Part 31

31

[10:00 AM. Silph Co. Research and Development Center. Mossdeep City. Four days after Johto Independence.]

The helicopter banked in on the morning breeze.
	From the back, Dorian Silph Jr. lazily stared out the window. His Liepard slinked over and nestled itself in between his crossed legs. The pilot crackled over the radio. “Mossdeep City in view. Right on schedule.” The helicopter adopted a shallow holding pattern.
	Silph watched the buildings and people grow in size as they approached the complex on the outskirts of the city. Silph Co. had poured billions into expanding the small island into a rather large chunk of land. The complex stretched from the easternmost coast to the inland. They had repossessed the space center and refurbished it. Mossdeep was unrecognizable from the Mossdeep of decades ago. “Crobat One to tower. Come in tower. Requesting you disable the magnetic shield.”
	“We read you Crobat One. Transmit clearance codes for deactivation of the magnetic shield.”
	The pilot flipped several switches and inputted a command into the console. “Transmitting codes now.”
	There was silence on the radio for a brief moment. “Commencing deactivation of the magnetic shield. You may begin your descent, Crobat One.”
	The pilot brought the Helicopter in low to the landing pad. The static in Silph’s headphones disappeared as the magnetic field dissipated.
	“Thank you, tower. Approaching Landing Pad Three. Crobat One to Landing Pad Three: roll out the red carpet.”
	“Roger that, Crobat One. Welcome home, Mr. Silph.”
	The helicopter flew in low to the landing pad. Silph adjusted his suit and gave his Liepard a reassuring scratch behind the ears. “I know you hate flying.”
	They touched town on the pad, sending dust flying as the massive propellers spun down. Silph removed his headset and set it down next to him. The pilot exited first and opened the massive bay doors. Light flooded the inside of the helicopter. Silph shielded his eyes for a brief moment to let the adjust then stepped out onto the landing pad. Liepard jumped out infront of him and stretched in the sun.
	He was greeted by several rows of men in navy blue uniforms standing at attention. The stood motionless like statues. Silph adjusted his sleeves and checked his belt for his pokeballs. A man with a red bar on the lapel of his uniform stood in between the rows, hands folded behind his back. He swallowed nervously.
	“Mr. Silph.”
	The officer extended his hand. Silph gripped it in a crushing shake. Silph continued to walk down the pad, and the officer followed.
	“Welcome back, Mr. Silph. Everything is proceeding optimally. The newest barracks have just been completed. The latest batch of recruits just shipped in from Kanto arrived a few days before you.”
	Silph gave a small smile. “Make sure you welcome them properly, Carter”
	“Of course, sir,” Carter said. Liepard glared at the man. “You have several appointments at the gym, sir; the League requests you reopen the gym so that the challenge may continue. They said—”
	“I have no interest in the Hoenn League. If they wish to speak to me, they may come in person, not through some intermedirary.”
	“Yes, of course, sir. Also, a man arrived just this morning. We didn’t have him on the schedule but he had special clearance from Saffron. It all checked out, so we let him in.”
	“Where is he now?”
	Carter checked a small tablet. “Currently, he is waiting in the sitting room to your office.”
	“Have him transferred to a holding cell. Can’t let him get the wrong idea.”
	Carter gave a two finger point and a couple of the men at attention broke rank and headed toward the main complex. “Is there anything else you need, sir?”
	“Not at the moment. I need to meet with this man. Ensure that we are not interrupted, Lieutenant.”
	“Yes, sir.”
	Silph walked in through the imposing steel doors to the main facility. Everything was dull steel grey. The fluorescent lights shone like a hospital as he walked through the corridors. He made his way to the holding cells. The two men who had been in line were now standing attention at the door.
	“Leave us,” Silph said.
	The two men bowed and made their exit. Silph pressed a palm to the reader on the door and it slid noiselessly open. An older man sat at the far end of the cell in a chair next to a plain metal table. He was graying, and his eyes were a piercing steel. He was dressed immaculately. The only thing off about the man was his jaw; where it should be, there was an iron plate from his neck to his upper lip. It looked welded shut. Silph took a seat opposite the man.
	“Gillian Stone, of the Rustboro Stones. Billionaire investor, steel mogul…” Silph chuckled. “Convicted terrorist, mass murderer, and enemy of the state.” He opened his arms in mock hospitality.  “Welcome. I trust the flight over was pleasant enough?”
	The man said nothing.
	“Forgive me; I almost forgot.” Silph produced a small device from his pocket. He pressed the center button. “You should find that your vocabulator is working properly now. I apologize for my absentmindedness.”
	“This was not part of the plan.” Gillian’s voice was mechanic and hollow; parsed through the vocabulator he sounded more machine than man. To any other man, the voice would have been a threatening groan of machinery. The pitch of his voice was such that the man always seemed perennially agitated.
	“On the contrary, Mr. Stone. This was the plan from the beginning.”
	“Losing was part of your plan?”
	“Yes.” SIlph’s voice was even; it conceded nothing. He was in control. This was his facility—his men, his accomplisdment. The cyborg was of little consequence to him.
	“Was this part of your plan?” Gillian pointed to his steel jaw.
	“That—that was not explicitly part of the plan. However, I believe it falls squarely under the operating costs of the plan. You’re lucky to be out of Kanto at all, aren’t you?”
	“I trade on cell for another.”
	Silph ignored him. “Restoring you to any sort of functional level was no small cost to us, I hope you understand me, Stone.”
	“How was I to know the kickboxer would fly off the handle?”
	“Perhaps because she believed you and your companions to be behind the most heinous terrorist attack in the history of the world? Does that ring a bell?”
	“We had nothing to do with the bombs.”
	“Of course; not any more than by proxy.”
	“Your partner promised us Indigo Plateau.”
	Silph folded his hands. He stared at the man, at least twenty years his senior. “My ‘partner’ promised you the opportunity, if I recall. You merely had to seize the opportunity. Which you failed.”
	“I was told by the League that all the others had perished.”
	“Not before serving their purpose.”
	Gillian radiated animosity. Silph took it in stride; there was nothing the man could do to him here in Silph’s territory.
	“So I’m a glorified pawn, is that it?”
	“The short of it yes.”
	“And what’s the long of it?”
	“How would you like a second chance?”
	Gillian softened slightly. He did not hear-or chose not to-the backhanded swipe from Silph. “I’m listening.”
	“The situation back home is quite…tumultuous, as you may have guessed. Things are in motion. I would like to extend an invitation for you to join our little operation as a more…permanent member.”
	“What could you offer me?”
	“Besides your undeserved freedom and augmentation, I can offer you Mistress Gaap.”
	If he could have; Gillian would have broken into a crooked smile from ear to ear.
	“Enjoy your stay in Mossdeep City, Mr. Stone. I will have you transferred to more suitable accommodations before we discuss the details of your employment.
	Silph stood and turned to leave; with his hand on the door, he paused. “I would warn you that failure is not an option this time. Do not make me regret this, Stone. Grayson is less forgiving than I am.
	Gillian swallowed as he watched Silph leave the cell.