"Quick Croagunk, we have to get there before something bad happens !" Looker shouted while running, even though Croagunk was faster than him.
"Croagunk !" the Pokémon replied angrily.
"Yea yea, I'm getting old, I know ! Wait, let's make a pause…" They stopped and Looker rested against a tree, panting. He wiped the sweat from his forehead while holding his right side with his left arm. Croagunk was hopping, pulling Looker's trench coat, impatient. "Oh come on, give me a break… I have a stitch…"
They were almost at Floaroma Town. Looker had got the information by one of his informants. Something was going to happen at the Valley Windworks, and the Team Galactic was involved. Wasting no more time, Looker ran to intercept them, but he wasn't used to running anymore. He had always been better in the field than behind a desk, but usually 'in the field' meant investigating quietly around some corpses, not running across the country like a Rapidash. He wasn't 20 years old anymore !
"Gunk, gunk !" Croagunk cried nervously. Looker sighed.
"Alright… I'm good. Let's go !" And they began running again.
Arriving at Floaroma Town, he didn't waste time admiring the wonderful flower fields but immediately caught the nearest citizen by the arm.
"Eh you ! Where is the Valley Windworks, quick !" he almost shouted.
"This… this way sir !" the young girl said, frightened. She indicated the East exit of the town.
"Thanks !" he replied, running again. He had to hurry, he was the only one who could stop the Team Galactic, or whoever it was, to commit crimes.
They were running on route 205, the Valley Windworks was in sight. But someone was coming in front of them. The comers were wearing the Team Galactic uniforms. Damn, was he too late ? Anyway, they were exiting the Valley Windworks, which means whatever they had done there was already done. The only thing to do know was not being seen. Being discovered now would be the worst scenario possible. He wouldn't be able to arrest them now, and they would know his face so he wouldn't be able to investigate on them anymore.
"This way Croagunk !" he whispered, and jumped behind the trees bordering the route. Fortunately, the comers weren't engaged in a conversation and didn't seem to have noticed them.
Indeed, these people were from the Team Galactic. Three of them were wearing the standard uniform. But there were also two others, whose uniforms were different. An old man with round little glasses and a receding hairline which he failed to hide had a laboratory coat over his gray spacesuit-like clothes, and a young woman with red hair and red eyes was wearing a uniform shaped like a short dress.
"That's the girl from the TV spot !" Looker thought, suddenly recognizing her. So she was involved in the criminal activities of the Team ? She seemed furious. She was stalking, hitting the ground with her heels and her fists were clenched.
"Hehehe, I wonder what the boss will think of your failure…" the old man said with a grin, rubbing his hands.
"Shut the hell up ! It wasn't a failure, you said it yourself, we've obtained enough power !" she answered, spitting the words.
"But losing to a brat… I didn't expect much of you anyway, but I didn't think you'd be so useless, hehehe." The old man seemed to enjoy nagging her.
"You could have given me a hand ! I don't know why the boss trust you this much, but to me you're the one who was useless !" she said, crossing her arms.
"We both had our missions, fighting wasn't mine," he replied, smiling widely. "My, my, what a hopeless girl you are… Fortunately the boss has me, the great genius, to compensate for your incompetence."
"You… If you say one more word, I kill you !" she shouted. "And if you dare talk about this to the boss, you're dead !"
"Sure, sure…"
"That brat… He's strong… I hadn't fought like that since a long time, surprisingly enough I enjoyed myself… But if he stands in the boss' way once more, he'll regret it, I swear !" This was the last thing Looker was able to hear before they were too far.
He waited one more minute hidden behind the trees, thinking. Apparently, someone had successfully stopped them, there at the Valley Windworks. But who ? And they have said that they had obtained enough power. But enough power for what ? What were they planning to do ? And the boss they were talking about, could it really be the young, boyish Saturn ?
Anyway, if he wanted to find out, he would have to find more clues. After making sure that the Team Galactic people were far away, he and Croagunk resumed their run to the Valley Windworks. As soon as they arrived in front of the building, a young boy came out. Looker recognized right away the red beret.
"Ah. It's you, Lucas !"
"Inspector ? What are you doing here ?" Lucas asked, surprised.
"I have heard that the Team Galactic appeared at this power plant. I have, therefore, come running ! But I just saw them running away."
"Yes, you're too late, sir… I've already defeated them."
"You have run them off, you say ? You're a trainer, but…" Looker scratched his head. So the brat they were talking about, it was the young Lucas ? His instinct had been right then, the boy was useful. "Did you discovered something about them ? Did you hear some names ?" Yes, the names were the most important.
"Yes sir, the red-haired girl is named Mars, and said she was one of the Team Galactic's four commanders. The other one's name is Charon."
"Charon, you say ? Of course…" Charon, the head scientist of Team Galactic. He must be a commander too, that was obvious. Why didn't he think about it earlier ? And this girl from TV, Mars, she was a commander… That was strange. Looker would have thought that for a mere TV spot, they would use a young hen who knew nothing about the activities of the Team. But it was true that this Mars girl had charisma. She could put it to good use via the TV propaganda. So, 'commander red' and 'commander gray' were discovered. Three of them left. That was a huge progress.
"They came to steal some power, didn't they ?" he continued. "Did they mention why ?"
"They said they want to create a new world, better than this one." Lucas said, thoughtful.
"Hum… Right, I already knew that. Very well ! You helped me well, young friend ! I shall go investigate inside !"
Without another word, he darted inside the building, followed by his Pokémon partner. The workers were still confused, recovering from the attack.
"Inspector Looker, International Police," he announced, showing his badge. "I'll have a few questions for you."
He spent some time listening to the workers' version of the facts. By doing this, he also checked that Lucas had told him the truth. And it seemed he had. Well, this boy definitely was reliable. He had just gained Looker's trust, and that was something !
"I'll need a list of the employees of the company," he said. "And also a list of the employees who were supposed to be here during the attack."
A worker provided him the wanted lists, and Looker quickly read them. Nothing suspicious. Wait… He had the strange feeling to have missed something… He read them again, paying better attention this time. That's it, a name was missing ! Cyrus was supposed to work here, wasn't he ? Looker clearly remembered Drasna mentioning it.
"Hum… Wasn't there supposed to be a young man working with you ? His name is Cyrus. I don't see him on the list." That had nothing to do with the investigation, but that was bugging him.
"Cyrus ? Oh yes, he used to work for us. He left two weeks ago."
"Hum, is that so ?" Looker thought. That was none of his business, but he couldn't approve of Drasna living with an unemployed man. Well, they didn't 'live' together yet… Looker shook his head. That had nothing to do with the current affair. He should concentrate on the important matter.
"Inspector ! You should see that !" a worker cried. Looker turned to see what the problem was. The man was staring at a computer's screen, troubled.
"What is it ?" he said, walking toward the computer.
"I don't know, some kind of message… All the screens are like this."
"Let me see…"
Indeed, all the screens were displaying the same message, written in white on a black background.
"The bringer of wars… Your target is the energy of the power plant."
"The bringer of contentment… your target is the Pokémon statue of Eterna City."
"The bringer of aging… Your target is the Pokémon that sleeps on today."
"The dream energy, Team Galactic."
Damn, an enigma… As if he had time to lose with that… What could it possibly mean ? The Pokémon that sleeps on today… surely Drasna or Cynthia had the answer ! He should try to call them. Anyway, the second line was clear enough : the Team Galactic's next target was Eterna City. That's where he should go !
"Thanks for your cooperation. I'll call the local police, they will take care of the rest."
When he went out of the building, a lot of information in his mind, he saw that Lucas was waiting for him.
"Still there, kid ? Well, what you have said, it was all true !"
"Of course it was true !" Lucas said, offended.
"You're young and you are a trainer, but I think you have what it takes to become a great policeman. Think about it, kid ! Oh, and meanwhile, be careful about the Team Galactic. You and the other kids."
"Yea, alright, I'll tell Barry."
"Very well ! Now I shall pursue the culprits ! I have received tips that the Team Galactic hideout is in Eterna City. And remember, boy, you shall inform me of any bad guys !"
"Roger. Good bye then, sir."
"Good bye Lucas ! Let's go Croagunk."
With his partner, Looker was gone again. Eterna City was on the other side of a huge forest. That would be easier to go back to Floaroma Town and find a mean of transport than going on foot.
When he was back at Floaroma Town's Pokémon Center, he called the police and told them to go immediately at the Valley Windworks. Then, he tried calling Drasna. Ahh, Drasna… At least, hearing her cheerful and beautiful voice would be a relief, after today's events. But she didn't answer… Was she busy studying, or making out with that good-for-nothing Cyrus ? The thought made his stomach ache.
He hadn't any choice but to call Cynthia then. At least she would answer, wouldn't she ? … Apparently no… What the hell, they were doing this on purpose or what ? Just when he needed them !
Well, he could try to call the young Dawn, maybe she would know what the two other girls were up to. Dawn, Dawn… He searched for her phone number on the PC of the Pokémon Center. There it was. He dialed it. One ring… Two rings… Come on, she couldn't be busy too ! Three rings… Ah ! She answered the phone.
"Hello, Dawn ?" he almost shouted, relieved to finally be able to join someone.
"Yes ?" she said, surprised. Her voice seemed a little annoyed. Looker heard weird noises, and Dawn giggled. "C'mon Cynthia, I'm on the phone !"
"Pfff I don't care ! Hang up, it can't be important…" Cynthia's voice. So she was there, after all.
"Dawn ?" Looker asked again.
"Yes ? Who is it ?"
"It's me, Looker ! You remember me ?"
"Ohh, Inspector ! Yes I remember."
"Looker ?" he heard Cynthia's voice say. "What does he want ? It can't be more important than…" A silence and then another round of giggles. What the hell were they doing… As if he had time to lose !
"I won't know if it's important if you don't shut up ! Ahhh stop it !" He heard laughs coming from their side, and a sound indicating that the phone had fallen on the ground.
"Seriously, girls !" Looker shouted, impatient.
"Yes, Inspector ? What can I do for you ?" Dawn asked, taking the phone back, breathing quickly.
"Could you please stop whatever the hell you're doing for two minutes ? It's important ! I need to talk to Cynthia, can you give her the phone ?"
"Yes, sir. Cynthia, it's for you." He heard the phone changing hands.
"Yea ?" Cynthia said, visibly annoyed.
"Cynthia, finally ! Am I interrupting something ?" he asked sarcastically.
"Yea…"
"Cynthia !" Dawn's voice cried, indignant, while Cynthia laughed.
"I mean, no no, you're not interrupting anything…" she added. So Cynthia was playing for the other team ? Not that Looker cared, but he wouldn't have thought that of the young champion of the League.
"Sorry, but it's really important… I tried to call Drasna, but she didn't answer. The Team Galactic have attacked the Valley Windworks !"
"What ?" Cynthia exclaimed, suddenly recovering her seriousness. "Are you kidding me ?"
"No, you were right to suspect them. They do steal Pokémons, but they plan something even worse. They attacked the power plant to obtain a great amount of energy."
"That's terrible ! Do you know what they intend to do ?" she seemed anxious.
"Not yet, but I'll find out, I found some clues. They're heading to Eterna City." he said.
"We must stop them ! Whatever they're planning, it can't be good !"
"Yes, I'll go there. But that's not why I called you. They left a message at the Valley Windworks, an enigma. I think you can help for a part."
"Go ahead." she said. Looker took his notes and read the line.
"'The bringer of aging… Your target is the Pokémon that sleeps on today.' Do you know what it can mean ?"
"The Pokémon that sleeps on today ? Hum…" she thought about it. "No, I don't really see, sorry… The way they talk about it, it could be a legendary Pokémon, I mean, because it's unique. Maybe one of the Lake gardians."
"Hum, okay, thank you. Well, I think we won't be able to find out with just that clue. I'll try to find something more consistent in Eterna City."
"Okay, tell me if you learn something new."
"No problem. Well, my apologies to you and Dawn. Have fun."
"Yea."
Looker hanged up. He had learnt nothing new, except the fact that Cynthia and Dawn were together, but that wasn't really interesting for the investigations. He wondered if Drasna knew, however. Yes, she must. After all, Cynthia and her were great friends.
Anyway, the next step was Eterna City. And now, he won't be late. The life of millions of people and Pokémon may depend on him. Once more, Looker was going to save the world !