The Plan

A pounding on the door wakes you from your slumber. You wipe the drool from your face, pulling yourself up out of John’s arm. Opal is curled up on his other side. You roll out of bed, grabbing the first article of clothing you see. It must be John’s shirt since it covers you enough on its own to answer the door.

You can hear the shower running. You don’t even remember who wound up in the room last night. You open the door. “Lance,” you say through your still half asleep haze.

“Mind if I come in?” he grins glancing around the hallway. You gesture for him to enter. “I just came by to retrieve the camera, we wanted to comb through the footage for anything useful.”

The camera? Oh yea. You pull your arms back into John’s oversized shirt, unscrewing the piercing. “Here.”

“Thanks.” He pockets the jewelry. “Are you all alright?”

“I’m not sure, but I think we’ll at least make it through.”

He rocks on his heels, “That’s, that’s good. Listen Amber. I was in a rush before, but we really appreciate the help. And there are some of us in the League that are amenable to your cause as well. We don’t have the numbers currently, but maybe if we get rid of the bad apples and add a few good apples.”

“Bad apples. Like Surge and Erika?”

He grins, “You’re good. Yes, those two. Among others, unfortunately it seems Team Rocket’s influence is stronger than we’d like in the League.”

The bathroom door opens, Yuruki is patting a towel to her dripping wet, and fully naked body. “Oh, hey Lance.”

“Hello,” he says, trying his best not to look at Yuruki. “I should go. We’ll be in touch.” He hands you a card with his contact info on it. While you’re still looking at the design, he turns and leaves the room.

The door opens moments later, Jack entering, “I just passed Lance in the hallway.”

You and Yuruki laugh. John and Opal slowly stir awake. Jack says that Daisy and Paris are still in bed in the other room. “So A, you’re blowing up on Chatoter.” She shows you her phone, and your follower count is through the roof. You’re trending with several hashtags. Some of which are friendlier than others. It seems like for every positive comment, there are 3 more waiting to tear you down. Your Dede interview getting as much coverage as your win.

“We’ve been texting this morning,” Yuruki says, pushing Jack’s phone away, “coming up with a plan.” You look between the two of them. “You’ve got a huge target on your back right now, but it should die down a little over time.”

“I’ve got the bike out front right now.” The bike? You start to question it, but they refuse to answer. Instead pushing you to shower and get dressed. After you’re ready, the morning draws on, as everyone else takes their turn in one of the room’s showers.

Yuruki runs out and grabs breakfast, or rather lunch since you all slept till after noon, enough for everyone. You eat in the room, rejoicing your victory, everyone’s own tough battles, and what their plans are next. But noone brings up Team Rocket.

“Okay, come on. What is this big plan you two have cooked up?” you ask once again.

Yuruki and Jack share a look before laughing. Throughout breakfast, you catch everyone whispering, the secret plan spreading to everyone. Everyone but you, that is. Until finally the meal is finally finished, and the whole group makes their way out front. Jack takes your hand and leads you to a chained up bicycle.

The seat is extended, giving room for two people. “Really? This is the big plan? What, we just ride out of town, make our way to Fuchsia? Don’t you think that’s where people would expect me to go?”

You are rolling your eyes even as you follow Jack, sitting on the back of the bicycle behind her. “Here let me see your phone,” Yuruki chimes in. You look at her with valid skepticism. “To take your picture.”

You’re still not sure why she can’t use her phone but pass it to her anyways. Jack twists back, giving you a posed kiss on the cheek. Yuruki snaps the photo and then goes about typing away at something.

When she hands it back you see what she’s done. A Chatoter post from your own account. Fuchsia City here we come! with the photo of you and Jack attached. You gape at the photo, with your influx of followers everyone will know where you’re going now. “What the hell!” you squeak, trying to find a way to delete the post. “Now everyone is going to be able to find me.” Panic washes over you, until Jack’s hand steadies on yours.

“You’re not going to Fuchsia, A.”

Yuruki throws out a pokeball, her Swanna appearing behind the group. “We’re going to Ecruteak City.” Jack gets off the bike and helps you off as well.

“Ecruteak? Like in Johto?”

“Yep. The Sirens have a game there in a couple days. Figured getting you out of the region would be a great hiding place,” Yuruki says, as everyone else smiles.

“Yuruki is the strongest of our group. She can keep you safer than any of us can,” John rubs the back of his neck.

“Think of it as a mini vacation. You’ll spend some time traveling with the team, and then return with plenty of time to win your other badges before the League,” Daisy chimes in.

“So what do you say? But even if you don’t come with me, I wouldn’t go to Cycling Road after making such a bold post on Chatoter,” Yuruki shrugs, offering you a hand as she is already climbing on the back of her pokemon.

Why not? You’ve got plenty of time before the League. You give everyone hugs, and kisses for Jack and John. Then you climb on to Swanna’s back, your arms wrapped around Yuruki’s waist, your cheek pressed to her shoulder. With a couple big flaps of its wings, Swanna lifts into the air. You wave, keeping one arm tight on Yuruki, as your friends fade into the distance.