I recalled Articuno into its Master Ball and struck out for the town with Tech. We had breakfast, our first real meal in a week, at the Kingler Café on Seadra Street. We didn’t talk much over the food. We were too injured, physically and emotionally, to carry on even a meaningless conversation. After breakfast our energy slowly returned. When we left, it was already noon. The tropical sun assaulted us relentlessly through the tall palm trees as we looked for the nearest Pokemon center. Halfway there, I changed my mind and turned to Tech. “Jack, I’ve got some…business to take care of.” I said. “Why don’t you go check into a hotel while I’m gone? I’ll be back later tonight.”

“Uh, okay,” he responded questioningly. “I won’t ask. Which hotel should I go to?”

A sly grin crept onto my face. “Why don’t you get a two bed room at the Dragonair Resort…? Hey, we’re on the government’s dollar!” We both broke into raucous laughter.

“Sure thing,” Tech said. “See ya later, man.” I waved goodbye and headed off to the southern part of the island. I walked for about an hour, trying to stay in the shade of the thick palm fronds overhead. The cool, blue-green ocean was everywhere. My mind was filled with the pleasant sounds of calm waves rolling onto the beach and birds chirping in the limbs. I finally reached my destination…an extremely familiar part of Cinnabar. My old neighborhood. I knew exactly where I was going.

This was one of the residential areas that had been less damaged by the explosive destruction of the Cinnabar Research Institute. Rumor had it that they were conducting potentially dangerous genetic research there, possibly even enhancing Pokemon. The Cinnabar Mansion was the largest branch, but it was said that there were several more…

_____