Hey guys, its Brandon. Last night, I finished Chapter 1, and I just want to give you a brief rundown of it.


The story picks up six months after the prologue. It begins with a press conference, and ends with an investigation opening. There are cameos in this chapter by Matthew Casey, who happens to be the Mayor of Chicago, as well as Christopher Herrmann and Sylvie Brett of Firehouse 51 (Herrmann is a battalion chief, and Sylvie is still in charge of Ambulance 61), and Peter Stone (of Chicago Justice and Law & Order: SVU), who is now the Cook County State's Attorney.

As I said before the prologue, you CANNOT make a One Chicago story credible without crossovers from the other series!


If everybody's ready, please enjoy this chapter, and please let me know what you think of it.


Chapter 1


Chicago

Six Months Later


It was a cold, windy day in Chicago. Flurries fluttered in the wind, bringing about an aura that many thought would be a sign of a forthcoming winter storm. Gathering outside Chicago City Hall, the city's reporters huddled up together, awaiting a press conference by city leaders on the state of crime in the windy city, and watched as three people stepped out of the building, walked down the steps, and stopped in front of them.

Chicago Mayor Matthew Casey, Chicago Police Superintendent Hank Voight, and Cook County State's Attorney Peter Stone stood outside Chicago City Hall to address the media on the city's crime statistics for the past year. Casey walked up to the podium, took out his notes, and began addressing the members of the press.

"Good morning. I am pleased to announce that this year is off to an amazing start here in Chicago. The Chicago Police Department is reporting that violent crime has declined 55% year to date from this time last year. In addition, since the Supreme Court decided Ketchum v. Chicago six months ago, assaults, thefts, and break-ins are on a sharp decline. Today, in addition to letting the press know where the city stands on the crime rate, we are pleased to announce that our city's police officers will work with local Pokémon trainers to detect crimes by using Psychic-type Pokémon before they can begin. With this new collaboration, we will achieve my personal goal of a crime-free Chicago. For more information on where we stand with regards to the crime rate, I would like to turn this conference over to Chicago Police Superintendent Hank Voight." Casey said as he yielded the podium to Voight.

"Good morning. As Mayor Casey elaborated in his opening remarks, the city of Chicago is starting out this year heading in the right direction with regards to violent crime. From this time last year, violent crime in Chicago has dropped a staggering 55% thanks in part to our citizens and their Pokémon. Last year, before the Court decided the outcome of Ketchum v. Chicago, there were 575 homicides in the city. Following the decision that overturned the city's anti-Pokémon ordinance, the homicide rate fell to just 25. That is a significant decline thanks in part to the Pokémon law. As for assaults, last year, prior to the Ketchum ruling, there were 3,275 reports of assault, with sexual assaults accounting for nearly 65% of all reported assaults. Post Ketchum, the number of violent crimes reported was 135, with 55 of them reported as sexual assaults. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I am proud to say that the experiment that Congress passed five years ago seems to be working. Instead of resolving gang disputes using violence, we have learned from our officers within the Gang and Intelligence Units that disputes are being settled with Pokémon battles. With that said, I am pleased to announce that the Chicago Police Department is teaming up with Pokémon trainers who currently carry any Psychic-type Pokémon on them. The department plans to use the Psychic-type Pokémon to detect crime before it starts. I know that it seems like this was taken from the movie Minority Report, but I can assure you that this program is fully legal under the terms of the Pokémon law, and any information obtained will be immediately downloaded to a secured server and wiped from the Pokémon's memory. Our goal with this program is to eliminate all crime in Chicago within five years. Thank you." Voight stated to the media as he stepped back from the podium.

As he stepped back, his assistant, a young female in her late 20s, appeared in the corner of his left eye, and spoke to him quietly.

"Superintendent Voight, I'm sorry to interrupt your big conference to the media, but Commander Platt at District 21 and Sergeant Halstead in Intelligence have requested your presence at a crime scene on the Lake Michigan waterfront immediately." his assistant said.

Before stepping up to the podium, Cook County State's Attorney Peter Stone looked at Voight, and spoke quietly enough for Voight and Casey to hear, and just out of earshot of the media.

"Hank, you go on ahead. I'm certain Mayor Casey will understand." Stone said as Casey looked at Voight with an agreeing nod.

Voight turned back to his assistant and acknowledged her.

"Thank you, May. Tell Commander Platt and Sergeant Halstead I'm on my way." Voight said as he walked away from the press conference just as Stone took to the podium.


About a mile south of Chicago City Hall on the Lake Michigan waterfront, Northerly Island Park was buzzing with police activity. Police officers were setting up a perimeter and the Chicago Fire Department's paramedics were hard at work treating an assault victim.

In the park near the crime scene, Commander Trudy Platt of the Chicago Police Department's District 21 was in the middle of a Pokémon battle with a twelve-year-old boy when she saw Voight's SUV pull up on the sidewalk.

"Fennekin, use your flame charge to take down Staryu!" Platt shouted to her Pokémon.

Fennekin began charging at the Staryu, but its trainer countered.

"Staryu, use your swift attack to counter!" the boy said.

Staryu began its swift attack, which stuck Fennekin numerous times. The foxlike Pokémon pressed on, but Staryu's trainer issued another command.

"Now, Staryu, use your rapid spin to take out Fennekin!"

Staryu complied and spun around until it struck Fennekin with significant force. Fennekin reeled back and slammed into a tree.

Platt rushed to the Pokémon's side and began comforting it.

"No, Fennekin! It will be alright." Platt said

"Fennekin…" the Pokémon said before fainting.

Platt looked at the boy and smiled.

"You have a promising future ahead of you as a trainer. I admit that I wasn't prepared for that move. Come on back, Fennekin. You deserve a rest." Platt said as she held up a Poké Ball and summoned Fennekin back into it.

"Thank you, ma'am. Just remember, Fire-type Pokémon are very weak against Water-type Pokémon. Take care of your Pokémon, and it will take care of you." the boy smiled as he gave Platt a fist bump and ran off.

As the boy ran off, she saw Voight approaching her. Putting the Poké Ball back into her jacket pocket, she compiled herself and waited for her superior to speak.

"Aren't you a little too old to be battling Pokémon, especially when you didn't realize that the trainer who beat you was Terrence Boden?" Voight quipped as he stood next to Platt before continuing. "I was told that you needed me here for a reason. I'm guessing that reason is very important to pull me away from a news conference with Mayor Casey and Peter Stone."

Platt looked Voight and sighed sadly.

"Hank we have a major problem. A young woman was attacked this morning here in the park near the waterfront. Sylvie and Herrmann are with her right now. I have Sergeant Halstead and Detective Upton interviewing witnesses, but so far nobody saw anything." Platt said to Voight as they walked towards the crime scene.

As they approached the other side of the park, they saw Paramedic-in-Charge Sylvie Brett of Ambulance Company 61 and Battalion Chief Christopher Herrmann examining the victim.

"Sylvie, what you have?" Voight asked as he approached.

Sylvie Brett got up from the sidewalk, turned around, and looked at Voight and Platt.

"Superintendent Voight, I had no idea you would be here. Our victim is unconscious, and it appears that there was a struggle." Brett said as she looked at Herrmann, who was preparing the stretcher.

"Superintendent Voight, I am glad Commander Platt called you. Do you know who this young woman is?" Herrmann said as he and Sylvie prepared to move the body to the stretcher.

"No, I do not, Herrmann. Who is she?"

Herrmann looked at Platt, then at Voight, who then saw the look of sadness on Platt's face.

"Hank, our victim happens to be Misty Ketchum. She's the wife of Ash Ketchum of Ketchum v. Chicago. Six months ago, the Court ruled in his favor regarding the city's anti-Pokémon law. While many residents in Chicago wanted the law overturned, there are still those who harbor a grudge against his family." Platt said as Voight noticed something nearby.

Voight looked at the crime scene and noticed that there was a stroller nearby.

"Trudy, take a look at this."

Platt saw the stroller and stared at Voight. As Sylvie Brett and Christopher Herrmann placed Misty Ketchum on the stroller, she opened her eyes and briefly spoke.

"Lilian, please, don't hurt Lilian!" Misty said before losing consciousness.

Hank Voight and Trudy Platt looked at the stroller and saw that it was empty.

Voight looked at Trudy and realized that what was initially an assault was now a kidnapping.

"Whoever attacked Misty Ketchum took her daughter. They could be anywhere in Chicago by now. Find Ash Ketchum and question him. We need to know who might still hold a grudge against him." Voight told Platt before addressing the other nearby officers.

"Okay listen up! As many of know already know, our victim here is Misty Ketchum, the wife of Ash Ketchum, who just six months ago scored a landmark victory against the City of Chicago. We just learned that her daughter was abducted in the process. I want all boots on the ground canvassing the area and checkpoints set up throughout the city. Notify CTA, Metra, Amtrak, Greyhound, and all cab companies and rideshare services, as well as O'Hare and Midway Airport. Somebody took Lilian Ketchum and is holding her captive. We must find whoever took her and rescue her. We owe it to Ash Ketchum that what happened here today will not go unanswered! I believe that we will bring him closure when this investigation is finished!" Voight said as he dismissed the officers.

Heading towards the ambulance, he saw Brett closing the doors and asked where they were taking the woman.

"We're taking her to Med." Brett said as she got into the ambulance.

As the ambulance drove off, an uneasy feeling surrounded Hank Voight.

Somehow, he knew that in order to solve this case, he needed to face his inner demons.


That's Chapter 1. Let me know what you thought of it. I will continue to work on Chapter 2 and try to finish it in the interim.