Hey Everyone! Back with another chapter for this week. Hope you all had an excellent time celebrating the Holidays.
Now, On with the story.
Chapter 10: Omitted Ally (Part 1)
(A Few Hours Later, At Castelia City Hospital, Unova)
Lying in a state of unconsciousness, with many bandages wrapped around her head wound from the impact, a woman was tethered to some machines monitoring her condition. With many doctors and nurses checking up on her from time to time, hoping that she would wake up, all they could do was wait.
(The Woman then begins to squirm.)
Feeling that something was off, The Woman begins to toss her head left and right before finally opening her eyes. At that moment, a doctor walks in to check up on her and his face quickly goes from one of concern to one of shock. "Kaihaku Sanryokagami?" Asked The Doctor. "Yes. Where am I?" Asked Kaihaku. The doctor then turns his head around to see if there are any doctors or nurses nearby. "Contact the International Police! Mrs. Sanryokagami has woken up!"
(Twenty Minutes Later, At the Headquarters of the International Police's Alola Branch)
Mateus was heading back to work on the case, when he hears his Rotom Phone ringing. "Hello?" Said Mateus, answering the phone call. "Mateus?" Said a Voice over the phone. Mateus immediately recognized the voice. "Commissioner Blake, What brings you to call me all of a sudden?" "Well, it's a sudden update. I've been notified by Castelia City Hospital that Kaihaku has regained consciousness." Said Commissioner Blake. "What?! That's great! How long ago?" "Twenty minutes ago. The doctors did explain the current situation to her, so she knows what has happened since she was knocked out." "I see. I was hoping they would wait a little bit, but it does make sense to explain. I'll notify Professor Alva and his children so that they can see her if they wish to." "Very well, Detective. I'll talk to you later." "Yes, Commissioner. I'll talk to you soon." The call then ends and Mateus then looks at his watch. "30 Hours. At least, that's if all goes according to our calculations." Thought Mateus to himself.
(A Few Minutes Later)
"I see you woke up earlier than expected." Said Prof. Alva. "They say good never rests. Plus, I've got news for you." Said Mateus, who wake making his way to the conference room where the group was meeting. Prof. Alva then turns to Mateus. "What?" Mateus then faces the group. "Good Afternoon Everyone. As it stands, we have around 30 hours before our perpetrators strike. I was also given an update on my way here. I have just received word from Commissioner Blake that Kaihaku has regained consciousness. I'll let Professor Alva, Hilbert, and Rosa decide if they want to see her." Hilbert, Rosa, and Prof. Alva then look at each other. "I'll stay. One of us three need to look after mom while we're looking for Hilda and Bianca." Said Hilbert. "I agree. I'm staying too." Said Rosa. Prof Alva then looks at Rosa. "Rosa, it's been four years since you saw your mother. I can understand Hilbert since she saw him every day, but…" "Dad, it may have been four years since I last saw Mom, but don't forget that it's also been 15 years since she saw you! If anyone deserves to see Mom, it's you of all people!" Prof. Alva then looks at his two children giving affirming looks to him. Hilbert then places a hand on his father's shoulder. "Dad, I'll also keep Rosa safe. Go see Mom."
(Prof. Alva then nods in approval before leaving the Headquarters building to head to Unova.)
"This means that the Analysis Team now has a vacancy. I'll do what I can to fill it as quickly as possible. Patrols won't start until the evening, so work together to see if you can find anything in the evidence and data." Said Mateus. "We have to break the damn cycle, this is starting to feel like a loop!" Thought Mateus to himself.
(Six Hours Later)
In the darkness of the night sky, two figures, one male and one female, were hiding in an area looking at a residency. "We've got their routine mapped out, tomorrow will be a breeze." Said the Male Figure. "Keep in mind, even if this is a breeze, we still have to worry about the patrols." Said the Female Figure. The Male Figure then turns to the Female figure in annoyance. "Why do you think I brought my Alakazam?"
(The Next Day)
Mateus was looking at a screen that was keeping track of all of the patrols in the Alola region. Since it was the early morning hours, most of the patrols were ending for the day. As Mateus looked at the screen disgruntled, Serena walked in. "How long have you been in here, Detective? Eon?" Asked Serena. "The entire night, give or take." Said Mateus. "They say that staying up for so long isn't good for you. You should try to get some rest. Your Pokémon are sound asleep." Mateus then looks back to see Charchy, his Shiny Charizard (male), Mirai, his Meowstic (female), his Decidueye (male), Gol, his Cinderace (male), Weiss, his Weavile (female), And Buddy, his Umbreon (male) all asleep on the floor. "I'd rather have them be asleep than me in any case." "I see. At least 18 hours have passed, right? Eon?" Mateus then nods. "Yes. Approximately 12 hours are remaining until they strike." "You did say that the morning briefing will be in two hours, try to get some rest before then." "I am in no position to guarantee anything at the moment."
(Two Hours Later)
"Good Morning Everyone. We've got a lot of work to do, and not a lot of time to do it. As it stands, we're roughly 10 hours away from the moment of impact. Hopefully, if all goes well, this nightmare ends today. Let's get to work." Said Mateus. "Right!" Said the rest of the group. Mateus' eyes then pop up. "I almost forgot. I was able to fill the vacancy left by Professor Alva." Mateus then turns to the door. "You can come on in."
(At this point a three layer haired man with gray hexagon-shaped glasses, wearing a blue jacket with red stripes and a teal collared shirt with two stripes tied in a knot, along with a pair of black pants and shoes enters the room, who Sophocles immediately recognizes.)
"Big Mo?!" Said Sophocles in shock. "I've asked Molyane to fill in for Professor Alva. His observation skills should be of excellent assistance with the Analysis Team. I've already informed him about the updates with the case, so there's no need to worry about that. Now, let's get to work."
(Four Hours Later)
"Alright then. Yes, we'll be there as quickly as possible." Said Mateus, who was attending to a phone call. He then places the phone down. "Alright. A missing child was reported in Ula'Ula Island." "Now?! It's at least six hours early!" Said a Shocked Ash. Mateus then turns to Ash. "I know. Either they're completely desperate or they're adapting very well."
(Ten Minutes Later, At Route 13, Ula'Ula Island)
Mateus was asking questions to the person who reported the disappearance. "Did anything seem out of the ordinary at the scene? Like people who there that weren't supposed to?" Asked Mateus. "No. The house was empty. I saw Tommy go in the morning." Answered a Female Neighbor. "Yes, you say that Tommy was taking time off from attending the Pokémon School?" "Yes. He's been heading over to his uncle, Timothy, who's two doors down from the right. Thomas, his father, is a researcher so he doesn't always have the time to take care of his brother, so Tommy went through the process of getting a remote learning designation to be on top of his schoolwork while still tending to his uncle." "I see. Is his uncle still here?" "Yes. He contacted me asking to see if Tommy had overslept so I went to check on him, however, no one was inside the house when I checked." "Ok. Are there any more details you can recall?" "No." "Very well then. Thank you for your time." "You're welcome."
(Meanwhile, with Ash, Serena, Goh, and Chloe.)
Ash, Serena, Goh, and Chloe were helping the Collection Team look for evidence. Not wanting their Pokémon to inhale the Sleep Powder, they either kept them in their Poké Balls or left them outside. "Poor Family, it's not easy to comprehend a missing child. Eon." Said Serena. "I can imagine. I wonder what the parents are feeling, as well as extended family." Said Chloe. "To wonder is one thing, to actually feel their emotions is another." Said Goh. "That's a fact. Hilbert and Rosa are working on the case with us, all while bottling the emotions they have from all of it. It's easy to see that with each successive kidnapping, that their fears grow wider and wider." Said Ash. Serena then turns to her husband. "I'm also worried for Detective Mateus. He's a man of his word and he told Commissioner Blake that he would not let him down." Goh then turns to Serena. "That is true, these perpetrators are making it harder for him to do just that." Ash then turns to Goh. "Add in the fact that he's had very little sleep and the feeling of like being trapped in a loop. Where all of this is going, it's not looking good." Chloe then turns to Ash. "He's nothing short of overwhelmed." Korrina then enters the room. "We just checked downstairs, couldn't find anything. We're you guys lucky?" Said Korrina. Serena then turns to Korrina. "We just finished checking the rooms here upstairs, And nothing as well, unfortunately. Eon." Both teams then leave the house.
(Meanwhile, Outside.)
"Nothing?" Asked Rosa. "Unfortunately." Replied Mallow. Rosa then frowns. "Alright, some background information. Our recent victim's name is Tommy Highlander Jr., age 10. Son of Thomas Highlander Sr., a researcher in Rock Type Pokémon, Mother passed four years ago. He was taking classes remotely at the Pokémon School while taking care of his uncle. The disappearance was reported at 2:30 in the afternoon." Explained Mateus. "We just checked the house and there was nothing in there that could be used as evidence." Said Ash. Mateus then ponders for a moment. "To be prepared for the next striking, the Analysis Team and Information Team No. 1 will stay here while The Collection Team and Information Team No. 2 will be heading back to Melemele with me." Everyone then nods their heads in agreement.
(Six Hours Later, At the Headquarters of the International Police's Alola Branch)
Mateus was once again looking at a screen that kept track of the patrols in the Alola region, hoping to ensure that something would come up that would lead towards solving the case. The Collection and Information Teams were awaiting for any sign of hope, some of them were even talking to their Pokémon in an attempt to calm down. Serena was with her husband talking when her Rotom Phone began ringing. "Ash, it's Mom. Is it alright If I…?" Asked Serena. "You don't need to ask me Sweetheart." Said Ash. "Thank you, Ash-kun. Eon."
(Serena then leaves to take the call.)
"Hello Mom. Eon." Said Serena. Serena then hears her mother tearfully saying things incoherently, causing Serena to begin worrying. "Mom, calm down. Are the twins alright?" "The twins are fine dear, it's just that…" Said Grace before pausing. "Mom! What is it?! Eon?!" Grace then says something that makes Serena's turn cold in shock, prompting her to abruptly end the call.
(Serena then runs into the room the group has been working in.)
"Serena, you made it in time. We just received a missing person report from Melemele Island... Why do you look like you've seen a Ghost Type?" Asked Mateus. "Mom just called. The twins are fine, but, Amelia is missing! Eon!" Said a horrified Serena.
(Everyone then looks at each other in worry, while Mateus' facial expression turns to look as if he's about to blow a gasket.)
"Oh! For fuck's sake!" Yelled Mateus in absolute anger.
*End of Chapter 10*
It'll be 2023 by the time the next chapter drops. I hope you all have an excellent time ringing in the new year as well.
As usual, I hope you all have an excellent weekend. See you all next Friday.
