POV: Cynthia / LOCATION: -CLASSIFIED-

I remember the exact moment when Looker told me to let him know in advance when I wanted to speak with Cyrus. In addition to Lucian insisting on tagging along. I remember their words quite well, but let's be honest here: their company is not completely necessary.

After all, I am an adult capable of facing the consequences of my actions. Climbing up to the pinnacle of Mt Coronet at the tender age of twelve required a certain amount of responsibility. And maybe just a pinch of youthful recklessness.

Presently I sit in a white, windowless room with security cameras mounted on the ceiling like lines of black ants. The stench of disinfectant rises up from the floor. As if despite how persistently someone has tried to kill whatever germs that occupy this space, they still refused to be eliminated.

There are no measures of time in here, so when the door on the other side finally opens, I feel as if I had mentally aged a thousand years.

"Orange looks good on you," I say.

Cyrus measures me with his eyes, but maintains his silence as the warder secures his handcuffs to the hook on the table.

"Not even a smirk? And I went through all the trouble to be your first visitor in prison."

He does not move a muscle, simply retaining his glare with no intention of talking. If he thinks I will sit here and beg him to confess, then he is greatly mistaken.

I try a different approach. "Did you hear what happened to your Crobat?"

"What did you do to her?" he hisses. His voice is frail and cracked, presumably due to not having spoken in months.

I extend the pause just enough for suspense to loosen his lips.

"The rest of my Pokemon. My Commanders. Where are they?"

The warders begin to approach, hands on their belts, but I still them with a shake of my head.

"I don't recall this being your office," I say slowly, relishing every vein that cords up his neck. "From now on, I'm the one asking questions. If you behave, I might tell you about your Crobat."

"You dare belittle me?"

I stand up and pretend to leave. A chair scrapes, followed by a loud clattering of chains.

"Wait!"

"Say you'll behave."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Bye."

"I-I'll behave! Don't go!"

Oh, how the tables have turned. This beats battling any day! Hiding my amusement beneath a stern mask, I sit down, lean back in the chair, and cross my arms.

"Before they come to interrogate you, I'd like to give you a chance to explain yourself. Again, if you comply, I'll tell you what you want to hear. Understand?"

"Yes," Cyrus mumbles. His galactic ego is no doubt in miserable tatters.

Let's start off easy. "Why did Team Galactic steal Pokemon? You can find them anywhere. Why take them from others?"

Cyrus sighs, as if drawing breath. "Captured Pokemon possess something wild Pokemon do not. Pokemon that have been familiarized with humans develop a unique power. Take your Pokemon, for example. They have evolved through friendship. The bonds you and your Pokemon share is the main mechanism to unlocking their true potential. From the results of my experiments, I came to realize the energy released during a friendship evolution was greater than—"

I stop him there. Looker can write down the rest of that confession.

"So you stole my Pokemon as well?" I say.

Cyrus jolts up, as if I had accused him of kidnapping a child. "What nonsense are you spouting on about? Why would I steal your Pokemon?"

"You tell me why you kept them beneath HQ."

"You will not force a false confession out of me!" he growls.

I gracefully rise from the chair. "So be it. You had a chance to know what happened to your dear Pokemon and Commanders, but you ruined it. Have fun in your cage while Charon runs your company."

Ah. Shit.

I risk a furtive glance over my shoulder, secretly hoping he didn't hear that last part. The warders have hauled him up to his feet and are securing his hands behind his back, but Cyrus is wholly indifferent to their intimacy. Rather, he is staring at me without a trace of color in his face.

"Charon?" he rumbles.

Never have the fire in his eyes burn so brightly that, if left unextinguished, the flames will consume his body before devouring everything around him.