Chapter Twenty-Three:
Point of the Spear

Disclaimer: I do not own the series Pokémon. Like, at all. It and all its respectable characters are © to Game Freak and Satoshi Tajiri. However, all writing contents and semi-plots here are © to me; unless it is stated otherwise. All shows/ books/ video games/ songs that are mentioned in this chapter are all © to their respective owners, I do not own them.

Notes: I am both sorry and not sorry for the rather large chapter. Think of it as a post-New Year's gift to y'all! Also, I begin my final semester with college, so my workload will be immense; however, I will continue trying to put out chapters as often as I can in the meantime. Thank you all for your patience, and I hope you enjoy today's installment.

Current Team: Keno the Marshtomp, Sela the Poochyena, Ambrose the Kirlia, Faye the Taillow, Breela the Shroomish, Luna the Skitty

Badges Won: Stone Badge, Knuckle Badge

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"You are not so much concerned with ethical principles and traditional answers to traditional questions, for many people have decided to no longer ask themselves these questions. Your main interest is not in formal answers or accurate definitions, but in difficult insights at moments of human crisis. Such insights can hardly be either comforting or translated into a program for solving all the problems of society, but they may perhaps enable a rare person here and there to come alive and be awake at a moment when wakefulness is desirable—a moment of ultimate choice, in which you find yourself challenged to the roots of your very existence."
—Thomas Merton

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She was barely paying attention to much of anything by the time she reached the Slateport Pokémon Center. Shay had declined Ambrose's offer to use Teleport earlier on. "I need to clear my head and a long walk might do just that," she had said. "And it's only thirty minutes away."

Now she was kind of wishing she'd taken his offer. Even after a stop at a local pastry shop—buying a chocolate sauce-filled pastry for herself and several for each of her team as thanks for their hard work—she was still tired.

I just want to collapse into bed and sleep until tomorrow.

Her courier days were complete. She was no longer beneath the looming responsibility of working for one of the most powerful corporate leaders in Hoenn. She had nothing left to owe him, other than a courtesy call confirming the completion of her mission. The weight of it all was uplifting and freeing. For once, it felt as though she could actually breathe.

And after that…she'd have a sizeable payment shelled out to her, and she wouldn't have to worry so much about money, not for a while.

It hadn't really occurred to her just how small her winnings were for each trainer-led battle until she began tallying up her earnings and dedicating them toward supplies…

There was so much more missing from the games than there were here, in the thick of reality. Those thoughts, however, were just as incorporeal as everything else. The siren call of her borrowed mattress was alluring, but so was the call for something more substantial than a pastry. Her stomach chose that moment, right in the lobby, to let out an explosive growl of protest. She groaned.

Perish the thought I don't eat and satisfy my inner fat kid, Shay thought with a resigned snort. She craned her head in the general direction of the Center's cafeteria. We should probably head over there and grab something to take up to the room. It'll be faster than calling down and waiting around for food to come to us.

"Are you Miss Kenway?"

The question took Shay a moment to process, and a moment more to locate who it was that had asked her. A young woman stood not too far from her, hands clasped behind her back as she leaned forward with a wide smile spread across her heart-shaped face. Blue eyes twinkled back at her, sparkling with a mischievous energy as she looked Shay up a down. She pulled one hand free and swept back her pale lavender locks from her burnished rust-coloured gaze, although it did little good. They settled back down as soon as her hand returned to its previous position. She was dressed rather casually, donning a white button-up blouse with a pair of blue jeans and sensible flats. Very nondescript.

Is she nurse or something? Shay thought, although the sudden stir and shift of her team gave her enough of a signal that it probably wasn't the case.

"I'm sorry, but you have to come with me. There's someone very interested in meeting with you, and if we want to beat the evening crowd, we should leave now."

Shay had enough sense to step back and put some distance between herself and the woman. There was a mean glint in the woman's eyes now, one that Shay didn't trust, not one bit. Keno, Sela, and Luna were quick to fill the space she had just occupied, creating a barrier to separate the strange woman and Shay.

The woman, sensing the rise in aggravation, dropped her smile and carefully studied the pokémon that surrounded Shay.

"I don't want to start anything, especially here. I promise, no harm will come to you as long as you're with me. My…boss just wants a word or two with you."

"If your boss wants "a word or two" with me, he or she can come to me themselves. I'm not going anywhere with you."

While she hadn't put much stock in the phrase "Stranger Danger" as a child, it definitely held more weight to her as an adult now. She was a stranger in a strange land, and while most normal citizens were law-abiding and generally kind, Shay had come to a singular conclusion: humans were rather universal, no matter what reality they resided in. They came in all flavours, all personalities, across the entire spectrum. There was hardly anything resembling a utopia, not like how the games portrayed the world of pokémon. (Not that the pokémon world was anywhere close to being a utopia, she felt it was closer than her world. So far, anyway.)

At the very least, the Nuzlocke runs Shay had invested in had offered up that much insight and truth.

The woman frowned now, all pretense of friendliness slowly slipping away.

"We can do this one of two ways. The first is easy. You walk out of this Center with me, nice and friendly-like without causing a fuss. The second is a whole lot messier and painful. I'd rather go with option one, if it's all the same with you. I'm really not in the mood to teach you a lesson in humility."

The threat hung in the air, thick as mist coiling between them. Shay took stock of the single pokéball hanging from the belt around her waist.

Could she take this woman on? Or would it be a slaughter if she tried?

The now-familiar itch-shiver-scratch of Ambrose's presence pressing in skittered across the backs of her thoughts.

'Don't try it. Her only pokémon is too powerful, even for me. She would definitely wipe us out and leave you all alone with her in the end. As much as it pains me to admit this, I would go with her.'

Why should I even trust her?

'Because she opposes Archie and all of Team Aqua.'

It clicked seconds later.

Team Magma. The enemy—

'—of my enemy is my friend. Exactly.'

The adage did little to comfort her. If Team Magma was willing to pluck people up from the streets on pain of threat and bodily harm, then they weren't all that friendlier than her enemies were. Keno shot her a glance over his shoulder, his gaze full of questioning and uncertainty. Gently, Shay reached forward and place a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Stand down, guys," she said to her team. Averting her gaze from them, she met the woman's instead. She didn't like this, any of it. But what choice did she have?

Shay didn't want to lose anyone due to any impulsive and stubborn knee-jerk response she indulged in due to her pride. For the moment, she had to swallow it down, bury it.

"Where is it you're taking us?" Shay pressed, locking eyes with the woman, resolute in not backing down. In response, the woman's chipper countenance returned, bubbly and soft as can be.

"Oh, it's not far. We'll be taking a private car to our location. And not to worry! I'm guessing you're feeling a bit hungry after such a long day, so there'll be food aplenty for you and your team!"

Shay didn't like any of this, not one bit. But again, she had to ask herself if she really had any choice in the matter. If what Ambrose told her was true, this woman's only team member was strong enough to wipe her entire team out completely.

The grave implications of that sent continued to send chills down her spine as she followed the woman in sullen silence, her team filing after her in much the same fashion.

True to the woman's word, as they stepped out of the automatic doors, a black SUV at parked on the curb, quietly idling. The woman climbed into the passenger seat, but not before waving Shay onward into the backseat. Shay held open the door for everyone else before helping scoop Ambrose up in her arms and clambering in herself.

"Seatbelts, everyone!" The woman chimed in with a bell-like chuckle. "Safety is key when traveling by car, after all."

The driver offered a few seconds' time for everyone to buckle in before he pulled from the curb and into the mostly clear streets. Shay kept an eye out for the streets and how far they traveled down them, or what turns they made, while the woman babbled to the driver, as if Shay suddenly didn't exist.

"What do we do?" Keno finally asked, voicing the question that had, up until now, remained unspoken.

"We can't fight her," Ambrose replied, clouded eyes staring ahead blankly. Sela's muzzle pulled into a quiet snarl.

"And why not? We have her outnumbered!"

"Because, if you cared to sift through the scent marks, you'd notice just how…pungent her pokémon's smell is." Luna shot back with a pointed sniff, yellow eyes closing as she sat up straighter on the seat beside Shay. Sela stiffened, her grey hackles bristling, but she did point her snout upwards to give a soft sniff in the air, followed shortly by a gruff growl.

"…point taken." Sela conceded grudgingly. The Poochyena turned her gaze to her trainer. "There's little choice in how we get out of this, isn't there?"

"Best I can offer is to go along with things for now."

We don't have to fight to get away. And from what I recall, Team Magma doesn't have any psychic-types in their ranks. We can Teleport back to our room, get our stuff, then hightail it out of town if things go south.

It was a tentative backup plan, but it was better than having nothing to fall back on at all. It was also the smarter course of action. Ambrose quietly approved, but offered patience in lieu of retreating immediately.

'We might learn some more about the history about Archie and how Team Aqua came to be.'

Couldn't you just pluck that information out from Archie's head?

'…Archie's thoughts were…tumultuous. Focused, but…there was something there, partially shielding him. Perhaps a dark-type on his team that has lent him some minor protections. It happens, when you spend long periods of time with them...or at least, that's what Mother's always told me. I couldn't dig much deeper beyond surface skimming.'

Wonderful.

The rest of the ride went by in relative silence. The woman up front chattered away at the driver, who only offered a few grunts in response to her. Traffic held them up only minimally, and before they all knew it, the SUV was pulling up to a curb once more, in a completely different and unvisited part of Slateport.

The woman twisted in the passenger seat to look back at Shay, her grin plastered back in place.

"Here we are! Hope you brought your appetite; this place has some amazing steaks and sushi." Briefly, her carefree grin shifted into a sly one, with steel backing her gaze. "Maxie doesn't like being kept waiting, so I suggest you get in there. And remember, don't drag your whole team in. If you don't mind the recommendation? I would go with the Poochyena or the Skitty you got there. Easier to find something for them to eat in there."

Shay stepped out onto the curb, squinting against the harsh late afternoon light, gritting her teeth. Even behind her sunglasses, it still hurt. Quickly, she ducked into the shadows and slipped in through a doorway that led to her destination. As her mysterious chauffer had promised, it was a steakhouse restaurant, and the stench of sizzling meat and marinated herbs and spices was intoxicating. Shay's treacherous stomach grumbled and growled from hunger, twisting over itself in protest at the lack of food in it.

A pleasant shiver twisted in a downward spiral along her spine, and briefly, she was drawn in by the delicious, mouthwatering temptation of food, even more so than by sleep.

I haven't really let myself have a good meal in a while.

She tried to excuse her lack of self-care with being busy, or distracted, or not being really hungry. She always made sure her team was well fed, but when it came to her own wellbeing…

She could list off all the excuses in the world, but it all really boiled down to one thing, in the end.

Shay was just shit at taking care of own damn self. If she could get away with eating only a bowl of pretzels for the day, she could do it, and in a heartbeat.

Reluctantly, Shay approached the podium where the welcoming host stood, and it was empty for the time being. Shay took the brief respite to recall everyone, except for Sela. The Poochyena pinned her trainer down with her maraschino-bright gaze, questions filling the depths of her eyes.

"I need a wild card," Shay simply said, winking at Sela. "You are definitely something they won't be expecting, especially with your special move."

Sela's black lips twitched into an almost-smile, but she managed to stop it completely as she took her place beside Shay. The host returned shortly after and stared at Shay expectantly as he settled in his spot.

"Are you here by yourself, or is your party already here?"

"I believe they're already here. Maxie, I believe his name is."

God, I hope that's it.

The host paused to peruse through an unseen reservations booklet, eyes darting back and forth before he tapped a page with a satisfied light dawning in his eyes. He quickly gathered a menu in one arm, and then motioned for Shay to follow him with the other.

"This way. Mister Domhain has been expecting you."

Sela followed close on Shay's heels as the host led the way through the restaurant. Most of the clientele were dressed up, or at the very least, more appropriately wardrobed than Shay was. Suddenly, she felt rather frumpy in her simple cargo pants, hiking boots, sweat-absorbent tank top, and sling-pack.

The host led her through toward the back of the restaurant until he paused before a set of cream-coloured rice-paper sliding doors. Gently, he gave a sharp report on the wooden frame, gave pause for a few seconds, then cautiously slid the door open.

"This way, Miss Kenway."

Sela made a soft grunt of surprise, and Shay exchanged a look with her.

I never gave this guy my name. She narrowed her eyes as she slowly proceeded past the host, taking the up the menu he offered her. He promptly closed the rice-paper door behind her once she and Sela were within the room. They really were expecting me.

The room was sparse in terms of decorations or baubles or what-have-you.

The room facing her now was surprisingly traditionally Japanese in comparison to the rest of the restaurant's décor of tables and chairs and tablecloths. It was almost Spartan, to be honest.

Some sort of private meeting room for VIPs, maybe? Shay wondered, as she also took in the low-leveled table, the tatamis circling the table, a set of paper lanterns providing ambient lighting, and the only person seated in the room.

Just like Archie, it was hard to dismiss the familiarity of the man across the room from Shay.

Shoulder-length and well-kempt crimson hair, an angular face with high cheek bones, smart square-shaped spectacles perched upon a hooked nose, and that outfit was tailor-made and perfectly cut for him. On the left-handed side of his breast, she could make out a familiar sigil stitched in black thread.

It was definitely Maxie, the opposing leader of Team Magma.

Oh, joy. It's my lucky day to run in to not one, but both leaders of the eco-terrorists of Hoenn! And in the same fucking day! Hooray.

He sat quietly at the table with his legs tucked underneath him, eyes closed serenely as he sipped from a porcelain teacup. A Mightyena sat beside him, its coat of grey and black fur shiny and healthy, bright crimson eyes flushed with a sharp alertness. Sela's hackles bristled at the sight, but she thankfully kept herself in check.

Maxie's eyes opened as he set his teacup down on the table, gaze piercing and calm as he assessed Shay from his seat.

"Miss Kenway. So glad you could make it."

"I was under the impression I had little choice in the matter."

"Not without some amount of unnecessary violence," Maxie conceded with a nod. He motioned to the seat across from him. "Please. I invite you to join my table. And don't worry about any of the expenses. It is my duty to handle them, as you are my gracious guest this afternoon."

Shay exchanged a glance with Sela. The Poochyena's jaws were clenched, but she reluctantly nodded her head forward. It was enough for Shay, and stiffly, she moved toward the low-set table and carefully folded her legs underneath herself onto a tatami mat, settling the menu with her on the table off to the side.

For the moment, her appetite had vanished in the wake of the serious predicament she's found herself in.

"How was your drive here? I assume Courtney found you at the Pokémon Center."

Shay discovered it hard to swallow when her throat was rough as sandpaper and just as dry.

"She did," she reluctantly confirmed. Shay's brows pinched together in concern. "Why did you have me come here? It's not for a sweet little social call, that's for damn certain."

Maxie raised his teacup to his lips once more, a moment of serene calm in favour of pushing things along. The Mightyena at his side growled softly.

"Impatient whelp," the Mightyena muttered. Shay narrowed her eyes at him, but bit her tongue, withholding her retort. Maxie lowered his teacup, placing it back on the table and motioned to the awaiting intricately designed teapot, plucking an empty teacup with long, practiced fingers.

"Would you care for a cup? I daresay, it's rather soothing."

"I'm not here because you wanted to share a cup of tea with me. I'm here because your goon threatened me into a vehicle and drove me here."

Maxie raised a thin brow at her. "Did she actually threaten you?"

It was a rather piercing question, one that indicated her next few words had better be damn good. Shay hesitated under the steady gaze pinning her down. Shay averted hers quickly, fidgeting a little.

"It wasn't said specifically, but it was implied rather heavily. And you just said that unnecessary violence would be needed if I hadn't come. So yeah, I'm sure there was an underlying threat somewhere in there."

"Mmm. Courtney does have a rather nasty habit of uttering ill-hidden threats. She's a bit…heavy-handed when it comes to negotiations. More of a doer rather than a delegate, if I can judge from her past interactions with people. But, as unfortunate as her implications go, I am here to clear the matter up. I don't wish any harm upon you or your team. I merely wished to touch bases with you, especially in regard to your…recent altercations with Team Aqua."

That wasn't entirely surprising, honestly. Wherever Team Aqua was, it was fair to assume Team Magma wasn't that far behind.

But, if memory served her right, Shay was almost certain she wasn't supposed to meet Maxie—or Team Magma as a whole—until the climactic events of Mount Chimney. And even then, her brush with Team Aqua's opposites were meant to be completely brief at best.

This was uncharted territory for her, as were a number of things she's had to face in Hoenn so far.

"So…you just want to talk about Team Aqua," Shay concluded cautiously, shoulders and back lined with painful tension. Maxie gave a stiff nod as he carefully poured a small amount of tea into the cup before offering it to Shay. Slowly, she reached across the table to accept it, and gave it a small sniff. She wasn't much of a tea person, and frankly, she couldn't tell what flavour it was, but she knew one thing. It wasn't very sweet-smelling.

"I believe you may have come across their leader earlier today, at the Oceanic Museum, if I'm not mistaken."

Shay felt a shiver of alarm slam through her, and Sela pressed in against her thigh, her muzzle lifting into a soft snarl.

"You had spies planted in the museum," Shay said automatically, without really thinking on it. It had to be the only logical explanation. Unless…

"Of course. Archibald has become rather…hazardous in his actions as of late."

"Like harming people? Stealing pokémon? Attempted murder? Bombings?"

Alarm was but a brief expression on Maxie's face as he regarded Shay.

"Nothing as extreme as those last few accusations, but it won't be too long before he resorts to such methods, I'm sure." He breathed softly against the steam of his tea as he brought it up to his face. "But he has resorted to some of what you've listed, and more. It's concerning."

"That's not that great, to be honest."

"That we can agree on."

Maxie took a sip before depositing his cup on the table and lifted a menu up to peruse its contents. Shay watched him, hoping he'd enlighten her more on why she was there, but he alluded to nothing. Reluctantly, she picked up her own menu, hiding her face as she looked over the available meals.

"What do you think?" She softly said to Sela. The Poochyena tilted her head to look past the menu and across the table before leaning back in.

"I…I don't know." Her eyes were bright with curiousity and worry. An unsaid question swam in their depths, one she wouldn't dare voice in mixed company, but Shay understood all the same.

It was no secret that Shay wasn't a born-and-raised citizen of the pokémon world. She was, after all, a stranger in all senses of the word; a person from a world where pokémon were nothing more than a series of entertainment beyond living beings in her could only imagine that, if she most likely wasn't the only one drawn to this world, she at least perhaps had a more sizable, working knowledge of this place than the average person who didn't indulge in nerd-centric things.

The question so clearly conveyed in Sela's eyes was simple, yet complicated all at the same time: What do you know and what do you remember?

Maxie, in both Ruby and Omega Ruby, was the leader of the main antagonistic group opposing the player character. In Sapphire and Alpha Sapphire, they were more or less semi-allies to the player characters. Emerald…Shay couldn't recall what happened in Emerald simply because she had never owned or played Emerald. She was just in the dark as the rest of her team was…and that terrified her more than she liked admitting.

Gently, half-heartedly, Shay shook her head in answer, perhaps looking about as miserable as she felt. She diverted her focus to the menu, although the words blended and blurred with one another. 'Hibachi steak' was the only thing that truly registered to her, and it was solely because it was one of a few string of familiar words.

A knock on the wooden frames drew Shay's attention and she craned her neck to look over her shoulder. The rice-paper door slid open and a smartly-dressed waiter stepped into the room, a small pad and pen in hand as he approached.

"Sir, ma'am. I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

"No, no. Please, proceed. I believe we're ready to order."

Shay lowered her menu just enough to catch the knowing look Maxie shot her. It made her insides twist and knot themselves together, but it didn't mask how hungry she truly was. Damn her treacherous stomach!

Maxie wasn't one to pass up the opportunity to rattle off his order, and before Shay knew it, she was left with the waiter hanging on her unsaid food request. She scanned the menu quickly, more concerned on take-home orders for the rest of her team before she cleared her throat and dropped the laminated menu and recited what she wanted, including minor changes for herself and drinks. God, she needed a strong one.

When all was said and done, the menus were taken, and she was left alone with nothing but Maxie and his Mightyena to fill in the gaps of conversation and company.

What the hell am I supposed to say? 'Fuck Archie and fuck you too'? Jesus Christ on a crutch, I…I'm so…so not ready for any of this crap.

She was infinitely grateful that Maxie didn't utilize any psychic-type pokémon on his team at all, or she'd most likely be in heaps of trouble. Shay eyed the Mightyena seated across from her beside Maxie, noting just how large it actually was. That jutting jawline, rounded ears, and sloping backside…it was like a cross between an actual hyena and a wolf. Not a combination she'd want to face in the wild…but to be fair, Shay wouldn't want to face either species separately on her own, either. Wild animals weren't to be fucked with. Even she knew that much…

"I know that this all seems overbearing, considering how soon my request comes on the heels of your earlier encounter. But would you be willing to offer any insight to your harrowing experiences regarding your recent encounter with Team Aqua and with Archibald, Miss Kenway? I understand if you're not feeling up to it, of course. I don't want to push you too much."

"Honestly, I don't exactly feel comfortable talking about anything with you. I already seem to be in the cops' radars wherever I go because I keep crossing wires with Team Aqua enough as it is."

This turned out to be the wrong thing to say. A light went off in his eyes, and Maxie leaned forward ever so slightly, a hand drifting upwards to run his long fingers through the thick fur of his Mightyena.

"She's lying," the Mightyena rumbled, the black fur along his hackles bristling. That large head swiveled to look at Maxie, then back to her again. "Give me a few minutes along with the little twig of a girl, and I'll get her talking." Those red eyes slid toward Sela, who had quietly been growling besides Shay but now it grew to a crescendo as she leapt to her feet, teeth bared past black lips. "I'll even get her pipsqueak runt to squeal every secret they know, just to be sure."

"Try it, dung-licker!" Sela barked, the linings of her mouth and the curve of her fangs growing coal-bright. Shay briefly tore her eyes away from Maxie to settle on her Poochyena, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end when Maxie's Mightyena bolted upright and seemed just about ready to take a flying leap right at them both.

Maxie managed to calm his team member, and Shay did the same as well. Gently, she coaxed Sela into her lap, running a hand across her head and under her chin, the palm of her hand and pads of her fingers gently pricked by the stubby horns on her skull.

"How unusual. It's not often I see a Poochyena that knows a fire-type move," Maxie spoke up, drawing Shay's attention. She glanced at the man seated across from her, but his attentions were drawn to Sela. He plucked his teacup up and took a contemplative sip of his drink before he spoke again. "One of its parents must have been a fire-type, the father being the most likely culprit. But there is a slight chance the mother could have been…"

Maxie gave pause, frowning, eyes drifting between Sela and Shay. He cleared his throat and shook his head. "My apologies. We're not here to discuss the origins of your half-breed Poochyena."

"No, we're not. You wanted me to act a as a spy for you about Team Aqua, and I decline. I could give two shits about them, given how much trouble I've had because of them. But why should I do you any favours? This meeting right now is about as shady as all my encounters with them, and then some."

Maxie remained largely indifferent to her for the time being, appearing unrushed by her brash retort. He offered no response, and took his time to refill his teacup. His moves were methodical, paced. The Mightyena's growling fell abruptly silent seconds before the door opened, once more admitting their waiter into the room.

He carried another teapot on the tray in his hands, along with a bottle of hot sake, and some kind of brightly coloured cocktail that Shay had already forgotten the name of.

The drinks were dispersed, the old teapot swept away, and the waiter offered a short expectancy for their food as he stepped out of the room. The door slid shut with a soft clack.

Maxie chose that moment to speak. His Mightyena chose that moment to underscore his words with a soft growl that permeated the air.

"I ask of you for this information because it is pertinent if we wish to stop Team Aqua, and most of all, Archibald."

"What's with this 'we' crap? I'm not working for you. I'm fairly sure I've established that very clearly."

Maxie, during the interim while Shay spoke, had taken another languid sip of his drink. His eyes were a deep hazel-green that glinted behind the lenses of his glasses as he studied her face carefully.

"Indeed, you have. But you misunderstand." Maxie gently set his teacup down on the table once more. Shay shifted in her seat, her calves and thighs aching from sitting in this position for so long. "I don't use the collective 'we' as though we are one and the same. I use it as a way to assembly ourselves on the same side. I understand perfectly well that we are not entirely on the same sides where the lines have been drawn. But I can only assume that as we share a common interest, and in the pursuit of that commonality, we could band together in a temporary fashion to take care of the unsightly activities that Archibald has partaken in."

Shay and Sela shared a look that needed absolutely no words. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' Sela's eyes narrowed, her muzzle twitching, and once again, Shay felt as though the words weren't needed to be said. She turned back to Maxie.

"And what happens afterwards, when we no longer have a common enemy together?"

"Tell me, do you know what Archibald is planning? Did he…insinuate anything?"

Shay's jaw was so tight with tension, she had to fight her own muscles to pry her mouth open. The way he avoided her question was baldly telling. She chose to pour herself a drink of sake into the tiny ceramic cup and pounded it down, frustration simmering within her. It scorched the roof of her mouth and the back of her throat as it swashed about inside. Seconds later, the heady shiver that accompanied it struck her like a bolt out of the blue.

Don't be stupid. Don't go spouting off what you know. Don't fuck yourself over. Just...give him something for now.

"He wanted some tech he had one of his goons try to steal back in Rustboro already. President Stone was quite adamant that they reach Captain Stern here in Slateport with as much discretion as possible." Shay paused to pour herself another drink and shot that down her throat as well. "It didn't seem to matter in the end, since he knew who it was going to. He didn't say anything, and I wasn't in the mood to sit around, playing Twenty Questions to figure out what his insidiously devious schemes were."

"I see." Maxie said, his reply simple and clipped. "So, he wasted so much time and effort, dragging a number of his forces into Slateport…all for a few parts and pieces of…"

He seemed to catch himself, and stifled whatever he was about to say. Maxie cleared his throat, politely covering his mouth with his knuckles pressed to his lips.

"My apologies. I hope you don't mind my saying so but…I find it rather ludicrous that Archie would have wasted time, manpower, and resources on a simple retrieval operation. I can understand the shock and awe campaign via overwhelming numbers…but I cannot believe that he'd have done so for someone who is so…"

He fell quiet, and for one single moment, the man opposite Shay looked absolutely dumbfounded, the words hanging in the silence between them, unsaid but felt all the same.

"So sorry I don't meet whatever imaginary expectations you've built up in your head. It's not my problem, though. It's yours."

The Mightyena's growling spiked to a full-on snarl, but before Sela could retaliate, Maxie braced his arm across the large canine's front. The silent gesture was enough to quieten his team member.

"You speak truthfully. I apologize, I didn't intend to insult you. It's just an incredibly surprising move on Archibald's behalf. I suppose I have wasted time, chasing a lead that never was one in the first place. And I suspect, shortly after your entanglement with him, he's chosen to retreat from Slateport for the time being. I have an idea as to where he's heading now, but I'll have to confirm such things myself."

A ghost of a smile curled across Maxie's face. He made a motion toward the table before them.

"But, I think after the harrowing ordeal you've had to endure, a moment of quiet and repose is in order."

It was a jarring moment when Maxie gently pulled himself up to his feet, and at the same time so did his Mightyena. Shay braced herself, hand flying to her hip whilst Sela bolted upright. Maxie made a motion at Shay for her to stand down.

"I will take my leave, but please, feel free to eat, and perhaps allow the rest of your team out so that they may eat here as well. I will cover the costs, as promised."

Maxie gave a low bow to her, and although it appeared grudgingly so, his Mightyena offered a nod of his head. Quietly, without waiting on her to reply, Maxie took his leave. Shay watched from over her shoulder and the corner of her eye. Even when the door closed shut, she strained to listen for at least several minutes more before Sela snorted softly.

"He's gone."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." Sela's ears gave a convulsive twitch backwards before settling back again. "You should take advantage of his offer."

"I'm not pushing my luck with the bill."

"I meant, get everyone out here. Now. They need to know what's going on."

Shay cleared her throat, blushing in embarrassment as she mumbled in agreement. One by one, the rest of the team came into being as they were released from their pokéballs. They blinked at their immediate surroundings before settling around the table at Shay's quiet direction. Keno settled on Shay's other side as Breela gently settled in Shay's lap.

Shay promptly adjusted herself, sitting with her legs crossed in front of her. It was infinitely more comfortable and her legs throbbed in relief.

"What's going on? Where are we?"

"A restaurant. And we just met Maxie, Team Magma's leader. He's a presumptuous prick. Surprise!" Shay reached for her fruity cocktail and downed several large gulps. Ice clinked against her teeth and lips, numbing them until she pulled the glass away. She set it down, wishing the food would arrive already. Fuck it, if Maxie was paying for this, that was no sweat off her back. She wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Not yet, anyways.

Ambrose tilted his head in Shay's direction, his usual smile mellowed out.

"Perhaps you should fill us in on the intimate details, if we're here alone now."

She glanced at the Kirlia, lips pressing into a tight, thin line. The rest of the team stared at her expectantly. Sela pressed in against her hip, and the warmth from the Poochyena was comforting.

"Right…well, it was Maxie, and he is…pretty disquieting…"

OoOoOoOoOoO

Additional Notes: It killed me that I couldn't reference John Mulaney's comedic opinion on "secondary locations", it really did. Unfortunately, since his "Kid Gorgeous at Radio City" special aired in 2018 and this story is applied toward mid-summer-ish 2017, I couldn't. Oh well, c'est la vie!

Moving on, I'm so very glad to see the influx of new subscribers and readers! Welcome, all!