In a world where Pokémon are merely superpowered animals with no true intelligence, Echo, a Zoroark, gains human-level sapience. After inadvertently inheriting the memories of a ranger, he is faced with some hard choices to do what is best for his two kits. When he compares the harsh realities of living in the wilderness to being a well-fed laboratory Rattata, the decision really isn't all that hard to make.
The Dark Type Ranger (Pokémon) (Zoroark)
- Thread starter UndyingRevenge
- Start date
- Worldbuilding Fantasy
- Created
- Status
- Ongoing
- Watchers
- 88
- Recent readers
- 120
- Threadmarks
- 7
-
Statistics (7 threadmarks, 51k words)
User Total UndyingRevenge 7
Chapter 1: You Are What You Eat
- Location
- Winter Desert
"Whoever fights monsters should take care that he does not become one himself-"
-Friedrich Nietzsche
-Friedrich Nietzsche
I am getting bothered by the light emanating from this flying metal object. It illuminates the dark forest too much and its constant circling disrupts my focus, preventing me from creating illusions in my territory. I growl in annoyance at the object, but it doesn't seem to heed my warning.
I can tell that the metal shell is lifeless, yet it moves erratically under the influence of my prey's Aura. However, the gnawing pain of starvation distracts my attention to more pressing matters.
As I eat, I continue to observe the strange flying metal device with caution. It seems to be flying aimlessly around me, but my instincts tell me that something is not right. It shouldn't be moving when the being that animated it is no longer alive.
As I finish devouring the last bits of my prey, I notice a sudden change in the motion of the metal device circling me. The metal object, which was previously orbiting around me in a gentle and steady manner, suddenly starts spinning erratically at a high speed. As a result, bright and soundless eruptions of aura begin to gush out of it, making the surroundings as bright as the noonday sun and causing discomfort to my eyes.
As I stand still, a bright aura forms around me, and suddenly, countless energy nails rain down on me, penetrating my fur and skin. However, instead of feeling physical pain, I am overwhelmed by a surge of emotions that hit me like a powerful wave, shattering my thoughts and feelings like a sandcastle before the tide.
As soon as I become aware of the danger posed by the seemingly harmless device, it is already too late for me to escape. I am immobilized and unable to move my limbs. My face hits the ground and I feel the invasive energy penetrate deep into the core of my being. It feels like countless slimy eels wriggling their way inside me, searching for a place to hide.
After the bombardment ceases, the aura that had already taken over my body continues to writhe like a living flame, burning through me. I'm unsure of how much time has passed until the flood of aura finally settles and merges with my own life energies. Once the ordeal is over, my scattered thoughts ease as the two energies begin to coalesce and reduce the internal pressure in my body.
The metal device that I now somehow know as a Capture Styler hovers beside me. It spins innocently in the air beside me as it bleeds off residual momentum from the aura burst.
As I see the capture styler powering down, I let out a sigh of relief and collapse on my back with trembling limbs. Through the leafy canopy above, I notice a few bright lights, and when I realize what they are, my breath catches in my throat.
The grandeur of the cosmos has been amplified by a series of revelations that are flooding my mind one by one. Now, I comprehend that stars are born from the vibrant clouds known as nebulas. I understand that the laws that dictate a star's graceful movement across the sky are the same ones that govern the fall of an apple from a tree. In the grand scheme of the universe, we are nothing more than tiny specks of dust.
I find joy in knowing that many of those stars resemble the Sun, and have their own solar systems with planets orbiting around them in the vast and infinite darkness of space. Unintentionally, I lift my clawed digits towards those twinkling lights, and curl them as if I could grasp one of those distant stars in my hand.
I notice a quiet thump coming from the capture styler, and I see that it has lost its battle with gravity. The metal device spins on the ground like a child's toy before settling on the dead leaves beside me. In a similar manner to the way the stars are revealed, I understand that the beauty I see in the world is colored by someone else's perspective of the world.
At the summit of my euphoria, I slip down a mountain of regret as fragmented memories percolate into my mind's eye.
A name echoes in my head like an unheard whisper- Dustin Smith, a frontier ranger of the Unova region whose life I ended earlier tonight.
Dustin was orphaned during the first Interregional War and was unwillingly drafted into the last great war. However, he served his region with honor and distinction. In his later years, he devoted himself to the newly forming International Pokémon League with the hope of preventing another great war.
As a Ranger for the Pokémon League, he volunteered for the most dangerous jobs. He ventured deep into unexplored areas of his region so that the younger generation would not have to risk their lives.
Dustin was a man whose years of service helped break the darkness of the previous warring era, and he was a man I had killed for no other reason than I was hungry, and he was there.
A rustling from the underbrush pulls me from my introspection and what I spot within the dense bushes are two familiar pairs of green eyes that mirror my own.
My young ones looked at me with pleading eyes, their hunger apparent. They had run away when I started fighting with the ranger, but now that the Capture Styler had stopped circling, they had come back to me.
Since they were not yet old enough to hunt for themselves, they were as starved as I was. It was heart-wrenching to see their ribs showing through their fur. We had all been close to starvation after being forced to travel far away from my old territory.
I notice the piles of clothes and scattered ranger gear, then I spot one of Dustin's Pokeballs that I know carries his Kirlia. My natural instinct is to reach for it to feed my kits, but I stop myself with a self-directed growl of anger. Shaking my head, I start searching through a tattered cargo pouch containing condensed Poke food rations.
Scouting rangers always carry a small amount of food in case of emergencies or for long patrols. I open the can and check its freshness by smelling and tasting it. Once I'm sure it's safe to eat, I call my two waiting kits and let them know it's time to eat. They run towards me with excitement, and I give each of them a large cube of condensed food from the available cans.
As I lay my head on the ground beside my family, I watched them devour their food blocks with great enthusiasm. However, my thoughts wandered back to my situation, and I began to feel like a monster. I had almost fed my children with someone's Kirlia, and now I was stealing supplies from the league.
Theories of how Dustin's memories were implanted circulate in my head. It likely had to do with the way the capture styler had been in use when he died. The fact that I'd…eaten the body also probably played a part in that. Thoughts on how to test the phenomena start to pop up, but I shoot them down a second after they enter my mind.
'Arceus, the next thing I know, I'll be raiding orphanages just to try to make my kits like me.'
I shake my head at the horrifying thought. I wanted the best for my children, but that didn't mean I wanted to become the kind of monster that I now find myself as. This intelligence I possess now scares me, and I know it will scare the Pokémon League even more.
The worst part is that I now realize that Dustin was just trying to capture me, not invade my territory like I originally thought. If only I had been a little slower, I could have enjoyed the easy life that comes with human companionship.
Living as a wild Pokémon is a difficult existence, and my two remaining offspring are a constant reminder of this fact. Even being a test subject seemed like a better option compared to the cruelties of nature. However, I didn't want my offspring to be test subjects either. But what other options did we have? Was it possible for me to provide them with a better life than they would find in a lab?
As I ponder over my choices, various paths appear in my mind and I weigh the merits and drawbacks of each one. One option is to pretend to be human by employing illusions, but the facade might be exposed sooner than later. I'm not even sure if I can imitate human speech convincingly, or if any psychic human on the street could easily detect my non-human nature.
I attempted to speak like a human, but my voice sounded like a growling rasp due to the struggle of my tongue against my teeth.
"ShE sElLS sEa sHells bY tHe Sea ShOre." Oh great, I sound like a horror movie monster too, that's just… fantastic.
"I may not be physically able to speak human language due to the shape of my mouth and vocal cords, but I could still mimic it to some extent," I thought to myself in frustration.
I turned my gaze towards my kits and let out a snort of amusement as they continued to chew on the food blocks I had given them, while simultaneously tilting their heads and perking up their ears in curiosity over the strange sounds I had just made for no reason.
As I pull my kits in closer to groom them, plans of living like a hermit on the fringes of society idly pass me by, but the problem is that that sort of life also feels short-sighted. One day, my children would grow up, and their instincts would have them leave my side.
My children would be beholden to their instincts, and I doubted my current circumstances could be repeated so easily. Even if it were possible, I doubt the Pokémon league would take kindly to a species of Pokémon that could pose such an existential threat to humanity.
It hurt to accept, but deep down, I knew my offspring would have to remain as nothing more than super-powered animals. I just couldn't think of a way around that fact that didn't involve throwing away all other moral considerations.
"I don't want to be a monster", I think to myself, acknowledging a hard truth. But I have a plan to ensure my kits have the best chance at a safe and happy life. It will require some trickery on my part, but I am confident in my ability to pull it off.
With this new plan forming in my mind, I gather up pieces of Dustin's ranger equipment and fasten them to myself with the remains of the ranger uniform I hadn't chewed through.
I reach over to attach the capture styler to its holster on my belt, and a shaft of starlight catches on my new clothes. In the faint light, I can see that my Ranger Uniform is covered in blood stains and looks like it's about to fall apart. But with a wave of my hand, ribbons of dark illusion weave into a cloak around my body, matching the color and texture of the uniform and making it appear pristine.
As a result, my own appearance now looks identical to Dustin Smith's, just as he had been a few hours ago.
Finding two empty Pokeballs in Dustin's pockets, I decided to toss them towards my children. Unaware of their true purpose, they attempted to bite them in midair, only to be trapped a moment later.
I carefully placed my hand on the two newly occupied Dusk balls and secured them to my back, right where my spine and waist meet. That area felt instinctively safe, protected by my shaggy red mane and concealed from danger under an illusionary layer.
I can see memories from the past when these two young Pokémon were small enough to hide in my hair. They used to fall asleep nestled in the thickest parts of my red locks. However, it dawns on me that this would be the last time I could carry them like this, and it fills me with sadness.
I couldn't help but smile, despite the somberness of the situation. Both my illusionary projection and my real face cracked a smile as I felt the trust flowing through the Pokeballs. Although they didn't understand what was happening, my kits knew they were safe with me. I was determined to do everything in my power to give them a better life, even if it meant enduring any hardships with a smile on my face.
Having fully solidified my plan of action, I take out the Ranger's Capture Styler and activate the Pokedex function while ensuring that the device has no signal. I scan my kit's pokeballs and realize that my species is unregistered in the international archive saved on the device's hard drive. This doesn't come as a surprise to me.
That fact is not shocking to me at all; I can easily imagine my species hanging on the edge of extinction. It was a small miracle that I'd ever even found a female of my species to begin with. It was another miracle that the only female kit of my mate's litter had survived to this point as well.
Pushing aside the painful memories, I focus on my plan to infiltrate a ranger base and secure a better future for my children. A part of me wishes to blame Dustin for my decision to give myself to the league, as he deserved better than to go unavenged after all the sacrifices he had made throughout his life. However, the truth is that I believed a life as a lab Rattata was fitting for a monster like me.
I wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else, and if I'm lucky, I could satiate this human curiosity that now burns at the back of my mind. How did I come to be as I am? Would I lose my sapience over time or is it permanent? What would using a TM feel like? What did the inside of a Pokeball look like?
In fiction and myth, Pokémon sapience, sometimes referred to as aura intelligence (AI), is a common trope where the subjects often rebel against humanity.
I, on the other hand, just want a soft bed and for my kits to survive into adulthood. So unless I get sold to Orre, I am just fine with whatever the league has in store for me once I'm in their possession.
But before that, I'd be having some fun seeing how far into Ranger security I could penetrate before being caught. If all goes well, I should be able to transfer my kits somewhere nice before being subdued by the Rangers.
It also helps that this is the Unova region, where the political climate heavily favors Pokémon rights and anti-abuse laws thanks to Unova's desire to politically distance itself from its western neighbor the Orre region to the international community.
In the distance, the distinct low droning buzz of a Heracross's wings catches my attention. My breath catches in instinctive fear, and my heart pounds as the embodiment of death grows closer.
As I rummaged through my new outfit, I stumbled upon a metal cylinder of Max Repel in my front right cargo pocket. However, it was quite challenging for me to handle the can with my three-clawed hands. Nevertheless, I found a solution quickly enough.
Though I almost dropped the can on the ground, I managed to remove the protective plastic cap from the can using my sharp teeth, albeit shakily.
I took a deep breath and prepared myself before spraying a thick cloud of Pokémon repellent all over my face and body. The scent was extremely strong and made my eyes water, blurring my vision. I stopped breathing for about 30 seconds before gasping for air, almost coughing.
I'm relieved as the sound of buzzing bug wings fades away from my hearing range. I try to shake off the clingy smell of repellant, but it's not working. The repellant smells like being sprayed by a skuntank and I know it'll linger on me for hours.
'Ugh, why did I think that was a good idea?' I think disappointedly while pulling out the capture styler from its holster once again.
Tabbing through the list of menus, the map function springs to life, illuminating a large radius of the dark forest around me. A multilayered topographical display extends holographically out of the screen, and I take a moment to locate the nearest Ranger outpost.
With another click, the Capture styler enters idle mode, and I place it back in its holster. The capture styler was a godsend when dealing with the unexplored frontiers.
After taking one last look at the forest clearing that used to be my home, I approach the nearest tree. I use my sharp claws to carve an epitaph on the bark of the tree. After a moment of silence, I stretch my legs and quickly launch myself into the night like an arrow.
My body moves with such ease and fluidity that it feels like my joints and tendons are now made of steel cables and carbon fiber. It's almost as if my body has undergone a transformation along with my mind, making me faster and more agile than ever before.
For now, it's just another item to add to the list of things I don't understand about my situation.
I am moving at an incredible speed, but there is no sound or trace of my movement. My experience of living in the wilderness and being a Pokémon ranger for over a decade comes together perfectly in my mind.
I skillfully avoid any wild Pokémon and move through the dense underbrush with ease, darting through the forest like a leaf being blown by a hurricane.
In no time, I have traveled around twenty-four kilometers through the forest and finally see the floodlights that mark the Western Unovan Ranger outpost perimeter.
The grass around my feet tears into pieces as my claws dig furrows into the ground, stopping my wild charge just short of the light. My gaze lingers on the floodlights for a tad longer than I mean to as my curiosity gets the better of me.
I wonder how such devices were even possible. But as soon as I start thinking about it, my mind gets flooded with a flurry of information - from the use of metal filaments to electrical current resistance, production of heat and light, inert gas containment, to the manufacturing of the glass bulb. It's like falling into a mental rabbit hole.
Shaking off the intrusive yet fascinating knowledge, I refocus my attention on the pristine ranger facade and walk into the light.
The dark cover of the forest glides off my back like a discarded cloak just as the blinding lights lock onto my position—the automated illumination acting as an effective first line of defense for most light-sensitive Nocturnal Pokémon.
I walked deeper into the open area and felt the infrared light shining on me, creating a rainbow-like effect that humans wouldn't be able to see. The hidden scanners couldn't detect any issues with my disguise. Suddenly, my capture styler vibrated, indicating a message from the base as I regained a single bar of signal.
As I walk, I reach for the device on my belt and notice an automated notification from the outpost's security system. The message reads: "Dustin Smith confirmed returning from patrol. Welcome home, Ranger." Although I feel a sense of relief seeing the automated reply, it also reminds me that very few people are awake and active within the base at this hour, which is not surprising.
Walking through the rest of the security perimeter unhindered, I reach the looming metal door that acts as the base's front entrance. A casual observer might mistake the door for a bank vault's entrance, but this is what the bare minimum constituted for a ranger base on the frontiers.
The large metal frame ominously opens, moving silently with the help of industrial pneumatics. I enter through the opening with ease, and the door swiftly closes behind me.
Without giving much attention to the night-shift personnel posted at the security terminal, I walk past them. They are accustomed to fatigued rangers returning from patrols and do not bother to stop me.
As I wander through the empty hallways, my eyes come across a wall map that displays arrows pointing towards different areas within the base. The map was likely intended for visiting ace trainers or league auditors, but I promptly used it to find the Interregional Trade terminals that I needed for my plan.
After a short walk, I finally arrived at the interregional trade area. The room seemed to be sparsely decorated and consisted of rows of high-end computers. No one else was present, and all the lights were dimmed due to the inactivity of the place.
Although I'm not bothered by the darkness, I still wave my hand at the motion sensor on the wall to activate the lights. As I sit down, I sink into the comfortable seat while the shiny, silver-cased PC automatically connects me to the global trade system (GTS). With the aura-linked identification system in the Ranger Styler on my belt, I can quickly access what I need without even requiring passwords.
The GTS is one of many borderline magical technologies that the world benefits from now that the great war was over. I am lucky insofar as the international Pokémon league has just established links between Indigo and Unova not too long ago.
I just realized something that's been bothering me. I've been able to use Dustin Ranger's styler without any difficulty, but this shouldn't be possible. Aura signatures are unique to each person, like a fingerprint for the soul. Normally, security measures rely on the fact that aura signatures can't be faked.
I'm starting to wonder if I somehow absorbed Dustin's soul, which is deeply unsettling. Is it even possible for a ranger styler to bridge souls like that? And if it is, why hasn't this happened before? Other rangers have died while on the job, so why am I the exception?
Either way, it would be a conversation to have with the nice scientists I'd likely be meeting after my mission here was done.
Breaking my thoughts away from my newest existential crisis, I browse the contact lists for viable Pokémon transfer locations.
'This is it. There's no turning back now. Whatever happens tonight, I leave it in the hands of Arceus to decide my fate,' I pray silently.
After logging in, I used Dustin's veteran Pokémon Ranger credentials to force authorize two emergency transfers. One transfer would be sent directly to the Unovan royal family while the other would be sent to a private server belonging to Samuel Oak, a former league champion and war hero who later became a professor about a decade ago.
I made the decision to not send both of my offspring to the same location. Even before my mate's death, we instinctually knew not to put all our eggs in one basket. The only reason any of our offspring had survived to this day was because my mate and I split our litter between the two of us.
Consecutive High-profile transfers like this would bring trouble down on me in minutes since I did not have pre-approval to perform these transfers. I would likely be flagged in the GTS immediately after and then be swarmed by the Rangers on base. I'm sure they were going to ask me some very pointed questions, and I'd be happy to answer them after my kits were safely away.
I had some trust in the league's ethics committee, but Dustin had witnessed the atrocities committed by humanity when they had enough justification. The possibility of a Pokémon species with intelligence beyond what we had seen before was significant enough for me to want to be cautious and weigh my options.
Before completing the transaction, I decided to send two small messages containing detailed information about my species. I even attached the pokedex scans that I had conducted earlier. The messages included everything I could think of, from their preferred foods to theoretical domestication guidelines, physiology profiles, and evolutionary expectations.
It feels almost wrong to give THE Pokémon professor a dossier like this, but I can't resist. I'm pretty sure he's never seen my species before, especially since the national dex in my ranger capture styler doesn't have any data on us. However, I want to make sure I cover all my bases.
I may be overly paranoid, but I've decided to send my two kits to two different locations. I just want to ensure their safety. Hopefully, they will have the opportunity to live long and happy lives away from the dangers of the wild. They could either become exotic pets for the Unovan Royal family or well-cared-for subjects in a world-renowned laboratory.
After the transfers are complete, I take a deep breath to calm myself down. The disguise I had been wearing to look human disappears, revealing my true identity. The new Ranger uniform I was wearing turns back into the old, worn-out outfit that was stained with blood. When the computer screen turns off, I see a reflection of my monstrous appearance in the monitor.
I have to reluctantly accept that I demonstrated today how dangerous my species can be. It was almost too easy to breach some of the world's best security measures. However, I hope that my worth as a scientific asset will outweigh the fear my existence may cause.
As a newly sapient being, I am also driven by curiosity and I want to understand myself better, just like humans do. I don't have to conform to the monstrous image often portrayed in fictional horror stories about rogue aura intelligence's.
As I wait for the expected security alert, I unconsciously scratch at the blood on my crimson claws. It makes me ponder about my species and the reason for the red accents on our bodies and fur. Is it a way to signal danger to potential predators?
With a digital Bing, I look back at the PC screen, and Just as expected, the transfers did not go unnoticed by the regulatory agencies assigned to monitor Pokémon trafficking. It was not surprising given the high-profile destinations I had sent my kits to. Despite this, I did not attempt to flee and instead remained seated, waiting for the inevitable consequences. The base was already on lockdown, and I had unknowingly revealed my identity to the camera located in one of the corners of the room.
All that waited to be seen now was how the League would react to the first documented instance of a truly sapient Pokémon outside of old fairytales.
Worst case scenario, I would die here. I didn't plan to resist capture, so that worst-case scenario seemed unlikely. My stolen thought patterns seemed to think I'd end up in some dark cell, which was… actually quite appealing now that I thought about it.
I know it might sound bad to some people, but to me, it sounded like a great new home. Whatever happens to me, it will still be better than my previous living conditions. At least I won't have to worry about being eaten by an invasive Scyther swarm like my mate, and three other kits had been.
The cavalry arrived just two minutes after the transfers were sent, which was quite impressive given the late hour. A pair of heavily armored assault Rangers entered, with a blue-haired woman scowling between them. I assumed she was the captain of the base, based on the rank insignia on her uniform.
I can actually smell the powerful psychic energy emanating from her. The pale blue shimmer of psychic power roiling just under her skin. Her purple eyes meet my own inhuman greens. Even at a glance, she can see a spark of something in my eyes and demeanor that immediately disturbs her.
A Pokeball suddenly appears in the air, propelled by a psychic force, and unleashes a massive Galvantula before I even have a chance to react. As the electric spider Pokémon appears, an electric field builds up in the air, causing the hair on my body to stand on end. The Galvantula's lifeless predatory gaze fixates on me, sending shivers of fear down my spine as I am unable to look away from the monstrous creature.
The captain shouts something at me but I completely miss what she asks as I fight my instincts to run for my life. All I can do is note the telltale scrunching of her eyebrows as confusion further invades her harsh demeanor as my silence and inaction continue.
The radiance of psychic energy flashes behind her irises once again, causing a rippling of air to surround me, pulling at my tattered uniform yet finding little purchase as her psychokinesis loses power proportional to its proximity to my body.
As her attack fails, she quietly speaks into a radio attached to her shirt collar. Unbeknownst to her, I hear her words as clearly as the people on the other end of the line.
"Category 2 Psychic resistance, all Pokeballs registered to Dustin Smith within transmat range have been transferred to HQ. I'm not detecting any ghost energy either. Whatever the fuck this thing is Galvantula is detecting a lot of human blood alongside a heavy dose of max repel. Best guess is an attempt to mask its scent."
"I don't like this new species. There's something off about it. I wonder if Rocket is behind it. Only those jerks would use an unregistered Pokémon to infiltrate a Ranger base and send something back to Kanto." She growled to the person on the other end of the line.
I made eye contact with her and answered her question by slowly shaking my head in the negative. She practically gaped at my motions as she realized I had replied to her remark about Team Rocket.
"I don't know how you are remotely controlling this Pokémon, but whoever you are, I want you to KNOW that you will pay for what you've done." She states with icy calm.
I made the mistake of shrugging at her incorrect assumptions, which wasn't the best response. In response, she angrily signaled the two armored guards beside her to release a set of Duosion.
The only exit to the room is locked down by powerful psychic barriers that also shield the humans from any potential damage. The captain silently commands her bug companion, a Galvantula, to act. In response, the Galvantula launches a crackling net of electrified spider silk towards me with lightning speed.
As the room narrows to pinpricks, I feel a sense of tunnel vision. My ingrained survival instincts force me to dodge the giant bugs' attack, but I am still a fraction too slow. The sticky webbing grazes my leg and pins me to the floor. Soon after, my muscles are paralyzed by a heart-stopping electrical discharge. I try to suppress the cry of pain but end up voicing hoarse expletives as the giant spider sends more electrical impulses through the connected web.
"Gah! Arceus damn it. I surrender, I surrender." I managed to say, finding the electric spider to be a great motivator to pronounce the words as best I can.
Despite feeling enraged by the unprovoked attack, I managed to suppress my anger. I realized that to the rangers who witnessed me, I probably looked like a creature straight out of a horror movie. After all, my clothes were stained with blood and had ragged holes throughout. To be fair, my actions that day were quite frightening, much like a horror movie monster.
"W-what the fuck, did it just speak?" One of the supporting ranger's stammers.
Despite sensing their fear, I resist the urge to attack and remain crouched on all fours on the floor. The captain, who has blue hair, looks at me coldly and takes note of the bloodstains on my ranger uniform. She seems to be the only one keeping her composure in this situation.
"Wait, this isn't some form of esoteric remote control, is it? What the hell are you?" She asks cautiously
"I don't know. I was hoping the league could tell me, but I'll happily leave if this is the way I'm going to be treated." I say sarcastically
Everyone freezes as they realize the enormity of the situation before them.
There have been no evidence of a Pokémon with true human-level intelligence. In the past, different regions had stories about humans possessing a partner Pokémon with human-like intelligence. However, modern individuals are too skeptical to believe in these tales, and most of these accounts have been proven false with the discovery of more accurate historical records. Although several fairytales exist, they hold no credibility in the present world.
The most famous example of this is Sir Aaron's Lucario companion, who was believed to possess the ability to communicate like a human through aura speech.
"You understand that we can't let you go, right?" The captain says slowly
I shrug again and roll my claws in a 'yes, yes, get on with it' gesture, not bothering to irritate my throat with further human speech.
I can see the shifting of metal gears as the captain processes my apparent submission.
"All right, well then. I'm just going to use this if you don't mind. It will make things a lot less complicated if you don't resist." The Captain says carefully while holding up a standard-issue Ultra ball. Its signature black and yellow coloration gleamed immaculately under the bright florescent lighting of the room.
I bow my head as the ball hits me on the forehead with a dull thwack. The red capture light from the Pokeball flashes into my eyes, causing me to blink reflexively. Transparent red energy surrounds my entire body, washing over me in a pleasantly warm wave. However, nothing happens after that. The ball falls to the ground unceremoniously, and its center button flashes red in an unfamiliar error code pattern as its capture sequence aborts partway through.
We all stare at the broken capture device in complete silence, unable to believe what had just happened. I felt a bit disappointed as I was curious to see what it was like inside it. I look up with anticipation, wondering what our next move would be. The captors decided to contact the Unovan Ranger headquarters for assistance. Meanwhile, I lay down and let the captain order the terrifying electric spider to wrap me up.
"I understand, sir. The subject is currently contained and has been cooperative, but all attempts at capture have failed. Based on the information we have, the risk level is classified as Euclid as long as the current containment measures remain effective. The base has been alerted and is currently in lockdown as a precautionary measure. There is circumstantial evidence that suggests one ranger may have been killed, but we have not yet confirmed this. Additionally, the subject has demonstrated the ability to evade our scanners and has managed to infiltrate the base, even up to the level of aura signature verification."
Unfortunately, the other person on the line is speaking too quietly for me to hear what they're saying. However, based on the captain's silence, I believe that Ranger HQ is transferring the call to the league's research and scientific branches to determine what will happen to me. The captain's next words confirm my suspicion.
"Hello, Professor. The subject is compliant, but we haven't been able to capture it conventionally. I'll send you the telemetry data we have from the Pokeball. We received an alert from customs a few minutes ago after the transfers were flagged in the system, but we don't know what was sent through the GTS yet. At this point, we don't have the jurisdiction to identify what was transferred." The captain with blue hair said, pacing back and forth across the room.
"I didn't think to ask, but if you think it's necessary, I can set up a video call, ma'am," she said, pulling out a half-dome projector with a lens and placing it on the ground in front of my face.
I hear a faint sound of fans starting up from the small device in front of me. Suddenly, a transparent image of Professor Juniper appears. I remember that she is the foremost Pokémon expert in the Unova region and extremely skilled at managing unusual situations like the one we are currently in.
The professor looks at me through the projector's built-in cameras and says, "Well, aren't you an interesting one?" She cups her chin in contemplation and asks, "Can you please nod your head three times if you understand me?".
I nodded to comply with her request, but as I tried to shift into a more comfortable position on the ground, I realized that the sticky silk webbing was preventing me from doing so. Every movement pulled at my fur, making me feel like it was caught in a zipper and evaporating any desire to attempt an escape.
"Alright, well, that disproves psychic bleed, so we aren't looking at another Gardevoir situation, at least," the professor muttered to herself.
I take note of the term 'psychic bleed' while the professor observes me. After a while, Juniper turns her attention away and receives a data pad from a lab assistant, quickly absorbing its contents.
"Ah, I understand now," Juniper says with keen interest. "Captain, an air shuttle will arrive shortly to pick up the subject. Have him ready for transport in fifteen minutes; the Research division will take him from you and deliver him to site 6. Based on what I'm seeing here, I don't think the subject will pose much of a threat from now on, but it's better to be cautious and keep a bug or fighting Pokémon guarding it just in case."
"Got it, ma'am. Can I ask what information was conveyed to you and why you believe it won't pose any threat to us?" asked the captain cautiously.
"Well, Professor Oak from Kanto just informed me that he received a mysterious gift from a Unovan Scout ranger a few minutes ago. It's an adolescent red and black female fox Pokémon that looks strikingly similar to our friend here. I assume that the Pokémon transferred its offspring on its own accord. Based on the transfer logs, the Royal Family may have received a similar gift, but I doubt they would confirm or deny the fact anytime soon."
"I see," the captain says with a salute, turning to look at me for a moment. "The team and I have the situation under control, professor. Thank you for your time."
"Of course, captain," Juniper replies, before turning to me. "And we'll be seeing you soon." The professor says cheerfully, although her tone seems to carry an unintentionally ominous undertone. The image of the professor shatters into fragments of rainbow light as the projector powers down.
The professor's final words make me realize the gravity of my situation. I am bound and may not be free for a very long time, or perhaps never. The thought of not seeing my kits again fills me with an overwhelming mix of emotions that I can't seem to shake off.
It could be grief, anxiety, or fear of the unknown. But I keep reminding myself that sacrificing my freedom is worth it if it means my kits can have a better life than what I could provide them.
As I felt myself spiraling into a minor panic attack, I suddenly felt a warm touch gliding through the fur along my scalp. The touch brushed up to the top of my head before repeating the pattern in a soothing rhythm. I looked up and saw the blue-haired captain looking down at me. Was she petting me?
"It's going to be all right," she said to me soothingly. "This isn't Orre, you know. I'm sure they'll treat you fine."
With a sudden burst of laughter, I let out a single bark and relaxed as she tended to me. "Well, Orre is definitely not the highest standard to beat, but thanks anyway. I appreciate the thought," I said in a low growling tone. We didn't speak any further, but I was grateful for her quiet company until my ride arrived. It was only when I was in the air that I realized I didn't even know her name.
Carved upon a solitary tree in the black forest of the Unova region-
In some new brain the sleeping dust will waken;
Courage and love that conquered and were done,
Called from a night by thought of man forsaken,
Will know again the gladness of the sun.
Dustin Smith
Gone but not forgotten.
Last edited:
- Location
- Germany
Soo, AI generated?
Vault166
Demonic Giggling Crow (Wants the Shiny!)
- Location
- The Vault Of Crows
I would say more like AI beta'ed based on the quote you made.
is the use of that word important? can give wrong associations. a shock to me.
there is a big difference between pokemon and SCP.
even a grim and realistic pokemon world.
Euclid SCP?
Euclid-class objects do not pose the same existential threat to humanity due to containment breach that Keter-class objects do, but they still generally require more diligence to keep contained than Safe-class objects.
- Location
- Winter Desert
Whoops, sorry about that; Vault166 is correct. I use Grammarly as a sort of beta. I write the chapter in its entirety first and then occasionally have grammarly suggest rewrites if I cant find the right words I would like for a scene.
The word isn't important for the story; I just really wanted to use some SCP vernacular a few times during the first few chapters since it felt appropriate at the time.
Chapter 2: A Light In The Dark
- Location
- Winter Desert
"All great things must first wear terrifying and monstrous masks in order to inscribe themselves on the hearts of humanity." -Nietzsche
A strange feeling overtook us as Kirlia and I ventured into the forest. An unnerving darkness grew at the periphery of our sight, slowly choking out light from the stars above. My Pokenav navigation warned me of signal loss soon after that, and it felt like something was watching us.
My empathic bond with Kirlia spiked with cold dread as I realized that we could no longer teleport to safety. I searched the canopy for any signs of danger but found nothing.
My instincts were telling me to run away, but it was already too late when I turned around. The forest around us seemed to have transformed, making it hard to tell which way we had come from. Panic set in as I came to the realization that we were stuck with no way to call for help.
Following Standard operating procedure, I reach into a jacket pocket to take out a persim berry and take a bite to check myself for mental distortions. Nothing in the scenery changes, so I give Kirlia a mental command to start using 'calm mind' to prepare us for an ambush that I can feel must be coming. Our bond allows me to experience a secondhand serenity from the empowering move, and I use this fact to center my thoughts.
In one hand, I pull out my serrated hunting knife from its holster at my hip, and with the other, I brandish the Pokémon Ranger's signature capture styler, ready to deploy at a moment's notice.
Nothing happens for a long time. Kirlia and I feel the predatory presence of something moving in the dark watching – no stalking us, just waiting for us to turn our backs. Waiting for a perfect moment to strike.
Once fully powered by 'calm mind,' I have Kirlia fill the air with a burst of psychic force, causing a momentary 'shock-wave' to propagate in an expanding sphere around us. This proves to be a wise decision as a distortion not unlike a heat shimmer appears close by. My gaze snaps in its direction, the nearly invisible blur dashing forward with horrifying speed, kicking up leaves in its wake as it sprints for a decisive quick kill.
Kirlia interposed himself, tanking a deadly red claw swipe to the face. The unknown dark-type's illusions collapse when Kirlia retaliates with a whirlwind of sharpened branches directed by our telekinesis.
With the target's illusion shattered and distracted by pain, I launch the capture styler with my off hand, beginning the capture sequence while at the same time returning Kirlia to stasis before heavy blood loss can set in from the head wound.
Movement in the underbrush to my left snaps my attention away from the temporarily dazed predatory Pokémon in front of me.
I catch sight of what must be two offspring of the Pokémon before me, and they watch with wide-eyed fear. Half-starved looking and likely not even a year old.
The capture styler completes its first revolutions in fractions of a second, beginning to form a bond with the dark type Pokémon. Yet still, the black and red fox regains its bearings, flashing its white fangs at me as it sees me glancing at its offspring. Rage overwhelms the nascent bond between us; it lunges for my throat.
Before I can react, a terrible pressure sinks into my neck, and then-
After staring at my reflection for a short time, my heart returns to its normal resting pace as the invasive memory fades back into the background. My breathing slows down as I relax back down into my comfortable, oval-shaped doggy bed.
The fresh memory burns in the back of my mind, branding itself into my consciousness. And like so many other memories, this one brings a fresh wave of guilt. Dropping my head onto the pads of my paws, I huff and carefully rub the sleep from my eyes.
Dustin had lived so many more years than me, and his memories often threatened to overshadow my own perspective of the world.
Sometimes I don't know if I am Dustin the Ranger, trapped in a new form, or a wild Pokémon with a human consciousness grafted onto me. It's possible that I am neither or both. In the end, it doesn't matter since the outcome is the same.
I am a monster.
I briefly look down at my red claws. I don't know exactly how long I've been here now, but the sharp points of my claws have dulled since I arrived at this underground research institute.
I no longer feel the instinctive urge to sharpen them as my food is now handily provided to me on a daily basis. I also don't enjoy the feeling of scratching everything I touch.
I yawn stretching my jaws almost 120 degrees before stretching the rest of my limbs, my pile of pillows and blankets shifts around me. A satisfying crackling sound echoes through the room as I twist my spine and reluctantly stand up on two legs to begin the day.
My room is relatively plain, with four grey walls, a single security door, and a wide rectangular window connecting to an ample lab space. A single person waits patiently through the window at one of the many lab computers.
During the first few days of my captivity, Professor Juniper created a set of protocols for ensuring my containment. I didn't know precisely what these protocols are per se, but I know one rule required at least one staff member to be present in the observation room at all times.
I thought it was unnecessary since my illusions apparently can't pass through the specialized glass. Even if I made myself invisible on this side of the window, it's unlikely that someone would be foolish enough to open my enclosure and allow me to escape.
I understand why they're cautious since they know how hard it would be to catch me if I ever escaped. However, they fail to realize that I'm just as cautious of myself as they are. I don't trust myself to not act on some instinct and accidentally hurt someone.
In addition to my own fears, I have no desire to escape because I actually have a clear sense of purpose in this facility. I can help humanity understand sapience and participate in groundbreaking experiments. Even though I sometimes fantasize about what it would be like to escape, I don't actually know what I would do with said freedom. At least here, I am certain that my contributions are valued, and I can take some pride in it.
The researcher currently sitting in the observation lab is a familiar face to me. This man had taken a great interest in my case early on, and I often found him volunteering to supervise my enclosure when no one else was available.
I'd talked to him so often now that I think he could write my biography if he wanted to.
I wave at my caretaker to catch his attention, and as I do, I feel grateful as he smiles back at me. He has been a reliable source of support during my time here. He treats me with the care and attention that one would expect to receive as a long-term hospital patient rather than as a potentially dangerous lab specimen.
I can only imagine the amount of stress and pressure he must be under, considering he must be basically in charge of my mental health. Without his kindness, I'm sure I'd be halfway feral by now just from the stress of being confined for so long.
"Your heart rate was pretty high there, Echo. Are you doing all right, or would you like me to call in the physician early today?" Richard greets me using my preferred nickname. Diverting his attention away from his PC, he looks me over with a concerned gaze.
"No, I'm fine for now, Rich. It was just a nightmare from the first night. The one where Dustin and I met." I reply tiredly to the scientist.
Richard didn't so much as flinch at my inhumanly deep voice. I'd gotten a lot better at modulating it, but my vocal cords were not designed for speech in the same ways humans were. Unfortunately, this made building lasting relationships with the other staff members assigned to my case difficult.
All my attempts to form closer relationships with the other researchers had often backfired on me in one way or another.
The most memorable of which was the time I attempted to use illusions to look human. I remembered that appearances heavily influence human psychology. So, I stupidly tried to appear human to gain some empathy points. The problem was that my illusions, more often than not, triggered something called the 'uncanny valley' effect.
This meant that something slightly off about my appearance would make people feel uneasy around me.
According to some theories, the uncanny valley effect is believed to be an evolutionary adaptation for humans to help avoid things that look like them but are not, in fact, human.
My kind often used illusions and mimicry to get close to our prey, so the thought that my species might have played a role in this adaptation is not a pleasant one. The selective pressure needed for that kind of adaptation to become almost universal in a population is highly disturbing to contemplate.
Richard interrupts my morning musings by urging me to inquire about the experiments we had conducted the previous day. One of the many things I admire about Rich was his willingness to share the lab's research with me, even if what he shared is a watered-down overview.
"Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts there for a moment. So, did Silph provide any updates regarding the most recent Pokeball tests? I am dying to know why they keep failing on me," I ask Richard.
"We received some fascinating results from Silph just this morning in fact!" Richard replied with a grin as he brought one of his secondary swiveling screens towards me, allowing me to view it through the reinforced observation window.
"They told me that your unique aura signature is the root cause of the malfunctions. As you may already know, modern Pokeball technology relies heavily on a trainer's aura to power the Pokeball and to create a bond with the target Pokémon." I resist the urge to roll my eyes at the simplistic explanation Richard is giving me instead of the actual lab results, but I continue to listen.
He goes on to explain that the Pokémon League also uses the unique signature of the trainer's aura to register which specific Pokémon belong to each trainer while showing me relevant pictures and articles.
"If a Pokeball is used on someone else's Pokémon, the ball will fail because it's unable to establish an aura bond to a Pokémon that already has one. This is why such specialized machines are required for simple Pokémon trades. The issue with Pokeballs for you is that you register as being bonded to a human. Because you still somehow produce Dustin's unique aura signature, the Pokeballs think you are already captured." Richard begins while leaning back in his swivel chair
"Give us a few more weeks to modify one of Dustin's registered Pokeballs, and we will get you inside one, no problem. You also won't have to worry about anyone dominating your will like a normal wild capture because of Dustin's aura's influence."
"Hmm, that makes sense; let me know when you've got a working prototype then, you know how long I've been waiting to see what it's like inside one of those. On a similar note, are you finally allowed to tell me why I'm able to think and reason like a human? I assume it has something to do with Dustin's aura, but I don't know if you've confirmed exactly how it happened." I ask
"The capture styler definitely influenced the reaction that occurred." Richard begins while fiddling with a pen whose ink wouldn't write on the paper he had off to the side. "The inherited memories you experienced are likely a byproduct of the capture styler's aura impulse drive and a reaction to the aura imprinting proclivities apparent in your linage." Richard says while managing to draw a complicated set of diagrams on the paper next to him that might be a genealogy tree of some kind.
"A cross-species hybridization factor might also have occurred. You display some characteristics indicative of two distinct Pokémon species interbreeding." Upon realizing how lost I was at his explanation, the researcher stumbles for a moment. Nervously clearing his throat and pushing his diagram aside, he continues.
"Ah, what I mean to say is that your blood work shows evidence of Lucario DNA in your ancestry. It's even likely that your sire was a Lucario. Lucario, as a species, have a strong affinity to human aura bonds, and you likely inherited this trait. We believe that absorbing Dustin's aura under the influence of the capture styler's bond induced a permanent alteration in your own aura not too dissimilar to a capture bond."
"That brings up another question, then. Is there some aura memory link I've never heard about? You seem confident that the memories are because of Dustin's aura specifically." I ask curiously.
"Actually, yes, have you ever heard of the Kanto researcher by the name of Dr Fuji?" Richard replies with an excitement only present in those who work at top-secret research centers.
"I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with that name. He some sort of aura researcher?" I respond with a hint of amusement at my companion's enthusiasm. Moving closer, I sit by the window and listen attentively, dragging a blanket around my shoulders to keep warm as I prepare for his inevitable monologue.
"He is a geneticist by profession, but he has made remarkable discoveries regarding the connection between memory, DNA, and aura in humans. He has demonstrated that aura can be used to store and retrieve memories or genetic instructions in cases where either has become damaged."
"I'd heard that the laws on genetics research in Kanto were lax, especially given the famous Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny case, But I'm still surprised that the ethics committees of that region allowed research into that kind of thing."
"There are actually many beneficial applications that you might not initially imagine. For example, Dr. Fuji conducted human trials focusing on Alzheimer's treatments. Through his research, patients were able to regain lost memories via cloned cell injections and thus maintained a healthy mental state for much longer than they otherwise would have." Richard excitedly gestures before continuing.
"During his research, he demonstrated that aura could be used for memory preservation and restoration. Unfortunately, his research funding was cut short when religious groups protested against what they called 'blasphemous tampering of human souls'. Most mainstream religions believe that aura is a sacred bridge connecting the body and soul, and Dr. Fuji's discoveries only seemed to reinforce this ideology." Richard gives a wistful sign before continuing.
"As a result, any research in the field is highly scrutinized nowadays. It's a shame that Dr. Fuji retired after his daughter's death. He was probably one of the greatest aura scientists of our time and would have had a field day with your case." Richard trails off while staring off into space.
"Do you think those religious groups have a point? What does it even mean that I have what is essentially a bridge to Dustin's soul trapped within me?" I hesitantly ask.
Richard looks into my eyes, contemplating his response before shrugging.
"I can't say for sure, Echo. I'm not much of a spiritual expert, and I don't really know enough about theoretical aura physics to confidently say one way or another. Why do you ask?" Richard replies somberly.
"I just feel disgusted with myself each time I learn something new about my nature," I sigh before continuing. "It's already difficult enough to accept that I killed a ranger, Richard, but it's even worse to think that I may have stolen what is essentially a piece of his soul," I reply quietly, closing my eyes and leaning against the viewing window.
Our silent contemplations are interrupted by the sound of the observation room's door ringing twice. Richard presses a button on his control panel, and another researcher and his assistants enter the observation room from the hallway.
"Good morning, Richard! How is our favorite test subject doing today? Oh, Echo, you're up early! Good morning to you too!" The heavily mustached researcher greets us with a big smile.
This researcher was a recent addition to my case, a neurological scientist recruited by Professor Juniper specifically to study me. He had a boisterous and honest personality that made disliking him very difficult.
In a playful response to his remark about calling me his 'favorite test subject', I show him my middle claw. At the same time, I create an illusion around my digit, engulfing it in a mushroom cloud explosion just for dramatic effect.
"Echo is doing as well as can be expected, Carter, but I would prefer if you didn't refer to him as a 'test subject' in front of him," Richard says with a sigh of exasperation.
"It's fine, Rich. You know, I don't really mind. Please tell me you guys are finally going to let me review those new Pokechow blocks like I've been requesting?" I beg jokingly. An inhumanly wide smile stretching across my face.
"Ha ha! Unfortunately, we are not allowed to test that yet. The research board has sadly not given us the approval, but I will bring it up at next week's meeting. Instead, today, we want you to experiment with some music!" Carter says while leading his interns into the observation room.
"I don't want to compromise the double-blinding of the test, but could you please clarify why I am being asked to work with music? Dustin was never musically inclined, so I'm not sure what we intend to accomplish here." I ask, a bit perplexed.
"That's exactly why we want to test it out! From our records, Dustin was noted as being entirely tone-deaf, and we want to scan your brain while you play around with some soundboards." Carter begins while helping his assistants move boxes of supplies from the outer corridor.
"We have a lot of data on what areas of the brain activate in humans when listening to music, but not many Pokémon are suitable for this kind of test. We want to see if your brain patterns will mimic human electrical signals or if something else interesting will present itself. It may even provide a key to better understanding the link between the brain-aura connection." Richard says with a smile
"Well, I'm not going to complain. It definitely beats another week of biopsies and blood draws." I grumble good-naturedly
"Yes, the research board thought a change of pace would be appreciated. Now, please make your way to the right-hand corner of the room so we can set the barriers up and get your new toys situated in your enclosure." The boisterous researcher declares in a mock imperialistic demand
I give a sloppy salute back to him with a shake of my head and walk towards the far corner of my room. The pressure sensors on the floor verify my location before the barriers activate. One can never be too careful with a Pokémon that can create illusions.
Carter and his assistants enter my enclosure through the now-unlocked metal door. I can't really blame them for the precautions since not much is known about my species. Well, that and a lot of popular media portrayed Aura Intelligences (AIs) as ticking time bombs waiting to rebel against humanity.
The equipment brought in by the researchers was fascinating, with numerous buttons and dials. However, the brain-scanning helmet resembled something out of a bad science fiction show, with yellow spheres protruding in all directions.
Oh well, the things I do for science.
Music never resonated with Dustin. He couldn't find any emotions or value in it. He thought it was just noise. I assumed that I would feel the same way
I was wrong. Dustin's aura within me did not influence whatever sections of the brain that governed musical enjoyment. Music was quickly becoming an irreplaceable beacon of joy. The research project also served as my own form of therapy where I could funnel my thoughts and feelings into something constructive. More importantly, it served as an outlet for my boredom when there was downtime between other less fun tests.
A few days later, while playing with a piano synthesizer, the red emergency lights suddenly turned on, and I snapped to attention, feeling threatened by the unfamiliar sights and sounds.
"Richard, what's-" I try asking before my words are interrupted by a digital voice coming through the facility's loudspeakers.
"Containment breach level 1. Sector 8 quarantine is in effect. Please standby for further instructions."
"That doesn't sound good. Aren't we in sector 8?" I muttered worriedly.
"Shit. Hold on, let me see if there are any more details in the emergency notifications directory. I don't know of anything dangerous enough in this sector to warrant a quarantine lockdown…well, other than you, I suppose. You'd tell me if you had escaped, right?" Richard jokes while anxiously typing at his keyboard.
"Of course, I wouldn't tell you, Rich. I wouldn't want to implicate you as my accomplice and jeopardize your career just on my behalf." I say half-jokingly
Whatever is going on makes Richard more afraid than I realize because he doesn't even respond to my words.
"Sector 8 containment breached. Code: purple aurora is in effect. Repeat, code purple aurora is in effect." The voice calls throughout the facility speakers
"Oh shit. Okay, breathe. You've trained for this kind of thing." Richard talks himself through what looks to be a mild near-panic
"Rich, could you please explain what purple aurora means?" I ask, speaking slowly so as not to overwhelm my panicking minder.
"It means there's a powerful ghost type that is loose, and it's killed at least one of the staff already. From what I'm reading, a Haunter was transferred on-site but broke containment when it spontaneously evolved into a fucking Gangar." Richard says in horror
"That's..not good. Can you access the PC to retrieve a Psychic-type from the lab's pool of Pokémon?" I quickly ask while trying to devise a plan to help my friend from inside my cage.
"Can't. Access just got locked to this branch of the network. Someone attempted to withdraw several high-profile Pokémon from the restricted servers." Richard rapidly types on his PC for a few manic seconds before speaking again.
"I think there is something going on in the other sectors because upper management just locked the whole server down. I can't see anything that's going on outside this sector anymore. This might be some kind of organized attack on the facility. Security teams should be inbound, but I don't know anything for sure anymore." He says while running a hand through his hair and bouncing his leg nervously
"What about my door? Do you have a way to let me out? I may not be trained for battle, but I could probably hold back a Gengar long enough for help to arrive." I ask carefully
"I would if I could, but staff like me are never given direct access codes to the enclosures—part of the security measures. I'm afraid you are stuck in there." Richard replies rapidly before pushing himself out of his seat and running to a nearby cabinet at the back of the room. Opening it, I see an extensive array of emergency supplies arrayed before him. With practiced hands, Richard takes a can of Max Repel off the top shelf and sprays himself liberally with the foul substance.
I pace back and forth as my fight-or-flight instincts war with each other uselessly. Richard somehow tracks the ghosts' progress through the base and updates me on its movements. According to him, the ghost is jumping from room to room, seemingly unaffected by walls or doors in its path.
I am trapped in my cage, feeling helpless, while my friend gradually loses his composure as he realizes that help will not arrive in time. As the powerful ghost type approaches us, a chill fills the air, and Richard's breathing becomes quick with panic. I can see his breaths steaming into the air as the chill deepens to dangerous levels.
We stopped breathing and listened intently for any warning. Suddenly, something dark crawled under the doorframe like a possessed oil spill, emerging into the room in the span of a blink. There was no time to react.
Spectral hands emerged from the shadow, lifting Richard off the ground and tightly gripping him. After squeezing him for a moment, I watched in horror as red life energy drained out of Richard's body like blood being wrung from a sponge.
The feral Gengar then opens its grotesque mouth, greedily consuming Richard's life force drop by terrible drop. Despite my enraged growling, the creature remains unfazed by my proximity. Instead, it crushes my friend even harder as if to taunt me, causing his bones to crack loudly under the pressure and forcing a gasp of pain from Richard.
I slam my blunt claws against the window in desperation, but it has no effect. The monster grins wider at my futile attacks, and I feel my rage boiling over.
As I stare at this vile excuse of a ghost Pokemon, my instincts to hunt it grow louder and louder, urging me to attack the threat. For once, my human mind aligns with my instinctive desires, and I feel inspiration take shape in my mind.
All I needed is a small opening in the security window, and I could put an end to this.
With a sudden surge of adrenaline, I instinctively scrape my claws against each other at a precise angle, honing the blunt tips into razor-sharp points within seconds. As I do so, I feel a burst of energy that sharpens my senses, allowing me to see the tiniest of flaws in the reinforced shatterproof glass and giving me a target to aim for.
I dash towards the back wall of my enclosure, giving myself enough space to build up momentum. I concentrate on the precise spot I have to strike for my strategy to succeed. With all my leg power, I push myself off the wall and race towards the window on all fours. Just before I hit the window, I leap up and swing my right claw with all my force.
The window barely flexes as I hit, but the Gengar stops sneering when it sees me smile triumphantly. When I remove my claw from the window a tiny puncture in the glass is revealed.
Condensed darkness flows from me and through the small hole in the window, creating a rainbow-like pattern with an oily prismatic sheen to it. An illusionary ball rises from the pool of dark energy and coalesces behind the Gengar and Richard. The black sphere of dark energy ignites into a blazing imitation of the sun with a flick of my will.
As planned, the dark star stretches the Gengar's shadow into my cell. With dark-type energy dripping from my fangs, I tear into the shadow with righteous fury.
I yank both the Gengar and Richard into my enclosure with supernaturally enforced strength. As the light from my dark star fades away, I grin with vicious intensity. Illusory darkness spills out from me, cloaking me and the room in darkness. My green eyes shine in the dark, and my prey quickly finds itself truly trapped in my domain.
The Gengar's smile turns into a snarl as it looks around desperately. I use a quick dark slash to extricate its shadowy hold from Richard's now unconscious body. Protective illusions fold around him, hiding his presence as best I can while laying his body in the far corner of the room, away from the violence I was about to unleash.
Instead of fighting me head-on, my prey makes the mistake of trying to escape by attempting to phase through the window. It quickly learns that escape is no longer an option.
"No, you don't!" I roar angrily
I catch its lower torso with my teeth as an instinctive 'pursuit' attack pours out of me, nearly tearing the Gengar in half as I fling it back into the center of the room.
It uses 'spite' in retaliation, but the lethargy from the attack only adds kindling to my burning fury.
Methodically, I dash in and out of range tearing chunks out of its ghostly hide with dark energy-wreathed fangs and claws. Its ethereal flesh dissolves on my tongue like cotton candy, but the sickeningly sweet taste jolts my thoughts into a mild panic.
My human mind reminds me that consuming Gengar ectoplasm could be extremely harmful if I'm not careful. Hopefully, the rescue teams will arrive in time to provide me with an antidote.
As the numerous wounds on its body increase, the Gengar becomes more desperate as it realizes the gravity of the situation. With frantic fervor, its eyes start to glow a deep shade of red, and an ethereal nail appears above its face, pointing downwards towards its own forehead.
Upon seeing the move, I immediately recognize it as a 'curse' attack. In the moment before the nail strikes downward, I realize that if the curse's radius is large enough to hit Richard, it would likely kill him on the spot.
As cursed energy surges throughout the room, I throw myself backward to shield Richards's body with my own. The pain is excruciating. My muscles feel like they're falling off my bones. Blood drips from my nose and ears, and my thoughts become foggy from the continuous pulsing pain.
The Gengar laughs at my prone form, but its bleeding forehead shows the backlash of its own curse attack. I snap when I hear its taunts; vengeful dark energy circulates within me, but my limbs still refuse to obey me.
I couldn't move, so Instead, I roared at the Gengar. My roar, infused with dark energy, carried itself along the sound waves, reverberating through the small room with immense power. The shockwaves of my 'dark pulse' infused roar rips the Gengar into ectoplasmic chunks. At the same time, the observation room's already compromised window develops spiderwebbing cracks.
My defiant roar fades into a fit of coughs as the curse takes its final toll on my body. I drop to the floor beside Richard, collapsing onto the floor like a puppet whose strings have been cut. Richard awakens with a moan of pain a few moments later as I soundlessly writhe in pain on the ground.
Bleary-eyed, he takes in his surroundings before speaking. "How did I get in here? Echo, is that you?" he states weakly as he pulls himself into a half-sitting position next to me.
"Hey Rich, ya it's me… I solved the ghost problem you were having… No need to thank me." I gasp out between fits of pain.
He grimaces when he sees the cracked glass and the purple pile of ectoplasm that used to be a Gengar.
"Yes, I can see that. Are you going to be okay? You don't look good," he says while unsteadily getting up to his feet.
"I don't know. I got hit with a curse at the end there, and it's done a number on me. Hey, you wouldn't happen to have any antidote or full restore on you by any chance, would you? I took a few bites out of lumpy over there, and I'm not sure it's agreeing with me." I say while curling up into a tight ball of pain.
"I do, but Gengar poison shouldn't be deadly to you if you only ingested it. Your liver won't thank you, but you should survive; however, I'm more worried about the 'Curse' damage. Usually, its continuous effects dissipate when the caster dies, but you may still have some internal hemorrhaging if you are still in this much pain." Richard says while slowly hobbling his way over to me on his injured limbs.
As he approaches me, he notices a small pool of my blood pooling around me. Quietly, he swears under his breath before searching in his coat pocket for a spare emergency antidote. He then pulls me from my fetal position and onto my back. My vision blurs due to the blood coming from my eyes, but I still sense that my condition is frightening Rich badly.
It hadn't occurred to me until now, but we were more than just a lab subject and a scientist; we were friends. I just hadn't realized that until now. His lack of fear and obvious concern for my well-being highlighted this fact in my mind.
"Hey, Rich," I groan as he injects the medicine into the crook of my arm.
"What is it, Echo?" He replies with a pain-laced voice
"If I don't survive, can I ask you to do something for me?" I groan
"Echo, stop being dramatic. You'll be fine," he replies while holding back tears. I couldn't tell if he actually believed his own words or if the pain of his own injuries was hitting him.
"If I die, can you have my pelt made into a coat?"
"W-what?" he asks in confusion, which seems to distract him from his pain.
"In the event of my death, I just want you to know that I'm uncomfortable with being buried in the ground or cremated... It just seems like such a waste. Plus, I think a nice red and black fur coat would look great on you." I smile with blood-stained teeth
The poor scientist stares at me with a look of disbelief before letting out a half-chuckle. "I'm not sure about that. Your mangy fur wouldn't make a great coat. Maybe we could make a throw rug out of it, but I'm afraid that's the best I can do," Richard jokes as he cuts a piece of his lab coat off to wipe away the blood from my eyes and mouth.
"I'm hurt by your words, Rich, but if that's the best you can offer, I'll accept it. As long as it's not a shower mat, I won't complain. I hate it when my fur gets wet," I say, slowly losing consciousness to the encroaching darkness. My friend's presence soothes me into a deep sleep.
After a nerve-wracking ten-minute wait, the security team finally manages to secure the sector and gain entry into the observation room. To their astonishment, they discover a research scientist who appears to be on the brink of death, waving at them through a cracked security window. In his lap, he holds a sick-looking dark-type fox Pokémon clinging to its barely breathing form as if his life depended on it.
AN: I'll be posting a chapter a day until I'm caught up with my backlog (About 6 chapters). So, please let me know what you think of the chapter and have a good weekend all.
-Flash Back-
A strange feeling overtook us as Kirlia and I ventured into the forest. An unnerving darkness grew at the periphery of our sight, slowly choking out light from the stars above. My Pokenav navigation warned me of signal loss soon after that, and it felt like something was watching us.
My empathic bond with Kirlia spiked with cold dread as I realized that we could no longer teleport to safety. I searched the canopy for any signs of danger but found nothing.
My instincts were telling me to run away, but it was already too late when I turned around. The forest around us seemed to have transformed, making it hard to tell which way we had come from. Panic set in as I came to the realization that we were stuck with no way to call for help.
Following Standard operating procedure, I reach into a jacket pocket to take out a persim berry and take a bite to check myself for mental distortions. Nothing in the scenery changes, so I give Kirlia a mental command to start using 'calm mind' to prepare us for an ambush that I can feel must be coming. Our bond allows me to experience a secondhand serenity from the empowering move, and I use this fact to center my thoughts.
In one hand, I pull out my serrated hunting knife from its holster at my hip, and with the other, I brandish the Pokémon Ranger's signature capture styler, ready to deploy at a moment's notice.
Nothing happens for a long time. Kirlia and I feel the predatory presence of something moving in the dark watching – no stalking us, just waiting for us to turn our backs. Waiting for a perfect moment to strike.
Once fully powered by 'calm mind,' I have Kirlia fill the air with a burst of psychic force, causing a momentary 'shock-wave' to propagate in an expanding sphere around us. This proves to be a wise decision as a distortion not unlike a heat shimmer appears close by. My gaze snaps in its direction, the nearly invisible blur dashing forward with horrifying speed, kicking up leaves in its wake as it sprints for a decisive quick kill.
Kirlia interposed himself, tanking a deadly red claw swipe to the face. The unknown dark-type's illusions collapse when Kirlia retaliates with a whirlwind of sharpened branches directed by our telekinesis.
With the target's illusion shattered and distracted by pain, I launch the capture styler with my off hand, beginning the capture sequence while at the same time returning Kirlia to stasis before heavy blood loss can set in from the head wound.
Movement in the underbrush to my left snaps my attention away from the temporarily dazed predatory Pokémon in front of me.
I catch sight of what must be two offspring of the Pokémon before me, and they watch with wide-eyed fear. Half-starved looking and likely not even a year old.
The capture styler completes its first revolutions in fractions of a second, beginning to form a bond with the dark type Pokémon. Yet still, the black and red fox regains its bearings, flashing its white fangs at me as it sees me glancing at its offspring. Rage overwhelms the nascent bond between us; it lunges for my throat.
Before I can react, a terrible pressure sinks into my neck, and then-
-Crunch-
I jolt awake and nearly vomit as the memory of blood in my mouth permeates my mind. I can feel my heart racing uncontrollably within my chest as I struggle to catch my breath. My eyes dart frantically around my enclosure, searching for something. Finally, I catch sight of my neon-green irises reflecting back at me from the reinforced security window.
After staring at my reflection for a short time, my heart returns to its normal resting pace as the invasive memory fades back into the background. My breathing slows down as I relax back down into my comfortable, oval-shaped doggy bed.
The fresh memory burns in the back of my mind, branding itself into my consciousness. And like so many other memories, this one brings a fresh wave of guilt. Dropping my head onto the pads of my paws, I huff and carefully rub the sleep from my eyes.
Dustin had lived so many more years than me, and his memories often threatened to overshadow my own perspective of the world.
Sometimes I don't know if I am Dustin the Ranger, trapped in a new form, or a wild Pokémon with a human consciousness grafted onto me. It's possible that I am neither or both. In the end, it doesn't matter since the outcome is the same.
I am a monster.
I briefly look down at my red claws. I don't know exactly how long I've been here now, but the sharp points of my claws have dulled since I arrived at this underground research institute.
I no longer feel the instinctive urge to sharpen them as my food is now handily provided to me on a daily basis. I also don't enjoy the feeling of scratching everything I touch.
I yawn stretching my jaws almost 120 degrees before stretching the rest of my limbs, my pile of pillows and blankets shifts around me. A satisfying crackling sound echoes through the room as I twist my spine and reluctantly stand up on two legs to begin the day.
My room is relatively plain, with four grey walls, a single security door, and a wide rectangular window connecting to an ample lab space. A single person waits patiently through the window at one of the many lab computers.
During the first few days of my captivity, Professor Juniper created a set of protocols for ensuring my containment. I didn't know precisely what these protocols are per se, but I know one rule required at least one staff member to be present in the observation room at all times.
I thought it was unnecessary since my illusions apparently can't pass through the specialized glass. Even if I made myself invisible on this side of the window, it's unlikely that someone would be foolish enough to open my enclosure and allow me to escape.
I understand why they're cautious since they know how hard it would be to catch me if I ever escaped. However, they fail to realize that I'm just as cautious of myself as they are. I don't trust myself to not act on some instinct and accidentally hurt someone.
In addition to my own fears, I have no desire to escape because I actually have a clear sense of purpose in this facility. I can help humanity understand sapience and participate in groundbreaking experiments. Even though I sometimes fantasize about what it would be like to escape, I don't actually know what I would do with said freedom. At least here, I am certain that my contributions are valued, and I can take some pride in it.
The researcher currently sitting in the observation lab is a familiar face to me. This man had taken a great interest in my case early on, and I often found him volunteering to supervise my enclosure when no one else was available.
I'd talked to him so often now that I think he could write my biography if he wanted to.
I wave at my caretaker to catch his attention, and as I do, I feel grateful as he smiles back at me. He has been a reliable source of support during my time here. He treats me with the care and attention that one would expect to receive as a long-term hospital patient rather than as a potentially dangerous lab specimen.
I can only imagine the amount of stress and pressure he must be under, considering he must be basically in charge of my mental health. Without his kindness, I'm sure I'd be halfway feral by now just from the stress of being confined for so long.
"Your heart rate was pretty high there, Echo. Are you doing all right, or would you like me to call in the physician early today?" Richard greets me using my preferred nickname. Diverting his attention away from his PC, he looks me over with a concerned gaze.
"No, I'm fine for now, Rich. It was just a nightmare from the first night. The one where Dustin and I met." I reply tiredly to the scientist.
Richard didn't so much as flinch at my inhumanly deep voice. I'd gotten a lot better at modulating it, but my vocal cords were not designed for speech in the same ways humans were. Unfortunately, this made building lasting relationships with the other staff members assigned to my case difficult.
All my attempts to form closer relationships with the other researchers had often backfired on me in one way or another.
The most memorable of which was the time I attempted to use illusions to look human. I remembered that appearances heavily influence human psychology. So, I stupidly tried to appear human to gain some empathy points. The problem was that my illusions, more often than not, triggered something called the 'uncanny valley' effect.
This meant that something slightly off about my appearance would make people feel uneasy around me.
According to some theories, the uncanny valley effect is believed to be an evolutionary adaptation for humans to help avoid things that look like them but are not, in fact, human.
My kind often used illusions and mimicry to get close to our prey, so the thought that my species might have played a role in this adaptation is not a pleasant one. The selective pressure needed for that kind of adaptation to become almost universal in a population is highly disturbing to contemplate.
Richard interrupts my morning musings by urging me to inquire about the experiments we had conducted the previous day. One of the many things I admire about Rich was his willingness to share the lab's research with me, even if what he shared is a watered-down overview.
"Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts there for a moment. So, did Silph provide any updates regarding the most recent Pokeball tests? I am dying to know why they keep failing on me," I ask Richard.
"We received some fascinating results from Silph just this morning in fact!" Richard replied with a grin as he brought one of his secondary swiveling screens towards me, allowing me to view it through the reinforced observation window.
"They told me that your unique aura signature is the root cause of the malfunctions. As you may already know, modern Pokeball technology relies heavily on a trainer's aura to power the Pokeball and to create a bond with the target Pokémon." I resist the urge to roll my eyes at the simplistic explanation Richard is giving me instead of the actual lab results, but I continue to listen.
He goes on to explain that the Pokémon League also uses the unique signature of the trainer's aura to register which specific Pokémon belong to each trainer while showing me relevant pictures and articles.
"If a Pokeball is used on someone else's Pokémon, the ball will fail because it's unable to establish an aura bond to a Pokémon that already has one. This is why such specialized machines are required for simple Pokémon trades. The issue with Pokeballs for you is that you register as being bonded to a human. Because you still somehow produce Dustin's unique aura signature, the Pokeballs think you are already captured." Richard begins while leaning back in his swivel chair
"Give us a few more weeks to modify one of Dustin's registered Pokeballs, and we will get you inside one, no problem. You also won't have to worry about anyone dominating your will like a normal wild capture because of Dustin's aura's influence."
"Hmm, that makes sense; let me know when you've got a working prototype then, you know how long I've been waiting to see what it's like inside one of those. On a similar note, are you finally allowed to tell me why I'm able to think and reason like a human? I assume it has something to do with Dustin's aura, but I don't know if you've confirmed exactly how it happened." I ask
"The capture styler definitely influenced the reaction that occurred." Richard begins while fiddling with a pen whose ink wouldn't write on the paper he had off to the side. "The inherited memories you experienced are likely a byproduct of the capture styler's aura impulse drive and a reaction to the aura imprinting proclivities apparent in your linage." Richard says while managing to draw a complicated set of diagrams on the paper next to him that might be a genealogy tree of some kind.
"A cross-species hybridization factor might also have occurred. You display some characteristics indicative of two distinct Pokémon species interbreeding." Upon realizing how lost I was at his explanation, the researcher stumbles for a moment. Nervously clearing his throat and pushing his diagram aside, he continues.
"Ah, what I mean to say is that your blood work shows evidence of Lucario DNA in your ancestry. It's even likely that your sire was a Lucario. Lucario, as a species, have a strong affinity to human aura bonds, and you likely inherited this trait. We believe that absorbing Dustin's aura under the influence of the capture styler's bond induced a permanent alteration in your own aura not too dissimilar to a capture bond."
"That brings up another question, then. Is there some aura memory link I've never heard about? You seem confident that the memories are because of Dustin's aura specifically." I ask curiously.
"Actually, yes, have you ever heard of the Kanto researcher by the name of Dr Fuji?" Richard replies with an excitement only present in those who work at top-secret research centers.
"I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with that name. He some sort of aura researcher?" I respond with a hint of amusement at my companion's enthusiasm. Moving closer, I sit by the window and listen attentively, dragging a blanket around my shoulders to keep warm as I prepare for his inevitable monologue.
"He is a geneticist by profession, but he has made remarkable discoveries regarding the connection between memory, DNA, and aura in humans. He has demonstrated that aura can be used to store and retrieve memories or genetic instructions in cases where either has become damaged."
"I'd heard that the laws on genetics research in Kanto were lax, especially given the famous Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny case, But I'm still surprised that the ethics committees of that region allowed research into that kind of thing."
"There are actually many beneficial applications that you might not initially imagine. For example, Dr. Fuji conducted human trials focusing on Alzheimer's treatments. Through his research, patients were able to regain lost memories via cloned cell injections and thus maintained a healthy mental state for much longer than they otherwise would have." Richard excitedly gestures before continuing.
"During his research, he demonstrated that aura could be used for memory preservation and restoration. Unfortunately, his research funding was cut short when religious groups protested against what they called 'blasphemous tampering of human souls'. Most mainstream religions believe that aura is a sacred bridge connecting the body and soul, and Dr. Fuji's discoveries only seemed to reinforce this ideology." Richard gives a wistful sign before continuing.
"As a result, any research in the field is highly scrutinized nowadays. It's a shame that Dr. Fuji retired after his daughter's death. He was probably one of the greatest aura scientists of our time and would have had a field day with your case." Richard trails off while staring off into space.
"Do you think those religious groups have a point? What does it even mean that I have what is essentially a bridge to Dustin's soul trapped within me?" I hesitantly ask.
Richard looks into my eyes, contemplating his response before shrugging.
"I can't say for sure, Echo. I'm not much of a spiritual expert, and I don't really know enough about theoretical aura physics to confidently say one way or another. Why do you ask?" Richard replies somberly.
"I just feel disgusted with myself each time I learn something new about my nature," I sigh before continuing. "It's already difficult enough to accept that I killed a ranger, Richard, but it's even worse to think that I may have stolen what is essentially a piece of his soul," I reply quietly, closing my eyes and leaning against the viewing window.
Our silent contemplations are interrupted by the sound of the observation room's door ringing twice. Richard presses a button on his control panel, and another researcher and his assistants enter the observation room from the hallway.
"Good morning, Richard! How is our favorite test subject doing today? Oh, Echo, you're up early! Good morning to you too!" The heavily mustached researcher greets us with a big smile.
This researcher was a recent addition to my case, a neurological scientist recruited by Professor Juniper specifically to study me. He had a boisterous and honest personality that made disliking him very difficult.
In a playful response to his remark about calling me his 'favorite test subject', I show him my middle claw. At the same time, I create an illusion around my digit, engulfing it in a mushroom cloud explosion just for dramatic effect.
"Echo is doing as well as can be expected, Carter, but I would prefer if you didn't refer to him as a 'test subject' in front of him," Richard says with a sigh of exasperation.
"It's fine, Rich. You know, I don't really mind. Please tell me you guys are finally going to let me review those new Pokechow blocks like I've been requesting?" I beg jokingly. An inhumanly wide smile stretching across my face.
"Ha ha! Unfortunately, we are not allowed to test that yet. The research board has sadly not given us the approval, but I will bring it up at next week's meeting. Instead, today, we want you to experiment with some music!" Carter says while leading his interns into the observation room.
"I don't want to compromise the double-blinding of the test, but could you please clarify why I am being asked to work with music? Dustin was never musically inclined, so I'm not sure what we intend to accomplish here." I ask, a bit perplexed.
"That's exactly why we want to test it out! From our records, Dustin was noted as being entirely tone-deaf, and we want to scan your brain while you play around with some soundboards." Carter begins while helping his assistants move boxes of supplies from the outer corridor.
"We have a lot of data on what areas of the brain activate in humans when listening to music, but not many Pokémon are suitable for this kind of test. We want to see if your brain patterns will mimic human electrical signals or if something else interesting will present itself. It may even provide a key to better understanding the link between the brain-aura connection." Richard says with a smile
"Well, I'm not going to complain. It definitely beats another week of biopsies and blood draws." I grumble good-naturedly
"Yes, the research board thought a change of pace would be appreciated. Now, please make your way to the right-hand corner of the room so we can set the barriers up and get your new toys situated in your enclosure." The boisterous researcher declares in a mock imperialistic demand
I give a sloppy salute back to him with a shake of my head and walk towards the far corner of my room. The pressure sensors on the floor verify my location before the barriers activate. One can never be too careful with a Pokémon that can create illusions.
Carter and his assistants enter my enclosure through the now-unlocked metal door. I can't really blame them for the precautions since not much is known about my species. Well, that and a lot of popular media portrayed Aura Intelligences (AIs) as ticking time bombs waiting to rebel against humanity.
The equipment brought in by the researchers was fascinating, with numerous buttons and dials. However, the brain-scanning helmet resembled something out of a bad science fiction show, with yellow spheres protruding in all directions.
Oh well, the things I do for science.
Music never resonated with Dustin. He couldn't find any emotions or value in it. He thought it was just noise. I assumed that I would feel the same way
I was wrong. Dustin's aura within me did not influence whatever sections of the brain that governed musical enjoyment. Music was quickly becoming an irreplaceable beacon of joy. The research project also served as my own form of therapy where I could funnel my thoughts and feelings into something constructive. More importantly, it served as an outlet for my boredom when there was downtime between other less fun tests.
A few days later, while playing with a piano synthesizer, the red emergency lights suddenly turned on, and I snapped to attention, feeling threatened by the unfamiliar sights and sounds.
"Richard, what's-" I try asking before my words are interrupted by a digital voice coming through the facility's loudspeakers.
"Containment breach level 1. Sector 8 quarantine is in effect. Please standby for further instructions."
"That doesn't sound good. Aren't we in sector 8?" I muttered worriedly.
"Shit. Hold on, let me see if there are any more details in the emergency notifications directory. I don't know of anything dangerous enough in this sector to warrant a quarantine lockdown…well, other than you, I suppose. You'd tell me if you had escaped, right?" Richard jokes while anxiously typing at his keyboard.
"Of course, I wouldn't tell you, Rich. I wouldn't want to implicate you as my accomplice and jeopardize your career just on my behalf." I say half-jokingly
Whatever is going on makes Richard more afraid than I realize because he doesn't even respond to my words.
"Sector 8 containment breached. Code: purple aurora is in effect. Repeat, code purple aurora is in effect." The voice calls throughout the facility speakers
"Oh shit. Okay, breathe. You've trained for this kind of thing." Richard talks himself through what looks to be a mild near-panic
"Rich, could you please explain what purple aurora means?" I ask, speaking slowly so as not to overwhelm my panicking minder.
"It means there's a powerful ghost type that is loose, and it's killed at least one of the staff already. From what I'm reading, a Haunter was transferred on-site but broke containment when it spontaneously evolved into a fucking Gangar." Richard says in horror
"That's..not good. Can you access the PC to retrieve a Psychic-type from the lab's pool of Pokémon?" I quickly ask while trying to devise a plan to help my friend from inside my cage.
"Can't. Access just got locked to this branch of the network. Someone attempted to withdraw several high-profile Pokémon from the restricted servers." Richard rapidly types on his PC for a few manic seconds before speaking again.
"I think there is something going on in the other sectors because upper management just locked the whole server down. I can't see anything that's going on outside this sector anymore. This might be some kind of organized attack on the facility. Security teams should be inbound, but I don't know anything for sure anymore." He says while running a hand through his hair and bouncing his leg nervously
"What about my door? Do you have a way to let me out? I may not be trained for battle, but I could probably hold back a Gengar long enough for help to arrive." I ask carefully
"I would if I could, but staff like me are never given direct access codes to the enclosures—part of the security measures. I'm afraid you are stuck in there." Richard replies rapidly before pushing himself out of his seat and running to a nearby cabinet at the back of the room. Opening it, I see an extensive array of emergency supplies arrayed before him. With practiced hands, Richard takes a can of Max Repel off the top shelf and sprays himself liberally with the foul substance.
I pace back and forth as my fight-or-flight instincts war with each other uselessly. Richard somehow tracks the ghosts' progress through the base and updates me on its movements. According to him, the ghost is jumping from room to room, seemingly unaffected by walls or doors in its path.
I am trapped in my cage, feeling helpless, while my friend gradually loses his composure as he realizes that help will not arrive in time. As the powerful ghost type approaches us, a chill fills the air, and Richard's breathing becomes quick with panic. I can see his breaths steaming into the air as the chill deepens to dangerous levels.
We stopped breathing and listened intently for any warning. Suddenly, something dark crawled under the doorframe like a possessed oil spill, emerging into the room in the span of a blink. There was no time to react.
Spectral hands emerged from the shadow, lifting Richard off the ground and tightly gripping him. After squeezing him for a moment, I watched in horror as red life energy drained out of Richard's body like blood being wrung from a sponge.
The feral Gengar then opens its grotesque mouth, greedily consuming Richard's life force drop by terrible drop. Despite my enraged growling, the creature remains unfazed by my proximity. Instead, it crushes my friend even harder as if to taunt me, causing his bones to crack loudly under the pressure and forcing a gasp of pain from Richard.
I slam my blunt claws against the window in desperation, but it has no effect. The monster grins wider at my futile attacks, and I feel my rage boiling over.
As I stare at this vile excuse of a ghost Pokemon, my instincts to hunt it grow louder and louder, urging me to attack the threat. For once, my human mind aligns with my instinctive desires, and I feel inspiration take shape in my mind.
All I needed is a small opening in the security window, and I could put an end to this.
With a sudden surge of adrenaline, I instinctively scrape my claws against each other at a precise angle, honing the blunt tips into razor-sharp points within seconds. As I do so, I feel a burst of energy that sharpens my senses, allowing me to see the tiniest of flaws in the reinforced shatterproof glass and giving me a target to aim for.
I dash towards the back wall of my enclosure, giving myself enough space to build up momentum. I concentrate on the precise spot I have to strike for my strategy to succeed. With all my leg power, I push myself off the wall and race towards the window on all fours. Just before I hit the window, I leap up and swing my right claw with all my force.
The window barely flexes as I hit, but the Gengar stops sneering when it sees me smile triumphantly. When I remove my claw from the window a tiny puncture in the glass is revealed.
Condensed darkness flows from me and through the small hole in the window, creating a rainbow-like pattern with an oily prismatic sheen to it. An illusionary ball rises from the pool of dark energy and coalesces behind the Gengar and Richard. The black sphere of dark energy ignites into a blazing imitation of the sun with a flick of my will.
As planned, the dark star stretches the Gengar's shadow into my cell. With dark-type energy dripping from my fangs, I tear into the shadow with righteous fury.
I yank both the Gengar and Richard into my enclosure with supernaturally enforced strength. As the light from my dark star fades away, I grin with vicious intensity. Illusory darkness spills out from me, cloaking me and the room in darkness. My green eyes shine in the dark, and my prey quickly finds itself truly trapped in my domain.
The Gengar's smile turns into a snarl as it looks around desperately. I use a quick dark slash to extricate its shadowy hold from Richard's now unconscious body. Protective illusions fold around him, hiding his presence as best I can while laying his body in the far corner of the room, away from the violence I was about to unleash.
Instead of fighting me head-on, my prey makes the mistake of trying to escape by attempting to phase through the window. It quickly learns that escape is no longer an option.
"No, you don't!" I roar angrily
I catch its lower torso with my teeth as an instinctive 'pursuit' attack pours out of me, nearly tearing the Gengar in half as I fling it back into the center of the room.
It uses 'spite' in retaliation, but the lethargy from the attack only adds kindling to my burning fury.
Methodically, I dash in and out of range tearing chunks out of its ghostly hide with dark energy-wreathed fangs and claws. Its ethereal flesh dissolves on my tongue like cotton candy, but the sickeningly sweet taste jolts my thoughts into a mild panic.
My human mind reminds me that consuming Gengar ectoplasm could be extremely harmful if I'm not careful. Hopefully, the rescue teams will arrive in time to provide me with an antidote.
As the numerous wounds on its body increase, the Gengar becomes more desperate as it realizes the gravity of the situation. With frantic fervor, its eyes start to glow a deep shade of red, and an ethereal nail appears above its face, pointing downwards towards its own forehead.
Upon seeing the move, I immediately recognize it as a 'curse' attack. In the moment before the nail strikes downward, I realize that if the curse's radius is large enough to hit Richard, it would likely kill him on the spot.
As cursed energy surges throughout the room, I throw myself backward to shield Richards's body with my own. The pain is excruciating. My muscles feel like they're falling off my bones. Blood drips from my nose and ears, and my thoughts become foggy from the continuous pulsing pain.
The Gengar laughs at my prone form, but its bleeding forehead shows the backlash of its own curse attack. I snap when I hear its taunts; vengeful dark energy circulates within me, but my limbs still refuse to obey me.
I couldn't move, so Instead, I roared at the Gengar. My roar, infused with dark energy, carried itself along the sound waves, reverberating through the small room with immense power. The shockwaves of my 'dark pulse' infused roar rips the Gengar into ectoplasmic chunks. At the same time, the observation room's already compromised window develops spiderwebbing cracks.
My defiant roar fades into a fit of coughs as the curse takes its final toll on my body. I drop to the floor beside Richard, collapsing onto the floor like a puppet whose strings have been cut. Richard awakens with a moan of pain a few moments later as I soundlessly writhe in pain on the ground.
Bleary-eyed, he takes in his surroundings before speaking. "How did I get in here? Echo, is that you?" he states weakly as he pulls himself into a half-sitting position next to me.
"Hey Rich, ya it's me… I solved the ghost problem you were having… No need to thank me." I gasp out between fits of pain.
He grimaces when he sees the cracked glass and the purple pile of ectoplasm that used to be a Gengar.
"Yes, I can see that. Are you going to be okay? You don't look good," he says while unsteadily getting up to his feet.
"I don't know. I got hit with a curse at the end there, and it's done a number on me. Hey, you wouldn't happen to have any antidote or full restore on you by any chance, would you? I took a few bites out of lumpy over there, and I'm not sure it's agreeing with me." I say while curling up into a tight ball of pain.
"I do, but Gengar poison shouldn't be deadly to you if you only ingested it. Your liver won't thank you, but you should survive; however, I'm more worried about the 'Curse' damage. Usually, its continuous effects dissipate when the caster dies, but you may still have some internal hemorrhaging if you are still in this much pain." Richard says while slowly hobbling his way over to me on his injured limbs.
As he approaches me, he notices a small pool of my blood pooling around me. Quietly, he swears under his breath before searching in his coat pocket for a spare emergency antidote. He then pulls me from my fetal position and onto my back. My vision blurs due to the blood coming from my eyes, but I still sense that my condition is frightening Rich badly.
It hadn't occurred to me until now, but we were more than just a lab subject and a scientist; we were friends. I just hadn't realized that until now. His lack of fear and obvious concern for my well-being highlighted this fact in my mind.
"Hey, Rich," I groan as he injects the medicine into the crook of my arm.
"What is it, Echo?" He replies with a pain-laced voice
"If I don't survive, can I ask you to do something for me?" I groan
"Echo, stop being dramatic. You'll be fine," he replies while holding back tears. I couldn't tell if he actually believed his own words or if the pain of his own injuries was hitting him.
"If I die, can you have my pelt made into a coat?"
"W-what?" he asks in confusion, which seems to distract him from his pain.
"In the event of my death, I just want you to know that I'm uncomfortable with being buried in the ground or cremated... It just seems like such a waste. Plus, I think a nice red and black fur coat would look great on you." I smile with blood-stained teeth
The poor scientist stares at me with a look of disbelief before letting out a half-chuckle. "I'm not sure about that. Your mangy fur wouldn't make a great coat. Maybe we could make a throw rug out of it, but I'm afraid that's the best I can do," Richard jokes as he cuts a piece of his lab coat off to wipe away the blood from my eyes and mouth.
"I'm hurt by your words, Rich, but if that's the best you can offer, I'll accept it. As long as it's not a shower mat, I won't complain. I hate it when my fur gets wet," I say, slowly losing consciousness to the encroaching darkness. My friend's presence soothes me into a deep sleep.
After a nerve-wracking ten-minute wait, the security team finally manages to secure the sector and gain entry into the observation room. To their astonishment, they discover a research scientist who appears to be on the brink of death, waving at them through a cracked security window. In his lap, he holds a sick-looking dark-type fox Pokémon clinging to its barely breathing form as if his life depended on it.
AN: I'll be posting a chapter a day until I'm caught up with my backlog (About 6 chapters). So, please let me know what you think of the chapter and have a good weekend all.
- Location
- Australia
I thought the class system (before whatever additions and revamps) was strictly about how likely the scp was to escape/disappear from its box and had little to do with threat-to-humanity.
nothing wrong with using SCP vernacular. it is the same as any other technical language.
regardless. this is a good story. good work
true. safe Euclid Keter. is all about how difficult it is to keep something in containment.
copied the first line I saw about Euclid. (just awake) when I wrote it.
Chapter 3: Professors, Promises, and an Apology
- Location
- Winter Desert
"Human thought is so primitive it's looked upon as an infectious disease in some of the better galaxies. That kind of makes you proud, doesn't it?"
— K, Men in Black
The world around me fades in and out of focus as I drift in and out of consciousness. My mind is a playground of dreams and nightmares that twirl and dance in a spiraling frenzy. But suddenly, something changes. I feel a sense of control, and before I know it, I'm lucid dreaming.
I take charge of the dream and find myself soaring through the sky like a Jumpluff caught in a gust of wind. The stars twinkle so brightly that they almost outshine the full moon I conjure above me. It's a surreal feeling, almost like I'm in my own little world.
I reach out to touch the surface of the distant moon, but I can never quite grasp it before the waking world pulls me back.
I hear familiar voices that gradually become louder until their words awake me. As I try to move, I realize that I am restrained to a metal bed frame using heavy-duty straps, making it difficult to move.
Upon opening my eyes, I am temporarily blinded by the bright fluorescent lights. As I lift my head, I see that there are nearly a dozen people in the room with me, all looking at me with cautious gazes.
I see unfamiliar faces looking at me with a mix of uncertainty and weariness. But amidst them, I spot Carter, the scientist who introduced me to music, and Richard, who has a new cast on his left arm. Despite the tension in the room, Richard seems surprisingly cheerful, and his smile eases the tension in my body.
As I look down, I notice that my arm is connected to an IV line that's attached to a stand carrying a medical bag. The bag has a chemical formula written in bold, and the only other words on it are a red warning label stating, "Not for human use."
As I sink into the soft pillows provided to me, I take a moment to look around the room. The medical staff nearby try not to stare at me, but I find their attempts to ignore my presence more than a little amusing. The room is surrounded by steel-plated walls, and emergency supplies occupy one side, making me feel like I'm in a disaster bunker.
Two guards stand by the only door, each with their own Pokémon by their sides. The sudden silence after my awakening is awkward until Carter walks over and starts urging people to get back to work. I give the cheerful man a smile, and he returns it with a thumbs-up as he helps divert attention away from me in my little corner of the room.
Without saying a word, Richard offers me a cold bottle of water using his one good arm. I nod my head gratefully towards the water, relieved that I don't have to speak with my dry throat. Richard takes a seat in a chair near the head of my hospital bed and pours a few sips of water into my mouth.
After setting the water bottle aside, he tentatively places his good hand on my head and begins stroking my head like a dog.
I want to be annoyed or mortified by Richard's actions, but I find myself leaning my head into his hand and closing my eyes unconsciously. For now, dignity is unimportant to me, after all, why should I care about human conventions anyway?
I just need to remind myself that I am not human and shouldn't be held to all of their standards of social norms. Besides, I didn't realize how much I needed physical touch until now, after months of confinement. I almost whined when he removed his hand from me.
"I'm surprised you managed to convince security to let me out of containment. How did you even get the permission for that?" I ask softly. I hear the soft shuffling of shoes on the ground from the other staff in the room as they unconsciously draw closer to eavesdrop on my words.
Richard stops petting my head altogether, and his tone becomes severe as he explains the situation. "Who said anything about permission?" Richard growls out.
"You were on the brink of death, and nobody was going to stop me from saving you. I had to all but shove the security footage of what happened in their faces, but they eventually brought you up here." Richard says angrily before getting ahold of his emotions and continuing. "You may not realize it, but you saved a lot of lives by putting an end to that Gengar's rampage."
I see most of the staff in the room turn away from my gaze, but a few are brave enough to hold eye contact with me. They nod in silent thanks and then turn back to their duties. Just as I am about to ask Richard another question about the attack, the large metal doors at the far side of the room open. I watch as the guards step aside to let a group of familiar professors through.
"- in other words, from your records, the species name Zorua originated from a combination of two dead languages that translate to 'Dark' and 'Fox', respectively. That seems fitting enough, I don't see any need to change the nomenclature if that's the case." Professor Juniper says, speaking to two older men, one silver-haired and the other white-haired with a prominent mustache and stern façade.
A pink Minccino rides on Juniper's shoulder, scanning the room with childlike curiosity. As the security door closes behind them, the troupe of famous scientists take notice of Richard and me and begin to walk in our direction each scientist carrying varying levels of curiosity and wonder in their gazes.
I am in shock as each of these people represents some of the greatest minds to have walked the face of the earth. And in the case of Professor Oak, he was one of the most powerful Pokémon champions of his era and the phrase "Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young" comes to mind. Yet, of the three professors, Oak's gaze was the softest as he took in my bedridden form.
"Gentlemen, it's my pleasure to introduce you to Echo. From your historical records Rowan, Echo would be a Zoroark, the second stage of the Zorua line." Juniper states before turning to me. "Echo, I hope these last few months of captivity haven't been too difficult on you. You have my deepest sympathies, but your situation has been a political nightmare to handle since the league classified your case. Hopefully, we can change your accommodations now that we have these gentlemen's help." Juniper says with a radiant smile
"Eh, I can't complain, and I understand, professor. It's a pleasure to meet you both, Id shake your hands, but I'm a bit tied up at the moment." I joke while motioning my head to my retrained limbs.
"Although, if you're taking suggestions, I could really use a treadmill or something in the next enclosure you set me up in. The old room was fine for throwing a rubber ball against the wall, but that's not really enough cardio for my liking, you know." I respond somewhat hopefully.
I really could use some workout equipment to help keep my mind occupied down here.
"I don't think that will be needed. You see, we have a proposal for you, Echo. The league would like to offer you special employment under my direct preview. If you agree, you will be afforded certain privileges, the least of which will be access to elite training facilities and your own dormitory room." Juniper says while petting the oddly colored chinchilla Pokémon on her Sholder.
I am too shocked to speak, but when I look at Richard, he just nods at the professor's words.
"That is only if we also sign off on the executive request." Rowan gruffly retorts, breaking through my shock. "Before either of us supports young Juniper's request, we must first ascertain the veracity of her claims about your true disposition," Rowan states without blinking.
The man's intense stare has me instinctively shying away from him as I almost feel like I'm about to be attacked. Oak seems to take note of my body language, though and replies quickly afterward.
"Don't get too discouraged, Echo; this is merely a formality. What my colleague means is that you should think of our presence here like an extended job interview. The lab reports and your most recent actions already speak volumes of your disposition, and I'm sure my colleague here will see the benefits of Juniper's propositions regarding your case." Oak replies while pulling over a swivel chair and sitting on it in reverse position with his arms resting nonchalantly on the backrest.
The casual action instantly evaporates any tension from Rowan's continued stare-down.
"I…don't know what to say. What exactly is this proposal? I haven't heard anything about this before. Also, was it really necessary for you two to come all this way to see me in person? You must have flown halfway across the world to get here Professor." I ask while looking at Oak
The man chuckles at my response, and even Rowan's icy gaze melts fractionally.
"Echo, we were invited to converse with a Sapient Pokémon. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we could not pass up." Oak says with a chuckle before continuing.
"Also, you have no idea the fire you lit under my staff when you sent that extensive care guide alongside your kit. Can you imagine our shock when an unknown species is handed to us with seemingly no strings attached from a Ranger on the other side of the world?" Oak says as if explaining the plot of his favorite movie series.
"And then, on top of that, when I tried to look up the ranger who sent it to us, I saw a confirmed death certificate dated before the transfer was initiated, and well, I am not one to leave a mystery like that unsolved," Oak says with a knowing smile.
"As for the proposal," Juniper interjects. "It's still in the works, but current circumstances have given us an opportunity to accelerate some things. Initially, we would like you to act as a security consultant for the Ghost research sector of this facility." Juniper says while pulling out a berry from her lab coat to give to her Pokémon, who nibbles at it excitedly.
"Will there be an actual contract involved in this?" Richard retorts with surprising venom in his voice. "Because I will remind you that Echo's legal status is still in Limbo, given your insistence on keeping his nature secret from the public."
"I know it seems unfair, but the league isn't ready to reveal his existence just yet. However, I've discussed the situation with the league's champions, and they have agreed to some of the proposals you've forwarded over to me." Juniper placatingly replies
"There are some stipulations, of course, but nothing too onerous. Echo has the potential to become one of the league's greatest assets if he wishes to be, and few people on the ethics board can doubt Echo's intentions after yesterday's events." Juniper continues more sedately
"Well, does anyone want to actually tell me what these proposals entail, or shall I just go back to sleep and let you all work this out between yourselves?" I ask exasperatedly at being so out of the loop
"Sorry, Echo, for context, the ethics committee has been in something of a civil war with itself trying to figure out how to handle your case. Your human aura prevents a conventional trainer bond, which frightens a lot of people on the board because it means we can't control your actions. They have been debating putting you in stasis since we've recently cracked the programming needed to have Pokeballs work on you." Juniper apologizes
"Okay… so what you are saying is that you've all gone over the board of ethics heads and struck a deal with the League's champions, but you still need other professors like Rowan and Oak here to sign off on the plan first? Am I understanding this right?" I ponder aloud
"Your case, in particular, is a delicate one because Unova can't be seen as acting unethically toward Pokémon," Juniper explains. "Continuing to hold you in captivity as we have isn't something we can justify lest we be compared to Orre and sanctioned accordingly."
"Your case can't remain hidden from the public forever; too many people know you exist at this point," Rowan says side eyeing the staff still in the room who are not so subtly eavesdropping.
Sighing, Juniper continues, "Indeed, your existence is going to leak one way or another. So, we need to start working on what happens with you going forward. That necessitates showing a history of you working with the league voluntarily in whatever capacity you feel comfortable with. Hopefully, your public reveal won't occur for a few more years yet, but it's better to hope for the best and plan for the worst."
"Okay, Okay, I get it. Just tell me what you want me to do because I'm definitely game, whatever it is." I say excitedly
"There are a few field missions we would like for you to perform in the future if you are up for it, but for now, what are your thoughts on becoming a security consultant for the ghost sector of our research institute?" Juniper asks
I take a few moments to contemplate what a position like this would entail for me. Would other security personnel be informed of my existence, or would I have to pretend to be human? I know that research departments are largely compartmentalized, so would I be expected to work under a guise?
I have serious doubts about the sustainability of that kind of proposal, especially given the large number of well-trained psychic humans employed here. Do I have any choice in the matter, or will I be forced into stasis for an unknown amount of time if I refuse whatever this entails?
The thought of just falling asleep in a Pokeball only to wake up in some far-flung future decades down the road haunts my mind. Technology was already propelling human civilization so fast, would I recognize the world a few decades from now?
After thinking for less than a minute, I ask, "When do I start?"
Juniper smiles and, with a snap of her fingers, her Minccino jumps onto my hospital bed. It chews straight through my restraints with four sharp snaps of its tiny teeth. Rowan scowls at Juniper for her hasty actions, but instead of berating her, he just sighs and walks a few steps away to use his transceiver to call someone.
"Your first order is to rest up and meet with the head of security in two days' time. Richard will be able to direct you where you need to go. And one last thing." She says while pulling out an odd-looking Pokeball.
It almost looks like a Dusk ball of some kind, but most of the protective panels have been removed, exposing the complex grid of obviously modified circuitry inside. "Catch!" She says, lobbing the ball in my direction
Out of instinct, I try rising out of the bed to catch the ball in my claws but wince in pain and instead find the ball slamming into my forehead. The ball ricochets off my head, and the red capture beam strikes me a moment later, encompassing my whole body. Unlike the other times this was tried on me, all sensations cut off immediately, leaving a perfect void in their place.
I had an instant realization that I was inside a Pokeball, surrounded by a blank void. I could feel the ephemeral chains of my aura being tied into knots, once, twice, and then a final time before settling. I could easily understand why wild Pokémon would panic at this feeling; this loss of all sensation was how I imagined feeling dead would be like.
This feeling of non-corporality is almost meditative though. As if I am at the center of some kind of perfect sensory deprivation chamber. As I relax and let the aura chains sink deeper into my being, binding me to the Pokeball, a feeling of zen overtakes my mind.
All the aches in my body seem to cease existing in this space. I feel like falling asleep would be the easiest thing to do. Once everything is in place and I'm sure the capture sequence is complete, something strange happens.
The best way I can describe it is like my eyes are opening for the first time. Somehow, I'm able to look past the void of the Pokeball and see into the real world.
The shape of the world is like nothing I've experienced before, almost like the world is covered in a bluish fiery smoke. I could discern sounds if I really focused, but the synesthesia mixing of my senses makes me almost sick.
Fearing that this is some sort of sensory deprivation hallucination, I push outward with my aura in the hopes of escaping the Pokeball and find myself swiftly returning to physical existence. A moment later, I land face-first on my hospital bed with my head at the foot of the bed. The springs in the mattress squeak a bit as I land, and I have to take another few seconds to reorient myself to my new position.
"-could have at least let us disconnect the IV. There is liquid ether all over the floor. Do you have any idea how toxic this stuff is?" One of the Pokémon veterinarians in the room berates a sheepish Juniper.
"I will admit that I may have gotten carried away in the moment. My apologies." Juniper says
The air turns a bit awkward as I slowly crawl under the covers of the bed and make my way back to the pillows at the top of the bed. Once settled in, I look Juniper in the eye and ask-
"So…does that mean I am registered to you or the lab or…" I trail off, leadingly
If I had a choice, I would have preferred Richard doing the honors, even if it was probably a symbolic thing of who 'caught' me.
"No. If that were the case, I would have asked your permission first." Juniper says seriously, "That modified dusk ball was and still is registered to Dustin Smith. Your legal status is still to be determined, but that's not for us to decide now. Let the league's lawyers figure that mess out later."
Juniper pulls out a small stack of papers from her lab coat and attaches it to a clipboard by my bedside.
"As a 'consultant,' you will have to go through some introductory classes before being allowed into the lab spaces proper; that being said, I will leave you in Professor Oak's care. I am told he wanted to talk with you about some personal matters, and I have some other duties regarding the ghost containment protocols that need revision." With a nod at Professor Oak, Juniper walks away, and as she leaves, Rowan finishes whatever call he was having and follows her out of the room without another word to us.
As soon as the others leave, I become aware that I am sitting unrestrained in a room full of people, which is both thrilling and terrifying. I am surprised that I have been granted so much trust so quickly. Professor Oak interrupts my thoughts as he stands up from his chair and starts replaceing the IV drip in my arm.
"Ya know, when I woke up today, having Professor Oak play nurse for me was not high on my list of expected things to happen. I'm surprised you don't just put me in a healing machine with this." I say while holding my modified Pokeball out to him in my claws, but instead of taking the pokeball, he gently takes my arm and applies a fresh needle into a vein in my arm.
How the man even found a vein beneath my fur is beyond me.
"Ah, but are you sure of what the healing machine would recognize as being in need of healing? What if your embedded human aura is treated like a disease you've contracted? Would you want to risk being cured? It's an unlikely scenario, I admit, but It's best we be mindful of these things and act cautiously; we aren't in any rush after all." The professor says with a smile while moving his grip to my wrist and checking his watch, likely checking my heart rate manually.
The man's overwhelming compassion and fearlessness have me speaking out before I even realize that I'm speaking.
"You were one of Dustin's Heros, you know." I blurt out. When he looks at me with a curiously raised eyebrow, I force myself to continue, "When you helped end the great war by founding the Pokémon League with the other regions' champions. You were like a superhero from the comics Dustin used to read as a kid, you know? You were larger than life, yet most children nowadays don't even know one-tenth of what you've done to shape the world they live in." I divert my eyes, feeling embarrassed at my star-struck seeming speech.
"I'm glad Dustin thought so highly of me, but I don't think I deserve half the praise that's been lain at my feet. Every achievement ascribed to me, like the founding of the league, isn't due to my own actions but because my friends and I dared to dream of a better world than the one we were given." The professor seems to lose himself in a memory, saying his next words almost in a whisper.
"It's amazing how the smallest of actions just...ripple outward until they become waves so large you can't even define their scope any longer. I let one man live when I had every reason to do the opposite, and then a few years down the road… the whole world just grew tired of war."
"Ah, but let's not get caught in ancient history, shall we? I have something for you if you are feeling well enough. I can come back tomorrow if you want to rest. I'll be auditing the facility for some time, so there really is no rush if you'd prefer to rest right now." Oak asks while finally letting go of my wrist
"I don't think I'll be sleeping for a while yet, but before we get to whatever that is, can I ask something? Was a root cause for the Gengar incursion determined?" I ask, looking from Richard to Oak inquisitively.
"Ah, we don't have the full details yet, but someone did try to access the restricted storage servers during the attack, so it could have been intentional." Richard starts before Oak responds
"The Pokémon that was trying to be retrieved from the server has since been given over to Champion Cynthia for safekeeping. It is possible that one of the staff members merely panicked when the Gengar was released in the facility and attempted to withdraw a strong Pokémon for protection. They should have known better than to try accessing the restricted servers during an emergency. However, you need not worry about the incident any longer, as it is my responsibility to address this issue." Oak admonishes us gently
Something still seemed wrong about that scenario, like why the security teams were delayed so long, but I decided to let it go for now.
"Now I have someone here who's been waiting to see you for some time now," Oak says while pulling a familiar dusk ball out of his pocket.
I stare at the ball in shock, instantly knowing what is inside. Hesitantly, I raise a claw up to the button, stop a few inches away, and look at Oak again for permission. He nods his head, and a moment later, my kit appears on my hospital bed. She has grown nearly twice her original size and no longer shows any signs of malnutrition. It's clear that she has been well taken care of, and the thought brings happy tears to my eyes.
She shakes herself as if she's trying to displace water off her fur. Then, she turns abruptly to face me. Without a moment's pause, she runs up my chest and presses herself against my face. She tries to nuzzle under my chin and bury herself in my chest fur and I laugh.
Without realizing what I'm doing, I start grooming her with my tongue, only managing to stop long enough to blearily thank the professor through my tears as he looks at us with a beaming smile.
I don't know how I would repay the professor, but one day, I vowed to do just that.
____
The next few days of recovery pass in a blur. I reluctantly give Oak my kit back, and he assures me that she is being cared for by the best of the best at his ranch in Pallet Town. He also assures me that I can visit whenever I want once my legal situation is hammered out with the league. And it strikes me then that I really could visit whenever I wanted. PCs could transfer my Pokeball across the world in seconds, I could travel anywhere in the world in seconds.
One of the biggest obstacles faced by the league in responding to disasters is human transportation. Even the most powerful teleporting Pokémon have an upper range of about one hundred miles. Additionally, long-distance travel, such as via airplanes, requires heavily armed ranger escorts to protect against wild Pokémon attacks.
I wonder how useful I could be as a rapid response unit for the league. I could be available anywhere in the world with a PC and internet connection within seconds. However, I am getting a bit ahead of myself; I still need to get approval from the professors to work as a security contractor for the league first, and it may take some time before I am sent out to do fieldwork.
With myself fully recovered and given a clean bill of health by the veterinarians, Richard finally takes me through the facility with the intent of meeting with the head of security at the end of our little tour. After only a few seconds of walking through the long corridors, we are greeted by a somewhat familiar researcher and what appears to be a trainer and their Pokémon.
I recognize the researcher as one of Carter's interns who had previously helped bring the musical soundboards into my enclosure. The other person is an overly excited trainer with a rare Absol trailing close by his feet. Before anyone else can stop him, the trainer runs up to me excitedly, causing Rich and me to stop walking.
"Oh wow! I've never seen a species like this before! May I?" The trainer asks Richard, but before Rich can answer, the trainer takes advantage of our shock to reach out and trail his fingers through my mane near the base of my skull.
I almost flinch back at the sudden closeness of this unknown person. Still, when he starts digging fingernails in just the right spot, I find myself leaning into the enthusiastic scratches.
"Robert!" exclaimed the researcher, mortified by the actions of the trainer he was escorting. "You were warned about the Pokémon down here! Just because your Absol can detect danger doesn't mean you can just do whatever you want!" The researcher moans while looking at me somewhat nervously
"Hey, I don't mind, Kids got magic fingers," I reply with eyes half-lidded in ecstasy.
The trainer, Robert apparently, freezes in place when he hears my rumbling response. When I looked down, I saw that Absol was brushing against Robert's and my legs, looking up at us with pleading eyes as if to ask, 'Why don't I get scritches?' I hunch down to give Absol some conciliatory scritches and flash Robert a toothy smile as I do so.
"Hey, I didn't say to stop." I jokingly reply while glancing sideways at his hand, still buried halfway in my mane.
"Oh, I uh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to- I just" The trainer starts to panic visibly, but Rich intervenes.
"It's all right. Echo may sound scary, but he's a big softy. But please do be more careful; I know you trust your Absol's uniquely potent danger clairvoyance, but that doesn't mean you can't find yourself in awkward situations like this one, understood?" Richard replies with a faint smile
"Y-yes sir, sorry." Robert relies to Rich before removing his hand from my back and addressing me directly. "I apologize for being presumptuous, Echo. I'm a dark type specialist, and I, I just-"
"No need to explain anything to me, friend. If there is one thing you get used to down here, it is curiosity," I conspiratorially half-whisper to Robert while my eyes turn toward the researchers.
"On that note, I think leaving these two to their business is best. Come on, Robert; we have a few more tests we need to perform before the day is over." Carter's intern states before dragging the dark-type trainer away. Reluctantly, the Absol follows after them as its trainer is practically dragged away.
"Should I be worried about a random trainer knowing about my ability to talk?" I conversationally ask Richard
"Not this one, no. Robert had to sign a literal stack of non-disclosure agreements before being allowed down here. The trainers who work in this area have also undergone thorough background checks and psychic examinations, so there shouldn't be any cause for concern. Why? Are you worried about your existence being leaked early?" Richard queries, walking briskly down the corridor while I struggle to keep up.
"No, no, it's not that…well, not just that. It's just that you all are going so fast with allowing me these freedoms. Hell, Rich, if someone told me last week that I'd be sitting in this hall receiving pets from random trainers, I'd have asked they be checked for a confusion status effects. I just don't think a monster like me should be allowed to walk around like this, at least not this soon." I reply worriedly
To my surprise, Rich suddenly turned around and hugged me. I am caught off guard by the sudden change of direction and almost trip over.
"Echo, this is not a decision that the league made lightly," Rich says, letting go of me and then placing his hands on my shoulders to emphasize his following words.
"A number of others and I have been vying for your release almost since day one. You don't deserve to be caged up, Echo. You've more than earned this modicum of freedom even before the Gengar incident. I hope you know that." Richard states imploringly
Looking at Richard's left arm, which still has a cast on it, I gently remove his hands from my shoulder and sigh.
"Thanks, Rich. I get what you mean, but it's going to be a while before I trust myself as much as you all apparently do." I say sincerely back
"Hey, don't worry about it. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you, Echo. Words can't really express the depth of my gratitude for what you did for me and the other researchers here. Incidents like that are extremely rare nowadays, and you put your life on the line just to save me. I don't know how I can ever repay that kind of debt." Richard replies sincerely.
"Friends don't owe each other anything. I'd gladly do it all again. And that battle high was to die for." I say with a malicious grin, "I might even have to take up recreational deathmatches as a hobby or something." I say entirely destroying the sentimental tone of our conversation
Rich expresses his displeasure with my joke by flicking my nose hard. I yelp in surprise and glare at his smug face.
"Ow, hey, that's Pokémon abuse! Don't think I won't call the league down on you, Rich. I have rights too!" I say with mock indignation
"Look, I won't be able to babysit you 24-7 after you start this position, so you will have to learn to behave yourself. Actually, now that I think about it, It might be a good idea to show you the showers so you can freshen up a bit before your meeting."
Without saying a word, I shrugged and trailed behind Richard as we made our way through a new set of corridors that actually had rooms in use. As I glance into the rooms, I notice small rectangular windows on the doors that allow me to peek inside.
While most rooms are empty, some have teams of scientists working, often accompanied by a trainer and a single Pokémon. It takes me a moment to figure out what feels off about these rooms, but eventually, I realize that, unlike my containment, these test subjects interact directly with their scientists and trainers, often being handled directly with no security walls between them.
It was fascinating to see the actual standard setup for test subjects. I had always assumed that my setup was standard, but for captured Pokémon, it is probably far less dangerous than it seems. After a short walk, we ended up in a locker room that led to a standard shower area. It mirrored many ranger station setups from my memories.
"Alright, go ahead and head in to get yourself cleaned up. It's been a while since we've had the chance to give you a good wash, so be sure to be extra thorough. Once you're done, I'll show you where you can find some spare clothes. And please, try your best not to clog the drains." Rich says as he hands me a plastic shower basket containing a large towel, Pokémon shampoo, and a big red hairbrush with a little Vulpix icon on it.
"Cute." I deadpan, eyeing the brush like a live snake. "I give no promises on the drains. Also, I would like to file a complaint about not getting clothes sooner. I've missed having pockets." I grouse, feeling a bit awkward at technically being naked most of the time Rich and I have known each other.
The thought of asking for clothes strangely never occurred to me until now.
"Well, with how your fur maintains your modesty, we didn't feel it necessary. Plus, you never brought it up before." Richard says with a shrug
Sighing, I trudge my way into the shower stalls while growling something about voyeuristic scientists under my breath. Setting the water to a steaming hot setting, I relax into the spray of soothing H2O and get to work.
It takes almost an hour to wash my mane to a degree I find acceptable, but I manage not to clog the drain in the end. After drying myself off, I feel and look like a giant puffball; Rich doesn't say a word but points to a set of folded clothes on the nearby bench.
As I unfold the clothes, I notice that they're Ranger uniforms with some changes made to fit my body shape. Since I'm quite humanoid, the small alterations probably didn't require much effort. After putting on the uniform, I glance at myself in the mirror and, almost automatically, create a human disguise that strongly resembles Dustin's appearance.
He'd been in his late thirties when I'd cut his life short, but when I put the illusion up, it was hard not to fall into a matching ranger persona. My species relied on this kind of mimicry to ambush prey in the wild, and putting up the illusion suppressed my nervous anticipation of the upcoming interview with the head of security.
Walking back over to Rich, I ask.
"What do you think, too much, or should I go 'natural' for the first meet and greet?"
Richard looks at my illusionary disguise for a few moments before replying.
"I would suggest that you go for a natural look. However, in case you choose to use this disguise later, you may want to add a scarf and cape. People might mistake you for an eccentric dragon-type trainer but It's for the best if you don't want your mane and collar fluff to give you away if someone brushes by you accidentally. Please note that this disguise should only really be needed if you end up in the less restricted upper-floor research areas, such as the ones at ground level."
As I nod in acceptance, I let go of my illusion and tie my hair into a knot near the base to prevent it from touching the ground. Rich takes me on a tour of the facility until he leads us to a secluded area that has an elevator with 'security' written on it. Richard uses his keycard to open the doors for me but doesn't enter with me.
"This is as for as I go, Echo," Richard says while offering me a handshake. Feeling uneasy, I hesitantly take his hand and suddenly find myself being pulled closer as Richard whispers in my ear.
"Whatever happens, just act naturally, and don't let Rowan or the security chief get in your head. I hear that both have a history of testing the 'moral fiber' of the people they work with, and I shudder to think of the mind games they are probably going to try to pull on you." Richard says quickly before stepping back and allowing the elevator door to close
I don't know why he had to tell me like that, but there were probably hidden cameras or microphones throughout the facility and he probably didn't want them to know he was warning me about these tests.
"I am not cut out for this spy drama bullshit." I sigh to myself as the elevator slowly moves to what is apparently level B13.
As the door opens, I come face to face with Professor Rowan's stern visage and his intimidating Infernape, towering at almost 9ft tall behind him. Thankfully, with Richards's warning, I hardly react, just slowly looking from one to the other before speaking up.
"Sir, if your intention was to intimidate me, I must admit that you are far more frightening than that monster behind you," I say calmly.
Surprisingly, Rowan cracks a small smile at my words, motioning for me to follow.
"You are not the first to say as such. However, I wasn't trying to intimidate you. Just testing your reaction to facing an Apex fighting type is all. I'm sure you understand that having an agent with a phobia of bugs or fighting types wouldn't do." Rowan states easily enough
"Understood completely, sir. However, may I ask what the plan for me would be should I fail any of your tests today?"
"That depends entirely on your own prerogatives, Echo. For instance, if you failed the current scenario, I would have recommended you take desensitization therapy to overcome your instinctual fears for your type weaknesses."
After Rowan opened the door to the chief of security's office, he led me inside. The room looked quite ordinary and had a standard office set up. At the far end of the room was a large desk where a woman was sitting, resting her cheek on her fist. She appeared to be sleep-deprived; however, as soon as she noticed me entering the room with Rowan and his Pokémon, she quickly straightened up and focused her attention on me.
"Ah, you must be Subject 571. Come, have a seat; we have a few things I'd like to discuss with you." She intones dramatically
I sat in front of the desk, trying my best to ignore the fact that the person I was meeting with had referred to me by my designation number instead of my preferred name. As I tried to keep a level head, something unexpected happened - a small yellow bug suddenly jumped from the ceiling and landed on my lap. I was about to panic and jump out of the chair, but then I realized that the bug was actually a Joltik, which the security chief likely owned. So, I froze and stayed put.
"Oh, don't mind fangs; he just likes to greet new people who come to my office." The chief says with a malicious grin
I decide to carefully pick up the spider and place it on the desk. To my horror, the spider jumps onto the face of the security chief and then crawls up to the top of her head. However, the security chief doesn't even flinch and instead affectionately pets the little creature.
"So, it is my understanding that you would be amenable to taking a position on my security force. Tell me, what makes you a good candidate for this position?" She asks, folding her hands together on top of her desk.
I find it hard not to stare at the Joltic still perched on her head, but I manage to glance at her name tag on her desk and form a coherent sentence anyway.
"Well, Emily, I have extensive knowledge of Pokémon species found in the Unova region, both in the wild and in urban environments. I also have a fundamental understanding of standard operational procedures utilized by the league's scout ranger core and their importance in life-critical scenarios." I begin finding my mental footing again and becoming surer of myself, only to be caught flat-footed at her response
"That's all well and good, but how are you with Pokémon capture, domestication, or training? There may come a time when you alone will not be sufficient to handle a given situation. Are you willing or even capable of forming the type of bond we humans utilize to control and live alongside Pokémon?"
"Um I-" I start to say before being talked over
"I'm sure you know that even the most novice rangers have at least one companion Pokémon to assist in their duties. This being the case, may I ask if you are comfortable conducting a quick experiment here and now under Rowan's supervision to help us determine your efficacy as an agent of the league?" She asks quickly enough for me to suspect that this response was rehearsed.
I stopped to think momentarily, trying not to get caught out or railroaded into something I wasn't comfortable with. Eventually, I asked the chief what exactly she wanted me to do.
"We have a Pokémon here whose Owner recently passed away. Release has been deemed an unfavorable option since it is a heavily domesticated species, and no close human relatives of the previous owner are available to take custody of said Pokémon." Emily pauses to get my reaction before continuing on once she sees me hesitantly nod
"Additionally, just so you are aware, the Pokémon is a psychic type, as we would like to both test your control over your hunting instincts and determine how well you can bond with a species diametrically opposed to your typing. Is that all right with you?" She finishes, awaiting my response
"I…don't see an issue with that. I'm ready if you are, I suppose," I say hesitantly. Something feels off about this, but it's not until I see the Pokéball being thrown right next to me that I realize what is going on.
Materializing next to me in a flash of white light is a very familiar Male Kirlia. Across its forehead, going down its right eye, is a faint scar the exact size and shape of my claw.
As his red eyes locked onto me, I braced myself for an attack, but he surprised me by tilting his head and slowly approaching me instead. We gazed at each other for an indeterminate amount of time until he cautiously took my left claw in his tiny hands and placed it on one of its two crimson horns. The foci of his empathic powers.
Upon contact, an overwhelming flood of emotions and sensations overshadow my mind. Memories of all the missions Dustin carried out with his trusted partner Ralts during his early ranger days come rushing back - the countless times they saved each other's lives, the lives they saved together, and the countless moments of contentment exploring the wilderness in a way that few others in the world could boast of.
I felt like I was watching a movie about Dustin's life again, but this time, it was like I was seeing everything from a different perspective. My rising regret and self-loathing mounted higher and higher with each vision until something snapped in Kirlia, and an energy that was not psychic type oozed from him, burning into my veins like some kind of poison.
I feel the bond Dustin had with this Kirlia forcefully reform in me as if it had never broken. Karlia's psychic empathy bypasses my dark nature like some kind of miracle and impossibly allows me to feel his relief and happiness at the reforged bond.
Tears stream down my face uncontrollably as I pull Kirlia tightly to my chest. I don't care that the professor and security chief are watching me. Kirlia cooes back as I whisper, "I'm so sorry." His two-fingered hands grip my new vest tightly as if he were a child reunited with a long-lost family member. Once again, I repeat, "I'm so sorry." before I dissolve entirely into messy sobs.
While I wasn't paying attention, the chief of security and Professor Rowan both looked at my emotional breakdown before signing their names onto a piece of paper that would change the rest of my life.
— K, Men in Black
The world around me fades in and out of focus as I drift in and out of consciousness. My mind is a playground of dreams and nightmares that twirl and dance in a spiraling frenzy. But suddenly, something changes. I feel a sense of control, and before I know it, I'm lucid dreaming.
I take charge of the dream and find myself soaring through the sky like a Jumpluff caught in a gust of wind. The stars twinkle so brightly that they almost outshine the full moon I conjure above me. It's a surreal feeling, almost like I'm in my own little world.
I reach out to touch the surface of the distant moon, but I can never quite grasp it before the waking world pulls me back.
I hear familiar voices that gradually become louder until their words awake me. As I try to move, I realize that I am restrained to a metal bed frame using heavy-duty straps, making it difficult to move.
Upon opening my eyes, I am temporarily blinded by the bright fluorescent lights. As I lift my head, I see that there are nearly a dozen people in the room with me, all looking at me with cautious gazes.
I see unfamiliar faces looking at me with a mix of uncertainty and weariness. But amidst them, I spot Carter, the scientist who introduced me to music, and Richard, who has a new cast on his left arm. Despite the tension in the room, Richard seems surprisingly cheerful, and his smile eases the tension in my body.
As I look down, I notice that my arm is connected to an IV line that's attached to a stand carrying a medical bag. The bag has a chemical formula written in bold, and the only other words on it are a red warning label stating, "Not for human use."
As I sink into the soft pillows provided to me, I take a moment to look around the room. The medical staff nearby try not to stare at me, but I find their attempts to ignore my presence more than a little amusing. The room is surrounded by steel-plated walls, and emergency supplies occupy one side, making me feel like I'm in a disaster bunker.
Two guards stand by the only door, each with their own Pokémon by their sides. The sudden silence after my awakening is awkward until Carter walks over and starts urging people to get back to work. I give the cheerful man a smile, and he returns it with a thumbs-up as he helps divert attention away from me in my little corner of the room.
Without saying a word, Richard offers me a cold bottle of water using his one good arm. I nod my head gratefully towards the water, relieved that I don't have to speak with my dry throat. Richard takes a seat in a chair near the head of my hospital bed and pours a few sips of water into my mouth.
After setting the water bottle aside, he tentatively places his good hand on my head and begins stroking my head like a dog.
I want to be annoyed or mortified by Richard's actions, but I find myself leaning my head into his hand and closing my eyes unconsciously. For now, dignity is unimportant to me, after all, why should I care about human conventions anyway?
I just need to remind myself that I am not human and shouldn't be held to all of their standards of social norms. Besides, I didn't realize how much I needed physical touch until now, after months of confinement. I almost whined when he removed his hand from me.
"I'm surprised you managed to convince security to let me out of containment. How did you even get the permission for that?" I ask softly. I hear the soft shuffling of shoes on the ground from the other staff in the room as they unconsciously draw closer to eavesdrop on my words.
Richard stops petting my head altogether, and his tone becomes severe as he explains the situation. "Who said anything about permission?" Richard growls out.
"You were on the brink of death, and nobody was going to stop me from saving you. I had to all but shove the security footage of what happened in their faces, but they eventually brought you up here." Richard says angrily before getting ahold of his emotions and continuing. "You may not realize it, but you saved a lot of lives by putting an end to that Gengar's rampage."
I see most of the staff in the room turn away from my gaze, but a few are brave enough to hold eye contact with me. They nod in silent thanks and then turn back to their duties. Just as I am about to ask Richard another question about the attack, the large metal doors at the far side of the room open. I watch as the guards step aside to let a group of familiar professors through.
"- in other words, from your records, the species name Zorua originated from a combination of two dead languages that translate to 'Dark' and 'Fox', respectively. That seems fitting enough, I don't see any need to change the nomenclature if that's the case." Professor Juniper says, speaking to two older men, one silver-haired and the other white-haired with a prominent mustache and stern façade.
A pink Minccino rides on Juniper's shoulder, scanning the room with childlike curiosity. As the security door closes behind them, the troupe of famous scientists take notice of Richard and me and begin to walk in our direction each scientist carrying varying levels of curiosity and wonder in their gazes.
I am in shock as each of these people represents some of the greatest minds to have walked the face of the earth. And in the case of Professor Oak, he was one of the most powerful Pokémon champions of his era and the phrase "Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young" comes to mind. Yet, of the three professors, Oak's gaze was the softest as he took in my bedridden form.
"Gentlemen, it's my pleasure to introduce you to Echo. From your historical records Rowan, Echo would be a Zoroark, the second stage of the Zorua line." Juniper states before turning to me. "Echo, I hope these last few months of captivity haven't been too difficult on you. You have my deepest sympathies, but your situation has been a political nightmare to handle since the league classified your case. Hopefully, we can change your accommodations now that we have these gentlemen's help." Juniper says with a radiant smile
"Eh, I can't complain, and I understand, professor. It's a pleasure to meet you both, Id shake your hands, but I'm a bit tied up at the moment." I joke while motioning my head to my retrained limbs.
"Although, if you're taking suggestions, I could really use a treadmill or something in the next enclosure you set me up in. The old room was fine for throwing a rubber ball against the wall, but that's not really enough cardio for my liking, you know." I respond somewhat hopefully.
I really could use some workout equipment to help keep my mind occupied down here.
"I don't think that will be needed. You see, we have a proposal for you, Echo. The league would like to offer you special employment under my direct preview. If you agree, you will be afforded certain privileges, the least of which will be access to elite training facilities and your own dormitory room." Juniper says while petting the oddly colored chinchilla Pokémon on her Sholder.
I am too shocked to speak, but when I look at Richard, he just nods at the professor's words.
"That is only if we also sign off on the executive request." Rowan gruffly retorts, breaking through my shock. "Before either of us supports young Juniper's request, we must first ascertain the veracity of her claims about your true disposition," Rowan states without blinking.
The man's intense stare has me instinctively shying away from him as I almost feel like I'm about to be attacked. Oak seems to take note of my body language, though and replies quickly afterward.
"Don't get too discouraged, Echo; this is merely a formality. What my colleague means is that you should think of our presence here like an extended job interview. The lab reports and your most recent actions already speak volumes of your disposition, and I'm sure my colleague here will see the benefits of Juniper's propositions regarding your case." Oak replies while pulling over a swivel chair and sitting on it in reverse position with his arms resting nonchalantly on the backrest.
The casual action instantly evaporates any tension from Rowan's continued stare-down.
"I…don't know what to say. What exactly is this proposal? I haven't heard anything about this before. Also, was it really necessary for you two to come all this way to see me in person? You must have flown halfway across the world to get here Professor." I ask while looking at Oak
The man chuckles at my response, and even Rowan's icy gaze melts fractionally.
"Echo, we were invited to converse with a Sapient Pokémon. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we could not pass up." Oak says with a chuckle before continuing.
"Also, you have no idea the fire you lit under my staff when you sent that extensive care guide alongside your kit. Can you imagine our shock when an unknown species is handed to us with seemingly no strings attached from a Ranger on the other side of the world?" Oak says as if explaining the plot of his favorite movie series.
"And then, on top of that, when I tried to look up the ranger who sent it to us, I saw a confirmed death certificate dated before the transfer was initiated, and well, I am not one to leave a mystery like that unsolved," Oak says with a knowing smile.
"As for the proposal," Juniper interjects. "It's still in the works, but current circumstances have given us an opportunity to accelerate some things. Initially, we would like you to act as a security consultant for the Ghost research sector of this facility." Juniper says while pulling out a berry from her lab coat to give to her Pokémon, who nibbles at it excitedly.
"Will there be an actual contract involved in this?" Richard retorts with surprising venom in his voice. "Because I will remind you that Echo's legal status is still in Limbo, given your insistence on keeping his nature secret from the public."
"I know it seems unfair, but the league isn't ready to reveal his existence just yet. However, I've discussed the situation with the league's champions, and they have agreed to some of the proposals you've forwarded over to me." Juniper placatingly replies
"There are some stipulations, of course, but nothing too onerous. Echo has the potential to become one of the league's greatest assets if he wishes to be, and few people on the ethics board can doubt Echo's intentions after yesterday's events." Juniper continues more sedately
"Well, does anyone want to actually tell me what these proposals entail, or shall I just go back to sleep and let you all work this out between yourselves?" I ask exasperatedly at being so out of the loop
"Sorry, Echo, for context, the ethics committee has been in something of a civil war with itself trying to figure out how to handle your case. Your human aura prevents a conventional trainer bond, which frightens a lot of people on the board because it means we can't control your actions. They have been debating putting you in stasis since we've recently cracked the programming needed to have Pokeballs work on you." Juniper apologizes
"Okay… so what you are saying is that you've all gone over the board of ethics heads and struck a deal with the League's champions, but you still need other professors like Rowan and Oak here to sign off on the plan first? Am I understanding this right?" I ponder aloud
"Your case, in particular, is a delicate one because Unova can't be seen as acting unethically toward Pokémon," Juniper explains. "Continuing to hold you in captivity as we have isn't something we can justify lest we be compared to Orre and sanctioned accordingly."
"Your case can't remain hidden from the public forever; too many people know you exist at this point," Rowan says side eyeing the staff still in the room who are not so subtly eavesdropping.
Sighing, Juniper continues, "Indeed, your existence is going to leak one way or another. So, we need to start working on what happens with you going forward. That necessitates showing a history of you working with the league voluntarily in whatever capacity you feel comfortable with. Hopefully, your public reveal won't occur for a few more years yet, but it's better to hope for the best and plan for the worst."
"Okay, Okay, I get it. Just tell me what you want me to do because I'm definitely game, whatever it is." I say excitedly
"There are a few field missions we would like for you to perform in the future if you are up for it, but for now, what are your thoughts on becoming a security consultant for the ghost sector of our research institute?" Juniper asks
I take a few moments to contemplate what a position like this would entail for me. Would other security personnel be informed of my existence, or would I have to pretend to be human? I know that research departments are largely compartmentalized, so would I be expected to work under a guise?
I have serious doubts about the sustainability of that kind of proposal, especially given the large number of well-trained psychic humans employed here. Do I have any choice in the matter, or will I be forced into stasis for an unknown amount of time if I refuse whatever this entails?
The thought of just falling asleep in a Pokeball only to wake up in some far-flung future decades down the road haunts my mind. Technology was already propelling human civilization so fast, would I recognize the world a few decades from now?
After thinking for less than a minute, I ask, "When do I start?"
Juniper smiles and, with a snap of her fingers, her Minccino jumps onto my hospital bed. It chews straight through my restraints with four sharp snaps of its tiny teeth. Rowan scowls at Juniper for her hasty actions, but instead of berating her, he just sighs and walks a few steps away to use his transceiver to call someone.
"Your first order is to rest up and meet with the head of security in two days' time. Richard will be able to direct you where you need to go. And one last thing." She says while pulling out an odd-looking Pokeball.
It almost looks like a Dusk ball of some kind, but most of the protective panels have been removed, exposing the complex grid of obviously modified circuitry inside. "Catch!" She says, lobbing the ball in my direction
Out of instinct, I try rising out of the bed to catch the ball in my claws but wince in pain and instead find the ball slamming into my forehead. The ball ricochets off my head, and the red capture beam strikes me a moment later, encompassing my whole body. Unlike the other times this was tried on me, all sensations cut off immediately, leaving a perfect void in their place.
I had an instant realization that I was inside a Pokeball, surrounded by a blank void. I could feel the ephemeral chains of my aura being tied into knots, once, twice, and then a final time before settling. I could easily understand why wild Pokémon would panic at this feeling; this loss of all sensation was how I imagined feeling dead would be like.
This feeling of non-corporality is almost meditative though. As if I am at the center of some kind of perfect sensory deprivation chamber. As I relax and let the aura chains sink deeper into my being, binding me to the Pokeball, a feeling of zen overtakes my mind.
All the aches in my body seem to cease existing in this space. I feel like falling asleep would be the easiest thing to do. Once everything is in place and I'm sure the capture sequence is complete, something strange happens.
The best way I can describe it is like my eyes are opening for the first time. Somehow, I'm able to look past the void of the Pokeball and see into the real world.
The shape of the world is like nothing I've experienced before, almost like the world is covered in a bluish fiery smoke. I could discern sounds if I really focused, but the synesthesia mixing of my senses makes me almost sick.
Fearing that this is some sort of sensory deprivation hallucination, I push outward with my aura in the hopes of escaping the Pokeball and find myself swiftly returning to physical existence. A moment later, I land face-first on my hospital bed with my head at the foot of the bed. The springs in the mattress squeak a bit as I land, and I have to take another few seconds to reorient myself to my new position.
"-could have at least let us disconnect the IV. There is liquid ether all over the floor. Do you have any idea how toxic this stuff is?" One of the Pokémon veterinarians in the room berates a sheepish Juniper.
"I will admit that I may have gotten carried away in the moment. My apologies." Juniper says
The air turns a bit awkward as I slowly crawl under the covers of the bed and make my way back to the pillows at the top of the bed. Once settled in, I look Juniper in the eye and ask-
"So…does that mean I am registered to you or the lab or…" I trail off, leadingly
If I had a choice, I would have preferred Richard doing the honors, even if it was probably a symbolic thing of who 'caught' me.
"No. If that were the case, I would have asked your permission first." Juniper says seriously, "That modified dusk ball was and still is registered to Dustin Smith. Your legal status is still to be determined, but that's not for us to decide now. Let the league's lawyers figure that mess out later."
Juniper pulls out a small stack of papers from her lab coat and attaches it to a clipboard by my bedside.
"As a 'consultant,' you will have to go through some introductory classes before being allowed into the lab spaces proper; that being said, I will leave you in Professor Oak's care. I am told he wanted to talk with you about some personal matters, and I have some other duties regarding the ghost containment protocols that need revision." With a nod at Professor Oak, Juniper walks away, and as she leaves, Rowan finishes whatever call he was having and follows her out of the room without another word to us.
As soon as the others leave, I become aware that I am sitting unrestrained in a room full of people, which is both thrilling and terrifying. I am surprised that I have been granted so much trust so quickly. Professor Oak interrupts my thoughts as he stands up from his chair and starts replaceing the IV drip in my arm.
"Ya know, when I woke up today, having Professor Oak play nurse for me was not high on my list of expected things to happen. I'm surprised you don't just put me in a healing machine with this." I say while holding my modified Pokeball out to him in my claws, but instead of taking the pokeball, he gently takes my arm and applies a fresh needle into a vein in my arm.
How the man even found a vein beneath my fur is beyond me.
"Ah, but are you sure of what the healing machine would recognize as being in need of healing? What if your embedded human aura is treated like a disease you've contracted? Would you want to risk being cured? It's an unlikely scenario, I admit, but It's best we be mindful of these things and act cautiously; we aren't in any rush after all." The professor says with a smile while moving his grip to my wrist and checking his watch, likely checking my heart rate manually.
The man's overwhelming compassion and fearlessness have me speaking out before I even realize that I'm speaking.
"You were one of Dustin's Heros, you know." I blurt out. When he looks at me with a curiously raised eyebrow, I force myself to continue, "When you helped end the great war by founding the Pokémon League with the other regions' champions. You were like a superhero from the comics Dustin used to read as a kid, you know? You were larger than life, yet most children nowadays don't even know one-tenth of what you've done to shape the world they live in." I divert my eyes, feeling embarrassed at my star-struck seeming speech.
"I'm glad Dustin thought so highly of me, but I don't think I deserve half the praise that's been lain at my feet. Every achievement ascribed to me, like the founding of the league, isn't due to my own actions but because my friends and I dared to dream of a better world than the one we were given." The professor seems to lose himself in a memory, saying his next words almost in a whisper.
"It's amazing how the smallest of actions just...ripple outward until they become waves so large you can't even define their scope any longer. I let one man live when I had every reason to do the opposite, and then a few years down the road… the whole world just grew tired of war."
"Ah, but let's not get caught in ancient history, shall we? I have something for you if you are feeling well enough. I can come back tomorrow if you want to rest. I'll be auditing the facility for some time, so there really is no rush if you'd prefer to rest right now." Oak asks while finally letting go of my wrist
"I don't think I'll be sleeping for a while yet, but before we get to whatever that is, can I ask something? Was a root cause for the Gengar incursion determined?" I ask, looking from Richard to Oak inquisitively.
"Ah, we don't have the full details yet, but someone did try to access the restricted storage servers during the attack, so it could have been intentional." Richard starts before Oak responds
"The Pokémon that was trying to be retrieved from the server has since been given over to Champion Cynthia for safekeeping. It is possible that one of the staff members merely panicked when the Gengar was released in the facility and attempted to withdraw a strong Pokémon for protection. They should have known better than to try accessing the restricted servers during an emergency. However, you need not worry about the incident any longer, as it is my responsibility to address this issue." Oak admonishes us gently
Something still seemed wrong about that scenario, like why the security teams were delayed so long, but I decided to let it go for now.
"Now I have someone here who's been waiting to see you for some time now," Oak says while pulling a familiar dusk ball out of his pocket.
I stare at the ball in shock, instantly knowing what is inside. Hesitantly, I raise a claw up to the button, stop a few inches away, and look at Oak again for permission. He nods his head, and a moment later, my kit appears on my hospital bed. She has grown nearly twice her original size and no longer shows any signs of malnutrition. It's clear that she has been well taken care of, and the thought brings happy tears to my eyes.
She shakes herself as if she's trying to displace water off her fur. Then, she turns abruptly to face me. Without a moment's pause, she runs up my chest and presses herself against my face. She tries to nuzzle under my chin and bury herself in my chest fur and I laugh.
Without realizing what I'm doing, I start grooming her with my tongue, only managing to stop long enough to blearily thank the professor through my tears as he looks at us with a beaming smile.
I don't know how I would repay the professor, but one day, I vowed to do just that.
____
The next few days of recovery pass in a blur. I reluctantly give Oak my kit back, and he assures me that she is being cared for by the best of the best at his ranch in Pallet Town. He also assures me that I can visit whenever I want once my legal situation is hammered out with the league. And it strikes me then that I really could visit whenever I wanted. PCs could transfer my Pokeball across the world in seconds, I could travel anywhere in the world in seconds.
One of the biggest obstacles faced by the league in responding to disasters is human transportation. Even the most powerful teleporting Pokémon have an upper range of about one hundred miles. Additionally, long-distance travel, such as via airplanes, requires heavily armed ranger escorts to protect against wild Pokémon attacks.
I wonder how useful I could be as a rapid response unit for the league. I could be available anywhere in the world with a PC and internet connection within seconds. However, I am getting a bit ahead of myself; I still need to get approval from the professors to work as a security contractor for the league first, and it may take some time before I am sent out to do fieldwork.
With myself fully recovered and given a clean bill of health by the veterinarians, Richard finally takes me through the facility with the intent of meeting with the head of security at the end of our little tour. After only a few seconds of walking through the long corridors, we are greeted by a somewhat familiar researcher and what appears to be a trainer and their Pokémon.
I recognize the researcher as one of Carter's interns who had previously helped bring the musical soundboards into my enclosure. The other person is an overly excited trainer with a rare Absol trailing close by his feet. Before anyone else can stop him, the trainer runs up to me excitedly, causing Rich and me to stop walking.
"Oh wow! I've never seen a species like this before! May I?" The trainer asks Richard, but before Rich can answer, the trainer takes advantage of our shock to reach out and trail his fingers through my mane near the base of my skull.
I almost flinch back at the sudden closeness of this unknown person. Still, when he starts digging fingernails in just the right spot, I find myself leaning into the enthusiastic scratches.
"Robert!" exclaimed the researcher, mortified by the actions of the trainer he was escorting. "You were warned about the Pokémon down here! Just because your Absol can detect danger doesn't mean you can just do whatever you want!" The researcher moans while looking at me somewhat nervously
"Hey, I don't mind, Kids got magic fingers," I reply with eyes half-lidded in ecstasy.
The trainer, Robert apparently, freezes in place when he hears my rumbling response. When I looked down, I saw that Absol was brushing against Robert's and my legs, looking up at us with pleading eyes as if to ask, 'Why don't I get scritches?' I hunch down to give Absol some conciliatory scritches and flash Robert a toothy smile as I do so.
"Hey, I didn't say to stop." I jokingly reply while glancing sideways at his hand, still buried halfway in my mane.
"Oh, I uh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to- I just" The trainer starts to panic visibly, but Rich intervenes.
"It's all right. Echo may sound scary, but he's a big softy. But please do be more careful; I know you trust your Absol's uniquely potent danger clairvoyance, but that doesn't mean you can't find yourself in awkward situations like this one, understood?" Richard replies with a faint smile
"Y-yes sir, sorry." Robert relies to Rich before removing his hand from my back and addressing me directly. "I apologize for being presumptuous, Echo. I'm a dark type specialist, and I, I just-"
"No need to explain anything to me, friend. If there is one thing you get used to down here, it is curiosity," I conspiratorially half-whisper to Robert while my eyes turn toward the researchers.
"On that note, I think leaving these two to their business is best. Come on, Robert; we have a few more tests we need to perform before the day is over." Carter's intern states before dragging the dark-type trainer away. Reluctantly, the Absol follows after them as its trainer is practically dragged away.
"Should I be worried about a random trainer knowing about my ability to talk?" I conversationally ask Richard
"Not this one, no. Robert had to sign a literal stack of non-disclosure agreements before being allowed down here. The trainers who work in this area have also undergone thorough background checks and psychic examinations, so there shouldn't be any cause for concern. Why? Are you worried about your existence being leaked early?" Richard queries, walking briskly down the corridor while I struggle to keep up.
"No, no, it's not that…well, not just that. It's just that you all are going so fast with allowing me these freedoms. Hell, Rich, if someone told me last week that I'd be sitting in this hall receiving pets from random trainers, I'd have asked they be checked for a confusion status effects. I just don't think a monster like me should be allowed to walk around like this, at least not this soon." I reply worriedly
To my surprise, Rich suddenly turned around and hugged me. I am caught off guard by the sudden change of direction and almost trip over.
"Echo, this is not a decision that the league made lightly," Rich says, letting go of me and then placing his hands on my shoulders to emphasize his following words.
"A number of others and I have been vying for your release almost since day one. You don't deserve to be caged up, Echo. You've more than earned this modicum of freedom even before the Gengar incident. I hope you know that." Richard states imploringly
Looking at Richard's left arm, which still has a cast on it, I gently remove his hands from my shoulder and sigh.
"Thanks, Rich. I get what you mean, but it's going to be a while before I trust myself as much as you all apparently do." I say sincerely back
"Hey, don't worry about it. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you, Echo. Words can't really express the depth of my gratitude for what you did for me and the other researchers here. Incidents like that are extremely rare nowadays, and you put your life on the line just to save me. I don't know how I can ever repay that kind of debt." Richard replies sincerely.
"Friends don't owe each other anything. I'd gladly do it all again. And that battle high was to die for." I say with a malicious grin, "I might even have to take up recreational deathmatches as a hobby or something." I say entirely destroying the sentimental tone of our conversation
Rich expresses his displeasure with my joke by flicking my nose hard. I yelp in surprise and glare at his smug face.
"Ow, hey, that's Pokémon abuse! Don't think I won't call the league down on you, Rich. I have rights too!" I say with mock indignation
"Look, I won't be able to babysit you 24-7 after you start this position, so you will have to learn to behave yourself. Actually, now that I think about it, It might be a good idea to show you the showers so you can freshen up a bit before your meeting."
Without saying a word, I shrugged and trailed behind Richard as we made our way through a new set of corridors that actually had rooms in use. As I glance into the rooms, I notice small rectangular windows on the doors that allow me to peek inside.
While most rooms are empty, some have teams of scientists working, often accompanied by a trainer and a single Pokémon. It takes me a moment to figure out what feels off about these rooms, but eventually, I realize that, unlike my containment, these test subjects interact directly with their scientists and trainers, often being handled directly with no security walls between them.
It was fascinating to see the actual standard setup for test subjects. I had always assumed that my setup was standard, but for captured Pokémon, it is probably far less dangerous than it seems. After a short walk, we ended up in a locker room that led to a standard shower area. It mirrored many ranger station setups from my memories.
"Alright, go ahead and head in to get yourself cleaned up. It's been a while since we've had the chance to give you a good wash, so be sure to be extra thorough. Once you're done, I'll show you where you can find some spare clothes. And please, try your best not to clog the drains." Rich says as he hands me a plastic shower basket containing a large towel, Pokémon shampoo, and a big red hairbrush with a little Vulpix icon on it.
"Cute." I deadpan, eyeing the brush like a live snake. "I give no promises on the drains. Also, I would like to file a complaint about not getting clothes sooner. I've missed having pockets." I grouse, feeling a bit awkward at technically being naked most of the time Rich and I have known each other.
The thought of asking for clothes strangely never occurred to me until now.
"Well, with how your fur maintains your modesty, we didn't feel it necessary. Plus, you never brought it up before." Richard says with a shrug
Sighing, I trudge my way into the shower stalls while growling something about voyeuristic scientists under my breath. Setting the water to a steaming hot setting, I relax into the spray of soothing H2O and get to work.
It takes almost an hour to wash my mane to a degree I find acceptable, but I manage not to clog the drain in the end. After drying myself off, I feel and look like a giant puffball; Rich doesn't say a word but points to a set of folded clothes on the nearby bench.
As I unfold the clothes, I notice that they're Ranger uniforms with some changes made to fit my body shape. Since I'm quite humanoid, the small alterations probably didn't require much effort. After putting on the uniform, I glance at myself in the mirror and, almost automatically, create a human disguise that strongly resembles Dustin's appearance.
He'd been in his late thirties when I'd cut his life short, but when I put the illusion up, it was hard not to fall into a matching ranger persona. My species relied on this kind of mimicry to ambush prey in the wild, and putting up the illusion suppressed my nervous anticipation of the upcoming interview with the head of security.
Walking back over to Rich, I ask.
"What do you think, too much, or should I go 'natural' for the first meet and greet?"
Richard looks at my illusionary disguise for a few moments before replying.
"I would suggest that you go for a natural look. However, in case you choose to use this disguise later, you may want to add a scarf and cape. People might mistake you for an eccentric dragon-type trainer but It's for the best if you don't want your mane and collar fluff to give you away if someone brushes by you accidentally. Please note that this disguise should only really be needed if you end up in the less restricted upper-floor research areas, such as the ones at ground level."
As I nod in acceptance, I let go of my illusion and tie my hair into a knot near the base to prevent it from touching the ground. Rich takes me on a tour of the facility until he leads us to a secluded area that has an elevator with 'security' written on it. Richard uses his keycard to open the doors for me but doesn't enter with me.
"This is as for as I go, Echo," Richard says while offering me a handshake. Feeling uneasy, I hesitantly take his hand and suddenly find myself being pulled closer as Richard whispers in my ear.
"Whatever happens, just act naturally, and don't let Rowan or the security chief get in your head. I hear that both have a history of testing the 'moral fiber' of the people they work with, and I shudder to think of the mind games they are probably going to try to pull on you." Richard says quickly before stepping back and allowing the elevator door to close
I don't know why he had to tell me like that, but there were probably hidden cameras or microphones throughout the facility and he probably didn't want them to know he was warning me about these tests.
"I am not cut out for this spy drama bullshit." I sigh to myself as the elevator slowly moves to what is apparently level B13.
As the door opens, I come face to face with Professor Rowan's stern visage and his intimidating Infernape, towering at almost 9ft tall behind him. Thankfully, with Richards's warning, I hardly react, just slowly looking from one to the other before speaking up.
"Sir, if your intention was to intimidate me, I must admit that you are far more frightening than that monster behind you," I say calmly.
Surprisingly, Rowan cracks a small smile at my words, motioning for me to follow.
"You are not the first to say as such. However, I wasn't trying to intimidate you. Just testing your reaction to facing an Apex fighting type is all. I'm sure you understand that having an agent with a phobia of bugs or fighting types wouldn't do." Rowan states easily enough
"Understood completely, sir. However, may I ask what the plan for me would be should I fail any of your tests today?"
"That depends entirely on your own prerogatives, Echo. For instance, if you failed the current scenario, I would have recommended you take desensitization therapy to overcome your instinctual fears for your type weaknesses."
After Rowan opened the door to the chief of security's office, he led me inside. The room looked quite ordinary and had a standard office set up. At the far end of the room was a large desk where a woman was sitting, resting her cheek on her fist. She appeared to be sleep-deprived; however, as soon as she noticed me entering the room with Rowan and his Pokémon, she quickly straightened up and focused her attention on me.
"Ah, you must be Subject 571. Come, have a seat; we have a few things I'd like to discuss with you." She intones dramatically
I sat in front of the desk, trying my best to ignore the fact that the person I was meeting with had referred to me by my designation number instead of my preferred name. As I tried to keep a level head, something unexpected happened - a small yellow bug suddenly jumped from the ceiling and landed on my lap. I was about to panic and jump out of the chair, but then I realized that the bug was actually a Joltik, which the security chief likely owned. So, I froze and stayed put.
"Oh, don't mind fangs; he just likes to greet new people who come to my office." The chief says with a malicious grin
I decide to carefully pick up the spider and place it on the desk. To my horror, the spider jumps onto the face of the security chief and then crawls up to the top of her head. However, the security chief doesn't even flinch and instead affectionately pets the little creature.
"So, it is my understanding that you would be amenable to taking a position on my security force. Tell me, what makes you a good candidate for this position?" She asks, folding her hands together on top of her desk.
I find it hard not to stare at the Joltic still perched on her head, but I manage to glance at her name tag on her desk and form a coherent sentence anyway.
"Well, Emily, I have extensive knowledge of Pokémon species found in the Unova region, both in the wild and in urban environments. I also have a fundamental understanding of standard operational procedures utilized by the league's scout ranger core and their importance in life-critical scenarios." I begin finding my mental footing again and becoming surer of myself, only to be caught flat-footed at her response
"That's all well and good, but how are you with Pokémon capture, domestication, or training? There may come a time when you alone will not be sufficient to handle a given situation. Are you willing or even capable of forming the type of bond we humans utilize to control and live alongside Pokémon?"
"Um I-" I start to say before being talked over
"I'm sure you know that even the most novice rangers have at least one companion Pokémon to assist in their duties. This being the case, may I ask if you are comfortable conducting a quick experiment here and now under Rowan's supervision to help us determine your efficacy as an agent of the league?" She asks quickly enough for me to suspect that this response was rehearsed.
I stopped to think momentarily, trying not to get caught out or railroaded into something I wasn't comfortable with. Eventually, I asked the chief what exactly she wanted me to do.
"We have a Pokémon here whose Owner recently passed away. Release has been deemed an unfavorable option since it is a heavily domesticated species, and no close human relatives of the previous owner are available to take custody of said Pokémon." Emily pauses to get my reaction before continuing on once she sees me hesitantly nod
"Additionally, just so you are aware, the Pokémon is a psychic type, as we would like to both test your control over your hunting instincts and determine how well you can bond with a species diametrically opposed to your typing. Is that all right with you?" She finishes, awaiting my response
"I…don't see an issue with that. I'm ready if you are, I suppose," I say hesitantly. Something feels off about this, but it's not until I see the Pokéball being thrown right next to me that I realize what is going on.
Materializing next to me in a flash of white light is a very familiar Male Kirlia. Across its forehead, going down its right eye, is a faint scar the exact size and shape of my claw.
As his red eyes locked onto me, I braced myself for an attack, but he surprised me by tilting his head and slowly approaching me instead. We gazed at each other for an indeterminate amount of time until he cautiously took my left claw in his tiny hands and placed it on one of its two crimson horns. The foci of his empathic powers.
Upon contact, an overwhelming flood of emotions and sensations overshadow my mind. Memories of all the missions Dustin carried out with his trusted partner Ralts during his early ranger days come rushing back - the countless times they saved each other's lives, the lives they saved together, and the countless moments of contentment exploring the wilderness in a way that few others in the world could boast of.
I felt like I was watching a movie about Dustin's life again, but this time, it was like I was seeing everything from a different perspective. My rising regret and self-loathing mounted higher and higher with each vision until something snapped in Kirlia, and an energy that was not psychic type oozed from him, burning into my veins like some kind of poison.
I feel the bond Dustin had with this Kirlia forcefully reform in me as if it had never broken. Karlia's psychic empathy bypasses my dark nature like some kind of miracle and impossibly allows me to feel his relief and happiness at the reforged bond.
Tears stream down my face uncontrollably as I pull Kirlia tightly to my chest. I don't care that the professor and security chief are watching me. Kirlia cooes back as I whisper, "I'm so sorry." His two-fingered hands grip my new vest tightly as if he were a child reunited with a long-lost family member. Once again, I repeat, "I'm so sorry." before I dissolve entirely into messy sobs.
While I wasn't paying attention, the chief of security and Professor Rowan both looked at my emotional breakdown before signing their names onto a piece of paper that would change the rest of my life.
Last edited:
- Location
- England
Guy lost his capital letter there. Should be "Echo".
I think it needs an apostrophe - "regions' champions". Also, region wouldn't have a capital letter.
Too many b's in Robert.
Or not enough b's, I guess. Pick one.
Last edited:
Chapter 4: The other side of the Glass
- Location
- Winter Desert
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.
-Kurt Vonnegut, Mother Night
As I slowly awaken from my slumber, a sudden chill and dampness on my face causes me to let out a tired groan. Opening my bleary eyes, I see a view full of white and green.
Using careful, deliberate movements, sharp-clawed hands remove Kirlia from my forehead; he had wrapped himself around my head like a cat with separation anxiety. Warmth emanates from his body, contrasting with the chilly air surrounding us.
Becoming more conscious, an unexpected sight catches my eye- a damp patch on my pillowcases. Curiosity piqued, I lean in and take a cautious sniff, but there isn't any discernible scent. Sitting up, I feel something wet on my face, and upon closer inspection, I realize it's a thin layer of drool.
Shaking my head in disbelief I try to recall the fragments of my dream. It's like a fading lightbulb flickering in my mind, but eventually, a memory resurfaces - chasing an Abra in my dream. Without a second thought, I pick up my Kirlia under his armpits and extend my arms away from me.
"Damn it, Kirlia," I halfheartedly whisper yell at him, feeling a mixture of annoyance and affection for my psychic Partner.
"I'm going to have to buy some cologne or something to mask your scent. You smell too much like food to me. And you just had to wrap yourself around my head last night, didn't you!" I complain to the half-asleep Kirlia.
Drowsily, one eye blinks, followed by the other, before he yawns and falls asleep right there in my arms, his head lolling to one side. All of my mock anger disappears into mist on the wind. There really is no point in being angry at Kirlia. He couldn't have known any better, and with his refusal to sleep in his Pokeball, I should have predicted something like this would happen.
With a heavy sigh, I slowly swing my legs out from under the warm blankets. I can feel the tension in my back as I twist around and eventually manage to release a satisfying crack from my spine before finally standing up, still holding Kirlia in my arms.
After a brief moment of contemplation, I decide to let my companion sleep in and carefully wrap him up in the soft comforter like a little green-haired burrito.
As I look at the adorable sight before me, a smile forms on my lips. I gingerly remove the soiled covers from the pillows, being extra cautious with my unwieldy claws so as not to cause any damage to the soft fabrics.
Frustration builds up inside me at the slow pace I have to take, and in a moment of carelessness, an uncovered pillow slips from my grip and lands on Kirlia's head. I stifle a laugh, but instead of waking up, my companion hugs the pillow and turns away from me with a grumble. My laughter only makes him grumble louder, so I try to be as quiet as possible and not to annoy him further.
I then gathered all the pillow covers into my arms and threw them down the convenient laundry chute attached to my bathroom nook. I hoped that the cleaning crew would return the sheets to me by the end of the day.
As I approached my workstation, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. The sturdy wooden desk and the custom-built laptop on it were familiar and comforting. I glided effortlessly into the plain roller chair in front of it and pressed the power button, waiting patiently for the device to power on.
In the dark reflection before the screen booted up, I noticed the mess of my half-dried fur. I made a mental note to clean up after I finished journaling my morning thoughts. I couldn't help but chuckle at myself as I noticed how bedraggled I looked.
I seemed to have taken bedhead to a level hither since unimagined by the feeble minds of mankind.
Resting my head on one paw, I watched as the computer's Bios information appeared on the screen, illuminating the previously dark room. Upon bootup, I noticed that I had left an online 'lab readiness' training module open. I quickly closed the program, realizing that shutting the computer down hadn't automatically closed those programs out.
As I sit at the desktop computer, I can't help but notice how different it feels from the computers Dustin used to use. The keys are reinforced with steel, and they click softly under my claws as I type. I suspect that these computers also run custom software designed to prevent accidental data loss, which is why those programs didn't close when I shut the computer down last. But I don't let that distract me from my task. I open the digital journal program and begin typing down my thoughts.
I reflect on how my hunting instincts seem to be surfacing in my sleep, and I consider how I can mitigate the side effects in the future.
After meeting my daily journal quota, I switch over to my foxfire browser to check my messages. To my surprise, I see an invitation from Professor Oak to have breakfast in one of the main cafeterias on base. I eagerly accept the invitation, looking forward to catching up with the professor over a meal.
I've thus far managed to avoid large public spaces like the cafeterias, but I really did not want to decline this invitation from Oak. I owed him a lot already, and most of my aversion to places like the cafeteria stemmed from the fact that half of the people there didn't know what I was.
The higher-ups of the league have insisted that I create a human disguise to blend in with the facility staff. This has left me in a dilemma.
It's still bizarre to me that I, a literal man-eating monster, am allowed to walk amongst the staff without everyone knowing what I am. While I appreciate the opportunity to socialize, my illusionary abilities should pose some kind of security threat, right?
I want to be honest with those I interact with, but at the same time, the idea of pretending to be a human is exciting to me. The act of mimicry satisfies me on an instinctual level. However, sooner or later, I know my true identity will be revealed. Too many individuals in the ghost and dark-type sectors of the labs already know about me, so it's more a question of when, not if, it will happen.
So, for as long as I can manage it, I want to enjoy the pleasure of acting like a human and being treated like one.
After typing a quick affirmative response to Oak, I shut down the computer. Then, I pick up my xtransceiver and launch the music app. Scrolling through the artists, I settle on one of my favorite bands, ImagineDragonites, and get ready to clean myself up a bit.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhSA9H9Iaqw
The speakers in my bathroom weren't of great quality. However, I still enjoyed listening to music while taking showers. Before stepping into the stall, I placed the small wristwatch-like device that controlled the music onto the sink counter. Then, I turned the water on to full blast. As the hot water poured down, I began humming along to one of my favorite songs.
~If I told you what I was, would you turn your back on me? And if I seem dangerous, would you be scared?~
As I was singing in the shower, Kirlia suddenly appeared from behind the shower curtain. He seemed anxious, even though he could still hear me he didn't like me being out of sight for too long. So, I gently picked him up and held him in my arms under the shower.
Since he was already here, I decided to clean him up as well. Using my Pokémon shampoo, I lathered us both up while singing the next verse of the song. Kirlia tried to mimic me by humming along loudly.
~ I've turned into a monster, a monster, and it keeps getting stronger. ~
~ Can I clear my conscience? If I'm different from the rest. Do I have to run and hide?~
As the melody of the song gradually faded away, I decided to cut the shower short. With an unspoken command, I direct Kirlia to telekinetically grab us two towels from the closet next to the shower while I turn the water off with a twist of the dial on the wall.
Kirlia gets excited when I mention breakfast and starts skipping around the room like an eager dog that has heard the word "treat." While Kirlia is dancing, I put on a clean ranger uniform and stand in front of the mirror.
With deceptive ease, I manipulate my image into something resembling Dustin's old look. I meticulously adjust a few features, touching things up until everything is a bit more to my liking. Dustin's receding hairline had been slowly developing into a deep widow's peak, so I evened out the hairline and lightened up his dirty blonde hair into something almost bleach blonde.
Following Richards's advice, I added an illusionary cape and scarf around my neck and back to hide my mane and chest fluff. To further enhance my disguise, I add a deep-looking scar to my neck to give the impression that my inhumanly deep voice is due to a damaged voice box.
With my temporary security badge in hand, I cautiously open the door and am surprised when Kirlia teleports above my head and lands on the back of my neck. Holding still, I let him climb on me until he was essentially hugging my head with his legs thrown over my shoulders.
With an exasperated huff, I closed our door behind us and started walking down the hall toward the first security checkpoint.
After walking for about thirty seconds, we reached the checkpoint where a security officer was stationed. The officer was stationed behind shatterproof glass in an office-like space. The officer looked confused as I scanned my badge on the terminal connected to the pneumatic doors. However, he recognized me when my profile appeared on his computer screen and granted me access through the door after a brief hesitation. I smiled at him, and Kirlia waved as I passed.
After the security checkpoint, the hallway led to a room full of maglev elevators. Unlike traditional elevators that only go up and down, these elevators can travel horizontally as well as vertically, allowing travel from any one point of the facility to any other.
The research facility was spread out in nine directions, each with multiple floors, so this transit system was essential.
After scanning my badge at the maglev terminal, I selected cafeteria 2A, where Oak was located, and gave myself another quick once-over to make sure my illusion still looked good. As soon as the doors opened to our destination, I was greeted by a vast open food court surrounding a central seating area. The sheer number of people in the cafeteria made me realize that this facility housed far more people than I initially assumed.
Upon further reflection, I concluded that the ghost/dark sector of the facility was probably understaffed for obvious reasons. Those types of Pokémon were considered the most dangerous, and it took years of certification to safely handle them. It also takes a special kind of person to willingly risk one's life to advance mankind's knowledge like that.
Eyeing up the food stands ensconced along the perimeter of the food court, I decided on a place that had a bizarre combination of fried chicken and waffles. The waffles would suit Kirlia's sweet tooth, and the fried chicken smelled fantastic to me.
After collecting my food from the counter, I realized that I had forgotten to check where Oak was supposed to meet me. My hands were full, and it would have been difficult to search for emails on my xtransceiver. I paused for a moment outside the seating area, considering my next move.
I inhaled deeply, hoping to catch a whiff of familiar scent. The first scent trail led me to Robert, an Absol trainer that I had met a few weeks ago. I tried my best to ignore his scent and continued my search. After wandering around for another five minutes, I finally caught Oak's scent and spotted him sitting at a table off to the side, away from the crowd.
He held a half-eaten breakfast sandwich in one hand, and his other hand held a mechanical pencil that smoothly glided over an ancient-looking sketchbook. The intensity of his concentration had driven away other people in the room; they likely didn't want to disturb his concentration.
Despite feeling hesitant, I take a seat opposite him. I placed Kirlia in the unoccupied chair beside me, and Oak acknowledged our arrival with a quick glance. As he saw Kirlia, Oak smiled and shut his sketchbook with a quiet rustling of yellowed pages.
Shuffling my plates so that the waffles are stacked in front of Kirlia, I start shoveling chicken wings into my hungry maw without hesitation.
"Echo, I'm happy you accepted my invitation. I understand that being around so many people might make you feel uneasy, but I want you to know that I appreciate you stepping out of your comfort zone for me," Oak says, gesturing at the food court with his half-eaten sandwich.
After swallowing the half-chewed chicken wing in my mouth, I take a moment to respond. "Professor, I am grateful for everything you have done for me. It would not be fair to decline your invitation simply because of my... social anxiety," I say while looking around to make sure no one is eavesdropping on our conversation.
"Entirely understandable. I just wanted to talk with you for a bit before your first day of guard duty." Oak says while raising his hands in quotes for the 'guard duty' part.
"I find it highly probable that you will find yourself in the role of a Pokémon handler instead of being a guard for the researchers. However, I don't imagine you would be afraid of handling ghosts now, would you?" Oak says with a knowing smile, taking a big bite of his sandwich. I nearly chuckle at the idea and lift another chicken wing to my mouth before replying.
"As long as I eat before my shifts, I don't think there will be any issues."
We sat in silence for a few minutes, eating our food. I finished my wings in less than three minutes and watched as Kirlia levitated his waffles in front of him. He had an odd habit of taking one bite of each waffle at a time, rotating them in the air after each bite, almost like a revolver's ammo chamber.
After we finished eating, Oak motioned for me to follow him to the trash area where we placed our trays on top of the stands. We then walked around the food court aimlessly, with Kirlia following along.
As we walk, Oak greets a few well-wishers before we are finally left to our own devices.
"I generally don't share these kinds of uncertainties with others, but now that the league has hired you as insurance, I can't help but worry about their plans for studying the more dangerous ghosts that they have been keeping in long-term stasis. The ghost-type Pokémon in there can be extremely hazardous, even for dark types," said Oak in a casual tone.
"I understand the risks, sir. However, I would like to continue with the course that has already been set out for me," I responded kindly, touched by his concern for me.
Looking at me with a piercing gaze, Oak sighs and continues walking around the perimeter of the food court. Eventually, we reach the area designated for the maglevs and stop before their doors. Oak was a busy person, so it was understandable that we didn't get much time to talk.
"Thanks again for taking me up on the invite. I won't be here at this facility for much longer, and it was good to talk with you one last time before I return to Kanto. You have my email and I would be delighted to hear from you again when you have the time," Oak says, proffering his hand to me for a handshake.
I delicately grab his hand in my claws and find myself grasping onto a flash drive that Oak had somehow palmed without my noticing. When our hands separate from the shake, the drive is well hidden under the cloak of my illusions.
We part ways without another word, and when the maglev doors close in front of me, I look at the flash drive with distaste.
"Really. More spy bullshit? This better not be an invitation to some world-spanning shadow government or something because if it is, I'm going to flee back into the wild the first chance I get." I wine at Kirlia, who just stares at me blankly
"Okay, maybe I'd try finding an out-of-the-way village to live in first, but you get what I mean," I explain further to Kirlia as he stops paying attention to me altogether, probably picking up that I'm really just complaining to myself.
As I return to my room, I quickly ensure that my door is locked and that my computer is disconnected from the internet. With a deep breath, I proceeded to boot the flash drive in safe mode, determined to uncover whatever Oak wanted to tell me about. My eyes are fixed on the screen, scanning it diligently for any suspicious programs that could be lurking within, just in case.
I am relieved to find an official-looking audit log that contains Oak's findings regarding the Gengar incident. As I delve deeper into the log, I come across dozens of transcripts of interviews, all of which are significant in their own right. However, there is one interview that stands out, much longer and more detailed than the others.
From the context, I can infer that Oak is speaking to the individual who attempted to access the restricted Pokémon kept within the facility's servers during the Gengar incident.
My eyes widen in shock as I come across a heavily redacted page from the Pokédex of said Pokémon. Despite the redactions, I can make out enough to understand that it contains one of the most disturbing Pokémon entries I have ever encountered.
The entry describes an artificial Pokémon that was created hundreds of years ago by somehow collecting and trapping over a hundred human souls into a single object known as a keystone. This revelation unsettles me, and I can't help but wonder what other secrets are hidden within this facility.
Historical records suggest that this soul-capturing ritual was used as a form of punishment for criminal executions. However, the result of this practice was a mass of dark and ghost energies that became self-sustaining, almost like an ethereal nuclear fission reaction.
Like all human-derived ghost Pokémon, this creature had no memories of the lives that constituted its existence. Even though its origins were horrendously gruesome, the Pokémon itself was remarkably calm for a ghost type, which is why it was transferred to Campion Cynthia's care soon after the Gengar incident.
Professor Oak's files were both intriguing and informative, but what caught my attention most was the hint he provided on why the incident occurred in the first place. It turns out that the researcher attempting to access the restricted servers was being blackmailed by none other than Team Rocket.
This researcher had been tasked with retrieving a Pokémon code-named 'The Spirit Tomb' and transferring it to a private server located somewhere on the Undernet. The Gengar had been sent deliberately to act as a cover for this agent. Further investigations by Oak revealed that Team Rocket was actively seeking out Pokémon with verifiable human origins, such as Frostlass, Yanmask, and Phantump, and was investing substantial resources towards acquiring them for some reason.
It quickly became apparent why Professor Oak had shared this information with me. As the only known Pokémon with a debatably intact human soul within them, any research being conducted by Team Rocket regarding human-based Pokémon would likely target me as well.
Upon reflecting on my situation, I realized that Team Rocket might not be aware of my existence yet, or they might not be in a position to take any action against me. However, this realization shed light on at least one of the reasons why the league was insisting that I try going incognito for as long as possible.
It was disconcerting to think that even the esteemed researchers within the league were being heavily scrutinized for any ties to Team Rocket. This implied that Rocket influence had seeped into the highest levels of the Pokémon community, which was a disheartening thought.
Although this newfound information did not change my predicament, it certainly made me more vigilant about the people I would be collaborating with in the future. Moreover, I couldn't help but wonder about the other Pokémon that the league might be keeping under wraps. The mere existence of Pokémon like Spiritomb raised the question of what other species were deemed dangerous enough to necessitate my inclusion as an additional security measure.
Shortly after Oak and Rowan left site 6, I completed all the necessary lab safety courses and read through the standard operating procedures for my new temporary job as a security consultant. Even Richard stopped by to congratulate me and give me some "advice" for the job.
He quoted a line from a kids' movie about ghosts being friends, not food - something I only half-remembered from Dustin's memory and was pretty sure was supposed to be about fish, not ghosts. I told him his joke was in terrible taste and kicked him out of my room with a smile and a shake of my head.
On my first day, Juniper emailed me with instructions for my assigned lab location and how to get there from my dorm room. I dressed up in my Ranger uniform and brought Kirlia with me in his Pokeball, and I headed to the lab in my human guise.
As I swiped the security keycard to gain access to the room, I was taken aback to find Juniper already inside, accompanied by three other individuals who were all clad in lab coats. The laboratory space before me felt eerily similar to my own high-security enclosure, but what struck me as odd was the adjacent room, typically reserved for housing Pokémon, now empty except for a bulky CRT TV. The room seemed to have been built around the outdated television set, devoid of any doors.
"Echo, it's great to see that you've arrived on time. Allow me to introduce Luna, Ontaro, and Devan. They are the core members of the ghost research division here at site 6, and you'll be collaborating with each of them closely in the coming weeks," Juniper announced as she proceeded to introduce each person by name.
I managed to respond in a somewhat rigid tone, "It's a pleasure to meet all of you. I am looking forward to working together."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Echo! We've heard some rumors about you, but we weren't sure what to believe until Juniper confirmed a few things for us," Luna the silver-haired woman says
"Ah, I see; my…condition isn't an issue with any of you, then?" I ask hesitantly
Ontaro, the man with bright orange hair, scoffs at my comment with a dismissive wave of his hand. As he approaches, he places a muscular arm around my shoulder, shattering my illusionary façade of humanity. He continues speaking without pause, "Pff, Echo, you have no idea the shit we've seen."
Devan, who had not spoken yet, sighed and ran his hand over his tired-looking eyes. He began to speak without looking at anyone in particular. "You don't even make the top ten list for the scariest things I've seen in this lab. You'll understand what I mean soon enough as Juniper here won't be starting you off with something small today."
"I apologize for springing this on you, Echo, but this project is of critical import to the league as a whole." Juniper explained. "It's the main reason I requested your temporary assignment to the security forces, in fact. I was hoping you could provide a fresh perspective on the case in addition to your ability to handle the subject directly. That is if you are willing?"
"I don't mind really. Just give me the details, and let's see what we are working with here."
During the next few minutes, I received a briefing on the test subject and the objectives set by the league. The creature in question is a Rotom, a unique electric/ghost hybrid that is particularly challenging to contain and study. Although the use of Pokeballs is theoretically possible, there is still a debate regarding whether the Pokémon can possess the Pokeball after being captured. As a result, the league has been hesitant to rely on them for long-term containment up until now.
Through careful experimentation, the league discovered that old CRT Televisions are the ideal environment to contain the Pokémon while also keeping it docile. Our current subject was discovered in an old mansion in Sinnoh and was transported to this research station inside the TV for further study.
Rotom had to be transported inter-regionally because of its unique phasing abilities granted by its hybrid ghost/electric type. Special insulation was required to contain it, which could only be obtained from the scales of the Dark/Ground type Krookodile line found natively here in the Unova region.
The TV itself isn't even allowed to be plugged into an electrical outlet; instead, it has to be powered via wireless EM transmission so that no direct electrical wiring can be used to bridge an escape route.
"Okay, wait, I'm a bit confused," I say while starting to read the threat assessment portion of the report. "The containment seems solid, but why is it classified as a grade 3 threat? Its case file doesn't even mention any injuries or fatalities associated with it."
Devan looks up from the static-filled television and begins to explain, "There are several reasons why this non-violent ghost is considered to be more dangerous than others. Firstly, it can move through electrical lines and take control of anything with an electrical motor."
Coming to a realization, I interrupt Devan to exclaim, "Wait, is that why it's called Rotom!? It's just Motor spelled backward? Who names these things?" I ask incredulously
Devan continues his speech with a hint of annoyance, avoiding eye contact. "Secondly, Rotom can sustain itself by feeding off electricity or the life force of psychics, which, as it happens, includes most of humanity, regardless of our proficiency in aura manipulation."
Before Devan could finish listing his points, Luna interjected with her own, "Third and most importantly, it reproduces through mitotic division, which means there is no incubation time for eggs to hatch. This makes it capable of explosive exponential growth given the right environmental factors."
While contemplating the unique biology of Rotom, I realized how dangerous its reproductive cycle could be. According to its description, Rotom needs an airtight vacuum and electrical current to reproduce, an environment like the inside of the old TV's Cathode Ray tubes. It's a good thing that this is the case, as such a specific reproductive necessity has thus far prevented mass outbreaks of these little electrical ghosts.
It's no surprise that the league has classified Rotom so high on the threat scale. However, I can't help but wonder if the threat rating is still a bit inflated, considering Rotom's nature seems to be inherently benign.
Although, if Rotom were to be accidentally released, containing it would be a major challenge. All net and electrical grid connections to any area with an infestation would serve as potential vectors for the creature to spread uncontrollably across the world. Moreover, any vehicle used to transport rangers to capture the Rotom would become a host device for the creature to possess and escape with.
"I see why the threat rating is so high now. So, what does the league want us to do with it?" I ask wearily.
Devan whispers his reply in a monotone voice, "The league wants us to mass produce it."
I look at him strangely, trying to figure out if he's joking or not, but find the other researchers deathly serious.
"Okaaay, if it's such a potentially dangerous species, why would the league want more of these things around?" I ask slowly.
With a fervent passion, Juniper elaborates on the benefits of having a Rotom, emphasizing the most compelling one. According to her, Rotoms possess the ability to 'digest' psychic energy and transform it into powerful electrical currents. This remarkable capability means that with a Rotom bonded to them, a human could potentially power a wide range of appliances and even low-powered vehicles.
What's more, the cost of using Rotom's as an energy source are relatively minimal, requiring only a bit of psychic energy that most humans cannot meaningfully access anyway. For the average person, their latent psychic energy is useless to them, but with a Rotom, that energy could be used to generate electricity. Juniper further supports her explanation by presenting some diagnostic pictures and opening a map of Galar.
"Regions like Galar that are facing huge energy crises are desperate for clean energy solutions, and Rotom's seem to be the golden gun we've been looking for. There would be no need to import vast quantities of solid fuels like coal or oil over dangerous open oceans because we can send Rotoms through the net. So long as we can properly domesticate the species and find a way to reliably instigate miotic division on demand, the league is confident in implementing Rotom-powered technologies within the next decade." Juniper energetically exclaims
"Holy shit, alright. I can see why the league wants this Pokémon so badly. It would be a game-changer for sure." I say, then take a few more minutes to properly re-read through the Rotoms profile.
"Okay, I see that you've managed to create two other Rotom so far, now housed at site three and site one… huh, it looks like you had success confirming the conditions needed to allow for miotic division, so what's stopping you from just continuing?" I ask, trying to make heads or tails of the complex electrical formulas attached to the Rotoms file.
"The problem is that recently whenever we try to bud off a new Rotom, the electrical charges that we inject into the enclosure have been just disappearing. Despite injecting a considerable amount of electricity, we haven't been able to create any new Rotom. We stopped further testing when our health and safety Contractor's Absol started refusing to enter this room anymore," explains Ontaro with a sigh.
"Okay, ya, that's never a good sign. I suppose the worst-case scenario would be that there are a large number of Rotom somehow hiding in the enclosure, right? I see from your scans that you can only detect one Rotom within the TV, and you've previously confirmed that more than one Rotom cannot possess the same device too. So, what does that leave?" I say, walking over to the Faraday caged enclosure window and gazing into the Rotom's room, trying to spot any hidden electrical ghosts.
The room was eerily bare as if it had been stripped of everything except for the flickering TV. The TV cast an ominous light on the otherwise dark room, making me feel uneasy. I wondered if I could find any clues if I went inside and took a closer look.
As I approached, I noticed an insulated passthrough that was wall-mounted in the corner of the observation window. It seemed like I could pass my Pokeball through it.
Juniper noticed me looking at her speculatively as I pulled out my Pokeball from the chain around my neck. Before I could say anything, she quickly typed in a request on her tablet to get some mareep wool from storage to be used as protective gear for me.
We quickly came up with a plan, and within a couple of hours, I found myself getting dressed to enter the Rotom enclosure. My heart thunders in my ears, and despite having no sweat glands, I feel the phantom desire to wipe the sweat away from my forehead, likely some kind of lingering human muscle memory from Dustin.
Taking my Pokeball off the magnetic chain around my neck, I hand it to Devan, who places it into the wall-mounted passthrough. The passthrough looks like a small glass box, and I am grateful that I am not claustrophobic. Otherwise, going back into my Pokeball and being pushed through this glorified mailbox would be more distressing than it already is.
After some fiddling, a timed recall function was set up on my Pokeball. I then wrapped myself up in the mareep wool insulation and prepared myself for the unpleasant experience of being shoved back into my Pokeball. As I waited, a beam of red energy inevitably struck me, and the world around me flickered and transformed into blue smokey fire again. The sensation was familiar now, so I felt more in control this time.
I allowed the feeling to wash over me as the research team remotely opened the other side of the passthrough facing the Rotom enclosure. As the passthrough door opened, I summoned my aura to push open my Pokeball and found myself standing inside the enclosure. The air was thick with the sweet, smokey scent of ghost-type aura, which was surprisingly pleasant. I couldn't help but take a deep breath and enjoy the aroma, even though I knew I had to maintain my composure in front of the researchers.
As I took a step towards the TV, I felt a sudden burst of electricity shoot out of the screen. The electricity zipped around the room wildly, creating a dazzling display of light and sound.
The Rotom moves with lightning speed, its small body banging against the insulated walls like a frantic hummingbird desperately trying to escape. Its quick, jerky motions awaken something primal within me, a predator instinct that reminds me of a cat chasing a laser pointer.
The Rotom's panicky attempts to find an exit paradoxically draw it closer to me. Suddenly, as it darts too close to my head, I instinctively snap my jaws around it. The electric discharge from the Rotom is like pop rock candy on my tongue, a mix of electricity and ghost energy that sends a shiver down my spine.
Although I have enough self-control not to hurt it, I still feel guilty as I drop the traumatized, disoriented, and drool-coated Rotom onto my open claw. Surprisingly, the little lightbulb-like Pokémon doesn't immediately run away. Instead, it stares at me with confusion, as if asking itself, 'How/why am I not dead right now?'
As I try to release the Rotom from my grasp, it jumps back onto my palm as if it expected my claws to be the only safe haven in the room. I look back at the researchers and find them all tensely watching my actions. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and I can feel their eyes judging my every move.
It's not a great look for me, considering I almost ate the lab specimen, but there isn't much I can do about it now. I'm just glad Richard wasn't here to see this. For the time being, I allow the Rotom to remain where it is and proceed to investigate its enclosure.
Upon approaching the walls, something strange occurs with the Rotom in my hand. I can feel its tiny body being repulsed from the walls, almost like similarly charged magnets. The sensation is both eerie and fascinating, and I can't help but feel a sense of wonder at this strange phenomenon.
There is no rhyme or reason to it, though. No specific spot seems to induce the effect, and the repulsive force seems to come and go at random intervals, leaving me both bewildered and intrigued.
As I inspected the walls, a nagging suspicion lingered at the back of my mind. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. I probed the walls with my sharp claws and discovered an air gap between two layers of the Krookodile insulation. The gap was relatively thick, and I estimated it to be around 3 to 5 inches. Such a space was ample enough to accommodate juvenile Rotom.
I shared my concerns with Juniper and requested her permission to make a small hole in the wall. I explained that there might be Rotom stuck inside the walls. Juniper provided me with a tube of insulation glue through the passthrough to fix any holes I created after my investigation.
With a quick jab of my free claw into the wall, my suspicion was confirmed. A small juvenile Rotom emerged from the hole and started zipping around the room. The Rotom in my hand seemed agitated by the newcomer, and I suspected that the main Rotom probably had found a way to dump its duplicates inside the walls somehow.
Did the Rotom realize it was receiving more food and electricity once it started dumping its offspring in the walls?
Regardless, my task now was to extract the remaining Rotom's without damaging the inner wall too much. It was a delicate operation, and I knew I had to be careful.
After a few minutes of debating what to do next, the researchers and I decided that I would make a second hole on the opposite side of the room and use low-powered dark pulses to flush the Rotoms out. We would then use lab-registered Pokeballs to collect the hoard.
The plan worked well, but we underestimated the number of Rotoms that had been produced. The Rotoms flooded into the enclosure like a swarm of bright, angry bees. Hundreds of little shocks peppered me on all sides, and if it weren't for my insulating clothes, I'd likely be paralyzed and helpless by now. The researchers began to panic as the swarm swirled and discharged thousands of volts into the area, roughly frying the old TV in the process.
As the swarm of Rotom attacks me with little electric shocks, I don't give in to panic. Instead, my anger grows exponentially with every bite of electricity that pierces through my body. My frustration reaches its peak, and I let out a menacing growl that echoes throughout the room. Suddenly, the space is flooded with an outpouring of liquid-like dark energy-infused illusion that engulfs everything in its path.
The power of my attack is so strong that the walls vibrate with its force, creating a ripple effect that reverberates throughout the room. The Rotom, once so confident and aggressive, are now immobilized midair in fear and pain. Their ethereal bodies sustaining damage only when they try to move in the dark energy-saturated air.
Panting with the effort of sustaining my immobilizing attack, I turn to face the stunned researchers.
"Well?! Start putting Pokeballs through the Passthrough already; I can't hold this forever!" I bark commandingly at them.
With a newfound sense of urgency, they frantically grabbed Pokeballs one after the other and shoved them through the passthrough until I had enough to capture all the suspended Rotom. Finally, I breathed a sigh of relief as I successfully caught them all. Turning to face the researchers, I flashed them a toothy grin.
"Well, that was quite an eventful first day on the job. What do you have for me next?"
AN:
Fun Fact- Did you know there is a Talking Zoroark NPC in Pokémon Black and white 2? He gives you the TM for Snarl and was a bit of inspiration for this story.
The Main inspiration for the story, however, was due to listening to the Imagine Dragons Song 'Monster,' so I felt the need to add it here somewhere. After all, 85% of this fic is to entertain myself, so why not, right?
Please feel free to comment and review at your leisure; I appreciate all those who have done so thus far.
-Kurt Vonnegut, Mother Night
As I slowly awaken from my slumber, a sudden chill and dampness on my face causes me to let out a tired groan. Opening my bleary eyes, I see a view full of white and green.
Using careful, deliberate movements, sharp-clawed hands remove Kirlia from my forehead; he had wrapped himself around my head like a cat with separation anxiety. Warmth emanates from his body, contrasting with the chilly air surrounding us.
Becoming more conscious, an unexpected sight catches my eye- a damp patch on my pillowcases. Curiosity piqued, I lean in and take a cautious sniff, but there isn't any discernible scent. Sitting up, I feel something wet on my face, and upon closer inspection, I realize it's a thin layer of drool.
Shaking my head in disbelief I try to recall the fragments of my dream. It's like a fading lightbulb flickering in my mind, but eventually, a memory resurfaces - chasing an Abra in my dream. Without a second thought, I pick up my Kirlia under his armpits and extend my arms away from me.
"Damn it, Kirlia," I halfheartedly whisper yell at him, feeling a mixture of annoyance and affection for my psychic Partner.
"I'm going to have to buy some cologne or something to mask your scent. You smell too much like food to me. And you just had to wrap yourself around my head last night, didn't you!" I complain to the half-asleep Kirlia.
Drowsily, one eye blinks, followed by the other, before he yawns and falls asleep right there in my arms, his head lolling to one side. All of my mock anger disappears into mist on the wind. There really is no point in being angry at Kirlia. He couldn't have known any better, and with his refusal to sleep in his Pokeball, I should have predicted something like this would happen.
With a heavy sigh, I slowly swing my legs out from under the warm blankets. I can feel the tension in my back as I twist around and eventually manage to release a satisfying crack from my spine before finally standing up, still holding Kirlia in my arms.
After a brief moment of contemplation, I decide to let my companion sleep in and carefully wrap him up in the soft comforter like a little green-haired burrito.
As I look at the adorable sight before me, a smile forms on my lips. I gingerly remove the soiled covers from the pillows, being extra cautious with my unwieldy claws so as not to cause any damage to the soft fabrics.
Frustration builds up inside me at the slow pace I have to take, and in a moment of carelessness, an uncovered pillow slips from my grip and lands on Kirlia's head. I stifle a laugh, but instead of waking up, my companion hugs the pillow and turns away from me with a grumble. My laughter only makes him grumble louder, so I try to be as quiet as possible and not to annoy him further.
I then gathered all the pillow covers into my arms and threw them down the convenient laundry chute attached to my bathroom nook. I hoped that the cleaning crew would return the sheets to me by the end of the day.
As I approached my workstation, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. The sturdy wooden desk and the custom-built laptop on it were familiar and comforting. I glided effortlessly into the plain roller chair in front of it and pressed the power button, waiting patiently for the device to power on.
In the dark reflection before the screen booted up, I noticed the mess of my half-dried fur. I made a mental note to clean up after I finished journaling my morning thoughts. I couldn't help but chuckle at myself as I noticed how bedraggled I looked.
I seemed to have taken bedhead to a level hither since unimagined by the feeble minds of mankind.
Resting my head on one paw, I watched as the computer's Bios information appeared on the screen, illuminating the previously dark room. Upon bootup, I noticed that I had left an online 'lab readiness' training module open. I quickly closed the program, realizing that shutting the computer down hadn't automatically closed those programs out.
As I sit at the desktop computer, I can't help but notice how different it feels from the computers Dustin used to use. The keys are reinforced with steel, and they click softly under my claws as I type. I suspect that these computers also run custom software designed to prevent accidental data loss, which is why those programs didn't close when I shut the computer down last. But I don't let that distract me from my task. I open the digital journal program and begin typing down my thoughts.
I reflect on how my hunting instincts seem to be surfacing in my sleep, and I consider how I can mitigate the side effects in the future.
After meeting my daily journal quota, I switch over to my foxfire browser to check my messages. To my surprise, I see an invitation from Professor Oak to have breakfast in one of the main cafeterias on base. I eagerly accept the invitation, looking forward to catching up with the professor over a meal.
I've thus far managed to avoid large public spaces like the cafeterias, but I really did not want to decline this invitation from Oak. I owed him a lot already, and most of my aversion to places like the cafeteria stemmed from the fact that half of the people there didn't know what I was.
The higher-ups of the league have insisted that I create a human disguise to blend in with the facility staff. This has left me in a dilemma.
It's still bizarre to me that I, a literal man-eating monster, am allowed to walk amongst the staff without everyone knowing what I am. While I appreciate the opportunity to socialize, my illusionary abilities should pose some kind of security threat, right?
I want to be honest with those I interact with, but at the same time, the idea of pretending to be a human is exciting to me. The act of mimicry satisfies me on an instinctual level. However, sooner or later, I know my true identity will be revealed. Too many individuals in the ghost and dark-type sectors of the labs already know about me, so it's more a question of when, not if, it will happen.
So, for as long as I can manage it, I want to enjoy the pleasure of acting like a human and being treated like one.
After typing a quick affirmative response to Oak, I shut down the computer. Then, I pick up my xtransceiver and launch the music app. Scrolling through the artists, I settle on one of my favorite bands, ImagineDragonites, and get ready to clean myself up a bit.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhSA9H9Iaqw
The speakers in my bathroom weren't of great quality. However, I still enjoyed listening to music while taking showers. Before stepping into the stall, I placed the small wristwatch-like device that controlled the music onto the sink counter. Then, I turned the water on to full blast. As the hot water poured down, I began humming along to one of my favorite songs.
~If I told you what I was, would you turn your back on me? And if I seem dangerous, would you be scared?~
As I was singing in the shower, Kirlia suddenly appeared from behind the shower curtain. He seemed anxious, even though he could still hear me he didn't like me being out of sight for too long. So, I gently picked him up and held him in my arms under the shower.
Since he was already here, I decided to clean him up as well. Using my Pokémon shampoo, I lathered us both up while singing the next verse of the song. Kirlia tried to mimic me by humming along loudly.
~ I've turned into a monster, a monster, and it keeps getting stronger. ~
~ Can I clear my conscience? If I'm different from the rest. Do I have to run and hide?~
As the melody of the song gradually faded away, I decided to cut the shower short. With an unspoken command, I direct Kirlia to telekinetically grab us two towels from the closet next to the shower while I turn the water off with a twist of the dial on the wall.
Kirlia gets excited when I mention breakfast and starts skipping around the room like an eager dog that has heard the word "treat." While Kirlia is dancing, I put on a clean ranger uniform and stand in front of the mirror.
With deceptive ease, I manipulate my image into something resembling Dustin's old look. I meticulously adjust a few features, touching things up until everything is a bit more to my liking. Dustin's receding hairline had been slowly developing into a deep widow's peak, so I evened out the hairline and lightened up his dirty blonde hair into something almost bleach blonde.
Following Richards's advice, I added an illusionary cape and scarf around my neck and back to hide my mane and chest fluff. To further enhance my disguise, I add a deep-looking scar to my neck to give the impression that my inhumanly deep voice is due to a damaged voice box.
With my temporary security badge in hand, I cautiously open the door and am surprised when Kirlia teleports above my head and lands on the back of my neck. Holding still, I let him climb on me until he was essentially hugging my head with his legs thrown over my shoulders.
With an exasperated huff, I closed our door behind us and started walking down the hall toward the first security checkpoint.
After walking for about thirty seconds, we reached the checkpoint where a security officer was stationed. The officer was stationed behind shatterproof glass in an office-like space. The officer looked confused as I scanned my badge on the terminal connected to the pneumatic doors. However, he recognized me when my profile appeared on his computer screen and granted me access through the door after a brief hesitation. I smiled at him, and Kirlia waved as I passed.
After the security checkpoint, the hallway led to a room full of maglev elevators. Unlike traditional elevators that only go up and down, these elevators can travel horizontally as well as vertically, allowing travel from any one point of the facility to any other.
The research facility was spread out in nine directions, each with multiple floors, so this transit system was essential.
After scanning my badge at the maglev terminal, I selected cafeteria 2A, where Oak was located, and gave myself another quick once-over to make sure my illusion still looked good. As soon as the doors opened to our destination, I was greeted by a vast open food court surrounding a central seating area. The sheer number of people in the cafeteria made me realize that this facility housed far more people than I initially assumed.
Upon further reflection, I concluded that the ghost/dark sector of the facility was probably understaffed for obvious reasons. Those types of Pokémon were considered the most dangerous, and it took years of certification to safely handle them. It also takes a special kind of person to willingly risk one's life to advance mankind's knowledge like that.
Eyeing up the food stands ensconced along the perimeter of the food court, I decided on a place that had a bizarre combination of fried chicken and waffles. The waffles would suit Kirlia's sweet tooth, and the fried chicken smelled fantastic to me.
After collecting my food from the counter, I realized that I had forgotten to check where Oak was supposed to meet me. My hands were full, and it would have been difficult to search for emails on my xtransceiver. I paused for a moment outside the seating area, considering my next move.
I inhaled deeply, hoping to catch a whiff of familiar scent. The first scent trail led me to Robert, an Absol trainer that I had met a few weeks ago. I tried my best to ignore his scent and continued my search. After wandering around for another five minutes, I finally caught Oak's scent and spotted him sitting at a table off to the side, away from the crowd.
He held a half-eaten breakfast sandwich in one hand, and his other hand held a mechanical pencil that smoothly glided over an ancient-looking sketchbook. The intensity of his concentration had driven away other people in the room; they likely didn't want to disturb his concentration.
Despite feeling hesitant, I take a seat opposite him. I placed Kirlia in the unoccupied chair beside me, and Oak acknowledged our arrival with a quick glance. As he saw Kirlia, Oak smiled and shut his sketchbook with a quiet rustling of yellowed pages.
Shuffling my plates so that the waffles are stacked in front of Kirlia, I start shoveling chicken wings into my hungry maw without hesitation.
"Echo, I'm happy you accepted my invitation. I understand that being around so many people might make you feel uneasy, but I want you to know that I appreciate you stepping out of your comfort zone for me," Oak says, gesturing at the food court with his half-eaten sandwich.
After swallowing the half-chewed chicken wing in my mouth, I take a moment to respond. "Professor, I am grateful for everything you have done for me. It would not be fair to decline your invitation simply because of my... social anxiety," I say while looking around to make sure no one is eavesdropping on our conversation.
"Entirely understandable. I just wanted to talk with you for a bit before your first day of guard duty." Oak says while raising his hands in quotes for the 'guard duty' part.
"I find it highly probable that you will find yourself in the role of a Pokémon handler instead of being a guard for the researchers. However, I don't imagine you would be afraid of handling ghosts now, would you?" Oak says with a knowing smile, taking a big bite of his sandwich. I nearly chuckle at the idea and lift another chicken wing to my mouth before replying.
"As long as I eat before my shifts, I don't think there will be any issues."
We sat in silence for a few minutes, eating our food. I finished my wings in less than three minutes and watched as Kirlia levitated his waffles in front of him. He had an odd habit of taking one bite of each waffle at a time, rotating them in the air after each bite, almost like a revolver's ammo chamber.
After we finished eating, Oak motioned for me to follow him to the trash area where we placed our trays on top of the stands. We then walked around the food court aimlessly, with Kirlia following along.
As we walk, Oak greets a few well-wishers before we are finally left to our own devices.
"I generally don't share these kinds of uncertainties with others, but now that the league has hired you as insurance, I can't help but worry about their plans for studying the more dangerous ghosts that they have been keeping in long-term stasis. The ghost-type Pokémon in there can be extremely hazardous, even for dark types," said Oak in a casual tone.
"I understand the risks, sir. However, I would like to continue with the course that has already been set out for me," I responded kindly, touched by his concern for me.
Looking at me with a piercing gaze, Oak sighs and continues walking around the perimeter of the food court. Eventually, we reach the area designated for the maglevs and stop before their doors. Oak was a busy person, so it was understandable that we didn't get much time to talk.
"Thanks again for taking me up on the invite. I won't be here at this facility for much longer, and it was good to talk with you one last time before I return to Kanto. You have my email and I would be delighted to hear from you again when you have the time," Oak says, proffering his hand to me for a handshake.
I delicately grab his hand in my claws and find myself grasping onto a flash drive that Oak had somehow palmed without my noticing. When our hands separate from the shake, the drive is well hidden under the cloak of my illusions.
We part ways without another word, and when the maglev doors close in front of me, I look at the flash drive with distaste.
"Really. More spy bullshit? This better not be an invitation to some world-spanning shadow government or something because if it is, I'm going to flee back into the wild the first chance I get." I wine at Kirlia, who just stares at me blankly
"Okay, maybe I'd try finding an out-of-the-way village to live in first, but you get what I mean," I explain further to Kirlia as he stops paying attention to me altogether, probably picking up that I'm really just complaining to myself.
As I return to my room, I quickly ensure that my door is locked and that my computer is disconnected from the internet. With a deep breath, I proceeded to boot the flash drive in safe mode, determined to uncover whatever Oak wanted to tell me about. My eyes are fixed on the screen, scanning it diligently for any suspicious programs that could be lurking within, just in case.
I am relieved to find an official-looking audit log that contains Oak's findings regarding the Gengar incident. As I delve deeper into the log, I come across dozens of transcripts of interviews, all of which are significant in their own right. However, there is one interview that stands out, much longer and more detailed than the others.
From the context, I can infer that Oak is speaking to the individual who attempted to access the restricted Pokémon kept within the facility's servers during the Gengar incident.
My eyes widen in shock as I come across a heavily redacted page from the Pokédex of said Pokémon. Despite the redactions, I can make out enough to understand that it contains one of the most disturbing Pokémon entries I have ever encountered.
The entry describes an artificial Pokémon that was created hundreds of years ago by somehow collecting and trapping over a hundred human souls into a single object known as a keystone. This revelation unsettles me, and I can't help but wonder what other secrets are hidden within this facility.
Historical records suggest that this soul-capturing ritual was used as a form of punishment for criminal executions. However, the result of this practice was a mass of dark and ghost energies that became self-sustaining, almost like an ethereal nuclear fission reaction.
Like all human-derived ghost Pokémon, this creature had no memories of the lives that constituted its existence. Even though its origins were horrendously gruesome, the Pokémon itself was remarkably calm for a ghost type, which is why it was transferred to Campion Cynthia's care soon after the Gengar incident.
Professor Oak's files were both intriguing and informative, but what caught my attention most was the hint he provided on why the incident occurred in the first place. It turns out that the researcher attempting to access the restricted servers was being blackmailed by none other than Team Rocket.
This researcher had been tasked with retrieving a Pokémon code-named 'The Spirit Tomb' and transferring it to a private server located somewhere on the Undernet. The Gengar had been sent deliberately to act as a cover for this agent. Further investigations by Oak revealed that Team Rocket was actively seeking out Pokémon with verifiable human origins, such as Frostlass, Yanmask, and Phantump, and was investing substantial resources towards acquiring them for some reason.
It quickly became apparent why Professor Oak had shared this information with me. As the only known Pokémon with a debatably intact human soul within them, any research being conducted by Team Rocket regarding human-based Pokémon would likely target me as well.
Upon reflecting on my situation, I realized that Team Rocket might not be aware of my existence yet, or they might not be in a position to take any action against me. However, this realization shed light on at least one of the reasons why the league was insisting that I try going incognito for as long as possible.
It was disconcerting to think that even the esteemed researchers within the league were being heavily scrutinized for any ties to Team Rocket. This implied that Rocket influence had seeped into the highest levels of the Pokémon community, which was a disheartening thought.
Although this newfound information did not change my predicament, it certainly made me more vigilant about the people I would be collaborating with in the future. Moreover, I couldn't help but wonder about the other Pokémon that the league might be keeping under wraps. The mere existence of Pokémon like Spiritomb raised the question of what other species were deemed dangerous enough to necessitate my inclusion as an additional security measure.
Shortly after Oak and Rowan left site 6, I completed all the necessary lab safety courses and read through the standard operating procedures for my new temporary job as a security consultant. Even Richard stopped by to congratulate me and give me some "advice" for the job.
He quoted a line from a kids' movie about ghosts being friends, not food - something I only half-remembered from Dustin's memory and was pretty sure was supposed to be about fish, not ghosts. I told him his joke was in terrible taste and kicked him out of my room with a smile and a shake of my head.
On my first day, Juniper emailed me with instructions for my assigned lab location and how to get there from my dorm room. I dressed up in my Ranger uniform and brought Kirlia with me in his Pokeball, and I headed to the lab in my human guise.
As I swiped the security keycard to gain access to the room, I was taken aback to find Juniper already inside, accompanied by three other individuals who were all clad in lab coats. The laboratory space before me felt eerily similar to my own high-security enclosure, but what struck me as odd was the adjacent room, typically reserved for housing Pokémon, now empty except for a bulky CRT TV. The room seemed to have been built around the outdated television set, devoid of any doors.
"Echo, it's great to see that you've arrived on time. Allow me to introduce Luna, Ontaro, and Devan. They are the core members of the ghost research division here at site 6, and you'll be collaborating with each of them closely in the coming weeks," Juniper announced as she proceeded to introduce each person by name.
I managed to respond in a somewhat rigid tone, "It's a pleasure to meet all of you. I am looking forward to working together."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Echo! We've heard some rumors about you, but we weren't sure what to believe until Juniper confirmed a few things for us," Luna the silver-haired woman says
"Ah, I see; my…condition isn't an issue with any of you, then?" I ask hesitantly
Ontaro, the man with bright orange hair, scoffs at my comment with a dismissive wave of his hand. As he approaches, he places a muscular arm around my shoulder, shattering my illusionary façade of humanity. He continues speaking without pause, "Pff, Echo, you have no idea the shit we've seen."
Devan, who had not spoken yet, sighed and ran his hand over his tired-looking eyes. He began to speak without looking at anyone in particular. "You don't even make the top ten list for the scariest things I've seen in this lab. You'll understand what I mean soon enough as Juniper here won't be starting you off with something small today."
"I apologize for springing this on you, Echo, but this project is of critical import to the league as a whole." Juniper explained. "It's the main reason I requested your temporary assignment to the security forces, in fact. I was hoping you could provide a fresh perspective on the case in addition to your ability to handle the subject directly. That is if you are willing?"
"I don't mind really. Just give me the details, and let's see what we are working with here."
During the next few minutes, I received a briefing on the test subject and the objectives set by the league. The creature in question is a Rotom, a unique electric/ghost hybrid that is particularly challenging to contain and study. Although the use of Pokeballs is theoretically possible, there is still a debate regarding whether the Pokémon can possess the Pokeball after being captured. As a result, the league has been hesitant to rely on them for long-term containment up until now.
Through careful experimentation, the league discovered that old CRT Televisions are the ideal environment to contain the Pokémon while also keeping it docile. Our current subject was discovered in an old mansion in Sinnoh and was transported to this research station inside the TV for further study.
Rotom had to be transported inter-regionally because of its unique phasing abilities granted by its hybrid ghost/electric type. Special insulation was required to contain it, which could only be obtained from the scales of the Dark/Ground type Krookodile line found natively here in the Unova region.
The TV itself isn't even allowed to be plugged into an electrical outlet; instead, it has to be powered via wireless EM transmission so that no direct electrical wiring can be used to bridge an escape route.
"Okay, wait, I'm a bit confused," I say while starting to read the threat assessment portion of the report. "The containment seems solid, but why is it classified as a grade 3 threat? Its case file doesn't even mention any injuries or fatalities associated with it."
Devan looks up from the static-filled television and begins to explain, "There are several reasons why this non-violent ghost is considered to be more dangerous than others. Firstly, it can move through electrical lines and take control of anything with an electrical motor."
Coming to a realization, I interrupt Devan to exclaim, "Wait, is that why it's called Rotom!? It's just Motor spelled backward? Who names these things?" I ask incredulously
Devan continues his speech with a hint of annoyance, avoiding eye contact. "Secondly, Rotom can sustain itself by feeding off electricity or the life force of psychics, which, as it happens, includes most of humanity, regardless of our proficiency in aura manipulation."
Before Devan could finish listing his points, Luna interjected with her own, "Third and most importantly, it reproduces through mitotic division, which means there is no incubation time for eggs to hatch. This makes it capable of explosive exponential growth given the right environmental factors."
While contemplating the unique biology of Rotom, I realized how dangerous its reproductive cycle could be. According to its description, Rotom needs an airtight vacuum and electrical current to reproduce, an environment like the inside of the old TV's Cathode Ray tubes. It's a good thing that this is the case, as such a specific reproductive necessity has thus far prevented mass outbreaks of these little electrical ghosts.
It's no surprise that the league has classified Rotom so high on the threat scale. However, I can't help but wonder if the threat rating is still a bit inflated, considering Rotom's nature seems to be inherently benign.
Although, if Rotom were to be accidentally released, containing it would be a major challenge. All net and electrical grid connections to any area with an infestation would serve as potential vectors for the creature to spread uncontrollably across the world. Moreover, any vehicle used to transport rangers to capture the Rotom would become a host device for the creature to possess and escape with.
"I see why the threat rating is so high now. So, what does the league want us to do with it?" I ask wearily.
Devan whispers his reply in a monotone voice, "The league wants us to mass produce it."
I look at him strangely, trying to figure out if he's joking or not, but find the other researchers deathly serious.
"Okaaay, if it's such a potentially dangerous species, why would the league want more of these things around?" I ask slowly.
With a fervent passion, Juniper elaborates on the benefits of having a Rotom, emphasizing the most compelling one. According to her, Rotoms possess the ability to 'digest' psychic energy and transform it into powerful electrical currents. This remarkable capability means that with a Rotom bonded to them, a human could potentially power a wide range of appliances and even low-powered vehicles.
What's more, the cost of using Rotom's as an energy source are relatively minimal, requiring only a bit of psychic energy that most humans cannot meaningfully access anyway. For the average person, their latent psychic energy is useless to them, but with a Rotom, that energy could be used to generate electricity. Juniper further supports her explanation by presenting some diagnostic pictures and opening a map of Galar.
"Regions like Galar that are facing huge energy crises are desperate for clean energy solutions, and Rotom's seem to be the golden gun we've been looking for. There would be no need to import vast quantities of solid fuels like coal or oil over dangerous open oceans because we can send Rotoms through the net. So long as we can properly domesticate the species and find a way to reliably instigate miotic division on demand, the league is confident in implementing Rotom-powered technologies within the next decade." Juniper energetically exclaims
"Holy shit, alright. I can see why the league wants this Pokémon so badly. It would be a game-changer for sure." I say, then take a few more minutes to properly re-read through the Rotoms profile.
"Okay, I see that you've managed to create two other Rotom so far, now housed at site three and site one… huh, it looks like you had success confirming the conditions needed to allow for miotic division, so what's stopping you from just continuing?" I ask, trying to make heads or tails of the complex electrical formulas attached to the Rotoms file.
"The problem is that recently whenever we try to bud off a new Rotom, the electrical charges that we inject into the enclosure have been just disappearing. Despite injecting a considerable amount of electricity, we haven't been able to create any new Rotom. We stopped further testing when our health and safety Contractor's Absol started refusing to enter this room anymore," explains Ontaro with a sigh.
"Okay, ya, that's never a good sign. I suppose the worst-case scenario would be that there are a large number of Rotom somehow hiding in the enclosure, right? I see from your scans that you can only detect one Rotom within the TV, and you've previously confirmed that more than one Rotom cannot possess the same device too. So, what does that leave?" I say, walking over to the Faraday caged enclosure window and gazing into the Rotom's room, trying to spot any hidden electrical ghosts.
The room was eerily bare as if it had been stripped of everything except for the flickering TV. The TV cast an ominous light on the otherwise dark room, making me feel uneasy. I wondered if I could find any clues if I went inside and took a closer look.
As I approached, I noticed an insulated passthrough that was wall-mounted in the corner of the observation window. It seemed like I could pass my Pokeball through it.
Juniper noticed me looking at her speculatively as I pulled out my Pokeball from the chain around my neck. Before I could say anything, she quickly typed in a request on her tablet to get some mareep wool from storage to be used as protective gear for me.
We quickly came up with a plan, and within a couple of hours, I found myself getting dressed to enter the Rotom enclosure. My heart thunders in my ears, and despite having no sweat glands, I feel the phantom desire to wipe the sweat away from my forehead, likely some kind of lingering human muscle memory from Dustin.
Taking my Pokeball off the magnetic chain around my neck, I hand it to Devan, who places it into the wall-mounted passthrough. The passthrough looks like a small glass box, and I am grateful that I am not claustrophobic. Otherwise, going back into my Pokeball and being pushed through this glorified mailbox would be more distressing than it already is.
After some fiddling, a timed recall function was set up on my Pokeball. I then wrapped myself up in the mareep wool insulation and prepared myself for the unpleasant experience of being shoved back into my Pokeball. As I waited, a beam of red energy inevitably struck me, and the world around me flickered and transformed into blue smokey fire again. The sensation was familiar now, so I felt more in control this time.
I allowed the feeling to wash over me as the research team remotely opened the other side of the passthrough facing the Rotom enclosure. As the passthrough door opened, I summoned my aura to push open my Pokeball and found myself standing inside the enclosure. The air was thick with the sweet, smokey scent of ghost-type aura, which was surprisingly pleasant. I couldn't help but take a deep breath and enjoy the aroma, even though I knew I had to maintain my composure in front of the researchers.
As I took a step towards the TV, I felt a sudden burst of electricity shoot out of the screen. The electricity zipped around the room wildly, creating a dazzling display of light and sound.
The Rotom moves with lightning speed, its small body banging against the insulated walls like a frantic hummingbird desperately trying to escape. Its quick, jerky motions awaken something primal within me, a predator instinct that reminds me of a cat chasing a laser pointer.
The Rotom's panicky attempts to find an exit paradoxically draw it closer to me. Suddenly, as it darts too close to my head, I instinctively snap my jaws around it. The electric discharge from the Rotom is like pop rock candy on my tongue, a mix of electricity and ghost energy that sends a shiver down my spine.
Although I have enough self-control not to hurt it, I still feel guilty as I drop the traumatized, disoriented, and drool-coated Rotom onto my open claw. Surprisingly, the little lightbulb-like Pokémon doesn't immediately run away. Instead, it stares at me with confusion, as if asking itself, 'How/why am I not dead right now?'
As I try to release the Rotom from my grasp, it jumps back onto my palm as if it expected my claws to be the only safe haven in the room. I look back at the researchers and find them all tensely watching my actions. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and I can feel their eyes judging my every move.
It's not a great look for me, considering I almost ate the lab specimen, but there isn't much I can do about it now. I'm just glad Richard wasn't here to see this. For the time being, I allow the Rotom to remain where it is and proceed to investigate its enclosure.
Upon approaching the walls, something strange occurs with the Rotom in my hand. I can feel its tiny body being repulsed from the walls, almost like similarly charged magnets. The sensation is both eerie and fascinating, and I can't help but feel a sense of wonder at this strange phenomenon.
There is no rhyme or reason to it, though. No specific spot seems to induce the effect, and the repulsive force seems to come and go at random intervals, leaving me both bewildered and intrigued.
As I inspected the walls, a nagging suspicion lingered at the back of my mind. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. I probed the walls with my sharp claws and discovered an air gap between two layers of the Krookodile insulation. The gap was relatively thick, and I estimated it to be around 3 to 5 inches. Such a space was ample enough to accommodate juvenile Rotom.
I shared my concerns with Juniper and requested her permission to make a small hole in the wall. I explained that there might be Rotom stuck inside the walls. Juniper provided me with a tube of insulation glue through the passthrough to fix any holes I created after my investigation.
With a quick jab of my free claw into the wall, my suspicion was confirmed. A small juvenile Rotom emerged from the hole and started zipping around the room. The Rotom in my hand seemed agitated by the newcomer, and I suspected that the main Rotom probably had found a way to dump its duplicates inside the walls somehow.
Did the Rotom realize it was receiving more food and electricity once it started dumping its offspring in the walls?
Regardless, my task now was to extract the remaining Rotom's without damaging the inner wall too much. It was a delicate operation, and I knew I had to be careful.
After a few minutes of debating what to do next, the researchers and I decided that I would make a second hole on the opposite side of the room and use low-powered dark pulses to flush the Rotoms out. We would then use lab-registered Pokeballs to collect the hoard.
The plan worked well, but we underestimated the number of Rotoms that had been produced. The Rotoms flooded into the enclosure like a swarm of bright, angry bees. Hundreds of little shocks peppered me on all sides, and if it weren't for my insulating clothes, I'd likely be paralyzed and helpless by now. The researchers began to panic as the swarm swirled and discharged thousands of volts into the area, roughly frying the old TV in the process.
As the swarm of Rotom attacks me with little electric shocks, I don't give in to panic. Instead, my anger grows exponentially with every bite of electricity that pierces through my body. My frustration reaches its peak, and I let out a menacing growl that echoes throughout the room. Suddenly, the space is flooded with an outpouring of liquid-like dark energy-infused illusion that engulfs everything in its path.
The power of my attack is so strong that the walls vibrate with its force, creating a ripple effect that reverberates throughout the room. The Rotom, once so confident and aggressive, are now immobilized midair in fear and pain. Their ethereal bodies sustaining damage only when they try to move in the dark energy-saturated air.
Panting with the effort of sustaining my immobilizing attack, I turn to face the stunned researchers.
"Well?! Start putting Pokeballs through the Passthrough already; I can't hold this forever!" I bark commandingly at them.
With a newfound sense of urgency, they frantically grabbed Pokeballs one after the other and shoved them through the passthrough until I had enough to capture all the suspended Rotom. Finally, I breathed a sigh of relief as I successfully caught them all. Turning to face the researchers, I flashed them a toothy grin.
"Well, that was quite an eventful first day on the job. What do you have for me next?"
AN:
Fun Fact- Did you know there is a Talking Zoroark NPC in Pokémon Black and white 2? He gives you the TM for Snarl and was a bit of inspiration for this story.
The Main inspiration for the story, however, was due to listening to the Imagine Dragons Song 'Monster,' so I felt the need to add it here somewhere. After all, 85% of this fic is to entertain myself, so why not, right?
Please feel free to comment and review at your leisure; I appreciate all those who have done so thus far.
Last edited:
- Location
- England
Should be "Kirlia" X 2
Chapter 5: Clinical Trials and Combat Practice
- Location
- Winter Desert
"Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you." ― L.R. Knost
"Are you sure you want to do this? You don't have to volunteer for this kind of experimental procedure anymore, and you know you are going to be bedridden for at least three days after, right?" Richard asks me, standing aside as a team of doctors prepares the 'medication', verifying my vital signs and ensuring that everything appears in order for the procedure.
"Yes, I am aware, Rich," I say, rolling my eyes. "It's going to suck for a few days, but the benefits are just too good. If I'm going to be sent out to do field work soon, then I will take every advantage I can while I'm still here." I say with finality
Richard lets out an exasperated sigh, his body language conveying his frustration. Despite his disagreement with my decision, he stands firm and remains in the room. He promised to watch over me throughout the treatment, even after I told him that it was unnecessary.
The nurse approaches, carrying a syringe in her hand. She examines the needle closely, ensuring that no air bubbles remain. With a gentle tone, she reassures me that my vital signs are stable and asks if I'm ready for the injection. She positions the needle above my arm, waiting for my confirmation before proceeding.
I confirm my readiness and, a moment later, feel the familiar cold metal sting as the needle pricks through my skin. Despite having spent a long time in the lab, I still find the experience of getting shots unpleasant. Although my first field assignment is scheduled for sometime in the next two months, the league is notoriously slow in approving anything related to me, so I had doubts.
In the meantime, I've been looking into and volunteering for several experimental Pokémon training programs being conducted at Site 6 to help prepare me for whatever tasks the league may assign me.
The first step was injecting me with a pseudo-pathogenic virus called Pokerus. Catching the virus would usually be a disaster in the field, as it would render infected Pokémon out of commission for three to five days. Depending on the environment and how rapidly the disease spreads among a person's Pokémon, it could even be deadly.
Typically, a vaccine containing a 'dead' version of the virus is administered to newly captured Pokémon during their initial medical examination to prevent unwanted infections. Kirlia had gotten his shots when he was still a young ralts, so he would spend the time while I was sick in stasis within his Pokeball.
Kirlia wouldn't be far from me, though, as I'd hidden his Pokeball in my tangled mane. Having him always at my back was like an inseparable security blanket at this point.
It is not widely known, but the virus known as Pokerus can actually benefit those infected with it. For example, if a Pokémon contracts Pokerus, its growth will be greatly accelerated, and any training it undergoes will be almost twice as effective. Better yet, these positive effects continue even after the Pokémon's immune system has fought off the virus.
Scientists are still trying to understand how the virus works, and much of it remains a mystery. Despite this, stasis technology breakthrough has allowed the league to secretly use the short-lived 'live' virus in specialized accelerated training programs like the one I am currently participating in.
As a result, the league's special ops ace trainers have been able to readily train up newly captured Pokémon to elite levels in a matter of months rather than years.
After receiving the injection, I didn't experience any immediate effects for the first five hours. However, by the fifth hour, I started feeling a wave of shivers and muscle cramps, which quickly escalated into an overwhelming feeling of sickness. My entire body felt sore and weak, making it difficult to move or even stand up.
The next day was a blur, as I was in a state of delirium and confusion. My memory of that day was fragmented and incomplete, as my mind was clouded by the effects of the injection. However, on the third day, as I started to feel better, Rich was comfortable enough with my recovery to show me a funny video that one of the other staff members had taken of us while I was at my worst.
At one point in my delirious state, I had grabbed onto Rich like a teddy bear, holding him close to me licking his face affectionately, like a mother cat taking care of her kitten.
"Ugh, no wonder my mouth tastes like ass. Jeeze rich, you could at least wash your face once in a while." I bemoan with a tired chuckle
"Well, excuse me! I was sitting here watching over my ungrateful friend all night. So I didn't have time to shower yesterday." Rich snarks back
That stopped me in my tracks. Rich had stayed with me throughout the whole process, never once leaving my side except to use the bathroom or eat. An entire medical staff was watching over me, and he still chose to stay. And here I was, being unappreciative of his kindness.
"Hey, Rich…Thanks for staying with me. I appreciate it, really. You don't have to stay, you know. I'm already feeling a lot better than yesterday, and I know you are probably busy with other projects."
"Ya ya, I know. You won't be able to get rid of me that easily, though, I'm afraid. You may not be on my official docket anymore, Echo, but that doesn't mean I can't take time off to conduct my own side studies." Rich says with a smile while pulling a diagnostic readout from the medical equipment monitoring my vitals and stapling it to his lab notebook with a flourish.
"Oh, I can just feel the love here, Rich. Why must all my friends be mad scientists?" I groan toward the ceiling
"Hey, I resemble that remark!" He retorts back
Despite the feeling of sickness, I was grateful to be lying under the warm blankets with good company beside me. As the days passed, my health gradually improved, and by the fifth day, I had almost completely recovered. On these last few days of my sickness, Rich kindly lent me his laptop, which I used to browse the internet. I was more interested in passing the time than accomplishing anything in particular.
With a smirk, I changed his default browser to Foxfire. Not just because I thought it was funny for me to use but because I actually preferred it.
Really, it was his fault for using Explorer in the first place!
A message popped up on the screen as I was trying to access a new forum I had recently discovered. This prompt was a common measure used by many websites to prevent computer bots from flooding their sites, but its wording was somewhat amusing, given my situation.
I couldn't help but grin and complain loudly that the site was discriminating against Pokémon and wasn't allowing me to log in. When Rich leaned over to see what I was talking about, he rolled his eyes and playfully punched my shoulder when he saw that I was complaining about the "Verify you are human" prompt box, which had a simple check box underneath.
As I delved into the depths of a dark Pokémon care guide thread, I stumbled upon an intriguing article that provided invaluable tips and tricks for trainers regarding psychic/dark cohabitation.
I found myself engrossed in the article, and after reading through it, I made a mental note to purchase some "full incense" as it had received glowing reviews for its effectiveness in preventing certain kinds of…dietary 'mishaps'. Perhaps it could be used to prevent me from drooling all over the place when Kirlia slept near me.
After a while, my boredom led me to search 'Zoroark' in the browser just to see what would pop up, and I clicked on the first link that appeared. My jaw dropped in shock as I scanned through the page, only to find that it mostly contained basic information on my species' abilities and habitats. After confirming that there was nothing else to the page, I took a deep breath and turned to Richard for an answer to my burning question.
"Why is my picture on the index page for the Zoroark Pokedex entry?" I ask calmly, rotating the screen to show Richard a picture of me peacefully curled up in the dog bed from my old enclosure.
I didn't really mind, but it still felt strange, sort of like having a baby picture shown to the whole world. They could have at least used a better picture than this one.
I am aware that the league wishes to conceal my true nature, but they were still obliged to include my species in the Pokedex by interregional law, which meant they had to add a picture of me. This was done to ensure the safety of the public in case they came across the species in the wild.
"Ah well, you were the only Zoroark the league had at that time, so it's been the default image for a while." Rich states distractedly
"At that time?" I ask leadingly, catching onto his word choice.
Richard froze, his face contorting in realization as he became aware of what he had just implied. As I listened to him, my heart started racing with apprehension. I had not received any information about the capture of any new Zoroark, and the thought that my children might have evolved filled me with dread. Early evolution like that could only be triggered by intense high-stress situations. If that were the case, I would not hesitate to give the league hell for not telling me.
"Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to hide it from you; it's just that I didn't know how best to bring it up with you. It's not like I can just say, 'Hey, Echo, want to see this video of a hunter squad cornering, beating up, and capturing your cousin.' It just doesn't fall into normal conversation easily." Richard replies with a nervous laugh
Oh, thank Arceus. If something had happened to my kits I'd have gone straight feral on the league.
"Well, come on, Rich. Tell me, how many Zoroark the league managed to capture so far? If I'd known you guys were trying so hard to capture more of my kind, I'd have given you tips." I reply wryly, fully dispelling Rich's reluctance
"Yes… well, the league did manage to catch a pair of Zoroark in northern Sinnoh a little while back, and it's a mating pair, so the hope is to start a breeding program with those two."
I am delighted to hear that news. It's something I've been wishing for a long time. The thought of my female kit being forced into a breeding program to save our species from extinction never sat well with me. However, I am perplexed why Rich would assume that I wouldn't welcome this news with open arms.
"The only other capture was by a movie producer from Verbank who managed to catch a Zoroark here in Unova. The thing I said about there being a video of your cousin being captured is quite literally true. The guy hired several elite hunters to scour the western border forest with him. He made a short nature documentary that is now in the early screening phase of production. We know the Zoroark is fairly closely related to you based on the capture scans sent to us. Likely no further off than a second cousin."
"Okay, that's actually quite interesting," I said, pondering the implications of a public figure now owning a Zoroark. "So, a private citizen has acquired a Zoroark and is making a documentary that chronicles its capture. How does the league feel about this? Do we expect a flood of novice trainers going into the wilds unprepared to try and catch their own Zoroarks?" I ask worriedly
"This is not the first time a rare species has been discovered in remote areas. The league is treating it like any other Pokémon that gets brought to the public's general attention. So far, they've just been sending out warnings to caution rookie trainers from venturing too deep into the wild and stuff like that. Follow ranger-patrolled areas, etcetera, etcetera, you know how it is." Richard says.
I had never considered that my species would become known to the public before I revealed myself. However, considering the number of Pokémon enthusiasts who spend their days searching for new entries in the Pokédex, it really shouldn't be surprising that something like this happened.
"The league does not anticipate any significant problems from this, especially given the rarity of dark-type specialists. As for the movie directors' captured Zoroark specifically, well, it is a male and cannot directly contribute to the repopulation initiative, so the league has no issues with him keeping it. Our sources suggest that the movie producer intends to use it in his upcoming shows to save money on special effects, of all things."
Huh. Now that wasn't a bad idea. Maybe when I retire from active duty, I can also get into the special effects industry. It's hard to imagine living such a mundane life, but it is something to keep in mind that I have other options should I choose to pursue them.
Rich then handed me a tablet and showed me a news article featuring a picture of a jovial, plump man sporting a safari outfit. The man was side-hugging a battered and obviously recently captured Zoroark. The description below the picture stated that the new species was known for its elusive nature.
As I scrolled further down, I realized the article was a promotional piece for the man's upcoming nature documentary, ' The Hidden Species of the World.' The league seemed pleased to let the man provide free publicity for my species, especially given our apparent tendency to easily bond with humans based on the director's own experience with his Zoroark, which was something not normally seen in dark-type Pokémon.
"Huh. I wonder if the league will ask me to hunt for more Zoroark?" I hadn't thought of going out myself for that kind of thing, but I'd probably be an ideal candidate for the job.
"Maybe. Guess we will have to wait and find out." Rich says with a shrug
After putting up with my constant questions for a while longer, Richard finally had enough and decided to leave my room to get some well-deserved rest on a proper bed. I expressed my gratitude to him once more before he left, and then I continued browsing for a while longer before finally settling down to sleep.
As I drifted off, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for the next few weeks of training that lay ahead. Despite some lingering doubts about whether I would be ready for it all, I felt a surge of confidence and determination as I finally closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
After receiving a clean bill of health from the doctors, I could finally take off the medical gown I had been wearing. I was a bit confused as to why I had to wear it in the first place since it didn't provide any modesty protection. However, I knew that it was just a procedure that had to be followed. Once I was declared healthy, I took off the gown with satisfaction.
Since I had not yet received my ranger uniform back, I assumed I wouldn't need clothes for the next few weeks while I underwent the rest of the training program. This was probably for the best, considering how thrashed any clothes would be if I wore them through training.
To my surprise, I soon found myself being escorted out of my hospital room by Emily, the security director. The only times I'd really met her in person were during my initial interview with her and after the Rotom incident. I didn't know if I should feel awkward or not, considering that I was technically naked in front of my boss at the moment.
"Hello, Emily; I see Fangs is doing well." I manage to say while fixated on the now-evolved Galvantula clinging to her like a living backpack.
I understood that Joltic, as a species, like to cling to hosts to feed off static electricity, but I did not think that behavior retained itself after evolution. Maybe Emily just liked having her Pokémon close at hand at all times?
"Thank you, Echo. I see the treatment went well. How are you feeling? Are you still up for the follow-up assessment?" Emily responds neutrally
"Yes, I feel fine at the moment. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect after the treatment. I feel the same as I did before the procedure. Maybe Dustin read too many comics as a kid, but I was hoping for something more dramatic, like a visible increase in muscle mass," I say as I stretch my arms from side to side.
"That's to be expected. Pokerus does not generate results in and of itself. It's merely a growth accelerant."
"Right. Anyway, I'm ready for the follow-up. I assume there is going to be a battle assessment of some kind right? Oh! Does that mean we are going to use the 'real' training fields?" I ask excitedly, trying not to bounce with each step
"You'd be correct. I'll be escorting you top-side to one of the open-field training grounds. It's been a while since you've been above ground, so this is something of a special moment I suppose. I also wanted to talk to you about a few things while we make our way up."
"Sounds good to me. Lead the way." I say, barely constraining my enthusiasm
After spending quite some time underground, I eagerly looked forward to stepping outside and feeling the sun on my skin. The thought of taking a deep breath of fresh air filled me with excitement. As a dark type, living underground didn't bother me much, but I felt the need to experience the world above. It would be refreshing to walk on the soft grass, feel the cool breeze on my face, and bask in the sun's warmth again.
We didn't take an elevator as I expected. Instead, we went towards a massive staircase that appeared to stretch upwards endlessly. The size of the staircase suggesting that it would lead all the way to the surface. I'm unsure why we would take this route when the elevator would have been simpler.
"Echo, I wanted to ask you a few personal questions while I have your undivided attention. This stairwell isn't a monitored space, so I would like you to be honest with me 'off the record', " Emily says seriously, slowly taking the steps upward.
The reverb in the stairwell made the statement a bit more ominous than she probably intended, but I replied nonchalantly regardless. If she wanted my honest opinion on something, I wasn't afraid to give it, regardless of whether it was recorded.
"I'm all ears, Emily," I say, stepping side by side with her as we slowly ascend toward the surface level.
"I want to know what's driving you to push yourself like this echo. We would have given you more time if you were so worried about your first assignments. Subjecting yourself to pokerus, while scientifically valuable, was hardly necessary."
"Not sure what you mean, Emily. Is trying to improve myself a crime all of a sudden? I figured the league would be happy with my volunteering for this battery of new training regimens." I reply with mild amusement
"Oh, some people definitely are. But you also have to understand that your mental state is a tense subject with the league's higher-ups, and volunteering for that kind of treatment throws up a number of red flags in the air, especially for those who are worried you feel pressured into the role of a ranger."
Huh, I hadn't really thought of what my actions would look like from an outsider's perspective. I just wanted to become as strong as I could as fast as I could manage. Some part of it was probably the natural Pokémon battle drive in me, but a greater part of my decision stemmed from my desire to feel useful, be appreciated for my contributions, and find purpose in the value I bring.
"I understand, Emily, but this is the path that I want to take. If I wanted to do anything else, I would have talked to you about it. I know the league would probably try to accommodate me if I decided to do something else, but I really do want to follow Dustin's legacy." I say with finality
Emily nodded. As I looked up the stairwell, I realized we had only made it a quarter of the way. Emily, seeing my restrained desire to bolt up the stairs, stopped at the next landing and gave me a considering look.
"Want to see who can make it to the top fastest?" she said with a spark of challenge in her eyes.
I quickly assessed the situation to see if she was serious and then took off past her. I didn't know why she would pull a challenge like that out of nowhere, but I wasn't going to deny an easy victor-
"Come on, keep up, Echo, no time to lose!" Emily shouted above me from the other side of the guard rail, suspended midair over a 50-foot drop.
She was using her galvantula as a living rappelling harness, and the giant bug was shooting webs up three to four floors at a time and pulling them both up at insane speed. Emily's own efforts of landing both feet on the handrails and jumping off accelerated the maneuver in huge bursts of upward speed.
If the crazy woman fell from there, she would drop all the way to the ground several stories down. Yet she was laughing maniacally as she shot ahead of me.
Is this just how she always acts when there are no cameras around her?! The security Director was fucking crazy!
Even running on all fours and pushing to my limit, I still didn't catch up to her. When I finally got to the final floor and tackled my way through the door to the outside, I had already lost by several seconds. On the other side, she stood nonchalantly, her arms folded as if nothing had happened.
"You, *Gasp*, cheated!" I say half crouched on the grass, barely able to catch my breath between words.
Then, I realized that quite a few people were out in the field looking in our direction. I recognized most of them as coworkers, like Carter from my enclosure captivity days and Ontaro from the ghost research sector.
"To be fair, I never specified a rule set, so I can't have cheated," she replied cheekily. "Now, come along. We have a special trainer who has been waiting to test you."
As I looked around, I noticed a person waiting at one of the squares designated for trainer battles. She was dressed in black and wore a large sun hat along with black sunglasses. My guess is that she is a baroness or something from Kalos, as trainers from other regions don't usually dress like that. Her attire seemed impractical, to say the least, and I could barely see her face.
As I was walking, I noticed Ontaro controlling a four-propeller camera drone using hand gestures and verbal commands. I sniffed the air and realized that the drone was being possessed by a Rotom. I was happy to see the success of the ghost sector with the Pokémon and smiled. Ontaro noticed my smile and gave me a thumbs-up, to which I waved back before letting him continue his work. I walked up to the mysterious trainer with Emily beside me, and she greeted me with an appraising gaze.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Echo. I apologize for my lack of decorum, but I have been eagerly awaiting the chance to battle you for days now. As you can imagine, it took a lot of effort to get here, including signing numerous NDAs and filling out lots of paperwork. Would you mind if we skip the formalities and get straight to the battle?" The trainer spoke with eager anticipation and barely restrained battle lust.
With a grin on my face, I eagerly accepted her challenge. Emily gave me a brief rundown of the battle rules, but I was too excited to pay much attention. I couldn't wait to see what kind of Pokémon my opponent would use first. The Rotom drone hovered overhead, ready to record every moment of the match.
My challenger announces, "Go, Lucario!" as she throws a Pokeball into the air unleashing a powerful monster of its species.
The trainer instructed Lucario to attack with a bullet punch with only a hand gesture. This caught me off guard as only psychics and elite trainers could accurately command their Pokémon nonverbally. The fact that I didn't sense any psychic abilities from her earlier meant that this trainer was highly skilled.
Dodging the bullet punch to my chest, I jumped back to create some distance between my opponent and me. Acting on instinct, I created an illusionary blanket of darkness that covered the entire area. I could see through the darkness, but I hoped it would blind my opponent.
However, before I could even finish thinking of what to do next, Lucario broke through my illusion and slammed me into the ground with another bullet punch to my face. In the split second before impact, I noticed Lucario had closed its eyes and wasn't even seeing my illusions!
'Aura sight!' I cursed internally before dispersing the illusions and rolling out of the way of another punch directed at my face.
The Lucario charged towards me with fierce, unrelenting force that left me completely on the back foot. Its lightning-fast movements made it almost impossible for me to dodge or gain any distance. I tried to strike back with concentrated dark pulses and slashes, but that only made the Lucario hit me back harder.
I soon realized I had to abandon that line of attack before my opponent gained enough retaliatory power boosts to one-hit me. As I struggled to think of a new plan to defeat this monster, a burst of inspiration struck me.
I pondered if I could win the match with a human style of combat since I couldn't match my opponent in speed or power. A grin spread across my face as the plan solidified in my mind. When Lucario charged toward me again, I let it get into my personal space as I prepared to execute my new plan.
Tanking a bone-bruising gut punch, I grabbed the outstretched arm and kicked out one of Lucario's legs from under it. The hit did little to no damage, but it caused the Lucario to go to one knee for long enough that I could twist around and drag the Lucarios arm into a facsimile of a Judo Lock.
As I executed my plan, the onlookers watched in astonishment. Despite being significantly weaker, my strategy rendered the much stronger Pokémon immobile. Lucario's strength was irrelevant, as it did not have the leverage to throw me off. Moreover, I had enough power to dislocate its arm if necessary. As Lucario futility struggled in my hold, I looked at the trainer and asked.
"I think you should forfeit. I don't want to injure your Lucario too badly here." I say while struggling to maintain my hold.
There was a pause before she brought up her wrist to reveal some sort of bracelet.
"Nope! Now we get serious!" She proclaims with a vicious grin
A wave of aura washes over the field, and then I'm thrown back by a burst of power emanating from Lucario's now glowing form. I gaped in shock as the Lucario changed right in front of my eyes.
When Lucario finally rose from the ground, it cast an unamused glare at me for having pinned it for so long. I felt that perhaps I shouldn't a did that.
As it pulled its paws together, a glowing blue sphere of fighting energy formed. Its orange eyes locked onto mine, promising pain. The sheer volume of aura in the air made me freeze in fear. The pressure of the building aura sphere's power made it difficult for me to form a plan of action before the attack was launched.
As Lucario launched its fierce attack at me, I felt a sudden surge of energy within me. My instincts took over, and I found myself mirroring the same stance as the powerful Pokémon in front of me. Feeling its aura in the air, I somehow managed to form and launch an aura sphere of my own. In awe, I watched as our attacks collided in midair, creating a cloud of energy smoke that burst into the air.
I had no idea how I'd managed to create such a powerful fighting-type attack but I wouldn't let it go to waste. The aura pattern I instinctively grasped from the attack was rapidly escaping my mind, but I still managed to repeat the feat. With quick reflexes, I formed a second, smaller aura sphere and launched it through the smoke cloud, anticipating Lucario's next move.
Just in time, the mega Lucario burst through the smoke cloud, only to be met by my aura sphere smashing explosively into its left leg.
With one of its legs injured, I could now barely outrun the relentless monster and avoid its devastating physical attacks. Whenever Lucario attempted to shoot more aura spheres at me, I duplicated the attacks and fired weaker variants with precise accuracy to detonate the stronger spheres before they could reach me.
As I faced off against the fearsome monster, I knew I was no match for its sheer power. Still, I had to develop a strategy that would give me some kind of advantage. I decided to ration my own energy and try to outlast my opponent; it bled aura in waves to maintain its mega evolution, so I would hopefully gain the upper hand eventually.
For what felt like an eternity I dodged around and only struck back when I could get away with it. My opponent retaliated with ferocity, but I held my ground, conserving my energy as much as possible.
Finally, after what seemed like an endless battle, the mega-evolution reaction petered out, and the monster's form began to shift back.
"That's enough." The mystery trainer calls out as the mega evolution dispelled completely
Reluctantly, the Lucario limps back to its trainer to receive a few potion strays to its injured leg before being returned to its Pokeball.
Flopping on my back with heaving exhales, I lay on the ground, completely exhausted by the protracted battle.
Ultimately, I hadn't even won; that beast of a Pokémon was still fighting fit. It just wasn't fast enough with an injured leg to finish the job. Aura spheres seemed to be its preferred ranged option, and my newfound ability to copy the move as it was being performed allowed me to effectively negate the attack.
Now, I just had to figure out how the hell I was even managing to copy the move to begin with.
Three people enter my vision as I stare up at the Rotom drone hovering high above us in the beautiful, cloudy blue sky. The mystery trainer diverts my attention as she gives me a congratulatory shoulder pat before sitting beside me on the grass. She also seemed to be enjoying the fine weather as she smiled up at the sky.
Emily is standing to the side, watching me to make sure I'm okay after the long fight. Surprisingly, the third person on the field was Carter, whom I hadn't seen in a while. I had assumed he'd transferred facilities, and I felt bad for not checking if he still worked at site 6.
On my other side, my old music instructor kneels next to me and opens a bag that smells like heaven. He offers me two small leppa berries and a fat sitrus berry.
"Long time no see, Echo! You put on quite the show! I figured you might want an after-battle snack after all that!" the cheery man says as I gladly wolf down the berries without hesitation.
"Hmmm, I'm glad my performance was up to your standards. Hey, quick question for you. You studied my genes and aura extensively back when I was a lab subject, right? I don't suppose you have any idea how I managed to copy Lucario's aura sphere, do you? I didn't think aura spheres were a genetically inheritable attack, but I can't think of any other reason I could perform it besides my sire being a Lucario."
"Ah, I can answer that, actually." The mystery trainer interjects while taking off her large sun hat and sunglasses.
To my shock, flowing blond hair cascades down from underneath the headwear, revealing a rather notorious individual beneath.
"Champion Cynthia!" I yelp in surprise as the living legend smiles brightly back at me
"Yup," she says, popping the 'p.' "Sorry for not introducing myself earlier, but I figured you might have this kind of reaction. I didn't want you to get distracted during the battle or feel like you didn't have a chance at winning." She says while scratching the back of her head sheepishly
Of course, I didn't stand a chance! She's arguably the top battler in the world…and from Dustin's memories of watching the last league championships, I knew that her Lucario could use 'Life Dew' to heal itself. She'd been going easy on me that entire time!
"I noticed how you analyzed Lucario's aura sphere during the battle, and I've seen that behavior before. You weren't inherently performing 'aura sphere', but rather, I believe you were performing 'copycat'. It's a rare move that you still probably inherited from your Lucario ancestry, but it only allows you to mimic a move that you've seen for a temporary period. You won't be able to retain the attack indefinitely." Cynthia explains.
"Okay, wow, I've never even heard of something like this before. This opens up so many strategies I hadn't even considered before. If I bait an opponent into attacking me with the right moves, I can shift the flow of the entire battle in my favor." I say while thinking of all the ways I could use this newfound ability of mine
It was weird that this was the first time I'd discovered the ability. Still, with how much aura Cynthia and Lucario were throwing around and the fact that stress in battles makes Pokémon learn moves faster, it wasn't actually all that strange. It was just weird being on the other end of the trainer/Pokémon divide since all my memories of conventional battles were from Dustin's perspective.
Another realization occurred to me: if Cynthia could identify the move on-site with such assurance, it probably meant that her Lucario could perform the same, and that wasn't something she'd demonstrated in previous league matches.
"You might have guessed already, but Lucario also knows copycat. It's one of our secret aces, and I would appreciate it if you didn't spread it around if at all possible. Copycat is an extremely rare ability, usually only manifesting in aura-sensitive Pokémon." Cynthia says
"Of course, I won't reveal it to anyone," I say before giving Cynthia a speculative look. "I can't help but wonder why you are really here, though. Surely someone as busy as you doesn't have the free time to travel between regions just to battle with random Pokémon like me, sapience or not."
"Actually, I do have some free time at the moment. I take breaks from league-related work to go exploring ruins, and occasionally, I help train special assets for the league," Cynthia whispered conspiratorially. She then continued in a normal voice, "Many people only see me as a great battler, but they forget that one needs to be the best trainer in order to become the best battler."
"Wait, so you mean-"
"Yup," Cynthia says, repeating her earlier reply. "I will be personally overseeing the training program that you and your Kirlia will be participating in for the next two weeks. You signed up to beta test the new experimental training equipment for the league, which, by my presence, you can tell is no joke." She says seriously before continuing
"I need to know how effective and safe it is for the Pokémon using it before I approve its certification for a limited production run. You are an ideal candidate for providing me with direct user feedback." Cynthia chuckles as a glimmer of eager anticipation burns beneath her happy façade.
"I- I don't know what to say other than thank you and when do we get started?" I ask
Her smile turns predatory at my question, and the next thing I know, I'm being fitted with a blue anklet and a red bracer right there in the middle of the grassy field. She didn't even give me time to sit up from my prone position. I hadn't known she had the items on her, but with how enthusiastic she was at the prospect of training me, I really should have guessed.
"All right, let's start out with three laps around the field and see how you feel."
Without hesitation, I get up and start running along the perimeter of the vast grassy field. However, after the first lap, I already sense my energy levels dropping. My anklet and bracer start to feel like heavy weights on my limbs, making it increasingly difficult to keep up the pace.
"NO SLOWING DOWN, KEEP UP THE PACE!" Cynthia yells from the center of the field, watching my movements like a hawk eyeing injured prey.
As I push myself harder, my muscles start to ache. During the second lap, Kirlia suddenly appears from the Pokeball hidden in my hair and grabs onto my back like a baby sloth. I'm unsure why he left his Pokeball, but I feel frustration as his added mass weighs me down.
Through our bond, I sense that he's aware of my growing distress and fatigue. Just as I'm about to return him to his Pokeball, our bond opens up, and a wave of psychic energy rushes into my body. I'm surprised as the energy rapidly dissolves into my muscles like sugar being added to water, giving my body a significant speed boost.
Instead of slowing on the last lap, I rocket forward, blurring around the field using psychic-fueled reinforcement. My perception of the world slows, yet even with my increased speed, I still see Cythia's piercing gaze tracking me without effort.
After the last lap, I relax marginally and ask Kirlia to stop funneling energy to me. This, however, turns out to be a mistake, as the sudden loss of energy promptly causes all my leg muscles to fail. Simultaneously.
As I stumbled and fell, my face skidded across the soft grass. Eventually, our momentum dwindled, and we came to a stop. Kirlia popped his head out from my red mane and cheered as if we had just won a race. I was too exhausted to move and groaned pitifully. Cynthia quickly came over to us and gently lifted Kirlia off my back.
A second groan escaped me, this time in relief as Cynthia gently lifted Kirlia's extra weight off my back. Then, she rolled me over onto my back, causing me to wince.
"Hmm, that was a stronger reaction than I initially anticipated. If the strain is that high, we may have to limit the item usage to one at a time," Cynthia ponders as she affectionately pats Kirlia's head with her free hand.
Cynthia observes with interest, "That boost of speed at the end was unusual. It appeared like the move 'Agility,' which is not typically seen in dark types other than Sharpedo. And even for Sharpedo, it requires a diet rich in Starmie meat to utilize the psychic energy effectively." After examining me for any injuries, she sits beside my head and waits patiently for me to recover my breath.
"Ya, Kirlia boosted me with psychic energy there at the end. I don't think Kirlia and I could transfer energy at a distance as you do for mega evolution, but as long as Kirlia is nearby, he can boost my speed."
"Thats quite interesting. However, I suggest taking caution to ensure that none of your dark energy backflows to Kirlia. Dark energy may have harmful effects on Kirlia, unlike your own body, which is accustomed to processing psychic energy as a source of fuel."
"Ah, good point. I'll try to keep that in mind… I don't suppose we can take a break now?" I ask pleadingly
Cynthia smiles at the question, and for a brief moment, I feel relief before she answers.
"Of course not. I had Carter requisition nearly 5 pounds of Leppa berries to keep you going. We aren't even halfway done with today's training!" Cynthia says cheerfully
The gleam of excitement in her eyes caused me to whimper involuntarily. Sadly, I did currently not have the energy to run away from the battle maniac.
AN: There was a chapter that went before this one, but it got scrapped. (It may return one day as an Omake, but it was mostly just Echo working at a Pokémon daycare kind of thing for the labs.)
"Are you sure you want to do this? You don't have to volunteer for this kind of experimental procedure anymore, and you know you are going to be bedridden for at least three days after, right?" Richard asks me, standing aside as a team of doctors prepares the 'medication', verifying my vital signs and ensuring that everything appears in order for the procedure.
"Yes, I am aware, Rich," I say, rolling my eyes. "It's going to suck for a few days, but the benefits are just too good. If I'm going to be sent out to do field work soon, then I will take every advantage I can while I'm still here." I say with finality
Richard lets out an exasperated sigh, his body language conveying his frustration. Despite his disagreement with my decision, he stands firm and remains in the room. He promised to watch over me throughout the treatment, even after I told him that it was unnecessary.
The nurse approaches, carrying a syringe in her hand. She examines the needle closely, ensuring that no air bubbles remain. With a gentle tone, she reassures me that my vital signs are stable and asks if I'm ready for the injection. She positions the needle above my arm, waiting for my confirmation before proceeding.
I confirm my readiness and, a moment later, feel the familiar cold metal sting as the needle pricks through my skin. Despite having spent a long time in the lab, I still find the experience of getting shots unpleasant. Although my first field assignment is scheduled for sometime in the next two months, the league is notoriously slow in approving anything related to me, so I had doubts.
In the meantime, I've been looking into and volunteering for several experimental Pokémon training programs being conducted at Site 6 to help prepare me for whatever tasks the league may assign me.
The first step was injecting me with a pseudo-pathogenic virus called Pokerus. Catching the virus would usually be a disaster in the field, as it would render infected Pokémon out of commission for three to five days. Depending on the environment and how rapidly the disease spreads among a person's Pokémon, it could even be deadly.
Typically, a vaccine containing a 'dead' version of the virus is administered to newly captured Pokémon during their initial medical examination to prevent unwanted infections. Kirlia had gotten his shots when he was still a young ralts, so he would spend the time while I was sick in stasis within his Pokeball.
Kirlia wouldn't be far from me, though, as I'd hidden his Pokeball in my tangled mane. Having him always at my back was like an inseparable security blanket at this point.
It is not widely known, but the virus known as Pokerus can actually benefit those infected with it. For example, if a Pokémon contracts Pokerus, its growth will be greatly accelerated, and any training it undergoes will be almost twice as effective. Better yet, these positive effects continue even after the Pokémon's immune system has fought off the virus.
Scientists are still trying to understand how the virus works, and much of it remains a mystery. Despite this, stasis technology breakthrough has allowed the league to secretly use the short-lived 'live' virus in specialized accelerated training programs like the one I am currently participating in.
As a result, the league's special ops ace trainers have been able to readily train up newly captured Pokémon to elite levels in a matter of months rather than years.
After receiving the injection, I didn't experience any immediate effects for the first five hours. However, by the fifth hour, I started feeling a wave of shivers and muscle cramps, which quickly escalated into an overwhelming feeling of sickness. My entire body felt sore and weak, making it difficult to move or even stand up.
The next day was a blur, as I was in a state of delirium and confusion. My memory of that day was fragmented and incomplete, as my mind was clouded by the effects of the injection. However, on the third day, as I started to feel better, Rich was comfortable enough with my recovery to show me a funny video that one of the other staff members had taken of us while I was at my worst.
At one point in my delirious state, I had grabbed onto Rich like a teddy bear, holding him close to me licking his face affectionately, like a mother cat taking care of her kitten.
"Ugh, no wonder my mouth tastes like ass. Jeeze rich, you could at least wash your face once in a while." I bemoan with a tired chuckle
"Well, excuse me! I was sitting here watching over my ungrateful friend all night. So I didn't have time to shower yesterday." Rich snarks back
That stopped me in my tracks. Rich had stayed with me throughout the whole process, never once leaving my side except to use the bathroom or eat. An entire medical staff was watching over me, and he still chose to stay. And here I was, being unappreciative of his kindness.
"Hey, Rich…Thanks for staying with me. I appreciate it, really. You don't have to stay, you know. I'm already feeling a lot better than yesterday, and I know you are probably busy with other projects."
"Ya ya, I know. You won't be able to get rid of me that easily, though, I'm afraid. You may not be on my official docket anymore, Echo, but that doesn't mean I can't take time off to conduct my own side studies." Rich says with a smile while pulling a diagnostic readout from the medical equipment monitoring my vitals and stapling it to his lab notebook with a flourish.
"Oh, I can just feel the love here, Rich. Why must all my friends be mad scientists?" I groan toward the ceiling
"Hey, I resemble that remark!" He retorts back
Despite the feeling of sickness, I was grateful to be lying under the warm blankets with good company beside me. As the days passed, my health gradually improved, and by the fifth day, I had almost completely recovered. On these last few days of my sickness, Rich kindly lent me his laptop, which I used to browse the internet. I was more interested in passing the time than accomplishing anything in particular.
With a smirk, I changed his default browser to Foxfire. Not just because I thought it was funny for me to use but because I actually preferred it.
Really, it was his fault for using Explorer in the first place!
A message popped up on the screen as I was trying to access a new forum I had recently discovered. This prompt was a common measure used by many websites to prevent computer bots from flooding their sites, but its wording was somewhat amusing, given my situation.
I couldn't help but grin and complain loudly that the site was discriminating against Pokémon and wasn't allowing me to log in. When Rich leaned over to see what I was talking about, he rolled his eyes and playfully punched my shoulder when he saw that I was complaining about the "Verify you are human" prompt box, which had a simple check box underneath.
As I delved into the depths of a dark Pokémon care guide thread, I stumbled upon an intriguing article that provided invaluable tips and tricks for trainers regarding psychic/dark cohabitation.
I found myself engrossed in the article, and after reading through it, I made a mental note to purchase some "full incense" as it had received glowing reviews for its effectiveness in preventing certain kinds of…dietary 'mishaps'. Perhaps it could be used to prevent me from drooling all over the place when Kirlia slept near me.
After a while, my boredom led me to search 'Zoroark' in the browser just to see what would pop up, and I clicked on the first link that appeared. My jaw dropped in shock as I scanned through the page, only to find that it mostly contained basic information on my species' abilities and habitats. After confirming that there was nothing else to the page, I took a deep breath and turned to Richard for an answer to my burning question.
"Why is my picture on the index page for the Zoroark Pokedex entry?" I ask calmly, rotating the screen to show Richard a picture of me peacefully curled up in the dog bed from my old enclosure.
I didn't really mind, but it still felt strange, sort of like having a baby picture shown to the whole world. They could have at least used a better picture than this one.
I am aware that the league wishes to conceal my true nature, but they were still obliged to include my species in the Pokedex by interregional law, which meant they had to add a picture of me. This was done to ensure the safety of the public in case they came across the species in the wild.
"Ah well, you were the only Zoroark the league had at that time, so it's been the default image for a while." Rich states distractedly
"At that time?" I ask leadingly, catching onto his word choice.
Richard froze, his face contorting in realization as he became aware of what he had just implied. As I listened to him, my heart started racing with apprehension. I had not received any information about the capture of any new Zoroark, and the thought that my children might have evolved filled me with dread. Early evolution like that could only be triggered by intense high-stress situations. If that were the case, I would not hesitate to give the league hell for not telling me.
"Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to hide it from you; it's just that I didn't know how best to bring it up with you. It's not like I can just say, 'Hey, Echo, want to see this video of a hunter squad cornering, beating up, and capturing your cousin.' It just doesn't fall into normal conversation easily." Richard replies with a nervous laugh
Oh, thank Arceus. If something had happened to my kits I'd have gone straight feral on the league.
"Well, come on, Rich. Tell me, how many Zoroark the league managed to capture so far? If I'd known you guys were trying so hard to capture more of my kind, I'd have given you tips." I reply wryly, fully dispelling Rich's reluctance
"Yes… well, the league did manage to catch a pair of Zoroark in northern Sinnoh a little while back, and it's a mating pair, so the hope is to start a breeding program with those two."
I am delighted to hear that news. It's something I've been wishing for a long time. The thought of my female kit being forced into a breeding program to save our species from extinction never sat well with me. However, I am perplexed why Rich would assume that I wouldn't welcome this news with open arms.
"The only other capture was by a movie producer from Verbank who managed to catch a Zoroark here in Unova. The thing I said about there being a video of your cousin being captured is quite literally true. The guy hired several elite hunters to scour the western border forest with him. He made a short nature documentary that is now in the early screening phase of production. We know the Zoroark is fairly closely related to you based on the capture scans sent to us. Likely no further off than a second cousin."
"Okay, that's actually quite interesting," I said, pondering the implications of a public figure now owning a Zoroark. "So, a private citizen has acquired a Zoroark and is making a documentary that chronicles its capture. How does the league feel about this? Do we expect a flood of novice trainers going into the wilds unprepared to try and catch their own Zoroarks?" I ask worriedly
"This is not the first time a rare species has been discovered in remote areas. The league is treating it like any other Pokémon that gets brought to the public's general attention. So far, they've just been sending out warnings to caution rookie trainers from venturing too deep into the wild and stuff like that. Follow ranger-patrolled areas, etcetera, etcetera, you know how it is." Richard says.
I had never considered that my species would become known to the public before I revealed myself. However, considering the number of Pokémon enthusiasts who spend their days searching for new entries in the Pokédex, it really shouldn't be surprising that something like this happened.
"The league does not anticipate any significant problems from this, especially given the rarity of dark-type specialists. As for the movie directors' captured Zoroark specifically, well, it is a male and cannot directly contribute to the repopulation initiative, so the league has no issues with him keeping it. Our sources suggest that the movie producer intends to use it in his upcoming shows to save money on special effects, of all things."
Huh. Now that wasn't a bad idea. Maybe when I retire from active duty, I can also get into the special effects industry. It's hard to imagine living such a mundane life, but it is something to keep in mind that I have other options should I choose to pursue them.
Rich then handed me a tablet and showed me a news article featuring a picture of a jovial, plump man sporting a safari outfit. The man was side-hugging a battered and obviously recently captured Zoroark. The description below the picture stated that the new species was known for its elusive nature.
As I scrolled further down, I realized the article was a promotional piece for the man's upcoming nature documentary, ' The Hidden Species of the World.' The league seemed pleased to let the man provide free publicity for my species, especially given our apparent tendency to easily bond with humans based on the director's own experience with his Zoroark, which was something not normally seen in dark-type Pokémon.
"Huh. I wonder if the league will ask me to hunt for more Zoroark?" I hadn't thought of going out myself for that kind of thing, but I'd probably be an ideal candidate for the job.
"Maybe. Guess we will have to wait and find out." Rich says with a shrug
After putting up with my constant questions for a while longer, Richard finally had enough and decided to leave my room to get some well-deserved rest on a proper bed. I expressed my gratitude to him once more before he left, and then I continued browsing for a while longer before finally settling down to sleep.
As I drifted off, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for the next few weeks of training that lay ahead. Despite some lingering doubts about whether I would be ready for it all, I felt a surge of confidence and determination as I finally closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
After receiving a clean bill of health from the doctors, I could finally take off the medical gown I had been wearing. I was a bit confused as to why I had to wear it in the first place since it didn't provide any modesty protection. However, I knew that it was just a procedure that had to be followed. Once I was declared healthy, I took off the gown with satisfaction.
Since I had not yet received my ranger uniform back, I assumed I wouldn't need clothes for the next few weeks while I underwent the rest of the training program. This was probably for the best, considering how thrashed any clothes would be if I wore them through training.
To my surprise, I soon found myself being escorted out of my hospital room by Emily, the security director. The only times I'd really met her in person were during my initial interview with her and after the Rotom incident. I didn't know if I should feel awkward or not, considering that I was technically naked in front of my boss at the moment.
"Hello, Emily; I see Fangs is doing well." I manage to say while fixated on the now-evolved Galvantula clinging to her like a living backpack.
I understood that Joltic, as a species, like to cling to hosts to feed off static electricity, but I did not think that behavior retained itself after evolution. Maybe Emily just liked having her Pokémon close at hand at all times?
"Thank you, Echo. I see the treatment went well. How are you feeling? Are you still up for the follow-up assessment?" Emily responds neutrally
"Yes, I feel fine at the moment. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect after the treatment. I feel the same as I did before the procedure. Maybe Dustin read too many comics as a kid, but I was hoping for something more dramatic, like a visible increase in muscle mass," I say as I stretch my arms from side to side.
"That's to be expected. Pokerus does not generate results in and of itself. It's merely a growth accelerant."
"Right. Anyway, I'm ready for the follow-up. I assume there is going to be a battle assessment of some kind right? Oh! Does that mean we are going to use the 'real' training fields?" I ask excitedly, trying not to bounce with each step
"You'd be correct. I'll be escorting you top-side to one of the open-field training grounds. It's been a while since you've been above ground, so this is something of a special moment I suppose. I also wanted to talk to you about a few things while we make our way up."
"Sounds good to me. Lead the way." I say, barely constraining my enthusiasm
After spending quite some time underground, I eagerly looked forward to stepping outside and feeling the sun on my skin. The thought of taking a deep breath of fresh air filled me with excitement. As a dark type, living underground didn't bother me much, but I felt the need to experience the world above. It would be refreshing to walk on the soft grass, feel the cool breeze on my face, and bask in the sun's warmth again.
We didn't take an elevator as I expected. Instead, we went towards a massive staircase that appeared to stretch upwards endlessly. The size of the staircase suggesting that it would lead all the way to the surface. I'm unsure why we would take this route when the elevator would have been simpler.
"Echo, I wanted to ask you a few personal questions while I have your undivided attention. This stairwell isn't a monitored space, so I would like you to be honest with me 'off the record', " Emily says seriously, slowly taking the steps upward.
The reverb in the stairwell made the statement a bit more ominous than she probably intended, but I replied nonchalantly regardless. If she wanted my honest opinion on something, I wasn't afraid to give it, regardless of whether it was recorded.
"I'm all ears, Emily," I say, stepping side by side with her as we slowly ascend toward the surface level.
"I want to know what's driving you to push yourself like this echo. We would have given you more time if you were so worried about your first assignments. Subjecting yourself to pokerus, while scientifically valuable, was hardly necessary."
"Not sure what you mean, Emily. Is trying to improve myself a crime all of a sudden? I figured the league would be happy with my volunteering for this battery of new training regimens." I reply with mild amusement
"Oh, some people definitely are. But you also have to understand that your mental state is a tense subject with the league's higher-ups, and volunteering for that kind of treatment throws up a number of red flags in the air, especially for those who are worried you feel pressured into the role of a ranger."
Huh, I hadn't really thought of what my actions would look like from an outsider's perspective. I just wanted to become as strong as I could as fast as I could manage. Some part of it was probably the natural Pokémon battle drive in me, but a greater part of my decision stemmed from my desire to feel useful, be appreciated for my contributions, and find purpose in the value I bring.
"I understand, Emily, but this is the path that I want to take. If I wanted to do anything else, I would have talked to you about it. I know the league would probably try to accommodate me if I decided to do something else, but I really do want to follow Dustin's legacy." I say with finality
Emily nodded. As I looked up the stairwell, I realized we had only made it a quarter of the way. Emily, seeing my restrained desire to bolt up the stairs, stopped at the next landing and gave me a considering look.
"Want to see who can make it to the top fastest?" she said with a spark of challenge in her eyes.
I quickly assessed the situation to see if she was serious and then took off past her. I didn't know why she would pull a challenge like that out of nowhere, but I wasn't going to deny an easy victor-
"Come on, keep up, Echo, no time to lose!" Emily shouted above me from the other side of the guard rail, suspended midair over a 50-foot drop.
She was using her galvantula as a living rappelling harness, and the giant bug was shooting webs up three to four floors at a time and pulling them both up at insane speed. Emily's own efforts of landing both feet on the handrails and jumping off accelerated the maneuver in huge bursts of upward speed.
If the crazy woman fell from there, she would drop all the way to the ground several stories down. Yet she was laughing maniacally as she shot ahead of me.
Is this just how she always acts when there are no cameras around her?! The security Director was fucking crazy!
Even running on all fours and pushing to my limit, I still didn't catch up to her. When I finally got to the final floor and tackled my way through the door to the outside, I had already lost by several seconds. On the other side, she stood nonchalantly, her arms folded as if nothing had happened.
"You, *Gasp*, cheated!" I say half crouched on the grass, barely able to catch my breath between words.
Then, I realized that quite a few people were out in the field looking in our direction. I recognized most of them as coworkers, like Carter from my enclosure captivity days and Ontaro from the ghost research sector.
"To be fair, I never specified a rule set, so I can't have cheated," she replied cheekily. "Now, come along. We have a special trainer who has been waiting to test you."
As I looked around, I noticed a person waiting at one of the squares designated for trainer battles. She was dressed in black and wore a large sun hat along with black sunglasses. My guess is that she is a baroness or something from Kalos, as trainers from other regions don't usually dress like that. Her attire seemed impractical, to say the least, and I could barely see her face.
As I was walking, I noticed Ontaro controlling a four-propeller camera drone using hand gestures and verbal commands. I sniffed the air and realized that the drone was being possessed by a Rotom. I was happy to see the success of the ghost sector with the Pokémon and smiled. Ontaro noticed my smile and gave me a thumbs-up, to which I waved back before letting him continue his work. I walked up to the mysterious trainer with Emily beside me, and she greeted me with an appraising gaze.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Echo. I apologize for my lack of decorum, but I have been eagerly awaiting the chance to battle you for days now. As you can imagine, it took a lot of effort to get here, including signing numerous NDAs and filling out lots of paperwork. Would you mind if we skip the formalities and get straight to the battle?" The trainer spoke with eager anticipation and barely restrained battle lust.
With a grin on my face, I eagerly accepted her challenge. Emily gave me a brief rundown of the battle rules, but I was too excited to pay much attention. I couldn't wait to see what kind of Pokémon my opponent would use first. The Rotom drone hovered overhead, ready to record every moment of the match.
My challenger announces, "Go, Lucario!" as she throws a Pokeball into the air unleashing a powerful monster of its species.
The trainer instructed Lucario to attack with a bullet punch with only a hand gesture. This caught me off guard as only psychics and elite trainers could accurately command their Pokémon nonverbally. The fact that I didn't sense any psychic abilities from her earlier meant that this trainer was highly skilled.
Dodging the bullet punch to my chest, I jumped back to create some distance between my opponent and me. Acting on instinct, I created an illusionary blanket of darkness that covered the entire area. I could see through the darkness, but I hoped it would blind my opponent.
However, before I could even finish thinking of what to do next, Lucario broke through my illusion and slammed me into the ground with another bullet punch to my face. In the split second before impact, I noticed Lucario had closed its eyes and wasn't even seeing my illusions!
'Aura sight!' I cursed internally before dispersing the illusions and rolling out of the way of another punch directed at my face.
The Lucario charged towards me with fierce, unrelenting force that left me completely on the back foot. Its lightning-fast movements made it almost impossible for me to dodge or gain any distance. I tried to strike back with concentrated dark pulses and slashes, but that only made the Lucario hit me back harder.
I soon realized I had to abandon that line of attack before my opponent gained enough retaliatory power boosts to one-hit me. As I struggled to think of a new plan to defeat this monster, a burst of inspiration struck me.
I pondered if I could win the match with a human style of combat since I couldn't match my opponent in speed or power. A grin spread across my face as the plan solidified in my mind. When Lucario charged toward me again, I let it get into my personal space as I prepared to execute my new plan.
Tanking a bone-bruising gut punch, I grabbed the outstretched arm and kicked out one of Lucario's legs from under it. The hit did little to no damage, but it caused the Lucario to go to one knee for long enough that I could twist around and drag the Lucarios arm into a facsimile of a Judo Lock.
As I executed my plan, the onlookers watched in astonishment. Despite being significantly weaker, my strategy rendered the much stronger Pokémon immobile. Lucario's strength was irrelevant, as it did not have the leverage to throw me off. Moreover, I had enough power to dislocate its arm if necessary. As Lucario futility struggled in my hold, I looked at the trainer and asked.
"I think you should forfeit. I don't want to injure your Lucario too badly here." I say while struggling to maintain my hold.
There was a pause before she brought up her wrist to reveal some sort of bracelet.
"Nope! Now we get serious!" She proclaims with a vicious grin
A wave of aura washes over the field, and then I'm thrown back by a burst of power emanating from Lucario's now glowing form. I gaped in shock as the Lucario changed right in front of my eyes.
When Lucario finally rose from the ground, it cast an unamused glare at me for having pinned it for so long. I felt that perhaps I shouldn't a did that.
As it pulled its paws together, a glowing blue sphere of fighting energy formed. Its orange eyes locked onto mine, promising pain. The sheer volume of aura in the air made me freeze in fear. The pressure of the building aura sphere's power made it difficult for me to form a plan of action before the attack was launched.
As Lucario launched its fierce attack at me, I felt a sudden surge of energy within me. My instincts took over, and I found myself mirroring the same stance as the powerful Pokémon in front of me. Feeling its aura in the air, I somehow managed to form and launch an aura sphere of my own. In awe, I watched as our attacks collided in midair, creating a cloud of energy smoke that burst into the air.
I had no idea how I'd managed to create such a powerful fighting-type attack but I wouldn't let it go to waste. The aura pattern I instinctively grasped from the attack was rapidly escaping my mind, but I still managed to repeat the feat. With quick reflexes, I formed a second, smaller aura sphere and launched it through the smoke cloud, anticipating Lucario's next move.
Just in time, the mega Lucario burst through the smoke cloud, only to be met by my aura sphere smashing explosively into its left leg.
With one of its legs injured, I could now barely outrun the relentless monster and avoid its devastating physical attacks. Whenever Lucario attempted to shoot more aura spheres at me, I duplicated the attacks and fired weaker variants with precise accuracy to detonate the stronger spheres before they could reach me.
As I faced off against the fearsome monster, I knew I was no match for its sheer power. Still, I had to develop a strategy that would give me some kind of advantage. I decided to ration my own energy and try to outlast my opponent; it bled aura in waves to maintain its mega evolution, so I would hopefully gain the upper hand eventually.
For what felt like an eternity I dodged around and only struck back when I could get away with it. My opponent retaliated with ferocity, but I held my ground, conserving my energy as much as possible.
Finally, after what seemed like an endless battle, the mega-evolution reaction petered out, and the monster's form began to shift back.
"That's enough." The mystery trainer calls out as the mega evolution dispelled completely
Reluctantly, the Lucario limps back to its trainer to receive a few potion strays to its injured leg before being returned to its Pokeball.
Flopping on my back with heaving exhales, I lay on the ground, completely exhausted by the protracted battle.
Ultimately, I hadn't even won; that beast of a Pokémon was still fighting fit. It just wasn't fast enough with an injured leg to finish the job. Aura spheres seemed to be its preferred ranged option, and my newfound ability to copy the move as it was being performed allowed me to effectively negate the attack.
Now, I just had to figure out how the hell I was even managing to copy the move to begin with.
Three people enter my vision as I stare up at the Rotom drone hovering high above us in the beautiful, cloudy blue sky. The mystery trainer diverts my attention as she gives me a congratulatory shoulder pat before sitting beside me on the grass. She also seemed to be enjoying the fine weather as she smiled up at the sky.
Emily is standing to the side, watching me to make sure I'm okay after the long fight. Surprisingly, the third person on the field was Carter, whom I hadn't seen in a while. I had assumed he'd transferred facilities, and I felt bad for not checking if he still worked at site 6.
On my other side, my old music instructor kneels next to me and opens a bag that smells like heaven. He offers me two small leppa berries and a fat sitrus berry.
"Long time no see, Echo! You put on quite the show! I figured you might want an after-battle snack after all that!" the cheery man says as I gladly wolf down the berries without hesitation.
"Hmmm, I'm glad my performance was up to your standards. Hey, quick question for you. You studied my genes and aura extensively back when I was a lab subject, right? I don't suppose you have any idea how I managed to copy Lucario's aura sphere, do you? I didn't think aura spheres were a genetically inheritable attack, but I can't think of any other reason I could perform it besides my sire being a Lucario."
"Ah, I can answer that, actually." The mystery trainer interjects while taking off her large sun hat and sunglasses.
To my shock, flowing blond hair cascades down from underneath the headwear, revealing a rather notorious individual beneath.
"Champion Cynthia!" I yelp in surprise as the living legend smiles brightly back at me
"Yup," she says, popping the 'p.' "Sorry for not introducing myself earlier, but I figured you might have this kind of reaction. I didn't want you to get distracted during the battle or feel like you didn't have a chance at winning." She says while scratching the back of her head sheepishly
Of course, I didn't stand a chance! She's arguably the top battler in the world…and from Dustin's memories of watching the last league championships, I knew that her Lucario could use 'Life Dew' to heal itself. She'd been going easy on me that entire time!
"I noticed how you analyzed Lucario's aura sphere during the battle, and I've seen that behavior before. You weren't inherently performing 'aura sphere', but rather, I believe you were performing 'copycat'. It's a rare move that you still probably inherited from your Lucario ancestry, but it only allows you to mimic a move that you've seen for a temporary period. You won't be able to retain the attack indefinitely." Cynthia explains.
"Okay, wow, I've never even heard of something like this before. This opens up so many strategies I hadn't even considered before. If I bait an opponent into attacking me with the right moves, I can shift the flow of the entire battle in my favor." I say while thinking of all the ways I could use this newfound ability of mine
It was weird that this was the first time I'd discovered the ability. Still, with how much aura Cynthia and Lucario were throwing around and the fact that stress in battles makes Pokémon learn moves faster, it wasn't actually all that strange. It was just weird being on the other end of the trainer/Pokémon divide since all my memories of conventional battles were from Dustin's perspective.
Another realization occurred to me: if Cynthia could identify the move on-site with such assurance, it probably meant that her Lucario could perform the same, and that wasn't something she'd demonstrated in previous league matches.
"You might have guessed already, but Lucario also knows copycat. It's one of our secret aces, and I would appreciate it if you didn't spread it around if at all possible. Copycat is an extremely rare ability, usually only manifesting in aura-sensitive Pokémon." Cynthia says
"Of course, I won't reveal it to anyone," I say before giving Cynthia a speculative look. "I can't help but wonder why you are really here, though. Surely someone as busy as you doesn't have the free time to travel between regions just to battle with random Pokémon like me, sapience or not."
"Actually, I do have some free time at the moment. I take breaks from league-related work to go exploring ruins, and occasionally, I help train special assets for the league," Cynthia whispered conspiratorially. She then continued in a normal voice, "Many people only see me as a great battler, but they forget that one needs to be the best trainer in order to become the best battler."
"Wait, so you mean-"
"Yup," Cynthia says, repeating her earlier reply. "I will be personally overseeing the training program that you and your Kirlia will be participating in for the next two weeks. You signed up to beta test the new experimental training equipment for the league, which, by my presence, you can tell is no joke." She says seriously before continuing
"I need to know how effective and safe it is for the Pokémon using it before I approve its certification for a limited production run. You are an ideal candidate for providing me with direct user feedback." Cynthia chuckles as a glimmer of eager anticipation burns beneath her happy façade.
"I- I don't know what to say other than thank you and when do we get started?" I ask
Her smile turns predatory at my question, and the next thing I know, I'm being fitted with a blue anklet and a red bracer right there in the middle of the grassy field. She didn't even give me time to sit up from my prone position. I hadn't known she had the items on her, but with how enthusiastic she was at the prospect of training me, I really should have guessed.
"All right, let's start out with three laps around the field and see how you feel."
Without hesitation, I get up and start running along the perimeter of the vast grassy field. However, after the first lap, I already sense my energy levels dropping. My anklet and bracer start to feel like heavy weights on my limbs, making it increasingly difficult to keep up the pace.
"NO SLOWING DOWN, KEEP UP THE PACE!" Cynthia yells from the center of the field, watching my movements like a hawk eyeing injured prey.
As I push myself harder, my muscles start to ache. During the second lap, Kirlia suddenly appears from the Pokeball hidden in my hair and grabs onto my back like a baby sloth. I'm unsure why he left his Pokeball, but I feel frustration as his added mass weighs me down.
Through our bond, I sense that he's aware of my growing distress and fatigue. Just as I'm about to return him to his Pokeball, our bond opens up, and a wave of psychic energy rushes into my body. I'm surprised as the energy rapidly dissolves into my muscles like sugar being added to water, giving my body a significant speed boost.
Instead of slowing on the last lap, I rocket forward, blurring around the field using psychic-fueled reinforcement. My perception of the world slows, yet even with my increased speed, I still see Cythia's piercing gaze tracking me without effort.
After the last lap, I relax marginally and ask Kirlia to stop funneling energy to me. This, however, turns out to be a mistake, as the sudden loss of energy promptly causes all my leg muscles to fail. Simultaneously.
As I stumbled and fell, my face skidded across the soft grass. Eventually, our momentum dwindled, and we came to a stop. Kirlia popped his head out from my red mane and cheered as if we had just won a race. I was too exhausted to move and groaned pitifully. Cynthia quickly came over to us and gently lifted Kirlia off my back.
A second groan escaped me, this time in relief as Cynthia gently lifted Kirlia's extra weight off my back. Then, she rolled me over onto my back, causing me to wince.
"Hmm, that was a stronger reaction than I initially anticipated. If the strain is that high, we may have to limit the item usage to one at a time," Cynthia ponders as she affectionately pats Kirlia's head with her free hand.
Cynthia observes with interest, "That boost of speed at the end was unusual. It appeared like the move 'Agility,' which is not typically seen in dark types other than Sharpedo. And even for Sharpedo, it requires a diet rich in Starmie meat to utilize the psychic energy effectively." After examining me for any injuries, she sits beside my head and waits patiently for me to recover my breath.
"Ya, Kirlia boosted me with psychic energy there at the end. I don't think Kirlia and I could transfer energy at a distance as you do for mega evolution, but as long as Kirlia is nearby, he can boost my speed."
"Thats quite interesting. However, I suggest taking caution to ensure that none of your dark energy backflows to Kirlia. Dark energy may have harmful effects on Kirlia, unlike your own body, which is accustomed to processing psychic energy as a source of fuel."
"Ah, good point. I'll try to keep that in mind… I don't suppose we can take a break now?" I ask pleadingly
Cynthia smiles at the question, and for a brief moment, I feel relief before she answers.
"Of course not. I had Carter requisition nearly 5 pounds of Leppa berries to keep you going. We aren't even halfway done with today's training!" Cynthia says cheerfully
The gleam of excitement in her eyes caused me to whimper involuntarily. Sadly, I did currently not have the energy to run away from the battle maniac.
AN: There was a chapter that went before this one, but it got scrapped. (It may return one day as an Omake, but it was mostly just Echo working at a Pokémon daycare kind of thing for the labs.)
Chapter 6: Gather the Team We Have A Mission
- Location
- Winter Desert
"Society tames the wolf into a dog. And man is the most domesticated animal of all." - Nietzsche
A few blissful seconds pass before wakefulness settles its greedy fangs into me, and the hope of 5 more minutes of sleep dies a tragic death.
Rolling over from my facedown position, I glance at the wall I may have just peppered with alarm clock shrapnel and wince as I see Kirlia's Pokeball embedded halfway into the drywall. Ever since the extra training sessions with Cynthia, Kirlia had refused to sleep in 'real space'. Likely because he couldn't feel his sore muscles while inside there.
I'd debated doing the same and sleeping in my ball, but alarm clocks weren't as effective in waking me up while I was inside one. I still don't understand how I could perceive the 'outside' world while effectively being converted into energy. Still, I don't have the free time to get a theoretical aura physics degree like Richard, so all I can really do is shrug and ignore it.
Not yet ready to start the morning, I find myself staring at the ceiling in the dim lighting of my room. Lifting my 'hand' into the air I inspect the three red-clawed digits, flexing them into a loose fist and then back out again. It's strange to think that the keratin-like material they are made of is harder than steel yet flexible enough to manipulate objects without much difficulty.
And there it is again, that strange bit of human curiosity that is both an intrinsic part of my mind now and a foreign object constantly pulling my thoughts with inane questions.
"Well, Dust." I say to myself with a sigh "It looks like another day of fun ahead of us. It'd be nice if the league could get their shit together and just send us on a mission already." I quietly mutter
Letting my upraised limb flop back down to the bed, I try not to think about anything for just a minute, but the aches in my sore muscles refuse to let my thoughts settle.
"I don't know how much more of Cynthia's training I can stand." I groan at the ceiling while covering my eyes with my arm.
Of course, there is no answer. Dustin Smith certainly isn't here; the only thing left of him is a distant memory in my mind. Every complex thought or emotion I have, though, feels like it belongs to him, but if that were true, that just made me a puppet on the strings of a dead man. If Dustin really was making all the choices, what was I then that was thinking these thoughts?
"Ugh, it's too early in the morning for an existential crisis." I grumble, finally finding the energy to roll out of bed
lazily putting on a fresh Ranger Uniform and plucking Kirlia's ball from the wall, I decide to get some food from the cafeteria instead of meeting Cynthia at the training grounds. It was the weekend, after all; so if she got mad, it was her fault for not making a schedule and just assuming I'd be at the training grounds every day.
Now, it's not easy hiding from a league champion, even with unique abilities like mine. Especially when they know you can't leave the facility without their permission. However, if I hide in plain sight, there might be a chance of dodging Cynthia's ever-watchful gaze.
I usually don't like going to the cafeterias, but if it means getting away from that blonde battle junkie, I'll do what I have to. Donning the illusion of humanity, I head to the elevators and pause for a second before hitting one of the top-level buttons.
I wasn't strictly banned from the upper-level areas per se, but I was heavily discouraged from going up here since very few people at this level had clearance to know about me. However, I felt the risk would be worth the reward.
On paper, the upper floor cafeteria is not the best hiding spot for me, especially since many people working at this facility could blow my cover at any moment just by standing too close to me. Hell, Just from the smell in the air alone, I can tell that at least 5% of the people here are psychics.
I don't know if it's a survival adaptation or what, but Psychics tend to be able to tell that something is up with me even without me speaking a word. The most likely theory I have on this was that they could not passively pick up my emotions due to my dark nature. That being said, if I didn't want my cover blown immediately and being yelled at by the director, I'd have to try and keep my distance from the other people here.
Paradoxically, I also didn't want to draw attention to myself by just sitting alone; humans, the stupidly social creatures they are, might decide to come over and talk with me out of some misguided belief that I was lonely or something.
Given the STEM field focus of most of the researchers here, you'd think there would be a lot more socially awkward people, but sadly for me, it seemed the opposite. Looking through the sea of people, I finally spot an island of salvation sitting alone with only a dark type Pokémon keeping him company at the nearly empty table.
Sitting down next to him, the young man looks at me strangely. I couldn't blame him; there was a large stigma against Dark-type Pokémon trainers, so someone randomly sitting down at the same table was probably a strange to him.
"Hey, it's Robbert, right? Long time no see. Your Absol is looking pretty sleek there. Do you do something with its hair, or is that just from a particular diet?" I say as quietly as I can get away with without drawing attention from the nearby tables. The Absol in question stands up to give me a curious sniff before wagging its tail in apparent recognition.
There is a bit of an awkward pause as Robbert tries and fails to determine who I am. Given my voice, you'd think he'd catch on quicker, even if I was trying to be quiet. Maybe it's just a human bias of some kind; they are a very visually focused species, after all.
"Umm, I'm sorry. Do I know you?" Robert replies in bewilderment
"Ah, sorry about that. Let me reintroduce myself since you seem to have forgotten. I'm Echo. We met once in the sub-lab hallway." I say while shoving nearly an entire rotisserie chicken (bones included) into my mouth, crunching down on it loudly.
Thankfully, no one was watching other than Robert because that feat would have been physically impossible for a human.
It takes almost a full second for it to dawn on him who and what I was, but when his eyes go comically wide, I can tell he finally put two and two together. It almost looks like he's going to have a panic attack as his eyes dart from side to side.
I can't tell if he's looking for the nearest exit or about to flag down the nearest security officer to tattle on me, which was funny, given that, technically speaking, I am the closest security officer. With Robert's lower security clearance, the poor guy probably doesn't know the specifics of my case and probably thinks I escaped the sub-labs or something.
"Relax, Robert, I am allowed to be up here," I say with an eye-roll
"b-but, you- they can't just, I mean-" He sputters incoherently
"Relax. You are making a scene, I only sat over here because Absol here is a rather convenient psychic repellent. Management doesn't want everyone to know about me just yet, so I'm trying to keep things hush-hush, if you know what I mean." I say under my breath
It takes another twenty seconds and two chicken wings for Robbert to finally calm down.
"Sorry, I just…they let you eat up here?" Robbert can't help but ask me
"Let is a strong word. Technically speaking, I can go anywhere in the facility that I want to. Comes with a level 2 security clearance." I chirp, flashing him my security badge, which was incidentally two levels higher than his own level 4 clearance.
That revelation causes his jaw to go slack, and I can't help but feel some amusement at his bafflement.
"So, are you going to answer my question or not?" I say between bites of my food
"Uh, sorry, what question was that again?" Robert says dazedly
"Do you give Absol hair treatments, or is it just a diet thing? Because if it's the latter, I might have to try whatever it is because Absol coat is practically opalescent." I say while petting Absols immaculate fur and getting a happy tail wag in response
"It's a bit of both I guess?" Robbert says unsurely
"You guess?" I laugh back
"Well, I mean, I do give Absol weekly baths, but that's nothing special. My grandmother gives me these herbal additives designed specifically for dark-type Pokémon that I feed Absol about once a month, but I have no idea what's actually in them. Maybe they help make his coat shiny like that; I'm not really sure." He says hesitantly
"Oh, that's interesting. Does your family specialize in dark-type Pokémon, then?" I ask while setting aside my now empty food tray.
"Well, my grandfather did once upon a time. I actually caught Absol here by following some tips I read from his old journals. He had an affinity for dark-type Pokémon, but because of the stigma against the type, he never said anything to the rest of the family while he was still alive. It broke Grandma's heart that he hid it all those years, so when I decided to follow in his footsteps, she supported my decision wholeheartedly while the rest of my family practically disowned me." Robert professed
I am struck with a strange sense of guilt for having accidentally asked such a personal question. It's odd to realize how complex other people's lives are. I'd been just about ready to leave the table before he unloaded that on me. So now it felt a little insensitive to just up and leave after that.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to trauma dump or anything like that!" Robert replies quickly after a too-long silence from me.
"No need to apologize; I just got lost in thought, is all. I think it's great that you are honoring your grandfather's memory like that. Your Absol is very well taken care of, and I'm sure he would be proud of you." I say sincerely
"Thanks; that means a lot. It's been an uphill road for us for a while, and this lab safety position has been a nice financial break."
A few minutes pass as I idly watch people going about their business; Robbert eventually manages to finish the food he had been neglecting since I arrived.
"Hey, can I ask you a question? It may be a little awkward, but I think I'd regret not asking while I have the chance." Robbert says after considering something for a while
"Well, I might not be allowed to answer, but I don't mind you asking. What's your question?"
"Could you give me any tips on how to…catch a Zoroark?" Robbert pauses midway as if afraid to verbalize the question
I blink in surprise but then let a wide grin spread across my face.
"I'd be delighted to give you some tips!" I reply instantly
"Wait, really? You aren't mad or anything?" Robbert squeaks
"Not at all. I think a Zoroark would suit you just fine, and I know you'd take good care of it."
Thinking about how I might catch my own kind for a moment, I get a few ideas going and then relay them to Robbert.
"Alright, my first recommendation is to go out on a full moon. You might already know this, but that's usually when a lot of dark types like to go searching for mates. There are probably a few more Zoroark out in the woods out here in Unova, but It will be hard to find any normally, given our propensity to 'mark' our territories with widescale illusions. You'll have to get them to come to you somehow, even if they are moving around during the full moon." I note thoughtfully
"What should I do to attract one out of its territory then?" Robber asks hesitantly
Eyeing Roberts's empty water bottle on the table, I stand up and grab it as I pass him by.
"I'll be right back. I just need to use the bathroom real quick." I say mischievously
"Uh, Okay?" Robbert says, nonplused at my sudden exit from the conversation
A few minutes later, I return to the table with a filled water bottle. Placing the bottle on the table, I see Robert's confusion increase until he gets a closer look at the yellow color of the liquid inside.
"Oh, Arceus, you didn't do what I think you did." He asks before gingerly picking the bottle up and grimacing.
"Gross, gross, gross, it's warm!" He whines to me while quickly pulling up his backpack from the floor and shoving the bottle into a storage compartment.
"Stop being a baby. I washed the outside of the bottle to make sure it was clean. Now you just have to spread that around a tree or a big clearing, and you'll have all the Zoroark in the area checking to see who's challenging their territorial claims. I guarantee it." I say with a grin
"Thanks…I think. Although I'm pretty sure there is a clause somewhere in my contract about not smuggling biological materials from the test subjects out of the facility." Robbert mumbles
"Ah, right, no worries, I'll let the director know. Less awkward if I tell her what I gave you rather than you asking permission to keep it. Either way, I'm giving you that, so you aren't technically smuggling it out or anything." I say with a grin
"…Right, Ya, okay. Thanks again, echo. I really do appreciate the help, even if I kinda want to throw up the lunch I just ate." Robbert mutters while looking a bit queasy
"No problem. In fact, here, once you do catch a Zoroark and have any more questions for me, send a message to this email address. The league probably heavily monitors my inbox, but I'll try to answer what I can." I say while pulling a spare notepad page from my inner shirt pocket and jotting down my lab-provided email account.
As I attempt to leave, Robbert quickly stands up, saying, "It was an honor talking to you again, echo. I'll make sure to get my grandmother's recipes and send them to you if you are still interested."
It must have been sheer habit on his part to offer his hand for the handshake, but I grinned all the same and carefully grasped his hand in my claws. His eyes bulge in surprise when he feels my inhuman claws wrap around his delicate digits.
Finally walking away from Robert's table, I start heading back to the elevators to see if I can catch a mid-afternoon nap back at my dorm when the sound of a piano stops me in my tracks. When I'd first entered the cafeteria, I'd spied the old grand piano in the corner but I didn't imagine the thing got much use.
Whoever was playing was rather good, too, and I felt oddly compelled to see who was playing this beautifully powerful melody. Maybe I'd even break out the old synthesizers from my enclosure days and see if I could play this myself.
An instant wave of regret washes through me as I discover that the pianist is Cynthia herself. Unmistakable even with that ridiculous disguise on, I cursed her even as I was captivated by the enthralling symphony of noise. Her gaze locked onto mine, and I could already tell she knew who I was. She caught me outright with this ploy, and a self-satisfied smile appeared on her face. Without words, that smile seemed to convey what she thought, 'There you are. I've been looking for you.'
I had no idea she could even play, and between the continuous eye contact and the increasing tempo of the song she played, I was all but rooted in place, unable and unwilling to move. By the time the short song ended, she had the entire cafeteria's attention, and I wasn't sure if it was because of the rather impressive piece of original music or because they somehow realized who'd been playing.
Most of the room returned to normal activity when Cynthia got up from the piano bench and started walking toward me and the maglev elevators. I quickly followed behind her as she passed by, knowing full well that I'd probably be getting an earful for having skipped out on today's training without giving notice first.
When the elevator door closed, I was about to make excuses, but Cynthia interrupts my attempt by handing me a datapad before I could even say anything.
"It is my understanding that you've been eager to get a field mission ever since your release from containment. I'd like to apologize for the wait, as it was partially my fault that the league has been holding off on you," Cynthia says while gesturing to the datapad
When I turned it on, I saw a top-down diagram of a tree. The scale on the side of the diagram showed that the tree was nearly as big as a small mountain. My eyes widen when I realize just what I'm looking at.
"That is the Tree of Beginning, and with your assistance, I would like to create an expedition to survey and explore its interior. The reason it's taken so long for the league to greenlight this is because I've been negotiating with the nobility from the kingdom of Rota to authorize your entrance into the exclusion zone around the tree." Cynthia says
The thought of going to such a historic location caused my heart rate to skyrocket in excitement. Even in Unova, children were told stories about Cameron Palace and how the Aura Guardians revolutionized humanity's ability to tame and befriend wild Pokémon.
Before their teaching spread, an individual might have a single Pokémon companion in their lifetime, but with direct aura bonding techniques, people could field nearly half a dozen Pokémon each.
The advancement resulted in unforeseen outcomes, as it led to a level of human warfare previously unimaginable. With human armies numbering in the thousands, the potential for Pokémon fighting forces to exceed tens of thousands became a reality. This shift in power dynamics led the nobility of that era to exploit the teachings of the Aura Guardians for their own purposes.
One day, Sir Aaron, the most powerful aura guardian in recorded history, saw the carnage his order's teachings had wrought and refused to let it stand.
He ascended to the summit of the majestic Tree of Beginning on the back of his loyal Pidgeot and somehow compelled the ancient tree to serve as a colossal aura transceiver, intensifying and projecting his unwavering determination outward. It is widely believed that by making the ultimate sacrifice, Sir Aaron harnessed enough power to manifest his fervent wish for peace, allowing it to reverberate throughout the entire region, much like the way a modern capture styler transmits the user's intent to wild Pokémon.
After Aaron's final intervention, the Tree of Beginning turned hostile towards humanity, seeing them as a threat. Its remarkable immune system targeted any human approach with deadly force. Despite several recent attempts to explore the tree using remote-controlled drones, further exploration was halted by the league when the tree unleashed its formidable secret weapons in the form of a legendary Pokémon trio, known as Regi golems.
Looking through the mission briefing on the datapad, I can't help but laugh. It was like this mission was made for me. I already had much of the geographical and surveying expertise from Dustin's memories as a scout, so no further training was really needed on my end.
This all looked promising, so long as Cynthia was coming along to deal with the Regis we'd be golden.
"SO, you're telling me that my first field mission is going to be exploring the resting place of one of the greatest heroes in history?" I exhale in ecstatic disbelief
"Yes. That about sums up it up. Even if you don't find anything relating to Sir Aaron, the tree itself is worth studying in its own right. So, what do you say? Are you interested?" Cynthia says with a playful grin
"I only have one question for you."
"Oh, and what might that be?"
"When are we leaving."
Everyone participating would have to be read in about my situation, but honestly, I didn't care. The facts of my sapience felt like an open secret half the time anyway, and most of the people I directly interacted with didn't seem to care what I was.
What worried me more was the league's intentions to capture the Regis instead of destroying them.
Upon uncovering this crucial aspect of our mission, I delved into the intricate history of captured legendary Pokémon to gain a deep understanding of the challenges that lay ahead. It was revealed that during the last war, Orre emerged as one of the pioneering regions to successfully capture their native legendaries. However, this triumph was shadowed by their insatiable greed for power, serving as a stark reminder of the perilous consequences of underestimating the might of these legendary creatures.
Orre, in their hubris, made the mistake of trying to capture Ho-oh using their enslaved Suicune, Entei, and Raikou. They learned the difference between a legendary and a Legendary the hard way.
There are no records of the event itself, given that none who were present survived, but It is believed that Ho-oh became so enraged at the attempted capture that it immolated itself.
Its body exploding into primordial flame and unleashing a hellish wave of sacred fire that swallowed two-thirds of the region in a handful of seconds, leaving behind a lifeless, fire-blasted desert where once a thriving landscape had existed.
I am genuinely thankful I don't have to deal with that level of bullshit. The Regis are a minor legendary tri if such a classification could apply to such powerful beings. Let trainers like Cynthia fight those kinds of monsters, I'm just fine being a scout and rescue ranger, thank you very much.
For the upcoming expedition, my job would just be exploring the inner areas of the tree and taking as many data scans as I could of the geology and wildlife. All I needed now was a device that wouldn't be immediately eaten by the Tree of Beginnings immune system.
And on that note-
"You are giving me a Rotom?" I ask Ontaro bewildered as I hold the placid ghost/electric lightbulb in my hand
"It wasn't really up to me but yes. Also, it's not just any Rotom. This is the original specimen; you might recognize it from its taste." Ontaro says bitingly. Ya, he still wasn't happy about my first interactions with the Rotom, was he?
"After your encounter, this one developed a liking for you, for some reason." Ontaro grumbles while working on a survey drone vessel for my new ghost companion.
"I'm not sure I entirely agree with this decision, but I suppose it does double as field rations in emergencies." I jokingly reply as the little ghostly lightbulb flies happy little circles around my hand.
"Please don't joke about that. I am not afraid to report you for threatening an endangered species." Ontaro deadpans
"How does that even work when we are both endangered species," I grumble half-heartedly under my breath
"Look, there isn't much to be done about the decision. A Rotom drone is the only way to guarantee the tree of beginning doesn't eat or destroy the recording equipment." Ontaro sighs
"Hey, I'm not complaining. I'm just stating the obvious concerns anyone would have with giving a Dark-type Pokémon a ghost type, is all." I retort while protectively holding the ghost to my chest as if afraid Ontaro would separate us.
The bond was formed; there was no going back; it was mine now, part of the pack.
"Look, I volunteered to be one of the support personnel going on this expedition just in case any troubleshooting is needed; I may be stuck at base camp, but don't think you can try anything while you are in the exclusion zone Echo. I will find a way to get back at you if any harm comes to that Rotom, so you'd better take good care of it." Ontaro says while finishing the last touches to the drone body and offering me Rotom's Pokeball.
"No worries, I'll protect it to the best of my ability," I promise while Rotom flashes over to the completed drone and begins the process of rapidly possessing the device.
After returning Rotom to its ball, Ontaro grabs a couple of pre-prepared travel bags before we both head for the nearby elevators.
I didn't need any travel bags since the supplies I would use on the expedition would be provided to me once base camp was set up. Picking up Rotom was the last thing needed before the team assembled.
My illusion of humanity slips over my form like a raincoat just as the elevator doors close in front of us. Some of the people Cynthia recruited from Unova weren't part of site 6, so it would be fun to see if I could surprise the newbies who had only recently learned about my existence.
"It's going to be a long flight to Rota, and we have to stop in Hoenn to pick up the remaining personnel. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to just PC transfer over to Rota once the rest of us get set up?" Ontaro asks me while we ride the elevator up to ground level.
"I'll probably do that for future missions the league sends me on, but in this case, I'd rather be on the plane with the rest of the team rather than wait around here or be stuck in stasis for the next 20 hours. Besides, it'll be fun meeting new people who are fresh to the idea of a talking Pokémon." I say as we finish the elevator ride and start heading out of Site 6's main security station.
After a short walk across a shortly-trimmed grass field, we reach a long stretch of blacktop that designates the landing area for all types of flying transportation. Up in the sky, a trainer riding a breviary patrols the airspace, ensuring no wild Pokémon approach too close to the landing zone.
Tucked away to the side, a vast, imposing grey metal hangar stood proudly, sheltering several aircraft designated for league use. Site 6, nestled in the remote expanses within Unova's borders, relied on cargo planes to transport the bulk of its supplies.
Stepping inside the hangar, I found the rest of the Unova team engaged in animated conversations. At the center, Cynthia was deeply engrossed in discussions with the pilots, while other members stood idly by. Meanwhile, a Machamp expertly loaded everyone's luggage and equipment into the cargo hold, skillfully directed by one of the trainers.
I offered to take Ontario's heavy duffle bag, and he accepted with a grateful nod. As I walked over, I carefully placed the bag into the growing pile of luggage. Lazily, I stood next to the Machamp's trainer, observing the only other Pokémon in the area happily performing its manual labor. After a few moments, the trainer checked his watch.
"It's almost departure time. I wonder when the staff here are going to escort that special Pokémon out for transport." The trainer says casually while looking around the area
"Oh, he's already been brought out. I imagine he's waiting for the cargo to be loaded like the rest of us." I say jokingly, savoring the full-body flinch from the tall, muscular trainer as he hears my voice
Letting a predatory grin pass over my features, I offer my hand to him for a 'hand' shake just to see how he'd react.
"The Name's Echo. Nice to meet you." I declared
A spark of uncertainty flickers in the trainer's eyes before his resolve kicks out all hesitation.
The handshake felt like a vice clamping down on my hand, each finger exerting an intense, unwavering pressure. It was as if my hand was being twisted by a hydraulic press, the force overwhelming. I pushed back with equal intensity, but with my focus diverted the illusionary disguise around me broke apart, causing it to flicker and vanish shortly thereafter.
The sudden disappearance of my illusion caught the attention of everyone else nearby, but my focus remained locked on the fighting specialist. Our eyes locked in a silent battle of wills, each challenging the other with unyielding determination.
"It's good to meet you, Echo. My name is John. I'll mostly be on logistical support, so we might not interact all that often. Still, I hope we can work well together." John says with a firm nod
Finally, the handshake ends, and I step back a pace.
"Holy hell, man, I hope you don't shake everyone's hands like that! You'd be breaking wrists left and right." I exclaim, shaking my hand out, mostly for theatrical effect.
The rest of the team trails beside Cynthia as she approaches, forming a loose semi-circle around John and me.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't break this expedition's most critical team member, thanks." Cynthia says dryly, "Alright, everyone, get your gawking out of your system now. You'll have the whole plane ride to ask Echo whatever questions you want; for now, let's get loaded up and get this show on the road. Chop Chop!" Cynthia declares with a clap of her hands
With nothing else to occupy my time, I ascended the short flight of stairs into the plane's cabin and staked out a comfortable window seat in the emergency exit row. Opting for this location meant the team would have an equal chance to converse with me should they choose to. Furthermore, I seized the opportunity to make the most of the additional leg space provided by utilizing my early boarding privilege.
After a brief lapse, passengers completed their checks and began to file into their seats. Among the first to join me were a pair of tech specialists, appearing as if they had hastily completed their tasks just to engage with me before anyone else could. The pair introduced themselves as Tiffany and Travis, a married couple in their late twenties, and they were not shy about getting into my personal space.
Travis seated himself right next to me and had his sleek-looking Pokedex pointed right in my face before he even sat down. Tiffany, on the other hand, took the seat directly behind mine and started talking about how cool my luscious red mane was.
I felt a little boxed in by the pair as they bombarded me with questions that were said too quickly to give me enough time to answer half the question.
I was eventually saved when John entered and outright laughed at my cowering away from the overly enthusiastic couple.
"Let him breathe, you two. Look, you're traumatizing the poor fella." John chuckles as he takes the seat one row in front of me and leans over the back of his chair to rest his arms on it while facing the rest of us.
"I have to say you are not what I expected," John says as the couple finally calms down a bit.
"Ya, I get that a lot. What did the league even tell you about me anyway? Do I have a file they just distribute to anyone who needs to know I exist or something?" I asked the group
"Yup. In fact, I have a copy of it on my dex if you want to see it," Travis says, flipping his Pokedex around to show what is essentially a bare-bones description—it has all the basics: Human memories implanted into wild Pokémon, saved lab personnel at personal risk, etcetera. I guess it's pretty simple when you leave out literally all the context and details like that.
It was so lacking in actual details, in fact, that I was surprised they didn't just condense it to, 'Yup, we have a sapient Pokémon employed at site 6, don't tell anyone, please. Thank you.'
"Okay, wow. At this point, I'm going to be suprised if the 'secret' of my existence doesn't leak to the world by the end of the year." I say nonchalantly
"Ya, it was actually kinda hard to tell whether this was some elaborate prank or not. Maybe that's what the league is going for, though. Keep the details to a minimum so that if the document did leak, people would just assume it was fake." Travis chimes in
"Then what's the point of having the file if you're going to omit all the details? You know what, forget I asked. We'd be here all day if we tried to untangle the league's motives. Anyway, I'm sure you all have a million questions for me, let's hear them." I say, waving my hands in the air to signal the inevitable barrage of questions.
I am indeed bombarded with what feels like a hundred questions. All ranging from 'What are your favorite foods?' to 'What did evolution feel like?'. All questions I'd already heard and answered a million times from my time as a lab specimen.
It wasn't until everyone was on board and the plane had taken off that I was asked a question I hadn't heard before.
"Do you have any secrets you haven't told the research staff about, like maybe any escape attempts that didn't pan out or anything like that?" John asks in a conspiratorial tone
Sometime during the question session, Cynthia must have boarded because, across the aisle seat, I see her lean forward and quirk an eyebrow at me as I visibly hesitate to answer the question.
"Okay, look. I don't have any big secrets I'm hiding or anything like that. I'm not some abused lab specimen like you'd see in the movies. The things I haven't told the researchers about are mostly benign." I say sheepishly
"Do you have any specific examples you want to share?" Cynthia calls out almost too casually from her seat.
"Well, just as an example… I may or may not have given one of the safety inspectors some…materials that will help him Lure out and capture his own Zoroark." I say carefully before mumbling to myself, "I may or may not have forgotten to tell the executive staff about that one…I hope that doesn't come back to bite us." I finish sheepishly
Cynthia stares at me for a moment before shrugging and taking out an archeology book from her carry-on bag.
As the hours passed, I found myself engaged in casual conversations with the team. Each member exuded exceptional qualifications, leaving no doubt as to why the league selected them for this mission.
Hell, even John had a master's in business logistics and urban architecture, and he was literally this expedition's hired muscle.
As daylight gradually faded, the night sky unveiled a breathtaking display of stars, captivating my gaze through the window.
As we continue on the journey towards Hoenn's coast, we have approximately 8 more hours to go before reaching our destination. Most of the team has opted to recline their seats and catch some rest during the journey.
I attempt to do the same, but the limited recline of the seats makes it difficult to get comfortable. Additionally, the mesmerizing view of the night sky stirs my instincts. In the wild, nighttime was the prime time for activity, and this contrast left me feeling slightly disconcerted.
After struggling for about 20 minutes to find a comfortable position to sleep in my seat, I reluctantly abandon the idea of getting any rest the normal way. As I rise from my seat, I notice a few passengers still awake, casting curious glances my way.
Disregarding their attention, I retrieve a small neck pillow from the overhead bin and carefully place it on my seat. I reach for the Pokeball hanging from a necklace hidden within the soft fur around my neck and unclasp it. Pressing the recall button, I feel a sudden surge of energy as I collapse into it.
I didn't even have to remove my uniform or anything beforehand since my clothes and basic equipment were all specially made from Pokémon materials, such as mareep wool. This meant it all could be beamed in with me so long as I kept the total additional mass to a minimum.
A few people found my actions interesting enough to lean over their seats or walk over to my aisle to peek at what I'd done. In my seat, the neck pillow I'd grabbed earlier holds my Pokeball, conveniently preventing it from rolling around.
From within the Pokeball, I can tell that the rest of the team is bemoaning how unfair it was that I could escape the uncomfortable plane seats like this. I 'smile' internally before relaxing completely into the blank resting state that the sensory deprivation so easily allowed.
Sometime later I'm woken when someone starts poking my Pokeball repeatedly with their index finger.
Without bothering to check who had woken me, I effortlessly break free from the containment device and extend my body, releasing a massive, jaw-achingly wide yawn. I may have accidentally given the person who woke me a close-up eyeful of my teeth, but that's just one of the hazards you face when waking up a dark type from a deep sleep.
Drowsily, I turn to look at the person who roused me from my slumber, only to realize that he wasn't one of the crew members from Unova. Glancing back out of the window, I observe that the plane is currently grounded and watch as new personnel start boarding.
It dawned on me that we must have been at our Hoenn stop, awaiting the rest of our crew. Shifting my attention back to the unfamiliar crew member, I awkwardly scratch the back of my head, noting that the man who had woken me up was standing perfectly still as if fearing that any movement on his part would provoke an aggressive response from me.
I might have scared him, or something after I'd inadvertently flashed him my teeth.
"Heya, how's it going? I assume you're part of the expedition, right? If you've read the briefing already, I'm the 'special asset' it refers to. You can call me Echo. What's your name?" I say, casually flopping back down into my seat after clipping my Pokeball back onto my necklace.
"Holy fucking shit," the man says, evidently in disbelief at the talking Pokémon in front of him.
"Your parents must have hated you if they gave you a name like that," I say with a knowing grin as I see some of the other people watching the byplay smile in amusement.
"What? No, I – I mean, my name is Saxxon. It's a, pleasure to make your acquaintance. I seriously can't believe my damn eyes right now!" Saxxon trails off in borderline hysterical excitement
Leaning away from Saxxon, I 'whisper' to John, who was still seated in the row in front of mine.
"Ya know, I've been expecting this kind of reaction from people for a while now, but this is actually the first time someone's lost it when talking to me. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to be handling this."
All John does in response is grin and shrug helplessly at the situation.
Cynthia came to the rescue by striding over to our group and immediately capturing everyone's attention. Following closely behind her was another member of the Hoenn contingent, an older man clad in a simple safari green uniform. His stern countenance and powerful presence evoked memories of battling against Cynthia, yet there was something distinctly different about him.
It was an unsettling sensation, but maybe all high-level trainers felt like this for some reason.
"Good afternoon, all! I'm glad that everyone seems to be getting along! My name is Brandon, and I will be the official team lead for this expedition," the older man proclaims to us in an exuberant timbre.
"Huh, I thought Cynthia was going to be the team lead?" I ask reflexively.
Brandon's eyes bear down on me like spotlights.
"Ah, you must be Echo. Your assumption is not unwarranted. However, Cynthia will not be able to participate for the full duration of this expedition. Once our esteemed champion here helps us deal with the Regi golems, she will depart for Sinnoh. I will remain with the rest of the team to support you and act as the commanding league representative at base camp for however long is needed." The man states with finality
"Oh, that's good to hear, I guess. I look forward to working with you sir." I say, trying not to let my disappointment show in my voice. Whoever this was must be highly capable if the league trusted him with this responsibility.
I really shouldn't be surprised that Cynthia had to leave, though. She'd already taken a lot of time outside of her home region, and the region champions were supposedly very busy individuals. It just would have been nice knowing that her firepower was in reserve if needed. After all, who knows what other kinds of Pokémon lived in the Tree of Beginning when it already housed three legendary golems?
After some back-and-forth answering questions and spending some time getting to know the new crew members, we were back in the air, heading for Rota.
As we embarked on the next leg of our journey, the flight from Hoenn to Rota seemed to pass by in a blur, lasting only about an hour and a half before our plane touched down at a small airfield not too far from the renowned Cameron Palace.
Disguised in my illusion of humanity, I stepped off the plane alongside the rest of the crew, eager to catch my first glimpse of the legendary Tree of Beginning. From a distance, it appeared to be just another mountain on the horizon, blending in with the others.
Yet, as I gazed more intently, I began to discern the subtle shift from the rugged exterior to the lush green canopy of the colossal tree-like entity rising from the earth.
My attention was completely absorbed by the mesmerizing sight of the Tree, so much so that I completely missed the arrival of the transport vehicles. We were planning to utilize the Hummers and other cargo haulers to transport both personnel and delicate scientific equipment to a dry riverbed closer to the tree.
Setting up the base camp just outside the exclusion zone was essential, as it ensured minimal signal loss for the crucial equipment I would be taking with me.
To my surprise, a young woman elegantly dressed in expensive attire emerged from one of the Hummers. She was escorted to Cynthia and Brandon by a pair of imposing bodyguards dressed in black. It was evident that this new arrival was likely a member of Rotas' royal family, and presumably privy to the details of my involvement, given that their approval was required for this expedition to proceed in the first place.
A few seconds of talking later, Cynthia visibly sighs before calling out my name.
"Echo! Where are you? We need you over here for a moment." Cynthia calls out without bothering to actually look around for me.
In less than two seconds, I sprinted over to her and came to an abrupt stop right beside her. As I halted, a powerful gust of wind ruffled her hair, caused by the displaced air from my rapid dash.
"You called for me, mam?" I say channeling my best anime protagonist while enjoying the flinch from the darkly dressed bodyguards.
"Yes, well, Princess Ilene, this is Ranger Echo. Echo, this is Princess Ilene. She will apparently be accompanying us on this expedition." Cynthia says dryly
"Oh? That a bit unusual. No offense to you, princess, but why would a civilian like yourself want to come with us?" I inquire with a tilt of my head
I can tell that the deep tone of my voice visibly unsettles her, and it takes an awkward few extra seconds for her to start speaking.
"I know it isn't ideal to spring this on you all at the last second, but I can't let an opportunity like this pass me by. I won't be useless, though; I have a master's in crystalline organics from Kanto University and several patents for 3D imaging that I developed by studying the crystal 'time flowers' endemic to the Tree of Beginning. My family has watched over the area for generations, and I've spent my whole life dreaming about the secrets the Tree of Beginning holds within it, so I want to be one of the few who get to see these discoveries first." She says quickly as if trying to convince me of her usefulness
I give Cynthia and Brandon a considering look before shrugging. Its not like it was my call to let her go with the expedition or not. Base camp should be relatively safe, so why call me over here to meet the princess?
"Ookay…so is there something you all needed from me because it looks like the team could use some help getting the equipment loaded up." I say, pointing a 'thumb' behind me toward the other cargo vehicles.
The princess blushes as if realizing that she'd forgotten the whole reason I was called over.
"Ah, well, I have something I wanted to ask you to take with you. It is a family heirloom of sorts, a time flower from Sir Aaron's era." The princess says before opening the back seat of the Hummer that she'd arrived in and pulling out a leather suitcase from within.
Cautiously taking the suitcase, I flip the latches up with a claw and lift the lid to see a beautiful dark blue crystal flower.
"This time flower contains a recording of Sir Aaron's funeral service as conducted by my ancestors some 300 hundred years ago. It would mean a lot to the nation of Rota if you could bring this to Aaron's final resting place should you happen upon it in your explorations or bring it to the topmost point of the tree if you cannot find any remains." She says solemnly
"And to be clear, Echo, this task is completely voluntary. You don't have to take the flower with you if you do not wish to haul it around." Brandon states
I look at the priceless piece of history in my arms and carefully close and re-latch the lid. Far be it from me to refuse a quest from a literal princess.
"It would be my genuine honor to fulfill this request for you, Princess Ilene." I say, giving my best royal butler bow to her
"All right, let's get going, then! Base camp won't build itself!" Brandon says with a smile and a hard pat to my shoulder that breaks my illusion and nearly causes me to fumble the priceless artifact in my hands.
Princess Ilene and I both give him matching glares
Last edited:
- Location
- England
Missing apostrophe in "Name's". I guess the extra capital letter is for emphasis?
- Location
- Winter Desert
Yes, we will go with that, lol. Thanks for the catches, much appreciated!
- Location
- Winter Desert
Thanks! I'm glad you are enjoying the story.
I think it's safe to say that even Legendary Pokemon are still non-sapient. However, there are particular mythical Pokemon where things might get fuzzy. For example: they might act childish while at the same time showing hints of forethought in their actions. It would be hard to tell whether they have true intelligence or just a completely alien mode of thought.
Chapter 7: In The Beginning
New
- Location
- Winter Desert
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." - Marie Curie
As we headed towards the base camp location, I decided to run alongside the vehicles, making a path through the dense forest that borders the dry riverbed used by the team as a makeshift road.
"Requesting Permission to scout ahead of the convoy, Over!" I howl out over the wind while pressing a button on my newly acquired radio collar
"Permission granted, logging you as off the leash Echo, have fun and try not to go too far. We'll meet you at the rendezvous point in a few. Over and out." Brandon replies back to me over the radio
"Copy that!" I cheer back.
For the first time in a long time, I really feel free. I can finally run in any direction I want!
Leaving the 'road' behind, I duck under a low-hanging branch and break away from the rest of the convoy, heading deeper into the forested area. A wide smile spreads across my face as the diverse scents of native animals and Pokémon greet my nose.
Traversing the loamy landscape, I pause at regular intervals, savoring the scents and sights of the wilderness. At each stop, I eagerly lean down to sniff at marked spots on the ground or cautiously peer into the nooks and crannies of trees, curious to discover the hidden caches of berries that the local wildlife has carefully stowed away within.
During my exploration, instinct guides me, leading me in seemingly random directions as I embrace the spontaneity of the moment. However, this carefree wandering abruptly comes to a halt upon catching a whiff of a potentially dangerous presence, jolting me into a heightened state of vigilance.
"Echo here; I just caught the scent of a Scyther in the area. I'm going to check if it's an individual or a swarm, over." I whisper into my radio.
"Confirmed Echo. We just made it to the rendezvous point and are unloading supplies now. Handle the situation as you see fit and then head back to us." Brandon replies back
Creeping silently through the underbrush toward the source of the all-too-familiar smell of the bug/flying-type monster. I don't know how to feel about the situation, considering that half of my family had been killed by Scyther shortly before I encountered Dustin on that fateful day.
At the same time, a ranger's duty is to preserve and defend life, and as much as I hated the species for what they had done to me personally, they still served as a keystone species in many areas. Without them, any number of prey species would skyrocket and overwhelm the local ecology.
That being said, the native Scyther in this region should have migrated further south by this time of year.
I spotted the massive emerald insect instantly as it nestled against the rough bark of a tree, its pearlescent wings gently fluttering with the breeze. It delicately lapped at an oozing hole in the tree, a rare sight to see from a mostly carnivorous species.
Cautiously circling the bug, I begin to discern the reasons behind its peculiar behavior.
The creature's right side is mangled, and its chitinous exoskeleton cracked from the right arm down to the midpoint of its thorax. The once majestic right wings crumpled and tattered, yet despite its evident injury, the creature still exhibits a liveliness that speaks of its will to live.
The creature's right arm and scythe seems to be of little use, indicating its inability to hunt properly. The sight of the creature resorting to drinking tree sap suggested a desperate search for sustenance.
Based on the position and severity of the crushing damage, I would guess that this unlucky fellow had a run-in with a Pinsir.
It would be within my purview to mercy-kill the creature since it likely wouldn't survive the month like this. Tree sap would only lengthen the time it took for it to starve to death, and its right side wouldn't heal properly without human intervention.
A Pidgey flies out of the canopy overhead, startling the Scyther and causing it to cautiously scan its surroundings for potential threats. Oddly I find myself empathizing with the giant mantis-like monster.
That all too familiar feeling of encroaching starvation and the wariness of always having to watch your back for opportunistic predators.
With a sigh of resignation, I reach for my capture styler and launch it from my concealed position. The device begins circling the tree where the Scyther clung. Instead of fleeing like I expected, the injured bug instead defiantly stands its ground, hissing at the airborne object.
Once the capture device forms a temporary sympathetic bond with me, I calmly walk out of the underbrush and present it with a pokeblock from my personal snack stash.
Cautiously, the Scyther loosens its grip on the tree and approaches my offering, its head bowed low to the ground in submission, the sympathetic bond informing it that I meant no harm.
It quickly takes the food from my claw, and after quickly swallowing the food block whole, it buzzes its one good wing happily. It sniffs at my pockets for more, but I gently push its head away.
The giant mantis Pokémon whines pitiably at my refusal to give it more food.
"Yeah, I know, bud. It's tough out here, isn't it? Well, come on then. We'll go get you fixed up at base camp." I say to it exasperatedly
The bug, not understanding a word of what I said, still happily followed behind me as I started walking back the way I came.
After careful consideration, I decided against keeping the bug monster on my team. Although Scyther and its evolved form, Scizor, are excellent battlers, it wouldn't be a good fit for me in the long run. While I saved its life, having it around brought up too many bad memories.
Someone from the league would likely be interested in it regardless. With a quick flick of my wrist, the capture styler gracefully flew back to me from its standby hovering position.
After a moment of checking to ensure the Scyther would make it to camp with its injuries, I opened the map app on my capture styler and double-checked the route to base camp.
I radioed the team to let them know that I had "captured" an injured Scyther and would be bringing it along for treatment. After receiving confirmation from base camp, we jogged through the forest for a short while until we reached the dry lake bed on which the camp was being erected.
The campsite is a flurry of activity reminiscent of an agitated beehive. Numerous large tents have been meticulously set up, their entrances flapping gently in the breeze.
The persistent hum of scattered electrical generators fills the air, providing power to an array of equipment, from bright floodlights to charging stations for electronic devices. In the midst of this bustling scene, people move purposefully, carrying gear and preparing for the mission that lies ahead.
I carefully monitor Scyther's behavior, ensuring it displays no signs of agitation or aggression before approaching the team with it.
"All right, Echo's back with the wild Scyther. John, you said you'd take it, right? Get it in a ball ASAP, and then let's have medical check it for anything critical. After that, let's get the rest of the tents situated and get the floodlights positioned while we still have a bit of sunlight." Brandon says commandingly to the whole team after they had gathered to see the crippled Scyther cautiously following behind me.
John nods, pulls out a netball from one of his packs, and hands it to me. I understand the action immediately. It is probably best not to throw things at the Scyther since it's still wild and could perceive the action as a threat. So, I take John's Pokeball and gently touch it to Scyther's carapace.
A few seconds later, the Scyther is caught and automatically registered to John. Giving the ball back, John walks off to one of the already assembled tents and heads inside; I note that the tent has a medical symbol on it and is likely one of the first places to have been assembled.
During the remaining hours of daylight, I focus on helping to set up the camp, which includes lifting heavy equipment and various items to ensure everything is properly in place. After that, I spend the late evening patrolling the camp's outer perimeter.
During the patrol, I may have taken it upon myself to strategically 'mark' a few key spots to discourage wild Pokémon from approaching the area. This is totally not because of my aversion to the smell of the latrines that the team had set up for themselves; I was just being tactical with my bathroom breaks while on the job is all.
As night falls, I return to the camp to find my bed and am directed to a rather large tent next door to Cynthia's. Inside is a nice little setup with a cot, a foldable side table, and all my miscellaneous supplies that I'll be using for the expedition. As I debate whether to sleep in my Pokeball, someone 'knocks' on one of the tent poles.
"Come in." I call out while taking off my radio collar and Pokeball necklace, preparing to set them on the side table
Turning around, I catch sight of Princess Illene and Cynthia strolling into my tent. With a deliberate motion, they zip the entrance closed behind them.
Raising an eyebrow in response to this unexpected action, I find myself unable to contain a theatrical reaction to their sudden invasion of my personal space.
"Look, ladies, I'm flattered, but I'm not really into Humans like that," I say jokingly to the pair.
The princess looks confused for half a second before realizing my meaning and blushing at the implication.
To be fair, Cynthia's long hair was slightly attractive to my instinctive preferences, in that it could probably house a kit or two. However, that wasn't nearly enough to bypass all the other factors that made humans just on the north side of gross in that respect.
My instincts thought of all that exposed skin as unhealthy, almost like they were suffering hair loss from mange or something.
"Duly noted," Cynthia replies back dryly. "However, that is not why we are here. Princess Illene wanted to show us how to utilize all the functions of a time flower. I'm told it's something of a family secret as to how to fully utilize them with aura, hence the zipped door." Cynthia explains
"Wait, why would I need to know how to use time flowers other than the simple activation?" I ask in confusion
"Well if Sir Arron or any explorers that came before him left any flowers behind, we would prefer you be able to activate them properly so that what's inside isn't accidentally lost," Cynthia explains.
"Shouldn't I just bring any time flowers I find back to Cameron Palace to be viewed there?" I ask in reply
Illene looks sheepishly at Cynthia before answering my question.
"That is what I was thinking before Cythina brought up the fact that Time flowers are very fragile things. Even slight cracks can completely distort the recordings within. It would be a travesty if Sir Arron recorded any last words only for it to be lost to an unfortunate accident before it can be brought to us." Illene says before continuing with an exasperated sigh
"Furthermore, the knowledge of how to use them is not particularly valuable to my family anymore; it is kept more out of tradition than necessity. Especially now that anyone with a phone can record video more effectively than any time flower can. It made sense to keep this a secret hundreds of years ago, but not now." Illene finishes
"Ah, right. I can imagine that Time flowers would have been an extremely valuable commodity in the time before printing presses or conventional photography were invented." I say, thinking about just how unique the flowers really were in that context.
Even in the current age, 3D recording and projecting technologies are in their infancy and not generally seen in the public sphere yet.
"Yes, well, I hope you understand that I'm still reluctant about this. Human Aura techniques are a controversial subject at best, and I want you both to promise me not to teach anyone else what I'm about to show you, okay?" Illene asks us both
Cynthia and I nod in silent agreement before Illene walks over to my supply pile, pulls out the suitcase holding the time flower she'd given me earlier that day, and gently places it on the floor between us.
Sitting down cross-legged, I watch in fascination as Illene carefully opens the suitcase, revealing the beautiful crystal object to us.
"You are both trainers, so you should be familiar with how an aura bond feels when you establish them. I want you both to place your hands over mine, close your eyes, and try to feel what I'm doing with my aura. Then, once you think you have it, I'll have you each try different functions of the time flower and we can go from there."
Almost Immediately, I sensed and copied her manipulation of aura, a skill I probably owed to my Lucario parentage. It only took me a few more tries before the copied techniques were fully memorized without any mimicry needed. After observing Cynthia's attempts to activate the flower for a few minutes, I felt compelled to pose a question.
"So I understand why you're teaching me this stuff, but why does Cynthia need to know how to do this?" I ask both of the women
"Because the lost civilizations that existed before us used to trade time flowers with other regions. The ancient rulers of the past were often powerful trainers and could thus use time flowers with a little trial and error. Time flowers have been found all across the world, usually in hidden caches." Cynthia says
Cynthia huffs at her lack of immediate success with the flower and looks over as she continues explaining.
"I have found a few broken time flowers in old tombs over the years. It would be invaluable to know how to properly use them should I come across an intact one. More often than not, there are traps that break the crystals to preserve the secrets within. This is one of the reasons why most of the knowledge from various 'forgotten' civilizations has been lost to us." Cynthia sighs
"I keep forgetting that you are an archeologist on top of everything else you do. How the hell do you find the time to do it all?" I ask
Cynthia shrugs and falls onto her back, seemingly taking a small break.
A companionable silence falls over us for a time before I decide to break the silence with a question to Illene.
"So, you must be very familiar with Sir Aarons's legend, right? You probably have seen the actual historical records from that time and everything." Illene gives me a nod in confirmation. "Do you think the tales of Sir Aarons Lucario being able to speak have any merit to them?"
Illene takes a moment to carefully consider the question, and I can't help but think she is trying to answer without disappointing me.
"Based on the limited historical accounts of that time, the answer is technically yes," she begins. "However, I think what you are really asking is if his Lucario was intelligent enough to have a conversation with, and the answer to that is probably no."
Before I can ask for clarification on her answer, she continues.
"The thing about it is that Sir Aaron had an impossibly strong connection with his Lucario. Our records seem to imply that he could use his Lucario as a sort of aura transceiver, and with this, he could 'speak' through his Lucario somehow. My family has tried to replicate the feat many many times, but no one has ever come close to the kind of bond that Aaron and Lucario must have had to pull that kind of trick off." Illene says solemnly
Cynthia reluctantly chimes in a moment later.
"It's a dangerous thing, trying to push the boundaries of the Human-Pokémon bond. Mega-evolution, Z-moves, gigantimaxing, and more are all methods that the major regions individually developed in order to push the bond beyond normal limits safely."
Cynthia sighs as if lost in memory before continuing.
"People tend to forget that it took generations of development to make these methods as safe and effective as they are today. Trainers today just don't realize how dangerous pushing the bond without safeguards can be." Cynthia shares in a low tone.
For some reason, her explanation catches onto a memory from the first day I gained Dustin's memories.
"Forgive me if this is one of those league secrets, but I once heard Professor Juniper use the term 'psychic bleed' when I was giving myself over to the Westpoint Unovan ranger station. She said something along the lines that I wasn't another Gardevoir incident." I say leadingly
All these pieces together were starting to form a picture in my head.
The term psychic bleed along with the knowledge that, given the right circumstances, it might be possible to communicate through a Pokémon-trainer bond…and well, the Gardevoir line are some of the most potent empaths in existence.
But is it truly possible to stretch the bond so far that you can speak through your Pokémon? I'd never even heard of something like that before.
With another sigh, Cynthia replies to my unasked question.
"During the last world war, there were…efforts to bridge the divide between humans and their Pokémon more effectively. Those scientists quickly learned that when the human-Pokémon bond is pushed to the breaking point, the human psyche can start to…bleed out, for lack of a better term." Cynthia says quietly to us
"Their aura quite literally hemorrhages out of them like a popped water balloon. And once this aura bleed starts, there is no real way to stop it. Inevitably, the result is either death or severe brain damage for both the human and Pokémon involved; thus, the term psychic bleed was coined. Thankfully, that kind of occurrence is incredibly difficult to perform even if you know what you're doing."
With a sigh, Cynthia finishes her explanation, leans back up on her arms, looking a bit sadder than a moment before and continues.
"As for Juniper's reference to a Gardevoir incident, well, let's just say that during the war, a veteran trainer managed to push their bond to the point of no return. She performed mega evolution without a keystone and, for a short time, acted through her Gardevoir as if it were her own body, telepathically communicating with her squad and everything. They held ground against the opposing forces long enough that it allowed the rest of her squad to flee the battleground, but in the process, it cost them everything."
Looking over to Illene, I see that she is unsurprised by this information. Given that Cynthia was revealing this sensitive information to us both, I can't help but speculate that Illene's family might have managed something very similar in the past while attempting to recreate Sir Aarons's apparent abilities.
Someone from camp interrupts the solemn silence that had followed the story. It's a person from camp looking for Cynthia's help, and she has to excuse herself for a few minutes to take care of some last-minute logistics for the research teams.
"I know I shouldn't be disappointed, but I was kind of hoping that there were instances of other Pokémon out there being as intelligent as humans. Kinda sad knowing I'm the only one," I grumble halfheartedly
"It's honestly shocking how easy it is to forget you really are a Pokémon Echo. You act and talk so much like a human that even with no illusions, I still have to remind myself that you aren't." Illene responds
I am well aware of what she means, but it would be best if she did not let the façade fool her. Plus I wanted to have a little fun.
"Ah, mimicry is just something my species is very good at, princess." I drawl lowly to her. "We enjoy 'pretending' to be one of the pack and sometimes spend days living alongside our prey until a perfect opportunity presents itself." I watch in dark delight as Illene's pulse quickens as she suddenly realizes she's alone in the tent with me.
Leaning in a bit closer, speaking as if passing on a secret, I say, "It's usually when the prey is alone that a Zoroark will strike for the kill." I rumble menacingly under my breath
Our eyes meet, and I can see her subtly grabbing a Pokeball hidden in the seam of her shirt's sleeve. I probably shouldn't be taking as much delight in this as I am, but for some reason, it is disturbingly fun to put fear into humans' hearts.
I grin widely just as Cynthia rejoins us a moment later, and the building tension of the room pops like a soap bubble. Illene gives me the stink eye at my apparent amusement at her reaction to my act.
After saying goodnight to the girls and watching them leave, I start getting ready for bed. Settling down to sleep, I idly contemplate going outside to find a spot to rest like I used to do in the wild. Maybe I could even find a nice spot under some tree roots or something.
However, the effort it would take to dig out a fresh den, combined with my overwhelming tiredness, ultimately dissuades me from pursuing the idea.
Laying in the cot, I close my eyes and let my fatigue overtake me. The sounds of the base camp gradually fade into the background as I drift off to sleep.
A few hours later, I am roused from slumber by the sounds of the team's early risers.
Emerging from the cozy confines of the tent, I slowly awaken to the crisp morning air, which feels invigorating against my fur. I eagerly reach back into the tent for my clothes and gear, feeling a sense of excitement for the day to come.
For anyone else in the camp, it might have been a faux pas to emerge from one's tent technically naked and dress outside of your tent, but I couldn't care in the slightest.
The camp is alive with activity, team members bustling about as they prepare for the day's tasks. I join in the preparations, excited for the real mission to finally begin.
The entire camp soon fully comes alive with energy, resembling a bustling beehive. People are in constant motion, transporting the final pieces of large equipment and setting up computers with diagnostic readings, scrolling endlessly. Amidst the activity, Brandon and Cynthia discover me eagerly pestering Ontario about all the other equipment he had brought with him.
"Echo, let's get you looped into the newest battle plan, and then we can get this mission started," Cynthia calls out to me.
I practically bounce over to them, eagerly anticipating what these two plan to do with the Regis to allow me access to the tree.
"Echo, do you have everything you need? We won't be able to provide any aid once you are inside the exclusion zone," Brandon says.
Instead of immediately answering, I go through the mental checklist Dustin used to use before going on ranging excursions and almost slap myself for forgetting one last thing I needed to do.
Releasing Kirlia from his Pokeball I give him the command "Set T-Point" while pointing at the ground.
Dustin had trained Kirlia to use this command to set a new teleport location, allowing them to quickly retreat back to whichever base they were working from at the time. Kirlia gladly followed the order.
A surge of psychic energy pulses through the area, and when Kirlia's eyes stop glowing, I know we are ready to proceed. Direct teleportation in or out is unlikely to work due to the tree being a living entity, but it's always good to be prepared just in case.
"Alright, I am ready to go."
Over the next 10 minutes, Cynthia and Brandon discuss their plan of attack with me. The first part of the plan involves activating some kind of fancy seismic device near the edge of the exclusion zone.
The device will serve dual purposes: attracting the Regis's attention and providing rough geological data that the rest of the team can use.
While Brandon and Cynthia work together to handle the Regi threat, I am to wait on the sidelines. If they manage to neutralize the Regis, I can pass by freely. However, if the Regis turns out to be too powerful, I will wait for Brandon and Cynthia to distract them long enough for me to slip by unnoticed.
After agreeing with their proposed plan, the rest of the team assembles, wishing us good luck, and helping load up a small vehicle for Cynthia and Brandon to use for carrying the seismic device and transporting them to the designated 'battleground' against the Legendary Pokémon trio.
After making one final check of all my equipment and ensuring that the encased time flower is securely strapped onto my back, I start jogging beside Brandon as he begins driving the two-seater vehicle away from base camp.
Cynthia, from the passenger-side seat, releases her Togekiss, who immediately glides high above us to act as overwatch. The short journey to the absolute edge of the exclusion zone takes only a few minutes, as it is just a few miles from base camp.
Parking at the edge of a large flat expanse of dry, rocky terrain, Cynthia and Brandon direct me to unload the heavy piston-looking seismic device and have me set it on the far end of the soon-to-be battlefield.
Cynthia releases her Garchomp, which dives deep into the solid earth as if it were water. Turning to Brandon, I watch expectantly as he pulls out a worn-looking Ultra Ball and releases a massive red and orange avian Pokémon from within.
What appears shocks me into speechlessness. The creature's radiant power crushes the air out of my lungs as its overwhelming energy expands into the surroundings, weighing down on everything as if the whole world had suddenly been submerged under a hundred feet of ocean.
I had assumed that Brandon would be providing support for the encounter, but when the man had just casually released a Moltres, I had to rethink all of my assumptions. The creature could probably be classified as a weapon of mass destruction, even considering that it doesn't look fully grown yet.
Then another thought occurs to me as I look at the other two similarly worn Pokeballs on his belt.
Is that the only legendary he has? We are going after a trio of legendaries right now to capture them, and Moltres was part of its own trio of Legendaries, wasn't it? Just what kind of trainer is Brandon?!
I glance at Cynthia and notice that she seems completely unfazed by the legendary Moltres. She must have already been aware that Brandon had it. Moltres's seemingly calm attitude helps me to gather myself, barely preventing me from panicking as all my instincts scream at me to run far away from this living incarnation of fire.
"…Okay, well. That significantly improves my estimate of our chances against the Regis." I can't help but squeak aloud
Neither of the Champion level trainers reacts to my words, seemingly content to allow me time to regain my composure. Right, we have a mission to perform, and I need to get my head back in the game.
Starting the seismic device, a resounding thump reverberates through the clearing as a sizeable flat piston smacks into the ground before slowly rising again for another smack and another in a smooth continuous pattern.
The team at the base camp sends me a message a few moments later. Opening my capture styler map, I can see a 3D model of the tree slowly gaining resolution with each loud thump of the seismic device.
As predicted, the device causes enough disturbance for the Regi golems to come out to play. Two of them are easily detectable at a distance as they appear from an opening at the base of the tree. One is sky blue, while the other is a shining metallic grey with black accents.
These two are the ICE and STEEL Regies, but where is the third?
The two visible Regis start making their way toward us at a steady pace, either hovering above the ground or jumping forward with ever-increasing momentum. I keep looking around for the third one to appear, but apparently, it is already here.
An eruption of rock fragments peppers the area as Garchomp emerges from the ground, its prey trapped in place by impossibly powerful teeth. The massive rock golem cartoonishly dangles from Garchomp's mouth, boulder-like appendages flail at Cynthia's starter, smashing rocky limbs onto the scaly hide with bone-crushing force, all to no avail.
Garchomp refuses to release its grip and violently swings its head downward, repeatedly slamming the golem into the ground until it literally starts to crumble apart. After the relentless assault, only a rocky torso remains of the Regi, at which point the golem begins to take on a dangerously ominous white radiance.
"Brace," Cynthia calmly calls out. A fraction of a second later Togekiss descends to the earth in front of her and Brandon with a decisive thud. In an instant, an inviolable barrier of shimmering green light emerges, enveloping the three protectively.
An ear-splitting 'explosion' erupts from the Regirock, and the entire area is engulfed in a dust cloud as rocky shrapnel peppers everything around us like a fragmentation grenade.
With a dismissive wave of Togekiss's wings, the dust clears away, revealing a pissed-off Garchomp still holding onto Regirock's remains.
"Come here and Drop it," Cynthia ordered the dragon, pointing over toward the ground next to Brandon.
The apex predator stomps over with a disgruntled growl before dropping the Regirock's surprisingly still-twitching torso at Brandon's feet. Cynthia then coos and scratches Garchomp under its slightly bruised, scaly chin.
I watch in disbelief as Brandon casually captures the Regi by unceremoniously dropping an ultra ball onto it, all the while Cynthia continues praising her starter.
"Good girl! Who's my precious little dragon nugget? Yes, you are!" Cynthia says as the monstrously powerful dragon starts wagging its tail as if it were some dopey mundane dog and not a terrifying beast that had just shrugged off a point-blank explosion from a legendary as if it were nothing.
Trainers like this really play in a whole different league than the rest of us mortals. I think to myself as I watch the two trainers wait patiently for the other two Regis to reach us.
What unfolds next is like a carefully orchestrated dance of violence. Brandon's Moltres springs into action, shielding Cynthia's Pokémon from an onslaught of icy beams unleashed by Regice with scorching blasts of its fiery breath.
Meanwhile, Cynthia's Garchomp uses 'Iron Tail' to deflect a rocky onslaught conjured into existence by Registeel's 'ancient power' attack.
For a scant few seconds, it appeared that the clash could last longer than the 'battle' with Regirock. However, Brandon swiftly directs Moltres to summon a blistering "sunny day," while Cynthia seizes the chance to have her Togekiss use a powerboosted "heatwave" attack.
The amalgamated heat becomes overpowering, resulting in the two remaining Regis starting to physically melt under the relentless onslaught. After that, it could hardly be considered a battle as the Regies are thoroughly and almost literally dismantled.
After capturing the two thoroughly defeated Regis, I was left in a state of shock by the sheer absurdity of the recent battle I had witnessed.
Brandon, despite having a legendary Pokémon on his side, had largely played a supportive role, while Cynthia took the lead and crushed the trio of golems into the ground like they were sandcastles on the beach.
"Alright, Echo. The way should be clear for you now. Do try to make it back in one piece, ya?" Cynthia calls out to me as she affectionately pats each of her Pokémon's heads.
Gulping slightly, I reply with a hesitant "Y-Yes, mam. You can count on me." Then, I start jogging around the still cherry red hot battleground before returning to a straight line path toward the Tree of Beginning.
As I make my way to the base of the tree, I release Rotom from its Pokéball and perform a few quick checks to ensure it is recording properly. Once that's done, I look at the seismic map data and find one of the many holes on the tree's exterior that should lead to an interesting hollow zone underneath the roots of the tree.
Once underground, all radio signals are unsurprisingly cut off, and returning to the base via teleportation is similarly blocked due to the tree's semi-organic nature interfering with the psychic connection to the base.
Not unexpected but still a bit stressful considering what happened to Dustin the last time teleportation was blocked.
The tunnels are dark at first, but soon beautiful, dimly glowing blue rock-like crystals pepper the walls. Despite Rotom's impressive scanning capabilities, the rock remains unidentified. I take out a small metal chisel made of Aggron hide and carefully tap at the mineral's surface until a small piece chips off.
I carefully place the chip into one of the numerous glass sample tubes on my person and then continue walking down the tunnel.
Without warning, the comforting blue glow is replaced by a foreboding red light. The crystals, previously tranquil, now emit a furious red hue. When I turn around, the rock I had collected the sample from begins to liquefy and transform into the shape of a Lileep, a prehistoric Pokémon.
I find myself immobilized by indecision as the entire tunnel becomes engulfed by red, shape-shifting Pokémon-like entities. They lunge at me from every direction, and in a moment of panic, I unleash as many dark pulses as I can. However, the horde is too dense for me to evade their relentless advance.
Before I know it, I'm submerged in the red goop, and then…nothing.
It's as if I'm enclosed in my Pokeball, the only difference being that I am enveloped on all sides by a pervasive warmth instead of emptiness. The feeling is disconcerting, yet strangely soothing, almost like being hugged by a Goodra that you aren't sure is going to kill you afterward.
Fortunately, the tree did not find me too appetizing. After about 20 seconds, I am ejected back into the tunnel, gasping for breath, while the red globs revert to blue crystals.
Instead of also being spat out of the goop, Rotom phases into the tunnel straight from the wall. The clever little guy must have ghosted into the solid rock to escape the tree's immune system.
As I carefully examine myself for any injuries, I am relieved to find that everything seems to be in order. Surprisingly, the red goop appears to have removed the residual dust and grime that had accumulated on my fur while watching the battle with the Regis.
I feel remarkably cleaner and refreshed than before, almost as if I have just emerged from a relaxing, warm shower.
Although the whole ordeal lasted less than a minute, it made me far more cautious about touching anything crystalline.
Shaking myself and carefully leaning against the wall, I take a moment to catch my breath and then curse as I suddenly realize that my ranger capture styler is missing from its holster.
It was risky to take it with me since it was mostly made of synthetic materials rather than Pokémon-derived ones. Even the glass vial with the crystal shard had stayed perfectly untouched.
Oh well, I would just have to requisition a new one when I returned to Unova. I should probably ask about a salary when I get back because capture stylers are not cheap to replace.
Rotom flies over to my shoulder and folds its wings up, extending two little foot clamps so that it can land on my shoulder. Its presence consols my frustration at the lost equipment, and I give the ghost an affectionate pat on the head.
It rubs its body against my head, and I can't help but smile at the affectionate living camera. A sudden desire to give the little guy a name overcomes me. Dustin hadn't been one for nicknaming his Pokémon, always referring to them by their species name, but as much as I mimic the man, I am not him.
My team feels like family to me; they are part of my pack, and not giving them names feels wrong. I don't feel right naming Kirlia because he was Dustin's Pokémon first, but Rotom was mine alone. I pick up the camera drone with one hand and ask the ghost a question.
"How would you like a name, little one," I ask
The ghost bobs up and down, most likely just enjoying the attention I was giving it, but I take it as a yes regardless.
"How does Snap sound?" I ask, smiling to myself at the double meaning between how I snapped it out of the air that first time and how shuddered cameras sounded.
The ghost unfolds its wings and makes a lazy loop around my head before hovering above my right shoulder again.
"All right then Snap, let's get out of these damn tunnels and finally start exploring!" I can't help but yell as I book it down the tunnel
As I make the transition to moving on all fours, an electrifying surge of adrenaline spreads through my veins, propelling me forward with an invigorating sense of freedom.
I race through the twisting tunnels, my senses sharpening as I eagerly hunt for the hidden treasures within the maze-like tunnel structure.
Despite facing multiple forking paths, I easily maintain pace, instinctively following the smell of fresh water and verdant foliage, the latter of which being a near impossibility this deep underground.
With a triumphant howl escaping my lips and Snap's fan wings buzzing with power like a Beedrill by my side, the once dim, crystal-studded passageways give way to a breathtakingly radiant light.
The suffocating confines of the tunnel walls drop away to unveil a colossal, awe-inspiring cavernous oasis absolutely teeming with life. The expansive open space seems almost inconceivably vast, harboring an entire underground ecosystem within the dome-like hollow beneath the revered Tree of Beginning.
In a state of flabbergasted wonder, I behold a flock of Swablu darting by, closely trailed by a massive Aerodactyl— a species long thought to have vanished from existence in the wild.
I lower myself onto my haunches and ensure that Rotom is recording everything so that we can fully capture the awe-inspiring landscape in front of us.
Positioned prominently on the cavern's ceiling, a colossal white crystal stands out, emanating a magnificent and brilliant light. Its glow seems to harness the radiant energy of the sun from within, casting a mesmerizing illumination over everything below it.
The ground below is adorned with lush green trees and bountiful berry bushes, while a grand river gracefully carves its path through the center, originating from some hidden spring and re-emerging a few hundred feet downstream.
Hundreds of Pokémon crawl, swim, and fly through the space, filling the cavernous dome with abundant life.
As my hand reaches out, Rotom lands delicately on it, and I guide its camera to capture the presence of each individual species I can spot from up here. I eagerly cross-reference each image with the internal Pokédex to confirm the breathtaking sight of several thought to be extinct Pokémon.
Down by the river, I marvel at the elegant movements of Lileep, Cradily, Omanyte, and Anorith as they gracefully swim around the shards of the crystal-clear water. In the enchanting, densely forested areas, majestically armored Armaldo roams while swarms of Ledyba create a mesmerizing spectacle, practically coating specific trees in vibrant oranges and reds.
Using my own experiences of the wilderness and Dustin's expertise in surveying, I begin verbally documenting my analysis of the area for the recording.
"This open cavern ecosystem appears to be a completely self-contained biome; exit and entrance points like the tunnels I entered from appear to be too small for most of the fully evolved species here to escape from. Water supplied from some underground source, likely mountain runoff making its way to an underground aquafer at a best guess."
Aiming Rotoms camera from observation point to observation point, I finally focus on the massive crystal hanging from the ceiling.
"Spectrograph readings lead me to believe that the light coming from the crystalline stalactite formation is directly funneling sunlight from the surface. I cannot say why this is the case, but given how deep underground we are, I have to assume that the crystal lattice must run throughout the bulk of the tree all the way to the tree's canopy."
As I observe the enclosed ecosystem closely, every minute reveals more about the intricate food chain at play. At the foundation of this web are the producers, including the lush berry bushes, towering trees, and deceptively delicate Lileep.
It's truly fascinating to witness these life-giving sources being consumed by the bug types, such as the swarms of Ledyba and the fascinating Anorith, as they carry out their role in this complex natural system.
I release Kirlia by my side so that he can enjoy the view as well and carefully continue recording all my observations.
The Swablu, near the top of the food chain, displayed remarkable hunting skills as they pursued the bug Pokémon, while also being acutely aware of their vulnerability to the apex species of the entire area, the awe-inspiring Aerodactyl.
It's a mesmerizing sight, and I can't help but be absorbed by the intricate dynamics of this natural pocket ecosystem.
As evening approaches, my Pokémon and I finally descend into the underground valley oasis. I probably should have set up camp in the tunnel, but my curiosity got the better of me. Maneuvering through the underbrush to get close-up scans of each of the extinct species, I feel giddy as I observe the readouts.
Several contested theories exist about Pokémon resurrected via fossils, and I may have just inadvertently found the evidence needed to disprove one of them.
One theory suggests that the fossil resurrection process inherently imparts a rock-type aura to the revived subject. Conversely, a counter hypothesis posits that rock-type Pokémon are simply more likely to leave behind fossils suitable for the resurrection process, and that the ancient Pokémon revived from these fossils were always rock types.
My scans indicate that all the extinct Pokémon in the valley were rock types. This data alone made the entire expedition worthwhile, even in the unlikely event that I didn't find anything else of interest.
Setting my sights on the 'sky', I can't help but notice the peculiar behavior of the Swablu as they gracefully descend to the ground. It dawned on me that the ancient Pokémon inhabiting this area were not the only interesting creatures here.
Typically, Swablu avoid making contact with the ground whenever possible. It was not unheard of for them to drift on air currents while sleeping, potentially even spending most of their lives airborne, descending only to perch high amidst mountainous cliffs to nest.
The sight was truly astonishing as I witnessed a whole flock swiftly making their way into an underground burrow. Guarding the entrance was a majestic Altaria, its colossal, billowing body providing a shield of protection.
The Altaria's eyes focused unweaveringly on the gaps in the canopy above. It strikes me that this behavior must have evolved over countless generations as a survival strategy in response to the threat of Aerodactyl predation.
As I watch the scene, the Altaria suddenly notices us and fluffs its feathers threateningly in response to the group of Pokémon near its concealed den, which is teeming with its young.
My connection with Kirlia conveys the sense that Altaria is uncertain about our presence and hesitant to launch a direct assault on Pokémon it was unfamiliar with.
With careful steps, I made my way toward the glorious creature, fully aware of the absence of my capture styler to ease its apprehension of me.
Despite this, I had a strategy to soothe its worry as I had spent a few hours collecting an assortment of berries from the surrounding area, intending to have them analyzed by the researchers upon my return to camp.
Being mindful, I have Rotom perch on my shoulder and Kirlia nestle into my mane as I cautiously approach the creature, offering it the fruits of my foraging with open intent.
Dragons typically react to food offerings in one of two ways: they either immediately attack, or sometimes they accept the offering and allow you to go about your business if you demonstrate yourself as a non-threat.
Altaria, a Pokémon that acquires dragon typing upon evolution, typically exhibits a more subdued emotional response compared to other dragon species. Therefore, I feel pretty confident in getting on its good side so I can get close-up scans with Rotom.
Avoiding direct eye contact, I slowly approach with my offering, and the Altaria allows me, eyeing the berries with a hungry avian glint.
After consuming the first two berries, the bird appeares satisfied to ignore me. But as I continued to offer more from my seemingly limitless supply, a revelation appeared to dawn on its bird brain.
Suddenly, the avian gently starts shoving me around with its shockingly soft, fluffy wings. Rather than attacking me, I soon understood that it was forcibly pushing me into its underground den.
My natural night vision easily makes out the forms of nearly a dozen fluffy blue and white bodies as they turn their hungry gazes on me. After being swarmed and having to empty my entire hoard of berry 'samples,' I find myself sitting among a content flock of adolescent bird Pokémon.
With the den guarded by a literal dragon, I belatedly realize this spot is the safest place for me to spend the night. As I settle into a comfortable spot, the Swablu pile around me, seeking my warmth and creating a soft, downy wall of fluff on all sides. With Kirlia nestled protectively in my mane and Rotom vigilantly watching from my shoulder, a deep sense of contentment washes over me.
And that's when the Altaria started to 'sing' its young to sleep. The melodious crooning nearly brought a tear to my eye, not just because of the beauty of the sound but how special the moment felt.
At this moment, I feel like I have found a literal slice of heaven.
Next Chapter Title: Do not go gentle into that good night
AN: Discussion makes the author happy, but so do story recommendations. For you all, I would highly recommend checking out 'Cubes' by overripeTomatillos on AO3. It has Zoroarks secretly hiding in human society, and it's pretty great, in my opinion.
Please let me know of any egregious grammar mistakes so I can fix them before posting this elsewhere lol.
Have a good weekend all!
As we headed towards the base camp location, I decided to run alongside the vehicles, making a path through the dense forest that borders the dry riverbed used by the team as a makeshift road.
"Requesting Permission to scout ahead of the convoy, Over!" I howl out over the wind while pressing a button on my newly acquired radio collar
"Permission granted, logging you as off the leash Echo, have fun and try not to go too far. We'll meet you at the rendezvous point in a few. Over and out." Brandon replies back to me over the radio
"Copy that!" I cheer back.
For the first time in a long time, I really feel free. I can finally run in any direction I want!
Leaving the 'road' behind, I duck under a low-hanging branch and break away from the rest of the convoy, heading deeper into the forested area. A wide smile spreads across my face as the diverse scents of native animals and Pokémon greet my nose.
Traversing the loamy landscape, I pause at regular intervals, savoring the scents and sights of the wilderness. At each stop, I eagerly lean down to sniff at marked spots on the ground or cautiously peer into the nooks and crannies of trees, curious to discover the hidden caches of berries that the local wildlife has carefully stowed away within.
During my exploration, instinct guides me, leading me in seemingly random directions as I embrace the spontaneity of the moment. However, this carefree wandering abruptly comes to a halt upon catching a whiff of a potentially dangerous presence, jolting me into a heightened state of vigilance.
"Echo here; I just caught the scent of a Scyther in the area. I'm going to check if it's an individual or a swarm, over." I whisper into my radio.
"Confirmed Echo. We just made it to the rendezvous point and are unloading supplies now. Handle the situation as you see fit and then head back to us." Brandon replies back
Creeping silently through the underbrush toward the source of the all-too-familiar smell of the bug/flying-type monster. I don't know how to feel about the situation, considering that half of my family had been killed by Scyther shortly before I encountered Dustin on that fateful day.
At the same time, a ranger's duty is to preserve and defend life, and as much as I hated the species for what they had done to me personally, they still served as a keystone species in many areas. Without them, any number of prey species would skyrocket and overwhelm the local ecology.
That being said, the native Scyther in this region should have migrated further south by this time of year.
I spotted the massive emerald insect instantly as it nestled against the rough bark of a tree, its pearlescent wings gently fluttering with the breeze. It delicately lapped at an oozing hole in the tree, a rare sight to see from a mostly carnivorous species.
Cautiously circling the bug, I begin to discern the reasons behind its peculiar behavior.
The creature's right side is mangled, and its chitinous exoskeleton cracked from the right arm down to the midpoint of its thorax. The once majestic right wings crumpled and tattered, yet despite its evident injury, the creature still exhibits a liveliness that speaks of its will to live.
The creature's right arm and scythe seems to be of little use, indicating its inability to hunt properly. The sight of the creature resorting to drinking tree sap suggested a desperate search for sustenance.
Based on the position and severity of the crushing damage, I would guess that this unlucky fellow had a run-in with a Pinsir.
It would be within my purview to mercy-kill the creature since it likely wouldn't survive the month like this. Tree sap would only lengthen the time it took for it to starve to death, and its right side wouldn't heal properly without human intervention.
A Pidgey flies out of the canopy overhead, startling the Scyther and causing it to cautiously scan its surroundings for potential threats. Oddly I find myself empathizing with the giant mantis-like monster.
That all too familiar feeling of encroaching starvation and the wariness of always having to watch your back for opportunistic predators.
With a sigh of resignation, I reach for my capture styler and launch it from my concealed position. The device begins circling the tree where the Scyther clung. Instead of fleeing like I expected, the injured bug instead defiantly stands its ground, hissing at the airborne object.
Once the capture device forms a temporary sympathetic bond with me, I calmly walk out of the underbrush and present it with a pokeblock from my personal snack stash.
Cautiously, the Scyther loosens its grip on the tree and approaches my offering, its head bowed low to the ground in submission, the sympathetic bond informing it that I meant no harm.
It quickly takes the food from my claw, and after quickly swallowing the food block whole, it buzzes its one good wing happily. It sniffs at my pockets for more, but I gently push its head away.
The giant mantis Pokémon whines pitiably at my refusal to give it more food.
"Yeah, I know, bud. It's tough out here, isn't it? Well, come on then. We'll go get you fixed up at base camp." I say to it exasperatedly
The bug, not understanding a word of what I said, still happily followed behind me as I started walking back the way I came.
After careful consideration, I decided against keeping the bug monster on my team. Although Scyther and its evolved form, Scizor, are excellent battlers, it wouldn't be a good fit for me in the long run. While I saved its life, having it around brought up too many bad memories.
Someone from the league would likely be interested in it regardless. With a quick flick of my wrist, the capture styler gracefully flew back to me from its standby hovering position.
After a moment of checking to ensure the Scyther would make it to camp with its injuries, I opened the map app on my capture styler and double-checked the route to base camp.
I radioed the team to let them know that I had "captured" an injured Scyther and would be bringing it along for treatment. After receiving confirmation from base camp, we jogged through the forest for a short while until we reached the dry lake bed on which the camp was being erected.
The campsite is a flurry of activity reminiscent of an agitated beehive. Numerous large tents have been meticulously set up, their entrances flapping gently in the breeze.
The persistent hum of scattered electrical generators fills the air, providing power to an array of equipment, from bright floodlights to charging stations for electronic devices. In the midst of this bustling scene, people move purposefully, carrying gear and preparing for the mission that lies ahead.
I carefully monitor Scyther's behavior, ensuring it displays no signs of agitation or aggression before approaching the team with it.
"All right, Echo's back with the wild Scyther. John, you said you'd take it, right? Get it in a ball ASAP, and then let's have medical check it for anything critical. After that, let's get the rest of the tents situated and get the floodlights positioned while we still have a bit of sunlight." Brandon says commandingly to the whole team after they had gathered to see the crippled Scyther cautiously following behind me.
John nods, pulls out a netball from one of his packs, and hands it to me. I understand the action immediately. It is probably best not to throw things at the Scyther since it's still wild and could perceive the action as a threat. So, I take John's Pokeball and gently touch it to Scyther's carapace.
A few seconds later, the Scyther is caught and automatically registered to John. Giving the ball back, John walks off to one of the already assembled tents and heads inside; I note that the tent has a medical symbol on it and is likely one of the first places to have been assembled.
During the remaining hours of daylight, I focus on helping to set up the camp, which includes lifting heavy equipment and various items to ensure everything is properly in place. After that, I spend the late evening patrolling the camp's outer perimeter.
During the patrol, I may have taken it upon myself to strategically 'mark' a few key spots to discourage wild Pokémon from approaching the area. This is totally not because of my aversion to the smell of the latrines that the team had set up for themselves; I was just being tactical with my bathroom breaks while on the job is all.
As night falls, I return to the camp to find my bed and am directed to a rather large tent next door to Cynthia's. Inside is a nice little setup with a cot, a foldable side table, and all my miscellaneous supplies that I'll be using for the expedition. As I debate whether to sleep in my Pokeball, someone 'knocks' on one of the tent poles.
"Come in." I call out while taking off my radio collar and Pokeball necklace, preparing to set them on the side table
Turning around, I catch sight of Princess Illene and Cynthia strolling into my tent. With a deliberate motion, they zip the entrance closed behind them.
Raising an eyebrow in response to this unexpected action, I find myself unable to contain a theatrical reaction to their sudden invasion of my personal space.
"Look, ladies, I'm flattered, but I'm not really into Humans like that," I say jokingly to the pair.
The princess looks confused for half a second before realizing my meaning and blushing at the implication.
To be fair, Cynthia's long hair was slightly attractive to my instinctive preferences, in that it could probably house a kit or two. However, that wasn't nearly enough to bypass all the other factors that made humans just on the north side of gross in that respect.
My instincts thought of all that exposed skin as unhealthy, almost like they were suffering hair loss from mange or something.
"Duly noted," Cynthia replies back dryly. "However, that is not why we are here. Princess Illene wanted to show us how to utilize all the functions of a time flower. I'm told it's something of a family secret as to how to fully utilize them with aura, hence the zipped door." Cynthia explains
"Wait, why would I need to know how to use time flowers other than the simple activation?" I ask in confusion
"Well if Sir Arron or any explorers that came before him left any flowers behind, we would prefer you be able to activate them properly so that what's inside isn't accidentally lost," Cynthia explains.
"Shouldn't I just bring any time flowers I find back to Cameron Palace to be viewed there?" I ask in reply
Illene looks sheepishly at Cynthia before answering my question.
"That is what I was thinking before Cythina brought up the fact that Time flowers are very fragile things. Even slight cracks can completely distort the recordings within. It would be a travesty if Sir Arron recorded any last words only for it to be lost to an unfortunate accident before it can be brought to us." Illene says before continuing with an exasperated sigh
"Furthermore, the knowledge of how to use them is not particularly valuable to my family anymore; it is kept more out of tradition than necessity. Especially now that anyone with a phone can record video more effectively than any time flower can. It made sense to keep this a secret hundreds of years ago, but not now." Illene finishes
"Ah, right. I can imagine that Time flowers would have been an extremely valuable commodity in the time before printing presses or conventional photography were invented." I say, thinking about just how unique the flowers really were in that context.
Even in the current age, 3D recording and projecting technologies are in their infancy and not generally seen in the public sphere yet.
"Yes, well, I hope you understand that I'm still reluctant about this. Human Aura techniques are a controversial subject at best, and I want you both to promise me not to teach anyone else what I'm about to show you, okay?" Illene asks us both
Cynthia and I nod in silent agreement before Illene walks over to my supply pile, pulls out the suitcase holding the time flower she'd given me earlier that day, and gently places it on the floor between us.
Sitting down cross-legged, I watch in fascination as Illene carefully opens the suitcase, revealing the beautiful crystal object to us.
"You are both trainers, so you should be familiar with how an aura bond feels when you establish them. I want you both to place your hands over mine, close your eyes, and try to feel what I'm doing with my aura. Then, once you think you have it, I'll have you each try different functions of the time flower and we can go from there."
Almost Immediately, I sensed and copied her manipulation of aura, a skill I probably owed to my Lucario parentage. It only took me a few more tries before the copied techniques were fully memorized without any mimicry needed. After observing Cynthia's attempts to activate the flower for a few minutes, I felt compelled to pose a question.
"So I understand why you're teaching me this stuff, but why does Cynthia need to know how to do this?" I ask both of the women
"Because the lost civilizations that existed before us used to trade time flowers with other regions. The ancient rulers of the past were often powerful trainers and could thus use time flowers with a little trial and error. Time flowers have been found all across the world, usually in hidden caches." Cynthia says
Cynthia huffs at her lack of immediate success with the flower and looks over as she continues explaining.
"I have found a few broken time flowers in old tombs over the years. It would be invaluable to know how to properly use them should I come across an intact one. More often than not, there are traps that break the crystals to preserve the secrets within. This is one of the reasons why most of the knowledge from various 'forgotten' civilizations has been lost to us." Cynthia sighs
"I keep forgetting that you are an archeologist on top of everything else you do. How the hell do you find the time to do it all?" I ask
Cynthia shrugs and falls onto her back, seemingly taking a small break.
A companionable silence falls over us for a time before I decide to break the silence with a question to Illene.
"So, you must be very familiar with Sir Aarons's legend, right? You probably have seen the actual historical records from that time and everything." Illene gives me a nod in confirmation. "Do you think the tales of Sir Aarons Lucario being able to speak have any merit to them?"
Illene takes a moment to carefully consider the question, and I can't help but think she is trying to answer without disappointing me.
"Based on the limited historical accounts of that time, the answer is technically yes," she begins. "However, I think what you are really asking is if his Lucario was intelligent enough to have a conversation with, and the answer to that is probably no."
Before I can ask for clarification on her answer, she continues.
"The thing about it is that Sir Aaron had an impossibly strong connection with his Lucario. Our records seem to imply that he could use his Lucario as a sort of aura transceiver, and with this, he could 'speak' through his Lucario somehow. My family has tried to replicate the feat many many times, but no one has ever come close to the kind of bond that Aaron and Lucario must have had to pull that kind of trick off." Illene says solemnly
Cynthia reluctantly chimes in a moment later.
"It's a dangerous thing, trying to push the boundaries of the Human-Pokémon bond. Mega-evolution, Z-moves, gigantimaxing, and more are all methods that the major regions individually developed in order to push the bond beyond normal limits safely."
Cynthia sighs as if lost in memory before continuing.
"People tend to forget that it took generations of development to make these methods as safe and effective as they are today. Trainers today just don't realize how dangerous pushing the bond without safeguards can be." Cynthia shares in a low tone.
For some reason, her explanation catches onto a memory from the first day I gained Dustin's memories.
"Forgive me if this is one of those league secrets, but I once heard Professor Juniper use the term 'psychic bleed' when I was giving myself over to the Westpoint Unovan ranger station. She said something along the lines that I wasn't another Gardevoir incident." I say leadingly
All these pieces together were starting to form a picture in my head.
The term psychic bleed along with the knowledge that, given the right circumstances, it might be possible to communicate through a Pokémon-trainer bond…and well, the Gardevoir line are some of the most potent empaths in existence.
But is it truly possible to stretch the bond so far that you can speak through your Pokémon? I'd never even heard of something like that before.
With another sigh, Cynthia replies to my unasked question.
"During the last world war, there were…efforts to bridge the divide between humans and their Pokémon more effectively. Those scientists quickly learned that when the human-Pokémon bond is pushed to the breaking point, the human psyche can start to…bleed out, for lack of a better term." Cynthia says quietly to us
"Their aura quite literally hemorrhages out of them like a popped water balloon. And once this aura bleed starts, there is no real way to stop it. Inevitably, the result is either death or severe brain damage for both the human and Pokémon involved; thus, the term psychic bleed was coined. Thankfully, that kind of occurrence is incredibly difficult to perform even if you know what you're doing."
With a sigh, Cynthia finishes her explanation, leans back up on her arms, looking a bit sadder than a moment before and continues.
"As for Juniper's reference to a Gardevoir incident, well, let's just say that during the war, a veteran trainer managed to push their bond to the point of no return. She performed mega evolution without a keystone and, for a short time, acted through her Gardevoir as if it were her own body, telepathically communicating with her squad and everything. They held ground against the opposing forces long enough that it allowed the rest of her squad to flee the battleground, but in the process, it cost them everything."
Looking over to Illene, I see that she is unsurprised by this information. Given that Cynthia was revealing this sensitive information to us both, I can't help but speculate that Illene's family might have managed something very similar in the past while attempting to recreate Sir Aarons's apparent abilities.
Someone from camp interrupts the solemn silence that had followed the story. It's a person from camp looking for Cynthia's help, and she has to excuse herself for a few minutes to take care of some last-minute logistics for the research teams.
"I know I shouldn't be disappointed, but I was kind of hoping that there were instances of other Pokémon out there being as intelligent as humans. Kinda sad knowing I'm the only one," I grumble halfheartedly
"It's honestly shocking how easy it is to forget you really are a Pokémon Echo. You act and talk so much like a human that even with no illusions, I still have to remind myself that you aren't." Illene responds
I am well aware of what she means, but it would be best if she did not let the façade fool her. Plus I wanted to have a little fun.
"Ah, mimicry is just something my species is very good at, princess." I drawl lowly to her. "We enjoy 'pretending' to be one of the pack and sometimes spend days living alongside our prey until a perfect opportunity presents itself." I watch in dark delight as Illene's pulse quickens as she suddenly realizes she's alone in the tent with me.
Leaning in a bit closer, speaking as if passing on a secret, I say, "It's usually when the prey is alone that a Zoroark will strike for the kill." I rumble menacingly under my breath
Our eyes meet, and I can see her subtly grabbing a Pokeball hidden in the seam of her shirt's sleeve. I probably shouldn't be taking as much delight in this as I am, but for some reason, it is disturbingly fun to put fear into humans' hearts.
I grin widely just as Cynthia rejoins us a moment later, and the building tension of the room pops like a soap bubble. Illene gives me the stink eye at my apparent amusement at her reaction to my act.
After saying goodnight to the girls and watching them leave, I start getting ready for bed. Settling down to sleep, I idly contemplate going outside to find a spot to rest like I used to do in the wild. Maybe I could even find a nice spot under some tree roots or something.
However, the effort it would take to dig out a fresh den, combined with my overwhelming tiredness, ultimately dissuades me from pursuing the idea.
Laying in the cot, I close my eyes and let my fatigue overtake me. The sounds of the base camp gradually fade into the background as I drift off to sleep.
A few hours later, I am roused from slumber by the sounds of the team's early risers.
Emerging from the cozy confines of the tent, I slowly awaken to the crisp morning air, which feels invigorating against my fur. I eagerly reach back into the tent for my clothes and gear, feeling a sense of excitement for the day to come.
For anyone else in the camp, it might have been a faux pas to emerge from one's tent technically naked and dress outside of your tent, but I couldn't care in the slightest.
The camp is alive with activity, team members bustling about as they prepare for the day's tasks. I join in the preparations, excited for the real mission to finally begin.
The entire camp soon fully comes alive with energy, resembling a bustling beehive. People are in constant motion, transporting the final pieces of large equipment and setting up computers with diagnostic readings, scrolling endlessly. Amidst the activity, Brandon and Cynthia discover me eagerly pestering Ontario about all the other equipment he had brought with him.
"Echo, let's get you looped into the newest battle plan, and then we can get this mission started," Cynthia calls out to me.
I practically bounce over to them, eagerly anticipating what these two plan to do with the Regis to allow me access to the tree.
"Echo, do you have everything you need? We won't be able to provide any aid once you are inside the exclusion zone," Brandon says.
Instead of immediately answering, I go through the mental checklist Dustin used to use before going on ranging excursions and almost slap myself for forgetting one last thing I needed to do.
Releasing Kirlia from his Pokeball I give him the command "Set T-Point" while pointing at the ground.
Dustin had trained Kirlia to use this command to set a new teleport location, allowing them to quickly retreat back to whichever base they were working from at the time. Kirlia gladly followed the order.
A surge of psychic energy pulses through the area, and when Kirlia's eyes stop glowing, I know we are ready to proceed. Direct teleportation in or out is unlikely to work due to the tree being a living entity, but it's always good to be prepared just in case.
"Alright, I am ready to go."
Over the next 10 minutes, Cynthia and Brandon discuss their plan of attack with me. The first part of the plan involves activating some kind of fancy seismic device near the edge of the exclusion zone.
The device will serve dual purposes: attracting the Regis's attention and providing rough geological data that the rest of the team can use.
While Brandon and Cynthia work together to handle the Regi threat, I am to wait on the sidelines. If they manage to neutralize the Regis, I can pass by freely. However, if the Regis turns out to be too powerful, I will wait for Brandon and Cynthia to distract them long enough for me to slip by unnoticed.
After agreeing with their proposed plan, the rest of the team assembles, wishing us good luck, and helping load up a small vehicle for Cynthia and Brandon to use for carrying the seismic device and transporting them to the designated 'battleground' against the Legendary Pokémon trio.
After making one final check of all my equipment and ensuring that the encased time flower is securely strapped onto my back, I start jogging beside Brandon as he begins driving the two-seater vehicle away from base camp.
Cynthia, from the passenger-side seat, releases her Togekiss, who immediately glides high above us to act as overwatch. The short journey to the absolute edge of the exclusion zone takes only a few minutes, as it is just a few miles from base camp.
Parking at the edge of a large flat expanse of dry, rocky terrain, Cynthia and Brandon direct me to unload the heavy piston-looking seismic device and have me set it on the far end of the soon-to-be battlefield.
Cynthia releases her Garchomp, which dives deep into the solid earth as if it were water. Turning to Brandon, I watch expectantly as he pulls out a worn-looking Ultra Ball and releases a massive red and orange avian Pokémon from within.
What appears shocks me into speechlessness. The creature's radiant power crushes the air out of my lungs as its overwhelming energy expands into the surroundings, weighing down on everything as if the whole world had suddenly been submerged under a hundred feet of ocean.
I had assumed that Brandon would be providing support for the encounter, but when the man had just casually released a Moltres, I had to rethink all of my assumptions. The creature could probably be classified as a weapon of mass destruction, even considering that it doesn't look fully grown yet.
Then another thought occurs to me as I look at the other two similarly worn Pokeballs on his belt.
Is that the only legendary he has? We are going after a trio of legendaries right now to capture them, and Moltres was part of its own trio of Legendaries, wasn't it? Just what kind of trainer is Brandon?!
I glance at Cynthia and notice that she seems completely unfazed by the legendary Moltres. She must have already been aware that Brandon had it. Moltres's seemingly calm attitude helps me to gather myself, barely preventing me from panicking as all my instincts scream at me to run far away from this living incarnation of fire.
"…Okay, well. That significantly improves my estimate of our chances against the Regis." I can't help but squeak aloud
Neither of the Champion level trainers reacts to my words, seemingly content to allow me time to regain my composure. Right, we have a mission to perform, and I need to get my head back in the game.
Starting the seismic device, a resounding thump reverberates through the clearing as a sizeable flat piston smacks into the ground before slowly rising again for another smack and another in a smooth continuous pattern.
The team at the base camp sends me a message a few moments later. Opening my capture styler map, I can see a 3D model of the tree slowly gaining resolution with each loud thump of the seismic device.
As predicted, the device causes enough disturbance for the Regi golems to come out to play. Two of them are easily detectable at a distance as they appear from an opening at the base of the tree. One is sky blue, while the other is a shining metallic grey with black accents.
These two are the ICE and STEEL Regies, but where is the third?
The two visible Regis start making their way toward us at a steady pace, either hovering above the ground or jumping forward with ever-increasing momentum. I keep looking around for the third one to appear, but apparently, it is already here.
An eruption of rock fragments peppers the area as Garchomp emerges from the ground, its prey trapped in place by impossibly powerful teeth. The massive rock golem cartoonishly dangles from Garchomp's mouth, boulder-like appendages flail at Cynthia's starter, smashing rocky limbs onto the scaly hide with bone-crushing force, all to no avail.
Garchomp refuses to release its grip and violently swings its head downward, repeatedly slamming the golem into the ground until it literally starts to crumble apart. After the relentless assault, only a rocky torso remains of the Regi, at which point the golem begins to take on a dangerously ominous white radiance.
"Brace," Cynthia calmly calls out. A fraction of a second later Togekiss descends to the earth in front of her and Brandon with a decisive thud. In an instant, an inviolable barrier of shimmering green light emerges, enveloping the three protectively.
An ear-splitting 'explosion' erupts from the Regirock, and the entire area is engulfed in a dust cloud as rocky shrapnel peppers everything around us like a fragmentation grenade.
With a dismissive wave of Togekiss's wings, the dust clears away, revealing a pissed-off Garchomp still holding onto Regirock's remains.
"Come here and Drop it," Cynthia ordered the dragon, pointing over toward the ground next to Brandon.
The apex predator stomps over with a disgruntled growl before dropping the Regirock's surprisingly still-twitching torso at Brandon's feet. Cynthia then coos and scratches Garchomp under its slightly bruised, scaly chin.
I watch in disbelief as Brandon casually captures the Regi by unceremoniously dropping an ultra ball onto it, all the while Cynthia continues praising her starter.
"Good girl! Who's my precious little dragon nugget? Yes, you are!" Cynthia says as the monstrously powerful dragon starts wagging its tail as if it were some dopey mundane dog and not a terrifying beast that had just shrugged off a point-blank explosion from a legendary as if it were nothing.
Trainers like this really play in a whole different league than the rest of us mortals. I think to myself as I watch the two trainers wait patiently for the other two Regis to reach us.
What unfolds next is like a carefully orchestrated dance of violence. Brandon's Moltres springs into action, shielding Cynthia's Pokémon from an onslaught of icy beams unleashed by Regice with scorching blasts of its fiery breath.
Meanwhile, Cynthia's Garchomp uses 'Iron Tail' to deflect a rocky onslaught conjured into existence by Registeel's 'ancient power' attack.
For a scant few seconds, it appeared that the clash could last longer than the 'battle' with Regirock. However, Brandon swiftly directs Moltres to summon a blistering "sunny day," while Cynthia seizes the chance to have her Togekiss use a powerboosted "heatwave" attack.
The amalgamated heat becomes overpowering, resulting in the two remaining Regis starting to physically melt under the relentless onslaught. After that, it could hardly be considered a battle as the Regies are thoroughly and almost literally dismantled.
After capturing the two thoroughly defeated Regis, I was left in a state of shock by the sheer absurdity of the recent battle I had witnessed.
Brandon, despite having a legendary Pokémon on his side, had largely played a supportive role, while Cynthia took the lead and crushed the trio of golems into the ground like they were sandcastles on the beach.
"Alright, Echo. The way should be clear for you now. Do try to make it back in one piece, ya?" Cynthia calls out to me as she affectionately pats each of her Pokémon's heads.
Gulping slightly, I reply with a hesitant "Y-Yes, mam. You can count on me." Then, I start jogging around the still cherry red hot battleground before returning to a straight line path toward the Tree of Beginning.
As I make my way to the base of the tree, I release Rotom from its Pokéball and perform a few quick checks to ensure it is recording properly. Once that's done, I look at the seismic map data and find one of the many holes on the tree's exterior that should lead to an interesting hollow zone underneath the roots of the tree.
Once underground, all radio signals are unsurprisingly cut off, and returning to the base via teleportation is similarly blocked due to the tree's semi-organic nature interfering with the psychic connection to the base.
Not unexpected but still a bit stressful considering what happened to Dustin the last time teleportation was blocked.
The tunnels are dark at first, but soon beautiful, dimly glowing blue rock-like crystals pepper the walls. Despite Rotom's impressive scanning capabilities, the rock remains unidentified. I take out a small metal chisel made of Aggron hide and carefully tap at the mineral's surface until a small piece chips off.
I carefully place the chip into one of the numerous glass sample tubes on my person and then continue walking down the tunnel.
Without warning, the comforting blue glow is replaced by a foreboding red light. The crystals, previously tranquil, now emit a furious red hue. When I turn around, the rock I had collected the sample from begins to liquefy and transform into the shape of a Lileep, a prehistoric Pokémon.
I find myself immobilized by indecision as the entire tunnel becomes engulfed by red, shape-shifting Pokémon-like entities. They lunge at me from every direction, and in a moment of panic, I unleash as many dark pulses as I can. However, the horde is too dense for me to evade their relentless advance.
Before I know it, I'm submerged in the red goop, and then…nothing.
It's as if I'm enclosed in my Pokeball, the only difference being that I am enveloped on all sides by a pervasive warmth instead of emptiness. The feeling is disconcerting, yet strangely soothing, almost like being hugged by a Goodra that you aren't sure is going to kill you afterward.
Fortunately, the tree did not find me too appetizing. After about 20 seconds, I am ejected back into the tunnel, gasping for breath, while the red globs revert to blue crystals.
Instead of also being spat out of the goop, Rotom phases into the tunnel straight from the wall. The clever little guy must have ghosted into the solid rock to escape the tree's immune system.
As I carefully examine myself for any injuries, I am relieved to find that everything seems to be in order. Surprisingly, the red goop appears to have removed the residual dust and grime that had accumulated on my fur while watching the battle with the Regis.
I feel remarkably cleaner and refreshed than before, almost as if I have just emerged from a relaxing, warm shower.
Although the whole ordeal lasted less than a minute, it made me far more cautious about touching anything crystalline.
Shaking myself and carefully leaning against the wall, I take a moment to catch my breath and then curse as I suddenly realize that my ranger capture styler is missing from its holster.
It was risky to take it with me since it was mostly made of synthetic materials rather than Pokémon-derived ones. Even the glass vial with the crystal shard had stayed perfectly untouched.
Oh well, I would just have to requisition a new one when I returned to Unova. I should probably ask about a salary when I get back because capture stylers are not cheap to replace.
Rotom flies over to my shoulder and folds its wings up, extending two little foot clamps so that it can land on my shoulder. Its presence consols my frustration at the lost equipment, and I give the ghost an affectionate pat on the head.
It rubs its body against my head, and I can't help but smile at the affectionate living camera. A sudden desire to give the little guy a name overcomes me. Dustin hadn't been one for nicknaming his Pokémon, always referring to them by their species name, but as much as I mimic the man, I am not him.
My team feels like family to me; they are part of my pack, and not giving them names feels wrong. I don't feel right naming Kirlia because he was Dustin's Pokémon first, but Rotom was mine alone. I pick up the camera drone with one hand and ask the ghost a question.
"How would you like a name, little one," I ask
The ghost bobs up and down, most likely just enjoying the attention I was giving it, but I take it as a yes regardless.
"How does Snap sound?" I ask, smiling to myself at the double meaning between how I snapped it out of the air that first time and how shuddered cameras sounded.
The ghost unfolds its wings and makes a lazy loop around my head before hovering above my right shoulder again.
"All right then Snap, let's get out of these damn tunnels and finally start exploring!" I can't help but yell as I book it down the tunnel
As I make the transition to moving on all fours, an electrifying surge of adrenaline spreads through my veins, propelling me forward with an invigorating sense of freedom.
I race through the twisting tunnels, my senses sharpening as I eagerly hunt for the hidden treasures within the maze-like tunnel structure.
Despite facing multiple forking paths, I easily maintain pace, instinctively following the smell of fresh water and verdant foliage, the latter of which being a near impossibility this deep underground.
With a triumphant howl escaping my lips and Snap's fan wings buzzing with power like a Beedrill by my side, the once dim, crystal-studded passageways give way to a breathtakingly radiant light.
The suffocating confines of the tunnel walls drop away to unveil a colossal, awe-inspiring cavernous oasis absolutely teeming with life. The expansive open space seems almost inconceivably vast, harboring an entire underground ecosystem within the dome-like hollow beneath the revered Tree of Beginning.
In a state of flabbergasted wonder, I behold a flock of Swablu darting by, closely trailed by a massive Aerodactyl— a species long thought to have vanished from existence in the wild.
I lower myself onto my haunches and ensure that Rotom is recording everything so that we can fully capture the awe-inspiring landscape in front of us.
Positioned prominently on the cavern's ceiling, a colossal white crystal stands out, emanating a magnificent and brilliant light. Its glow seems to harness the radiant energy of the sun from within, casting a mesmerizing illumination over everything below it.
The ground below is adorned with lush green trees and bountiful berry bushes, while a grand river gracefully carves its path through the center, originating from some hidden spring and re-emerging a few hundred feet downstream.
Hundreds of Pokémon crawl, swim, and fly through the space, filling the cavernous dome with abundant life.
As my hand reaches out, Rotom lands delicately on it, and I guide its camera to capture the presence of each individual species I can spot from up here. I eagerly cross-reference each image with the internal Pokédex to confirm the breathtaking sight of several thought to be extinct Pokémon.
Down by the river, I marvel at the elegant movements of Lileep, Cradily, Omanyte, and Anorith as they gracefully swim around the shards of the crystal-clear water. In the enchanting, densely forested areas, majestically armored Armaldo roams while swarms of Ledyba create a mesmerizing spectacle, practically coating specific trees in vibrant oranges and reds.
Using my own experiences of the wilderness and Dustin's expertise in surveying, I begin verbally documenting my analysis of the area for the recording.
"This open cavern ecosystem appears to be a completely self-contained biome; exit and entrance points like the tunnels I entered from appear to be too small for most of the fully evolved species here to escape from. Water supplied from some underground source, likely mountain runoff making its way to an underground aquafer at a best guess."
Aiming Rotoms camera from observation point to observation point, I finally focus on the massive crystal hanging from the ceiling.
"Spectrograph readings lead me to believe that the light coming from the crystalline stalactite formation is directly funneling sunlight from the surface. I cannot say why this is the case, but given how deep underground we are, I have to assume that the crystal lattice must run throughout the bulk of the tree all the way to the tree's canopy."
As I observe the enclosed ecosystem closely, every minute reveals more about the intricate food chain at play. At the foundation of this web are the producers, including the lush berry bushes, towering trees, and deceptively delicate Lileep.
It's truly fascinating to witness these life-giving sources being consumed by the bug types, such as the swarms of Ledyba and the fascinating Anorith, as they carry out their role in this complex natural system.
I release Kirlia by my side so that he can enjoy the view as well and carefully continue recording all my observations.
The Swablu, near the top of the food chain, displayed remarkable hunting skills as they pursued the bug Pokémon, while also being acutely aware of their vulnerability to the apex species of the entire area, the awe-inspiring Aerodactyl.
It's a mesmerizing sight, and I can't help but be absorbed by the intricate dynamics of this natural pocket ecosystem.
As evening approaches, my Pokémon and I finally descend into the underground valley oasis. I probably should have set up camp in the tunnel, but my curiosity got the better of me. Maneuvering through the underbrush to get close-up scans of each of the extinct species, I feel giddy as I observe the readouts.
Several contested theories exist about Pokémon resurrected via fossils, and I may have just inadvertently found the evidence needed to disprove one of them.
One theory suggests that the fossil resurrection process inherently imparts a rock-type aura to the revived subject. Conversely, a counter hypothesis posits that rock-type Pokémon are simply more likely to leave behind fossils suitable for the resurrection process, and that the ancient Pokémon revived from these fossils were always rock types.
My scans indicate that all the extinct Pokémon in the valley were rock types. This data alone made the entire expedition worthwhile, even in the unlikely event that I didn't find anything else of interest.
Setting my sights on the 'sky', I can't help but notice the peculiar behavior of the Swablu as they gracefully descend to the ground. It dawned on me that the ancient Pokémon inhabiting this area were not the only interesting creatures here.
Typically, Swablu avoid making contact with the ground whenever possible. It was not unheard of for them to drift on air currents while sleeping, potentially even spending most of their lives airborne, descending only to perch high amidst mountainous cliffs to nest.
The sight was truly astonishing as I witnessed a whole flock swiftly making their way into an underground burrow. Guarding the entrance was a majestic Altaria, its colossal, billowing body providing a shield of protection.
The Altaria's eyes focused unweaveringly on the gaps in the canopy above. It strikes me that this behavior must have evolved over countless generations as a survival strategy in response to the threat of Aerodactyl predation.
As I watch the scene, the Altaria suddenly notices us and fluffs its feathers threateningly in response to the group of Pokémon near its concealed den, which is teeming with its young.
My connection with Kirlia conveys the sense that Altaria is uncertain about our presence and hesitant to launch a direct assault on Pokémon it was unfamiliar with.
With careful steps, I made my way toward the glorious creature, fully aware of the absence of my capture styler to ease its apprehension of me.
Despite this, I had a strategy to soothe its worry as I had spent a few hours collecting an assortment of berries from the surrounding area, intending to have them analyzed by the researchers upon my return to camp.
Being mindful, I have Rotom perch on my shoulder and Kirlia nestle into my mane as I cautiously approach the creature, offering it the fruits of my foraging with open intent.
Dragons typically react to food offerings in one of two ways: they either immediately attack, or sometimes they accept the offering and allow you to go about your business if you demonstrate yourself as a non-threat.
Altaria, a Pokémon that acquires dragon typing upon evolution, typically exhibits a more subdued emotional response compared to other dragon species. Therefore, I feel pretty confident in getting on its good side so I can get close-up scans with Rotom.
Avoiding direct eye contact, I slowly approach with my offering, and the Altaria allows me, eyeing the berries with a hungry avian glint.
After consuming the first two berries, the bird appeares satisfied to ignore me. But as I continued to offer more from my seemingly limitless supply, a revelation appeared to dawn on its bird brain.
Suddenly, the avian gently starts shoving me around with its shockingly soft, fluffy wings. Rather than attacking me, I soon understood that it was forcibly pushing me into its underground den.
My natural night vision easily makes out the forms of nearly a dozen fluffy blue and white bodies as they turn their hungry gazes on me. After being swarmed and having to empty my entire hoard of berry 'samples,' I find myself sitting among a content flock of adolescent bird Pokémon.
With the den guarded by a literal dragon, I belatedly realize this spot is the safest place for me to spend the night. As I settle into a comfortable spot, the Swablu pile around me, seeking my warmth and creating a soft, downy wall of fluff on all sides. With Kirlia nestled protectively in my mane and Rotom vigilantly watching from my shoulder, a deep sense of contentment washes over me.
And that's when the Altaria started to 'sing' its young to sleep. The melodious crooning nearly brought a tear to my eye, not just because of the beauty of the sound but how special the moment felt.
At this moment, I feel like I have found a literal slice of heaven.
Next Chapter Title: Do not go gentle into that good night
AN: Discussion makes the author happy, but so do story recommendations. For you all, I would highly recommend checking out 'Cubes' by overripeTomatillos on AO3. It has Zoroarks secretly hiding in human society, and it's pretty great, in my opinion.
Please let me know of any egregious grammar mistakes so I can fix them before posting this elsewhere lol.
Have a good weekend all!
Last edited:
- Location
- Winter Desert
Thanks, much appreciated! Let's just say that the chances of seeing Aarons Lucario are high
.