Luke and his friends begin their mission to rescue Volcan. But greater pain awaits them upon their return to Hadleigh...

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“This won’t go the way you hope it will, Grom,” Volcan said not for the first time since his capture.

They were outside of Marilogne, far from the eyes of the town as directed by Tabbis. Even though the town was effectively ruled by Calhoun, it was common practice to not let the citizens see the shadier side of his business, for fear that word of such activity might find a person of conscience among the desperate populace.

“Just keep your mouth shut, Volcan,” Grom growled. “I’ve been planning this for a long time, and nothing you say is going to change my mind.”

"Dammit, Grom! Can you just think for one moment?!” Volcan demanded, but his words were cut off as Grom spun him around, and dropped him face-down into the dirt.

“I said, shut it!” The Emboar growled. “Just lay there and keep quiet! This’ll be over quick.”

Quake, staring out to sea to keep watch, perked up suddenly as a silhouette began to take shape in the light of the setting sun. “A boat, boss,” he said. “Looks like they showed.”

“It’s about time,” the Emboar growled, still holding Volcan down. “When this is over, Volcan, you can finally consider us even.”

“Grom…” Volcan tried to say one more time, but once more was silenced by the hoof on his back.

Slowly, the motorboat on the horizon grew closer, starting to slow as it approached the shore before banking to the side, so that its port side faced the beach. Eventually, the boat slowed to a complete stop, and floated in the bay quietly. For a while, nothing happened, until a flash of light erupted in on the beach, just twenty paces from Team Kopis and their captive, and from it materialized numerous Pokemon.

The dark Blaziken stood at the head, and with him were several of his lieutenants, one of whom was standing by the Dark Blaziken, supporting him. Calhoun looked battered and weary. He was kept on his feet with the supporting shoulder of a Lycanroc, and opposite them stood a Gallade, eyeing Grom and his crew with a menacing glare. To the left of him, a Decidueye, wings folded into a cloak. The last was an elderly Alakazam, standing to the right of Asya, arms folded across his chest.

Grom regarded Calhoun cooly as he appeared, doing well to hide the surge of emotions rising within him until the trade was underway. He lifted his foot from Volcan, seizing the ropes that bound him, and stepped forward with his team. He cruelly hurled the bound Blaziken to the ground at the feet of Calhoun and the Lycanroc.

“There he is. Captain of Team Phalanx, in the flesh,” Grom bade. “I’ll take my payment in Poks, if you’d be so kind.”

Calhoun regarded Volcan for a moment, studying him. He looked at the Gallade beside him, who nodded as if in confirmation of Volcan's identity. Then, Calhoun regarded Grom, smiling wickedly at him. “Of course. Your service is appreciated," he said. "But, before you get what’s coming to you though, sir… I was told you also wanted to join up with my,” he chuckled as he gestured to the others with him. “Merry band here. Is that true?”

“I did, ‘till I saw the sorry state you’re in,” Grom retorted, raising an eyebrow at the battered-looking Dark Blaziken. “What’d you do, get caught in a stampede?”

The Gallade’s elbow blades extended in immediate response to the insult, but Calhoun stopped him with an upraised hand. “You caught me on a bad day is all,” he replied. “Now, I believe we-”

Calhoun was cut off as a lightning bolt struck the ground behind him, followed by a thunderclap that seemed to shake the very air around them. Everyone threw their hands over their ears reflexively, all except for Volcan whose hands were bound, causing him to curl into a tight ball in response to the noise, eyes clenching.

Suddenly he felt himself being ripped from the ground, hoisted by his bound arms and legs as he was carried through the air. He yelped in surprise, his bound legs kicking out instinctively for any purchase they could find as the ground rushed by below him. He turned his head as much as he could to look over his shoulder, where he saw a yellow wing outstretched and beating hard to stay aloft.

“L-Lighris?” Volcan asked. "Is that you?"

“Sorry bro - gotta cut the ride short!” Lighris returned in a strained voice as he and Eagle Eye swiftly hit their limit, their talons slipping free of Volcan’s bonds.

“Fucking-!” Volcan started to say, but stopped as he braced himself for impact, hitting the ground and rolling to avoid the full brunt of it. He grunted as he came to rest in the soil, hurt but unbroken.

“GO!”