move out. Return to HQ—I'll catch up soon."
"But, Jupiter…" said Mars regretfully, wanting the chance to battle Sam once more.
The woman, Jupiter, gave a sharp look to Mars, a look that only a superior could give to an underling.
Sam instantly knew that Jupiter was the superior of the two commanders, and something about that intimidated him. He knew Mars' Pokémon, a Zubat and a Purugly…but Jupiter's Pokémon were a mystery, and if Jupiter was higher up, she would no doubt be stronger.
Something in Sam made him wish Looker and the others were here with him; he'd even be happy with Gardenia, maybe with a Gym Leader at his side he'd fair better against Jupiter.
In the end, it was Niya's reassuring look and hand on his shoulder that gave him the confidence to start fighting.
Mars looked back at Jupiter with disappointment but said nothing as she recalled her Purugly and dashed off towards the elevator.
"Go after her," Sam said, pointing Niya towards Mars, "Send one of your Pokémon for the others!" Niya nodded and dashed towards the elevator, throwing herself in just as the door closed.
Sam turned his attention back to Jupiter. Before he could prepare himself; she released her Pokémon, two at a time.
"Zubat, Skuntank, go!" she said calmly and firmly. Her two Pokémon landed from their Poké Balls, Skuntank on the ground, Zubat flying through the air, and at her command they were off to attack Sam. "Zubat, Poison Sting, Skuntank, Iron Tail!"
Sam dodged the two attacks at the last minute and watched as the wall behind him took the damage, parts of it falling apart and down onto the stairs.
Sam tossed two Poké Balls and released his Staravia and Luxray. "Staravia use Wing Attack on Zubat! Luxray I want you charge at Skuntank and use Bite!" cried Sam.
Jupiter was quick to counter. "Skuntank jump, land on Luxray, then follow it up with Poison Gas," commanded Jupiter flawlessly, "Zubat, fly up into the air and outfly Staravia."
Luxray dashed towards its opponent, but the commands given to Skuntank by its Trainer allowed it to escape being hit by Bite, and Luxray was crushed beneath the weight of Skuntank. The Poison Gas released by Skuntank only made it worse, and inhaling it only caused Luxray pain.
Meanwhile, Zubat flew high in the air towards the sky, then leveled off a few inches from the ceiling. Zubat had practice flying in indoors that Staravia didn't, causing Staravia to hit the ceiling and fall to the ground.
Sam wasn't given time to react, as Jupiter called for another attack.
Staravia was kept grounded as Zubat unleashed a Supersonic followed by a Poison Sting, while Skuntank jumped upward from pinning the stunned Luxray to the ground and unleashed an Iron Tail that Sam could tell hurt.
Sam felt helpless all of a sudden. He was right about Jupiter, she was strong, but he needed to be stronger. He couldn't let her win, he saw what her kind did to people and Pokémon. He had heard the horrible story told by that awful man Charon, and moreover, he knew that if he failed here like at the Valley Windworks, it would only permit Team Galactic to laugh in his face again and continue doing horrible things to others unhindered.
Sam had had enough with loosing. He clenched his fists and recalled his Luxray. It had taken too much damage from the Iron Tail and the Poison Gas to keep fighting.
Sam had only one resort left…his Prinplup. Staravia was still able to battle, but it was severely weakened by the Zubat that flew over it.
Sam analyzed the situation as he reached for Prinplup's Poké Ball…perhaps Jupiter sensed that and allowed it for some unknown reason.
To Sam she seemed like someone who appreciated strategy, well thought out moves and cool headedness.
Somehow by taking the time to plan his next move, Sam had earned himself enough time to do just that. Sam didn't question it, but instead thought.
Prinplup would be better matched against Zubat; it wouldn't have to worry about flying and maneuvering in the air, while its Bubble Beam could match Poison Sting easily.
Moreover, Staravia was better suited for Skuntank, as it could easily dodge Skuntank's jumps and poison clouds, and the Iron Tail could be countered with Steel Wing if necessary.
Sam smiled as he had his strategy, unleashing his Prinplup. "I'm about to teach you what happens when you hurt innocent people," said Sam, "You hurt Pokémon, people, and moreover you hurt my friends—my Pokémon!"
"You cannot see the forest for the trees," sighed Jupiter, "What we do is all for the greater good of everyone; anyone who stands in our way stands in the way of progress and peace—we cannot allow that. Just like you cannot allow us to get in your way, am I correct?"
"There's a difference! You guys are evil! You claim to be for peace and progress," roared Sam, "All you do is hurt people and Pokémon and do horrible experiments on them!"
Jupiter chuckled heartily. "Good and evil is perspective," she said softly, "The world is not all black and white. In fact, it rarely ever is anything but grey. You see my cause as evil; I see my cause as good, and vice versa. This world is not just good and evil; hero and villain. The world is full of people, and people are capable of great good and great evil both. It is only a matter of opinion as to which side people support."
Sam was speechless; he had nothing to say to her. Part of him could understand her speech, but the other part of him only cared for revenge for his Luxray, and for the Valley Windworks, and for everyone who had ever been hurt by Team Galactic.
"Enough talk," said Sam, "Prinplup, let's do this! Bubble Beam on Zubat now! Staravia, can you still fight?"
Staravia struggled as it rose, but after a few flaps of its wings it was back in fighting shape—though still heavily wounded, it wouldn't be able to fly long.
"Staravia!" cried the Pokémon.
"Use Wing Attack on Skuntank, keep a heads up for more commands though!"
The two Pokémon did as they were told.
Jupiter was ready and commanded her Pokémon as well.
Prinplup's bubbles clashed head on with Zubat's Poison Sting, while Skuntank jumped back and dodge the Wing Attack. But unbeknownst to Jupiter, Sam had already prepared for this.
"Prinplup, run into the smoke and prepare a Metal Claw!" cried Sam, "Staravia, I want you to circle above Skuntank! Top speed!"
Once more Sam's Pokémon did as they were told. Prinplup dashed right into the smoke, disappearing instantly. While Staravia circled around Skuntank like a hawk over its prey.
Skuntank watched as Staravia sped around its head, circling like a fast orbiting moon. Skuntank watched so intently that its head followed the path of motion.
When Sam was satisfied that it was properly distracted by Staravia's motion, Sam called for the next attack. "Staravia! Dive and use Tackle, then move in for a Wing Attack while it's down!" cried Sam.
"Staraaaaavia!" cried the bird Pokémon as it dipped down towards Skuntank. The full weight of its was momentum behind it, driving right into Skuntank and sending it flying through the air.
Staravia wasn't done, however, after it landed the attack it pulled up from the floor and continued its speedy dash towards Skuntank and sent it flying right into the wall behind Jupiter, only to find itself crashing into the floor a few minutes later, exhausted, and unconscious.
Sam gritted his teeth as Staravia hit the floor as well, strained from exhaustion. It had worked hard and had beat Skuntank, but not without a price. Sam would never forget his Pokémon's hard work today.
"Return Staravia!" cried Sam, "Thank you for everything, friend."
Sam then turned back to Prinplup. "Prinplup, go after Zubat with your Metal Claw!"
There was a pause, and nothing happened.
"Prinplup!" cried Sam again, incase his Pokémon didn't hear him. But still nothing. Sam tried to call again, and finally something emerged from the now dissipating clouds of dust.
But it wasn't Prinplup that emerged, but instead a mighty Empoleon lunged itself towards Zubat, prepping a Metal Claw.
Jupiter, though shocked at the sudden evolution undergone by Prinplup, reacted at a speed so fast that Niya would've been proud, as it was something she was trying to teach Sam and Alyssandra constantly.
"Zubat pull back a bit! You're faster than it and its larger and heavier now! It's still getting used to its body!" cried Jupiter.
And she was right, Sam knew. He hadn't calculated an evolution, but he wasn't concerned. Smiling, Sam called out his next move.
"You may not be used to your new body, but I'm sure you remember your old moves!" he smiled, "Bubble Beam!"
Zubat couldn't pull back far enough to dodge the Bubble Beam, as the mass of bubbles dashed towards it and sent the Pokémon flying back against the same wall that had taken down Skuntank.
Sam's Empoleon landed on the ground, majestic and proud, basking in the glory of its victory while its shiny, metal armor glistened in the light that poured from the windows.
"I know there's no good and evil in your books," started Sam, "But there are definitely winners and losers; you have to admit that at least."
Jupiter stared long and hard at Sam, still taking in her defeat, but not betraying her cool, collected nature. Calmly she recalled her Pokémon, but a small smirk appeared on her face as the room started to shake.
Moments later a large helicopter with a stylized yellow G emblazoned on it leveled to the floor.
"Stop playing around, Jupiter!" called Mars, "I've got everything done you asked me too! Everything's safe and on the way to HQ! Come on, let's go!"
Jupiter looked back at Sam with a wicked smile. "Are there?" asked Jupiter finally before running towards the window.
Sam tried to stop her but knew better than to put that much strain on Empoleon. There would be other chances, and future battles, as much as Sam hated to admit it.
"Good bye, Sam of Twinleaf Town," called Jupiter from the helicopter, "I'm sure we'll meet again!"
And with that she was gone in seconds, disappearing on the horizon along with Sam's anger.
Sam looked down at Empoleon with a wide grin. "You did great," he beamed, "Now come on, let's get going!"
Sam ran back down the stairs, leading himself back to the room where all the cells had been. They were empty, and the doors were open; Sam could only hope that Looker got to them before Charon did, but when he stumbled out into the back alley, he was relieved to see everyone and their Pokémon reuniting slowly and adjusting to their newfound freedom.
Many were thanking Looker, Gardenia, Alyssandra and Jeremy, who stood at the Centre, while Nurse Joy was looking at Niya. She was scratched, her hair was messy, and her nose was bleeding. A bruise appeared under her left eye—it must have come to blows in that elevator, and somehow the thought of Niya in a fistfight with Mars made Sam smile.
"We did it," said Jeremy, appearing almost out of nowhere, Alyssandra close behind.
Sam smiled and clapped his friends on the shoulder. "I know," he said softly, exhausted from his battle, "Again!"
The three of them laughed and were soon joined by a bandaged and cared for Niya. "We seriously should just make a career out of this," she added, "Though Looker would be out of a job if we did."
Another laugh.
Everything was back to normal.
"You did good, kids," smiled Looker as he joined them, "You stopped Team Galactic, freed the people and kicked some Commander ass if I do say so myself."
"Where's Gardenia?" asked Jeremy looking around the crowd of people for any sight of her.
"She went back to the Gym," explained Looker, "She needed to get back to the Trainers in hiding there."
"You know, the only down side is they got away again, with all of their research and plans," sighed Sam, "Otherwise it was a flawless rescue."
"Look at this way," added Alyssandra cheerfully, "We got Team Galactic out of her earlier than they wanted, saved the town and its Pokémon, and we showed them that we're still better than them. Plus, we're all safe, and Team Galactic got nothing from the park."
Sam smiled, yes that was a good thing, and not to mention his Prinplup had evolved into an Empoleon.
Suddenly Sam felt a tug at his sleeve and turned around to see an old woman with long grey hair that was tied back tightly into a bun.
"Excuse me, young man," she said gently, "I just wanted to thank you for defeating Team Galactic, I already thanked your friends, but only that girl there would take my kind of thanks."
Sam looked at Alyssandra, and she showed him two Poké Balls in her hand. "A Munchlax," she said, "Though I found an injured Togekiss in their labs—I caught that one inside, it was so thankful that I saved it…I just couldn't leave it behind."
Sam smiled softly, loving Alyssandra's warm-hearted nature. "The boy didn't want any Pokémon and the other girl said she wasn't catching any," continued the old woman, "But I know you're a Trainer, and I don't have much to give you but this."
The old woman handed him a large object, egg shaped and coloured brown and white. The patterning was beautiful, but the egg was heavier than expected, causing Sam to stumble a bit as he took it from the woman.
"I take care of stray Pokémon, and one day I found this egg out in the alleyway near my house," said the woman, "But I have no time or strength anymore to take care of all the Pokémon I bring in, so I do my best to try and find them homes with Trainers who will see to their proper care. I know Munchlax and this egg will fare well with both of you."
Sam smiled down at the old woman. "Thank you very much," he said gratefully, "I'll take extra care of it."
The women smiled before returning to a small litter of Meowth that couldn't have been older than hatchlings.
Sam, with the egg carefully in his arms, turned back to his friends. "Celebration dinner, then?" he asked, "Looker would you like to join us?"
Looker paused, debating his answer, then finally responding with a smile. "Reports can wait," he said cheerily, "I suppose a bit of celebrating is in order after today."
As the group began their walk back towards the heart of the city, Sam's friends replied enthusiastically, demanding yakiniku this time. To which Sam happily obliged. And finally, that day, the shame of losing at the Valley Windworks was gone…but the words of Jupiter stuck to his mind, about peace and progress.
Now Sam couldn't help but wonder, what were Team Galactic plans, and how did they intend to achieve their goals?
For now, Sam could only wonder, and worry.
