Pokémon Obsidian | An Orre Fanfiction

Chapter 95: Dangerous

Local and International Police searched the ruined lab. Though it was isolated, no-one who saw the flurry of activity turning off Highway 1, or descending from the skies, could miss it. A full forensics team arrived on a bus. They deliberately made plans in person, away from any electronics, to ensure no-one listened in.

Reporters followed. This was sure to be a huge story. There was an explosion of excitement and flashing cameras when Emma led a trembling couple out. Zileh carried two children.

'Who are these Cipher members? Could one of these be the escaped Commander Dixie Gunn?'

'Please stop filming,' Emma coolly asked, 'These people are not Cipher members.'

The reporters and reinforcements, waiting to pounce, were baffled. It soon became clear what was going on. Some of the officers were clearly annoyed that they wasted so much time and manpower, but to the VCP reporters, it was an even more delicious development than finding Cipher members.

'Over 50 police officers and a bus carrying a forensics team were dispatched to Cipher's abandoned lab... only to find a family of harmless squatters! And who was responsible for this false alarm? Toru Oak!'

Holly almost expected to find the warehouse empty. She felt embarrassed. Orre was her homeland, but she let Toru inadvertently kick up a ruckus that demonised him further. She almost didn't go, because she didn't want to be stood up regardless. Abbey and Chalcedony encouraged her to go. If he didn't show up, it would sting for a while, but she could forget about him. If she didn't show up, she would always wonder.

As she flew, fearing that every rustle was a lamp drawing the reporters to her like Dustox, she wondered if it was even possible for him to show up. How would he escape the house this time? The crowds would quickly grow bored of Blue saying the same things whenever he went out. Someone would notice Toru, the current focus of the crowd's ire, on his recognisable Charizard; even if it was just one person, who would inevitably follow.

Unlike Aiko, Holly was as careful when flying as she was when driving. She only checked her P★DA when she landed. There was no texted apology, but she suspected Toru didn't text apologies. He just disappeared.

The dusty business park was silent. Some of the warehouses were still used, but the lone security guard and his Pokémon were over a mile away. A Skarmory's silhouette crossed the moon. There was no other sign of life. Holly checked the photo Kazuki sent her, but she knew she was in the right place. Leon always praised her sense of direction.

Being angry is better than being nervous... right?

She reached for a stained, flaking door. The handle threatened to come off in her hand, but the door itself was so stiff, she had to ram it with her shoulder. It fell abruptly from its hinges to the floor with what felt like an almighty crash. Holly held her breath for a moment. No cameras flashed.

Below the floor's thick blanket of sand were grimy papers and shattered glass. Moonlight cutting through the erratic pattern of smashed and intact windows illuminated a rusty chain. There were a few chairs that looked too new to be remnants of the warehouse's productive days... and there was a silhouette patiently reading a book.

'How did you get out?'

'My dad put on an eye mask and pretended to be me.'

Toru stowed his book in his backpack. Holly couldn't help smiling as she strode towards him.

'And they believed him?'

'For long enough. I took my Pidgeot instead of Charizard.'

'They'll know you're escaping somewhere, now.'