Linkage

12

Wes sat there with his laptop. To his right, circuit boards and a soldering iron sat towards the back of his desk. A thunderstone sat to his left. The engineer had spent the morning working on a new idea for Byron — a sensor scope for detecting particular types of minerals underground. He was in over his head though. There was a lot of research he'd have to do about the stones before he could invent something effective. It seemed as though Wes would be on his way to Saturn's lab later that week.

Behind him, Cynthia stirred. He would have perhaps not registered her at all, if not for their bond. He kept working, thinking of what happened yesterday. She had just gone into Maylene's aura room and passed out into his arms. Her exhaustion was so powerful that he struggled to stand from her bearing load. He took her back to his house after she passed out, despite Maylene's offer to let Cynthia sleep at the gym. A great part of Wes felt as if he were accepting defeat should he not take her back to his apartment. He still refused to believe that the issue couldn't solved before the future would catch up the past. And he refused to believe that the moment Cynthia stepped into his apartment, crisis would be upon them.

"Good morning, Lady Cynthia," said Wes. "I trust that your sleep has been well."

He knew she was panicking, but he decided to keep it light by working with his equipment and flirting with her.

"What am I doing here?" She asked.

Wes laughed, stopping his onslaught of typing for a moment. "What, you don't remember your glorious and wonderful night here? You are in my apartment after all. I have to make sure my guests are treated properly."

He heard her sit up, so he turned around to see her flustered expression. Wes tried to keep himself from laughing again, but she looked pretty embarrassed. Her hair was messed up and she was trying to hide into the scruff of her black dress. 

"Welcome to my home," he said, more genuine this time.

Cynthia stared at him. "Your eyes. They're golden. I thought they were brown?"

"I wear contacts," he responded, giving no indication as to why. "I would prefer if you didn't stall though. I believe we need to have a chat."

Cynthia nodded. "I suppose you should start, because I'm fairly certain that we have a different idea of what to talk about."

"I think we should team up," said Wes, keeping his plan in mind. He knew for a fact that she was going to ask him about it.

Wes grasped her hands, trying to convey the sincerity of his decision. He would team up with her. But he was surprised by her skepticism. He could feel this icky feeling from her that he didn't like. Why did she not immediately accept? She needed his help. This made no sense.

Cynthia sighed. "I don't trust you right now. I know you. This isn't you. You're being insincere."

"I let you into my house," Wes argued. "I don't know anything more sincere than that. My house is a very private place."

The champion smiled. "That's the Wes I know."

"Hmpf," he grunted. "You make me sound like a sceptical, grouchy old man. Lady Cynthia, I am much more than that you know. In fact, I'm not even old."

"Well, I can't deny that I need you. There's a lot of this mystery that's pointed to you," she said. "It's almost as if I shouldn't be involved."

For a moment Cynthia's insecurity was so great that Wes could feel it without touching her.  He decided that he had to address it. As much as he hated to admit it, her knowledge and expertise on the lore of Sinnoh was something he needed.

"Look," he said, unsure how to address her specifically by name, "whether or not I like it or you like it, there is something binding us. And we can either spin around each other in circles and let the vision of the future happen. Or we can fight it with whatever we've got."

He did well, he decided. Nowhere in his words did he have to commit to being close to her. And that was alright. He figured that she knew better. In fact, he knew. He could see the relief take over Cynthia, like the dousing of cold water over the skin after a scorching day.

"So, you're going to team up with me, earnestly?" Cynthia asked.

Wes nodded. "That was the plan from the beginning. Now, let's go. I've got to go to work before Lt. Dunnan kills me or Kowalski gets mad at me for not returning the scuba gear."

He began to grab what he needed for the day.

"Wait," Cynthia said, "what was it that you were doing before I woke up?"

"I was investigating the measurable properties of a thunderstone," he said.

"Whatever for?" She asked.

He smiled, a small skirt of the truth coming from his mouth. "My Lady, I am still an engineer, in case you've forgotten."

<><><>

Cynthia was confused as to why she was at route 206 at this time of night. It was dark, she was tired, and the flames of the Ponyta around her made her anxious. She had no clue where Wes was. He was supposed to meet her somewhere on the route, but where, she had no clue. So she kept walking, her hand on her belt in case she had to defend herself with a Pokémon.

The champion thought about waking up in Wes' house that morning. She was almost incredulous that he would take her there. But she knew better. He had an agenda in teaming up with her. She knew. She had seen his past and felt his intentions in the present. He would use her, and then leave her. But she wouldn't allow that. She wouldn't be Red or Steven. She was Cynthia, and she would prevail.

There was a sound that stopped her marching. Out in front of her she saw two Team Galactic grunts just standing there, motionless. Cynthia ducked low, and began to approach. Was Wes part of Team Galactic or something? She doubted it. A guy like that who was so committed to the good of those around him could never be part of an evil organization.

Something alerted the grunts. Cynthia looked at a Rapidash that was feeding next to her. Unfortunately though, it moved towards her, and she was scared of scared of getting burned. So she moved away, but alerted the grunts with her movement. She watched in horror as one of the grunts ran towards her with the speed of a jolteon.

"You!" the man shouted, as if in anger. "You've been ordered to come with me!"

Cynthia was frozen as the grunt grabbed her by the arms and proceeded to drag her. The horse Pokémon around her fled at the aggression he exhibited. She barely even noticed as something was flung at the grunt attacking her. But when he let go, Cynthia recoiled and was pulled up.

There was Wes, on his Rapidash.

"I'm so sorry that happened," Wes said, "I had no clue why you'd go wandering out into the fields."

Cynthia was confused. "You know they would be here?"

"I've been tracking the local complaints," he explained. "Let's round them up, and take them to the station."

She looked at the gun in his hand. "What's that?"

"It's a homemade handcuffing gun," he answered.

The champion was confused. "But why am I out here?"

"I figured you should know if we're working together," he said. "I'm sinnoh's vigilante."

It was in that moment, that Cynthia was horrified.