Disclaimer: Don't own Pokémon

Oh my gosh. I am so sorry that this chapter had taken extremely long. I've been having major writer's block on this story and had been putting it off for so long because of this. I'm going to try my best to update this story more frequently like my other stories.

Anyways, enough excuses. Enjoy the chapter. Hopefully everybody remembers what happened. XO

Chapter 15:

"Ingenious," Professor Hasting marveled at the technology before him. Wes' arm was held up awkwardly so that the professor could see the device attached to his arm. The trainer had one eyebrow raised in annoyance while the professor seemed to ignore his surroundings. "It was made to fit perfectly with the person's arm it was attached to. The mobility, the flexibility… Of course, it seemed to be heavy but if I can make a smaller and more portable with a bit of modification of course, and this kind of technology I could create stylers that won't…"

"Hastings," Spenser coughed in embarrassment, "When you're done admiring, can we please get back to the subject?"

"Oh yes, of course," Hasting looked slightly red at the cheeks as he tried to look professional. Wes looked relieved as he jerked his arm from the professor's grasp and moved his arm a bit to get the blood flowing again. Slowly, he noticed that everybody's gaze was on him as though expecting him to say something. All around him were eyes of apprehension and perhaps… fear?

Wes brushed off the looks. He was used to this kind of treatment. It wasn't his first time trying to deal with something like this. Being in leagues with Team Snagem, he didn't really get royal treatment from civilians. Except with Rui. She was the only one who didn't respect him out of fear or show any sign of fear around him. Though she did think of him as her 'knight in shining armor' after he unintentionally saved her and haven't been able to brush her off since.

Lunick stared wordlessly as though he was just seeing Wes for who he really was for the first time. This guy… had the power to steal other people's Pokémon? The guy denied being part of Team Cipher, yet he was wearing technology they made and were planning to use. The distrust started to build up again inside of the ranger despite all the times that Wes had helped save them. Wes stole Joel's Dodrio but Lunick didn't really give it much thought until now. That was how Wes did it. That event had bugged him a lot but Lunick never got around asking Wes what exactly happened. Although Wes claimed it was a good cause, that sort of power could be easily abused.

"Wes, if I may, why didn't you say anything about this earlier?" Spenser asked. The white haired trainer shrugged his shoulders with indifference.

"I was more concerned on rescuing Rui," Wes explained. Rui turned red with embarrassment and slight happiness despite the situation. "This technology," Wes held up his left arm, "is not a good show and tell kind of presentation. Anyways, I wasn't really interested in giving out my life story to strangers in an unknown region until I realized that things here were worse than I thought."

"Worse than you thought?" Hastings questioned.

"Team Cipher is not working alone. Someone from Fiore is helping Team Cipher in creating these devices." There was a deadly silence as the magnitude of Wes' words was comprehended.

"There," Wes said slowly, "is a traitor in you midst."

"NO WAY!" Lunick defended, standing up and almost upending the cups on the table. "None of the rangers would do such a thing! That's a lie." The ranger couldn't believe it. All the rangers had one important goal and that was to help the community and Pokémon. None of them would agree to use status to… break the bonds and trusts. Still, there was a prickle of uneasy doubt in everybody's mind.

"I'm not saying it's a ranger," Wes sighed impatiently, "I'm saying that someone who knows a lot about the stylus is working with Team Cipher. As smart as Team Cipher is, there is no way they can come up with this kind of technology in such a short amount of time." Immediately, everyone glanced at Professor Hastings.

"Hey!" Professor Hastings exclaimed, raising both of his hands into the air, "Do I look like someone who would work for an evil organization?" All of the rangers, even Spenser, looked embarrassed and tried to look away.

"It could also be," Rui interjected, "a person who might not be willing to help. He may be threatened. It doesn't have to be a traitor." She was trying to instill some positive outlook in such a negative situation.

"Wait, Wes, what makes you think that it is a traitor?" Murph spoke up. His cubby face that usually had a lax smile was now filled with concern.

"That factory we came across earlier, it had a specific purpose other than a secret base."

"Really?" Lunick finally spoke up and sounding surprised. "You mean like they were trying to make something?" Lunick only recalled the long hallways and locked doors. It never occurred to him that the people were actually manufacturing products."

"Not trying. They are. That device," Wes motioned to the dark colored and broken styler on the table. "They're mass producing that stuff."

"WHAT?!" Lunick exclaimed, "They're making a whole bunch of these… these… evil stylers?!"

"Wow, evil stylers… your vocabulary continues to astound me," Wes said sarcastically. If the situation wasn't so serious, Lunick wouldn't hesitate to punch Wes or at least state that he would.

"Wes," Hastings interjected before another fight could start, "I thought you said that Team Cipher did not have the knowledge or the time to create regular stylers in the first place. If that is so, how in the world can they have the time to specifically make stylers that could envelope darkness within the Pokémon's heart? That would require at least years of more research."

"Hastings," Spensers interjected, answering the question. His face looked pale as though he understood and connected all the pieces already. "You said it yourself. The stylers are exactly alike except one thing and that is this chip. So…"

"Oh no," Hastings muttered, finally understanding the grim picture Wes had painted. "Of course. Why didn't I see this earlier?"

"What? I don't get it," Lunick whined. Murph had a look of puzzlement on his face as well.

"If you think about it, it's quite simple," Spenser explained slowly and carefully, "This styler is exactly like ours. They already have the tool to create darkness within a Pokémon's heart. All they have to do is modify it so that it can fit into the device."

"Thus," Hastings concluded, "they need to build two factories – one to make the stylers and the other to make the chips."

"In Orre," Rui put in her thoughts, "a stylus factory would send out red flags. At least, having stylers found in Orre would send red flags to you guys."

"So," Hastings pointed out, "it's easier for this Cipher group to convince someone from Fiore to provide a styler factory. All they need to do is make the factory for the chips." Professor Hastings immediately started to jolt down notes as though trying to create a tactical plan.

Suddenly, Lunick understood what everybody was implying. "So if we find the factory making stylus…"

"We can find out who is really behind this mess," Rui finished Lunick's sentence. She looked excited, feeling the prickling sensation of another adventure.

Lunick couldn't believe it. It felt like the entire ordeal they had just gone through would stop everything. All their problems solved. Except one problem…

"So where is this factory?" Murph asked the question in Lunick's mind.

"It has to be hidden in a way where the rangers and the public wouldn't find it suspicious," Spenser muttered softly.

"Fall City!" Professor Hastings exclaimed suddenly, looking up from his notes.

"What?"

"Fall City," Hastings repeated and showed his notes. "That guy we captured at the Krokka Tunnel managed to spill that they were using the tunnel for delivery or something. And it hit me. There is an abandon factory there." He used air quotes when he said 'abandoned'.

"Abandoned? How long?"

"Don't know, for a while. Some businessman bought the space but never gotten around to fixing it."

"Then that's the place," Spenser said with conviction. "We need to get there and figure out what is going on."

"We'll call Joel to notify him of the situation and get the Dragnoite Bus. It'll be the quickest way to get there."

"Ranger Spenser," a voice called out into the cafeteria. Everybody's heads turned to see the Ringtown Ranger base's receptionist come in. Her face looked extremely tight with worry. "Cameron had sent a message."

Cameron? Who is that? Rui looked at the other rangers for an answer but no one said anything. They were too busy taking note of the urgency in the woman's voice.

"What did he say?"

"It's bad," the lady said grimly. "The volcano in Summerland has erupted."

"What?!" All of the rangers immediately stood up in shock. Wes and Rui looked at each other with confusion. A volcano? Here in this region? Now? The concern about Team Cipher has suddenly shifted to the urgency of some natural disaster.

"That's impossible," Professor Hastings said as though saying it could change what was happening, "That thing had been dormant for decades!"

"Well, it isn't anymore."

"This is bad," Spenser muttered and immediately took charge. Wes could see the leadership coming out of the ranger. "Are the people being evacuated? No, wait get me on line. I need to speak to him."

"I don't think I can get Cameron back on the phone," the receptionist said. "You know how the reception is in the jungle. But I have contacted Fall City for the Dragonite Bus. It should be here shortly. The rangers at Fall City are taking care of the people who are coming into the ports."

"Okay, we're going to need every ranger on deck. Call all of the other Ringtown rangers. Let them know that it is an emergency."

"Wes! Where are you going?" Lunick demanded. He was the only ranger in the mist who noticed Wes leaving.

"I'm going to Fall City," Wes stated flatly. "You guys can do whatever it is that you do. You all seemed to like to change your minds so much and get easily distracted."

"What?" Lunick was trying to grasp at what exactly Wes was acting so angry about.

"All of you guys were on board in trying to stop Team Cipher and then decide to drop everything? Not really goal oriented are you?"

"Wes," Lunick said angrily, "do you know what a volcano is? This volcano is going to erupt and probably destroy an entire population!"

"I'm not concern about environmental issues," Wes said coolly, "I'm more concern about stopping Team Cipher. As you should to."

"We're talking about lives here!" Lunick roared angrily. Here they go again. Wes and Lunick continued to bicker despite the amount of people around them.

"And I'm pretty sure the rangers in Summerland can take care of it. After all, people are being evacuated."

"Do you know how many Pokémon live on that island?" Lunick demanded. "This isn't some building on fire, we're talking about an entire island in danger if we don't go and help!"

"If we don't find out who is working with Team Cipher then you're going to be in a whole lot worse trouble than some volcano," Wes snapped back. "You guys should be focusing more on the bigger picture here."

Lunick couldn't believe it. It was just like back in the forest when Wes refused to save Solana. Wes was turning a blind eye to people who were in need. Any respect Lunick had for Wes was gone at this point and the ranger got up and glared inches away from the white hair trainer's face.

"This isn't about the bigger picture for you, this is about revenge! If you haven't noticed, you're not the boss of us! We're Pokémon rangers! We protect people no matter what. We don't consider anybody expendable! You're so bent on taking down Team Cipher that you're willing to sacrifice anybody in the way. You're exactly like them!"

And again, just like back in the forest, Wes looked like he had been slapped across the face.

"That's not true!" Rui roared back. "Wes is nothing like those guys! He saved Solana at the factory remember?!" The girl's face was red with anger. Lunick, still seething with anger, whipped around to Rui and stared incredulous.

"Speaking of the factory, you know why that place collapsed?! Huh?" Lunick pointed directly at Wes, "It's because THIS guy here used those 'dark' Pokémon to take down the whole building. He is bent on revenge that he didn't even consider that there might be innocent people in the building still. I'm not the loose cannon around here. He is!" There was a stunned silence as everybody slowly turned to Wes as though hoping for an explanation.

"Wes," Spenser spoke up, sounding angry for the first time, "is this true?"

"Wes…" Rui's eyes pleaded silently for Wes to speak up… to say something… anything…

However, the trainer didn't defend himself. Instead, he grabbed his bag and turned to head to the door and slammed it shut with enough force to cause the room to slightly shake. The air was filled with unhappy silence. Rui was too thunderstruck to move.

"Good riddance!" Lunick finally said. "Maybe that'll give him a wake-up call."

"Okay, enough," Spenser said finally in a forceful calm tone. "Lunick, you and I are going to the volcano to aid."

"I'm going too!" Rui announced suddenly.

"What?"

"I'm going to help out. I care about what happens here!"

"Leave it to the professionals," Lunick said. "There is no need." He still hated arguing against girls but Rui wasn't the type to back down and act weak.

"I'm going!" Rui seemed final on the decision and wasn't taking no for an answer.

"Spenserrrrr," Lunick looked desperately at his leader.

"I'm sorry, but Lunick is right. I cannot allow civilians or foreigners into such a dangerous place." Rui glared angrily at Spenser but the man didn't back down.

"You will be assisting Professor Hastings. I think with your knowledge of Orre, you'll be able to provide him at least some leads as to what to do about the factory. Murph, you will notify all the other ranger bases."

"Ummm, Spenser?"

"Yes Murph?"

"What about Wes?" Murph looked frightened for asking such a question and there was a long silence.

"We'll leave him alone for now," Spenser said finally, "Right now; we have a bigger problem to deal with.

…

"Hey!" Wes ignored the voice and continued down the dirt path. It was going to take a day to travel back to Fall City on foot. He was starting to wish he hadn't released that Dodrio. There was no way he was going back to that place. He had more important things to do. How dare Lunick talked about him like that?

"Hey! Would you turn around so I can talk to you?!"

Fed up now, Wes turned to see that it was a turquoise hair girl with a female Plusle on her shoulder. She had on the similar red colored ranger uniform jacket as Lunick had and her stylus was attached to her belt. There were bandages wrapped around one of her arms and legs.

"Do I know you?" Wes asked though his face remained stony.

"Well, I hope so. Or else you just saved someone without even knowing them." The girl gave a playful smile and Wes immediately realized who she was. Or at least, he knew her name.

"Oh. So you're Solana." Wes removed some of the hostility in his voice.

"Pleasure to meet you Wes." The ranger held out her hand but Wes didn't take it and instead responded with a question.

"What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be resting?"

"Heard you were leaving without saying goodbye." There was a long pause before Solana added, "Lunick had a loud voice. I heard everything."

"So you're here to yell at me too? Want to call me a filthy hypocrite as well?" Wes was ready to turn and leave again.

"Oh I'm not here to berate you for what you had done. Lunick already got that covered. Though he is right. Luck was on your side this time but you really need to start evaluating your surroundings before someone you care about gets hurt."

"So what do you want?" Wes said, brushing Solana's warning aside. The ranger looked as though she wanted to lecture some more but decided against it.

"Ever heard of divide and conquer?"

"Excuse me?" Ask one question and get thrown one back in the face.

"Well, I'm guessing you're after the factory. I think we should team up." Solana was definitely not taking no for an answer. Despite the injuries, the girl seemed to be full of energy. Her personality reminded Wes of Rui. Minus the red hair of course.

"You're injured. I don't need someone who is just going to drag me down. This is going to be a stealth mission."

"Please, without me, who is going to help you around Fall City? You could say that someone would need to keep an eye on you in case you start… rampaging again. Besides, I bet you could use some transportation right about now."

Wes fell silent now. Granted, Solana could be helpful to the mission but at the same time…

"Anyways, I need to payback Team Cipher for what they had done to the Pokémon here," Solana continued, "I think I would be more of use helping you then trying to go through Summerland's jungle in my condition. Besides, Spenser and Lunick would never allow me to go with them."

"You do realize that you're disobeying your leader's orders to stay in bed."

"Well, I decided to take a leaf out of your book," Solana grinned, seeing that Wes wasn't really disagreeing with the partnership now. "There is always a time to break a few rules. And speaking of breaking of rules, we need to borrow some rides if we want to get to Fall City before nightfall."

"You have a plan?"

"Oh yes," Solana grinned in a way that even made Wes uncomfortable. "Just leave everything to me."

Author's Notes

This story will pick up in the next chapter. Just have to tie up some loose ends.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter.

-JapanDreamer