A Being of Insect and Steel
"Alright, let's run through the list one more time. Ready Genesect?" Quinn threw a backpack onto the kitchen table, an array of items already strewn about, ready to be put inside. His phone had the translator on, ready for Genesect.
"Confirmed." Genesect beeped.
"Water bottle?"
"Present."
"Energy bars?"
"Present."
"First aid kit?"
"Present."
"Alright...those are the big ones…" Quinn muttered "All the other incidentals are here…" Quinn grabbed his phone "Still no word from Cody and the others…"
"They said they would return tomorrow morning with Blue. Ready to move to the pokemon world." Genesect added. Quinn nodded, putting everything in the backpack and zipping it up.
"Hah...this is kinda exciting. I know the situation is...dire. But going to another world, everything to learn and everything to see...the mystery hunter part of me is just…" Quinn shook his body to calm himself down. His thoughts turned to his father, and he couldn't help but wonder how he'd react to what Quinn was doing.
"Agreed." Genesect responded "I am excited at the prospect of exploring another world with you. A world entirely of pokemon."
"Well, we can't do sightseeing right off the bat. We'll have to help Blue take out Kyurem and save his world. Then we can check it out." Quinn smiled. Sight-seeing, exploring, a couple of days ago Quinn would have scoffed at the idea, content to just stay in his room, go to his minimum wage job and call it a life. But here he was, getting ready for a massive journey with new friends, and all in hopes of saving the world. It was something out of a generic young adult novel, but the prospect excited Quinn nevertheless.
"So we have some time to kill before the others get back. I know it isn't much...but maybe you wanna go explore the woods quick? Get to see a little before we throw ourselves into hell eh…-?" Quinn stopped as he heard his phone sound off, it was another message from the group chat. The smile faded as he opened the message, seeing he had been put on probation for inactivity, and that he would have to get back into playing and catch up to be taken off. Cody had mentioned it had happened to him too and he left the group on the spot. Quinn contemplated doing much the same, but he wasn't in the same position as Cody, he had made new friends, and he was doing this for the summer with plans to continue seeing Terry and Vera after the summer. Quinn couldn't say the same, and he certainly didn't want to impose. He imagined after this was all over, he was going to go back to his normal life, with his normal job, with his lack of future. And the thought alone made Quinn's face scrunch up in an uncomfortable and unfamiliar feeling.
A soft whirring from Genesect was enough for Quinn to snap back to, closing his phone and putting it in his pocket "Sorry...it's just…" Quinn sighed "Sorry…-?" Quinn assumed the soft whirring was from him going quiet, but when the whirring grew louder, and a notable heat entered the room, he realized Genesect was focusing on something else.
"Intruder detected." Genesect said. It was hard to read, but Quinn had to assume Genesect was genuinely upset by this. Odd, considering Genesect wasn't hooked up to any sort of security system in the house; they didn't even have a security system.
"What do you mean intruder?" Quinn asked "Like a pokemon? The anomaly?" Quinn stopped as he got a look out of the bay window in the kitchen. There, in the backyard, was a man. But judging by his appearance, any self respecting human of this world wouldn't dress like that. While the white lab coat was commonplace, the blue and black skin tight outfit beneath was something new to Quinn. What stood out to Quinn most of all was his hair, blonde and slicked back, except for a long blue strand that circulated his head. He was looking down at something on his wrist, typing away.
"Who is that…" Quinn muttered to himself, but it was loud enough for Genesect to hear, apparently.
"That is Colress, of Team Plasma." Genesect said. Quinn recognized that name from the folder about Genesect, these were the people that created him, that captured him.
"What is he doing here?" Quinn closed the curtains so that Colress couldn't see them, hand running through his hair "How is he even here?"
"Blue had once mentioned the weakening of barriers between worlds." Genesect said, gaze still locked where Colress would be, even if the curtain was obscuring them "Colress is a capable scientist for Team Plasma, probability of creating trans-dimensional teleportation: 95%." The knock on the door was enough to silence the both of them. Quinn shushed Genesect, the two of them standing in tense silence until a second round of knocking was heard.
"I know Genesect Prime is in here." Colress' voice came from outside "My scanners are picking up his biomechanical waves. I just wish to talk." Quinn looked back to Genesect, the 'Prime' moniker was new. Genesect was still giving off an uncomfortable amount of heat.
"Stay in the back of the house...I'll handle him…" Quinn whispered, it was enough for Genesect to calm down and he slowly made his way deeper into their home. Quinn pulled out his phone and sent a text to Cody.
"Trouble from the other world...Send Blue." Quinn sent the text, putting the phone in his pocket. He wasn't absolutely certain this person was trouble based on how he spoke, but based on what Genesect said, it was better to be safe than sorry. Afterall, this was just another mystery for him to solve.
Quinn opened the door only a crack, looking Colress and his ridiculous attire up and down before speaking "Can I help you." Quinn was put off by the fascination that Colress expressed.
"Fascinating…" Colress murmured, typing away at the computer on his wrist, continuing to talk to himself as he typed away. Quinn blinked, clearing his throat to get his attention "Ah! Yes. Forgive me." He finally stopped typing "I have been working on calibrating my device to allow me to travel across dimensions, where as previously it was capable of sending others to and fro. And I would say this experiment has proven a resounding success."
"Good for you." Quinn tried his best to come off as imposing and intimidating, but he sensed Colress might be too oblivious to it "What do you want?"
"Ah, yes. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Colress, I am a scientist. I previously studied the connections and bond between pokemon and humans, but I have since turned my attention towards dimensional travel."
"And you work for Team Plasma." Quinn cut right to it, the sooner he admitted he knew that, the sooner Colress would show his true colors. Colress actually stopped typing to look at Quinn in surprise.
"I did, yes." Colress nodded, surprising Quinn with how upfront he was "But that was many years ago. And I have since done what I can to distance myself from them." Colress bowed "I actually came here to find a former experiment of mine. Genesect Prime. And my readings indicate he is in this house, and active too." Colress smiled "I would appreciate it if you did not try to lie to me about him. How is it?"
Quinn growled, so much for trying to lie "I reactivated him and got him up and running." That comment seemed to surprise Colress.
"Truly? You were capable of translating Genesect's speech?"
"Er...yeah? I turned it from whatever it was doing into binary...and then I translated the binary into a speech translator."
"Incredible." Colress spoke with a lightness that threw Quinn off with how genuine it sounded "We had intentionally prevented the P.C.S from having a way to translate Genesect Prime after they attempted to double cross us."
"Double cross?" Quinn opened the door a little more, learning more about the P.C.S overriding his apprehension.
"Yes." Colress nodded, not moving from his spot "Genesect Prime is an ancient fossil pokemon that we brought back to life with our resources and those of the P.C.S. Team Plasma wanted to use it to help liberate pokemon from their trainers peacefully. P.C.S wanted to use it to detain and experiment on other pokemon that may have slipped into your world. This was...ten years ago. I would say."
"That lines up…" Quinn grumbled, that was when the attack on the West Coast P.C.S building occured, the one that killed his father. But he still didn't know exactly what destroyed the building...and his father.
"Indeed." Colress nodded "When I learned what the P.C.S intended to do. I simply couldn't abide it, it was antithesis to our goals. And so I sabotaged Genesect Prime as we handed it off. I assume it never saw much use."
"I only just activated it so...yeah." Quinn was leaning in the doorframe now.
"Well, it appears it is in capable hands, now. Forgive the intrusion, but my curiosity simply got the better of me." Colress bowed, already walking away. Quinn breathed a sigh of relief, knowing this stranger from another world was already walking away. But curiosity continued to nibble away at him before he eventually walked out on to the porch to stop Colress. Here was someone from another world, a world that Genesect was from, he wanted to learn more.
"Hey, Colress, before you go…" Quinn said "I was just wondering...if you could tell me more about the world you're from...The World of Pokemon, I mean."
"Tell you, hmm?" Colress nodded "No, I think it would be better to show you." Colress reached for his side. Quinn noticed how he had about five red and white small balls on his belt and grabbed all five holding them between his fingers. He threw them all into the air and Quinn stifled a gasp as watched all of the balls open up, beams of white shot towards the ground, the white shapes becoming more Genesect, all of them were purple however, instead of the red that Quinn was used to.
"What? Did you think you had the only Genesect?" Colress chuckled "You have Genesect Prime, mind you."
"What's the distinction?" Quinn asked, stepping down from the porch to check out the five other Genesect.
"Prime was the first, plain and simple." Colress shrugged "If you're truly curious. I could let you take a step into the other world too. If you want…-?" Colress turned at the sound of the stifled gasp from Quinn.
"I mean...erm…" Quinn attempted to regain his composure "If you're offering…-?" Quinn blushed at Colress' laugh, watching him type away at his wrist computer. Quinn's grew wide alongside the tear in reality that appeared right beside Colress. The blue portal rippled as Colress gestured for Quinn to enter. Quinn's breathing was light as he slowly stepped through the portal, hearing Colress right behind him.
At a first glance, Quinn was utterly disappointed. When his eyes adjusted, he found himself in a forest clearing, with a RV trailer tucked away in the far back. Quinn looked around for any sign of anything extraordinary, but instead, he found pigeons, caterpillars and weasels scurrying in the forest line. Quinn turned back to Colress in disbelief, fear beginning to rise that this was all some set up for a trap.
"Take a closer look…" Colress smiled. Quinn looked back, squinting, a small gasp escaping his lips as he realized what he was looking at. The pigeon was much larger that one he had ever seen back on his world. And when the bird flew beside another pigeon like bird, this one with a pink mask that turned into ribbon like appendages. He knew this was no longer a trick. The caterpillars were massive, with leaves like a collar around its neck as they shot a string of some sort of webbing that allowed them to cling to the three. The weasel had yellow stripes decorating it's body, and the strange red and yellow patterns in its eyes was enough for Quinn to no this was no longer a trick, these were pokemon.
"I...buh...you...hah…" Quinn looked around in excitement, seeing more and more pokemon coming out of the woodworks, all still keeping their distance from him and Colress "I have so many questions!" This was everything the P.C.S and his father we're going to want their hands on, and he was shown it. And he could only imagine how much more there was to see and explore.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Colress nodded "Why don't we head back to your world and continue our discussion?" Colress took a step through the portal, leaving Quinn alone for a moment longer. He was more than happy to have been able to see this, he only wished Genesect was here to join him, let him taste the world where he came from again. Maybe he could even convince Colress for the device that let him travel like he did.
That's when he noticed it, in the bushes, just as he was about to step back through, red, intense eyes stared back at him. Whatever it was, it was too concealed to make out other features, except for the one gray-blue scythe-like appendage that stuck out from it's head. Was it watching him the whole time? He stopped just before entering, facing whatever it was that was hiding, and to his curiosity, it continued to stare at him. He wondered what this pokemon was, but he also realized with Colress gone, or now defense in Genesect or Blue, he really didn't want to risk too much, even if he was curious. He wordlessly stepped through the portal, the red eyes never leaving Quinn.
Quinn shook off the strange feeling of the mystery pokemon's gaze as he found Colress continuing to type away. He noticed the strange lack of the other Genesect in the area. He also checked his phone, relieved to finally see a thumbs up from Cody. He imagined Blue would be here soon, but he almost felt guilty now. Colress came here and was not even an issue. Blue would've run all the way here for nothing.
"Well uh...thank you for indulging my curiosity, Colress. I haven't seen a lot of pokemon, but to even see that world...for a little bit…" Quinn hummed to himself, walking back towards his house.
"It truly is a wonderful world, isn't it?" Colress said, continuing to type away at his computer screen "And we continue to learn more and more about it every day. The pokemon you've seen we're all from the Unova region. Genesect, Watchog, Pidove and Unfezant. Even Keldeo and the other Swordsman are from that region. At least our versions, instead of the other world."
Quinn got one step up the stairs to his house before he stopped, his heart sinking in blooming fear. He had never mentioned Blue or the others. Not even the other world of just pokemon. How did Colress know about them, how did he really know about Genesect? "Where are your Genesect?" Quinn dared to ask, his answer coming from the sound of fighting from behind the house. Quinn looked back to Colress, unmoving from looking down at his wrist screen as the other Genesect finally appeared, carrying an unconscious and wounded "Dammit, no!" Quinn spun around, groaning when he heard Colress chuckle under his breath, fear coming in once he saw the dark aura form around him.
"Master Kyurem continues to grow stronger, human. He has now learned how to travel to the third world, and possess humans like this." Colress said with the tone that indicated that he was indeed possessed by Kyurem now. He flexed his fingers and tightened them into a fist "And the best minion is one with minions of their own. So I have found the one who created the simulacrum that stood against me." Colress chuckled "Once again, underestimating humans has proven to be a detriment. I thought it was only when they had taken the form of a pokemon they became a problem. But here you are, able to stand against me with this." Colress' eyes turned a dull yellow "But now the original progenitor of Genesect is here with his own…"
Quinn watched on helplessly as he saw the dark mist swirl and swarm around the Genesect, including Genesect Prime. The red glow across the purple Genesect turned into a dull yellow. Genesect Prime began to rise from the ground however, his red body joined with purple eyes that stared back at Quinn.
"No!" Quinn cried out, realizing there wasn't anything more he could do. He wasn't a swordsman, he didn't have a medallion to transform him into a swordsman. He was just some fat human who let his curiosity get the better of him. Now Genesect was possessed, trapped once again and it was his fault.
"Now, we wipe out the Swordsman, you, and return our sights to the total conquest of the worlds…" Colress snapped his fingers. Quinn watched in horror as all of the Genesect charged up their blasters, all pointed right at him. There wasn't any way he was going to pull out his phone to call the others, or hide inside in time.
"Game over, Quinn. This is where your curiosity gets you." Colress snapped his fingers again, the blasters of the Genesects fired at Quinn. An explosion rocked the front of the house where Quinn stood as the blasters kept firing. Colress finally held his hand up and the firing stopped. When the dust finally settled, the front porch was damaged badly with holes strewn about, but there was no trace of a body. Colress knew those shots wouldn't have vaporized Quinn, something else happened.
"Spread out and find the body." Colress waved his hand, and the Genesects fanned out.
Quinn desperately clung to the white fur of whatever had decided to save him. His sense slowly returned to him as what was going on finally came back to him. Genesect was gone, possessed by Colress. And he almost died on the spot. No fight, no glory, it would have been quick and painful. But something saved him. He finally dared to turn his head and look at what had grabbed him in the explosion. The body was a quadruped with white fur that he still desperately clung to. He finally had the sense to let go, and the creature shook its body, turning to look back at Quinn. He recognized those red eyes, and the scythe-like appendage on the side of its face.
"The pokemon from the forest…" Quinn murmured. He realized Colress never closed the portal to the other world, it made sense that the pokemon ran through the portal to follow him, for whatever reason it had to do so. He had so many questions for the pokemon. Why did it come here? Why did it save him? Why did it want him? But without Genesect or the others, he couldn't translate anything..
"Thanks." Quinn said plainly, the pokemon rumbling in response. He wasn't sure if it could understand him, but with everything else going on, he didn't care anymore. He dared to look around, seeing Colress and the six Genesect fanning out in an effort to find him, and now this pokemon was going to be their target too.
"Okay…" Quinn turned back around, mostly talking to himself "I already told the others to send Blue, so he should be here...sometime…" Quinn groaned "I can do squat and you…" Quinn looked at the pokemon next to him, who was sitting there, watching him talk "Probably have no idea what I'm talking about so…" Quinn paused as he saw the pokemon shook its head 'no'. "Can you...understand me?" Quinn asked, relieved to see it nod 'yes'.
Quinn breathed a sigh "Roll with it." He looked back over the area where Colress and the others were. "Alright, we are going to stay put until Blue shows up." Quinn sighed, finding solace and having some sort of plan for the time being. Short lived, as he saw the pokemon shake its head, then step out from their hiding place. Quinn gasped trying to stand up and stop him, but in doing so, he blew his cover too, and Colress and the others saw the two of them
"Pokemon identified as Absol. Former target identified." The possessed Genesect Prime still spoke through Quinn's phone. Quinn made a note that that was the name of the pokemon who saved him; Absol. But what struck Quinn was the sound of static still coming from his phone. It was never there before when he was testing it and using it around Genesect before all of this.
"So you still wish to fight me. As trainers do?" Colress asked, all six Genesect circling in on Absol and Quinn.
"Trainers?" Quinn whispered, something from the hybrid world, no doubt.
"I have no interest in pretending at such a thing. I'm done underestimating all of you…-!" Colress was about to snap his fingers when the sound of rushing water stopped everyone. Quinn smiled at the sight of Keldeo standing on the rooftop, jumping back down between the Genesects and Absol. Keldeo looked back to Quinn and said...something. Quinn still couldn't translate.
"Absol is with us. Kyurem possessed the guy and the Genesects." Quinn said quickly, earning a quick nod from Keldeo, as he turned back, summoning the long orange blade of his Secret Sword. Absol looked back to Quinn as well, the scythe-appendage glowing black.
"So then a trainer's battle it is. Though six on two is hardly fair for you." Colress snapped his fingers, all of the Genesect charging their blasters and aiming it at the three of them. Quinn took a step back, a lump of fear in the back of his throat that threatened to make him scream. But with Blue and now Absol here, he had a chance to not die horribly.
His curiosity got him here, and now his curiosity was going to have to see him through. But at least he wasn't alone doing it.
Quinn stifled a gasp as the blasters of the Genesects launched at him, surprised to see Absol launch slices of air at them, causing them to explode before they came anywhere near him. Keldeo quickly closed the distance already charging and slicing at the Genesects, forcing them to scatter and focus their fire. Quinn noticed that it was Genesect Prime that was calling the orders, especially when his phone was still translating him.
"Focus your fire on the human."
Quinn heard the command, and he saw the Genesects aim for him "Absol!" He blurted out before thinking "Cover me!" Absol looked between him, then the Genesects, he identified their target, and launched more cuts of wind at them, forcing them to stop aiming at him and focus on Absol.
"Changing to Shock Drive, focus fire on the Swordsman."
Quinn heard them again. Noticing Keldeo had swung at a group of Genesects, not noticing two charging their blasters behind him "Blue! Behind you!" Keldeo's head shot back for only a moment, already spinning around to charge at them, making them miss their shots. In the midst of the battle, Quinn locked eyes with Colress and Genesect Prime. Quinn had to keep shouting and warning Blue and Absol to dodge. This wasn't a winning fight, and he had to think of something to help fix that.
"Help me." Quinn blinked, realizing what had just come out of his phone. It was garbled, barely audible over the static that sounded. He pulled out his phone and looked at it. Another order from Genesect Prime that came out as clear as day, another plea for Keldeo and Absol to dodge, and then he heard it again amidst the static "Free me…"
"Genesect…" Quinn gasped, his friend was still in there, trapped again, like it had always been. He looked between Blue and Absol, both distracted with fighting the other Genesects. It was just Colress and Genesect Prime watching them fight. Genesect Prime was fighting to break out, and he needed help. Quinn tensed where he stood, recalling how Cody was able to help Blue break out of Kyurem's control before. Maybe he could do the same, here and now. Quinn inhaled, and marched towards Colress.
"Daring, aren't we?" Colress mused, commanding Genesect Prime to fire at Quinn. There was a hesitation before finally the blast let off. Quinn knew he couldn't dodge it, and asking Absol or Blue to stop fighting to protect him wasn't an option here. The wind was knocked out of him as he took the blast head on to the gut, sending him to his knees already.
"...He's holding back…" Quinn muttered, coughing. He remembered the damage it could have done. It hurt like mad, but the fact that it didn't kill him was enough for Quinn to recognize Genesect was indeed fighting for control. He struggled to stand back up "Genesect...listen to me…" Quinn wheezed.
"No." Colress snapped his fingers again and Genesect Prime hesitantly shot Quinn "You can't talk your way out of this."
Quinn was back on his hands and knees, vision blurred as the next blast wracked his body "You...You're just another prisoner like this...and I want to help you again. I know you don't want that…-!" Another blast sent him skidding a few back, rolling across the ground. He didn't realize Absol had stood between him and Genesect Prime now, Blue was finishing off the last of the Genesects, knocking them out with his Secret Sword "You're trying so hard to break free. You don't want to be trapped again." Quinn had to use Absol to get on his knees "But...I can't do this alone...I can't do any of this alone. But you...you're stronger than me. I know you can break out!"
Another snap of Colress' fingers and Quinn prepared for another blast, but nothing ever came. Colress growled as Genesect stood there, twitching in opposition to his demands.
"Quinn…" Genesect Prime said through the phone "I am...not strong... I cannot do this anymore." and then Genesect's body began to glow white, a whirring sound growing harder and stronger. The possessed Colress backed up in surprise
"Genesect?" Quinn finally had the adrenaline to stand up brushing past Absol.
"I would sooner be dead...than another's prisoner. Activating Self-Destruct." Genesect stood in place, a mechanical alarm sounding as Genesect Prime looked down.
"You think blowing yourself up will be enough to stop me? I'll just…-!?" Kyurem's voice sounded through Colress' body, but a swift kick from Blue was enough to silence him and knock him out. The other Genesect were dealt with too. Now it was just Genesect Prime.
Quinn tried to touch Genesect, but his metal was hot to the touch and he had to back away "Genesect don't do this!"
"[ERROR] Kyurem is attempting to assume full control of me. If I do not do this now, then he will make me kill you…" Absol and Blue were saying something now, but Quinn couldn't understand them still, compounding his frustration further.
"And you exploding won't!" Quinn screamed, looking back to Absol and Blue. Two fast pokemon who could escape an explosion quickly. That's what Genesect was getting at, forcing them to protect Quinn by getting him out of the blast radius. But he wasn't abandoning Genesect, he wasn't abandoning his friend "No...No I'm not giving up on you. You need to fight it…" Quinn was getting mad now "We made a pledge remember! A promise!"
"Pledge…" Genesect twitched.
"Until everyone is safe to make the choices they want...We fight." Quinn stifled a gasp, the hot metal and countdown already cooling off and stopping "We still need to see the world together. You're not a prisoner anymore! Now show him!"
"Quinn…" the voice through the phone was garbled and nearly inaudible as Genesect began to spasm and creak. It was only now Absol shoved Quinn out of the way. The three of them watching Genesect finally freeze into place and lean over on itself, his eyes going dark as it stopped moving.
"Genesect!?" Quinn sat up, waiting for some indication that Genesect was moving, but it did not move. What happened? What did Genesect do?
"Where…-?" Quinn snapped to the body of Colress who was only beginning to return to consciousness. Rubbing a sizeable lump on the side of his head, courtesy of Blue. Colress looked between the unconscious Genesects, the Absol, the human, and the Keldeo that held a sword to his throat "What on...What is the meaning of this!?"
"Blue wait…" Quinn forced himself to speak, nerves still wracking his body "Colress...it's really you, right?"
"Y...yes...Oh no…" Colress stood up "I'm starting to remember what happened...that purple aura...Kyurem…" Colress shuddered, looking around "I deeply apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused. I…-!"
"Can you fix him?" Quinn pointed to Genesect, pleading "I don't care what you have to say but...you can fix him, right?" Colress looked between Quinn and Genesect, giving a determined nod "Good...thank you…" Quinn sighed.
Quinn found it hard to talk. Between the pain of getting shot by his friend and the fear that still coursed through his veins, it was a great effort to explain to Colress what happened and what was going on.
"Okay…" Colress sighed "Genesect forced a shutdown on himself. The anomaly couldn't control a host that couldn't move. Seems like after that the anomaly left his body…" Colress backed up, looking at his wrist computer "He's rebooting. He should back up and running momentarily."
"Thanks." Quinn had to sit down. Blue moved close to him while Absol kept their distance, eyes still locked on Quinn. Another mystery, but right now Quinn didn't want to think about that, he didn't even want to think. It was then he noticed that Blue had been speaking "I can't unders…" Quinn sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he stood up "I give up."
"Hm?" Colress turned to Quinn, Blue and Absol looking as well.
"I give up. I'm not doing this scary stuff anymore." Quinn's hand went to his gut, still feeling the bruise from when Genesect shot him and the burns of when he touched the hot metal "Everyone has their fancy medallions and can transform into legendary pokemon. You two are pokemon so… What can I do? I'm just some fat human who needs others to fight for him!" Quinn rubbed his eyes, already feeling them beginning to grow wet with tears. Everyone was quiet, letting Quinn cry.
"I know I am not in much of a position to speak, seeing as I was possessed by the anomaly. But...I think you are quite capable." Colress began "Even under duress, with minimal communication, you were able to command two pokemon to fight against the might of six. The odds were not in your favor, and yet you fought well. You could have fooled me if you had told me you were a pokemon trainer." Trainer. There was that word again. But Quinn didn't care. His curiosity had been fed to a dangerous extreme. It nearly got him killed, it nearly killed Genesect too. There was a long silence before Colress continued speaking
"I am a trainer. We build bonds with pokemon for many purposes. It is what I've spent most of my life studying, afterall. Here you are, a human from another world, having bonded with a Genesect and a Keldeo, and earning the companionship of an Absol."
Absol approached Quinn. The human dared to look back at those same intense red eyes, only now he could make it out, there was a pleading to them "Absol are unique pokemon, able to sense catastrophes. Perhaps he sensed the anomaly and hoped to fight. Solitary by nature, and yet he listened to you." Colress continued "I can't speak for Keldeo, because he seems to be from a different world, but he listened to you as well." Keldeo nodded, unable to say much else that Quinn would understand "And you took the time and patience to help and understand Genesect Prime, even before you knew what pokemon were." as Colress said that, Genesect came back to life, the lights in his eyes returning to their purple hue. Quinn stood up, walking towards Genesect.
"Rebooting…" Genesect turned to Quinn "The anomaly has been purged from my body and I am running at efficient capacity," even Quinn managed a weak smile at that. He then looked to Absol and Keldeo, two pokemon that he did lead into battle, and Absol and Keldeo seemed to be in agreement, he did good.
Like a trainer.
"So...where you come from...there's a lot of trainers?" Quinn asked, his sense of curiosity slowly coming back. Colress cracked a smile.
"Hundreds of thousands...dare I say millions." Colress began "You start at the age of ten and are allowed to explore the world. Making friends, facing challenges, uncovering mysteries. Its never dull."
Quinn moaned, he and Genesect exchanging looks for a moment "I'm uh...a little too old to be starting then, hmm? At the ripe old age of twenty?"
"It isn't a race. It doesn't matter where you start. I've only just begun to reevaluate how I view this world, for example." Colress bowed, noticing how Quinn considered what he had said. Absol took a step forward, barking something at Quinn. He was about to be annoyed, he still couldn't understand, but then he remembered he had Genesect back.
"Pokemon identified as Absol states he wishes to continue to fight alongside you. You have proven yourself a capable trainer." Quinn couldn't help but smile at that, and then Blue started speaking too "Blue wishes to reaffirm Absol's statement. Reminding you that we are your friends, and that it is not a failure to depend on them."
A goofy smile spread across Quinn's face, wiping his eyes of the tears as he looked around. All these people were trying to support him after his meltdown. No, he couldn't really say people, most of them were pokemon and interdimensional travelers. All things he would never have seen if he hadn't given up. His gaze finally rested on Colress, six red and white balls in his hand. He recognized it, Colress used them to summon the other Genesects.
"I imagine our words alone aren't going to be enough to sway you…" Colress tossed one ball, Quinn catching it on instinct "But I hope you consider what we have to say." Quinn quizzically looked at the ball thrown at him, jumping as he pressed a button, and he watched the ball grow in size, fitting his hand perfectly. Absol approached, looking between the ball and Quinn.
A part of Quinn recognized that if he went through with this, there wouldn't be any going back. He wouldn't be able to give up on this, on his and Genesects pledge, not anymore. They were in too deep, and despite the day he had, Quinn had to admit, he was curious to see where this would go. Quinn dared a smile, and held out the ball in his outstretched hand. For the first time since Quinn met Absol, it managed a smile, pressing its forehead into the ball, turning into a red light, and slipping into the ball. It shook for only a moment, and then it clicked shut.
Quinn asked for another ball, looking between it and Genesect. A part of him thought this was the logical step, a pokemon and its trainer afterall. But that imprisoned feeling, he knew how Genesect felt about it.
"...Do not keep me in there for long." was all Genesect said, pressing its claw to the button on the ball before Quinn could register what it had said. It shook and clicked shut, just like Absol's. Quinn smiled, already finding the mechanism to release both Genesect and Absol from the balls. Absol and Genesect appeared in a bright white light.
"Looks like we'll all be working together now." Quinn smiled, earning a nod from Absol and a beep of confirmation from Genesect.
"Blue states that he would not like to be placed in a poke ball." Genesect added, Quinn looking to Blue, who had been smiling this whole time.
"Wouldn't think of it, Blue." Quinn grinned back. Everyone turned to the sound of the dimensional hole being opened up in front of Colress
"Despite the circumstances, this has proven to be a wonderful learning experience for my trans-dimensional studies, as well as my studies in the bonds of pokemon. And I'm happy to know I could teach you something as well." Colress chuckled, typing away at his wrist computer "I wish you the best in your travels and your goals, Swordsman Keldeo...and I hope to hear of the tales...Pokemon Trainer Quinn." he winked, spinning back around and entering through the portal, leaving the four alone in the middle of the battle damaged lawn. Quinn wasn't even sure where and how he was going to begin fixing that. But right now, something new was on his mind.
"Pokemon trainer, huh?" Quinn mused with a chuckle, looking down at the pokeball in his hand, walking back inside with Blue, Absol, and Genesect. Getting back to getting ready for the journey to Blue's world.