Chapter 1: The Call
"One!" Kevin shouted.
Early in the morning, Kevin would do an exercise to keep his strength in top shape. In addition, his other Pokémon, including the Legends who had joined him earlier, were also following his pattern. Kevin slammed his left fist into the attack target, a board that was made from a metal Kevin had harvested. The metal, no matter how much battering it would receive, did not bend or break. His other Pokémon followed with either their left fist or leg, depending on what they could do.
"Two!" Kevin shouted. His right fist slammed with all the others, making a harmonious clash.
After several more, Kevin began coughing. Bleh, he thought, Darn this PokéRUS. The only thing it's doing for me is hindering my performance. He then stood up and looked around. "Ok, slight break. I need to recover."
Kevin wandered into his home. It was hidden in the shelter of the forest, almost resembling a log cabin from the outside. Appearances were deceiving here, however, as below the shelter was a large cavern that most of his larger Pokémon resided.
Kevin felt his Pokégear vibrating. Kevin only had one number on his Pokégear, and that was Lance. He had changed it in such a manner that no one could guess it. Kevin flipped it open and answered. "Hello?" He asked.
"So, how's the Lost Trainer doing?" Lance wondered. "I heard you picked up the PokéRUS while wandering Mt. Silver. How are you feeling?"
"Oh, I'm fine," Kevin said before breaking into a cough. "I'm nearly healed from it. Quite an interesting virus, I must say. Anything involving training or hard workouts, you are full of energy. However, if you try playing games or something else fun, you quickly lose your stamina. It spreads quickly, too, and it affected everyone at my home."
"Everyone? Wow," Lance said. "Maybe you should tell Prof. Oak about it."
"I beg to differ, Kevin," a voice behind Kevin said.
Lance, through the monitor Kevin viewed, looked around before asking. "Was that Suicune?" he asked. Lance and Kevin were the only ones who knew that he had the Three Legends, Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, with him. It was mainly to prevent Dark Cevan from emerging within Kevin. However, only Kevin knew that they were Lesser.
Kevin grinned. "Yeah," he said after finishing another coughing round. "Suicune and the others want to think that they can't be affected by 'mere viruses,' but I know that they are targets to it just like every one of us."
"I see," Lance said. "Well, now to the main question. How goes the search on Mt. Silver? Are you still convinced that Ash is there?"
"Yeah, I'm convinced," Kevin answered. "However, the Pokémon up there are stronger than I thought. Brought a couple of Pokémon in addition to Cevan to raise their experience, and nearly had all three lose the battle to an Onix. Had to turn back before the second tunnel in there. They have definitely gotten stronger over the 15 years I've been there."
"So I've heard," Lance remarked. "The only thing I'm really afraid of is if they come down from that mountain. Of course, that's why you're there, right?"
"Yeah," Kevin agreed. "They can't come off the mountain unless they pass me first."
"Well, just remember that you agreed to act as a tour guide for your museum tomorrow," Lance reminded. "We have three schools coming there that day. The teachers and adults there already are going to have a hard time controlling them, and so you'll have to use your 'Pokémon charm' on them."
"Yeah, yeah, I know how it goes Lance," Kevin said, rolling his eyes. "Although thanks for reminding me. I nearly planned on going up the mountain tomorrow. See you then." Kevin then hung up.
Kevin pondered for a moment. Why are we having this feeling? Kevin asked Duo-Cevan.
Maybe the world is being threatened again? Duo-Cevan suggested.
Maybe, Kevin thought.
Just then, Cevan walked in. "Scyther!" he shrieked. Kevin looked over to him. Between the flat sides of his blades, Cevan was carrying in another egg.
"Again?" Kevin sighed. "Sheesh, Cevan, just how big do you want your family?"
"Scy-Scyther Scy!" Scyther chided.
Kevin sighed. "Oh, all right…"
A thought then occurred to him. Wait, Brock should know where to find Ash, correct? Kevin wondered.
Yeah, assuming that he'll tell us, Duo-Cevan said. Remember the last five times we asked him? He nearly curled up into a ball!
Probably too many bad memories, Kevin suggested. However, I really do need the information. Even if he tells us he's on Mt. Silver, it will be better than searching the mountain and not finding him there.
You would expect Ash to have already gathered with the Legends by now, Duo-Cevan thought. So far our searching has yielded nothing.
Maybe we'll strike gold soon, Kevin thought as he walked from his home.
Kevin turned toward his grass-types. "Chic! Sauras! Gandalf!" Kevin called.
A Chikorita, Bulbasaur, and Tangela hopped from them. {Yes?} They all asked.
"I want you three to watch over the fields here," Kevin ordered. "Lately the flowers near the entrance have been trampled by something. I want you to stop them." Kevin then turned toward the lake, and saw something red.
Kevin growled. "Burnstryke!" he shouted. "Just because you're accustomed to water doesn't mean you should act like their type! Now get out this instant!"
Kevin watched his Charizard climb out reluctantly. Ever since it learned that its fire on its tail wasn't affected by water, Kevin had a hard time keeping him from swimming all the time. Kevin sighed. "A fire-type loving water… you're a riot, Burnstryke!"
Kevin turned to leave when Suicune, Raikou, and Entei dashed up. "Are you forgetting something?" Suicune reminded.
"Oh, yeah," Kevin said, pulling the respective Pokéballs for them. Each one was marked with a symbol: a water drop, a burning fire, and a lightning bolt. Kevin pulled them into the Pokéballs and left the forest.
Man, Kevin said, sighing, A shame that I can't carry more than six at a time.
* * *
Kevin sighed as he returned to the forest. Once again, no help from Brock, Kevin thought. And not even a word from Misty, either.
Well, what did we expect? Duo-Cevan remarked. After all, Misty got all defensive and Brock curled up into a ball again.
Maybe those rumors with Misty and Ash are true, Kevin said. Both he and Duo-Cevan got a laugh.
Kevin went into his home and checked his phone. He had two, one in his actual home and one on his Pokédex. The one for home was for others if they wanted to arrange something, and Kevin was at liberty to choose whether he wanted to answer the call or not. The Pokégear phone, however, was for Lance only. Kevin mostly had it like that in case Lance needed to call him in an emergency.
"Let's see… Only 498 messages? Yes!" Kevin said, giving a little leap of joy. Usually, it was filled to 500 by this time of the day. Though it was time consuming, Kevin patiently listened to all of the messages. Most of them was challenges from trainers, a few even that he never heard of before. However, one message caught his attention.
"Hey Kevin, it's Barks," The message said. "Sorry I didn't get a message to you before, but would you believe it? I'm now the boss of a large corporation making Pokégear devices at mass production! Why don't you contact me sometime…?"
"He probably misses my calls," Kevin said. Ever since the Psychic was beaten, the calls to Barks had decreased considerably. "Maybe I'll call him ba—"
Kevin's Pokégear suddenly started vibrating. Funny, Kevin thought, Lance usually never calls again after the first time in one day. Something must be wrong.
Kevin turned on the Pokégear and flipped it open. "Is something wrong, Lance?" Kevin asked. "You usually don't call this early after the first one."
"Yes, there is," A familiar voice said. "Oh, and by the way… I'm not Lance."
Kevin pulled his Pokégear as far away from his head in startlement. "Warles?!?!?" He shouted. His surprise immediately became anger. "All right, you have twenty seconds to explain how you got my number and why I should even listen to you."
"Yeesh, did someone forget to sleep last night?" Warles said, his face appearing on the screen. "Well, fine, I'll make this short. Remember when you gave Lance your number in that closed room? Well…" Warles got a guilty look on his face. "I kind of overheard."
Kevin raised an eye ridge. "Overheard? With officials lining the building? What kind of scientist are you?" He wondered, his voice hinting a growl.
"One who specializes in research," Warles said with a grin. "Need I say more?"
"Personally, I think that you should be a spy, not a scientist," Kevin said, sighing. He fought off a few coughs from the PokéRUS and resumed conversation. "Then again, with a peaceful world like this, a spy wouldn't get a very good job. Now, why should I listen to your call?"
"I'll get straight to the point. You remember how the volcano erupted on Cinnibar and destroyed everything except for one home?"
"Yeah," Kevin said. "I visited it later and it was abandoned. So what else—"
"If it was, it isn't now," Warles interrupted. "It's been used by construction workers who rebuilt the mansion."
"So?" Kevin asked snidely. He was getting irritated that Warles was wasting his time with this call. "Why do you think this involves me?"
"Because," Warles stated, "There are several things wrong with the scenario. One, there hasn't been a movement of a single passenger by sea or air to that place for months. Trainers don't even practice training there. Two, with no sign of travelers going to that Island, you even know that Indigo Plateau doesn't want to do anything with Cinnabar unless people start going there again. Then where are construction workers getting their funds and materials?"
"Just get to the point, Warles!" Kevin said. "How does this whole thing involve me? You may as well call Indigo Plateau for that!"
Warles sighed. "Fine, all right," he said irritated. "You want a straight and painful answer? You got one. The thing is, I overheard them… and they seem to be interested in making hybrids."