I see the fear in Kenji's eyes and I feel sorry for him. I crouch before him while Koga inspects the box.

"I don't see any visible holes to get some sleeping powder in there," Koga mutters. "It must have some but they must be under you."

Kenji shakes his head. "Look, I appreciate the visit but you're better going. Don't need you and Paldea man here blowing up. Where does that leave Ellie?"

I stare at him in surprise and realise that I'm not going to follow his suggestion to go. Ellie cares too much about him and he cares about her, which I have to honour even if I hate it.

"How did you know I was here anyway? I only ended up in this little predicament about an hour ago. Hyuck-hyuck-hyuck." His laugh comes out weak and more like a cough.

"Your nephew happened upon us," Koga answers. The ninja's tone stays bright and I can't tell if he's trying to be positive for Kenji or if he's being sarcastic.

"He got away then, good. Can't say Troy needed the excuse mind, he wasn't that believing that I was just playing along with Petrel when it came to Ellie."

"Why did he believe you at all?" The suspicion comes out of me before I can help it. It's unfair of me but he is the brother of Team Rocket's boss after all.

Kenji's brown eyes seek me out and he fixes a serious stare on me. "He didn't really but I make a good pawn if nothing else, better with me in easy reach than elsewhere." He laughs again. "Shit, sorry Paldea man, I'm talking riddles to you but then you're good with the secrets too."

"Larry knows your Giovanni's brother," Koga says. He continues to hunt round the box as carefully as he can. I am a little wary we might be blown up at any given moment.

"You blabbed on me? Thanks a lot ninja."

"They were worried about you," Koga explains calmly, "Ellie thought you might be killed so I had to explain why that wouldn't happen. Of course I didn't foresee Silver causing problems and making Troy opt for desperate measures."

"So Ellie knows then." I am surprised by the woe that comes out of the Grunt, does he really care that much about what she thinks? I feel conflicted over how I should view this Grunt, he's part of the group that murdered my wife and kidnapped my daughter but he's also the one who helped my daughter escape when she was young and he seems to have gone out of his way to help her since she's fallen under Troy's radar again.

I shake my head. "No, she...blacked it out."

Kenji looks puzzled at this but he doesn't comment. "Koga, I think you need to give up here, if Troy doesn't know you're here yet he will soon and I don't need Gio getting involved with this."

"I'm not sure your brother would forgive me if I left you to get blown to tiny pieces by a self-destructive Voltorb," Koga muses happily.

"Awk it'll only happen if I try and bolt or take a dump, Troy is just pissy because I wouldn't let him take Silver. Either Troy will calm down or Archer might come down from star gazing and get the Voltorb out from under my ass."

"Much as I love the optimism Kenji, our little psychic girl is worried about you and I don't think telling her you're fine will cut it, she needs to see you."
I bristle at Koga referring to Ellie as 'our little psychic girl' but I don't say anything. I realise I've stood quite uselessly for ten minutes or more now. Proton wasn't kidding about it taking more than five minutes and I'm concerned over where he might be.

I look at the box and catch Koga staring back at me, his gaze is stern and the rest of his expression remains hidden beneath his scarf.

"I'm not seeing any holes," Koga admits.

I think of him hoping to have a Pokemon spray something into the box and a different idea comes upon me. "How thick do you think the wood is?"

Koga's dark eyebrows lift slightly and he cocks his head to the box before looking back to me. "Well it's not steel but it is supporting Kenji."

"I'm light," Kenji pipes up in a weak show of humour.

"What are you hoping to do?" Koga queries.

"I'm hoping the Voltorb can hear in there."
"Wait, can they hear?" Kenji ponders. "Where are their ears?"
"They can hear," Koga confirms as he keeps his gaze on me, "sure they can understand verbal commands but what's that to do with anything?"

"Surprised he hasn't blown up already then with the names I've been calling him," Kenji jokes.

I reach for a Poke Ball and tap it gently, bringing out my slumbering Komala close to the box.

The box gives a slight tremble and I see Kenji turn stark white. "Oh shit," he exclaims nervously. "I...I don't...hyuck-hyuck-hyuck-hyuck-hyuck!"

I look at Kenji in alarm as his laughter comes out like hiccups. His eyelids screw up so tightly I think it must hurt and he stammers out the laugh and tenses on the box as he starts to shake.

"Whatever you're doing do it now!" Koga hisses.

"Yawn," I give Komala the order.

I realise if my plan fails we're all going to die because Kenji's quivers are bound to disturb the Voltorb into an explosion.

"Kenji calm down," Koga pleads, "we're going to get you out of this."
Kenji is just a boy really, nineteen, that's far too young to be facing this kind of predicament and far too young to be in the life he is. There it is, pity. I didn't want to feel anything for him or for anyone here in Johto other than Ellie but somehow here I am knowing that if we can't save Kenji I'm going to regret it and not just because of Ellie but because I actually feel sorry for Kenji.

"Why do you laugh like that?"

I feel Koga glaring up at me. "Really Larry, is that going to the last thing you say before we're blown up?"

I shrug in answer. I still carry some of my apathy towards death I suppose although the thought of getting Ellie to Paldea has renewed my interest in living.

"Well if it's what gets us killed I'd like to know why."

Kenji shakes his head miserably as his laughter starts to die down.

"My ma didn't like it when I cried when her and pa smacked me so I learned to laugh instead, problem is it stuck."

Koga raises up a gloved hand to hush us. He presses his ear up to the box and his eyes widen slightly. "It's snoring." He stands up quickly and looks to me. "You're full of surprises Larry. You should see Larry battle Kenji before you think about getting any closer to Ellie."
"You mean Larry has some connection to her?" Kenji quips sarcastically. "Oh I'm shocked."

Kenji remains tense despite his attempt to appear blasé again, his skin is pale and I can see the shine to his eyes suggesting he came close to crying.

Koga moves round to the front, blocking my vision of the Grunt.

"Well, let's try this then. You stand up slowly and either the Voltorb's in a deep sleep or we're all going to die." Something about how jovially Koga states this has me wondering if maybe he has some death wish too.

Kenji obeys with a groan of pain and accepts Koga's offered hand to help him. Koga pulls him away from the box quickly and I recall Komala and take a few steps back.

We all freeze up when nothing happens.

"Good, let's get out of here then," Koga says. "Back the way we came, hopefully without diversion, quick stop to show Giovanni you're safe and then it's back to Olivine City to show Ellie the same thing. By the way, since I did share your familial ties Kenji, let me catch you up to speed with the other news you may not know. Larry is Ellie's father."

Kenji glances over to me warily and offers up a bloody teethed smile. "Knew you were something to her Larry. Kept that quiet for long enough mind, did you tell her?"
"Yes."

"And how did Stevie take it? Not well I bet. Hyuck-hyuck-hyuck." The cheer is back in his laugh but I don't appreciate it.

Koga ushers him towards the door and I follow.

As we exit we we are greeted by Proton standing waiting for us.

The Rocket Executive folds his arms and tries to put on a show of bravado but in the shade of his cap I see the small parting in his mouth and the twitch at his cheek betraying his shock.

"Proton, don't be an ass," Koga addresses him bluntly. "Larry and I are both Elite, more than that we're tired and grumpy, we won't go easy on you."

Proton's gloves bear dark brown stains and I wonder grimly if they are from the Slowpokes he mutilated or if he has caused more hurt since then.
Proton bristles at Koga's confidence but his gaze stays on Kenji. "He really did a number on you," he marvels. "I mean, it was only a few minutes, I didn't think it was so bad. Course I did see a lot of blood I suppose. Why do you always pick the awkward side Kenji? You and I have always had blood on our hands one way or another, isn't it better to be the cause of it than the receiver of it?"

"If that wasn't so psychotic it would be poetic," Koga chimes up dryly.

I look to Kenji to spy his reaction, he is slouching against Koga, still pale with a downturned mouth of pain. I wonder at Proton's words and recall vaguely that he made some mention of stains on Kenji back in Azalea Town, what has Kenji done for Team Rocket? It rankles at me for I do not want someone violent near Ellie, she deserves better but if I had any real say in that I would not have come here in the first place. Am I here for her or for me? It comes to me in a sharp realisation that I am trying to work off a penance by coming here for Kenji, that it is less about what is good for Ellie and more about what might help me gain her forgiveness or show my desire to apologise to her?

"Proton, can I just go please? We both know it's only going to be temporary anyway," Kenji says miserably. "It's a family business, there's no escape for either of us, is there?"

Proton's mouth settles in a thin line as he shakes his head. He glances momentarily to the lift doors behind him before looking back to us. "Alright, go ahead because you're right, it will only be temporary. Troy wants that girl, don't be with her when he finds her."

Proton turns around and I hear a card swipe before the lift doors open. He steps to one side and gestures for us to enter.

"Where is he?" Koga demands.

"Upstairs with Archer," Proton answers calmly. "I told Archer to call him up and ask about Kenji, thought it might buy you some time."

"Thanks," Kenji croaks out.

Koga heads for the lift with Kenji and I follow, although I am wary that it might take us straight up to Troy and an ambush. Koga stops to turn his head to face Proton.

"You could've mentioned the Voltorb, ass," Koga curses him out before pulling Kenji into the lift.

I follow wordlessly. Seeing Proton's wave goodbye before the doors close unsettles me further.

The lift starts to move down but I don't feel any relief.

We emerge unscathed to the lobby and hurry back out the way we came in. The storm is in full swing and we are struck by sharp winds and biting droplets of icy rain. I raise my arm and squint against the rain in an attempt to see my way forward.

Kenji gives a yelp of pain and I realise he and Koga have fallen behind me. Seeing Kenji sagging to one side, I move to help Koga support him. I get an odour of blood and wrinkle my nose in disgust before looking ahead. I wonder as we try to push against the storm what my wife would have thought of all this. I suspect she would have been more lenient in her judgement of Kenji, sympathetic to his background and forgiving of his irritable nature because of the kindness he keeps showing to Ellie. She always was the more understanding and patient of the two of us. I suppose considering all the long hours and missed dinners she endured from me she had to be the patient one.

We reach The Purfect Persian and head inside. I am grateful for the warmth and shade from the storm though less pleased with the many eyes that fix upon us in part due to our soaked state but mostly because of Kenji's bloodied appearance. I think we have too many witnesses for Troy here.

We head back up to the private dining room and find the bored looking Grunts on guard, they do argue but open the door instantly to let us in.

Giovanni is seated at the head of the table once more but he is alone. There is no sign of his lackeys or Silver.

He raises his dark eyebrows only briefly and it is the only indication he gives of taking in Kenji's appearance.

"You kept up our agreement then," he addresses me calmly.

"Can you delay Troy?" I demand.

He gestures for Kenji to be seated on his right and gives a singular nod in answer.

In a moment I am angry with him, for his blasé nature in regard to his brother's wounds, for his casualness to me without any proof that he can control Troy in any way and for all the grief and horror his organisation has brought to my door. I release Kenji and leave it to Koga to help him sit properly. There is a strong resemblance in Kenji to his brother but their age gap is jarring and I think Kenji has more in common with the hotheaded Silver than his icily calm brother.

"Can you really?" I query. "You couldn't help your son or your brother."

"I didn't need to help them, I had you for that," Giovanni dismisses me. He isn't even looking at me, his attention is on Kenji as he pours something I suspect is sake into a small cup for him.

Kenji snatches up the cup and swings it back in one gulp, which leads to a chorus of splutters and coughs. I frown as he spits up blood onto the table.

"Well we don't have time to linger," Koga grumbles. "You know where we are going, Troy knows too, how long are you going to get us?"
"Kenji, I sent Silver on for his safety, would you go with him?" Giovanni asks.

Kenji cracks a bloody smile and his horrid laugh slips out. "I could, I should but I've gotta see Ellie. You don't know her Gio, never met her have you? All the trouble she's caused and been caused, hyuck-hyuck-hyuck, I told you before, I'm keeping her safe. I've done enough for this organisation, haven't I?"

I see Kenji's begging stare for his brother and feel disgust as I wonder again - what all he has done in the name of Team Rocket?

Giovanni's stare is dark and cold like a starless sky. He has shown a certain affable appearance for us but considering his line of work I suspect he holds something very dark beneath his neat surface.

"It's never enough Kenji, not for you nor for I." He reaches out and pats his brother's shoulder in a light gesture that seems more mocking than consoling. "Go see this psychic girl who has caused so much distraction for my people but don't be with her when Troy reaches her. I don't need you becoming his hostage again. If he's in Paldea he's no longer a problem for me."

I frown and feel an unexpected hint of temper in me. It's clear now that Giovanni wants to give us a leading start on Troy because it benefits him. If he doesn't delay Troy's pursuit of us then we might not get out of Johto, which means Troy won't either but if Giovanni holds him back just long enough then we'll get to Paldea and Troy will follow. I know I should consider a change of plans but it's clear Troy will follow no matter where we go and in Paldea I have allies and it is home for Ellie.

Giovanni's stare darts up to Koga. "You too Koga, I know we had a disagreement when you tried to leave here last, that you were for helping this girl too but you shouldn't."

"She's a child Giovanni," Koga answers, "you should do more than delay Troy on this, you should stop him."

"She's a psychic, one powerful enough to summon Legendary Pokemon to her," Giovanni says, "I should be helping Troy capture her."
"Don't do that," Kenji pleads. He sounds like a child.

Giovanni holds up a hand to him and lowers it as Kenji falls quiet. "I won't, if only because it's been too many years and too many resources wasted on her as it is. Psychics are not so rare and we have much to do in Johto yet if I have a chance at returning Team Rocket to glory."

He folds his arms and leans back in his seat. "If you are going, go now. I'll give you five days and my thanks for helping Kenji here."

Giovanni's stare is on me now, cold and serious. "I am a negligent father too Larry, I understand the pain and the guilt but be careful of what you are you taking to Paldea with you. Maybe you should let her go back to Hoenn with her current family, is a broken family with you really better?"

I do not answer. I turn instead for the door, tired of the criminals and their games. What does it say when I think a criminal mastermind might actually have a point?