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Chapter 38: The Search
It was an usually cold night at Lumious City and our duo of Frost and his 'Partner' Cynthia were investigating in the urban district for leads regarding a team Galactic hideout inside Lumious limits.
"Uhhhhhh we have been out here for more than 2 hours now and we haven't found a single Galactic grunt how are we supposed to find a whole hideout." complained Cynthia.
"Calm down Champion the chances of a hideout in the urban district where there are so many cameras are very low, we are just making sure." said Frost as he examined the map of the area on his Pokegear.
As Cynthia used her flash light to search the alleys as they walked through the streets she asked
"Still didn't you say that the industrial area is the ideal place to set up a hideout since it's on the outskirts of the city and has a lot of empty spaces available."
"True but it would be too obvious in that case don't you think they would expect us to check it first."
Cynthia had to agree on that and simply followed Frost's lead down the dimply lit alleys of the urban district.
After walking few steps in silence Cynthia added
"Don't you think we should check on the others to see if they found something."
"You can try but from what I grasp out of our situation Ember and Rain couldn't have found anything in the Industrial area." he replied almost immediately.
"What about Leaf and Stone's group they must have found something at the edge of the city in the borders or the forest."
"Nope, they messaged that they found nothing as well about 15 minutes ago." Frost countered making Cynthia sigh.
"It's like finding a needle in a haystack, but there is something I still don't understand?"
"And what would that be Champion?"
"What is Galactic a Sinnoh based organisation set up in Kalos which is so out of the way for them?" she asked seriously.
"It's simple really, you see since the downfall of Team Flare Kalos has become a 'NULL' zone."
"'NULL' zone?"
Frost smiled as he replied "It's a term we use to describe an area which is not under any Team or organisation."
"I see... so that is why Lumious was chosen as the venue for the 'Meeting of Champions'." Cynthia concluded.
"Precisely, we worked very hard to clear Lumious from Lysander's clutches and we sure as hell not gonna just hand it over to Galactic that is why it is important to find this base in this early stage." Frost confirmed.
The pair kept walking until they reached their final spot the newly re-opened D-Block of the urban district.
"This was the place that was destroyed completely in the Team Flare attack a few years back." Cynthia informed as they searched the area thoroughly.
After searching for another half hour or so the duo came at the conclusion that the urban district was clean and while walking back to their car which was parked in the opposite direction they came across an eerily quiet alley and all of a sudden Cynthia heard a noise which made her shriek and instinctively grab onto Frost's shoulder from behind.
Frost also went into high alert and pulled out a pistol from his suit jacket and pointed it in the direction of the sound and was ready to shoot.
Turns out it was just a Ratata that had come out of the sewer and tripped on a thrash can making the loud sound Cynthia heard.
"Arceus Champion don't scare me like that." Frost sighed deeply as he holstered the gun back in his suit jacket.
"Sorry about that." Cynthia apologised blushingly.
"It's fine, but we still need clues so let's head back to the mobile HQ and see if Spark and Lance have found anything on their end."
"Alright." Cynthia replied while composing herself.
They reached the car a black sedan shortly after to set out for the hotel but Cynthia pulled out a thermos and two disposable cups and served tea for both herself and Frost.
"It's cold out you know." she said as she handed Frost the cup.
Frost simply smelled the tea and asked
"When did you meet Rain?"
Cynthia was quite surprised by this "Just before we left she handed me these."
"Figures, as soon as I smelled this tea I knew it was Rain's." Frost replied pleasantly.
Although Cynthia didn't show it she was slightly annoyed by the closeness of both Rain and Frost.
As she was gonna ask regarding the same she was interupted by Frost's pokegear ringing.
"Sup?"
"Ember here, we found nothing in the industrial area and big sis is asking if you had any luck on your side?"
"Negative Ember and the same is with Stone's group." Frost informed.
"Dammit we need something."
"Yes and that is why we are regrouping back in the mobile HQ."
"Copy I'll inform Stone as well."
"Alright."
"So nothing from Rain and Ember's side as well?" asked Cynthia.
Frost just moved his head side to side as he turned the engine on.
"We need to get back the Hotel now, we need to figure this out fast." Frost said seriously as he started driving.
"Sorry if this too boring this is usually how it goes." Frost said to lighten the mood a bit.
"Are you kidding me." Cynthia said much to Frost's surprise "This is one of the most interesting days of my life, being Champion is fun and all but it's a very repetitive job and you tend to et bored very easily so a change like this is actually welcomed."
Frost stared at her for a good 2 seconds before turning his eyes back on the road "You Champions are a weird bunch you know." he added .
"You are one to say." Cynthia retorted.
Both of them shared a much needed laugh and soon reached the mobile HQ where all the other Ranger's and Champion's were present.
Frost took the lead and started.
"Well guys we need a new lead start so churning gears."
"Rain what happened in the industrial area?" asked Cynthia.
"As we said on the Phone, we checked over 20 warehouses and factories and none of them had any signs of recent Galactic activity." said Ember instead of a Rain who was quiet.
"Me and Steven also looked around the outskirts of the industrial area just to be sure and found nothing there." added Diantha who who was also part of their group.
Rain and Steven just nodded.
"Well as expected the industrial area was a bust they wouldn't be careless enough to set up there... what about you guys?" said Frost while pointing at Stone and Leaf's group.
"Well we initially suspected an old wood cutting factory near the forest but once we got there, not a soul was present." informed Leaf.
"I also checked in with the forest rangers just to be sure and they also didn't notice anything suspicious." added Stone while drinking a cup of coffee.
Frost then looked over to Alder and Ash as if asking them to add on.
"Well... me and old man Alder had our flying types scope the surrounding area also finding nothing of interest or anything unusual." said Ash.
Steven who was quiet raised his voice and asked "We are nowhere with this investigation as of right now."
"What about you guys anything in Urban Lumious?" aske Spark who was typing something on his laptop.
"Well me and Frost did check the entire area and also found nothing." said Cynthia as she was sitting closest to Frost who was standing along her directing the entire group.
"We even checked the new D-Block , nothing there as well." Frost said as if completing Cynthia's sentence.
"Well the D-Block was a no-brainer from the start." said Spark while not taking eyes of the screen.
"Why is that?" asked Lance who was sitting next to his escort watching his work very carefully.
"You see that block is a residential area so there isn't big enough open space or available for a base setup plus it's to expensive to stay there so financially it wouldn't be a good decision from Galactic." Spark clarified.
"What is so special about that place the houses seemed normal, nothing to over the top to be considered expensive." added Cynthia.
"Well the price is not for the appearance of the houses it' for what is under them." said Diantha obliviously knowing about her own regions economy pretty well.
"Correct Champion!" exclaimed Spark as he continued "Recently the students at the Lumious Technical Unversity developed a State of the art sewage system fully automated cleaning and maintenance."
"I won't go into the details but basically the sewer is robot cleaned so no human work is required."
This caused Cynthia's ears to perk up as she remembered something.
"So are they no human maintenance required for the robots well?" she asked Spark.
"No its not like that of course a little bit of human touch is required but for that there are access shafts in the edge of the area, I read about it just this evening." Spark said.
After hearing that Cynthia showed a wry smile to Frost who immediately remembered a certain incident that made him understand what Cynthia had realised as he said confidently
"Guys you better thank Cynthia as she just found where the hideout is."
All the eyes in the room except Frost and Cynthia's widened as Lance said
"Explanation?" as he looked at Frost.
But Frost immediately allowed Cynthia to take the lead on this which she did with a small smile on her face.
"Well as we were walking through the urban district we got surprised by a Ratata that had jumped out of a man hole." Although Cynthia explained this seriously internally she was blushing as she also remembered how she clung to Frost when it happened.
"A man hole that isn't supposed to be there." Frost reminded their audience.
The group collectively "oohh'd" and soon Spark went to work as he pulled the cctv footage of the D-Block.
"You are right there are man-holes there so it means..." he didn't even get to complete his sentence when Steven spoke up
"So lets just go get them."
"Nope for tonight this enough." Cut in Frost.
"But we know there location." Lance said supporting Steven.
"Yes true but that is all we know." Frost countered aggressively and added "we need more information Rain what happened about that shipping company?" he asked.
Rain spoke properly for the first time in this whole time as she said
"Their office is closed today so we will look into them first thing tomorrow when they open up."
"Alright then everyone rest for the night we are done here." Frost said.
"You guys did well on your first recon misson with us." Rain addressed the Champions.
"So we calling a pack up." asked Leaf who was already leaning on Sparks shoulder adjusting her one glove.
"Yes" confirmed Stone who finished his coffee and signalled Ash to get up.
Similarly Leaf and Ember did with their Champions.
"Let's go Steven I'll drop you to your room." said Ember.
"I don't need an escort to my room women." he said slightly annoyed.
"Oh don't be such a crybaby i just thought you needed someone after the match with Frost." Ember teased.
"Damn you women." he growled but then immediately said good night to everyone.
Soon only Rain, Cynthia,Diantha,Frost,Lance and Spark remained and Diantha asked Rain
"So are we leaving?"
"Just a minute Champion." replied Rain as if she was waiting for something to happen.
Soon when Frost could not hear Ember and Steven's voice in the distance he spoke.
"Alright, Spark order infiltration and recon equipment from the Kalos branch and tell them it's urgent so send it fast."
"Yes Leader." he replied instantly.
"Rain, I need you to wake up early tomorrow and get ready to deal with the shipping company, us two will be the only ones going there."
"Done." she replied.
"Wait I thought we were done for the night." interrupted Lance.
"Shh... Leader wanted to prepare for tomorrow so he just thinned the crowd a bit." Spark shushed him.
[Oh so that is why we waited.] thought Diantha.
Cynthia just stared at Frost.
Meanwhile Frost continued.
"Diantha!"
"Huh me?" Diantha pointed at herself.
"Yes I need you to use your authority as Champion to help get us permission to act within Lumious Limits if anything happens, talk to the mayor about it."
"You want operational authority right?"
"Yes." Frost replied.
"And Lance have you brought some of your G-Men with you?"
"How did you know?" Lance looked confused and surprised.
"Just answer the question." Frost said not wanting to waste time.
"Yes I have brought about 7 with me"
"Good Tell them to join the Rangers who are working as security to the Hotel if you have brought them with you just use them for something useful instead of making them spy on us." Frost said seriously and Lance understood as he saw Frost's eyes.
"Fine." Lance admitted defeat and immediately called someone on the phone arranging for the same.
"Anything else." Lance asked Frost who just shook his head sideways.
"No that's all sleep well everyone." he said as he signaled Cynthia to leave.
"Wait don't I get a task?" Cynthia asked Frost who was already halfway out of the room.
But in response Frost simply looked back and smiled before continuing his walk.
Cynthia followed shortly yelling "Not Fair you know." as Rain just smirked at this.
Author's Notes:-
Here you go another Chapter and a longer one this time hope you guys enjoy reading this, please leave reviews for the same or suggestions. You guys can also ask questions through PM's as I do answer them. Until Next Time
PEACE