Hearing Gary's question, Nozomi said calmly, "That's a long story. I'll explain later. For now, help me tie up these Team Rocket members first."
He had clearly seen that earlier—the Team Rocket squad leader had tried to call for backup. The main force of Team Rocket would be arriving soon, and Nozomi didn't have time to chat.
"..."
Gary blinked. The moment he arrived, he was being roped into hard labor. "You called me over just to use me as muscle? Doesn't your conscience hurt?"
Nozomi patted his chest solemnly. "Not at all. In fact, I'm craving an ice-cold soda."
"..." Gary felt the urge to punch him.
"Alright, quit complaining," Nozomi said with a grin. "You'll get to see a good show in a bit."
"A good show?" Gary perked up immediately.
"Can't spoil it," Nozomi said mysteriously. "You'll know when the time comes."
After all, what's a good show without a surprise?
Gary squinted suspiciously. "We've been friends for years, you're not tricking me, are you?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
Nozomi sighed. Did he really look that untrustworthy?
Inside the cargo hold, the unconscious Team Rocket members were tied up and locked into a container. Out at sea, over a dozen speedboats were rapidly closing in on the S.S. Anne.
"Hey, Sachi, that guy named Nozomi sneaked onto the ship. What do you think we should do?"
The short man speaking was Chakra, barely one meter forty, flanked by two Forretress hovering beside him. He turned to ask his companion.
"I didn't expect that guy we couldn't find in Vermilion City to show up on the S.S. Anne," Sachi said, stroking Meowth's head beside her. "This is a perfect chance. Let's take him out here and complete Boss Giovanni's mission."
Her silver-gray hair shimmered under the faint light. Her face was pale, and an eerie aura surrounded her.
"Heh, just what I was hoping for!"
A cold grin spread across Chakra's face. "Of all places, he chose the S.S. Anne? He's asking for death."
They'd been annoyed about failing to capture Nozomi back in Vermilion City. To run into him here was a gift from fate. From the confidence in Chakra's tone, it was clear—he already saw Nozomi as a dead man walking.
Sachi chuckled. "Still, don't get careless."
Her voice was light, more out of habit than concern.
After all, according to Giovanni's intel, Nozomi was indeed strong—but only strong, not unbeatable.
A single Metagross and an Onix, even if formidable, didn't frighten her.
Against the two of them, Nozomi had no chance but to surrender.
"They're here!"
As they spoke, the speedboats reached the towering S.S. Anne. The remaining Team Rocket members on board had already taken the captain hostage and forced the ship to stop.
"Let's move!"
Sachi and Chakra, leading the charge, used their Pokémon to leap onto the ship's deck.
Their subordinates followed swiftly, climbing aboard with ropes.
"What's going on?"
"Who are you people?"
"It's Team Rocket!"
The deck erupted in chaos. Some passengers had spotted the iconic red "R" on the intruders' uniforms and immediately panicked.
Trainers among the passengers released their Pokémon, forming a defensive line.
"How annoying. You handle this," Sachi said, not even glancing at them.
She left part of her squad to control the situation on deck, then hurried with Chakra toward the lower decks—toward the cargo hold.
The equipment was their priority.
"Team Rocket's boarded the ship. Time to call in the team," Nozomi said, watching the scene unfold on a portable monitor. The bulk of Team Rocket's forces had boarded, and Sachi and Chakra were clearly visible among them.
"Call in who?" Gary asked, baffled. Nozomi kept saying strange things he didn't understand.
"Lorelei."
Nozomi turned and gestured toward the shadows behind him.
Gary froze as Lorelei, the Elite Four member, and her Jynx appeared silently from thin air.
"L–Lorelei of the Elite Four!" Gary practically jumped out of his skin.
He'd been in this cargo hold all this time and hadn't noticed that one of the Elite Four had been hiding here the whole time!
And judging from the way Nozomi spoke to her, they seemed… quite familiar.
How on earth does Nozomi know an Elite Four member?
Lorelei gave Nozomi a brief nod and immediately took out her communicator. "All units, move in. Group A—secure the deck and protect the passengers. Group B—destroy Team Rocket's speedboats and cut off their retreat. Don't let them escape into the sea or flee on Flying-types."
"If possible, jam all external communications from the S.S. Anne," Nozomi added.
"Understood." Lorelei nodded sharply and relayed the order. "Also, jam Team Rocket's communications. Our operation must remain covert!"
Watching the smooth cooperation between Nozomi and Lorelei, Gary felt his worldview shatter.
"What the heck did Nozomi go through while I wasn't around?"
It had only been a few days since they'd last met, but it felt like a century.
Before he could process it, footsteps echoed outside the door.
"They're here," Nozomi said quietly, his expression turning grave.
Lorelei and her Jynx vanished again into thin air.
Gary's pulse quickened. Who could their enemy be? If even Nozomi and Lorelei were this cautious… this had to be serious.
And dangerous.
Gulp.
As Gary swallowed hard, the door burst open.
Without hesitation, Nozomi's Steelix and Metagross, positioned on either side of the doorway, struck simultaneously—one using Iron Tail, the other launching a Bullet Punch!
BOOM!
A dull crash echoed through the room.
Gary's eyes widened. Another Steelix, slightly smaller than Nozomi's, had caught the attack head-on, blocking Iron Tail with its own tail.
In midair, a Banette materialized, intercepting Metagross's Bullet Punch with a shadowy fist—Shadow Punch.
"A trap, huh? Looks like you knew we were coming."
Sachi stepped into view, a faint smile curling her lips.
Chakra followed, grinning wildly. His Steelix shoved Nozomi's back and charged at Metagross in a blur of steel.