"Charon, even if you forcibly seize the throne, Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter will revolt once they realize what happened," Saiki sneered, her hands still raised. "There is only one leader of Team Galactic, and his name is Cyrus."
"By the time they find out, it will be too late. I have already secured the mainframe," Charon replied, his fingers tracing the edge of the desk. "Most of those loyal to Cyrus perished at the Spear Pillar. I know the man—he likely disbanded the team in his final moments of despair. But I won't let such a magnificent organization, the greatest underground force in Sinnoh, simply vanish. Its resources are far too tempting."
Charon leaned back, a greedy glint in his eyes. "And you, Saiki... you stayed here because you doubted the Red Chain too. Don't bother trying to use that Banette in your shadow; my laser-grid has you locked. You aren't going anywhere."
Clap. Clap. Clap.
A slow, rhythmic applause echoed through the sterile laboratory.
"Truly worthy of the next 'leader' of Team Galactic. That was a wonderfully villainous speech, Charon."
Feng Che stepped out from the shadows, indifferent to the red laser dots dancing across his chest.
"Who are you?!" Charon barked, nearly jumping out of his skin.
"Who am I? Why don't you ask Saiki?" Feng Che smiled.
"You!" Saiki gasped, her face turning pale. "How did you get in here?"
"I'm here to fulfill Giovanni's order: the annexation of Team Galactic. Saiki, you've played both sides long enough. Help me stabilize this transition, and I might just convince the Boss to be lenient with you."
Charon didn't wait for the conversation to finish. He grabbed two specialized Poké Balls from his desk and hurled them. "Darkrai! Heatran! Destroy him!"
The Pitch-Black Pokémon and the Lava Dome Pokémon appeared, but they were bound by metallic collars that surged with high-voltage currents, forcing them into a state of pained obedience.
"Go, Genesect, Zeraora!"
The Paleozoic predator and the Thunderclap Pokémon materialized instantly. Simultaneously, the lab's alarms began to blare, and Galactic grunts began rushing toward the 33rd floor.
"It would be a shame to wreck such expensive equipment," Feng Che mused. "Gengar, Shadow Stitch!"
Shadow claws erupted from the floor, pinning the two legendaries. However, Darkrai's Dark-type essence quickly eroded the ghost-type bind. It broke free and launched a Dark Pulse at Feng Che.
"Zeraora, Plasma Fists!"
Zeraora's golden sparks shredded the dark wave. "Now! Aim for the collars!"
Zeraora became a blur of silver and gold. It appeared before Darkrai, slamming a heavy fist into the metal ring. With a sharp crack, the collar shattered and fell away. Simultaneously, Genesect's claws sliced through Heatran's restraint.
Free from the mental agony, Darkrai and Heatran turned their murderous gaze toward Charon.
"Darkrai, Heatran—stand down," Feng Che commanded. As Heatran prepared to vent its rage with a torrent of magma, it was slammed into the floor by Mewtwo's invisible psychic weight. Darkrai, realizing it was outmatched by the hidden presence behind Feng Che, dissolved into black mist and fled the building.
"Charon, your 'technology' is impressive, but your vision is small," Feng Che said, making a pinching gesture. "Mewtwo, plant the Psychic Brand on both of them."
Mewtwo's eyes flared. Charon and Saiki slumped for a moment before their eyes cleared, now reflecting a fanatical, absolute loyalty to Feng Che.
"Lord Feng Che," Charon said, dropping to one knee.
"Charon, I don't care how you do it, but you are to purge any dissenters and keep Galactic running as a subsidiary. Saiki, stay here and assist him. As long as you remain useful, Giovanni won't touch you."
Feng Che recalled Heatran and placed its ball on the desk. He then vanished in a flicker of purple light.
The New Master of Sinnoh
A second later, Feng Che appeared on a quiet street in Veilstone City.
Team Galactic, the Garden Family, and the Bounty Hunter Guild... all three major pillars of Sinnoh are now in my palm. The Great Temple is eating itself alive, and the Bertha and Volkner clans are too broken to move.
He had left the lion's share of the pirate treasure at the Garden estate, instructing Yuan Na to buy every "Legendary-tier" resource that appeared on the market, regardless of cost.
It's time to move to the next stage of my own growth.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
His communicator buzzed with an urgent priority signal from the Kanto League. It was a mandatory call-to-arms for high-level trainers.
"Finally," Feng Che smiled like a ghost. "The invitation I've been waiting for."
He vanished from the street, heading back toward the region where his journey began.