Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 25: The Coming Storm

"I was right before, of course, when I said that our luck might just run out. That it did, and even sooner than this entry. After our stop at the last Pokémon Centre, I wasn't fully healed, and was still very sickly. The foolish, prideful boy I once was told my friends that I wasn't in need of a doctor or Nurse Joy, and we continued on Route 205. Alyssandra so loved the spring time and the wild Pokémon...she was like a child once more...it was the biggest mistake of my life to tell them I was all right, and to this day I wonder how different our lives would have been if I had been truthful about how bad I felt...and at the same time, I wonder how much worse off we'd be if I had seen a doctor..."

The room was dark, but the screen lit up the man's face.

He was tall, he was gaunt, and he looked like he had seen years of disappointment and sadness. He had darkness in his eyes that seemed to emanate nothing but evil, and he gave a look that would strike fear in anyone, even the bravest of men.

Behind him stood two women, both in jumpsuits, one with red hair and the other with violet, while two men stood to his right. The first was tall, with long red hair, a crooked nose that looked as if it had been broken, rectangular glasses and a long lab coat, while the other had blue hair that curved into a semi-lunar shape facing the sky.

Behind them all was a much shorter man, slightly hunched and very deranged looking, staring hard at the screen through the darkness. He seemed to only be paying half of his attention towards what everyone else was, as his attention seemed to be spent bent over a laboratory table.

He hummed madly to himself as he worked, just low enough that only he would hear, but loud enough to cause the red-haired woman to yell back at him every so often to remain silent.

The entire group stared at the screen quietly, as if it was going to come to life and proclaim to them its infinite wisdom; but it was just a screen.

Instead, a shadowy figured appeared on the screen. Nothing could be seen of this figure but his eyes, which shone red like fire in the blackness.

"So," he said deeply, "What news of our plans?"

The moment the group had been waiting for had arrived, and the gaunt man stepped forward to speak. "My Lord," he said softly, "We have managed to gather the energy necessary—I am very proud to say—now it is only a matter of tracing down the ancient Pokémon."

"What is your plan for catching them?" asked the red-eyed man quickly. He cared not for long speeches but wished only for results.

"We will seek out the Guardians of the Lake first—with them we can forge the Red Chain," explained the gaunt man, "Our top Professor is here researching them as well speak; while the other is attempting to come up with a way for us to forge the Red Chain from the Pokémon we capture."

"And what of the dragons? And the Pokémon of Legend?" asked the shadowy figure, "It is them I want; it is them I need. I care not for these 'Guardians of the Lake.'"

"Yes, my lord," said the gaunt man nervously, "We are looking for them as well. As you know, the Red Chain is necessary for us to control them, and we have yet to discover their locations. Though we believe they may be located where the legends speak of; but we need more time to research the validity of these tales."

There was silence, and no one said anything, neither those in the room, or the man on the screen.

Finally, the man in the screen shifted in his seat and spoke in a deep voice, slowly but threatening. "You have not even discovered their locations?" asked the man, "And you dare call upon me? You disturb me with your petty news, and you have nothing to show for it?"