If there was one thing Anabel couldn't stand, it was the heat. The humidity made things so much worse. The only way to combat the heat was to wear light clothes and hope there was enough water . Otherwise, she'd die of dehydration.
Death by sweating, what a way to go!
It was for this reason she wasn't as thrilled to be in Alola as most people would be.
She and the rest of her team had arrived in Alola a few minutes ago. When she first stepped off the boat, she would admit that she had been amazed at the beauty of the tropical paradise. The water here was so clean that she could see the Pokemon within it. The air had a pleasant, salty smell to it that was oddly relaxing. In the distance, she heard happy families enjoying their day at the beach.
They'd come to alola, a fake family on vacation. They dressed the part. As such, she had been stuffed into a floral midi-cut skirt, a white crop top, and gladiator-style sandals.
Disappointingly, Ash was wearing a green floral button-down T-shirt, yellow shorts, and a pair of white sneakers. To top off the outfit, he was also wearing a simple crème fedora and a pair of sunglasses. It was a normal outfit for a tourist. Ash had been adamant about choosing it himself this time to ensure no more 'initiation rituals' could be done to him. He'd even chosen to dye his hair a simple strawberry blonde this time to better blend in.
On his shoulder, Pikachu had chosen to wear a straw sun hat with little holes cut in the top so his ears could poke out. Walking at Ash's side, Latias had chosen to take on Anabel's form. It was a little creepy how perfect the transformation was. It wasn't just that she matched the clothes Anabel was wearing. Everything from the way she moved to the shade of her hair and the brightness of her smile was the exact same.
They looked like twins. If it weren't for the subtle thrum of psychic power in the back of her mind, she would have believed it herself.
Her older comrades had also decided to dress up for the part. Looker had chosen to wear a simple pair of white shorts, an oversized green button up, white sneakers, and a yellow crossbody bag. By contrast, Petrovic had chosen to wear a pair of linen bottoms, a red pinstripe shirt halfway unbuttoned, and sandals.
As far as anyone nearby was concerned, they were just another family of tourists here to have fun.
If it wasn't for the damn heat, she may have been able actually have some!
With an exasperated sigh, Anabel started to fan herself with her hand. "How far away is this safe house of ours?"
"Not far. It's an old warehouse close to a club." Looker told them. "The owner is a contact willing to keep it stocked and safe for agents that need it in exchange for a small monthly stipend."
Ash frowned. "A warehouse? There's not gonna be any AC, is there?"
Petrovic snorted. "Nope. It's a pointless expense. Why waste the money on a luxury that will rarely be used? Better to spend it on weapons and other useful stuff."
Anabel patted her dejected companion on the shoulder in comfort. "Look at the bright side: it's bound to be better than sleeping in the wilderness."
Looker rolled his eyes. "Kids these days. I've slept through aerial bombings in Rattata infested trenches. You should consider yourselves lucky."
She and Ash both rolled their eyes at his annoyed response. Anabel had immense respect for her superiors' service during the Great War. Many survivors spoke of the various horrors they endured during that tragedy. She had no doubt that her mentor had done the same.
If he wasn't careful, though, he'd come across as a grouchy old man.
"Why stay at this warehouse though?" Ash asked. "Wouldn't it be better to stay at our headquarters in Alola?"
"Under normal circumstances, sure. The issue is we'll need to operate closely alongside the Aether Corporation for this assignment. We can't risk them knowing its location."
Latias tilted her head as she skipped alongside them. "Why does it matter that we keep it secret?"
Petrovic smirked. "Security reasons. If anyone ever found out where it was located, the agents permanently stationed there would be in danger. They could be blackmailed with the threat of revealing it to the world. Worse, if say Team Rocket were to ever learn of it they could launch an attack and wipe out our presence in Alola."
Ash winced. "I can see why we have to keep it hidden. Will we ever get to visit it?"
Looker nodded. "Once our mission is complete, we'll give you a tour. Our Alolan HQ must be one of the better ones. Beautiful scenery, competent chefs, and a little beach to relax at after a long day of work."
"Don't forget the bar." Petrovic chimed in.
Anabel sighed. "Of course, all you care about is the bar."
Petrovic shrugged. "Judge me all ya want. Let's see how high and mighty ya are after a week-long stake out in the Alolan heat. I reckon ya won't last long."
Her eye twitched. 'Must. Resist. Urge. To. Punch.'
Latias sent her a supportive look. "I know exactly how you feel." She whispered into Anabel's mind.
They arrived at the warehouse a few minutes later. It was… about what she expected. Painted plain white and nestled in between a night club and an alcohol store, it was as unremarkable as it came. In the middle of the day, there was hardly anyone nearby since the club wouldn't officially open for another couple of hours. The only unique part of it was a small gate out front that they had to get past to get to the warehouse.
The inside was different. There was a couple different sets of mattresses on ground that looked serviceable, even if they weren't the most comfortable things in the world. In the corner was a small fridge and a microwave on a desk. There was even a second floor to the warehouse with what looked like computers, a wall phone, and even medical supplies and equipment normally only found in hospitals and Pokemon centers.
Anabel had a feeling it was better she didn't know how their contact got their hands on those.
The most impressive part, however, was the walls directly opposite of the entrance. Lining the walls were weapons of a wide variety. From automatic rifles to shotguns to snipers, knives, and pistols. Close to the weapons was even a large stash of ammo boxes, a variety of different explosives, and even Pokeballs.
Anabel whistled in appreciation and shut the door behind them. "With this kind of hardware, we could take on a small army."
Ash grimaced at the sight of the weapons. "Let's try to avoid having to use them. I'd rather not wind up causing any collateral damage."
Petrovic scoffed and flopped down atop one of the mattresses. "More like ya don't wanna get yer hands dirty, brat."
Her eyes narrowed and she moved in front of Ash. "Which is smart. Not all problems can be solved with violence and explosives."
"Whatever helps the brat sleep at night." He shrugged. "I'll be adding a few of these weapons to our lessons though. If ya wind up having to use them, I'm gonna make sure ya can at least shoot straight. I refuse to die because you couldn't handle a different weapon."
Looker chose that moment to interject. "That will have to wait. Petrovic, you and I have a meeting with Aether to attend."
He groaned. "Why do I have to go? Ya know I don't do diplomacy!"
"Because as a senior agent you must set a good example? Because it's a sign of respect to a potential ally? Because I told you to and you have to follow my orders?" Looker shrugged. "Take your pick."
Petrovic leveled a glare at him. "I hope ya know how much of a bastard ya are."
"Will we be going with you?" Anabel gestured to herself and Ash.
"HAH!"
Looker didn't so much laugh as he did loudly say the word hah and let it hang in the air. "You must be joking. Ash isn't just this regions disgraced Champion, he worked closely alongside Aether for months. If I take Ash, anyone could recognize him and try to capture him."
Latias lowered her illusion and returned to her natural form. She floated down onto one of the mattresses and rested her head on her arms. "Would anyone really risk it? Wouldn't people be afraid of him?"
Looker shrugged. "Most wouldn't even be able to see past the disguise we have for him. The rest would be too afraid of angering a dangerous criminal."
Petrovic chuckled. "Except for one or two reckless and insane fools who get it in their head they can play hero."
He sighed. "Yes, except for them."
"How much is his bounty up to at this point? Three or four million? For that much cash, even I'd be tempted to turn the little bastard in."
Ash paled and took a step back. In unison, both her and Latias leveled fierce glares at their comrade. If the way he shivered was any indication, he could feel the psychic energy starting to creep into the room.
"Not that I would ever do anything!" He rushed to assure them. "Go justice! Woo!"
Looker reached down and grabbed Petrovic by the ear, hoisting him up. He ignored the complaints and grunts of pain from his abrasive partner. "Ignore him. His mother never taught him when to keep his mouth shut." He scolded. "Anabel, I want you to get familiar with the area. Possible escape routes, people that frequent the area and their habits, and potential blind spots for surveillance."
Simple enough. Looking like a tourist, she had a handy explanation for walking around and asking questions. If she was lucky, people would overlook her lingering in places as the fascination of someone in a foreign land.
"Understood, sir."
Looker glanced at Ash. After a moment of silence, he sighed. "I'm tempted to tell you to stay inside so no one recognizes you. My gut tells me you'll just ignore me though and end up kidnapped or involved in a gang war."
Ash crossed his arms and gave him a deadpan look. "I'm not that bad."
Everyone in the room exchanged a look with each other at that blatant lie. Even Pikachu and Latias couldn't help but shake their head at Ash's refusal to accept the truth.
He was a trouble magnet. Anyone who spent even a short amount of time around him knew that. She wouldn't be surprised if he had been cursed by some Legend or old witch at birth. It was the only explanation for the insanity that followed this boy.
At least there were no more hidden surprises in his past.
"Just be careful. Try not to draw any attention to yourself if you leave." Looker eventually told him. "Anabel, if he does anything stupid then I'm holding you responsible."
She recoiled. "What? Why!?"
"It was your idea to rescue him. That makes him your responsibility."
She paused. "That's fair."
Ash pouted. "I'm not a pet, you know."
"Of course you aren't." Looker rolled his eyes. "Well, we're off. Stay safe and get comfortable, everyone. This is our home for the foreseeable future."
The Pokemon League had never interested Domino. To her, it had always been a symbol of narcissism. Those that participated in it were glory seekers that wanted a chance at fame and fortune without adding anything to the world. The Gym Leaders and League officials were con artists that preyed on the ignorance of children.
Perhaps if she had been in the position to go on a journey as a child, she would have a more positive opinion of it. Instead of getting a starter Pokemon and being given the chance to explore the world, she had been forced to survive on the streets. It was difficult enough for adults to do that, but children? Come the harsh winter season, she had seen more than a few tiny, emaciated and frozen corpses in the alleys.
Domino would surely have become one of them if she hadn't made the poor decision to try and rob Giovanni. She'd paid for it when his Persian hunted her down. Against all logic, he had chosen to take in the strange orphan she had been and given her a future she could never have dreamed of.
Sitting here in the middle of a packed stadium and surrounded by ardent fans of the League, her patience was quickly wearing thin.
Down below on the battlefield, her target was facing off against a gym challenger. Pryce was notorious for his borderline cruelty in gym battles. It was this ruthlessness that consistently ranked him as the second strongest Gym Leader in the Johto region. Some of the more creative reporters had even nicknamed him the Frozen Demon for the icy mask that he wore while demolishing his challengers.
They had no idea how close to the truth they were.
The challenger was a young trainer who had just started his journey this year according to the commentators. He was as bland as generic as they came. The only thing that made him stand out was the look of terror on his face.
The battle had not been going well for the boy. Of the six that he had entered the fight with, only a single one – a pitiful Graveler that already looked liable to fall over. Meanwhile, Pryce had yet to even lose a single Pokemon. This was made all the more pitiful by the fact he had been limited to only three Pokemon compared to the challengers full team.
At this point, the brat should have realized winning was impossible. Bleeding hearts would have cried out that the moral thing to do was forfeit and spare the Pokemon unnecessary pain. While she wanted this to end, it was for different reasons. Everyone knew the kid would lose which meant all of this was a pointless waste of time.
Like the prideful fool he was, though, the challenger refused to admit he had lost.
"Graveler, Rollout! Build up as much speed as you can!" The challengers voice was carried to the entire stadium through the speakers and broadcast onto a holographic screen above them. All so the audience could feel like they were in the battle themselves.
After a moment of hesitation, the Graveler rushed to obey its incompetent trainer. It curled up into a ball and revved itself up before speeding around the frozen battlefield. It kicked up shards of ice and avoided the pools of water in its path as it barreled towards Pryce's Pokemon.
For his part, Pryce had chosen a Delibird for the battle. While most often forgot about the pitiful bird, Pryce's Delibird had proven itself to be the pinnacle of its species. It had managed to skillfully evade every attack sent its way and surgically pick apart its enemies. For most trainers, being dominated by something as weak as this would have been humiliating.
It was only made worse by how bored Pryce looked during the battle.
He slammed his wooden cane into the ground. "Up."
There was no delay between Pryce's command and the flap of Delibird's wings. By the time the Graveler got close, Delibird had already flown high into the air above it. Without any need for a verbal command from its trainer, the red and white bird summoned a light blue orb in its mouth. A trio of blue beams struck the Graveler and froze it in place.
The challenger tightened his fists and stomped his foot. "Come on, Graveler, break out of there! I know you can do it!"
Domino rolled her eyes in disgust and propped her head up in one hand. That oversized rock of his wasn't even able to breath inside that block of ice, let alone break its way out. Honestly, she wasn't sure what the kid expected was going to happen. Did he think the power of friendship was going to save the day and win him the battle?
If that happened, she would puke in protest from how sappy that was.
Pryce shook his head down below, never taking his eyes off of the boy. "Recall your Pokemon. This match is over."
Tears had started to gather in the boys eyes. "N-no! We can still fight!"
Pryce scoffed derisively. "You have no Pokemon left. Accept your loss with some measure of dignity, boy."
An uncomfortable silence had washed over the crowd. Domino couldn't understand why. As harsh as Pryce was being, everything he said was true. Maybe they couldn't handle the sight of someone's hope being crushed. If so, then they were fools.
Pryce was a master at breaking children of their will to fight.
"No!" The child petulantly screamed. "I won't lose! Not like this! Graveler, break out now!"
This was just pathetic. If Pryce didn't get this over with, then she swore she would-
There was a loud crack that echoed through the stadium. Down below, the frozen form of Graveler shook as cracks slowly began to spread. This went on for a few seconds until the ice was shattered and the living boulder broke free from its icy prison.
"I knew you could do it!" The challenger cried out.
Pryce pursed his lips. "Unexpected."
Domino ran a hand down her face. "You've gotta be kidding me…."
"Let's show him what we can do!" The challenger snapped his fingers. "Rollout into Elemental Break!"
For a moment, Domino wasn't sure if the kid had lost his mind from the stress or was trying to call out some preplanned strategy. The Graveler rolled towards the Delibird and launched itself off of ground just as the Ice type flew into the air. Once it uncurled itself and its hands became sheathed in fire and lightning, everything became clear.
The kid had decided to combine Brick Break, Thunder Punch, and Fire punch to create a new move. It wasn't uncommon for trainers to do this when they hit a roadblock in their journey. It was a flashy display of power that impressed Gym Leaders enough that they would reward such creativity. To their credit, it allowed their Pokemon a bit more flexibility and unpredictability in League battles.
There were two issues with it. In exchange for the added flexibility, the combo move was typically weaker than the individual moves. The worst aspect of it, however, was the drain on the energy of the Pokemon forcing those moves together.
It was why she wasn't surprised when the Delibird moved out of the way before the Graveler's attack had even made it halfway through its arc. Without nothing in the way to stop its momentum, the Graveler flew through the air and crashed into the ground.
Pryce sighed. "Ice Beam."
Once more, three lances of light blue energy pierced the air and slammed into the Graveler. The creature cried out in pain from the freezing cold energy and was pushed back right to the edge of a pool of frigid water. It managed to hold itself firm, however, and keep itself from being pushed back or being frozen solid.
"I shall give you one more chance." Pryce called out. "Forfeit the match and save us all some time."
The challenger shook in rage. "Never!" He threw his arms wide. "Graveler, use Explosion."
The entire stadium went silent as they processed the order the young trainer had just given. Explosion was a move that almost no trainer ever allowed their Pokemon to use. While the Pokemon themselves always survived the initial attack, they were left in such horrible condition that they needed immediate medical attention.
To say that it was frowned upon in the competitive circle went without saying. However… it wasn't without its merit. From personal experience, Domino knew how useful having a living bomb could be. Unlike normal explosives which had to be aimed and had the risk of missing or not going off, Pokemon could actively seek out targets. With enough conditioning, they would never refuse the order to explode either.
The possible applications of it were endless. Whether it was demolishing a building, neutralizing a horde of enemies, or simply creating a distraction to escape these types of Pokemon were something she always kept on hand.
Just as the Graveler began glow and build up the energy inside of it for the attack, Pryce slammed his cane into the ground. "Knock it into the water with Mega Kick."
Delibird launched itself towards the Graveler and angled itself foot first. Both of its feet shimmered a metallic blue as it raced towards its target. With so much energy being sapped for the Explosion, the Graveler was powerless to evade the attack. It was launched backwards into the water and sunk to the bottom with nothing more than a whimper.
Seconds ticked by in tense silence as everyone in the audience around Domino waited with bated breath. When it finally went off, the water glowed a violent yellow before being ejected into the air and raining down all around them. At the bottom of the pool of water was a small crater centered around the unconscious form of Graveler.
To no one's surprise, Pryce had won.
While the challenger collapsed to his knees and stared ahead of himself, Pryce returned his Delibird without a word and moved towards the child. Once close, he looked down on the boy with a look of disgust.
Pryce placed the tip of his cane under the kids chin and forced him to his feet. "Do you know what you are?"
A spoiled brat?
"You are an arrogant fool." Pryce raised his voice. "A child playing at training monsters that he has no right to and chasing a dream he is unworthy of."
Up on the screen, Domino and the rest of the crowd could see tears beginning to form in the child's eyes. "B-but I-"
Pryce put a bit more pressure on his cane. "Do you know why you lost?"
The boy clenched his teeth. "You were stronger than me."
Pryce let out an audible, annoyed grunt. "A simple answer for a simple fool. A lie you can tell yourself to feel better. If you truly believe that, then you should give up on your dreams here and now. You will never achieve them."
Domino frowned. The crowd was beginning to whisper among themselves in unease about what he was saying. While Pryce had developed a reputation as a tough Gym Leader, this seemed like a little much. Even with her disdain for the brat, this was too much. There was a difference between giving someone a hard lesson and crushing their dreams.
Pryce didn't let any of that stop him, however. "Despite having the numerical advantage, your Pokemon were of such pitiful quality that it was meaningless. Even with your ability to study my tactics and prepare for the battlefield, you came here without having done a scrap of research. You thought that you would win because you felt you deserved to. Even when defeat was certain, you needlessly pushed on "
"I…." The challenger looked away.
"If I had it my way, I would strip you of your trainer license and ensure you never stepped foot near a Pokemon again." Pryce slowly removed the cane from the boys neck and turned his back to him. "From this moment forward, you are banned from challenging this gym."
The choked sob that escaped the boys lips was enough to break even Domino's heart.
"If you wish to earn my badge, then you will have to prove yourself to me." He told the boy. "Learn to think. Prepare yourself for failure. Demonstrate that you have the will to take what you desire. If you can do that, then I shall give you another chance to earn your precious badge."
How generous of him. Taunting a child with the potential for approval and their desire to achieve their dreams while all but telling them it would never happen. Domino had met Houndoom friendlier than this man.
"As for all of you in the audience." Pryce turned to the crowd with a stern glare. Even hidden among a sea of faces as a spectator, a shiver ran down her spine. It felt as though he was staring into her soul. "Let this be a lesson. I will not tolerate mediocrity or arrogance. I shall push every trainer that comes to my Gym to their breaking point and mold them into something better. It is only through these brutal methods that we can demonstrate to the world our greatness."
Without another word, Pryce walked off of the battlefield and left them all behind. While the crowd around her whispered among themselves about their worry for the challenger or how impressive Pryce was for his age, Domino's eyes followed him the entire time.
He was everything that his file said he was. Ruthless, cruel, and cunning. While his age may have slowed him down physically, it hadn't done anything to his mind. She would need to be careful. If he caught her spying on him, she didn't value her chances of surviving.
Best to stay a face in the crowd for now. She had all the time in the world to gather information, after all.
"I can't believe you're forcing me to be here with you."
Not for the first time, Looker wished that anyone else had been assigned to his team. He would have taken another rookie agent and all their issues. He'd have taken a criminal forced to work with them for their own good. He'd have even taken one of those useless fools from the Ethics Committee!
Instead, he was stuck with Petrovic. Whoever made that decision must have been drunk when they made it if they thought it was a good idea to stick them together.
"Could you just act professional for five minutes?" Looker eventually told him. "This is one of the richest corporations on the planet. Earning their support is essential."
The two of them were walking through Aether's headquarters on Melemele island. While it was not as grand as their Aether Paradise in the center of Alola, it was still an impressive two story building. There were Pokemon receiving medical attention and Aether employees going about their duties. Looker and Petrovic had come here shortly after leaving their safehouse. It wasn't too far away from a school for Pokemon trainers.
In an environment like this, common sense dictated that they act as professional as possible and keep from drawing any attention. Unluckily for him, Petrovic wouldn't know how to be professional if it hit him.
"They asked us for help." Petrovic rolled his eyes. "Far as I'm concerned, they should get on their hands and knees to beg us to help."
"It doesn't matter. When this mission is over, we'll have their gratitude. That means financial support for our operations. New tech to give our agents an advantage. If need be, it could even help provide economic leverage when we need it." He responded. "Not to mention it's always a good idea to keep an eye on the corporate sector."
You never knew when they would start to overstep their bounds and become the next criminals to worry about, after all.
Petrovic smirked. "And it gives you an excuse to flirt with your old flame."
His eye twitched. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Is that so? Then it must have just been my imagination the last time we were here years ago, and I saw you two sneaking off together. " Petrovic's laugh was almost enough to send him over the edge.
Almost. He wouldn't stoop to his level. Instead, Looker opted to ignore him and pushed his way into the office where they were supposed to meet Wicke. She was there looking out a window when they came in but turned once she heard the door open.
Wicke looked the same as when they first met years ago. A little more refined with a few more wrinkles but still the picture of friendliness. Her hair was the same dark shade of purple and behind the glasses her green eyes held wisdom within them. Dressed in her uniform, she looked exactly like what one would expect of someone from the famed corporation.
To Looker's surprise, however, she wasn't alone. Leaning against the desk in the center of the room was a man he recognized. A man with bags under his eyes, thin grey hair, and dressed in a black police uniform with a Z-Crystal hanging from his neck. He had bored look in his eyes and was fiddling with a flask on his hip when they walked in.
He knew this man.
"Sir!" He snapped a salute. "What a pleasant surprise!"
Nanu let out an irritated grunt and slipped his flask back onto his belt. "Stop saluting me, damn it. I'm not your officer anymore."
He straightened himself out but couldn't keep the smile off of his face. "Sorry, Nanu. I'm just glad to see you."
Petrovic snorted in amusement. "I'll bet ya are. Still desperately seeking approval after all this time."
Nanu rolled his eyes. "Ah, Pet's here as well. Wonderful. Still drinking the blood of children?"
Petrovic shrugged and held up his hands. "Still pretending to be a cop while sitting around doing nothing?"
Wicke coughed into her fist. "While I'm sure you all must want to catch up, we have business to focus on…."
Looker moved in between Petrovic and Nanu. "She's right. As nice as it is to see you, what are you doing here, Nanu? I thought you were retired."
Nanu pushed off of the desk and stretched his arms above his head. "So did I. Guess the higher ups decided they didn't care and 'requested' that I help you folks out."
"And you didn't think to say no? Age must be getting to you." Petrovic taunted with a Cheshire grin.
Petrovic tried to sling his arm around Nanu's shoulder, but the retired agent stepped out of the way and grabbed his wrist, twisting until Petrovic was on his knees trying to pull out of his grip. Looker knew he should have stopped it but… his partner deserved it if he thought it was a good idea to taunt Nanu.
Eventually, Nanu decided to show mercy and let go of Petrovic's hand. "I'm not exactly in a position to say no." He turned his back on the downed man and stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets. "So you can expect me to help out when you need me. Please don't need me."
He'd missed Nanu's brand of laziness. It reminded him of better, more simple times. "It's good to have you on board." Looker turned to Wicke. "Has anything changed since you first requested our help?"
She sighed. "They've attacked more of our facilities and stolen the Pokemon we were taking care of. No one has been killed or put in the hospital so far, but my employees are all worried they'll be next. Frankly, I share their concerns."
Looker frowned. "I promise that we'll stop them. I won't let anything happen to you." He assured her. "Have they sent anymore demands?"
Wicke frowned and crossed her arms in front of her. "Just the same demand for all our research into Ultra Beasts and Ultra Wormholes." She shook her head in exasperation. "I just don't know what a crime syndicate would want with it. It's useless to anyone outside scientific circles."
Petrovic got up off the floor and rubbed his wrist, glaring at the back of Nanu's head. "Probably plan to sell it. Rival companies, governments, mad scientists; someone'll buy the stuff."
Nanu snorted and took his flask off his hip, unscrewing the cap. "Or the plan to keep it for themselves for some nefarious scheme." He said pointed out before taking a sip of whatever was in it.
Petrovic scoffed. "Now you're just talking nonsense. Team Rocket wouldn't know what to do with that sort of stuff. They're criminals, not scientists."
Looker hummed in thought. While he was inclined to agree with Petrovic there, he couldn't help but consider Nanu's point. Team Rocket had always been interested in powerful Pokemon. Their experiments of Legendary Pokemon and attempts to capture them had been well documented. Based on the data Aether had been willing to part with and eye witness reports, Ultra Beasts were just as powerful but far greater in number.
Team Rocket could decide that the data was too valuable to simply sell. If Alto Mare was any indication, their greed could have potentially apocalyptic consequences. He didn't want to imagine the destruction that would follow if they opened an Ultra Wormhole and a horde of the creatures poured through.
"Whatever they plan to do with it, we'll stop them." Looker assured them.
"Aether's bottom line and secrets aren't our only issues." Nanu said in between sips of his drink. "There's a gang war on the horizon."
His eyes widened. "What? Why hasn't command been informed?"
Nanu shrugged. "No idea. Maybe they felt you didn't need to know. You do have a lot on your plate protecting the weak, defenseless Aether Corporation, after all." He sniped.
Wicke narrowed her eyes. "Something you'd like to say?"
He paused just before his flask touched his lips. "Plenty."
"Nanu, please." Looker needed to cut that off before it turned into an argument. "What gang war?"
Nanu sighed a sat on the edge of the desk. "Past eight months, Rocket's been taking territory. Absorbing smaller criminals into their network and wiping out those that refuse them. They've pretty much taken over every major port."
Petrovic nodded. "Sounds like 'em. Control the ports and they control Alola's life-blood."
"Exactly. Things is not everyone is willing to just roll over while they take over." Nanu explained. "Team Skull has started pushing back."
"Tell me about them."
He shrugged. "They're not exactly the most intimidating gang around. Pretty nationalistic but only to the point they'll make noise. Crimes they're most well known for are vandalism, petty theft, the occasional mugging, and pushing drugs. Oh, and jaywalking. Plenty of that last one."
Nothing that would put them on the radar of the International Police then. When he'd been told there was a gang war on the horizon, he hadn't thought this would be the force to oppose Team Rocket. They sounded like they were in over their head if they thought they could push back the Kantonian crime syndicate.
There was an opportunity here.
"What are their members like?"
Nanu scoffed. "They're kids. Orphans, runaways, abuse victims, homeless, and more than a few failed trainers. Basically, if you're a social outcast then Skull will take you. Gives them a sense of purpose and family they can't get anywhere else."
Petrovic whistled. "Wow. And this is the mighty force starting a fight with Rocket? They must have more bravado than sense."
"They just don't like the idea of outsiders coming to terrorizes what they consider their islands." Nanu shrugged. "Hasn't been going well for them. Nothing major so far but there've been plenty of small fights and a few deaths. All Skull's, as you can imagine."
Wicke frowned. "How bad is this going to get?"
"If nothing's done to stop it? Probably open war in the streets for a few weeks until Rocket wipes them out."
"No faith in Skull's chances?" Looker couldn't help but ask.
"Hah!" Nanu barked. "Not likely. They don't have the resources or manpower to push Rocket out. Worse, the only thing holding them together is loyalty to their leader, Guzma. Once he dies, they'll collapse."
They'd just have to make sure that didn't happen then.
"Is there anything the police or the Kahuna's can do?" Wicke asked.
Nanu grunted in annoyance and slipped his flask onto his hip. "Nothing impactful. Police are busy trying to keep this under wraps, so it doesn't impact tourism and tank our economy. Most they can do is respond to attacks after they happen and try to build a case against known criminals."
He paused for a moment to look out the window. "As for the Kahuna's? We're trying to protect the kids doing the Island Challenge and keep the Tapu's from getting involved. We'd rather avoid those things leveling a city to 'protect' their islands from Rocket."
Wicke hummed in thought for a moment before gasping in shock and snapping her fingers. "What about the Rangers?"
In unison, all three of them grimaced and groaned. While the Rangers could be good at their job, there was a… rivalry between them and Interpol. Agents of the two organizations never got along and always blamed each other when a mission failed.
It was inevitable when the two organizations used such different methods and had such different priorities.
"Let's hope they stay out of it." Petrovic muttered. "I'm liable to kill someone if they show up."
"Nothing will change then." Nanu pushed himself off of the table and walked towards the door, motioning for Petrovic to follow him. "Come on, let's leave these two to talk. You and I have business to tend to."
Petrovic gave him smug grin and waggled his eyebrows at Looker as he followed their former boss out. "Have fun you two!"
Looker growled and pinched the bridge of his nose once the door shut behind them. "One day, I'm going to snap, and I can't be held accountable for what happens then."
Wicke laughed and strode up alongside him, patting him on the shoulder. "He's not so bad. Just a little rough around the edges."
That was one way to describe him. "You'd think differently if you had to work with him."
She quirked an eyebrow at him. "Would you rather work with Faba?"
Looker winced. Petrovic's violent tendencies and abrasive nature were bad, but he'd take that over Faba's slimy personality any day. The man may have been brilliant, but he was manipulative and deceitful at the best of times.
"Touché." He admitted. "How have you been, Wicke? Truly?"
Wicke sighed moved back to sit on the edge of the desk, taking her glasses off and setting them aside. "I've been better. Running the Alolan branch of Aether was bad enough, but no this? I almost wish Lusamine were here to deal with it."
Looker moved behind her and set his hands on her shoulders. He slowly started to massage his fingers into them. "That bad?"
She sighed in frustration. "Like you wouldn't believe. I have to look after my employees, keep up a calm façade for the public, hire new security to protect our facilities, and be in and out of meetings with shareholders all day."
Looker kept up a slow, steady pace as she massaged her shoulders. She had so many knots in her shoulders that he was surprised she was even able to work properly. "Go on."
"And the paperwork!" She cried. "I thought it when I was just an assistant branch chief, but this? It's like a ravenous monster that grows whenever I'm not looking at it!"
He cracked and did his best to hold back his laughter. He knew what that was like. "Have you considered burning it? Or getting an intern to help?"
She scoffed and leaned into his touch. "I wish. I'm not cruel enough to subject a poor intern to that fate. I can't crush their hopes and dreams like that."
"And the fire?"
"That would be admitting defeat." She tilted her head back and smiled up at him. "You know I don't do that."
He had first hand experience there. It was a loss he remembered fondly. "Don't I know it." He smiled down at her. "I promise, once I'm done with Team Rocket, you'll never have to worry about them again."
"What about the paperwork?"
He snorted. "That is an enemy not even Arceus could defeat."
Wicke chuckled. "A shame. Still, I'll have to find a way to repay you."
"How about dinner? When all this is said and done."
She tapped her chin and hummed mischievously. "Quite the demand… I suppose I can make time in my busy schedule. Anything to repay such a dashing rouge for saving the day."
He smirked and kept doing his best to ease the tension in her shoulders. No matter how dangerous and complicated the coming days would be, at least he would know one thing for sure.
It would all turn out okay in the end.
Matori liked to believe she was a patient woman. She could handle the wait between assignments with grace. When the Grunts under her command made mistakes and potentially ruined a plan, she kept herself from reacting rashly. Even on long stakeouts, she was able to remain focused and avoid getting distracted.
One thing that always tested her patience, however, was the stupidity of others.
Ever since arriving in Alola, she had been moving from island to island trying to take as much territory as possible. Whenever she wasn't doing that, she had launch attacks on Aether and ramp up the pressure until they handed over the data. With how well things were going, she predicted that Aether would be forced to give it to them before the year was out. If they proved more stubborn than predicted, they could always take more drastic measures.
Taking over Alola's criminal underworld was proving to be a more difficult task. Pound for pound, they were the best equipped and best trained syndicate in the island chain. All it had taken was a quick show of force by wiping out the largest gang in Hau'oli City and most of them had fallen in line. Those that didn't were able to be persuaded by promises of money and power.
All except for one. A syndicate that spanned all of Alola named Team Skull. While they weren't the most intimidating group, the one thing they were was stubborn beyond belief. They weren't afraid of what would happen to them if they continued refusing them. Money didn't sway them, and power seemed like the last thing any of them wanted. It didn't even matter that they would be wiped out, only that they continued to spite Team Rocket.
These fools were a group that made it a habit to attack her people's business. While nothing major had been lost yet, she'd been getting reports that Team Skull's people could be seen lurking around the docks. If they launched an attack their and managed to take it from them, that would be a devastating blow to their profits.
As if that wasn't bad enough, their futile resistance was inspiring Alola's other criminals to resist them. While it wasn't an issue yet, the idea of the Alolan's all uniting under Team Skull to throw them out of the region was troubling.
The root of all this annoyance was a single man: Guzma, the leader of Team Skull. No matter how hard they searched, the man was impossible to find. She'd heard some of the Grunts calling him a coward too afraid to fight, but that was far from the truth. You didn't lead and grow a crime syndicate by being cowardly, after all.
If she was right about him, he was biding his time. Waiting to see what Team Rocket would do until he found the perfect time to strike. They couldn't afford to give him the chance to interrupt their plans.
They needed to get the data from Aether as soon as possible. The longer they were preoccupied with Team Skull, the longer it would take to deliver it to the boss. That was unacceptable.
If they were going to crush Team Skull, they needed Guzma out of the picture. With him gone, his followers would crumble. At that point, taking over Alola would be as easy as walking in and declaring themselves king.
In pursuit of this goal, Matori was currently standing outside of a freezer door in the back of a small butcher shop in Malie City on Ula'ula Island. The owners had been more than willing to work with them once they realized how profitable it could be. It was closed for the day and would be for as long as Team Rocket needed it. Not that the owners would complain with how much they were being paid.
With an annoyed sigh, Matori slipped on a thick fur coat and walked into the freezer with Gozu not far behind. Once inside, there was not a single slab of meat hanging in the cold storage, only a few empty tables and sealed wooden boxes. In the place of the meat was a trio of Team Skull Grunts with their arms and legs tightly bound in rope. They were all huddled together trying to conserve as much heat as possible.
Their thin layer of clothes meant to weather the heat of Alola didn't offer much protection from the bite of the cold.
Matori sat down on one of the boxes and leaned forward, pulling the coat tightly around her. "You three must be cold."
They collectively shivered. "F-fuck you." One of them managed to forced out through chattering teeth.
She smiled. "That's no way to talk to the woman who can get you three out of here."
"W-w-what do y-you want?"
"A little politeness never hurt anyone." She told them. "But if you can't do that, I understand. Common criminals like you do enjoy your vulgarity."
"Who are you calling c-common!?"
Matori rolled her eyes. Of course an attack on their pride would be enough to set them off. If these Grunts turned out to a reflection of what Guzma was like, she was going to be sorely disappointed.
"In exchange for my forgiveness and your freedom, all I ask is one thing: the location of Guzma. Or failing that, some way that I can track him down myself."
One of them – the only girl among the trio – reared back. "Y-yo! We'd ne-never betray Big Bro!"
She tilted her head aside. "Really? Why is that?"
"He looks out for us. Saved us from the s-streets."
"He's the strongest there is." Another one managed to boast.
"Y-yeah! When he finds out you took us, he'll make you pay for it."
Gozu and her shared a look with each other before collectively laughing. Their faith in their leader was… admirable. They were almost like children in their devotion to their leader. She almost regretted that she would have to crush it.
"How strange. He doesn't even seem to have noticed you three are missing." Matori huffed in amusement as her three prisoners all took on various looks of shock. "That's right. It's been close to a day and there's been nothing. No manhunt, no attacks on my people, not even an offer to pay a ransom."
When none of them said anything, Gozu chose that moment to speak up. "Doesn't seem to me like he cares all that much for his people."
"A-and what? You do?"
She shook her head. "I couldn't care less if you three live or die. It's Guzma I want, not you." She cupped her hand in front of her. "Cooperate and you'll be rewarded. I won't just let you out of here, I'll pay you enough for you each to live in comfort."
One of the Grunts hung their head. "It s-sounds like a good deal. I don't wanna die in here."
"I just w-wanna see the sun again."
"No!" The girl shouted. "Guzma wouldn't just leave us. H-he must just be keeping things quiet, so she doesn't see it coming."
To her dismay, the other two Grunts were swayed by the simple, almost desperate words of their partner and echoed their sentiment. She was tempted to leave them here with nothing but their faith to keep them warm, but she still had to try.
Matori tilted her head to the side. "Are you sure you don't want to help us? Team Rocket can be a very good friend to have."
The female Grunt leaned forward as much as her binds would all and spat at her feet. "L-listen lady, we aren't turning on Big Bro!"
"Yeah! Family before money!"
"We couldn't tell you anything e-even if we wanted to! So shove off!"
Her eyes narrowed and she tightened her hands into fists. Feeling Gozu's hand on her shoulder, however, she took a deep breath to calm herself down. She forced herself to her feet and turned her on the trio of freezing Grunts.
"Very well. I can see that you've made up your minds. I'll respect that. I hope you three enjoy your stay here and take the time to cool down."
She would check back with them in a few hours. See if a little longer in the cold managed to loosen their lips and lessened their loyalty. Assuming they were still alive, anyway. If not, then that wasn't an issue. Alola was crawling in enough Team Skull Grunts to build a small mountain.
Sooner or later, one of them would give up their beloved leader.
Once outside of the freezer, Matori shrugged off the winter coat and collapsed into a nearby chair with a sigh.
"All I want is one simple assignment. Just one." She massaged her temple and leaned back. It's always 'spread our influence in this backwater' or 'investigate this dangerous anomaly'. I just want a simple heist. Nothing major; just something I can have fun with."
Gozu chuckled and locked the door to the freezer. "If you wanted the simple assignments, you should have been an underachiever."
That would have gone against everything she stood for. Damn it.
"Go get the others." She ordered. "I have a call to make."
Once Gozu left the room, Matori raised her Xtransceiver to her face and dialed the number of Giovanni's contact in Alola.
She could already feel a headache beginning to form.
"What is it, brat?"
Her eyebrow twitched. "I apologize for disturbing you, sir, but I needed to speak with you about something."
On the other end, Nanu let out an annoyed groan. "Out with it. I've got important business to attend to."
A laugh track could be heard on the other end of the call. "You're watching a sitcom…."
"Not just any sitcom. This one's got a love pentagon in it and a talking Dunsparce that speaks in rhymes." He smirked at the sight of her frowning face. "You've got until the commercials end. Shoot."
She was tempted to shoot him for real. Unfortunately, the deal he had made with Giovanni gave him complete protection from any attacks or retaliation. Unless Giovanni allowed it, they couldn't punish him for anything. Short of killing her and arresting every Rocket agent in Alola, he could get away with anything.
Matori hated having to be polite to a man like him. Law enforcement always walked around with an unearned sense of superiority. Criminals liked to think they were better than everyone else. Nanu? He was the worst combination of those two.
Fitting for the man who had helped them infiltrate Interpol all those years ago.
"Has Petrel been in contact with you recently?"
"Nope." He popped the P as he spoke. "Haven't heard from him in years. Why?"
"He's supposed to get in contact with us when he and those Interpol stooges of his arrive in the region. I was hoping he had simply forgotten to call me."
Nanu shrugged. "Could be they aren't here yet and that's why he hasn't called." He smirked. "You need to work on that patience of yours. Otherwise, you'll wind up being more subpar than you already are."
'Must. Not. Kill.'
Out of his view, Matori tightened her fist hard enough to draw blood. "I'll keep that in mind, sir. Please let me know the second he contacts you."
"I'll think about it. Anything else or did you just want to waste my time?"
It was only years of working as Giovanni's secretary that kept her from telling him exactly what she thought of him.
"Do you have anything on Guzma, or Team Skull I can use?" It wounded her pride to have to ask him for help, but if he knew anything then she wouldn't turn him away.
He shrugged. "Nothing useful for finding him. Just locations of some of his Grunts and the name's of the officers on his payroll. He's been laying low ever since you people arrived in force."
Her frown deepened. "I see. Is there nothing you can give me?"
Nanu let out a tired sigh. "Look, brat. If I wanted to do your job for you, I'd call your boss and ask for it. Only reason I'm even helping is because I owe him a favor."
She snarled. "You washed-up, rotten, old, limp-"
An annoyingly catchy theme song began to play on the other end, and he laughed. "Shows back. Call's over, brat. Don't call me again unless it's something important."
When Gozu returned, he found her glaring at the Xtransceiver she had thrown across the room and making promises of painful murder. He wisely chose to keep his mouth shut until she was done and panting for breath. If he had tried to interrupt her while she was venting her rage, she couldn't be held responsible for what she would do or say to him.
"What?" She panted.
He cleared his throat and pointedly looked away. "I've gathered the rest of the Matori Matrix. What are your orders?"
She took a moment to catch her breath and calm down. Once she was certain she could get out a whole sentence without needing to stop for air, she started to straighten out her hair and clothes.
"Spread word with the local gangs and freelance criminals that we're recruiting for a job." She ordered. "Anyone willing to strike Team Skull and their allies will be rewarded."
Gozu hummed in thought. "Using them as cannon fodder? I see. I'll have the boys spread the word."
Good. While she would have preferred to rely on just the members of her unit, there were only so many of them. The price of excellence often was a limit in quantity. She couldn't risk using the regular Grunts on attacks like this either. She needed to keep them to run the day to day business in the region and as a last resort in case things turned to full-scale war.
Which left the locals as her only option. While she didn't have high hopes for them, she knew they could at least distract Skull and whittle down their numbers. And who knew? Perhaps there would even be a few that would surprise her and be worthy of joining Team Rocket as official members.
Only time would tell.
"Good. Once that's done, get everyone ready. We hit another Aether facility tonight."
"Alola is beautiful."
Ash couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as he watched Latias stare in amazement at the environment around her. Using the form of Anabel to move freely through the city, she stopped to stare at everything she found. Every time she found a new landmark or a street performer, she forced the group to stop and admire them. And the moment she saw the white, sandy beaches?
He'd thought he would have to physically stop her from sprinting off to play on the beach.
Pikachu laughed at her excitement and relaxed atop Ash's shoulder with an easy smile. "It's the most beautiful region in the world. I missed it."
Ash had too. Ever since leaving, he had felt nothing but the desire to come back. Out of all the regions he had travelled through, this one had been the most… fun. The adventures he'd had were simple and fun compared to the grand events of his previous journeys. The Island Challenge had been a welcome change from Gym battles that focused more on understanding his Pokemon than simple battle prowess. Even something as simple as attending school had been a welcome change of pace.
It helped that he'd only dealt with two near-death experiences this time. An astonishing improvement compared to everything that came before and after.
He put his hand on her shoulder and guided her toward a nearby food cart. "You ever been to a beach before?"
She shook her head. "Never! I've always wanted to visit on though. The movies always make them out like the best place in the world to relax."
Pikachu nodded along with her. "They don't lie. There's nothing better than basking in the sun or feeling warm sand in your toes."
Ash handed a small wad of cash to the vendor of the food cart for three malasada's. The three of them moved away from the cart and passed it to his two companions, moving down the street. At first, he was worried Latias would turn her nose up at the doughy treat. Once she bit into it and proceeded to shove the rest of it in her mouth, however, his fears were assuaged.
He munched on some of his cinnamon malasada and hummed in delight. "I'm surprised you're so excited to see one. I thought you'd be used to seeing the ocean."
Latias silently laughed. "It's different. The water here reflects the sun and moves more… naturally. Like it's a perfect little piece of nature. Even the water here is cleaner. Alto Mare was-"
Ash winced in discomfort as she went silent. At the mention of her old home, all of the cheer in her vanished. Through the mental link they all shared, Ash could feel her sorrow as though it was his own. Vague memories that weren't his flashed through his mind. Memories of playing with Latios as a child, staying up all night watching horror movies with Bianca, and helping struggling artists find happiness. Now… it was all gone.
He and Pikachu shared a brief look. Slowly, he reached out and stroke her head. As far as any passersby knew, he was ruffling her hair instead of petting her. "I'm sorry. I didn't meant to remind you of the Sinking."
The Sinking… what a simple name for a tragedy. In the days that followed the mass exodus, the media had begun referring to the death of Alto Mare by that name. According to Petrovic, it helped the average person come to terms with the death toll. That had made some sense, even if it was morbid. Then he'd learned it also glorified it in a way, turning what should have been dark day in history into a mystery and source of entertainment for the sick and twisted.
Even thinking of it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Latias shook her head. "It's not your fault. It was bound to happen eventually." The smile she gave this time was not as genuine as the last, but Ash chose not to comment on it. "Alto Mare was beautiful because of its art and architecture. It was the only city in the world with such extensive canals. But… the one thing we didn't have was a good beach. I always wished we could have had one. Now I just wish I could see the canals one more time."
It was a wish she would never be able attain. With the loss of Alto Mare, the world had lost something truly unique. More importantly, however, his friend had lost the one home she had.
Just like he had when Team Rocket ruined his life.
Pikachu hopped from his shoulder onto Latias' and nuzzled his cheek into hers. "We're here for you. In fact, why don't we all agree to spend some time at the beach before we leave Alola? Just forget all our worries and have some fun for a change."
She laughed mirthlessly. "I appreciate it. You two are good friends."
Ash shrugged. "We're a team. It's a least we can do."
The three of them walked a bit deeper into the city in a comfortable silence. The pleasant atmosphere of the city and the ambient chatter of its people was enough for the three of them. It reinforced what Ash was doing. Team Rocket was a danger to this peace and all the people that enjoyed it. To protect them, he was willing to do anything he had to.
Anything to prevent another Alto Mare.
Anything to make a difference.
Pikachu tilted his head to the side and pointed his paw. "What's that?"
Ash followed Pikachu's paw to the opposite side of the street to find a crowd of people moving toward a large building. Upon closer inspection, the people in crowd all looked disheveled and wary of being here. On the outside was a sign that read 'Makata's Fish and Chips'. After a few moments, people stepped outside and beckoned everyone inside in an orderly.
His curiosity got the better of him. He walked towards the restaurant and was stopped outside by some of the staff. They seemed more curious about them than anything else.
"Excuse me, do you mind if I ask what this is?"
One of the workers – an older man with bronze skin, greying hair, and an apron – shrugged his shoulders. "What's it look like, lad? It's a soup kitchen."
Latias blinked in confusion. "Soup kitchen?" She inquired, using her psychic abilities to make it look like she had spoken the question out loud.
The man nodded. "It's a place where we hand out free meals to those in need. It's not much, but it's honest work." He crossed his arms and motioned for the others to head inside. "Who are you three? You don't look like locals."
Ash shook his head. "We're… I guess you'd call us tourists but we're also here on business."
He nodded. "You look the type. Well I'd invite you in for a bite, but normal business hours are over. I can't afford to give away food to someone who isn't in need when someone else is."
Ash shook his hands and held up his hands. "No, don't apologize. I think it's great you're doing this." He paused for a moment in thought and rubbed his chin. "How often do you do this?"
The man shrugged. "I try to do it every day if I can. I always have leftovers and the sea isn't so far that I can't fish for more if I need it. Why?"
He glanced at Latias and Pikachu for a moment before meeting the man's eyes and standing straight. They would understand. "Would you mind if I – we – helped out? Assuming you need any, that is."
The elder man chuckled. "I always appreciate kind souls willing to lend a helping hand. I thought you were a tourist though? Why spend your time here when you could relax on the beach?"
"I just like helping people." He smiled brightly.
The cook stared at the three of them for a moment as though he was searching for something. Whatever it was, he must have found it for he nodded and motioned for them to follow him inside.
"I think you're going to get along with the others well." He looked back. "How often can you come?"
He frowned. "As often as my job lets me. I'll try every day though."
"Don't push yourself. I wouldn't want you ending up in her as a customer instead of a volunteer."
Latias crossed her arms behind her back and watched Ash curiously for a moment. "Why did you ask to help?"
He shrugged. "It just seemed like the right thing to do. It's something we can do when we aren't running around at night risking our lives."
Pikachu laughed. "Makes sense to me. Anything to destress after staring death in the face sounds good to me!"
The man glanced back. "By the way, I didn't catch your name's. I'm Makata, in case you haven't caught on by now."
"This is Layla and I'm Red. It's nice to meet you." He looked out among the happy, satisfied faces of those digging into their food and laughed as the stress left him. "I can't wait to help out.
Authors Note: Hello everyone! I'm sorry for the wait but here we are with a new chapter of ANP for your reading pleasure. I hope that you can enjoy it. Since posting the last chapter, there's been an influx of new people that have enjoyed the story and I would like to say how much I appreciate knowing you all enjoy it. Especially those of you who leave the reviews. As a side not, normally I respond to these in DM's to not clutter the story but there was a glorious guest who left reviews on nearly every chapter.
So to PokeMANIAC, thank you for your reviews. I appreciate your feedback and will do my best to keep the story fun. One thing I should address is that this isn't a Betrayal story. His friends haven't betrayed him so much as they were blindsided by the allegations against him. If they ever discover the truth, they will support him.
Other than that, I want to give a special thanks to Kasan_Soulblade over on AO3 for acting as a beta for this chapter and helping me hammer out some issues, as well as general improvements to implement. I highly recommend you go read some of their work. It's really good and a little addicting.
Anyways, that's all for now. I hope you all enjoy and I'll see you all next time.