I look at Koga and wonder as we switch the sapphire shadows of the night for neon beams of light pollution if I am about to trigger a trap. Time and travel have worn my paranoia away to tiredness. It is late and we have flown for one night and half a day straight with only a brief respite in the forest. Ellie has refused to leave Johto so long as Kenji's Pokemon are without him and trying to push her has resulted in so many fractures in her mind that Morty ordered a stop to it. Steven has accepted the delay only because he waits for Lance. So we have stayed and stagnated like sitting Psyduck, too troubled by our thoughts to do anything about them.
Looking up to the light show of Goldenrod City I can only hope this might bring an end to our delay but I doubt it will be so easy.
Koga and I have come here together, he approached me with his intel and left it up to me to decide if anyone else should know about it. Given the risk, I decided against telling them directly. Fearing that Ellie might move on without me, I told only Morty right before Koga and I left Olivine City on Staraptor and his Venomouth for Goldenrod City. I do not want Ellie to worry about me though I wonder if she even would. I don't want her to leave me again either but I do not want her lingering in Olivine City should Team Rocket return. Morty promised to leave word with Jasmine for Koga and I should they have to leave before we can return.
As we join the bustling streets of the lively city I fill with loathing for myself. I hate that I have left Ellie again. After everything that has happened how could I have done this? I look up dully to the flashing, illuminated posters that show off a beaming Whitney advertising for Gym challengers before it flickers on to a sweet snack advert. It feels surreal that I should be back here again and everything seems so mundane, it does not match with what Koga revealed to me.
"Are you sure your sources are right?" I quip quietly.
"Yes."
"It doesn't seem like anyone's under threat here," I answer.
I sidestep a group of teenagers and their mixture of Ground type Pokemon. They are caught up in chatter and laughter while clinking cans of soda, walking on without concern for the late hour.
"The city's keeping it quiet," Koga answers with his usual sarcastic tone, "they don't want a panic. Can't have people panicking over their Radio Tower otherwise they might not gamble their wages so freely at the Game Corner." He shrugs. "Do people care that much about music?"
Three days ago Koga advised me he learned where Troy's Team Rocket group went – to Goldenrod City to take over the Radio Tower. Apparently they are trying to summon up their boss Giovanni either because they are lost without him or because Troy needs his blessing to keep up the pursuit of Ellie. Koga ventured that maybe, considering the loss on the ship, there are some in Team Rocket who might want Troy to drop the matter and return focus on Johto matters.
"Are we going to the Radio Tower then?"
I am not sure what plan we have beyond finding Team Rocket here and hoping Kenji is with them. I wonder if he is actually with them, maybe Koga can return his Pokemon and we can leave in a handful of minutes. I doubt it will be so easy.
"Not yet."
I look to Koga and follow as he crosses at a busy intersection. Cars and mopeds honk impatiently prompting a Houndour to quicken its pace after its partner. I think briefly of Ellie's late Houndour pup, it was too young and inexperienced to protect her, a last feeble stand against Troy after Team Rocket's Pokemon overpowered my wife's powerful Psychic Pokemon. I should have gotten Ellie something stronger but too strong and it would have ignored her besides, what could have been more powerful that her mother's Pokemon? Mine perhaps. I knew Ellie had developed psychic powers, I should have considered the danger she might be in and left one of my Pokemon as a precaution for those many long days I wasn't there.
"Larry, where are you going?" Koga's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I have wandered aimlessly on the street and in my mind. I glance over my shoulder and see him standing further down the other side of the busy sidewalk, hands on his hips as he regards me impatiently.
I head after Koga and wonder if he is taking me to a trap. Petrel did deceive us after all and the only one to vouch for Koga is Lance and I am not so sure I trust his judgement. So why am I here? Because Ellie is hurting herself with worry for Kenji and the only thing I can think to do is somehow get Kenji and his Pokemon back together and reassure Ellie that he is fine. I do not want him back with Ellie but I don't wish him harm either.
Koga leads down a side street to the right with mild people and Pokemon traffic and a couple of open shops sharing building space. It is hopefully too busy for an ambush.
"In here."
I look up to the restaurant Koga directs to. It is three storeys tall and the faint flashes of light from the rooftop suggest it may have some seating up there too. Music, chatter, cheerful glass clanks and jovial clattering of plates being stacked slips out of its slightly ajar glass doors to the streets. It looks fancy, full of smartly dressed customers dining out on dishes that almost have me salivating at the window. I wonder when I last ate and think it must have been that meagre breakfast we shared in the forest of honey, bread and berries. Koga is a master berry picker with a certain expertise for mushrooms and bitter herbs. He told me quite gleefully how he knew of berries that could paralyse someone for hours and have them drooling in minutes.
"Are we getting dinner first?"
I take in the restaurant's gilded name that hangs in Italic font above the door – The Purfect Persian – it's ludicrous but perhaps pretentious enough to suit its clientele.
"For someone as melancholy as you, you are oddly positive about food," Koga scorns me.
He pushes open the door and I follow, none the wiser to our purpose here.
Koga nods to the approaching doorman and his Machoke companion and I see Koga flash a card before pocketing it quickly.
I see fear take the colour from the doorman's face as he steps back again. He glances about discretely before nodding to the stairs.
The staircase is the centrepiece of the ground floor, wide at the bottom with crimson carpet and ornate banisters depicting polished wooden Persian statues. On either side a large tank adds to the décor with Goldeen, Horsea and Cloyster homed within.
Koga says nothing, he just heads on for the stairs and earns a few curious glances. I wonder if it is because of his ninja attire or because he is recognisable as a former Gym Leader and Elite Four member. I am genuinely curious about it as I am entirely forgettable in Paldea and it is rare I garner attention outside Medali unless I am with the others. Hassel is so boisterous and outgoing he gains attention from his energetic and loud personality more than for the popularity of his career choices. Thinking of him I realise with an odd pang that it has been too long since I saw him last. I have not contacted any of them and wonder if they have tried to contact me or if Geeta has stopped them.
Koga leads us to the left on the second floor where doors indicate private dining areas. I am both suspicious and envious. I wonder if I might implement this back home. How nice to have the option to dine entirely undisturbed like this.
When I see the two men on door duty I feel an uncomfortable lurch in my stomach. They may not be in uniform, opting for plain black shirts and trousers over the telltale red R marked sweaters but I find their brazen stance all too telling and I wonder if no one else has guessed what they might be and why the police haven't been called. Each one has a belt full of Poke Balls, their gloved hands resting close to them, ready to call one out at a second's notice.
Koga stops before them and folds his arms. "Subtle," he mocks them.
"It's a private party here," one snarls back at him.
"Yes, do tell the host the poison master is here."
"Who with?" The guard throws an ugly look back at me.
"My plus one."
The guard frowns and his dark eyes bud with anger as Koga waves him off. He looks to his quiet companion. "You tell him," he snaps.
The other guard gives a frown as well before turning round to the door. He knocks and enters when a voice bids him to do so, closing the door too quickly for me to glimpse anyone within.
The restaurant is warm, brightly lit and full of sweet and spicy aromas that drift up in steamy coils to toy with my senses. My stomach gives a grumble and I wonder when I last dined out. I think of rice balls and how I can't wait to treat Ellie to her favourite kind back home, seasoned with teriyaki sauce. I wonder when she last had them and if maybe it would aid her memory to taste them again.
The door opens and the guard emerges. He takes up post beside the door and eyes us up coldly. "You can go in."
"Marvellous," Koga says brightly. He glances over his shoulder to me as if he wants to say something but he forgoes it and leads the way in.
I follow and think I have been tricked.
There are seven people seated at a table, three opposing three and one at the head. The six are more open than the pair at the door, they are wearing the cowardly domino masks and red R marked uniforms of Team Rocket. They talk loudly over sake and rice bowls, a careless thump of a gloved fist in emphasis to words sending rice grains and sake droplets spilling out every so often to the table.
The man at the head of the table is the only one to pay us any heed. He sits solemn with a guarded expression, authoritative in his business suit with a subtle red R at the breast pocket indicating his allegiance. Like myself there are streaks of grey betraying his age in his sable hair only his are much neater than mine, combed and gelled down with a silver sheen to them suggesting an elegance to his age whilst mine is the chaotic presence of stress. He wears his suit with a powerful aura of pride compared to the weary sag I bear in mine as if it were a prisoner's outfit. I should think we might be of a similar age but it is hard to believe as he bears a handsome appeal to his face instead of the baggage of too many years.
"Good evening Giovanni," Koga greets him politely.
The man, Giovanni, raises one palm up to the table and the six fall silent immediately. He clasps his hands together on the table exposing the small, leaf shaped cuffs at his wrists as the sleeves of his crisp, white shirt poke out from his dark jacket.
"Koga, why have you run the risk of coming here?"
"Why have you?" There is a humour in Koga's voice that has me uneasy.
The corner of Giovanni's mouth twitches slightly and he glances to the right briefly before fixing his brown eyes back on the ninja. "Family."
Koga nods. "Yes, it's your family that's brought us here as well."
"The boy?" Giovanni sounds puzzled.
Koga shakes his head. "Well, I wouldn't call him that even if he can be juvenile at times. No, Kenji, he ended up back with Troy, which probably isn't too good for him."
Giovanni's mouth twitches again but he keeps his expression cool and his stare invokes a blankness that has me thinking of Ellie. It is like there is nothing there.
"What do you care about Kenji's whereabouts?"
"I have his Pokemon," Koga admits. "I'm sure you have heard something of the business in Olivine City."
"Yes." Giovanni nods. "Lugia appeared, summoned by the psychic, maybe there is something to Troy's goal after all and there I thought to tell him to quit with this. All the bloodshed he's already caused over it." Giovanni clenches his hands slightly. "Perhaps that shouldn't be in vain and what a thing it would be to call Legendary Pokemon to us."
"No," the word comes out of me before I can help it, fierce and loud.
"Who's this then?"
"The girl's father."
I'm not sure if Koga is feeling cocky or if he is betraying me, either way my hand reaches for a Poke Ball instinctively as I look to him and then back to Giovanni.
"Ah." Giovanni offers me up a steely smile. "I thought Troy killed the family."
"Not me but he did murder my wife," I snarl.
"You have my sympathies for that." Giovanni sounds sincere, which makes it worse.
"You let him do it and then he kidnapped my daughter and tortured her and now you think he should take her again!"
Giovanni raises his dark eyebrows slightly and his gaze darts up to Koga again. "You knew I was going to be making a decision on this, didn't you?"
"I know they're all gathered at the Radio Tower – Troy, Petrel, Proton and even Archer and Ariana. Most of them are just looking you back but Troy wants you to give your blessings so what he can do can be excused. It's probably what's keeping Kenji alive, Troy is crazy but he's smart too. You say no and Kenji has an accident in the Radio Tower, who's going to prove the cause hmm? You say yes and Kenji can keep on being his lackey."
"What?" I'm lost now with the Team Rocket politics.
"And what are you offering Koga?"
"Archer is loyal to you and only you, Ariana is in love with you, that's no secret, and Proton is Archer's brother so he'll fall in line. Maybe, with a few blind eyes from them, I can get your brother out and maybe he disappears to Paldea for a spell. He'll not stay long, he's stupid and loyal that way, but it gives you an opportunity."
"To what Koga? If it's not Kenji Troy has then it'll be Silver."
"To delay."
"Delay what?" I demand.
"The Paldea invasion," Koga murmurs.
"What are you talking about? We didn't come here to get Kenji, you just need to give him back his Pokemon." I frown at Koga and turn a hate fuelled stare on to Giovanni. "You're the boss, you sort out this business with your brother yourself! And leave my daughter alone!"
Giovanni gives me a thin, taunting smile before rising from his seat. "What's your name?"
"Larry."
"Well Larry, why don't you and I have a Pokemon battle for my decision? It's been a long time since I've had a decent one and there is a pleasing scenic view for it upstairs. If you win and Koga honours his word to get Kenji then I'll tell Troy to wait but if you lose, then I will permit Troy to go to Olivine City tomorrow. Your daughter can't get a boat that quickly, can she?"
"No," I answer angrily, "if you lose, you tell him to leave her alone, for good!"
Giovanni's smile becomes tainted with bitterness. "You're not a boss Larry, just a worker then. You are under the delusion that bosses have absolute power, instead of realising they are only on top for as long as their lackeys permit it. Telling Troy to ignore someone so powerful as your daughter would have my followers questioning me and motives, they would think me weak and he'd popularise this and ignore me. I had my moment in Kanto but it ended, if he ignores me I'd look weak, if he's under my orders it looks better."
I shake my head angrily at this. "I don't care about your politics or problems, he tortured her!"
"I know, it was unsanctioned and you have my sympathy. I am a father too, I know your pain, I know something too of the years you missed out on but that is all past. You have my terms Larry, so, are we battling?"