Chapter Thirty Nine: Corei United
A muffled thud could be heard through the semi-darkness of the stone corridor with an accompanying sigh of pain as a small blue lizard laid into a man clad in black causing the latter to slump over in pain, completely insensible.
"Nice work, Dracye," a soft young voice muttered from somewhere within the gloomy parts of the tunnel, his grey eyes glinting like tiny moons through the gloom. He stepped forwards into the light of a flickering fluorescent tube and looked down upon his victim with dislike.
"So this is the strength of a Team Shadow operative," Kamren Kent said with overt distate. "Talk about pathetic."
Seizing the man's ankles in between his armpits, the young Coreian dragged the unconscious sentry to a nearby room and, after ensuring it was empty, dumped the man's body within as unceremoniously as possible.
I didn't hit him too hard, did I, Master? the young dragon spoke up at this point as she stumped forward on two wide feet, her overlarge arms swinging back and forth in a floppy manner.
"No," Kamren said closing the door on his victim behind him and turning to walk down the corridor beside his newest Pokémon. "I don't think you hit him hard enough."
The Rapteau giggled and turned her horned head upwards towards her master with fondness reflected in her green eyes.
You can be so mean sometimes, Master, she laughed as they walked side by side, her large tail swinging lazily as she walked.
Kamren abandoned his search for a particular room and stole a half glance at the Sea Dragon Pokémon walking alongside him. He had no qualms about his latest capture; she was after all, strong enough to take on Ciela, his Zwi-tail, and come out on top, although narrowly. Her apparent delight at his vicious battle style didn't faze him either, for it would be easier for the Rapteau to adjust to his team this way. No, it was the young reptile's almost docile surrender when he'd used his pokéball on it at the end of their fight that struck him as odd. It was almost as if she was on the lookout for a trainer like him to accompany even though her species by nature kept to themselves.
A puzzled look stole over her face as she noticed Kamren's gaze and muttered shyly, Is there something wrong, Master?
"Nothing to worry about," Kamren said shiftily, slightly disconcerted by her (dare he say it?) innocent outlook on life around her. Her gentle and soft-spoken manner was at complete odds with her rough-and-tumble fighting style and he found it something slightly overwhelming to get around.
Looking up, he saw a large double door with the word 'LAB' etched into a door plate set at eye level. Bringing his footsteps to a halt, he turned to the door and said, "OK, Drayce. Do your thing."
On the other side of the door, several long, white benches spanned over half the width of the room and were interspersed with stark rock floor and several wooden lab stools. Several large tubes stood on their ends against the left wall and several laptops on a separate desk in the corner between the wall in question and the door, where a grim looking sentry stood, watching the small flock of white-frocked laboratory technicians as they worked, some at the lab benches, others studied the contents of the large tubes and a couple more took notes from the charts and figures that flashed on the laptop screens.
Suddenly, and out of nowhere, a voluminous BOOM resonated through the air as the iron door was blown off its hinges and into the lone sentry like a giant domino who turned around at the loud sound. The Shadow grunt's eyes widened to the size of pokéballs as the door's shadow consumed him. A second later he went down like a ton of bricks when the solid steel collided with his head and pinned him to the floor near the opposite wall.
A single female assistant screamed as most of the rest spun around in an attempt to locate the source of the disturbance, while another reached inside his lab coat for an item that never made it out, thanks to a high pressure jet of water that shot through the dust filled doorway and struck him hard in the chest, throwing him for a loop.
"Nobody move," a young yet cold voice said as a flash of white light erupted from the cloud and materialised into a bulky orange Pokémon with catlike ears and an orange and black striped pelt, who straightened up to its full six foot four inch height and snarled in an intimidating fashion. "Unless you want to be barbecued, that is."
"Who are you?" One scientist asked shakily as he and his comrades backed up against the wall away from Burner.
"I'm asking the questions here," Kamren said, his silver grey eyes glinting from behind his reddish blond fringe. Looking around at the large tubes and studying their contents briefly, he added, "Looks like I have quite a few to ask, too."
"You a Junior Ranger?" The researcher insisted obstinately. "You can't be a member of The Light, or you'd..."
Persistent little bugger, aren't you? Burner said snippily, clouting the lab worker lightly over the head. 'Lightly', being the operative word. The man fell like a ton of Snorlax instantly.
Aah, you hit him too hard, didn't you, Tigey Wigey? Dracya said happily.
You don't seem bothered about that, Burner said, slightly thrown off by his comrade's cheerful nature at such displays of violence. Besides, you'd know if I hit anything 'too hard'...
"That's enough, Drayce, Burner. We're on business here," Kamren said shortly, his eyes briefly narrowing on seeing a Kingdra suspended in the greenish fluid that filled the tubes, its eyes shut in what could be nothing but than intense pain. Turning away from the sight, he addressed the scientists once again.
"You're going to tell me everything there is to know about Damien Kent. And you're going to tell me now."
"Wh- who's asking?" Another researcher said querulously, clearly afraid of being assaulted by the boy's Fire Tiger Pokémon.
"Didn't I say I'm the one asking the questions here?" Kamren said shortly. "All you have to do is answer them like a good little... what the?"
A distraction in the form of a large and somewhat graceful dragon came bursting through the doorway and unable to stop, bowled right into the boy. The two went tumbling over one another in a comical loop as Burner and Dracya watched with large sweat drops hanging off their temples.
A loud commotion brought the two Pokémon's attention back to the doorway where at least a dozen grunts had assembled and the group of scientists took to their heels in fright, dragging the inert researcher along behind them.
Ah, nuts, Kamren cursed mentally as the dozen grunts' eyes widened at the sight of the intruder. It seemed that no matter how many more of them there was than there were on his side, his sudden appearance had thrown them temporarily off guard.
Trying not to think how close he'd come to having his questions answered, Kamren raised his voice quickly and yelled, "Burner, use Flamethrower! Dracya, Ice Beam attack!"
Wordlessly, Kamren's Pokémon sprang into action before the small army of Pokémon terrorists could do more than reach for a pokéball. A thin yet powerful beam of icy blue subzero energy streaked from a ball of white held between the Rapteau's claws as a torrent of fiery crimson and gold erupted from the larger Pokémon's mouth.
The grunts' eyes widened in horror as they saw the powerful combination race towards them and dove for cover as they collided, creating a powerful mist that filled the corridor with a thick fog that snaked down the corridor in both directions.
"Damn it!" Kamren swore as he made a break for it, Burner and Dracya obediently (albeit slightly confused) falling into step behind their trainer. "Where the hell did that damned Flygon come from? We were this close!"
Speaking of that 'damned Flygon'... Dracya began uncertainly.
"I'd rather not," Kamren said huffily.
... it's right behind us, Burner finished grimly with a half-glance and a nod behind him.
"WHAT?" Kamren yelled, chancing a glance behind him to see the Mystic Pokémon close behind them, clearing mimicking their attempt to put some distance between themselves and the grunts they'd left behind.
"YOU AGAIN?! Go away, already! Beat it! Get lost!" Kamren yelled angrily at the Flygon who let out a frightened squeak and flinched as Kamren yelled.
Looking ahead, Burner said, We got company, Kamren!
Joining Burner in looking ahead, Kamren saw no less than fifteen grunts bar their way forwards, each one having a Gible or Bagon with them.
"Ah... NUTS!" Kamren swore aloud, skidding to a stop as he saw all the Pokémon before him conjure balls of energy crackling all over with orange electricity. "This is all your fault!" He snapped back at the Flygon a second before noticing that the desert Pokémon had gotten ahead of him as he and his Pokémon stopped and pulling back a bit, an apologetic look in its shielded eyes.
What happened next even blew Kamren away, though thankfully not literally. The Flygon flapped its wings so quickly the air around them distorted wildly. Copious amounts of hot sand swept up the corridor and hit the barricade ahead like a Rhydon going all out. Not even the Gible, who as a rule were immune to Sandstorm, could stand up to the sheer force of the attack and went sprawling along with the Bagon and their trainers.
As the desert 'typhoon' died down, Kamren opened his eyes cautiously and saw each and every Shadow operative and Pokémon completely insensible.
Before his sense could overpower his shock, the Ground/Dragon type took off again, leaving a stunned silence in its wake.
Holy... Burner said weakly.
Latios, imagine if we had him on the team, Dracya said wondrously. Hey, Kamren, why didn't we catch him too?
Kamren could only stare.
In the backroom of the Spicy Torchic, Haley sat stock still after her furious battle with her inner self and the startling revelation the self-proclaimed AGENT before her had shared with her.
"So... let me get this straight," Haley said in a hollow voice. "You suspect Sapph? Of being a Team Shadow operative?"
Orion leaned forward and placed a pale hand on Haley's muttering, "I know it's hard to believe, but..."
"'Hard to believe'? Try impossible," Haley said with a dry chuckle. "There's no way in hell that's true."
"The evidence is all there," Orion said stoically.
"The evidence is Tauros crap," Haley spat back. "Purely circumstantial and speculative."
"Let me ask you one thing then," Orion said, a ghost of a smile on his face. "Can you provide evidence to the contrary?"
Haley opened her mouth as she'd done a few minutes before, but her frail counterargument died in her throat, lost without substance.
Taking a large gulp of air, Haley bowed her head and said, "Can you answer me one thing?"
"Sure," Orion said, a half-smile traced along his lips.
"Why have you told me this?" Haley asked. "If the AGENTs operate in utter secrecy, what could they hope to gain from confiding in an eleven-year old researcher?"
Orion shifted in his seat as he seemed to search for the right words to say. "Well," he said finally, "as the information pertains to your family, we felt that firstly you had a right to know. Secondly, you have spent the good part of three months in the company of one of our main suspects. We merely want to put you on your guard."
Haley's searching grey eyes probed Orion's dark ones which still held a faint twinkle of cheer despite the news he'd just divulged.
With a sigh, she slumped and said, "There's something else, isn't there?"
Orion regarded his new companion shrewdly before smiling and said, "You're as sharp as our scouts say. Yes, there is something else, but it will be tricky, not to mention dangerous."
Haley raised an eyebrow but gave no further sign of interest.
Orion's smile widened as he obliged Haley's silent request. "And finally, we'd like to enlist your help as an honorary AGENT in investigating Mr. Manson further."
"What? Why me?" Haley said, somewhat taken aback at this turn of events.
"Well, for starters, you've experienced some exposure to him and are in the best position to investigate him without arousing suspicion. Your battling prowess is also something to be commended. We – that is my superiors and myself – are of common assent that you are certainly the best woman for the job. Your strong sense of justice and unparalleled zeal also help your commendation greatly."
Orion's smile widened as he saw Haley crack a small grin herself.
"Hmm... well, OK," Haley said confidently. "I'm in. So what's the plan?"
"Nothing at all onerous," Orion smiled, reaching into his jacket as he rose to go. "You'll find all you need under your seat. Good luck, Seraph."
With a last smile, Orion nodded to the barkeep, who nodded back and left the restaurant.
Seraph? Haley pondered as she felt under her chair and discovered a soft parcel underneath the seat wrapped in what seemed to be rough brown paper as she held it in her hands. Unwrapping it, she saw a fresh change of clothes: a red tank top and yellow and black biker shorts. A short white jacket with full sleeves completed the outfit. A brand new Pokétch also included. A plain white calling card lay just under the front cover of the Pokétch's box as she opened it. She stared at the small black lettering on the card, which bore the words 'WHITE SERAPH' and turned it over to read a short message scrawled in black pen:
White Seraph,
This Pokétch doubles as a communicator. To send a message, simply press and hold the App Selection button to transmit messages. A hidden keypad enables short text message communication. Keep us posted on any development. If you must communicate in Mr. Manson's presence, call me Black Cherub, or B.C.
Stay safe.
O.
White Seraph, hunh? Haley thought with a smile as she proceeded to the washroom to change. I like it... I like that a lot.
"Aargh!" Sapph screamed as he flew back into the wall, clutching his left shoulder as blood seeped down his arm.
Sapph! Anuvi cried out, using a neat backflip to avoid his opponent, a large and ferocious spiny golem with broad ears and violently purple body plating, and dropping to one knee in near exhaustion.
The Nidoking let out another roar and began to rush the Squirrage when a light blue aura surrounded his head for a second and vanished. With it went the Poison Pin Pokémon's consciousness as its evil eyes blanked out and it skidded to a halt.
Didn't need that, Zen, Anuvi called to another Pokémon a few feet away who was fighting three at once.
Zen the Jutunkik took one step backwards and sprang off from his toes into an overhead spinning kick, clocking his ninth Bagon of the day clean on the head and out of commission. Without missing a beat, he then slammed a large fist on the ground and several small boulders rose out of the tunnel floor.
With a thrusting out of both arms, the Combatant Pokémon sent the boulders streaking towards the ankles of the two Gabite on either side of him and felled them like bowling pins where they stayed.
Wheezing slightly, Zen turned to his teammate and said, You're welcome. You doin' alright, Kid? he directed to Sapph, who had somehow managed to rise shakily to his feet.
"Yeah," Sapph said wearily as Nicola and her Cacturne finished off the last of the latest opposition with an impressive Needle Arm attack.
"We gotta get back-" One grunt yelled to the others before the bright blue aura that had taken out his Nidoking flashed around the heads of every grunt in the corridor, causing them to black out simultaneously.
Yeah... no, you won't, Zen said tiredly as he ambled towards Anuvi and Sapph, the latter administering first aid after their latest run-in with Team shadow while infiltrating their Dragon Cove hideout.
"Is it just me, or is your big idea for going incognito beginning to wear some very large holes?" Nicola said grimly as she returned her Cacturne with a word of praise.
"Maybe," Sapph said laboriously as he applied one last sprits of antidote to Anuvi's wounds and chucked Zen a small heart-shaped fruit.
Thanks, Kid, Zen said gratefully, catching the Pecha berry and taking a bite out of it. As his breathing eased up slightly, he asked, What about you?
Sapph sat back down heavily and said, "That was my last one. We're gonna have to... go easy for a while now."
Zen gazed at his trainer as Anuvi started to say, Now's not the tme for this, Sapph! You should look out for yourself first...!
"Relax, Anuvi," Sapph said calmly. "I'm a long ways from done in. You're the ones doing the battling, not me."
Still... Anuvi said stubbornly.
"Just trust me on this..." Sapph started to argue before a soft squelching noise got everybody's attention and turned to face the direction it had come from.
Zen held out a part of the Pecha Berry Sapph had given him and that he hadn't bitten into and said, Here. Halfsies.
Anuvi's jaw went slack. Sapph bowed his head and sighed half in exasperation, half in amusement.
"You insist, don't you?" he asked the Combatant Pokémon.
Yeah.
"And knowing you, you'd probably stuff it down my throat if I protested," Sapph smiled wearily.
Maybe... Zen said in a tone of mock thoughtfulness. Oh, who are we kiddin'? Yeah.
"Well, since you asked nicely then," Sapph grinned as he took the soft fruit from Zen and toasted his colleagues slightly. "Bottom's up."
"So what's our plan now, Sapph?" Nicola said once Sapph had gotten back to his feet a little less shakily and begun walking down yet another flight of stairs.
Sapph looked towards Zen and Anuvi and asked, "Any ideas, guys?"
Anuvi, however, answered the question, Nope. I can't really sense that much aura down here.
Well, judging by the increased amount of steel in the walls down here, it's not that surprising, Zen said in a flippant yet semi-consoling voice. Processed metal's a pain to sense through.
"Everyone does seem to be heading to the upper levels in an awful hurry," Nicola said thoughtfully. "Might that be an indication of something big happening there?"
"Maybe," Sapph said cuttingly, his eyes focused on the stairs before him, putting all his efforts not to trip and fall. Stopping about halfway down, he leaned against the stone side of the corridor and muttered, "Hey, is it just me, or does it sounds like there's a lot of water just ahead?"
"Water?" Nicola echoed uncertainly.
You're right, Zen said as he stopped beside his trainer who was summoning the strength to stand upright.
It smells salty too, Anuvi said ponderously. You think it's a way out?
"'Way out'? Listen, we're supposed to be here to stop Team Shadow, remember?" Nicola interjected.
"Of course I do," Sapph said evenly as he recalled Anuvi and Zen back into their pokéballs. "I've fought Team Shadow a number of times before you know. So far the worst we've met are the upper grunts we battled at the beginning. And they're only upper grunts. When there are this many grunts around, there's usually a captain or two in the vicinity. And believe me," Sapph's eyes looked dangerous as they beheld a shocked Nicola, "you do not want to run into a captain. They're mean to the core and pretty powerful to boot."
Nicola could only stare as Sapph finally righted himself and panted.
"Come on," Sapph said, walking down the stairs once more. "We've done what we can. We best get out before we run into another platoon of grunts... or worse."
The bottom of the stairs led to a large cavernous dock complete with steel shipping containers, smaller repair boats and an enormous trawler moored in the natural harbours hew out by the tides of centuries past.
"Whoa... would you check this out..." Sapph marveled as he looked towards the moored trawler. "This thing's massive!"
"It's nothing out of the ordinary, Sapph," Nicola said dismissively. "You see these kind of vessels quite often in harbour cities like Nightspark and Utopia Island. My interest," she went on as she inspected the large steel crates that lined the docks, "lies in these containers. I wonder what could be inside them?"
"Dunno for sure," Sapph said as he joined her in examining the crates. "Could be a number of things..."
"Such as?" Nicola asked impatiently.
"Stolen or abducted Pokémon," Sapph reeled off, reflecting on how he met Ace for the first time, "machinery parts... Team Shadow's plans seem to involve a need for a lot of energy," he mused, his mind going back to their foiled heist of a generator part he was conveying on the Entover-Nightspark ferry. "Though what for, I really can't say..."
Siphoning life energy from their Pokémon victims, Zen said telepathically. Remember the Javelin? That's what they abducted the Pidgey Postal Pokémon for...
Not to mention Atlas's attempt to capture Grandpa in the Rocky Pass... and Dopeak City when Zula attacked Anuvi for his Essence! Sapph completed.
"Of course!" Sapph said loudly, struck with the epiphany.
"Of course what?" Nicola said in bemused tones. "Bah, doesn't matter either way. If we destroy everything in this harbour, then our coming here would have some merit!"
"You can't just destroy them!" Sapph said shocked out of his reverie. "What if you hurt the Pokémon inside?"
"What? You reckon they'd still be alive in there?" Nicola said edgily.
"Pretty sure," Sapph said quickly. "I'd reckon breaking them open first is our best bet."
"Alright, then," Nicola said slightly miffed. "Come on out..."
Before she could throw her pokéball forward, something long, scaly and violet whipped out of nowhere and caught her clean in the temple, flinging her across the moor like a rag doll. Her head hit a container with a sickening CLANG and she slumped, insensible to the floor.
"Nicola!" Sapph yelled in a panic.
KID! WATCH YOURSELF! Zen's voice blared in Sapph's mind as the long assailant made a second swift round towards the Johton trainer, this time glowing a bright, platinum white colour.
Sapph raised his arm in a last ditch attempt to literally save his neck and out of nowhere a light tan aura surrounded it just before what seemed to be a hard tail made impact. And though Sapph was thrown for a loop, he miraculously managed to keep on his feet even as he flew back and fell into a short roll.
Ouch! Was that an Iron Tail? Sapph thought numbly, his arm riddled in pain. If so, why doesn't my arm seem to be broken?
"What was that light just now?" A cold voice spoke up from the shadow of the trawler as what looked like a large purple cobra slithered across Sapph's field of vision to the source of the voice.
Gritting his teeth to avoid screaming with the pain, he grasped Nicola's shoulder and shook it frantically, but to no avail.
"It was ugly," the voice said again as its owner stepped in front of him and the large snake wound itself lightly around her body. Sapph's blue eyes widened in horror as he came face to face with a woman who, despite radiating pure hatred and fury, couldn't look anything less than a heavenly apparition with pale, shining skin and lilac eyes and hair that shone softly.
"And if there is one thing I despise," she went on, stroking the Arbok under its cowled head as it hissed almost seductively in her ear, "it's ugly things."
Aw, man... Sapph said grimly. Why is this suddenly not my day?
There was a great deal of excitement in the recovery ward of the Utopia Island Pokémon Center as eight Pokémon who belonged to Sapph interacted loudly.
Good to see you again, Might, Crimson said cheerfully as he greeted his early team mate.
Audio sensorsss have detected salutation of amplified goodwill, Might droned in its usual lifeless voice. Unsure of what appropriate reply should beee...
Arcana laughed raucously as Lavender afforded a more controlled chuckle lest she hurt the now-shiny Magnemite's feelings.
At least you have retained your colourful charm, soldier, Ace said with a swift salute.
You're the only one who could call Might a colourful character, aren't you, Ace? Crimson said with some disbelief. Turning to the three newcomers who both appeared to be napping nearby, he said, Hello, I'm Crimson. Who might you be?
Yawning slightly, the little Castform opened one beady eye and after a large yawn, drawled, You can call me... Another yawn. ...Cloude.
The glorious Keynid does not proffer his name to lowly insects, the small black husky pup snapped without turning around.
Um, you just gave him your name, Wolfie, Lavender said blithely. Turning to where she correctly assumed Arcana was, she added Is it just me, but does he sound kinda cute?
Lavender, he's over there, Arcana said trying hard not to laugh at her best friend. And if you're into guys who put up a tough front...
Where? Lavender said feeling slightly red in the face as she quickly turned to Might.
... never mind, Arcana sighed with a smile.
Cloude turned a bleary eye to the Five Star Pokémon who shrugged and said, Don't go there. What about you, big feller? He then directed to the large jellyfish like Pokémon.
Tentis, he said succinctly. An' I don't shake hands... I break them. And arms... and legs. You had a broken leg before? He said before adding with a manic glint in his eye. Would you want one?
Crimson withdrew his hand very quickly.
Arcana, I'd like you to meet Might, Lavender said to the large Fire type. He was sent to Professor Yew's about a week before you joined the team.
Nice tan, Might, Arcana giggled as she looked towards the small Magnet Pokémon.
Unfamiliar vernacular detected, Might droned as it hovered towards Crimson, gazing unblinkingly at the Legendary Pokémon. Vocabulary databank search yields zero results. Requesting definition of 'tan'...
Crimson sweat dropped as Keynid barked, Would you keep it down? The majestic Keynid can not sleep with this incessant blathering!
Who's Prince Snobby? Lavender said distastefully.
Dunno, galfriend, Arcana said fervently.
Like, Keynid just likes his space, Cloude said slowly as he hovered over. Nobody quite knows what Tentis likes. But he gets happy when he hears about others pain. I suspect causing it makes him even happier, so I usually avoid him as much as I can, ya know?
You seem OK, Lavender said fairly. Despite the constant lack of energy.
Nah, dudette, Cloude said slowly. I'm just real conservative. Like, real conservative...
Um, has anyone seen Pyrrhus? Crimson said fluttering over. The professor's looking for him.
Detected the Ninetales dubbed 'Pyrrhus' absence approximately seventeen minutes, forty eight seconds and... Might paused as he recounted this fact, sixty two microseconds from the time my last word is to be utterrrrred...
That's approximate?! Crimson faltered as he gave his friend a blank stare.
Affirmative, Might said in a monotonous drone.
Lavender sweat-dropped as Arcana turned to Cloude and said, What ah don't git is why the professor brought you peeps down here. No diss or nuthin', but ah don't quite see the occasion...
Like, no offence taken, Cloude said calmly, his twin 'bangs' fluttering as he shook his head from side to side. The Sapph dude wanted to give you guys a break while we trained for the tournament thing end of July, ya know?
I dig it, Arcana said brightly.
By the way, Cloude went on. Which of you dudettes is Lavender?
Present, Lavender said cheerfully. How may I help you?
I kinda overheard the Sapph man talkin' 'bout making you team leader or something during the Trigello tourney training period, Cloude said lazily, blinking back another large yawn. So, I was just wondering, ya know, if I should call you 'Captain" ... or just Lavender. Cuz either one's groovy IMO...
Lavender's smile slipped off her face suddenly. wha... wait, what? Why?
Syntax error, Might beeped, shuddering slightly. 'IMO' not found... 'IMO' not foooouund...
Like, I dunno, dudette. I just rolled with it, Cloude said with its best attempt at a nonchalant shrug despite his lack of shoulders of any sort. Pleased to be working with you, ya know. Hope I, like, meet your expectations!
Humph, Keynid snorted, his back still turned firmly to the group at large. The great Keynid pledges his allegiance to no ruler, nor his assistance to such an unworthy leader.
That'll do, you insubordinate private! Ace snapped sharply. The General has given his orders and they will be followed!
The fantastic Keynid follows no man, woman or beast's orders, and yields to no trainer or Pokémon's authority! Keynid declared magnanimously.
M-me? Team leader?! Lavender said faintly. I can't be team leader... what is Sapph thinking?!
Relax, homie! You'll rock! Arcana said encouragingly.
But Lavender couldn't quite shake the feeling that somehow, Sapph had made a terrible mistake... not to mention a gross over estimation.
"Zen, Aura Sphere!" Sapph commanded desperately as he fought what seemed to be quite the losing battle.
Zen prepared and fired off a pulsing pokéball-sized orb of aura at Cleopatra's Arbok that had taken out Anuvi with nearly no effort at all due to the latter's fatigue.
"So desperate," Cleopatra sighed as without an order, Arbok arched its body and let the Fighting type attack speed through its coils.
Wait... it dodged?! Zen said blankly, huffing and wheezing as his jaw nearly fell off. You don't dodge Aura Spheres... they make you go splat.
"...how ugly," Cleopatra finished with another sigh. "Arbok, Crunch that Jutunkik into pieces and spit out the bones!"
Zen was too tired after the whole day of battling he'd had to pull off and defending Sapph from the snake Pokémon's earlier attack on Sapph. The Arbok seized the Combatant Pokémon's arm in its serrated maw and bit down with all the force its jaw could muster.
Zen screamed in pain as Sapph snapped out of his fatigued haze to scream, "Come on, buddy! Use Aura Sphere at close range!"
"Discard the filth," Cleopatra said remorselessly.
With a swift flick of its head, the long serpentine Pokémon twisted Zen around (causing the simian Pokémon to scream some more as he was forcibly jerked through the air) and in the middle of its arc of movement, released the Fighting type like a fast ball straight at one of the stacks of steel containers.
Sapph watched, stunned silent in horror as his last Pokémon available hit, toppled and was promptly buried in the pyramid of containers and what seemed to be a horde of various and apparently heavy machinery.
"ZEN!" Sapph screamed, abandoning Nicola in the moment and running towards the avalanche of metal before being noosed by the Cobra Pokémon's long tail and lifted slowly into the air.
"Stop you're childish screaming," Cleopatra scolded in her dispassionate voice. "If you cannot, I shall have it done for you. Arbok, you may finish him off."
"Ungh..." Sapph murmured in pain as he clawed desperately at the Arbok shiny coils, unable to prise the cobra's powerful grip on his neck, which was tightening by the second. Just as Sapph's vision was about to fade to blackness, a loud, terrified musical cry pierced the air and a large, dusty green form flew into the room and barrelled into them, sending the Arbok, and Sapph along with it, for a loop.
Sapph felt the Arbok's grip loosen slightly in the shock of the sudden attack and opening an eye, heard footsteps and a voice he dimly recognized saying, "Well, well... so you're useful for something after all... now beat it, you dumb reptile."
A second, brash voice bellowed from the depths of the cavernous entrance, yelling, "I have you now, my beauty!" prompting a second, musical squeak of terror and the familiar voice to spit out, "What part of, 'get off me' don't you understand, you ignorant Flygon?!"
Sapph barely had the time to register any comprehension of the events around him before the coils begun to tighten again. Kicking and gasping as his air supply was squeezed off, he gasped and blinked back tears, rasping for help in a voice no one could hear... before the pressure on his throat was miraculously lifted.
Sapph thudded limply to the floor and choked and spluttered as his vision sharpened. Looking up at the ceiling as he struggled to catch his breath, he heard another struggle not too far off as his captor hissed and spluttered and the mystery saviour brawled a few feet away.
"...Zen..." Sapph said weakly, rolling on his side and focussing on the debris that lay several yards away from where he lay. "Zen..." he repeated feebly, his voice cracking with fear that his Pokémon may not respond.
Just as the Flygon and Arbok separated in the midst of their battle, Arbok beaten and mad, an invisible force seemed to clock it around the head, making its eyes go oddly blank and toppling it like a felled tree.
"What the...?" Kamren murmured, turning towards the pile of parts as it shifted slightly and a long grey arm pushed its way out, followed by the rest of the near-fainted, scratched and badly bruised Jutunkik.
It's you! You're that Taebrawl! Burner who had up to that point kept silent blurted out in shock, prompting Kamren's mind to flashback to the day when he met the then-rebellious brawler...
-Flashback-
Pamap City Dojo, three and a half months earlier...
"What the- what are you, shrimp?" Kamren yelled rudely, earning a cold glare from the creature that sat or stood (it was hard to tell because of the cloak) before him.
The being said nothing; just stared.
Yo, my master asked you a question? Or are you dumb?! Burner yelled.
Still no sound escaped the Pokémon's lips.
"If you can use Light Screen, you must be a Pokémon!" Kamren said in glee.
So, a Pokémon is in charge of Pokémon? Sapph thought, bewildered. Must be a Psychic type to intimidate Fighting types like Rumboo... but wait, Rumboo are part Ghost too, so why would they choose to serve a Psychic type?
"And if you're a Pokémon," the reddish blond trainer cackled, enlarging an empty pokéball. "It simply means I can catch you! Go, pokéball!" Kamren roared, throwing the pokéball towards it.
"Wha-?" Sapph started in surprise. "No fair, Kamren!"
"All's fair in my book, widdle Sapphire!" Kamren mocked as the pokéball made its progress towards the strange Pokémon.
Reacting quickly, the being's eyes snapped forward onto Kamren's Therline, who was stepping out of the pokéball's path. The yellow orbs glowed an extraterrestrial blue as Burner felt his body move out of control, his whole being also enveloped on a light of matching hue to the cause's eyes.
Hey! Burner yelled, his eyes dilating in fear. What d'you think you're doing? HEY! He yelled as he was thrown bodily by unseen forces into the pokéball's way. The stranger released its psychic hold on Burner as the pokéball struck him in the back, splitting the ball open and sucking him in.
"What the-" Kamren gasped stunned as the pokéball hit the ground with a thud, rolled around a couple of times before the light which had been blinking in the centre went off with a loud PING!, signaling that it had successfully captured its accidental target.
"Wow, way to go, Little Kammykins," Sapph choked out having a hard time controlling his laughter. "What a classic catch!"
"Shut it, you wannabe! OK, you!" he added at the Pokémon. "Let's see you dodge this!" he said with a flourish, pulling out a black and white pokéball with two yellow stripes running on either side of a yellow letter 'H' parallel to each other, all embossed on the black half of the pokéball.
Whoa, that's an Ultra Ball! Sapph thought, suddenly jealous. Why's he get all the good stuff?
"Ultra ball, go!" he exclaimed, cocking back his fist and throwing the enhanced capture device at his elusive quarry.
The creature's eyes went blue again, this time ensnaring the Ultra ball in a halo of shimmering blue light.
"Hunh?!" Kamren practically screamed in frustration.
Sorry, the being said softly. But I can't play with you anymore.
With that, the creature under the cloak raised a fingerless gloved hand out of the cloak, pointing it at Kamren. Suddenly, as had happened with Burner, Kamren found himself completely out of his own control.
"Hey, what gives?" Kamren roared in panic as he was lifted bodily in the air. "What's the meaning of this? Put me down NOW! I order you to..."
Nobody orders me to do anything, the creature said coldly, slightly clenching his fingers and he bent his fore arm towards his chest. With a sweep of his hand (the glove seemed attached to his hand), he sent Kamren and the Ultra ball soaring out through the wall.
-End Flashback-
So, you let Sappy catch you? Kamren thought as he watched Sapph return the Jutunkik and turn to the Mystic Pokémon with a word of praise for each. Pathetic...
"Kamren?!" Sapph's voice registered frank surprise as its owner recognized his rival's presence. Kamren turned to find the Johton being supported by the anxious Flygon. "Is this Flygon yours? And more importantly... what are you doing here?"
One part from the pile rolled towards Kamren's foot and he stooped to pick it up, said in a cold voice, "None of your business. And that Flygon," he went on, studying the part intently, scoffed. "Who would want such a cowardly Pokémon anyways?"
"I believe I'd fit the bill, ya stowaway," the gruff voice Sapph heard earlier reverberating around the cavernous dock bellowed. "All power and no spine makes a nice test subject, wouldn't you say?"
Test subject? Sapph thought furiously as he felt the Flygon quake beside him. "You're experimenting on the Pokémon here, like at Chinooka City?!" Sapph roared, his anger and indignation at Team Shadow's gall exceeding his fear at the appearance of what seemed to be a second Team shadow Captain, dressed more for the part of a pirate captain than a terrorist. "You make me sick!"
The beefy man came to stand beside Cleopatra and barked, "And what have we here? Fancy-dressed free booters? Arrr, yeh'll all walk the plank for this!"
"That's what you'll think!" Sapph said loudly as Cleopatra returned her Arbok and tossed a second pokéball forwards which split open to reveal another large Poison type Pokémon, whose pre-evolved forms Sapph had battled on numerous occasions that day.
Damn, a Nidoqueen, Sapph grimaced mentally, watching the large blue Poison and Ground-type Pokémon flex its powerful, armoured arms and wiggle its mouse-like ears in deliberation. It smacked its muscular tail on the ground three times and let out a roar that caused the Flygon to squeak in fear once more.
"Arr! Let's keelhaul 'em, Moryock!" The Second captain yelled; raising, enlarging and opening a pokéball of his own, spilling white light onto the cavern floor and forming yet another creature local to the Corei region.
Once the low-slung Pokémon had gained a corporeal form, the ground formed a deeply-cracked crater under nearly nine hundred kilograms of dusty brown rock. Moryock opened hazel eyes which lay under rows and rows of strong, raking studs that, despite their dullness, would make a Rollout attack something to avoid.
Ah, Moryock! The Mountain Dragon Pokémon, Kamren's Pokédex began to say. They're well known for creating new mountain trails by burrowing through mountains with ferocious Rollout attacks. They're quite rare, both in number and typing, being the only Rock and Dragon type species known today.
Finally, information I can use! Kamren smirked as he watched the Moryock and Nidoqueen lumber to stand side by side and said, "Burner, you're up."
As Burner rose to his six foot two inch erect height, Sapph called out in warning, "Kamren! What are you doing?! Those guys are too much for you to handle alone!"
"I'm not you, Sapphire," Kamren said shortly. "Nor am I as weak as you. So if you're too Torchic for this, then butt out of it. I've got questions," he added, glancing at the two captains and smirking, "and who better to answer them than two Team Shadow captains?"
"Tch!" Sapph hissed vehemently, glancing at his presently useless right arm, and back at Nicola's inert form sprawled out on the floor behind him. He then turned to the Flygon supporting him, who was still shivering at the sight of Doracus, thinking hard...
He'd never been in a worse fix. He was injured, out of Pokémon, and his only assistance was a boy he'd rather have nothing to do with. And even though he'd rather get eaten by Cleopatra's Arbok than admit it, he would be of no help at all to the boy trainer before him, assisting him...
Even that thought sounded weird to Sapph, given the rivals' history.
He could try catching the Flygon, but he had no means to weaken it. And he could see from the desert Pokémon's demeanour that it had had enough of people trying to subjugate it for one day.
Lowering his voice to a whisper, Sapph hissed in the Dragon Pokémon's ear, "Hey, Flygon. I know things look bad right now. I know I'm about to ask you for something I presently have no right to, but... we really need your help to escape."
The Flygon's eyes flicked towards the youth he held with some surprise at the change in tone. It was less demanding... the Flygon seemed to muse as he studied the boy as he went on.
"You don't have to help, you could just fly away," Sapph said as Burner got double-whammied by a Sludge Bomb attack from Nidoqueen and a Rollout attack from Moryock. "I'm begging you, OK? I've no reason to be proud here," Sapph murmured as Burner retaliated with Flamethrower. "But if you don't help us, we're all toast."
"Sorry to put it so bluntly," Sapph said, noticing the scared look in the Mystic Pokémon's eyes, "but it's not a threat, it's cold fact. We need to escape, not fight. When we get out, you'll be free to do what you want. I'm not your trainer, I can't command you-" Burner got caught by a second Rollout attack from Moryock as Nidoqueen charged in with a Hammer Arm attack. "- I can only ask you. You're welcome to join us," he added, touching Anuvi and Zen's pokéballs which were attached to his belt. "But that's your choice to make. We haven't got time either," Sapph said as Nidoqueen clothes-lined Burner with the Hammer Arm and Moryock scored a third hit by steamrollering Burner's arm deeper into the floor, causing a roar of agony.
"Ugh," Cleopatra said distastefully as she watched Burner roll about the floor, clutching his arm. "Your lack of strength is so... ugly..."
"Best let us put yeh and yer pussy cat outta commission, laddie," Doracus laughed as Moryock uncurled itself and turned to face the opposition once again.
"Not to mention your unsightly pride at assuming you could take us on single-handedly," Cleopatra went on, causing Kamren's blood to start boiling.
"Well, it was fun," Doracus said with a cruel leer. "But it's time for naughty kids to go nighty-night... permanently! Moryock!" He yelled in a commanding voice.
"Nidoqueen!" Cleopatra said in a vapid voice, stretching her hand towards Kamren and Burner for emphasis.
"...USE HYPER BEAM!" The duo roared in unison.
Kamren's eyes narrowed in the light of the two balls of energy that began to swell in the two Pokémon's mouths as Burner bared his fangs in pain as he rose to his feet determined to shield his trainer.
"Flygon, use Sandstorm quickly!"
Kamren and Burner quickly shielded their eyes as a powerful desert wind blew in from nowhere and form a powerful cyclone around the two Pokémon and their trainers.
"Grrr," Doracus voice snarled from within the sand hurricane as his Rock Dragon Pokémon shifted a little for its next attack. "You lot are working together, eh?"
"OH, HELL NO!" Sapph and Kamren roared back in unison, catching everyone, even themselves, by surprise.
"Well, what do you know?" Sapph said with a sardonic smile. "We actually agree on something for once."
"I'm not agreeing with you," Kamren said stubbornly. "I'm disagreeing with him!"
Sapph smirked slightly despite their predicament and said "Heh. If you say so... by the way, this place will be filled with Team Shadow operatives in a few minutes given the racket you made down here..."
"'I made'?!" Kamren repeated in disgust as Sapph ordered a Flamethrower from Flygon to follow up his last order. "You made some of it too, if I recall!"
"What do you suppose that boy's up to?" Cleopatra said in a bored voice, watching the spinning sand circle around them glow red hot as the Flygon's Fire attack heated it up exponentially.
"Doesn't matter," Doracus snarled. "I'll blow it away! Moryock, get ready to fire on my mark!"
"Again, whatever," Sapph said dully as he clutched his arm in pain. Reaching down and hoisting Nicola by the arm and over his shoulder and staggering a bit under the weight, he turned to Kamren and said seriously, "We're outta here..."
Kamren snorted with impatience at the scene before him and said, "Hmph. Do whatever you want, you coward. Just stay outta my way, Sapphire."
Rising to his feet, Sapph turned towards the cyclone that trapped the two captains and with barely a glance at his rival said loudly, "Whatever, Karen."
A vein began to pulse at Kamren's temple as he spun to stare daggers at Sapph and hissed, "It's Kamren, you loser!"
Sapph's lips turned upwards into a smirk as he replied with a whisper, "I know. Flygon! Time for DragonBreath, go!"
"Arr, Moryock! Blow that sandstorm away! Hyper Beam... FIRE!" Doracus yelled as, unbeknownst to him, a burst of ocean blue winds escaped the Flygon's fanged maw and hit the hot sandstorm with enough force to knock over a barn.
Moryock fired the beam of Megacite energy which hit the sand... and bounced back in all directions within the now reflective glass cylinder.
"AARGH!" Doracus yelled as he nearly got bowled over by the force of his own pokémon's attack which missed him and struck Nidoqueen in the gut. Nidoqueen gasped in pain as her attack misfired and added to the confused and dangerous lightshow.
Time to go, Kamren!" Sapph called, dragging Nicola along as the Flygon hurried to help.
Kamren remained rooted to the spot as shouts and footfalls coming down the stairs to the docks grew louder by the second.
"KAMREN!"
Kamren looked at the machine part he still held in his hand and turning towards the pile of scrap parts as Team Shadow agents began to swarm onto the docks, muttered, "Burner... Flamethrower."
One flash of fire later and an enormous explosion filled the cavern as the parts blew sky high, throwing the first wave of Shadow operatives and the captains for a loop.
Casting a last glance towards the flames that spread all over the dock, blocking the horde of Team Shadow agents from rushing him, he let out one last noise of frustration and, returning Burner bitterly, fled towards the small dinghy Sapph, the Flygon and the unconscious Nicola occupied.
"About time, Kamren!" Sapph said scoldingly as Kamren leapt into the boat.
"Shut up and gun it," Kamren said tersely, exercising all self control not to hit Sapph as he looked back to see Cleopatra and Doracus rising to their feet, the latter positively livid.
Sapph complied, screams of "STOP THEM!", "CAPTAIN DORACUS! LADY CLEOPATRA!" and "FIRE, FIRE!" filling the air behind them.
Haley strolled along Utopia Island boardwalk, her mind full of the things she'd heard from Orion. Truth be told, she'd gleaned very little from him about her father's whereabouts, but the little she had gotten was turning the search mission into something of a daunting task.
So, it seems Team Shadow has my father, she thought to herself as the noise of the people around her, which included skaters practicing tricks in the street to bikini-clad ladies riding bicycles past her. And Sapph is a member of their crew... what a thing to tell someone on the eve of the biggest tournament of their life! Just what does it all mean?
She was apparently so absorbed in her thoughts that, without knowing it, she ran right into the back of someone, knocking them down. The sound of numerous tins and jars rolling across the boardwalk filled the air as the person toppled, caught entirely unawares.
"Sorry about that," she said apologetically, bending down to help the person she had assailed up. "That was totally my... it's YOU!" she gasped as she looked into the purple eyes of a young girl whom the researcher knew by reputation more than anything else.
The young thirteen year old girl looked up and parting her long black hair (which also sported some violet highlights that matched her eyes) that had fallen into her eyes, looked up and said confusedly, "I'm sorry, but do I know you?"
"So Roni didn't tell you about me, did he?" Haley said angrily, retracting her helping hand and leaving Zayina to find her own feet, dusting her knee-length, blue denim skirt off as she stared at Haley.
"You know Roni too?" Zayina went on in frank bewilderment. "Are you friends?"
"Not anymore," Haley said curtly. Thanks to you and your losing to Reg at the Gatonda Tournament, she added mentally.
Aloud though, she said, "But what would he tell a girl like you about me anyways? You are dating him now, aren't you?" she gave the girl's clothes a look of distaste before spitting out her name. "Zayina Edwadssen."
A look of slight understanding crossed Zayina's eyes as she tugged at her black and white striped top and said, "Look, friend, I'm sorry for whatever history you and Roni had..."
"DON'T YOU TALK TO ME LIKE I'M YOUR FRIEND!" Haley yelled causing the people nearby to stop and stare at them. "We are not friends. Not even by the remotest means of association. Are we clear?"
"Hey, crystal," Zayina said, raising her hands defensively. "What are you doing here anyways?"
"That's my business," Haley said shortly.
"Look, can't you at least try..." Zayina began exasperatedly before a ringing noise came from her pocket. Pulling out a PokéNav, she flipped it open and said, "Excuse me."
Haley seethed at the girl as she took a few steps back and began to talk on the phone. Haley watched her face light up in surprise for a moment and she looked away to see what Zayina had been carrying. A sudden click brought her investigation abruptly to a halt.
"Well, I guess I'll be heading to the dock," Zayina said, scooping up the tins and jars she'd dropped and cramming them back into the bag. "Roni's picking me up there. Apparently Sapph Manson is with him. Strange coincidence, isn't it?" She went on, missing Haley's look of shock. "I'd always wanted a crack at that action since the Gatonda Tournament... maybe we can have a little... tete-a-tete or two en route to Azura City..."
"The hell you will!" Haley blurted out angrily. "What, Roni's not enough for you? Sapph as well?!"
"...what are you talking about?" Zayina said. "I was referring to battling him, dummie! Well, not like you're the type to play it cool," Zayina said exasperatedly, "so I guess I'll leave you and your overactive imagination alone. So long fr- oh, yes," she added, her shoulder-length hair whipping out behind her as she looked back coolly. "We're not friends, are we? Guess I'll have to see what kinda guy Sapph is for myself... if you get my drift..." She smiled a mischievous grin and said, "Ciao!"
"Oh no you won't!" Haley yelled as she gave chase to Zayina all the way up the street, calling the older girl a bunch of names that caused scandalized mothers to quickly clap their hands over their young children's ears as she ran past them in a vain attempt to block their innocent minds from the vulgarity of her speech.
Once out on the sea a good distance away, Kamren turned a suspicious eye on his rival who had been attempting non-stop to revive his senseless companion, still decked out in Team Shadow garb.
"Nicola! Hey, Nicola! Snap out of it! Hey!" Sapph called frantically, shaking her shoulders roughly and slapping her face as the Flygon watched.
Kamren's eyes narrowed as he fixated on the small silver 'S' on the side of the younger boy's shirt and, rising to his feet , walked over to the trio gathered at the stern of the boat and grabbing Sapph roughly by the scruff of the neck, slammed him to the deck of the boat.
"So... you're with Team Shadow, are you?" Kamren spat, his reddish blond hair falling wildly into his eyes. "Maybe you can answer my questions then..."
"Get real, Kamren!" Sapph snarled, kicking Kamren off him and rising to his feet quickly as the Flygon cringed. "If I were really Team Shadow, wouldn't I just try to capture you and the Flygon and hand them over? You really think Team Shadow have enough men that captains can just strangle their 'subordinates'," Sapph sketched heavy quotation marks around the word and winced himself as his arm throbbed painfully again, "at a whim? And still have men wiling to follow them?"
Kamren glared icy daggers at his rival as he asked, "Then what's with the uniform?"
"Stolen," Sapph said shortly. "We received a report about Team Shadow's activities in the cove and we came to investigate ad stop them if we could."
"Yeah, right," Kamren said coldly. "And why should I believe you?"
"I really don't care about that either way at the moment," Sapph said levelly as Nicola started to stir feebly. "We have an injured person here. If you're not gonna help, get lost."
Kamren opened his mouth to retort before a loud voice came out from somewhere nearby, "This is the UAS Hydro. Calling unidentified vessel... please identify self. I repeat, please identify self."
"Hey... that's Tony!" Sapph said, once he'd heard and recognized the voice of his best friend. Reaching for the intercom, he said loudly, "Tony, it's me, Sapph! I'm with Nicola Brambles, Herbert Brambles's granddaughter, and..."
CLICK! The radio dangled off the hook as Sapph stared at his empty hand.
"Darn it, Kamren! What was that for?" Sapph demanded.
"The AGENTs aren't really my crowd," Kamren said simply, plucking a second pokéball off his belt and releasing its contents into the water.
"The AGENTs aren't really your... what's that meant to mean?" Sapph demanded as Dracya's snout poked its way out of the water out of Sapph's line of vision off the starboard side of the small boat, waiting for an order.
"Next time we meet, it'll be at the League finals," was all Kamren said in a cryptic tone. "I'll find out the truth and expose you for the man you truly are then. Don't wimp out... Manson."
"Wh-what? Oi, Kamren!" Sapph yelled as he watched his rival jump over the side of the small dinghy as the UAS Hydro came closer.
Cradling his arm as the large battleship drew up beside theirs, Sapph stared at the point of the ocean where Kamren had vanished and, registering the use of his surname by his rival for the first time, said calmly, "So it seems, Kent. So it seems."
Noticing that Kamren dropped something on the deck of the dinghy before jumping ship, Sapph stooped to retrieve the machine part Kamren stole, leaving Sapph to ponder Kamren's actions and motives for investigating Team Shadow in some bemusement as he pocketed it.
"Ahoy there, Sa-," Tony began jovially as he was helped aboard, only to be cut short by a second, jarringly familiar voice.
"Just what are you wearing?!" A tall redhead with a moderate amount of freckles and a high-collared red jacket said brashly, marching down the steps that led to the navigation room.
"Roni?" Sapph said incredulously, recognizing the angry youth as Roni Ridlowski, a local Junior Sea Ranger from Nightspark City, and from what he gathered, Haley's ex-boyfriend for a brief spell during the Gatonda Tournament.
"So, you're with Team Shadow are you?" Roni said coldly, striding towards him. "Then we'll just have to take you in for questioning! AGENTs, apprehend him!"
"AGENTs, at ease," Tony commanded and the ship hands all around moved in, and they stopped at once. Raising his voice for all to hear, Tony went on, "Sapphire Manson is our Corei affiliate and as such must be accorded the respect due to a field lieutenant. Are we clear?"
"YES, SIR!" The AGENTs chorused.
"See to Miss Brambles' safe retrieval, would you, Roni?" Tony asked politely. "Lieutenant Shrader, have the helmsman set a course for Utopia Island once Miss Brambles is secured on the vessel. I'll be in my quarters in fifteen minutes' time with Mr Manson if and when I'm needed."
"Of course, Captain Parito," Lieutenant Shrader said with a swift salute as Sapph and Tony went below, the Flygon hot on their heels.
"Why are we heading to Utopia Island?" Sapph asked his friend when they were a flight below. "And what's Roni doing here?"
"We also got wind of Team Shadow's latest activities in the Cove," Tony said as he led the way into the infirmary and Sapph handed the medic Anuvi and Zen's pokéballs for treatment. "We're performing a joint sting operation when we saw you leaving the cove by radar. This country's terrorists sure keep us busy."
"No... ARGH! – kidding..." Sapph whimpered as another medic tended to his arm a bit more roughly.
"So," Tony went on with a wry smile ten minutes after Sapph's treatment as he and his good friend were seated at a table in the former's quarters, the latter having changed out of the Team shadow uniform he'd stolen and his arm in a sling. "What is the story behind your choice of wardrobe? And your new companion?" He nodded to the Flygon, which let out a timid squeak and hid behind Sapph's chair shyly.
"Oh, he's not mine yet," Sapph said quickly. "Right, buddy?"
The Flygon nuzzled Sapph much like a Meowth, Mogshex or a Skitty would and let out a friendly cry.
"Looks like the Flygon thinks otherwise," Tony smiled. "You gonna nickname him now?"
"Maybe later," Sapph said, stroking the Mystic Pokémon's head with his good hand and smiling back.
"Good," Tony said calmly, "because we have a lot to discuss, apparently."
Fixing his serious face back on, he said once more, "So, Sapph, to business. Why not tell me what happened form the top?"
Setting the machine part Kamren had left behind on the table between them, Sapph began to tell him all that he'd seen and done.
The blazing orange sun kissed the ocean as Utopia Island came into view. Sapph and Tony stood side by side at the hull watching the sun set as the island drew nearer.
Taking in a deep breath as the sound of Wingull and the occasional Pelipper filled the air, Tony said, "Y'know, buddy? I've been all over the world... Kanto, Orre, Almia... even Sinnoh. Corie has some of the most beautiful sunsets all around."
"I dunno," Sapph said with a chuckle. "Cherrygrove's could give 'em a run for their money."
The two friends laughed for a bit before Tony, hiccoughing himself back to seriousity, asked, "Well, what now?"
"Wel, I can't go after Team Shadow with a dislocated shoulder," Sapph said reasonably glancing down at his right arm. "So I guess I'll revert to my initial plan of training the rest of my crew for the League finals. Gotta keep the level of my team equal, don't I?"
"True," Tony said with a nod.
"What about you? What's your next move?"
"Sorry, Sapph," Tony said with a smile. "But that's classified."
"No faaaair, dude!" Sapph whined as Tony laughed. "So not fair!"
"Well, you did 'catch' a Flygon today," Tony said jovially. "Why don't we call it squares at that?"
"Hmph," Sapph pouted, putting on a good show of being irritable.
"Captain Parito, Mr. Manson," the voice of Lieutenant Shrader said curtly as the AGENT joined them on the deck. "We have arrived at Utopia Island and have successfully docked."
"Good work, Lieutenant," Tony said appreciatively.
"Miss Brambles is also stabilized and ready for debriefing," Lieutenant Shrader went on in a professional tone. "She has changed clothes and is awaiting you in the interrogation room."
"My thanks, Lieutenant," Tony said calmly.
"Not at all, sir," Shrader said crisply and with a second salute, walked back to the navigation room with a brisk march.
"'Not at all, Sir'," Sapph said in a pompous singsong voice, leaning on the rail with his left arm and chortling a bit. "Must everyone be so stiff about you?"
"You manage to avoid it just fine," Tony retorted with a smirk. "Come on, I need to debrief you, too... standard procedure,"
"Yes, sir!" Sapph said with a mocking salute with his left hand and, shuddering with repressed laughter, followed Tony below.
Fifteen minutes later, Sapph stood on the dock with Haley, Nicola, Herbert Brambles Sr. Zayina, Roni, Tony, Lavender and Professor Yew as the ship made preparations to sail them to Northern Isle, where the first test for Haley's Trigello Tournament qualification campaign was situated.
"Here are Anuvi and Zen, professor," Sapph said handing two pokéballs over.
"And here are the rest of your Pokémon," Professor Yew said in reply, handing four pokéballs over and noticing the fifth one on his belt, added, "Ah, a new catch, I see!"
"Yeah," Sapph said proudly. "A real softie on the outside but all power within!"
"Now, you do your best, Haley," Professor Yew said steadily as he fixed the young Water type specialist with a kindly eye. "Just do your best, and stay out of trouble. Neither of you can afford to go looking for it, especially with the tournament season so near."
"We don't go looking for trouble, professor," Haley sighed. "Trouble usually finds us. Thanks to a certain somebody, anyways..."
Sapph ignored the jibe and turning to Nicola, asked, "How's your head?"
"Less sore now, thanks for asking," Nicola said brightly. Their adventure in the Cove together had wrought some measure of trust and respect for the Johton trainer in the older girl.
"You're not bowing out now, are you?" Haley said in a taunting voice. "Not scared, are we?"
"Pssh, you would be so lucky," Nicola scoffed. "I'll follow soon enough. And I'll show you once and for all just which type is the strongest!"
"Please, you don't need to show me, I already know Water types rule!"
"Hmph, we'll see," Nicola said in what she thought was an indifferent scoff.
"Ready to go, Lavender?" Sapph called to his Eevee who was playing with Tony as he turned to board the Hydro.
Yep, Lavender said, her sunny voice failing to hide the worry etched in her dead, brown eyes.
"Don't worry, Lavender," Sapph said quietly to his Evolution Pokémon as he scooped her up and planted her on his good shoulder. "You'll be a great leader. Anuvi always thought so..."
Anii said that? Lavender gasped.
"Yup!" Sapph said brightly as Roni, Haley, Zayina and Tony followed suit, the former calling out orders to the crew and Tony nodding to Lt. Shrader to comply. "Told me so on our way to White Cliffs..."
Lavender was speechless in awe at the confidence her trainer and foster brother showed in her. One thing bothered her...
...if trust is what is needed to make an Espeon... just what was keeping her?