A/N: And with this chapter, this story is now officially longer than its predecessor Inevitable Love. Thank you for all of your support and reviews up to this point. It truly means a lot to me. These characters are near and dear to my heart, so it's amazing to have others join in my adventure with them. I am truly grateful. Thank you so much to all of my readers.

There was something to be said about having pretty, white teeth, and Chevelle Seno's teeth were pretty. The dentist had done a good job with her bridgework. Drawing back her lips, she studied her front teeth in the hall mirror from every possible angle. No one would ever guess that they weren't the real thing. If her old dentist, with his foul breath self, had told her twenty years ago about the importance of dental floss, she might still have had all her own teeth today. But that's okay - if his breath was any indication, he probably kept his teeth in a glass on his nightstand where he sleeps. Wouldn't that be ironic? She ran her tongue across her teeth one more time. They felt good. Then rubbing at the tiny white specks around her mouth, she turned away from the mirror.

She noticed Cedric's golf bag in the entryway when she came. The soulful sounds of James Brown's Papa's Got a Brand New Bag coming from his den meant he scored well. Thank goodness. If he hadn't, she'd have to contend with his crankiness and the repeated playing of Sitting on the Dock of the Bay until she wanted to push him off of said dock.

Depending on how long he's been home, she might only hear a few more songs, but at least they'd be different songs.

She went and stood in the doorway of the den. Cedric didn't even see Chevelle there. He was hearing the music and doing his out-of-step imitation of the hustle while popping his fingers and bobbing his head like a sick Pidgey, all with his eyes closed.

Giggling softly behind her hand, Chevelle wished the video camera wasn't in the chest under the windowsill. She had to remember, for moments like this, to put the camera where she could get her hands on it.

The record ended, and Cedric started for the turntable.

Chevelle clapped.

Cedric spun around, smiling broadly. "Hey."

"Hey yourself. Had a good outing, I see?"

"The best. Eighteen holes. Two under par," he said proudly, hitting his chest twice with his fist before giving his wife a kiss on the cheek.

"Congratulations," she stepped inside the den and sat in one of the overstuffed chairs in the center of the room. Crossing her legs, Chevelle didn't let on that she didn't know one thing about golf and wouldn't know if two under par was a good score or not - she figured the pros didn't have anything to worry about. However, as long as Cedric was happy, she was tickled.

This would be their second year of remarriage after their divorce twelve years ago. For years, they hated each other, no longer seeing what attracted them to the other or how they could even tolerate one another under the same roof. It wasn't until their youngest son faced an incredibly trying mission four years ago that they were ultimately brought back together and rediscovered why they fell in love with one another to start with. It took the Shadow Pokémon incident and the birth of Freddie's daughter Niema for Chevelle and Cedric to fall back in love. However, even though they were joined together again, the damage their once failed relationship had done to their sons was already done. Darrell had moved to Kanto and started racking up drug trafficking charges while Freddie, while advancing in his career as a ranger, became more promiscuous, ultimately reaching its crowning point with the impregnation of his then-girlfriend Anya Lopez.

Chevelle admitted that initially she didn't take the news of the pregnancy well. The thought of their fourteen year old son raising a baby on his own? She thought it was a recipe for failure that would ultimately ruin his life. But she couldn't have been more wrong. Niema's birth had brought Freddie more joy than she had ever seen. She gradually saw her baby boy mature into a man before her eyes, taking initiative in her care and petitioning for full custody when he saw the destructive road Anya was heading. Despite his own relationship not surviving, he was determined to give his daughter the best life possible, which Chevelle was immensely proud of.

"Predate it," Cedric said, turning back to the turntable. He gingerly lifted the 45 off the spindle with his fingertips on the record's edge.

Chevelle watched Cedric slip the old record inside the faded paper jacket and then into a plastic zip-seal storage bag. As many times as she had seen this ritual, she still marveled at how meticulous Cedric was. He treated his original soul collection as if it were a precious gem, and she guessed to him it was. The records didn't even have a scratch on them. With everything else, however, he couldn't care less. She had long ago lost count of how many glasses and plates he'd broken over the years.

"I good two hundred dollars each out of Lee and Joe and two rounds of drinks."

"Good for you. It's about time you got some of your money back."

"Look," Cedric said, huffily, "I can't win every hole every time I get out on the green."

"I didn't say you did, Cedee. It's just been a while, that's all. Don't be so sensitive. I'm glad you won."

"Yeah," he said dejectedly, turning back to his records.

Chevelle picked up a magazine from the side table and scanned the listing of cover stories. That was close. Her big mouth almost got her in trouble. She knew darn well how serious Cedric was about his golf game. After twenty years, he was not as good as he wanted to be, but he was a far sight better than he used to be. He worked hard at it. He was doggedly persistent. No one could ever say that he wasn't. Yet he came home most times sullen and irritable because his buddy Lee won most holes. She was glad Cedric took to golf. It gave him something to do on Saturdays while she ran her errands. He was an annoyance whenever he went shopping with her, wanting to go but rushing her all the way through; scrutinizing every purchase she made and eyeing the costs. He was damn near insufferable. Browsing and window shopping wasn't his thing unless he was either in a records store or sporting goods store. He never came out of either empty-handed.

"So, everything gone all right at the dentist?" asked Cedric.

Grinning like a mindless Ditto, Chevelle showed him her teeth.

"You satisfied?"

"Quite."

"Good," Cedric clicked off the stereo. "What's there to eat?"

Chevelle hated when he asked her 'What we got to eat?' If Cedric had it his way, he'd not only have her cook food, but spoon-feed him as well.

"We're not eating tonight?" He asked down on his recliner.

Chevelle dropped the magazine on her lap. "Cedric, I just got in. After my appointment, I went to the mall and picked up some things for Niema and those sweaters you said you wanted. I didn't give thought to dinner. It's Saturday, why don't you order pizza?"

Cedric frowned. "Pizza's fine for a little like Niema. She loves it. Any veal stew left?"

"Cedric, tell me something. Why didn't you go and look to see if any stew was in there? Why did you have to wait for me to get home?"

"Because I didn't know what you wanted to have for dinner."

Chevelle shook her head and turned her attention back to the magazine. This discussion was years older than both of their marriages. So many times she wanted to tell Cedric to go eat a mix of salt and pepper, and one time she did. They argued for hours after that. She wasn't in the mood for this tonight.

"There's just enough stew for you," she finally said.

Cedric smiled broadly. He laid back and relaxed into his recliner. "Good. You can order something for yourself if you'd like. I'll go and pick it up while you're warming up the stew."

"Fine," Chevelle responded without looking up from her magazine.

Riiing!

Chevelle reached for the cordless telephone on the on the side table.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Chevelle Seno?"

The strong, unfamiliar male voice, sounding very businesslike, made Chevelle apprehensive. "Yes?"

"This is Detective Diego Gato, of the Eighty-fourth Precinct, down Floe Lane. Do you have a grandchild by the name of Niema Seno?"

Gripping the phone, Chevelle bolted straight up out her chair.

"Niema?" She asked alarmed.

Cedric looked questioningly at Chevelle. "Is that Niema?"

"No, it's the police."

Cedric straightened up as well. "Why are they calling about Niema?"

"I don't know."

"Mrs. Seno, we have your granddaughter here at the precinct."

"What? Why?"

"What are they saying?" Cedric got up and quickly walked over to his wife.

"Your granddaughter was left at the movie theater at Glacial Plaza."

Chevelle could feel her heart thumping in her chest. "What do you mean left? Where is my son?"

Cedric drew closer to Chevelle. "Did something happen to Freddie?"

"Oh God," she uttered. She laid her hand on Cedric's chest for support.

"What is he saying?" asked Cedric.

"Mrs. Seno, your son left your granddaughter unattended in the movie theater."

"No. Freddie would never do that. His little girl is his whole world."

"What did Freddie do?" Asked Cedric.

"I don't know, Cedric. I don't know what he's saying."

"Mrs. Seno."

Cedric snatched the phone from Chevelle's hand. "Who is this?"

"Is this Mr. Seno?"

"Yes. And who are you?"

Chevelle felt her knees weakening. Freddie would never abandon Niema. He would never leave her alone anywhere unless…

Chevelle clung to Cedric.

"I'm Detective Diego Gato of the Eighty-fourth Precinct. The manager of the Cinema called us about a four-year-old girl left there by her father. An Eevee and a Weavile we know to belong to the father were with her."

"That can't be."

The startled look in Cedric's eyes chilled Chevelle. Although she feared the worst, she needed to know what was being said. She pressed the intercom button on the telephone's base before snatching the handset from Cedric and pushing the talk button off.

"Sir," Detective Gato began, his voice filling the room. "The little girl's name is Niema Seno. She gave me your wife's name and this phone number. Is she your granddaughter?"

"Yes." Chevelle quickly replied. She leaned down closer to the telephone base so she could speak directly into the intercom. "Is she all right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Where is my son?" Cedric asked loudly.

"Well, sir, the manager of the theater said your son went out to check on his car because the alarm went off. He said he was coming right back, but never did."

Chevelle and Cedric gasped in unison. Confused, they stared at each other. Chevelle gripped Cedric's arm tighter.

"Sir? Ma'am? Are you there?"

"We're here," Cedric answered. "How long ago was this?"

"According to the manager, your son left the theater around two-thirty this afternoon."

Both Chevelle and Cedric glanced at the wall clock. It was seven fifty-five.

"Oh no," Chevelle said, starting to feel cold.

"My son has been missing all afternoon?" Cedric asked, incredulously.

"That's the way it appears."

"That can't be," Cedric said.

"Oh my God, how is my granddaughter?" Asked Chevelle.

"She is fine."

Cedric leaned down closer to the intercom.

"Did you check my son's car?"

"Sir, would you like to come down to the precinct? We're on Floe Lane."

Chevelle shook Cedric. "Yes. We'll be right there."

"Ask the desk for me, Detective Diego Gato. I'll keep your granddaughter with me."

"Wait a minute," said Cedric. "What was you name again?"

"Detective Diego Gato."

Cedric straightened up. "That's the same detective Freddie spoke to about Anya a couple months ago."

"When he was almost shot?"

Cedric leaned back down to the intercom.

"We'll be there," he said, jabbing the intercom button to end the call, reaching over and switching on the answering machine. He started to bolt out of the room but Chevelle was still holding onto him. Her legs had frozen and she couldn't move. Cedric turned back to her.

Tears leaked instantly from her eyes.

"I'm scared," she cried. "Freddie would never, ever walk away from Niema. Why hasn't he called us? How can he be gone for so long?"

Cedric wrapped Chevelle up in his arms. For a quiet, frightened moment, they held onto each other, afraid to say what they were both thinking - something bad had to have happened to Freddie.

Pulling out of his embrace, Chevelle looked into Cedric's eyes for that optimistic glint that always managed to be there when life threw roadblocks in their path. "Freddie is all right, isn't he?"

"Freddie's fine," Cedric responded, taking his wife's trembling hands in his own. "It might not be what we're thinking. Freddie might be at the precinct by the time we get there."

Chevelle couldn't stop herself from crying. What she saw in her husband's eyes belied what he was saying. She could see he didn't believe his own words.

"Come on," he said as he started walking again, this time helping Chevelle along with him.

To Chevelle it felt colder than winter in Wintown. She continued to shiver. They stopped long enough to grab their jackets and Cedric's keys.

While she kept asking "Where is he?" Cedric kept his eyes steadily on the road, squinting only when oncoming high beams momentarily blinded him. Every now and then he'd say, "There are some ugly people here in this city."

Whether he realized it or not, his words only frightened her more.

Freddie groaned as he started coming to. His whole body ached like hell and his head felt like his brain was about melt right out of his ears. He stirred as he painstakingly attempted to roll on to his side. The smell and the graininess underneath him told him he was discarded in a landfill after he was knocked out. But the immense pain he felt in his body told him he had suffered a lot worse.

His eyes rolled as he curled up in a fetal position, trying to filter out as much of the pain as possible. He cracked open his eyes to see the copious amount of garbage piled all around. He was definitely inside the county's landfill. Not only that, but his jacket and outerwear had been removed, leaving him susceptible to the frigid temperatures of Wintown.

Freddie reached down towards his hip with his right hand. He couldn't feel his styler and surmised that his attacker took it away from him.

Then there was that. Who was it that attacked him? At the end, it seemed like it was two of them, one of them sounding a lot like Vard. Why would he attack him? He hadn't seen him in months and stayed away from that part of the city to avoid further confrontation with him.

Freddie cried out in pain. His whole body felt like it was going to fall apart at any second. He didn't know what Vard or his attacker did to him after he was knocked out, but he had to get out of here ASAP. Freddie reached into his pack that was still clipped around his waist and pulled out his cell phone. Unlocking it, he pressed the redial button.

Riiing! Riiing! Riii -

"Freddie?!" A female voice cried out.

"Shauna," Freddie groaned.

"Freddie, where have you been? We are swamped with missions. Elita has been on our asses all night. You were supposed to clock back in hours ago."

"I was attacked."

"Attacked? By who?"

"I don't know. Look…I need…to be airlifted…to a hospital…And Niema…"

"Your folks came down to the police station to get her. They called in asking if any of us had heard from you. When we said no, both Elita and your 'rents started to worry. I did too."

"Shauna…please…I'm not gonna make it."

"Stop it. Don't talk like that. What are your coordinates?"

"I was dumped at the county landfill…I don't know my exact location."

"I'm tracking your phone and sending your location out to the rescue team now. Dragonite Bus has been dispatched. ETA is ten minutes. Stay with me, Freddie."

"Shauna…"

"Save your strength. Chris and the rescue squad should be arriving shortly."

Freddie fell backwards on the hill of garbage, breathing heavily. Closing his eyes, he tried to relax and calm his nerves. If his folks had Niema, she was safe. That's all that mattered.

He had painted a target on his back. And his enemies almost nailed it dead center.

Lunick hummed to himself cheerily as he waited in his hospital bed. After three weeks of intense physical therapy and physiotherapy, he was finally going to be discharged from the hospital. Of course he was still going to have to upkeep with the aggressive treatments until he was cleared to return back to work, but Lunick was just happy he wouldn't be bound to this bed anymore.

When Solana entered Lunick's room, he was already sitting upright in the bed and dressed in a blue jersey and black sweatpants.

"Someone's all ready to get out of here," she smiled as she walked up to him and gave him a kiss on the lips.

"You doggone bet I'm ready. I've been counting down the days until my discharge and the hour's finally arrived."

"Now, Lunick, you know you'll still have to be at home for a while until we get the all-clear from your physical therapist?"

"Of course, but I'm not worried. Once I get outta here, I'll start training to return to my A-game. Strength training, endurance, weight lifting, cardio and core training are all top of my list as soon as I get back."

Solana smiled weakly, sitting on the bed beside him. "You sure you can all do that when you weren't up to par to do other things?"

Lunick smiled smugly. He wrapped his arms around Solana's waist. "You need convincing that I'm still a force of nature?"

"I think so, yes," she with a lascivious smile as they leaned in and kissed one another gently.

"Oh, I so needed this," Solana sighed dreamily, resting her forehead against Lunick's. "I can't wait until you get all your strength back so we can go back to doing…other, more amorous things."

Lunick chuckled. "You want your Lunshine that badly?"

"You know I need my daily dose of it."

"Yeah, well. We're out of that specific prescription right now. But hopefully I'll be able to refill it in a few weeks. Meanwhile, I can give you a different script to hold you over until then."

"What will it do?" Solana asked pruriently, letting her fingers hover over the waistband of his sweatpants.

Lunick gently slid her onto his lap and grazed his fingers over her shoulders before he started kneading.

"We can start with a massage every other day to relieve all the stress and tension you've built up in your body."

Solana purred as his hands and fingers worked. Lunick then nuzzled her behind her left ear before whispering into it. "Couple that with twice daily necking, some heavy petting, making out as needed, and intercrural and GG rubbing, I'd say you'll be cured in no time."

At this, he gently start nibbling on her ear before kissing her sensually on her neck.

Solana leaned back against him as she tilted her head to the opposite side of where he was sucking.

"How soon can I take it?" she moaned.

Lunick's hands lowered from her shoulders and snaked around her waist, sliding them under the hem of her shirt and rubbing her belly softly.

"As soon as you get back home," he whispered back.

Solana rested the back of her head against his left shoulder as their lips met once more. For a moment, she almost forgot where she was as she felt herself floating from her BF's erogenous touch.

"Solana!" A voice called from the entrance. Solana and Lunick separated to Leilani peering in through the door.

"Leilani?" Said Solana.

"Solana! Solana, girl!"

The caramel-skinned almond-toned beauty ran up to her best friend and enveloped her in a Snorlax-sized hug as she squealed.

"Solana, you're not going to believe this!" She squealed as she pulled back and bounced up and down excitedly. "I just had the best night of my entire life!"

"What happened, Leil?"

"Murph came over after you walked me home."

"Murph?" Lunick repeated.

Leilani nodded ecstatically. "Uh huh! I was worried at first since it looked like he had been walking around in the storm. But as soon as I opened the door, Murph, get this, kissed me!"

Solana's eyebrows raised. "He did?"

Leilani nodded her head fiercely as she bounced up and down excitedly.

"EEEEEE! He then carried me up to my room and then…Sole -"

"Leilani, no…" Solana shook her head sadly.

Again, Leilani nodded her head. "Yeah! Yeah, yeah." She squealed again. "I can hardly believe it myself. Just when I thought it wasn't in the cards for us to be together he shows up at my doorstep completely unannounced and does something completely romantic. He was ravenous. Insatiable. It was so hot, Solana, lemme tell you. My first time was actually with the guy I've been pining for ever since I became a ranger. I've finally got the man of my dreams, isn't that great?!"

"Great…yeah...sure…" Solana hesitated.

Her stalled response and uncertain expression told Leilani her best friend wasn't nearly as excited for her as she'd expected.

"I thought you'd be happy for me," she said sadly.

"Oh, Leil," Solana sighed. "I am happy that you had an amazing night with Murph, but…the thing is…Murph broke up with Aria last night."

"That's even better. That means he didn't cheat on her or anything. He ended his relationship with her and immediately ran to me. I can't believe it."

"Leilani…Murph…uh…I just…I don't want you to get your hopes up about this."

"What do you mean? Why not? I have finally reached this immense threshold with Murph that I've waited seven years for."

"Leilani, Murph was very emotional after breaking up with Aria. She actually cheated on him and he was distraught afterwards. He called Lunick ranting about how cruel and heartless she was and how he had given so much into the relationship…I'm afraid that Murph…that he…well…"

"Hold up," Leilani held her hands up. "You're saying…That I'm just some kind of rebound? Some emotional bootycall to get Murph through his heartbreak over Aria?"

Solana's silence was a clear answer. Leilani's expression changed from one of joy and excitement to one of betrayal and disgust.

"I'm sorry, Leilani. I just don't want you to get hurt."

"No, Solana. You're wrong. Murph would never hurt me like that. We were each other's first, just like you and Lunick. Why are you trying to take this away from me?"

"I'm not, Leil, I'm not. I'm just saying to be careful."

"I don't need to be careful. Murph loves me like I've always loved him. It just took him some time to realize it. He told me he needed me."

"I'm sure in that moment he did need you. And I'm not saying Murph would ever intentionally harm you or break your heart. Just don't expect so much so soon. Everything is still very fresh and raw. Just…be careful."

Leilani shook her head and looked down at the hospital floor. "I am not a rebound. Murph would never do that to me."

"Leilani -"

"You're wrong, Sole! No!"

"Leilani, just listen -"

"No! You're wrong!" She cried. "Murph loves me. And we're gonna be together now. Finally, after all these years. If you can't be happy for me then…we don't need to talk anymore."

"Leilani!"

Before Solana could finish talking, Leilani spun around and ran out of the room, leaving the two rangers and their Partner Pokémon alone in the room.

Solana held her forehead and sighed. "This is so not good."

"It is a bit messy but maybe Leilani's right. Maybe Murph isn't using Leilani to ease his pain and has genuine feelings for her. In fact, I'm certain he has genuine feelings for her."

"But are they romantic ones? And does he still have feelings for Aria?"

"We just gotta see how it unfolds, Solana. I can talk to Murph but I think we should stay out of their relationship."

"You might be right. I just…I'm worried about her."

"I know you are. That's why you're such an awesome friend." He kissed her on the cheek. "I don't think Leilani's breaking up your friendship. She just needs time to cool off."

"Speaking of Leilani…Lunick, I need to tell you something."

"Uh oh. Sounds serious."

"Well, it depends how you take it."

"What do you mean?"

"Yesterday, while I was comforting Leilani, she…she kissed me."

The gears were moving slowly in Lunick's brain as he tried to process what he just heard.

"Come again?"

"Leilani kissed me."

"What do you mean she kissed you?"

"She was emotional, leaned forward, and kissed me."

"On the lips?"

"Yes, but I immediately pushed her back. I think she was just overwhelmed, that's all. She doesn't have feelings for me or anything like that."

"Uh huh…That's…Interesting."

"Are you mad?"

"Why would I be mad? I mean, maybe I have a right to be but she did the same thing to me. If it were anybody else, I probably would be hurt and mad. But Leilani's one of our closest friends. I know she wasn't being malicious about it and I know how vulnerable she is right now."

"I guess that makes sense."

Lunick slowly stood up and extended his hand to Solana. "Leilani will be fine. Come on, let's get out of here. I'm eager to lie down and rest in a real bed."

Bill didn't even make an attempt to move as he heard the metal doors part, letting him know this villainous overseer was back. He remained seated behind his desk, dejectedly fiddling with the metallic mechanical pencil he was holding and pressing the dispenser eraser, pushing out the graphite cartridges that were inside and letting them fall on the desk with a soft clank!

"Any progress?" She asked from behind.

Bill sighed heavily. "Why don't you just kill me already?"

"Whatever do you mean? I wouldn't dream of such a thing. You are still very much of use to me:"

"And if I refuse to go any farther?"

She ran her hands down his shoulders and chest seductively, feeling his tensed body before bringing them back up to his face and caressing him, feeling the roughness of the full beard that had grown over the past six months. She leaned down to his ear and whispered.

"Then those beloved Pokémon of yours will be lost to you forever."

Bill stopped playing with the mechanical pencil and dropped it on his work desk.

"Perhaps there is more I can offer in exchange for your hard work?"

"I'm not interested."

"Is that so? Pity. I thought you'd actually want to let yourself indulge for all of your hard work thus far. We have a decent army for now. But what I'm looking for is something exceptional. And that oh so brilliant mind of yours is gonna help us both."

"Get off of me."

"Hmm," she smiled. She pinched his cheeks before letting her hands fall back to his chest.

"Get off of me."

"I dare say you'll at least want to consider it. You wouldn't want to piss me off, now would you?"

"I don't particularly care. You don't scare me anymore. The only reason I am still here is to keep my Pokémon safe. So keep your vile hands off of me."

She suddenly grabbed Bill by his jaw and spun his head back to face her, causing moderate discomfort and pain.

"Kindly adjust your tone, sir. Or I'll be forced to take more extreme measures to keep you under control."

"Do your worst." He uttered.

Before the villainess had a chance to response, the metal doors once again slid apart, permitting another person to enter the laboratory.

"I have returned, Milady." said a figure garbed in black.

"So you have," she let go of Bill and turned around. Bill turned around as well to see who else was here working under this woman. "You certainly took your time with this mission."

"My apologies, Ma-…Milady. But I had to be patient and discreet to ensure that the subject did not escape. I bided my time to guarantee a successful capture. Behold."

They held up the energy-draining net where Mew was still struggling to teleport out.

The woman's smile broadened greatly. "Splendid! Well done. I've finally gotten the last piece to creating the ultimate Pokémon weapon. Put it in Pod 1."

Bill's eyes stretched wide. "You captured Mew? The Legendary Pokémon Mew?"

"But of course. It is essential to this operation," the woman said as her agent went and deposited the weakened Mew into the stasis tank. She turned back to face Bill. "I want you to begin extracting DNA from this dear to create a new species of Pokémon."

Bill balled his fists. "Are you mad?! You want me to create a new Pokémon using Mew's genetic code? Do you have any idea what that will entail? Newsflash lady, it's already been done and this world nearly ended because of it. Giovanni already tried to create a weapon using Mew's DNA. Its name is Mewtwo and so many lives were lost because of it."

"I care not for you sentimentalities, Mr. Sonezaki, I want results. You will utilize Mew and Deoxys to create the ultimate instrument and arm to use in combat. Not even Ho-Oh or Arceus itself will be able to stand up to this new creation. With Mew now my possession, I can complete the final phases of my plan and prepare to strike down this wretched region before the world itself is in my grasp."

Bill shook his head as he glared at her. "I won't do it."

"Oh, I think you will."

"You are combining the plots of Giovanni and AZ to bring destruction to this world. My sins are many but I'd have to have practically sold my soul to even begin to consider doing something this sick. I won't do it. Threaten me all you want."

"If that is what you so desire. But before you go, perhaps you'll want to watch me decimate these useless beasts. After all, their demise will be your fault."

She pulled out a remote from the belt on her hips which held many devices and pressed a button. The laboratory seemed to shake as the metal flooring beneath them parted in the center of the room. A glass container holding a Clefable, an Alakazam, and a Jolteon rose from beneath the ground.

Bill's eyes stretched wide as saucers.

"No." He uttered. "How? When did you get them? Where and how did you find them?"

The woman pressed another on her remote plasma guns lowered from the ceiling and pointed directly at the glass container.

"Wait!"

The glass dome was lit and marked with several red lines to track them.

"Wait! Stop! Don't do it!"

"I warned you, Mr. Sonezaki. This is the price for your insolence."

Bill fell to his knees. "Please, I beg you! Do not hurt them! These Pokémon are my family. I have nothing else. I'll do whatever you say, just please don't hurt my babies."

She stared at him intensely for a moment before pressing a different button on the remote. The laser guns went back up into the ceiling and the glass cage containing Bill's Pokémon started to lower back into the ground.

"You've got one more chance, Bill…Another outburst like that, and I'll see to it you never see those beasts again."

"You're a disgusting woman."

"Call me whatever you like. Just get it done."

And with that, the woman turned in her heels as she and her agent started for the lab's exit.

"Come with me. I'll give you your next assignment."

"Yes, Milady."

Bill watched the door as it closed, still on his knees before he fell to the floor, his arms stretched out in front of him, his hands balled into fists. He pressed his forehead into the cold metallic floor. As deplorable as this was, as much as it turned his stomach, as much as he wanted to risk sacrificing himself in a futile effort to escape, Bill couldn't. That old ethical dilemma regarding the the trolley problem raced in his mind.

Would you kill one person to save a thousand? Or would you kill a thousand to save one person?

Bill slowly reared back up on his knees and looked at the Mew twitching in pain in the stasis tank.

Tears filled his eyes.

"I'm so sorry." He cried. "I am truly sorry. But I don't have a choice. I'll do whatever I can to keep my babies safe. Life will be lost regardless of what I do. I'm so sorry you have to suffer. I'm sorry for my actions. I'm so sorry Mew."