She found the Pokémon Center easily, its bright red roof a familiar beacon. Inside, the familiar sterile white and pink interior was a welcome sight. Nurse Joy, her smile as fixed and perfect as a porcelain doll, greeted her.
"Welcome to the Fuchsia City Pokémon Center! How can I help you today?"
"Just a room for the night, please," Eliana said, her voice a light, cheerful balm.
"Of course! And would you like me to take a look at your Pokémon? They must've had quite a long journey."
"Oh, no, they're fine," Eliana replied with a wave of her hand. "We just stopped for a snack and a stretch."
"Alright then! Here is your key. Have a wonderful stay!" Nurse Joy chirped, handing over a small electronic keycard.
Eliana took the key and headed towards the dormitories, Ralts still perched on her shoulder. Once inside the privacy of her room, she finally let out a soft sigh. She dropped her bag on the bed and turned to her Pokémon.
"Alright you two, I'm going to get something to eat, I'll be back soon." she said, before turning to Ralts,
Ralts gave a small salute and gave his trainer an innocent look as she walked out of the room. Once she left he turned to his younger sibling and began their training for the day, activating bloodlust.
Staryu looked confused at the sudden change in the room's atmosphere and readied an attack, before the feeling passed and Ralts suddenly teleported in front of it.
(ง •̀_•́)ง Ralts informed the younger Pokémon, that was a good reaction for a beginner.
Eliana walked through the city's streets, the evening lights casting a warm glow. She found a small, unassuming ramen shop tucked away in an alley. The smell of simmering broth and fresh noodles was intoxicating. She took a seat at the counter, ordering a simple bowl of miso ramen for herself and a to go box of a Pokémon safe version for the two at the PokéCenter.
As she waited, she let her mind wander, sifting through the ambient thoughts and emotions of the city. Most of it was a dull roar—dinner plans, tired complaints about work, the mundane worries of ordinary people. But then, a thread of something different snagged her attention. It was a conversation at a table in the corner, between a man in a lab coat and a red haired woman in a sharp business suit. Their thoughts were shielded, but their words were enough.
"...the materials are secure," the woman said, her voice low and tight. "The transfer is scheduled for tomorrow, in the Safari Zone's east perimeter at the usual time."
"Good, I'll have it prepared," the man replied, nervously tapping a pen on the table.
"Koga has already taken care of any official paperwork needed for you to enter without being disturbed." The woman pointed out while standing up to leave, "Come alone, you know how punishment is rewarded."
"Yes ma'am, of course!" The man in the lab coat thanked her and watched her walk out. Once she was gone the man sunk down in his seat thinking to himself, Executive Ariana is terrifying, I can't believe Team Rocket's influence has spread to a gym leader.
Eliana perked up as she heard that last part, a Team Rocket executive, what looked to be a scientist, and a gym leader. At first she had simply planned to explore the Safari Zome regularly, but now she had a new mission, see what this specimen is. As she was lost in though Eliana's food had been brought out and she started to eat, while watching the man from the side of her eye. She subtly searched his memories for any hint of what this specimen could be but didn't find anything. Team Rocket was apparently very secretive with their experiments.
She smirked and nudged the man's mind with partial control. He still had control of his body but whenever Eliana chose shoe could take it over. Parietal Mind Control also had the nice perk of limited tracking, as long as he stayed in the city she would be able to find him.
Once the man got up to leave, Eliana waited a few minutes before paying for her food, grabbing the to go box for her Pokémon, and following after the man. After some walking he came upon a shady hotel, with various guards and cameras stationed around. It obviously had to be some sort of base. Eliana thought to herself before deciding that she wasn't ready to invade something like this yet so simply set up to watch and memorize how many people were here.
After spending about an hour observing Eliana turned and walked away with a new plan. She needed to be prepared for tomorrow, Team Rocket wasn't just a curiosity anymore; it was a treasure map. And she was very good at finding treasure.
When she returned to the Center, she found Ralts and Staryu locked in a silent, intense training session. Ralts would telekinetically toss small objects—a hairbrush, a pillow, a water glass—at Staryu, who would practice Harden on impact, the objects bouncing harmlessly off its glowing, stone-like body.
"Good work, you two," Eliana announced, setting the paper bag on the small table. "Dinner's here."
Staryu bounced happily, while Ralts gave a curt nod, pleased with their progress. She divided the food into two bowls, setting one on the floor for each of them. Elaina honestly don't understand how Staryu was eating but it never complained so she didn't make a fuss about it. As the two Pokémon ate, she filled them in on wha she had been doing and what heir plans for tomorrow were.
"We have a new target," she said, her voice light, as if discussing a weekend trip or the weather. "Tomorrow night in Safari Zone, Team Rocket is moving something... special. And I want to see what it is."
Ralts and Staryu made sorta noises of acknowledgment but were mostly focused on finishing their dinners.
Eliana focused on the psychic link she had forged with the scientist, a faint, buzzing thread in the back of her mind. She could feel him packing, feel his nervous energy. She was buzzing with excitement at what could be hidden in the Safari Zone, she almost dint want to go to sleep incase she missed something later tonight. But alas, she was still mortal and required things like eating and sleeping to survive, so she sadly had to give up her current interest for a short while.