Chapter 9
The Bureau
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17:45, June 3, Unified Year 4734 - Central Federation, North of Johto, Great Umbra Forest
. . . . .
It's a well known fact that, despite the substantial size of the Federation's territory, surprisingly little of it has actually been developed, let alone industrialized. Of course, to those that were utterly clueless, the country certainly wouldn't appear to be so. Most Pokémon who come to visit rarely leave Capitol Valley, let alone the densely populated Johto region.
I certainly can't blame them for that, either. After all, why would they? Gargantuan and filled to the brim, Capitol Valley has more than enough on its own to make even the lengthiest visits entertaining. Even its famous Central District, with its multi-level streets and plazas, is said to take at least a whole two weeks to fully explore. Or so I've been told.
Nevertheless, that hasn't stopped the Ministry of Tourism from trying to bring foreign interest towards the rest of the territories, though I can't say that it's a particularly enviable job. Quite frankly, there just isn't much to do once you leave the Johto region. The sad reality is that Orre is just a lifeless desert scattered with a few backwater towns, and large sections of the Kanto region are outright deserted because of how many ancient ruins litter the area. And, as for Fiore, well… I'd say that Winteroot is there, but if what Hackett and Tori have told me is to be believed, then that place can't really be called part of the Federation anymore. And after what I had seen and gone through on that day, I'm inclined to believe them.
Or maybe I'm looking at it all wrong? The Ministry of Tourism spends quite a lot of effort in promoting the supposed natural beauty of the Federal territory, and it's not that hard to see why they would do so. Even Winteroot town, despite all the grievances I have with it, is undeniably a gobsmackingly beautiful place.
"God, Hackett, you're so pathetic!"
I'm not going to lie, I was a little disappointed that we didn't end up going to Capitol Valley, given how close the air base we flew into was from it. But now that I'm looking outside from the back seat of this S.U.V, watching the coniferous trees of the Great Umbra Forest streak by, I have to admit that this isn't half bad either. The scenery; it feels… Homely.
"Tori, I swear to God-"
…Or so I would say, if it weren't for these two.
"Oh my God, can you even imagine," Tori said, sniggering as she tried to suppress her laughter. "If word got out that you collapsed because of a little snow? I mean, forget getting laughed at. You'd be humiliated!"
I can't help but let out a quiet sigh as I glanced towards them from the corner of my eye. 'How on Earth are they still going at it?'
Hackett groaned in reply. "Look, it's not my fucking fault I was born a grass type. It'd be like dropping you in the middle of the ocean and telling you that it was just "a bit of water"."
Tori grinned smugly. "Yeah, but unlike you, I actually know how to swim."
Hackett balled up the feathers at the tip of his wings into fists, clenching them as he slowly exhaled. I wouldn't be surprised if he decided to smack the Braixen in her face right there on the spot.
The two of them had spent the better part of the car ride ribbing and arguing with each other from the row of seats in front of me; an astonishing feat given that we had set off from the air base a good six hours ago. I really shouldn't be surprised, since they had been like this the moment Wisteria and I revived Hackett, but that hasn't made this trip any more bearable.
It isn't helping that this journey is turning out to be a lot more uncomfortable than I had originally planned. For starters, this vehicle has barely any creature comforts in it. The whole thing rattles so loud that it's impossible to get some proper rest, and this seat is so hard that I might as well be sitting on a church pew. Not that making it any more plush would really make all that much of a difference; this seat is definitely not meant for someone like me, though I do admit that this is a problem us quadrupeds face on a regular basis.
Worse still is this queasy churning in my stomach. I'm even starting to feel a little light-headed. Is this what motion sickness feels like? I suppose it wouldn't be all that surprising, given that we've been travelling on what's essentially a dirt trail through the woods for the past few hours. But even so, this is absolutely awful.
Frankly, all this could have been avoided if that aircraft we flew in on had just gone straight to their headquarters, wherever it is. It's not like it needs a runway to land either, given how it touched down when I first saw it up on Mt. Coronet.
I had asked Hackett earlier as to why our flight was taking a detour through an Air Force base. I mean, it just seemed a little strange that such a secretive organization like the Bureau would risk exposing themselves through a collaborative effort with the Air Force. "Headquarters doesn't have the facilities needed to maintain the Ravenhawks, so we're having the Air Force assist us until we can find a way to operate them on our own" was the reply I got from him, though if that's actually true I can't say.
So instead of flying straight to our destination, we instead flew into a Federal Air Force base just north of Capitol Valley… McPetterson Airfield, I think it was called. Apparently, it's only one of two places in all the Federation that could operate and maintain that aircraft we flew in on.
Speaking of which, I had never seen anything quite like that craft before. We had a little time before our transfer ride arrived, so I took the opportunity to have a look at the Ravenhawk, since we weren't allowed to go anywhere else on the air base. Not that I minded. The Ravenhawk was far more interesting, in my honest opinion. It's rather unlike me, but I couldn't help but be fascinated by the craft. I guess I do have a little bit of dad's genes in me.
And could you really blame me? I've never seen an aircraft up close before, let alone a jet powered one. As a matter of fact, I don't even think the existence of jet power is even public knowledge yet. All civilian aircraft that fly in through the airports are all propeller powered, and even that's considered cutting edge, given that planes weren't really a thing not that long ago.
Even the way the Ravenhawk looks is nothing like the planes I had seen in pictures when I was a kid. Unlike the so many other aircraft that are so focused on that Streamline Moderne aesthetic that seems to be so popular here in the Federation, the Ravenhawk was blunt, consisting only of sharp edges and angles; its boxy shape tapering into a glass cockpit that seemed to appear slightly too small to be proportionally correct. Its four outboard jet engines, two on each side of the craft, were connected to the main body via outboard pylons, which gave the craft an aggressively muscular appearance akin to that of an apex predator. I would be hard pressed to call it a particularly beautiful vehicle, but it did have a mechanical charm that I'm sure dad would have appreciated.
It's a shame, really, that I couldn't control myself and ended up gawking at it a little too much. That Combusken, the pilot, noticed me staring at it immediately, and came over towards me.
"Thing of beaut, ain't she?" he said.
God, even after all those years, I still hate talking to strangers. Makes me feel all nervous and jittery. And quite frankly, I really wasn't in the mood for chit chat, especially given that I had been forced to leave mum behind on Mt. Coronet.
Still, it'd be rude of me to ignore him completely. And besides, I've gotten a lot better at hiding my anger and fear so I don't look like some socially inept wimp. I can thank Ivan for that; teaching me to fake it until I make it. So, despite my terrible mood and questionable social skills, I gave him a nod in reply.
"When?" I asked.
He blinked. "S'cuse me?"
"The Federation. When did they start making these?"
The Combusken laughed in reply. "The Federation? Pfft. There's no way we could make something like this. Look, I know it's s'posed to be a secret, but everyone knows that these birds were given to us by the Coalition. They're not part of the war yet, but we have a common interest to keep them Imps at bay."
I stared at him upon hearing his response. No offence, but it doesn't seem like a good idea to just tell other Pokémon secrets of this nature, even if it is supposedly common knowledge by this point.
But I do admit, it makes sense now that I think about it. Parts of the Coalition are said to be incredibly advanced and proficient with technology; Hoenn in particular. Not even the Imperials are said to match them, despite their overwhelmingly superior might.
When I put it like that, I have to admit, dad's rocket propelled escape pod contraption really was an incredible invention. I mean, that thing's been in our home since before even planes were a thing, let alone the jet engine. I wonder if he's worked in Hoenn before I was born? Or is it all due to the Bureau's rumoured R&D department? If it is, then I really don't know if I should be amazed or terrified of their capability.
"But why now?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
I rolled my eyes. "The Air Force never used planes before." I'm surprised that he couldn't pick up on my question from the start. After all, it's not like we didn't have planes back then either.
The Combusken finally nodded in understanding. "You're right, but it's always just been easier and more efficient to have flying types go on aerial missions." He leaned next to his craft, patting its metal hide. "But with these, we can't afford to ignore the advantages these bring to the table."
I can't argue with that. So I guess this means that the Air Force is going the way of the Army and start introducing mechanized infantry. I'm starting to get an understanding of just how dangerous the Empire is, but I can still only imagine what it's going to cost us to keep fighting this war. Given how recent their introduction is, I'm sure that these machines are in relatively short supply; Pokémon who can operate them being even more so, in which case I really should give him more credit than I first assumed.
Actually, who exactly is this Combusken anyway? Hackett only ever called him "Number Four", so it doesn't seem like even he knows. Is he even part of the Air Force? He looks the part, especially with his aviators on like that, but I could be mistaken.
"So, uh… Number Four…?"
"Just call me O' Four, miss. It's easier that way."
"…O' Four, are you also part of the B-"
He cuts me off abruptly. "Nope. I'm just an ordinary Air Force pilot, mate."
"But-"
He cuts me off again, slightly more forcefully this time. "Maybe you didn't hear me. I'm just an ordinary Air Force pilot."
'Oh, I get it.' It's just my first impressions, but this Combusken seems like a much more capable agent than the other two.
"…I see."
There was a little more to that conversation than just that, I admit. But my recollections ran away from me as the S.U.V ploughed into a particularly large bump, causing me to smack my head against the cool glass window. I really wish it hadn't because, now that I'm pulled out of my thoughts, I can hear the two of them arguing again.
Hackett roared with unusual animation. "Oh, like I was the only one to fuck up then, huh!?" he shouted. It's strange seeing him like this. Over the past few hours that I've known him for, he's come off as the sort of Pokémon who was always at the ends of his patience. But I never thought he would actually blow up like he's doing now.
Or maybe it's just that the Braixen has an uncanny knack for pushing his buttons? Tori's clearly enjoying this, grinning from end to end as she shook her head in response to Hackett's outburst. She clicked her tongue in a condescending manner, speaking in a deliberately exaggerated tone that was comically posh. "Tsk tsk! You're so cute when you squirm like that, dear Hackett! There's no need to deny it. Actually, you should be more honest about stuff like this! It almost makes you seem like a real Pokémon! After all, there's nothing between us that I don't know about~"
I let out a sigh, though I don't think neither them nor our driver heard it. Perhaps this is what parenthood is like. This… Unspeakable tedium. I can't help but wonder if my dad felt the same way about me sometimes.
I glance over wearily towards the Decidueye, half expecting to see him suffer a stroke at any moment. For a second, he seemed as if on the verge of needing medical attention. I swear I can see his veins about to burst from under his plumage.
"Hoh…?" But instead, he paused, a glint in his eye as he slowly let loose a devious smirk. "Everything? So you must know how miserable you looked, correct?"
"…Huh?"
Tori faltered, evidently taken aback by his reply. Hackett's finally got a chance to take the upper hand now, and from the look on his face, he knows it.
"Tori, come on. For an Operative, you're painfully easy to read."
"What're you talking about?"
"You seriously don't know?" The tables had turned, for it was finally Hackett's turn to relish in his partner's discomfort. "Back when you were talking with that Froslass. You looked like you were about to burst into tears."
Even I'm finding myself nodding to his comment, despite how much I hate to admit it. I can't deny what was just plainly true. Tori, on the other hand, cried out in protest, her smug grin having vanished in an instant.
"Did not!"
Hackett grinned, a devilish smile creeping up his face as his beak curled in sadistic delight. "Heh. I'm still pissed that I didn't have a camera with me; that look you had on your face was priceless."
Balling her hands into fists, Tori shouted, her voice loud enough to make me wince. "Okay, that's it! Three dinners! I'm making it three dinners!"
For supposed elite professionals, they really do act like children. Or young adults, which come to think of it, they are.
Or maybe not. Calling them mere young adults doesn't seem adequate. The snowstorm from last night was strong enough to make even me nervous. The fact that the two of them weren't dead by the time I found them, let alone approached them is staggering. Doubly so for Hackett, since snowstorms are infamous for bringing grass types to their knees. If anything, their physical strength and endurance are more than enough to convince me of their qualifications.
But even so, that doesn't necessarily excuse their behaviour. If anything, it makes their current attitude even more inexcusable. A display like this is shocking from any grown up, let alone a supposed professional.
I'm also a little worried about the driver. The Mienshao up ahead in the driver's seat doesn't seem particularly fazed by the duo's quarrelling. But if this display is as grating for him as it is for me, then there's no doubt that this tedious distraction is compromising his ability to drive safely; something that's of particular concern on a road as dishevelled as this.
If I want them to quiet down, I'm going to have to intervene, even if it's for the sake of my own sanity.
"Hey."
The two of them stopped immediately, turning towards me. For this brief, fleeting moment, I silently bask in the newfound silence. Tori stares at me, as if completely clueless as to why I stopped the two in the first place.
"Huh?"
"Are we there yet?"
A brief silence followed my question before Hackett finally responded with a sigh, though if he did so out of relief or frustration I couldn't tell. He turned around, staring out the window of the moving vehicle with a gaze so piercing that even Tori and I ended up looking outside with him.
All that I could see was a sea of trees hurtling past us as our vehicle raced across the forest floor, just like it had done so for the past couple of hours. And yet, despite the monotony of the scenery around us, Hackett let loose an almost relieved looking grin. I'm not really sure what he saw, since the view outside had barely changed, but whatever it was, it must have warranted his positive change in mood.
"We're here."
As if on cue, the trees of the forest all but vanished, the newfound sunlight blinding me. I shielded my eyes, bringing a paw up over my face as I slowly tried to adjust, squinting as to better see my newfound surroundings.
What greeted me when my eyesight returned left me utterly speechless.
To my left, a cove, about half a mile wide lay before me, the still, mirror-like water gently lapping against the sandy white beaches that made up its shore. Off in the distance, I could make out the great expanse of the ocean from between the two cliffs that made up the cove's opening, its watery body glistening like a million pearls as it shone with the dramatic hues of the setting sun.
To my right, the Great Umbra Forest stretched out as far as the eye could see, the line that separated the forest from the beach so clearly defined that it seemed as if a higher being had carved it out himself. And yet, despite having been in it for the past couple of hours, the forest refused to appear dull or even sinister. Instead, its evergreen trees gleamed with a whimsical glow as it basked in the fading light of day.
Like an untouched oasis in the middle of a desert, the cove sat alone, surrounded by a sea of trees that flanked it from every side except its opening, all of which was enclosed by the distant, snow-capped mountains that could be seen afar. I stared out the window, mesmerized by the sensational beauty of the scenery around me. Maybe it's because I had never seen the ocean up until today, but I had never imagined it would look so… Captivating.
"It's… It's beautiful." I stutter.
Tori turns towards me, a relaxed smile on her face. "Hehe, isn't it? Welcome to the Azure Bay, Kiteki."
But I don't reply. No, I can't reply. Not when I'm confronted with the dictionary definition of the term "idyllic beauty". I'm finding myself at a complete loss for words as I stare out the window. The scenery was so beautiful that it wouldn't have appeared out of place were it to be printed onto a postcard. Truly, everything about the sight before me was a spectacle of untouched natural beauty. Everything, that is except…
…A building?
Sat on top of a low, rocky outcrop off towards the corner of the beach stood a lone concrete building, its blocky proportions so lacking in any form of architectural flair that it appeared utterly out of place in the serene beauty of its surroundings. Five storeys tall, its faded cream walls were topped with a ghastly neon sign, its bold and unabashed letters broken and lifeless.
I squinted, trying to read the letters that adorned the building's roof.
"The Azurite Retreat…? What…? Is… Is this a hotel…?"
Tori simply nodded in reply, as if the presence of the building was completely normal and expected. "Yup! Though, I'd use the word 'hotel' with a grain- no, a ton of salt. It's, like, completely barren. I mean, this place doesn't even have a restaurant…" She paused, stopping to let out a heartfelt sigh at her last comment. "…I really wish it did."
She really isn't joking when she says to use the word 'hotel' lightly. Calling this place a hotel is beyond generous. It's so dilapidated that I don't dare even call it a motel or inn. As external appearances go, it looks so poorly maintained that I would have sworn it had been abandoned years ago.
Which is why I'm struggling to understand why the S.U.V is pulling into its driveway. With a wave from the Meinshao, the three of us quickly piled out of the vehicle, the cool air gently blowing against my fur as I watched our vehicle abruptly speed off into the distance.
Surely, this place can't be it.
"…Are we transferring again?" I ask.
Tori must have picked up on my confusion, cause she gave me a mischievous grin as she ushered me through the front entrance. "Hehe, you'll see."
Giving her a suspicious glance, I hurriedly followed Hackett through the door, and quickly assessed the hotel lobby that I had found myself in.
The first thing that caught my attention was the faint, musty smell that seemed to emanate from the walls, though given by how antiquated the beige wallpaper appeared, it didn't strike me as all that surprising. As a matter of fact, the whole lobby appeared ancient, from the questionably old-fashioned furniture, the heavily worn dark red carpeting to even the raspy jazz music that was playing from the wall-mounted speakers.
For a lobby, this rectangular room is absolutely tiny, being only large enough to fit the reception desk on one side and a pair of sofas on the other. It definitely doesn't help that there are no windows here, and the lighting inside is honestly quite dreary.
At least the interior isn't in quite as shocking a state as its exterior, though that by itself doesn't mean much. Quite frankly, I would have sworn this place was abandoned or empty, were it not for the old Armaldo that stood at the reception table. His body slouched over the desk as he dully stared at the surprisingly modern colour television that was hanging on the adjacent wall.
Though only for a second. The moment he noticed us, he got up, turning off the television with a remote before greeting us, his smile growing brighter upon seeing the Braixen and Decidueye.
"Ah, regulars! Welcome again to the Azurite Retreat!"
Tori waved back, returning the Armaldo's smile with one of her own. "Hi Tony~! It's good to be back!"
I'm a little bit shocked. That's in part because of the fact that there's someone who's actually here, despite the fact that, having given the corridors a quick glance, I can safely say that there isn't a single guest currently in this hotel. But more importantly, it's the fact that this Armaldo… Tony, was it? He seems awfully friendly with the two of them. After all, he did call them 'regulars'. Does this mean that this place really is our final destination?
Tony leaned over the desk, carefully adjusting his spectacles as he took a close look at me. "And who's this new face over here? You bringing in a friend this time?"
Hackett nodded. "He wanted to see her."
'He'? Who's 'he'?
Clearly, I must be the only one who's out of the loop here, because Tony seems to have understood immediately, replying to Hackett with a firm nod of his own.
"Ah, I see, I see." He stood back up again, using his claws to type away on a keyboard with startling speed. "So then, I'm assuming you're here for check in? Do you have a preferred room in mind?"
Room preferences? What sort of a hotel does that?
Or is that how all hotels operate? Truth be told, I've never been to a hotel; not even the one back in Winteroot town. But I just can't imagine that they would operate in this sort of manner.
But of course, once again, I'm the only one who's taken aback by this. Hackett glanced around the empty reception hall as if to double check for any eavesdroppers, before leaning over the counter as he spoke with a hushed voice.
"…Room one-twenty nine."
Tony grinned, pulling out three keycards and handing them over to him. I only managed to get a quick glimpse of the cards, but I immediately picked up on a strange and startling revelation.
Two of the cards have Hackett and Tori's faces on them.
Those aren't room keys. They're identification cards.
Tony glanced over towards me as he stepped out from behind the reception table, giving me a wink as he ushered the three of us down the corridor. "…Then allow me to guide you to your room."
The three Pokémon began to walk down the ground floor corridor with purposeful strides, me following close behind them. There's something undeniably creepy about this place, from the dim lighting, the shattering silence between the four of us, the repetitiveness of the doors that we passed by, to even the sheer straightness of this corridor. I'm finding myself constantly checking behind my shoulders, a cold, dreadful tingle in my spine that could only have come from the feeling of being stalked, despite the fact that there was absolutely no possible way that there was anybody else here.
It's not until we reach the very far end of the corridor that we finally come to a stop, confronted face to face with a dark oak door just like the several others that we had passed by on the way here. There's nothing here to imply that this room would be any different from the others that we had passed on the way here, save for the fact that room one twenty nine's door handle was noticeably more worn.
Hackett stood, quickly analysing the three keycards before handing Tori and I our respective cards. Looking down at mine as I held it in my paws, I noticed the word "GUEST" written in large, bold lettering.
Tony gives me a gentle pat on my back as Hackett swipes his card against the room's card reader. "Keep that card close at hand, little girl. You don't want to be found without it."
Were it any other time, I would have rebutted his assumptions on my age. But given the circumstances, I simply couldn't get myself to say so, something that became doubly true as the door to room one twenty nine slowly creaked opened.
Room one twenty nine isn't a hotel room.
It's not that the room was proportionally strange. As a matter of fact, I would say that it was about the same size as what I would imagine a hotel room to be.
It's not the fact that the walls were bare concrete that made it so strange.
Nor is it the fact that there aren't any beds in the room, either.
No. It was what was there instead of all the furniture.
Right in the middle of the dimly lit room was a cylindrical elevator made entirely out of glass.
Or, at least, I think it's glass. It definitely looks as clean and crystalline as glass. I'm doubtful that it's plastic because of the brilliant sheen on it, but given the sheer size of it, I doubt that it could have been made out of ordinary glass either.
Actually, who on Earth even made this thing in the first place? It feels utterly out of place in this hotel, and I'm not just talking about its design. It looks suspiciously high tech, not just for this place but for the entirety of the Federation. Forget the crystal-like material; I can't even see any lift cables or rails attached to the capsule shaped lift cab inside. Could this also be the work of the Coalition?
The cylindrical elevator shaft hissed, filling the room with a white, steamy smoke as the doors slid open, a mysterious white glow emanating from the lift's translucent glass floor. It's a sight that's enough to make me shiver, but I stand my ground. After all, Hackett and Tori seem completely unfazed by it, so I'm sure it's fine.
Without a word, the two of them entered the lift, before Tori beckoned for me to join them. I paused, glancing back to see if Tony would be joining us, only to realise that he had all but disappeared, the door to room one twenty nine closed and locked behind us.
It's all a little creepy, but I think I'm starting to piece together what this place really is.
I turned back around, making my way to the lift. No sooner had I stepped in did the doors hiss shut, a churning in my stomach as the lift began to accelerate down the pitch black lift shaft with startling silence.
It was only now that Hackett finally allowed himself to relax, letting out a sigh in relief as his upright posture loosened ever so slightly. He turned towards me, finally allowing himself the freedom to smile.
"It's a fuckin' palaver, but headquarters has always been hidden in this way for security." He said.
I tilt my head. "So then, Tony…?"
"Yup, he's one of us." Said Tori, holding onto the handrails as she stared out the glass. "Though, he retired from being an Operative years ago. I feel really bad for him. Must be super boring being in that stuffy lobby everyday."
"Yeah, but he likes it there." Scoffed Hackett.
"That doesn't make it any less boring, you know."
I shake my head and frown. "So then, this place is…?"
Tori nodded, beckoning me over next to her as she gestured towards the glass pane. "Ding dong! You'd make a great Operative yourself, Kiteki!"
I joined her side and stared out, my eyes greeted with an inky darkness. I'm not exactly sure what it is I'm looking for, but seeing the expectant look in Tori's eyes is enough to make even myself somewhat excited for what was to come.
Hackett joined us as he too stared out the glass. "Welcome to the Bureau, Kiteki."
All at once, the lift emerged from the ceiling of a brightly lit room, the bright shine from the light's warm glow flooding my eyes. The view that greeted me as I adjusted to the light left me floored.
Before me was the spectacular sight of a lavish hall with grand proportions. Circular and about fifteen storeys high, the walls around us were lined with row after row of balconies and walkways, all of which held entrances to corridors that seemed to branch out far from the central hall. Bright, vivid hues of bronze and gold adorned the walls, streaking up to a magnificent domed ceiling from which the glass elevator had descended from. Far below us, the stone floor, lined with heavy slabs of polished marble, shimmered under the bright light as Pokémon of all different shapes and sizes hurried about purposefully.
The entire hall was perfectly symmetrical, save for the front desk on the hall's main floor and, more interestingly, an odd protrusion towards the top of the domed hall. The weird structure caught my attention the moment I noticed it. And how could it not? In this hall of beautifully sculpted proportions, it alone appeared to be so out of place, sticking out like a sickly tumor.
Despite the giant panes of glass that surrounded it, the protrusion's interior was so dark that it was impossible to see anything inside it. And yet, I could feel a powerful presence from within, like a pair of eyes staring straight into my soul. It's enough to make me shudder.
Tori must have noticed it too, because she nudged me gently to grab my attention. "Looks like the big boss has his eyes on you, Kiteki."
Nobody seemed to pay us any attention as the elevator finally stopped at the main floor, the air abuzz with the sounds of different Pokémon going about with their work. The doors sliding open, I followed Hackett and Tori out of the lift, before being greeted by a chime from the hall's public announcement system, a loud and clear voice following it.
"Attention all Bureau agents. Code thirteen epsilon is now in effect. Repeat. Code thirteen epsilon is now in effect. Subject is a female Glaceon in her early twenties."
Despite the announcement, nobody save for the three of us seemed to have paid it any attention. The only response I could see were the occasional glances from passers by, all of which would quickly look away once our eyes met.
I gestured for Tori's attention. "What was that?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. They're just letting everyone here know that you're here." she explained. Judging by her matter-of-fact tone of voice, these sort of announcements must be a regular occurance for the Pokémon here. "You know, can't have someone accidentally spilling something classified to someone who's not a part of us."
Hackett grinned. "You sure they're not talking specifically to you, Tori?"
"Wow, rude! Just how low do you think of me?"
Despite the Braixen's outcry, Hackett paid her no mind, choosing instead to simply take her bag, along with their data tablet and my locket, before making his way towards one of the many corridors that led out from the hall. This only seemed to anger Tori even further, who had now pulled out her stick, brandishing it like a flaming sword.
"Where are you going? Hackett! Get back here! I'm gonna burn some manners into you!"
Hackett sighed, his pace remaining constant as he called back to her. "Give it a break, Tori. I'm just gonna go submit our mission report."
Tori stopped, staring back at her partner curiously. "By yourself?"
"Yeah. Besides…" Hackett stopped, taking a moment to glance back at us. There was a livid fury in his eyes that made even Tori freeze up, a murderous intent in his glare that made his intentions all too clear. "…I've got a bone to pick with Command."
Hackett stormed off, his body radiating a furious malice. It's probably not a good idea to send him off on his own, but I think, for the time being, we should just let him be.
Tori seemed to have reached the same conclusion as I did, folding her arms as she watched her partner disappear down a corridor. She shook her head and let out a heavy sigh, as if having already resigned herself to whatever fate her partner had thrown them into.
"Urgh, we always get in trouble when he gets all worked up like that." she huffed.
Well, if Tori feels that way, then there really ought to be no reason for me to be so concerned. After all, I suppose that this would be the more preferable of our choices. Trying to stop him in his state would be suicidal.
"What about us?" I asked.
Tori glanced up at the giant clock above the reception tables. Its steel hands pointed to half past six in the evening.
"Hmm… The Big Boss is gonna want to see you eventually, but we've got some time for now."
It's right then that my stomach decided to let itself be known, growling like a petulant child. Taking a moment to think about it, I suppose that it's not all that surprising that I would be hungry by now. After all, the last proper meal that I had was yesterday's lunch. Going more than a full day without eating would make anyone's stomach ache with hunger.
Nevertheless, regardless of however sound my excuses are, I can still feel my cheeks and ears growing red hot, Tori's ever-widening smug grin in clear sight.
"Fu-fu-fu! That's a cute tummy rumb-"
Her teasing was short lived, having abruptly stopped upon hearing her own stomach growl with thunderous fury. Quickly bringing her hands to her stomach as if to silence it, she blushed, her smugness transforming into a humble, sheepish smile.
"…How about we get something to eat?"
Biting my tongue to stop myself from smiling, I nodded in reply.
. . . . . . . . . .
18:12, June 3, Unified Year 4734 - Federal Bureau of Research and Intelligence Headquarters - Staff Cafeteria (B15F)
. . . . .
There was a very peculiar buzz at the Bureau's two storey mess hall, the cafeteria filled with an unusual energy.
Such occasions were a rarity in the typically sedate environment of the cafeteria, and for good reason. The Bureau headquarter's sheer size meant that, for the agents who resided there, a plethora of alternative locations could be found on site for the purposes of meeting up, all of them superior.
Rather, the cafeteria had been delegated by many to be merely a place for one to sedate their hunger. A single restaurant was available within the depths of the headquarters should one wish to actually enjoy their meal, and if given the choice, almost everyone would choose to eat from there whenever possible. Unfortunately for them, the restaurant in question doesn't provide free food; unlike the cafeteria.
And so, the only times that the cafeteria ever came to life was when something uniquely different was brewing at headquarters. The last time that this had happened was when the ceasefire had been officially declared by both the Federation and the Empire, something that came as cause for celebration to many agents as the Bureau itself had played an integral role in making it happen in the first place.
But today was different, perhaps even slightly unusual to the untrained eye, for the reason that had caused such a stir seemed so ordinary at first glance.
There was an outsider amongst them.
Were it any other occasion, this wouldn't have been something to raise any sort of interest with the agents. After all, guests visiting the Bureau's headquarters was an event that happened regularly enough to make it seem almost ordinary.
And yet, today of all days, this Epsilon class visitor, a mere rescued civilian, wound up drawing the curious gaze of nearly all that passed her by.
Because unlike the others, everyone knew who she was.
Arthur Schwarz's very own blood daughter.
Of course, it really was no surprise that she was coming. Most missions, save for the most classified of operations, were made openly available to everyone within the Bureau, so it wasn't at all difficult to know of her impending arrival, be it dead or alive. Yet few missions, if any, ever garnered the same degree of attention as this one had.
And how could it not? With someone as renowned as Operative Arthur being involved with the mission, it was impossible for anyone in the Bureau not to get intrigued by it; even those that worked outside of Command. A legend to the agents, Arthur was, and still is, revered by many to be one of the greatest Operatives that had ever lived.
So it was perfectly understandable as to why the cafeteria buzzed with the hushed murmurs of onlookers as Kiteki Schwarz entered the cafeteria.
"That's Arthur's kid?"
"She looks so young!"
"Omigosh, she's so cute!"
"I thought she'd be older."
"Poor thing, being trapped up there at such tender an age."
None of this newfound attention seemed to bother Tori, who chatted away with spirited energy as she escorted the Glaceon to a table, seemingly oblivious to the stares of almost everyone in the room.
"…So, everyone who's a member of the Bureau are called agents, but we're all divided into one of three branches here. There's Command; they do everything that's related to missions. They use Operatives like Hackett to go out on missions, and Operators like Maya who act like mission control. You know, give us Operatives advice and make sure we're doing our jobs when we're out on the field, that kinda thing. Then there's the Department of Intelligence, or D.I., who're full of analysts and other Pokémon who are into that sorta thing. They work with Command by giving them intel during mission prep and organization, and analyse the data us Operatives collect when we return from missions. Oh, and we've also got the Department of Research, also called the D.R., which is usually just a giant weapons development centre most of the time, except for when the D.I. need their help to analyse something they don't really understand. Does that answer your question, Kiteki?"
Kiteki, who unlike Tori was dreadfully aware of the attention that she was garnering, stuck close behind the Braixen, listening to her silently.
"I suppose," she said, taking a quick glance at the groups of Pokémon staring at her. "…Though, I don't think it's a good idea to tell me all that."
Tori giggled, flicking away her concerns with a wave of her hand. "It's fine! Besides, all that was just, like, basic info. We don't risk anything by telling you that much, you know."
The Braixen stopped, idly fiddling with the two electronic meal tokens in her hand as she took a moment to glance around the cafeteria grounds. Though the sheer number of Pokémon didn't particularly bother her, the two had arrived just as the cafeteria's peak dinner service had begun, meaning that she could hardly find any spare seats that would allow the two to eat together.
That was, until she found a lone Vaporeon sitting all by himself on a table in the far corner of the room, sitting with refined poise as he calmly read a newspaper, a cup of tea in paw. Smiling enthusiastically upon seeing him, Tori called out to him, waving her arm as she did so to try and hail his attention.
"Lee!"
Despite Tori's loud voice, the unfazed Vaporeon simply looked up from his papers, smiling warmly towards them in reply. He waited for the two Pokémon to join him at his table before speaking with a warm, soothing voice, putting his papers down as he did so.
"Tori. It's good to see you. I see you're back from your trip?"
"Yup, we're back safe and sound!"
Kiteki, who was still reeling from Tori's abrupt outburst, had barely managed to get in her seat before Tori pulled her in close.
"Oh! Let me introduce you! Lee, this is Kiteki Schwarz."
Kiteki braced herself, half expecting Lee to berate Tori on her overzealous introduction like Hackett would have undoubtedly done. But instead, Lee simply leaned ever so slightly forward, smiling with a soothing gentleness that seemed to put the Glaceon almost immediately at ease.
"Ah, so you must be the one that everyone's talking about?"
Kiteki looked away, painfully aware of all the newfound attention that she was gathering. "I suppose."
"My name is Lee Jun Sung. Please, call me Lee."
"Kiteki Schwarz… But you already know that."
Tori grinned like a parent would upon seeing their child make a new friend on their first day of school. "Lee's an Omen class Operative, like me. He's a real gentleman, though you wouldn't know that if you've only seen him in the field."
Lee laughed, a friendly, heartfelt chuckle. "Tori, you're going to scare our guest!" He turned towards the Glaceon, putting down his cup of tea as he bowed to her by slowly nodding his head. "It's an honour to meet you. Your father's been a huge inspiration for me; I can't thank him enough."
Kiteki, not entirely sure how to respond, bowed her head back in silence, which elicited a giggle from the Braixen next to her. Seeing that Kiteki had nothing to say, she leaned in towards the table, her tone noticeably darkening.
"Oh, by the way, Lee. How's Maya doing?"
Lee smiled wryly. "I'm sure you would know that better than I do, Tori. After all, she was your Operator, was she not?"
"Yeah, but you're her boyfriend." huffed Tori, pouting as she folded her arms in front of her.
The Vaporeon sighed at her response, his voice heavy with genuine concern. "Well, she says she's fine now, and I'm sure that Command wouldn't have put her back on her post if she wasn't, so I'm inclined to believe her."
"She scared me to death when she collapsed all of a sudden last week, you know."
Lee nodded, lowering his head apologetically. "I know, but it's my fault that I didn't see it coming. I'm sorry, Tori."
Taken aback by his sombre response, Tori frantically shook her head, waving her hands about. "No, no, no! Lee, it's not your fault! Oh God, I'm so sorry for making it sound like that!"
"Thanks, Tori." said Lee. "She's doing much better now, so I'm sure it's fine. Besides, worrying about it won't do her any good."
"We're just gonna have to keep looking for a cure."
"I'm counting on you for that, Tori."
The two were interrupted as Tori's meal tokens buzzed, prompting Lee to clear his newspaper off the table. Kiteki watched in stifled fascination as the table abruptly hissed, the circular hatch in the middle sliding open to reveal a dumbwaiter shaft. All at once, two plates of what could vaguely be described as steak rose atop the miniature dumbwaiter lift, the heavily sauced meats still steaming from the grill.
"Impressive, isn't it?" said Tori, taking both plates from the lift before tossing in her two meal tokens.
Kiteki nodded, watching the dumbwaiter disappear back down the shaft with the tokens, the hatch sliding shut with an audible click. "It… seems a little unnecessary."
"Perhaps." said Lee, smiling at the confused and fascinated Glaceon. "But it does make it easier for folks like you and me. Not everyone can carry a tray of food so easily."
Tori passed a plate and some cutlery over to the Glaceon. "There you go, Kiteki. Bon appétit!"
"Thanks."
"Oh, but like, but don't hate me if you don't like it," she said, stopping the Glaceon before sliding over a salt and pepper shaker to within her reach. "Okay?"
"…Okay."
The two watched as the Glaceon carefully inspected her plate, cautiously sniffing the dish before slowly beginning to work at the meat with her fork and knife. Seeing Kiteki put the first morsel of food in her mouth, Tori grinned, a cheeky and devious tint in her eyes.
"Heheh… It's always funny watching Pokémon try out the cafeteria food for the first time." said Tori. "I mean, you'd think that the Bureau would be able to afford better food with the budget that we have."
Lee laughed sympathetically. "At least it's nutritious, Tori. You'd be surprised just how much money went into designing the menu here.
"Yeah, yeah, I know…" Tori huffed, picking at her food as she did so. The energy seemed to drain out of her face as she bit into her first bite, swallowing hard as she stared down at her meal in disgust. "Urgh… I know it's imitation meat, but they could, like, at least try to make it a little more flavourful."
Lee raised an eye at her remark. "Tori, you know that genuine meat is illegal in the Federation."
"I'm not saying I want real meat!" retorted Tori, banging her fork and knife against the table. "Jeez! Do I look like a cannibal?"
Unfazed by her outburst, Lee calmly picked up his newspaper again, reading through it as he spoke. "Well, the Imperials certainly seem to like it. They don't appear to be as conflicted as we are about eating other Pokémon."
Tori let out a groan, sprawling down on the table, her interest in her meal having clearly left her. "Don't lump me in with those Imps, Lee. Some of them seriously creep me out." she sighed, her chin resting on the table as she gingerly prodded the meat with her fork. "I'm just saying that it's hard to get by when the food we eat tastes like cardboard."
"Hmm… You say that, but…" Lee glanced up from his paper, smiling at the sight before him. "…It appears that our guest is rather fond of her meal."
Upon hearing his words, Tori glanced over to her side and found, to her surprise, that Kiteki was halfway done with her meal. Despite appearing calm and collected, she ate at a ravenous pace, though if that was because she was simply hungry or because she genuinely enjoyed her meal was impossible to tell.
Regardless of her reasons, the sight of someone eating a cafeteria meal like she was astonished Tori, her jaw dropping open at the sight. "Wow, Kiteki, you… you actually like that stuff?"
Kiteki paused, putting down her cutlery and wiping her mouth with a napkin before she replied. "…It's not as bad as you made it out to be."
"Tori, she's been living in Sinnoh's District Twelve for years," said Lee. "She probably hasn't had decent food in a long time."
Tori shook her head, waving her hands frantically. "No, no, no, you don't understand! I tried Kiteki's cooking last night! It's so much better than this!"
"Oh? Well that's certainly interesting." He folded his newspaper as he turned towards the Glaceon. "Where did you learn to cook, Kiteki?"
"Dad taught me."
"Arthur? Arthur was a cook as well? I never knew!" Intrigued, Lee leaned in a little, propping up his chin with his paw as he studied her. "Kiteki, if it isn't too much to ask, I'd love to try some of your cooking if you have some time."
Kiteki nodded. "Uh… Sure."
The three were interrupted as the cafeteria's PA system flared up, a deep and stern female voice filling the room via the several speakers installed in the ceiling. The room, which had until now buzzed with the chatter of all different Pokémon, abruptly went silent as they listened to the announcement.
"Operative Victoria Lancaster, please bring guest Epsilon Three to the chairman's office."
A long, steady silence followed the announcement, before, one by one, the eyes of everyone in the room fell upon the trio. Victoria glanced around, quickly surveying the room before slumping back down against the table in despair.
"Urgh…! Seriously? And I was just about to start eating!"
Lee chuckled at her display. "Oh dear. Tori, what have you done this time?"
"What? I'm not in trouble! Okay?"
"Bahaha! Relax, Tori. I'm only messing with you." Folding up his newspaper, Lee got up from his seat, tossing the paper into a wastebasket before making his way towards the cafeteria exit. He stopped, turning around to beckon the other two to follow him, a reassuringly gentle smile on his face. "Come on, let's get going. There's safety in numbers, especially when the chairman's involved."
Tori nodded, pushing her tray of half-eaten food to the middle of the table before hopping off her seat, skipping over towards the Vaporeon. She turned around, and together with Lee, looked back at Kiteki, inviting her with open arms.
It was only a moment before the three of them were on their way.
. . . . . . . . . .
18:12, June 3, Unified Year 4734 - Federal Bureau of Research and Intelligence Headquarters - Chairman's Office (B6F)
. . . . .
The first thing that Kiteki thought of as she entered the waiting room outside the chairman's office was that it was uncomfortably extravagant. The massive, cream coloured room was furnished with glass coffee tables and fur-lined couches that oozed old-money elegance, while thick and heavy paintings adorned the walls like medals of a celebrated war veteran. She looked down, watching her paws sink into the luxurious brown carpeting as Lee and Tori swiftly escorted her towards the secretary's desk.
Tori coughed, trying to get the Salazzle's attention. "Hi, umm, ma'am? We were called here by the chairma-"
"Yes, I know," snapped the Salazzle, her eyes fixated on her claws as she polished them with a nail file. "Epsilon Three may enter."
Tori blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Do you have a problem with that, Operative Victoria?"
"Err, I mean, like, what about me?"
"You?" the Salazzle scoffed. "The chairman didn't ask for you. Your duty for today is done. You can head back now."
"Hey, wait a minute!" complained Tori. "I'm her escort, you know! Like, aren't guests supposed to be accompanied at all times?"
The Salazzle let out an exasperated sigh, finally putting down her nail file. "Then wait here in the waiting room. The chairman has explicitly expressed his desire to see Epsilon Three alone."
Putting up his paw on Tori's shoulder, Lee shook his head. "Tori, if he asked for that specifically, then there's nothing that we can do. Let's wait here until he's done with Kiteki. Okay?"
Tori sighed. "…Okay."
She turned towards the Glaceon, an uncharacteristic nervousness in her eyes that made Kiteki stiffen. "Well, umm… We'll be here when you're done. Good luck, Kiteki."
Kiteki stared back, a visible confusion on her face.
'Good luck? What are you talking about?'
Her confusion remained with her, sticking onto her like a persistent leech as the massive oak doors to the chairman's office slowly creaked open, revealing a room shrouded in inky darkness. The faint smell of tobacco tickled her nose, making her cough with a stifled voice as her eyes searched the dark room.
Ushered in by the impatient secretary, Kiteki slowly took her first tentative steps into the room, jumping slightly as the doors slammed shut behind her. All that could be seen through the murky darkness of the chairman's room was a hulking silhouette, its owner gazing out the office's panoramic windows as he stared down at the different Pokémon scurrying about in the main lobby far below.
"My, Kiteki, you've certainly grown since last I saw." Without turning on the lights or even turning around to face her, the silhouette began to speak, his voice terrifyingly deep yet reassuringly gentle. "I see that you've grown into a fine young lady, just like Arthur said. You could barely stand when I last saw you."
Kiteki squinted to better see through the darkness. "…Have we met before?"
The silhouette chuckled. "Yes, though I'm not surprised that you don't remember. You had barely hatched, after all."
Slowly turning around, the silhouette stomped the carpeted floor with firm intent, the ground rumbling as he did so. All at once, the ceiling lights turned on, flooding the oval room with a bright, almost blinding light. Kiteki winced, trying to adjust to the sudden brightness, before finding herself face to face with a Torterra, his face old and wise, the flora on his back having grown to wild proportions from his advanced age.
"My name is Earnest J. Blackwood, former Operative and current chairman of the Federal Bureau of Research and Intelligence. I've heard a lot about you, Kiteki. Your father used to mention you a lot in our letters."
"…Thanks."
Earnest sighed from behind his low mahogany desk, the only piece of furniture in his office, before moving towards her with speed that was startling for someone his size and age.
"I understand this is late, Kiteki, but please accept my condolences." There was a heavy, apologetic look on his face as he approached her. "Had I known what was to happen that day, I would have done my utmost to bring you and your father to safety. I sincerely apologise."
Kiteki nodded slowly, her eyes carefully assessing him as she stood in place. Seeing that his feelings were genuine, Kiteki loosened up, allowing herself the freedom to relax in the Torterra's presence. Despite what Tori had said, the Torterra before her seemed as docile as a Chansey.
'So then what was Tori so worried about?'
"…Now, let's start off with what must be most pressing on your mind." Kiteki's thoughts were interrupted as Earnest's tone suddenly darkened, his jaw thinning as he frowned. "The Froslass from District Twelve."
Kiteki blinked in surprise. "How… How did you…?"
"How did I know?" Earnest chuckled, his deep laugh resonating in the air. "Kiteki, I'd have to be able to do at least this much to be qualified for the role of chairman of the Bureau."
He turned around, slowly making his way back towards the panoramic windows of his office, inviting Kiteki to join his side. "Now, listen carefully, Kiteki. Every prisoner in the Empire is tracked and monitored until the day they die. This is very much including the Pokémon that have been banished to District Twelve; where you had been for the past three years."
"So, you mean…?"
"That's right. Even that Froslass you hold so dear is monitored." Earnest glanced over to his side, finding that the Glaceon was keeping her gaze fixed squarely on him, despite the view before them. "So then, Kiteki. Tell me, what do you think would happen were we to break her out from there?"
Kiteki frowned, her eyes wandering down to the ground. If what Earnest was telling her was to be believed, then the consequences of doing so would be hard to overstate.
She mentally kicked herself for being so foolish. She had selfishly worried about her own desires without even once considering the greater implications that her demands would have caused. Of course, there was no way for her to have known this at the start. But, after learning all that she had since that moment, the fact that she had failed to realise it before now made her hang her head in shame. As much as she hated to admit it, she had to concede that the Torterra had a point.
Seeing the Glaceon's ears slowly droop in defeated understanding, Earnest nodded solemnly. "I see you're catching on. Given how delicate the political situation is between us and the Empire, the last thing we want to do is provoke them by kidnapping members of their populace."
"I… I see…"
"…Quite frankly, if the Empire hadn't offered us a ceasefire, the Federation would have been long gone by now. It's only because of the success of our own Operatives that they did so in the first place." He stared out the window, a melancholic look in his gaze as he stared at his agents scurrying about far below. "I've lost a lot of good agents because of this war, Kiteki. I'd rather not have to go through that again."
Kiteki grimaced. It was easy to see where he was going with this.
For the past twenty four hours, her anger had been fuelled by the simple assumption that nobody would ever find out if Wisteria were to escape. After all, she had seen so many Pokémon die from the everpresent hunger and cold while she was there. But now it was evidently clear that there were greater powers at play. With the world teetering on a knife's edge, it was without a doubt reckless for her to demand that her interests come first, especially when they were as severe as hers.
Though she wished it not to be, his reasoning was painfully sound. To argue against it was to be ignorant of the Federation's situation at hand; to disregard the careful balancing act that the Bureau had created, and to welcome the terrible abyss that lay beneath with open arms.
And yet, despite all that, Kiteki still wanted nothing more than to rescue Wisteria from the face of Mt. Coronet. So the realization that her wishes were completely unattainable devastated her.
Her train of defeat and despair was derailed as Earnest gently snapped her out of her thoughts. "Kiteki, relax. As chairman, I assure you that, once this war is officially over, we will bring her here. You will be reunited with her soon enough, that much I guarantee."
Kiteki grimaced. Regardless of whether she liked it or not, his offer made too much logical sense for her to argue against it.
'And besides, these Pokémon are the only ones who can help me get mum out of there. If I want their help, I don't really have any other choice than the one he's offering me.' Coming to grips with her situation, Kiteki sighed in reluctant understanding.
Earnest smiled, his expression finally softening. "Now, do you have any questions?"
Kiteki nodded. "The war. What exactly happened?"
"I suppose I should explain it to you." Earnest said, stomping on the floor like he had done earlier to turn the lights on. "At least this way, we'll both be on the same footing as to what's going on."
With a ghostly whir, a large display slowly descended from a slit that had opened up in the office ceiling. Kiteki watched as a series of images flashed on the screen, while Earnest began his summary.
"Nine years ago, Emperor Sirius rose to power following the death of the previous emperor; his father, Emperor Arcturus. Immediately upon taking power, Sirius enacted what he called the "Five Year Plan", dramatically boosting the Empire's industrial capacity to far beyond that of any other nation, including ours. Sirius claimed it was "for the purposes of increasing the Empire's export capabilities". Of course, his true intentions became clear once the Empire of the New Order invaded the region of Fiore."
Seeing an image of Winteroot town lit ablaze come up across the screen, Earnest glanced over towards the Glaceon, fully conscious of her relationship with the town. To his surprise, he found that Kiteki's eyes refused to shy away from the screen, her gaze studying the image intently, though what she was feeling behind that expressionless visage of hers he could only guess.
Kiteki suddenly spoke up, her voice just as hard to read as her expression. "Don't you mean the Sinnohnian Empire?"
"No, not anymore. Sirius had renamed it the Empire of the New Order a day after he began his invasion. Though, given the events that befell upon you, I'm not surprised that you didn't hear about it."
Finally pulling away from the picture, Kiteki looked up at the Torterra with a puzzled frown. "But… Why?"
"Attack us, you mean? I'm afraid we aren't entirely sure, Kiteki." Earnest paused the slideshow by stomping on the carpeted floor, which, Kiteki had correctly deduced, was a giant, foot operated control system. "Emperor Sirius never made it explicitly clear as to why he had chosen to start a war against us in the first place. The only clue we have is a video of one of his public speeches that was broadcasted only within Imperial territories."
Bringing her attention back towards the screen, Earnest brought up a coloured video, its quality startlingly crisp despite the occasional static during playback.
Kiteki watched as the screen flickered, the video playing a panned shot through what appeared to be a stadium filled to the brim with Pokémon of all different sorts, easily numbering in the tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands.
But a scene of public unrest this was not, for every single soul there was giving their silent and undivided attention to a lone figure standing alone on a stage, his collected yet powerful voice reverberating through the air.
The video switched to a second camera, revealing the figure to be an Incineroar. Tall and powerfully proportioned, his muscular body radiated a masculine power that could be felt even from the limitations of a recorded video. Kiteki had to admit that the Incineroar standing at the podium was undeniably good looking. Perhaps too good looking, as if a stone sculpture that represented the pinnacle of male form had suddenly come to life. The uncanny perfectness about him unnerved her.
The Incineroar surveyed the crowd with a steely look as he addressed them in a smooth baritone. Though he spoke with clinical calmness, an orchestrated rage flickered in his eyes.
"…I will create a marvellous future. The perfect utopia where Pokémon are no longer trapped by the shackles of bureaucracy."
Kiteki shuddered. "That's him?"
Earnest nodded. "Despite what he says, we're inclined to believe that there is more to his reasoning. After all, Emperor Arcturus himself claimed that Imperial-Federal relations were improving before his death. There's no obvious reason as to why Emperor Sirius wouldn't feel the same."
Earnest shut off the video feed, sending the screen back up into the ceiling with a stomp of his foot. "…And that's about it. I'm afraid I can't show you more than this without compromising our security, Kiteki. Will this explanation suffice?"
Kiteki nodded. "I guess."
"…Now that's out of the way, let's move on to why I wanted to see you." Earnest cleared his throat with a hearty cough, before making his way back over to his usual spot behind his mahogany desk. "Kiteki, I would like to offer you a position as a member of the Bureau."
Kiteki blinked. "…Excuse me?"
"You heard me perfectly clear, Kiteki." Unfazed by her evident surprise, the Torterra continued. "Not many know of this, but your father and I… We were very close friends. He has saved my life on more than a couple of occasions when we were partners long ago. I owe him more than I can ever pay back."
Earnest paused, giving the Glaceon a reminiscent smile. "So you see, when he asked me to personally look after you after his death, I promised him that I would do so. That is something I can best do if you are here at the Bureau."
Kiteki stared at him, stunned. She had entered his office prepared for practically anything, but the proposition that Earnest had given her left her utterly speechless. Having been hit with one realization after another for the past day, she had become almost certain that nothing else could surprise her. And yet, here she was, hearing words that she never even imagined she would hear, from the chairman of the Bureau no less.
"…And given our current situation, I need all the capable hands I can get." Earnest paid her stunned gaze no mind as he continued with his rationalization. "I can't say what branch you will be working for quite yet, but I know that you'll make a fine agent. Especially knowing that you had managed to survive District Twelve for so long."
The Glaceon stared at him for a few seconds, frozen and utterly silent. But as she regained control over herself, Earnest watched as she looked him straight in the eye, surprising him with an unexpected response.
"…I'm sorry, but I have to decline."
Earnest frowned. "Interesting. Most would jump at the chance to join us. May I ask why?"
"Being an agent… It's not for me. Besides, I'm only here because mum told me to. I never agreed to stay." Her explanation came out simple and clear. If there was an emotion that had influenced her decision, she showed no signs of it.
"Kiteki, while I do understand where you're coming from, I must implore you to reconsider. An opportunity like this doesn't come everyday. Even as the chairman, I'm having to pull a lot of strings to let you in."
"Even if you say that, I won't be able to give you an answer right now. This… This is all a little too sudden."
Earnest nodded calmly. "That's fine, Kiteki. I am more than willing to wait for your answer. In the meantime, I'll have Tony prepare a room for you in the Azurite Retreat. Feel free to stay there for as long as you need."
Kiteki thanked the Torterra. She hadn't thought about it until he had brought it up just now, but it was dawning on her now that she no longer had a place that she could stay.
'Oh God, what the hell do I even do with my life now…?'
Though the realization did not make her immediately take up Earnest's offer, she had to admit that, with no home to return to and not a penny to her name, his hospitality was more than greatly appreciated.
"Now, before I send you off with Operative Victoria and Operative Lee, there is one more thing that I must ask of you."
Kiteki, who had been worrying over the realization of her uncertain future, looked up at the Torterra, evidently having assumed that the conversation was over. "…And that is?"
"Upon confirmation of your extraction last night, the Board of Directors and I have had a meeting, and we've decided that we desperately need your assistance."
She tilted her head in confusion. "Assistance?"
Earnest nodded. "We'd like to send you out on a mission. If you agree to it, that is."
"What?" Kiteki's confusion didn't dissipate. If anything, she seemed even more confused. "But I'm a civilian."
"Yes, I am aware of that. I don't like the idea of sending a civilian on a mission like this, but quite frankly, we can't afford to risk another failure."
"So then what exactly do you need me for?"
Earnest looked her straight in the eye with grim determination. "Your father's computer, Kiteki."
Kiteki blinked, her mind racing as she tried to come to grips with what he had said. The conclusion that she came to made her frown. "…You're not suggesting-"
"I'm not suggesting, I'm asking." Opening a drawer on his desk, he pulled out a familiar looking locket, holding it up for her to see. "I need you to go back to Winteroot town and use this, the pendant that your father gave you, to retrieve the data that's on it."
She shook her head incredulously at his proposition. "You can't be serious."
"Kiteki, nobody knows your father better than you. We're not absolutely certain about what to expect when our agents reach your home, but you do. If you'd be so willing to aid us, I can know for certain that this mission will turn out a success." He paused, before giving her a wink. "And besides, this would be a good opportunity for you to collect any items that you've left behind, don't you think?"
Kiteki faltered for a second. It was true that a chance to revisit her home seemed too good a chance to let pass. But perhaps, more than anything else, this opportunity could finally allow her to resolve that aching source of regret she had carried for the past three years. With a touch more enthusiasm, she responded to the Torterra.
"You do realize that Winteroot town is under Imperial control now, right?"
Earnest grinned, knowing fully well that he had successfully hooked her onto his plan. "Which is why you won't be going alone. You'll be accompanied by one of our agents. He's not quite as experienced as Hackett or Victoria, but he's proven himself to be a talented and promising Operative. With his company, your safety is virtually guaranteed."
"And who exactly is my escort?"
"I'm glad you should ask."
Pressing a button on his desk, Earnest summoned his secretary; the voice of the Salazzle from outside his office coming through on his intercom.
"Yes, Mr. Blackwood?" said the secretary.
"Miss Eldridge, please send Operative Rockenhaeuser to my office."
"Of course."
No sooner had Earnest ended the call did the massive double oak doors open with a loud clunk. Kiteki spun around, finding herself face to face with what she thought was, for a brief moment, a celebrity.
For as long as she could remember, Kiteki had never used that term to describe anyone, even ironically. But the Flareon that was standing before her could only be described as, and in every sense of the word, a stud. His body muscular yet lean, the wild, cream coloured fur that adorned his neck and atop his head resembled a dancing bonfire that gave him a dangerous presence.
'Maybe he's a fashion model? Or an actor, perhaps? The air of confidence about him certainly seems to imply so.' Kiteki thought, as she tried not to stare too much at the Flareon in front of her. 'But… No, that can't be right. After all, that would go against the very ethos of the Bureau… Wouldn't it? Being famous or in any way renown would be catastrophic for an Operative.'
She studied the Flareon, her eyes meeting his piercing gaze. 'No, he's not a celebrity. He can't be. I've never seen someone like him…'
'…So why does he seem so familiar?'
The Flareon smirked, flashing his pearly whites. Stopping the Torterra from introducing him on his behalf, the Flareon spoke.
"C'mon, Kit. Do you really have to be that cold to an old friend of yours?"
The Glaceon froze. Though his appearance was that of a stranger, his voice was immediately recognisable.
'No. It… It can't be.'
But his voice proved otherwise. That familiar gleam in his eyes said otherwise.
And there was only one Pokémon that she knew of who called her by that name.
It seemed utterly impossible, so utterly incomprehensible.
But she knew exactly who this Flareon was.
"…Clay?"
The Flareon flashed her a cheeky grin in reply.
"…Long time no see, Kit."
