The Pokemon slithers across the floor fast and rears up before Ellie, blocking her from my sight. I don't know what it is or what moves will be effective against it.

"Ellie don't look at its stomach!" Morty cries out.

I see a blur of purple and feel a sharp crack of wind as its tail strikes out like a whip. Hearing Steven yell, I glance to him and see him clutching his right hand with a wince. I realise somehow this Pokemon sensed him going for a Poke Ball.

I can hear loud squawking as the Farfetch'd panics but it is making no move to attack and help Ellie. I return my focus to the serpent in time to see its head striking out to the right and snapping as a shadow springs out from the wall.

I feel a shudder trickle down my spine as a deep laugh rumbles out of the shadow as it slips through the fangs with ease. It takes form in the air, showing itself as a large ball made of shadows and nightmares with two huge claws that float disembodied before its macabre grinning face.

A flash of red comes from the serpentine Pokemon's eyes and I turn away swiftly. I may not know what this Pokemon is but I recognise the move it makes.

"What are its weaknesses?" I quip as Morty curses.

The Ghost Pokemon becomes stoic in the air in paralysis from the serpent's Glare. It seems a contradiction that it should still float while motionless.

"Ground and Psychic, Arbok is a Poison Type," Looker explains. "This is no habitat for it, we must think of its owner's location!"

"One thing at a time!" Steven snaps. I feel the rush of wind and hear him yelp again as the scaled tail strikes his hand down. "Damn it! I'm not losing to an Arbok! I'm not losing! Never again!" Hysteria starts to slip into his voice as it grows louder and more frantic with each word. Now is not the time to query it but I try to tell myself to remember to ponder this uneasiness later.

The huge, purple girth of the Arbok moves across the floor swiftly as it begins to wrap itself about Ellie.

Fast movements will get a fast reaction. Perhaps I may have an advantage here with my slower pace. I know I have to do something before this thing either squeezes the life from Ellie or drags her back up the duct it emerged from.

I see her face, her eyes are full of terror but no sound escapes her. I see Mia's frightened face one night when the bad dreams came. I can't remember the nature of her nightmare, only that I was actually glad to have been working late that night because it meant I had arrived home just as it happened. When she started to show her hints of psychic abilities I had started to wonder if her nightmares were premonitions. Considering what happened, I am certain certain they were.

I reach into my back pocket slowly with my left hand. It's agonising to move at this pace when I can see the horror rising in Ellie's stare but this thing is built to react to speed, things that might resemble an attack. Something moving with my placid pace is not a threat.

"We'll call out our Pokemon together Steven!" Morty suggests. "On three! One, two-"

For a moment we all freeze as the Arbok's purple coils tighten about Ellie. It rears up with a hiss to put us in the shade of its hooded head. The warning is clear.

A cloud of sand flies through the air and strikes the Arbok in the face causing it to pull back with a choking sound.

I hear the Farfetch'd giving a battle cry of quacks and guess the attack has come from it. The hooded head comes down, striking forward for the bird Pokemon with a hiss.

I hear the flapping of wings as I pull out a Poke Ball and press a button to release.

"Drill Run."

My Dudunsparce moves to turn its blue and yellow body in a weapon. It rushes out to strike the serpent's flesh with a piercing Ground attack, pushing into the part of its body that is stretched out from Ellie.

There is a hissing of pain and I see the coils slacken as the attack shocks the Arbok.

"Glare!"

When the hooded head turns to see what attacked, it is met with the deceivingly lazy-lidded gaze of my Dudunsparce. It is part of Dudunsparce's appeal to me that should it seem so sleepy and yet work so hard. The glare has the Arbok halted, captured in mid-attack, its hooded head half-up from the floor and its fierce fangs on display, ready to bite.

"Let's make haste before it becomes active again," Looker suggests, "or before another opponent should join it." He rushes forward to inspect the open duct but it is too high for him to see anything.

"Ellie!"

I see Steven trying to shove back the mound of purple coiled flesh to free Ellie. Morty steps forward to help, reaching for her arms and pulling while Steven struggles to widen the Arbok's grasp.

"Larry, we need to search the hotel, that Arbok has an owner somewhere nearby!" Looker charges for the door and flings it open.

I look to Ellie as Morty tugs her free and hoists her over the scaled body of the Arbok.

"Are you alright?" Steven demands.

"I'm okay." She sounds quiet and afraid.

Morty sets her down and releases her close to my Dudunsparce. I watch in surprise as it shuffles up to her and raises its head up to her.

"You saved me, thanks." She reaches out a tentative hand to pat its yellow head. I see it shaking its blue tipped tail with joy and its mouth opens to emit a happy cry. Ellie tilts her head at it before looking up to me. I see a questioning look dart across her face before she offers up a faint smile. "Thank you."

"It's not over yet," Steven grumbles, "that police guy is right, this is no Wild Pokemon."

Ellie starts to shake her head and I anticipate another trembling of the furniture. "They're here, aren't they? Do you feel them Morty? Is it him?"

"I've never met him," Morty answers dismissively. He frowns and turns his attention to the stoic Girafig plush. "I see a form that looks like a Girafig moving about this hotel." He turns back to fix his frown upon me. "What's with the Girafig?"

"It's a gift for someone very important to me."

"Hmm." Morty reaches up to press a fingertip against his headband. "Okay, seems like you're coming with us Paldea man but I'm not sure why."

"That policeman doesn't have any Pokemon," Ellie pipes up softly. "He had a void too, his was connected to a death."

"And yet he's just gone charging after a potential Team Rocket member," Steven says scornfully. He shakes his head and looks to me with an annoyed stare. "Why would he do that?" There remains a touch of nerves to his voice.

"I haven't known him very long," I attempt to defend the connection Steven is trying to make between Looker and I. "He seems to look for action."

I don't want to leave Ellie but I realise I owe Looker. If not for him I wouldn't be here taking in the very real possibility that my daughter is alive. I seize up my briefcase and ready myself for another potential battle.

"Come on Dudunsparce, let's see if we can find the policeman. I just ate though, so we can't go too fast."

"What about the Girafig?" Morty calls after me as I head to the doorway.

I look back to the blond questioningly. He gestures over to it with one hand.

"Can't I come back for it?"

Morty smiles and shakes his head. "Nope, none of us are coming back here."

"Morty, what do you see?" Steven demands. I see that he is tense, one hand firmly on Ellie's shoulder whilst another holds an Ultra Ball. I wonder at his age, his face seems young but his hair is silvered and his eyes weary with years of woe.

"Right now, not much. My Gengar is getting closer though, he says the policeman is just up ahead." Morty gives an amused snort. "Well, he's calling him the crazy man babbling to himself but I think it's the same person."

"He says?" I echo. "You can talk to Pokemon?"

"Just the Ghost type," Morty answers. He raises his hands to his hips in a defensive manner. "Not that it stops people from coming and clogging up my Gym with questions. Seeking answers from the beyond, all that nonsense." He shakes his head mournfully. "No one gets it's Ghost type I can talk to not all ghosts, nor do they want to believe that all a Gastly is thinking about is if it's going to be a windy day or not."

I look over to the Girafig again. I don't have the time, Looker is waiting.

"I've got to help Looker."
"We'll carry the Girafig," Ellie offers happily.

"What?" Steven looks to Ellie with admonishment.

Ellie meets Steven's gaze unflinching. I can see the bond between them and it nauseates me. Ellie is my family not his.

"It's the least we can do, it's important to him, Steven."

I feel a small smile growing on my face. Ellie is a wonder, so bright and cheerful it makes me worry over whether she truly can be Mia because who could smile like she after being taken in the violent manner she was and held captive by criminals for who knows how long?

I nod in gratitude before heading for the door again.

"Third floor, lift lobby!" I hear Morty calling. "Gengar is helping him!"
Dudunsparce hastens behind me as I hurry down the corridor for the door to the stairwell. I feel my rushed supper rolling about inside me and wince as I visualise partially digested sandwich spinning in far too much vinegar.

We descend quickly though no doubt with less speed and dramatics than Looker. I am not willing to hurry and risk vomiting for the man. I wonder as the steps echo under my shoes if I will see Ellie again or if she, Steven and Morty might slip off while Looker and I have these Team Rocket people distracted.

I emerge on the third floor ready for battle, exiting to a brightly lit lobby that mimics all the other floors above and below.

"Aww come on now, do I look like I have an Arbok?"

I see a shady looking man clad in black stepping backwards as he tries to evade the giant, glowering form of a Gengar.

"You are wearing the uniform of a Rocket!"

I see the red R on a black top that Looker must be referring to. I wonder why it is that criminals would even have uniforms, is it not better to blend in? The man is wearing a black domino mask and a flat, black cap. He probably couldn't look anymore like a criminal.

"Yeah, I didn't deny that and if we're discussing fashion tastes, your tie is ugly!" He spits back at Looker venomously.

There is something about this criminal that seems familiar but I can't quite pinpoint it. I've never met anyone in Team Rocket before and the closest we have to gang activity in Paldea is the odd rebellion of students by wearing star shaped sunglasses, which I assume to be a fashion phase rather than a suggestion of dangerous criminal activity.

"Ugly?" Looker points back at him angrily. "Gengar, do something with this criminal!"

Looker glances over as he hears me approaching. "Larry, we have one of them now, this ruffian is undoubtedly the one who unleashed that Arbok upon us!" He points again to the man. "Almost disastrous if not for your actions! We can perhaps find out the location of this Troy from this one!"

"Huh?" The Rocket Grunt cocks his head slightly. "I don't even know half of what you said there you rambling nutcase! I came here to steal a Water Stone, I don't know nothing about an Arbok!"

"You do realise stealing is a crime too!" Looker is in disbelief as he yells back at the Grunt.

I realise that the Grunt is young, maybe only just into adulthood. I can see the spark of youth in him even with the mask, his attitude is from that enviable but often dangerous feeling of invincibility that one has when they're young. It is an innocence Mia had to lose far too soon.

"Well yes, I didn't say I wasn't in Team Rocket, I already told you that!"

The Gengar gives out a loud, ghoulish howl that has the Grunt stumbling back into the wall with a frightened yelp.

"And who is your boss in Team Rocket? Do you work under the Executive Troy?" Larry steps forward, moving to interrogate the young man. "You do, don't you? Where is he?"

I am wondering why this young Grunt makes no move to battle us. "Do you have any Pokemon?" I pry.

"No Arbok," he snarls as he turns his head in my direction. I see his gaze brighten with surprise and his head swivels back from myself to Looker. "I'm here alone looking for a Water Stone, okay? I don't want to battle."

I hear a loud groan from somewhere to the left. I turn to seek out the source and see a form sitting up from behind a large, potted plant between the lift doors. I think it's a man but I can't see much with the leaves in the way.

A grey gloved hand reaches up to rub at the man's head as he groans again.

"Aww shit," the Rocket Grunt grumbles.

"Did you assault him?" Looker turns in a hurry, his brown trench coat flapping out behind him dramatically as he moves to the fallen man. "Sir! Sir! Were you attacked by this Rocket thug?" Looker calls as he waves his hand up like a lawyer soliciting a claims case.

"Rocket thug? Huh?"

Looker pauses before the man. "Wait a minute-" He points down to the man sharply. "You are a Rocket thug!"

I glance back to the Rocket Grunt who remains pinned to the wall by the intimidating form of the Gengar. He grins up at me and shrugs. "Hey, I don't know what every Team Rocket member is doing, do I?"

"Drowzee go! Hypnosis!"

I turn as I hear the orders to fight. A Drowzee materialises from a thrown Great Ball and waves its mustard coloured hands at Looker.

I see him stagger back and give a yawn. How exactly is he working in the International Police without a Pokemon?

"Dudunsparce I know we're tired and this man is giving us more work but I owe him so Hyper Drill please," I command.

Dudunsparce gives a happy cry before it starts to spin. I imagine it's a probably a marvel for some people to see it twisting its segmented form into a weapon but the spark of seeing Pokemon in action went out of me a long time ago.

I try to give a show when I battle at the restaurant but I'm not sure why anymore- to give the diners a show with their meal, to have my opponents feel like it's a little more than the average battle, or because La Primera expects me to be impressing people because I'm a Gym Leader and an Elite Four member? I couldn't really care if someone told her I was dull but if it meant losing my jobs then I'd regret it because I've always battled for distraction. These fights tonight are the first in a long time that have been for something else.

"What the-" I have caught my new opponent off guard.

As Looker falls down in a snoring heap the second Team Rocket Grunt springs up to his feet. He shakes his fists as his Drowzee is sent crashing into the lift doors with the force of Dudunsparce's attack.

He turns to give me a glare. "Did one of you guys knock me out? What gives? I didn't attack either of you!"

"The Arbok wasn't yours then?" I take a chance with guesswork as I step up to him. I pause to reach up and fix my tie back into place, sensing that it has become crooked.

"What? Well..." He flusters slightly and scowls. "I thought the girl was with her brother and that ghost lover, no one said anything about some old office guy!"

I ignore the insult as I stare him down and grasp at my briefcase tightly. I can feel anger simmering inside me. This man sent an Arbok to attack Ellie.

"Drowzee use Psychic!"

Hearing my Dudunsparce cry out returns my attention to the battling Pokemon. The lift's copper doors have been dented inwards and the faded carpet tore up in places. I feel a little guilty for the mess.

I am about to give an order when I glimpse movement out of the corner of my eye.

The other Team Rocket Grunt is trying to slip away while the Gengar is focused on Drowzee and Dudunsparce's fighting. I see a flash of golden-brown as the small, furred head of an oddly coloured Rattata pokes up from the Rocket's top.

I realise why this Team Rocket Grunt seems familiar. It's Kenji.