After listening, Gwen nodded thoughtfully, "I see. Thank you."
Lucien and Victor shook their heads, indicating they hadn't gathered any useful information.
Caleb studied the three of them, and thought about his revised main quest... 'Uncover Five Spies Within Team Rocket'...
And right now, standing before him, were three potential candidates.
He tapped his fingers lightly on the table as his gaze swept over them, "Have you made any progress on your main missions?"
Gwen answered honestly, while Victor and Lucien hesitated, their eyes flickering with uncertainty, "Not yet."
Caleb rolled his eyes, "I suggest you finish your main missions as soon as possible."
Lucien blinked, "What do you mean? What are you talking about?"
Caleb shook his head, and said, "I won't say it outright. It might scare you."
Victor scoffed in disbelief.
Lucien, however, fell into thought. He didn't press further, simply nodding in agreement.
With that, Caleb promptly ushered them out...
Lying on his bed, he stared at the ceiling while Mimikyu slept soundly beside his pillow, its breathing slow and even.
Sleep eluded him. His mind kept circling back to Dr. Fuji's words from earlier.
"I once took Amber-chan to Vermilion City to see the ocean, but the port was overrun with cargo ships and docks..."
Yet Amber had insisted that she had never left the house, let alone seen the ocean. She didn't even know what the sea looked like...
In most stories, discrepancies like this boiled down to two possibilities... Either Amber had lost her memories, or the girl wasn't the real Amber...
What was even stranger was the faint trace of fear in Amber's eyes whenever she looked at Dr. Fuji.
Based on the doctor's behavior today, Caleb couldn't imagine him being the kind of father who'd resort to violence.
That's unless his episodes made him indiscriminate...
Unable to piece it together, Caleb resolved to probe Ariana for information tomorrow.
His restless shifting woke Mimikyu, who blinked sleepily and let out a soft, drowsy chirp.
Caleb's heart melted instantly. He gentled his movements and stroked Mimikyu's back soothingly, "Go back to sleep."
....
The next morning, Caleb arrived at Ariana's office bright and early...
She was mid-breakfast when he walked in.
"This might be the first time you've come to me voluntarily," Ariana remarked, raising an eyebrow, "What's wrong? Did Dr. Fuji try to stab you yesterday?"
Caleb twitched, "Do you know the specifics about Dr. Fuji's daughter?"
Ariana studied him curiously, "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious. I wanted to see what this 'adorable, well-behaved' girl he keeps talking about looks like," Caleb said offhandedly.
Ariana finished her seafood congee, then rummaged through a drawer before tossing him a photograph.
Caleb caught it smoothly...
The girl in the picture had pale blue hair and wore a white dress. She stood on a cruise ship. Behind her stretched an endless blue sky and ocean.
A few Wingull squabbled over bread in her hand, and she laughed brightly at the scene.
"This is Amber. I met her once... a sweet girl. But she passed away two years ago from an illness," Ariana said regretfully.
Caleb stared at the girl who looked identical to the one he'd met yesterday, his expression unreadable, "Can you tell me where she's buried? I'd like to pay my respects."
"You're weird. If Amber weren't already dead, I'd think you were a creep." Despite her words, Ariana gave him the location.
Before Caleb left, she reminded him, "Be back by noon. Dr. Fuji will pick you up for his place. And don't forget, tomorrow is the annual Dragon-Type Pokémon Festival. Everyone's required to attend."
Caleb frowned, "Since when does Team Rocket care about festivals?"
Ariana smirked, "Normally, we wouldn't. But this time's different."
She didn't elaborate, but Caleb understood.
It's obviously because Lance would be there. Team Rocket was probably planning a grand surprise for him.
Caleb sighed...
In most cases, villains who pulled stunts like this ended up humiliated. He had no desire to take a trip to the police station...
....
As Caleb headed to the cemetery, back at Fuji Manor, Amber and Dr. Fuji were having breakfast...
Amber studied her father's impassive face, recalling Caleb's words from yesterday. Gathering her courage, she asked, "Daddy... can I go see the ocean? I've never seen it before."
Dr. Fuji's hand stilled. His knife clinked against the plate as he looked up, his smile strained.
"Of cour—" his expression abruptly darkened, "Who told you to say that?! Didn't I already tell you I took you to see the ocean?! How could you forget so quickly?!"
Amber paled.
Dr. Fuji's gaze turned vicious, "Remember your place. You're just a replica."
His eyes glazed over... And as if trapped in a nightmare, he stood stiffly and reached for Amber. His hands clutched around the little girl's throat.
"No... you're not my Amber-chan... Amber-chan is dead. Who are you?! WHO ARE YOU?!"
Amber gasped, her face turning red as her breath cut off. Just as she thought she'd die, Dr. Fuji suddenly released her.
The middle-aged man slumped to the floor, burying his face in his hands, "I'm sorry, Amber-chan... I'm so sorry..."
Gulping air, Amber watched him with sorrow, "Daddy... who am I, really?"
She remembered the moment she had come into this world. Unlike other children, she hadn't been born from a mother's womb.
She had awakened in a vat of green fluid, her first sight being this man's ecstatic face as he told her, "Your name is Amber. I'm your father."
Dr. Fuji forced another ghastly smile, "Don't be silly. Of course you're my little Amber."
Then he stood up and silently cleared the table while Amber sat on the floor in silence.
Before leaving, Dr. Fuji turned back and said, "Rest well. I'll bring that big brother to play with you this afternoon."
...
Once Dr. Fuji was gone, Amber dragged herself up and walked down the long hallway to the room she'd visited with Caleb yesterday...
There, she released every Pokémon from their Poké Balls.
Dozens of Squirtles, Bulbasaurs, and Charmanders surrounded her.
Amber hugged a Charmander and savored its warmth. Her fingers gently rubbed the black number on its tail.
Then as if talking to herself (or to the Pokémon), she gently whispered, "We're the same, aren't we?"