Draco: It occurs to me that I brought up where the pseudo-remake would unlock Super Training and where it would unlock Pokémon-Amie and didn't bring up the Player Search System. That's a ramble that I should have done sooner.

So, Colosseum and XD have two means of connecting with FRLG/RSE. If you want to battle, that's done via a title screen option, which is available as soon as you have a team. If you want to trade, that's done via the trade center at Phenac, which is available after you defeat Evice. For the pseudo-remake, I would that the PSS be available from the beginning... but only to battle. The trade option would be available after the story is done.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Draco, Generation III is rife with #EarlyInstallmentWeirdness regarding interregional trading. Why are you maintaining that?" Well, the primary appeal of Orre is that it's a challenge compared to the core series. Perpetual Double Battles, #ArtificalBrilliance, and a limited pool of Pokémon. Yes, remaking it to Generation VI would enable numerous #AntiFrustrationFeatures that I'd be happy to welcome, but that wouldn't stop it from being the right kind of challenging.

Also, I came up with stupid little first-time introductory cutscenes for the Pokémon-Amie minigames involving Espeon, Umbreon, and Plusle. Programming-wise, I think it would be easier to flag a cutscene to not appear after a specific story point than it would be to flag it to appear depending on which Pokémon are in your party/PC.

...There's one more reason, but you'll see it later.

Pokémon and all related properties © Nintendo and the Pokémon Company.

Chapter 14: Administrator of Technology

Four more Cipher Peons were lurking on the rooftops as Wes and Rui made their way through the laboratory, on top of five Cipher-employed researchers who were on duty throughout the facility. Each of the labcoats had a Shadow Pokémon, on top of that; Wes ended up snagging an Ambipom, Honchkrow, Mismagius, Electabuzz, and Magmar as he and Rui tried to make their way through the lab.

At the expense of five Ultra Balls each.

"Nothing but Timer Balls and Quick Balls left," Wes muttered as he and Rui stepped into an elevator behind another locked door. "Keep an eye on the clock for every fight going forward."

"Will do," Rui assured him. Then, accusingly; "Why did you even get Quick Balls, anyways?"

"Wishful thinking," Wes admitted. "If someone sends out a Shadow Pokémon on point, it couldn't hurt to roll the dice." As the elevator came to a stop, he was surprised to find what seemed to be a genetics lab, with a strange device sitting in the middle of the room. "What's this now?"

Rui stepped up to the device, looking over it curiously. "It's... some kind of analyzer," she observed. "There's a slot here that looks like it'll fit those vials we picked up."

They'd found three small vials lying around the lab, each containing a fluid of some kind, with a number printed on the side (2, 6, and 9). Curiously, Wes drew out the vials, inserting the one labelled 2 into the device; once his hand was free, Rui tapped a button labelled Start Process. A screen illuminated, with Scanning appearing at the top; a light began to slowly sweep up the vial as the rest of the screen was filled with lines of code Wes couldn't even begin to try and comprehend.

Once the vial had been read, the code faded out, and Scanning became Scan Complete; an image of a rotund Pokémon appeared, and below it appeared Pignite: SP003.

"They're DNA samples?" Wes observed, removing the vial.

"Looks like," Rui observed. "But what's this number?"

"I think it's a designation for a Shadow Pokémon," Wes mused, slipping the sample back into his bag and drawing out his PDA. "The Pignite they took this from must have been their third Shadow Pokémon."

Rui glanced at him as he started to type. "You're not surprised?"

"Remember the tricolor Peons in Phenac?" Wes asked. "The green one had a Shadow Servine. This Pignite must've belonged to the red one. I'll bet you the blue one had a Dewott." Then; "Okay, that was vial 2. What's vial 6?"

He slipped the other vial into the slot and hit Start Process. The screen emptied as Scan Complete became Scanning again; once the second scan was complete, a large Pokémon appeared, with the label Ursaring: SP037.

"An Ursaring?" Wes mused. "That's not gonna be a fun Snag."

Rui glanced at him as he removed the vial. "Why do you say that?"

"Ursaring are fierce enough opponents already," Wes replied, tapping at his PDA. "A Shadow Ursaring is gonna be one heck of a fight. I'll add that to my Snag List later. What's vial 9?"

He drew out the last one and inserted it; once the scan was done, the Northwind Beast appeared on the screen, labelled Suicune: SP025.

"They didn't endarken the legendary Pokémon last?" Rui observed.

"I guess not," Wes mused. "But then..." He drew out the vial and glanced at the number on it. "What's with the number on the vial, then?"

He keyed it into the memo on his PDA anyways; then he saved it, pocketed the device, and slipped the vial back into his bag.

+x+x+x+

They ended up tripping some kind of alarm on their way further into the lab; it certainly set an unpleasant mood, dimming the lights and flashing red as the siren blared. The Peon who was attracted by the noise (and came down on them from the roof) was less concerning than the door they encountered that wouldn't open.

"Is it locked in response to the alert?" Wes wondered. "Or is there something else?"

"Wes," Rui insisted, "over here." She was standing next to a control panel of some kind. "This looks like the shutdown for the alarm." As Wes approached, she picked up what seemed to be a note of some kind, stuck by a keypad. "Lazy security, leaving the code written down... huh?"

"What is it?" Wes asked.

Rui held out the note. "This. Today's code... and then pictures of Pokémon."

Wes picked it up, trying to see the image. "Today's code... That looks like Suicune... and a Pignite... and an Ursaring..." He raised his head. "Wait, the vials!"

"You're kidding," Rui muttered incredulously.

"They leave the code convenient," Wes realized, drawing out his PDA, "but it doesn't make sense to anyone who doesn't know their reasoning." He opened his memo. "Suicune is 9, Pignite is 2, Ursaring is 6."

Rui keyed 9-2-6 into the keypad - and to her incredulity, the sirens went quiet, the lights returned to normal and the locked door opened. "And those three just happened to be lying around the lab?" she murmured.

"What do you reckon are the odds some forgetful Peon grabbed the vials for today's code and didn't keep track of them?" Wes mused.

"I'm not forgetful," retorted a voice from nearby. "The code is just stupid."

Wes turned around to find a Cipher Peon stepping out from through the door - wearing a darker-grey outfit than the usual white, with a blue neck gaiter. "I know that custom," he accused. "Weren't you at Agate and Mt. Battle?"

"You'd better believe it," the Peon accused. "And now you've come to the lab I've been sent to defend. All the better!" He took a ready stance. "I will avenge my humiliation at the Relic Forest, and stop you from going any further!"

You are challenged by Cipher Peon Skrub!

A Wobbuffet and Graveler were thrown out to meet Lucario and Octillery; Rui drew out her pocket watch, not touching the Key Stone but keeping an eye on the clock in case he should have a Shadow Pokémon to replace his lost Hitmontop. Lucario hurled an Aura Sphere at the Graveler; Octillery waited until Wobbufett had taken a stance meant to Counter at close-quarters before unleashing an Octazooka, the blast sending the Patient Pokémon reeling in ways only she could.

Graveler promptly leapt into the air, slamming down and unleashing a pulse of mighty Magnitude. Lucario struggled to brace himself; Octillery held on better, and Wobbuffet's continued shaking endured the blow remarkably well. Once the aftershocks had finished, Wobbuffett raised a reflective Mirror Coat; Lucario and Octillery merely switched targets, putting the Patient Pokémon on the receiving end of a Bone Rush as Octillery aimed a second Octazooka at Graveler.

Skrub growled as his Pokémon were both knocked out, withdrawing them; two more Poké Balls were sent out, revealing a Medicham and Clamperl. Wes promptly withdrew Lucario, sending out Ampharos to take his place as Octillery fired another Octazooka at the Meditate Pokémon. Medicham promptly retaliated with a High Jump Kick, coming down hard on the Jet Pokémon as Clamperl opened up a Whirlpool around Ampharos.

The Light Pokémon waited for the waters to subside before aiming a Thunderbolt at Clamperl, the voltage striking hard; Octillery managed to stay standing, firing an Aurora Beam at Medicham, knocking her out. The Bivalve Pokémon still had more in her, however; she slammed her shell closed as a Blizzard began to roar through the hall, striking Ampharos and finishing Octillery off.

Wes made to withdraw her as soon as he saw her get knocked out; once the snows subsided, Ampharos loosed another Thunderbolt to return the favor.

"Curses...!" Skrub withdrew his last Pokémon and glared at Wes. "Guess I couldn't finish you off... but I still slowed you down!"

He took off past the Snagger, who turned to Rui. "Next up is the Admin," he observed. "You ready?"

"Not really," she murmured, "but I think I know what to expect."

+x+x+x+

The next floor down had numerous server racks lined up, each secured in a thick glass case with a heavy-looking lock on it, producing a brief back-and-forth path. As Wes and Rui made their way around them, they heard someone speaking to themselves; "Good. That gets rid of the project data from the Lab's servers. Now to purge the endarkenment log."

Wes made a point to stomp as he rounded the last rack and caught sight of the speaker; a man in what looked like a customized labcoat, with spiked flares at the bottom hem, dark purple lines tracing his cuffs and looping around the left side of his torso, and a high collar that obscured his head from behind. As he turned around, Wes got a good look at the man himself; he had fair skin and dark hair that was mostly combed nicely, but with a strange braid that looked like a thunderbolt of sorts, extending back over his head and then draping over his shoulder.

"Hello," he mused calmly. "You must be the rogue Snagger, Wes." Then, as Rui stepped out as well; "And the girl who can see auras... Rui, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," Rui confirmed. "And you'd be the Admin in charge of this place?"

The Admin smirked. "Oh, that simplifies things," he observed. "Yes, I am Ein, the Administrator in charge of the Shadow Pokémon Lab." He shook his head. "You've been giving us quite the trouble. Pyrite Town, Agate Village, Mt. Battle, the Under... You've interfered with us at every turn, and Snagged numerous Shadow Pokémon in the process."

He reached for his belt with his right hand, seized a pair of Poké Balls, and flung them over his head, catching them in his left hand.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to stop you here."

You are challenged by Cipher Admin Ein!

Wes reached for his belt as Ein threw his Balls forward, releasing a Golbat and Huntail; with a smirk, Wes sent out Ampharos and Jumpluff to meet them. Rui drew out her pocket watch, keeping an eye on the clock as the Pokémon made to act; Golbat swooped forward, noxious spheres circling him as Huntail lunged at Jumpluff.

The Cottonweed Pokémon found herself on the receiving end of a ferocious Bite, and a Toxic swirl surrounded Ampharos as Golbat made a close pass.

"Snap..." Wes knew that he had to wrap this up fast; the longer Ampharos was on the field, the worse she was going to suffer from poison that bad. The Light Pokémon promptly retaliated, a Thunderbolt striking Golbat ferociously as Jumpluff hit Huntail with a Mega Drain. The Deep Sea Pokémon retaliated, a shining light appearing between its eyes and then advancing forward, circling around his attacker enticingly and leaving Jumpluff spinning in confusion.

As the poison dug into him, Ampharos invoked a barrage of Power Gems, which slammed into Golbat and knocked him out. Ein promptly withdrew the Bat Pokémon, sending out a Lanturn to take his place; Jumpluff managed to take aim through the confusion, another Mega Drain connecting with Huntail to knock him out as well. Wes decided not to risk any further damage, withdrawing both of his Pokémon as Ein withdrew Huntail; an Altaria was sent out to take his place, and Wes sent out Lucario and Octillery to return fire.

Rui promptly touched her Key Stone, setting off the Lucarionite as Octillery unleashed an Aurora Beam at Altaria; the Humming Pokémon managed to endure the blow, retaliating with a Dragon Pulse as Lanturn fired a Hydro Pump at Lucario. It connected as the Mega Evolution finalized, leaving Lucario braced to stand against it; once the water flow faded out, he charged forward, a long bone appearing in his grip for a Bone Rush that struck Lanturn hard and fast.

Ein's Pokémon traded glances and switched targets; Lanturn swam aside as voltage gathered around her, surged into the air, and then came down hard on Octillery in a devastating Thunder. The Jet Pokémon was knocked out as Altaria fired an Ice Beam at Lucario, who managed to fare a good deal better; he rushed back to close the gap on Lanturn, finishing her off with another Bone Rush as Wes withdrew Octillery and sent out Jumpluff to take her place.

The Cipher Admin withdrew the Light Pokémon with a huff. "I see you didn't get here by coincidence," he observed. "But your tenacity will only get you so far!"

Wes grit his teeth, dreading what was to come as Ein raised his last Poké Ball.

"The storm is here!"

He hurled the Ball forward, Altaria giving the release zone a wide berth - and every hair on Wes' body began to stand on end the moment the Ball released its inhabitant. A quadrupedal beast of bright yellow, with angular black arcs across its fur; a dark cloud draped over its back, a black crest rested upon its brow, and a starburst stood over its maw, from behind which emerged two saber tusks that had voltage dancing between them.

The Thunder Beast screeched - and the technology around them sparked from excessive power.

Wes sucked in a worried breath. "Raikou...!"

Rui shook her head. "I knew it..."

"Weren't satisfied with breaking two out of the three, were you?" Wes demanded.

"One does not shun the fortune that follows their early achievements," Ein retorted. "Raikou, strike!"

The static in the air intensified as the Thunder Beast braced low, and the thundercloud upon his back began to spark; Wes and Rui leapt aside a moment before he stood tall, and the Shadow Bolt cut through the air, slamming into the glass barriers that protected the server racks. Lucario quickly made to even the field, hurling an Aura Sphere up at Altaria; the Humming Pokémon, preoccupied with staying out of Raikou's way, took the blow full-on, which was enough to knock her out on top of the Aurora Beam she had taken earlier.

I can't paralyze an Electric-type, Wes realized. I'd better not try to put him to sleep until he's already weak!

He didn't dare leave an empty battlefield between him and an endarkened legendary Pokémon, if he could avoid it; he switched out his team one at a time, leaving Lucario on the field as he withdrew Jumpluff and then sent out Umbreon. Another Shadow Bolt slammed into the Aura Pokémon, but he managed to stay up through it; only once the shocks had worn off did Wes withdraw him, sending out Espeon as well.

"Hold Back, you two! You know the stakes!"

Espeon led the charge, Umbreon right on her tail as Raikou turned his attention to them. As he braced himself to gather charge, the two leapt to the sides, and Wes made sure to clear the field before the Shadow Bolt lunged forward, missing the Eeveelutions by moments. The two connected as the last sparks dispersed, slamming withheld blows into the Thunder Beast's sides in the most rapid succession; with a screech, Raikou turned his attention on the second to connect, and Umbreon barely had time to put any distance between them before another surge slammed into him from behind.

Somehow, he managed to hold on, quickly invoking an ephemeral moon to ease his pain as Espeon went for another go. Her attack connected as the Moonlight faded, and Raikou turned his next Shadow Bolt on her, sending her tumbling as she tried to retreat. A phantasmal sun appeared above her as Umbreon followed suit; no sooner had his blow connected than the Morning Sun vanished, and Raikou unleashed another Shadow Bolt that managed to knock him out.

Wes was still withdrawing Umbreon as Espeon made to attack as well; the Thunder Beast saw the attack coming, and retaliated the instant the withheld blow connected, knocking her out as well. Lucario was sent out to keep the Thunder Beast busy while Wes withdrew Espeon; as he sent out Jumpluff to take her place, another Shadow Bolt slammed into the Aura Pokémon, knocking him out and ending his Mega Evolution in the process.

"Dang it..." Wes withdrew Lucario, yelling; "Jumpluff, put him to sleep!"

With an uncertain nod, Jumpluff unleashed a cloud of Sleep Powder; Raikou had already unleashed another Shadow Bolt before the cloud connected, but as Wes was withdrawing the Cottonweed Pokémon, the Thunder Beast was visibly drowsy. He had to take the risk; as slumber took hold, he raised a Timer Ball in his left hand, his Snag Machine forming shining lines across its surface.

Please, let this work...!

He hurled the Snag Ball forward, and he could have sworn he saw Raikou starting to stir as it opened, the light enveloping the Thunder Beast and drawing it in before the Ball closed and fell to the ground.

Shake...

Wes couldn't even hear the Ball moving, his heart was pounding so loudly.

Shake...

Rui's breath was bated, terrified of what would happen if the Snag was unsuccessful.

Shake...

Ein's teeth were grinding against each other, not wanting the lock to happen.

...Click!

The Timer Ball bounced into the air, hitting the ground and rebounding back towards Wes; the Snagger barely had the strength to catch it, juggling the Ball between his hands for a moment before he managed to grip it firmly enough for it to acknowledge his full party. As the Ball vanished, Rui released a terrified squeal, falling back against some unfamiliar system; the lack of buttons on its surface meant that nothing was affected as she slid to the ground.

Ein cursed under his breath. "...Well played, Wes," he mused. "You weren't the best Snagger on the team for nothing, were you?"

"Huh?" Wes' gaze shot up. "How do you know my standing in Team Snagem?"

"Simple," Ein replied. "I'm the one who made Snagging a thing."

Rui turned to him, shocked. "What?!"

"Cipher needed Pokémon to endarken," Ein proclaimed as she got to her feet, "but every Pokémon in Orre is imported from another region. If we wanted to acquire them, we would have to take them from Trainers here - yet we needed to remain covert until such time as we had enough Shadow Pokémon to carry out our plans. So we enlisted the help of a gang of known Pokémon thieves - Team Snagem." He aimed one finger at the Snag Machine on Wes' arm. "I developed the Snag Machines, allowing them to steal Pokémon in more... notorious ways than lifting Poké Balls from unsuspecting or defeated Trainers. And in return, they sent us the Pokémon that they Snagged - allowing us to make them into Shadow Pokémon."

"But it's over," Rui insisted. "We've stopped you - there won't be any more Shadow Pokémon!"

At that, Ein laughed - an amused, entertained laugh that had Wes and Rui trading glances. "Oh, the misunderstandings that arise when one sees events from the outside."

Wes glared at him. "What do you mean?"

"First of all," Ein proclaimed, "there have not been any more Shadow Pokémon in development since Team Snagem had their base ruined. The mounted Snag Machine was rendered inoperable, and you took the handheld model for yourself. As such, Team Snagem has been incapable of Snagging; as such, they have had no more Pokémon to send our way."

He shook his head. "Secondly, I am Cipher's Administrator of Technology. I develop the tools and devices, project theories that are proven or disproven as need be, and make sure that safety precautions are taken whenever possible. Yes, I created the synthetic darkness, but out of my own curiosity; it was she who discovered that it could be used to close the hearts of Pokémon. I designed the technology as to her specifications - the Administrator of Endarkenment."

He turned to face a door that Wes had not noticed. "If you want to take out your anger at the Shadow Pokémon project on the one responsible, you will need to deal with her."

He made to step past them; Wes followed the Admin with his gaze until he rounded the server racks. Only once he was sure Ein wouldn't come back did he turn his attention to the desk he had been working at, finding a familiar binder sitting on the table; a memory stick was sitting upon it, and another was plugged into the computer, whose monitor had a full progress bar reading Data Deleted. Curious, Wes stepped up to the desk, pocketing the memory stick and opening the binder.

Rui came up beside him as he began to read; the header was Ein File 5: Personal Musings.

Although the higher-ups in Cipher wish for me to further develop the endarkenment process, I see no method by which it may be improved, nor any need to do so. I have successfully recreated the dark energy of the black Pokémon I encountered in my youth, and my talents would be put to better use developing new technologies than affecting existing technologies that already function as desired.

...Furthermore, the Administrator of Endarkenment has a worrying tendency to neglect her protective eyewear unless reminded. I fear that she may have been exposed to the synthetic darkness unprotected, at a time when there was no one to reprimand her. By furthering the process, I dread that any similarly-reckless members may suffer from it. I do not wish to be responsible for the possibility of human endarkenment.

The Snag Machines we administered to Team Snagem have likewise been perfected - and although I am tempted to repair or recreate the mounted model that was damaged by the rogue Snagger's defection, I feel it would do more harm than good. Even before the defector began to recapture Shadow Pokémon, there were far more reports of Snagged Pokémon than the number of Pokémon we received from Team Snagem.

The indications appear to be that they are only sending us Pokémon which they do not desire for themselves. They are no longer trustworthy as allies of Cipher. If they wish to make further use of a Snag Machine, they shall have to take back the personal model from the defector.

Draco: ...Come to think of it, they stop you from trading your starter Eevee/Pikachu in Let's Go. Maybe just stop you from trading the Pokémon you don't Snag until after the story. What would be easier from a programming perspective?

A little difference for the keypad puzzle in the pseudo-remake. The vials are given labels from 1-9 (i.e. "DNA Sample #5). You find three of them, and get them analyzed. When you get to the combination lock, the respective Shadow Pokémon are listed above the lock in a random order, and you need to enter the code in the order they're listed.

For the curious - 1:Servine (SP002), 2:Pignite (SP003), 3:Dewott (SP004), 4:Cryogonal (SP0024), 5:Diggersby (SP030), 6:Ursaring (SP037), 7:Raikou (SP036), 8:Entei (SP020), 9:Suicune (SP025).