“aa—aarrrouuu….. haa… haa… Auuoo….”

       

“Keep it up Dragonite!” Aviary encouraged him. “We’re all most there!  Just another ten minutes!”

     

“AAAuuuooo! Au aaou aarroouuu!”¹”You said: “Ten minutes!” Ten minutes ago!” Dragonite complained. The human was holding on to his neck, while he was carrying a very heavy Pokémon, who was also carrying a human and another Pokémon.

“Aaarrroouuu!”

“I know!” Aviary said excitedly. “I can’t wait to get there either! I wander what a secret medical facility of Pokémon G-men looks like?”

           

Machamp couldn’t help but laugh at the way, the human was unintentionally making the Dragonite miserable.

He looked down at Kirlia and her master in his arms.

They stayed snuggled together still, even at this point.

He found it adorable.

        

“Umm?” Machamp heard the human woman above murmuring. “Is this the place?” She asked as they came up to a non-descript white building in the middle of Mauville City?”

They flew down towards the building, landing just across the street from it.

Machamp and Aviary stared up at square white building. Which was so bland and boring. That it was actually distinct from the other buildings around it.

“……I kinda feel like they missed the mark a little when they designed this place.” Aviary commented.

“Mmm Machamp…” Machamp agreed.

          

“Arruuooo… aaaauuuooo…”

“Hmm?” Aviary turned back to see a sweating and panting Dragonite, laying on its back in the grass. “What are you doing Dragonite? This is no time for napping!” Aviary scolded him lightly.

Dragonite sat up and looked at the human woman, like she had grown a second head.

“Arrouu aaa rrouu?!”

“Yeah, come on! We’ve got work to do!” She told him. “You’re my only proof that I’m here on Lance’s orders. So let’s get going.” Aviary explained to him, before turning around and heading across the street.

           

*BEEP* *BEEP*

“L-LOOK OUT!”

“Huh?!”

Aviary saw a small white vehicle barreling towards her.

             

Am I dead?

               

“Machamp!”

                 

Machamp switched his hold in the girls up to his upper arms, just before jumping in front of Aviary.

     

“MA! CHAMP!”

      

*SLAM*

*CRUNCH*

*CRASH*

             

Aviary watched in awe, as the Superpower Pokémon. Smashed the speeding car, that was about to hit her with his bottom two fists, into the hood of the car.

He then pushed against it. Bringing it to a halt, almost instantly.

              

Everything was silent after the incident occurred. The only sound being was the hissing of the destroyed radiator of the vehicle.

Aviary couldn’t believe how incredibly fortunate she had just been; or how incredibly strong this Machamp really was.

Then Aviary saw movement inside the car, as the owner of the vehicle struggled with deflating the airbags that had deployed.

“WA-!” Aviary heard the person start screaming.

“Wah! Wat What is the big idea!” She shouted as she punched the air bag and pushed open her car door.

“Why the hell did you jump out in the middle of the!—………..”

“………………………”

Aviary stared at the young teen she knew pretty well.

“Aviary?!”

“May?”

               

They stared at each other in incredulous disbelief.

“W-What were you thinking?!” May finally said with a shout. “Jumping out in the middle of the road like that!”

“M-Me?! Why were you driving like a psychopath!” Aviary argued. “You came screeching around the corner like a mad woman and nearly killed me!”

“I had the right away!” May pointed out to Aviary. “There are two cross walks on either side of the street! But you choose to cut through the middle of the road! What?! Does being a police officer give you special privileges!”

“Uhnnngg…..” Aviary wanted to argue against that. But she realized that she had been being careless at the time.

“Ma Ma champ amp.”

      

“”Hmm?”” The two young women turned towards the large grey skinned, four armed man in the room.

            

“Oh my God!” May ran up to Machamp. “Jennifer!”

Machamp watched as the young human female inspected the human known as Jennifer, who resided in his arms.

“Oh my Arceus… she looks!— she looks!—“

“Yeah… pretty terrible.” Aviary agreed.

“We should get her inside.” Said a male voice from behind them.

        

Aviary started at the sudden sound of a voice behind her. May, Machamp and Aviary all turned to look at the tall man, with a slight gut. Who had thinning brown hair, and sky-blue eyes.

May nodded her head at what he said.

“You’re right Professor Yew.” May said in agreement. “We need to get her medical treatment, right away.”

“Professor Yew… that means you’re?!—“

The man nodded.

“That’s right.” He nodded stoically. “I’m Jennifer’s father.” He said as introductions to the officer in front of himself. “It’s nice to finally me you in person, Aviary Sung.” He told her. “Thanks for always watching out for my daughter.”

Aviary was shocked and did a double take at hearing that Jennifer’s father knew her.

“Y-You know of me?!” She asked him.

         

He smiled brightly at the young officer.

“Of course I do.” He assured her. “I’ve read your dossier and seen your personal profile pages.” He informed her with a smile. “I always make sure to keep track of who my daughter’s friends are; as well as her enemies.” He subtly told her.

Aviary couldn’t help but shiver at what Professor Yew had suggested.

                 

Johnathan looked over and saw the Dragonite in the patch of grass resting.

“So, I take it you’re the one Lance sent over.” He stated, rather than asked her.

Aviary nodded her head extremely quickly to confirm, without much else; because of how terrified of this man now.

“Okay,” He said to them. “With introductions out of the way.” He said as he walked up to Machamp. “Let’s get Jennifer inside— AGH?!”

“Ma champ.” He told him.

“”Huh?!””

      

Machamp held Johnathan by his head with one arm. Keeping him from getting closer.

“Ma champ ma ma.” Machamp said with a shake of her head.

May looked around at the other two, who looked just as confused as her.

“Anyone else speak Pokémon here, besides Jennifer?!” May asked.

As Johnathan pulled away from Machamp’s grasp. He turned to glare softly at Aviary.

“Officer Sung.” He addressed her formally. “Please recall your Pokémon.” He ordered.

“Huh? Oh! Yeah, right.” She concurred as she was reminded of what she should do. She pulled his PokéBall free of her belt.

“Return.”

The Dragonite was hit by a red beam, then suck into the PokéBall.

She turned and smiled at Professor Yew.

“Thanks for the reminder!” She said happily.

           

“………………………”

Aviary looked at Johnathan nervously, as he continued to glare at her.

“W-What?!”

Johnathan jerked his head towards the Machamp.

“I meant, him!” He said irritably.

“Him?!” Aviary asked confused. “H-He’s not mine.”

“”HUH?!”” May and Johnathan both shout at once.

Aviary flinches at their exclamations.

“I-If he’s not yours! Then whose is he?!” May asked.

“Y-You mean he’s not Jennifer’s?” Aviary asked quitely.

“”NO!”” They shouted in unison again.

“Eep!”

      

Aviary looked up towards the tall Pokémon.

“S-So if he’s not mine or hers……” She stared directly at the Machamp as she asked him. “Whose Pokémon are you?”

Machamp thought about this before he answered. As he wasn’t sure how he could convey this.

In the end. He shifted his arms around once more, in how he held the girls. Then brought upper arm up to point at his daughter.

“Champ cha Machamp.”

“””What?!”””

The three humans exclaimed in disbelief.

But now that Machamp had singled her out. May looked at the Pokémon in Jennifer’s arms with sadness.

“Aw!~”

“What?” Johnathan questioned May’s fawning attitude.

“I missed Ralts evolving.” She complained. “I knew she was close, but I didn’t think I would miss it!” She looked at Johnathan. “When did this happen?” She questioned him. Wondering if Jennifer was hiding this fact.

“……Sometime during her kidnapping… would be my guess…” Johnathan replied to her before turning to face her. “She was still a Ralts this morning.” He informed her.

“A-Ah! I see…” May murmured dejectedly. “T-That’s to bad. Looks like we missed a happy moment, huh? And it happened during a really shitty time…”

        

The other three nodded their heads in agreement.

But then Johnathan shook his head in frustration.

“T-this is irrelevant.” He decided before turning with narrowed eyes, aimed squarely at the Machamp’s face. “Look Machamp. She’s,” He pointed towards Jennifer. “My daughter.” He informed him. “I really don’t care at this point whose Pokémon you are: we need to get Jennifer and Ra—… Kirlia to the medical facility.” He declared, with  a raise of his hands, outstretched towards Machamp. “Please! Give me my daughter.” He almost begged.

Machamp scratched his jaw his is free hand, as he pondered about what to do.

“Macha Machamp. Cha cha ma Machamp.” He told Jennifer’s father with an out stretched hand.

“……………………..”

Johnathan looked at the Pokémon’s hand, then back at the Machamp.

“You want to?… take then in, together?” Johnathan questioned.

“Ma, Ma Machamp.” Machamp nodded his head, as he lowered the girls down towards the the human father.

Johnathan smiled, as he accepted the girls into his arms.

But then his expression immediately changed, as he got his first good look at Jennifer. 

“Look at what those monsters have done to you…” He bemoaned remorsefully. He lowered his head and began to cry over Jennifer face. “I’m— I’m such a failure as as father!… I can’t even protect!—“

*tap* *tap* *tap*

Johnathan felt a number of hands patting his back. He looked up through his tears, to see a smiling Machamp staring down at him.

Machamp lifted three hands and gave the human girl’s father, three thumbs up.

       

“Machamp… Machamp amP Champ.” 

Johnathan was confused at first. But he quickly realized that Machamp was encouraging him and telling him not to worry.

He smiled at the kind fighting type Pokémon in thanks.

“Thank you Machamp. That means a lot… not that I understood that… Hahaha!” Johnathan laughed.

Machamp gave a chuckle at the silly human father.

      

“So? What did you have in mind for us to carr—IIEEEE!” Johnathan squealed as he was picked up and carried princess style, with his daughter and her Pokémon across his stomach.

“MA!~ CHAMP!~” Machamp gave a rallying cry, as he charged towards the white building.

“No! Wait! Stop! This is embarrassing!”

Johnathan cried as he was carried away from the other two at the grassy knoll.

             

Officer Aviary and May turned to each other at the same time. As they shared a look of disbelief at what had just happened between the pair of fathers.

May smiled at Aviary before giving her a shrug.

“Eh! I’ve seen stranger.” May admitted.

       

Aviary gave a chuckle at that.

“Oh, that! I can certainly believe; miss celebrity.” Aviary quipped.

They shared a friendly laugh with each other, but all to soon, their faces shifted into more stern and serious expressions.

Aviary said not a word, as she saw the lines and frustration on May face. She just gave her an understanding smile and lifted her arms up, holding them at towards May.

“Bring it in.” Aviary instructed.

“W-What?!” May questioned loudly.

           

“Listen…” Aviary said in an understanding tone. “You don’t have to say anything. Don’t have to tell me or speak at all.” Aviary told her. “But I know you and Jennifer are like sisters, right?” Aviary pointed out. “I’m a big sister myself. I know how it is. That you have to try and play is cool. Try and hold it together; when all you really want to do is cry and break things.” Aviary stretched her arms out more.

“Nows your chance.” Aviary encouraged. “Just let me give you a hug: let it all out.”

           

At first. Aviary thought May was going to turn down her offer, and continue with the stoic big sister facade.

But her face began to crack, as more and more lines appeared, with the more she tried to resist her emotions.

     

“U— Uuoooo!—“ May ran the couple feet that Aviary was away from her, and threw herself into her arms.

“W-WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!— *HIC* WAAAA-HAAAAAA-UAAAAAAAA!”

“There you go~” Aviary encouraged, as she rubbed May’s back gently. “Let it out~ Don’t hold it in~”

      

“WHY?!— *HIC*” May yelled her complaints. “WHY WON’T THEY JUST— *HIC* —Just!- Just leave her alone?! She is just a little girl! Why the fuck are they so evil?! …UOOOooo…”

May continued to stand there holding Aviary, as she cried and soaked in Aviary’s comforting embrace.

“It’s sad really…” Aviary remarked off handedly. “We big sisters never get the chance to be the ones who never get support for when we need to cry.”

          

May whimpered into Aviary’s chest.

“That is why it’s important to have people: even if it’s just one special someone.” She smiled down at the bawling trainer. “Have anyone like that May?” Aviary asked in polite small talk.

May nodded her head without looking up.

“Drew…” May whispered in answer.

Aviary smiled at hearing this.

“Good. It’s always important to have someone you can call on for help or of you need to talk to someone.” She encouraged. “And now if you need to, you can always count on big sis Aviary to talk to as well.” She told May.

                  

May sniffled, before pulling back from Aviary’s embrace with a chuckle.

“Thanks big sis Aviary… not sure I feel entirely comfortable calling you that though.”

Aviary gave a shrug and held out her hand.

“Then just Aviary when we’re alone then.” She compromised. She looked at May with a smile, the boarder on mischievous.

“W-What?!”

“You know the saying!~”

“W-What, saying?!” May asked her in a panic. I don’t like that glint in her eyes.

“Come on, May!” Aviary threw her hands up in the air, in playful frustration. “I told you just a moment ago.” Aviary told May with a smile. “That you don’t have to hold it in or try to play it cool; when all you really want to do is cry and break things: well! We’re at the breaking things portion of this helping you thing.” She told her.

May laughed at Aviary’s surprisingly juvenile demeanor.

“What are you even talking about? Break what?”

         

Aviary rolled her eyes at May’s obliviousness.

“You know~” Aviary said, as she reached behind herself.

May’s eyes widened, as officer Aviary pulled out a PokéBall.

“When two trainers’ eyes meet! It’s time for a battle!” Aviary quoted with a smirk. “Do you understand now?”

           

May narrowed her eyes at the officer; thinking she had completely lost her mind.

“You can’t be serious?” May scoffed. “Right here? Right now?!” May complained. “Do you even realize what’s going on around us?!” May argued.

Aviary shrugged.

“Sure I do,” She answered casually. “But you need to destress, May: none of that negative energy is going to help anyone, especially not Jennifer.” Aviary suggested.

May had no rebuttal to refute Aviary’s crazy logic.

        

“Besides,” She shrugged again. “We can’t do much right now anyways.”

“W-What do you mean we can’t! Jennifer’s hurt! And I’—“

“LOOK!” Aviary shouted aloud to cut May off. “You can’t help her right now, or right this minute.” Aviary informed her. “Their not going to let you into surgery or whatever treatment Jennifer is undergoing right now; so you would be stuck in the lobby, or whatever waiting room they have in secret, government medical facilities.” Aviary pointed out, before smiling at May. “So what better way to get rid of that stress: than a Pokémon battle.”

Then Aviary’s grin took on an even more mischievous grin.

“Besides!~” Aviary smiling widely. “This isn’t just any Pokémon battle!~” Aviary mentioned. “This is a battle with a Pokémon from the Pokémon master himself!~ hehehe!~” She giggled as she dangled the PokéBall in her hand.

May eyes went wide as she heard this.

      

“You mean!—“

“Yeah!” Aviary said excitedly, as she tossed the ball into the air before catching it again. “How would you like to take on a Pokémon, from a member of the elite four from Kanto?!” Aviary asked enticingly. She then buffed the ball onto her uniform. “Not every day that you get a challenge like that? Am I right?” Aviary asked May with a crooked smile.

                  

May wasn’t even sure how to respond to this, impromptu challenge.

     

May’s head dropped as she chuckled at the absurdity of what this “Officer” of the law was doing.

“You do realize,” May said, as she reached back and pulled out a PokéBall of her own. “That Lance might punish you for using his Pokémon like this.” May pointed out.

Aviary shrugged.

“Yeah!” She agreed. “But that is only if he finds out. Or if I lose!”

“And you also realize,” May began to point out. “That you are looking at two time contest master, who’s won over twenty ribbons, and has won her fair share of gym battles from different regions.” May explained as she unlocked the PokéBall to its enlarged size. “Don’t you?”

Aviary shrugged.

“I say,” Aviary said as she got into a ready position. “That with this ultra rare Pokémon of Lance’s, that he has trained personally; I think that makes us about even.” She said with a tilt of her head. “Don’t you?” She snarked.

“Okay!” May shouted as she threw her PokéBall. “It’s on!”

                      

                  

————————————————-

                                  

                            

It was sometime later. Johnathan was still waiting in the waiting area of the facility. His hands clenched together tightly, as his leg bounced in worry over Jennifer condition.

He glanced over at the father, daughter pair. Who had been asleep since Kirlia came back. He snorted in laughter at the scene.

This gray, six foot, two inch giant. Cradling a small white, blue and orange Pokémon. As they slept quietly.

I wish my daughter could recover that quickly. Johnathan thought sarcastically. Then maybe I wouldn’t have a heart attack every time something happened to her.

Johnathan immediately regretted thinking like that. He hated himself for thinking that about Jennifer.

She… she’s perfect… just the way she is!… but!— I!—……

He clenched his hand together more tightly.

“…I can’t do anything for her…” He lamented in despair. He brought his hands up and covered his face. “I’m pathetic!…”

                               

               

*SQUEAK* *SQUEAK*

     

Johnathan’s head snapped up as he heard the noise; thinking it was the doctor coming out.

              

But the doors at surgery were still closed, and the red light for the sign “in surgery”, was still on.

He turned his head to the left, and spotted a familiar sight.

      

“Lance!…” He called out to his old friend and mentor.

Lance gave a weary smile at his old friend.

“Hey sport,” Lance called out to his younger protege. “How are you doing? How’s everything here?”

“It’s…….. I don’t know………”

Lance looked at his friend in surprise.

“They haven’t come out yet? It’s been over a three hours?!” Lance asked in astonishment.

                    

Johnathan nodded his head grievingly.

“Yeah…… I gave them as much information as I could offer, about what happened to Jennifer. So after treating her superficial wounds and injuries. They then took some X-rays and CT-scans. But found no actual internal injuries either. So now they’re doing a MRI on her right now. I just… I don’t know what happened to her Lance!” Johnathan bemoaned in a short breaths. “I just!… *GASP* …Don’t… *GASP* …”

“Hey, hey! Listen.” Lance told his friend, as he sat down on the chair next to him. “She’s going to be fine!” He told him. “She’s a fighter. Just like her mom!” He pointed out.

          

Johnathan brought up his hands to cover his face as he, not only cried. But to rub the tiredness from his face.

        

“What happened to her Lance……” Johnathan asked his friend.

Lance interlaced his fingers and stared at his hands in front of him, as he leaned forward in thought.

Johnathan, not hearing an answer. Looked over towards his friend. Lance’s expression only served to further Johnathan’s worries.

“What… Happened?…” He asked him again.

        

*SIGH*

                

“John… it’s not that…”

            

          

*KICK* *CLATTER* *BANG*

                 

Johnathan had Lance out of his chair and pressed against the wall. His expression was nearly manic.

“Tell. Me. What. Happened. To. My. DAUGHTER!” Johnathan demanded.

                

Lance just looked at his friend with indifferent eyes. As he stared at, not Johnathan, his friend; but Johnathan, the father of Jennifer Barakat.

           

*SIGH*

           

“John…” He reached up and easily pried Johnathan’s hands away from the collar of his shirt. “I wasn’t not going to tell you… calm down and relax.” He told his distraught friend. “But, I’m going to warn you…… this might send you down a dark place; one I don’t want to watch and see my friend go.” Lance warned him.

But Johnathan shook his head.

“I need to know. No… I have to know!” He reiterated. “Of I don’t know! I swear, I will feel this haunt me unto my grave!” He told Lance desperately.

“*SIGH*……” He reached into his pocket, producing a pink glittered up phone.

He handed it over to Johnathan.

“The videos are cued for it.” He told him. “Apparently we didn’t get lucky to get our hands on their data or figure out what it was they were trying to do……” Lance sighed for the umpteenth time since he came through the doors to the waiting area. “…But we did get lucky enough, that some punk kid started recording all the experiments with her phone.”

              

Lance grabbed hold of Johnathan’s shoulder, and pushed him down to the chair he had previously been sitting on.

      

Johnathan looked at his friend questioningly.

“You………” Lance looked away from his friend as he gulped down some bile. “…You’ll want to be sitting down while you watch this……” Lance moved to leave the room.

      

“Are!—“

        

“Hmm?”

      

“Are you not going to watch it with me?” He asked Lance with a trembling voice.

          

But to Johnathan’s shock, Lance shook his head.

“……I’ve already seen it…… Once… that was enough……” He told him, before adding as he left. “…Come find me after you’ve regained your composure… …Because I actually need, YOU, to tell me what was done to her and why.” Lance said to Johnathan.

Johnathan watched as his friend left the room. He couldn’t remember the last time his friend had been that shaken up before.

                

Johnathan stared at the phone in his hand; they trembled as he held it. He was so nervous to press the play button.

He knew he was about to see what those monster did to his daughter. Knew how they did it. He saw the results of what they had done. He knew he shouldn’t be more surprised than that.

*DEEP INHALE*

          

“Okay… let’s see.”

                 

                      

              

Johnathan heard voices, before he saw anything.

“Dude! Should you really be recording this? If Professor Cole finds out, he’ll kill you!”

“He won’t!” Said a feminine voice. “As long as you don’t point it out to him or don’t tell him.”

                

“…..ugh…..”  A groaning voice from behind the people on screen could be heard.

The two people talking whipped around.

“Umm!… Professor Cole. I do believe that patient Zero is waking up.”

      

“Ah! Excellent! Right on schedule!” A voice said in the back ground.

           

After that. Johnathan sat there and watched as the events of what happened to Jennifer played out.

                             

————————————————-

                                     

Doctor Lang came out from the backroom, where they had been with Jennifer Barakat currently running tests and patching her up. He rubbed tiredly at the back of his neck with his hand, as he stretched the rest of his body up right.

It wasn’t even a long surgery, or even any sort of invasive surgery. Most of her external injuries had been cosmetic at best. Requiring minimal healing from on their end, which was mostly taken care of by his Blissey’s healing Moves. The real damage done to her, had been internally.

He had deduced that, Jennifer had been repeatedly exposed to prolonged shocks, from some sort of electrical attack move. That did mild damage to her nerves. Which he diagnosed would leave her feeling pain, even after they had finished healing her. Worst still was the fact that, she had several pebbles, metal, and shards of glass, embedded into her palms and knee areas.

      

Removing that had been the worst he had to deal with personally. He commented to himself in thought.

        

But while his involvement and her procedure had been minimal. He could tell that this girl was in for a long road of recovery.

The physical therapy she would need just to walk right and move her body like she was used to, was going to be extensive and take her a long while.

The worst of her injuries though, were the ones he just wasn’t sure about.

        

While tests had shown that while damaged: her nerves had survived and she could feel. This meant that, she “should” make a full recovery.

That is of course… if she wasn’t blind……  He thought dejectedly.

He had noticed a severe case a cornea irritation and signs of possible damage as well.

Whatever happened to her; whatever they did to her. It was similar to old style electrocution chairs. Except, they had her grounded and an exit point as well near her feet, along with keeping the electricity fairly low.

But all that, is just a small miracle. Because the prolonged exposure of it nearly melted the poor girls eyes.

             

But they had been able to heal the damage, to an extent.

           

But I’m not God, and I don’t know what kinda psychological trauma this may have left on her. Her brain may very well have rejected her ability to see properly altogether after all the damage she received. Even with it healed, she still might not see.

If she’s lucky… which she has been so far; because it could have been a lot worse: she should recover just fine. He concluded.

The real and most upfront concern for Doctor Lang though. Was what may have happened to the poor girl’s brain.

        

He sat down with a groan in his chair, as he leaned back and thought of what he had seen in the MRI.

“From all intents and purposes. Her brain scans seemed normal… which is what concerns me.”

Lang expected to see some sort of nerve damage, or even some sort of brain damage. Where her brain would have been literally fried from the shocks she received.

It was almost like, her brain was protected in someway. But also at the same time. Some sort of damage had been done to it.

Doctor Lang lifted up the MRI scan of Jennifer’s brain. He identify a small, possibly minute swelling, near the right side of her cerebrum.

But I’m not an expert, when it comes to the brains in general; especially not of brains of a psychic, for that matter. Lang thought in frustration.

                     

As he looked at the minute swelling in the picture once again; and the contrast to what was normal for a person without psychic abilities. He decided that it was probably in relation to her psychic powers.

Observation and test will show if it is something I need to get involved with, or to consult an expert.

He put away the scan and closed the folder. He stood with a groan, before turning and exiting his office, to go deliver the news.

        

Good or bad: it is, what it is. He decided. I’ve done the best I’ve can. Now it will be up to Jennifer, if she is strong enough to pull through.

                  

Lang shut the sign off as he walked through the double doors, into the waiting area.

As he did, he spotted the man who had brought Jennifer into them, along with his two Pokémon sitting near him; who were both currently asleep. The man on the other hand, hand his face, buried into his hands, and Doctor Lang could hear quiet sobs as he grew near him.

Lang’s presence was obviously not known to the man. As he didn’t react nor look at Lang once since he entered.

          

“*ahem* Professor Yew?” Lang called out to Jennifer’s father gently.

          

Lang steps faltered.

      

Professor Yew looked up at him, and it made Lang take an involuntary step back.

      

Geez! If looks could kill! He thought distressed.

       

Lang stood up and straightened out his appearance after drawing the man’s attention.

“*AHEM* Professor Yew.” He said with a smile. “I’m hear to announce that Jennifer is alright, and she should make a complete recovery.”

Lang could see, Professor Yew’s shoulders visibly relax upon hearing the news; his whole expression shifted towards one of jubilation.

But Lang held up a hand towards the man, forestalling any sort of thanks, praise or any such thing.

“There is more, I’m afraid.” He told him, with a serious expression.

         

He watched as Professor Yew’s expression dropped as Lang explained to him, all that he had found wrong with Jennifer. Along with his intuitions and concerns.

                           

————————————————-

                                         

Yew went outside to find out where Lance went. After leaving the building, the first thing he noticed, was that May’s car was being hooked up to a tow-truck.

He looked at the car with a shake of his head: remembering how scary it was to run into that Machamp. He then looked past the wreck, and spotted Lance across the street about field, talking with May and the officer from before.

The lady officer sat on her knees, seiza style, as it looked like she received a lecturer from Lance.

May stood there smirking at the officer, who had an embarrassed look on her face.

         

They looked like they were having fun. Johnathan thought.

In one way. He was glad they were able to relax: it helped him to also relax. But in another sense. He felt in a deep dark corner of his soul. That he was outraged that they could even think about having fun or laughing while his daughter was in a critical state.

But he exhaled a deep breath. Letting the fresh air take his negative emotions away from him.

Johnathan walked down the steps and across the street, into the grassy area, where a dirt area was set up for local Pokémon battles.

        

Looks like someone had a battle here recently. Johnathan summarized what had happened and why the officer lady was being lectured.

Poor girl.

         

May was the first one to spot him. Her face changing to one of joy.

“Professor Yew!” She cried out to him, before jogging past Lance to make her way towards him.

Lance stopped lecturing the woman long enough to look towards where May was jogging, and then headed that way as well.

After Lance left her. Aviary scrambled to her feet, to chase after everyone else.

“H-How is she?!” May asked breathlessly as she reached Jennifer’s dad.

          

Johnathan gave them all a reassuring smile.

“The good news is: that the Doctor has said to me that she’ll should make a full recovery.”

Johnathan visibly saw everyone standing in front of him relax and breath a sigh of a relief.

“So, May.” Johnathan addressed Jennifer’s long time friend. “I let the guards and receptionist know that you’ll be coming:” He nodded towards the building behind him. “Why don’t you go in and see her; Kirlia and Machamp are in the room watching over her already.”

“Okay!” May did a grateful bow towards Professor Yew. “I’ll go see her right now!”

May started to move past Johnathan to get to the G-Men facility.

              

“Uhm!…”

            

Three heads turned to look towards the young officer.       

Aviary stood there nervously, with her hand just barely raised above her head.

“C-C-Can I come as well?” Aviary asked. “I know I’m not a friend of the family and what not; and I know I’m not a G-men, or whatever:” She proffered. “But I—… I’ve come to respect Jen a lot. She’s a good kid, with a good heart and a good head on her shoulders as well… I just wanted to see her; make sure she’s— *HIC* —… That’s she’s okay; to let her know she has another person that cares about her, you know?”

      

Johnathan smiled at the kind officer, that his daughter had clearly influenced.

But much to Aviary’s disappointment,Johnathan shook his head.

“I’m afraid that you’ll have to tell her all that another time.” He warned her with a smile.

“O-Oh…” Aviary murmured downtrodden.

May was glaring at Johnathan from behind his back.

Johnathan patted the young officer’s shoulder.

“Yeah. You have to understand. She’s not awake yet.” He said simply.

“*SNIFF*… I understan—“ Aviary’s began to say with a disappointed tone.

Then she stopped, as her eyes went wide from what she just heard.

“She—… She’s not awake yet?” Aviary questioned if she heard the Professor correctly.

Johnathan made a big show of stretching and scratching the back of his head.

“Yeah…” He said to her disappointingly. “She’ll have to miss your visit to her this time.” He told her with a sly smile. “But,” He said while looking into her flushed face, and nervously embarrassed eyes. “I can tell her wverything you just said for you, when she wakes up.”

“Y-Y-Y-Y…— You!…” Aviary started to grouse.

“Hmm?~”

         

Aviary walked past Johnathan and grabbed onto May’s wrist.

“D-Don’t bother!” She shouted in frustration. “I’ll— I’ll tell her myself another time!” She said poutingly.

“What?!— Aviary?!” May complained as she was pulled along, by the embarrassed officer.

            

                  

Johnathan watched as Jennifer’s two friends walked over towards the G-Men recovery center.

“Hahahaha!~” Johnathan laughed from behind him. “Always the eternal prankster, aren’t ya?” Lance laughed at his younger friend, as he put his arm over Johnathan’s shoulder.

           

Johnathan smiled sadly at his mentor.

“Not as much as you.” Johnathan counted playfully. But his playful expression lost its momentum, as a frown over takes his face. He looked off in the direction of the grassy park, before sitting down on his butt, staring off into space.

Lance said nothing as his friend sat. He just stood there, watching over his friend. He looked at Johnathan, whose face looked so lost and distraught. That you think Jennifer had died, rather than just get injured. As he watched over Johnathan’s quiet contemplation. He realized he wasn’t seeing the man that Johnathan was currently: he had somehow been transported back in time, to a moment much like this; where he stared down at his younger friend, who was completely beside himself.

              

“So,” Lance lead off. “You watched the video I take it?” He asked him.

                

Johnathan simply nodded his head.

Lance tilted his head.

“What do you think?” He asked him. “What do you think their plans are?”

            

At first, Johnathan did say anything. He just stared out blankly at the large open park, in the middle of the city.

        

“………What do “I” think?………” Johnathan replied sardonically. “*SCOFF*… I’ll tell you what I think.” Johnathan said as he stood up from his seated position, before facing his mentor. “I think this has gone on too long, Master.” He told him. “It needs to end.” He then gave a salute. “Captain Johnathan Yew, reporting back to duty from leave, sir!”

           

Lance stared at his friend in surprise.

“Really?!” Lance questioned. “But!… what about your research?” He asked him. “What about your invention?”

But Johnathan was already shaking his head before he could even finish his sentence.

“You don’t have to worry about that, sir. I’ve already made up my mind that I’m planning to hand this invention off to Birch: Because, quite frankly Lance: fuck my invention!”

         

Lance just looked at Johnathan in shock.

I knew he was upset and hurting; I knew he would be angry, or even want to do something to help me or something.

But to give up his research? The thing he’s been searching for answers after these many years?! He’s really just going to give it all up? Just like that?!

Lance held up his hand to forestall his fervent friend’s attitude.

“Woah! WOAH, there!” Lance spoke in a blown away manner. “Johnathan! I know Jennifer was hurt and all. I get that, I really do: but are you sure about just giving up your research?” Lance questioned. “What about Charmele—“

          

Johnathan brought his hand up, pushing Lance’s gently down and away from him.

“Lance,” Johnathan called out to his mentor gently. “Even if I wanted too… I don’t think I would even be able to even look at my device again without wanting to break it: Charmeleon turning into a Charizard be damned.” He told him how he honestly felt. “It would have been one thing if they took my device and used it; or modified it and harmed others or Pokémon…… but!—… *SIGH* …But they chose Jennifer; the chose my daughter, to be their guinea pigs………”

          

He looked down and away from his mentor in shame.

“All I saw on that video… wasn’t them attaching my device, or something I made onto Jennifer; it was me harming my daughter: I did it. I hurt her. I should have never have invented that damn thing!” Johnathan screamed through his teeth. “I should have never thought of that accursed device! I fucking hate myself!” He bemoaned.

Johnathan then went quiet for a moment, before speaking again.

“But the worst part is…” Johnathan continued. “some sick, twisted way; I hate myself even more for this; for being able to look at what they were doing and understand exactly what was happening… and knowing that in the long ran… that they were right… that it’s exactly as they said. That what my machine was lacking… The fact that they got it working and were successful: I hated myself for being jealous of them. Even it it was only for a split second: I was jealous that they had made it work.”

             

He looked up at Lance, with burning hatred in his eyes.

“That is why I can’t work on that machine, ever again.” He told Lance. “There is nothing left for me as a researcher anymore.” He told his superior as he stood up straight. He then saluted once again. “From now on, I’ll be returning as Captain of your research and technician team… if you’ll still have me, that is.” He said to his Commander.

         

Lance stared into his younger companion’s eyes. Seeing the fire burn within them; he knew what Johnathan was telling him was the truth. That he wanted to get back into the game.

       

But Lance tilted his head in concern and confusion.

“What about Jennifer?”

        

Johnathan blinked at Lance’s words.

“I!—…I just—…” Johnathan stuttered.

Lance narrowed his eyes at his friend.

“Have you even thought about what you’ll guys do with her?” Lance questioned. “Have you even discussed this with your wife?” Lance asked with wide eyes.

“N-No… Not yet, but!—“

“Arceus!” Lance shouted. “I don’t believe this! You’re still acting like a kid, even after all these years!” Lance berated.

          

“Sh—Shut up!” Johnathan mumbled sullenly in embarrassment.

        

“Don’t you even remember why she asked you to step down? It wasn’t for your sake, or so you could continue your research.” Lance reminded. “it was so that you and Jennifer would be safe. Remember?” He questioned his friend’s memory.

“I—… I remember…… b-But! That still doesn’t change the fact, that we obviously can’t hide anymore! They’re obviously on to us, and are going on the attack now; over this past year, Jennifer has been in and out of the hospital three times. Well?! Enough is enough!” Johnathan told Lance firmly.

“It was fine back in the day; when we could still hide Jennifer as a baby, and show she was “normal” without powers.” Johnathan explained. “But that has changed: Team Dunes, has changed; they want something and are making moves to obtain it. If we don’t go fight back and try to stop them soon. Then Jennifer will just be on the run for the rest of her life.” Johnathan stated resolutely.

          

Lance held scrutinizing gaze at his friend. Making sure to look him straight in the eyes to determine his commitment.

            

What he saw. It was the same fiery determination that he saw, all those years ago. The one where he trained this boy to make his Charmander, into his strongest Pokémon and win the Kanto league.

Well… he never beat me officially… but that would be splitting hairs. Lance thought with an internal laugh.

                 

Lance gave his friend a welcoming smile.

“Well said my friend.” Lance walked forward and patted his friend on the back, which made Johnathan jerk in place and take a misstep.

Johnathan looked up at his friend’s beaming face.

“What? You didn’t think I was going to say “No”, did you?” Lance questioned.

Johnathan shook his head with a pleasantly surprised look on his face.

“N-No commander! I— never doubted you would.”

        

Lance smiled at his friend, before giving him another pat on the back.

“That’s the spirit!” He told Johnathan. “Come on,” Lance directed him. “Let’s go get something to eat and catch up; we can hammer out all the details about your return and discuss what to do with Jennifer.” He told him. “Also! Not that you’re back!~ A certain someone, will be so happy to have her handler back!~” Lance teased.

Johnathan gave a weary smile at his commander’s teasing.

“Yeah… I’m sure that will be the one great piece of news she hear, once she gets home.” Johnathan commented.