The next morning, Summer was surprised to learn that Elaine and the professor had been awake the whole night.

"When I get something as challenging as this Gigaremo, I don't think about sleeping," said Elaine when Summer asked. "Besides, I waited three days to take it apart, and I'll stay awake that long if I have to."

"You won't have to go that far, my dear," Professor Hastings said.

"Delivery, Ranger Base!"

Everyone in the lobby turned to see Big Bertha carrying in a large container.

"The famous milk pudding," Summer licked her lips hungrily.

"All thanks to you, young lady," Bertha boomed, slapping her arm on Summer's shoulder. "You helped out Miltank yesterday, and this is her way of saying thanks. And this time, the milk pudding will be the best it's ever been."

Vanessa took out several bowls and spoons for Big Bertha to scoop the milk pudding into. She passed the bowls out to everyone and was about to hand one to Ollie, too, when Barlow spoke up.

"Don't bother, Bertha; that guy hasn't bothered opening his mouth for anything. He doesn't even to deserve to taste any of it, anyway."

"Now, hush," Big Bertha glared at Barlow before handing the bowl of milk pudding into Ollie's hands. "He's the hungriest looking of everyone here."

Ollie stared at the bowl, then looked up at Big Bertha.

She motioned at the food. "Come now, eat up."

Everyone watched as Ollie began eating his milk pudding. Big Bertha looked proud as Ollie's eyes lit up and ate with gusto.

"See, isn't it tasty? If you need more, there's still plenty left."

Ollie stifled a burp, and Summer almost snorted.

"I... don't deserve this..."

Ollie had finally said something! But the wavering in his voice made Summer a little uncomfortable. She didn't like seeing anyone crying, and it sounded as if Ollie was about to. Not to mention that as he explained about the fire in Vien Forest, he was stammering through most of it. Stammering, for some reason, got under Summer's skin.

"...I didn't even know those guys. They said I could make easy money just by putting that machine in the forest, and I accepted. I didn't know what a Gigaremo was or anything..." Ollie sniffled. "Y-your milk pudding was d-delicious, ma'am. Your kindness reminds me of my mom..."

"Okay, people, break time's over," said Barlow, relieved. "Bertha, thank you kindly for your always-delicious milk pudding. And Ollie, you're free to go. Thanks for coming clean about what you know."

"Free to go?" asked Ollie.

"You were just being used by that group. So, you're not really at fault."

"Th-thank you."

"Try to come to us if those guys try to get you to do another job for them, okay?" Summer expressed.

Ollie nodded. "I plan to."

With that, Ollie left. Big Bertha did the same soon afterwards, heaving the container to deliver to the rest of the town. A couple of minutes later, the professor made a sound of discovery.

"Elaine, do you have any idea what this tiny black stone might be?" Professor Hastings handed something over to the Mechanic.

She took said stone from the professor and looked it over.

"Hmm..." Elaine tilted her head to the side, thinking. After a moment, she shook her head. "Never saw anything like it before. I don't think it's a regular stone you could find outside." She looked up, a light gleaming in her eyes. "Should I pulverize it with my hammer? Or drill holes in it?"

Summer had no idea what exactly was so exciting about a little rock, but the thought of Elaine trying to break it made her cringe. Everyone else, especially Professor Hastings, did the same.

"No, no, no!" Professor Hastings quickly took the stone back and stood up. "Anything but that! I'll just have the research team at the Ranger Union examine it."

The professor turned to Barlow. "I'll be holding a meeting tomorrow at the Union to discuss the Gigaremo threat. Barlow, as Leader of this Base, I'll need you there."

Barlow nodded. "Yes, sir."

Barlow and Professor Hastings left for the Ranger Union a few hours later. The Ranger told everyone to mind the Base while he was gone. Elaine cleaned up the remaining pieces of the Gigaremo while Luana and Crawford patrolled the area. The next day was Summer's day off, so she took charge of delivering the Vien Tribune, finishing up in Chicole Village where she would spend the night.

On her way to the Montgomery's home there, Summer ran into Ollie, who was nervously pacing between the fork in the path of the Montgomery's and another house.

"Ollie?"

The man jumped and turned around. He scratched the back of his head. "Oh, hi, Ranger."

"Just call me Summer. What are you doing?"

Ollie looked up at the other house. "I... I don't know if... I can go in-inside."

Summer followed Ollie's gaze. "Is that your house?"

"Erm..." Ollie scratched his head again. "Kind of..."

Summer looked over at the Montgomery's. She thought of it as her house too, even though she technically didn't live there. She then looked back at Ollie. If he sort of lived in this other house, maybe that meant it belonged to a family member of his.

Then Summer remembered Ollie mentioning his mother back at the Base. And the last time that Summer had come here to deliver the Tribune, the woman inside had expressed her concern for her son, who she hadn't seen for a while. Maybe Ollie was that son.

"Your mom's house?" Summer asked.

Ollie looked startled. It seemed Summer had hit the nail on the head. "How...?"

Summer shrugged. "I deliver the Vien Tribune time to time. The woman here has mentioned her kid to me... probably to Crawford and Luana as well. Why don't you go in? I'm sure your mom would be happy to see you again."

Ollie still looked nervous. Summer sighed and began to walk to the door.

"Look, I'm going inside to deliver her paper. If you go in now, I'll be right by your side. Maybe it'll make you feel better if someone else is there for emotional support."

Ollie gulped, took a deep breath, then nodded.

"Okay, then." Summer knocked rhythmically. This was a special knock Summer had come up with to let the people inside know that the Vien Tribune was being delivered.

"Come on in, Ranger."

Summer went inside, and Ollie nervously followed.

The brown-haired woman, a few years older than Summer's own parents, was busy in the kitchen. She waved at Summer without actually looking.

"You can just leave it at the table, honey. I'll get to it later."

Summer motioned to Ollie to speak. He swallowed and started apologizing for various things to his mother. When he started, Ollie's mother stopped in place, recognizing her son's voice. She didn't say anything or turn around, so neither Ollie nor Summer could see her expression. It was only when Ollie said he was home that his mother finally turned around, arms crossed, and a smile that told Ollie he had finally said the right thing.

"Just hearing you say 'I'm home' is all I need to hear. Not any of your apologies or anything else. I'm glad to see you back." The woman looked at Summer. "I suppose you came for moral support, Summer?"

"Yes, ma'am." Summer patted Ollie on the back. "See you around, Oll." She waved goodbye to Ollie's mom. "Enjoy the Tribune!"

After dinner, Summer spent the rest of the night in April's room. Her big sister was away, putting her Pokémon through training. April was going to leave soon for a different region, continuing her Trainer's journey. What the name of that region was, Summer didn't know.

"Knock, knock," said Mrs. Montgomery, knocking on the door at the same time.

"Hey, Mom." Summer took off her reading glasses and set down the book she was reading. "You need anything?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to come with me to work tomorrow for your day off."

"Really? We never got to take a field trip there when I went to Ranger School."

"That's good; I can give you a tour. Well, at least of the places that aren't restricted to me."

Summer was confused. "Restricted areas? For you? But you're, like, high up on the employee food chain."

Mrs. Montgomery shrugged. "Unless one is part of the board of directors or work alongside President Hall, you're going to have some areas forbidden to you."

"Jeez." Summer scratched Starly under its chin. "Do you think Starly could come, too?"

"Well, even out of uniform you're a Ranger, so I don't think there would be a problem. But make sure you keep him with you at all times, all right?"

Summer rolled her eyes. "All right."

"And make sure to get to sleep soon; I get up early to commute to Puel Town."

Summer groaned. "Okay. Good night, Mom."

"Night, Summy."

"Moooommm!"

Mrs. Montgomery laughed. "I'm your mother; get used to it."

'I've had ten plus years to "get used to it." I still don't like it,' Summer thought, returning to her book.

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