Truck driver Ken Worth and his partner Fennekin were still making good time this morning as GS Transport Truck #653 rolled on down the highway. Fennekin rode comfortably in the passenger seat as the truck entered a deep canyon between two mountains, racing down a viaduct over a scenic river, but what neither he nor Ken knew about yet was the little Eevee that was hanging on for dear life on the back of their truck.
The newborn Eevee had jumped onto the back of their truck while they were at a weight station a few minutes earlier and now it found itself fighting to hang on to a chain securing the Luxio-brand skid steer loader they were hauling to Stone Town in place. With the truck driving down the road at highway speeds Eevee had both sets of his paws wrapped around the metal chain with all the strength it could muster. He barked for help but between the sound of the truck, the essentially hurricane force winds blowing as a result of its highway speeds, and his position all but out of sight of the cab it was unlikely to come. Eevee was holding onto a chain on the passenger's side of the truck but while Ken was regularly checking his mirrors but the little Evolution Pokémon wasn't visible in them.
The drama unfolding at the back of the truck as Eevee gripped the chain with all its might contrasted with a mostly relaxed atmosphere in the cab itself. Ken and Fennekin had the radio playing and were simply enjoying a scenic drive. A popular country tune about Mistralton City in the Unova region was playing.
"Country roads, take me home," sang the singer. "To the place I belong. West Unova, Chargestone mama! Take me home, country roads."
"I love this one," Ken said. "You know the dude that wrote this song had never even visited Mistralton City before he wrote this tune? True story."
"Fen," Fennekin barked in agreement.
Just then the CB radio buzzed with a message. The voice was one of the company's female dispatchers.
"GS Dispatch to Vulpix 3, you got your ears on? Come back."
Ken reached up and grabbed the microphone.
"This is Vulpix 3 and I read you loud and clear," Ken said. "What's going on?"
"Vulpix 3 what is your location," the dispatcher said.
"I'm at Marker 60 on I-Route 13," Ken said. "I had to stop at a Torchic coop about 30 minutes ago but we're making good time otherwise."
"Copy that," said the dispatcher. "I wanted to update you about the Stone Town mine. We just got a call from the staff there and they said they found one of their conveyor belts is on the verge of failure during a morning inspection. They don't want to stop the sorting line but they are curious when you are going to get there with the fresh ones."
"If traffic stays good I'll be there in about 30 minutes going nonstop," Ken replied.
"I copy, we'll let them know," the dispatcher said. "Thank you and drive safely."
Ken rehung his microphone. When calls like that came it meant they needed to get to their destination pronto.
"Hold on to your tail Fennekin," Ken said. "We've got to get there quick now."
Ken's foot pressed a little harder on the accelerator in the cab. With a roar the truck slightly accelerated although it was still going roughly the speed limit. On the back Eevee continued to hang on tight as the truck charged off the viaduct and headed for a noticeable bend in the road. There was just a slight bump in the road at the edge where the viaduct met the regular pavement and while it was minor, Ken and Fennekin didn't even feel it in the cab, it was disaster for Eevee as the quick jolt knocked his back legs loose from the chain.
"Eevee!" the little fox yelled as he valiantly tried to continue hanging on.
The bend was long and wide enough traffic didn't have to slow down to negotiate it and Ken had the hammer down as Truck #653 dashed around it. Centrifugal force was now Eevee's greatest enemy as it pushed hard on his body. His front paws grasped the chain with all their might but he began to slide on the chain as his back end swung out wide. He couldn't hold on much longer as his tail now swung wide off the passenger side of the truck.
In the cab Ken glanced toward the driver's side mirrors as he noted a red car passing his truck in the fast lane. Fennekin took note of Ken's action and glanced toward the passenger side seemingly trying to imitate his trainer. The playful move paid dividends for Truck #653's little stowaway. Fennekin's glance into the mirror caught a glimpse of Eevee's tail swinging wide from the truck and immediately the Fox Pokemon started barking to get Ken's attention. Ken glanced to the passenger side and immediately caught a glimpse of something brown where it shouldn't be in the mirror.
"What in Kanto is that?" Ken asked.
For a moment he wondered if it was a leaf or some sort of debris but the sight of the white tip on what sure looked like it was a brown tail gave away that it was a Pokémon and one that was familiar to him.
"Oh crud, that's an Eevee tail," Ken said.
Ken would recognize that tail anywhere. In addition to brand recognition from being the mascot of the 750 Eeveeliner truck he drove, and the basis for the hood ornament he stared at while driving, Ken's sister Sandra had an Espeon as one of her main battling Pokémon. He remembered her raising that Eevee for months waiting for it to evolve.
As the Eeveeliner came out of the corner the tail swung back toward the truck out of view. Eevee was still holding on, if just barely, and now the crew hopefully knew of his plight. In the cab many thoughts ran through Ken's head. He knew he had just seen an Eevee tail but was there a real Eevee back there or just a joke tail prop attached to the chains on the loader; they made playful fake Pokemon tails as novelties that people hung from their vehicle's radio antennas. Those weren't an uncommon decoration on truck CB aerials and it could plausibly be a gag. Ken thought back to his pre-departure inspection of the truck and he knew that tail wasn't there when he left Celadon City.
His attention turned to if it was a real Eevee. If it was Ken wondered how it got back there; did it jump on at the weigh station or possibly fall off an overpass onto the back of the truck? He didn't really have time to think that over. There were no official requirements to stop in the event of an unauthorized wild Pokémon boarding a truck, especially for something like an Eevee that at first glance stood no real chance of damaging the rig, but this world was full of surprises. Some Pokémon like Dittos or Zoruas could disguise themselves as other Pokémon and there were some species that did pose a risk if they got aboard; like Arons which could eat a chain holding a load in place and cause disaster. There were rumors flying of some sort of newly-discovered, metal-eating blob and bolt Pokémon thing in Alola and that would certainly be a risk too.
If that was a real Eevee back there Ken knew he was going too fast for it to get off safely. But with the need to get to Stone Town as soon as possible could he afford the stop to get it off? If he didn't could he risk that Pokémon causing damage? And was it visible to other traffic? He hadn't been getting horns or any other alerts from other drivers of an issue but if that Eevee fell off while he was at speed... The image of the little creature hurt and in the middle of the road with other cars coming right at it scared Ken for a moment. He instantly backed his foot off the accelerator, hit a button to turn on his truck's four-way flashers, reached for the radio, and started pulling off to the side of the road.
"Vulpix 3 to dispatch," Ken said. "I've got an issue and am making an emergency stop. We've got what may be a wild Pokémon on the back of the truck and I'm going to get it off before we risk damage to our cargo. It's a low risk but something I've got to deal with."
"Copy that Vulpix 3," replied the dispatcher. "Please deal with that quickly and get back on the road."
On the back Eevee felt the truck finally slowing down but he remained too scared to move. Truck #653 slowly pulled off the road and came to a stop. The brakes hissed as the vehicle stopped alongside a wooded area and Ken shifted into park. He clicked open a storage area under the dashboard to reveal about 12 Poké Balls of various varieties including standard balls plus Quick Balls, Great Balls, and Heal Balls; the incident with Absol clearly was on his mind with the latter purchase.
"Ready up Fennekin," Ken said. "That little Pokémon is probably scared and you never know what a scared mon will do."
Ken grabbed a Quick Ball and a Great Ball and climbed out of his truck on the passenger side, away from traffic, with Fennekin following. He was prepared for all options, if he couldn't get the Eevee off the truck he'd catch it and deal with it later once the load was delivered. Slowly they approached the back of the truck where the little Eevee came into view, still holding tight to the chain. It was clearly a real Eevee after all. He was surprised the little creature didn't bolt the minute the truck stopped. Ken gestured to Fennekin to take a closer look. The little yellow fox jumped up onto the cargo area and walked up to the Eevee, which appeared so scared after his wild ride he refused to open his eyes.
"Fen, Fennekin," Fennekin said.
"Vee, vee vee vee," Eevee responded.
Fennekin felt confident enough the Eevee wasn't a threat that it reached over to try and pry the Pokémon off the chain only for Eevee to grip harder; clearly too scared to let go at all. Ken pulled out his PokéScan and took note that the Eevee was low level and probably not a danger.
"Hey, you can let go now little guy," Ken said. "You aren't going to fall off now."
"Fen, Fennekin fen kin fen," Fennekin added as if to say "you're not in danger anymore."
Ken reached over and pulled Eevee loose of the chain. He took note at how cold the animal was, it must have been freezing out back here with all the wind. What a brave little guy to hang on as long as he did. He bent over to put the little brown fox down as the creature finally opened his eyes. The sight of Ken, in his blue and yellow GS uniform, reminded him of Jackson's blue outfit and the only brief feeling of comfort he'd ever known before the young trainer left him. He didn't want to be left behind again this time. Ken put the Eevee down on the ground and let go.
"Eevee!" the little Pokémon said happily with a tail wag.
"Yes, there you go and now you can be on your way safely," Ken said. "Life is a journey, enjoy the ride."
The latter sentence sounded profound but it was just Ken quoting an old car commercial. Ken looked at the chain holding the Luxio loader in place and found it had no damage; the container was also secure and refreshingly there were no signs of other Pokémon on the truck. He expected Eevee to take off into the woods yet as he and Fennekin turned to get back in the truck only the little Pokémon followed them. Ken climbed into the cab and Fennekin followed. As Ken reached for the truck door he looked over trying to spot the Eevee, mostly to make sure it hadn't hidden under the truck or something, only to have the little Pokémon surprise him with a flying leap into the cab. Fennekin couldn't help but chuckle as it knocked Ken back a bit before grabbing tightly onto one of his legs.
"Huh?" Ken said.
"Eevee, Eevee vee vee ee!" Eevee said.
The door had shut behind Ken and he reopened it.
"Easy there, little guy," Ken said. "You are free to go."
Eevee only gripped his leg harder. He'd already lost one potential family today and he had no plans to lose another one.
"Vee, Eevee Eevee ee," Eevee said.
Ken didn't understand what he said and looked to Fennekin as if to nonverbally say "translation please." Fennekin smiled and gestured toward Ken's Poké Balls. Ken rolled his eyes. Sometimes you choose the Pokémon and sometimes the Pokémon chooses you. He had a load to get to Stone Town and didn't have time to dispute the findings.
"So, you want to stay with us huh?" Ken said.
"EEVEE! EEVEE!" Eevee responded.
"Well, I can't turn you down for lack of experience," Ken said. "You must have jumped at your first chance to get involved with the trucking industry."
Ken pulled out his Quick Ball and clicked Eevee to the button. He was pulled in instantly and the successful capture ding quickly followed. Ken got back into the driver's seat, buckled up, and started the truck back up while Fennekin took his position riding shotgun on the passenger seat. Ken was just about to put Eevee's Quick Ball with Spearow's Poké Ball and Absol's Heal Ball when the Quick Ball jerked and Eevee let himself out, fast taking up a position next to Fennekin. Ken again rolled his eyes as he shifted back into gear and let off the brakes.
"Oh, so you want to ride along out of the ball today huh Eevee?" Ken asked. "I will say the view in here is a lot better than the one out there. You okay with sharing your seat for a bit Fennekin?"
Fennekin looked Eevee over for a second then smiled.
"Fen, Fennekin kin fenne," Fennekin said.
"Eevee," Eevee responded happily.
"Well then hang on you too," Ken said. "We've still got a short way to go and a shorter time to get there."
Ken quickly accelerated back onto the road once it was safe to do so. He'd radio his dispatcher shortly thereafter to let her know he was again en route to Stone Town. The rest of his drive there was thankfully uneventful but what Ken didn't know was that there would be far more to this day than just catching a new Pokémon. As Stone Town came into view both Truck #653 and a certain trainer aboard a Mach Bike could both be seen approaching the community as Route 13 and I-Route 13 started to converge.