The wonders of modern medical science enhanced Mew's great sacrifice to leave all of the victims absolutely ship-shape within Cuzco City's extremely well-appointed hospital. Three days later and there weren't even any scars to mark the occasion for Ash and his friends.

Well, no physical scars at least.

Jessie turned back from studying her mother through the one-way glass to look at the physician's x-rays again. The doctor was replying to James' query; Jessie's translator picked it up too when the doc said, "Yes, Mr. Morgan. It's a very old wound, some sort of spike drilled directly through her skull and into the memory section of her brain. You said it was an avalanche? We'll probably never know exactly what piece of debris caused it; could even have been something man-made swept up in the snow with her."

For his wife's sake, James refused to voice the ironic thought that it may have been a bit of Jane's own camping gear. Instead he nodded along as the doctor continued, "We can regenerate the brain tissue, repatch her skull, and all of that easily enough; that may even help Mrs. Miyamoto retain things in the future. We can even correct that stoop in her posture. But as for reclaiming the memories lost-think of the brain as a computer. If I damage my hard drive, I can get a new drive and the computer itself will work again; good as new. But there's no way I can go back in time and download the old drive's memories into the new one."

James nodded, "Unless you've got a backup of your original memories handy."

"Exactly," the doctor nodded in turn.

Jessie couldn't help but hiss, "My mother is not a mere machine. Say that again and I'll rip your tongue out."

The doctor was honestly contrite, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Morgan. You're right; it's a terrible analogy. I apologize for using it and I won't do it again." Still kicking himself, the doc let himself out. James let him go. Meowth, not wanting to accept the doctor's frequent urgent requests to study his 'mutant' brain's capacity for speech, emerged from hiding only when he was sure the medical man had gone.

James slipped an arm around his wife's waist before leaning on her shoulder too. Together they studied Jane, enduring some more tests, as Meowth leapt onto the counter to see as well. "Never fear, Jess," Meowth bragged, trying to cheer her up, "We'll figure sometin' out. Dere's gotta be a way." Her husband threw in a quick kiss to her forehead before adding, "Indeed, my love. We simply won't allow your mother's miraculous resurrection to remain flawed."

Jessie's only response was to continue to hug herself and stare despite her family's embrace. Her early losses had left Jessie with so little faith, even when true love had its arms around her, that James was nearly reduced to tears at her unmoving form. James searched his own brain desperately for a way to restore Jane's.

To his own surprise, he came up with something. "Ooo, my love. I do believe I've got a very good idea." Jessie turned a countenance brightened only slightly by cautious hope up to his. James was so pleased to see his wife drawn back into the present that he couldn't help but drop his voice mysteriously as he elaborated, "Do you remember that quaint little shrine in the Johto region's Ilex Forest back home…?"

Just a few doors down, Misty, Delia, and Rudy had gathered at Ash's bedside for the last time. As the most severely beaten, thanks to Oakley, he was naturally the last to receive a clean bill of health also. His doctor left, swearing she would get the discharge paperwork and return shortly. To the young Pokémon Master's astonishment, each of his family members killed the time by pressing a small present into his grip along with cries of, "Happy Birthday!" Delia and Misty threw in kisses onto his cheek; Rudy refrained from joining in that far.

Ash was far from astonished at Giovanni's complete absence since leaving Machu Picchu. He decided not to remind Mom and ruin her efforts to cheer him up, making a show of opening his gift-shop presents and scattering the wrapping paper all over his hospital bed. Once the fuss settled down a little, Rudy cleared his throat. The steely-eyed agent found himself unusually off his feed at the warm gathering. Ash had already observed Delia smothering Rudy like he'd come out of her womb too more times than Ash could count. Briefly, Ash wondered if Rudy's birth mother had been remotely as affectionate; heck, was she even still alive?

"Ash, about that little policy discussion we had right before Lawrence's Army captured us and dragged us off to Machu Picchu…" Rudy began.

Ash noted Misty's eyebrows raise outside of Delia's view. That was a nice way to put it, Ash silently agreed. Aloud, he said, "Forget about it. We stuck to our guns in our respective points of view; there's no shame in that." Delia smiled proudly at her boys' maturity in calmly discussing the issues like adults; totally unsuspecting, in other words.

"Well, please understand something," Rudy continued, "Even with all that effort we went through to slip into Machu Picchu, I had to assume we might be eavesdropped during the mission. Especially since-" He barely caught himself from mentioning Giovanni, glancing at Delia. She missed that too, thanks to her rose-colored glasses about her family excepting her husband. Who was now technically a bigamist if Giovanni had actually married Rudy's mother.

Ash pushed that thought away to tune into what Rudy was saying. "…so a lot of those 'tourists' in the crowd were also undercover Interpol agents. Lance and I hoped to uproot Lawrence's entire Army at the source in one fell swoop."

Misty, trying to maintain the reborn cheer, pointed out, "And it worked pretty well. A lot of Lawrence's goons are behind bars right here in Cuzco, awaiting extradition to Japan. Did any of them start singing yet, Rudy?"

Rudy's eyes glittered in a way that provided Misty her answer anyway despite his carefully neutral words, "That's not information I'm allowed to discuss at this time. It's too early in the new investigation." Turning back to Ash, the younger brother admitted, "Although I've heard rumors of a few hot leads that may help us recover Pikachu sooner than you might think."

Ash was quick to shore up Rudy's own feelings with, "And Feraligatr too, I'm sure."

A bit of true concern broke through Rudy's controlled facade for a split second. "Yes, I'm sure." Recovering, he said, "Well, Mrs. Ketchum. Once your family lands in Japan, please allow the agents who will meet you to take yourself and your Mr. Mime into protective custody. Remember it will only be until Sir Talbot himself is captured."

"I know, I know," she waved his concern away for instructions of her own, "How many times have I told you to call me Mom, anyway?" Rudy's control nearly crumbled anew at her warm embrace following up her statement. Misty offered a handshake herself, "I guess I owe you an apology too. Your dedication to the mission is commendable."

"Thank you," Rudy inclined his head in a return of her grudging respect, taking her hand.

Perhaps inspired by Delia and Ash's acceptance, Misty even added (not too bitterly), "Even after this is over, we expect to see you at our place for the holidays at least once per year. We won't let Lance get away with sending you off for each of them."

Rudy looked mildly confused, "Your place? You mean Ash's apartment at the Indigo Plateau or your Pokémon Gym in Cerulean City?"

To Rudy and Delia's mutual surprise, the couple exchanged wide-eyed glances at the thought. Misty confessed, "I'm not sure…," as Ash mumbled, "We haven't thought about it that far yet…"

Delia blustered, "Well, your wedding's back on now that I'm here, isn't it? You'd better think about it! Don't tell me you've planned out the guest list without deciding what you're going to do with your lives afterwards?"

Ash realized aloud in the clueless look mirroring his own from Misty's face, "I think we were just in such a hurry to tie the knot before something else happened to stop it." Misty sighed, "Yeah. Way too much of a hurry. First thing when we get back, let's make some serious plans. About our future."

Satisfied, Rudy observed, "I'll see all of you soon." To their chorused good-byes, he took his leave. Hands in his pockets, an uncharacteristically visible cloud of preoccupation hung over Rudy Silver as he trudged through the hallways, down the elevator, and across the parking lot toward his rental car for the drive to the airport.

His only outward reaction to the sight of Giovanni waiting in the passenger seat was the loss of that preoccupied cloud. Rudy got behind the wheel and picked his way out into traffic. Giovanni kept waiting wordlessly, rolling the jade orb around in his palm, until Rudy's Interpol-issue Pokégear had scanned for bugs. At his son's nod to the unspoken question of their privacy, Giovanni began mildly, "Well, I would say all that went rather well." His hard gaze turned to searching the depths of the jade orb. A tiny flicker of light, no more than a pinprick, danced deep within.

The car continued on its way.

Ash was catching some fresh air on the balcony of the Cuzco City apartment Delia had been using. The women were inside, settling the bill thanks to the Interpol account Rudy had set up for them. The soft breeze stirring his face made Ash expect to hear a happy chirp of, "Pikachu!" accompanying a soft weight thumping onto his shoulder. Or leaning against his ankle, thanks to Pikachu's advancing age. He sighed at his partner's absence and leaned heavily against the railing.

A huge shape swooped up, throwing the entire balcony into its shadow. Ash found Lugia's sea-blue eyes mere feet from his own as the legendary Pokémon's broad, long wings/fins flapped languidly to keep him airborne. "Hello, Ash," Lugia greeted in a Psychic transmission that went no further than where the Pokémon Master stood.

"Lugia!" Ash gasped, "Get back, somebody will see you!"

"They won't see me," Lugia countered in an amused tone, "Right now they'll see the mental image of a Fearow instead." He sobered as he admitted, "That's a little trick that Mew taught me…"

Ash jammed his hands in his pockets with a sudden funk. "Why are you hanging around now? You weren't there when we really needed you."

Lugia sighed, "Precognition is not an exact science, old friend. As another aquaintance once told me, 'Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.' Witness how Mew herself wasn't quite on time at Machu Picchu."

Stonily, Ash turned and walked back toward the apartment.

"Ash," Lugia whispered, "You are not the only one who lost his friends that day."

Ash stopped. Slowly he turned back, bobbing his head slightly in an indication that maybe he was being a bit of a pain. Lugia continued softly, "Perhaps going for reinforcements was the wrong choice. Perhaps I could have saved your Pikachu. Perhaps not; things may have come out all the worse. One thing my psychic abilities tell me about this particular junction of the space/time continuum: My future lies with you, Ash Ketchum."

Ash could hardly dare to believe it when Lugia continued, "For our mutual convenience, I don't suppose you have a empty Pokéball handy…?"

Cassidy stood on a balcony as well, albeit one far from Peru in general and Cuzco City in particular. The wind at her tremendous height was spoiling her reflective mood somewhat; it was stirring her long, undone hair and civilian ankle-length skirt. Only a small lamp shone through the glass walls behind her; most of the light came from the city below. That metropolis was just getting into the swing of its nightlife, despite the very late hour. Cassidy gazed out over the neon and concrete jungle before her and wondered if it was easier to live in than the flora and rock jungle of Peru.

The glass door slid quietly open behind her. "Cassidy?" Butch called softly, "You wanted to see me…?"

Instead of facing him, she put her elbows on the railing for support as she wobbled. "Yes," she smiled grimly, "I'm sorry, I'm still not feeling so good. How's the commander-in-chief doing?"

Butch moved to stand beside her, studying not the wonderful view but his partner's face. Butch admitted, "If the man's body matched his will, he wouldn't even need an army to do his dirty work for him; I'll give him that. He'll pull through nicely. The bigger question is, what about you?" Tenderly, his hand gripped her shoulder.

"What indeed?" Cassidy replied quietly.

Butch tried to keep the note of hopefulness out of his voice and just faux concern as he reminded, "Your concussion…you still don't remember Jessie Morgan's breakout at Machu Picchu, do you?"

"No," Cassidy lied to Butch's silent stare, "I don't remember much of that whole day, actually. I shouldn't have been at Machu Picchu; I was still so full of sedatives." She finally straightened from the railing to offer Butch a polite handshake and an additional comment, "I hear you stuck up for me. Thanks, partner. I'll be better soon; then we can get back to business."

"Business!" Butch grinned widely at her words and eagerly took her hand to pump it, adding, "Back in business and better than ever, partner!"

As she released him and turned back toward the railing, Cassidy reminded, "At least until I get pregnant."

Butch froze. So did Cassidy. He moaned lightly, "Cassidy…"

The unmoving Cassidy studied the skyline as she intoned softly, "So that was the reason after all. You'd be willing to live with me if I hadn't said that, wouldn't you? Just go right back to work as if nothing happened. Until you found another reason to betray me." Butch took a couple of steps backward; his disarming grin dripping away as he realized it was no use. Butch regained himself; now he returned to lean on the rail in an unconscious mirror of her own pose a short distance away. Softly, sorrowfully, Butch admitted, "How I wish it hadn't come to this." Gathering himself, Butch straightened up with a grim purpose, hands reaching for his Pokéballs.

He froze again at a low snarl coming from directly behind him. Cassidy's Houndoom materialized from the balcony's thick shadows; her continuing growls her only sound as she padded up behind Butch. Cassidy faced him once more. The balcony's shadows covered her form; only her accusing gaze glittered atop her clean white sneer, "I don't have a lot of friends in this business, Butch. I thought you were one of them."

Houndoom, sensing the growing rage beneath Cassidy's calm facade and Butch's controlled terror alike, began growling more and more eagerly. Butch tried to quick-draw his Pokéball, "Primeape-!"

Cassidy cut in, "Flamethrower!"

The waiting Houndoom's column of flame caught Butch point-blank just as he pulled his Pokéball free. Distracted from being lit ablaze, Butch dropped Primeape's Pokéball and stumbled forward into the railing, shrieking in pain and terror. Cassidy commanded, "Faint Attack!" Immune to flame herself, Houndoom's thick horns and strong head knocked the flailing, flaming Butch over the railing and into open air.

Cassidy kicked the unopened Pokéball after him. She and Houndoom remained at the railing, watching where the bright point of light she'd once called her partner faded into the neon skyline so far below. "Good girl, Houndoom, good girl," Cassidy patted her Pokémon's head earnestly. Houndoom panted happily and licked her face in return.

The body, Cassidy knew, would be just another one racked up in the big city tonight. She did have mild concern about feigning surprise at Butch's disappearance to her boss, but that was a concern that could wait until tomorrow. For now, she was content to return to pondering the city before her, her loyal friends like Houndoom at her side.

*Whew*, that was a long tale this time. And a long time coming! Thanks for your patience, loyal friends; what is a Narrator without an audience anyway?

My, my; talk about wheels within wheels! Even as one point closed, two more sprang open! What could the future world of Pokémon hold for our heroes? What-and where-could Lawrence III's main project be? Can Giovanni, or even Rudy, ever be trusted? Will Brock finally rejoin his old friends in their most desperate hour? Is Delia truly safe, even now? What could James possibly plan to restore Jane's memory to her?

But most of all, what destiny awaits the Pokémon both Captured and Snagged? If legendary Pokémon can't overcome this mysterious force that hardens their hearts, can even Lugia help keep more of our heroes' Pokémon friends from suffering the same fate? Will Pikachu even recognize his old friend again?

Or worst of all…will partner be forced to battle partner, choosing one loved one over another…to the death?

I hope you've enjoyed this third trip into the fantastic future world of Pokémon!

Thanks for reading!

To Be Concluded…(soon)

Text, original characters, and events Copyright © 2011 Keith E. Kimball. This is a fan work and not for profit.

All other characters, events, and trademarks Copyright © their respective holders including but not limited to Nintendo Company Ltd., Tatsunoko Productions, GameFreak, The Pokémon Company, Shogakukan Production Inc., 4Kids Entertainment, etc.