I walk down the main hallway, trying to blend in with everyone else. But even can tell it's not working out. Everyone's eyes are on me, the new girl, even if they look away quickly. It's pretty obvious I'm new too. For a seasoned police unit, everyone looks kind of grungy if you ask me. I mean, apparently no one has even ironed their uniforms! Does anyone take this seriously but new people?

It feels like an eternity has passed by the time I reach the boss' door. I adjust my uniform before pushing it open tentatively and walking in. I don't want to make a bad impression the first time I meet her.

The first thing I notice about the room is the smell. It's definitely different then the rest of HQ. It's the kind of smell that comes out of air freshener cans, but a thousand times stronger. There was either a really bad smell before I arrived, or someone who really likes the smell of oranges and hibiscus.

"Ah, Casey Reese. You're right on time." Ms. Cordova says as I walk in. I stand as straight as I can while she sits at her desk, apparently putting away some papers. Or something. I can only guess they're profiles of hybrids seen in the area. "So you're our newest recruit." She looks me over, obviously sizing me up. "Well, you're certainly better than the last one they gave us." Is that a good sign?

"Quiet one, aren't ya?" She says, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Relax, we're all friends here."

"Yes sir! I mean ma'am!" As soon as I messed up, my face turned bright red. I can't believe I slipped up like that! What kind of first day is this?

However, Ms. Cordova just chuckles. Maybe she's used to it. Well, I guess she would be. "Like I said, we're all friends here, no need to be formal. Call me Yvette."

"Um, okay?" Well, that explained why everyone here was practically dressed casually with such decrepit uniforms. She doesn't seem to care about much. Odd if you ask me.

Ms. Cord - no - Yvette, then takes out a manila folder, the kind any office has, and pulls out a small stack of papers. The top one has a picture of me on it, the first one I took over at the academy. Dear Arceus, it looks just as terrible as I remember, even with just a glance at it. I didn't even have my braces off then, and my hair was a mess of red curls. I hoped I'd never even have to think of that picture again.

"So you were one of the top recruits in your class? Impressive." But then she pauses. "But really only did well in the more physical stuff. Guess you're not one for any desk work." Oh thank Arceus! But what does that mean for my job?

"So," Yvette grins, but I can see some sort of devious intent in her eyes. This can't be good. "I'll be assigning you to the Search-and Capture Unit. Though it's not much of a unit. Only five people are really on board. But you'll make six!" Before I can even say what I think, she's already waving me out the door. "Go find Richard; he can explain your job more thoroughly."

"Um, well I guess I'll get right on that." I honestly have no idea what to say.

"Yeah, go on." Once again, Yvette takes out a small stack of paper, but definitely not the same one as before. Emblazoned across the top are the words

"Hybrids of Unknown Status"

She clicks her pen and crosses one line out.

In sharp contrast to Yvette, Richard is... well let's just say gruff. In the full minute he takes to stare me down, I at least get a good idea of his appearance. I'd say he's in his forties, with greying brown hair and a pretty fit build. Unlike nearly everyone I've seen so far, he wears his uniform with pride. Not a crease out of place.

"So, you're this Casey I've heard so much about." That came so sudden, I can't remember to talk. His voice is just as intimidating as he is. I just nod. "Quiet one, huh? That's good. Can't have those hybrids catching wind of ya'."

All of a sudden, someone else busts into the room, a woman a few years older than me with black hair tied into a bun. She looks flustered, and is carrying a stack of papers. "Mr. Parks! We've got one captured. I think you'll want to see this!"

Richard-or is it Mr. Parks-stands up from his chair. Even that looks formal coming from him. "Lead the way, Nichole." The woman begins to move back toward the large doors that lead back out into the main building, but stops when she catches wind of me.

"Oh? Who's this?"

"Casey Reese!" I say. Oh man, that came out fast. And loud. I hope neither of them noticed.

"Our newest recruit in the tracking team," Richard adds. "Now let's go see what you've found this time."

"You won't be disappointed, sir!" As Nichole leads us out, Richard explains the basics of my job to me. In this unit, we hunt down known hybrids, taking them into custody so they can't harm the general populace. What happens to them afterward isn't said, but I think everyone knows. It's like a rock was into my gut.

"Here we are!" Nichole announces. She stops in front of a large metal door. We're in the lowest level of the complex, even lower than what we call the basement. Obviously, this is where they keep captured hybrids. There are so many locks and passwords down here, I can't bring myself to believe anything could escape.

Nichole taps a password into a small control panel by the door, and the s=door slowly swings open. Inside is a dark corridor, filled to the brim with shelves. And each one is filled with metal crates of minimized H-Balls. Some of them near the front are even decorated with cobwebs. How long have those hybrids been trapped here?

As we're led farther into the maze, Nichole begins to explain her newest "catch."

""You'll never believe who we brought in today! We've been after her for months! She put up a great fight and all, but was no match for the combined power of my team! She's still a little feisty though, so don't get too close.

Finally, we reach a certain area, one that's actually pretty well-lit. These shelves aren't filled with crates, but just individual H-Balls. All of them are labeled too. I guess they got more interested in organization as time went on. To think, completely innocent hybrids must be imprisoned in most of these capsules, and now they're only things to be packed away back here.

Nichole takes a ball off a shelf after looking through them all. It's completely identical to the others, but she looks positively elated to hold it. "Such a unique specimen," she breathes. "I can't believe we found someone like her." We're lead to a strange room in the back then, one that looks almost like an interrogation room. But instead of one-way glass, it's obviously reinforced to the point that no one can break through. And on our side is simply a holder for pokeballs, able to simply send them into the room and take them back out again. It's an example of some of the newest technology we have access to right now.

Nichole places the ball in the holder, and in a second, a purple light materializes in the room. It soon forms into a rather large figure, a young woman about 18 years old. Her entire body is covered in a rocky plating, and her neck is adorned with white plumage. Even from here, I can see her teeth are quite large and sharp. Immediately, I can tell what species she is: a Tyrantrum. She crosses her arms from the moment she realizes where she is.

"So, you actually brought me here." Her voice is dripping with cynicism. "I'm so honored to be brought out of prison."

Nichole completely ignores her, instead turning to face us. "I told you we caught a rare one! It's been so long since we've even seen a fossil hybrid, much less a fully evolved one! You have no idea how hard it was to bring her in."

Richard grunts in approval. "Nice work, Nichole. But I have a feeling there's something you're not telling me, am I right?"

She rolls her eyes. "Aw, you never let me have my fun! But fine. While Zachary and I were struggling to ring her down, she exhibited an odd power." She brings a hand to the back of her head, a sheepish expression on her face. "We almost lost completely; it was like she was a different hybrid entirely."

"You got that right, girly," the hybrid taunts. She's standing closer to the window now. "Now how's about you let me out of here for round two?"

"Not on your life," Richard says. "You won't be getting out in here, but I think we can find another use for you." He turns away, and begins to head toward the exit. "Lock her up again. And tell the tech team I want another collar."

"You don't mean..."

"Exactly what I mean." Okay, I have absolutely no idea what's happening here. But if my inkling is correct, it won't be good for our captive. And she seems to have gotten the same idea. Before she's sucked back into the H-ball, a genuine look of fear flashes across her face.

In a few minutes, we're back on the surface. I didn't realize it down there, but it was like the air was stale and oppressive. I can't imagine being in that cellar for more than a few minutes. If anything, at least those hybrids are in a slightly less depressing area, or so they say.

"Hey, Casey! Listening?" I blink in surprise. I completely zoned out! Nichole is sitting in a chair right in front of me, waving a hand. "Oh good, you're back. Rich said it's about time to go out on your first mission. You're coming with me and Zach." And just who is Zach? Almost as if reading my mind, she then says, "He should be here any moment now, but while we wait, let me tell you who we're hunting down."

Nichole rolls her chair over to a computer, and begins to type extremely fast. By the time I get over there, she's already pulled up two rendered profiles, one of a boy and the other a girl. They both look like teenagers. And obviously, they're hybrids.

The boy is practically covered in blue and black fur. His head almost seems to have a black mane, while the rest of him, that I can see, has electric blue. Two sharp fangs are visible in his mouth, and a tail tipped with a star protrudes from his back-end. A luxio hybrid. Fun.

The girl is noticeably older, maybe by three years or so. Her body is covered in grey fur, though seems even scruffier and rougher than the boy's in some places. Her ears are quite large, and two tails come from her. Cinccino hybrid. Though why are these two our targets?

"These two have been sighted around Serods Forest, mostly around Genown City. Just a few days ago, Yvette was chasing the Luxio down after he bought a loaf of bread." Bought? Most hybrids didn't exactly have the money to do that, or the desire to heed society's rules for that matter. Nichole seems to notice my confusion. "Yeah, I know. Odd. But anyway, he got away and we haven't seen him since. He's not much of a problem, but it's troubling when they disappear without a trace like that."

"Now, as for this girl, she's sort of a troublemaker. From Genown to Blutere, she's been reported messing with travelers, often stealing their money and food. On more than one occasion, she's straight up attacked them. Honestly, some of these hybrids can be so violent." I don't say anything, but that struck a nerve. There was probably a good reason for it.

"I don't think they'll be too much of a problem once we find them, but we should sti-" All of a sudden, the office door opens and a lanky man walks in, hands in his pockets. He looks even younger than I am, which is saying something. And I thought I was the youngest person working here.

At once, his eyes train on me, but he still keeps that bored expression. "Casey?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Well at least Nichole isn't the only person I have to work with now." He then walks over and plops down in a nearby chair.

"Talk about rude, huh?" Nichole whispers. "But don't worry. He's slightly better when he warms up to you."

"I heard that!"

"You were supposed to!" Nichole says with a laugh, pushing Zach a little. Maybe it'll be pretty nice working here.