Through overheard chatter in the mess hall, she'd been led to believe the path to Geosenge Town could be fraught with danger. She was not one to discount potential threats but was beginning to believe the grunts' concerns were overblown.

Either way, she wasn't concerned. That was the benefit of her foresight in recruiting Mawile. She would have preferred a rifle but soldiers had to make do with what was available.

The forest she marched through, like this world itself, was a stark change to what she had become accustomed to. There were no holes filled with stagnant water, the telltale scars of an artillery strike. The trees hadn't been ravaged by soldiers and civilians alike, desperate to find something to burn for warmth. The birds snacked on berries rather than the decaying bodies of her enemies. Well, former enemies.

If waking up in a Francois Republic city after being bayonetted a dozen times was a shock then she wasn't sure how to describe what she felt when her magic no longer responded as it should.

She'd briefly considered quietly retiring then and there, fading into the mediocrity that was civilian life. The thought was discarded, not only was it a waste of her built-up connections but she now had the perfect excuse to leave the front lines. After all, more than one crippled soldier found their home safely in the rear.

The decision made, she attempted to locate the local Empire garrison and explain the situation.

Discovering there was no garrison was alarming but no reason to panic. The war was hard fought and the Empire could only spare so many soldiers for garrison duty. Most of the work was done by the puppet government that was installed. Still, from her first life, she knew there could be an active resistance movement that would not shy away from harming a wayward imperial soldier.

With hindsight, she should have noticed far sooner. The quantity and quality of cars was far above what the Empire could boast, there was no way the Francois could have bungled the war that badly if they had those powering their supply lines. Instead, she only noticed when no one blinked at someone riding an oversized goat down the street.

A veteran of war and two worlds, her next course of action was to gather intelligence on where exactly she'd ended up. She'd made her way to the nearest library after asking for directions, that conversion had also revealed that Albish or English was the dominant language.

The compliments she received from the old lady when asking about the garrison in Francois made far more sense.

Luckily her English was rusty but usable.

Finding out the world was relatively stable and in a period of peace was a weight off her chest. Without the threat of a draft, she had been looking forward to becoming a productive member of society. Her efforts were stymied by the fact that she had no identification.

Illegal immigrants did not have the best prospects when it came to employment. While her young age meant she should be able to access public resources dedicated to the care of children, she was loathe to deal with social services. They would either provide her an avenue to become a proper citizen or stick her in some legal limbo.

Gathering funds before submitting herself to the state was the most prudent course of action, that way she would have resources available to extract herself if things were not as they seemed.

To that goal, she found a cafe whose renovation looked close to fruition. Those types of stores were well known for flaunting labor laws so she subtly inquired about the possibility of part-time employment. The potential of employee discounts did not factor into her decision.

She should have recognized the look in the pale man's eyes. She should have known not to take candy from strangers.

Alas, she had a weakness for both coffee and chocolate.

Now, a month later, she was trudging through a forest and looking forward to putting this whole mess behind her.

One of the birds had a disagreement with one of its fellows and a gust was released, shattering branches. Not a bird, a Pokemon. A dangerous creature. She gave it a wide berth and passed to the side.

The idea of being a Pokemon trainer was ludicrous. Purposely venturing into the untamed frontier to battle and capture wild beasts capable of changing the landscape was a fool's errand.

Society had a simple if effective way of attracting the lesser-minded into such a profession, the promise of money and fame. She was certain if they publicized the casualty rates these trainers endured there would be a material uptick in applications for office jobs. It was quite literally, survival of the fittest.

She would never bet on herself of being one of the few geniuses to make it in such a competitive environment so a nice desk job far from any turmoil was what she envisioned her future as. Mawile was a temporary arrangement, she would gladly give the Pokemon up when her safety was secured.

Safety that may be closer within reach than her original estimates. She kept a steady pace as the sounds of human habitation floated to her ears.

The details of the town were unknown to her. She only knew of its existence and direction, it felt silly to have packed so many provisions now but it was better than the alternative.

Concealed in the tree line, she inspected the town. Even from here, she could see towering monoliths of stone. Buildings crowded around them, some squat and some several stories tall.

She inspected herself, brushing off stray leaves and twigs that had been caught in her hair. Her wardrobe was limited and she was currently wearing a pair of sweats, sneakers, a tank top, and a hoodie. Not ideal traveling clothes and she would kill for a decent pair of boots but these were the most practical pieces she owned. The grunts had a habit of dumping theirs but she found most didn't fit and what did she would not be caught dead wearing.

Nothing looked amiss so she proceeded on the path to rejoin civilization. The entrance was another set of stone pillars, this time making an arch. They resembled that ancient site the Albish had the gall to claim was a wonder.

Passing under, she soon began to pass what she presumed were residents. The atmosphere was remarkably light, none of these poor saps realized there was a massive underground facility filled with cultists nearby.

"Ignorance is bliss." She muttered words she did not believe. It was always better to have more information. Those who said otherwise were merely hiding their incompetence.

"I'm sorry deary, what was that?" An older woman brushing the front steps of her dwelling spoke out.

"Nothing Ma'am." Tanya had been planning on finding it herself but it was a more efficient use of time if someone pointed the way. "I'm looking for law enforcement."

"Oh my!" The woman dropped her broom and approached. "Is everything all right?"

The woman bent over, trying to search for some cause of distress. Not one to be fussed over, Tanya cleared the air while taking a step back.

"Yes, I'm fine. I need to report a crime."

"I see." The woman rose to her full height, understanding the message. "We're not big enough to have a Jenny but the local sheriff is a good man. If you follow down this street and take a right at the bakery you'll find his office. There's a big old sign so you can't miss."

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Tanya looked down the street and nodded, saying a thank you before departing.

She took the opportunity to stop at the bakery and purchase a local delicacy. It was better to indulge while she could, she couldn't guarantee the quality of state-purchased food when she was put in the system.

She ate as she walked, making sure to finish before spotting the sign she'd been informed of. After a quick double-check to make sure she was still presentable, she entered the lobby.

The sight that met her did not fill her with confidence. It resembled more a living room than an area for law enforcement.

She released a sigh, what did she really expect from the efforts of local government?

"Excuse me." She spoke up, wondering if anyone was present.

There was no counter so she stood where she was. Just when she was beginning to make alternative plans, there was the sound of a door swinging open.

"Huh?" The speaker was a tall and portly man. He wore dark jeans and a plaid shirt. The thick beard and hairy arms made Tanya suspect he shed more than that Pyroar. "I'm Alan, the local Sheriff. How can I help you, little miss? Are you lost?"

"No sir. My name is Tanya" She ignored the way he addressed her, long being used to the way people described her. "I'm here to report a crime."

Alan's eyes narrowed and he looked her up and down. She kept her face neutral to convey that this was not some childish joke.

"Alrighty then, step into my office." The man turned and beckoned her to follow.

The door behind her was left open and she took a seat in the chair offered. This place had the decency to look like a proper office, if one ignored the pillow and oversized paperweight on the desk. Alan took a seat behind said desk. Behind him was a set of windows, letting in some natural light. The walls themselves were adorned with portraits of Pokemon along with newspaper clippings.

"What's this about a crime? Can't say we get too much of that around these parts. Not out of the circuit season that is." The man asked and the chair creaked as he leaned back.

What crime was a good question.

Despite her views that an individual had the right to better themselves through gainful employment, regardless of their age, she knew societies outside of wartime tended to have a different opinion. There was the problem in proving the crime, she doubted anyone would believe her if she claimed she'd been drugged and transported to a cult's secret headquarters.

She'd considered all this before departing and so had an appropriate response.

"Before we continue, can you please explain the local zoning laws?"

"Zoning?" The sheriff looked to zone out, his eyes glazed over.

"Pardon, I'm not familiar with the local terminology." Perhaps her English was rougher than first thought. "I am referring to laws that govern what can and cannot be built somewhere. For example, if someone were to build a butcher shop could they do so anywhere or are there prohibited areas?"

"Ah, like building permits. That's more the Mayor's area of expertise." He rubbed his chin through the beard. "But basically yeah."

"Good" In principle, she did not agree with those types of rules. It was another case of government overreach, believing they knew better than the land's true owner. All they really did was hamper the owner's ability to properly manage their holdings. In this case, she was able to use it to her advantage. "Do such rules govern the forest as well?"

Alan's brow furrowed and he paused before responding with a hesitant voice.

"The town charter has limits. We've never had to push past them but there are certain regulations that apply to forested areas."

"Excellent" It appears she had found a vector to push her assault. "I would like to report a violation. There's an underground facility about twenty kilometers northeast of this town. You'll find an overgrown path that leads to it."

There was a pause as the man digested the information. She could not overly fault him, it was not every day your world is turned upside down.

"I think you're mistaken, Tanya. The sun has been bearing down all day, the heat must be getting to you. Why don't you take a quick stop at the PokeCenter to freshen up before heading out? I'm not sure which gym you're trying to hit next but it's a long way either way."

She could have used slightly more fluid intake but that was beside the point. The sheriff was clearly exhibiting a strong case of denial, unable to accept the reality of the situation.

"I am certain. I am not willing to risk my person leading you there but if you provide me a map of the area I can approximate the location."

Alan made no motions. She may have overestimated the capabilities of the locals, she might have to venture to a city to make a report.

The silence was broken by the sound of someone entering the building. Footsteps stormed over and a voice was heard.

"Alan. We got a prob." The interloper quieted as he met her eyes. Expensive hair dye and a red suit indicated his affiliation.

Another came from behind him."Oh, You already found her. Good job. We'll make sure you get a bonus."

The pair of grunts now blocked the entrance of the door. Her eyes traced over to the Sheriff's.

"So that's how it is…" Her voice trailed off.

She'd made a grave miscalculation. A facility that contained that many staff members would never be able to operate in total secrecy. They would need support from the locals in order to maintain their operation. Whether to provide supplies or leisure activities, they were inevitably connected. As such, the cult would have invested a considerable amount of time and money into gaining control of the town. She would not be surprised if they owned the entire area through a variety of shell companies. No doubt the sheriff across from her, along with all other elected officials, had been subverted to serve their will.

The man must have been stalling, waiting for his superiors to arrive.

Alan rose, palms flat on the desk. She was outnumbered and surrounded by enemies. Being taken was not an option. That left her with a singular course of action.

Her right hand retracted from her hoodie's pocket and the knife slammed through Alan's left, pinning it to the desk.

A yell of surprise mixed with pain was her reward.

She used her newfound leverage to pull herself over the desk. Still in the air, she removed the knife and kicked the stunned sheriff across the desk and into his accomplices.

Extreme and sudden violence had a habit of evening the odds.

One of the grunts sidestepped her projectile and reached for his belt.

"Who do you thin-"

Her hand flashed and the knife found its sheath in his shoulder blade. Whatever he'd been about to say transformed into a curse.

Hmm, she'd missed. It was either the result of not being accustomed to this Ki or the knife being improperly weighted.

The paper weight on the desk stirred and large eyes opened.

"Geo. Geodude." It blinked groggily, its hostility rising as it became more aware of the situation.

Two arms unfurled, she did not appreciate the cracking of its knuckles.

"Mawile" She released her countermeasure. "Use I-"

It did not wait for her command and its large jaw gained a glint before slamming into the rock Pokemon, sending hurtling through the wall like a cannonball.

A red light heralded the arrival of another Pokemon, having been released by the grunt tangled with Alan.

It was a black dog-looking thing with a red snout.

"Houndour" It snarled, hackles rising.

A fire type, like the Pyroar.

"Mawile use-"

It repeated its previous action and a new hole adorned the wall.

This was the problem with omitting parts of the hiring process. A clear hierarchy had yet to be established.

"Mawile" She used the tone that had proven effective with troublesome recruits in her last life. "I appreciate the initiative but please wait for my instructions before acting. We will discuss this later."

Letting insubordination fester was a recipe for disaster.

It regarded her with a half-open eye before grinning and shrugging. The grunt with her knife made to reach for his Pokeball again.

She crossed the desk again and was on him. A frontal kick slammed him against the wall, causing picture frames to clatter to the floor. The ball he'd been reaching for was swept aside.

He hacked and tried to get words out.

"What-"

"This is mine." She grabbed the knife, yanking it out.

She couldn't keep the look of distaste off her face as she inspected the bend in it.

He froze as she cleaned the knife on his shirt. Culinary instrument or not, it was important to respect the equipment you entrusted your life to and blood was corrosive.

She grabbed his arm, tightening her grip to forestall any resistance. She needn't as he'd gone limp. Maneuvering his fingers, she plugged the hole she'd made and the man winced. Ingrate.

"I missed the artery but you'll need to put pressure on that. Unless you feel like dying in the next three minutes."

It might be less with how pale he'd gotten all of a sudden.

This had rapidly turned into a shit show.

"Boss" Her head whipped to the source and she saw one of the grunts had managed to pull out his holo caster. The image of a bald man wearing shades was projected. "She's here."

She was on it soon, stomping it out of existence. Her eyes drifted to the remaining grunt and Alan, both men were wide-eyed.

"Humph." She scratched her head while approaching them. "It's a shame we don't have more time together."

She followed up by slamming their heads through the floorboards, knocking them out cold. She'd have liked to interrogate them but there was no time to waste.

She searched them for valuables, making sure to thoroughly check the sheriff. To her disappointment, he lacked any sort of firearm on his person. There must have been one hidden in the room but she couldn't afford to stick around.

"With me." She ordered as she jumped through the glass window. Any backup would have arrived at the main entrance.

Mawile followed behind her and she raced through the streets, unsure how fast knowledge of her presence would travel. The Pokemon did a commendable job of keeping up, it stood at two feet tall, or half her height so its small legs did it no favors. She kept it out, in case they were ambushed.

They found a path out of town; she wasn't sure where it led. The only thing that truly mattered was whether or not there was a town or city at the end of it. The larger and further it was, the less likely the cult would have subverted the authorities.

A mountain loomed in front of her. Saying a curse over her lack of flight magic, she trudged up the side.

There had better be a reward for exposing Team Flare.