A/N: I'm back at last. Ya boy triumphantly returns with chapter 16 of The Chase!

Looker is very much on a roll with these Sages- it's almost as if it's too easy for him, y'know. I wonder what Plasma think, with four Sages down?

Enjoy!

Somewhere in Unova, a phone rang...

"Yes?" came the clipped, precise, almost too perfect voice, in an emotionless tone.

"It's me."

There was a pause. "What are you doing, calling me? Only Bronius is supposed to call me. That's the Plan, remember?"

"Sage Bronius was arrested last night in the Chargestone Cave by Detective Looker, taken out in a surprise ambush attack."

There was an even lengthier pause. "So we are the last two Sages left?"

"Indeed, it would appear that way."

"… He is very good at his job."

"I know. You said he would be easier to predict than this."

"It's a temporary nuisance," came the calm reply. "Yes, it is unfortunate that Bronius has been taken captive- he was, after all, our field director, and his organisation from the Cave will be missed. But everything is still in place, and Looker is still mostly as we believed him to be. Most importantly, the Plan has not been disturbed."

"And yet still, I must question why I am the one who remains free and at large..." The voice faded, to come back almost instantly, only this time the falsified precise tone had evaporated, replaced by a rich Italian accent cracked with stress. "It does not make sense!"

"Calm yourself, brother," the other voice reassured him. "You are, after all, our strongest in a battle- Looker would have had to leave you and I until the end. It's just how he works."

"Si, but..."

The outburst was cut off however, and it was clear there was a testiness beneath the surface of the precise voice. "AND ALSO, don't forget that ultimately the order in which he completes his mission does not matter to us, now that everyone has achieved what they set out to do."

"... Si..." You could almost hear the head hang in embarrassed shame.

"What matters is that there are now only two of us Sages left. And two stages left for our Plan..." The speaker made a little noise, as if clicking his tongue. "It's… nearly time."

"And you say Looker has no idea?"

"None at all."

"And of course, Looker will have had his ideas further twisted by the emergence of certain... evidence, shall we say? I have heard about Ryoku's blueprints. I assume you released those from your possession to further confuse him?"

There was a heavy pause. "… Yes. To confuse him. Of course."

"Si! Anyway..." The precise edge returned. "So what is the plan now? Obviously you will remain at large until the end, my friend..."

"Indeed, it is necessary for me to be last to…" Pause. "... play my role. It is time then for your last stand, my friend." There was cough. "I trust you have a plan?"

"I am… playing my role." The caller paused this time. "I am setting the trail to expose the investigation… as instructed."

The uneasiness in the voices of both led to a moment of silence, as both of the callers wondered whether the other one was telling the full truth as to how willingly they were cooperating with the Plan. It seemed… strange.

"Keep yourself safe," the receiver of the call said, unsure where his words were coming from. "And do what you think you have to."

The caller paused. "I guess I can make that work for me. I shall see you on the other side, my friend. Whatever may be."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Concentrate on your mission, and get it done… for your sake."

"Long live Team Plasma."

"Long may we reign..." The phone clicked off, for the last time...

(***)

Castelia had descended into the epitome of dullness. The new day had brought absolutely nothing to the city in the form of weather- no sun, no sleet, no storm, no heat, nothing. The grey clouds had simply bubbled up and formed a protective cocoon around the metropolis, boredom enveloping each and every one of the city's inhabitants. It just had the feeling of one of those days that would drag on and on and on, endless, the people willing their clocks forward to get this day finished and out of the way.

Looker however wasn't one of those people. When the days grew weary and monotonous for most, and when seconds seemed to pass with the speed of treacle, Looker used the time. Every second was crucial, valuable time, vital to helping himself and the team. And today was no exception...

He drummed his fingers on the table in the interviewing room as if trying to think, his lips moving silently for a few moments as he pieced something together. Then, as Croagunk sighed, and as the rest of the team, scattered around the room and leaning on the walls, started to fidget a little, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and assuming a thoughtful pose, the thumb of his left hand touching his right cheek and the index finger stroking his chin as his other fingers tucked beneath his chin...

Sat imperiously and haughtily across from Looker on the other side of the table, tapping his foot impatiently, Ghetsis Harmonia looked irritated, his red eyes emanating an annoyed air as he drew himself up to his full height. "Well? Will that be all, Looker? Have you wasted your time enough now?"

Hilda shifted a little as she leant against the wall. "He's still thinking, processing what you've said. Or haven't said, as the case may be..."

"I think that's more likely," Danny, loitering in the corner and almost blending into the shadows due to his black suit, said sourly. "You haven't really told us anything, have you Ghetsis?"

"How can we fill in the gaps like this?" Reece asked aloud, from the door as if complaining.

As Ghetsis shrugged indifferently Looker finally leaned forward to speak. "Sometimes silence speaks for itself Reece."

Ghetsis rolled his eyes. "At last, the great detective speaks. Tell me then, Looker, what are you thinking?"

"I'm wondering how we can get this investigation to go anywhere. Since we brought him in last night Bronius has remained in a silent sulk that rivalled Zinzolin's when we dented his pride. He refuses to tell us anything as to what he was doing."

"As you would," Alder said evenly, sipping a mug of tea in the corner. "I wouldn't expect a criminal to answer questions."

Looker nodded. "Regardless, as much as I regret it I have had to come to you to talk, Ghetsis. To try to piece a few things together about Bronius and perhaps even about the other Sages. And all you've told us is that Bronius used to be good friends with our Commissioner Aurelius when the two went to school together..."

"Peer support," Ghetsis said, nodding. "Bronius looked out for the younger kid, helping him with homework and bullies and such. Imagine, therefore, the shock of your Commissioner when he led the raid on our secret hideout in this very city, to discover that his noble friend, a world-famous businessman, had become a leader of a strong criminal organisation."

"That is exactly what you said. And yet I don't see how that gossip helps us in the slightest," Reece said, with a hint of frustration to his voice.

"It does not. It is, after all, completely irrelevant."

"But-"

Ghetsis held up a hand imperiously. "You asked me to tell you about Bronius. And I did. Whether it was relevant or not was not stipulated."

"He obviously prefers the direct approach of questioning," Tash commented drily, Croagunk nodding in agreement.

Looker nodded. "Fine. What exactly was Bronius' responsibility within the organisation of Team Plasma?"

Ghetsis clapped sarcastically. "At last, a decent question to answer, getting straight to the point. Bronius is very clever, and a man capable of balancing a large number of commitments all at once, so we added to those and made him a 'Field Director'. It was his job to supervise operations of all Sages. If anything went wrong, he sent in intervention, and reported to me on the success of the others' operations. He was also in charge of directing the Grunts that we have, and casts an eye over every piece of administrative work that we have."

Looker arched an eyebrow at Ghetsis actually being open. "An important character then, in the story of Team Plasma?"

"Very." Ghetsis smiled humourlessly. "See, an answer to a question. Ask me directly and you might succeed a little more."

"Time to ask the big questions then!" Reece said, determinedly. "What is Team Plasma's great Plan then, the Plan that all the Sages seem to be aware of, the Plan that we haven't asked you about yet?"

The soulless smile remained on Ghetsis' face but his eyes became a little glassy for a moment. "..."

"He has a point Looker," Alder said smoothly. "We haven't asked him anything about that Plan yet. Reece's suggestion of question is..."

"A silly one!"

Croagunk glared at Ghetsis, who glowered back sullenly. "Croa..."

Looker however smiled cheerfully. "Was that you snapping, Ghetsis? Did you lose your cool for a second? I must say, I'm surprised at you. Somebody knows more about it than they've put on before, don't they?"

Ghetsis tutted. "Preposterous. First of all, you hear one rumour from a loose-tongued Zinzolin and take it as the gospel truth. Second of all, you assume I know what this master plan my Sages have supposedly created is; sometimes, we compartmentalise as a team, and it is perfectly acceptable for me to not know full details."

"I find that hard to believe, given your level of control," Tash said, frowning.

Ghetsis ignored her. "Thirdly, you assume if I did know what the Plan was, that I would tell you it. And finally, having heard some stab-in-the-dark suggestions as to what it might be, I must say if there is a plan, you'll never get it in a hundred years."

"...!" Reece looked shocked. "How does he know what we think?"

Having seemed to have been in a slumber for most of the questioning (in reality he was actually quite a quiet, shy person, despite his gruff exterior), the great hulk of Bastian lurched upright. "Huh? That? Oh, I told him. Ran a few ideas past him, to see if I could get a reaction. Nothin' yet."

Ghetsis rolled his piercing red eyes. "I must say, I was slightly amused by some of them. There's got to be some gains, some profits, to any plan of ours, after all."

Looker shook his head, all the while noting that Danny had written the word 'profits' on his notepad and circled it. "Well, you know, despite all our previous guesses, I think we're pretty certain about this theory."

"You have another theory?" Ghetsis asked sardonically. "Go on, enlighten me."

Looker nodded, and passed a sheet of paper across the table to an uninterested Ghetsis. "Here. You may be familiar with these blueprints. They are for a machine designed by the late scientist Colress Achroma that converts energy of Pokemon attacks into electrical energy."

Ghetsis waved a hand dismissively, suddenly starting to look very angry as he drew up his robes. "Bah! You're grasping at straws Looker, a desperate man, and I can tell it. You don't know anything about the Plan at all, or else you wouldn't be bringing up blueprints from a long-dead scientist's doomed project."

"I'm not so sure."

"I beg your pardon?"

Looker ignored him. "If you look closely, Ghetsis, you would see how this is relevant. These may be Colress' designs, but they were found in Ryoku's work desk... bearing the Team Plasma crest!"

Ghetsis took a deep breath. "Yes? So what? What relevance does this machine have to us?"

"I'm going to come to that," Alder replied calmly. "After all, this is my theory... And no doubt you are familiar with the machine built in your Castle, the machine that when activated would have released every PC-stored Pokemon in Unova, the machine that was never activated?"

"Of course. That is, after all, my machine."

Looker nodded. "You've worked it out then? The PC machine was never activated partly due to your defeat at the hands of Hilda over there, but in any case Alder's provided us with evidence that on the day Plasma's castle rose, the power supply to the machine failed."

"And thus," Alder said, "we come to the conclusion that you are reconstructing the energy machine in order to power your theft of every Pokemon in Unova, and that your Sages are doing it for you."

There was a lengthy pause. Croagunk used it to attempt to light up a cigarette.

Ghetsis smirked. "Close..." He pinched the cigarette, the tip glowing in his red eyes. "But no cigar. Although I must say if it weren't for the flaws, I would like that as a plan."

"Flaws?" Hilda asked uneasily.

Ghetsis nodded triumphantly, taking a puff on the cigarette. "Why would these blueprints be in a desk drawer for Ryoku, and not on myself? Failing that, why wouldn't they be in the possession of my field director Bronius, who would be directing the amendments to this machine? Why would the Sages constructing this infernal engine not hold the designs themselves?"

"Enlighten me," Looker echoed, thoughtful and distant.

"Because we found a flaw with them, the flaw that led to the downfall of Colress... a fatal, unreversable design flaw that will not be overcome. One might call it an explosive design flaw."

"You're kidding..." Reece said.

"I'm serious. The machine cannot safely store up energy- above a certain low energy level, it explodes. And if a genius scientist couldn't fix that, and died before he could, how can we? I don't think that plan would work for us, Looker."

Looker stacked his papers neatly, before beckoning at the door, the wizened old Sergeant Forsyth hobbling in ready to escort Ghetsis back to his cell. "Never mind. The machine notwithstanding, we are making serious progress with this investigation. It is only a matter of time." He looked up to stare at Ghetsis, his face determined "And I promise you Ghetsis, no matter what this 'Plan' of yours is, I will not allow Team Plasma to execute it and harm even more. Because we will hunt down and arrest the last Sages, bring you to justice and remove the threat of your shameful organisation forever."

Ghetsis' head tilted up until his gaze appear to coolly meet Looker's, but only to Looker was the deep passion and fire in those eyes visible. "I look forward to hearing how you get on with that, Looker. Good day."

As Bastian and Forsyth led the Plasma leader out of the interviewing room, the team remained silent, reflecting on how the questioning had gone until the door slid shut...

Croagunk's frustrated Poison Jab hit the wall at the exact same time as Reece's punch.

"Dammit!"

"GUNK CROA!"

Looker sighed deeply, one of the few who had somehow managed to keep his composure completely. "Close one, team..."

"Indeed. At least we got him to answer a question properly, at last," Alder added, but his words fell on deaf ears.

"I was sure that was going to it!" Tash complained. "I really thought that was their Plan, revealed at long last..."

"It's never that easy," Danny replied bitterly. "I'm frankly amazed Looker's remained so calm."

"Plenty of practice at it," Looker said simply. "I noticed you write the word 'profits' on your pad, Danny?"

The junior Detective nodded. "It made me think, Looker. I'll get back to looking at the whole paperweight situation, but I need to have a proper check of the finances of their businesses. Check for unusual activity, try and establish patterns."

"I agree with that," Looker replied. "Obviously I don't need you to fully audit, but context would be appreciated."

"And as for the rest of us," Hilda said, as Danny saluted and left the team in the lobby, "we should get back to tracking down Sages. We only have two left to get now..."

"Actually, if we play our cards right now and have a successful day, we have only one Sage left."

Looker turned at the sound of Aurelius' voice, slightly puffing as he left the elevator clutching some printed-out documents. "Commissioner, where have you been? I wanted you in interview with us."

"Busy," came the reply, as the Commissioner got his breath back. "While you talked to Ghetsis, and since Detective Stamp wasn't looking I thought someone should man the fort, as it were, and keep an eye out for anything interesting. And while you were talking to Ghetsis, I made a little breakthrough."

The mood of the assorted team members suddenly went from sullen to optimistic within a heartbeat.

"You have?" Tash asked, a faint smile on her face; Looker had never seen her look impressed with the Commissioner before.

Aurelius nodded. "Purchases, buying and selling from credit cards, bank transfers, all centred around a house, a villa in Undella Town. What's so special about the property in question however is not only that it was sold by one of Zinzolin's property companies, but also that as of a day ago, it is now registered to one Alessandro Giallo."

"Sage Giallo..." Reece grinned like a Sharpedo. "We have him at last..."

Hilda however frowned. "That's a bit lax for a fugitive criminal. How can we be sure it isn't a trap?"

"We can't," Aurelius replied simply. "But whatever this trail is, Giallo lies at the end of it. This camera shot," a printed photograph was handed to Looker in a sweaty palm, "was taken in the Pokemon Centre, and the PC webcam registered another facial match," another photo went to Tash, "on Giallo. Plus, satellite images show in the last two days that some sort of red car has parked itself at the property, and hasn't left Undella; the registration can be traced to Giallo. It is him. He is in Undella."

"Then we go to Undella," Looker murmured, before turning and raising his voice. "You heard him team. We head to Undella Town! I know that this could be a trap- there could still be the possibility that Giallo wants us to come to him, or that he has thrown out a red herring and isn't actually there. But we must investigate this lead."

Tash nodded, jumping in. "Be wary people. Giallo is by far and away the strongest of the Sages in Pokemon battle; he was the man predicted to become Johto League Champion before the movement for independent leagues collapsed. He is a tough customer, so be prepared. Let's hit him hard, and with surprise!"

Looker turned to the Commissioner. "Thank you, sir. You've made a difference."

Aurelius nodded. "I'm not all bad sometimes. Now you go sort this out, and I'll speak to Bronius myself. I haven't seen him in a long time."

As the Commissioner wheeled to head towards the cells, Tash and Reece left to go and get the cars, but a deep and sonorous voice spoke up suddenly from the back of the group. "I regret to inform you all, sadly, that my participation here is drawing to a close."

"Huh?" Hilda turned. "Champion Alder, what do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said," Alder said calmly. "As League Champion, I cannot abandon my duties much longer, even when in pursuit of criminals who threaten my region. I must return to my post, to watch over the region, and I must do my duties. Technically I was supposed to be back this morning..."

"Well," Bastian said, uncertainly, "I'm sure we could cope without you against Giallo, if you wanna return. It'd be tough, I know, but..."

Alder grinned. "Don't be so eager to be rid of me, Corporal Schulz. As Champion I am due in Undella at lunchtime today to hold discussions with the one and only Champion of Sinnoh. I was headed there anyway, so I can definitely come along to help with one last Sage." His grin widened. "And besides, I suppose it saves me the bus ticket."

Looker smiled. "Well then, you're welcome to come and help us out with Giallo, if that is the case. We shall accompany you to your meeting with Cynthia in turn- it's been a while since I've seen her…"

Hilda nodded. "Right! Time to move out and get the endgame started! Team Plasma are going down!"

Buoyed up with confidence, the team headed through the automatic glass doors of the Police HQ, ready to face the penultimate challenge and take down Giallo once and for all. But as the two Lincoln Towncars, driven by Tash and Reece, pulled up in front of the building...

"EEEEEEKKKK! IT'S HIM!"

"THERE HE IS!"

Suddenly the Police team were swamped by a very short crowd of pink T-shirts and, oddly enough, long brown trench-coats. Cloth banners and wooden signs were waving frantically from the small horde of young children and teenagers, all of them clamouring for the attention of one person...

"LOOKER SIGN MY SHIRT!"

"HE IS SO HANDSOME IN REAL LIFE!"

"...What the…?" Looker muttered, stunned by the wall of noise as Reece forced his way through the crowd to grab Looker and pull him into the safety of the Lincoln, but even then young hands scrabbled at the windows to try and get at him.

"What on Earth was that?" Alder asked in a level tone of voice. "I didn't know you were a celebrity as well as a Detective, Looker..."

"Croa..." Croagunk murmured, scarred by the sudden onslaught towards him, and the many hands that had tried to grab him.

"Did you see that?" Reece said, accelerating away rapidly from the crowd as it tried to chase them through the streets of Castelia. "That girl, the Mayor's daughter, the one you saved from the thug? She was there!"

A horrible sinking feeling hit Looker at the realisation as to why Lottie Leeway would be there. "Oh no..."

Alder looked puzzled, flicking through his Xtransceiver. "Hmm. It appears you have a little social media page dedicated to you, Looker. There's a lot of posts here."

"She actually set up a Looker Fan Club, didn't she?" Looker groaned.

Alder nodded, suppressing a smile. "It seems there's a lot of stories about you here Looker. People talking about your personality, your missions... You're getting very popular."

Looker buried his head in his hands as Alder became unable to suppress his laughter, reading increasingly far-fetched rumours and embarrassing little compliments from teenage fangirls out loud. Croagunk's face beside him had gone bright red, his cheek sacs swelling as he cringed- although he had laughed at some of them at first, he'd grown alarmed as they steadily got out of control. This wasn't what they came to Unova for. They wanted to beat Team Plasma, to ensure a region's safety, and it appeared that in coming to Unova they had bitten off more than they could chew.

All Looker could hope for now after the embarrassment was that the mission against Giallo would succeed. Otherwise he'd never live this day down...

A/N: Ah, there we go. The wonders of fandom. As a lover of Sherlock, I'm not modelling the Looker Fan Club on the stereotype some of my fellow Sherlock fans seemed to have obtained, I promise. *crosses fingers*

Next chapter- what exactly is Giallo trying to pull here? And how will Looker's reunion with an old friend go?

Thank you all for taking the time to read this! If you're feeling kind enough to review, feel free; I'll always be grateful. If you really wanna make my day with a favourite or follow of me or my work, you da real MVP.

Until next time, ya boy, out.