"Do you think they'll actually get any information out of that card?" Lillie asks as our feet thud against the smooth floor of Aether Paradise in perfect unison.
"I hope so. It's our best shot at tracking down whoever is running this show," I reply. She laughs briefly as we make our way inside.
"Imagine if it was just some keepsake that the grunt was holding on to," she jokes.
"That would kinda suck." I admit with a sheepish laugh. We pass by many workers and visitors alike, and there are even a few trial-goers being shown around the ever-growing wonders of Aether paradise. It's just another regular day at the place. We step onto the elevator and Lillie folds her arms as I push the button to take us down to the lower levels.

"I wonder how Gladion and mother are doing," she murmurs in absent thought. "Oh no, what if Gladion ran into a group of those Team Skull thugs..."
Sensing her panic, I instinctively wrap my arms around her. "Shhh, I'm sure he's fine. Gladion is more than capable of handling himself, we both know that."
She squeezes back tightly, nuzzling her forehead against my shoulder.
"Yeah..."
There's a slight pause as she continues to cling onto me tightly.
"... Are you alright, Lil?" I ask, rubbing her back gently. She pokes her head out from my shoulder.
"Hmm? Yeah, sorry. I just wanted a cuddle." She giggles, leaning back into my shoulder and squeezing my body softly in her embrace.
"Aww," I chuckle. I kiss the side of her head. "Cutie."

At last, our elevator comes to a stop and we step outside.
"Come on, let's see if we can find your mom. Any idea where she might be?"
Lillie shrugs in response, before pointing at a random door.
"Let's check Sector A first," She suggests.
The familiar, quiet atmosphere fills the hallway, and we come to a stop at the first lab, knocking against the door before entering. The door slides open as we enter, and a terrible smell lingers in the air as we catch sight of something that causes Lillie to force a hand over her mouth quickly to fight the urge to throw up. In the centre of the laboratory is a deceased Nihilego, it's limp corpse flopped face-up on a surgery table and a few of its soggy tentacles hanging over the edge. The scientist turns to face us, removing a surgical mask to reveal the greeting smile of the one and only Wicke.
"Wooahhh... sorry Miss. Wicke, are we interrupting?" I cough, my intrigued yet horrified eyes fixated on the Ultra Beast.
"Miss Lillie, Master Sun! It's good to see you both again. Do not worry, I'm not carrying out anything too important. Is there something you need?" She asks, turning her attention briefly back to the beast only to pull a sharp dissection tool out of its open body, causing a small eruption of blue alien blood which oozes over the edge of the table.
"We were just looking for the president, do you know where she is?" Lillie replies quietly.
"Oh, of course. Madam Lusamine is in Lab 2B, it's in the corridor on the opposite side of the lift. I would walk you over there, but I'm not allowed to leave my subject unattended," Wicke replies with a small laugh, gesturing to the Nihilego.
"Of course, it's no problem! We can find our way there," Lillie smiles. "A-and about that Ultra Beast?" She asks nervously.
"Ah, this fine specimen was collected from your expedition to Ultra Space a few months ago... unfortunately, it was already deceased when we collected it. Still, they are wonderful creatures, and we've been able to learn much from their corpses. Currently, I'm studying the creature's ability to transport toxins around its body," Wicke explains.
"I'm surprised that you still have samples left after all this time," I chuckle, folding my arms.
"Not to worry, we have been carrying out a couple of... cautious expeditions in more recent times. Your accident in their dimension helped us improve our methods at least, and so we've been able to survey a little more of their world as well as collect more samples. You get used to the odour after a few autopsies," she smiles gently.
"Oh, interesting! We should talk again soon about your research," Lillie smiles. "But we should go and find the president... it's quite urgent," she continues in a more saddened tone.
"Of course! Stop by anytime," Wicke says with a nod, replacing her surgical mask over her mouth and turning back to the Ultra Beast.
"See you, Wicke!" I wave, before heading with Lillie towards lab sector B.

"Eww," Lillie shudders, the lab door sliding shut behind us. I glance sideways at her as we walk, grinning a little and putting an arm around her.
"Still, dissecting alien Pokémon? How cool is that!"
"Pretty cool... but pretty gross." She pouts. "Besides, I d-don't think I'd be willing to approach one of those things for a while..." she stutters.
"... yeah," I sigh. It's hard to forget how close Lillie was to being murdered by Ultra Beasts that one time. I'll never forget that low feeling in my stomach, seeing Lillie laying in a pool of her own blood. I shake my head, dismissing the thought and letting my eyes light up once again.
"So, do you know where lab 2B is?"
"Sure! It's just over this way, c'mon!" She says, taking my hand suddenly and practically dragging me down a corridor. It only takes a moment to pace around the corner to our destination, and Lillie knocks enthusiastically on the door before it slides open and we enter on inside. This lab is bigger than the last and, sure enough, Lusamine is standing with some Aether scientists ahead. She seems to be reviewing some information on a computer screen and discussing something with her employees.
"Good work. Make sure to readjust the photon conduits, and then run another analysis," Lusamine says to a scientist, whom of which nods in agreement before turning away to go and work with some important-looking equipment.
"Hi mother!" Lillie grins with a small wave. The president turns to us with a welcoming smile.
"Lillie, Sun! How are you both?"
"We're okay... it's been a busy day though," Lillie sighs, embracing her mother in a hug.
"So I hear. The entire region is in quite the commotive state about these Team Skull attacks," Lusamine sighs, smiling as she hugs her daughter gently in response.
"I hope we're not interrupting anything," I say lightly, flashing a smile along with a small wave.
"Not at all. We have just concluded another analysis," Lusamine announces proudly. There's a short pause, before Lillie speaks.
"Analysis of what, mother?"
"Oh, of course, I suppose you haven't been informed yet..." Lusamine mumbles, more to herself than to us. She pauses briefly, before gesturing to the large device in the room, with cables running along the floor to different computers and devices that seem to be working in harmony with this device. "This is the newest prototype of our resonance field spectrometer. We use it to analyse ultra wormholes local to the planet," she explains. Lillie looks slightly disturbed by this.
"You've been studying an ultra wormhole..? W-where is it?" She asks, playing with her fingers uncomfortably. Lusamine nods.
"You see, Alola's recent weather patterns have been entirely unnatural - I'm sure everyone can agree on that. The Aether Foundation suspected that the abnormal snow and cold weather that we've had in the past months may be linked to extradimensional causes - and after extensive research, we have concluded that this is indeed the case." Lusamine continues. A look of intrigued realisation crosses my face.
"So the snow, the cold weather... it came from Ultra Space?" I ask.
"Sort of. We detected an ultra wormhole in Alola's upper atmosphere. We've come to learn quite a lot about this particular breach, but we can only speculate as to where it leads. Clearly, we can only assume that the dimension on the other side is very, very cold. This ultra wormhole has allowed the energy from that dimension to pass through into ours, and in doing so, has changed the weather across the entire region." She pauses reluctantly. "We were curious to plan a small expedition to that dimension. I know it may be too much to ask, but if you two have any free time..."
Lillie cuts Lusamine off, suddenly wrapping her arms around me and squeezing my body tightly. I can sense her anxiety.
"Nooo... no, no. No. Not again. Sun's stressed enough as it is..." she announces firmly. It's impossible not to feel her worry. I gently place a hand against her back as she clings onto me.
"Lil, really... I'm fine," I chirp, showing her a smile. Lillie doesn't let up though, shooting me a stern look along with a shake of her head.
"No. We're staying here." She insists. Scoffing playfully, I scratch her hair gently as we hug.
"You're no fun," I joke. Lusamine cuts back into the conversation.
"It's not a problem, don't worry, Sun. The trend in data currently suggests that the wormhole's field strength is decreasing, so it would seem that Alola's picturesque tropical weather should be returning soon. It'll be a shame to see this wonderful snow fade, though..." Lusamine admits sighing, slightly saddened. Her mood perks up again suddenly, as she returns to the root of the conversation. "Ah, but what brings you two to the labs today? Perhaps you have questions?"
"Actually Lusamine, we were wondering if you and your scientists could take a look at something we found from Team Skull," I mention, reaching into my bag and pulling out the small metal card.
"Oh? Let me see," Lusamine says intrigued, as I pass the object to her. She turns it around with her fingers for a moment, inspecting it in silence as she turns back to us. "Hmmm. Well, unless it's some sort of ornamental object, I can only assume that this is some kind of storage device or... key?" Lusamine explains. Lillie nods.
"That's what we were thinking too," she concurs.
"The police weren't able to make heads or tails of how to access its contents, which is why we brought it to you," I add. "Would it be alright if we left it in your hands?"
Lusamine nods, checking something and making a note on the research tablet in her hand.
"It'd be our pleasure to help uncover the secrets within this device. I'll pass it on to an analyst team immediately, I'm confident that they'd have no trouble in decrypting the security... although it could take some time. I'll make sure to keep you both updated on what we find, alright?" She smiles warmly at the both of us. Lillie, with spring in her step once again, steps forward to hug her mother.
"Thanks! We'll be in touch," she replies.

The lift quickly comes to a stop at the Aether Paradise docks, and Lillie and I step out to watch the cold ocean waves roll into the dock.
"How come you want to take a ferry all of a sudden, huh?" Lillie asks, giving me a funny look. I shrug, putting an arm around her as we watch the waves.
"Just thought it'd be nice to enjoy the view with you. We may as well make the most of this weather before it goes, right?" I smile.
"Sure, I'm just surprised you didn't take the fast way home, for once," she giggles.
"Pfff, you always complain about the fast way!" I complain jokingly.
"Not always," she pouts, headbutting against my shoulder gently. The moment of quiet is suddenly broken as a flustered and visibly-irritated worker rushes past, muttering to himself. Lillie and I are taken by surprise at first.
"Guuuh, this doesn't make sense!" The worker complains.
"What doesn't?" I speak up, surprising the worker slightly.
"Ah, excuse my rambling," he replies sheepishly, glancing again at the clipboard in his hand. "It's just the cargo log - we were supposed to have received a shipment of important technology this morning, but I can't find the cargo crate anywhere. It's supposed to have arrived already, but the goods are nowhere in storage. The president will have my head if I can't find out what happened to it..."
Lillie and I pause for a moment, before she whispers to me.
"Do you think it could have been stolen..?"
"From here, Aether Paradise? I doubt they'd get away with it. Who would-" I stop my sentence, looking back at her gaze as I understand what she's suggesting. "Well then... the real question is... if Team Skull would risk stealing from Aether Paradise, then what exactly was the cargo?