Wanderer of the Pokémon World

Chapter 277: Contingency Plans

Director Bao Ba's demeanor shifted when addressing Rinko, his earlier casualness with Xiu replaced by a formal, almost official tone. "Miss Murasame," he said, his voice resonant, "thank you for your invaluable assistance.

I assure you, on behalf of the Kanto Pokémon Ranger Corps and by extension, the Pokémon League, that these Stun Stem supplies will be used judiciously to protect human and Pokémon lives.

Furthermore, we will ensure your legal rights and the proprietary nature of your family's cultivation techniques are fully respected. You have my word."

Rinko looked a little overwhelmed by his pronouncements, clearly not understanding all the implications. She's a botanist, not a law student, Xiu thought.

"Director, time is of the essence," Xiu interjected smoothly, taking over. "We can discuss the finer points later."

Rinko, seeming relieved, nodded and stepped aside, gesturing towards the now-open storage room door. "Everything is in there. Here's the inventory list." She tore the neatly written sheet from her ledger and handed it to Bao Ba.

"Excellent, young lady. Leave the rest to us," Bao Ba said, taking the list with a cursory glance. His Alakazam, which had been standing silently beside him, floated into the storage room.

Xiu watched, a flicker of envy in his eyes, as the sacks of Stun Stem began to vanish one by one, teleported away by Alakazam.

Teleportation… such an incredibly useful, almost magical ability. Perfect for infiltration, escape… and apparently, large-scale logistics. Abra, for all its psychic might, hadn't yet mastered that particular skill. How long will it take?

The twenty-eight bags, a considerable volume, disappeared in a remarkably short time, leaving the once-packed storage room eerily empty.

"My team is waiting for the rendezvous. If there's nothing else, I must depart," Bao Ba stated, already turning towards the door.

"Wait, Director!" Xiu said, his expression serious. "There's something else. Something you need to see. For your own judgment." He needed Bao Ba, and by extension, Bao Ba's Alakazam, to understand the true nature of the threat they might be facing.

If Alakazam can sense Mewtwo's power, even secondhand, it might give them a crucial edge, or at least, a healthy dose of caution.

He quickly established a telepathic link with Abra, then extended it to include Bao Ba and his Alakazam, projecting the Fearow's memory of the encounter with Mewtwo.

As the psychic images flooded their minds, Xiu heard a faint, almost inaudible mental whisper, cold and devoid of emotion, yet resonating with an undeniable power:

It was Alakazam, its first direct communication with him.

When the memory ended, Xiu added a verbal warning, his gaze fixed on Bao Ba, but his words clearly intended for the powerful Psychic-type Pokémon as well.

"If your forces encounter that… Pokémon… advise them to withdraw if possible. Do not engage directly unless absolutely necessary."

He didn't know if Alakazam truly registered his warning; the telepathic link had already been severed. Bao Ba, however, looked profoundly shaken.

His earlier bluster was gone, replaced by a grim, somber understanding. Without another word, without even a farewell, he and his Alakazam vanished in a swirl of psychic energy.

Xiu turned to Rinko, offering a reassuring smile. "It's alright, Rinko. We've done all we can. The rest… is out of our hands. Try not to worry."

Rinko nodded, though her gaze kept returning to the empty storage room, the worry in her eyes still palpable.

— — —

The next morning, Xiu woke with a start, disoriented from fatigue. He was on the sofa in Rinko's living room.

He vaguely remembered them talking late into the night— exchanging notes, sharing stories… then, nothing. I must've have fallen asleep right here.

A thin, light blanket was draped over him – Rinko's doing, no doubt. The mountain air gets surprisingly cold in the early morning hours.

He checked his watch. Not yet five. Outside, the world was still shrouded in the darkness of the wee morning hours. He sat up, a little stiff, wondering what to do next.

Later, as the first pale light of dawn began to filter through the windows, Rinko came downstairs. She found Xiu in her kitchen, already preparing breakfast, her Vileplume watching him with sleepy curiosity.

"Xiu? You're awake already?" she asked, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Morning, Rinko," Xiu replied cheerfully. "Hope you don't mind me borrowing your kitchen."

Rinko just nodded silently, her eyelids still heavy.

"Go wash up," Xiu said gently. "Breakfast will be ready soon."

"Breakfast?" Rinko's eyes, almost closed, suddenly snapped open. "You made breakfast? For me?"

"Of course," Xiu replied with a smile.

They ate together at the small kitchen table, discussing Rinko's plans for the day.

As they finished, Xiu knew it was time for him to leave. "Alright, Rinko, I should get back. Daisy and Gary will be wondering where I am. And I need to check on my own Pokémon." He paused.

"Be careful here. If you need anything, anything at all, you know how to reach me."

Rinko simply nodded, watching him go.

Outside, Xiu was greeted by the full glory of the mountain sunrise. He stood for a moment, squinting against the brilliant light, feeling the warmth spread across his face, then through his entire body.

He took a deep breath of the crisp, clean air, then his gaze shifted to the two Fearow perched in a nearby tree. He walked towards them, Abra materializing at his side.

They had encountered each other several times now. The Fearow, while still wary, no longer showed outright aggression towards him.

He approached the injured one, gently examining its bandaged wing. Healing well. The wound is almost closed. But it had been grounded for days. Regaining its strength, its ability to fly… that would take time.

While he examined the injury, he used Abra's telepathy to communicate with the both of them, reinforcing his earlier instructions: Protect Rinko. Protect this garden. If there's any trouble you can't handle, come to the institute. Find me.

Just then, Rinko emerged from the villa, Vileplume at her side. She walked over, watching him. "They're recovering well, then?"

"Yes," Xiu replied, his attention still on the Fearow. He then straightened, a new thought occurring to him. "Rinko," he began, his tone serious, "I think… there might be trouble heading towards Pallet Town as well.

This location… it's quite isolated. If the beast tide does spill over from Viridian Forest, you could be directly in its path. I strongly suggest you come back to the institute with me. At least for now, just until this crisis passes."

Rinko looked up at her beloved garden, then back at Xiu. A faint, sad smile touched her lips. "No, Xiu," she said softly but firmly. "Thank you for your concern. But this is my home. My parents' legacy. I can't abandon it."

Xiu had expected as much. Her devotion to the botanical garden, to her family's work, was absolute. And with the purple flower seedlings now thriving under her care… she would never leave.

And perhaps, he conceded silently, it was the right decision to leave the Fearow here.

"Alright, Rinko," he said, his voice resigned. He reached into his backpack and retrieved a compact, high-powered flare gun and several signal flares of different colors. He pressed them into her hands.

"Then take this. If you encounter any trouble you can't handle, anything at all, fire one of these into the sky. The color will tell me the nature of the threat. I'll come as quickly as I can."

These equipment, acquired from the Hunter Organization, would be surprisingly effective in cases of emergencies. Signal flares, net launchers, stun grenades… truly useful tools.

"What is this?" Rinko asked, looking at the unfamiliar device with curiosity.

"It's a flare gun," Xiu explained, quickly demonstrating its basic function and the meaning of the different colored flares. "Use it if you need it." He then turned and, with a final nod, headed back down the mountain path.