POV: Cynthia / LOCATION: Galactic Energy HQ


I wake up when a pair of round, glutinous cushions crush my hip.

"Oh crap!" someone shrieks.

Rubbing the fog of sleep from my eyeballs, I see a group of Galactic Energy employees rolling around the floor in hysterical fits of laughter.

"You almost wiped your ass on the Champion of Sinnoh!" an employee cries after a fleeing B-2.

The situation slowly pieces itself together. While I was enjoying a nap on these lovely rocket beds, B-2 must've waltzed in with a likeminded idea. Only, he didn't check that the bed was unoccupied.

Oh. That's why Cyrus put up those signs. But does anyone ever read it—

Cyrus.

Oh sugar honey iced tea. What time is it?

The digital clock shows five minutes until four.

Springing out of the rocket bed, I run out of the Nap Room—and crash into a hat rack. Which turns out to be a whole flesh-and-blood human.

"Do watch where you're going," the insurance salesman grunts.

"Why do you have Cyrus's voice?" I yell.

"I am Cyrus," is the disgruntled response.

Once the adrenaline seeps out of my brain, I realize that the grumbling man on the floor is indeed Cyrus the spaceman. But in a suit. A crisp grey blazer overlaying a charcoal vest. A tie the color of soft crème. The muted colors accentuate his sharp edges, which consequently draws out the intensity of his eyes.

I find myself gaping at him for a second too long.

"Allow me to help you up," he says.

I obediently reach for his outstretched hand. Cold and calloused like embracing a block of unshaved metal.

"After you freshen up, meet me in the lobby."

And… he's gone.

Mars drops down from the ventilation shaft above me. The fact that she was spying from up there isn't as surprising as it would've been on my first day on this astronaut base.

"What kind of drugs did you put in his coffee to make him happy?" she says.

Drugs? How do you even jump to that conclusion? Besides, I don't think I've ever seen Cyrus happy. A smirk doesn't count. Is he even capable of expressing joy?

"The Boss was singing in his office. And he spent two hours fixing his hair. What. Did you. Blow in his face."

Mars says all that with an adorably dangerous smile. Luckily, Saturn's appearance provides me the perfect opportunity to escape. By the time he begins to yell, "Mars, did you step over my gamer circle again?" I am already in the elevator.

Cyrus instantly cuts off his conversation with Jupiter when I come within earshot. She pins him down with a long, eloquent look. He returns an articulate jut of the chin. She rolls her eyeballs. Conceding.

To me, he gestures with a sweeping arm. "After you, Miss Cynthia."


A new universe awaits me beyond the sliding glass doors of Galactic Energy HQ. While I waited away my days behind those starry walls, the real world outside continues revolving without waiting for anyone.

Carved into the rock face is a set of steps that connect the city to Galactic Energy HQ. It stands out in a very… caustic way. Giant satellite dishes. Polished spikes. A halo-like structure rotating around the ubiquitous golden G, similar to how planets orbit the sun.

Not gonna lie, but HQ gives off evil lair vibes. This thing is built more like a fortress than an office building. To keep something out… or to lock something inside?

"Champion Cynthia, it is my honor to welcome you to Veilstone City."

"You're so dramatic."

Veilstone City. Ranked 11th in Sinnoh's most desirable cities to live. Isolated by mountains in the northern crust of the region, Veilstone is as bleak as its permanently grey skies. The dry, cold weather aside, this city is home to Sinnoh's only Casino and Department Store. Denizens from across the land flock here just to break open their wallets.

We begin to walk.

"What made you set up HQ all the way here?" I ask.

"The air is cleaner," Cyrus says.

"I think I remembered walking past a Galactic building. Don't you have a location in Eterna City?"

"Yes."

He's getting generous with his answers again.

We pass by the Department Store. When I'm not raiding Unova's Shopping Mall Nine, I burn my money here. They have the cutest bikinis. Speaking of which, I need a new closet to fit my winter apparel…

"What do you think of the selection here?" Cyrus says.

"It's good, but it can be better if they stock Casteliacones."

"You truly think so?"

"I know so."

"Then we'll have them in stock by tomorrow."

"Wow, look at you acting like you own the place!" I mean that as a friendly tease, of course. All fun and games until he raises a puzzled brow.

"Don't tell me you own the Casino too," I groan.

In response, he leads me into the den of sin. The customers ignore him. But the burly bounce bows deeply and steps aside for him to pass. Same with the attendants. They treat him, someone much younger than them, with the reverence of the head of a crime family.

A revelation unfolds while I watch Maylene's dad pull the slots. The reels. Was that golden G always there? And it's worth as much as three 7's, the highest payout… Wait. The Casino's sign. There's that Galactic Energy logo!

Very, very slowly, I glance at Cyrus, who gives a breezy smirk as though it's extremely common for a twenty-seven-year-old to run one of Sinnoh's most prosperous cities.

"Who in the world are you?" I wheeze.

"I'm no one special. Now, hurry along, Champion Cynthia, or we'll be late for our reservation."