The clinic is rather empty and quiet. Zach, Betty, and Olly all stand around Diego, who is lying in bed, unconscious, with bandages wrapped around his torso.
“Back again, eh?” asks Audrey, appearing before the group. “I take it the news isn’t good, right…?”
Zach looks to her. “See for yourself…” He moves out of her way to reveal the scene to her.
Olly keeps his focus on his friend; holding his paw by his side. “Diego… Don’t worry… I won’t leave you, Buddy…”
“What happened this time?!” Audrey exclaims.
“Terrorist attack,” Betty tells her. “In the square, earlier today… He got hit with a shadow ball. Possibly by the same guys from the town hall attacks a couple of days ago.”
“Arceus… These thugs, whoever they are, don’t give any of us a break, do they?”
“These attacks are repetitive,” comments Zach. “And it seems we’re the center of it.”
Betty looks to him. “What do you mean?”
“Whoever is doing this, they have their sights on us, other misfits, and anyone else who interact with them. We need to get back to the manor and get to the bottom of this.”
Olly turns around to them. “What about Diego? We can’t just leave him here.”
“He’ll be safe at the clinic,” Audrey tells him. “Don’t worry about him, Olly. He’s well-cared for here.”
“It won’t be enough…” Zach takes out his crystal communicator. “Sergeant Emboar, come in, please. Private Zach Riolu requesting your attention. Over.” No answer. “Sergeant Emboar, do you copy? Over.” Still nothing. He changes the contact. “Hello? Anyone?! This is Private Zach Riolu. Requesting-”
“Your squad is dead, Soldier,” responds a familiar voice, appearing into view on the crystal “screen.”
“Lieutenant Luther? What happened?!”
“Your squad was ambushed in the forest by some unknown guerrillas. They were responding to suspicious activity at the time you were attacked in the square. My guess is, the assailants’ plan was to split you guys up and get you alone.”
“Which means the clinic and manor could be compromised!”
“Affirmative. We’re detecting unknown hostiles in proximity to your location. Be on guard! I’m en route to your location with additional reinforcements. Lieutenant Luther, out.”
“Roger that! Over and out.” Zach puts his crystal away. “Audrey, I need you to help me move Diego to a secure room.”
“What for?” she asks.
“I believe we’re going to have some company soon… Possibly Team Rescuers, or worse. We need to move quickly!” The audino and riolu, along with the oshawott and brionne, move Diego’s bed from the ward area and into a private room down the hallway. Zach closes the door and peeks through the crack with his weapon at the ready. Betty stands behind him, quiet and observing along with him.
Olly gets back at his friend’s side. “Don’t worry, Buddy… We’re here to make sure nothing bad is going to happen… You’re in safe paws…” The entire group falls silent at the sound of footsteps echoing down the hallway. Zach keeps himself at the ready for whoever comes into view. He and Betty become relaxed and puzzled when a pokemon they know comes into view.
Zach opens the door when they come near. “Apatite?! What are you doing here?”
“I-I heard what happened in the square earlier,” the shiny sableye says. “I was in the market when I got the news… I came to see how Diego’s doing.”
“Did you see anyone else come in?”
“N-no…? Why…? What’s going on…?”
Zach puts his paw on the sableye’s shoulder. “You, Olly, and Audrey stay here with Diego. I’m going out to the front to stand guard.”
“Hold it, Zach!” Betty catches up. “I’m coming with you!” The two of them head outside and keep on lookout for any suspicious activity. They remain on guard and watch closely for any signs of activity.
“Zach,” begins Betty, turning to him. “You don’t suppose Team Rescuers are getting the pokemon of Heroto to hunt us down, do you?”
“It’s a possibility,” he tells her. “Like Diego said, Team Rescuers has allies and friends siding with them. I’m well aware of the relationships and bonds they have with many others, and they benefit from them. Out here, we need to be careful on who we trust.”
“My… I’ve never heard that from you before… You’ve grown up so quickly…”
He faces her. “I’ve lived through hardship, Betty… When I was with Team Rescuers, I’ve suffered a lot, yet didn’t know about it. Life after them was no better, and you’ve witnessed much of that…”
“Yes… I have…”
“I’ve learned a lot from my experience. And now, I am ensuring safety and security to the pokemon who’ve had my back.” Zach’s ears perk up and he pivots to the front, quickly. “Heads up! We’ve got company!” Betty turns to where he’s looking and sees them: The group of pokemon approach them. Two of them grab Zach by his arms on either side of him, while one grasps onto Betty.
“Not a muscle!” Casey tells her.
The mew floats forward. “You both again? Why is it when there’s trouble, it always involves you two?”
“What the hell is going on here?” Zach asks. “What are you and the team doing around here?”
“You little punk! What gives you the right to question our business?! We just got word there was an attack in the forest involving your idiot peers! We’re keeping little troublemakers, like you two, off the streets. Now, beat it!”
“I’m not leaving. I have orders to ensure the clinic is safe.”
“You continue to test me and the others, don’t you? Figures you’d never stop. Lock them up with all the others.”
“Guildmaster,” interrupts Miffy. “Don’t you think it’s a good idea to arrest a soldier of the Aura Army?”
“Don’t question me!” the mew tells her. “They’re obstructing ordinance!”
“Hold on a minute,” Zach utters. “What are your plans with the celebi? What’s your motive for everything?”
“That’s it! Hold him up straight!” Kenji and Gar Gar do as they are ordered. Ezma lunches forward and strikes Zach across the face, knocking him out in a single blow. The two boys keep him up.
“You witch!” spurts Betty.
Ezma turns to her. “How dare you deify us! Casey, take care of-”
“Not so fast!” shouts a voice. The pokemon pause and turn to the source. Luther Lucario stands before them with guards all around. “Causing trouble again, are we, Miss Ezma?”
“Stay out of this, Lucario!” She demands. “I don’t need you interfering with our business!”
“That doesn’t give you the right to assault our troops and take over our jobs, Mew!” he orders a small detachment into the clinic. “We are under orders by the high council and local governments of the region! If you interfere with the Aura Army again, you and your team are to appear before the high council, and you must show cause! Don’t make me have to come after you again. Understand?”
Cindy growls. “You little-”
Ezma extends her paw to her, stopping her from uttering another word. “All right… Let them all go…”
Cindy faces her. “What?!”
Ezma turns to Cindy. “Shush…! We cannot afford the high council stepping in and stripping us of our status. They are not a force to reckon with…” The mew looks at the lucario. “You won’t be lucky for long, Luther.”
“I think YOU should be worried about that, Ezma,” the lucario says. Ezma flies away with her team following her, leaving the scene. Luther then turns around and walks to the brionne. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Betty tells him. “Never better…” She notices two soldiers check the unconscious riolu. “Arecus…”
“The mew’s doing, right?”
“Yeah… Squared him right in the face.”
The lucario sighs. “She never ceases… Her or the team…” They watch as Zach is carried into the clinic.
