*Boom!*
A crisp explosion echoed across the sky...
Every remaining spectator looked up in unison.
A dazzling firework burst in the air, followed by six crimson-red words blazing across the sky:
«Did you like the gift, Lance?»
On stage, Lance's fists clenched and veins bulged on his forehead as he stared at the taunting words in furious silence.
Team Rocket had publicly executed undercover agents of the Kanto League right in front of everyone...
This wasn't just a provocation, it was a slap to the League's face.
They were too arrogant.
Even Caleb couldn't stand it... As someone who was supposed to die in this scheme, he felt he had every right to speak up.
He knew Giovanni was watching everything unfold from the shadows...
...
Officer Jenny blinked in surprise as Caleb turned away, "Where are you going?" she asked.
Without looking back, Caleb waved a hand dismissively, "I'm going to make Team Rocket pay."
Jenny's eyes welled up with tears, 'What a brave, determined soul! To avenge his fallen comrades, heʼs even willing to challenge Team Rocket alone!'
Whether Caleb succeeded or not, his fearless courage was worthy of respect.
The brutal image of the two investigators exploding into blood mist flashed through her mind.
"Don't go!" she called out desperately, "They have too many people!"
...
Caleb wasn't foolish enough to charge into Team Rocket's den alone... He stepped onto the stage.
Lance whirled around at the sound of footsteps, his expression morphing into shock when he recognized Caleb.
Caleb gave him a firm nod, then looked toward the skyscraper across the venue as if piercing through walls to see Giovanni's smug grin.
"You celebrated too soon," Caleb sneered, "I'm not dead yet!"
....
~Inside the skyscraper~
Just as Caleb predicted… Giovanni had been enjoying Lance's anguish, that was until a familiar voice blasted through the speakers...
<...You celebrated too soon. I'm not dead yet!..>
The pen Giovanni had been twirling clattered to the floor. His brows furrowed instantly.
Ariana's face paled, "How?!"
A bad premonition surged in Giovanni's chest. Without hesitation, he snatched up a communicator and barked orders:
"All personnel, evacuate the base immediately! Protect Dr. Fuji! Have him take the Mewtwo prototype and leave NOW!"
....
~Back at the venue~
Caleb turned to Lance. He cut off the Champion's stunned reaction and said, "Team Rocket's base is under the Rainbow Game Corner. If you move now, you might catch them."
Lance's expression hardened.
Officer Jenny, who had followed, immediately radioed for backup.
Within moments, every law enforcement unit in Celadon City mobilized, converging on the Rainbow Game Corner...
Lance mounted his Dragonite, but before leaving, he gripped Caleb's shoulder, then solemnly assured him, saying, "Wait for me here. I won't let you face danger again."
Caleb stared at Lance's intense gaze and was almost moved by his sincerity...
...
As soon as Lance and Dragonite vanished into the sky, Caleb slipped away unnoticed...
He hailed a taxi and headed straight for Dr. Fuji's estate.
His Team Rocket-issued card still had plenty of funds, but to avoid the card being frozen, Caleb withdrew 10 000 Pokédollars in cash along the way.
He spent 200 on a classic travel backpack, stuffing the money and Mimikyu (now Poké Ball-less) inside.
....
~At the estate~
Amber sat by her bedroom window, staring blankly at the sky...
Caleb scaled the garden wall and entered through her window.
"Onii-san! You came!" Ambe's eyes lit up.
Caleb smiled, "Yeah... I'm keeping my promise to take you to see the ocean."
Amber's small face scrunched in worry, "But… Daddy won't let me leave…"
Caleb crouched to her eye level, his voice firm, "Amber, tell me honestly... do you want to stay here?"
Amber opened her mouth and hesitated... but looking into Caleb's eyes, her expression seemed like she had made a great decision, then she whispered, "Onii-san… I'm not the Amber you're looking for. I don't even know who I am…"
She knew her life experiences, and she wasn't the person doctor Fuji claimed she was.
Caleb's thoughts sharpened instantly, "It doesn't matter who you are," he said firmly, "We made a pinky promise to visit the sea together, didn't we? That was you, right?"
Amber nodded.
"Then that's all that matters. Will you come with me now?" Caleb asked.
This time, Amber didn't hesitate.
Seeing this, Caleb scooped the frail girl into his arms and made a run for it. But as they reached the hallway, he paused...
The basement entrance loomed ahead.
Caleb quickly came to a decision and put Amber down, "Wait here," he said, "I'll be right back."
She nodded obediently...
...
~The basement~
The moment Caleb pushed open the door, his breath stilled at what he saw inside...
Rows of lifeless starter Pokémon floated in transparent tanks with their eyes closed, and their bodies marked with sinister black numbers... The numbers seemed to indicate their cloning sequence.
Further in, the tanks no longer held Pokémon. Instead, they contained pale, emaciated girls with long blue hair drifting like seaweed in the liquid.
All of them were Amber...
'Just how many clones had Dr. Fuji made in two years?!'
His heart pounding furiously, Caleb stared at the dozens of identical lifeless faces...
Then...
"Onii-san… are they all Amber?" Amber's voice came from behind him.
Caleb's throat tightened. He didn't know how to explain.
However, Amber simply gazed at the clones, her expression eerily calm, "I already knew," she murmured, "When I first woke up… I was in water just like this."
Caleb's chest ached.
Then, the eight-year-old girl smiled brightly, "But it's okay! Compared to them… I'm really lucky!"
'Because I'm the one who got to meet you, Onii-san.' she said inwardly...
After unraveling the truth of the matter, Caleb sighed softly, ruffled little Amber's hair and said, "Let's go,"
But as they reached the main floor, Amber suddenly gasped, "Onii-san, wait!"
She dashed into the room where they'd once played together, her eyes darting to a shelf lined with Poké Balls.
Caleb understood immediately. Then he opened his backpack and said, "We'll take them together."
Amber beamed, "Thank you, Onii-san!"
Caleb swiftly packed all twenty Poké Balls, filling the bag to the brim... Now, Mimikyu had to be carried in his arms...
Just as they were about to leave, footsteps echoed outside.
Caleb immediately yanked Amber behind him and ducked into a storage room.
Through the door crack, they watched as five Team Rocket grunts and Dr. Fuji stormed inside, heading straight for Amber's bedroom.
Seconds later, Dr. Fuji's enraged roar shook the house.
The grunts quickly dispersed and searched the estate room by room...
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Read ahead on my P@treon...
[email protected]/MayaMatengele01