[color=Ivory][center][h1]Jaden Locke[/h1][/center][/color]

[i]Calling in a Favor[/i]

[color=Ivory][i]Where is she?[/i][/color] Jaden thought with a mixture of annoyance and worry. He'd seen Vix near the table a little while ago, but in the moment between him turning away from the crowd and him noticing that she wasn't following him, she seemed to have vanished. He first thought she was just trying to cause some mischief, but the longer he went without seeing her, the more he felt a rising panic sink into his stomach. His movements became more panicked as he pushed through the crowd, wondering where she could've possibly disappeared to. [color=Ivory][i]Did one of these trainer's catch her? No, I doubt she'd get caught that easily, especially without a fight. Besides, I would've heard that. Then, did somebody just grab her? But who would do that and why?[/i][/color]

His gaze quickly snapped to the two manning the Pokemon Club stand. If Vix had been kidnapped, he had a feeling that they somehow had some hand in it. He was tempted to go over there and demand that they give it back to him, but he didn't have any proof that they had done so, only a gut feeling. Biting at his thumb, Jaden took a knee for a moment, handing the Pikachu off to Azzie -which she took with slight apprehension, not looking forward to accidentally get shocked by the electric mouse in their sleep- so he could take off his backpack. After re-arranging a couple of supplies in order to make space for the little guy, he took Pikachu back and place him inside, keeping a portion of the bag unzipped to make room  for his head and large ears to poke out.

After making sure that they were securely in the pack, Jaden reached for the two pokeballs on his belt, not wanting to lose Azzie and . . .[color=Ivory]"Jacqueline?!?!"[/color] Jaden said aloud, getting ready to have a rather large freak-out if he had managed to lose track of both of his pokemon in such a short amount of time. However, his fears were at least partially abated as the Skorupi girl came out of the crowd, apparently hadn't walked off for a moment. [color=Ivory]"Oh thank Arceus, I thought I might've lost you."[/color]

[color=Orchid]"It's fine, Master, though I have to say that it's a little early to be relieved."[/color] The Poison type spoke in her usual, monotone manner, and while he was at first confused by her statement, he found himself understanding what she meant quite clearly as she continued, his blood running cold with each word. [color=Orchid]"The dumb fox got herself snatched by those Pokemon Club people and tossed in a van, which I think left while you were searching the crowd. I'm afraid it's too late to follow it, but maybe you can get that Officer from before to do something about it."[/color] Jacqueline crossed her arms as she spoke of the Vulpix's fate, seeming rather disinterested with the whole situation. Jaden, however, was stuck between seething rage and paralyzing fear as he thought about what could possibly happen to her in the hands of those scoundrels. For a moment, he thought about approaching the two and explaining both the situation and his desire for help. Despite his words, a legitimate business would want to avoid getting hit with claims of stealing pokemon, and he'd think that even an illegitimate one would want to avoid that.

[color=Ivory][i]But that might not work for me. . .[/i][/color] Jaden's teeth grounded against each other, remembering that Vix wasn't officially his pokemon. He had, in essence, released her by detaching her from the Pokeball. While she was registered in his Pokedex, it wouldn't be a stretch to think those at the stand would refuse to help him by exploiting that loophole and turning the whole thing against him somehow. The same thing could be said if he went to the authorities about this, his lack of ownership making things look messy at best and suspicious or petty at worst. [color=Ivory][i]Which leaves me with only one option. . . dammit.[/i][/color]

Jaden et out a sigh as he reached into his pocket to pull out a sleek phone, tying in the number he'd sworn he'd never use. It connected, but there was only patient, expecting silence on the other end to greet him. [color=Ivory]" . . . Uncle, I-"[/color] He began, only to be cut off by a voice from behind him, a voice he'd hoped to never here again.

[color=Gold]"Blessed Mew, look how much you've grown, Young Master Jaden."[/color] Seeming to have appeared from thin air, [url=http://img01.deviantart.net/cfc8/i/2016/267/a/3/alakazam__by_dizdoodz-daiphhy.png]a bespectacled gentleman[/url] greeted the white haired young man with a deep bow. As he rose, his glasses seemed to gleam in the sunlight, his face holding no emotions despite the kind tone in which he spoke. [color=Gold]"The Master is busy with business at the moment so he had me teleport over to see what the trouble was. So, how may I be of assistance?"[/color]

Jaden, however, couldn't respond to the man. He was much too busy trying to stop his body from shaking uncontrollably, instinctual fear pushing adrenaline into his veins as he desperately tried to calm himself down. He tried taking deep breaths, but these only had a minimal effect on his composure, though he still managed to face the man before him, old memories he'd tried to repress for so long starting to bubble back up to the surface. 

[color=Ivory]"H-hello Maximillian. Y-Y-You look n-nice today."[/color]

Maximillian smiled at Jaden, one that held no warmth nor compassion, before reaching out to pat the boy's shoulder as he spoke. It took all he had not to back away screaming. Azzie and Jacqueline stood to the side, looking confused and worried. Jacqueline looked like she was about to say something, but a single look from Maximillian stopped both the pokemon from doing anything, the gap in power and skill between them being made widely apparent. With the runts dealt with, Maximillian turned his attention back to Jaden, smile still squarely on his face, with eyes that burrowed into his soul with their intensity.

[color=Gold]"Oh, you remember that little exercise, even to this day? You flatter me, but I don't think this is the time for such pleasantries. Like the Master, I hate it when time is wasted."[/color] Maximillian, without warning, gripped the side of Jaden's head, eyes glowing a light purple color as he worked his abilities as a Psychic-type upon him. Jaden couldn't help but let out a short cry, one that was rather subdued and ended quickly turned into a whimper, as his head was scoured for the information the Alakazam wanted. For 5 seconds, it felt like he was having a large spike being driven through his brain again and again until he was finally released.

Jaden collapsed to the ground in a heap, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, his breath coming out in short, ragged breaths. Meanwhile, Maximillian looked down at him with an amused expression, though he was no longer smiling.

[color=Gold]"Quite the pickle you've got yourself in, though I'm hesitant to help you just like that . . ."[/color] The Alakazam eyes searched the crowd, before zeroing in on a boy with Red hair, seeming to run through a few calculations before deciding on his plan. Without another word, he teleported behind the boy, grabbing hold of his shoulder as he appeared, only to teleport him back to where Jaden was currently trying to stand himself back-up. [color=Gold]"Hello there young master Seth, my name is Maximillian. I'm the chief of staff for Young Master Jaden's Uncle, Tyrian Locke, and I'm here to beseech you help him retrieve a Pokemon that he has so foolishly allowed to get taken by some ruffian. I know this may be a bit sudden, but don't worry, you'll be rewarded appropriately for your efforts if you so desire it. If you accept, then you'll have to come to the entrance of Viridian Forest sometime tomorrow morning. From their, I'll send you on the right track after your Pokemon, a relatively easy task of following the trail of her Aura for me, but I'm only allowed to help so much. I could send you on your way right now, but I think Young Master Jaden may need sometime to recover. After a slip-up like this, a punishment is obviously in order."[/color]

As Maximillian spoke, his voice took on a rather eager inflection to it as he spoke about the punishment, turning towards Jaden with a cruel grin spreading across his face. Jaden, knowing what was coming, merely closed his eyes and braced himself. His voice shook as he asked his one and only question. [color=Ivory]"H-how much?"[/color]

[color=Gold]"Well, given the problem at hand, not to mention your disrespect to Master Tyrian since you came back, I think 65% is fitting, perhaps even generous. Don't you agree?"[/color]

Jaden only nodded meekly in response, only to suddenly stop, his eyes narrowing as he fell to his knees, face contorting in agony. He tried to let out a scream, but air couldn't escape or enter his lungs, so all that could be heard was a pathetic gurgling sound. Veins bulged along his face and he even began to bleed from his nose as the pain grew in intensity. For what felt like hours, but was barely 6 seconds, Jaden was subjected to Maximillian's Psychic attack, tearing into the poor boy's mind with no mercy. After the punishment was doled out, Jaden fell onto his side, taking in heaving breaths of air while turned to Seth, awaiting his response.

[@Saltwater Thief]