It was dark by the time we managed to get out of Chargestone Cave. Breathing a sigh of relief that not much time had been lost, I set out for the Pokemon Center, returning both Pokemon. I slipped through the lobby and back up to the second floor where our room was. Quietly closing the door behind me, I went to sneak back to bed, only to stop. I straightened and reached for the wall, passing my hand over the light sensor. The room lit up, revealing that both Alex and Robert weren't here.

Already fearing the worst, I scanned the room. The beds were slightly haphazard, and some of our stuff still remained in the room, but there was no obvious signs of trouble. Holding up my wrist, I attempted to call them on my X-transceiver, only to realize that it wouldn't turn on. Blinking, I tapped more buttons. Nothing.

Did it short circuit or something down in the cave? I wondered. After taking a minute to rummage around through Robert's stuff, I couldn't find his "Robby", which led me to believe that he had it with him, and therefor hadn't been kidnapped, as something like that would have been left behind, either whole or in pieces.

Then I found something half buried beneath Alex's sheets. A map of Mistralton. And the airport was circled in blue marker. I shook my head in confusion. What the heck was going on!?

With no other clues to go on, I quickly left the building and back out into the night. No one was out at this hour and the street lamps provided enough light to see on this cloudy night. Sticking to the shadows, Greninja and I ran towards the airport. It was a smaller airstrip that Robert had said that only Skyla's cargo plane would use it. So at this hour it probably wasn't in use.

You two better be here. I slid to a halt in front of the wired fence surrounding the whole of the runway. Greninja perked up, pointing towards the left. Following his lead, we ventured down until we came to a gate with a lock. A lock that was lying on the ground, broken in half.

"Well," I said in a low voice. "This is becoming more and more interesting by the second."

I heard a distant sound from behind, getting closer. Quickly hiding ourselves in some nearby bushes, we watched as two trucks pulled up at the gate. Someone leapt out, opened the gate, and motioned for the trucks to go inside.

"Clarity," I guessed, watching them drive inside. "Maybe Alex and Rob caught wind of them in the area and came here to investigate... But where are they? And why not wait for me..."

Thinking they could already be inside, we waited for the person to close the gate behind the trucks and let him get a distance away down the runway before we acted. Greninja picked me up and once we landed on the other side, we skirted the runway, using the darkness to our advantage and moving silently. There were several hangers at the far end, and the one furthest left had light spilling out.

Once we got closer, the goons had already begun unloading large wooden crates from the back of the trucks. Instantly I was reminded of the crates we found in the river on Floccesy Ranch, the ones filled with Dream Shots. And they were moving a lot of them into the hanger.

"C'mon people we don't have all night! Keep them moving!"

I crouched lower, spotting Akane coming out of the hanger, arms folded as she tapped her heels. If she was here, then her lackeys Brawny and Lanky were likely inside as well. Guessing what they were doing here was rather easy. They were likely hijacking one of the planes to carry illegal drugs and whatever else was in the crates.

I motioned for Greninja to start backing up to move around the backside of the hanger. "We'll deal with them soon, but first we need to find our friends-"

An audible slam and Greninja went flying forwards, crashing into the side of one of the trucks. I turned around just in time to see something swinging towards me, catching me in the middle and flinging me out to land beside Greninja.

"Well well, look what the Liepard dragged in."

I groaned, lifting my head to see Akane peering down at me, her Liepard padding up beside her and sitting on her haunches. She brought up her paw to lick it clean, her eyes gleaming as she seemed to smirk at me.

"You've been a constant thorn in my side," Akane said, planting her heel on my chest, digging in the point painfully. All around the grunts stopped moving the crates to gather. "I think it's time to finally put you down."

I gripped her ankle, relieving the pressure on my chest. "If you really wanted to do that, you'd stop making the simplest of mistakes." I grinned. "He doesn't go down in one surprise attack."

Akane's eyes widened before her gaze jerked upwards. A shadow appeared in the air above, crashing down in a cyclone of water. Akane stumbled back, nearly tripping over her Liepard. The rest of the Clarity grunts retreated a couple steps, but they began going for their pokeballs. I stood in haste as Greninja shot forth in his cyclone, aiming towards a group of three grunts.

Something big leaped from inside the open hanger and slammed into Greninja with a burst of electricity. Greninja was forced out of the swirling water as he flew back, landing beside me, his cloak in tatters. Electivire stood, his fists crashing together to create sparks.

"Zeno, was it?"

An all too-familiar brown haired man in a business suit appeared from behind the Electric type, his Natu still clinging to his shoulder like always. Behind those glasses, his eyes were cold and calculating.

"So you know my name now," I sighed. "So much for anonymity."

"You're the famous hero of Kalos," the man shrugged, pushing up his glasses. "We would fail as an organization if we couldn't find out who someone like you and your friends are."

"Speaking of," I stood taller. "Where are they?"

"Where?" He seemed confused. He shook his head. "Interesting." He raised his hand. "Continue loading the crates. I will deal with our guest."

They're not here then, I realized with a pang of relief. But that didn't mean I could walk away at this point. "And what makes you think you can handle me all by yourself?"

The man gave a short laugh. Natu's eyes opened, gaze brimming with pink energy. I fell to one knee, my vision already swimming. Greninja gave a loud cry, the sound reverberating through my skull, clearing my vision. Electivire sprung forwards, slamming a generated fist into Greninja's gut, sending him flying across the runway. But it had been enough for me to break free of Natu's psychic attack and fling out several pokeballs.

Bisharp and Corviknight appeared as I shouted, "Night Slash! Steel Wing!"

The Clarity Executive stood still as both Pokemon aimed their attacks at him and Natu. Suddenly the very air seemed to be slashed as both of my Pokemon were knocked back. A Gliscor hovered in front of the man, his claws glowing green.

My eyes widened upon recognizing the Gliscor. I barely had time to toss out Mawile before the Weavile struck. He came in low, ice cold claws slicing up towards my stomach. Mawile slammed her back jaw down, slamming against the Weavile and knocking him back a couple yards.

"Aw man, couldn't you just have gutted him and been done with it?"

Appearing from the shadows, his double bladed axe dragging along the concrete, was Spicy, one of the Executioners, donned in his butler uniform. He grinned, swinging up his axe with one hand. "Aw, who am I kidding? I've been wanting a rematch with the son of Giovanni for a while now."

I backed up a couple steps and found my back against one of the trucks. A shadow loomed over me and a gentle voice spoke. "Shame we have to kill him. I mean, he isn't going to go down without a serious fight. I hate having to wash the blood out."

I glared up at Sage, Spicy's sister. Like her brother, she was all dressed up in her maid's outfit. These two were nothing if not eccentric. Or rather, three.

"Has it finally come time to take his head?" Spirit asked from near the Clarity Executive. Judging from his surprise, he hadn't noticed her appear either. She opened her eyes, her red gaze void of mercy. "I must say, you've been quite the annoyance to Clarity."

"Hey!" the Executive, who had remained so calm and collected in every encounter, finally showed more emotion. "You can't just-" He stopped. His eyes glanced down at the blade that had appeared at his throat. I hadn't even seen Spirit draw it.

She glanced sideways at him. "You really think he didn't already know the name of your organization? You underestimate him and his friends."

"Enough chitchat," Spicy said, grinning at me eagerly. "We've finally gotten our permission to beat this kid into the ground. And I get first dibs!" He shouted as he shot forwards, the axe swinging in an upwards arc. An explosion of fire blasted him back before the axe could connect and Arcaneis rose from behind me, snarling viciously as flames licked around the edges of his maw. Spicy flipped through the air, slamming his axe down into the ground to act as an anchor.

A shadow moved in the edge of my vision. I reacted, catching one of Sage's nunchucks as it swung towards my head and yanked her towards me as I brought up a knee to jab into her stomach. I dropped my hold on her as I heard the air swish and I immediately dropped to the ground as Spirit's blade sliced where my neck had just been.

Greninja vaulted over the truck, blasting both women away with a wave of water. He nodded to Arcaneis and the Fire/Electric type leaped upwards to meet Electivire, who had been chasing after Greninja. Both large Pokemon tumbled away as I stood next to Greninja. Mawile climbed atop my shoulder as Bisharp and Corviknight arrived next to us.

"Last time you didn't have all these lovely Pokemon with you," Spicy noted as Fang, his Gliscor came to hover above him. "You're making this a lot more fun than I thought it would be."

"Calm, brother," Sage said softly as she rose like a marionette, Claws, her Weavile, standing beside her. She tilted her head to one side, cracking it. "You're acting too rashly."

"When isn't he?" Spirit asked with a snort, Ghost, her albino Sceptile shimmering into view behind her, his eyes narrowed at me.

"Careful guys," I warned my Pokemon. "These people aim to kill."

Mawile growled, eyes narrowing in on Claws, who merely smirked back in response. I nodded to her. "You take the Weavile. Corviknight, Gliscor. Bisharp, deal with the Sceptile. Greninja and I will take down the Executioners."

"Ooo, planning are we?" Spicy laughed aloud. "Alright, go ahead. Take us all on by your little lonesome. Let's see just how powerful this Greninja of yours is to be your only fighting companion." He snapped his fingers and Gliscor took off, bashing into Corviknight, and both Pokemon flew off into the night as they struggled to overcome the other. Weavile took off at a run and Mawile leaped from my shoulder to give chase. Sceptile shimmered before disappearing and for a second Bisharp could only stand, uncertain where to go, before he was sent flying as Sceptile shimmered back into view. He leaped after the Steel/Dark type, blades glowing.

"And then there were three," I said.

"Against two of you," Spicy smirked as he raised his axe to point it towards my chest. "Remind me again who's put themselves at a disadvantage."

"You clearly haven't been keeping up with the news," I growled as I shot forwards. Sage and Spirit advanced on me from either side. Greninja drew a long blade of water, slamming it into Spirit's katana as I passed a finger over one of the pokeballs on my waist. It opened and Lucario emerged, forming twin bones that clashed against Sage's nunchucks. I dove to avoid Spicy's swing and came up standing, sweeping out my leg. He leaped to avoid the attack, swinging down his axe. Barely dodging the attack by mere inches, I brought a hand to the handle, adding my own strength to drive the blade into the ground, jarring Spicy enough to give myself a small opening.

Using the swing of the axe as momentum, I swung my body around, slamming myself into Spicy. He managed to throw me off and I rolled along the ground before springing to my feet. Greninja leaped back beside me as I swung out my knife, thumbing the Keystone. Lucario blasted both Sage and Spirit back with his aura as he mega evolved.

I heard shouts and the trucks Clarity brought turned on. I watched them drive away and I wasn't able to do a thing to stop them. Then an explosion across the runway saw Electivire fly into one of the trucks, sending it crashing onto its side. Arcaneis howled and he ran for the gate, blocking the other truck from leaving.

I grinned. "Good boy!" But almost immediately the smile faded when I heard the sound of a plane starting up from inside the hanger.

"Well damn, that's our ride," Spicy looked back towards the hanger. "Sorry kid, killing you is going to have to wait. Boss was pretty clear that we would likely only get a limited window of trying to off you. But hey, as long as we still get paid."

"Don't you-!" I started, taking a step forwards, but Spirit appeared in front of me. I leaped back, narrowly dodging her strike. She smirked before sheathing her katana, and as soon as she did, she vanished. Spicy and Sage were gone as well and the plane was leaving the hanger. I could see Akane at the controls, the Clarity Exec next to her. I stood there, watching as it took off down the runway and into the air.

"We're too late, aren't we?"

I turned around to see Alex and Robert, both out of breath as they ran up. Robert held up a hand, took a gulp of air, then promptly collapsed. Before Alex could say anything I pulled her into a hug.

"Um..."

"I'm glad you're okay," I said before pulling away.

"I'm okay too thanks for saying it," Robert mumbled from the ground.

"Where were you two?" I asked. "I thought you two had been captured."

Alex blinked. "Wait, what?"

"What...?"

"Dude," Robert sat up. "We came to rescue you. You've been missing for a whole day."

"No I haven't," I said. "I was just..." I frowned. "Actually, that would make sense. It must have taken a day for the Galvantulas to heal me."

"Galvantulas?" Both Alex and Robert asked at the same time.

"Tell you later," I said. "First, where were you two? I thought you two had been captured after I checked the Pokemon Center?"

"We found out about Clarity doing some sort of operation here," Alex explained. "So we thought you must've gone after them and got captured. Robert here thought it would be a good idea to find Skyla, the gym leader-"

"For the record you backed up my idea."

"-He thought she would be at Celestial Tower," Alex went on.

"She's probably on one of her supply runs to Lentimas Town," Robert said. "So we booked it back here as fast as we could."

"Well too late now," I shook my head. "They just got away in a plane. Tons of cargo too. Drugs and whatnot."

"Craaaaaap," Robert fell back.

"Hey," I snapped my fingers in front of him. "Call Looker. He needs to know what's going on. We got people here that need to be arrested and judging by how many crates they took off with, they're not planning some sort of tea party."

"You don't think they're getting ready for that do you?" Alex asked.

"All we know is that they have some sort of attack planned for Castelia City," I said, looking back at the now small plane in the distance. "I would bet anything that what they have on that plane is going to help prepare them. And we need to be ready to stop them."