A/N: Sorry, trying this again because I forgot to add I don't own pokémon. Now, submit away!
It was dim inside the lab, and the only light came from the ethereal blue screens of the multiple computers. A few scientists, garbed in white protective gear, gathered around a table that rested in the center of the room.
"We did it," the Head scientist exclaimed, reaching a finger out to touch the small organism on the table. It cooed softly and tried to run against the hand, much like a cat would do.
"Yeah, we did," another scientist agreed. "But I don't understand why we had to create pokémon, though. It'd be a lot easier to cure something, like –"
A female scientist slapped the man playfully. "The government paid us a lot of money to make pokémon. They said it was for 'the betterment of human life.' I'm not one to argue with money." She reached down and stroked the Caterpie's head, crooning to it softly.
"How are we going to distribute them to the world equally? In the Games there's always some maniac guy trying to rule everything," someone in the back stated. Murmurs of agreement swept through the small group.
The Head Scientist cleared his throat and began cleaning off his glasses. "It's quite simple, really," he stated in a fatherly tone. "Everyone only gets one, and it's illegal to have more than one. Unless," he added, "you're wealthy or important."
Everyone agreed, although some demur went through the crowd at the latter sentence. "How are we going to make sure they follow the rules?" the woman asked, pausing in her petting of the tiny caterpillar.
"We constrict their freedoms. They wanted pokémon, and now they can have them. But to make the world safer with fire-breathing creatures living in it, the people must be restrained."
Silence pervaded the small room, the computer monitors and the Caterpie the only ones making noise. Small noises of agreement made themselves known, until the crowd burst into cheers. The Head Scientist looked modest, but one could tell he was lapping up the attention.
"Let the new order of the world begin!"
Pan ran along the street, panting and out of breath. The clouds were beginning to build, and he needed to get to the Companion Adoption Center before it closed for the day. He had just turned ten years old, and he had to wait until the very minute of his birth passed before he could receive a companion.
The steel monoliths towered above him, reaching high into the sky. He was near the center of the large city, and had to move a few more blocks outward before he got to the CAC.
As he ran out, the buildings began to get nicer by degrees. It was a common fact in the city that the poor lived in the center of the city, while the rich lived on the very outskirts. The center was a gray area, although it ascended by amount of money made.
The CAC was bright red, and shone out easily among the gray skyscrapers. People shot him dirty looks and companions growled as Pan rushed passed, but he didn't care. All he wanted was his pokémon, and that fueled his insane sprint.
Pan dashed inside the opening doors and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the relatively short line. A young woman stood behind the counter, a proud Pidgeot next to her. "Are you here for your companion?" she asked in a lilting voice, and Pan nodded eagerly.
"Ok," she responded. "Please stick your finger here. It's going to take a small sample of your blood to make sure you're at least ten years of age and the person you say you are."
The boy quickly jammed his finger onto the futuristic looking machine, and winced when it pierced his skin. "Pan?" she asked, and he nodded once more.
"Ok. Over there, you'll see a line of computers. Take the first one on the right and begin. Answer the questions truthfully, or your companion won't be fit to live with. It might even be taken away from you."
Pan nodded vigorously, and quickly took a seat at the monitor. It flashed questions at him quickly, and Pan answered as best he could. Pokémon kept flashing through his mind as he read them, and he couldn't nip his excitement in the bud.
After one hundred questions, the boy was beginning to get bored. Most of them were simple answers that he didn't have to think of well, and he couldn't quite understand why they were involved in choosing a pokémon.
A new screen popped up, making Pan squirm in joy. It read 'CONGRATUALTIONS! YOU HAVE BEEN MATCHED WITH A COMPANION!'
The woman from before smiled as the screen popped up on her personal computer, then turned to Pan. "Come here," she said softly. The boy walked back the receptionist's desk, hopping up and down on one foot. She turned her back for a second, in which a low 'beep' was heard. The woman faced him again and held out a shiny, new Poké Ball. "Try it out," she said, handing Pan the ball.
Pan eagerly pressed the center button, releasing the pokémon within. However, instead of a pokémon, the boy and the woman were greeted with blackness that surrounded them and quickly destroyed them.
The young man awoke with a shout, alerting his pokémon at the end of the bed. The Houndoom growled sharply at whatever danger its owner had sensed, before realizing it was just a nightmare.
"I had it again," Pan muttered to his friend, who whimpered sympathetically. "I don't know what it's about, boy."
Pan rubbed the dark Pokémon's bony head before sliding out of bed. Luckily, his shout hadn't woken up any of his other comrades in the room. They didn't take lightly to being woken up and losing precious sleep.
"Might as well get going, eh, Kujo?" Pan asked, and the dog barked quietly in response. Pan laced up his army-issued combat boots, stretching as he did so. The grunts were required to run a mile each day with their companion to 'bond.' Apparently, the officials stated 'a bonded army pair is much more effective in combat than those who hate each other.'
Pan could completely agree with that. Kujo and he had bonded early, from the second he received the little puff ball. They only grew closer as Pan was forced to enlist in the Lugia army for some money.
There were many young men and women from the poorer section of Lugia, and Pan didn't stand out amongst them. Their army was stated to 'protect and defend the proud city of Lugia from the other malicious cities.' Pan, however, knew different. They were also sent in to prevent any people from escaping into the wild.
The wild was one thing that Pan enjoyed, he thought as he ran. Kujo was loping playfully beside him, taking in the morning air. There were 47 cities where all the people lived. Between them there were expanses of free land that grew without human taint.
Nobody was allowed to go into the wild, because it was 'dangerous.' Grunts have skirted around it when there was a rumor of an escaped person, but otherwise everyone was confined to their city.
The cities were wonderful, though. They were large, expansive and able to support themselves fully. Each was named after a legendary pokémon, but few had friendly relations with each other.
An idea started to form in Pan's head as he passed the quarter mile marker. Maybe, just maybe, he could escape into the wild. He knew, without a doubt, it would be better for both Kujo and he, and Pan knew all the tricks to escaping.
A smile formed on his face as he ran, imagining the dangerous wild land that waited for him. After the run and the grueling army day, Pan would tell Kujo about it. His pokémon would certainly love the idea.
Alright. I've been itching to try this idea out for a few days, and I'm willing to try out a few OCs. The maximum travelers I'm taking are five, with a soldier from one of the other cities counting as an extra. So, six in total. Notice, this is not a 'first come, first serve.' I shall chose those I like best and will fit best into the story. Please, no repeats. And send this by PM only. To make sure you read this extremely long paragraph, please title your PM Machop. If you do not, your character might not be used, or will die a gruesome death. Ok? Good, the form is below.
Name:
Gender:
Age:
Description (please be very detailed):
Personality (deteail is also extremely important here):
Companion you think they'll have (I have the right to change this if I see fit):
Companion's personality (detail!):
Job:
Status:
Goals:
Background:
Why they want to go to the wild (a legitimate reason, please!):
Family:
Usual clothing:
City of Origin:
Likes/dislikes:
Other: