"…take over?" I ask, "I thought he just wanted to create a…tourist hot spot?" I glance at Serperior for confirmation, who nods. "That was before…when we came, and learned they did somehow know about humans here, his ambitions grew." We look at him, puzzled. "Humans here are…are the stuff of legends. Myths. Suppose a human could come here in the flesh. He thinks that with a more stable wormhole…a human could come without a transformation."

And if a human could come here in all their glory…what kind of influence could that have on the pokemon? Such a person, especially one as intelligent as Dr. Laurel…thinking about how they could take advantage of such a privileged position here makes my stomach turn.

"He wanted to go home, regroup, and return here as a human, presenting the pokemon with human technology, and establishing himself as an authority in knowledge and power. He figured that he could be some kind of leader here. Maybe even a deity. Unchallenged power, I think he said." These sound like the ramblings of an insecure, power-hungry maniac.

I am ashamed to have ever worked with him.

"It took a lot of time…but I think I finally realize the truth." Noibat resumes. "He may be my trainer, but he is not my family. I want to stop him, to save this place, then to have nothing more to do with him. But…" he looks embarrassed, "I don't really know how to start…" "So you want us to help you." Skitty says flatly. Noibat shakes his head, "I wanted to free you because it was the right thing to do, but…the fact remains that he does need to be stopped, somehow."

Even though she's hurt…heck, I'm hurt, I can't deny that he's right. We can't sit idly by and watch Dr. Laurel take this world for himself.

"So where do we start?" I ask. "Well, he's been able to coordinate efforts to open a wormhole with the team back home, so—" "he's contacted people from our world?" I ask, suddenly feeling frantic, "how!?" "He…his phone was in his pocket, he managed to get a signal going…I kind of spaced out while he was talking about it, to be honest" he says looking sheepish. I can't believe it—I get here with my phone nearly in pieces, and he's able to get his to connect with the others back home?

It feels like some kind if cosmic joke. Ha ha

Noibat continues, "but to defeat him, we'll need to retrieve the rest of your team Gwen. Dr. Laurel and Audino are seriously strong!" I let myself revel in the injustice again—he's just a little phantump! How can he be 'seriously strong,' when all I've got to show off are a couple of…unimpressive moves, if I'm being honest. Noibat goes on, unaware of how much I'm realizing I got the short end of the stick in coming here. "While some of us distract them, the others could destroy anything he's made to recreate the wormhole, along with his phone—cut off his contact to our world so he can't start making another."

It's a simple yet solid plan, but one part sticks out; we cut off his contact to our world, we fight to stop any other wormholes from being made. Ever. So that means…"…we'll be stuck here? No way to get home?" Serperior asks, concern written across his face. "…I…yes. I don't have a better idea, the only way I can think of stopping his plans permanently is by trapping him here, entirely cut off from our world and his lab. Even if we were to capture him and go home…Gwen, I'm sure you'd be out of the picture, then he'd just pick up his research where he left off and return anyway."

I realize Noibat's right. Dr. Laurel would just keep on trying until he got what he was after.

To sacrifice ourselves…to protect this world. It's a huge sacrifice to make…my entire life, that of my team, all for the sake of the safety this world. I steal a glance at Skitty who's studying the ground. To protect her, and her world? My mind is set.

For her, I'd make any sacrifice.

And really, it wouldn't be such a bad deal when I think about it. I'd get to stay with her, explore this world together, build a life.

But I do realize it's not my decision alone. "Serperior? What do you think?" I can see him mulling it over, weighing the pros and cons "it's not…ideal, of course…but if there is no other way…I mean…I think we should keep our minds open, but…" even though he's dancing around it, I know his answer. Saving this world…it is the right thing to do. "Thank you" I say softly, hugging him as he wraps his tail around me.

"So, if we're all in agreement," Skitty cuts in, "where do we start? How are we supposed to get the rest of Gwen's team back from the Center?" "Lurantis told Sigilyph to put them somewhere…the uh…Artifacts Wing? Skitty, do you know where that is?" She looks thoughtful, "I do…but it's not going to be easy. One of the jobs for exploration teams is guarding the Artifacts Wing, offering tours, etc. We can't just waltz in."

"…not without some kind of disguise" Serperior offers. "Oh yes, and we all remember how well your last disguise went," Skitty smirks. He looks flustered again, "I-there was…look! I had just been attacked! In the middle of the forest! What could you have possibly done better?" "I don't know, not blown my own cover immediately in town? I saw your tail sticking out, veeery stealthy." She smirks. They're going back and forth again.

"Children, please!" I interrupt, "Serperior's right, we need a way to get in" he sticks his tongue out at her, "But it does need a bit more…finesse, to fool the Center" she blows a raspberry back.

A very mature, capable team we have here.

"Skitty, is there ever a time when the Artifacts Wing isn't guarded?" She thinks for a moment, "…well they get reassigned every 12 hours. A separate day and night shift. And two pokemon are on duty together so they can take alternating breaks"

An idea starts forming. "You said they guard…and offer tours…they do tours during their shifts?" "Yes, it's part of their duties. No one usually goes over there other than the odd researcher or occasional field trip, so one leads them around, discreetly keeps an eye on them, while the other stands guard at the entrance." "What would happen if two parties came at the same time?" Noibat asks. Skitty considers this for a moment, "to be honest, they barely even get one visitor, I don't ever remember two parties being there together. Master Lurantis just likes it supervised, it's where the Center's most precious discoveries go, after all."

So if we could distract both guards, then maybe we could sneak in, find the occupied pokeballs, and swipe them unnoticed.

Maybe I could also grow wings and fly off into the sunset afterwards—somehow it's not feeling likely.

"Noibat, you're the only one here who's not a wanted criminal…what if you distracted them?" "M-me?" "Just to get rid of one of the guards, ask questions about all the stuff, keep them busy, that sort of thing." "I guess I could…but what about the other one?" He's right, no matter how I turn it over in my mind, I can't figure out a way to get rid of the other dang guard. I look around the cave, as if it will give me an answer.

The cave…it's so bright, despite the near pitch blackness it was in before…

That's it!

"Noibat! What if you approach the guards to request a tour, and in your 'excitement,' blind them with your Sunny Day! Just for a moment so we can rush in." "That…could actually work…" Noibat says, considering it. "It is awfully bright close range, but what about getting you out?" Yes, getting out could be a problem. "Well…I guess we'll just have to think of something…otherwise figure that out along the way…" I offer, hoping it sounds confident enough to pass as a real solution. From their faces I can see they're not fully convinced, but realize we have little other choice. I guess it's something to think about, anyway.

"So, how do we get into the Center unnoticed?" Serperior asks. "We can figure out a way to sneak in, maybe in a bag of goods Noibat wants to get 'assessed'? You can stay here where you won't get in our way," Skitty says just a tad too pointedly. He's not having it. "Excuse me, but this is Gwen and I's team we're talking about, I can't just sit around and do nothing to help!" "If you want to help, you'll stay out of the way!" Before he can respond with something as nasty as his expression looks right now, I cut in. "Maybe…Skitty has a point…we want to be in and out, not attract too much attention…plus! If we're all there and get caught, there will be no one left to stop Dr. Laurel." "But…but I can do it! I can be just as stealthy as anyone else here! Move faster than any of you! I…it's…." He's looking hurt, like he realizes it's a losing battle. "And that's a great asset! But…" I don't know how to say it without hurting his feelings any more than I already have, but the fact is he's just a little too…obvious, for a stealth mission. He was in Bedrock Town for like, five minutes, completely covered, and it attracted my attention. And to be honest? I'm not even sure how Skitty and I will be able to pull this off.

"It's…it's ok…I understand" he sighs, looking down dejectedly. "Gwen? You guys go and rescue them, I know you can do it." I'm touched, I feel my throat tighten. "We'll get them back, don't worry," Skitty offers. "…thank you, I have faith in you." He replies quietly. Sigh, it's so much more peaceful when they agree on things. Hopefully we'll be able to pull this off and they'll get more time to learn how to play nice.

As of now, it looks like we have a heist to prepare for.