Sorry I'm late, but I'm back and with a vengeance! Stinkin' school takes up too much of my time! And I had to organize my thoughts down on paper, so there was that. And thunderstorms, and failing internet... It was a grand old time!

Special thanks to japaneserockergirl, whom gave me a lot of inspiration to work hard and do my best!

Other thanks to chacha and PikaLover, and Kira too! Don't worry, any questions you guys have will hopefully be answered in later chapters.

Oh! I can't forget the alerts and favs I've received, too. Thanks so much everyone! Hope you like this chap too.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon, otherwise I'd make this canon. Or I'd just use the money I made from it to take over the world or create artificial pokemon life forms, which I'd then use to take over the world.


As Jason and I continued towards HQ on Braviary I gave a quick scan over the building. The outline of it just beginning to show up with the rays of sunlight that were stretching out all across the ground as the sun slowly made its way over the horizon.

I felt my heart being warmed just by looking at it. HQ was more than a base of operations for me. It was also my home where I had made my new family. There was a sudden blur that shot up from the top of the roof and made its way towards us. Braviary let out a squawk of alarm as did Jason.

"What's that!" he cried. I rolled my eyes and bopped him on the back of his head, causing him to let out a cry of pain. He turned around to give me a questioning look as he rubbed where I had hit him.

"Relax. It's just patrol, they're going to check us out to make sure we're not intruders or anything," I explained. Jason let out an 'oh' of understanding and turned back around to face the incoming person, although he was sitting a little stiffly.

I let out an amused chuckle. Jason really was a newbie, wasn't he? He'll get used to it.

The oncoming person was finally close enough so that I could see they were riding a female unfezant, and when they got closer I was able to make out their face.

I cupped my hands over my mouth so that my voice could carry across just a bit better. "Hey, Liza! Is that you?"

Said person sat up straighter on her unfezant in surprise. "Kyra?" she called back inquisitively. I gave her a half-wave in acknowledgment, to which she bent down to tell Unfezant something. Unfezant gave a cry of assent, and after a burst of speed swooped down and back up so that she was flying parallel to us.

"You surprised me, Kyra," Liza stated, after Unfezant leveled out. "So I take it the mission was successful? Although...I thought you wouldn't be back for at least another day or two. And I thought you were by yourself so why's the newbie with you?"

"I have a name, you know!" Jason protested, but Liza just ignored him as she focused her attention on me.

Up close, I could get a really good look at Liza. She was of African descent, and while her brown skin and dark hair fit the description, her green eyes were a mystery. I'm not sure whom she got them from seeing as how she said both her parents and grandparents had brown eyes, but it didn't really matter seeing as how she would be pretty either way.

Liza, besides Sai and Tory, was my best friend, and although my going on missions limited how much time we spent together, we still managed to maintain our relationship. Although right now I could see some really dark bags under Liza's eyes. How had she ended up doing the grave-yard shift anyways?

"Well, I ran into him along the way, and he ended up being much more trouble than he was worth," I rolled my eyes and Liza smiled at me tiredly. Jason opened his mouth to protest but I silenced him by digging my fingers into his shoulder.

"You know, there was a rumor going around that the newbie got cold feet and ran off," Liza glanced over Jason, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "but who would've thought that he'd follow you all the way to Striaton? Pretty suspicious don't you think?"

I scoffed, "Hardly. This idiot only followed me cause he wanted a battle. Really, I could have killed him on accident if he hadn't stopped me in time." I shot him a glare, "Once we get inside I'm turning him over to Tree so that he can be properly punished...What?" I gave Liza a quizzical look at the odd smile she was throwing at me.

"Oh, nothing, nothing," she waved an arm at me dismissively, but the smile was still on her face. "Let's just get you inside to see Tree. He'll want to hear about how your mission went." She glanced vat the lillipup I was holding in my arms. "And I'm sure the little guy wants to see his family."

O O O

If I could describe HQ it would have a very college-like feel to it. The style of the building was based on the Victorian era, although the building itself was not that old. It was a large building that was secluded deep in Pinwheel Forest, which helped keep the building secret and hard to find.

Even though HQ was surrounded by thick foliage and overgrowth, the gardners made sure to keep them from overrunning the building since both people and pokemon lived inside, and I'm sure having poison ivy growing in your bed would not be a very pleasant experience. But that's just me.

There were three floors to the building, each floor serving its own purpose.

The first floor was more for recreation and business than anything else. In the center of the building was a large spiral staircase of which it what possible to get to any floor. In the middle of the staircase was a large statue of the Tao Trio: Reshiram on the left, Kyurem in the middle, and Zekrom on the right. It was tall enough so that the top if it just barely touched the ceiling of the topmost floor, which was the third floor.

Tree had an odd fascination with the legends and myths surrounding the trio and spent a lot of his time investigating them. His interest in them became much more magnified when that incident a couple years ago occurred over in the Pokemon League. Not much is known about what happened, but Tree was able to find out that both Reshiram and Zekrom had made an appearance and had bonded with their own heroes and were currently with them. Although, who those heroes are exactly is still a mystery.

Tree's office and room were located in the southeast part of the building. He spent a lot of time in there doing business and just resting as he was getting in his years, but no one knew his actual age. In the northeast part of the building was the mess hall and the kitchen where food was always available as many people were coming and going from missions.

The kitchen staff had a ready supply of food as the storage room was connected right to it and ran along the north side of the building. Then there was the greenhouse, which was connected to the east side of the building and had all kinds of berries growing in it. Tory loved hanging out in there, much to the displeasure of the gardeners and kitchen staff as he always ate the good stuff. I wonder how they'll react now that Tory's evolved...I'll just have to wait and see.

On the west side of the building was our own pokemon center, Nurse Joy and all. Nurse Joy had a full-time job managing the center as a lot of people and pokemon came back from missions hurt. She was someone who commanded my full respect, because she always managed to keep a smile on her face and kept cool under pressure. Also because she had this side to her that no one ever wanted to see. I still feel bad for the poor guy who ended up taking the full brunt of her wrath, he's still recovering in the hospital.

Just south of the center is the lobby, where our clients can hang out while their requests are processed by Tree's secretary, Sally, whose desk is located just in front of the his office. She's a nice gal, but she can be just a little on the stressed side. Her cinccino helps keep her organized, which he loves, and in turn helps keeps Sally more relaxed. They're a great match for each other.

On the second floor, there wasn't much but the dorms where people slept. The girls' dorm was on the west side, while the boys' was on the east side. Tree's hope was that both groups would follow his rules and not go into the opposite sex's rooms, but of course there was always those few that just can't handle staying away from the other. Tree never really punished them unless people started complaining, but even then the punishments were always lenient. Tree wasn't a cruel and merciless man.

Then on the third floor, we had our intelligence center on the west side, with the server room just south of it. This was were we did the brunt of our investigating. We kept all of our records in the room to the north of the intel center, which was kept under constant lock-down and surveillance. This is where the term 'Only Authorized Personnel Allowed' comes into play. Besides Tree, only myself and the three group leaders of each division were allowed in the room as it held confidential information on past clients and cases, and even information on members of the organization as well.

On the east side there were two conference rooms where meetings were usually held. That was it, really. Then there was just a set of stairs that led up to the roof, which was flat and allowed it to be used as a landing pad for both helicopters and incoming flying type users.

This was where we had to enter the building from, seeing as how it would be really difficult to fly in through the treetops.

And so, after walking Jason and I to the part of the roof leading to the stairs, Liza bid us good-bye and returned to sentry duty while letting out little giggles. I sighed, annoyed. She was taking this too far...

While I mentally cursed Liza, Jason recalled Braviary and opened the door leading to the staircase* seeing as how I was holding Lillipup. The click of the door opening brought my attention back to the situation at hand.

"So," Jason began, glancing at Lillipup who was still asleep in my arms, "Off to see Tree?"

"Yep," I replied curtly. Both of us just ended up standing at the landing awkwardly, as I was expecting Jason to go ahead first, and I guess Jason was expecting me to go first.

He glanced at me from out of the corner of his eye and offered me a nervous smile, "Ladies first?" I raised an eyebrow at him questioningly, hoping that he would get my silent command to go ahead.

Jason's smile dissipated so that his mouth formed a thin line, "I guess you want me to go first, then?" I gave him a curt nod. Jason sighed under his breath, but didn't make any attempt to budge from the spot he was currently occupying. After a few more awkward seconds of waiting I sighed in annoyance and spun on my heels so that I was now facing him.

"Just go already," I ordered. "What are you waiting for?"

"Well..." Jason scratched at the side of his face and stared down at the roof as though it were the most interesting thing in the world. "About Tree...you're not really going to tattle on me are you? I mean, no one got too badly hurt so we should just leave what's in the past in the past. Que sera, sera^, right?" He gave me a hopeful half-smile.

I smiled sweetly at him, "Now, where in the world did you get that idea from? Who said I'd tattle on you?" Jason's blue eyes widened in surprise.

"Eh? Well, I just thought...from what you said earlier that you'd y'know...tell him?"

"Now, Jason, there's a fine line between tattling and telling," I explained walking over so that Jason ended up between the opened staircase and I. Jason rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

"Yeah?" he inquired sarcastically. "I had no idea. Could you please enlighten me?"

"First off," I began, holding up a finger, "I'm not going to be tattling or telling. I'm not a five-year old." I held up another finger, "Secondly, reporting something is entirely different from tattling or telling. Third, technically I'm your superior, so I can do this. Fourth, you can't possibly hope to hide things from Tree. And fifth, one of us did end up getting severely injured."

"What are you talking about? Neither of us got hurt!" Jason retorted, exasperated and threw his arms up in the air for emphasis.

"And that's where you're wrong," I replied. Before Jason could let out another sound I rushed towards him, and shoved against his chest with my opened hand causing him to topple over backwards into the black hole that was the staircase. Then, I quickly ducked to avoid the outstretched hand Jason put out in order to grab onto something as he fell back.

When he just grabbed onto air, Jason's arms flailed around in a panic, and he let out a "Kyra!" before disappearing into the staircase. I cringed slightly at the number of dull thuds and grunts echoing throughout the passageway, and it was only when the noises stopped that I began descending down the stairs. After a few seconds of the sound of my footfalls on the steps a particularly shrill voice rang out from the bottom of the stairs.

"Kyra, dammit! You could have killed me!"

"But you didn't, so isn't that what matters? Que sera sera, right?" I heard Jason groan, but he didn't say anything more after that. I walked down a little faster and skipped some steps since I didn't exactly want him to die. Reaching for my belt, I grabbed Sai's pokeball.

"I'm gonna need your help, Sai," I whispered to the ball, bringing it up closer to my face.

O O O

"Come on, Kyra! I promise I'll be good if you let me go!" Jason whined. I just ignored him as I continued dragging him down the stairs, a dull thud resounding each time his bottom landed on the next step. He let out grunts each time he hit a step as well and I just ignored that as well.

I'd gotten Sai to wrap Jason up in some of her string shot, since I was pretty sure he'd run away if I didn't bring him to Tree myself. And so, I just considered it as a really heavy bag, and it was nice since Sai put some extra thread on there so I could just drag him. It was times like this that I wondered why Tory couldn't follow Sai's example and just be a little more willing to help me.

Lillipup had woken up during this time, and so he and Sai were now walking just a little before me, jumping steps one at a time due to their small sizes. It was actually really endearing to see them hop, stop and prepare, then hop once more. It was fairly easy to navigate the staircase even in the dead of night since there were little lanterns posted all across the stairs, and of which perfectly illuminated each step. I didn't realize that I was smiling until I heard Jason speak again.

"This is a cruel and unusual punishment!" Jason argued, trying to twist his body so that he could give me a glare, "Besides, I think I've suffered from enough pain today." That did it. I pulled him to an abrupt stop, causing him to cry out in surprise as he ended up sprawled on his back across the steps, and faced the large statue of the Tao Trio to try and keep from snapping.

Really...

"You know what, Jason, I've been really lenient about your punishment," I stated, feeling my face contort with annoyance and anger. "Besides that, you're not getting anywhere by whining like a child. Maybe if you acted a bit more mature and hadn't snuck out of HQ then you wouldn't be in this situation in the first place."

Jason's own face contorted with anger, and with a grunt he managed to pull himself up so that he was sitting upright. With a little bit of effort he turned around so that he was facing me. "And you know what, Kyra? Maybe if you stopped hurting me every two seconds I'd actually be able to hold a decent conversation with you. You shoved me down a frickin' flight of stairs! You need to take a good look at yourself before you start criticizing other people."

My mouth was slightly open out of shock. Was I really acting so self-centered? I mean, Jason was at fault for disobeying Tree's rules and following after me, but I guess I was taking it too far by hitting and hurting him so much. Shoving him down a flight of stairs wasn't very appropriate either. I don't know why I felt the need to hurt him so much.

Maybe it was just because he, unlike so many others, actually braved being near me. I didn't want to admit it, but maybe I was actually happy and excited? I don't know...Either way, I didn't get a chance to reply to Jason's statement before a voice called out from a floor above. Our little group was presently located on the second floor.

"Whoever's out there better prepare to be punished for breaking curfew!" the voice called out.

I glanced up just in time to see a head pop over the railing and shine a flashlight down at us. I put a hand up to block out the light, but before either Jason or I could say anything the voice let out a squawk of surprise and the beam of light from the flashlight shot around everywhere as its wielder shrunk back with surprise.

"Oh, Arceus! I'm so sorry, Kyra! I didn't realize it was you! I'll just leave you alone now so you can get on with your business!" The light disappeared and the sound of footsteps growing distant sounded out in the quiet atmosphere. "I apologize once more, Kyra!"

Our group remained in stunned silence for a few minutes as we just processed what had just happened. I sighed and rubbed at my eyes. It happened again...I was snapped out of my thoughts as Jason snickered, then burst into a fit of laughter.

"What?" I demanded, scrunching my brows together in confusion. Jason sighed and bent over so that he could rub at his eyes with his bound hands.

"Nothing, really," he sighed and looked up at me, "It's just that the rumors I've heard seem to be somewhat true."

"What rumors?" I questioned, grabbing a lock of my green hair and twirling it between my fingers absentmindedly. Of course I knew that there were rumors about me, but what they were exactly was still a mystery. Now was my chance to hear them.

Jason just leaned against the steps, "You gotta untie me first, before I say anything. I'm still a little angry, anyways." I sighed, but relented.

"All right," I addressed Sai now, "Sai, can you use your razor leaf to get him out of that?" Sai shot me an annoyed look.

"Se, wad, waddle!"

"I know I asked you to tie him up, but I'm asking you to untie him now," when she just maintained her annoyed look I decided to begin bargaining, a trait she'd developed from Tory. "Please, I'll get you five extra rawst berries if you do this for me!"

Sai's eyes lit up at the mention of rawst berries and so she ended up nodding in agreement and shot her razor leaf attack towards Jason, effectively slicing up the string shot encasing his torso and arms. Jason had shut his eyes in anticipation, but when he felt the thread fall away he brushed it off and stood up.

"All right," he glanced at me from out of the corner of his eyes, "let's get to Tree!" With that he began jumping down the steps, causing Lillipup to chase after him playfully and Sai to follow as well. I just stood there stunned for a second before growling and chasing after him.

"You said you'd tell me what those rumors were!" I called after him.

"I promised nothing of the sort, but I'll make a deal with you," Jason answered, " If you can beat me to Tree's office then I'll tell you, but if you don't then I don't tell you and you have to do me one favor no matter what it is. Does that sound fair?"

I grinned, "That's more than fair."

"All right then, if there won't be any grudges...Go!" Almost immediately I launched myself over the side of the railing so that I landed on the statue. I continued and began jumping down to side of the statue, eventually ending up on the first floor. Tree's office was now in my line of sight.

"Hey, that's cheating!"

"Sorry, Jason, but we never said we had to follow any rules. You've lost this race!" I answered back, but then cried out in surprise when I felt something gooey wrap itself around my ankles. I fell forwards and ended up sprawled across the floor. Groaning, and rubbing my chin which took most of the impact, I sat up and brought my legs forward to see what had made me trip. I was surprised to recognize it as string shot, which could have come from only one person around here.

When I glanced around the building I was even more surprised to see Jason standing leisurely in front of the door leading to Tree's office with Sai on one shoulder and Lillipup on the other. "Sai, you traitor!" Then I addressed Jason, "That's cheating isn't it?"

"Well, I'm sorry, but if I recall correctly I thought that we'd never said that we had to follow any rules." When I was unable to elicit a response, Jason just chuckled and rubbed Sai under her chin, causing her to purr and lean into his hand. "Besides, I promised Sai ten rawst berries if she helped me, so you can't really help it if you're upstaged in an offer. Oh, and don't forget you owe me a favor."

I groaned and hid my face into my hands. How could I lose to a newbie like Jason? How embarrassing...Not to mention that now I owed him a favor...

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a door opening, and when I looked up I saw that the door leading to Tree's office was now open and standing in the doorway was a middle-aged man, who was currently balding and greying and dressed in purrloin pjs.

"Tree...um...hi," I managed to stutter out, suddenly feeling very self-conscious.

"Kyra," his voice was just dripping with wisdom and when he turned to look at Jason, Jason stood up just a little bit straighter. Out of respect of fear I'll never know, but Tree was the kind of person who could make you either pee your pants or be the ultimate grandfather figure. "You're back...and with Jason. But...what are you two doing so late at night? You'll wake the whole building at this rate.

"I-I'm sorry," I stuttered, staring down at the ground and drawing circles with my index finger. "I guess we just got carried away."

"I apologize as well," Jason murmured, also staring down at the ground.

"Hmm..." I watched him from under my eyelashes as though I could hide under them, as Tree turned towards Jason. There was a strangle light in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared as he noticed Lillipup. "Oh, you've brought the little one back so soon. Our clients will be so very happy to learn that he's safe and sound. All right then you two, follow me. We've got some paperwork to fill out and a family to call."

"All right," Jason and I followed Tree into his office, and seeing as I was the last one in, I closed the door behind us, effectively separating ourselves from the outside world.


*You know how in cities stairs leading to the roof have a small structure surrounding it? Does anyone know what this part is called? I had some trouble with describing this and Google wasn't really helping me, so...I hope you still got the gist of what I was trying to say anyways.

^Que sera, sera literally means "what will be, will be".

Anyways, I don't know about you guys but I am so excited for Pokemon Black and White 2! They just released what the protagonists look like and I think they look pretty cool. I wonder what the storyline will be about though, and I wonder if older characters will reappear...

Well, I'll just have to wait until they release it in the US. It's times like this I wish that I could understand Japanese, or read it for that matter =_=' .

So...what did you guys think about the description of EARTH HQ? Did you guys like it, or was it just a waste of the story? I thought it'd help create somewhat of a visual for you guys.

I need some help to make a decision too. I might have either White or Black (The characters, I don't like calling them Hilda and Hilbert. Their names sound so old!) play a role in this story, and should they have Reshiram or Zekrom with them? I can't decide so I thought I'd see what you guys think.

Sorry if the end seems a little rushed, too. I was just trying to finish this as fast as I could and working on it when you're half-asleep isn't very productive either. Stupid need for sleep!

Anyways, please R&R! Let me know what you guys think! Or if you have questions, concerns or the like I'm all ears.