Michael arrived to the Cave Spot to find that two people were already there. Each had strangely colored glasses and blond hair. One of them had a hat, the other had a blue tank top.

"What do you figure the boss is going to do now? I'm tired of this life, man. I need to put down roots somewhere."

"Eh, don't whine to much. You know what the boss always says. He'll get Team Miror B. together one day, and we'll own all the Pokemon in the world!"

The man with the tank top looked down at the empty Spot plate. "Sure…do you really think we could pull off something like…"

"What's going on over here?"

The man with the hat turned around as Michael approached. "Wah! Boss?! …Oh, whew, it's just some kid. Don't sneak up on me like that!"

The other man turned to him. "Don't be so jumpy, I've got my radar. We'll know if the boss is coming around."

"Uh…Yeah, that's true. Hehehe."

Just then the three heard a beeping noise.

"What was that?" Michael asked.

The man with the tank top took something out of his pocket. "The Radar's got something! It's the boos! Miror B.!"

"Who on earth are you talking about?" Michael asked.

The man with the had put a radio down and started playing music. They both men turned in Michael's direction. He gave them an odd look before looking behind him. A tall man dressed in purple and a very large afro, half red half white moonwalked into the area.

Michael just stared at him awkwardly. The other two seemed nervous.

"Fuhohoho! Hey, my posse! Have you rounded up Pokemon like I wanted?" The man asked, dancing in place.

"Who are you, and why are you out in public like that?" Michael asked.

"Hm? Stop the music!"

The radio was turned off.

The man turned to Michael.

"Sniff…Oh, oh, oh! I sense the pleasing scent of Pokemon, oh yes I do! Maybe you're just a little hood, but maybe you're also one fine Trainer with the goods?"

"I only got about five words out of those last two sentences." Michael replied.

"How about you get with it and join my posse? Be one of us, and soon you'll be owning all the Pokemon around the world."

"Pass. I'm told not to hang out with strangers. Or you know, crazy people."

"Fuhohoho! I thought you'd say that! You always had this smell to me, you see, that you would be our enemy. How I deal with a threat is to it while it's a bud yet. Fuhohoho! I'll be showing you my power now. Try not to be blown away by a sense of wow! Let the music play!"


Nett never left his computer.

"Tch. Cipher stepped up their game. This is tougher than I though."

"Maybe you should take a break." Bitt suggested.

"I can't. Every second I waste is a second that Cipher could be using to hurt people and Pokemon."

"Nice Wes, impression."

"Do I sound like him?" Nett asked. "I-

Something came up on the screen.

"Hold on, I got something…Oh, no…"

"What is it?"

Bitt looked at the computer in horror.

"We need to call Michael! Now!"


Mirror B. stumbled back.

"Oh, you, you, you! You make me so angry I'm seeing red! Don't you dare think this is over! Jus you wait and see! One of these days, with my elegant steps I'll knock you sideways!"

He then turned to his allies. "Let's go! Escape!"

Michel looked at the Shadow Voltorb he snagged.

"Weirdest, battle ever. He didn't seem to be with Cipher. Wonder how he got this Shadow Pokemon…Oh, well."

He walked over to the plate and put the last three snacks down.

"There! Guess I'll just head home and check on the Purification Chamber."

As he turned around to leave he saw something on the floor. "What's this?" He picked it up. A slip of paper was attached.

To Trudly, this is how the radar works. When you're finished reading, get rid of this. This radar shows you where the boss—that's Miror B. That's the boss—happens to be. Wherever the boss appears somewhere, a mark appears on the screen. When you see the mark, check out the radar. It'll tell you where he is. You'll probably ask me where the boss is when he's not on radar. You know how mysterious he can be. Who knows where he goes off to? Probably off getting Pokemon or something. Somewhere far away, out of the transmitters range.

From Folly

"Huh…must have dropped it. Guess I'll keep it. He may have more Shadow Pokemon." As he put it away he heard his P*DA go off. "Huh? What now?" He asked pulling up his mail. "A message from Nett?"

Michael! I haven't completed analysis on the data ROM, but I did make a stunning discovery about Cipher's plan. Please come right away—we need to discuss this in person.

"Okay then…Wonder what that's all about."


Megg hummed to herself at her desk.

"Shroo."

"Aw, what's the matter Shroomish? Worried about Cipher? Don't be! We'll take them down, even if Wes isn't here this time! Though I do wish I knew where he was when we needed him. He could at least answer our messages."

"AAAAAH!" The man guarding the building was flung inside. He bounced off the desk and hit the floor. Meeg looked up at the entrance in sock as Cipher Peon stormed their way in and surrounded her.

A man walked in with them. "My ears are burning. Did someone mention me?"

Megg gasped. "You!"

"Long time no see Megg."


Michael walked inside town. "I wonder what Nett found." He hurried over to the ONBS building and found it unguarded. "Huh? Where's that bulky guy that keeps watch?" As soon as the doors opened, he found the man in question on the floor.

"*Groann*"

Michael hurried to his side. "What happened here!? Are you alright?!"

"…There's bad trouble…A bunch of shady characters snuck in and took Megg, the receptionist, hostage. *Groan*…Cough! Cough!"

"Cipher…" Michael growled.

"That guy leading them…he's too strong…"

"Leading them?"

"Yeah…that guy on the news…Wes…"

Michael looked up ahead with a glare. "So, the importer decided to show himself. This is it then."


Inside his office Nett and Bitt stood facing the leader of Cipher and a tall bulk Cipher member. The ladder held Meggs's hands behind her back. "Don't make this hard." The leader said. "All we want is the data ROM. I know you can easily decipher it. You're the best data analysis I've ever known. And I can't have you uncovering our secrets."

Nett growled as he walked to his computer. "…All right. Keep your hands off my sister. The data Rom is right here…"

"Good. Toss it over and we'll release Megg and be off without hurting anyone. You have my word." Nett tossed it into his hand. He pocketed it as he turned to the man next to him. "Let her go."

As soon as Megg was released she ran over to Nett. "Nett!"

"Megg, are you alright?"

"Hey you creep…"

Secc, holding his side stumbled into the room. Nett looked over to him. "Secc!"

"Hmph. I'm surprised you can still walk." The leader said. "You've gotten tougher since we last met."

"Stop acting like you know me…you, lousy impersonator…you tricked others into blaming Wes before, Fein…but I'm not falling for it!"

"You think I'm that impostor?"

"We don't think." Nett replied. "We know!"

"Why don't you cut the act and stop embarrassing yourself, you, fraud!" Bitt demanded. "Wes is a better man than you'll ever be!"

"Heh, heh, heh, heh…Ha, ha, ha, ha!"

"W-what's so funny?" Megg asked.

"You kids…still as naïve as ever."

"Who are you calling naïve, you fake?" Secc growled.

The man took out two Pokeballs. "Do these look fake to you?!" He threw them to his side and they burst open. To everyone's shock they saw Umbreon a Espeon.

Megg was flabbergasted. "What? Umbreon…? Espeon…? Why are Wes's Pokemon…?"

"Not simply my Pokemon." The man replied. "My partners."

"No…" Secc gaped. "It can't be…you stole them from Wes! I know you did!"

"Even if someone did steal them, do you think they would take orders from anyone else? You know these two well. You first met them in the Under…"

Everyone looked at the man in shock. "What…? How do you know that?!" Nett asked.

"I was there. Megg…you were patting Espeon on the head…Bitt…you were staring at Umbreon in the face, waiting for some kind of reaction. Rui found it funny to watch."

The room fell silent. "Wes…?" Nett finally asked. "Is that really you?"

The man still wore his shades over his eyes. "A shame our reunion had to go this way. Nothing personal."

"It can't be…Wes, this is just a joke, right?" Secc asked.

Wes turned to the Cipher commander next to him. "We're done here."

"Yes, sir!"

"Wes, wait!" Bitt yelled. "Why are you doing this!? We all worked so hard to take Cipher down together! And now you're rebuilding it and continuing the Shadow Pokemon plan you swore to destroy?! What's gotten into you?!"

"It needs to be done. Like I said, nothing personal."

"Wes, stop this!" Megg cried. "Does Rui even know you're doing this?! What do you think she'd say if she saw you right now?!"

Wes went silent for a moment. He then took his first step towards the door. "We're leaving." He then stopped and turned back to Nett. "Oh, by the way, knowing you, you probably took the liberty of copying the data on the ROM in case something happened to it, right?"

Nett didn't answer at first.

"You don't have to say anything. It doesn't matter now."

"What do you mean?"

Suddenly the monitor behind Nett turned on. Everyone looked at it as it displayed a Cipher Peon. "Master, Wes! We've finished completely scrubbing data from ONBS's servers. It's all gone sir."

Nett was taken aback. "W-what?!"

"Tell everyone to move out." Wes ordered.

"Yes, sir!" The monitor shut off.

"Hey!"

Everyone looked at the door to see Michael barge in. He immediately saw the injured Secc to his right. "Secc! Are you okay?!"

"Ngh! Never mind me…Michael this guy…He's not an impostor after all! He's the real Wes!"

The boy turned to the leader. "What?!"

"I thought I told you to stay out of our way." Wes said.

"I'm not letting you harm anymore people or Pokemon!" Michael, replied, stepping forward.

"Hmph. I don't have time for this kid. Step aside. Now."

"Not happening."

"You asked for it."

Umbreon and Espeon stepped towards Michael. Suddenly everyone heard a ringing sound. "What now?" Wes growled opening up his P*DA. After a few seconds of reading he snarled. "Snattle, you idiot. I told you not to act until I gave the order."

The commander turned to him. "Sir?"

"Deal with this. The invasion force bit off more than they could chew. I've got to go back up Snattle's operation before the outside world finds out what he's doing."

Wes slowly walked away. His Pokemon followed close behind. He stopped when he was standing next to Michael. "Tell me something. Why are you so eager to be what I once was? What people call a "Hero"?"

Michael wanted to answer. But he didn't know how. "I…I…"

"Hmph. So, you don't even know. For all you know, being a hero might not even be worth it. Think about it."

"Worth what?"

Wes walked towards the door.

"Hey!" Michael turned around to stop him, but a Pokeball flew over him and landed between him and Wes. A Laudred came out blocking Michael. He turned around to see the Cipher commander with a Girafarig.

"You've got your own problems kid!"

As Wes walked to the door Secc stood up. "What is wrong with you?! After everything we've done you started turning Pokemon into Shadow Pokemon against their will?! You destroyed everything we've accomplished and betrayed all of our trust! Dose that mean nothing to you?!"

Wes stood there for a second before pushing Secc out of the way. But then Secc grabbed his shoulder. "Hey, listen to me!"

Wes grabbed his, arm and threw Secc into the desk with a loud crash. Megg, Bitt and Nett rushed to his side. "Secc, are you alright?!" Bitt asked.

"W…Wes…Why…"

Michael watched as Wes and his Pokemon left. He looked back at the Cipher commander and took a Pokeball in each hand. "We don't have time for this…Jolteon! Ledian!" His two fully evolved Pokemon appeared. "Ledian, Comet Punch! Jolteon, Bite!"

The electric Pokemon bit Gerafarig and Ledian punched the Loudred. The ladder stumbled back, the former flinched.

"Oh, is that how it's gonna be kid?" the commander "Fine! Loudred! Stomp!"

The Pokemon leapt into the air and came down towards the Ledian.

"Dodge!" On Michael's command it flew out of the way. "Brick Break!" It flew into the Loudred with a chop, that knocked it out.

"What?! Grrr…Fine than! Riachu!" An electric Pokemon came out next.

"Ledian, return!" Michael ordered. "You won't last long against a electric type!" The Pokemon returned to it's Pokeball. "Teddiursa!" The bear Pokemon emerged. "Jolteon, Thundershock!"

With a blast of lightning, the Gerafarig was knocked out.

"Why you little…! Mawile!" The commander's last Pokemon came out. As soon as it emerged Michael's Aura Reeder activated.

"Oh! A Shadow Pokemon!"

"That's right shorty! Now slam that Jolteon with Shadow Rush!" The Pokemon rammed into the Jolteon knocking it back.

"Riachu, Seismic Toss on Teddiursa!" Riachu bolted over to Teddiursa and threw it into the ceiling. It came down to the ground with a loud bang.

"Hah! Had enough yet?"

"Hardly. Come on guys! Let's show him how it's done!"

Jolteon and Teddiursa got back up.

"Jolteon, Bite!" The Pokemon bit Riachu on the arm. "Now, Teddiursa, Fury Swipes!" The bear rushed up to Riachu and slashed it with it's claws five times. The Riachu collapsed onto the ground. "Now for the Shadow Pokemon! Thundershock and Return!"

The thunderbolt, hit Mawile in the face. It slid backwards and looked up just in time to see Teddiursa ram it's paw into it. Mawile hunched forward as Michael put a Great Ball into the Snag Machine. "Now, go! Snag Ball!" The Great Ball snatched up the Mewile. It vibrated three times and clicked. "Gottcha!"

The commander was in disbelief. "Gwaah! Are you some kind of a battling pro?! Drat! I didn't see this coming. But we've got what we came for. I don't need to stick around while Master Wes has the data ROM. Adios!" With that he ran out of the room.

Michael looked over to the desk to see Nett and Bitt helping Secc into the chair. "Are you guys alright?"

"No…" Secc frowned. "Wes…how could he do this…?"

"What makes you think it's really him?"

"Umbreon and Espeon." Nett replied. "Those were Wes's most trusted Pokemon…they're practically family to him…"

"Oh…"

The room fell silent again.

"Maybe our friend really is gone." Secc sighed.

Michael watched the others look down. "So that's it? You're giving up on him just like that?"

"What do you expect us to do?" Bitt asked. "He brought Cipher back and is terrorizing Orre. He's not the man we once knew anymore."

"You can't say that! You can't mean that! The Wes you knew is in there! You have to believe in him!"

"Believe? Michael, did we all not just see what he did?" Nett retorted. "The Wes we once knew would dive off a cliff before he took Megg hostage or throw Secc into a desk!"

"We don't want to give up on him!" Megg added. "But do you really think we can believe in him after this?"

"Why not? Eagun still believes in him. And he didn't even know about your imposter theory!"

Everyone turned to Michael in surprise. "What?" Secc asked.

"Look, I won't pretend, that I know Wes better than any of you. I was as devastated as you guys when I first saw him. So, I went to talk to Eagun and he said despite all of this he knows Wes wouldn't do it without a good reason! And I believe him because he was Wes's friend!" Everyone was shocked into silence as Michael continued. "He knows that Wes is still a good guy. And I know he still is a hero. And if you guys really were-Are his friends, then deep down, you do too!"

Nett and Megg looked at each other. Bitt stared at the floor.

"He's right." Everyone watched Secc stand up. "Wes is our friend. We have to have faith in him. He always believed in us…now it's our turn to believe in him!"

The others smiled.

"That's true…" Megg said. "He has his reasons. Maybe if we stop Cipher he'll be back to the guy who wanted to help Pokemon!"

"I doubted him before…" Bitt admitted. "But I was wrong. I'm not about to make that mistake twice!"

"You're right Michael. We know him better than you." Nett stated. "So, if you have faith in him, then I'd be a really miserable friend if I didn't as well."

"Then let's get to it!" Secc smiled. "For Orre and Wes! We'll defeat Cipher again and take our friend back!"

"YEAH!"

Michael smiled as their spirits were raised. "So, what now?"

"Not all the data analysis was finished…" Nett said. "Wes was a step ahead of us. Still, from what we did manage to decrypt, a part od Cipher's criminal plans became clear. For instance, Cipher was behind the disappearance of that cargo ship, the S.S. Libra. There's more Cipher is planning a major attack on Phenac City."

Megg turned to her brother. "Oh, no, Nett! Is that true? Marcia's gone off to Phenac City! She said she was going to investigate why the town's communication systems are down."

"What?! Cipher could attack at any minute!" Bitt exclaimed.

"Michael, we need your help. Please, could you inform the Mayor of Phenac City about Cipher's coming to attack?" Nett said.

"Say no more!" Michael replied. "I'll head over there now!"

"Phenac is east from here. Let them know about Cipher's attack plan as soon as possible."

"Right!" Michael turned around and went for the door.

"Michael!" He turned around to the sound of Secc's voice. "Thanks…Really…we needed to hear that."

Michael smiled back. "That's what friends are for right?"

Nett waited for Michael to leave before he spoke. "Said like Wes and Rui would."


Michael pulled up in front of the city. "Wow…this place is beautiful…" He noticed the fountain in front of the plaza. "That's…!" The image of Eagun's photo flashed into his head. He closed his eyes briefly. "I promise you all…I'll get Wes back to normal and stop Cipher for good!"


If anyone is wondering what the point of bringing up Fein was, I figured the Grid Kids would suspect he returned more then they would suspect that Wes really was evil. But I wonder how many readers actually thought it was Fein. Either way, we've got a bit of a time skip next part, so see you in two weeks.

P.S. To ShadowFan: Thank you for your review. Michael will continue to develop as he learns more of the situation, and I hope it interests you as the story goes on.