Time rewound to when the airship had just landed in Mossdeep City.
Inside the towering Space Center at the easternmost end of the island where Mossdeep Town stood, a figure lowered a pair of binoculars and smiled after watching the boy emerge from the airship and fly away on Aerodactyl.
"Back at last..."
Watching the silhouette disappear into the sky, the figure walked over to the telephone and dialed a number.
Mt. Chimney.
The largest volcano in the Hoenn Region!
It was also part of an enormous mountain range that stretched from north to south!
In a Secret Base deep within the mountains, several figures stood silently inside a stone chamber. A thin figure sat in a chair above them.
Pale yellow light radiated from the fluorite embedded in the stone walls, illuminating the entire chamber.
The figures all wore red uniforms bearing a mountain-like emblem.
They were none other than Team Magma!
Maxie sat in his chair, the light reflecting off his glasses hiding his eyes. Yet a hint of agitation still came through in his voice.
"Tabitha... how is the Meteorite Shard collection coming along?"
The burly figure, heavyset but cold-eyed, replied respectfully.
"Boss! Rest assured! We've collected more than enough Meteorite Shards from the Meteor Mountain Range! Just as that old bastard Soranus said, these shards contain enormous amounts of energy... it's just..."
"Hmm?"
"The old man said this energy comes from beyond our planet. Though powerful, it can't compare to the Red Orb at all..."
"Shut up!!!"
Maxie suddenly flew into a rage.
The executives below immediately stood rigidly, careful not to say another word.
In the year since the Red Orb had disappeared from Mt. Pyre, Team Magma had found no further news of it!
It was as though the orb had never existed.