Note: Before getting started on this long overdue chapter I advise you re-read from the beginning. I've spent the last month re-writing to close up plot holes and to just make everything make more sense in terms of plot and relationships. Thank you!
It takes every inch of restraint for Moon to not forcibly wipe the smirk off his face so instead, she decides to lets go of his collar forcing a yelp to escape his lips as his chin hits the floor with a notable thump. Her hands run through her hair in aggravation, she needed Rotom here to go through the proper protocol, but with a blaring alarm, a haughty man, and a Pokemon she couldn't control she knew she was in a bit of a situation.
A chuckle brings Moon's attention back to Faba. "You're clever for squirming your way into Aether."
Her eyes narrow at the man, unsure of where he was going with that comment. "Faking to be an employee in enemy's base? That takes cunning" his voice was curious, but full of malicious intent. "So what are you really? A Police? A Detective?"
That was enough out of him.
"Shut up," Moon says sharply when she hears the door pull open and a red blur pass by her in an instant.
"Moon are you oka-"
"A fire alarm, really Agent?!" Rotom's scream overshadows Gladion's question until both of them notice the destroyed machine, the pinned down man, and an irritated Moon. But as they stood there dumbfounded, Moon finds it in herself to scoff at the situation. Her index finger taps Rotom on the screen as a smirk replaces the irritation.
"Seems like we finally have a lead, Rotom."
"Well this is unexpected..." Anabel's voice rings through the empty basement hall as she watches Looker escort Faba into the elevator. Handcuffs were tightly wrapped around the branch chief's hands, but the look of pride didn't waiver.
Gladion watches on with a stern look, Moon on the other hand responds to Anabel with a passive shrug as she makes her way back into the secret lab; Anabel now on her heels. "Did you notice anything odd while you made your way back here?" Moon asks, as she hesitates at the door, her eyes noticing Anabel's facade breaking.
"Wormholes, everywhere," Anabel whispers heavily before both their attentions were pulled towards Rotom floating towards them.
"Agent Sun is on the line."
His face was pressed too closely to the screen. "Which one of you is going to explain what's going on there?" Sun demands as the screen focuses into a clear view. There were Trial Captains standing behind him in the background. Worry clearly etched onto their faces as they glance between the screen and the wormholes.
Anabel looks over at Moon, silently requesting her testimonial.
"I found Lusamine's assistant. Tinkering with a machine. One thing led to another and a strange Pokemon—" a gasp escapes Moon as she turns and goes back into the lab.
Everything was caused by Faba messing with the Pokemon, Moon was sure of this as she walks into the room. She could feel the smoke make its way into her lungs as she flaps her hand in an attempt to not inhale the smoke, but it was useless. Damage had indeed been done, all the furniture and files had been burned by the exploding machine, and if anything was still intact, it was now soaked by the sprinklers. Luckily, Gladion said nothing of importance was kept in Lab A, once again thanks to Wicke giving all the information to Moon.
Moon approaches the machine and peeks into it. Rubble, dust, and something shiny. She reaches in to pull out a translucent orb encapsulated in a gold frame. The galaxy could still be seen. She holds it close as she comes out of the crime scene only to nearly bump into Anabel and Gladion. She looks up to them with newfound confusion, this was a link, it was only a matter of finding out what this Pokemon was.
Anabel reaches towards Rotom, "Agent Sun we'll call you back. We need to call Professor Burnet."
"Detective, I figured it would be a matter of time before you contacted me," the Professor says across the line. Moon and Gladion curiously watch on as they see the older woman fussing around a lab. "But I never thought it would come after the wormholes opened."
"This was out of our control and beyond our reasonable expectations, and we know you have circumstances that make it much harder to collaborate."
"Detective, I'm pregnant, not nailed down to a bed. Up until last week ago I was teaching in Kalos for Arceus sakes," the Professor sasses back, much to Anabel's disdain.
"You've given us information on wormholes, how they work, the dimensions they open and the catastrophic events that could potentially follow. We're launching preparations thanks to you," Anabel pauses, "but it seems we've run into something new."
Burnet's interest piques, "continue."
"Even if the research has been scarce, you've given us information on each Ultra Beast-to date."
Anabel gestures towards Moon, requesting for her to step forward.
"Professor," Moon begins, "we found this Pokemon in midst the rubble of the machine Faba used to open the wormholes."
Burnet's eyes grow wide almost immediately, as she snaps her head towards a nearby assistant.
"Open up the research on Solgaleo and Lunala, call the Kalos student. You three, come to Heahea, now."
"Agent Sun, you've been made aware of the steps needed to protect the region, correct?" Anabel asks as Sun nods fervently. "The Ultra Beasts most likely will come in hoards, it's up to you and the Captains to prepare and defend. Trials are over-this is the real deal now."
"Aye aye Detective," Sun says as the video call cuts short.
Rotom floats back towards Moon as Anabel looks at her with a concerned face. "I'm needed with Looker to extract information from Faba," Anabel announces. "Seems like he's harder to crack than expected. I need you to take lead- you and the President need to meet with the Professor about that Pokemon in your arms. Report back to us when you're done."
"Yes Detective," Moon replies as Gladion comes closer.
"Faba only gives when he can take-offer him Aether Paradise in exchange," Gladion says as Anabel looks at him in complete shock. "I figure he won't be released in time to claim his prize."
"Understood," Anabel says with a smirk, "I'll see you two soon."
Moon turns to look at Gladion with the utmost curiosity. "Cunning, you sure you don't want to join the International Police?"
Gladion chuckles pulling out his own ride pager, as he looks upwards towards the sky. "Pretty sure, I can only handle one mission like this in a lifetime."
When the two make it to Heahea they're immediately ushered inside by frantic employees. Words of it not being safe, and needing to keep the Cosmoem out of reach kept leaving their mouths with no explanation up until Professor Burnet welcomed them.
"I know, we don't have much time, but please make yourself at home."
When Moon and Gladion settle into her lab Burnet explains that in Moon's arms was a Cosmoem and that the other Ultra Beasts would ultimately be attracted to it and the energy it was emitting. While she was talking her assistants were running about, making public service announcements to stay home-to not try battling any Beasts that may cross their paths. No wonder the higher ranked International Police staff has worked so closely with her. "Sadly, I've only researched the Pokemon in theory and that was with a student in Kalos-I called her over so hopefully she'll be arriving soon, but she was fervently searching for information on this Pokemon a month or so ago."
"So is this an Ultra Beast?" Moon hesitantly asks, unsure if she was holding the key to stopping their problems or just another risk. "Yes and no," Burnet simply responds as she reaches forward to take the sleeping Pokemon in her own arms, slowly making her way to an incubator-like machine for it.
"You're from Alola, correct, President?" Burnet asks as she eyes Gladion, he nods in response. "Then you've heard the legends of Lunala and Solgaleo?"
"All children from this region have heard that tale," Gladion says stoically before realization dawns on him. "You don't mean-"
"Yes, Cosmoem turns into those very beasts, the beasts of fiction, that you could use to stop this madness."
Moon stands up in surprise from Burnet's news. "What do we need to do?" Moon asks almost desperately as Burnet simply shakes her head and makes her way to a nearby computer. A couple of taps later and on the wall there were two items on display.
"Well you have the first part-the Pokemon, but now you need the Sun Flute and the Moon Flute; artifacts no has seen in years."
Gladion's eyes widen, "I've seen those before in-"
"Mother's room," a voice calls from the entrance of the lab, a faint clicking sound on the tiled floor making their way towards the group of three before revealing a girl who almost looked exactly like Gladion.
"Long time no see, big brother."