Not to Go Back ;; Hoenn ;; Steven

[KANE]

Alyssa swallowed her nervousness as she struggled to get a hold on the thoughts that were rushing through her brain. She struggled to control her rapid breathing both from the quick course of action she had just taken against the Lux grunt and the alarm that had seized her chest when Steven had been shot. There was no response from the former, gray-haired champion immediately; causing Alyssa’s worry that something vital had been damaged by the bullet that, as far as she could see, was still lodged in his back where it had entered, seeing as there was no evidence in the front of his suit to show that it had managed to escape as a clean through-and-through shot.

Alyssa clenched her fist slightly against his back seconds before he moved. He stood straight, letting her hand drop off of his body. He moved downwards again to retrieve the meteorite he had taken, and Alyssa instinctively leaned forward out of worry to help when he seemed to nearly fall again, his knees almost buckling. He didn’t answer her with words, only actions, causing her expression to shift from one of obvious worry to a frown, that was a mixture of worry, sadness, and even a bit of annoyance at the former Champions silence and brush-off of her worry.

She didn’t care so much that her worry had been brushed off as she was concerned about his apparent lack of concern for himself. Moving too much could shift the bullet – though it was unlikely – and harm him further, simply moving wrong could cause him pain, especially considering it’s location. By looking at his back, where his suit darkened from the blood seeping from the wound, the bullet was lodged in his lower shoulder. Bloodloss, however, was Alyssa’s biggest concern. As a fresh wound it showed no immediate sign of stopping, and if he continued to move at the straightforward rate that he was, the loss of blood may be enough to cause him to lose consciousness.

She watched his back for only a second before pushing herself up, almost sprinting slightly to catch up with him in the space he had managed to cover. She had a feeling she knew where he was headed now – to get his pokemon back. She was set on getting hers back, too, and only barely managing to put the rough outline of a plan together in her head. How was she supposed to know where guards would be positioned and when? Or hell, where had their pokeballs even been taken? Had they been taken all the way to the Presidents office? Or were they just being stored somewhere with a handful of grunts guarding them?

Alyssa knew that yet again she’d be forced out of her usual nature. She would do whatever it took to get her pokemon back, even if it meant killing another person. Her pokemon were the most important companions in her life, and she was not about to lose them or let them down.

”Steven.” She walked forward quickly, getting just ahead of him before turning to look at him. Although she was not completely blocking his path, she stood as more of a sign on the side of the road, as the comparison followed. ”What are you planning?” Her jaw was set unwaveringly and her eyes blazed. The energy that had surged through her when she attacked the grunt remained, keeping her muscles wired, and ready to spring.

”Don’t just charge into this blindly. It will get you shot…again.”

The white-haired girl tilted her jaw upwards so she could look at Steven’s hard eyes. ”As you were exiting you said you needed me to do something before you were cut off. What is it?” she asked, unwilling to be left hanging.

Let me help you… she silently willed him. Please…

[KANE]

Having a strong will meant nothing to Alyssa. She thought she would be able to stop him with just words and a stern gaze – unfortunately, that did not apply to Steven Stone. With a gaze steelier than Wing’s, he stared back at her. Did he have a plan? No. Plans weren’t supposed to be made when he already was headfirst into the entire mess. He’d just have to wing it, rush through and hope he didn’t die at the end of it. The wish was more than just a realistic one to the nox member. He was more than likely to die from blood loss if he didn’t have anything to stop the blood from flowing; thankfully, he had his dark suit that stopped the blood from showing. If no one saw signs of blood dripping, then they would think that he was still in fighting condition. The ones that knew of his weakened state was just Alyssa, the sniper, and whoever ordered the shot to be fired at him.

“I have nothing planned, Akiyama. There does not always need to be a plan,” he gritted his teeth; pain jolted his senses, keeping him away from unconsciousness as he pushed past her and ascended the stairs. “And if you follow me, you’ll get shot.” It was a general statement; Steven wasn’t about to stop her if she wanted to die alongside him. He didn’t mind company, but if there wasn’t anyone, he’d be as fine.

He almost growled as he stopped mid-step. “It’s no longer relevant,” he responded coldly, “You do not know where the presidential office is.” Steven’s boots continued their climb of the stairs before he finally reached a landing and jabbed the elevator button. With a creak, the door opened, revealing a battered cargo elevator. While it didn’t seem safe, it would bring them up to the tenth floor. From there to the eighteenth floor was an entirely different matter – there was a different set of elevators.

He didn’t give a damn whether Alyssa realized that he knew the layout of the building. All he wanted was to get his pokémon – heck, even the handgun his father gifted him – back. Steven stopped only long enough for her to hurry into the elevator if she wanted to before shutting the door. He stood, slumped against the walls of the lift; his face was pale, but not entirely devoid of color. Breathing rhythmically seemed to help as they gradually moved from the basement to the upper floors.

[KANE]

Alyssa wasn’t all too surprised when he didn’t speak immediately, but instead stared back at her, meeting her gaze with his own. She hadn’t felt as though her gaze would do much with him, but anything in this situation to try to help the both of them would be worth a shot, right? Some people would say that in her situation she’d be voted most likely to back down out of intimidation. Generally being intimidated came out of fear or a sense of submissiveness to the more dominant party. In this case, Steven’s height in addition to his powerful eyes and will would be more than enough of a reason for Alyssa to give up and leave him as he was.

She wasn’t that sort of person, though. She wouldn’t leave somebody in a state like this. Not just the state of him having been shot – more severely than her, that is – but also the state the came about from both of them having been thrown into an unfavorable situation together. If that was the case, she was determined to see it end the same – with whoever she was with getting out at the same time as her.

”I have nothing planned, Akiyama. There does not always need to be a plan.” He had gritted his teeth, probably from a flash of pain, before he pushed past her for the stairs that were rather close now. ”And if you follow me, you’ll get shot.” In any other situation, the thoguht of being shot – again - would have made the white-haired trainer hesitate, but not now. She had more important things to deal with at the moment. The pain of getting shot was nothing, compared to what she’d experience if she didn’t get her pokemon back.

They’re my companions... she thought, narrowing her eyes before turning sharply to look at his back. She halted mid-turn, having twisted outside of what was considered a favorable motion for the wound on her side. The searing pain that felt like her skin ripping apart made her halt and clench her jaw, determined not to show anymore pain in her expression than she was. Just...a bit longer... she thought. Although she too ran some risk of unfavorable consequences from bloodloss, Steven was at a greater risk for them than she was, seeing as the bullet was actually lodged in his body, wheras the one that had struck her was still in a wall somewhere.

”It’s no longer relevant. You do not know where the presidential office is.”

She rolled her eyes before picking up her pace and walking after him. No, I don’t exactly. she thought with a bit of annoyance. But I never got the chance to speak. It has to be on one of the top three levels. Most ‘business’ type buildings leave the top floors open for higher-ups. It would make sense for his office to be on one of those floors.

Steven moved into an old service elevator, and she quickly skirted in after him, just before the doors closed and they began to ascend slowly. She looked at the former Champion. His face was paler than it had been, and Alyssa swallowed down the lump of worry that had been sitting in her throat but again rose.

Opening her mouth, she spoke quietly. ”I never said there needs to be a plan. Sometimes it just helps to have one.” she replied dryly. ”For the record I’ve already been shot. I don’t care if I am again, either. I’m getting my pokemon back however possible.” She told him, leaning against the elevator and crossing her arms, hiding the fingers that curled over her side, atop the gunshot wound. The wet feeling that met her fingers made her jump slightly, pulling at her side. She tried hiding most of her wince beneath her white bangs as she pulled her hand back, looking at her fingers. Though they had only tapped – or so she thought – the wound on her side, the appendages were already coated in scarlet.

I suppose your side isn’t exactly the best place to get shot considering it moves with every step you take… she though, displeased. Moving her hand back beneath her arm, she placed it against her side, attempting to stem the bleeding with a bit of pressure which did nothing as far as minimizing pain went. The faster I can get the bleeding to stop, or at least slow, the better… she told herself.

”I will do anything for my pokemon. They’re my friends, and I’d be a disgrace to the name of trainer if I didn’t.”

[KANE]

"Oh, so this is about the pokémon now? I had no idea," Steven muttered. The pokémon were always secondary to his agenda. Did he ever respect their ideals and wishes? No. Couldn't ever please anyone in this world; he wasn't going to try doing so with a bunch of pokémon he had lived with most of his life. If there was going to be respecting, his partner pokémon probably had to be the ones to curve to his ideas. He wouldn't have it another way; true, they might have more intelligence than he did - Cross, for one - but he quickly drew himself away from those thoughts. There was no point in getting in a self-inflicted argument where he both supported and refuted his ideas.

The service elevator continued to trundle on its way up to the tenth floor. He eyed the faded, cracked display; he made out a figure that looked suspiciously like a five. It would be some time before they hit their destination. He glanced at the female. She seemed to be taking the shot admirably well, but bothered by the blood loss a little too much. It was just a bullet graze; serious, yes, but life-threatening? Hah. Steven knew what life-threatening was - it was the bullet he took from the sniper.

"I would - have," said Steven, correcting her words to present his standpoint, "But is it truly worth it?" He shrugged to the best of his ability, not wishing to continue expounding on the topic. The seventh floor soon sidled into view. He stared at it, trying to imagine the seventeenth floor. He soon gave up, slumping further downwards in the elevator until he was in a seated position on the ground. His suit still showed no signs of being drenched with blood, perhaps due to its dark hue.

He shut his eyes, and his breathing slowed. Patience was a virtue. Time would pass, given the chance to.

Eventually, the tenth floor had the elevator creaking open. First, its metal doors opened, then the grilles that held the lift in like a cage - someone was blocking the light. Steven slowly opened an eye; he hadn't a second to respond before both eyes snapped open.

It was the president himself.

[KANE]

”Oh so this is about pokemon now? I had no idea.”

Alyssa rolled her eyes beneath her bangs, curling her fingers more over her side, grimacing as she felt blood spread over her palm. Although she knew the wound was nowhere close to the severity of Stevens, she couldn’t restrain her reaction. A little-known fact was that she disliked blood, almost to the extent of being considered to suffer from hemophobia. The main distinguishing trait between her dislike for the bodily fluid and a fear of it was that she often had no other physical reaction other than a grimace, or if there was enough of it in a scene before her, a gag. She knew that people often froze up when they saw it, if they feared it, or worse yet fainted.

The main reason she disliked blood to the extent she did was because of what she’d seen in the past, when the civil war first broke out. She was in Kanto when the first real ‘home’ hit came to her. She had gone to see her grandparents after a rather troubling situation at home in Verdanturf. She had wanted to talk to them, but when she opened their door a scarlet floor and crimson walls met her eyes. They had been slain in their own home for whatever reason, alongside their pokemon. The sight had driven a spike through her brain. She was paralyzed by what she saw, and the only thing she could do to snap out of the trance she had been put in was retch.

She had fled the scene, realizing she had nobody else she could go to. She had gone to seek comfort from her relatives, seeing as it was shortly after her parents had disowned her because she supported Nox. Never had her parents been the most tolerant people when it came to someone conflicting their views. There was no room in the house for someone like that, or in their lives. They gave her a single warning. If they saw her, they would not hesitate to attack her, viewing it as merely one more obstacle out of the way of Lux toppling the rebellious Nox.

She pushed the thought out of her mind as the former Champion spoke again. ”I would – have” he put emphasis on the last word. She looked at him. ”But is it truly worth it?” The gray-haired man sunk to the ground slowly, into a sitting position.

”Yes.” she said simply, her expression unwavering. He could interpret the true meaning behind her one-word answer any way he pleased. Turning so that she stood parallel to him, facing the doors that would open she relaxed slightly, slumping against the wall. Her body felt drained of energy, but she knew she had to stay alert.

They eventually slowed to a stop, and the doors began to open. She prepared herself slightly to start walking again, but she froze at the sight of somebody standing in the way. Her eyes widened slightly as she recognized the president of Devon standing before them. She stole a glance at Steven in an attempt to see his reaction before she looked back at the president.

”…P-President…Tsuwabuki…” she murmured quietly, her surprise leaving her off-guard for the time.

[KANE]

There wasn't much a near-unconscious Steven could do. He wanted to get the heck out of there and to the seventeenth floor, where he was certain he could hole himself up in for the rest of the day until they found him passed out, or dead. He didn't want to be found like this. Not by the president. Not by his smiling face. Not by his father. "......" he opened his mouth to speak, but was barely able to muster the energy to. He glanced away, a hand pushing himself so he wasn't entirely lying on the ground - he was already pretty close to it.

"Yes," Tsuwabuki addressed Alyssa, "I am. And I believe you are -" he glanced around, "the Hoenn leader we've all been watching out for. Have you come to reclaim Devon's warehouse to fund your warring?" His hands slipped into his suit pockets, reminding Steven of himself. "No? ... your pokémon, perhaps?" The man glanced aside, walking down the corridor whence he came. Behind him, two men walked into the elevator and picked Steven up by the arms; they each took one arm, and began to walk, almost dragging the former champion.

"Come with me."

The president's voice echoed from the corridor. Steven contemplated struggling, but his vision was already starting to fade. The blood loss had started to get to him; as much as he wanted to stay awake, his body was screaming at him not to have his eyes open any longer. Any moment spent awake was a moment in torture, his mind seemed to tell him. "Just give them back. You have nothing to gain from keeping them," he hissed breathlessly; Tsuwabuki turned around, humming lightly.

"I might. But I am not -"

Steven gritted his teeth, voice slightly louder than before.

"- entirely unreasonable?"

"No, no. A hoarder, Mr Stone, a hoarder. I do not hoard pokémon. I merely hoard weapons. Though one could argue that pokémon can be used as weapon - ah, no fighting," he cautioned, noting Steven's movements to free himself, "- you'll aggravate that wound and needlessly worry the young lady." Tsuwabuki smiled; he had noticed the anxiety teeming from the white-haired female.

"...... just get this over and done with already. What do you want?"

The president's smile grew wider.

[KANE]

Alyssa stayed standing stalk still with the President of Devon before herself and Steven. She glanced to the side again to look at Steven. Simply by looking at him she could tell that he wasn’t doing well in the slightest. He needs help… Alyssa thought anxiously. He needs to rest…he looks as though he’s about to pass out. This isn’t good at all. Her worry was evident on her face as Steven opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He looked to the side, and Alyssa swallowed, moving her gaze from him so that anything he did was seen only out of the corner of her eye. The former Champion moved to push himself more upright, so that he was not as slumped against the walls and floors of the elevator as he had been. Despite his effort, he still remained close to the same position.

”Yes.” Alyssa looked up at President Tsuwabuki as he spoke again. She watched him through her white bangs with narrowed eyes. He seemed strikingly calm, and the surprise that had washed through her was replaced with suspicion. Of course, one could argue that the suspicion came from him simply being there, but there was more to it than simply that. However, she figured that so long as things remained relatively ‘calm’, she could afford to act just the same. The only downside of that was that she didn’t know how long she’d be able to maintain the charade that she wasn’t as anxious as she truly was.

”I am. And I believe you are the Hoenn leader we’ve all been watching out for.” She blinked once, narrowing her eyes slightly more. ”Have you come to reclaim Devon’s warehouse to fund your warring?” She tensed her jaw. Although that was not her purpose today, it was a goal for the future that she hadn’t informed a single person about as of yet, considering it would be one of the ‘bigger’ things the Nox residents of Hoenn would take on. Toppling Devon and turning it to Nox control to provide them with multiple resources.

Not today… she silently answered him.

”No? Your pokemon, perhaps?” The slightest downward tilt of her chin signified the instinctive nod as the President turned and left, two more Lux members entering the elevator and picking the nearly unconscious man up, pulling him between them. They would have been dragging him if his body was any more limp. Alyssa grit her teeth and followed quickly. So far, things seemed to be relatively low-key, but she kept in mind that something like that could change within a moment’s notice.

Steven’s breathless voice sounded in front of her, more of a hiss than anything. ”Just give them back. You have nothing to gain from keeping them.” Her jaw tilted downwards in silent agreement again, and as the president turned, Alyssa quickly skirted to the side of one of the Lux members, standing slightly forward from them so she could hear both the President and Steven speak. She kept her eyes trained on Steven, her gaze more worried than before given his condition.

”I might. But I am not –“ Steven cut him off, ”entirely unreasonable?”

”No, no. A hoarder, Mr. Stone. A hoarder. I do not hoard pokemon. I merely hoard weapons. Though one could argue that pokemon can be used as weapon – ah, no fighting” Alyssa had twitched forward at the same time he spoke, the full lunge towards Steven cut off by her common sense. The silver-haired young man was struggling against his captors, which Alyssa was sure was doing him more harm than good at the time being. ”Steven…” she said very quietly, the worry in her voice begging him to still for at least the moment.


”You’ll aggravate that wound and needlessly worry the young lady.”

Alyssa swallowed and looked back at the President, straightening slightly. She felt as stiff as Stevens voice was hard when the former Champion spoke again. ”…just get this over and done with already. What do you want?”

Alyssa nodded, not liking the widening smile of the President. She remained silent for the time, more thinking than anything. What if Steven were to pass out where they were? Not a simple fall into unconsciousness, but an out cold moment, where he wouldn’t be able to be revived for however long. What would she do then? She supposed she would try to get their pokemon – and Steven’s handgun if possible – then see if there was any way she could get Steven out of there safely. There was no way she’d leave him alone there. If he passed out…was there any way she’d be able to get him onto Flygon’s back and escape to her Secret Base?

Some of the zipped pockets on her pants were not entirely empty. In fact, two pockets on her right leg were filled with Smoke Balls which she’d collected over the years, in case she needed to make a desperate escape. She hadn’t used them, but she had instead kept them for when she’d need them most. In a time of war, that seemed more likely. Would she wind up using them today?

[KANE]

"Oh. Not a lot," Tsuwabuki answered quite calmly, "Just some tiny bits of withheld information." He glanced at Alyssa, but his gaze made it apparent that it had more to do with Steven than it did with her. In other words - this entire matter had never concerned her in the first place; she just had the misfortune to be assigned a mission in Devon, meet Steven and get caught together. He, however, held his tongue. Even though he would have loved dearly to tell her off for getting his son in such a situation, he kept his mouth tightly shut on the topic. "I do not believe you know what it is."

Steven held his breath, then exhaled lightly. The colour was rapidly washing out of his face, but he kept a tight grip on his consciousness. There was a fine line between him being completely delirious and awake. He drifted between the former and latter.

"Come," the president spoke, continuing to walk. The lux guards held their grip on Steven, and by now, they were already dragging him along, the tips of his boots grounding against the floor due to his height. "The sixteenth floor isn't far." He gently tapped a button on the elevator in the lobby; there was a stark difference between the service lift and the elegant one the guests and owners of Devon used. Once the five of them were in the elevator, Tsuwabuki shut the doors and allowed the machine to ascend.

The sixteenth floor arrived faster than expected; perhaps due to the difference in it being a main lift instead of an old, cranky service one. "This way," he said, gesturing for Alyssa to head on. "Unfortunately," continued the man once the doors were shut, "He won't be following us. He'll be heading - ah, somewhere else." Tsuwabuki blinked serenely, apparently not taking whatever objections the little girl would have had in her mind. He had the advantage of having her pokémon - and Steven's life was in his hands - her words.

[KANE]

Alyssa bit the inside of her cheek in thought. Given the circumstances, and the direction this encounter was taken, she felt quite sure President Tsuwabuki’s true target was Steven. But for what reason? Steven was so near Devon Corp. in the first place, so did he know about it previously? Or had he come for his own reasons? Or even a mix between the two – a case of crossed intentions from the President and Steven? She narrowed her eyes as he continued to speak, tilting her head down slightly to hide her expression with her bangs. What was the meaning of everything? She highly doubted Steven would be willing enough to tell her…easily, at least. But she admitted the curiosity that sprung up within her resembled a portion of the child-like persona that she had strangely maintained through the year, and had failed to go away as she’d grown older.

Alyssa said nothing, but looked at Steven, taking an update on his status – as she seemed to be doing every few seconds. To her, it was only natural. Although a number of people would find it odd, or even weird that she was as concerned for his well-being as she was, it was something she was very good at. It didn’t matter if somebody was kind or rude to her, if they’d only just met, or had previously, but so long as they were on the same side, the white-haired trainer had an inherent sense of concern for whomever she was with. She was the sort of person that tried to help in whatever way she could whenever possible. The lacking color of his face made her stomach clench in alarm. He seemed even closer to falling into unconsciousness.

I want to do something…! she thought angrily. Steven needs a doctor as soon as possible, but the fastest thing to do would be to get him somewhere to rest, but as things stand I can’t do anything! She chewed the inside of her lower lip. The young woman didn’t register any spoken words, but instead only actions at this point. She reluctantly followed the President and Lux members into the elevator, tensing once the doors closed. She skirted the main standing area of the elevator and stood as far against one of the corners as possible, pressing herself against the walls connected by a right angle.

They arrived at the sixteenth floor in a surprising amount of time. The President got out, and Hoenn’s Leader remained standing in the elevator for the time, until a gesture summoned her grudgingly from the elevator. It was smartest in this situation to remain quiet and follow directions. The status quo was currently not in the favor of she or Steven, and the safest thing to do was to follow directions of those that held the power in a situation. The doors closed and her jaw tightened, the tendons in her narrow neck beneath her chin becoming visible through her skin with the change in the situation.

Looking at the President, she tilted her head back up to a more natural position, revealing her eyes beneath her white bangs. ”What do you need Steven for?”

It was a simple question, and she didn’t really expect to get an answer. The second question urged to tug itself off her tongue. Will he be safe? But she knew it would be stupid to show the concern. President Tsuwabuki had her pokemon, and essentially Steven’s life in his hands, and he was letting them dance around his palm as he pulled the strings. She had to comply lest things turn even worse.

Glancing at the floor indicator above the elevator doors, she made note of the floor at which it appeared to have stopped.

Steven…please be alright… she thought.

[KANE]

Tsuwabuki chuckled amiably. Had Alyssa not been listening? He had told her, quite plainly, what he intended to obtain from the young man. "Withheld information," he repeated, patience abundant in him. He rubbed his hands together, then scanned his thumbprint on the door leading to his office, then did a retina scan. The doors slid open, and he held it for Alyssa to enter before he shut it behind him - like a true gentleman, and someone holding another person hostage.

"In case you were wondering - he's on the seventeenth, or eighteenth floor. I'm not sure where they're bringing him."

The president turned around; when he did, he was holding a mug. "Coffee? Don't worry. It's not drugged," he said with a pleasant wave of his hand. He placed it on the counter - Alyssa was free to take it if she wanted to. "I do not stoop that low." A brilliant smile, and he was sitting at the couch and watching the surveillance cameras. It appeared that only the lower floors were installed with cameras; floors higher than the fifteenth either did not have cameras, or had the security room in a different place altogether.

"Take a drink from the cooler if coffee isn't your choice, and do sit. Your pokémon would be here shortly."

For a moment, he almost seemed like a fatherly figure.

---

They stopped at the seventeenth floor. The first lux member stepped out of the elevator, followed by his companion, leaving Steven in the elevator. They turned around, staring at him. "Can't you walk?" the first barked, expression bordering on annoyance - "You're not exactly light. Oh, that's right - you're Steven Stone."

The second member was less forgiving. "No wonder," he muttered, walking over to the limp trainer and giving him a harsh kick. "Oi! Stand up!" He watched as the former champion coughed, doubling and slumping over; the elevator doors remained open, for the first of the two guards was holding it open.

"Get out of there already. Crawl if you have to," he drawled.

[KANE]

Alyssa stayed quiet and managed to refrain from rolling her eyes with president Tsuwabuki’s answer. ‘Withheld information’. Of course. As he’d already stated. I was able to hear for that part of it… she thought dryly, sighing silently. She watched him closely as he opened the office for her to enter with him. Two biometric access systems, huh? She made a mental note of that as he held the door open for her as though taking on the role of a gentleman. The tactic, in another situation, would probably be used to throw an unsuspecting foe or enemy off-guard for whatever was coming their way. She remained alert, though.

”In case you were wondering – he’s on the seventeenth, or eighteenth floor. I’m not sure where they’re bringing him.”

She swallowed and followed him further in to the room, keeping a neutral expression. She was rather worried about Steven at this point. No longer could she be sure he hadn’t fallen unconscious or worse – died – right beside her. She couldn’t be sure that he was safe any longer, and that alone made her nervous. Although he was only a few years older than her, she had to admit that years ago, when he first rose to the title of Champion, she had fallen into the trend of many others in Hoenn took – being a fan of his. She hadn’t been like nearly any other fan she met. She didn’t covet every picture that was ever taken of him, she didn’t follow every battle he won, and she most certainly hadn’t fantasized about him.

The main thing she had admired him for was his power as a battler, and what a skilled battler he was. Now, though, years after that phase had come and gone, she had actually met him, and was on the same side as him in this war. Who knew what the war would require them to do together. Alyssa knew that missions Nox members were taking were growing more dangerous and challenging, and more experienced trainers were taking the reins on them. But how long until some of the best trainers in the world would be called to take some and work with others?

”Coffee? Don’t worry. It’s not drugged. I do not stoop that low.”

She walked forward towards his desk a bit warily, her blue eyes staring into the mug filled with the dark liquid, glancing up at him when he spoke again. ”Take a drink from the cooler if coffee isn’t your choice and do sit. Your pokemon would be here shortly.” She hesitated before taking the mug in her hands, looking at President Tsuwabuki quietly.

”I heard the ‘withheld information’ portion the first time…” she stated calmly. ”I was only hoping for specifics.” She spoke casually, as though this were an exchange between business partners looking for an expansion on a building rather than someone currently holding another person hostage (though again not really expecting an answer). She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. And no offense to you, President Tsuwabuki, but although you may not stoop as low as to drug a beverage, I wouldn’t put it past other Lux members to… she added silently, raising the mug to her lips before taking a sip of the hot beverage.

Turning towards the door and staring at it intently, she let her eyes wander to the ceiling. One of the floors above her was where Steven now was. She bit the inside of her lip again. Once she got her pokemon, would there be any way for her to help him? Any chance to? Wasn’t there something? Anything?

[KANE]

He had suddenly found himself hauled up by someone's strong grip and forcibly dragged out of the elevator. His eyes fell on a vaguely familiar figure - the leader of the five lux members that had trapped them in the storage room. Maine hissed at Steven; despite the disparity in height, he was much, much stronger than the former champion, being a man serving for a long time in the army.

"Why'd you come back?" he growled at him, "The president disowned you. You have no right to be here." He released his grasp, sending Steven sliding across the linoleum flooring. He cracked his knuckles, staring coldly at the white-haired man. "He gave me the right to treat you as you deserved it. I think you deserve no better than this." Maine hissed.

Steven gripped the edges of a large potted plant, managing to haul himself up.

---

"Ah, specifics."

Tsuwabuki seemed mildly offended. People were often going on and on about specifics, no matter how clear things were obviously going to be kept a secret. Such was privacy nowadays - just a word and nothing more than that. Some parties fully intended to peek and pry into every single action one did; the president had nothing to say about that, to be honest. It just boiled down to knowing their own limits. He clasped his hands.

"Isn't that what everyone wants and no one gets?" he mused aloud. He too, had things he wanted to know. To extract from people he knew like the back of his hand, like the detainee on the seventeenth floor. "But back to the point. I do not encourage violence, though Steven - seems to think otherwise. And because of that, I cannot guarantee the guards' actions." Tsuwabuki felt inclined to give Alyssa a word of caution - if what was returned to her, to nox was a limp body needed to be saved, it would indirectly be his fault. Hence, the disclaimer he provided.

The young lady seemed fiery. Perhaps she would grace him with a slap to the face .... ? He eyed her. The hot coffee seemed just as likely to splash its way onto him, too. His timing was precise, however, when he clicked something, granting entry to someone with a tray of pokéballs. The devices belonged to the two trainers; Tsuwabuki had kept his word, intending to return the pokémon to their rightful owners.

"Those are your and his pokémon. Please do not use them in the vicinity; they might damage the building. Other than that, I see no reason to detain [you] any longer. Feel free to drop by the seventeenth floor if you want. Once again - I see no reason to stop you, for I believe your insatiable curiosity will egg you on."

[KANE]

Alyssa sipped the hot drink again, the dark liquid warming her from the inside out as it slid down her throat. Although it wasn’t what Alyssa would call ‘cold’ out, there was definitely a temperature difference from how it usually felt. It was about time for the winter season to roll in, and although Hoenn didn’t exactly experience the coldest winters in the world, they definitely got some of the windiest…the deserts were hell to be in during that time of year. She raised her eyes over the top of the mug while she kept it stationed lightly between her lips until she finished swallowing.

” Isn’t that what everyone wants and no one gets?”

The white-haired trainer had expected as much of an answer. It was worth a shot though, in Alyssa’s mind. She had found that the old saying ‘You won’t know if you don’t try’ particularly true with some things in life, like Contests. She was no Coordinator, so she didn’t have a love for them like others used to, but she had entered one simply to see what it was all about, and the result had been surprisingly good. ”But back to the point. I do not encourage violence, though Steven – seems to think otherwise. And because of that, I cannot guarantee the guards’ actions.” That was something she’d feared the most. Although given proper circumstances they would be easy to defeat in a situation, they had the upper hand in most cases.

She clenched her fist slightly, quickly drinking down the remainder of the coffee and placing her hand around the mug, using the remaining heat in the ceramic item to warm her fingers slightly. A small movement from the President made her look up, then to the doors as somebody walked in holding a tray decorated with pokeballs – ten to be precise. She internally sighed with relief, and had she been in any other situation, may have felt her knees go out for a fraction of a second before regaining her composure.

"Those are your and his pokémon. Please do not use them in the vicinity; they might damage the building. Other than that, I see no reason to detain you any longer. Feel free to drop by the seventeenth floor if you want. Once again - I see no reason to stop you, for I believe your insatiable curiosity will egg you on."

She glanced at the President before setting the mug back on a coaster atop the table she’d retrieved it from minutes earlier. Walking slowly towards the person holding the tray, she looked at the pokeballs before continuing to click hers back on her belt, six on the right side as the usual compared to three per side. She picked Stevens up as well, balancing them in her hands for a moment before snapping them onto her belt as well, this time on the left side.

She wasted no time in making for the door. She opened it easily, pausing for a moment to think before looking back at President Tsuwabuki. ”You’re correct as far as my curiosity is concerned. Though I’m not sure I would have used the word ‘curiosity’.” she glanced at the ground for a second before looking up at him again. ”I’ll do my best to assure your building isn’t damaged.” she told him, currently unsure if she’d wind up using any of her larger pokemon in the vicinity. Her smaller, more moderately sized ones could do what she considered minimal damage to the building, but more direct attacks to those within it.

”I regret to say that I fear the next time we meet, it will not go as smoothly as this has…” she looked into his eyes instead of just at him. ”Thanks for the coffee…it was delicious…” Slipping out the door, she let it close behind her before she walked quickly for the elevator, calling it to the floor below where it had stopped. Once inside and with closed doors, she pressed the ‘17’ button and leaned against the wall for a moment before one of her pokeballs burst open, releasing Daybreak.

The purple Espeon opened her mouth in a silent cry of joy to see her trainer and leapt into her arms, pushing her against the walls of the elevator. Alyssa forced back an exclamation of pain, for Daybreak hadn’t realized the wound on her trainer’s side, and the sixty-pound Espeon practically jumping at her hadn’t been the most enjoyable experience for the first time Alyssa could recall. Wincing slightly, she held Daybreak for a moment, looking into the deep violet eyes of the pokemon.

”Daybreak…” Alyssa said quietly, in a hushed but urgent manner. ”What are you doing?”

”~I am glad you’re safe…”~ the Espeon’s telepathic voice broke through to Alyssa’s mind, interrupting her. ”~But I sense more important matters than my concern. I will help you however you need.”~ Alyssa smiled softly, before cringing thanks to the burning pain in her side. She knelt down immediately and set Daybreak as gently as possible.

”~You’re hurt!~” Accompanying her voice, Daybreak cried out in distress, making her way to nose at her trainers side. ”Daybreak!” Alyssa said, her voice tense, more with the regretful frustration at her pokemon’s concern. ”There are more important things than me right now, and one of them is on the floor we’re going to now! You need to put me aside get back in your pokeball, or else you’ll get hurt!”

The Espeon quieted, regarding her trainer almost warily. The worry that had been shimmering in her eyes was replaced by guarded confusion as to why her trainer didn’t want her help. Closing her eyes, Alyssa thought for a moment. She was aware that the Espeon still had a mental link established with her. Over time, she came to learn what it felt like when a Psychic pokemon was in her mind to speak telepathically to her, no matter how slight that ‘sensation’ was. Although she had never experienced being controlled by a powerful Psychic technique, she imagined it felt similar – and it was not something that was easy to detect.

Daybreak...please, just get back in your pokeball... she looked at the Espeon as she sent her thoughts to the pokemon Hoenn’s former Champion is in trouble, and I’m going to do something about it. Steven -- she was cut off. ”~Is that the one that pointed a gun at your head?~” The Espeon’s forked tail lashed back and forth, her eyes blazing. Alyssa sighed inwardly. Daybreak would not forgive that, even if Steven had not actually done anything. Yes. Leave him be. I’m going to help him. Now get back in your pokeball before we stop and the doors open!

The Espeon nodded, casting her trainer a reluctant look before retreating to her pokeball at her trainer’s gesture of holding the pokeball out. Sighing, Alyssa picked herself up and stood, waiting. The elevator slowed to a stop and the doors opened.

She stepped out quickly and quietly, the doors barely having opened the full way before she was out. She automatically saw Steven practically on the ground, pulling himself to stand with the use of a heavy potted plant. Her eyes told of her worry, but she remained silent, glaring at the backs of the Lux agents. Well, she’d gotten out of the center of the hornet’s nest, but now she’d just have to get back out and past the soldiers. She tensed, clenching her fist. If the situation required her to spring, she would.

Wonderful…start thinking more, Alyssa… she told herself.

[KANE]

"Who gave you that right? The president?"

Steven was now standing up just as Alyssa stepped into the hallway. He staggered to his feet, steadying himself against the wall as he stared at her direction. Was she coming to where he was and fight Maine? She would be no match for him ... at least, he thought that would happen. Thankfully, the young lady didn't make a run for him - Maine, however, noted her presence.

"Ah, the leader."

"... Akiyama."

Steven's eyes fell on the pokéballs on her waist. She had got them ... well, at least her pokémon were fine. She needed to leave now - the Stone had a feeling that she should have left when she had the chance. Backup was most definitely coming; this was Devon, after all. Tsuwabuki might have been more reasonable than he usually was, but it didn't mean he was going to go easy.

"Get the hell out of here," Steven's voice was surprisingly level for his current condition. "Both of you. Hell. All of you." The former champion gritted his teeth, eyes snapping to attention at once. He was already on the seventeenth floor - things just suddenly got all complicated - Maine reached out, gripping the former champion with a hiss. The handguns in Steven's suit slid across his chest; Alyssa would probably see them. It was his means of defence -

Maine tightened his grasp. "You're coming with me to the office."

"Stay where you are, Akiyama," said the former champion as he was escorted into a nearby office - he hoped that she would at least listen to his words - the other side held the advantage, after all. He was wounded and another gunshot ...

---

In the office, Steven was shoved onto the sofa, where he stood up almost instantly. He removed his suit and hung it on the hook - Maine watched on in disbelief. Didn't he get shot just now? By the sniper Tsuwabuki sent ... did he miss ... impossible ... The former champion bore a dry smirk and removed his vest; a bullet hole was on the back of the vest, and he showed it to the lux supervisor before he too, hung it on the nearby stand.

"Covert ballistic vest. I'd be insane to go into a weapons headquarters without being decently guarded against bullets," explained Steven, shrugging. "Are you guarded?"

Maine nearly spat on the ground. It was true. He hadn't expected his fact; he assumed that the president did and had conveniently forgot to mention it. "So you weren't shot at all," he muttered, "And you actually let yourself be ..." He shook his head.

"I know, right."

He retrieved his gun from his suit, knowing full well that Maine wasn't armed. After all, there was no need to arm oneself against a wounded person. The former champion pointed one rather casually at him, a hand opening a drawer - ah, he was right. There it was. Tsuwabuki had followed his design and stock orders to a perfect T. He took out a cartridge-like object, inserted it into his gun, then smiled almost wistfully at Maine.

There were two shots fired, but one silenced when Steven retrieved a silencer from his drawer. The first shot rang loud when he fatally shot Maine, then stamped on his wound with his heavy boot, then the second silenced one when he shot himself in the back.

---

He opened the door, stumbling out and falling to the ground. The heir to Devon hadn't expected it to hurt this much; the first time, it was indeed painful, but he had a ballistic vest on. This time the bullet dug much deeper, and the blood was soaking through to his coat. He didn't have long. He glanced up, shakily walking to Alyssa, trying to put on as steely a front as possible.

"The pokéballs."

[KANE]

Alyssa stayed still as her appearance was acknowledged by both parties, first by the Lux member that seemed to be in charge of the small group, but then by Steven. She saw his eyes lower to her belt and she tilted her chin down slightly, moving her eyes from Steven to the Lux members. Her jaw remained tight when Steven spoke again.

”Get the hell out of here.” his voice was unexpectedly strong. Although she remained quiet with her eyes maintaining their current, more pensive expression, she silently answered him, No. She was going to see to it that he got out of there as she did, and get help that he definitely needed…or at the very least rest until he was better off than his current condition.

”Both of you. Hell. All of you.” In response to his words, the ‘leader’ of the Lux members reached forward, pulling Steven towards him. Alyssa’s eyes directed towards movement on Steven’s chest. The handguns from earlier… she thought silently, quickly managing to determine what the object she was seeing was. If Steven could stand, then he was able to use handguns, right..? The obvious answer for why he hadn’t yet was that he was outnumbered and outarmed in this instance. However…he’d proved himself to be capable of getting out of a situation like that and effectively turning the tables.

She closed her eyes for a moment to think before opening them again at the sound of Stevens voice. ”Stay where you are, Akiyama.” She grit her teeth. She hadn’t been given orders for a long while before today; she’d almost forgotten what it was like. The thing about getting orders that had annoyed her most was the fact that it made her feel more subordinate to whoever was giving the orders than she already was. She knew in this instance there wasn’t room for that sort of feeling, seeing as Steven was more capable than she was.

Staying still, she watched his back vanish behind a closed door, her arm trembling from the fresh wave of energy the coffee sent through her. The silence seemed to last for an eternity before she heard a gunshot. She flinched, her eyes automatically widened with worry. It was times like this when she wished she was a Psychic. She’d probably have a better idea of what had just happened if that was the case.

The door opened and she felt her body tense. She breathed a silent sigh of relief as Steven appeared, before quickly being overcome by a fresh wave of concern as he stumbled and fell to the ground. He picked himself up and made his way to her shakily. His expression remained hard, but Alyssa could see that it wasn’t as unwavering as it had been previously.

”The pokeballs.”

Alyssa hesitated before lowering a hand to her belt, clicking off the first two pokeballs and suspending them between her index and middle fingers, and her ring and pinky, more or less holding them out to him.

”Steven…you’re hurt…you need to see somebody to get the bullet removed from your back…” she said, her voice quiet with worry. ”Or at the very least rest or something before you do so you don’t pass out on the way there…”