A Pillar of Light [Bursts through the Heavens]


"...readings are unstable!"

It was a moment of chaos in the main building of the Devon Corporation. The scientists running from one computer to another, trying to understand the meaning of the strange reading the satellites were sending, changed the peaceful atmosphere of the building into a jungle of knowledge.

"K-03 is sending its report...Infinity Energy confirmed!" said a young intern named Russell. His three months in the Corporation seemed too long now. The mixture of euphoria and concern in his face was apparent as he forcefully took the printed paper. They were to show them to Mr. Stone, the president of the Corporation. That was the protocol in case of an unexplained Infinity Energy reading. But as he was trying to give the piece of paper to his superior, Dr. Lan, the old man rejected it with a simple look. Most of the newcomers were afraid of his harsh look, but that time was different. Even though he tried to be the same as always, one could see the drops of sweat running through his wasted skin. And his eyes had that worried look Russell couldn't stand.

"Hurry and take it to Mr. Stone, Russell!"

The foreign scientist hurried to talk to other scientists, and Russell just stood there for a few moments. His time perception had been altered, for they seemed endless. He closed his eyes for another instant and rushed to the elevator, pushing the button to Mr. Stone's office.

/-\

A couple of hours later, in the near Kanto region, the Silph Corporation was in a similar uproar. The old and kind Alan Silph had been running his Corporation for years. He had survived the attack of the malevolent Team Rocket, and he will always be grateful to the young trainer that saved him and his employees. But he was old, and he was tired. And so, when his old friend Mr. Fuji called him, he felt melancholic.

"It is all throughout the news Alan. Blaine contacted me a minute ago. What do you know?" said the voice in the speaker.

"Unfortunately, we know very little. Mr. Stone from the Devon Corporation called earlier. It seems to be the same Infinity Energy they detected when that meteorite was about to kill all of us."

"Ah, yeah! You told me about that. But wasn't that several years ago?"

"Indeed, my friend. We were lucky enough that some girl knew how to summon the Legendary Dragon. But I don't think I can handle all of this stress..."

"Are you gonna step down then? In this critical moment?"

"I am tired, old friend. I am too tired..."

Alan looked at the two reports in his desk, both sent by the Devon Corporation. The titles were "Emergency Infinity Energy Report", which he received minutes ago. And there was another one, its title being "Project PokéNet". He had planned Project PokéNet to be his last work before retiring. A glorious retirement, so that everyone would always remember him for doing something good. While he didn't understand all of the technical details behind it, the concept started in a business encounter with both the Devon Corporation and other smaller companies and laboratories. They had contacted Lysandre Laboratories as well, but they had only gotten a negative from them. And now, he could understand the reason: Lysandre wanted to destroy the world, or so the news were saying.

"I promised to see the PokéNet come to fruition, and so I will. But I will probably retire after that. I am too old for this. Too old..."

/-\

Professor Oak and his grandson, professor Blue, were watching the television, as everyone in Pallet Town was doing.

"...Flare are suspected to be the culprits of this incident. Any citizen with information should contact the International Police. It is known that Lysandre Laboratories are under investigation right now. We will keep you informed..."

Professor Oak had a worrisome look on his face. This was one of the most problematic incidents in recent years. In comparison to the recent events in Unova, in which Team Plasma apparently managed to merge two Legendary Pokémon into one. That was a local incident that was luckily avoided by a local trainer. But this was different. The scale of this incident, in which the Ultimate Weapon was shot, was surely to have disastrous consequences.

"What should we do, Gramps?"

His grandson Blue had been a Champion one, and last year he had been in that same region, in Kalos, studying. It was, then, normal for him to fear for his classmates and friends he made during his time abroad. But even then, he had kept his his head in his place. The look in his eyes made the old professor happy inside, for his grandson had finally become an adult.

"There's nothing we can do. I understand how you feel, but this is not for us to decide."

"Yeah...I understand Gramps. But I am worried."

Professor Oak smiled at his grandson and put a hand on his shoulder, reassuring him.

"The best thing you can do, however, is to call you friends in Kalos. You must be worried about them."

Blue assented with his head and went out of the laboratory. When the door closed, however, professor Oak started to make some Green Tea with Moomoo Milk. He had received them from several of his professor friends over the years, and liked to drink it when he was worried. The television kept playing on the background. They were now broadcasting political responses from several countries.

"...not be intimidated by Kalos and his Ultimate Weapon! The war 3000 years ago should have helped us learn not to use Legendary Pokémon in such a way. But somehow, over all of this years, not only have the weapon somehow survived but it had been shot today. How can we tolerate this? I will say that our country will not, I repeat, will not, be scared!" the man in the television was proclaiming. He didn't seem like a fool, however foolish his words were.

"I have a bad feeling about this..." said professor Oak as he tried his drink. "I need sugar..."

The world was changing, and in his mind, the peaceful days he had enjoyed could be ending.

/-\

A white room, with lots of machines in it. A table with lots of papers stood on the center of it, with several people writing on them.

"From our calculations, the chances of survival are..."

"I know, I've read the report" said a man in an elegant suit, looking through a glass in the room.

"Then you'll understand why we can't continue" a scientist with a pallid face said, almost on the verge of collapsing. "The others..."

"The others were prepared for it. And you know it. They volunteered for this."

"In exchange of what? This is inhuman!"

The suited man approached the glass, touching it with his hand. It wasn't easy for him either. But he had to be strong.

"We have failed a lot of times, my friend. I understand. Do you think I don't feel pain? Do you think I don't care? Oh, but I do. Every morning, when I think of all the...atrocities we've done. But it is necessary."

"But sir...The child is different. Her synchronization value is indeed out of the charts, but she didn't volunteer for this."

Taking his glasses and cleaning them, the man turned to look at the scientist. His face was harsh.

"Have you heard the news, Malcolm?"

"The news, sir? Not today. We have been testing all the different procedures. We have also done several analysis on..."

"I see. I think you should take a break, Malcolm" the suited man said while he wore his glasses on. "Go to your family, have a nice dinner with your son. It must have been several days since you last saw him"

"Indeed, sir. I would love to, but I can't just leave the lab right now."

"I know your importance in this, Doctor Malcolm. And I promise you that there will be no further experimentation until you are back" said as he put a hand on Malcolm's shoulder, reassuring him. "Now go."

Malcolm was confused at the kind man's words.

But he did leave the building. The man sighed, and looked through the window once again. He could see a child playing with a pokémon on the other side, and his chest burned.

Am I doing the right thing?

The girl just kept on playing, her smile illuminating the room.

Please, forgive me. This is for everyone. Forgive me.