"Society tames the wolf into a dog. And man is the most domesticated animal of all." - Nietzsche
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A tired groan escapes me as my alarm clock's siren wail bleeds its piercing screech right into my soul. Fumbling blindly toward the nightstand, sharp claws dig into the soft wood somehow missing the stupidly persistent device once, twice, until finally, a weak dark pulse clears the entire side table of all its contents, silencing the dreaded enemy once and for all.
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."
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As it turns out, this expedition wouldn't be a solo act like I had initially imagined. A number of volunteers are also being recruited to support the logistics and analytical teams, and another high-level trainer from Hoenn will apparently be brought on the mission to help handle the Regi threat.
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 trio 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?
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"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