Finding Truth Amongst The Lies

Chapter 63: Multiple POV's

Ash's POV

It was almost creepy how easily I was able to leave Neptune's office and make my way to my assigned room. I wasted no time in retrieving my backpack and immediately started connecting to my secure line with Director Falon. I scrambled to my closet to pull out a Team Galactic jumpsuit and was desperately trying to pull it on when the connection finally went through.

"Agent Ketchum! Are you alright?"

Just at that moment, my feet got twisted in the fabric of the idiotic jumpsuit and I crashed onto my side. Barely holding back a curse, I pushed myself to my feet and stood in front of the communication device as I continued to pull on the jumpsuit.

"For now, yes," I responded curtly, finally getting my arms through the sleeves and zipping up the jumpsuit all the way to my neck.

"We received a message from the International Police saying your cover may have been blown and Detective Aryan was going in to help you," Director Falon said with her usual monotone. 

I stopped midway through rummaging through my backpack of personal belongings to gape at the screen. "He what?!" I yelped. "I thought he was looking after Serena?"

"His choice has been made. I need you to tell me what is going on," Director Falon demanded firmly.

Clenching my hands into fists I told her as succinctly as I could everything Neptune told me about her plan and her contingency plan to make sure no one could replicate her insane "remodeling" of the world. Director Falon let out a world-weary sigh as I explained how I decided to act without consulting her first, but to my shock, she didn't scold me.

"Very well. We have four teams of agents stationed around Mount Coronet awaiting instructions to support you. Neptune will be on high alert though. Is there any way for you to open an entrance for them?" Director Falon asked as I pulled the false bottom from my backpack and began clipping my team onto the pokeball holders built into the jumpsuit.

"I'll do my best. I'm going to confront Neptune after that though," I announced firmly as I clipped my familiar team onto my belt. I left Pikachu's pokeball in my backpack and gently pressed Tigrice's pokeball where his normally went. Pikachu would never go into the pokeball anyway so it wouldn't matter if I had his pokeball easily accessible.

"Agent Ketchum that is not a good plan," Director Falon retorted sternly.

Not even listening at this point, I scooped up the communication device and rushed over to the sink. I dunked my head underneath the tap and ran water over my head for a minute before rubbing the gel out of it. Once I could feel my hair loosening from the spikes the IIA stylist had taught me how to do, I felt as if I was beginning to slough off the months that I'd been forced to pretend to be Satoshi Killian. Pulling my head back, I shook it around, causing Pikachu to yelp and scold me when I ended up sending a spray of water at him.

"Agent Ketchum, you should rendezvous with our teams. Wait for backup. Agent Ketchum, can you hear me?"

Director Falon's tone was moving from unemotional to frustrated as I continued to ignore her. I grabbed a towel and swiftly rubbed it against my hair, causing it to fall into the normal craziness that I always tamed with a ballcap. I had a cap in my backpack, but I chose not to wear one for now. I would need to be somewhat recognizable when I got to the control room for the entrances after all.

"I hear you, Director Falon," I responded absently as I grabbed the communication device and moved toward the door of my room. "And you can put it on record that you advised me against it."

Director Falon blinked mutely for a moment before her lips twisted into a small scowl.

"Agent Ketchum, I ORDER you to wait for backup," she stated with steel in her voice. I looked directly into the screen on the device though and met her eyes with mine.