"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"My ideas are always good ideas, Silver, despite your complete lack of confidence in them. If it weren't for me, you would've ended up pacing that room until you passed out. Trust me. This is a good idea."
The two trainers were crouched behind a bush, makeshift Team Rocket uniforms on and Pokéballs clenched in their hands. Since leaving the Pokémon Centre, they hadn't heard a single noise- from team Rocket or otherwise.
"Are you sure they were tracking the call, Silver? I mean, you have no idea if that was their intention or not."
"I'm positive. Mars didn't know Ariana worked for dad, since she left before Ariana decided to screw up her life. So she probably was told t track me down, and they probably tracked every single call that Mars made until they pinpointed me."
Lyra made a quiet humming sound in agreement, before staring at the grass below her. It was going to be a long night, she could tell. As she repositioned herself, a beating of wings and loud yelling from above her made her pay attention again.
"This is Proton, from outside the Verdanturf Pokémon Centre. Entrance is secured. They're not getting out this way. Over!"
"Are you sure they were tracking the call now, Lyra?" Silver hissed.
"Okay, so they were! We need to be quiet and listen for an opening, so shut up!" Lyra watched as Proton listened intently to his radio. She recognised him from when she previously dismantled Team Rocket in Johto, but clearly that hadn't made much of a difference- they were still at large.
"Any word from the reconnaissance team?" He asked. Silver inhaled sharply.
"What do you mean, you've lost contact? Find where they are! We need to know their movements during the day! Have they definitely been here?" Proton slammed one of the buttons on his radio, shoving it back in his pocket. Lyra grabbed Silver's wrist, pulling him up.
"This is our chance. Leave it to me," she whispered, and Silver nodded in agreement, letting her go along with her plan for once. "Proton, sir. We're from the recon team."
"Why aren't you in contact with Petrel? He's supposed to be looking after you."
"The radio broke. it must've been faulty," Silver interjected, staring Proton straight in the face.
"Trust Petrel to be handing out broken radios. Well, whatever. You can get it fixed back at base. Are the two trainers inside?"
"Yes, sir. We've had eyes on the building all day. They arrived late afternoon, went to the Battlefield, and then went back inside, where we assume they called with Mars. Times match up almost perfectly, sir."
Proton narrowed his eyes for a moment, surveying the two trainers standing sheepishly in front of him. He took his hat off, ruffling his green hair in exasperation.
"Good." He took the radio from his pocket, yelling into it. "Petrel! Your lousy reconnaissance team has checked in with me. Close off the back entrance I'm going in." He deposited the radio in his pocket, before turning back to Lyra and Silver. "Thanks. I'll put in a good word for you with the boss, and you can be moved from Petrel's team to mine. Wouldn't you much prefer that? What are your names?"
"Connie," Lyra stated, without batting an eyelash.
"And Jason," Silver said.
"Connie and Jason. I'll have you transferred to my team tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, sir."
"No problem. Guard the front. I don't want them escaping."
The pair watched as Proton disappeared into the building before turning to each other. They were out of earshot of the other grunts, which made it easy enough for them to talk.
"What now?" Silver asked, tapping his foot against the grass.
"I have no idea. I genuinely thought we would be found out when we had to give the report."
"Well, it worked. And I'm thankful. I guess your plans are a lot better than I give you credit for."
"We should try to get away now though. Do you think we could Fly down to Rustboro?"
"No. But the Rusturf Tunnel isn't too far from here, so if we move quickly, we can get in there and out the other side before they notice that Connie and Jason are missing."
"Which way?"
Silver started walking, hands stuffed in his pockets, and Lyra followed closely beside him, fingers tying themselves in knots behind her back. When the Rusturf tunnel came into view, so did the grunts that were guarding it.
"Oh great," Silver sighed. "I'll do the talking this time. You look too nervous. Try to calm down or something."
"No, I'm fine. Let me talk. I don't want you saying anything that'll reveal your identity or something." they got closer to the tunnel, and stopped when the Grunts moved in front of the opening.
"Stop! Who are you?"
"We're with Team Rocket," Lyra drawled, stepping forward. "Proton sent us here. Apparently the recon team said the objectives came down here earlier in the day, and we've been sent after them."
"Why you? Why not send us? I mean, we're here and all."
"I don't know. it wasn't my decision to make. But I do know, we have to go down here.""
"Well, they are with us, so… I guess you can come on through."
"Thanks," Lyra said coolly, walking through the gap they made and into the tunnel, Silver following closely behind.
"That was good acting."
"We need to move quickly," Lyra said, ignoring his compliment. "It probably won't be long until we get to Rustboro, right?"
It had been a long time since the sun had set, and trying to navigate their way through the tunnel with only the light from their Pokégear proved to be difficult for Lyra and Silver. A glance at the clock function informed Silver that it was nine pm, and he sighed internally. it would be very, very late by the time they made it to Rustboro.
The city was completely silent when they arrived. The lights were turned off in all buildings apart from the Pokémon Centre, it's orange roof visible through the dark. Silver made his way through the streets, following the pale glow of the streetlights, with a tired Lyra trudging along behind him.
"The Pokémon Centre is gonna be closed. We're gonna have to sleep on the street."
"Fine with me. We're gonna be cold, though."
The two found an uninhabited corner of the city, curling up. They had no blankets- they had left their bags and all but two of their Pokémon in Verdanturf Town, and they decided between them that Crobat and Dugtrio wouldn't be particularly helpful for body heat. Silver flinched when Lyra leaned closer to him, despite her just trying to get comfy.
"Are you still awake?" Silver asked after a few minutes.
"Yes," came the response.
"I'm really sorry for dragging you into this."
"It's not your fault. I mean, if they weren't such maniacs, you wouldn't be in this mess."
"Fair enough."
"I'm going to give up on the gym challenge for now. I'll probably come back to it someday, when things have calmed down."
"You shouldn't give up on it for my sake, Lyra."
"We came her to get away from your family," she said, squirming until she could turn around to face Silver. "And clearly, they and people who are associated with them know we're here and are still intent on you coming home. I'm not going to jeopardise your safety for something that I want."
Silver turned his head away, uncomfortable at their close proximity to each other. "I… thank you. That means a lot, Lyra. And, I'll come with you when you challenge the rest of the Hoenn League, okay?" He courageously found her hand in the darkness, squeezing it gently.
"Okay." She stared at her knees for a moment, smiling a very small smile. "Goodnight, Silver."
"Night."
"Ah, here they are! Connie and… Jason, was it? You look different with a hat on, Silver! And my, Lyra you've certainly grown up! How long has it been? Six years? More?"
Lyra strained her eyes open, the harsh sunlight being blocked from her view by a tall figure. After blinking a few times, she realised it was Proton, along with the two grunts they had slipped past at the Rusturf Tunnel. Silver had also woken up, and was on his feet in an instant, Pokéball in his hand.
"Hey, hey! I don't want to fight! If you come quietly, I'll leave your girlfriend here alone."
"She's not my girlfriend! And even if you don't want to fight, I do! Crobat, go!"
"Ugh, you're still just as annoying. I'll send my own out. Crobat!"
The two bat Pokémon floated menacingly in front of their trainers, hissing at each other.
"Aerial Ace!" Silver commanded, and his Crobat flying towards the other with great speed.
"Haze." The mist came in quickly, surrounding Proton's Pokémon. Silver's Crobat couldn't find it's target, and stopped before the cloud.
"Now, Hyper Beam," Proton said, with a flick of his wrist. The orange beam flew out of the haze, hitting Silver's Crobat cleanly and making it land at the red haired trainer's feet. "You're still so weak, Silver. You were never particularly gifted when it came to Pokémon. Get him."
Lyra jumped into action then, tossing her singular Pokéball to release Dugtrio and throwing herself in front of Silver.
"You'll have to get through me first!"
"Lyra, honey, your Dugtrio couldn't do anything to my Crobat. And from a search of your room in Verdanturf Town, you don't have any other Pokémon with you!" Proton held up his hand, a Pokéball between each of his fingers, and one between his index finger and thumb. "These are yours, if I'm not mistaken."
Lyra's eyes glanced at his hand, a small frown appearing on her face and disappearing in the same second. The grunts had grabbed Silver in the moment when she was distracted, keeping his hands behind his back.
"Thanks for your cooperation, Silver. And Lyra? I wouldn't try to follow us. It won't end well for you." Proton reached into Silver's pocket, extracting his Pokégear and throwing it on the concrete, effectively breaking it. He grabbed a hold of his Crobat, flying into the air, the grunts using their own Golbat to fly themselves and Silver into the sky.
"Lyra!" Silver called, before they got too far away. His voice was desperate, and Lyra wasn't immediately worried. "Please, help me!"
AN: Sorry yet again for the late update! I'm so bad at updating this- i have chapters that are ready to go and all! But yeah, this chapter is a bit shorter because the next one will be longer, I hope you enjoy it anyway! Please leave a review if you enjoyed it! c: