Pokémon Mars

Chapter 63: The Plans

'You failed to stop Team Plasma?!'

Wish wasn't as accepting of the destruction of Cipher's headquarters as Sonnet expected him to be. He didn't just want to weaken Cipher. He wanted to use the Shadow Pokémon factory, even if not the rest of the facilities.

'You really are useless!'

'It wasn't just Sonnet, Dad,' Praise nervously interjected, 'I couldn't stop them, either... we weren't expecting them...'

'Why not?! You should have been ready for anything! Hmph. It's true – if you want something done well, you must do it yourself. I suppose I was at fault for relying on you.'

'Dad, if you give Sonnet another chance–'

'Stop calling me "Dad." There will be no need for superficial relationships in our new world. My biological father had the right idea. "Boss" will do.'

Praise opened his mouth to reply. No sound came out. He hesitated for a long time. There was no point in trying to convince Wish that he felt that way because of the Shadow Pokémon. He was beyond help.

'Fine... Boss.'

'Hmph. What job can I give you that you'll actually be able to complete? I doubt you'll find Volo. Perhaps I'll send you back to the Origin Village, Sonnet. Yes. I think I will.'

'And what shall I do there?'

'We don't need it anymore. Bring our people here. You can do that, can't you?'

'...Of course.'

'Praise. Take your expedition team to Mt. Coronet. Monitor the space-time rift up close and protect the mountain in the event of an attack. You can do that. Can't you?'

'Yes, Boss...'

'Good. You're dismissed. Get on with it.'

Praise hesitated again, but once he reminded himself that his father was well and truly beyond help, he couldn't get out of there fast enough. As they left the Town Hall, Sonnet almost looked angry; not quite, but almost.

'You know... Volo once told me about a movie called "Lord of Distortion." It was about Cyrus and the heroes who stopped him. Apparently, his lieutenant commander didn't even understand what he wanted. As for his other commanders, their Pokémon weren't even fully evolved by the time they were confronted by the heroes at Spear Pillar. And Cyrus used the very thing he hated – spirit – to rally his subjects.'

Sonnet paused. Praise waited for him to continue, but he didn't.

'What are you trying to say...?'

'He – Wish – is just like his father. Cyrus treated his staff terribly, yet expected them to perform as if they were treated like kings. How could the lieutenant defend Team Galactic when he didn't even understand what his boss wanted?'

'But I know exactly what my dad wants... a perfect world, crafted with his own hands...'

'That's not the point, but do we even understand? What is a "perfect world?" He seems to be going full Cyrus now, but that wasn't his original intention. He doesn't even know what he wants. He can't make his mind up. But my point was that even the other commanders – they were obsessed with Cyrus, but that isn't true devotion, is it? If they were truly devoted to a leader who valued them, I'm sure their Pokémon might have evolved. They might have posed a challenge to the heroes. As for the Grunts, it's no wonder they were useless! They were treated like shit stuck to his shoe and disposed of when surprise, surprise – they performed as badly as he treated them!'

Sonnet stopped walking. A wild Budew waddled towards them from the Town Hall's rose garden. Praise knelt to pet it. It still launched into his face after snuggling up to him. He wiped the poison off with the hem of his Team Genesis tunic.