Malva followed Chalmers in the car, eventually arriving at Team Flare's base in Lumiose City.
Inside, she was greeted by Lysandre himself.
"I'm sorry about what happened to Celosia," Malva began.
Even though Celosia's capture by Team Rocket had little to do with her, Malva still felt the need to say something.
The office fell into an awkward silence.
Lysandre knew that if Malva's account of events was true, there was no reason to blame her. Yet her disappearance and sudden reappearance left him with lingering doubts.
Was everything really as she claimed?
For now, it remained an unanswered question.
Outwardly, Lysandre quickly reassured her, saying it wasn't her fault.
However, Malva's keen instincts picked up on his hesitation before he spoke.
This brief moment of doubt only made her resolve to leak Team Flare's secrets to Rocket stronger.
After a short conversation, Lysandre decided to assign Malva to the rest area of the research facility, ostensibly for her to "rest and recover."
In truth, it was for surveillance.
A loyal Team Flare executive might not have minded. Unfortunately for Lysandre, Malva was anything but loyal.
---
As Malva discreetly used a miniature listening device to eavesdrop on Lysandre's conversations, Team Rocket's preparations continued elsewhere.
At the Rocket base, Matori stood next to Luo Yuan, reporting, "We have a total of 370 operatives. My Matori Matrix consists of 150 members, while the remaining 220 are standard elite agents. Everyone's ready."
Luo Yuan observed the bustling activity below, a satisfied expression on his face.
Standing nearby, Aliana seemed uneasy.
As a newly defected member, she had been brought back to the Kalos region—her former stomping grounds—immediately after her surrender.
A sharp mind, Aliana had already pieced together Rocket's intentions.
They intended to use her against her old team.
Unfamiliar with Luo Yuan's true capabilities, she wasn't optimistic about Rocket's chances.
Still, Aliana had no intention of switching sides again.
In exchange for freedom and trust, she had divulged a wealth of Team Flare's secrets.
As a former executive, she was well aware of how ruthlessly Team Flare dealt with traitors.
Having betrayed them, her only hope now was for Rocket to win.
"Just don't let me get captured by Team Flare again," she thought grimly.
Her musings were interrupted by Luo Yuan's voice.
"Aliana."
Startled, she straightened and replied quickly, "I'm here."
"As a scientist in Team Flare's Science Division, you must be familiar with Mable and Bryony, correct?"
Aliana nodded. She knew them well—they had been her colleagues, after all.
But surely he didn't expect her to take them both on alone?
Sensing her concern, Luo Yuan reassured her. "Don't worry, you won't have to face them alone. Matori, take your Matori Matrix and work with Aliana to handle them."
"For Xerosic, I'll have Mewtwo take care of him personally."
"As for Lysandre, I'll lead the remaining operatives myself to deal with him."
"Malva will handle Chalmers."
Hearing Luo Yuan's plan left Aliana reeling.
She knew of Mewtwo—Rocket's enigmatic and eccentric Pokémon that had accompanied them on the airship. It seemed more interested in reading books than battles. Could it really handle Xerosic?
And Luo Yuan? Was he seriously planning to take on Lysandre himself? Did he even know the extent of Lysandre's strength?
And Malva... since when had she joined Rocket?
Still adjusting to her release, Aliana was bombarded with information, leaving her in a daze.
However, neither Luo Yuan nor Matori seemed inclined to explain further. To them, Aliana was merely a pawn, a tool to help execute the mission. As long as she followed orders, that was enough.
At that moment, Luo Yuan's communicator beeped softly.
It was a message from Malva—her intel was complete, and she was giving the go-ahead to begin.
"Xerosic, Mable, and Bryony are at Team Flare's secret base in Stone Forest Town. Aliana, you'll guide the way," Luo Yuan instructed.
"Chalmers and Lysandre are at the Lysandre Labs in Lumiose City. I'll head there to meet up with Malva directly."
Rising to his feet, Luo Yuan gave the final order.
"Let's begin."
---
Lysandre Labs
Located within the easily recognizable Lysandre Café in Lumiose City
The café was supposed to be closed, with a "Temporarily Closed" sign hanging at the entrance. Yet the appearance of a figure clad in black armor drew everyone's attention, including the disguised Team Flare operatives posing as staff.
"Who are you? The café is closed today," one of the "servers" asked, his hand inching toward the Poké Ball in his pocket.
The armored figure—the disguised Luo Yuan—ignored him, striding confidently toward the counter.
Before the operative could fully draw his Poké Ball, his hand froze in place.
A blue aura surrounded his body, locking him in place along with the other operatives in the café.
The air shimmered with psychic energy as Luo Yuan approached the counter, casually brushing aside the hand of an operative reaching for the alarm button.
"Who are you?" another Flare member managed to ask through gritted teeth, struggling against the psychic hold.
Luo Yuan didn't bother answering.
Instead, he tapped his waist, releasing his Porygon2, whose newly polished body gleamed as it materialized. Without hesitation, it dove into the café's surveillance system through a nearby camera.
In the surveillance room, Flare operatives were already on high alert, preparing to report the intrusion to their superiors.
But their equipment suddenly went dead.
Just as they reached for the door, Porygon2 appeared before them, its digital body crackling with energy.
"What the—"
Before they could react, an electric pulse shot from Porygon2, filling the room with arcs of lightning.
"Electroweb!"
The surge immobilized the operatives, rendering them unconscious.
Efficiently, Porygon2 locked down the surveillance room and sealed all emergency exits within the lab. After sending an update to Luo Yuan, it hacked into the lab's system, granting him full access.
Finally, it navigated deeper into the lab, locating a secure room where Malva was being monitored.
When Malva saw Porygon2 materialize in front of her, a smile spread across her face.
"Luo Yuan's here, isn't he?" she said, her voice tinged with relief.