Chapter 3: An Offer
Summary:- Ash Ketchum meets our favourite Agent.
It has been a two months since he had saved Pepper from those robbers. To show her gratitude his new acquaintance had helped him in finding a job in a local cafe, as a waiter.
He was grateful to Pepper, for finding him a stable job, and had thanked her profusely. She had merely waved away his gratitude, saying that it was the least she could for him, in return for saving her life.
With now a permanent job and a stable income, he had managed to find a cheap rental apartment for himself. It was nothing fancy but it was his own.
It was Sunday, an off day and Ash had taken full advantage of it by performing another music session in the park. And after that he had mediated for a few hours to hone his Aura Sense.
With his activities for the day now over, he slowly jogged back to his apartment. On his way he greeted Mr Anderson, the Landlord, who greeted him back nervously, leaving Ash a little confused.
He reached his room, his arm going to his pocket to fish out the door key but then paused when he saw the doorknob was unlocked. Ash frowned.
Someone is inside his apartment. Uninvited.
His eyes flashed a golden hue, as he activated Aura Sight*(1). The World become transparent and now he can clearly see through walls, like it was made of foam. In his vision, anything without a soul become colourless, while every living being become incased in glowing energy.
He focused his Aura Sight in the intruder, whose Energy Signature*(2) is a jumble of colours. Its signature is a mix of Blue, green, grey and a tiny bit of Red. But to Ash's relief it was mostly blue, signifying that whoever is inside, he/she doesn't have any harmful intention.
Taking a deep breathe he gentle turned the doorknob and opened the door cautiously. He was greeted by a male in black suit sitting on the couch, drinking a cup of (his) tea, without his permission.
Now that's rude.
"You know it's rude, to not only intrude in someone else's home but also drink their tea, without their permission or consent" Ash said idly, before taking a seat opposite to the man, so they can talk face to face.
"Well you can bring your grievance to your Land Lord. He was very kind in giving me a spare key" The man said in a rich polish before putting his, now empty, cup down.
"So that is why Mr Anderson was looking nervous" Ash thought.
Ash narrowed his eyes "So you threatened him?"
"I persuaded him" The man corrected smoothly "He is a good man and he doesn't want any trouble in his land".
"Who are you?" Ash cut to the chase. Sometimes, it was just easier to get to business.
"To the point huh!" He smiled blandly "Well I'm Agent Phil Coulson. I thought maybe it was time we had a real talk, Mr Ashura".
Ash raised an brow "May I ask how you know my name? Pardon my ignorance but I don't exactly recognise you".
"Well you aren't exactly trying to hide, so getting your name is no hard task for us" Phil said.
"Us?" Ash questioned with narrowed eyes.
"The organisation I work for. We've been trying to talk to you for months." Phil replied and he didn't miss on how Ash tensed when he heard the word 'Organisation'.
"Why such sudden interest in me?" The Aura Guardian asked calmly, raising an eyebrow "I am only a normal waiter, working in a Cafe. And sometimes I play music in the Park. I am an average, law abiding citizen".
"Come now Mr Ashura, we both know that you are anything but normal" Phil smiled "And as for being a citizen, now that's the interesting bit, isn't it? You say you are a law abiding Citizen, but even a amateur with a little digging, would find that you didn't even existed two months ago. You don't have any birth record not only in United States, but the entire World. Its like you fell from the sky or pop into existence."
Ash looked at the man in alarm.
"Don't worry I am not here to arrest you or anything. Its just your Powers interest us" Phil assured him with a smile, before motioning towards the Teapot " Tea? it calms the nerves".
Taking a deep breathe, he smiled hesitantly "Yes Please."
He watched as Agent Coulson poured him a cup before refiling his own. Ash took his cup gracefully, sniffing it briefly to test for any kind of poison. Finding none he sipped at it and waited for his uninvited guest to continue.
"What should I call you?" Coulson said, finally, and Ash flashed him a small smile.
"You can call me Ash or Ketchum if you like. I know my full name can be handful" Ash said before nodding towards Phil "Now tell me why are you here?"
He expected Coulson to dodge the question again, but to his slight surprise the Agent simply nodded. "All right, Mr Ketchum. I'm here representing an organization called SHIELD that is very…interested in extraordinary talents."
Ash raised an eyebrow "Extraordinary talents?".
Instead of replying Coulson reached for his pocket (causing Ash to tense slightly) and pulled out a small tablet. He fiddled with it for a few seconds before handing it to him.
Ash looked confused but he took the tab. His eyes widened however, when the device began playing a video. The video of his fight with the thieves in that dark Alley, two months ago, when he had saved Pepper.
Ash gawked turning towards Coulson "How?".
"CCTV" Phil said simply "Good with surveillance but bad in cyber security. Could be easily hacked".
"Our experts watched the fight multiple times. Bullet proof skin, Telekinesis, super strength and Speed." He listed of Ash's abilities idly "Believe me, it won't be long before others make a move on you. This is one of the reason, my superiors arranged this meeting".
"What do your organisation want with me?" Ash signed, tired with this conversation.
"My superiors thought that you will be interested in joining us"
"And why would I be interested?" Ash raised an eyebrow "For the record, I don't have the best history with mysterious organisations".
"Because that wasn't the last time you saved someone. Two weeks after the alley fight you stopped a speeding Truck from colliding with a car and with your bare hands no less. A few days later, you stopped a bank robbery. And just yesterday you mysteriously healed a policeman's broken arm with nothing but a touch. You save people in need, just like us" Phil leaned back "Our goals match, so why don't we all work together".
With his Aura Sight still active, Ash can easily see that Coulson is telling the truth about helping people.
"You are quite open?" Ash noted "Most shady organisation I have seen would rather move their words in a circle. They will say one thing but their words will mean something else".
"From my experience, sometimes being straightforward is the best choice" The man said before smiling "And you are a good man, Mr Ketchum. Most people won't be comfortable with an intruder in their home. The least I can do, is being honest with you".
Ash was silent for a few second, before he sighed looking at the visitor.
"I am sorry" Ash looked apologetic "But I cannot give you an answer, not now atleast. I trust your intention about helping people but I can't just blindly jump into a boat."
To his credit, Coulson didn't looked a least bit bothered.
"I know, and I expected as much from you" Phil muttered "No one with a good conscience will join something they hardly know about".
"Well" He reached into a pocket and pulled out a small card. "Here's a number where you can reach me, if you change your mind about getting involved."
With that he shuffled towards to door to leave.
"Wait!" Ash called causing the man to stop and turn "Won't your superiors be angry at you for this failure?".
"They will" The Agent nodded "But I don't want to push you Mr Ketchum. You are doing a good job and you have been a wonderful host to me, even though I came uninvited. I just hope that you won't go astray from this path".
"Farewell Mr Ketchum and thanks for the tea" With the parting words Coulson closed the door and departed silently like the shadow Agent he is.
Ash sighed and collapsed on the chair, muttering "What a day!!".
Later that night, Ash was laying on his bed, his mind replaying the conversation he had with his new acquaintances. Something about Coulson's words about helping people have struck a chord in his mind.
His brain is telling him to think logically and not to trust the man. In his travels over the years, he had seen many such organisations who at first claimed about greater good and what not, only to reveal their nefarious intentions at a later date.
His heart meanwhile is telling him to trust Coulson's words. The man was genuine when he said that he works to protect the World and save innocents in need.
Sighing he closed his eyes.
"Maybe I should ask Father" Ash thought before nodding "Yes, I think it's a good idea".
Closing his eyes he summoned his aura and expanded his mind. Breaking his consciousness through the veil of Reality to breach the binding of the Multiverse.
His breathe became ragged, as he tried to pinpoint his father's location through the shifting tides of the Multiverse. His Earrings glowed as it tried to find Arceus's Aura Signature.
Five minutes later, he was almost ready to pass out of sheer exhaustion due to drain of his Aura. But luckily he found his father's consciousness and connected his aura with it, to open a telepathic channel.
"Father?" Ash spoke in relief. Thank his father for the Earrings, because without it he couldn't have found his fathe's location in this vast Multiverse.
"Ash?!" There was slight surprise in his father's tone "Is that You?".
"Yeah, its me" Ash grinned "Looks like the Earrings worked".
"Please don't ever do that again" Arceus said, his voice stern "Do you know how risky it is to expand your consciousness through the Multiverse. One wrong move and your mind would be lost in this vast ocean for eternity".
"I'm sorry" He apologised, feeling a little guilty for worrying his father "I wouldn't have done that if it wasn't an emergency".
"What is it?" The Original One asked in alarm, thinking that his son is in trouble.
"I need your advice" With that Ash explained his encounter with Agent Phil Coulson without sparing any detail. He told about the Agent's tempting offer and how he is in dilemma, of whether accepting the offer.
"So what should I do father?" Ash asked.
"What do you want to do?"
"My heart is telling me to give this a shot" He sighed "But my brain is telling me to think logically and act with caution".
"Follow your instinct Ash, I believe in you. Whatever you do, you will do the right thing".
Ash was silent for a few seconds before he nodded in gratitude "Thank you for the advice, father".
"Remember Ash, always believe in yourself" Arceus said, his voice slowly fading "Farewell Ash and may the Aura be your guiding Key".
Ash opened his eyes, as the telepathic connection with his father is severed. Oddly enough he doesn't felt any of the prior exhaustion he was feeling. He figured his father had something to do with it.
He took a moment to compose himself, before his hand slipped into his pocket and felt over the well worn surface of the card there. He pulled it out and examined it. There was a small rust-colored stain over the A in Agent.
"An opportunity" He murmured.
He slowly rubbed his thumb across the set numbers which, if he is correct, would change his new life.
He took his second hand android, and dialed the number. The phone rang twice before it was received.
"Hello" Ash said "You gave me time to choose and I have made my choice. If your offer still stands that is".
1) Aura Sight:- An ability which channels Aura into the user's eyes allowing the user to perceive everything in slow motion, see through walls, feel other energy signature and feel other's emotion.
2) Energy Signature:- Aura Sight allows Aura Users to feel the emotion and intention of others. Blue Signature implies good intention, Green implies cautiousness, Grey implies tension and Red implies violence and anger.
So Ash is going to join the Agents of SHIELD!! YOOOO!!
I hope you like Coulson subtly manipulating Ash with words of "helping people". Phil is a veteran Agent and knows many things about how a mind works. He knows that Ash is the kind of person who will help people in need and is trying to use that to make Ash join them. Not to mention how he got Ash's trust by not pushing the issue and instead congratulated his previous help.
Now Ash isn't dumb. He has seen such organisation before who claims to be working for greater good (Example Team Plasma). But Ash most of time, besides battle strategies, isn't the sharpest tool in the box and he makes most of his decision based on his emotion.
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