Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 28: Trouble in Eterna

"We may have been back together, but that didn't mean our adventures—or misadventures we should say—had ended. Leaving Eterna Forest was harder than entering it, as the search groups doubled in size with each day and travelling became significantly halted and delayed because of all the people looking for us. We had to be extra carefully—we couldn't even let our Pokémon out for fear that they may alert the enemy and their tracking Pokémon to our position. As long as they didn't have our scent, we were safe, but a Pokémon can always sense another Pokémon, and that was a chance we weren't about to take. But finally, we reached Eterna City...of course we were no safer or better off than before..."

The group walked carefully through the dead streets of Eterna City. They had just arrived, and the city was empty.

"For a city that's supposed to be 'alive with history', it seems pretty dead with boredom," said Jeremy, "Where is everybody?"

"How should we know?" asked Alyssandra, "We just got here too, you know."

"Hey, you kids, over here!" whispered a voice.

The group turned to see Looker poking his head out of the local Pokémon Centre.

"In here!" he hissed, "Hurry!"

The group looked at each other, they knew if Looker was here, something was up; something Team Galactic related probably. They wasted no time in entering the Pokémon Centre the door whooshing shut and locking behind them.

No words were exchanged between the group and Looker, only a small motion made by Looker to bring the kids with him into the dining hall.

As they walked through the Pokémon Centre, Sam noticed that the Pokémon Centre was entirely empty. There were no Pokémon being healed, no Trainers stopping by to rest, not even a Nurse Joy greeting people at the door.

The group was seated in a booth, right across from Looker. The table was covered in maps and diagrams, as well as floor plans of what looked like a large office building.

"So why all the secrecy?" asked Sam, "And what's going on here?"

Looker scratched his chin; a thin layer of hair covered his face as beard growth began to grow over the previously clean-shaven face.

"Well, it's bad," explained Looker, "Very bad. I'm not sure you know this, but Team Galactic has a headquarters set up in this city—it's not their main base of operations, but it definitely serves as a back-up command Centre. However, we only discovered that this building belonged to them recently. You see about a week back, a helicopter landed on top of that building, and shortly after that Team Galactic grunts began to infest the city and nearby forest."

"So why didn't you strike then?" wondered Jeremy, "You had surprise on your side—at least it seems that way. They didn't know you knew, did they?"

"We couldn't strike," said Looker, "They kidnapped the police force on the first day. Since then they've been taking people captive, and not just people, their Pokémon too. People are afraid of leaving their homes, and what's worse, a few days ago Nurse Joy was taken from the Pokémon Centre. She can't assist anyone who comes into town now, so people either leave the city or check in somewhere else, but the problem is only Nurse Joy has the equipment for healing Pokémon to their top fighting form; that is unless someone has skills as a Breeder. But most Breeders were rounded up after Nurse Joy."

"So why would they want to do all of this?" asked Niya, "What could they gain by taking over Eterna City? If they were after Pokémon, they could have just stolen them and be off, but they're taking people too."

"I believe they've been searching for someone or something, in the area," explained Looker, "No one has been allowed into the park in the eastern part of the city, the one with the statues of the ancient Pokémon that created the Sinnoh Region. The grunts have been everywhere searching for something in that park, but they also have search parties scanning Eterna Forest. It's like whatever they're trying to find, they're afraid someone is coming to take it from them and ruin their plans...or something along those lines. That's why they've been taking people away—they want to eliminate anyone or anything that could help this person when they get to town, as well as people who fight back against them, and taking some Pokémon along the way doesn't hurt I suppose, in their minds."

"This is horrible," said Alyssandra as she looked at the shaded windows, "We can't let them keep doing this. Whatever it is they're after they have to be stopped, for the sake of the world and for the people in Eterna. It's wrong, and it's dangerous."

"I agree," said Looker, "Which is why when I saw you four, I knew I was in luck. You all have experience with Team Galactic, and you'll no doubt cut through their ranks like butter—hopefully you'll be able to stop their Commanders this time. I know last time they got the best of you in all of the excitement, but at least you know better now."

Sam could still remember the shame he felt last time when he let Mars and her team escape with the stolen energy they needed for their undisclosed plans. After all of those victories against Team Galactic, he had lost, and it was horrible.

"Well, then we won't let them win this time," said Sam standing up, "What's the plan?"

"The plan is to walk right in the back door and take back what belongs to Eterna City," explained Looker, "I don't have time for anything more elaborate, and I lack the manpower. We need to attack fast, and not give them the opportunity to continue their plans or their search. If we stop them now, we'll stop them for a good while, I believe. Are you all in?"

The group nodded. "You can count on us," smiled Alyssandra.

"We won't let them win this time," added Jeremy, "We're going to take them down where they nest! No Team Galactic grunt or Commander will get the best of us!"

Sam simply nodded, as did Niya. He agreed with Jeremy, this time he wasn't going to lose.

"Let's go," said Looker, "We'll infiltrate immediately."