The bars of N's prison were like thin tree trunks, corrupted, and grayed. They stretched up from the ground, the rust their bark. N slouched against them, gripping with white-knuckles, feeling the cold metal dig into his forehead as he pressed it on the cell.
They had thrown him into a temporary prison for the simple act of proclaiming his beliefs to the populace. He did not know how long they were going to keep him there before a trial in court. He did not know, and that was what made his heart wrench in his chest. How long were they going to keep him jailed and imprisoned, like a Pokemon in a Pokeball? He wanted, needed, to be out in the world, convincing the people that the government was controlling them so that it could feed off the revenue from Pokemon battles. For N, being inside the prison was worse than death itself. He couldn't be productive toward his purpose in life and had to suffer, not able to do anything but sit, day after horrible day.
He tore himself away from the bars, placing his back against the hard, gray stone wall. He hugged his knees to his chest, shivering. It was cold in prison, despite the season outside being in the middle of a warm summer. The walls and gloom absorbed any ounce of heat, stealing it away from those imprisoned. The only light came from one ceiling lamp outside his cell, and the identical ones outside each other cell, which made the cage bars cast black shadows over him. He heard the sound of the other prisoners in separate pens, heard them cough and shuffle, along with the footfalls of an approaching policeman. N glared at the man as he passed, but he did not seem to notice.
It was people like that constrained N and prevented him from accomplishing his goal.
But he knew his father would come for him. No matter what happened, Ghetsis would not leave N to rot and decay any longer inside the cell. If I don't get out of here soon… I think I may go mad.
He tossed his head back, glaring at the ceiling. I cannot be in here, not for one... more... second!
A crash sounded above him. The lamp outside his cell shook, creaking back and forth. N jolted to a stand, grasping the bars. Some of the others yelled in surprise, calling out questions that went unanswered.
It was his father. It had to be. But why had his father let them capture him? Why did he wait for days to come?
The noise above drifted away to silence until N could hear only the confused murmurs of his fellow inmates. He stirred as half a minute passed, then one in full, and then another. He found himself giving up hope again. It was as if each moment he spent behind those connected rods of metal, was another they sapped more and more from him. Father is here; he tried to tell himself, he is coming for-
Another blast erupted, followed by a cry and the sound of clanging metal. Footsteps echoed down the stairs to the prison. They drew closer. Closer, closer. Prisoners gaped or growled as a shadow stretched and then shrunk as it moved toward N.
Ghetsis stepped in front of his cell. He held a rack of keys in one hand, that jingled as he began to unlock the cage.
N's heart swelled in his chest. He beamed.
"Father!" He said as the door swung open. "It's you! I knew-"
"No time, my son," Ghetsis interrupted, beckoning N to follow him back the way he had come. "We must leave here before more in the police force arrive."
They jogged the dimly lit hallway. N had never seen his father run so fast. At the concrete stairs leading upward, bodies in blue uniform lay scattered at the steps, unmoving, unconscious, or…
Dead.
N scrambled up after his father, adrenaline pounding through his veins. He didn't dare look back at the faces of those they passed. "Father… how did you…"
They arrived at the police station's upper floor. Night seeped in through broken windows, their shards glinting in the moonlight. "There is no time," Ghetsis growled. "I will explain later."
They passed shadowed lumps collapsed against tables, and on the floor, some N had to step over, some covered in shelves-worth of discarded paper like so many leaves. He rubbed a hand against a section of wall, covered in spots of flaking soot. N smelled the stench of something burning and plugged his nose against the awful, acidic stench. What was that?
Ghetsis led him outside, into Vertress City, where the smell no longer stained the air. Sirens blared in the distance. Had his father used Pokemon? No. No, no, no. N refused to believe that could be a possibility. It must have been some technology developed by one of the Seven Sages. Yes. That was it.
His father yanked him by the arm, and they darted into the forest, into a symphony of Pokemon calls. When they were at a distance Ghetsis deemed to be safe enough, they crouched and rested against the trees, breathing heavily. Their gasps sounded like echoes in the night above the sirens that had faded into the distance.
"The people…" Ghetsis breathed. It must have been incredibly difficult for him to run in his robe. "Have answered."
"They have, father? That's excellent news! What have they said? What action have they taken?"
Ghetsis rose to his feet, brushing dirt off his robe. N stood as well. "There are some who have expressed similar views to our own. We must establish an organization for these like-minded individuals to gather, my son, with you as the face - the rallying call - behind their cause.
N nodded without a moment's hesitation. He was ready. He had seen all he needed to see. He had witnessed people like King, how the government rewarded his awfulness.
"You realize, my son," Ghetsis continued. "That after this day, you will be a wanted criminal."
That, however, did make N hesitate. He did not like the idea of committing crimes, but he would do whatever it took to see his goal come to fruition as he had always wanted.
"I see, father. I understand. What will you name this organization?"
Ghetsis peered past the black trees. N could barely hear the sirens, but surely the police would be looking for them. N was not worried. His father always knew how to escape a sticky situation.
His father looked back at him. "Team Plasma, my son. We shall call it Team Plasma."