The Pink Spinda

The Pink Spinda

Chapter Seven



The streets of Slateport were deserted. At four-thirty in the morning it was hardly surprising, even during the tourist season. As she carefully navigated towards her destination her muscles were taunt, alert and ready. She was extremely nervous. The morning mist hanging low and mingling around her ankles only served to enhance the atmosphere around her and set her more on edge. She hadn’t had father’s permission to be out on her own.



Lorelei quietly took a turn to follow the pavement into the rougher parts of town. Her mind was quickly turning on her as she progressed; nagging her with cynical thoughts -- admonishing her for this reckless behaviour. What exactly did she think she was doing anyway? Did she really think she could get away with this? They were good questions that her mind berated her with, but she ignored them as best as possible.



Father was a shrewd and ruthless business man, but he was also lazy in some ways, and perhaps a little too trusting in his eldest daughter. Silph security mattered little to their future heir so she had bypassed her guards easily and efficiently. No one but her father could question her.



Now she was regretting ever leaving the hotel. She was strong and confident, and had her three ever faithful Pokemon with her, and yet the area she were headed towards began churning her stomach with a nervous energy she hadn’t know she was even capable of feeling.



Having lived an utmost privileged life, secure and safe it didn’t surprise her. What did surprise her, however, was that she had acted on this stupidity in the first place. Due to her position and her commanding father she’d never had to make any truly independent decisions before. With the opportunity this was the first one she had acted on? Sometimes her decisions weren’t always overly intelligent.



But that strange man and her father… the whole secretive situation between them had been in the back of her mind -- the part of her mind not now nagging her to turn back for her own (and the company‘s) sake. Her father didn’t keep secrets from her. Not even his liaisons with women not her mother were withheld. If it was company business, as heir, she had the right to know what was happening. Who the strange man was, and what relationship he had with her father.



Somehow these thoughts had manifested themselves into this foolish venture she’d set herself on. Apparently combined with some repressed independence the whole situation had spiralled out of control and now she was endangering the future of the company, because (and she could easily admit it) her sisters were dimwits; only she could succeed her father. He was loathe to pass the company down to anyone other than a Silph.



Heading further into the boondocks she half expected some random crackhead to jump out and mug her, leaving only her mangaled corpse behind for the police to shake their heads at. As she entered the practically abandoned industrial estate she saw that crackhead. He didn’t jump out at her, or even see her. But judging from his overall demeanour, his posture, his tattered clothes and the almost unhealthy-skinny limbs he was certainly as such in her mind.



Lorelei flattened herself against the alley wall she’d been walking along as he passed by her. His head bowed low and his purple hair shadowing a troubled-looking face, he passed so close by she could see the dark rings around his eyes. It almost looked as if he’d been crying.



Then his head snapped towards her.



She had to cover her mouth to suppress a gasp as the man’s violet eyes locked with hers for the briefest of moments. Lorelei turned her face away. A street rat like him wouldn’t recognise her as a Silph especially with her old rags disguise on.



The small man watched her for a few seconds before switching the bag he was carrying to his free hand, then he slowly plodded away still with that depressed air hanging over him.



Lorelei finally released the gasp, this time out of relief. Something about the man’s eyes… it was almost unnerving. He hadn’t been intimidating and she certainly hadn’t felt threatened, but his eyes -- she had never seen such a mixture of confusion and sadness and lord knows what else. His face had been that expressive as to show her his emotions in only that fleeting moment. A shudder ran through her involuntarily.



These people and their lives… this area…



She would have it destroyed immediately after Silph gained control of Devon.





-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-





It was still a misty morning when another figure was sneaking away, only this time it was of a person of vastly inferior class. And Wallace didn’t feel nervous about his leaving. He felt more anxious than anything, hoping Steven would understand. Steven was a kind man and a wonderful boyfriend, but he worried too much. Wallace needed some breathing space, so he was sneaking out of the house at the early hour.



On the empty pathways he passed the elderly woman who owned the house adjacent to Steven’s mansion and waved to her, fully knowing the response he’d receive. “Good morning, Mrs Gleeson.”



The old woman with died purple-grey hair sniffed haughtily at him before turning her back. Wallace chuckled to himself. She was outspoken with disapproval of him and his relationship with Steven; thinking he was corrupting the young Stone. Ha, ha, if only she knew.



It was a long walk from the well-to-do area down into the town centre and the train station, but the streets were empty so it didn’t take as long as he’d expected. The cool morning air felt fresh against his face as he walked into the train station. Despite being one of the best employees of the club, he hadn’t worked until only a few nights ago so he didn’t have a lot of money. And as guilty as it made him feel, he had borrowed some from Steven’s unguarded wallet.



But this wasn’t a pleasure trip so he could somewhat justify that in his head. He caught the first train of the day out to the outskirts of Slateport and into the lush green fields surrounding the city. Here he revealed something else he’d borrowed from Steven; a Skarmory



The steel bird Pokemon was confused at first upon seeing Wallace and not its master, but it soon ceased its relentless quiet calling and relaxed. All of Steven’s Pokemon recognised Wallace to some extent.



“You should be good for this, Skarmory,” Wallace knelt down. “We’re looking for a Pokemon. It’s Erika’s Gloom.”



The Pokemon looked at him with a questioning eye. “Um, I think Steven’s still in bed or something?” Wallace laughed nervously. “Do you think you could do this for me? Find Gloom. Any Gloom if there are more than one, I’ll know which is Erika’s.”



Skarmory continued to watch Wallace with a quizzical gaze but eventually relented. It took to the sky with expert skill and began searching the fields. Wallace also turned to start looking for the missing Pokemon.



He felt terrible. Spending all his time worrying over Erika herself when he’d suddenly remembered never having seen Gloom since the incident. If Erika knew he’d been thinking of her all this time not her Pokemon she’d break him in two. Again he was regretting only having a Feebas for a Pokemon. They were hardly helpful in any situations. Maybe Steven could buy him a different one, something a little more helpful like a Whiscash or a Sealeo, or maybe just some pokeblocks for Feebas. Or maybe he’d just buy them himself now that he was working again and wasn’t paying rent. He sighed. Again he felt over-privileged to be living with Steven…



“Screee!”



“Huh, Skarmory?” Wallace looked up at the Pokemon circling from above. The armour bird screeched again and lazily flew away, pausing for him to follow.



Wallace followed it to a lightly wooded area with a spattering of bushes all growing in close proximity. The Pokemon landed heavily alongside him as he peered into a dugout area amongst flattened bushes. He could hear laboured breathing and an odd gurgling noise. Immediately he knew it was a Gloom, wild or not, and began tearing at the bushes to let more light into the little den. Skarmory stood back allowing his master’s friend to do all the work.



Gloom was laying on its side apparently asleep and gurgling (and drooling) in its sleep. Wallace smiled upon finding the lost Pokemon. He reached out a friendly hand.



“Excuse me!”



“Hey, you!”



Wallace inclined his head to the calls from behind, not entirely in the mood to deal with people. It was a pair of obvious journalists. The shorter of the two men walked up right behind him.



“Be careful. That Pokemon’s dangerous.”



“Dangerous? How?” Wallace couldn’t wrap his head around the idea of dopey Gloom being dangerous. The boy cowed back when Wallace rose to his full impressive height.



“Don’t you read the paper?” the young man scoffed and flashed the badge pinned to his coat. It read ‘The League’. “There’s been a Pokemon attacking people lately.”



“Just over a week ago now,” the other man said as he approached, “reports have come in about several severe poisonings. People have been hospitalised, and Pokemon too.”



“It’s a poison Pokemon doing it,” the shorter journalist obviously said. “We’ve been tracking it with Lucario.” He gestured to the Pokemon with the journalist in blue.



Wallace looked back at Gloom then back to the pair. “So… you know it’s a poison Pokemon doing it, but not exactly which actual Pokemon it is?”



“Uh-huh” the young brunette nodded.



“Well,” the man with the jaunty blue hat interrupted, “we know it’s that Pokemon now.” He pointed behind Wallace.



“Wait, we do?” his partner asked.



“Yes, how do you know?” Wallace asked cautiously.



“It’s Lucario’s aura,” the man said by way of an answer. “But I’ve said too much. This is a situation for the police to handle. Please stand aside.”



“I’m sorry, what?” Wallace said icily.



“We often work with the police,” the man explained, but Wallace wasn’t convinced.



“I know this Pokemon and it would never hurt anyone,” he said clearly. “I’ll be taking it home with me.” He silently ordered Skarmory to watch his back.



The reporters’ eyes were clearly on the armour bird. It was quite the vicious looking Pokemon, and probably why the pair of journalists had remained relatively polite with him. However, the Lucario with the two men looked equally guarded. It looked placid for the moment, but no doubt would jump to attack at the drop of that jaunty hat.



Nevertheless, he couldn’t leave Gloom alone with these people. Even if it had hurt people (which he seriously doubted), he couldn’t do that to Erika.



“Please don’t,” the taller of the journalists said as Wallace bent to pick up Gloom. The plant Pokemon didn’t stir as he laid a hand on it’s bulb. Wallace ignored the pea and picked up the sleeping Pokemon carefully.



It was then that Lucario lashed out up along his side forcing him to drop Gloom.



“Augh.” Wallace let out a surprised growl. The steel Pokemon had nicked him slightly, his shirt sleeve torn.



Skarmory remained motionless as Lucario jumped back a few paces to watch the scene carefully. Wallace sighed heavily to keep his temper under control. Rising to his feet again he faced the pair again. Both had faces of stone and Wallace guessed his probably looked pretty similar.



“You’re not going to let me leave,” he stated the obvious.



The reply he got was Lucario tensing his body, ready to pounce. Pokemon battles weren’t a strength of his, but he trusted Skarmory, even despite its lack of enthusiasm with him.



“Fine then. We’re not leaving Gloom behind.” He ordered Skarmory into battle.



The man in blue visibly sighed. “Things are getting out of control, Roark,” he whispered to his partner.



“Usually it’s me who does things like this!” the boy laughed, then sobered. “We can’t let that Gloom be taken. Who knows who this guy is. Probably in cahoots with it.”



“Call the police,” Riley said from the corner of his mouth. Roark nodded, dashing away to do that. Riley turned back to his sudden opponent. “Please, just leave.”



“I’ll leave, and I’ll take Gloom with me too,” Wallace tried his hand at some confident talk. The man in blue didn’t seem impressed.



“We don’t have time for this. Lucario, get that Gloom,” Riley ordered.



Lucario shot towards the sleeping Pokemon with a sudden burst of speed. It moved so fast it had already reached Gloom before Wallace could even shout to Skarmory.



“Stop it, Skarmory,” he called, his voice high with surprise.



The steel bird whipped up into the air and landed on Lucario with piercing claws digging into the Pokemon’s hide. Lucario howled with shock as he was pinned to the floor.



“Lucario, hurry!” Riley encouraged.



The aura Pokemon stretched out its body and wriggled awkwardly until Skarmory’s claws were locked around his narrow waist leaving enough space for him to roll onto his back. Skarmory noticed too late when Lucario thrust both paws with force into its neck. The flying Pokemon immediately let go and screeched in pain.



Wallace winced. He didn’t know what attacks Skarmory actually had, but the Pokemon seemed to be fighting on it’s own. It raised up into the air, both wings held high, glowing with power, before diving down to strike Lucario.



The waiting Pokemon caught both wings in each paw and threw the steel bird to the ground with ease. Skarmory scratched and flailed trying to right itself and managed to just before Lucario trust both paws into the ground with an explosion of soil and grass.



Glancing over to the man in blue Wallace decided to take advantage of the distraction and groped around the slashed and ruined den for Gloom.



Things were quickly spiralling out of control.



Skarmory’s screech of pain momentarily distracted him as the Pokemon was pummelled with a fast-hitting fighting move the Lucario was performing. The steel bird tried vainly to block the attack with strong wings but each thrust and slash of Lucario’s assault broke through the defence.



Finally he found and got a firm grip on Gloom in amongst the tattered bushes before Skarmory unexpectedly was thrown onto the ruined den. Wallace yelled with surprise while pulling the still sleeping Gloom away from the melee.



Riley took his eyes off his Pokemon briefly to see Wallace rescue Gloom.



“Riiiahhh!”



“Lucario?!” his attention was immediately snapped back to the battle. He saw his Pokemon impaled on small but sharp spikes scattered all around the area. “Get out of there!” he shouted.



The Pokemon tried to comply with the order but Skarmory recovered from the assault exceptionally fast and began viciously pecking and stabbing at his opponent with his razor-sharp beak. Lucario struggled and whined.



Then suddenly fell asleep.



“… huh?” Riley was dumfounded. He looked over when he heard the tall man shout and saw the Gloom puffing out a pink powder from it’s bulb.



“Gloom!” Wallace shouted to the Pokemon as it angrily charged at the fighting pair.



Both him and Riley watched in rigid surprise as the bulb Pokemon angrily tackled the sleeping Pokemon roughly. Before either of them could react the Pokemon then turned on Skarmory who had become complacent since its opponent had dropped. Gloom clung to the bird sucking on a portion of it’s breastplate. The Pokemon screeched horribly as it’s steel body began to fizz and bubble.



“It’s Gloom’s acid!” Riley shouted desperately to Wallace, but the man was too stunned to hear anything. Urgently Riley looked to his partner.



Roark understood and released his own Pokemon. The flash of light revealed a grey bipedal Pokemon with a large rounded, blue forehead. Roark pointed at Gloom.



“Okay, Cranidos, quickly knock out that Gloom! Be careful!”



Gloom was panicked but weak. It took only a surprise headbutt to knock the Pokemon out again. Skarmory sank to the ground with a rattling cry. Riley and Roark rushed over to the fallen Pokemon, inspecting each one.



“Lucario’s alright,” Riley said to his partner. “He’s stunned by the spikes from Skarmory and asleep from that sleep powder.”



“But Skarmory…” Roark mumbled uncertainly as he and Cranidos looked down at the poor thing.



It was impossible to tell if the Pokemon was ever breathing because of its build but it’s protective armour was warped and rippled from the acid in Gloom’s mouth. It was hot and stank awfully. Gloom itself was unconscious as before. It’s leaves and bulb were wrinkling with stress.



“Knew it was dangerous,” Roark said the inappropriate.



Riley agreed as he recalled his fallen Pokemon. He stood over Wallace. “Your Pokemon is hurt badly because you refused to listen to us,” the disapproval was clear in his voice. “Are you listening to me?”



Roark knelt down beside Wallace, studying his face. “I don’t think he’s there…”



“What do you mean?” Riley asked as Roark waved a hand back and forth in Wallace’s face.



“I mean look at him. Is he trembling?”



Riley knelt at Wallace’s other side and watched carefully. Wallace was on hands and knees with his head at an angle. That wasn’t anything strange, but what Riley was interested in were the subtle involuntary twitching and the man’s lack of response despite looking alert.



“He’s paralyzed,” Riley muttered darkly.



“Serious?” Roark asked.



Riley shook his head sadly. “That’s another attack too many.”



“We’ll have to get this guy to hospital,” Roark said. He looked down at Wallace, speaking calmly to him. “The police should be here soon. They’ll get you to hosp-whoa!”



“N-n… ngh.” Wallace began vainly struggling against his paralysis, suddenly trying to throw Roark from him with trembling arms. Not the police! The police couldn’t find him!



“He’s freakin’ out!” Roark yelped helplessly.



“Just hold him still,” Riley said sternly. “It’s probably a reaction to the powder. Don’t let him hurt himself. I’m going to guide the police over here.”



Emergency sirens filled the air as Riley dashed in their direction. Wallace began struggling more, desperately trying to get away. Not only had he not rescued Gloom he’d got himself attacked again.



If he were arrested it could be the end. He wanted to cry but nothing worked.





-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-





Will felt bad, the way he’d glared at that woman like that. He’d almost turned back to apologise. Her wide-eyed look of fright was like a dagger through his chest blocking each breath he tried to take. He’d been wandering around worrying about his reaction to the stranger, but at the same time enjoying this bit of freedom. Now just past six in the morning he finally aimed for the flat.



“It’s not like me to do that,” Will said to his Pokemon. Natu bobbed her body in reply. “It’s been rough this past couple of days, eh? And these sardines stink, I hope Dragonair appreciates them.” He tickled the Psychic Pokemon’s little wings and the bird chittered happily.



His friends had been working their usual routines at the club while he stayed alone back at the flat, maybe tidying up a little or preparing a simple meal, but Lance had ignored him for those whole two days. Even Karen seemed subdued. He figured the stress of their lives we’re finally getting to them? Affecting them in ways they didn’t know how to cope with?



“Naaa~”



“Ow!” Will winced lightly as Natu dug her tiny claws into his scalp. “Were you reading my mind, Natu?”



The little Pokemon bobbed a yes again. She looked at him surprisingly sternly.



“I know it’s not my fault,” Will sighed. “I’m trying to help but no one will let me do anything. I’m not a glass doll! I’m not going to break against the slightest breeze. If Lance weren’t ignoring me right now I probably wouldn’t have been allowed outside right now!”



Natu continued to give him a sceptical look.



“You don’t believe me either?” Will looked sadly at his closeted companion. “I’m not weak, y’know! I can work. Everyone treats me like a child. I feel so guilty, Natu. First Erika gives me medicine I don’t even need when it could go to her mother, then she disappears, then I clog Lance’s flat up while he pays for me and my old flat’s rent even though I’m not living there anymore. And yet no one will let me do anything to repay them!”



“Naaauuu!” Natu threw her weight around trying to bash against his head. Will knocked her away with an irate hand.



“Knock it off, you’re not helping,” he muttered glumly. “I know you’re trying to, but you’re not…”



Just how sick was he? It must be pretty bad for not one of his friends let him do anything on his own. That night Karen and Lance had gone out to get drunk and the following morning’s argument had been the only time he’d done anything by himself, in a long while. In fact, with Lance avoiding him he’d had some independence which was nice, but at the same time worrying. Usually Karen and Lance would tell him everything, and having worked in the club alongside them (to some extent) he understood the stresses that came along with their lifestyle. Perhaps because he’d not worked for many months he was falling out of the loop and unable to connect with his friends anymore.



That was perhaps the saddest thing.



“What’s wrong with me?!” The plastic bag hit the floor as Will clutched his head with both hands. “I shouldn’t be this way…”



“Naaaa!” Natu butted him tenderly with her blunt beak in worry.



“Ugh… just, ughhh. Whatever. Let’s get back and feed Dragonair.” Will picked the bag up again and pottered off along the dockside back to the flat. Natu flittered behind him, keeping a few paces away and watching her master carefully.



Because it was so early, only the pharmacy had been open, and as a result he’d only been able to get a small tin of sardines for the big dragon Pokemon. As he’d expected Dragonair was famished as usual, not because he were being neglected but because of his gluttonous personality.



“You’re getting a little big for the pool now,” Will said to the dragon. “Maybe Lance will let you out in the sea again sometime.”



The Pokemon ignored him in favour of the food. The pool Dragonair lived in wasn’t small but it also wasn’t particularly large either, and Dragonair was always shedding skin, steadily outgrowing its home. The whole block of flats were so grotty no one wanted to use the pool anyway, so no one objected to the Pokemon. Will sat with his legs folded over the side, just dipping the toes of his shoes in the fresh water.



“Er-ahem…”



Will looked over his shoulder irately at the person coughing behind him.



“Um… never seen you pull that face before,” Lance was saying. His discomfort was obvious as his eyes looked everywhere other than at Will. “Thanks for feeding Dragonair.”



Will just nodded silently. “Trying to do my part.”



“Right, yeah.”



After the brief exchange silence fell between the pair, but Lance didn’t leave so he obviously had more to say.



“Listen, Will, I’m… I’m, uh, y’know. I’m sorry I shouted at you?” he apologised awkwardly.



“It’s fine,” Will said simply. Secretly though, he was amused with the self-consciousness Lance was exhibiting all of a sudden.



Lance rarely ever apologised for anything, mainly because he didn’t consider a lot of the things he did were wrong or could hurt someone. Will deeply appreciated that his friend had enough thought to apologise for this -- or at least try to, but he was still angry.



He didn’t know why though. Who was he actually angry with? Lance and Karen for looking after him while he was sick, or Steven for letting him go to protect his health? Erika for sacrificing her precious free time making medicine for him, or himself for being weak?



“Are you okay?”



Lance sounded worried. Will then realised he had bent forward to absentmindedly clutch his head again. Lance hovered over him not really daring to do anything more.



“Fine. Just thinking.”



He waited until he couldn’t sense Lance so close to him.



“Why are you helping me?” he asked suddenly.



“Huh?” Lance scratched the back of his head uncomfortably. “Well… because you’re my friend. Why do you ask?”



“I was just wondering,” Will sighed. “Do you think if I weren’t your friend you wouldn’t be?”



“Uh, no probably not,” Lance answered truthfully. “Aren’t most people like that, though? I mean I wouldn’t expect Wallace to let me live with him if I were sick, ha ha.”



“So I am sick.”



“Huh? You’re being weird today, Will,” Lance said bluntly, quite confused at his friend’s melancholic mood. “Anyway, I was thinking about asking Steven if he could up my hours at the club. Y’know we’re out of oil. No more hot water!”



That made Will feel even worse. That his friend would sacrifice himself further to support them both. If Will weren’t with him Lance wouldn’t have to work so hard. And he probably wouldn’t have to sound so fake-cheerful about it either.



“I want to get a job,” Will stated.



“Uh, you really think that’s a good idea?” Will could practically hear his friend thinking. Lance continued; “what if something happened?”



“You mean if I had a fit?” Will almost sneered but managed to reserve himself.



“No! No, I mean if… surely you don’t want to go back to the club yet. I mean you’re not--yet…” Lance couldn’t backtrack fast enough.



“I want to help!” Will whirled around so fast both Dragonair and Natu called out in surprise. Will snapped to his feet, suddenly seizing Lance’s shirt. “I’m tired of all this pity I get! I don’t need it! There’s nothing wrong with me!”



Totally unused to being pushed around Lance snapped. “You are ill!” he snapped. “You’re my friend and I’m helping you! The faster you admit you have a problem the quicker we can deal with it!”



“There is nothing wrong with me! I can look after myself!”



“Oh, you mean like that time Karen found you on your kitchen floor? Yeah, I’m sure you were jus’ takin’ a nap. Or when Volkner found you in a booth back at the club? Tell me another one!”



Will didn’t answer. He pulled his hand back and pushed a fist into Lance’s chest. But there was no force behind it so he was batted away easily.



“There’s nothing wrong with me…”



Lance strained to hear his friend. He placed an uneasy hand in his friend’s hair as Will bowed his head. “We should go back in,” he muttered quietly, looking around nervously. “If any of the guys see this…”



But Will didn’t move.



Instead his hands gripped Lance’s shirt tighter. “Hey, you’re holdin’ on a little tight there,” Lance said uncomfortably. “Will?… Will?”



The man was clenching his fists so tight his knuckles had turned white, his blunt nails almost cutting through the thin fabric of Lance’s shirt. Purple hair obscured his face but it was plain to see his head trembling.



“Uh, Will…?” Lance carefully laid his hands on the shorter man’s shoulders. He had a pretty good idea what was happening. “Oh shit…”



Will was beginning to have one of his ‘episodes‘. The first in a while.



“Oh shit, oh shit, shit.” Lance had to twist his torso awkwardly to reach his phone in his pocket. Will was still clinging to him tightly out of some sort of reflex as he dialled.



“Hmm, huh, oh… yes, hello?” a groggy voice greeted.



“Bill, call Jasmine!” Lance shouted urgently down the line.



“Huh, what? Jasmine?”



“Yes, Jasmine! Wake up!”



“Jasmine? Why are you calling?”



“No! It‘s Lance. Call Jasmine!” Lance growled.



The shouting didn’t seem to be waking Bill as the secretary-come-doorman still sounded groggy. “Lance? I don’t think Jasmine is here…”



“Then send that boy or someone else. Or anyone!”



There was a pause. “Is it urgent?”



Lance sneered but it was lost over the phone. “Of course!”



“Jasmine and Isaac have gone back to Kanto for a bit… y’know, after Wallace recovered, I think.”



“Fuck Wallace!” Lance snarled. “Godamnit, I’ll do it myself.”



“What’s hap-”



“Okay, Will,” Lance put his phone away, talking steadily to the man. “We need to get you inside, alright? Back to the flat,” he said lamely.



Honestly, where else could he take Will safely? Jasmine had never left before. Grasping Wills wrists tightly he attempted to loosen the grip on his shirt. Will’s eyes were wide but unseeing and sweat was gathering on his forehead. His whole body was stiff and immovable when Lance tried to walk with him.



“Damnit, Will, what the hell,” Lance cursed at his friend. The flat was right there! For the first time since arriving he noticed Natu and looked to it and Dragonair. “Can I trust you to look after Will?”



The Pokemon looked offended that he even needed to ask but huddled around them in answer.



“Okay.” Lance pondered on what to do for a moment.



Will was frustratingly unresponsive but at least he hadn’t started wildly flailing like past episodes. Eventually he settled on removing himself from his shirt. When he was free he gingerly wrapped his arms around Will’s waist. It was like lifting a plank of wood, and immensely disturbing. Unsure if it would break anything but unwilling to leave the man by the poolside Lance carried Will to the lowest level in the block of flats.



The Pokemon followed him closely as he placed Will by the seats in what used the be the reception area. Natu and Dragonair did as told and steadied Will should he suddenly spasm and fall.



“There’s no way we can get him up; I’m not risking moving him anymore,” Lance told the Pokemon.



They all watched Will rigid face worriedly. He was still clutching Lance’s shirt in a vice-like grip, his whole body twitching uncontrollably yet inert, and his eyes wide open but distressingly blank of emotion.



He looked very much like a glass doll.



“Ugh,” Lance couldn’t look at him in such a state. Instead he looked to the Pokemon. “I have to do something. Jasmine can’t have left her place empty -- someone should be there. Bill’s always useless, I’ll have to go myself. You just… watch him, okay?”



“Naiir!”



“Naauu!”



“Okay, I’m trusting you. Don’t let anyone bother him. I’m serious, you know what people around here would do to him,” Lance said as he ran for the exit.



Natu chirped lowly at the thought, placing herself protectively beside her master.



Fully trusting his own Pokemon and Natu Lance ran for the private practice Jasmine ran for the Pink Spinda’s benefit without a further look back to his friend.



Some distance away from the flat Lorelei had placed herself in another alleyway. The locals were beginning to worry her, even as she blended in with them. They were demonstrating some disturbing behaviour, not least the shirtless man running right for her.



His face clicked in her mind. He was one connected to Devon, she could remember him from an earlier encounter. Back then smug but now looking panicked he skidded to a halt just before the alley entrance.



“Get outta the way, woman!” he roared at Lorelei.



But Lorelei wasn’t to be intimidated. She wanted information and knew she was blocking his way. “You work for Devon,” she shouted back at him, all subtly gone. “I want to know how.”



“Yes, I work at the ‘Spinda! I know you want to visit again, but I really don’t remember you, lady. You’ll have to pay like everyone else. Now outta my way, you senile bitch!”



Lorelei shrieked as she were literally shoved aside. She looked up just in time to see him disappear at the end of the alley. “Spinda? What has that got to do with Devon…?”



He was beginning to tire, Lance thought to himself, as he pressed on to Jasmine’s place. He thought he was in better shape but his tattered breathing was proving to him otherwise. He had to stop to catch his breath. Bending forward, resting against his knees he didn’t realise where he had stopped.



Blue eyes were watching him through the shop front.



Lance jumped when the pharmacy doors slid open and he was pulled through.



“What the fucking hell?!”



“Don’t swear in my shop, please,” the pharmacy owner said.



Lance stared blankly at the man, then gasped as if only then realising who were speaking with him. “You! You creep!” he snarled through struggled breaths. “Let me out!”



Morty watched as Lance rattled the automatic glass doors but they wouldn’t open for him. “Please calm down.”



“Whatever you want I don’t have time for it!” Lance ignored him, still trying the doors. “If this is Spinda business-”



“It’s nothing like that.”



“Then what’re you doing?!” Lance shouted, some form of futile desperation beginning to set in.



“There is no one at Jasmine’s practice.”



“What? How the hell do you know that?!” Lance urgently looked at the shopkeeper. “How do you know that’s were I was going?” he added suspiciously.



“You’re going for Will,” Morty replied, calmly as ever.



Lance sputtered and fought with himself to speak but nothing intelligible came. “How d’you know that! Have you been following me? Or Will!?” his voice rose at the last accusation.



“Please, I’m only here to help,” Morty held out his hands in a non-threatening manner. “I’m not letting you go until you allow me.”



Lance’s eyes widened at that. “You creepy bastard!” He almost screeched.



“I’ve told you about the swearing,” Morty said a little more sternly.



“Ohh, I always knew there was something wrong with you,” Lance sneered nastily. “Keep the hell away from Will.”



Morty shook his head, apparently unaffected by the words directed at him. ”I know you think you’re helping him, but you’re really not. I can feel Will is suffering right now. I know it. The longer you yell at me here the more danger our friend is in.”



When Lance didn’t say anything, only tilting his head, Morty took that as a prompt to continue. “You feel as if you have a responsibility to Will. I respect that; I’d feel the same way. But you really don’t know what it is happening to him. Even I don’t know the full extent of it, but if left alone he could suffer greatly. I understand your line of work is very, how do I say, stressful, but you’re not abandoning Will by seeking my help…” he trained off when Lance narrowed his eyes suspiciously.



Lance pointed a finger in the blonde’s face, towering over him and looking dangerously serious. “Don’t tell me how I feel.”



There was a pause before he continued.



“You’re a real creepy piece of work, you know that? Why do you know so much about Will? If you really do know what’s happening to him I’ll let you see him, this once. But you put one foot wrong and I’ll take those hands you like to talk with so much.” His voice had a disturbingly happy vibe to it as he spoke.



Morty frowned at the sweet smile being directed at him but agreed nonetheless. It was better than nothing. He held out his hand for a shake.



“Do I really talk with my hands?” he asked bluntly as he and Lance shook.



Lance only scoffed with scorn in reply.





-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-





Winona hadn’t said anything to Flannery about her run-in with Karen at the Pink Spinda. She couldn’t do that to the sweetest, most cheerful girl she knew. So she let Flannery sleep in every morning like nothing was amiss as she readied herself for work. Everyday since.



Now she sat at work sipping boiling hot coffee from the mug her girlfriend had given her. Her partner also sat opposite her at their desk also sipping from an identical mug. Since Flannery worked at the popular café ‘The Peliper and Wingull’ the girl was always “borrowing” things to bring home. Winona found it sort of endearing but didn’t really understand why. Perhaps it was because she was a policewoman and having even the slightest, most ridiculous illegal thing in the house was a thrill…



But such thoughts were worthless now. The excitement and passion petty theft caused had disappeared. After what she’d done with Karen. After she’d betrayed the person she loved the most.



But had she really done it? Certainly not willingly. Flannery didn’t know her past with Karen. She wanted to help Karen, but after what had happened?



It was sexual assault. She had not wanted what had happened. She’d never felt so dirty. Looking, smiling, touching Flannery -- now it all felt so tainted.



But what could she do?



Going out to the Pink Spinda alone; that vile establishment. It was probably - no, it was - the most stupid thing she had ever done. Nothing except deceit and betrayal had been gained from it. If she spoke up she stood to lose not only her job but also the most important person in her life.



Brawly was blowing bubbles in his fizzy drink now.



“You’re such a child,” Winona told the young man. He looked up indignantly.



“Hey, I just don’t like coffee alright,” he whined. Winona laughed softy.



“The superintendent wants to see you,” a man interrupted them.



Both Winona and Brawly looked up to the officer talking to them. Casting quizzical glances at each other they got up from their desk to follow. Quickly weaving in between each desk in the large communal office they soon found themselves outside the frosted glass doors of the superintendent’s office -- the name tag reading: ‘Superintendent B. Hodge’.



Winona’s heart was beating fast, almost as it if wanted to jump from her chest. It wasn’t strange for their superior to talk with each of his officers independently, but her mind couldn’t ignore the possibility that he had somehow found out about her little mission. That Brawly was with her, however, calmed her nerves a little. He wasn’t involved. He was merely her partner doing his job.



They stood before the large desk cluttered with files, pens, pencils, paperclips and all sorts of other office supplies. Winona’s eyes were always drawn to the photo of the superintendent and his family. Him, his wife and the darling little girl that always made her smile. But she couldn’t, not in front of her superior.



The superintendent muttered something to his secretary and she left in a hurry, closing to door securely. Winona and Brawly stood rigid to attention waiting for their orders. The man twirled his hand casually, gesturing for them to sit.



He leaned forward with his hands clasped under his chin. “Tell me where you’ve been patrolling.”



“Second street Main,” Winona ran off automatically.



“Good, good. Well, you’re being moved to North street and the surrounding area.”



“Huh,” Winona took a steady breath. “Is this a demotion?” To be moved from the city centre to it’s outskirts certainly seemed like it.



The superintendent smiled. “No, no, it’s quite the opposite. You are in fact being moved because there has been another reported Pokemon attack outside the city, and records show you should be perfectly capable of handling the situation.“



Brawly looked ecstatic at the opportunity but Winona remained sceptical. Being moved to the outskirts didn’t seem like the big chance the superintendent was making it out to be. Surely they didn’t know about her and this was punishment because they couldn’t prove it yet…



“A man has been hospitalised,” the superintendent continued. “Added to other reports that’s six attacks and four people hospitalised in little over a week. You will be working with the local Rangers. Two agents in particular; Lunick and Solana. Of course we have other officers in the area to assist. The Rangers will fill you in on all the details, although we don’t actually know much yet.”



The man looked disappointed at the admission and Winona took that as their cue to leave. She nudged Brawly who stood as she did. “Thank you, sir!” they chorused together.



As they were leaving the phone began ringing. “Oh, Brandon!” a woman’s voice said excitedly over the speakerphone. “The school called and said Alice w-”



Winona grinned as the superintendent swiftly cut the speaker off. She wondered what his daughter had done to cause such excitement. How she’d enjoy looking after a child.





-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-





Erika closed her eyes. It was that time again. Time when someone would come in to interrogate her. Try and force some information out of her. It was always at eight-hundred-and-seventy-three beats after the second meal of the day. Every day like clockwork since she’d been put in the cell.



She was happy with herself. Not a single piece of information against Steven or the Pink Spinda, or herself had she uttered. Honestly, there was nothing in her life that could be used to threaten her. She had nothing to lose. Literally nothing.



A gulp.



Not even her mother. Not even her sick mother couldn’t be used against her. And that made her want to cry. The realisation that she wouldn’t talk to save her own mother -- it was heart wrenching. Her throat tightened and she felt like retching…



clank



“Heya, little miss.” The man with the strange accent looked through the sliding peephole into the cell. He pinned down Erika with his sharp eyes. They looked playful and it made Erika sick to look. “Know what time it is?” he asked in a singsong voice.



She didn’t answer, but she could see by how his eyes creased that he was smiling. “You’ve got a guest, don’t’cha know. I wunner who is it~?”



She knew who it would be. It would be the large man with the brown hair. The one in the black turtleneck. The one it always was. Like clockwork.



“I know how you like to see Mr ol’ grumpy-pants, so I brought him for yer. Aren’t I so good to yer?”



Erika hung her head. When the door opened and closed she resigned herself. However, she wasn’t immediately grabbed and tossed down like a rag doll. Her wrists weren’t burning with pain either. Confused, after a pause she risked peeking up to see why it didn’t hurt yet.



In the place of the usual man was a young woman. Younger than Erika. She looked late teens, dark black hair with a purple shine pulled tight around her head into a short spiky ponytail. Wearing a black sleeveless suit the only other colour on her was the short red-pink scarf around her neck.



“Heeheehee, only kidding! It’s Ja-ouch!” The girl slipped the peephole shutter closed in the man’s face who could be heard complaining on the other side.



The young woman stood studying Erika for a moment, watching her with blankly expressive dark eyes. Erika had to suppress her gasp but wasn’t positive she had succeeded as the girl sat alongside her on the low bed.



“You work for Devon,” the girl stated.



Erika set her mouth in a line, unwilling to reply.



“We know you do.”



“Then what do you want from me?” Erika asked. It was an obvious question with an obvious answer but if playing dumb could stall anything it was worth a try.



“Information. If you answer our questions we’ll let you free, back to your precious company.”



The bitterness of her laugh would have surprised her a week ago, but now she had been expecting it. Erika laughed at the girl sat on the bed.



“Why would I do that? What do I have to gain?”



“Perhaps you don’t have anything to gain, but you have something to lose.”



This confused Erika. “I have nothing to lose.”



“I’m not referring to your mother,” the girl continued, despite the rebuttal. “In fact, you may not even know what it is you will lose; not yet anyway. But when it is lost it will affect you and those around you. It is perhaps more important than you first think. Would you like to know what it is?”



Brief silence met the question. “My life isn’t that important,” Erika spat.



“You misunderstand me. My social skills are somewhat lacking, I apologise.”



The girl’s facial expression never changed. It was unnerving and Erika was beginning to wish her usual interrogator would return, rather than try to understand this poorly constructed conversation.



“What’re you talking about?!” Erika snapped.



“You have a friend. A friend recently in hospital…”



The rest of the sentence was drown out by the thoughts suddenly circling Erika’s mind. A friend in hospital. It could only be Wallace, back from when she had been kidnapped.



“What did you do with Wallace?!”



A flash of emotion crossed the young woman’s face for the first time. It didn’t last long but Erika caught it. The woman was surprised, though for what reason she didn’t know. Wallace and herself had been attacked at the same time -- they’d know.



Either way the young woman replied with that same dead voice. “That’s correct. I suggest you think of your friend and reconsider our offer.”



Erika jumped to her feet with energy she hadn’t had for a week. She stood squarely against the other woman.



“What have you done with him?” she repeated. “What you did to him then was-!” It had been dangerous, possibly even fatal.



The girl looked surprised again, but as before it didn’t last long. She allowed Erika to stand over her.



“I want to know. Tell me!” Erika shouted.



The younger woman stood then, revealing herself to be taller than Erika despite being obviously younger.



“Someone will come again tomorrow,” she said and started for the door.



“I need to know!” Erika desperately pleaded. Without even thinking she grabbed the girl’s wrist. “Tell me. Please!”



The girl whipped Erika around and wrapped an arm around her neck. Erika struggled feebly, all that desperate energy instantly lost. She felt two fingers jabbed between her shoulder blades and inexplicably her legs gave way. She dropped to the floor sobbing openly.



The man with the odd accent looked to the young woman with expectation when she left the cell. She didn’t look at him as she spoke.



“She thinks she is responsible for her friend. Use her guilt.”



“Yes, ma’am.” The man grinned cruelly.





-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-





Her memory was a little unsure about the area, but Lorelei continued to snoop around. The area she’d found herself in was vaguely familiar. She could remember it being the place (or somewhere near) where her father had been talking with that stranger. That man with the most cunning face.



Old abandoned factories surrounded her, as if imitating prison walls like a hedge maze she found herself hopelessly lost in. It was midday now and everyone back at the Silph hotel would be alert to her absence. Her father furious, her sisters giddy with drama and her bodyguards fired. Things weren’t too hopeful. The local people were beginning to emerge now; inhabitants of the various derelict housing complexes. Men and women alike all looked as if all life and enjoyment had been forcibly removed from them.



With this place gone she could make Slateport a better, cleaner place. The very fact the Devon hadn’t already had the area demolished disproved her father’s theory. Devon wasn’t the tyrant it was made out to be at least not in her eyes. She couldn’t remember Steven being heartless.



Just then, emerging from one of the derelict factories she spotted a group of men. Their state of dress was unlike that of the locals and certainly more formal than any of the tourists in the city. They congregated around the door as if waiting, and eventually a man emerged from the building prompting the group to move on.



It was that man. That acquaintance of her fathers. Now what should she do? She pondered while nibbling her immaculate fingernails. Did she remain watching the man to see where he went or did she approach him?



“Miss Silph,” a young female voice suddenly addressed her.



Lorelei turned around very slowly to face the young dark-haired girl talking to her whilst also trying to keep an eye on the man, “No, you must be mistaken.” She tried to pull her shawl tighter around her face, but the young woman continued to stand firm.



“Miss, Silph,” the young woman said again, her posture tight as if she were speaking to royalty. “Your father has been asking for you.”



“I’m sorry?” Lorelei said distractedly.



“Your father, miss Silph. Mr Silph has been requesting for your presence. He has urgent business.”



Lorelei was struck dumfounded. This young woman with a crisp black suit and red scarf, looking very out of place, was talking to her as if they were acquainted with each other.



“If you would follow me,” the young woman said. It wasn’t an order but the commanding undertone was there.



Instinctively Lorelei knew not to underestimate this girl. Looking back the group had gone so she cautiously followed the dark-haired girl knowing full well she could take care of herself if something were to be amiss. Dewgong, Lapras, Jynx…yes, her Pokemon would protect her.



The young woman led her to a black limo. As they approached a man in a black suit and flat cap opened to door for them. The girl motioned for Lorelei to get in first, which Lorelei did but with a suspicious eye.



“Ah!” She wasn’t quick enough to smother her startled yelp. Sat opposite her was the man.



His narrow eyes weren’t on anything in particular and he didn’t look when the young woman sidled alongside Lorelei. Without any indication from either passengers the limo began driving away. The dock got further into the distance as they left the industrial estate.



The air in a limo was stopped with tension all from Lorelei. Both other occupants were silent as the drive continued. Beginning to feel as if she had been kidnapped Lorelei clasped her hands tightly in her lap. Yet another lapse of sensibility.



She suppressed a shudder when the man turned his strong rectangular face to her. His dark eyes were narrow with what seemed like constant thought, but they were probing as if he could read every little movement she made. The girl sat next to her had vastly different blank eyes.



“Your father is quite upset with you, miss Silph,” the man said airily as if he really didn’t care.



Lorelei forced her voice not to tremble. “You know my father?”



“We’re old acquaintances,” was the man’s shallow explanation.



“May I ask how?” Lorelei probed, not entirely sure if she were overstepping some line.



“You may,” the man said, but didn’t follow himself up.



Lorelei figured she may not have phrased the question correctly, or he were merely avoiding answering. Probably the latter. Either way she didn’t get a reply from either of the people and the cab lapsed into an uncomfortable silence, at least for Lorelei.



“We hope you’re not planning any more unaccompanied excursions.” The man’s voice commanded her attention.



“How did you know I was alone?” Lorelei asked.



“Please inform a member of your staff the next time you plan leaving on a personal errand.”



She had nothing to reply with. The limo had stopped anyway, and the man in the cap was holding the door open for her. Looking back at the young woman watched her with expectant eyes. Unsure of what it meant Lorelei left the limo to find herself outside her hotel. Before she could turn back the limo had left with not a word from either of its occupants.



Her footsteps were quiet and automatic, her mind not behind them as she headed for her father’s room.



Please inform a member of your staff



The words the man had spoken were incredibly strange, her mind wouldn‘t stop repeating them:



Please inform a member of your staff



The mysterious stranger was an acquaintance of her fathers, he had brought her home and yet he reffered to Silph as “her” staff not “our”.



So he was independent of the company?



That explained why she had never seen nor spoken with him before. But, why had he been at the docks and how had he found her? And why -- what was his relationship with Silph? A relationship so secret that even her as heir to the company was not privy to.



Following in her fathers limelight was becoming a mystifying experience. One that questioned her father’s integrity - or what remained of it anyway.





-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-