Log 13: A shocking development
Corey was dead and Shelly was defeated. Unfortunately, I had no clue as to where I had to continue next. Apparently there is a reserve leader for each gym in this league. Seeing as it seems to be the only place with any information, I made haste to the Grand Hall, partially to tell Ame about Corey's death and to find out who's next up.
Sadly, the first face I saw there was Fern. He was also there reporting Corey's suicide. He mentioned that the new Poison leader lived out in the Bybli-, no Bibix-, ugh, who came up with these names? The Byxbysion wasteland. And then he rubbed the fact that he had a key to get into the region, still acting like he was better than me. He said he would tell me where he got the key if I beat him in a battle. Was tempted to beat him with my own two fists and take the key, but a battle it was. Yet again, we won, he claimed he was still better than us, same old story, same old song and dance. At the very least he did say that he got the key from some singing guy with a weird haircut and fishnet stockings. I think he then made some kind of gay joke, but whatever. He said Cain was at the Beryl cemetery, then left. Honestly was hoping that him being on his own journey would mean I would see less of him.
I found Cain at the cemetery, with him looking at one of the graves. Couldn't see the name on it, but my best guess would be that it was where Corey was buried. Since I was the last one to see him alive, Cain said that he was trying to find his daughter, Heather. Said that he knew what it was like to be abandoned and alone and that he didn't want her to feel that way. Touching, but not why I was there. I told him about my need for the key. There was a bit of tension in the air. He said he didn't really like giving the key out to people since he wasn't a fan of people challenging his sister. Hmm, a family of Poison trainers, one of whom is a gym leader. Wonder who is better. He offered to give me the key if I could beat him in a battle, which we did quickly. Surprised he doesn't have a Skuntank or Drapion on his team though. He's really weak to Psychic. Lilith evolved into a Delphox this battle, which greatly enhanced her powers. She made quite a large spectacle using both her Psychic and Fire powers to take his team down with style. Flashy she may be, but still very calculated.
As our battle finished, a loud roar came from overhead. The Salamence landed on the mountain next to us and Heather looked over. Cain tried talking to her, saying that he wanted to look out for her since her father passed. It was clear that she was resentful of her father and all authority figures, as she claimed that Cain would just try to make more rules she had to abide by. He said he didn't want that and that he really just wanted to be a friend to her, but she said she already had a friend and took off to go to her. And now we had to head back to the Lapis gym to talk to Shelly and Heather.
Cain went on ahead of me. As I was following, I heard a child shouting about being kidnapped. Again, no police officers, so I went towards the source of the noise. It turns out there was a child and a Drifloon there. Sadly, the wind picked up and Drifloon got away before I could catch it. The child said that he grabbed the Pokemon thinking it was an ordinary balloon and that it somehow dragged him to the outside of the abandoned power plant. I told him to get home since his parents must be worried sick. He ran off with reckless abandon. Kids... I continued to head back through the Jasper ward, but the kid screamed again. This time, two Venipede and a Scolipede were swarming on him. These bugs challenged me to a battle, and much like the Scraggy Squad in the slums, the Scolipede seemed to command the other two in battle. Again, curious as to how things like this really work. Anyway, I defeated the bugs and they retreated quickly. This time, I grabbed the kid's hand to keep him from running off again. It turns out he lives in the Lapis Ward anyway, so I took him there back to his home. As thanks for finding her son, his mother gave me a sticker to access another floor of the Department Store in the Obsidia Ward.
After that I headed to the gym. Cain, Heather, and Shelly were all there. Heather threw some kind of hissy fit and stormed out, prompting Cain, Shelly, and I to follow her. We found next to the orphanage, with Dr. Connal and his assistants talking to her. As it turns out, some kind of law in the system grants him the authority to bring in any child who has no living legal guardian. Sadly there was nothing we could do without risking prison. The assistants dragged her back to the building, kicking and screaming all the way. We went back to the gym to plan our next move. Cain tried comforting Shelly, who blamed herself as the reason for why Heather was taken. But there was nothing we could do. As Cain was speaking to her, the lights dimmed briefly, some kind of power surge. A bloodcurdling scream rang out over the ward. Shelly recognized the voice as Heather's. We went back to the orphanage to figure out what the hell was going on.
Locked. At least that's what Cain said when he tried to get in the front door. When I tried it though, it unlocked. Anna was the one who unlocked the door, saying that she saw my "glowiness." I don't think humans can use Flash, nor do I even have the TM for it, so still not sure what she was talking about. The children said that the doctor brought in a new girl and brought her upstairs, which is where he performs his electrical experiments. Cain stayed behind to defend the room while Shelly and I pushed upstairs. We found Noel locked up and decided to turn this into a full-scale break out. Our primary goal was to save Heather, but we also had to get back the Pokemon of everyone here. After fighting through some more orderlies, all of whom used Electric types by the way, we found the storage locker where all their Pokemon were held, as well as Charlotte's cigarettes.
Dr. Connal and Heather were on the top floor of the building, as expected. Heather was strapped to a table with an Electrivire standing over her. So the doctor really does use Pokemon for torture. Great. We greatly overpowered the orderlies there and outnumbered the doctor. Charlotte burned him with one of her cigarettes and we took Heather out of there. Everyone said that the next place to meet up would be the Underground Railnet where the tracks broke off. I agreed to meet them there soon.
One final part here, I actually helped the Aqua Gang today. I know I shouldn't be involved with them, but they needed my help to take over their rival gang, Team Magma's base. Well, I suppose having one gang would help prevent turf wars and innocents getting caught in cross-fire, so I agreed to help them. We simply took them on in a series of battles, eventually with me against their leader. He was quite a challenge, but Beryl evolved into a Gothorita, so that power spike, in addition to Lilith's newfound power, gave us the edge we needed to win and get them out of there. They offered me a Carvanha, but I turned it down. Not a fan of fish that can kill me.
Team Updates!
Lilith
I still don't think she's ugly, regardless of what anyone says.
Beryl
It's still weird that Gothitelle said she lived with her daughters in the library, but this Gothorita is male.