"A shrink ray."

"Mmhm."

"A shrink ray."

"Every scientist –or else you're not a real scientist –has a shrink ray prototype...even if it doesn't work," Colress ended sheepishly, poking said prototype with his finger.

Mal snorted.

Currently, it had been a total of five days since Sonia had been taken from the group. He'd either hung out with Colress to de-stress himself, watched over Raphael's training with Felix, or stress-baked and had Felix and the pokémon around as guinea pigs (he avoided that with Raphael, knowing he'd hog it all and gorge on the food). And aside from that, he'd been visiting the police every day. Which, going by the time on his watch, said he should be getting there now.

"I've got to go," he said distractedly.

"Off to harass the police now?" Colress asked in amusement.

"I'm not harassing them," Mal denied, cheeks tingeing red.

"If you say so," the scientist said in an unconvinced voice.

Mal huffed. "Yes, yes. I'll see you later."

His strides were quick as he walked to the police station, all eyes averting away from him as soon as he was seen inside. He grumbled in his head, heading straight to a receptionist.

"I'm here about the Sonia Darkin case, case number 5216," Mal said smoothly, smile sharp and dangerous and a tinge dark.

"Thrones!" Officer Jenny barked out. "Quit scaring my receptionist and just get in here."

Mal lost the smile, face neutral as he went further into the police station.

"I wasn't scaring your receptionist," Mal said succinctly.

"Whatever you say, m'lord," she said sarcastically. "Look, we still have no leads. We don't even know where to start!"

Mal pursed his lips. "Do you have a board I could borrow? And those sketches of the Team Rocket agents that attacked us and kidnapped Sonia?"

Officer Jenny blinked. "Alright."

Once he had what he needed, he began to write on the board. He wrote "Team Rocket" in large letters at the top. Underneath that, he put "Team OJ." Using arrows, he drew two of those downwards, underneath the 'O' and 'J.' Underneath the arrow under the 'O,' he wrote "Odette" and put a dot next to her name to start a list. Making the arrow under the 'J' longer, he made another dot and wrote "Janette." He made two more dots and wrote "Fred" and "Grant." He took the copies of the sketches given to him and taped to the left of the names. He then wrote the suspected roles to the right of the names and their physical descriptions (to support the sketches) and personalities.

Mal then turned around and clapped his hands, smiling politely.

"Attention, please."

When he was sure he had everyone's attention, he dropped the smile and looked at everyone seriously.

"These four are the culprits of case 5216," Mal said, almost coldly. "We circulate this information through the media, get their faces known. Run their faces through all the databases, see if something pops up. Then maybe you can finally get a lead."

Seeing no one moving, Mal's eyes flashed. "Get going and do your jobs!"

There was a scramble and more bustle and chaos started in the station, replacing the almost lethargic energy from before.

Officer Jenny beside him tutted. "You know, you can be quite scary, kid."

Mal turned to her, frowning slightly. "I'm efficient."

"That you are," she acknowledged. "That you are."

~*~*~

When Mal returned later that evening, he nearly went berserk –something very unaccustomed to him and how he usually was.

The board he'd laid information out on had been vandalized. Grant's picture had been nearly torn apart, with Janette's scribbled on. Odette's had been x-ed out, while Fred's was missing. The rest of the board, where he'd written everything, had been scribbled over and made illegible. Officer Jenny, returning from her break with him, cursed under her breath.

Mal's face grew hard. "I'm going to find out who did this," he announced loudly, voice barely holding back his fury. Everyone in the station grew quiet and all attention had drawn to him. "And when I do, you'll never work again," he ended rather icily, face growing dark.

He looked at Officer Jenny. "May we go to your office and talk?"

Even if it was phrased as a question, it clearly wasn't.

Officer Jenny sighed, but nodded.

Mal was fuming. Even if some of those police were against Psychics, to know that even one of them was willing to impede on a case...

So, yes, he called up those very same reporters and journalists he'd contacted in the beginning of all this and since he'd first clashed with the police (and who he'd truthfully kept in contact with and had been supplying little details for them to chomp on) and was offering a full, official interview. He just had to break the news to Raphael and Felix...

He found them going over training details in Raphael's room, and he cleared his throat as he politely knocked on the open door.

"Hey, Mal!" Raphael grinned widely. "What's up?"

Mal hesitated before stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. Both other boys straightened up at the seriousness on Mal's face and the action.

Mal took a deep breath and told them what had happened and what he'd just did. Felix was staring at him in shock, while Raphael was frowning.

"You guys don't have to participate, but it would be better if you did," Mal told them quietly.

"Of course I will! I want Sonia to come back safe!" Felix said earnestly.

Raphael took a deep breath. "I don't know if I can..." Mal's face fell. "I'm not a big name yet, but I'm still associated with the League. I'm not sure I'm even allowed to say statements like that on my own and without permission."

Mal nodded in understanding. "I see..."

Raphael bit his lip. "Look, I'll call them up and ask, okay? Maybe I can say a small statement, probably on the League's behalf. It was their idea to have her come with us..."

Mal gave him a small smile, feeling grateful. So now all was left was to actually do the interview...

~*~*~

"Interview? This is more like a press conference!" Raphael hissed at him.

Mal waved dismissively. "Nonsense. It's not nearly that big."

Felix twitched, glancing warily at the crowd of media reporters. It wasn't so large, but the number of them was enough to make the small, private room Mal rented in the Stonewall Hotel feel crowded. In the back of the room he saw Colress, who waved slightly to him and give a thumbs up. He relaxed a little.

Breathing in, he breathed out just as he stepped to the front of the stage and molded his face into an upset, beleaguered expression. It wasn't that hard. He had really been exhausted and hassled the last few days, especially with his worry about Sonia and his frustration with the police.

"Thank you all for coming," he even adjusted his tone. He would play it up 'til he had them crying in sympathy. "I and my friends are so grateful to you all. I only ask you to keep to the agreement about asking questions. It's a very trying time for us and we're just trying our best to keep it together right now. I-I guess we can begin?" He let his voice waver.

One of them raised their hand. "Are you Malcolm Thrones, heir to the Thrones Empire?"

Mal nodded solemnly. Another raised their hand.

"And is he Raphael d'Alcott? Son of financier Aileena d'Alcott and Representative Trainer of Kanto?"

"Er, yes," Raphael answered in shock, surprised he was expressly asked about and detailed like so.

This, though, Mal had moderated beforehand. He had ended up telling those reporters explicitly about Raphael, who he was, and to specifically avoid any mention of Raphael's biological parents and what had happened. He may not have remembered the murders of his parents, but he knew what happened and mentions of it still upset him.

"And is he Felix Verity, Sinnoh Breeder Association's prodigy?"

"Y-yes! That's me!" Felix was also shocked.

Hm, impressive. These people did their research alright.

"The girl that's missing? Your companion –She's Sonia Darkin, right? A Psychic and the daughter of famous researcher Yannoa Darkin and the late inventor Caius Darkin?"

And the questions kicked off, just like that. By the end of it, he sincerely was exhausted and he let himself show it. He was sure the others felt the same, though they probably had no ulterior motives.

Someone else raised their hand and Mal picked them. "Yes?"

"Team Rocket doesn't usually kidnap people. It's not their M.O. Why target your group? Why Miss Darkin?"

Mal tensed, but he didn't falter at the unexpected question. "Raphael is being marketed as Kanto Pokémon League's next great trainer, making him a valuable bargaining chip against them. Felix is a talented, prodigious breeder they can use. I'm an estimated worth of $2,147,560,984, inheritance included. If Team Rocket is looking to rise up again and even emerge from the shadows, then we're good pieces on the board for them. And Sonia? A powerful Psychic like her would be the ultimate piece –especially in a world so full of people who look down on Psychics –from ordinary people like you and me to police officers –that Team Rocket think Psychics will be easy pickings since it seems as if they have nowhere else to turn to but them. And I urge that not to be true and for people to not let it be true.

"So please, please! If anyone has seen any sightings of Team Rocket, especially these four," Mal gestured to the enhanced sketches behind him, "or have any leads or clue to their or Sonia's whereabouts, the three of us are begging you to call. We miss our friend and companion and want her back safe and sound with us."

Felix nodded his head enthusiastically, which Raphael echoed in a more sedate fashion. Mal was just glad his friend didn't look uncomfortable and hoped the three of them could pull this off.

~*~*~

For the past four days since the media conference, Mal hadn't rested as well as he should. He wasn't happy still, but he was more at calm with how things were now progressing. The media itself, however, and the people reacting to the news had been very bipolar, though leaning in their favor. For now. Mal (and Raphael and Felix) had been the one talking and wasn't Psychic. He was also well-known and a Thrones, and his family name brought good fortune.

Sonia was the Psychic though, and with her word, that was what was going to test the public and public opinion.

(He was not going to entertain the thought that she wouldn't come back.)

Mal, tired and angry from having mentally and verbally fought with the police (with as much calm as he could maintain), enjoyed the cold air, which also served to calm him down. They were doing better than before, but the police and he were still butting heads, especially since more than a few resented his media interview about Sonia's case, or the subtle threats he'd made about making some of them lose their jobs or the subtle threats about outright accusing them of negligence and prejudice to the media.

Just then, a black vehicle squealed to a stop practically in front of him, given that he had been in front of the Pokémon Center. But then one of its doors opened and he stilled, eyes disbelieving.

Though he couldn't glimpse the person inside, whoever it was shoved a very familiar girl out of the car and onto the ground. Mal strode over to her quickly while the car rushed away, his steps quickening with every one he took.

"Sonia?"

He leaned over her fallen figure. No real scrapes or bruises. She hadn't been too physically hurt then...He kept looking over her with a critical eye.

"Mal?" She kept coughing in the midst of trying to address him. "Is that you?"

He nodded, while still observing her. Her eyes were a little dilated, though the symptom was already fading. Given both signs, he could guess that there was a possibility of her being drugged, or had been drugged.

"Sonia, are you –" He'd been about to ask her how she was feeling and if she was alright, when he was completely caught off guard by Sonia leaping up and hugging him.

He froze but quickly relaxed, softening as he hugged her back. His sigh of relief expressed everything he could've said in that moment.

He could feel her trembling, helping him to understand some of what she was feeling, but he also noted how unsteady she was and how she swayed on her feet.

"Thank goodness you're back..." Even as he finished saying that, he was surprised by Kai appearing.

"Sawk? Sa-Sa-Sawk! Sawk!" He even put his arms around Mal and Sonia, embracing them and lifting them off their feet.

It wasn't long until one lovable furball joined them.

"Zoru? Zoru? Zoru-Zoru-Zor! ZORUA!"

Zorua amazingly seemed to fly as she dove right into the middle of the group, snuggling right up to them and even licking Sonia's face. A litany of "Zoru's" escaped from her as she rejoiced in Sonia's return. Sonia, too, was actually laughing and crying, showing emotion freely.

By the time Kai had put them down, Mal was so happy and relieved, he'd almost forgotten his catalogue of Sonia's suspected health.

"Sonia, we need to get you inside and seen," he said gently. "Were you drugged?"

Sonia blinked, slightly still out of it. Mal observed the dilation of her eyes, seeing it still in effect.

"I...I think so," she said slowly, trying to remember. "Sedated?"

Mal hmmed, taking one of her arms and placing it around his neck. He nodded towards Kai, who took the hint and echoed his actions on Sonia's other side. He had decided against carrying her, guessing she'd be put off.

Once inside, he steadfastly ignored the stares directed their way and headed to the back.

"Nurse Joy!" he called out to get her attention. "We've got a human patient, around 14 years of age, female, estimated height of 5'4" and weight in the 100's. Suspected traces of an unknown substance still in her or had been used on her recently," Mal started rattling off.

Nurse Joy's eyes widened at seeing him come in with Sonia, but she too quickly became all business. "Put her on bed 11; we'll need to draw some blood." Nurse Joy glanced between them. "I'll have you do it as she's more familiar with you."

Mal nodded to show he understood and began to lead Sonia away, with Kai in tow as she held onto Zorua.

"Mal?"

"I'm going to draw some blood from you," Mal quietly began to explain. "We need to find out what was used on you and if there are any side effects, or avoid giving you something that might react badly to the traces of whatever it was. We'll probably set up an IV after, to hydrate you and help flush out the rest of the substance."

But she'll be fine. He'd make sure of it. He and everyone else.