Pokemon: Resurgence Chapter 74

Hi all, 

Here’s the final chapter of the week. Something goes awry when Jason grabs Lucas, and they accept a request from Captain Stern. 

Chapter 74

Lucas perched on the edge of a hard plastic chair, studying the man huddled in the corner. Jason's body rocked back and forth in jerky, mechanical movements, like a broken wind-up toy. His hospital gown hung loose on his thin frame, the fabric rustling with each spastic motion. 

The sight twisted something in Lucas's gut. Palkia had killed Jason in his old world, but he didn’t get a new beginning like Lucas did. Or if he did, something went wrong in the process. Did he receive a system like Lucas? Then why was he like this? 

“Doesn’t he have any family?” Lucas asked. "Someone must have noticed he went missing. Or when his behaviour changed."

Norman crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "Nothing. Ran his prints, his photo, DNA—a complete blank. Local papers, regional bulletins, international databases—not a single hit. It's like he materialised from thin air."

Lucas' brows furrowed. When he'd taken over this body, he'd inherited a life—sparse as it was. Hospital records. An orphanage file. People who remembered the child he'd been. But Jason? It sounded like he'd appeared from thin air.

"What about where you found him? Any clues there?" Lucas asked.

"Just the clothes on his back." 

Jason's head snapped up, bloodshot eyes locking onto Lucas. "The numbers weren't meant for me. The system knew. Rejected the implementation."

Lucas kept his expression neutral, conscious of Norman watching. "What sort of things do you see?"

"Stats. Levels. Experience points." Jason's fingers twitched. "At first, I thought the crash had scrambled my brain."

"Crash?" 

"Fighter jet. Pursuing an unidentified bogey over restricted airspace." Jason's voice steadied. "Massive purple creature. Energy readings off the charts. Command ordered engagement, but our weapons..." He shuddered. "Like shooting BBs at a tank."

"What happened next?"

"Light. Pain. Then darkness." Jason's gaze unfocused. "Woke up in a strange place. The system appeared to me—screens, numbers, abilities. But then something went wrong. Next thing I remember, I was here."

Norman shifted. "He talks about this 'system' often. Part of his delusion."

Lucas asked Jason several more questions, but he didn’t get much out of him. His earlier clarity vanished, replaced by vacant muttering.

Still, he could deduce some theories from scraps of information he was given. The system's implementation should have been seamless—Lucas had never struggled with it. From his first moment in this world, the menus felt as natural as breathing. Yet something had fractured Jason's mind.

Mew's words echoed in his memory: Arceus had chosen him deliberately, marked him for death as part of some cosmic experiment. But what if he hadn't been the first choice? Perhaps the fighter pilot had been Arceus' initial candidate. The first human was chosen to test the system's capabilities. When that attempt ended in disaster, Arceus needed a replacement.

Lucas swallowed hard. The timing fit perfectly—Jason died pursuing Palkia before Lucas's encounter with the legendary. Had Arceus engineered both deaths, treating them like variables in some divine equation? But gods didn't make mistakes. Did they? 

Unless something else had interfered with Jason's implementation. Some outside force made Arceus abandon its first subject and select another. The possibilities multiplied, each more unsettling than the last.

Sabrina ran her fingers across the shelf, pausing at a cluster of gifts, some of which had yet to be unwrapped. Their cheerful paper seemed out of place against the stark white walls.

"The gifts—where did they come from?" she asked.

Norman gestured vaguely. "Mostly from well-wishers. Jason's less pleasant visitors also left behind some items.”

"Which ones?"

He pointed to several objects and Sabrina gathered them in her arms.

"Reckon you can read anything from these?" Lucas asked. "Might tell us who's been sniffing around."

Sabrina shrugged. “Won’t know until I try.”

Sabrina perched on the edge of the bed, arranging the objects in her lap. She picked up the first object, a blue sea pendant, and focused on it.

Norman watched them with suspicion but then his phone buzzed. "Excuse me." He stepped into the hallway.

The moment the door clicked shut, Jason lunged forward, seizing Lucas's arm. His eyes blazed with sudden clarity. 

"Take it," he hissed. "Before he returns."

"Take what?"

"The core fragment. Palkia wants it for himself." Jason's grip tightened. "It’s only a matter of time before he returns to this dimension."

Just as Lucas was about to reply, a wave of dizziness hit him.

The room fractured like shattered glass. Reality splintered into jagged shards as Jason's body turned transparent, his flesh dissolving into light. Through his translucent chest, a golden fragment pulsed with raw energy, each beat sending ripples through the air.

The shard tore free in a violent burst. Jason's scream cut through the warped space as the fragment streaked towards Lucas like a meteor. It punched through his sternum, unleashing liquid fire through his body. Every nerve blazed white-hot as the fragment's power coursed through his veins.

His vision kaleidoscoped—one moment he saw Sabrina lunging towards him, the next he glimpsed impossible geometries and fractured dimensions bleeding through reality's cracks. 

Darkness claimed him before he hit the floor.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Lucas blinked awake in a sterile hospital room, harsh fluorescent lights stabbing at his eyes. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled his nostrils as he tried to focus. Sabrina sat beside the bed, slumped in a vinyl chair that squeaked with each movement. Meowth curled at her feet, his tail twitching.

"What happened?" He asked.

Sabrina cupped his cheek, her hand cool against his skin. "Don't you remember? You collapsed in Jason's room."

Lucas winced as memory surfaced, sharp and vivid. "Something happened when Jason grabbed me. Although, I wouldn't have a clue what it was."

"I thought you were being attacked, partner." Meowth's tail lashed back and forth like an angry whip. "Nearly scratched the man's eyeballs out."

Lucas sat up in bed. Relief flooded through him as his body responded normally. "I'm fine now. How long have I been here?"

Sabrina frowned, worry lines creasing her forehead. "You've been unconscious for almost two days."

"Maybe I was tired?" Lucas offered weakly. 

Deep shadows circled Sabrina's eyes like bruises, her usually immaculate hair dishevelled. She must have worried herself sick. He pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her head as she wrapped her arms around him. Her familiar lavender scent cut through the hospital's sterile atmosphere.

"You had a visitor last night," she murmured against his chest.

"Norman?"

"Think smaller. Pink, and packing a lot of power."

"Mew? I wonder what it wanted." 

"You'll have to ask Mew. It didn't stick around for long."

"That's because I told it to scram." Meowth's whiskers bristled with indignation. "Don't want it playing any more tricks."

Lucas rolled his eyes at the Pokemon's boasting. 

"Well, if it's important, Mew will find me." He paused. "How's Jason doing?"

"Like an entirely different person. Appears sane but his memory's been wiped. He can't remember a single thing."

“I don’t know whether to be happy or sad for him.” Lucas grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Did I unlock a new ability? The power to heal crazy people?"

"If only you could heal your craziness." Her lips quirked despite her clear exhaustion.

Lucas sobered, running his fingers through her tangled hair. "Did you pick up any impressions from the gifts?"

Sabrina nodded against his chest. "I couldn't get much, but I discovered the people bothering Jason were from Team Aqua."

"The criminals just keep appearing everywhere we go. I wonder what they wanted with him?"

"I tried getting impressions of some of Jason's items but I got nothing."

"We'll figure it out. How about we get out of here?" 

"Not until we have you examined by the doctor." Her tone brooked no argument.

Lucas nuzzled her head, breathing in her comforting scent. "I'd rather be examined by a sexy nurse. How about it? Care to dress up in a nurse uniform for me?"

"I'm not going to cater to your nurse fetish." She poked his ribs.

Lucas continued undeterred, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. "I wonder if that's why all the Pokemon Centre nurses are called Nurse Joy. Because they inspire plenty of joyful dreams in their clientele."

“If you don’t shut it, I’ll introduce you to Nurse Pain.”

“That works as well.”

A sharp knock interrupted their conversation. Sabrina walked to the door and pulled it open.

A tall, weathered man stood in the doorway. He wore a navy blue captain's uniform with brass buttons, his skin tanned from years at sea. A worn sailor's cap sat atop greying hair, and sharp eyes surveyed the room.

Sabrina's expression darkened. "Oh, it's you."

The man removed his hat. "Good morning, Miss Kuroi. Do you have some time to talk now?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Who's this, Sabrina?"

"This is Captain Stern," she replied.

Stern nodded to Lucas. "Hello, young lad. I'm glad you're feeling better."

Lucas blinked. "Thank you? Do we know each other?"

Sabrina snorted. "He's been bothering me for the past two days. I think Norman mentioned something to him about my special abilities."

"Aye, lass," Stern said. "I don't mean to be a bother, but I need your special abilities. I'm willing to compensate you for your trouble."

Sabrina hesitated.

Lucas spoke up. "Why don't you go outside and discuss it with him? You can at least hear the man out. I'll join you after I've changed."

Sabrina nodded and followed Stern out of the room. Meowth ran out after them before the door swung closed. 

Lucas opened his menu but instead of the familiar interface, a stark message flashed before his eyes:

MENU TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE

STATUS: RECALIBRATING

ESTIMATED TIME: UNKNOWN

His stomach dropped. After Jason's rambling about the system, this felt like more than a coincidence. He tried again, focusing harder, but the same message pulsed mockingly in his vision.

"Bloody hell," Lucas muttered, running a hand through his hair. 

The system had never locked him out before. Ever since arriving in this world, it had been his one constant—reliable, predictable, precise. Now something about that fragment from Jason had destabilised it.

After two more failed attempts, he forced himself to stop trying. Better to let whatever was happening run its course than risk making things worse. 

Lucas dressed quickly and left the hospital room. He found Sabrina and Stern concluding their discussion outside.

“So what do you need from Sabrina?” Lucas asked.

Stern explained. “Several months ago, a thief broke into the Oceanic Museum and stole something important of mine. I caught up to the thief, but they escaped. I managed to grab the necklace they wore around their neck.”

Lucas nodded. “You want Sabrina to take a look at the necklace and identify the thief.”

“Right you are, lad,” Stern confirmed.

Lucas turned to Sabrina. “It's up to you, but I don't see any reason why we can't help.”

He turned back to Stern. “What are you offering as payment?”

“I could offer money,' Stern said, “but I have something better in mind. A trip to the Seafloor Cavern in my submarine. It's not something you want to miss.”

“What's so great about this Seafloor Cavern?” Lucas asked.

Stern grinned. “Have you heard about the recent sightings of Kyogre on the Hoenn coastline?”

Lucas nodded.

“I believe the Seafloor Cavern is Kyogre's residence. Now that it's out and about, this is the perfect time to explore the cavern.”

Lucas and Sabrina exchanged a look. They didn’t need to say anything to communicate how much they liked the sound of that.

“Fine,” Sabrina said. “Where is this necklace?”

Stern grinned. “At the museum. Got it locked up in a safe. If you're not busy, we can head there now. I can give you a tour of the museum at the same time.”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The Oceanic Museum stood as a prominent landmark in Slateport City. Its exterior featured white stone walls with large, arched windows and maritime-themed decorative elements. Blue trim accentuated the building's architectural details, and a large anchor sculpture dominated the front entrance.

Inside, the museum's interior opened into a vast hall filled with maritime exhibits. Glass cases displayed intricate ship models, diving equipment from various eras, and preserved marine specimens. Large aquarium tanks lined one wall, showcasing local marine life in vibrant displays. Nautical charts and historical artefacts covered the walls, telling stories of Hoenn's maritime history.

Stern guided them through the exhibits, his enthusiasm evident as he described various marine research projects and historical expeditions. The museum buzzed with visitors, their excited chatter echoing through the spacious halls.

Finally, Stern led them to his office—a compact space lined with nautical maps and research documents. He retrieved a small velvet pouch from a safe in the wall and withdrew a necklace.

The piece was delicate, with a small medallion bearing an etched Sharpedo. Sabrina took the necklace, her fingers tracing its surface.

She closed her eyes, concentrating. Minutes passed in silence.

When she opened her eyes, her expression was astonished. She leaned close to Lucas, whispering, “The necklace belongs to Jason!”

Lucas's eyes widened. A terrible realisation struck him. Jason—or the person who once inhabited his body—had been connected to Team Aqua. This explained why the organisation was interested in him. Perhaps it had to do with the item he stole from Captain Stern.

“Can you get anything else from it?” Lucas asked softly.

Sabrina shook her head. 

“What's going on?” Stern asked.

Sabrina looked at Lucas, silently asking a question, and he nodded. 

"I know who stole from you," Sabrina said. "But it won't do you any good in recovering it."

Stern's brow furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean, lass?"

"Because the man has lost his memories. He couldn't tell you even if he wanted to."

Stern's eyes hardened. "I will be the judge of that. Where is this scoundrel?"

Lucas raised a hand. "How about a compromise? I'll search for your stolen item. If I can't find it in three days, then I'll take you to the thief."

Stern stroked his beard, considering. "Alright. Three days, but not a moment longer."

"What exactly are we looking for?" Lucas asked.

"A scanner," Stern replied. "About the size of your palm. Grey metal casing with a blue screen."

“Alright, we’ll start looking.”  

They left Stern in his office and headed outside. 

"How are we going to find the scanner?" Sabrina asked.

"By retracing Jason's steps,” Lucas said. “Is Norman still in the city?"

"No. He returned to Petalburg City."

"Then that's our destination. We can ask him where on Route 103 he found Jason. He must have hidden the item at some point, assuming he didn't give it to Team Aqua." 

Sabrina wrinkled her nose. “He could have hidden it anywhere.”

“Don’t be so pessimistic.” Lucas glanced around the street. "Now, where did Meowth go?"

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The carriage wheels clattered on the road as it headed north from Slateport City.

Lucas watched the landscape roll past. To his right, massive concrete support pillars rose from the ocean, holding up an elevated cycling path that stretched to the horizon. The cycling road snaked along the coastline in a gentle curve, its sleek modern design contrasting with the natural beauty below. Cyclists raced along the raised track, their wheels humming against the smooth surface.

"That's quite the infrastructure project," Lucas remarked, watching trainers and commuters zip past overhead. "Several kilometres of elevated roadway just for bicycles."

"Hoenn takes its cycling seriously," the carriage driver called back. "The Seaside Cycling Road connects Slateport to Mauville City. The fastest route between the cities if you've got a bike."

Below the elevated path, waves crashed against the support pillars. Wild Tentacool clustered in the shade of the structure while Wingull roosted on the safety railings above. The cycle path's height offered riders a spectacular ocean view while keeping them safely above the spray of breaking waves.

Hoenn required people to have a permit to fly their Pokemon. It would have taken them too long to get one, so they opted to travel by carriage. Besides, the slower pace let them properly take in Hoenn's natural beauty.

The carriage reached the turn-off to Route 103. Lucas dropped Meowth off to search for the scanner, hoping it might register as a hidden item. A long shot, but worth trying. They had Dante and Kasumi memorise the location, so they could return later. 

One hour later, they reached the sea route dividing Routes 103 and 101. The place was booming. Fishermen dotted the coastline, their lines cast into the sparkling water, while swimmers frolicked in the water with their Pokemon.  

Lucas released Saphira. The Dragonair dove into the waves with obvious delight.

"Someone's following us," Sabrina murmured before they could mount.

Lucas kept his gaze forward. "How sure are you?"

"Pretty sure."

"Well, I can think of one group who'd be interested in following us. They must have had eyes on the psychiatric hospital and followed us from there."

"How do you want to play it? Should we let on we're onto them?"

"No. Let's pretend we know nothing for now. When you get the chance, release Mortimer and have him watch them."

Sabrina nodded.

Salem had stayed home with Bree, so they couldn’t use him. It didn’t matter. Sabrina’s Gengar was plenty capable in his own right.

They climbed onto Saphira's back. She glided smoothly into the channel. A group of swimmers were daring enough to cross the channel under their own power but some looked to be struggling.  

A fisherman's shout snapped Lucas's attention north. The man pointed frantically at the horizon, his rod forgotten. Other cries joined his as people began scrambling away from the shoreline.

The sea bulged upward. A wall of water rose impossibly high, stretching across the channel. Within its translucent mass, a dark shape moved—a Wailord of monstrous proportions. Its bulk blotted out the sun as it breached, water cascading from its scarred flanks.

"Saphira, up!" Lucas shouted, not caring about the flying restriction.

She shot skyward, but panicked screams drew Lucas's gaze down. The swimmers thrashed in the churning water, their faces masks of terror as the wave bore down on them. A young boy flailed desperately, slipping beneath the surface.

"We have to help them!" 

Saphira plunged down at Lucas's command. He seized the boy's arm, hauling him onto Saphira's back as Sabrina released Xavier. Her Pokemon soared overhead, psychic energy lifting two more swimmers to safety.

The wave's shadow engulfed them. Lucas glanced up to see a wall of water directly overhead, the Wailord's massive eye visible through the aqueous curtain. Time seemed to slow as that ancient gaze fixed upon them.

"Hold on!" Lucas wrapped one arm around the boy while gripping Saphira with his legs. 

She twisted sideways, barely dodging the Wailord's enormous tail as it crashed down. The impact sent a shockwave through the water, nearly unseating them.

Sabrina's power flared bright as she snatched the remaining swimmers from death's grasp. Xavier deposited them on Saphira's back while she maintained her telekinetic grip. Saphira strained under the added weight but climbed steadily.

The Wailord's bulk displaced tonnes of water, surging over both shorelines. People scattered inland, abandoning fishing rods and beach gear as they fled. The massive Pokemon carved through the channel, gathering another wall of water in its wake.

"That's a bloody natural disaster," Lucas muttered.

His mind reeled trying to comprehend the sheer scale of the Pokemon. What could drive the massive Wailord to venture inland through the sea channel? The authorities would have their hands full dealing with this one. Most Wailords were classified as semi-legendary due to their immense size which gave them extreme levels of defence. Not to mention the ability to summon mini-tsunami’s to wreck havoc.

Saphira descended to the shoreline where they helped the shaken swimmers dismount. Debris littered the shoreline—splintered trees, mangled fencing, and scattered possessions swept up in the surge.

"Thank you, thank you!" A young mother clutched her son close, tears streaming down her face. The other survivors echoed her gratitude before hurrying off, no doubt eager to share their brush with death.

Lucas watched them go, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. "Nothing like a bit of excitement to get the blood pumping."

"You're crazy," Sabrina sighed, wringing seawater from her hair. "Come on, let's find another carriage before that thing decides to make a return trip."

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The carriage rolled into Petalburg City. Unlike Slateport's urban sprawl, Petalburg embraced nature at every turn. Parks dotted the landscape, their trees merging seamlessly with the surrounding forest. Buildings nestled among the greenery, their wooden architecture and earth-toned colours blending into the natural setting. 

Their followers had vanished in the chaos of the Wailord incident—at least for now. Mortimer couldn’t detect any trace of them. Team Aqua likely knew their destination anyway. 

They approached the gym where two children played with a Torchic in the front yard. The Pokemon chirped happily, shooting tiny embers into the air as the kids tossed a ball for it to chase. The children spotted them and rushed over.

"The gym's closed for the day," the girl announced.

"Dad always takes Sundays off," the boy added.

"Is Norman your dad?" Lucas asked. They nodded. "Well, I'm not here for a gym battle. I need to speak with him. What are your names?"

"I'm May," said the girl. 

She wore a red bandana over her brown hair, matching her sleeveless red shirt and black shorts. Her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity as she studied the newcomers.

"Max," the boy introduced himself. 

He was shorter than his sister, with neat dark blue hair and glasses. He carried himself with a bookish air despite his young age, clutching a Pokemon encyclopedia to his chest.

"I'm Lucas and this is Sabrina. We met your father in Slateport City."

May pointed an accusing finger. "Dad mentioned you. Said you were super suspicious."

Lucas snorted. "Your father is paranoid."

"I noticed that as well," Max agreed, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Dad's not here," May said. "He has to deal with an emergency."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Did this emergency involve a Wailord in the sea channel?"

"How did you know?" Max asked.

Lucas grinned. "Sabrina and I were caught up in it."

The children bombarded them with questions as they led the way to the house attached to the gym. Their mother Caroline greeted them warmly, bustling off to prepare tea while they settled in the living room. The news played on the television, showing aerial footage of the massive Wailord.

"Breaking news from Route 103," the reporter announced, her hair whipping in the sea breeze. "The giant Wailord causing havoc in the channel appears to have been driven there by the legendary Pokemon Kyogre. Witnesses report seeing the ancient Pokemon pursuing the Wailord off the coast of Slateport city."

The camera cut to footage of Wallace, Sootopolis City's gym leader. His flowing cape billowed as he directed water-type Pokemon in containing the situation. 

"We're working to guide the Wailord back to open water," he explained. "Several gym leaders have joined the effort. Our priority is preventing further damage to structures along the Sea Route."

"Local authorities advise all maritime traffic to avoid the area," the reporter continued. "The Pokemon Rangers have been mobilised to assist with evacuation and damage control. This marks the second Kyogre sighting this month, raising concerns about the legendary Pokemon's unusual activity."

"Dad says Kyogre's been acting weird lately," Max piped up, clutching his book tighter. "It never used to come this close to shore."

May nodded. "The fishermen are scared. Some won't even go out anymore."

Caroline returned with a tray of tea and biscuits. "Norman's been worried too. He's hardly slept, between gym duties and these emergencies."

"When do you expect Norman back?" Lucas asked.

"Hard to say," Caroline replied. "But you're welcome to wait. He'll want to hear about your encounter with the Wailord."

The news coverage cut to a teenage girl, her hair still damp from the sea. She bounced with excitement as she recounted her rescue.

"I thought I was going to die," she gushed, "but then this totally gorgeous guy swooped down on this massive Dragonair. He pulled me right out of the water! And his girlfriend—she was like, super pretty—she used some kind of power to lift people into the air. It was amazing!"

"Did you get their names?" the reporter asked.

"No, but I'll never forget them. The guy had this confident smile, even with a giant Wailord bearing down on us. And the way they worked together to save everyone..." She sighed dreamily. "It was like something out of a movie."

Sabrina turned to Lucas with a raised eyebrow. "Gorgeous guy?"

Lucas laughed. "The girl has good taste." 

"Hardly. How could she forget that it was me that saved her? When did you pull her out of the water?"

“Are we keeping score now? Technically, it was Saphira who did the most saving out of all of us. Who does she belong to, hmm?"

Sabrina sighed. “Your memory is faulty.”

May giggled at their bickering.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Norman returned home a few hours later. He slumped into his chair, dark shadows carved trenches beneath his eyes. 

"Finally got that damn Wailord back out to sea." He massaged his temples. "Give me a gym full of challengers over another rescue mission any day."

"Any sign of Kyogre?" Lucas leaned forward.

"Gone. Vanished into the depths like it was never there. Wallace thinks it was protecting something, herding the Wailord away. But who can understand the mind of a legendary?"

"You're asking the wrong person," Lucas said with a straight face.

"What brings you here?" Norman asked. 

"I came to ask about Jason. Where exactly did you find him?"

"South of Route 103, just past where it curves toward Oldale. Found him by an old stump, maybe fifty metres into the tree line."

"Can you be more specific?"

Norman stood and crossed to a map hanging on his office wall. His finger traced along Route 103 before tapping a specific point. "Right here. I'd gone looking for a Taillow that had stolen a trainer's badge. Instead, I found him curled up on the ground, muttering nonsense about system errors and glitches."

"His condition?"

"Physically? Not a scratch on him. That's what struck me as odd." Norman turned back to face Lucas. "His clothes were pristine—no mud, no tears, nothing you'd expect from someone lost in the woods."

Caroline's voice drifted in from the kitchen, accompanied by the rich aroma of curry. "Dinner's almost ready! Norman, did you invite our guests to stay?"

Norman raised an eyebrow at Lucas. "Well?"

"Another time," Lucas said, rising from his chair. "We need to check something first."

Norman's eyes narrowed. "You know something about this, don't you?"

"Thank you for the information," Lucas replied, deliberately not answering the question. "We'll take you up on dinner soon."

As they headed for the door, Norman called after them: "Whatever you're looking for, be careful. The forest can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing."

"We'll keep that in mind." Lucas paused in the doorway. "One last thing—did he have anything with him when you found him? Any devices or equipment?"

"No." Norman shook his head. "Just the clothes on his back. I searched the area afterwards, thinking he might have dropped something, but found nothing."

As they left the house, Sabrina glanced at Lucas. "You believe him?"

"I have no reason to doubt him." Lucas checked the sun's position. "Let's see what we can find in those woods before dark."

They ducked behind a copse of trees. In twin flashes of light, Dante and Kasumi appeared. The Pokemon grabbed them, the world blurring and reforming around them. They were on the northern side of Route 103's road.

They were about to start searching when Meowth emerged from the shrubbery, fur bristling. 

"About time you got here, Meowth."

"The Scanner?" Lucas asked.

"Nothing yet." Meowth's tail lashed. "Found some other loot, though.”

They crossed the road and pushed into the forest. A thick canopy blocked most of the sunlight, casting everything in murky shadows. 

"There." Norman's directions led them to a massive stump, its surface weathered smooth. Dead leaves carpeted the ground around it, undisturbed except for their tracks.

They summoned their Pokemon to help with the search.

"Let’s be methodical about this," Lucas said. "Fan out and check everything within a twenty-metre radius. If we find nothing, we expand the circle. We are looking for a handheld device but it won’t be too obvious. Jason probably hid it somewhere."

They split up and began searching. Over the next hour, they continued to widen their search area methodically, but each sweep came up empty.  

Lucas wiped the sweat from his forehead, doubt creeping in. He'd made too many assumptions about Jason’s predecessor—where he might hide something, whether he'd hidden anything at all. Months had passed. Weather, Pokemon, or other people could have disturbed the hiding spot.

“Found something.” Icarus's voice echoed through their bond. “Northwest of your position. Canvas bag in a tree’s upper branches.”

Lucas jogged through the undergrowth, pushing past low-hanging branches. He spotted Icarus perched in a tall oak, gesturing with his wing toward a smaller neighbouring tree.

A worn satchel hung from a branch about fifteen feet up, partially hidden by leaves. The fabric had weathered to a dull grey, but the strap looked sturdy enough.

"Good work," Lucas murmured, gripping the lowest branch. He hauled himself up, testing each hold before trusting his weight to it. 

"Lucas!" Sabrina's urgent whisper carried from below. "Someone's coming."

He froze, one arm stretched toward the bag. Through gaps in the foliage, he glimpsed movement—people approaching from the direction of Route 103. Their footsteps crunched through dead leaves, growing closer.

Lucas pressed himself against the trunk, heart pounding. The satchel hung just out of reach. If he stretched a bit further, he might grab it before whoever was approaching spotted him. But any movement risked rustling the leaves, giving away his position.

A shout from one of the people decided it for him. They had been spotted. He snatched the bag and dropped to the ground. Their Pokemon encircled them but Dante was conspicuously absent.

What was their next move?

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Lucas and Sabrina are attacked and have to fight for their lives.

Thanks for reading.