21

[1:22 PM. Underground Café. Goldenrod City Underground. Johto Independence Day.]

"You're taking an awful risk coming here, Claudia."

The man sat coldly next to her, picking at his lunch. Claudia sipped pensively at her coffee. Around her, the shady underbelly of Goldenrod was abuzz with movement and life. She had never seen them so compelled to action before.

"What the hell is going on now?" he asked.

"I don't know. Nobody knows."

The man's voice was hushed. "What did you guys do?"

Normally cryptic and reserved, a more human side of Claudia emerged when she was with friends. "Nothing, to my knowledge."

The man shook his head. "This is a big goddamn deal, you realize that right? If anyone were to recognize you…"

"I'll take my chances, Aiden. I came here for information, not to start a riot."

"Well you might be too late. Have you seen the Magnet Rail station? Hundreds of people stranded on the wrong side of the continent. There's gonna be trouble, mark my words. You know, when you asked me to meet you, you weren't a wanted criminal."

"I'm only a wanted criminal in an illegitimate state. Johto cannot decide this themselves without at least convening with the League."

Aiden took a large sip from his soup. "Well, they did. What's your league gonna do about it?"

She traced the rim of her cup with a thin, perfectly manicured finger. "I'm not sure; I haven't had a chance to get in contact with them."

"I saw on TV that the League is making an official response later today."

"That can't be good."

Aiden finished his soup and kept looking over his shoulder; clearly, he felt out of place down here, but Claudia seemed just fine. "You'll only draw attention to yourself if you keep up like that."

"I'm the one who should be drawing attention to myself?"

She gave a wicked smile. "I can handle these people."

"Are you saying I can't?"

She sipped at her coffee. "Perhaps." She giggled, letting the warm aroma waft up. She savored the dark smell. "So, heard anything about the terrorists?"

"Claudia, I'm a breeder, not a broker. I just here what people say around the Day-Care. Look I know you asked me because I'm your friend, but I don't know anything, and I don't want to get involved, okay?"

"I understand. Just…keep an ear to the ground, you know?"

Aiden continued to look over his shoulder.

"Expecting someone?" she asked.

"It never hurts to be careful." The look on his face was one of anticipation. He radiated suspense. "I found a guy who might be able to help. He's a local. Hangs around the Day-Care all the time, when he isn't slumming it up down here. I called him up after you got in contact with me and told him to meet us here.

"I'm impressed. When is he meeting us?"

He gave yet another look over his shoulder. "Soon."

She gave herself a moment to focus. She knew she had to get to Ecruteak and talk with her father. Was he okay? Would he believe her? Did he blame her? There was no way to be sure. She shuddered; someone was approaching.

"I heard you were looking for information."

She slowly turned. The man behind here was young, arrogant. His hair unkempt, he looked like a man thrust into adulthood. He wore a long coat that dragged on the ground—second hand, Claudia assumed, or not his. Claudia turned towards Aiden.

"This is your guy?"

Aiden shrugged.

The man took a seat next to her. He reeked of alcohol. "Hey, Aiden here knows what he's doing. He did the right thing by calling me; I think I can help you."

She pushed her coffee away and placed a bill on the counter to cover the tab. "I doubt that very seriously.

The man laughed. "You're Claudia, right? That psycho's husband?"

"Hey now—" Aiden interjected.

She shot him a look—best not to make a scene here. "We're separated."

"No judgment here. My girl gives me trouble too sometimes, as I'm sure you can understand. Listen. We can help each other. I can get you your terrorists."

"There's nothing to 'get;' all of them are accounted for." Her voice was ice.

"You'd think that, wouldn't you?"

"What are you implying?"

He smiled. "Listen: you don't trust me; I get that. You shouldn't. You picked the wrong time to vacation. I can help you get what you need so you can get on back home to Indigo Plateau. The name's Finder." He extended a hand. Tentatively, she gave it a light shake, as polite as she could muster.

"That's not your real name, is it?" she asked.

"Rule number one of the underground: never use your real name, especially when yours is hot."

"I'll keep that in mind."

He scanned the area. There were the inklings of a crowd forming, stewing and coagulating. "We should think about moving this party elsewhere. You're not as plain as you might think."

She agreed; the crowd began giving the tow of them sharp glares. They pointed and talked among themselves. Aiden looked positively shell-shocked. "That's the best thing you've said this whole time."

Finder palmed the table and got up; Claudia and Aiden followed. As they attempted to leave, a large man blocked their way. He towered over the three of them.

"Where do you think you're going, Finder?" the man asked. His voice was a clunk baritone, like that of a ships foghorn.

"We're leaving, Fist."

Fist cracked his knuckles. "Uh, uh. You still owe me. What did I say about owing me?"

"This isn't the time, Fist. I'll get your money. You know I'm good for it."

Claudia pulled Finder back. "These people are looking for you?"

He shrugged. "I was hoping that they were looking for you."

Fist was getting impatient. "Cut it out with that girl of yours. What, you and your lady break up?"

Finder exhaled; exasperation was setting in. "She's not my girl, Fist, she's a client."

"Well maybe Miss Pretty in Black over there can cover your debts. I mean, that's my money, ain't it?"

"I'm doing this one pro bono. You'll get your money."

Aiden was silently panicking. "Can we just get out of here?" he whispered.

"You know, come to think of it, I don't really want your money. I'd much prefer some of your teeth for my collection."

Finder cracked a bit. "Let's not get too hasty, friend. I'm sure we can work this out like gentlemen."

Fist threw a wicked punch at Finder which caught him in the jaw. He sailed back into the restaurant and crashed into the counter. The cooks from the back came out shouting and swearing. Claudia could see Finder try to stand, but the punch had been so firm, he dizzily fell to the floor. Fist and his cronies erupted in laughter.

"You still go down like a girl, eh, Finder?"

His posse laughed. Finder spat blood onto the ground.

"How about you ditch this loser, lady, and come with a real man?"

Claudia closed her eyes. The entire aura of the room changed. Fist took a step back. His crowd began to look at each other then all focused on her.

"I suggested you boys go play somewhere else. Adults are talking."

Fist took one more step back before reaching for a pokeball at his belt. "Why I oughta…"

"What you ought to do is leave."

"Now I make it a special thing never to hit a lady, but I gotta make an exception." He tossed out a Graveller. It stretched its rocky arms and let out a low moan. "Graveller, let's teach this lady a lesson in manners."

The Graveller nodded and jumped at Claudia but bounced uselessly off an invisible wall. From behind her, a tiny Sableye giggle lasciviously. The Graveller kept up its assault; everything was deflected off. The Sableye continued to laugh. Claudia broke a smile.

"You bore me."

As she began to walk away, Finder ran from the restaurant, Kadabra at his side. "We're getting out of here!" He grabbed Claudia and Ian before she could react. There was a bright flash of light that staggered Fist. In a moment, they were gone.