"Talk? What could we possibly have to talk about, I don't even know you." Serena said, her tone skeptical as she squinted at the suspicious newcomer, though his expression gave nothing away.

"You appear to be studying Mega Evolution under Professor Sycamore, correct? I just would like to know what exactly you've managed to find out so far, then I'll be on my way." 42 said calmly, Serena glaring at him before sighing.

"I haven't found out much, all I have right now is a lead. But why should I even give you any information at all, you're a criminal?" She asked, 42 adjusting his glasses as he looked away from her.

"I wasn't...always a criminal. I led a normal life, had my own dreams, my own ambitions, but all of that is gone now. Team Flare is my past, present, and future, but despite my better judgement I've come here to exchange information with you."

Those words shocked Serena, though she wasn't entirely sure why she was so surprised. Of course he would've had a life before all of this, but what kind of information could he have for her that would be useful that he'd actually give up?

"What kind of information would you even be willing to give to me? We're not friends, we're strangers and as far as I'm aware, enemies." She said, 42 smirking.

"You've become a real thorn in Team Flare's side, let's just say that. I was sent here to apprehend you, but I'm not really interested in capturing you when we could help each other out. If you give me any information you've gathered about Mega Evolution, I'll leave you alone. Sounds fair?"

Serena thought for a moment. If she had already managed to draw attention to herself already, then that would mean there would be more following her. She couldn't risk being in the dark about this, but giving someone on the opposing side this type of information could be even more dangerous. But for now, she was out of options.

"I'll tell you anything you want to know, but only when we have arrived in Geosenge Town. Does that sound fair to you?" Serena asked, 42 nodding.

"I suppose that's fair, though there's nothing stopping me from abducting you right now." He said with a smirk, Serena's glare doing nothing to shake him.

"For someone trying to negotiate, you sure are really bad at it."

"Says the one who travels alone at night."

————

It was a late night at the Lab for Professor Sycamore as he sat at his desk hard at work, though his vision had begun to grow blurry and he could barely keep his head upright. His body was begging for rest, but how could he when he was so close to a breakthrough that would impact the entire region if not the world?

That was what he told himself every time he was awake into the wee hours, that it would all be worth it in the end. However, his sluggish thoughts were soon interrupted by a hand on his shoulder and a soft kiss on the cheek.

"It's almost 1 AM, you should be asleep in bed rather than poring over charts and tables all night long."

Augustine leaned back against the figure to see his fiancé smiling down at him, though the fact he was here was a surprise in itself.

"Good evening, Lys. I was just...looking over the lab results that I've received today, they're truly quite remarkable." He said, Lysandre chuckling as he helped Augustine from his chair.

"You should be asleep, you know how erratic your observations become when you're exhausted." He whispered, his fiancé sinking into his embrace without even thinking twice.

"So much to be done, Lys, so much to be done." He murmured, though didn't protest when Lysandre led him down the hall to his room and laid him down on his bed.

"You overwork yourself too much, my love. Rest for me while I'm here at least, please." He begged, Augustine sighing as he curled up into the blankets covering the bed.

"I'll sleep if you come join me, you're as much a workaholic as I am." He mumbled, causing Lysandre to quietly laugh as he settled down into the empty spot beside Augustine, the soft comfort of the bed a welcome feeling after countless nights spent underground in Geosenge Town working on restoring the Ultimate Weapon. If that was to make him feel guilty though, he didn't notice. It was for the good of creating a perfect world after all. Sacrifices had to be made, no matter the cost.

————

Geosenge Town didn't have much going on for it besides the fact that there were stones everywhere, even the houses were built among them. Though Serena hadn't noticed that there was a hotel in the town until her and the Team Flare Grunt had arrived outside of it. It was a strange place indeed, but better than sleeping in a Pokémon Center, and better privacy as well.

Serena felt calm being in civilization once again, but she couldn't help but notice her traveling companion appeared to be on edge. He wouldn't stop fidgeting and shifting around, almost as if he seemed...scared. Scared of what Serena didn't know, but she didn't like it.

"You need a disguise or something, a member of Team Flare is going to attract unwanted attention to us, no offense." She said, 42 sighing as he looked down at his outfit.

"No, you're absolutely right, but activating my hologram disguise would alert headquarters to my location, and if they see you here, we're both in big trouble." He said, Serena thinking for a moment before taking off her hat and the sunglasses perched atop it and handing it to 42. He looked at her incredulously.

"It isn't much, but it'll hide that hairstyle of yours, and if you don't feel comfortable showing your eyes, you can still use my sunglasses to hide them. I'd rather not get arrested tonight." She said, 42 groaning before turning away from her for a moment to put on the glasses and hat, turning back around as he pocketed his red glasses.

"Do you even have money to stay here? This place isn't the cheapest to stay in." He remarked, Serena glaring at him as she pushed in the wooden doors and stepped out of the way to allow him in.

"You let me worry about the cost of staying here, unless you'd rather spend the night outside?" She asked, 42 groaning as he reluctantly followed her inside. How he even let himself be ordered around by someone he's supposed to capture is embarrassing enough, but having to let her pay for a hotel room because he didn't have the sense to bring physical money with him was even worse.

Serena checked the both of them in and took the hotel key from the kind receptionist's hands, 42 deliberately avoiding eye contact with him as the two went upstairs, his hair and eyes covered but wearing a glaringly red suit was not the best way to be inconspicuous. This entire situation was high risk, but 42 needed information that he couldn't get himself, and this Trainer was his best route towards it.

Once inside the hotel room, Serena laid down her bag as Braixen went to work brushing its tail, leaving 42 to stand awkwardly at the door.

"I'm not going to rat you out, you know. You seem different from your teammates, so I've decided to trust you for the time being."

"A horrible decision, really."

Serena glared at him before taking a seat at the simple table in the room, gesturing for 42 to sit in the chair across from her. He reluctantly did, taking off the hat and sunglasses before placing back on his own glasses, staring directly at Serena with those empty lenses.

"The only information I have to offer about Mega Evolution so far is that it's activated by holding a stone aloft and a Pokémon has to be holding the same stone or a similar stone." She said, leaving 42 room to ruminate for a moment as his head fell into his hands.

"So you've found out nothing of interest or anything that I don't already know. Typical of a Professor to hold out on his secrets, but you mentioned earlier you had a lead. What was that lead?" He asked.

"Well, apparently Korrina, the Gym Leader of Shalour City, has the ability to Mega Evolve her Lucario and that there's this Mega Evolution guru that lives in the Tower of Mastery in the same city. I want to see if he has a Key Stone that I can use to Mega Evolve my own Pokémon. But that's all I know, I'd have to go to Shalour City to find out more." She said meekly, as though she felt sorry for not having more information about it. 42 couldn't help but feel guilty at the sad look upon her face, especially after being so abrasive.

"That will help in my investigation, thank you. I don't have much information to offer in return, but it should be enough to keep you out of trouble with Team Flare for now at least." He said, Serena waiting expectantly as he pulled out a Holo-Caster from his pocket.

"This device is called a Holo-Caster, and no doubt you own one too, am I right?"

Serena nodded as 42 continued his explanation.

"However, what people don't know is that Team Flare has managed to gain access to all channels that are maintained by Lysandre Labs, the creator of the Holo-Caster. Their protection is incredibly weak so we've managed to spy on almost the entire region and plot out our next move. As long as you have a Holo-Caster on you, Team Flare will always be able to find you." He concluded, pocketing the small device once again, though the way Serena was staring at it would make one think it was a bomb.

"I've been tracked this whole time?! What am I supposed to do, I can't just get rid of my Holo-Caster, this is how my friends and family keep in contact with me! If I destroyed it, my mom would panic!" She exclaimed, 42 extending his hand to her.

"Give me your Holo-Caster, I can help you."

Him? Help her? What does he get out of this? If anything this would be hindering him from doing his job.

"Why are you so eager to help me all of a sudden? You were quite ready to capture me just earlier today." She said skeptically, 42 sighing.

"I'll help you, if you allow me to accompany you to Shalour City and meet the Mega Evolution guru. It'll keep you from being captured and it'll allow me to get the information I need. Do we have a deal?"

"What is with this guy and making deals? He's doing something he's not letting on, I can feel it." Serena thought, though she had little choice if she wanted to avoid getting captured by Team Flare and being forced to do who knows what.

"Fine, you can come with me to Shalour City, but I've heard Lucario can be extremely perceptive so don't come crying to me if Korrina's Pokémon attacks you." She said as she pulled her Holo-Caster from her bag and handed it to 42.

He tinkered with it for a few moments before handing it back, feeling pleased with himself for finally managing to wrangle a deal from this girl. Seriously, did she have to be so stubborn?

"You don't need to worry about me, I'll be fine." He muttered, though his attention was drawn back to Serena as she grinned at him.

"What?"

"Guess this means we're partners now, huh?"

"Don't call me that."