Chapter 7

Route 1 was too long to sprint the whole way, but Felix, Daisy, and Pikachu walked at a brisk pace. Pallet Town sits at a lower elevation than Viridian, so the hike back was much easier than the gradual incline heading north. The friends jumped down from small ledges and slid down a few larger ones until they made it down to the town in which they grew up.

The sun had made its way west, though it had not yet descended beyond the horizon. The sky had become colorful with orange and pink. Instead of heading to the lab to deliver the parcel to Professor Oak, Felix led them back to his house.

As they approached, it seemed bad news soon awaited them. An ambulance and a single police vehicle stood parked in front of Felix's house. Felix sprinted toward the door, but was stopped by people emerging out of the front door, however, not all of them were still living. Two EMTs transporting a gurney with a bodybag lying atop it came through the door and began loading the gurney into the ambulance. A woman with blue hair wearing a blue uniform and a shiny badge stood behind Felix and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Do you live here, young man?" asked the woman. She had a very commanding voice, but a sincere compassion could be heard in it.

"Yes," said Felix, startled. "What happened? Is my mother okay? Is she safe?"

"I'm afraid if your mother was Lyra Unger, she is no longer with us."

Tears swelled in Felix's eyes. He couldn't believe it. He wouldn't believe it.

Daisy quickly embraced him and Felix broke down. He had no control over his sobs.

"Such a tragedy, this is." Professor Oak strode up behind Felix as he held his embrace with Daisy.

"Thank you for calling us," said the woman in uniform in response.

"Of course," said Professor Oak. "When we have two Team Rocket attacks on the same property, all the way out here in Pallet Town, it certainly warrants an investigation."

"It certainly does," said the woman in uniform thoughtfully. "I don't get a lot of calls out here. In fact, I never do. But two break-ins and a murder by the hands of Team Rocket at a single, remote, residential property? I can't help but think something fishy is happening here."

"I feel lucky you were able to make it," Professor Oak said. "Good law enforcement is hard to come by these days. I know you're spread thin."

"I've been swamped in Saffron and Celadon mostly, but recently there's been some suspicious activity up at Mt. Moon. Since it's not a very populated area, I've had to turn a blind eye. In this climate of anarchy we have right now, we need more people to get involved with our vigilante force to bring law and order back to Kanto."

"I agree. Something must be done," said Professor Oak wearily. "I hope you get to the bottom of this. You know how much I detest Team Rocket."

"I'm aware, but why do you insist on not joining the force?" asked the woman.

"I've told you, my research, when I'm finished with it, will unite Kanto. I'm sure of it. You're doing a great job of keeping order until I do."

"Well, you can finish that research any day now… I'm exhausted!" The two adults chuckled.

Felix sniffled and relinquished his embrace with Daisy. The two adults straightened their faces.

"I'm sorry," said the woman in uniform gently. "My name is Officer Jenny. Come with us to Oak's Lab and we can get you everything you need."

The group settled into Oak's lab. The professor gathered blankets and poured tea as he guided them to the sitting area of his library.

As Felix was able to console himself, the need for answers began to burn ever stronger within him.

"So it was Team Rocket that murdered my mom?" asked Felix. He sounded less hysterical than he thought he would and was glad of it.

"We believe so, yes," said Officer Jenny. "Nobody actually witnessed the crime, but since eye-witnesses saw Team Rocket raid your house last night, that's the only lead we have. Unless… you know someone who might've held a grudge against your mother?"

The only person he could think of was himself for the things that were said the night previous. Other than that, his mother was really well-liked in town.

"No," Felix finally replied. "Team Rocket seems the most likely."

Felix thought to himself a moment.

"I'm afraid to ask, but how did my mother die?"

"We'll need to wait for the autopsy, but from what I could tell, she was killed by a Pokemon. She was attacked by normal type moves. Maybe a Raticate, but the teeth marks don't look like a Raticate's. If I were to guess, it might've been a Persian, or maybe even a Kangaskhan," came Officer Jenny's reply.

"Someone used their Pokemon to kill someone?!" gasped Daisy. "That's barbaric and cruel."

"And was far too common in the war," said Professor Oak. "Perhaps it was a desensitized veteran who joined Team Rocket."

"But what motive could Team Rocket have against my family?" asked Felix. "What did my mom ever do to them?"

"That's where my investigation starts," said Officer Jenny. "Figuring out who your mother has communicated with and what the nature of that communication was, I think, will help us find the clues we need to solve the mystery."

"I'm so sorry, Felix," said Daisy. "My family and I are here to help." She put her hand on his knee.

"You can help by coming with me," said Felix softly. Everyone in the room turned to look at him. "I'm going to find Magnemite. It's all I have left."

"You can count on it," assured Daisy.

Officer Jenny and Professor Oak looked at each other with grim faces, and decided not to say anything about it.

"Oh, Felix! How is my old Pokemon, Pikachu?" asked Professor Oak.

"He's doing well, Professor. I think he's starting to trust me. Maybe even like me!"

"Well, it seems to like you a lot from my perspective," nodded Oak. "You must be talented as a Pokemon trainer! He is a particularly feisty Pikachu! You had quite the bond with Magnemite as well. In all my travels, I haven't met many trainers that have developed a mutual bond this quickly with multiple Pokemon. Very curious, indeed."

"Thank you, Professor," said Felix, blushing a little. "Oh, I forgot! I have something for you."

"What? You have something for me?"

"Yes, Daisy and I went to Viridian City to pick up your parcel."

"Ah! This is the custom Pokeball I ordered! Thanks, Felix!"

"No problem," said Felix.

The initial grief was beginning to subside. He couldn't quite wrap his mind around his mom being gone anymore. He felt as if his mom was waiting at home for him while he sat and drank tea with his friends.

"I'm not sure snooping around the affairs of Team Rocket is a good idea, but if you're adamant about it, you'll need many kinds of Pokemon. And if you're going to do that, can you do something for me–" Oak began, but was interrupted by the entrance doors bursting open.

"Gramps!" hollered a familiar voice. Zane marched across the many bookshelves that lined the walls of the lab. "Gramps, my Pokemon has grown stronger! Check it out!" Zane continued with all of the excitement a ten year old could have when sharing something with his grandfather.

"Zane! Read the room!" scolded Daisy.

Zane looked around the room and spotted Felix, whose face was still blotchy from crying.

"Still crying about losing to me? Grow up, cry baby!"

Felix stood up immediately and charged at Zane with his fists clenched, but Officer Jenny restrained him from under his arms.

"His mother was murdered! Show some compassion, young man!"

Zane's face shrunk. He lowered his head. "I… I'm sorry."

Felix relaxed his body and slunk back into his chair. The brim of his red hat hid his eyes. "You were going to ask me for a favor, Professor. What was it?" mumbled Felix.

"Actually, I needed to ask both of you to do something for me," said the Professor. He gestured over to a table that stood behind him. "On the desk there is my invention, PokeDex. It automatically records data on Pokemon you've seen or caught! It's a high-tech encyclopedia!" Oak exclaimed.

Felix was impressed with the technology, but was unsure how that could work. He also wondered what the professor could possibly need him to do with it.

"That's cool, Gramps!" said Zane.

"How does it work?" asked Felix.

"Ah! I'm glad you asked! Whenever you encounter a Pokemon, PokeDex can automatically identify it. If you sync your Pokeballs to the PokeDex, once you catch a Pokemon, it enters data of that Pokemon into the PokeDex."

"So… do you want us to pilot the PokeDex and scan local Pokemon or something?" asked Felix.

"Oh no!" exclaimed Oak. "I see much more potential in both of you and so a much larger task! Felix and Zane! Take these with you! I am asking you to catch every Pokemon and complete the PokeDex."

Felix was stunned. Catch every Pokemon? No one he knew had come anywhere close. This task would require a lot of traveling. Maybe he could look for Magnemite while he was out. This was an enormous undertaking. There were 151 known Pokemon in Kanto, but who knew how many there were yet to be discovered.

"To make a complete guide on all the Pokemon in the world… That was my dream! But, I'm too old! I can't do it! So, I want you two to fulfill my dream for me!"

"You got it, Gramps! This could only help me become the greatest Pokemon trainer in the world!" exclaimed Zane. "Even better than yo–"

Daisy kicked him in the shin.

"Ow! Sorry…" Zane muttered.

"Get moving, Zane! This is a great undertaking in Pokemon history! Felix, take as much time as you need. My lab is always open to you," said Oak.

"Alright Gramps! Leave it all to me! Felix, I hate to say it, but I don't need you. I know you got a lot going on, so if you aren't up to it, you stay here and take care of yourself. Besides, I'm better suited for this task, anyway!" Zane chuckled and walked off. "Smell ya later."

"My brother is such a dork," sighed Daisy.

"I'm going to put him in his place one day," said Felix with determination. "I'm ready to go now."

Oak handed Felix a small, red, handheld device that sat on the back table. "Here it is! The PokeDex! Pokemon around the world wait for you, Felix!"

Felix nodded and placed the PokeDex in his pocket and stood up. Pikachu jumped on his shoulder while he adjusted his hat. And without saying a word, he marched out the front doors of Professor Oak's laboratory into the now starry night.

"Felix, wait!" Daisy came bursting out of the double doors of Oak's lab. "You can't go alone! I'm coming with you!"

Felix turned to look at her. She stood with her hands clasped together under her chin. Her eyes were glittered in the starlight.

"No. It's too dangerous," said Felix, turning back around. He began to step away. He remembered that he invited her in the first place, but the more the daunting task sunk into his brain, the more he didn't want to risk Daisy's life.

"That's exactly why I'm coming," said Daisy. It wasn't a question. She said it so assertively that Felix knew there was no way he could convince her otherwise. "Besides, you'll need a map!"