Escaping the Inescapable

10 years ago, the world was as peaceful as it could be. Unova's only armed force was the police. Mewtwo, Arceus, Latios, Latias, Rayquaza, a community of Arcanine, Kyurem, Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyogre all peacefully rested in hidden locations, waiting for the trainers they chose to challenge and capture them.

Then Teams Plasma, led by Ghetsis, rose from darkness and attempted to use money, greed, and evil to disturb the legends. He first tried to awake Zekrom and Reshiram and turn the world into chaos. A trainer named "N" thwarted his plan with the help of another who managed to wake Zekrom and Reshiram and control the two by thinking alike, while having separate ideas. Ghetsis then tried to fuse Kyurem with Reshiram using technology that would make it the strongest Pokémon in the world, but failed to keep the beast under control. The two split from each other and vowed to keep peace in their respective regions. Ghetsis then travelled to a different region to try and tame Latios and Latias. The two psychic dragons fled from the region and took refuge with a powerful Arcanine, one that Ghetsis abandoned. Ghetsis found the refuge and thought the Arcanine would take him in and let him capture the two dragons. He couldn't have been more wrong. The Arcanine gave Ghetsis a severe beating before throwing him out of the land. That's when Ghetsis travelled to another region, in search of Kyogre. He befriended team Magma and Aqua's Maxie and Archie, two people in search of the water pokemon. They succeeded in trapping the Kyogre, but were then met by Rayquaza, a flying-dragon type. Rayquaza distracted them with a simple hyper beam attack and rescued Kyogre. Then, Mewtwo and Arceus appeared and teleported Ghetsis to a wasteland island on the outskirts of Unova's western shore.

While this began happening, Ghetsis managed to scare the leaders of the worlds into militarizing their armies. Kanto launched a nuclear warhead into Unova's treasured White Forest and Black City, starting a world war. Johto sent bombers over the Sinnoh region. Sinnoh then took over the Sevii Islands, which at the time, were under mutual control of both Unova and Hoenn. Trainers became soldiers, and the governments of each region began hunting the legends.

This would be the start of the very first war in the world of Pokémon. Pokémon began killing those who tried to kill them. Then came nuclear fallout. Everyone retreated to underground vaults as the fighting and explosions and bullets was replaced by radiation, wasteland, and sands. Pokémon, unaffected by radiation, attempted to adapt and flourished the land, still holding a killer instinct for human flesh.

Geki patted his sister on her head. "Kiko, don't believe everything the overseer says. There was a way in here, that means there's a way out."

Colonel Dmitri scoffed, "Of course there's a way out. How do you think we deploy troops out to the frontlines? How do you think our Su-47s get out of the hangars? There are so many ways out it's surprising people haven't noticed them."

Kiko glared at her brother. "That's not the point! You obviously don't understand what I'm trying to say!" She clenched her hands into fists, her knuckles were already turning white. "Do you really think you can just up and leave your sister behind? Reserve a Pokémon for me to use when I turn 18, and just leave? How dare you!" Tears began to leak from the corners of her eyes. "Remember when Dad died? You told me... You told... You said 'Don't worry Kiko. I'm here to protect you.' Well who is going to protect me now? Dmitri? How can I trust him when he went behind my back to plan your escape?"

Geki grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Because Dmitri saved my life! He's more loyal to our family than anyone else! He went through the troubles to bring three Pokémon for us to choose. Be happy we have someone this far in. And if you must know, I don't think Dad is dead. Remember? We went on lockdown because of a Garbodor attack, Dad went with Colonel Dmitri, and never came back. Kiko, don't you get it? He escaped during the attack! Dad is out there wandering the wastelands for who knows why! I think he has friends out there. I think he is with some military personnel, searching for a way to return to the surface!"

Kiko rolled her eyes, "The overseer says the most anyone could live outside the vault is 5 days. There is nothing out there. That's why-"

Geki took out a picture from his box. "This came a couple of days ago. Stole it from the overseer's office." The picture was of a small tin town, made completely of scrap parts, with people walking around as if it was normal life. In the middle of the town was a large bomb, probably nuclear, that had yet to detonate. "Does this look like nothing? These people have established a normal life out there! Kiko, our father is alive out there!"

Kiko was crying. "How can I believe you? I just found out you've been lying to me since we've been here."

Geki sighed. "There you go again, stubborn as always." He laughed and patted his sister on the head. "I don't have anymore proof aside from that picture. I plan on getting out of here, because I think dad is working on something huge, and he will need all the help he can get. Kiko, we have a plan for you. We want you to become the next Overseer of this vault. Preach to the people that there is something out there, and when I come back I will teach them how to survive out there. Living in a hole is not what humans do. We once flourished on this world, now we just look pathetic."

Dmitri grinned. "Alright, Geki. Let's get going. Kiko, see you around."

Kiko stood there, frozen. She couldn't move or speak. Geki gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "See you sis. Take care of that Oshawatt, alright?"

With that, Geki and Colonel Dmitri left the room, leaving Kiko standing there, her hands in fists and tears streaking down her face.

Geki let out a sigh of relief. "Jeez. Poor Kiko... Dmitri, you need to be the one that questions her after I escape. I don't want her to be tortured by some of the other MPs here. She needs to be comfortable. She will tell you exactly what you want. I know her. She'll say I told her I was escaping and that she tried to stop me, but my willpower was stronger than her pleas. She won't mention you."

Colonel Dmitri looked down the steel-clad corridor and examined the tunnel Geki would use to get out. Five straight days of digging with my fireteam. He grinned and patted his nephew on the back. "Relax kid. I'll take care of her for you. She'll become Vault Overseer sooner or later. Now go. You got two miles of crawling to do to reach the door to the outside world. I'll meet you at the main door, that's where the tunnel will shoot you out of. When we meet, I will unlock the armory and supply locker. Take what you need, but don't make it too obvious. I don't want to see you lugging an RPG out of there. Take small arms, got it?"

Geki nodded his head. He proffered a hand to his old friend and smiled. "Well Dmitri, I'll see you on the other side."

Dmitri smiled and shook his hand. "Keep that Snivy in check. Stay alive buddy."

Geki climbed into the tunnel and began crawling through the two-mile long tunnel. Hang on dad, I'm coming to help. Geki popped out of the tunnel and sighed. Man, now I'm covered in dirt... He collapsed to the ground and relaxed.

Dmitri chuckled and stepped out from the darkness, "You made it." He leaned over, a key dangling from his neck, and helped Geki to his feet. "I hope you know that what you did is only a fraction of what boot camp is like. Imagine doing that every day, for twice as long."

Geki caught his breath and slugged Dmitri's shoulder. "Why do you think I'm leaving this place?" He pointed to the key around the colonel's neck, "Is that the key to the armory?"

Dmitri removed the key from his neck and gave it to Geki, "Yep. Grab what you need." He walked to the armory door and watched as Geki unlocked it. The door opened and revealed assault rifles, shotguns, pistols, and light machine guns lining the walls. Dmitri stepped into the armory and grabbed a C7A1 Assault Rifle. He loaded a magazine into it and tossed it to Geki. "Castellia Corporation C7A1 Assault Rifle. Range of 3,000 meters. Fires a caseless 7.62x65mm bullet with a fire rate of 1500 rounds per minute. This means you can empty your 55 round magazine in less than 10 seconds."

Geki looked at the assault rifle and slung it over his shoulder. Dmitri tossed him a shotgun next. "Goldenrod Bird Hunter shotgun from Goldenrod Armored Industries. 10 gauge tungsten core explosive shells, fully automatic 950 RPM with a 15 round drum mag. Capable of killing a Kanto RAH-66 Comanche with one shell. I've done it. Your pistol fires a .55 caliber bullet that is capable of punching through tank armor. You're pretty much capable of handling a small army. Your dad may be in the town in that picture you showed Kiko. We used to stop by there all the time when we were out in the field. Mention me or your dad, and everyone there will like you, except for Pastor Shieldmore, he doesn't like anyone."

Geki nodded and headed for the door that would take him to the outside world, and hopefully, his father. As the large circular door slid open, he turned back to Dmitri and smiled, "See you, old friend." Dmitri nodded before crumpling to the ground.

Dmitri waved Geki on. "All units, someone escaped!" He covered his microphone, "Run! Now! Before they kill me, and kill your sister!" He turned his microphone back on and announced, "He is escaping through the back entrance! Stop him there!"

Geki ran out the front entrance of the vault and never looked back.

The light stung his eyes. He reached for a non-existent dimmer switch.

A voice spoke to him, "Oh wow, another one escaped. Welcome to the White Wasteland, Vault Dweller." Geki's eyes finally adjusted to the blinding light. That's when he noticed it. The tan colours of the wasteland, the dull brown rocks, and the stumps of what used to be hundreds of thousands of trees in what used to be the White Forest.

Three men in ragged clothes pushed a shopping cart filled to the brim with cans. One of them stopped and handed a small walkie-talkie to Geki and said, "Here you go, kid. Turn it to channel 8 for the wasteland's greatest voice, Three Dog. He's a dude who is in shelter in the capital city of Castellia with three Houndoom at his side and protected by the Brotherhood Of Steel You'll hear more about them throughout your time here in the wasteland... Which we are gonna cut short!"

The three men pulled out knives and a shotgun and charged Geki. The first man, a scrawny kid, tackled Geki to the ground. Geki's adrenaline kicked in and he remembered a lesson Dmitri taught him. When you have that weird feeling that time is slowing, react quickly, but take your shots accurately. Geki pulled his pistol from his leg holster and pressed it to the small man's chest before he could bring the knife down and into Geki's chest.

He remembered another lesson. Don't hesitate to drop any armed people, chances are they won't surrender until you've blown off an arm or a leg. Geki aimed for the man's knife and fired, the bullet tearing through the knife and ripping off the man's hand. He fell to the ground and screamed at the bloodied stump

Another lesson popped into Geki's head. Just because you wounded him, don't think he won't stop fighting. If he has friends, target them next. He aimed for the guy who gave him the walkie-talkie. He lifted his hands up in surrender and glanced to his right. Always look where the enemy looks. Don't let him escape, or let his friends get the jump on you. Geki both looked and stepped to his left. The guy with the shotgun was waiting. The tall man pulled the trigger and received a faint click. He looked down the barrel of his rusted shotgun and watched as 12 gauge buckshot came flying up into his face. The tall man crumpled to the ground.

The man who gave geki the radio tried to run. Geki holstered his pistol, unslung his assault rifle, and fired a single round right through the man's leg. Geki walked up to the bleeding man, who had his hands up again and was pleading, "No, no! Don't kill me! We just wanted your stuff, yeah, all we wanted was your stuff!" Geki raised the assault rifle and pressed it to the man's forehead. The man closed his eyes and sighed. "Do it."

Geki remembered the last lesson. Don't give the enemy what he wants. Instead, give him what he hates. So instead of killing the man, Geki put a bullet in the man's other leg. He remembered a side note from his lessons with Dmitri. Oh, yeah. Always leave the battlefield with a humorous exit. Geki looked at the man and smiled, "Thanks for the radio." He walked over to the rusted shotgun and the man with buckshot in his face and sighed. He picked up the shotgun and smacked it against the rocks. The weapon broke in half and fell into an orange scrap pile next to the wounded man.

Geki left them there to rot away. He looked at the radio and turned it to channel 8. He put the headphone in his ear and kept walking down the wasteland. A voice rang out loud and clear, "Hey, hey, hey, Wastelanders! Its Three Dog! MC mastermind here at Castellia Radio giving you all the juicy new gossip!"