There was no response from the phone Lyndon slipped to Alfie. He was late, or the phone had been discovered. On Lyndon's P★DA, his mom repeatedly texted to ask if he was alright. The latest message was different.
I didn't realise Rosen was her. I'm sorry. If you need me I'm here
He picked it up to reply. Then a call jingled from his laptop. He threw the P★DA down and answered... but it wasn't Alfie. It was Ardos. He still wore the green and yellow escape risk uniform that clashed with his greying blue hair.
'Did you kill him or something?'
'We've been searched!'
He scowled. 'What prompted this?!'
'Brynlee kidnapped some cops and got us exposed. They're all fucking useless.'
'But they are commanded by you! Take responsibility and fix this, you foolish boy!'
Lyndon hated talking to Ardos. At least Alfie pretended to be nice.
'If I was there, Cipher would be thriving! Call Lumir! Now!'
He reached for his P★DA. Please come to my office now. Ardos seethed when he yawned.
'Y'know, Ardos, you're not here because you don't even try to hide that you're a fucking psychopath–'
'You are a carbon copy of your insufferable father!'
'And in case you've forgotten, I didn't recruit those idiots. You recruited Znider.'
'Znider kept Cipher alive after I was jailed!'
'Until he had his Pokémon stolen by children. The others were already there when I got promoted and you insisted they stayed. Talking to you is a waste of time.'
Someone knocked. Gourgeist waddled to open the door. Lumir nervously stepped in. He sat on the chair Lyndon pulled from under a cluttered table.
'Lumir!'
He fought to stop his face falling. Lyndon thought Lumir wanted to speak to his dad and that he was doing him a favour, passing on news of him. He wasn't a good liar when he got angry. Ardos always made him angry.
'This idiot tells me we've been exposed. To what extent? By whom? Will it require us to postpone our escape?'
'Most likely, Master Ardos. Brynlee failed to communicate with the Grand Master before kidnapping two International Police officers and the NCPD chief. Rosen Raco has not helped our cause. Her travelling to Motostoke–'
'Who is she?'
'The Commander who–'
'Laila's killer,' Lyndon interrupted, 'She's no longer a member of Cipher.'
'I see... why is she here?'
'I don't know and I don't care to. Let Fayruz or whatever his name is put her in her place.'
'I was going to ask if either of you have arranged your flights, but perhaps that won't be needed.'
'Excuse me?'
Lyndon straightened from his slumped position where his chin rested lethargically on his hand.
'Yes, I have booked my flights. And Lumir's. Obviously it'll be needed! Even if I hadn't booted her, that whack job knows nothing about our plan and could fuck it all up! Do you have any idea what you're saying?!'
Something clattered. Ardos glanced up. 'Someone's heard us! Get a handle on your emotions, boy!'
The call abruptly ended. Lyndon pulled his laptop towards him. He began to type.
'He's insane! If it wasn't for you, I'd consider leaving him there...'
'Well...'
Lumir had to choose his words carefully. He liked the idea of Ardos remaining in jail while his beloved syndicate imploded, but he couldn't sound as if he even suspected Cipher might fall.
'I'm beginning to get the impression he doesn't truly care about me... or anything other than his ambitions.'
'He's a total psychopath, not gonna lie. I'm sorry, dude. Maybe we should leave him there. Hell, maybe we should leave all of them there. I sometimes wonder if my dad really gives a fuck, or...'
Lyndon's disgruntled expression faded. 'You're not gonna go repeat that to the other Admins, are you?'
'Of course not. We barely speak. And when we do, they just shout about nepotism...'
That much was true. He wouldn't tell the other Admins. He would, however, tell Cipher's enemies. He felt a pang of guilt. Lyndon was the only member of Cipher who'd been truly kind to him, so much that it was impossible to imagine he wanted anyone to suffer, or that he was on any kind of power trip. Lumir was second-in-command purely because Lyndon wanted him to be able to meet his dad. He was almost like a father figure himself. That was perhaps because he wanted to feel like a father to someone, anyone, rather than Lumir himself, but it was still something Lumir had never experienced... and appreciated.
'Could you check on Trip, Lumir? I know his physio's going well and he's made a friend... but I'm so worried.'
'Certainly, Grand Master.'
Lumir paused. He wasn't sure whether he was considering his next move for his friend, Trip who'd been equally kind, or for Cipher's adversaries. Probably the former.
'Might I ask a question?'
'Fire away.'
'Why not approach Trip yourself? I'm certain he'd love to meet you.'
Ardos might have told him Lyndon would explode. He didn't. He just rubbed his eyes and sighed.
'How can I? After 17 years... as Grand Master of Cipher... what will he think? I guess I'm being selfish. I don't want him to reject me.'
'But he's a member of Cipher himself. I doubt he'd reject you.'
'Yeah, but does he even want to be, or did he just think he had no choice?'
It startled Lumir that the idea even crossed Lyndon's mind. For Ardos, his son joining Cipher was a requirement to see him as anything more than a rock to be kicked aside. Lyndon didn't seem angry. He seemed weary and troubled.
'Rosen's gone. She's not gonna kill anyone if he leaves. I'd love to keep him here, just so I can keep an eye on him... but I don't want him to end up like me. I don't want him to fight for me. I should be fighting for him.'
'Whatever his thoughts... I'm truly certain he'd love to hear all of that for himself. Should I propose a meeting?'
'I mean... you could ask, I guess, if you're up for it. But I don't know... I don't want him to... to feel so, like, desperate for his dad's love that he stays for me. Tell him he can go, if he wants. And Wyatt. I'm sorry, dude... I know it's a lot to dump on you.'
'Not a problem, Grand Master. Not at all. You and Trip have showed me nothing but kindness.'
Lyndon smiled. The pangs of guilt grew stronger. Lumir wasn't really thinking of their kindness then, but how specific Lyndon's fears were... and whether they hinted at the intentions no-one understood. Maybe Trip could work them out. Although... risking him siding with Lyndon was dangerous. Surely he wouldn't? He had his own child to think of...
Lumir stood. He picked up his fossil-print backpack, a birthday gift from Lyndon two years ago.
'Thanks again.'
He reached for the door handle. Lyndon was still smiling.
'What do you want from Cipher, Lumir? Really?'
Did he suspect the truth? He was far more intuitive and intelligent than anyone gave him credit for. It was possible he was smiling because he didn't care, or thought it wouldn't affect him, or merely because Lumir was friends with his son... but he could also be cheerfully cruel. Coldly calculated. He was hard to read. Lumir had never been on the receiving end of that casual cruelty, but until he understood exactly what Lyndon himself wanted, he wasn't sure if he could be.
The guilt faded. He walked faster than he intended to. If passersby thought he was flustered, it only served to make them more afraid of Lyndon. Wyatt's team returned to The Under that afternoon. Jazlyn had checked in to the dormitories, but Wyatt and Trip hadn't. Lumir loaded his P★DA's Cipher Admin app.
He clicked to view CCTV. It was impossible to miss Wyatt's hair. They were at the Bronze Bouffalant. Lumir hated bars. They were usually full of the kind of people who bullied him at school. Of course, no member of Cipher insulted him to his face, but he knew they did behind his back.
Since Anabel's Entei damaged the main elevator, there were long lines for The Under's old, creaky UFOs. Pairs of Peons parted to let Lumir past. Stepping out at the top, he heard someone grumble about nepotism. The girl ducked behind a friend when he glanced back. He was relieved to find only one other customer, its most loyal patron who drank too much, at the bar. Wyatt was tipsy. Trip held a glass of Nomelade. He removed his crutches from the seat beside him.
'What's up? I was just wondering how I go about contacting you.'
'Really?'
In a moment of hopeful misunderstanding, Lumir thought Trip wanted to talk to him as a friend.
'Ah. Is there something you need?'
'Sort of. Are you just passing by, or...?'
'No. I've come... well, I presume you know your father's identity by now.'
'Lyndon? The Grand Master? Yeah.'
'He asked me to check on you. He was worried.'
'...So has it been him making sure I'm looked after?'
'Yes. I suggested he could approach you himself. He's afraid you'll reject him, but I advised him that's unlikely.'
'I mean... I guess it depends what he's like. And what his excuse is for being totally absent from my life until I joined his criminal syndicate.'
'I can't say for certain, but I believe he was afraid Rosen would kill you. And...'
He leaned in to whisper, tapping startled Wyatt's arm. 'He asked me to pass on another message. He said you can go. There's nothing to fear if the two of you leave Cipher.'
'What?!'
Wyatt's weary eyes were wide. 'What, what, what? Why's the Grand Master talking to me?! Why does he even know who I am? What made him say that?'
'Because you're friends with his son. To use his words, he doesn't want Trip to end up like him. I assume he doesn't wish to separate you by allowing only Trip to leave.'
'End up like him?' Trip snorted, 'Grand Master of Cipher? I don't think so.'
Wyatt flashed a warning glance at Trip. He didn't trust Lumir.
'I can arrange a meeting, if you like.'
Of course Trip wanted to meet his dad. At the same time, he was afraid of finding out he was evil. He still held a feeble hope he somehow wasn't. Escaping and never looking back was also tempting... and the safest option for Wyatt, who'd be turned into a Shadow Trainer as soon as someone discovered he could see auras. Trip was no hero. He didn't want to stay to save Orre... but, as Lumir predicted, he thought of his own child. Didn't he owe it to them to ensure they and Amber were safe? So they'd never be in a position like the one he was in with his father now? Was he abandoning them by fleeing?
'I was gonna ask how your plan to bring Cipher down is going.'
'I haven't been able to communicate with my cousins or uncle since the Brynlee debacle. I'll attempt to as soon as possible. We're reaching a crucial moment. There are only three Shadow Trainers. They require a fourth for their plan to progress. They're also planning to release my father and Alfie from jail. We must destroy them before then.'
Wyatt said nothing. Lumir didn't see him flinch, but Trip did. He asked for Wyatt's P★DA to type a message.
Can we tell him?
Are u mad??? NO!!!!
We can trust him. I'm like 99 per cent sure. What other choice do we have
What if he accidentally says something??
Lumir was bemused. 'By the way, Trip, I'll most likely see Zane when I meet with the "enemy." I can retrieve your Pokémon.'
'Oh, yeah, I'd appreciate that. D'you know who passed on my mom's Pokémon? I assume it was my dad, but...'
'Yes. It was your father.'
Trip typed back. It's trust him or side with sipher. He knows I don't want to be here anyway so he probs figures u agree
'For what it's worth,' Lumir said, 'Contrary to popular belief, I detest my father and hope Lyndon will leave him in jail.'
'OK, Lumir, I'll meet my dad. I'll see for myself how honest he is.'
That didn't reassure Wyatt. Like Lumir and even Lyndon himself, he was afraid Trip would be tempted out of desire for absent parental love to side with his father.